The TV was only white noise to me as I lay there quietly in Zuko's arms. Although I relished in the warmth that radiated from his bare skin; it did nothing to soothe me though. I was furious at my brother and my 'best friend'.

"Stop thinking about them and watch the movie." Zuko said with a grin. "You made me watch this awful movie so you better pay attention too!"

"The Notebook is NOT an awful movie! And it hasn't even started yet, the previews are still running." I said with a laugh.

"I can't believe you made me go to my car to get your bag just so you could watch this movie."

"No hun, so we could watch the movie!"

Zuko rolled his eyes and pulled me closer. "Yeah whatever!"

The opening flashed across the TV screen and I smiled at the gorgeous sunset that reflected off the river.

"I thought this was about a notebook, not a rowboat." Zuko said, sounding legitimately confused.

I giggled and snuggled deeper into him.

A couple hours later, I was blowing my nose and wiping the tears that were running steadily down my face. "Oh this part gets me every time!"

"Shh!" Zuko hissed at me, his eyes glued to the screen as Noah climbed into bed with Allie.

I started crying even harder when they held each other's hands and fell asleep because I knew that it was the end for them. Zuko however wasn't privy to such information.

When the film cut to the next morning and the nurse came into to find they had passed away together, Zuko begin to sniff.

I simply handed him a tissue and continued with my own crying. He handed it back and tried to sound like he wasn't crying.

"I don't need a tissue."

I nodded and laughed a little. "I think you do."

"Nah, I'm not crying."

"Really? You sound pretty emotional to me."

"Okay fine! I'm tearing up! That was a really sad ending!" he said before grabbing the remote off the nightstand and turning off the TV. He grabbed another remote and turned the fan on.

"Sorry, I have to have it sorta chilly when I sleep."

"No, its fine! I'm the same way." I said while smiling at him.

He smirked and kissed the top of my head, "Goodnight Tara."

"Night Zuko." I said before curling up and closing my eyes.

ZUKO POV

Katara fell asleep soon after she curled up in my side. I smiled down at her and then stared at the ceiling fan. It was only October and I was in bed with a student. Let alone a waterbender student.

If my dad was still alive he would be burning down my apartment building first chance he got.

"No son of mine, let alone the prince of a nation, A strong nation, will be with anything but pure Fire Nation." He once told me. "I won't allow half-bred spawn on my throne."

He died exactly one month later. I was only 14 and much too young to take the throne; Iroh took the throne in my place and will do so until I am married. My uncle is old and has maybe 5 years left. I know that I need to find a wife quickly, but how will the nation react to a waterbender? Yes there are many waterbenders in the Fire Nation, but there are rarely any Fire Nation and Waterbender relationships. How would our children turn out? Would she even want to come live in the Fire Nation?

Questions plagued me throughout the night and I couldn't sleep. The only thing keeping me from tossing all night was that Katara's petite frame was tucked into me. I glanced at my clock. 1:34 blared back at me and I stared at the ceiling fan again.

The moon's light fell into my room and caressed Katara in such an alluring way that I couldn't help but stare at the daughter of the moon lying next to me.

I studied her and ran my fingers down the gentle planes on her face. I gently ran my fingers across the long lashes that framed her eyes and smiled at the slope of her nose. I tugged gently on the curls that fell across her back and neck and smiled at her childlike sigh.

I stared at the ceiling again and frowned. The internal conflict was eating me up inside. Do I continue this relationship or do I end it, knowing how badly things could end if the relationship were to terminate?

I stared down at her face and smiled softly. I knew right then that I would continue the relationship.

"I promise that I'll tell you soon. I have to be sure you can handle everything about me before I tell you that I'm next in line to rule a nation. I have to make sure I can protect you."

The Fire Nation is an exceptionally powerful combination of Asia and a few small islands between Europe and Africa. Many people were starting to agree with his ideals and step away from the evil that was my grandfather and my father. Iroh felt that the Fire Nation had no reason to expand since there were so many people of Fire Nation heritage here in America. Not to mention the current president was a waterbender with a Fire Nation vice president. It screamed camaraderie.

I took a deep breath, cleared my mind of the thoughts that plagued me and closed my eyes. I pulled her body closer to mine and fell asleep.

I woke up to a ray of the sun going right across my eyes. The warm spot next to me let me know that Katara hadn't been gone long and the smell of food coming from the kitchen let me know exactly where she was. I stood up, stretched and followed the scent to the kitchen.

"Good morning! I was starving and I love to cook. So ta-da!" she said with a cute grin.

"Oh wow!" I said as I looked at the counter. Covering the grey granite countertop were Chocolate chip pancakes, two cheese and spinach omelets, some meat patties and cut up fruit. "Is that turkey?"

"Sure is... I found all the ingredients in your house. Your mom must've stocked it for you."

I made a pouty face and walked around the island. "Thanks for breakfast." I said as I kissed her cheek.

"Ew! Your breath stinks!" Katara said before flipping a pancake onto the platter on the counter.

"And your hair looks a mess. But I'm not making mean comments now am I?" I replied with a grin.

She stuck her tongue out at me and grabbed two plates from my cabinet. I followed her lead and grabbed utensils and cups for coffee.

We moved the food to the table and filled our plates.

My first bite of pancake literally melted in my mouth, it was so soft.

"Oh my gosh. This is so good!" I said before shoving more pancakes in my mouth.

Katara laughed cutely and popped a strawberry in her mouth. "Thank you!"

After breakfast was over, I offered to wash the dishes while she showered.

I never realized how many dishes I owned because I never cook at my house. I washed pots that I didn't even know existed in my house. Sure I can cook a little, but all I need it a microwave and the flat skillet thing and a pot.

I dried the dishes and left them on the counter because I didn't know where Katara found them.

I was drinking orange juice from the carton when we walked into the room. Her damp hair was pulled into a curly bun and the hair style showed how elegant her neck was.

"Hey, could you take me to your mom's house? I need to study for AP History with Zula."

"Oh yeah of course. Um... I do want to say something though."

"Shoot." she said before sitting on the stool next to the island.

"We moved really fast." I said before I could even think about how to say the sentence. "I mean... I haven't really had a chance to get to know you and here I am letting you sleep over!"

"I thought about that in the shower. I do really like you, but I definitely didn't imagine a sleepover after the first date. I'm not sure why, but I feel oddly comfortable with you."

I laughed a little. "We need to slow down just a tad. I still want to be with you though. We just need to wait a while to let things pick up if you know what I mean."

She nodded cutely, "I understand. So ... are you... oh nevermind."

"What?" I said, picking up on her change of attitude.

"It's nothing. Forget that I started that sentence." She said before turning around and heading towards the back of my apartment.

I ran ahead and blocked her from moving. "What Katara?"

She sighed nosily and rolled her eyes. "I was just going to ask if you were my boyfriend. Okay? See it was no big deal! Now let me get my stuff."

I leaned against the wall and stared at her. "Well ... I wanted to be the one that asked. But I guess yours was cute too. Sure I'll be your boyfriend."

She looked at me and squinted cutely. "Oh... well I... umm…"

She pulled me into a big hug and I smiled. "I think because of last night, you just really needed a friend and things sorta went from there. But there is no denying the feelings between the two of us and I don't intend on letting you go so easily."

I leaned down to kiss the top of her head and let her go.

"Come on, lets get you to my mom's house." I said before turning around and heading to my room to change. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her smiling softly and playing with her hands.

I smiled at myself in my mirror and let out a huge sigh of relief.

If that smile she had was any indication of how she felt, we would be alright.