I wake up feeling refreshed. Like that feeling you get after coming up out of the water- at peace. Looking around I notice the sun is just beginning to rise. The sky's a beautiful orange color and our camp site is overlooking the waters; the waves crashing up against the rocks. Suddenly I hear someone's footsteps, I turn to see him. He walks so stoically. I've never noticed before, probably because I've been loathing him but now… now he reminds me that he was brought up as a prince. Zuko notices me, and gives me a tired smile and continues to walk towards me.

"Good morning." He says, his golden eyes looking in mine.

I smile back at him. "Morning."

When Zuko talks to you, you can tell he's focused on only you. I appreciate a quality like that. You know they actually care.

We sit in silence, watching the sun rise to wake the others. It's a comfortable silence. I feel him look over to me, but I keep my face towards the sun, soaking in the warmth. Finally I break the quiet.

"So, what's the plan for today?" I ask him.

He smirks. "Isn't Sokka the plan maker?"

I chuckle quietly. "Yes, but you were the one who said we were going to make our way over to your old beach house."

He ponders. "Yeah that's right." Zuko looks back to the sky, and says something under his breath that I can't seem to make out.

I nudge at him. "What's wrong?" I ask.

"Ah- it just brings some memories and nostalgia is all." And he leaves it at that. I don't bother to push him further, as I do so very often with everyone else, but I know when I should stop.

"How long have you been up anyways?" He asks me.

"About 10 minutes. Normally I would still be sleeping, but I just felt so… so much at peace. Maybe it had to do something with my dreams."

He nods. Then his eyes meet mine. We're silent again, and the intensity that I feel when his eyes look into mine is something I've never really experienced before. "I'm glad I was able to help you Katara." Zuko says.

"I am too." I say. Then something tells me to show some sort of affection or thanks. I know I gave a hug of gratitude yesterday but it doesn't feel like enough. I rest my head on his shoulder. He doesn't move at all. We sit there, watching the orange sky turn blue, and the crashing sounds of the waves die down. I'm not sure how long we stay like this until I hear Aang.

….

"What are you guys doing?" Aang asks with a scowl on his face.

I stand up immediately. "Uh it's nothing, we were- uh…"

"Talking." Zuko adds. "When she fell asleep on my shoulder. I didn't want to wake her. Don't get the wrong idea Aang." He says quickly defending himself.

I breathe a sigh of relief, and I see Aang does as well. "You're right, I'm sorry I accused you guys of doing something else!" He chuckles and rubs the back of his head.

The outburst woke everyone else up, so I figured it was best I start making some breakfast. Walking over to my pans and pots to start cooking I notice that Zuko has gone to sit back down by his tent. He appears to be contemplating something. My natural instinct is to go over and talk to him but I feel like I'm getting to close to him. I mean we just became friends—if that even.

Gathering the cooking supplies and food, I begin to cook while my thoughts begin to take over.

"Katara? Katara. Katara!" Sokka shouts.

"Huh what?" I say turning my attention to my concerned brother.

"You're burning the food!" He screams.

I look toward the pot and sure enough the food is starting to get a bit too crispy. "Oh wow uh sorry!" I say. I stir the pot some more after adding a few more spices, hopefully that makes up for the few burned pieces.

"Geez Katara, why are you so spacey today?" He questions suspiciously.

I sigh, acknowledging that he's right. "I dunno." I reply. Of course I do know, the thoughts running through my head were all about my dream last night, and Zuko. Okay mainly Zuko. Now that everything is okay with us. I'm starting to notice that he's actually a pretty good guy, and yes, he is attractive. I love his shaggy jet black hair. But that ponytail he had a few months back, that's another story.

"Well be a bit more attentive next time." He says while stomping off.

…..

After everyone's finished eating and the dishes are washed, we pack our stuff and head over to his abandoned beach house.

"This is it?" Sokka asks.

Zuko nods. "Yeah, is there a problem?"

Sokka pauses and motions to the area. "No, but I have to say I expected I don't know a bit more being that you guys are royalty and all. It's pretty dirty."

"Well that's what happens when places become abandoned Sokka." He replies.

I walk over to Zuko and place my hand on his shoulder. "Well I think it's quite quaint. It just needs a bit of cleaning and homey touches!" I say cheerfully.

