The next few days that passed went by without any problems other than an occasional argument from Zuko and me. Sure, we loved each other, but that didn't mean we were going to agree always or that we had a lot in common. Our elements were opposites even! It seemed that water and fire could never coexist without overwhelming each other.

Worrying thoughts kept prodding my mind and it strangely made me nervous around Zuko. What was I going to do? How could I continue to love Zuko? No one would approve of our love except for Iroh, and he would be the only one on the ship who knew. What would Sokka and Aang say? They would think of me as a traitor no doubt.

For a moment or two, I had the room all to myself. I had the silence I longed for and the loneliness I needed. I could cry and weep without feeling the need to wipe the tears away.

I sat on the bed and clutched my stomach. I choked out a few sobs before tears fell down my cheeks like a waterfall. My tongue felt thick in my mouth and my throat felt so constricted that sobs stuck to my throat like honey, refusing to come out gracefully. They sounded like a dying cat almost.

I squeezed my eyes shut and covered my mouth. I threw out another sob and held my upper arms, trying to find some sort of security.

"What am I going to do?" I cried out. Flames of anger started to lick the back of my mind. Slowly, anger was started to form inside my soul. My fingers curled into fists and my brow furrowed from frustration.

The whole subject was so frustrating and tender that it made me want to scream from anger and frustration!

I suddenly stood up, enraged, the tears gone. "Ugh!" For once in my life I wished I was a firebender. I needed to get things out and burn of some energy quite literally. I needed to do something that symbolized my anger and passion and fury, and waterbending was too opposite for that sort of thing.

"Why is this so hard?" I shouted out to no one in particular. I just needed to get out my anger without anyone around. I looked down and pinched my eyes shut again. I gritted my teeth, tensing my entire body up as well. I slowly relaxed my muscles. I opened my eyes and water started to form in them again. The tears fell smoothly and cleaning down my cheeks.

I let out a small chuckle. "You think this is funny, don't you?" I asked, looking up at the ceiling, pretending I was talking to Fate itself. "You just love to watch me go through little episodes and meltdowns like these, don't you?" I wryly shook my head. "Fate's sense of humor."

I swiftly turned on my heel and walked out of the room. I needed to burn off some energy, and yelling and shouting about my problems wasn't going to do that. I stalked through the halls with a riled scowl on my face. My hands seemed to be permanently in fists, and I swung my arms back and forth with vigor.

I marched onto deck and stopped in my tracks. The air was so refreshing and felt so good blowing against my neck and face. I breathed in the clean smell of the wind. I ambled to the railing and drew some water out of the ocean below.

Screw Zuko. I thought in my rebellion. I didn't care that I wasn't allowed to be close to the deck still or that I wasn't allowed to waterbend, but no one was around. The deck was completely empty and Zuko was in a meeting, no doubt for the rest of the day until dinner.

I bended the water, playing with it and doing little tricks. I felt so good to have my element with me. I had been without it for about half a year. It was such a strange and energizing feeling that came with bending again. I couldn't get enough of it. I soon found myself gathering more and more water from the ocean and doing harder, more advanced forms.

All I needed was some time alone and to take that time waterbending. I just needed to have some peace and quiet and the stillness the air brought out on deck to think of the future and gather my thoughts. I couldn't think with noises around me. It was not uncommon, but at times I felt like I was the only one who understood that. I often needed to find a place totally desolate to think. Back at home, I had found a small gap between two boulders that I could fit into and that was my place to be alone.

That following night was one of the hardest nights of my life. I couldn't fall asleep or even come close to it. I was too worried and anxious to sleep and it was evading me so cleverly. So many fears were swimming around and around in my mind. I couldn't find any peace to drift off to sleep.

I sat up, propping myself up by my arms and sighed. It was going to be a long night. A horrendous and exhaustingly long night. I looked over at Zuko to my left.

He looked so tense. His muscles still seemed to be taut, ready for battle at any moment. A scowl seemed to be permanently frozen onto his face and his eyebrow was creased so tightly into his forehead I thought it may engulf his brow all together. He looked as if a battle were waging on inside him. He was always fighting with himself. Always fighting.

It seemed that some things never changed. But…what could be going through his mind? What could be so hard and strenuous that he even fights in his sleep? What could he be contemplating?

I closed my eyes and exhaled deeply. I rubbed the bridge of my nose and the corner of my eyes in an effort to take away some of the stress that kept gathering and gathering, growing bigger and bigger like sand falling down an hourglass. I licked my dry lips and lay back down. I pulled the silk sheet up to my shoulders, hugging it to my frame as I suddenly felt strangely naked.

A shiver racked my body and I unconsciously shivered. I rubbed my upper arms with hands, but it gave little comfort. I turned my head and gazed at Zuko again, the man I felt protection from. Unwillingly, a thought almost dishonorable and uncomfortable entered my mind.

What if I moved closer to him? To his side of the bed? Beside him?

I had claimed the right side of the bed months ago and threatened that if he got even an inch past the middle of the bed, he'd be lucky if he could have children by the time I was through with him. Of course, that was before I had fallen in love with him. And Zuko being, of course, not scared, but a gentleman, stayed to the left of the bed. We both tried to stay as close to the edge as possible which left a gaping hole in the center and a problem with the size of the covers. But…the thought of moving over from my side to his seemed almost scandalous and immoral.

But you're not doing anything. What's wrong?

Exactly. There was nothing wrong with it! He wouldn't touch me, and he knew that if he even thought about bringing harm to me, he would not only have to answer to me, but also Iroh, Sokka, and Aang. And I think he feared Sokka's wrath more than mine and Aang's combined, and for good reason.

