*sigh* This post! The universe did not want to give me the peace I crave to write this. First Hurricane Irene sent me fleeing to Atlanta (if anyone was also in Irene's path, I hope you got through it ok), which led me to stressing out about things back home, which led to me getting sick, and then my old laptop decided to die on me. Thank goodness I had all my stories backed up! But it is because of you lovely readers that I made myself sit down and write this; I couldn't leave you waiting!

But anywho, a nice warm welcome to Story writer 03 23 2012 and JocastaBleedsInk!

Enjoy!

Pause to Reconsider

Katara meandered down the market streets of Omashu, thankful for her day off. Her duties at the new hospitals were just the distractions she had been looking for, but even she had her limits on how long she could work. She was glad to finally have some time to herself.

She had been traveling around the Earth Kingdom for the past month visiting the new facilities and training all of the Healers. She occasionally stepped in as a Healer when her skills were needed, and that was what brought her the most joy.

But no matter how busy she was during the day, every night her thoughts turned back to her last conversation with Zuko and the things that had been said. Pausing had seemed like the right thing to do in the moment, but now that she had had time to think things over, Katara knew she could have handled things better. She should have heard him out, but her fragile heart had told her to run and she had listened.

Apparently so had Zuko. She had asked for a pause and he was giving it to her. No matter what city she was in, she always received at least one letter from him. She had waited a whole weeks to open the first one, fearing it would contain reiterations of his feelings. But it hadn't. The letter was merely an update on how things were going in the Fire Nation.

In fact, all of the letters afterwards were like that. He still asked how she was doing, but that was as personal as the letters got. She had asked for a pause from romance, and he was complying by talking of nothing but work and politics. He was giving her what she needed and that spoke volumes to her.

It also made her realize that if he could honor her pause, she could be brave enough to hear what Zuko had wanted to tell her. Unfortunately, it would have to wait until she was back in the Fire Nation.

She paused at a jewelry stall to inspect some bracelets, when she heard her name being called.

"Katara!"

"Suki?"

The two friends embraced, each wearing identical smiles.

"What are you doing here?" Katara asked as she stepped back.

"Well Sokka and I are making our way back to the Southern Water Tribe, but we heard you were here so we decided to stop for a visit. Or rather, I made him stop here," Suki answered with a smirk.

"I should have figured," Katara said as she fell into step beside her. "You can get him to do just about anything."

"I know." Suki's smile faltered just a bit as she remembered something. "He told me about you and Aang by the way. How are you holding up?"

"You should be asking Aang that question. I am the one who broke up with him after all."

"I know. But a break-up is a break-up. And since Aang is off traveling who knows where, I'm asking you."

Katara sighed. "I'm fine, I guess. It needed to happen. But..."

"But what?"

Katara desperately needed to confide in someone, so she told Suki what had been on her mind for the past month. "Before I left, Zuko told me he had feelings for me."

"Really? He did? Finally!" Suki said gleefully. At Katara's shocked and confused expression, she clarified. "Oh come on Katara, it was so obvious!"

"If you say so," Katara muttered.

"So what did you say?"

"Well...nothing."

"Nothing?" Suki repeated in astonishment. "Why? What exactly happened?"

Katara quickly filled Suki in on the pause clause and what she had said to Zuko.

"So, do you not feel the same way about him?" Suki wanted to know.

"I don't know," Katara admitted. "I care deeply for him, I do. But I just don't know if that translates into romantic feelings. I misinterpreted my feelings for Aang and that went horribly wrong. I don't want to go through that again with Zuko."

"I get it," Suki told her. "And it is a really smart move, but you need to tell Zuko that. Otherwise, he may misunderstand."

"I know, I know. The time just doesn't feel right."

Suki stopped her just outside of their hotel. "Katara, if you don't tell him now, then when will you?"

Before Katara could work out an answer, she heard the familiar sound of her brother's voice.

"Suki, you'll never guess who I ran into - oh! Katara!"

Katara turned to greet her brother. "Sokka, it's good to - Aang!"

Aang stood there awkwardly next to Sokka. "Hey Katara."

"Well this is awkward," Sokka said, always needing to point out the obvious.

Suki elbowed him in the ribs before Katara could. "So Aang, what are you doing here?"

"Oh you know, making my way through the Earth Kingdom, doing my Avatar thing." He laughed nervously.

"Right."

"Um, Katara, can I talk to you for a moment?" Aang asked suddenly.

"S-Sure," Katara stammered out.

The two of them entered the hotel and stood awkwardly in the lobby.

"Look, Katara..." Aang began.

"Aang, you really don't have to -"

"Yes I do. Look, I may not entirely understand how things went wrong between us, but I -"

"Lady Katara, Lady Katara!"

Katara turned around to face the man running towards her. She vaguely recognized him as someone who worked at the hotel; the manager perhaps? "Yes?"

"Lady Katara, a messenger hawk has just arrived from the Fire Nation with urgent news."

"If it is from the Fire Lord, you can just leave the message in my room," Katara instructed.

"No, it is from General Iroh, and -"

"Still, you can just leave it in my room."

"But Lady Katara, the message isn't strictly for you, but the General did ask that you be informed."

"Informed of what?" Katara demanded.

"That there has been an assassination attempt on Fire Lord Zuko!"