My oh My I am so sorry for the slow updates, I have been battling with finishing high school , getting ready for graduation, stupid boys, getting ready collage , buying a car, and really bad sickness, but here is the next chapter, I hope you all enjoy it please let me know what you think like I said in the beginning I'm always open to advice on not only my writing but my plot as well, thank you all so much for reading, reviewing you guys are awesome and your kind words always make my day. :) out of the millions of people who suck you guys are not among them.
Now on with the story.
Katara was still hot, she had already thrown off her covers and was trying to go back to sleep, it was nearly dawn and she desperately wanted to sleep. She never had this problem before, she could always sleep no matter what time of the day it way and usually she slept right through the sunrise, but today she was tossing and turning trying to find a comfortable spot.
"If you don't stop squirming around like a fish I'm going to smother you with my pillow." Zuko said.
Katara sat up and looked at the moody boy, Zuko had woken up feeling rather refreshed and he was lying on his side with his eyes closed.
"I thought you didn't sleep?" She challenged, and he opened his good eye and looked at her.
"The time I do get to sleep I don't want a squirmy waterbender next to me."
Katara sorted. "I can't get back to sleep, its the stupid sun." She said, annoyed.
"Firebenders rise with the sun, as do you." He said, closing his eye.
She sighed. "Yeah I remember, you said that right before you knocked me unconscious."
Zuko sat up. "Hey your the one that wanted to fight, I would have been happy to let you leave unharmed." He crossed his arms.
"Unharmed…You tossed me into a wall." She glared.
"Well next time don't stand in my way waterbender." He mocked as she huffed and fell back into the bed. 'So we're back to fighting again huh' she thought closing her eyes. Zuko smirked.
"We could have a rematch, but I would feel bad beating up a girl again." He pondered slowly.
She turned around so she was facing him face red hot with anger. "You did not beat me up, I could take you anytime any day." She proudly declared.
"OOO really I'm so scared what are you going to do without your bending, scratch me with your nails, or you could just stick to what your good at and nag me to death." He laughed
Katara then grabbed his pillow and hit him with it, when he toppled over in surprise Katara dove in putting it over his head, she wasn't really smothering him but had a good hold on him, she straddled his body with hers hands pressing into the pillow. "Say you're sorry." She yelled.
"Never." Zuko said, his voice muffled beneath the pillow.
Katara kept a good hold on him. "Fine then die fire jerk." She said.
Zuko grabbed her arms, he did not hurt her but flipped them over so he was on top, the pillow was gone from his face and was inches from hers he held tightly on to her arms while she thrashed around under him.
"Hey that's not fair." She said shaking a little.
He smirked. "A prince always gets his way". he smirked again.
She glared hard at him. "Get off me Zuko." She said through her teeth.
"Hah I think I like it here, it's my new favorite spot." He said not realizing what just came out of his mouth.
Katara blushed hard, and suddenly he could feel her body under his, it was radiating heat 'his heat' but it was nice, it was hard to ignore her well tones legs under his and her tiny wrists in his hands as she stopped struggling and looked at him he could never get over her eyes, he leaned in a little closer breaking the space between them.
"Zuko what are you doing?" She whispered but made no moment to stop him, he opened his mouth and then closed it he was so close he thought he moved in and Katara closed her eyes.
"Hush water maiden." He whispered he was not really sure what to expect but it felt so right and so very wrong at the same time, he felt her breath hit his lips she felt his lips barley touch hers.
"Hello. Oh." Lings voice echoed trough the room, Zuko shot up and looked at Ling, Katara sunk deeper and deeper into the bed and he let go of her wrist and got off her.
"Oh my I'm so sorry you two, I knocked but no one answered I thought you two were sleeping." She then let out a devilish smile. "Breakfast will be ready in a couple of minutes, but I'll save you two a plate." She winked.
Zuko and Katara's hearts were pounding hard. "Thank you Ling, we'll be down there soon." Katara said pulling the covers up closer to her body.
Ling just smiled. "Don't rush dear." She began to close the door when she peeped back in. "I'm glad to see you two worked it out."
Zuko turned his face away from her, and Ling closed the door, Katara just looked at Zuko. "Worked it out?" She asked confused.
Zuko just shook his head. "It's nothing." He moved his hand in his hair; Katara was still sitting next to him trying to get her mind clear. "That was close." Zuko said nervously.
"Yeah cause we wouldn't want them getting the wrong idea," Katara said sarcastically. "What were you doing anyways?" She hissed angrily, she then crawled out of the bed.
