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

Chapter 11

Lunch II

Katara was in a good mood walking down the corridors to Zuko's study. She had just found out that Aang and Toph were coming to visit. She'd missed them so much that she couldn't help but jump when she heard the news. As soon as came out the kitchen a servant rushed to her service with a letter in hand. She couldn't wait to tell Zuko the news. She had so much planning to do. Get the bedchambers ready. Make sure there was vegetarian food for Aang. Plan a ball. A ball…That would be wonderful. A party for Aang and Toph's engagement. What a surprise. They would love her for it.

Katara was so close to the study that her smile grew wider. She could see the door and was filled with anticipation. All her happiness soon faded by the sight of Red hair. It was Ember of course, exiting Zuko's study with huge grin plastered on her face. Katara slowed her pace and watched as Ember strolled away. When Ember turned the corner, Katara sped her pace back to its regular speed.

Katara put the basket full of food behind her back and without a knock she open the door.

"Em…b!" Zuko choked figuring out it was Katara.

" No, Zuko…It's Katara…Ka-tar-a." Katara emphasized sarcastically.

Zuko shuffled to his feet and managed to hide the basket he just received from Ember under his desk. "Oh…Heeeey, Katara…my love…my world…my everything!" Zuko tried not to stutter but his voice still cracked as if he were scared of something.

Katara smiled at his words. "Everything… Huh?

"Yes…My everything…all mine!" Zuko smirked pulling her into a small kiss.

"What was she doing here?" Katara asked pulling away from him.

" Why was who here?" He asked like he didn't already know.

Katara stood away and put her hand on her hips. "ZUKO! Don't you dare play stupid with me! You know who I'm talking about."

" Ohh...You mean Ember?"

Katara gave him the I'm waiting look and crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her feet impatiently.

" She…Um…came down to talk to me about the proposals …um…yeah, proposals. She was so intrigued by the mention of them at one of the council meetings held yesterday." Zuko lied.

" Interesting…she must have been real happy to see proposal then because when I saw her she had a huge grin on her face." Katara pointed out.

" Yep, that's Ember for you…Um hum…Always happy to see proposals." Zuko replied slapping his hands together and then swinging them behind his back repeatedly.

" Well, she's not the only one happy today." Katara grinned.

" Who's happy?" Zuko asked afraid of what the answer might be. You'd think he was smarted then this.

" Me you idiot!" Katara yelled cocking her head towards him with open eyes.

Zuko sighed in relief. He thought that Katara might have thought that he was happy to see Ember. " And why is that, sugar princess"

" I got a letter." She sung. Waving it in front of his face.

" A letter? A letter from who?" He asked suddenly interested.

"Toph and Aang. They're both coming to visit and get this… They're engaged!" She squealed.

" Uh…That's nice." Zuko replied unexcited.

"Nice? Don't you mean great, wonderful, incredible?" She asked with a frown." But nice…?"

" Yes, Katara…all of that…It's great, wonderful, and all so incredible. I just can't wait." Zuko mocked Katara.

Katara soon turned angry. "Zuko, you could least act like you care. What happened to all that "I'm happy when your happy" bull crap."

"Kaaatarrrrra." He dragged. " I am happy…I promise… I'm happy."

"Really?" She gasped

"Really!" He smirked, and then he noticed the basket behind Katara's back covered with a red cloth.

" What's in the basket?" Zuko pointed towards it.

Katara had forgotten all about the basket in her hand. She then remembered that she didn't take the box of fire-flakes out. She put up her index finger up in the air as a signal for him to wait. She then ran out the study with the basket in hand. She desperately seeks a hiding spot right by the door. It was a Fiery Blossom plant. She hurriedly wrapped her box of fire-flakes in a cloth and stuck them in to the flowerpot.

Zuko couldn't help but to be nosey. As soon as Katara ran out the door he followed. Opening the door he saw he bending over the Fiery Blossom plant. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing!" Katara squeaked in surprise, scuffling to her feet and quickly putting her hands behind her back.

"What's in the pot, Katara?" Zuko asked folding his arms over his chest.

"N-nothing!" She smiled looking obvious as it was.

"KATARA!"

"Ya…y…yes?" she stuttered.

"MOVE!" Zuko demanded.

"Uh…No, I'd rather not." She said while backing away as far as possible from him.

"NOW!"

"Unt unh!" She shook her head.

Before Zuko could get another word out Katara turned around, picked up something and ran off abandoning the basket. Zuko hurried after her. He hated when she tried to hide stuff from him. Zuko could see Katara stuffing her mouth with something. She was running up and down stairs and all around the corridors. She rushed by servants, making them drop whatever that had in hand, and loud apologizes escaped her lips in a hurry. "SORRY!" "Opps… Excuse me."

