What Happens on Appa Stays on Appa

AN: Sry for the wait this chapter is Katara remembering what happen the night before in a dream.

I would like to give a big thanks , who has been there for me since day one and edits all my writing! You should go check her stories if you like Ichiruki! Enjoy!

Pairing: No Azutara yet, but Zutara

Katara stared at the ocean that swiftly passed below her, hoping to find some kind of comfort, but her efforts were in vain. As she stared into the water, all she could see was her mother's deep blue eyes filled with disappointment and fear of what her daughter became.

'She's been like this ever since we left Yon Rha,' Zuko paused and thought for a moment, 'what would Uncle do?'

In Zuko's best impersonation of Uncle he thought to himself, 'hindsight is 20/20, dwelling on the past will only make a man mad, you must recognize your mistake and move on.'

"Well here goes nothin'," Zuko muttered as he took a deep breath than began to say, "Katara you can't keep things like this bottled up inside you, trust me I know. You did the right thing… You and I both know that." Silence, "Please just talk to me Katara."

Zuko just sat there struggling to listen; he didn't want to miss a single sound that escaped her troubled lips. That was extremely difficult to do being they were on a flying bison with the wind whipping passed them at 30mph. Katara tried to ignore the burning sensation of Zuko's eyes on her back, but her efforts were in vain. She took a deep breath, knowing Zuko wouldn't stop haunting her until she told him what was wrong, ripping her eyes away from the ocean to look at him.

"I feel like a monster…" She said so low Zuko only caught it because he was watching her lips. He scooted closer to her so he wouldn't have to strain his ears anymore, only to have Katara lean her head on his shoulder waiting for his response.

It was short, simple, and to the point, "Why?"

Katara paused; she looked at Zuko then turned away. She couldn't stand to see that he held no hatred or disappointment for her in his eyes. "It felt good when I took Yon Rha's life…happiness and power exploded inside me because I felt like I was God in those five long minutes. I had the power to say if he could have kept his life or if it belonged to me…" She felt a single tear run down her face, which was slowly brushed away by Zuko's callused thumb. His eyes begged her to continue, she waited a moment trying to find the right words then finished, "Even though a burden has been lifted from my shoulders, and I avenged my mother, I still feel like I let her down…like she felt I was just as bad as he was."

"How am I going to tell Aang what I did." Katara said to herself more than she did Zuko.

"Katara listen to me…" He turned her face slowly so she was looking straight at him. The way he said her name and his touch on her face made a warm tingly sensation run up her spine. It was always her who had to be the shoulder to cry on, but with Zuko, she didn't always have to be strong. With him she was able show her weak side, she could melt into him, as could he with her. "You're far from being a monster." Zuko took Katara's silence as a go ahead for him to continue, "There are only three people I know who deserve that title and none of them are you. Hatred and aggression don't mix well and it's dangerous to keep such a tight lid on them like you did. Trust me I been through the same thing back in Ba Sing Se, only I didn't kill a man, I woke up to being a bald headed monk, then an over the top…"

Zuko stopped talking, he felt a wet spot on his shirt, and automatically turned to see what was wrong. Katara had her head buried in his shoulder, her tears soaking his silk shirt.

"Shit, I'm sorry Katara it came out wrong, what I meant to say was…" 'Shit what did I mean to say! Think Zuko, think!'

"Zuko please just shut…" Her breathing was coming in short broken bursts, disabling her from talking anymore. Ignoring what she just said Zuko slowly pulled her up on his lap, holding her tightly to his chest. As he held her he slowly raised his body temperature hoping that would help her calm down. Katara was surprised at first from Zuko's uncharacteristic show of affection, and then slowly melded with his touch.

Seeing that she was finally calm he continued were he had left off, "What I mean to say was, you listened to what your heart told you to do, no one can say your wrong, no one! It took a lot of gut to stand up to that man, and never let anyone tell you otherwise! Not even Aang." Zuko put his hand under Katara's chin, gently lifting it so sapphire iris' met gold ones and said, "I…I envy you. If I had twice the heart you do then maybe I wouldn't have this scar, and my uncle wouldn't hate me. I wish I could have been like you maybe then I wouldn't have betrayed you like I did in Ba Sing Se. I know saying sorry will never change what I did, but I hope after tonight you'll find it in your heart to forgive me."

Katara wrapped her arms around Zuko's neck in a tight embrace. In that instant she felt like a butterfly just breaking through its cocoon, vulnerable and fragile, but at the same time matured and full-filled.

"If it makes you feel better I'll make a rule, what happens on Appa stay on Appa." Zuko whispered into her ear sending all the blood to Katara's face.

"What do you mean by that?" Katara giggled.

'Why does everything come out wrong!'

"I didn't mean it like that! Not that that wou…" Zuko stumbled over his words.

"Zuko I know I was only joking with you calm yourself, jeesh." She sniffled, wiping away a tear.

'Well it good she's getting back to her old self.' Zuko mumbled to himself.

