*All important disclaimer! I don't own anything! This was made for fun! Anything from the show or the real world not mine! Any reviews or helpful suggestions are accepted. Anything rude will be ignored. Characters a mostly OC, a bit of my alter ego's might slip in here and flames on the pairings or how Emotional Aang might be will be totally ignored. This is a Zutara story, I never cared for KatAang even when the show was going on. Aang will grow up I promise so please bare with me. Any helpful suggestions are appreciated. All haters and flamers please take your mean reviews and use them to thaw your cold hearts.*

Katara dove into her school work with a fever. Anything to distract herself from Aang, her father, the fact that she might not be his child. Her professors noted that she finished most of the course work early and suggested she see the counselor. But before that could happen, the admissions office informed her that payment was past due for her courses. She immediately called Sokka who begrudgingly told her that their father was taking this to a whole new personal level and has stopped payment for her schooling. But he also told her not to worry, he was arranging for their mothers trust fund that she had set up for her to pay. Katara tearfully thanked Sokka. Sokka smiled through the phone as he waved his receptionist in, "no problem little sister. Also... you might wanna take this chance to think about other things besides dad and Aang." "Like what?" Katara groaned. "Like if being a doctor is what you've always wanted. Just a suggestion. But if you ever wanted to change your major, now would be the time to do it. Talk to you soon, tell Suki I said hi."

Katara went into her desk drawer and pulled out a scrap book her grandmother had given her for graduation. Inside was precious memories. Mainly of the four of them. But towards the back, treasured memories of her mother and her. Pictures were displayed with drawings Katara had done throughout the years on every page. Next to water-bending, art had been Katara's passion when she was younger. Even now during lectures, her notebooks were covered in doodles and drawings. 'Why did I ever stop?' she pondered. Then she remembered, her father had wanted her to make a smart career choice, being an artist didn't always pan out for people. She closed the book and put it back in her dresser. 'Perhaps next fall semester I will take a few art classes,' she thought to herself as she walked downstairs.

"Tara get over here! We need a tie breaker!" Toph called from the couch. Suki sat on the recliner while Zuko occupied the other half of the couch. "Sure what is going on you guys?" Toph smiled, "as you know spring break is like two weeks away, and Suki thought it would be fun to hit the beach. Frankly I agree with her, but since brother Sparky has the car his vote counts twice." "I am not interested alright." "Well since that crap with Mai you've been about as much fun as a root canal so hush you," Toph quipped. Zuko flushed slightly but said nothing. Katara smiled "well I know Jet is planning on visiting his family, they have a place down the the eastern sea. Why don't we tag along?" Both girls squealed and hugged Katara as Zuko groaned an let his head fall back onto the couch.

Two weeks came and went, Zuko and Jet loaded the bags into the rust bucket. Toph sat on the curb apologizing to her feet. Suki and Katara waited patiently next to Toph, Katara could not wait, this was just the distraction she needed. Zuko panted as he leaned out the door, "we're all set. All aboard." Toph sighed and murmured, "the beach better be worth it." The trip would take about four hours, most of which Katara planed on sleeping. She didn't sleep much anymore, the night next to Zuko was the only restful sleep she'd had in a while. 'I can't go to him every time I can't sleep. I mean, its confusing enough right now. I can't complicate our friendship.'

Katara slept on Jet's bed, as best as she could any way. Her stress never allowed much rest. Groggily Katara awoke to Suki shaking her. "Tara we're at a rest stop, do you need anything?" Katara shook her head and resumed her sleep. Suki exited the rust bucket and informed the others that Katara was gonna stay asleep. They walked into the main building to pick some munching food and drinks. Toph sighed as she enjoyed the sweet ground against her feet. Suki chewed on her lower lip, "You think it was wise to bring Katara? She seems so exhausted..." Toph snorted, "All the more reason to bring her. She needs a vacation, and getting ogled by beach boys in her its-y-bitsy bikini is usually the best medicine." Zuko head locked his stepsister and gave her a nuggy.

After a twenty minute rest they took off again. Zuko dosed slightly in the navigators seat, long car rides left him drowsy usually. He stood and mumbled something about taking a nap. Without a second thought he crawled onto Jet's bed next to Katara. She turned to him groggily, he smiled, "only comfortable place." She nodded and he laid down. Suki came in later to tell them that they'd be arriving in forty-five minutes and found Katara sprawled on Zuko's chest. She snickered as she quietly pulled out her phone, but Zuko mumbled, "do it and you die Suk." A sly smiled came over her face as she pressed the picture button. Zuko went to lunge at her, but Suki ran out throwing over her shoulder, "get her up! We'll be there soon!" Zuko growled and looked down at the girl cuddled up to him. He smiled, 'a guy could get used to this.'

Katara mumbled something and woke softly. She was warmer than before, she chanced a glance up to find Zuko looking down at her. His face was almost unreadable, minus the obvious content in his eyes. She smiled at him and sat up, her massive tendrils everywhere. "I need to remember to tie my hair back when I sleep," she muttered to herself as she attempted to tame her mane. Zuko chuckled as he too sat up, his back against the head board. "I don't know, you rock the bed head look." Katara snickered and nudged him. "Did I really sleep the whole way here?" Zuko nodded and his cell phone went off, a text from Lu Ten. "Damn cuz! You hooked up with her and your not even at the beach, luck SOB!" Zuko's eyebrow twitched.

