A/N: Hey guys! Sorry it's been awhile. Research papers kick butt...so here's a new chapter :) It's a bit shorter than the others, and I hate how I ended it, but here goes. So enjoy and please review :)

The moon was already past the horizon when we finally landed. We found some land just a day away from a Fire Nation island and we decided to make camp. Zuko didn't say a word the whole trip and looked sincerely upset about the whole sister ordeal. So, even though there wasn't much room in Appa's saddle, I kept my distance.

Once we ate dinner and all the tents were made, we all sat around the fire drinking tea and talking about the days events. Every once in a while someone would crack a joke or slurp their tea and they would all laugh. I, on the other hand, kept to myself. My thoughts were wrapped around my dad. At the time, it was hard saying goodbye so quickly, but the event at hand and the adrenaline rush helped push me forward. But sitting there watching the flames, I had time to reflect on it and it was starting to hurt. I didn't even know if they got out of the temple in time.

"Wow. Camping," Aang said making me jolt up out of my thoughts. "It really seems like old times again, doesn't it?" I had to smile at this as I looked down into my teacup.

"If you really want it to feel like old times I could, uh, chase you around a while and try to capture you," Zuko said jokingly, but the comment made my stomach turn and I scowled at the ground. Everyone else just laughed.

"Ha ha," I mumbled sarcastically. Sokka took a happy breath and lifted his cup up.

"To Zuko! Who knew after all those times he tried to snuff us out, today, he'd be our hero," Sokka said and everyone lifted their cups as well.

"Here, here!" they chanted. My skin crawled. Wasn't it his fault Azula even came after us? She was looking for him!

"I'm touched," he said politely. "I don't deserve this."

"Yeah, no kidding," I said dryly as I stood. I gave him a quick glare before walking the other way. I couldn't take seeing him anymore.

"What's with her?" I heard Sokka ask as I descended the hillside. I quickly rounded a giant boulder and made my way to the cliffside. I looked up at the moon above as I sat on a smaller rock and let its light relax me. It was almost full.

After a bit, I heard the grass ruffle behind me and I quickly glanced back hoping to see Aang. Instead, it was Zuko and I made a face at him before turning around and getting up to walk away. Why did he follow me?

"This isn't fair," he said desperately. "Everyone else seems to trust me now. What is it with you?" My temper flared at his question. I was tired of him asking me the same thing and I was tired of telling him the nice answer.

"Oh, everyone trusts you now? I was the first person to trust you, remember? Back in Ba Sing Se! And you turned around and betrayed me!" I watched his face fall and when I mentioned Ba Sing Se, he looked away from me and scrunched his face. But I didn't care. "Betrayed all of us."

"What can I do to make it up to you?" he said after a moment and I sighed.

"You really wanna know?" I asked sarcastically as I walked towards him. "Hmm, maybe you could reconquer Ba Sing Se in the name of the earth king. Or, I know, you could bring my mother back!" I was shocked at my last words, but I held my glare.

Finally, I pushed past him and left Zuko standing by the cliff. However, when I disappeared behind the giant rocks, I took off running for my tent. My eyes stung and I felt guilty for what I said. When I dove past the flap, I threw myself on my sleeping bag and buried my face in the fabric. It didn't take long before I was crying.

I didn't mean to blame Zuko for my mother. It was just so hard to see him here all the time. I knew his relations and the mistakes he's made, and I've been on the other side of his mistakes too many times to count. I wanted to forget that and start over. I wanted to ignore the red on his clothes and the haughty way he walked and the way he was really good at firebending. But I couldn't. And it was just easier to blame him.

I fell asleep thinking of Zuko and what it would be like to be a fly on the wall of his palace. Then I had more nightmares.

I woke up to sunlight illuminating my tent and making everything look a shade of blue. I knew it was a bit late in the day to start breakfast, but I thought it might help me stay away from Zuko. I didn't want to see him and I was sure he didn't want to see me.

I lifted myself up and reached for my boots. When they were tied, I reached for my bag, but it wasn't there. I pushed my blanket and sleeping bag around to find my robe and I stepped through the flap as I finished wrapping my sash. The air was nice and my mood was light, until I looked up and caught sight of Zuko sitting on the rock right in front of me. I crossed my arms and sighed as he lifted his head up and gave me a tired look. I quickly looked over his shoulder and spotted my bag.

