Avatar: Wherever You May Be

A/N: Celebrate! I hit 100 reviews! (Thanks to Madam Midnight who clocked that as well as everyone else who has been with me since the beginning).

Also, I still don't like that last chapter and I know a lot of you reporting back readers wished for more smut, so one day I may repost the original version. Maybe.

Anyways, enjoy a nice, long chapter! Please read and review if you can (I'm hoping you can read, otherwise wow…congrats on making it this far!).

Wherever You May Be

Chapter 11

"Ah, Lee my boy!"

Pausing in the street, Zuko glanced down at Jiro before turning to face Yao who was making his way over to them. The snow was still falling, but it was light and the sun was still visible in the sky so the weather wasn't overly threatening to the villagers who were still outside. It was just mid-afternoon, so Zuko and Jiro had been heading back to Lady Tien's house so he could work on his lessons and Zuko could get back to Katara.

"Goodman Yao," Zuko murmured, bowing to the elder gentleman, seeing Jiro do the same. "How can I be of service?"

"Suyin is asking for you and June to join us for dinner tonight," Yao smiled at him before nodding to Jiro. "Unless you are already committed to joining Lady Tien and Jiro here. I heard they are old friend of yours?"

"From my parent's time, through marriage," Zuko explained vaguely, as most of the villagers had taken it for why he and Jiro looked so similar. "I believe we can be spared for the evening."

"Good, good," Yao said, nodding his head. They talked only briefly before separating ways again to avoid staying out in the cold weather.

"Um…brother?" Jiro asked softly as they headed up the street to take them to the house. It felt odd to hear the title used after a lifetime of Azula's taunting voice saying the word, but Zuko held no such reservation for the young man at his side who so eagerly sought him out in comparison to her. "I don't understand why you don't tell them who you are."

"Normality," Zuko told him before glancing around to see they were still alone. Stopping he sank down until he was roughly Jiro's height, running his hand through his hair. "It's never a bad thing to be treated like everyone else, Jiro. The rest of the time I'm always held above others because of my status, so I always enjoy the times when I can be like any other man my age."

"Do you not enjoy being the Fire Lord?" Jiro asked and Zuko shook his head.

"I enjoy it and I work hard for my country. I do not share the same freedoms I provide for the people I rule though, as it has always been for those who serve others through leadership," Zuko explained to him, knowing this was an important topic to have with the younger boy. "I would like you to join me back home one day, at the capital, so I can introduce you formally to the Court. When that happens, you will be a prince and be responsible to act as such. Days like these become precious."

"That doesn't sound like fun," Jiro mumbled, worry crossing his face as he stared at Zuko.

"It has its perks," Zuko told him, rising up and heading down the street. "As a prince you'll have servants to see to your needs and girls who want to be with you."

"Gross," Jiro said, wrinkling his nose at the thought. "The only girl I like is Master Katara. She told me the other day about a rite of passage in her tribe called ice dodging and that she did it with her brother, twice. She also said once I got good enough with the broadswords she would duel with me."

"You really like her, huh?"

"She gets really girly around you, but it's easy to tell she's a fighter like you and the Avatar."

"She gets girly around me?" Zuko asked confused and Jiro shrugged as they reached Lady Tien's house.

"Yeah, she blushes a lot and is always watching you when you aren't looking," Jiro told him before looking up at him. "Lady Tien said it's because she 'sweet' on you, or whatever. I think she's wrong because Master Katara knows a lot of embarrassing things about you, especially around the earthbender, and bugs you about it."

"Hn," Zuko said, thinking over what Jiro said as they went inside, shedding their coats before heading towards the kitchen where Lady Tien seemed to spend most of her time. She ended up being in the small sitting room, reading over a slim book at the table that Zuko noted had been set for two.

"You just missed Master Katara, my lord," Lady Tien said as the two boys joined her at the table. She set the book down and Zuko curiously picked it up, smiling down at the book of poems he knew was her favorites. He had learned to read with some of the simpler poems, sitting with his mother and Lady Tien out in the gardens when Azula had been napping.

