I eyed him. Then a few moments later I did again. Every few minutes I eyed Zuko. My theory that I needed to avoid him was dismissed, and instead was replaced with paranoia and anxiety. While the terrorizing nightmares of my mother being killed, and taken away still occurred, new ones have started to arise. In them, he always betrays us. The saddest part of the dream is it's when I felt I could trust him the most and bang! Aang is lying unconscious because of him, and sometimes it's even worse.

"Katara!"

The voice startles me and I turn to see Aang with his palms up in front of him in a defensive mode. When he sees me relax he does too and a smile replaces the confused look.

"Sokka wants to know when you'll be able to sew the whole in his pants!" He exclaims.

"Hole?" I question.

Aang nods and laughs. "You weren't there when he got it huh!? It was hilarious he was.."

I mute Aang out and look past him. Squinting my eyes into the distance I see Zuko pick up a knife. I immediately push Aang out of the way to make sure I'm seeing correctly. Yes, he has one. And it's sharp. As soon as I'm about to run and attack, Aang grabs onto my shoulder and spins me back to face him.

"What's wrong?"

I turn back to face Zuko. "That!" I say pointing to him. "Look! He has a knife he's going to.."

"Cut the vegetables for lunch?" He finished the sentence.

I look harder, and of course he has some carrots in his hand and placing them on a table to begin cutting.

"You know it's really nice to see Zuko helping around and all. Makes a good team member huh Katara?"

He looks regretful of what he said when I look at him with a 'are you kidding me' face.

"What did you think he was doing?" Aang asks dumbfounded

I'm hesitant to answer. "Oh uh well, I was going to make lunch."

He shrugs. "Well I guess he did you a favor!" Momo flys onto his shoulder and he walks away with him smiling.

Breathing a sigh of relief I look back to Zuko. I guess he said something to make Suki and Sokka laugh because they are both cracking up, and I swear I see a smile on his face. It's just.. how can they be so calm?

"I need some time to think" I mutter to myself.

I walk over to the steps furthest away from the group and breathe. "Deep breaths Katara." I whisper.

I lean my head against the wall and shut my eyes. Images of the times I spent with Zuko before this paranoia started. My eyes stay shut for some time and the next thing I knew, my dad is tapping my shoulder telling me dinner was ready.

"I decided to make dinner for once Katara, you've seen.. well really exhausted lately." He tells me.

My eyes are filled with thanks but also shame. "Thanks dad, but I'm fine really." I lie.

He frowns, obviously not convinced. My dad takes a seat by me and sighs. "Katara, I know we just became reunited again, but I want you to know I am your father and I will always be there for you whenever you need to talk, or for any reason at that."

"Dad" I tell him as I look up at him. "I'm sorry if I've been worrying you lately, I guess with the comet coming up and all of the things going on right now, I've been feeling a bit stressed."

My dad nods in agreement. "Mm yes, this is a big deal, but if any of us should be stressed it should be Aang, and surprisingly it seems like he is taking it all pretty well."

"You're right." I smooth out my dress before standing up with my dad. Hugging him I feel him breathe a sigh of relief as if he had finally come through to me.

…

I take the dishes over to the fountain and begin to wash them. Only a few moments later am I joined by Sokka.

"Hey sis." He says grabbing a plate to help me wash.

"Wow, you must be in a good mood if you're helping me wash dishes." I laugh grabbing another dish.

He shrugs. "Eh you look like you needed help, isn't that what big brothers are for?"

I put down the plate and look at him with a cocked eyebrow. "Really? I thought big brothers were for eating up all the food, and making lame sarcastic jokes all the time! Boy have you been doing it wrong."

"Ha. Ha. Very funny, Katara. But come on I can be reliable sometimes right?"

I smile and wash the dish again. "Sometimes." I mutter under my breathe.

"I heard that!" He says nudging my arm before taking off.

…..

I look up to the stars in the jet black sky and wonder. How this all works, the universe and all. With all the time I've been spending with myself, thoughts like this have been popping into my head. 'What's my purpose?' 'Why am I here?'.

Someone taps my shoulder, I look over to see Suki.

"Hey."

"Hey" I respond.

We stand in silence before she speaks up. "I was just coming over to say goodnight."

"Oh, goodnight." I respond smiling for a quick moment, until it fades into an indifferent frown.

"What are you thinking about?" She asks.

I'm quiet. I guess I can share these thoughts with people.

"You know, the world, and how it works. The future. Stuff like that."

She laughs quietly. "That's what's been keeping you so preoccupied lately?" She questions tilting her head.

Well I guess that excuse works. "Yeah, I guess."

Suki pulls me into a hug. "Don't worry about that Katara, live in the now." She smiles before walking off.

"Live in the now huh?" I mutter while I begin to think about my mother. How could I possibly live in the now, when the past keeps being brought up to me?

That painful past.

…..

I lay in my bed and fall I into what I can assume will be a haunting sleep, when the next thing I know we are waken to the sound of bombs and explosions.

….

So, if you haven't realized the next chapter will be the big 'Southern Raiders' chapter. I will probably cut it into two parts but we will see. )The Zutara can finally begin muahaha)Once again, I apologize for my absence, but with my CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exam) and this huge language arts project I couldn't find the time to finish this chapter which I tried to post 3 weeks ago! Hopefully you guys are still enjoying this story. Review =)