-Chapter 14- I'm Yours Tonight

"I don't think he'll be avoiding his room again anytime soon."

.

Katara had no idea where to even begin. The palace was large, and she only knew certain hallways- unlike the prince who probably knew all his home's secret passages and shortcuts. Taking a deep breath, she set off. She wandered hallways and peered into gardens for the next hour. What could all these rooms really be used for? Surely no one lived in them all.

She stumbled into a large courtyard, the hallway opening into a covered path. A single tree stood guard over a pond. She saw two figures in red, one sitting, one standing near the water's edge. As Katara continued to walk the path, she finally saw the two women's faces. She recognized Ozai's wife and daughter and silently wondered if either of them knew where Zuko was. She wasn't sure if it was smart to march over and ask, especially knowing the young princess was a superb firebender. She assumed her patience with servants was worse than her brother's. The conversation drifted to her as she passed them.

"-taking the news badly," Princess Azula said. "Though all the practice might do him some good."

Lady Ursa frowned. "Azula, your brother is very close to your Uncle and cousin, you know that."

"Yes," the girl replied, almost bored with the conversation. She said something else her Mother didn't seem to agree with.

"We don't talk like that Azula." Lady Ursa rose from her seat near the pond's edge. "Family is-" The wind took her words in the wrong direction just as Katara moved back into the palace building. She would need to ask Zuko what the message was about when she found him; she was curious what could work him up so badly.

Just as she was about to give up her search, Katara heard a shout and a familiar male voice call out 'Again'. She increased her pace and charged into a room with wall panels slid wide open to create a breeze. Three guards stood in ready position facing Zuko who had his back to her. When she walked onto the training floor, the guards turned to her. Zuko followed their gaze. She spoke before anyone could stop her.

"Prince Zuko," she stated, bowing her head. "I'd like to speak with you. In private."

"The prince has no-"

Zuko held up his hand in a gesture of silence.

"Shut the panels and leave us." He turned away from Katara and waited the room was sealed and empty. It was only them now.

"Katara-"

"Where have you been? I thought you'd gone off and gotten injured again when you didn't come back." She moved to talk to his face, but the prince looked away again.

"I don't deserve your sympathy."

"Why?" Katara asked. "Zuko you have to tell me what's wrong or I can't fix it next time. What did I do that you won't look at me when I'm trying to speak to you?" Where had the strong-willed yet spoilt prince gone?

"You didn't do anything wrong. I did. I can't forgive myself. And being drunk isn't an excuse, I don't want to become my father or Zhao in that regard." He shivered.

"I don't-"

"But I can give you a chance to make up for it. Fight me. It will be like an Agni Kai. It's the most honorable way."

"Zuko. You didn't-"

"Now!" He stepped into his stance and blasted a fireball in her general direction. Panicked, Katara found the barrel of drinking water in the corner of the room and pulled the liquid into a shield. A single floating cup clattered to the floor as the water took shape. The shield held back the blast but fell apart the moment the flames vanished. A wave of panic fell over her and she hurriedly scanned the room for witnesses.

"There's no one here. You're free to bend as you wish."

"I don't want to fight Zuko," Katara said, dropping her hands. Her water receeded with them. "I want to talk."

"There's nothing to talk about," Zuko replied. He bowed his head for a moment before stepping forward and throwing two flaming punches in quick succession. Katara pulled more water to her hands to block the flames before attempting her own attack.

Her practice in the bathroom came in handy when the water whip snapped across Zuko's shoulder, just inches from where she intended. He flinched but responded with a fire blast from his left foot. She stepped into a new form, pulling the water from the ground up with her motion to avoid the flames.

Katara had never before had the chance to spar with anyone. The only fights she had seen were in the arena, and they were much different from this one. Though she had only watched the prince bending in a fight once, she knew he was holding back. He was obvious about it. It made her wonder why he was so eager to make her fight if he was just going to play defensive. He obviously was not going to just talk about the situation like she wanted, and she couldn't focus on her bending while trying to make him answer her questions.

