Disclaimer: I am not the owner.
"A woman can forgive a man for the harm he does her… but she can never forgive him for the sacrifices he makes on her account." -W. Somerset Maugham
"I'd like to talk to the prisoner."
"Be careful Princess Katara," warned the guard, outside the prisoner's cell.
"I will be, now leave us." As soon as the guard had opened the door and was out of sight. Katara rushed into the cell, where the prisoner was chained to the wall. She reached out and wrapped her arms around the prisoner's neck. And when she spoke again it was through tears.
"Why did you do that you could've gotten away?"
"Because if I hadn't you'd be dead."
"But because of your bravery now you're the one to die."
"Katara try to understand I did it to protect you."
"Oh, Zuko, why do our nations have to hate each other so?"
"I don't know Katara, but remember that I love you."
"I love you too, Zuko."
'If I never knew you
If I never felt this love
I would have no inkling of
How precious life can be
And if I never held you
I would never have a clue
How at last I'd find in you
The missing part of me
In this world so full of fear
Full of rage and lies
I can see the truth so clear
In your eyes
So dry your eyes
And I'm so grateful to you
I'd have lived my whole life through
Lost forever
If I never knew you'
Noticing that her tears were making his shirt wet Zuko spoke again.
"Don't cry for me, the banished prince of the country that had killed so many people. I want to see your blue eyes smiling for me one more time." Katara lifted her head from his shoulder and smiled a watery sort-of smile at him.
Zuko spoke again, "Katara without you I never would have seen the evil that my father was doing. I would have been banished to wander the seas forever, but you gave me a purpose, something to fight for."
"Zuko, you've taught me so much, before I met you I thought the people from your nation were all alike, monsters. Monsters like the one that killed my mother. And without you I would've spent my entire life, never getting a chance to experience the world."
'If I never knew you
I'd be safe but half as real
Never knowing I could feel
A love so strong and true
I'm so grateful to you
I'd have lived my whole life through
Lost forever
If I never knew you'
"Katara our time together is something that I'll never forget."
"You won't live long enough to forget," Katara said bitterly.
"Now Katara don't say things like that. I already told you I did it to save your life, and I'd gladly do it again." Katara tried to interrupt, but Zuko wouldn't let her, "Katara, our nations have been fighting for longer than either of us has been alive. We can't change the world alone, even if we are right."
'I thought our love would be so beautiful
Somehow we made the whole world bright
I never knew that fear and hate could be so strong
All they'd leave us were these whispers in the night
But still my heart is singing
We were right'
"Please Zuko; let me tell my father what really happened."
"Do you honestly think that he'll listen? He has the chance to show the world, the death of the son of the world's greatest enemy. Too bad he doesn't know that my father hates me. But he won't pass this opportunity up no matter what you tell him."
"But you were protecting me from that wretch Jet, he going to rape me then kill me. Zuko, please, I just found you I don't want to lose you."
'If I never knew you
If I never knew this love
I would have no inkling of
How precious life can be'
"Katara, I don't regret my decision or any of the moments leading up to now. I only wish that it had been longer."
'There's no moment I regret
Since the moment that we met
If our time has gone to fast
I've lived at last…
I thought our love would be so beautiful
Somehow we'd make the whole world bright'
"Katara the sun has almost set you have to go."
"No Zuko please, I can't I'd rather die with you," Katara said sobbing.
"Then my death would be for nothing. I saved you so that you could live."
"What kind of life can I have without you? I love you."
"And I love you, please Katara I couldn't stand it knowing I died for nothing. Now go."
Katara nodded and whispered, "I love you," one last time. And slowly backed away, touching him as long as possible. Then she turned and ran away sobbing. Zuko watched until he could no longer see her shadow. Then he whispered into the gathering darkness,
"Good bye Katara, I love you now and forever."
'I thought our love would be so beautiful
We'd turn the darkness into light
And still my heart is singing
We were right
We were right
And if I never knew you
I'd have lived my whole life through
Empty as the sky
Never knowing why
Lost forever
If I never knew you.'
Author's Note: Not all clouds have a silver lining and not all stories end with happily ever after. Although, I will admit I make those kinds of stories. This story makes me want to cry.