Zuko said nothing but had a great view of her long tan legs until she slipped on her robe.
"I'm going to go see if Ling needs help."
Zuko nodded embarrassed by his actions and watched Katara turned around leave. Zuko sat alone with his thoughts, and he slumped back into bed and put the pillow over his face. "Why… why is it always me." He groaned.
Sokka walked aimlessly through the small village, he wasn't looking for anything but answers; last night left him with no sleep. He tossed and turned all night and every time he closed his eyes he saw Yue. The days seemed to go on forever, and he sighed then started to kick a rock. The smell of food hung in the air as he past some merchants trying to sell him dried meats and fruit, but he was far from hungry at the moment. "Stupid firenation." He mumbled to himself as he kicked the rock a little further then he planned, it bounced up and hit a tin can making a pinging sound.
"You know, if you like skipping rocks there is a stream near by." A female voice said pleasantly from behind him. He quickly turned to see a young women standing there.
"Um.. no um, rivers are more of my sisters thing." He chuckled nervously rubbing the back of his head, the girl flashed a smile that could kill and made Sokka smile. She had long blond curly hair that framed her round face perfectly, her skin was light with a tan tint, she wasn't very tall she only came up to Sokka's shoulder, and he found himself a little disappointed to see the round bump on her stomach that stuck out on her brown dress, showing that she was at least 7 mounts pregnant. She giggled a little at his staring and held out her hand.
"I'm Lilly." She said, Sokka took her hand and bowed respectfully.
"I'm Sokka." He said, forgetting about the alias.
She smiled at him once more and placed a hand on her stomach happily. "Well if your not interested in skipping rocks on water then why do you skip them on land?" She teased lightly.
Sokka flushed red and laughed nerveoudly. "Oh well I was just ah.. thinking you know, kicking rocks helps get the brain flowing." He said stupidly.
Lilly giggled. "So what brings you to the market place? I mean besides rock kicking."
Sokka smiled at the young women. "Nothing I was just thinking about some things." He said flushing some more then coughed. "So you and your husband must be very excited, I mean for the new arrival." He said, changing the subject.
Lilly gave him a small smile. "Oh um. I'm not married…Yet." She held up her hand to reveal her engagement ring on her finger, Sokka wasn't one much for jewelry, but it caused him to raise an eye brow he knew that they gave necklaces in the water tribe, bracelets in the earth kingdom and rings in the fire nation. He looked at Lilly who was looking at the ground biting her lip. 'Poor girl' he thought, and he saw the large basket sitting next to her it was almost the size of her and full of fabric. "Well I should get going it was nice to meet you." She said grabbing the basket.
"Would you like me carry that?" He asked, but Lilly shook her head.
"No thank you, I really have to learn to do it on my own." Sokka's face fell and helped her lift as she placed it on her side. "It was nice meeting you Sokka, I hope you find what you're looking for." She said nervously, and as she began to walk away from Sokka he called out to her.
"Hey Lilly um, I'm staying at this Inn on the other side of town and the women who runs it Ling she always makes way to much food and if you would like a free meal…"
Lilly smiled. "Thank you Sokka but I really have to be on my way, but thank you really." She said as she disappeared through the sea of people.
Katara went and helped Ling with breakfast, doing anything ANYTHING to get her mind off Zuko, she pushed this morning far back in her mind, the whole night seemed like a dream, she touched her lips with her fingers and 'it doesn't count' she thought shaking her head. Ling had let her take another bath (in private this time) and gave her a silk green rode with black trimming around it, it was truly beautiful, although she didn't really look that great in green, but it was one step up from topless and that's all that mattered. She sighed, and looked at herself in the mirror, Ling had insisted that Katara wear her hair down, so she did Ling also added a large flower to the side of her hair, she felt like a fish out of the south pole, she missed her furs and pants.
She and Ling had just finished up and were taking food out now, Katara had a tray of dumplings and Ling brought in rice and honey. She didn't see Zuko sitting at the table, 'I wonder where he is' she wondered, she desperately wanted to hate him wanted to yell at him, for not only coming into her room last night but for his little stunt this morning, what would her grandmother say if she knew she shared a bed with a men she wasn't married to, and even worse the fire Prince but she didn't and she didn't regret anything that happened last night (well maybe the rice wine) but other then that, , she sighed trying to block it out some more, as she took the tray into the kitchen .
Sokka and Aang wear already at the table Sokka was still quiet, he looked very deep in thought when she entered the room. He had just gotten back form the market after talking to Lilly he had cleared his head and was ready to start a new day, he had figured it was only a matter of time before Zuko and Iroh left, so Sokka could be patient.
