Katara was eating a small plate of shrimp, admiring the general splendor. She notice Toph and Aang laughing, clearly comfortable with each other. She saw her parents talking to some Earth Kingdom merchants, clearly recovered from the previous incident.

"Enjoying yourself?"

Katara whirled around, surprised that someone had snuck up on her.

"Don't worry, I completely understand. People can be fascinating." Katara noticed the words coming from a girl just younger than her. She had dark hair and was distinctly fire nation. She wore a gold flame piece on her head. The girl smirked at Katara, and nodded at her. Katara took the hint and bowed, though not a deep as the girl probably wished.

"Princess Azula, of the fire nation," she said, her eyes flashing. "You know, you arrived a lot earlier than the other water tribe dignitaries," she said while checking her fingernails. "Why is that?"

Katara was surprised at the Princess' forwardness, of course, it would be natural for someone in her position. "Well I'm not a watertribe dignitary. I was raised in Gaoling, with the Bei Fongs. I'm Katara," said Katara.

Azula looked up, clearly interested. So this watertribe peasant was raised in the Earth Kingdom. How interesting, thought Azula. Normally Azula wouldn't take any interest in such a girl, but she had clearly interested Zuko, and Azula loved to torment him. She saw him staring at her earlier. To any passerby, his face would have appeared completely uninterested in anything around him, but to Azula, she saw his eyes focus on the blue eyed girl with rapt attention. Azula had to admit, the girl was pretty. In a lowly peasant sort of way. Now how can I use this against Zuko, Azula mused. She turned her attentions back to the girl, "How lovely. So will you be here the whole event?"

Katara shifted uncomfortably. Azula seemed nice, but her instincts were telling her this girl was a venomous snake that she should stay far, far away from. "Yeah, as long as my family wants to." Katara looked around, hoping for a means of escape. She saw a young man headed in her direction. He strode purposefully towards them while Katara's breathing hitched. He had dark black hair, some of which was pulled back onto his head, wearing a gold flame insignia. He had piercing golden eyes that bore into her. Breathe Katara, breathe. He's just a boy, she reasoned.

Azula noticed the stare the water tribe peasant was giving her brother. Now this, she thought, this is going to be interesting.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Toph heard her sister's heartbeat increase and stopped listening to Aang's chatter to key in on her sister. She seemed uncomfortable with the girl next to her earlier, but her breathing patterns had changed as a someone approached their party. His steps were determined and showed confidence.

"Toph? Toph? Helloooo? Earth to Toph?" Aang nearly shouted in her ear.

"What? Oh sorry. I was just listening, sorry. What were you saying?" Toph answered, her cheeks pink from the constant attention from the Avatar. Whatever Katara was dealing with could wait.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Katara looked at the man intently. She recognized him, but the memory was hazy. He looked almost like the man from her dreams, but her memories from the dreams were fleeting. Katara tried not to stare at him but he was incredibly handsome. She looked away hoping that he hadn't noticed her earlier staring. Which he hadn't, because he was too busy trying to look at her discreetly.

The looks did not escape Azula's notice however, and she tried not to laugh. How could her brother be so besotted with a waterbending peasant? "Oh, where are my manners? This is my brother, Crown Prince Zuko." She said the word Prince with a slight condescension, indicating that they were significantly higher in rank than Katara.

After Azula's words, Zuko snapped back into focus. Of course, what was he thinking? He bowed deeply, signifying respect. Bowing isn't going to get me anywhere. Perhaps I'll do something a little more impressive to keep her attention, he thought. He then grabbed her hand and kissed the soft skin there. "Enchanted. I'm Prince Zuko. It's a pleasure to meet you." He saw that his actions had the intended response as she looked away shyly, blushing a bit. Then her eyes regained their usual fire as she bowed back to him.

"I'm Katara Bei Fong. It's a pleasure to meet you, your excellency." Her blush disappeared as she resolved to not be silly in his presence. He's a Prince, I'm sure he has plenty of women courting him. He probably uses those lines on all of them, she reasoned with herself. The idea was to shut him out ahead of time to avoid the inevitable broken heart, because falling for royalty was not a good idea. She resolved to be polite and friendly, but would not let herself fall in love.

