Disclaimer: Don't own.

A/N: Thanks to Kimberly T. for the idea! Also thanks to SnoopyGirl213 because, in away, desire also plays into this. And general thanks to all my reviewers! This fic is also being bumped up to T.

Zuko felt something tickling his nose. He was half conscious, not wanting to open his eyes. The sun had risen a while ago but he was warm and comfortable and having a good time remembering the dream he had featuring Katara and himself doing things he could never hope of happening in real life. The tickling increased as he felt a breeze that smelled strongly of the sea. The breeze also cooled the wet spot on his shirt. Wait, wet spot? Deciding this needed to be investigated he forced his eyes open to see his room at the beach house and a mass of dark brown hair belonging to o the star of his dream. Moreover, he deduced, she was drooling on him as she used him as her pillow.

Fighting the first happy thought of Katara's in my bed he pieced together what lead up to them breaking into the beach house. The storm had become worse after the confrontation with Yon Rha forcing them to find shelter. He had known Ember Island was close and made the possibly disastrous decision to take refuge in his house as opposed to a cave. Katara was just sitting in Appa's saddle, looking almost lost and he already knew she was sleep deprived and hungry on top of being wet and cold; she needed dry clothes, a warm meal, and sleep.

He managed to land Appa in the courtyard and convinced the bison to find shelter somewhere out of the rain and, hopefully, return in the morning while Katara gathered what they brought. She stood under the overhang while he tried to manhandle the weather shutters down until he gave up and kicked them down. The kitchen seemed like the best bet for what he needed and, after a bit of searching he played off as not having been there in years, he found the room. After lighting a fire in the hearth, he watched as Katara took out their spare set of clothing as well as their sleeping gear to dry. Zuko tried not to specifically watch her but he was waiting for her to do something.

"How about I make us some food?" He offered as he watched her fuss over spreading out their things to dry. He had already steamed himself dry and wondered when Katara was going to bend the water off her.

"Sure," she answered listlessly.

Zuko proceeded to fumble through cleaning some pots, getting the supplies they had together and sorting out what was waterlogged and what was salvageable, and finally presenting a rather pitiful looking soup and rather (thankfully) weak tea.

Besides the rain there was silence. He watched her gracefully move her hand to bend the water from her clothes before she ate without comment. He really wanted her to say something but was at a loss as to how to get her to speak. Anything he thought of saying sounded wrong. Not to mention that his half thoughts as to why he should be worrying and caring about her so much which he pushed from his mind whenever he looked at her. She was beginning to slightly shake which troubled him.

"I'm going to find us some extra blankets," Zuko wasn't sure that leaving her alone was a good idea but dry blankets seemed like a better one.

Upstairs he quickly found his room where he knew there had been a trunk full of what he sought. He was shaking out the second one when the floor creaked and he spun around, ready to defend himself. Katara stood in the doorway the only feature betraying her was the watery sheen in her eyes when lightning lit the room.

He had no idea what to do. His first thought was what would Uncle do? Which was make tea. He'd done that and it hadn't helped. Azula was no help at all, she would have probably have called Katara weak. Put the blanket around her and hold her whispered his mother's voice. That was all he could go on and did just that.

Wrapping her tightly as they sat on the bed did it. She started crying and babbling about what happened and all he could do was hold her. Somehow, he wasn't sure how, they ended up curled on the bed letting sleep take them.

Now, in the light of day with a drool-covered shirt, he wondered how he could get out of this position without her knowing. No matter what he did, if she woke up with him she would yell at him. Everything would somehow be his fault and he desperately wanted to move past that. Trying to gently maneuver himself out from under her failed horribly as she groaned and burrowed her head into him, trying to fend off wakefulness.

He watched her open her eyes and take in the room. Suddenly her eyes go large while taking in her pillow.

"I drooled on you," was all she had to offer and he hoped that was a good sign. "Zuko, where-"

"My family's home on Ember Island. We haven't used it in some time, no one ever comes here," she seemed satisfied with the answer but he rushed on, not wanting to insight her anger. "I'll go make some breakfast. Then why don't you stay here and I'll go get everyone else? We can hide out here until the comet." Maybe providing for the group would make her forgive him if yesterday didn't.

Katara watched him retreat out of the room. Not once had he judged any of her actions, not once had he questioned her. He just let her do what she needed and took care of her. She missed his warmth and, while going back to sleep sounds wonderful for her slightly aching head, she can't get comfortable again.

Instead she trudged down to where she sort of remembers the kitchen to be to find a bowl of something that could have been porridge if done right as well as all the things needed for her to make tea. She smiled at all this because she's pretty sure that the others are eating about the same thing. As she helped herself to a bowl she realizes something far more important: she doesn't hate Zuko anymore. Besides that she wants to tell him and hold him again. Along with that part of her also really wants to apologize for drooling.