"Hey Katara, did you sleep well?" Aang asked taking a bite of an apple.
She smiled at the young Avatar and set the plate down on the table. "Yeah I had great night sleep." She lied, but she did enjoy waking up next to Zuko she thought quietly 'damn it' she counter thought. She glanced over at Sokka who was staring at her. He then got up and walked over to her.
"I'm going to go find everyone." Aang said jumping up, he did not want to be in crossfire.
" Sokka, I just-" but she was interrupted by her brother hugging her, she wrapped her arms around her brother and buried her face in her shoulder, Sokka pulled back at looked at her.
"Katara, you were right, I'm so sorry about what I said, I just get so angry." She pulled him into another hug, she knew that he had a lot on his plate and she didn't want to stay mad.
"It's ok, I'm sorry too, for now on I'm going to be on team avatar always." She promised quietly.
Sokka just smiled and patted her head. "It's ok, I just want you to be safe fish."
She sighed at her nickname he had given her so long ago and she still hated it, but she brightened up and smiled again.
"Aw now isn't that lovely, you two worked things out." Lee said walking in with Iroh and Aang.
Sokka just patted Katara's shoulder hard and smiled. "You can't tear us apart, hey um speaking of food…"
"We weren't talking about food." Aang said confused.
"Speaking of food." He said again drowning out Aangs voice. "Are those dumplings for everyone?" He asked with a smirk.
Katara rolled her eyes. "I'll go get the rice."
Zuko was once again angry, he had taken a bath but it didn't calm his nerves he couldn't even fire bend to heat it up, , it had been the first night in years he had slept but the water bender had to mess it up, she always messed it up, he growled in frustration. He had wanted to kiss her on the bed this morning, 'but why' he thought she was water peasant, though he was a man well a teenage boy of course he would want to kiss Katara hell he would kiss Ling if she weren't so wrinkly. He stopped in the hall when he heard someone coming. Quickly he ducked behind the corner into a closet, praying it was not Lee, again, he had a little chat with Zuko right before he got into the bath. Zuko stuck his head out until he saw two figures coming down the hall way, then he shut the door most of the way and slid down the wall.
"And then that old guy beat him again, I never thought anyone could beat pops at Pai Sho," Hachi mused walking beside his father.
Zuko let out a breath of relief that it wasn't Lee. Habiki stopped and looked at where Zuko was hiding behind the door, and to Zuko he didn't look very happy either, Zuko froze, positive he knew he was there.
"Hachi go help your grandmother." He said looking at his son.
Hachi sighed. "But I didn't get to tell you the best part" He pouted.
His father reached down and patted his head. "Go son, I'll be down there in a sec." He said with a small smile his son sighed but then ran down the hall.
Zuko felt like a ghost in that moment and hoped Habiki didn't see him, he swallowed.
"Why are you hiding in the closet?" Habiki asked calmly
Zuko turned red and got out. "I'm not hiding I'm looking for a…broom." He said simply, Embarrassed he had been caught hiding in a closet full of cleaning supplies.
"Are you hiding from you wife?" Habiki asked not buying it.
Zuko sighed. "No I'm not hiding from her, why would I hide from my own wife?" He snapped.
Habiki raised his eyebrow at him. "I'm not sure, but I'm not the one hiding in the closet." Zuko glared hard at the man no more then maybe four years older then him. "I'm not hiding from Katara." He snapped again.
"I thought your wife's name was Amarante?" Habiki asked.
"Nickname... its a nickname." Zuko covered quickly, "and I'm hiding from Lee ok, he gave me some very
unwelcome advice this morning and I don't want it to repeat." He said just admitting to it.
Habiki looked at him for a moment and started laughing. "Ah yeah he'll do that, but just so you know he will always find you…always." He said and gave Zuko his hand and helped him out of the closet.
"How do you put up with him?" Zuko asked brushing a piece of hair out of his face.
"I don't know how do you put up with that tea drinking uncle of yours?" He asked.
Zuko smirked. "Yeah well he's family." He said, knowing it Iroh was so much more then just a relative.
Habiki nodded, and suddenly a very hyper little boy came running down the hall stopped right in front of his father. "Gran says its time to eat." He said panting.
Habiki smiled at his son. "We'll be right down, and tell your grandfather not to eat all the dumplings." Hachi smiled and then looked at Zuko.
"Ok dad." And with that he was off again.
Zuko was surprised he didn't hit the wall. "Cute kid." Zuko said watching the little boy scamper off pretending to fly.