Zuko felt his heart wrench at her forced distance. You don't even know her. Stop. You can't fall in love with this girl, you've only just met her, he chastised himself. Then why do I feel so drawn to her? This obviously goes beyond hormones, this is deeper, even spiritual. He composed himself. "Please call me Zuko. I see you've already met my sister, Azula." Azula smiled sinisterly at the mention of her name.

Katara was already wary of Azula, and decided to take her leave. She was beginning to feel tired already. Or that's what she told herself anyway. "Yes, now if you'll excuse me, I believe I'm going to take my leave for the evening, I'm feeling a bit tired after all this traveling." Katara began to step back. She had just turned around when she felt a hand around her wrist. It wasn't exactly a tight grip, but she felt the strength in it.

"Please don't go yet. The dancing hasn't even started yet," Zuko pleaded. "Please, at least honor me with a dance before you leave." If Zuko could just get her away from Azula, who was the obvious source of the girl's discomfort, then everything would be fine and he could woo her accordingly.

Katara saw the pleading in his eyes and her expression softened. How could she deny him that? Better yet, how could she deny herself that? Besides, a dance wouldn't hurt anyone. She heard the instruments strike up a melody for the first waltz. She nodded at Zuko, ignoring Azula. "I suppose I could stay for a dance. But just one," she said softly, resolved to not let this become like some fairy tale in her mind.

Zuko held her wrist delicately, leading her out to the dance floor. The floor was beginning to fill up with couples. She saw her parents, as well as Toph and Aang. Aang held her close, but not too close. Toph wasn't quite ready to let him that close to her yet, but with time she would warm up to him and he would slip past the blind Earthbender's numerous and well built walls. She saw Iroh watching Zuko and her with a knowing smile. They saw Iroh head over to King Bumi to discuss what had been happening that evening.

Zuko put his right hand around her waist, near her lower back, and held her right hand ins his left. Her hand felt soft and cool in his warm hand. As the dance began she put her hand on his shoulder tentatively, and began to dance. As they twirled around the ballroom Zuko noticed that Katara was the embodiment of her element. Graceful and fluid, even on the dancefloor. He enjoyed holding her in his arms, but longed to know more about her. Oh spirits, he sighed inwardly, this girl is going to be the death of me.

"So tell me Katara, Bei Fong is an Earth name, but you can't be Earth Kingdom," he began, hoping to get to know her better.

She leaned into him a bit on impulse and looked into his eyes to answer his question. She was surprised that he wanted to get to know her. She assumed he would be a bit reserved and posh due to his title. "That's correct. I'm watertribe, from the southern tribe my parents suspect. The Bei Fongs found me when I was a year old and raised me alongside their own daughter. I was raised in Gaoling with them. That was over sixteen years ago, and I've been living with them ever since," she answered warmly.

"How interesting. So are you a waterbender? Forgive me, I don't mean to pry," he stumbled over his words. "I just wish to get to know you better."

He smiled when he said that. She liked when he smiled, it really opened up his whole face. "Yes, I'm a master actually," she answered proudly. "I trained under Master Pakku in the North Pole."

She's a master waterbender? I'll have to watch her sometime since I've never seen a lot of waterbending. "I know Pakku, he's a friend of my Uncle's. They go far back. I've only met him a few times. He seems very grumpy . . " he said with a sour look on his face.

Katara laughed softly. "He can be. When I first met him, he refused to train me. I had to actually fight him to convince him to train me. He says I'm the best student he's ever had. But enough about me, tell me about your family. I've already met your sister," she trailed off at the memory.

Zuko saw a look of confusion cross her face. "Yeah, sorry, Azula can be . . . abrasive." He stopped when he saw her giggle. "What is it?"

She was looking over his shoulder, trying to hide her laugh. "Azula is dancing with someone from the Earth Kingdom. A general's son I believe." Her face switched between concern for you young man, and laughing at the look of discomfort on Azula's face as she was swept onto the ballroom floor.

