Two new readers, yay! Welcome to AnnaAza and Embers in the flames!

Let's see….I don't really have anything to say about this chapter. Again, I own nothing! Enjoy!

Zuko couldn't sleep. So, as per usual, he was wondering aimlessly through the palace, hoping that he would be able to manage at least a couple hours of sleep later. Always later.

He was starting to realize that his position as Fire Lord was causing him to put many things off until later. Visiting with Iroh would come later. Getting out into the city to meet more of his people would come later. Marrying Mai would come later.

Or never, he thought to himself. Mai hadn't spoken to him since their last fight, and that morning she had spontaneously left to go visit Ty Lee on Kyoshi Island. Zuko wasn't sure if she meant to come back.

But he couldn't think about that now, for those thoughts certainly wouldn't help him get to sleep. He would think about that tomorrow.

He was about to head back to his chambers when he heard a muffled scream. Zuko quickly scanned his surroundings, noting that he was in the residential part of the palace. There was no one in sight, so maybe the scream had come from one of the rooms?

He stood completely still, straining to hear any sort of noise. There!

The scream sounded again and Zuko felt a sense of dread fill him as he realized the screams were coming from Katara's chambers. Finding her door unlocked, he rushed inside, ready to defend his friend if needed.

There was no one in the room save for Zuko and Katara. But the waterbender in question was thrashing around in her bed, seemingly caught in the grip of an intense nightmare.

Zuko stepped forward, ready to coax Katara awake when her murmured words stopped him cold.

"No…no, Zuko…please…not him."

Katara was having a nightmare about him? Was it about all those times he had chased her, captured her even? He couldn't bear that thought.

"Don't hurt him…Zuko, please…don't leave me." Katara screamed again.

Zuko couldn't take any more. He grabbed Katara by the shoulders, trying not to jostle her too roughly. "Katara! Katara, wake up!"

Katara's eyes flew open as she let out a rough gasp, and there was no mistaking the terror in those eyes.

Zuko sat back quickly, still concerned that he had been her dream tormentor. But as soon as Katara focused on him, she lunged forward and wrapped her arms around him. "Zuko!"

Zuko held her tightly to him, his heart aching at her pain. "Shh, you're all right; it was just a dream." His hands started caressing her back, hoping to bring her some form of comfort.

Katara took a deep, shuddering breath. "There was so much lightning. And you weren't moving."

Zuko stared at the top of Katara's head as the meaning of her words sunk in. She had been dreaming about their battle with Azula when he had been shot by his sister's lightning. He hadn't been terrifying her in the dream; she had been terrified for him.

He pulled back a bit so he could look at her. "Pause. I'm fine. You healed me, remember?"

Katara finally looked up at him, tears glistening in the corners of her eyes. "I know, but I was so close to losing you."

"But you didn't," Zuko said firmly, holding her even tighter. "I'm here, and I'm not leaving."

"Promise?"

"I promise," Zuko responded. And he meant it. He would always be there for Katara.

"Then…you'll stay with me tonight?"

Well I didn't mean it exactly like that, Zuko thought. "I…"

"I don't want to be alone," Katara whispered.

Zuko wondered if she was still half asleep; would a truly conscious Katara ever say this to him? Yet he found that it didn't matter. "Yeah, ok, I'll stay."

"Good."

Zuko discovered two things that night. One, he slept better than he ever had since becoming Fire Lord. And two…his "repressed" feelings for Katara would not stand to be held at bay anymore.

For the next chapter….who wants to see Aang stumble upon them?