Zuko was becoming low on breath. Gods…She's fast! She'd been running for a good five minutes stuffing her mouth.

Katara wasn't going to stop…at least not until she finished her favorite snack. "KATARA!" she could hear Zuko gaining up on her. She had to run faster and turn more corners. This was really turning out to be a work out. "Katara…Are you eating what I think your eating?"

"Noooooo!" She screamed with a stuffed face looking back at him. He was pretty close.

"Why are you running then?" He yelled breathless.

Katara ignored his questions and continued to run. She ended up roaming to a dead end. It was around the southeast of the palace. She'd never made it a point in her life to memorize the palaces maps but now it was her goal. DARN. She was trapped.

"Ahhh….ha! I caught you red handed!" Zuko pointed at her with an I knew it look on his face.

Katara was stuck at the end of a hall with a mouth full of fire-flakes. Her eyes were wide and her mouth hung as if she were surprised. She was caught. " Zukoooooooooo…." She pleaded. " Please let me have them…Pwwwwease!" She begged, putting her hands together in front of her face.

"Katara, I told you about these…They will kill you insides." Zuko replied with worry drifting from his voice. " I try to keep you out of harms way and here you go running with a stuffed mouth full of fire-flakes. You could have choked."

Katara stared silently at her feet.

" Well…What do you have to say for yourself?"

Katara shrugged. "Sorry?"

Zuko just stared at her.

" Okay, Okay…I'm so very sorry Zuko, my personal protector slash husband." She said in a baby voice, pouting her lips.

"AWWW…comemere!" He said playfully, moving his index finger towards him, signaling her to come here.

Katara wakled forward with her hands behind her back as if she were in trouble and leaned upon Zuko. "Are you mad at me?" She asked

"Not anymore!" Zuko smirked, snatching the box of fire-flakes from Katara's hold.

Katara frowned to herself. O well! She pitied herself.

"Awwww…maaan…. It's going to take forever to get back to where we came from." Katara huffed.

" No it won't! You just took the long way getting here. We can take a short cut back."

"Where?" Katara gasped in surprise. She didn't know there were shortcuts. She'd been there for what? Two years and still didn't know much about the palace. Yes…she really did have to study that map.

"Follow me!" Zuko stuck his nose up in the air.

"Yes, My lord." She giggled.

It was like playing follow the leader. Everything Zuko did, Katara did. Zuko had no idea why Katara was laughing. Was she laughing to herself or at him? He didn't realize that she was mocking his every move. He walked through a storage room and pulled at picture hanging on the wall. Katara used imaginary things like a mime. Pulling at the picture made another hallway appear. After a few twists and turns, they were both back at the study.

"Wow…That was quick." Katara sounded surprised.

"I know!" Mr. Know it all replied, walking towards his chair.

Katara ran out of the study again, but Zuko didn't go after her. He did enough running for the day. Turns out that Katara went to retrieve the basket she once abandoned. " Here." She handed him the basket with a smile on her face.

Zuko eyed her suspiciously and then removed the cloth. " O…You brought me lunch!"

"Aren't I sweet!" Katara stated…it was not a question.

Zuko nodded. "Thanx!" He said kissing her cheek.

"Zuko?" She said, positioning herself on top of his lap.

"HUH?" Zuko stared into her eyes.

" Do you wanna…You know?" She began to kiss on his jawbone. Before she could journey her hands towards his pants, his hands grabbed hers.

"Now isn't a good time, Katara." He said seriously, pushing her off his lap.

"Why not?" She asked putting her hands on her hips.

" I'm not in the mood and besides…I have work to do." He said while putting his hands on his desk.

Katara was shocked. Zuko has never denied her of what she wanted…He was always in the mood.

"Uh…Right…Work…after all…You are the Fire Lord! I'll just let you be…you don't need me around bothering you." Katara tried her best to keep her voice from cracking. She was in such a great mood before but now she was feeling miserable. She tried not to show it but it was hard to keep it from Zuko.

"Katara?"

" No, Zuko…It's okay. I understand. I'm just going to go and maybe do some planning." Katara hurriedly walked out the room to keep herself from crying.

A/N: Okay you guys…This is one of my longest chapters. I'm so proud of myself. I was suppose to update by Sunday of last week and I promised, but I didn't. I'm sorry. From now on I won't make promises. I shall make my final promise today: I promise to never promise again.

I'm not sure if you will like this chapter. I on the other hand thought it was funny. If it's getting boring please tell me. I'll try to lemon up the next chapter.

Come on you guys…. PLEASE REVIEW!

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Smooches, W23