"I hope you don't mind, but Goodman Yao and his wife invited us to dinner this evening," Zuko told her as he set the book down. "We owe them for their generosity and for providing Katara with clothing and they seem to enjoy our company."

"You two do well in public together," Lady Tien commented, having seen them interact a few times in the past few days with the village. "The village seems taken with you. They will miss you when you leave in the spring."

"Yes," Zuko said, remembering that he and Katara were stuck here. It was hard to recall because of how much he was enjoying the solitude, but if he couldn't find a way to contact Iroh soon the Fire Nation could be thrown into turmoil over his disappearance and he would eventually be pronounced dead. What that would do to their fragile peace was not something he wanted to think about.

"I need to tell Katara about our plans," he finally said, rising from the table. "Jiro, I will see you tomorrow for another practice session. Nana."

"I will walk you to the door," Lady Tien said, standing despite Zuko's protests. She sent Jiro upstairs to study before walking with Zuko to the door.

"I didn't know Katara was visiting you today," Zuko commented as he grabbed his parka and pulled it on. He turned to see Lady Tien frowning at him slightly and he glanced around, wondering if he had done something wrong. "Nana?"

"She came and retrieved contraceptive herbs," she told him and Zuko stared at her in surprise at the comment. He knew Katara was well versed as a healer in how to prevent pregnancies but he didn't think she would come to the one person who knew their true identities for something like that. "She says it helps with her menstrual cramps."

"Uh…" He was left inelegantly tongue-tied at the statement and hated how his cheeks warmed up at the topic he had never wanted to hear again. Having lived with three females in tight quarters, one of them being Toph, had led to several embarrassing events at the Western Air Temple he had never wanted to recall. Two PMS-ing benders and one female-warrior did not fare well for their little group.

"Make sure she drinks it every day," Lady Tien told him after a few seconds of awkward silence. Her gaze was serious as she looked at him, showing she knew the herbs true purpose and Zuko shoved his hands in his parka in embarrassment. "It's important that she does so…to relieve the cramps."

"I'll make sure she knows," he promised her with a nod.

"That girl is very special and cares deeply for you, Lord Zuko," she said softly, turning to head back to the sitting room. Zuko stared after her before she glanced back at him, frowning slightly. "Don't hurt her."

"I would never hurt her," Zuko promised before slipping outside once Lady Tien nodded shortly.

He had hurt Katara too much in the past, he reflected as he made his way quickly through the village, keeping his head down to stop the snow from hitting his face. He seemed able to make her cry when he did and he had never taken comfort in that, even in Ba Sing Se when he had thought he was regaining his honor by joining Azula to fight Aang.

With a wince he recalled her words from their fight and wondered why he hadn't told her his feelings then. She probably wouldn't have believed him, he decided after thinking about it, and would have probably done worse than punching him. And however bad he was with girls he knew better to say it after intercourse, where it would have just been crude to say the words that meant more than just sharing a bed. He had almost said it before leaving with Jiro that morning, but even then had held off for some unknown reason.

He had never been good with stating how he felt, probably having only told Mai he loved her once or twice, and looking back on it realized it had been more out of obligation than true feeling. He couldn't even recall the last time he had told his ex-girlfriend before pushing the thought away. Mai and Katara were two completely different people, but he only wanted one in his life.

Reaching their place at that thought he pounded up the steps before stepping inside. He stomped the snow off his shoes before looking up, pausing when he saw the large room empty. The fire was going strong, eating away at what looked to be a fresh log Zuko noted as he headed towards the bedroom. Pulling off the parka, he slipped open the bedroom door before smiling, seeing Katara lying on the bed sleeping.

Kicking off his boots and setting them by the fire he went and shuffled her over so there was enough room to lay next to her. Pulling her to him he smiled when she sighed softly as she curled into him, her free hand fisting into his shirt as she nuzzled into his shoulder. Letting her keep sleeping he played with her hair that was free around her shoulders and back, enjoying the texture of the strands and the slight curl to it that was uniquely Water Tribe.

Recalling Jiro's words Zuko glanced down at the sleeping waterbender who was smiling softly in her sleep. She felt something for him, her responses too vivid to be more than simple lust. She also wouldn't have been so upset earlier if it was simply a physical attraction to him, Zuko decided, brushing his finger over her sharply defined cheekbones. Katara always acted with her heart, her biggest strength and her biggest weakness, and he wondered briefly if she loved him.