She threw a ball of water at him while cursing his pigheadedness. The liquid froze midair into a solid ice sphere, crashing into the stone column where Zuko's body had been moments before.

Katara paused, shocked. Stepping away from the flames blasted in her general direction and shielding herself with another stream of water, Katara thought about the ice. It shouldn't surprise her; water and ice were the same element. She had used ice once before, though it had been an accident and she wasn't quite sure how she did it.

Frustrated, Katara blew out a large sigh. The center of her water shield froze.

Breath.

That was how she could freeze the water. Katara smiled and tried another water whip. It splashed against Zuko's chest, bits of ice clinging to his pants as she exhaled. For as much as she had not wanted to fight at first, she was learning more then she could have asked for.

Then Katara noticed something else: Zuko seemed to be moving slower now. The ice was getting in his way. It gave Katara an idea. If she could stop him in his tracks, since she didn't know how to win otherwise, he would be a captive audience and would be forced to talk to her and answer all her questions. The prince seemed to notice her grin.

Katara tried to use the water whip, the move fast becoming her favorite, to hit each part of her opponent and freeze them separately. Zuko dodged them with more effort, and she realized she needed a faster way to do this or her endurance would run out long before his.

Katara was not used to this strenuous exercise. Her physical muscles and her ability to focus on manipulating water this quickly still needed practice. Luckily, an idea hit her. She called the rest of the water from the barrel, pulling it around herself in an impromptu shield to block Zuko's latest fire blasts. Then with the momentum gained as she spun, she flung the wave at Zuko. The prince was hit directly and pressed up against the wall as Katara exhaled, twisting her wrists. The extra hand movement came naturally to her, and the liquid froze solid, pinning Zuko to the wall. He struggled for a moment as Katara approached.

"I win. Now I want to talk." The prince blinked, almost surprised at her statement. He turned to look away.

"You owe me answers, Zuko." Her face was set with a frown as she crossed her hands over her chest. She thought she heard him sigh and saw steam rise from the ice.

"I don't." He stepped out of her ice prison once he melted it with his flames.

"Listen Zuko," Katara interrupted, her voice losing its power and almost took on a pleading tone. "I don't want to be left in the dark anymore on this. I need to know. Just let me ask." The youngest prince met her gaze, was silent for moment, and then nodded.

"Fine. What do you want to know?"

"I want to know why you did what- whatever it was you were doing- the night of the summer solstice," Katara said. There was no hint of embarrassment in her eyes, though she felt her cheeks flush when she remembered the stirrings and new feelings she felt in her body. Zuko, on the other hand, went red and looked away.

"I was drunk and-"

"I know, but what were you trying to accomplish? That's the part I don't understand."

"I don't think I understand your question," Zuko replied. "I was trying to do what any man in my situation would have tried. I'm not saying it was right, but-"

"That's my question. What would any man in that situation have done?"

Zuko tilted his head slightly. "Slept with you?" He paused; confusion swirled in his golden eyes. "Did you just want me to admit it out loud?"

She shook her head. "But you didn't try to sleep, you were doing something else entirely. I would have been fine with just sleeping." They stood in silence for a moment.

"You have no idea what would have happened, do you?" Zuko asked, his mouth slightly gapping.

"That's why I'm asking you to tell me!" She threw her head back and her arms up in exasperation.

"So, not only are you a virgin, but you also don't know about sex at all," Zuko put his hand to his temple. "I can't believe I almost-"

"A what?"

"Didn't your parents- or, any of the other servants teach you anything? How old are you anyway?"

"I'm sixteen," Katara replied. "And I was separated from my parents when I was six and GranGran not long after. Shiyu didn't teach me anything but medical techniques, and I don't seem to be popular enough with the other servants to gossip like you think I do." Zuko was silent as he looked Katara over, almost as if seeing her for the first time. He wasn't sure if she was lucky or unfortunate.

"So- will you teach me?" She asked innocently. Memories of the festival night mixed with the imaginings in Zuko's mind as she asked the question. He was glad she couldn't read his thoughts and see how he pictured the instruction going.