"You look terrible," I blurted as I walked over to it. I rummaged through it until I found my comb. I must have looked like a mess.

"I waited out here all night," he said smoothly and I blushed. He did sound really tired.

"What do you want?" I said in a snippy tone as I ran the comb through my hair. He was silent for a moment and I almost turned to him.

"I know who killed your mother," he said bluntly and I stopped dead. "And I'm going to help you find him." I pulled the comb away from my hair and I slowly turned around. I couldn't believe what he just said. We both stared at each other for a bit, me wide eyed and him with his face made of stone, until finally I stood up straight and nodded.

"If this is a lie, Zuko, I swear…"

"I promise," he interrupted. "Come with me."

I put my comb in my bag and quickly threw it in my tent before I followed him. He led me over to his tent and opened the flap for me to go inside. I hesitated for a moment, but when he glanced at me, I reluctantly ducked in. He followed behind me and I sat down quietly as the flap to his tent gently closed. The red color of his tent made it very dark inside and the intimate space made me nervous.

He knelt next to me going through his pack and pulled out two dark robes followed by two black sashes. After fumbling with one for a moment, he handed it to me and then began to fold the other one into a smaller bag. I looked down at the robe in my hand with confusion and then back to him.

"It's for later. We have to keep our stealth up and our identities hidden. Wearing these will help us do it," he said evenly. I nodded slowly, not liking the idea of me wearing his clothes, but if it helped find the man who took my mother, I would suffice.

"When do we leave?" I asked after a moment. He leaned back gracefully on his palms and shrugged.

"Whenever you're ready. It's your mission. I'm just showing you the way." I watched him carefully and held his gaze as I nodded again. My mission. I liked the sound of that.

"Give me an hour to figure out what we'll need. How are we traveling?" He gave me a look and I shrugged. It was a stupid question really. I just didn't want to be the one who asked Aang.

"Meet you in an hour then," he said finally with a smirk. I stood up with clenched fists and took a breath.

We gave each other one last look and I quickly turned for the flap, but when I moved it aside, the bright afternoon sun surprised me and I fell back against Zuko. He sighed a bit and I felt him wrap his long fingers around my upper arms. He gently lifted me up and I found balance on my left knee so he would let go.

"Don't forget to watch your eyes," he said smoothly. I nodded and whispered a "thank you" as I got up and moved the flap, this time squinting as I went.

As I ran to my tent, I excitedly thought about what was going on. I couldn't believe what was happening. I was going to avenge my mother, and Zuko was going to help me do it. I quickly ducked through the flap and started to throw what I would need into a tiny bag. Once everything was packed, I retrieved my gloves.

As I wrapped them around my wrists, the thought that Zuko and I would be alone on a trip, a trip that may take a few days, crossed my mind. I stopped wrapping my gloves and stared wide-eyed at the ground. Would I be able to handle being around him for that long, especially knowing that there would be no one around to save him?

I quickly shook my head and scowled to myself. "Who are you kidding, Katara? He's much faster and stronger at fighting than you," I whispered to myself. "But why does he want to help me?" After the constant threats and obvious glares I kept sending him, he was still trying to get on my good side.

The thought that maybe we would get along and have an adventure edged its way into my brain. I tried to picture it for a moment, but when nothing appeared, I pushed it away and finished wrapping my gloves. I needed to concentrate. In less than an hour I would be on my way to avenging my mother, and thinking about Zuko just left me irritated and confused, something I didn't want to worry about right now.

A/N: Hope you liked! And you all know what happens next ..hehe...and there are times when they're together and we don't see it...hehe...so I'm going to have fun with the next chapter...hehehe...Please review and let me know what you think ^^

P.S. I keep trying to draw the scene where they're by the big window holding hands in the first chapter, but I can't draw Zuko -.- So if anyone would love to give me some lovely fanart *hint, nudge* I will worship at your feet \^o^/ Please and thank you!

P.S.S. I do have a deviantart account under the same name as above. :)