It didn't matter in the end, he thought as he shifted so he was lying on his side and Katara was snug against him, her back pressed against his front. His arm wrapped tightly around her waist while he buried his face into her neck, closing his eyes as Katara murmured in her sleep but didn't wake.

He could – would – do anything keep her with him, including making her fall in love with him.

sSs

"Lee, June! Wait up!"

Turning away from Zuko, Katara glanced behind them to smile as Jiro appeared, running through the snow to reach them. The streets were busy as the villagers went about preparing for the Winter Solstice party to be held later that night at the town hall. Even Katara and Zuko had agreed to help, Zuko with setting up the party and Katara to help with the cooking for the past few days.

"Hi, Jiro," Katara greeted the young boy, smiling as he bent over to catch his breath after the brief exertion. After a few seconds he straightened himself up, grinning at the two before looking around.

"Are you guys headed towards town hall?" he asked before looking disgruntled. "Nana Tien has me helping with setting up the decorations."

"Looks like we'll be together then," Zuko said, slinging an arm around his brother as the three continued down the street.

"Good. At least I'm not the only one doing a girl's job," Jiro sighed and Zuko chuckled before cutting himself off when he caught Katara staring at him, one eyebrow raised in question.

"A girl's job, huh?" she asked the young prince frostily who glanced at her before his eyes widened in surprise.

"Uh…wait, I didn't mean it!" Jiro cried out as Katara grabbed him before laughing as she started tickling him through his heavy parka. The boy screeched, turning a few heads their way before the villagers continued on, chuckling at the sight. Katara finally stopped once Jiro started gasping for breath, tears forming in the corner of his eyes as he lay collapsed against her. "I'm sorry! Mercy!"

"No more complaining about 'girl jobs', hm?" Katara asked, draping her arms over his shoulder where she tickled him again so that he squirmed in her hold. "If you do it again I'll make you cook and clean too."

"I'm sorry," Jiro begged, stretching out 'sorry' as long as he could. Grinning, Katara looked over to see Zuko had disappeared and she dropped her arms from Jiro only to cry out as she was grabbed from behind.

"You're not playing fair," Zuko whispered in her ear and Katara let out a shriek as he started to tickle her in turn. She twisted, trying to get out of his hold but he had her pinned and she gasped as Jiro joined in.

"Cheaters!" she squeaked, pushing against Zuko to try and get away from Jiro. She ended up knocking the two of them in to the snow and she quickly scrambled away from Zuko, grabbing a handful of snow and pegging him in his face as he pushed himself up. Another went to Jiro who ducked before grabbing his own ammo, going after Zuko who was distracted by Katara as she tried to hit him again.

"Oh, and this is fair?" Zuko asked, blocking Jiro's snowball with his hand as he chucked a loose snowball at Katara who ducked it. Katara glanced over a Jiro and grinned, both of them turning to Zuko together.

"Yes," they agreed, throwing more snow at the downed man.

When someone coughed loudly a few minutes later, the three paused in their small war and looked up to see Lady Tien and a few of the other older women of the village standing a few paces away, one of them brushing a rouge snowball off her jacket. Under their strict gaze the three scrambled to their feet, but not before Katara shoved a snowball down Zuko's jacket, grinning as he tugged at his back in an attempt to get it out. Jiro sniggered into his mitt before pressing against Katara at the look Lady Tien was giving them, gulping down any last laughs loudly.

"Jiro, Lee, I believe the men are waiting for you at town hall," Lady Tien said softly and the two males quickly bowed before heading down the street. Unable to resist the opportunity present, Katara smiled at the ladies before bending and grabbing one last snowball. Hurling it after the two boys she nailed Zuko on the back of the head, laughing as he turned to glare at her.

"Nice shot, June," Suyin commented from next to Lady Tien and Katara smiled as all the women started laughing. She spent the next few hours preparing and carrying the food to the town hall before finally being dismissed to change before the party started. She had just finished changing into the ivory kimono Suyin had given her to wear to the party when the door opened and she stepped out of the bedroom to see Zuko pulling off his jacket while kicking off his shoes.