"Yeah, he's a handful, but a he's a good boy."
Zuko didn't know where this honesty was coming from but it was nice to have a conversion that didn't involve strange feelings or fighting. "I heard about your late wife, I'm sorry." Zuko said.
"Thank you." Habiki said, not turning away from his son who disappeared around the corner. "Well we should get to breakfast before Lee eats everything." He said.
Zuko nodded and he and Habiki headed down the hall.
"What is it with you fire bender boys and this girl?" June asked, looking at the piece of cloth that was handed to her recognizing the materiel as she talked, the bounty hunter had been having a drink at a local bar when a group of Fire nations soldiers had walked in, and the one in charged named Zhao had just offered her a pretty penny for her assistance.
"It isn't about the girl, she's just bonus," Zhao said licking his lips.
June shot him a deadly glare but then looked away. "I'll get you the girl, but what do I get out of it?" She said placing her boots on at the table they were sitting at.
He smiled and then tossed down a sack of money.
June raised her eyebrow and laughed. "You're gonna have to do better then that fire bender."
Zhao smirked but then reached back and tossed in two more bags, June took out a knife and began twirling it in her hands. "That's nice but we both know that's not what I'm asking for." She said.
Zhao started at her for a moment he knew she was the best and she knew it too, he swallowed his pride and snapped his fingers and a soldier handed him a potato shack full of gold. June smiled to herself. "Alright Fire bender, I'll get your girl for you, but I want the other half after."
Zhao stood up angrily but then calmed down an idea popped into his head. "Fine, but if you and that shirshu fail its you that will pay."
June looked at the man but didn't break her expression. "I'm looking forward to it."
Katara tried so hard not look at Zuko when he came into the room, she was sitting next to Aang and Sokka who wear bickering about who ate the last dumpling.
She was still embarrassed abut this morning and she was mad 'she thinks' she should be mad he almost kissed her and she almost let him, her face turned bright red when he sat down he didn't look at her but instead was talking to Lee and Ling's son Habiki. Katara sat the second pot of rice down on the table, and Ling went and sat next to Lee.
Katara smiled as he saw him get her a plate, and start serving her, she wondered if she would ever find someone like that someone to grow old with to laugh and cry and have children with, with that she remembered Aunt Wou words that gave her hope, and when she felt a tug on her dress she looked down to see Hachi looking at her with a curious look.
"You're really pretty." He said blushing. Katara giggled and smiled widely at the boy. "But that dress looks like someone ate a bunch of rotten cabbages and vomited all over it." He said. Everyone stopped short, staring at the two.
"Hachi." Ling scolded.
Sokka and Aang held back laughter, while Zuko just watched in amusement. Katara looked at the boy but then bust into a fit of laughter.
"Hachi, that was rude you do not say that to a lady." Lee also scolded, but couldn't help a smirk come out.
Katara looked at the little boy again and bent down. "You know green isn't my best color." She whispered to him he smiled, a little scared that she was going to yell at him like his grandparent's had.
"That's ok, I don't like cabbages, but don't worry I bet your beautiful most of the time". He stated looking at his feet, Katara then kissed him on the check.
"Thank you your quite handsome your self." He turned so red Katara thought he was going to pass out,
"Hachi go start your chores your done eating." Ling snapped, Hachi nodded and then ran into the other room.
"I am so sorry Amarante, Hachi is at that age, he just says anything that come out of his mouth." Lee apologized.
"It's alright, it's nice having someone that honest." She giggled, then she went and sat next to Zuko who was watching her from the corner of his eye, she was so sweet, if they had been a fire nation women she would have slapped the boy, Katara wasn't like that thought in fact he couldn't even picture her raising her hand to a child.
"Habiki this is your fault." Ling snapped breaking Zuko's thoughts.
Habiki, who had been quit this whole time looked at his mother in law amused. "And how is this my fault this time Ling?" He asked calmly.
Lings face lit up in furry. "If you didn't let that boy run around like a maniac then maybe he would have some respect, Sonya would have never have put up with this kind of behavior." She snapped.
Habiki just looked down and said nothing.
"Habiki-" Ling continued, softer this time, but a loud crashing sound interrupted them, everyone got up and went to the window, they all saw it but Sokka was first one to say it out loud.
"Firenation."
"No they are earth kingdom soldiers." Ling said, placing a hand over her mouth.
"Earth kingdom, why would they?" Aang asked but was interrupted when a young women burst trough the door.
