Disclaimer: I don't own The Avatar: The Last Airbender

Chapter 8

A Drink

Katara couldn't believe that she thought Zuko was cheating on her. What a fool she was. What was she thinking? Zuko loved her and he sure did know how to show it to her. Besides, girls with short hair and gold eyes aren't his type. He goes for the ones with long wavy hair and he just loves the color of blue staring at him. Katara was sure as ever that she was the only one that rocked his world.

Katara was so happy that particular morning. Zuko made her breakfast in bed and it was so delicious. Who knew, toast could be so good? He always knew what to do to make her feel better. He made her feel like she was the only one for him. He made her feel like she was the queen of his heart. When she was around him, she felt like the happiest woman in the world…when he wasn't mad. Mad…Yes, now that's a nice way to put it. Mad…Anger…That was the only problem. Zuko promised to never hit her, but he sure did use his firebending as an advantage. Even though he never strikes her, she still gets hurt. "What triggers it? Pride, Honor, respect. Respect…Respect. Respect. Respect. Him and his damn respect." Katara mumbled. It wasn't her fault he got offended easily.

Katara had too much to do to be sitting there thinking. It would be Iroh's birthday soon and she wanted to get him something special. Tea was all the man talked about, so she had no idea on what to get him. Tea pots and cups were out of the question. He had to many of these things and already over stocked. It wouldn't even be a surprise, and she was pretty sure that she wouldn't be the only one getting it for him.

She laughed at the thought of getting pregnant. Now that would have surely made Iroh's day. It probably what have been a good idea but she didn't think Zuko as ready. She never worked up the nerve to even ask if he wanted kids. Even if he didn't , he'd have to bore an heir, but whose thinking about kids anyway?

Katara sat at the ledge of her window staring at the garden below. She watched as the turtle ducks played in the pond. Suddenly something hit her. "A PET!" She blurted out with her index finger pointing it the air. Iroh loves creatures. Satisfied with her O so great ideas, Katara decided not to go just yet because she had no where to hide. Instead, she went to practice in the garden below and play with the turtle ducks.

---

After Zuko's meetings were over he met up with Ember by mistake. She had insisted that he should come to her room for a drink. Something, about celebrating a new love. Zuko didn't resist, since he didn't have to meet up with Katara for dinner. She had told him earlier that she wouldn't be there. Something, about having something important to do. Zuko shrugged. Why not celebrate with an old friend. One little toast can't hurt. Little did he know that Ember had something up her sleeve.

Ember led Zuko to her bedroom. It was in the far south of the palace where to Zuko's room was in the north. The room was nice, but not like his. It wasn't as big, but the colors were pretty much the same, red and gold except for the fact that he and Katara had a splash of blue. On her bed laid silk gold sheets. Her canopy curtains were red. She had a huge mirror above the bed and candles everywhere. This girls a freak. Zuko thought to himself. Zuko followed Ember into another room attached to the bedroom. It was a nice, comfortable lounge. Furnished with two lounge chairs and an ottoman with a coffee table sitting in the middle.

"This is where I spend most of my day" Ember smiled, looking up at Zuko and pointing at a chair giving him a hint to sit. It took a minute, but Zuko finally got the hint and sat down.

"Umm. Ember?"

"Yes?"

"I have a little problem and I need a woman to help me on this." Zuko stated, sitting up putting his elbows on his thighs while his hand hung in the middle fidgeting.

Ember noticed this and gave him a rather curious look. "What is it, Zuko?"

" Well it's a slight problem between me and Katara. You see, she thinks I'm cheating on her…Ah… that I'm not, but I don't know what to do. I think I handled it but I'm not sure how she's feeling right now."

" How do you know that she thinks your cheating?" Ember asked as if she cared.

"What do you mean how do I know? She asked me last night right after she tried to kill me1" Zuko shouted, lifting up from his seat.

"She tried to kill you?" Ember gasped holding her heart. How dare she!

" Well…Okay…Not exactly but she was throwing things at me."

" Ah…Well, did you tell her you weren't?" Ember asked. That Bitch, how dare she throw things at my beloved Zuko.

" Of coarse I did, but I'm still not sure if she believes me. She's okay now, but I don't know what gave her the idea about me cheating on her." Zuko stated in a worried voice. "What do you think?"

Ember sat back in her chair and put a hand up to her chin. "Hmm… Well maybe, she saw us and thought I was your mistress or something. I'm not sure though. If she acts out again tell me about it and I'll know what to do."

"Thanks, Ember!" Zuko smiled.

Ember smiled back putting a finger in the air and motioning out of the room. She hated Katara's guts and wanted to put her in so much pain. Not yet. Now, Ember would just play with her for a little while and when she got bored she would strike.

Let the games begin! Ember decided to make a potion from the recipe she'd found in her witch craft book she'd been hiding. It was said that who ever drinks the potion will never be in the mood to have sexual intercourse for a whole month. She'd already made it the night before when she departed with Zuko. She had a feeling Katara would be mad and suspect him to be cheating on her. She'd saw her in the hallway and then laughed when she saw her run. Now Katara would really think that Zuko was cheating on her.

Ember pulled out a champagne bottle and two wineglasses. She poured some real wine in her glass and the potion in Zuko's. She sat the two glasses on a gold serving tray and nearly skipped back to the lounge.

" I would like to propose a toast to friends!" Ember shouted, while holding up her glass of wine. "FRIENDS!" Zuko yelled, clicking his glass with Ember's. The both guzzled down their drinks and before you knew it the whole bottle was gone.

They were both so very drunk. Zuko was the worst. The potion must have must have mixed with the wine, making it a lot stronger than usual. He couldn't even see strait. Every time he tried to get up the room started to spin. His dizziness made it almost impossible for him to make it all the way to his bedroom. He just stayed in Ember's lounge. He would be okay if he woke before Katara like he always does.

---

There were so many things that Ember wanted to do to Zuko while he was drunk. He would never know what happened once she laid it on him, but curse that stupid spell she put on him. She couldn't get him up if she wanted to. "Damn…"She cursed herself.

A/N :HeyyyyThis chapter is longer than chapter six. I think I'm making progress. I hope you all liked this one. I'm trying my best to make it more interesting.