"How did decorating go?" she asked and he glanced at her before snorting.

"It was left to kids and men, how do you think it went?" he asked sarcastically and Katara smiled as he moved away from the door, his gaze sweeping over her warmly. She gave him a quick turn to model her outfit before he embraced her, resting his head against hers. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you," she said, happy that Zuko was so forthcoming with compliments. Sokka never commented on how she looked and Aang had never been able to give one comfortably without it ending in disaster. "What are you going to wear?"

"Unlike you I don't have a lot of clothing options," he murmured before bending to kiss her softly. "We always could just stay in and not worry about clothing though."

"Good suggestion, but no," Katara told him, giggling as Zuko sighed disappointed. "We've put a lot of effort into this. I want to go and enjoy myself. We can do a…private party later tonight."

"I'll hold you to it," he warned her before grabbing one of her hands and pressed something cool and metal into it.

"What's this?" she asked confused, lifting up her hands to stare at the hair pins resting in her palm. They were long, with split points to help secure the hair and topped with three pearls that flashed iridescent purples, reds, and blues in the firelight.

"Happy birthday," Zuko told her and Katara shook her head, staring up at him.

"My birthday isn't for a few more weeks," she reminded him and Zuko shrugged.

"I figure the party would be the best time to wear them," he reasoned, grabbing them back from her and turning her around. Before she realized what he was doing, he pulled the top part of her hair and twisted it into a bun before securing quickly with the pins. She reached back and touched the hair-do, surprised at how well he had done.

"Where did you get them?" she asked, turning to face him. She watched amazed as Zuko shrugged, his cheeks pinking as he suddenly avoided her gaze. "Zuko?"

"They use to belong to my mother," he explained, leaving her shocked. "I gave them to her when I was eight as a birthday present. Lady Tien gave them back to me and I want you to have them."

"So, you…re-gifted?" she asked slowly and Zuko flushed, reaching up rub the back of his head.

"I…um…" he stuttered before Katara cut him off by kissing him quickly.

"Thank you, Zuko, they're lovely," she told him, smiling so he knew she wasn't offended. The fact that he even gave them to her made her oddly happy. "Next time you have to give me something original, though."

"Snob."

"Maybe," she consented before pulling back. "Now go change or we'll be late."

Looking put-upon Zuko did as she asked and she watched the door close to the bedroom before reaching up and touching the pins in her hair again, wonder filling her.

sSs

"One day I would like it if we chose to do something inside," Zuko stated a few days following the Winter Solstice as he, Katara, and Jiro climbed through the snow towards the slope located to the south end of the village. Up head he could hear the cries of the other village children as they slid down the surface on sleds, taking enjoyment in the fresh powder that had fallen during the night.

"You firebenders don't know how to have a good time," Katara teased him, lifting her own sled up higher on her back, shooting him a quick grin. "And what's wrong with sledding? I did it all the time when I was a kid."

"Exactly, kids do it," Zuko said, tugging his hood closer around his head to keep his ears warm from the cold weather. "Not Fire Lords and Master Waterbenders. When was the last time you went sledding?"

"Honestly?" Katara asked and Zuko paused to see the humor in her eyes. He stopped at the base of the hill, dropping his sled to rest against his knees as Katara and Jiro did the same, staying out of the path of those making their way down. "The day I met Aang. We went penguin sledding."

"What?" both Zuko and Jiro asked together, one in excitement and the other in bewilderment.

"What's penguin sledding?" Jiro asked her quickly while Zuko stared at her, silently curious himself. He was hoping it was just a Southern Water Tribe name for sledding, but somehow he doubted it, especially if Aang was involved and his odd penchant to ride animals. "What's a penguin?"

"A flightless bird a little bit smaller than you," Zuko told him, remembering his first experience with the animal and his reintroduction at Sokka's wedding. One of the little buggers had bitten him in front of the whole group; he wondered if it had been the same one because of its rather volatile dislike for him. "Long arms and walks funny."

