Here comes another gushy chapter, so prepare yourselves for the obvious scenario! Oh, there are no kisses or anything like that, only moments that would make a studio audience go "awww," when prompted. I must warn you, tho…this is short…But, enjoy! And keep reviewing!

Chapter Nine

Katara shivered and sent a dark look towards Iroh and Zuko. They were warm. They weren't lying in the sand beneath a thin blanket freezing to death. No! They weren't. She was. And did they care? Of course not. Why? Because they were warm. Stupid firebenders.

Her teeth began to chatter. "Great. It's summer time, for crying out loud! Can't I get a break?"

"Apparently not." Katara sighed, huffing out a breath. This was not going to be a good night. If only she had looked harder to find firewood instead of getting lost in all the flowers and streams…

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Zuko woke to the sound of chattering teeth. Confused, he looked around. And that's when he spotted Katara a few feet away. She was huddled beneath her blanket, shivering and shaking, body curled into a ball.

Shaking his head, Zuko rose and walked over to her. Without saying a word, he lay down beside her and wrapped his arms around the shivering waterbender. At first she stiffened but, as his body warmth seeped into her, Katara snuggled closer.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Go to sleep," Zuko said roughly.

Warm now, Katara resisted the urge to laugh. Instead, she moved closer to Zuko, her head against his chest. For such a seemingly cold person, he did seem rather warm. And surprisingly nice. Katara sighed and drifted off to sleep in the arms of the firebender.

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As the sound of Katara's chattering teeth did down, Iroh opened his eyes and smiled. The two were getting closer. And in a surprisingly short time. Oh, he was no fool; he knew that the two teens thought their dance the night before was just a dream…or at least they were trying to convince themselves it was a dream. Still, there was hope. Hope for Zuko, hope for everyone.

Toph's sightless eyes snapped open. She felt something. Shaking the sleep from her mind, the earthbender rose to her knees and placed her hands on the ground, trying to "see" what was wrong. And she saw. There was Aang, hidden in his own little mound of earth, trying to muffle the sounds of his tears. Without hesitation, Toph left her earthen tent and approached him, making just enough sound to warn him she was coming.

"You all right, Twinkle Toes?" she asked.

Aang didn't answer. Concerned, Toph put her hand on the earthen mound. And then snatched it away, shocked. She had "seen" his face! Molded by the earth that surrounded all but his mouth, Aang's face was quite visible through the rock and dirt.

"Aang," Toph said, her voice holding a note of uncertainty. "Please, come out."

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Aang ignored Toph's first entreaty but, when he heard the fear in her voice the second time, he let his shelter fall. The tears in his eyes disappeared when he saw the astonishment on the earthbender's face.

"What is it, Toph?" he asked her, moving forward slowly.

She shook her head. "I saw you…"

Aang stopped. "What?"

"I saw you in there, Aang…I—" she turned away. "Never mind."

"Toph?"

She sighed. "You were crying. I heard you and came to see what was wrong but when I touched the earth…I saw you, Aang. I saw you."

Aang's heart stilled. "What's wrong, Toph?"

Toph moved closer and reached out her hand. Aang took it without thinking. "You're…nice."

"N-nice?" Aang asked, his voice squeaking.

Toph gave a rare smile. "Yeah. Nice."

Aang smiled in return. "That's nice."

Katara dreamt she was in Zuko's arms. They were dancing again, but this time they weren't bending on the ship. No. This time, they were in a great, majestic hall colored in the Fire Nation style.

They were at the center of attention, but she didn't mind. She didn't mind because he was there with her, smiling with his golden eyes looking straight into hers.

"You look lovely, Katara."

She smiled, happy. But there was something odd about him, something different…And that's when she noticed. His scar. It was gone. "Zuko," she whispered, "your scar…"

Zuko smiled again. "It was never there, not really."

With a sigh, Katara leaned her head on his shoulder. "I could dance all night with you, Zuko." Suddenly she frowned. "But this is a dream. Like the other one."

"No. Not like the other one," he replied. "This may be a dream but the other wasn't. You know it wasn't."

"What?"

Abruptly, she found herself on the ship again, facing Zuko…and herself. They looked so beautiful together it was heartbreaking. Water and fire swirled together, nearly one element. So lovely.

"Do you see?"

Katara turned to find the other Zuko standing just behind her. "Yes."

Another smile. He lifted his hand to her chin and turned her head back to the sight. "Watch."

And she did. She saw she and Zuko lean in, eyes closing, and then kiss. Gasping, Katara touched her own tingling lips. "Not a dream?" she asked. But there was no answer. Turning, the unscarred Zuko was nowhere to be seen. And then…

"Never a dream, Katara."

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Zuko found himself falling into her eyes. They stood back at the North Pole oasis. This time, though, they were older. She looked so lovely. Her blue eyes sparkled and her hair, freed, blew gently out behind her. He lifted his hand to her cheek.

"Katara…"

She laughed gently and lifted her hand to his scar, mirroring his actions. "Zuko?"

He pulled back. "My scar…"

She laughed again. "Was never really there."

"But…"

Another brilliant smile. "We're at the North Pole, Zuko." And with those she leaned down, encasing her hand in water from the oasis. Gently, still smiling, she lifted her hand back to his scar and began to heal him.

Zuko shook his head. "This is just a dream. A dream just like the other, Katara."

"No," she said. "Not like the other. The other wasn't a dream. And this doesn't have to be, either. Not if you don't want it to be."

"What?"

"Shh." She placed a finger on his lips. "Just feel, Zuko," she said, before kissing him lightly.

When she pulled back, he cocked his head to the side, losing himself in her sapphire eyes. "It wasn't a dream?"

"Never a dream, Zuko."

They woke at the same time, just as the sun was rising, still locked in the mists of dreams. Katara and Zuko smiled at each other.

"Hello," Zuko whispered.

"Hello," Katara whispered back, smiling.

They leaned forward, lips coming closer and then…

"Good morning, Zuko, Katara!"

The two took one horrified look at Uncle Iroh and scrambled back. It was just a dream! Or was it?

"Never a dream."

Did you like it? Sorry it's so short, but school work, you know? Chemistry sucks, by the way...Anywho...review! I love them all, so review, review, review (funny, my chem. teacher said nearly the exact same thing today...weird...)!

Oh, and to all those who reviewed last time...and the times before that...you are like, the key stone...yeah...the key stone...