A/N

UBER MUSH ATTACK!

Okay, while thinking of this chapter all I could envision was mashed potatoes mixed with lucky charms. It's that… odd. For me, anyway. I'm used to dialogue. You want snappy, funny, or enraged dialogue? That's me. I'm your gal. But sappy love scenes on a moonlit balcony?... You might as well cook yourself some mashed potatoes with lucky charms.

If you feel at all weirded out by the fact that this chapter is all one UBER MUSH ATTACK! I suggest you leave now while you still have your sanity.

For the rest of you… Give yourself one hearty, evil laugh. You've just waited thirty-six chapters to get to an UBER MUSH ATTACK!

Cheers. –brandishes mashed potatoed spoon-

xxx

Katara tossed and turned on her side, but sleep refused to show its face until her excitement died down. She faced her wall, staring into the darkness until her eyes found the painting of the brilliant plume of fire, and behind the display was a lone figure, namely Zuko. Katara switched back onto her other side, attempting to divert her thoughts.

What was Zuko doing right now?

Before she could convince herself otherwise, she pulled her feet out of bed and slipped out her door, padding quietly down the hall until she reached Zuko's room. She gathered a breath, fiddling with the cuffs of her nightdress. On the other end of the hall, she could hear Aang snoring slightly, and she almost lost her nerve until she noticed that Zuko's door was already ajar. She nudged it back further with the tips of her fingers and peered inside.

"Zuko?" She whispered. He didn't answer.

She let herself wander a littler further into the room, glancing into the corners to see if he was slumped there. His bed, although unmade, was empty. Her heart slowed down several beats, and she glided back out of his door, convinced now to find him.

She tiptoed to the lounge, her mind buzzing. She couldn't help wondering what would've happened if Sokka hadn't interrupted them, and she was nearly desperate to know what Zuko was thinking. She gave herself a mental shake. What a ridiculous notion. Zuko couldn't possible think the same things she was thinking… Could he?

The lounge was empty as well, and only the ghosts of the evenings she'd spent there lingered. If one listened hard enough, laughter could be heard bouncing from each pale wall, and if one strained even harder, bitter remarks and solemn vows echoed. Katara let her eyes rest on each piece of the king's furniture, each one reflecting some moment spent with her companions.

She glanced onto the balcony, and a lone figure was leaning against the rail, his black-haired head bent in contemplation. Katara smiled and went quietly to the door, stepping lithely onto the earthen outcropping.

"May I join you?" She asked Zuko, her voice soft, almost vulnerable.

He swiveled to face her, his lips twitching into a grin. "Hey… Yes, please, join me."

She stood beside him at the rail, gazing at the sleeping city. "Sometimes I forget just how big this place is."

"Really?"

"I'm kidding." She smiled, glancing at him. "But it sure is beautiful at night."

Zuko watched her with hooded eyes. "Couldn't sleep?"

"No… My thoughts wouldn't leave me alone."

"What sort of thoughts?" Zuko asked teasingly.

"There's this guy I know…" Katara began. "And… I can't seem to stop thinking of him."

"Aang would be flattered if you told him you were so crazy about him."

Katara laughed softly, tossing her gaze at the star-studded sky. "What about you? What's keeping you up?"

"I haven't slept much the past few weeks." He sighed. "Talking to you always relaxes me, though. Would you mind?"

"What should I talk about?"

"Anything." Zuko answered, his eyes resting on her face.

"Well…" She turned away, thinking.

"What were you thinking about before you came out here?"

"You," she murmured.

"What about me?"

"Well… Do you remember when we were at the park on your birthday?"

"Yes."

"And the rest of the group caught up with us just as you were about to say something to me."

"I remember."

"You were going to tell me something… What was it?"

Zuko nervously raked his fingers across the back of his wrist. "If I start talking, I don't want to stop, so… Are you sure you want me to start?"

Katara nodded. "I'm sure."

Zuko stared at her for a moment, drinking in the light from her eyes and gathering courage. He took a breath. "I wasn't sure what I wanted to say then, but I can tell you what I want to say to you now… You have to promise me, though, that no matter what I tell you, you won't ever stop looking at me the way you are now."

"Well what if you say your father is actually a badgermole?" Katara giggled. "I'll probably look at you a little differently after that."

"I swear; it has nothing to do with my parents, just the way I feel." Zuko assured her.

"Okay, then, I promise."

He took a breath. "Have you ever been afraid that one thing you say in one moment might change… everything?"

"I think I might."

He nodded. "Katara… Things are so much… easier around you. I haven't felt this… accepted since my mother was with me, and maybe that's the reason I feel the way I do… I'm not sure…Listen, if I don't say this now, I'll never say it again, so… I just… I…I love you." He took another steadying breath, realizing that just admitting it lifted a tremendous weight off of his shoulders.

Katara could scarcely think, and she only pulled air into her lungs enough to utter quietly, "I love you, too, Zuko."

Zuko jerked towards her, scrutinizing her expression; she wasn't lying. He blinked, realizing how stupid he must look, breath sucked in and eyes bugging out.

Zuko had never been one to act entirely on impulses; he found stability in plans, but now he wanted to live on nothing but his whims. He could never remember a time when he'd wanted to kiss a girl, especially this girl, so badly.

"I can't believe I told you that." Katara admitted, cheeks the color of Zuko's old uniform.

"Are we crazy?" Zuko asked, still facing her.

"I don't think two people can simultaneously turn insane. Unless this is a dream, and both of us will wake up with no recollection of this." She answered rationally.

"It's possible, I guess." Zuko said distantly.

