Disclaimer: Don't own.

A/N: This one might be a little more convoluted with the relation between the word and the fic. I'm not sure if I like it thought. Again, thank you to everyone who has reviewed, favorite, or added an alert for this collection! I have up through J done and K is about half way done and trying to come up with a coherent updating schedule as life is about to get hectic.

"My Lord," Zuko had to stop himself from looking around to see whom the servant was addressing. 'Your highness' Zuko was used to, being the 'Lord' he was not. "I know you wish to sleep in your old room tonight, but do you know when you will wish to move into the Fire Lord's suite?"

Zuko's first reaction was "never" but he didn't think he could avoid the rooms entirely. Now was not the time for frivolous thinking. "When we have a definite confirmation that I am Fire Lord and my father's things have been moved into storage and the rooms cleaned." There that was a fair answer.

"What of your things in here, my Lord?"

Pain flared along with annoyance in Zuko. "I don't know all right! Right now I want to lie down and be left alone!" He shouted at the now cowering man. Before Zuko wouldn't have thought anything of making the man cower or the tone he used. Now a part of him, which sounded like a mix of his Uncle and Katara, urged him to apologize. He groaned. "I'm sorry I snapped at you…?"

"Ryo, sir."

"Thank you, Ryo. I'm tired and in pain and, like I said, I just want to be alone right now. In time I will have answers for you."

"Understandable my Lord. One more thing," Zuko really wanted to shove the man out of his room but he didn't think his healing chest would like that. "If you would think of what items you would like to have moved into your new rooms that would be most helpful. I doubt that your old chest of toys should be moved."

His chest of toys…oh the place he hid the things he didn't want Azula to find. "I'll try but please leave." Ryo bowed to Zuko before leaving. Zuko had to stop from flinging himself on to his bed. He knew that would only aggravate his injury so he gently eased himself down.

He wasn't sure if he had actually fallen asleep but he did hear his door opening. "Ryo if that's you-"

"It's me," Katara quickly said. He tried to sit up and noticed how she tried to rush over to him while still carrying a bowl of water. He wanted to laugh; she was a waterbender it didn't matter if any of it spilled. "Let me help you up."

He hated being babied. "I can do it myself," he snapped.

"I know you can but I don't want to have anything extra to heal on you," she quipped back. He knew she was right but that didn't mean he had to like it. "Speaking of which Ryo suggested I come and help you. Does it hurt more? I know I didn't get all of it healed out there and I was going to check on you later but he came and I-"

"Katara you're babbling."

"I'm not! I'm explaining why I'm here! Now be quiet while I work," she looked a little scary with her hand gloved in water and a determined look in her eye. But scary in a good way he decided. He bit back a moan as her water gloved hand moved over the bandages across his chest. She was relieving the worst of his pain and the cooling sensation that went along with her healing felt good as well.

After basking in the sensation for a while he opened his eyes to look at Katara. She looked about how he felt: tired and worn. She had circles under eyes and like she needed a bath and a good meal. Her clothes didn't look any better: they could use at least a wash and maybe a little mending from what he could see.

"Katara," she looked at his face when he said her name. "You should go take care of yourself." She opened her mouth to protest but he cut her off again. "At least take a bath and find a different pair of clothes."

"Where do you suggest I look for those? I didn't exactly bring a whole wardrobe with me when we came here." She sounded annoyed at his suggestion.

"Go get something of Azula's and if anyone questions you tell them I sent you."

She looked away from him and he saw her checks flare red briefly. "I already looked, she's apparently a little taller than me. Her clothes don't really fit right. Plus, no offense, but I don't really want to wear Azula's clothes." He was impressed she had braved looking through his sister's things. He was pretty sure there was a body hidden somewhere in her room.

A thought occurred to him at that moment. "Why don't you take some of my old clothes?"

"Huh?"

"Most of the clothes in the drawers are from when I was thirteen. They don't fit anymore and you might as well use some of them," he offered.

"I…ok." She returned the water to the bowl before going over to the chest of drawers.

"The bottom two have shirts and pants," he really didn't want her to look around what had been where he kept his underclothes. He watched her grab a few items from each drawer, she seemed to be appraising each one. "You can change in the bathroom if you want. No one's coming back here for awhile."

"That sounds good," she walked quickly out of the room with the bundle of clothes clutched to her.

He was just falling back asleep when she came back out. She was dressed in one of his simple black short-sleeve shirts that appeared to be belted at least twice around her waist and a pair of grey pants that looked like they fit her a little better. A fierce possessiveness grew within him at the sight of her in his clothes. Never mind he had out grown them long ago, they were still his and on her.

"I hope you don't mind but I'm going to take a few of the other things as well. Someone else from our group might need something mended," he couldn't fault her for being practical at a time like this.

"Sure," he didn't like how raspy his voice sounded then. He gulped. "Take whatever you need." He watched her take a few more items out of the drawers.

Arms full she came over to his bed and leaned down to kiss him on the check. "Thank you," she whispered, "for everything."