"…Close enough," Katara agreed before turning back to Jiro. "Penguin sledding is when you ride a penguin down a hill rather than a sled. They use their stomachs for the same thing, but kids back home like to ride them through some of the trails they make."

"And you did this with Aang? When you were fourteen?" Zuko clarified while Jiro gazed down at his sled as if imaging it was a penguin. "Weren't you a little big?"

"I was not…I was close," Katara sighed before grinning at him. "But it was fun! And it had been the whole reason Aang had been heading to the South Pole before he was frozen in the glacier. He couldn't capture one to ride, so I showed him how and I wasn't going to miss out on it.

"He tried to do it again a year after the war when we were visiting Dad and the family," she recalled, smiling as she stared out at the mountains around them. Zuko ignored the jealousy blooming in him, telling himself that she was smiling because of her family and not the Avatar. "He was too big. The penguins kept attacking him."

"Hn," Zuko grunted before turning to his brother. "Well, let's get this over with so we can go back inside."

"Race you to the top!" Jiro cried, taking off up the hill. Zuko walked behind him only to glance down as Katara latched onto his arm and smirked up at him.

"You were changing the topic," she sang softly and Zuko decided he didn't need to answer that. Katara just laughed, grabbing his hand in hers and pulling him up the hill after her. At the top she sighed, glancing around the valley before smiling up at him again. "If it helps, I'd rather be here with you than anywhere else right now. Even if it was warmer."

"I beat good weather, that's wonderful," he sighed and winced as Katara punched him on his arm.

"That's not what I meant and you know it, Mister 'I'm-Never-Happy'."

"I can think of one thing that makes me happy," Zuko countered, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her until she was pressed tightly against him. He dipped his head and was about to kiss her when giggling surrounded them and he looked up to see half of the children on the hill watching them, large grins on their faces expect for some of the older boys who were looking rather put-out at the scene. "An audience, wonderful."

"Not audience," Katara corrected as she leaned against him despite the curious gazes. "Tattletales. They would be worse than the women."

"Hn," Zuko murmured, letting go of her while he shot a glare at the kids before getting an idea in his head. "First on to the bottom gets a copper piece."

Katara laughed as a mass of kids suddenly took off down the hill, the thought of getting money more important that watching two adults kiss. Zuko used the distraction to bring Katara back to him for a quick kiss, pulling back in time to see the winner of his impromptu race.

"Well, you need to go give the winner their prize," Katara told him, pointing to the sleds at their feet with a smile.

"Can't I just walk back down?" he asked and Katara shook her head.

"Two rides then you can be done. You still haven't gone down with Jiro," she reminded him.

"Back home we would just play hide-and-explode," he groaned, staring down the short hill. The only resistance he had towards sledding is that he knew he would look stupid riding down on the small sled.

"Zuko, get on the damn sled," Katara told him bluntly, sitting down on her own and pushing off with a giggle. "See you at the bottom!"

Watching her, Zuko sighed and followed her down the hill, glaring at her when the kids gave him a cheer as he came to a stop. Twenty-three years old, he thought, and he was spending the day playing with kids less than half his age. As he rose from the sled to grab the copper piece he owed to the young girl who had won Katara and Jiro were already scrambling back up the hill to ride down again. He went up with them two more times before staying at the bottom, enjoying himself more with watching than participating.

"You really are missing out on the fun," Katara told him as she finally joined him where he sat on his sled to stay dry. She settled down between his legs and leaned against his chest, keeping her eyes on the kids as he wrapped his arms around her comfortably. "It's not often you get to act like a kid again as Fire Lord."

"Uncle does a good enough job of making me feel like one I often don't need to act like one," Zuko told her, keeping his eye on Jiro as he sped past them after descending too fast. His brother just laughed as he rolled on top of the snow before grabbing his sled and returning to the top. "He's happy here."

"He is," Katara agreed, reaching up to gently grab him arms through her thick mittens. "Are you wondering if you should take him with us?"

"He could have a happier life here than back at court," Zuko told her honestly, knowing the pressure that would be put on Jiro if he returned to the Fire Nation. He could only protect his brother so much and Jiro had already showed signs of not wanting the pressure of being a prince.