She turned from the rail to face him. "What if it is a dream?"

"Then it wouldn't really matter what happened in it, would it?"

"No..." Katara answered softly. "I suppose not."

Zuko's lips twitched into a smile, and he realized that this particular whim, out of all, was the best one to follow. He stepped closer to her. "Katara, I'd really-."

"Zuko…" She interrupted, her voice wavering. "I don't want for this to be just some… fad."

"It's not." He promised, stepping so close that the tips of his toes brushed against hers. He involuntarily brushed a loose lock of her hair from her brow. "I swear, it's not… I've never felt this strongly about someone else before."

She trembled as his fingers brushed her skin. "Then, we…We both know…"

"That we're crazy about each other."

"And…"

Zuko's right hand found her waist, staying there. He leaned into her, whispering into her ear, "You're almost out of excuses."

She put her palms on his chest, unsure if she was halting or beckoning him. "What if we're caught?"

"You and I could take out every inhabitant of his apartment. You know that." His left hand cupped her cheek, forcing her to look straight into his eyes.

She was so anxious, so nervous. Her reason still had a firm grip on her mind, aching to find an argument. "But… But Aang and Sokka…"

"I don't honestly care what they think right now, Katara." Zuko whispered, his breath caressing her cheek.

"I've never…" Katara's head reeled, lost in the way his lips formed her name. "I've never kissed anyone but Aang… And that didn't count."

"You're already ahead of me." Zuko hovered over her lips. "Just tell me no, Katara, and I'll back off."

Reason finally released its grip on Katara. "Don't," she mumbled, tipping her chin upward to catch his lips.

Zuko's mind could only focus on the feel of her lips against his at first, and then the only clear thought he had was that this kiss was probably what drove poets (or the lack of such a kiss) to create their verses. He pulled her closer to him, and she made a small, contented sound against him.

She'd imagined her real first kiss before, and, as she shamefully remembered, it always included a prince charming that would sweep her off her feet after the two had battled their way through enemies. Rain would begin to fall gently from the sky, and her lover would cradle her in his arms.

Now, as Zuko held her, she couldn't imagine a better first kiss, and she was immeasurably glad that it was with Zuko she was sharing it with.

She leaned away briefly. "Oh, Zuko…" She sighed.

"Don't stop yet," he begged, taking his hand from her waist and twisting his fingers in her hair.

They pressed themselves together again, only pausing their kissing to draw a breath from the night air. After an eternity of such bliss that the two of them had never before been able to imagine, they pulled away, staring into each other's eyes with a myriad of emotions. At first they held each other tightly, admiring without speaking, and then their minds began to churn with unwelcome thoughts of doubt.

Zuko kissed her lightly again, making sure the feeling was still real. "I'm not dreaming."

"No," Katara assured him. "Neither of us is dreaming."

"You don't… regret it… do you?"

"Not at all! Do you?"

"Never. That was incredible." Zuko smiled. "You kept your promise; you're still looking at me like that."

"If you don't mind, I'll keep this look for awhile."

"I don't mind at all."

She buried her face is his shirt, wrapping her arms around his waist. "So suppose we wake up tomorrow and remember every glorious detail of this evening… What do we do?"

Zuko rested his chin on top of her head. "I guess… we just do whatever feels right."

"What about the others?"

"What about them?"

"Zuko, honestly-."

"We know Uncle won't care… And Sokka… Why don't we just tell them?"

"We might as well throw ourselves from the balcony at that point, Zuko."

"You want to hide this from them?" He asked, surprised.

"Maybe… No… But I can't imagine telling them!"

"Let's just wait this out. Maybe an answer will come to us tomorrow."

"Okay." Katara sighed, closing her eyes. "Tomorrow we'll figure something out."

"Katara?"

"Hm?"

"If we wake up, and this is a dream, will your reality self mind if I kiss her?"

"Probably."

"Hm. In that case… Don't wake up."

She kissed him again, leaning away with a smile. "Let's just stay up. I haven't seen the sunrise in a really long time."

Zuko smirked and disappeared into the apartment, returning with a blanket. The two sank onto the balcony floor, leaning against the wall and surrounding themselves with the blanket.

And for once in a long while, both of their consciences were peaceful.

A/N

I worked really hard on this chapter. I actually printed out the original chapter, went through, proofed it, took stuff out, put stuff in, and pretty much analyzed every single word. I still don't think I got it just right, but I'm pretty satisfied with it. Hope it was worth the wait!

This was influenced by a LOT of things. I mean a LOT. I've got a whole big mental list, but I doubt any of you care (sounds like there's gonna be a new deviantart journal!); however, the sunrise bit came from my own memory (very bittersweet). I don't usually incorporate my own feelings into a piece, either.

Again, in case you didn't catch that last author's note, I'm not done yet! I've still got three more chapters to do, and once more; they will be short!!

Mm Mm Mm Good! – Zutara

Oh, and I guess Sokka wants a word in…

"GROSS! You guys are SICK! You READ and WRITE disgustingly graphic kissing scenes about my SISTER! UGH! Get a-."

I think he's spoken enough now. Thanks for stopping by, Sokka.

'I am so sorry!

Something kicked me in the rear

And I landed here…?'

One more note, and then I swear I'm finished: Before you review (IF you review) I want you to know that YES I know it seems like it was too fast. And NO I don't care. I wanted it to be as such because I did –smug grin-. I made this chapter exactly as I've always imagined it, and usually my imagination grants people some amount of pleasure; science does not. And sure, some would argue that kiss scenes are a science, but mine aren't. If you liked it, great. If you didn't… Well… I hope I've inspired you to write your own.