He coughed, his mouth suddenly dry. "Well-"

"Why does everyone give me that same horrified look?" Katara threw her hands up and turned to march away. "Shiyu, Prince Iroh, and now you!"

"You asked my Uncle about sex?"

"Is that what it's called? ... Then no. He asked me what I knew when I questioned him about the brothel I was taken to when I was kidnapped. It was the same one you wanted to go to that night, The Spitfire." Katara didn't mention that Iroh had said he didn't think he was the right person to explain it for fear Zuko would parrot the excuse. The prince groaned and looked visibly pained at the mention of his drunken ramblings. He leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor, holding his fingertips to his temples.

"Look, most girls learn from their mothers or aunts or some other female relative. It's not a topic that's discussed as casually as you'd think."

"Why?" Katara asked. "You still haven't told me what people do during sex- right, sex?" Zuko nodded.

"It's highly personal." Zuko clenched and unclenched his fists as he struggled with his words. "Girls get embarrassed about it, unless they're gossiping with their friends, I guess- I don't know! I don't talk about this stuff. It's just satisfying a need since I'm not trying to have children yet." He shuddered at the thought. He was WAY too young for that.

"That's how you can have children? Wait- this is too much. I'm not going to remember this all." Katara plopped down on the ground on her knees facing Zuko who still leaned against the wall. She thought to herself for a moment, trying to start at the begining. "You called me a virgin, what's that?"

"A person who hasn't had sex."

"So what's sex?" Katara asked. She leaned forward and tilted her head to the side, as if the new angle would magically answer her questions. She noticed Zuko's cheeks had become bright red. His golden eyes were closed as he sat, one hand cupping his forehead the other arm draped over his knee.

Zuko began, haltingly. "Its- something lovers do, usually in a bed, without clothing."

"Why?" Katara asked. "No, how? Is it like kissing? Because I'm not-"

"It's more than kissing." He adjusted his position on the floor, repositioning his legs to give himself more room and looked at Katara with what she thought was a pained expression.

"It can start that way, but- people do it because it feels good." He was struggling to keep a clear head.

"But what is it?" Katara was almost physically frustrated that he was still avoiding her question.

"I don't know how to explain it!" Zuko shouted. He had long lost control of his thoughts and his body was acting on its own accords. Katara's next statement could not have been worse timed.

"Then show me."

It took all his willpower not to jump the girl right there.

"No." He could hear the desire in his voice as he spoke. Katara heard the change as well but had no reference to know what it meant.

"Why?" They both heard the pleading tone her voice took on.

"Because you should have someone who will be gentle for your first time." Katara set her lip in a serious frown and in all her innocence brought up a valid point.

"So, you think that the nobleman in the hallway or the man who ordered my kidnapping or anyone else who happens to get their hands on me will do that? I might not know much about any of this, but I don't think they would. The only man who has shown ANY self-restraint around me with this topic- is you. I don't know why you think you've dishonored me, but I want you to know that I don't think you have . Instead, you've given me an opportunity. Now, please Prince Zuko, show me." That was all the Prince needed to hear.

"Fine," he agreed, springing to his feet, "but not here. We'll go back to my room." He helped her up and pulled her to the door with less self-control than he wished he displayed. Zuko dismissed the guards milling around the hallway.

"Reset the training room and return to your original duties," he called and left them to follow his orders. He still held Katara's wrist, but she kept pace, walking almost side by side with him. She was flush with excitement over his agreement.

They arrived back at Zuko's bedroom, and once safetly inside he turned to her. He was still thinking straight enough to know they edged into dangerous territory.

"I know I said I would show you, but if you want to stop at all, just so say so. I don't want to force you like I tried to do before." Katara shook her head, silent laughter in her eyes.

"I want to know what the big deal is. Everyone else seems to know. I don't want to be left in the dark anymore." A pause hung in the air. "So how do we begin?" Zuko seemed to be at a loss as well. It didn't last long before he found his bearings.