"Lilly." Both Ling and Sokka said at the same time, she was covered in dirt and fresh tears were in her eyes.
"Sokka, please forgive me. I had nowhere else to go- they're," she breathed "they're after my baby." She pleaded.
"Calm down dear, why would they go after your baby?" Ling asked, and Lilly's eyes lit up with a horror but she didn't speak out loud, but Sokka understood far to well and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"it doesn't matter your safe here" he said,
"Don't worry we won't let them hurt your baby." Katara said she didn't know this girl but she trued her brother.
"Get in the cellar." Lee said rushing out of the room.
"Come on". Ling said, and Habiki ran out of the room looking for his son.
Everyone followed Ling to a back room; it was full of boxes and creates and Zuko felt nervous he didn't have his swords or bending to help him this time.
"There isn't enough room for everyone, so you kids go and Lee and I will handle this." Ling said opening up a secret door in the floor.
"Listen Ling." Sokka said. "You see wear not who you think Aang here is the-"
"Avatar." Ling interrupted, and everyone except Iroh looked at her wide eyed.
"Yes Lee and I already know, we also know that your the Prince and Iroh here is the famous Dragon of the West." She said moving some boxes aside.
"Wait you how long have you known?" Aang asked, pulling off his hat reveling his tattoos.
Ling looked him over and smiled. "Well you kids really aren't as clever as you think." She smirked Iroh smiled he had ready had a long talk with them about the whole thing. "Now come on get in." She said.
"But what about the villagers?" Aang asked worried.
"They will be fine young Avatar, I'm sure their just here to collect their mouthy payment, no one usually get hurts, but keeping you safe is more important then our silly inn." She laughed Aang's face fell and Katara put a hand on his shoulder.
"What about Appa and Momo?" He asked.
"Don't worry dear I'm sure they won't bother going into the barn besides I'm sure he can get out." She said gently.
Ling helped them all into the cellar leaving only her and Katara outside. "Oh no my necklace I must have left it upstairs." Katara said touching her neck.
"There's no time Katara get in." Sokka scolded already inside next to Lilly.
"But they'll know we we're here if they find it." She stated.
Sokka was about to pull her in anyway when loud voices echoed trough the door Habiki ran in sweating hard, his eyes panicked. "I can't find Hachi!"
"Hurry get in Habiki, Lee will find him." Ling said."No, I can't leave Hachi." He yelled angrily.
"That solider said he would kill you if he saw you again, now get in." She ordered as she pushed the man into the cellar.
"No I can't I won't leave him!" He yelled.
"I'll go find him." Katara said.
"Katara no!" Sokka said, about ready to jump out.
"Sokka protect Aang, I'm sure its nothing just like Ling said, I'll be back." With that she ran out of the room.
"Katara!" Sokka yelled, trying to go after her, but Aang held him back.
"She'll be fine Sokka." He said, trying to calm down her hysterical older brother.
"No I can't leave her." He yelled again, trying to get out.
Habiki pushed in front of them all suddenly. "I'll go and find her and Hachi." He said, and he was about ready to run out when there was a loud crashing sound from the other room making them jump.
Lee came running in his head was bleeding. "Lee!" Ling shouted, going over to her husband.
"Ling get inside now." He ordered.
"Lee what's wrong what happened?" Everyone was on edge now, Habiki and Sokka were about to jump out, while Zuko and Iroh waited in the back. Zuko had desperately wanted to grab Katara and pull her to safety, but she ran out before he could really say or do anything, so he waited patently, a rare thing for him to do.
"I will go out and talk to them, I'm sure its just a misunderstanding." Aang said.
"You don't know the earth soldiers around these parts, there ruthless they enjoy the war, they come steal anything they want if they find you or any of your friends here then the whole town will be held responsible." Ling said urgently.
"I just heard from one of the villagers, that they're looking for a girl between the ages of 16 to 25." Lee chimed in.
Ling gasped. "Why would they do that?"
Lee just shook his head. "I guess their looking for someone, we have to hide." He said, laying his eyes on Lilly.
"What about Hachi?" Habiki argued while Lee helped his wife into the cellar.
"He'll be fine they only want the women, and I'm sure he's already hiding." Lee said.
"We can't leave Katara." Sokka shouted.
Lee gave him wide eyes. "You let her go out their by herself!" He shouted angrily, starting to crawl out of the cellar. It was then they heard the voices of two men through the other door.
"No time." Lee hissed, closing the doors moments before two soldiers entered.
Thank you all so much, please R&R. :),
The song for this part is Evans Blue- The Promise and The Threat.