I scooted closer to Zuko. He was hard and rigid laying on his side and sleeping next to him was like two boards standing against each other, neither wanted to loosen up and relax for the other. But it was warm and being next to him in that manner was very comforting.

With his heat radiating off onto me, I soon fell asleep.

The next morning, I awoke and Zuko was gone as usual, but I had lived with him long enough to expect that. I climbed out of bed and got ready for the day. I pulled off my chemise and slid on my blue dress. I looked into the mirror and brushed my hair out with my fingers. I styled it into a traditional Water Tribe braid and left the room, feeling adequate enough to venture into the halls since I had been granted freedom to leave the room.

I entered the dining room and was greeted by Iroh.

"Good morning, Katara!" he beamed. "I haven't seen you around for awhile. Zuko finally let you out?" the old man teased.

I smiled back at him. "Good morning. Actually yes, he did. He deemed that I wasn't likely to escape." I rolled my eyes.

"And you aren't going to?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

I paused for a moment. I wasn't, was I? Not even to go see Aang and Sokka? "No," I said, shaking my head. What was I doing? I was going to stay with Zuko? I wanted to stay with Zuko?

Yes, I do. I love him.

Well, yes, but what are you going to do about Aang? Just leave him for the man that wants to see him in chains?

Well…No. I mean, yes. Oh, I don't know.

Are you going to betray your own country? Your own family? For one man! Not just a man, but the Prince of your enemies!

Zuko's not the enemy; his father is. But still… What if Zuko tries to capture Aang? Could I stop him? Would I be willing to?

"What's troubling you?" I heard Iroh ask, pulling me away from my mental battle.

I sighed and shook my head. "N-nothing. Nothing's wrong."

"Oh, you don't think I was born yesterday, now do you? I can tell when something is troubling a person. Now, come sit and tell what's wrong."

I nodded once and sat down beside him. I explained to him what was troubling me and that I was losing sleep over it. I told him we were in love and that we had kissed, but not that we had slept intimately. I wasn't even sure Zuko knew that I had crept up beside him last night.

He listened intently and nodded at the appropriate times. He didn't interrupt, which I was very grateful for. When I was done he said, "My nephew has always been a troubled young man and has always struggled with finding his inner strength and conscious."

I bit my lip and looked down, thinking that he was finished.

"But when pointed into the right direction, he will go down it. And if someone he cared for deeply would do so," he winked at me, "I'm sure he'd run down that path as fast as he could."

I nodded, understanding what he meant.

If I was going to love and care for Zuko, I would have to point him down the right path. I would have to show him that there was a better life than the one he had. With Aang and Sokka and I, he could be happy. Actually happy with a family.

It would take awhile for him to realize it, but maybe if I approached him with the idea, then he'd listen with an open mind. Maybe he might not push me away instantly.

My hopes rose quickly and high.

But even if he listens and agrees with what you say, what of Sokka and Aang?

My hopes instantly fell into the pit of my stomach, settling very painfully. I bit my lip. What was I going to do about them?

They would most certainly not accept Zuko with open arms unless they had weapons in their hands. But… maybe if I was with him, they would be more willing. No, I was sure they still wouldn't. They would most likely kill Zuko if I wasn't standing between them.

Another night descended upon us and I couldn't find any solace to fall into sleep with again. Creeping and encroaching thoughts kept entering my mind. I couldn't get them to stop, but they could get me to stop sleeping.

I sat up and sighed, crossing my legs. I rubbed my eyes from a hint of frustration.

Was there nothing I could do about the problem with Sokka and Aang? Was the problem just going to descend and unwind into something much bigger? Could I possibly stop it before it escalated into that?

I pinched the bridge of my nose and squeezed my eyes shut as I felt tears start to well up. No, I wasn't going to cry. Crying would do me no good. It would solve nothing.

"What's wrong?" I heard Zuko ask tiredly as he sat up as well.

I turned my head away from him, hoping he would not see my watery eyes. "N-nothing." My voice was croaky and raw sounding. He would know for sure that I was lying. I felt warm hands rest on my shoulders and pull me down closer to Zuko. My face flushed a little and I gulped.

He pushed me against his warm chest and wrapped his arms around me. He was so warm, just radiating heat.

My head fit perfectly against his neck and I closed my eyes, relishing the in the warmth. I smiled, feeling so comfortable laying next him like that. I couldn't do that with anyone else in the world. Just him.

Zuko laid his head down against the pillow and pulled the silk sheet over our bodies. "You seemed to fall asleep quickly last night like this," he whispered in my ear.

My eyes widened and my face burned with humiliation and fear. I put my hand on his chest, pushing me away a little. I looked up into his eyes. "Are you mad?" I asked, worried.

He rolled his eyes and pulled me close once again. He kissed my cheek, answering my question.

I quickly fell asleep again against him.

A/N: Hey! I hope I got this chapter our quick enough lol. I kinda was lazy writing this because I got a writers block (surprise, shock!). But, um, yeah. This chapter really kind of tested Katara, and I hoped it didn't put you to sleep. I found myself not really wanting to push on ahead and write more. I kind of wanted to just push it off to the side. Oh, well, I got it out anyways, so it doesn't matter.

I only proofread it once and I skimmed it out, so I hope there aren't a bagillion mistakes haha. I hope you liked it (and weren't repulsed that Zuko and Katara slept like that. I promise you all, that there will be NO sex whatsoever. The rating WILL stay at T)

I hope you liked it! Please review!

-Neon