"Come closer." The weight of the situation, that he was about to teach his uncle's servant about sex through a demonstration dampened some of his rash excitement, but it did not make his pants any loser.

"Is this where the clothing comes off?" Katara asked, stepping almost flush against him. She thought about the couple in the alleyway. The prince put one hand on her shoulder and cupped her face with the other, bringing her thoughts back to him. His hands were smooth against her cheek.

"Most people begin like this." He bent to kiss her. Unlike last time, Katara knew what to expect- more or less. The fact that he did not taste like Fire-Whiskey was an added bonus. Katara mimicked his actions from before and flicked her tongue over his teeth. He seemed surprised at the boldness, but she hung back. Zuko paused.

"Don't stop," Zuko instructed, keeping his voice as even as he could. He spoke against her lips, his thumb caressing her chin, "do what feels good." Katara leaned in again, wrapping her hands around his shoulders and allowing the Prince to pull her closer. She let her eyes close lazily and tried to focus on what she felt.

Her feet left the ground shortly after, their kiss unbroken. She felt the bed on her back. Zuko parted her knees to stand between them. Pressing their hips together, Katara noticed the firm bulge once more.

"Zuko, what's-?"

He grinned. "That comes later. Help me take this off." He pulled at her shirt after untying her belt. Katara assisted him and pulled the fabric over her head. She was left sitting in her pants and bindings.

"Now these," Zuko pointed. He pulled at the white fabric, freeing the waterbender's breasts. She watched him run a finger from her collarbone to the apex on the left and her body jerked unconsciously.

"Wh-" she tried to ask.

"Shhh," he replied, grinding his hips in slow circles with hers as he took both breasts in his hands and flicked each dark raised bud with his thumbs. She heard herself make strange mewling sounds and tried to stop, thinking they sounded weird and she was not reacting right.

"Don't hold back."

"But I don't know the right reaction," Katara countered. She was nearly breathless already.

"There's no right and wrong to this. Let yourself feel and react the way you want." Zuko moved one hand down to her hips and then slid her pants off in a simple motion. When he tugged at the last piece of fabric on her body, Katara sat up and caught his hands. She lifted her eyes to meet his, fearful.

"Not there."

"Katara," Zuko said, though his voice was much deeper now. Was he frustrated? With her? Katara didn't know for sure.

"Can we just skip this part and-?"

"This IS the part we were getting to. Do you want to stop?"

"No," Katara shook her head and released his hands. She looked away; heart hammering as she gathered her courage. Finally, she met his eyes with her own trusting gaze once more.

She tried to smile. "Ok. Let's continue." She took the fabric in the fingers and slid it down her long legs to where it crumpled in a heap on the floor.

Zuko stared. Now it Katara's turn to blush. She sat naked before him. Now, even only his pants from his workout, but it wasn't his muscled chest that caught her eye like it had been when she met him in the Arena. Now it was the bulging mass right in front of her. She reached and put her hands on Zuko's hips, hooking her fingers in his waistband and easing it lower. He let her do it at her own pace, guiding the front free.

What she discovered was anything but expected. The prince watched her for a moment as she just stared at him. His pants had pooled on the floor at his ankles. Stepping out of them, he reached for Katara's hand.

"You've obviously never played with boys growing up," Zuko grinned. He knew all too well that young boys loved playing the 'show me yours I'll show you mine game.' It was a new experience being with a girl who had no prior knowledge of anything at all. Katara shook her head, any memories she might have had seeing her brother naked were long gone. She pulled her hand back when he brought it close enough that she could feel the heat of his body.

"What does it do?" She asked. Zuko tensed, the more she dragged this out, the harder it would be for him to go slow.

"This," he explained, touching himself, "goes there." He reached to touch her center, but Katara slammed her legs shut.

"Why?" She squeaked. Her body seemed to have a mind of its own and she felt the heat slowly grow between her legs. It was almost like her body wanted him to touch her there, to go inside her most private of places.

Zuko groaned. "You'll just have to trust me when I say it feels good." Good was an understatement, but hopefully she would draw that conclusion herself.