He turns and gives me a small smile and before he can speak to me my brother cuts him off.

"Katara there's no time for that, we're only here for a few days. Every minute needs to be used wisely!"

I start to chuckle as I notice Aang running towards the house, most likely to explore. Walking away I start to take our things into the house. After we've settled in, I noticed that Zuko wasn't in the living room with the rest of us. Of course, it peaks my interest and I go to search for him. Room after room, I still can't find him. Until, I see a small door and open it quietly. A set of stairs appears and I decide to walk down them. They're creaky and dusty, I doubt Zuko is in here until I see a figure on a small bench, his face lite up by the small fire he created on the table next to him.

"Can I come in?" I ask shyly. What a stupid question! I'm already in for spirits sake. Luckily he nods and pats to the seat next to him. I sit down and place my hands in my lap unsure of what to say. I'm about to ask if something is the matter when he begins to talk.

He starts off with a small chuckle. "Azula and I used to come down here to play all the time. You know, before she turned crazy and mean. She'd call me Zu-zu, because she couldn't quite say my name yet. Mother told me to always be the best brother to her I could be, and I always tried to live up to that. Well that was before she decided she didn't need me anymore."

I look at him sadly. "Sister's always need their brothers. Even the crazy ones."

Zuko scoffs. "Ha well not in her mind…it doesn't matter."

I cough from all the dust and dirt around this place. "Let's go back and join the others, maybe we can explore this place a bit in disguise."

He nods and we head up the stairs. I'm looking around and notice quite a few portraits. From dragons, to the royal family. We enter the room and everyone appears to be bored out of their minds.

"Let's do something!" Sokka shouts.

"What happened to ever minute being spent wisely?" I asked

"We deserve one break!" Sokka says.

Toph picks at her feet. "Yeah this is boring."

"Well." I say. "Why don't we go down to the beach and the shops around it. Of course we will have to disguise ourselves a bit to be safe, especially you Aang."

He nods and sits up from the chair. "What are we waiting for let's go!"

….

We're walking through the small tourist town when Suki tells me that we should go swim suit shopping.

I laugh. "Well I could use another one! We all could, look there's a store right there."

We head into the store and I pick out a two piece dark red swimsuit. The bottom part is like a small skirt, and the top is in the shape of a diamond zig zagging across. After picking out and paying for our suits, we all put them on, which came with a small beach robe so we weren't completely exposed. I turn around after looking at some shells when Zuko's eyes meet mine. He blushes and quickly turns away which makes me blush.

What if he hated how I looked in the suit! I must look ridiculous. Suki chuckles, she must have saw what just happened and she reassured me I looked great. So great that apparently two guys kept looking at me and whispering something I couldn't understand. They were across the room after all.

….

"Hey look at her!" A short muscular guy named Zen exclaims.

His buddy Piao turns to Katara, and looks her up and down, obviously pleased. He whispers something to Zen when Zuko turns to the two teenagers.

I frown and can feel myself heating up. What are those guys saying? I think.

Zen starts to speak again. "Spirits the things I would do to that girl." He laughs eyeing Katara once again.

Piao punches him in the shoulder then chuckles. "Well you'd have to get her clothes off first and trust me you wouldn't make it that far…but I would. He says darkly.

My fist clench as I watch Piao walk over to Katara, and before he can even say anything I runs up to him, grabbing his shoulder and pin him to the wall.

"If you ever talk about her that way again you're not going to live to see the next day without being in the hospital first." I spit out.

"Geez just take it easy!" Piao pleads.

The whole store is looking at us, even Katara with wide and confused eyes. I turn to her and see how worried she looks and let him go, he and his other friend run out the store.

Sokka walks over to me just as confused as everyone else. "Zuko what happened!" He asks.

I look to Katara for a brief moment and sigh. "They were saying some stuff about her. Some things I don't think you nor your father would like to hear."

Sokka becomes furious and is about to run out the store to catch the guys when I stop him. He looks at me. "What?"

"I took care of it. Trust me." I say seriously.

He nods and walks over to his sister and says something as she looks to me, before I walk out of the store, wondering why I became so furious.

…..

Well I'm back. I have no excuse for my absent. I will admit I got lazy. I really want to finish this story soon so hopefully I will find the motivation to do so! Sorry for the wait again. Reviews are lovely