Katara twisted his wrist so she could read it and laughed. "No worries Sparky," she chuckled and Zuko stared at her. She smiled, "he's just jealous." Zuko chuckled and stood, "well I am going to see if there is any food left, want me to scrounge you something?" Katara nodded and told him she'd be right out. When Zuko left Katara could not help herself, she'd planned on snooping through Jet's stuff, find something interesting or fun or both. Nothing in his drawers, except a bong with some weed. 'Boring. Just looking at him screams toker,' Katara thought to herself. It was his side table that Katara found the real treasure. It was a framed photo of him and Azula. He was kissing her cheek and she seemed... well not repulsed by it. 'Well there is one mystery solved, Jet's mystery girl is Azula...' Katara thought to herself as she stuffed the photo back where she'd found it {next to a empty box of condoms}. 'Ew!'

Jet decided the for warn all those who haven't met his family yet. Namely Katara and Suki. "OK, so the thing is. My family is crazy! My mother is an over emotional eater while my father is a laid back draft dodger, an little while after I was born my 'rents decided to become foster parents and well the Duke, Tiny and Long-shot are adopted. SmellerBee is Long-shot's fiance but she is pretty much part of the crew..." Katara asked quickly, "are these their real names?" "The Duke is, we just added the "The" part to make him feel apart of everything. Tiny's real name is Derick, Long-shot is Even and SmellerBee is Claire but don't ever call them by their real names, unless you want the ass kicking of your life. Remember Zuko?" Zuko groaned and Toph nearly toppled over laughing. Jet continued, "Long-shot doesn't say much so don't be offended if he doesn't say two words to you. That's what SmellerBee is for. The Duke will be attached to Tiny's hip since he is the youngest and is still in school. We wont see my parents really, off doing god knows what..." He shuddered. "They aren't exactly discreet on personal things if you know what I mean."

Suki and Katara laughed and said that it seemed like a lot of fun. When they arrived at the beach house Katara reveled in the salty breeze. The structure was as single story pole house. All along the house was palm trees, the big leaves created a privacy fence. Zuko and Jet unloaded as Toph made dirt angels. "Ground! Sweet earthy ground!"

"JETTY! OH MY JETTY'S COME TO VISIT HIS MOMMY!" a high pitch female voice squealed from the deck above. Jet's spine stiffened and he murmured to his friend, "if I don't make it, you can have the rust bucket." a short portly woman with brunette hair ran down the stairs and embraced Jet tightly. "Whoa Bernadette, let the boy breathe a minute." a laid back man called from up top. "But Mitchel I rarely see my baby!" Mitchel had dark messy hair like his son, a fussy Afro. "The boy can't breath Bern." he stated as he light the pipe in his mouth. Indeed Jet was turning blue. "And look, he brought Zuko."

Zuko panicked and almost made it back into the rust bucket when Bernadette nabbed him by the waist. Jet quickly motioned for the girls to follow him upstairs. Toph refused, she said she would camp out on the ground where she could see. Upstairs Suki and Katara marveled at the tropical feel of the house. Lawn chairs decorated the wrap around deck. Inside the house was a small kitchen, medium sized living room and the rest of the house was dedicated to six bedrooms. A boy, about thirteen sat on the futon/couch watching cartoons. "The Duke, how ya been kiddo!" Jet called from the doorway. "JET!" The Duke exclaimed, as he vaulted the couch. He embraced Jet far gentler than his mother. Zuko came into the doorway panting, his clothes disheveled. He glared at Jet as he and The Duke chuckled.

Tiny and Long-shot came in a few hours later from surfing. Tiny, contrary to his name was the largest of them all. He was almost a good six foot seven and built like a boar-cupine. Long shot was incredibly handsome, but his fiance Smellerbee was apparently the jealous type. Bernadette made a large celebratory diner. The first fe days seemed to fly by. On the third day Katara walked out onto the beach in the early morning. The pull of the sea was amazing, a unbreakable connection. The sound of steam over the next dune caught Katara's attention. She walked over to find Zuko going through his bending motions. Flame erupted from his palms and fists. A thin layer of sweat coated his body. Katara felt her face flush, Zuko looked good. And that was an understatement. 'No Katara, it's barely been a month since breaking up with Aang. Your not ready...right?'

Zuko finished his work out and sighed. Katara clapped which caused him to jump. He turned to find Katara applauding him, wearing a dark blue bikini top and short shorts. 'Easy Zuko, she just broke up with her boyfriend. No need to ogle her like a piece of meat.' "Your good, with your control." Katara complimented. Zuko shrugged as he wiped off with his towel. "Care to spar with me?" Katara asked. Zuko quirked his eyebrow, "I am not stuck with just basics little water-bender." Katara's eyes steeled as she summoned water from the ocean. "My grandfather is a master bender, he taught me all I know."

Their match lasted for an hour. Zuko was surprised about how evenly matched they seemed to be. Katara brought a wave to propel herself forward and Zuko conjured a wall of fire and evaporated it. Thus causing Katara to fall, on top of him panting. Zuko groaned lightly as Katara burst into giggles. "How about we call it a draw?" she stammered out as she continued her fit. Zuko chuckled and before he could help himself he cupped her cheek and stared into her blue hues. Katara ceased her giggles and stared wide eyed back at him. Both their hearts sped up, Katara inclined her head just a hairline. Zuko felt himself inching forward towards her lips. "Hey Sparky! Jet is heading into down and wants to know if your coming!" Toph bellowed from the top of the dune. Her face morphed into a grin, "I'm not interrupting anything am I?" Katara merely blushed darkly while Zuko muttered no. Her grin widened, "I can tell your lying!" Zuko growled then leaped up and chased Toph over the dune, and all Katara could do was giggle.

*Sorry it's taken so long! This chapter I had to re-write and re-edit like twice. And I'm not all that happy with it but I feel if I keep trying to force it I might lose interest! It's important to me not to just jump into a relationship with Z and K. Thanks for all the reviews!*