Katara could only nod. It took all his self-control not to throw open her legs and slam himself into her like some whore down at the Spitfire. He could take it slow, let her understand what she wanted to know and try to make it enjoyable for the both of them, unlike his own first time.

Remembering that event dulled his enthusiasm slightly. The woman his father had sent to him when he turned thirteen had only been interested in carrying a child with royal blood. She only pushed him through the motions of sex; it was Lu Ten who took him to the The Spitfire where the girls took good care of him later on. Though, that first experience nearly kept him from the act later on. It didn't help that the woman was much older than him and not very attractive… Unlike the nervous girl before him now.

"What do I need to do?" She asked. Katara saw how he looked her over, almost lost in thought. Her words pulled him back to the present, back to the beautiful girl underneath him waiting for direction.

His silence made her grow bolder, reaching for his bare chest, exploring his muscles with her thin fingers. He was warm under her fingertips, his pale skin smooth and unmarred. She touched where he had been injured on his shoulder and then ran her fingers down his stomach slowly once she reached the patch of dark hair above his manhood. She drew back for a moment, then took a steadying breath and ran a single finger down its length. The organ jumped under her touch, and she drew back.

Without a word, Zuko grabbed her hand and pulled it back. With his guidance, Katara gingerly touched the smooth skin. It was such a new sensation; she could feel her center growing warmer.

Katara fidgeted, shifting her weight to try and ease the pressure. Zuko moved forward, their noses touching and went in for another kiss. She felt his weight press her onto her back. A warm hand ran down her hips until it came to rest between her legs. She felt him touch her there, sliding through the gathered moisture. Then he did something, touched a part of her, that made her gasp into his kiss. Her back arched up into his chest as she tried to call out. A single touch had her grinding her hips into nothing, silently begging for more of what she still did not know she could have.

"Ready?" came Zuko's rough voice. Katara almost didn't notice that his eyes had grown brighter with his desire. She nodded without realizing her whole body was tight as a wire, waiting. This was already more then she had hoped for, and she figured she knew everything.

She couldn't see what he was doing in her current position, but a sudden heat touched her where his fingers had been. She met Zuko's eyes. She could feel his hand on her hip, the pressure almost comforting as he squeezed. Katara felt her opening part ever so slightly. She lifted her hips up and down, enjoying the new sensation.

Katara gasped, her hands fisting in the sheets as he pushed inside of her. She heard her herself moan, turning her head to try and bury the sound in the sheets. Zuko held himself there for a second, marveling at the tightness of her, then retreated. Katara writhed underneath him. It was painful, being stretched open like that, but now she felt empty. She was not quite sure how she felt about it.

The prince thrusted once more then began a steadily growing rhythm. Katara lost her grip on the sheets, found Zuko's bicep, and dug her nails in on the next thrust. Both of his hands held onto her hips now, guiding their seemingly random spasms of pleasure into line with his own.

And then, when Katara thought she would not be able to handle anymore, Zuko pulled out of her completely. She lay back and caught her breath, still dazed. Slowly she sat up. Her long brown hair was rumpled from her tossing and turning and stood up at funny angles before falling into her face. Cheeks flushed, Katara smiled up at Zuko. He stood at the edge of the bed, giving her some space after everything. He held a hand towel in his hands; Katara wondered when he had picked it up.

"I'm usually not that fast," Zuko admitted, turning away from a moment. She saw him pass the towel over his legs, wiping the area clean. Katara had no reference of time to compare.

She smiled, still riding the high. He turned and handed her the towel. When she gave him a confused look, he folded it over and wiped her thighs clean along with part of the bed.

Katara took his hands when he was finished and flashed him a content smile; somehow, she felt closer to this young man who had just given her a great gift. She no longer would be left in the dark on this topic. She glanced down, her blue eyes resting on the space between his legs. She reached out again, dropping his hands.

"Why-?" She began to ask, touching the defined v-shape that his hips and abdomen muscles formed. The limp organ slowly filled with life again.

