Judgement

Chapter Ten- Blissful Peace Shattered

The friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you.
-Elbert Hubbard, The Notebook, 1927

Zuko woke up sometime early in the morning. The sun was shining but it wasn't high in the sky yet. He didn't open his eyes yet, feeling strangely happy for some reason.

Then something moved in his arms.

Damn it! His mind shouted. He didn't want to let go and he had to. He had actually hoped that he would have let go in his sleep but apparently that didn't happen. Let go of her and leave the room like you used to. He told himself. It didn't happen. His arms just wouldn't let go of her. In fact, he tightened his grip around her. Fine. She can wake up first. He thought closing his eyes.

Katara sighed and woke up, trying to turn. She found it hard to do so with a pair of arms holding onto her. It wasn't unpleasant or anything but it was strange. Never in a million years would she have thought that she would have woken up in Zuko's arms and not thrown him across the room.

She didn't really want to move though. She was safe, comfortable, warm, and happy in his arms. It felt like she had never gotten separated from her friends, like there was no war, like everything was at peace.

"Zuko." She sighed on accident.

"Hmm?" He answered.

"Are you awake?" She asked then felt his arms move away from her middle and a cold draft hit her. She didn't really care for that feeling.

"No." He grunted before sitting up.

"Uhh…" She sat up watching him get out of bed. "Thanks for last night." She said awkwardly.

"Don't mention it." He sounded serious. "I have to go train but Uncle will bring your breakfast." She smiled at him. "What?"

"No fit about sleeping in?" She teased him in that way that made him want to smile back and pin her to bed to kiss her senseless.

"Shut up." He said throwing on a shirt and headed to the door.

"Okay, any chance I can get out today to walk around?"

"I'm sure Uncle will take you." Zuko waited at the door to see if she wanted anything else. Or he was just taking in the sight. He wasn't quite sure anymore.

"You should go so I can change." She blushed slightly.

"Oh…yeah." He turned around and closed the door softly. Katara smiled like she hadn't in years when he didn't lock the door. He was trusting her.

After he was done training and showering, Zuko walked onto the deck to think. He was doing that a lot lately. Katara was confusing him and he hated it, but it didn't make him mad. (Which really confused him)

It was hard for him to understand what he was feeling. He knew he liked her a lot more than he should, but he didn't understand why he felt like that. It made no sense.

She was the enemy, a pawn in his game, nothing more. He shouldn't have the need to touch her, to be with her, but he did.

His mind wandered as he walked. He wondered what it would be like to have her by his side for the rest of his life. He wanted her there. She wouldn't want to be here. She doesn't like me like that. She doesn't like me at all. His face visibly fell. There's no way I'd force her to stay either. He wouldn't do anything like that to her. He couldn't.

"Zuko!" He heard someone shout. It sounded like Katara. He looked around confused. "Wait up!" He turned to see her running to catch up to him.

"What are you doing Katara?" He asked surprised. "One of my men could have easily-" He saw a strange look cross her face. She looked taken back and confused. "What?" She smiled suddenly.

"You used my name." She stated still smiling. "You've never done that before." Zuko paused.

"Oh…" No I didn't… Did I? He wasn't sure what to say. She saw his awkwardness and decided to help him out even though it was cute to see him so confused.

"Iroh and I were walking and he told me to catch up to you." She told him. "I hope you weren't busy."

"No, it's fine." He replied. "I was just thinking."

"About what?" He wasn't sure how to answer that. There was no way he'd tell her the truth. There was no way he'd tell her he'd wish she'd stay with him. I told her my past and she didn't turn away… He thought. Maybe I could get her to stay…

"Wondering why The Avatar hasn't come to get you yet." He told her. Or not. She laughed.

"Aang's not going to turn himself in just to save me from this." She opened her arms, motioning around the ship. "I haven't exactly been treated like a prisoner here."

"But he doesn't know that." He countered. "He'd do anything to get you back."

"What makes you so sure?" She smiled, thinking she'd cornered him. Her smile disappeared when he quickly turned and backed her against the rail.

"Because it's in his eyes." He whispered putting both of his hands on the rail behind her, pinning her there. "A fire lights up anytime you're close to being in trouble." He smirked when she swallowed nervously. He let out a small laugh as he pressed up against her. His hot breath was tickling her lips and he leaned forward. Katara tilted her head and put her hands on his forearms, like she was afraid he'd back down at the last minute.

"Funny Prince Zuko," His uncle interrupted "I remember seeing that same fire in your eyes when a man tried to go after her just a few days ago and when you found she wasn't in bed." Zuko groaned and pulled away from Katara to glare at his smiling uncle. He'd talk with him later, if he could find a way to put it.

"What do you want Uncle?" He growled. Katara blushed and looked away to the other side of the ship.

"I need to escort Miss Katara back to your room. One of the men has news to discuss with you." Zuko nodded and stepped back from Katara.

"I'll see you tonight Zuko." She smiled before walking away with Iroh.

"Prince Zuko." One of his men addressed him from behind."

"What is it?" He groaned.

"We will have to stop for supplies tomorrow."

"Alright, fine. What's the problem?" That was not a big deal, definitely not big enough to pull him away from the situation he was in.

"The Avatar is there." Zuko froze a moment. "Should we make plans for an attack?"

Zuko didn't reply as he walked away, knowing he had a big problem on his hands now.

Well for those of you who didn't catch the Garth Brooks refrence in the last chptr. It was when Iroh said "A dream is like a river, every chaning as it goes." It's the first line of Garth Brooks' song "The River" so yeah... So, how fed up are you guys with the almost kisses? By the way I'll share something with you about the next chptr. It's called Shoulda Let Her Freeze and it's my favorite chptr title. That's not really important but I though I'd share. Unfortunately it is short but it's an important chptr so... Well anyways, glad to get more reviews! Next chptr should be up soon!

By the way, the title of this chptr kind of ties in with the next chptr just so you guys know.