"But he wouldn't have his family," Katara reminded him softly. "And he is already attached to you. I think he would want to be with you until Ursa is found."

"Hm." Bending, Zuko rested his head against Katara's shoulder, letting his mind process what they had talked about and his own conversations with Lady Tien and Jiro. He was so engrossed he finally stopped noticing the cold and the children around them until a sudden cry cut across his consciousness. Jerking back, he looked past Katara to see all of the kids staring up as well as Katara who suddenly jumped to her feet.

"Zuko, it's Appa," she breathed and Zuko looked up in surprise. The sky had been foggy and overcast all day so it took a second to finally see what looked to be a large white cloud heading towards them. He suddenly spotted the large arrow on the sky-bison and quickly leapt to his feet as Katara let out a cry next to him. "Appa!"

A few seconds later the bison landed next to them, a low groan filling the air as he greeted the two. Katara grabbed the bison's face and hugged him, burying her face in the white fur as Zuko joined her to pat the bison in welcome. The instant Katara pulled back the bison turned his head and gave Zuko a lick in greeting, successfully soaking his parka and his face.

"Wonderful. Good to see you too Appa," he groaned while Katara laughed, still petting the bison. The kids had gathered together by then, all of them staring at the large animal in awe before Jiro slowly approached.

"Come here Jiro, all of you," Katara invited with a quick wave of her hand. Jiro went to stand next to her, staring up at the animal that looked like it could eat him in one bite. "This is Appa. He is Avatar Aang's sky-bison."

"You know the Avatar?" one of the kids asked in awe and Katara nodded before motioning the kids to pet Appa to distract them. Zuko took that time to climb onto Appa's back, spotting the metal tube attached to the edge of the saddle securely and quickly pulled it off before sliding back down to the ground.

"What is it?" Katara asked, joining him as the kids continued to lavish attention on Appa who just groaned happily.

"A letter carrier," he explained, pressing the latch so the tube opened at one end to reveal two tightly rolled up scrolls. He removed his gloves to pull them out, frowning when he saw one addressed to him and the other to Katara. "One's for you."

"Really?" As she read hers he undid his and quickly read Aang's scrolling script that was characteristic of airbenders. Even in writing they seemed to float as they wrote, making a few of the characters hard to identify the first time through. "What does Aang say?"

"He sent Appa since I've been missing for a month," Zuko explained and Katara stared at him in surprise, seemingly to have forgotten how long they had been living in the village. "The last time I was able to correspond with anyone is in Chengdu before I got caught. I had asked Aang and Uncle to send someone after me if they didn't hear from me by then and I had mentioned this village as a possible place to look. I guess Aang sent Appa. What about yours?"

"We need to go to Ba Sing Se," she said softly, frowning at him as she tightened her grip on her own letter. "They are still fighting the uprising and the forces seem to be gathering together."

"Why Ba Sing Se?"

"I have to see the woman who can possibly restore my bending and talk with King Kuei about sending more men to help Aang," she sighed, shaking her head. "It seems the Senate keeps denying Aang's request for more men to help and since he and Toph can't leave he's asked me to see if I can change their minds."

"We'll have to leave soon," Zuko decided and Katara nodded before glancing behind her as voices drifted towards them. It seemed Appa's appearance had been spotted in the village so the adults were coming to see the commotion.

"It's a miracle Appa even found us."

"Let's hope our luck keeps up then," Zuko told her before they joined the adults to explain Appa's appearance.

sSSs

Ending A/N: I think this is one of my favorite chapters out of the story, even if the story doesn't progress forward that much. A good chapter for Zutara fluff though, so maybe that's it.

So I've come to this decision: since I started posting back in January, I haven't had any progress in terms of adding onto this story, so I'll keep posting until I'm out of what I've written, then this story may be on hiatus until next summer, when the movie comes out and I'll go "Holy F%*#, I have ideas for this story!". I'm just posting this for fair warning. Good news is that I think I have about four or five chapters left to post, so maybe it won't be much of a wait considering how long I'm going between posts now.

Dislcaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender belongs to Nickelodeon and its creators. I just muddy the waters a bit.