"Why does it do that?" Katara asked. Without fear she explored it now, running her fingers along the veins as they grew and began to throb, then following the skin back to his legs.

Zuko was surprised at himself. He usually never needed a second round to feel satisfied. The girls at the Spitfire were good, but tonight had been something different. He wasn't sure if it was the fact that he had been so quick to finish or that she was still curious that he was ready to go so soon afterward, but he did not mind. He grinned at the girl, and she seemed to know exactly what he was thinking.

...

The next morning, Katara found the room filled with light before she even woke up. Two thoughts filled her head.

One, that something had to be wrong for her to sleep this late into the morning.

And two, that she was sleeping tucked into a warm body behind her. Katara turned her head and saw the prince's arm wrapped over her waist. Last night's events swarmed her mind like a flock of frog-pigeons.

Katara blushed, thinking about how intimate the things they had done were, and there she lay, naked, pressed up against the youngest prince of the Fire Nation. She would have never believed anyone if they told her this would happen in a million years.

Zuko stirred and pulled her closer. She felt her buttocks press against his manhood and grew warmer in her core. She heard the Prince yawn and felt him lift his hand to stretch. She smiled up at him, flushed from the memories of last night's adventures. How warm he was against her cool naked skin. It made her wonder if all firebenders felt that way.

"Good morning," Katara said slowly. Zuko paused. He looked around the room as Katara sat up, pulling the comforter with her to cover her bare chest. He had already seen all of her, but it still made her uncomfortable, especially in the light.

"Good morning," he echoed, watching her carefully. They both stared in silence for a moment, not sure what to say.

Katara bit her lip. "Is that what it would have been like it if Lu Ten had not rescued me from the SpitFire?"

"No." Zuko answered without pause. "The girls there do all the work to make their clients happy. That's what they get paid to do."

"Every night?"

Zuko riased an eyebrow at Katara's choice of bed conversation. He rolled onto his back. "Yes. Not everyone in the city likes the brothel girls. They work hard, but because of their profession, they're called whores and looked down upon by other women."

"What's a whore?" Katara asked. She lifted her arms to stretch, remembering being called that word on multiple occasions by the other palace servants.

"A woman who sleeps with someone who isn't her husband," he explained.

"So, it's a bad thing: being a whore?"

"It's a derogatory term, yes," Zuko answered. After a pause, gold eyes flashing, "who said it to you?"

"It doesn't matter." She knew even if she told him which servants had said it, there was little he could do. There would have been more silence, but Katara asked another question.

"What was that other thing you said yesterday? You said you dishonored me before."

Zuko paled, then swallowed and tried to explain. He really didn't want to talk about this. He closed his eyes. "Forcing someone else to have sex with you who isn't willing is a crime. Its punishable with a fine and time in prison if the woman is highborn or has family with political pull. With anyone else, not much is done about it. It doesn't fall within the palace's interests to chase after every lawbreaker. That's the city's guard's job."

Katara shuddered. If it was up to those men, she doubted any lowborn woman would see their assailant brought to justice.

"So higher born women are protected?"

"At least until they get married to a man they hate through a political deal."

"Is that what yours will be? A political marriage?" It felt weird, asking about the woman who he would spend the rest of his life with and do the same things that he had just done with her. Zuko held his tongue for a moment, and Katara felt strangely jealous of this make-believe woman.

"Probably. Both my uncle and father's marriages were. I haven't given it much thought since I'm not about to become Fire Lord anytime soon." He changed the subject. "What about you? How does the Water Tribe choose their partners?"

"I'm not sure. I was too young when I was taken here. We had nothing close to your royalty or nobility to even think about arranged marriages. We had a chief, my father, who led the village, but that's it. Everyone was more or less equal, so I don't see a point in having an arrangement. It must be hard though, if the two don't want to be together."

Zuko sighed, pressing his head deeper into his pillows. "Yes, but we all know what's expected of us, whether we agree or not. There will always be women who have no luck and end up married to men like Admiral Zhao, but most are well off I suppose."