Zuko looked at Azula in shock. Though Azula excelled in firebending, she did not excel in dancing because she always tried to leave. Katara and Zuko mused over the situation, watching the comical partners. Azula trying to lead, then remembering that she wasn't supposed to. The young man seemed unbothered by this, and kept dancing and chatting with Azula pleasantly.

As the dance ended Zuko and Katara bowed to each other, but neither let go of the other's hand, afraid for the moment to end and shatter.

Azula stomped off to some Earth Kingdom guards that were wearing cone like hats. She was speaking to their advisor and commander, Long Feng, fervently. To any passerby, however, they looked as casual as though they were discussing the weather.

"I guess I had better be going now . . ." Katara said softly as the next song began.

Zuko looked down at Katara, deciding what to say. He could let her leave and maybe never see her again, or he could ask her to dance again.

"Katara, I would be honored if you would partner me for the next dance," he said, his expression hopeful.

Katara didn't want to admit how much she wanted to keep dancing with him. Her resolve shattered when she noticed that neither of them had unclasped their hands. Instead of saying anything, she took a step closer to him and put her hand on his shoulder, signifying her answer.

He put his hand on the silk green sash around her waist and relished in the idea of never letting her go. If could, the musicians would play forever and they would never have to say goodnight. While staring at Katara and listening to her breathing sounded appealing, he decided against it and began to talk to her, and listen to what she had to say. They spoke of philosophy, family, politics, and the meeting events. When the dance ended, he asked her to dance with him again. And again, and again. They spoke and danced until the moon hung low in the sky. Near the end of the evening he led her through outside, through an arch. They were on a large patio that led to the gardens below.

They stood by the railing for a moment, bathed in the moon's pale light, basking in the warmth of the evening. Both hearts were beating in time, while they avoided thinking about anything but what would happen at the end of the two weeks.

Zuko was the first to break the silence. "Katara, would like to walk in the gardens with me?" he asked gently. Katara nodded and they started down the path. The path was covered with panda lillies, large trees, and flowers that Katara couldn't even name. They stopped at a pond of turtleducks. The turtleducks glided softly on the water, calling to each other quietly.

"My mother used to feed the turtleducks with me when I was a child," Zuko said, looking at the ducks fondly. Their hands were entwined, but Katara reached up to touch her necklace with her other hand instinctively.

After a pause, he continued. "I wish you could've met her. She wa amazing. She was intelligent, courageous, and absolutely devoted to the nation."

Katara had heard of Fire Lady Ursa, and knew she had died in some accident a few years prior. It wasn't very many years after the death of her husband, if she remembered correctly. "I wish I could've too," she said. "She must've been amazing to raise you so well," she said. Katara saw his face fill with emotion at those words. "I''m sure she would've been proud of you, Zuko."

Zuko looked at her, his gold eyes childlike. "Do you really think that?"

"With all my heart. In the short time I've known you, you've convinced me that you are a kind, thoughtful, intelligent, and brave man."

Zuko looked at her for a moment before taking a step closer to her. They were standing centimeters apart.

Katara's breathing stopped as his eyes stared into hers. His face slowly inched towards hers and stood on her toes to meet him and he leaned down. Their lips met in a soft kiss that made Katara's heart flutter and head lighten. The pulled apart, staring intently at the other. The both smiled, and Zuko put his arm around her waist as he lead her back to the balcony. As they approached the doors, he removed his arm, but stood near her, not wanting to ruin her reputation. It wasn't seen as good conduct to kiss someone the first evening they had met. Both Zuko and Katara spoke softly, promising to see each other the next day after parting to meet up with their families. Both spent the rest of the evening stealing glances at the other and smiling unashamedly at the memory of their first kiss.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Zuko's departure with Katara was noticed by several people. The first saw it as an opportunity to torment and possibly ruin him, using the water wench. The second saw it as something much desired for the young prince, for he had been alone for too long. The third, noticed with concern for her sister and her heart, but with enough faith in her to trust her. The last saw the departure as a chance for his daughter to make a good match and bring the family more wealth.

Of course, nobody mentioned the stolen moments outside to Zuko or Katara that evening in fear of spoiling their plans.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

A/N so what do you think? And who can guess which point of view comes from which person at the end?