A/N: there are a couple references to one of Lyralocke's stories. i love her work and it is by no means any sort of plagiarism. i credit her with her story all the way.

Disclaimer: i still do not own Avatar but damn Death Metal helped with this one.

Confessions Part 4

She was starting to get used to the portal rides but landing was still very rough. Katara had come out over an ocean and plummeted below. Her head popped up and she waterbent herself to the nearest island. She bent all the water from her tunic and looked up. The island seemed huge and standing tall at the top of the island was a gigantic Oak tree. She remembered the tree from when everyone was down in the swamps but had never seen an Oak Tree this big and as strange as this tree was, it was vaguely familiar as well. An uneasy feeling crept on Katara, a big shiver going down her spine.

"That's funny", she thought, "I'm not cold and I bent all the water from my clothing so it is bone dry"

The Waterbender started climbing up the hillside, she knew her next confession has something to do with the tree but what, was the thought replaying in her mind. She was about to find out all too soon as halfway up the hillside, she felt very warm, almost boiling.

"Where is this warmth coming from?" she asked confused

Suddenly she saw fire shoot from out the tree. "The tree is shooting fire!" she exclaimed.

She dodged the fire in the nick of time and waterbent a Water Whip from the ocean. All she was thinking is that the tree couldn't have shot the fire but what or who did?

Katara ran up the hillside and she stopped in her tracks. There was Zuko, looking as he did when he joined everyone and the scar was gone! Zuko was practicing his firebending and trying to master some lightning. He stopped once he saw Katara standing there with her mouth open.

"Why is Zuko here?" she thought to herself "And what do I have to confess to him?" she was getting a little angry at herself "but why was Zuko her next stop on her confession tour."

Zuko quietly came over to where she was standing and sullenly said "Hello Katara."

"Hello Zuko" she said.

"As everyone else has told you, I know why you are here"

She was really wondering how everyone knew she was going to be here and it was making her mad.

"Zuko, lets cut to the chase" she said snippier than she wanted to.

"I'm all ears"

"Zuko, when you came along, everything seemed down in the dumps, Aang had no firebending teacher and you happen to come along." "At first I found it suspicious and I didn't like you at all, but when you came along with me to find my mother's killer, I was still very wary" "You saw that I was full of blind rage and wanted revenge but I couldn't bring myself to do it"

Zuko cut her off, "Katara, you couldn't do it because you saw that the guy was a shell of his former self and that you forgave yourself, not him." "I found out later that he died of a heart attack that day"

Katara started to sob, it killed her to know that she had caused the death of a man but she also took solace that his time also coming to an end and that he did go through the same thing she is right now.

She dried her tears and turned toward the Fire Lord, what she said next, stunned him and herself a little bit.

"My confession is that Zuko, when I was going through trouble with Aang, especially that day with the Ember Island Players, I thought of you" "I thought about running my fingers through your hair, feeling your scar and kissing you!" "I knew at the time that everything would've changed especially with Aang and I, those feelings were not really concrete at the time either" "I was scared for everyone and how everything was going to happen and most of all I was scared for Aang!"

She could feel tears starting to well up and wiped them away quickly before any fell. She could tell that she had shocked Zuko and herself but Zuko's expression was one of knowing instead of shock. There was a small silence between them until Zuko spoke up.

"Katara, I already knew" Zuko said with a small smile.

She recoiled back, stammering out "H-H-How did you K-K-know Z-Z-Zuko!?"

"Those were my own feelings for a while even after Aang and you had started a romantic relationship"

"I wanted to kiss you and that feeling grew even more when Aang told me how you were as a kisser and especially how you tasted"

"He said you tasted something to the effect of Cream and some Strawberries"

Katara's cheeks went red immediately as she remembered Aang always showing her how he loved her kisses and she loved his endlessly. She looked up from her thoughts to see Zuko staring at her.

He spoke, very hesitant, "I was wondering to know if Aang was right and to see if it would feel right"

Katara stared at him in horror, not sure what she was hearing or believing it. A part of her wanted to but the other part thought she would be cheating on Aang. Her and Aang had a couple of long conversations about cheating and they both agreed that kissing was a part of cheating, amongst other things. She was wrestling with herself on Zuko's request but after what seemed like hours but was a matter of minutes, she told herself that is was part of her confession and that it wouldn't hurt.

"Alright, I'll kiss you" she said

Now Zuko had a shocked expression on his face.

"You will?" he stammered out

"Yes" Katara said

She stepped closer towards Zuko until they were inches apart. He leaned in and she, hesitant as first but leaned in to meet his lips. He tasted spicy almost burning and it didn't feel right to her. Zuko was cursing at himself because he knew Aang was right, she had tasted of Cream, and some Strawberries but he didn't feel right either.

They pulled away and Zuko immediately spoke, "Katara, Aang was right but kissing you didn't feel right." "I didn't feel a connection at all"

"Neither did I Zuko." Katara said silently "I hope this doesn't affect our friendship we ended up making a long time ago"

"It won't" he said with a smile

The two friends were interrupted by a wind gust that shook the ground. The Avatar State came from a portal in the ground. It looked a little happy this time around

"Are you ready to go" It had said with a voice still cold

She turned to Zuko and told him "Take care of yourself Fire Lord Zuko" she gave him a big hug and walked towards The Avatar State

"Take care of yourself too Katara and if you see Aang, tell him, I said Hello"

"I will" she said

The Avatar State waterbent a portal into the ground.

Knowing she would see Aang but was still scared by the prospect of everything that could happen.

"I hope Aang will be happy to see me, after all that happened" she thought to herself and went through the portal.