Wow, I'm amazed at myself. This came out really nice. I am trying to take this romance relationship between Katara and Zuko slow, so for all of you Zutara fans, I hope this is enough fireworks to last you until the next chapter. Until we meet again...

--When We Meet Again

Today felt like the longest, hottest, busiest day since before the fall of Ozai and Azula. At least, that's how Katara felt. She trudged through shop after shop. Following closely behind Iroh. Normally, under other circumstances, Katara really loved to shop. She had a curious fascination for anything with a price she could barter.

Today should have felt like a luxary. But for Katara it was Hell. Only this kind of Hell was filled with frilly lace and ribbons and bows. The more she thought about it, the more her eye twitched.

The shops would close soon for supper. Her feet ached. But thankfully, Iroh had bought her enough slippers and boots to last her entire life. Passing stores she didn't even care to go inside, Katara went completely out of focus as her mind raced with thoughts of Aang.

Then, she passed a stationairy store. If she was going to send invitaions to her wedding she would need plenty of what they had. Leaving Iroh and the soldiers with armloads of their packages, Katara snuck off to look at the merchandise. The stationairy was made out of rice papers, fancy scrolls, wheat, thin sheets of tree bark. A few caught her eye, but none of them were fascinating enough to waste her preceos money on.

However, there were two different designs she had stumbled upon. One of the designs was the wind and rain, dancing randomly over the scroll in silver streaks. It would be perfect for her and Aang, possibly because those were their two elements and those were the markings he had put on her engagement necklace, that was at this moment strangling her.

But then the other design was put on fragile rice paper. There was only a picture at the very top of the sheet. It was a startling contrast of darks and lights. A orange and red sun was setting over the ocean, dark and rough looking. Yet the picture brought serenity to her haggard looking features. In her mind, Katara felt Zuko. Thriving and utterly brilliant as the sun setting over the dark blues of the sea.

By the end of her little adventure through the stationairy store, Katara had bought 150 sheets of rice paper, with their matching envelopes and 150 scrolls. Sent to no other place than the palace. Giving out a sigh of relief, Katara thanked the shop keeper and went out to find Iroh.

Until we meet again, Zuko. Her mind whispered as she ran to catch up with them.

Zuko meandered around his palace. He had been doing this more of late. Just walking or "stretching his legs" as Zuko liked to call it. Sometimes he would be gone for two hours at a time. A restless soul.

But like a dog, he always came back to do his duty. Maybe if he got married to Mai, this restlesness would subside. Now that Zuko knew that Katara was back though, he was going to become an insomniac.

Rounding another corner that led to the royal bedchambers, Zuko didn't see what came next. Practically running in with someone (he actually did, but Fire Lords don't admit to that) and they both almost fell over.

Zuko, grabbed for the person's arms. Everything this person was holding fell all over the marble floors.

Then he looked into two ocean mist eyes. It was her. It was Katara. Lightening bolts ran up his arms and all over his body. She looked completely different. Tired moons around those brilliant eyes of hers. Her hair was deffinately longer, going past her waist in a shimmery dark brown. However, her ends were split. Katara grew from the plump petite girl into a lithe curvy woman of sixteen. But her frame seemed too thin. Her lips were fuller, but dry, like she needed water and couldn't seem to have any.

Which was odd for a waterbender. Then he looked deeper into her eyes, into her soul. Somewhere, Katara of the southern water tribe was down there waiting to come out. Buried within the folds of her heart. So this is what happened to her?! This is what the Avatar did to his beloved fiance?! About to sclod her for her poor judgement skills in finding a husband, Katara went limp in his arms and fainted...

Just seeing Zuko had been enough to make her mouth go dry. When he meant to steady them, Katara felt the fireworks right away. Exploding and jumping all around and inside of her body. He had transformed from a youth to a man indeed.

She noticed that he was looking at her. But not just looking, he wa searching. Searching for her transformation. It should have made her squirm, like it did when everyone else looked at her that way. With Zuko, Katara wanted him to notice everything, wanted him to recognize her in all her glory.

She was tired now. She felt used and wanted freedom. In his eyes, the golden hue of the sun rising on the horizon, Katara knew that he could give her what Aang couldn't.

That thought alone conquered her, her weariness overcoming the chasm between the waking hours and the dream world. And for the first time in her life, Katara fainted. Not only fainted, she fainted in Zuko's arms. Until we meet again, Zuko. Her mind had chanted.

So thats the end of chapter 4 :( Don't worry though, chapter 5 will be up shorter than you think! Now, for my reviewers and fans, I am going to give you something special. Every chapter that I post, I will give you clues as to who I am. Today's clue is my fave animal. Can you guess? It's a cow! Me gustan las vacas! thanx to all...tootles!