AN: As an apology for making you wait so long, I decided to do a chapter of fluff; pure, unadulterated, sheer, absolute fluff. So sit back, grab some popcorn and enjoy.

Disclaimer: I won't say it, you can't make me. Never. /a fire ball flies past the author's head/ Fine! I don't own anything. Happy/mumbles and goes back to eating popcorn/

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Zuko sat with his back against the wall, his right knee b
ent and his arm resting on it. Normally, Katara would have been a little hesitant, but tonight she felt bolder. She sat between his legs and, being careful of his ribs, leaned her back against his chest. When his arm slipped off his knee and moved to her waist, she rested her head on his shoulder.

She sighed quietly and smiled. She held the hand in her lap and ran her fingers over it, learning its texture and strength. Gran Gran always told her that you could tell a man's worth from his hands. Smooth hands meant that he had never worked for anything in his life. But, if his hands were rough, it meant that he was willing to work hard to achieve his desires.

Gently she traced a faint scar on the back of his hand. She turned over his hand and lightly ran her fingers over his palm. His hand flexed slightly at her touch but he allowed her to continue her exploration. It was rough, calloused from holding his element, working on the ship and from all the battles he's seen. It was the hand of a working man.

With a smile, she nestled her head back onto his shoulder. There was a faint rumble in his chest and she looked up to see a faint smile on his face. "Are you laughing at me?"

He arched his eyebrow. "Just wondering what you were looking for."

She gave him a sly smile and turned her face into his neck. "Wouldn't you like to know? But I'm not gonna tell you." He tightened his arm around her and she continued to caress his hand.

They began to talk. Well, she talked, he listened. He heard of her home and childhood. He heard about Gran Gran, about Sokka as a child (blackmail for later), about her father and, finally, about her mother.

"She was so beautiful and very kind. She was the only other waterbender I knew. I used to watch her bend for hours. Sokka always called it magic but I could feel it was something different. It was from watching her that I learned some of the first moves I did." She swallowed the lump in her throat. "I only wish she lived to teach me more."

"My mother was… is the same; beautiful and kind. The only time I was happy was when I was with her."

She looked up and saw his eyes far away. "What happened to her?"

His face turned grim. "I don't know. She came in to my room one night, told me to remember that everything she did, she did for me. Then she kissed me goodbye and left. I never saw her again. It was after that that my father became Fire Lord and uncle retired. Without him…"

The hands surrounding his squeezed reassuringly. "But you still have him and you have me. You have the others as well, even Sokka." The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. "And your mother could still be out there. We might be able to find her."

He looked down at her. "We?"

A blush touched her cheeks but she held his gaze. "Yes, we. After this is over, I'll go with you to search for your mother. No matter how long it takes."

He drew her back against him. "Thank you." The words were barely more then air as they tickled her ear. His breath sent tingles down her spine and she leaned into him.

They were silent for a long time. Simply content to be in each other's arms as the night passed. But a nagging thought lodged in the back of Katara's mind. "Zuko?"

"Hm?" His chin continued to rest on her head.

"How did you get your scar?"

Silence followed her question and she could feel his body tense. When he finally spoke, his voice was rough. "That's not a memory I really care to talk about."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked." Her fingers continued to trace the back of his hand as she thought of the possibilities. I've wondered before but the answer never really mattered. But now, I can tell he's not just scared on the outside but on his soul as well. I can't help him heal if I don't know what happened in the first place.

"The first time I was allowed in the war room I was fourteen years old."

She froze, aware of how important this moment was. His hand gripped hers fiercely.

"I had annoyed uncle for weeks until he finally let me join him. He cautioned me to keep silent but I wasn't listening. I was too excited. But the men in there were not the great heroes of legend that I dreamt about. They were men who would betray their own soldiers for their own desires. I was shocked, then I was furious. I spoke out against the general's plan, I challenged his authority. There was to be an Agni-ka, a Fire Duel. I said I wasn't afraid."

She turned to face him but his eyes remained distant, locked on the past as his story unveiled.

"The duel is held at dawn in front of a large crowd. I was so confident, so unafraid. I was given the signal to start and spun around… only to face my father." A gasp escaped her lips but he didn't even hear it. "I fell to my knees, telling him that I was a loyal son. He ordered me to fight. I refused. He still came towards me. I begged him, begged him, to forgive me, to grant me mercy. But he had no mercy in him. He told me I needed to learn and suffering would be my teacher. I closed my eyes as he sent his flame towards my face. The pain was unbearable and I passed out before uncle got me out of the arena. When I woke, I was already on my ship, banished from my home and set with the task of capturing the Avatar, someone who had been missing for a hundred years."

"Oh, Zuko." She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his neck. He could feel the tell tale wetness and hugged her tightly.

"This is the man we're up against. He has no mercy for anyone, especially a boy like Aang. After that day, I refused to ever beg again. I don't rely on the mercy of others, I'll fight to achieve what I want."

Her lips stopped whatever else he was about to say. "I know. But that's what makes you who you are. And I wouldn't have it any other way." She traced her fingers over his scar and kissed him one more time. He relaxed against her and once again she was nestled in his arms.

"You know, that bending I did before, was something my mother used to do. Whenever my father was gone or she was angry at him, she would bend like that. It's one of the few things I remember clearly. She would say that no matter how bad things seemed, the gods have a plan. That they send us hardships to prepare those who have a great destiny before them, so they can stand up to the pressure. And, in the end, the gods will reward them for their suffering and work. So don't lose hope, Hou."

He smiled at the pet name. At least it's better then Zuzu. He captured her lips, showing her just how much like fire he could be. I won't. Not with you here, my water maiden.

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AN: Well, I hope you liked my apology. I'm having trouble thinking about what comes next. So, if anyone has any thoughts, feel free to give me opinion. Alrighty then peoples, until next time. Review please.