"Hey Zuko."

"Yeah?" Zuko said half dazed.

"Thanks," Katara yawned, lightly stretching so she wouldn't disturb Zuko, and got up from his lap.

"So about the Aang issue, what should I tell him when we get back?" Katara inquired.

"We'll figure it out when the time comes, now get some sleep we're almost back to the camp." 'Good thing Appa's on auto pilot' Zuko chuckled. After he saw that Katara was situated, he climbed onto Appa's head and took the reigns. Zuko glanced back to see that the water bender was sound asleep and her tears were finally dried up.

Katara felt two strong hands grab her shoulders, shaking them violently. Out of instinct she pulled the water from the air around her, freezing it to her fingers, and bringing her hand up to her assailant's neck. She felt the person tense above her, taking advantage of their hesitation she flipped them around, straddling them between her and the floor with the ice daggers still at their throat. Her eyes finally adjusted, but to no avail, she still couldn't see recognize her attacker. The only thing she recognized was that he was indeed a man from the protrusion she felt on her inner thigh.

Her over exerted mind finally put the pieces together and she automatically melted the ice around her fingers, "Oh Zuko! I'm so sorry, did I hurt you?"

Zuko was a bit shaken, but wasn't about to admit it, so he propped himself up on his elbows and told her, "Only my pride…Did I just say that out loud?"

She didn't exactly see if he was ok, it was more like she heard he was ok, therefore she went off on him, "Spirits Zuko! Why the hell would you shake me out of a dead sound sleep! I could've killed you!" letting out a grunt she then continued, "What did you mean by 'Only my pride' huh?" Katara air quoted the only my pride part.

'Awe hell I did say it out loud.' Zuko cussed.

"What you've been beaten by me countless of times, why is today any different?" After her rant Katara paused to think, then she realized she still had him pinned to Appa's saddle. A tiny blush formed on her face at this sudden realization. It was there that the staring contest began, Zuko undoubtedly lost. Katara just sat there ever so patiently, tapping he thin fingers on his chest.

"Well I'm waiting."

Zuko took that as his queue to start talking, "My pride is hurt because you got me in a straddled position so damn fast! I didn't have even time to react. To add to that you had time to pull ice daggers from mid-air, which was really impressive, and hold them to my neck, while I just sat there!"

Katara wiggled a bit, making Zuko's blood run from his face all the way south.

'Would she stop moving, it's hard enough trying to keep my mind from straying with her straddling me. If she wiggles one more time I don't think I'll be able to stop it. Damn it!'

Right then and there Katara started to giggle making her lower half rub up against Zuko's.

'Shit' Zuko cursed himself.

Abruptly Katara stopped giggling, as she felt Zuko go hard underneath her. At first she thought it was her imagination, but it became more pronounced as it pushed on her inner thigh. At first she didn't know what to do, 'Do I get off or do I stay?'

Contemplating her thoughts, she stared into the ex-prince's eyes for an answer, but only found a trace of embarrassment hidden within lust. Giving into the fire that was growing between her legs, she slowly leant down until her breasts where touching his chest, her face just inches away from his. Katara leaned her head in only a little making Zuko come to her. The way her lips glistened in the light of the full moon drove him crazy. Zuko grabbed her waist, not able to hold out any longer, he pushed her body up against his capturing her chap, yet soft lips. He could help but grown as she took his hands and held them over his head. No way in hell was he letting her dominate him for any longer so he quickly flipped her on back, residing in between her legs. Now it was him who had her hands pinned to the floor. As they held that position Katara's playful tongue was asking for entrance. Zuko happily obliged. When he opened his mouth Katara's curiosity made him moan in pleasure. Zuko wasn't going to do anything rash so he fought the urge to reach down and grab her. Much to Zuko's dissatisfaction Katara broke the kiss, panting heavily from lack of oxygen.

"What's wrong?" Zuko asked, disappointment written all over his face.

"Nothing, it's almost day break and we both really need sleep." Zuko turned his head away from her. "O Zuko it's not like that," in her most seductive voice she whispered in his ear, "we'll continue this tomorrow…and remember what happens on Appa stays on Appa."

With that Zuko smiled kissing her roughly, and then helped her up. Zuko was to busy helping Katara up, that he had forgotten about his erection when he went to hug her.

"Wow down boy!" Katara saw that she embarrassed him so she hugged him and planted a soft kiss on his lips, "Night Zuko."

As he helped off Appa he kissed her again, making sure he made it clear that he forgave her.

"My lips are so going to be bruised in the morning," Katara said as she took some water out of her water skin and placed it on her lips.

'Damn Zuko could kiss! Aang I'm sorry,' She thought as she laid down on her soft sleeping bag. As soon as her head hit the pillow she was out and this time no prince was going to bother her.

'By Agni that girl can kiss,' Zuko thought as he walked back to his tent. As he got into his bed roll and waited for sleep to take him, he could only think about the water bender.