"What makes everyone dislike the Admiral so much?" She was not about to defend the man since she wasn't quite sure of his intentions- though she had a much better guess now, but she wanted to know anyway. Zuko finished stretching and looked up at the ceiling before he answered the question.

"Zhao isn't a good man. He's a sore loser, greedy, power-hungry, and loves spending every free moment at the brothels. Its rumored he led raids to Earth Kingdom towns to strictly capture women. It's not a bad thing to go there every now and again, but there's a limit."

Zuko turned to face her, meeting her gaze. "I understand why Uncle wanted to keep you away from him. You're so different from anything he's probably gotten his hands on."

"But if he does- If he finds me again, do you think he'll-"

Zuko sat up, the sheets pooling in his lap.

"Not while you're under my protection. I promise not to let anyone touch you while you belong to me." Katara sat stunned. The silence made her wonder if she was supposed to say something in return, but she noticed that the Prince seemed to have surprised himself. The words had just come. And while they sounded sincere, Katara wondered if they would be too much for him to follow through with.

After a moment of silence, Zuko let himself wonder why he suddenly felt so protective of her. Was it that he felt responsible for her now, seeing as he had been her first, her teacher?

There was a knock at the door.

"Prince Zuko," the voice asked. Katara froze; she was completely nude on the bed beside him. Anyone who walked in would see them both. She squirmed, pulling the covers over her body. Zuko let her cover herself.

"Yes?" The door began to open, but he raised his voice.

"Don't come in, what's the message?"

"Forgive me. Your mother requests your presence at the northern courtyard."

"Tell her I'll be there shortly."

"Yes, Prince Zuko," the messenger stated. He shut the door and Zuko stood to dress. Katara still held the sheet up to her chest. It hung loose now, almost showing off her left breast as the fabric clung over it precariously.

"Zuko, did you ever get the message about your Uncle?"

"A few days ago," he answered, pulling open his drawers and getting dressed. "Why?"

"I wanted to know what it was about," Katara looked down at her hand on her chest. "Is he ok?"
"Uncle's been injured," Zuko said. He paused while putting on his shirt and stood dressed with only a fresh pair of pants.

"The message was part of a full report from the front. It said he had been injured and was ripped up pretty bad. They don't know the extent of his injuries, but it was bad enough to send him and Lu Ten back home for medical attention. Though, the note did say he was in stable condition to travel, so as worried as I am I'm sure he'll be fine once he gets back."

Katara gasped. "When will he return?" Zuko shrugged.

"Without the whole army, the trip will be much faster, but it will still take at least a week." Katara nodded.

"I hope he's ok," she sighed. Zuko nodded, pausing after putting on the rest of his clothing.

"I'm going out now," he stated, hesitantly. "The laundry needs to be done today." Katara thought he sounded slightly embarrassed about telling her to do the job as she always did, but he was gone after a moment and she couldn't ask him.

Thus the day passed as it normally did, which each of them following their own seperate routinues. And then, before either of them knew it, the day was done and night brought them together once more.

Unlike their elements, their passion was not extinguished when they came together. They fed off of one another, fire learning control and water learning passion. They were up late that night, the sky's evening guardian watching high overhead. Finally, curled together, they slept.

(Author's Note)

Some dialogue changes... since it felt rather clunky and forced in sections. Its still not great in parts. Also- Do people even use the term 'Lemon' anymore to refer to sex scenes in fanfiction?

(Original Authors Note)

Soooo, I'll be the first to admit that I'm no good at writing lemons. I'm sorry if it was boring or awkward to read (though with the Q&A going on I suppose awkward was to be expected huh?). This is the first time I've attempted to write one and I'll admit I need practice, but I hoped it added to the story and you all still enjoyed reading this chapter. And now Katara isn't in the dark anymore about the wonderful world of adults! haha

I'm sorry this took so long to post. Its actually been done for a few days, but i was worried about posting it... The next chapter though is nearly finished and will be up in a much shorter timeframe :) Promise

The chapter title comes from the lyrics to the song "Keep it Right There" by the artist Ali Lee.