Dedication: This chappie, I am going to have dedicated to NightmareFairy's little sister, Maggie. Sure, she has no interest in fanfics, but she's the closest thing I have to a sister, so Margaret – this one's for you (for no particular reason at all).

Disclaimer: you should know by now…

However… if I did own it…

There would be a whole other season after the Book of Fire, in which Zuko and Katara get to know each other intimately, Toph would be doing her thing… wherever (and to whomever) the heck she wanted, and as for Aang… well, he'd be off, flying all over the world, looking for more air-benders… far away from Katara.

Okay… I'm sorry… I like Aang – I do! It's just… he's got nuttin' on Zuko!

A/N: THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO READ AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO REVIEWED!!!

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Remind me again. Why are we taking a boat?" Zuko asked as he came on deck after consulting the captain.

Aang looked up from staring over side of the boat. "Appa and Momo wanted to go to some ultra-exclusive pet spa…" he said, trailing off. A thought struck him. "Don't know where they heard about it…"

Toph smirked.

XXXXX-FLASHBACK-XXXXX

Toph strolled into the Fire Palace's stables where Momo was currently visiting Appa.

Let's hope these two understand as much as Twinkletoes says they do… she thought.

Walking up to the two animals, she laid out her plan.

"Here's my proposition, you guys," she began, looking up at the air-bender's pets through her milk-white eyes. "Appa, do you remember how Sparky got you out of a jam a while ago?"

The flying bison cocked his head slightly as he recalled the memory of the gruff, fiery one. This was the human that had released him from the Dark Place, where he had been chained…

Turning to the little earth-child, he looked on her with a light of understanding bright in his large eyes.

Toph couldn't see this, but she could feel the increase of Appa's heartbeat as he recalled his time of capture.

Nodding, she continued, "Yes. Sparky, you see, has a thing for Sugar Queen – and vice versa."

Toph knew he understood who "Sugar Queen" was. After all, she had used that nickname how many times again?

"Well…" the earth-bender continued. "If you and Momo would just spend a little time in this special animal spa…" she stipulated, holding up a brightly-colored flyer for the spa, "then you'd be doing the lovebirds a huge favor."

Appa thought about this for a moment. To be honest, he didn't see how this would help them much.

He turned to his friend.

The chirping lemur agreed. He didn't see how it would help… but Momo also didn't see any harm in taking up the earth-bender's generous offer…

Putting her hand on Appa's shaggy head, Toph felt the bison nod.

Good, she thought smugly. Now Aang will be out of his comfort zone with no one but blind little ol' me to talk to…

XXX-END-FLASHBACK-XXX

"Well," Toph admitted complacently, "I thought that the two of them could use a little rest… After all, Appa's been overworked far too often – he needs time to relax…"

"And Momo?" Katara asked sarcastically as she finished braiding Toph's hair.

"You can't expect Appa to leave his friend behind," the earth-bender answered, matter-of-fact.

Sure, Katara thought sarcastically. Toph is up to something – making Sokka, Suki, Appa, and Momo stay behind… It doesn't make much sense. Where's the connection?

"Katara!" Aang asked with his biggest, widest, most gigantic grin. (A/N: yes… When Aang is excited, he doesn't use question marks when asking questions…) "Are you and Toph having a sleepover right now?"

"No… not really," Katara answered patiently. "Whatever gave you that idea?"

"Oh, Zuko just muttered something about you two having a sleepover!" the Avatar replied gaily.

The water-bender sent Zuko a look that plainly said 'you-want-to-explain-cuz-it-isn't-sounding-so-good-for-you-right-now…'

"It just reminded me of… when Azula would have sleepovers," Zuko sputtered out reluctantly. Seeing that Katara still wasn't satisfied with his explanation, he elaborated.

"She, Tai Lee, and Mai would sit around, braid each other's hair, and talk about boys…"

Katara's piercing look changed slightly. "And what were you doing there?" she asked sternly.

"Azula made me go in to refill their drinks," he conceded.

Toph chortled.

Aang laughed.

Katara smiled, then, giggled. But she had the decency to pretend it was a severe cough.

Thoughtfully, Zuko softly added, "Though she may have done it to get a reaction out of Mai…"

Katara sharply turned to look at Zuko after she heard his soft utterings.

To mention Mai… in that sort of gentle tone… she thought. What is that about!

Katara's chest hurt.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"WE'RE HERE!!!" Aang yelled joyously from the deck of the ship.

Grumbling softly, Katara rolled over in her bunk bed and shoved a spare pillow over her ears.

"Iz twoo urly," the girl grumbled.

Toph, in the bunk bed below her, commented dryly, "We're not going to get any sleep with Twinkletoes up…"

"I can at least try…" Katara muttered, slightly more awake.

Rolling over, she tried to get back to sleep.

Just as she began to drift off into unconsciousness, Aang burst through the girls' door, shouting, "WAKE UP! IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MORNING!"

"No. No it isn't," Katara hissed darkly from her nest of blankets and pillows.

"Aang," Toph scolded, amused. "You shouldn't be bursting into a young ladies' rooms…"

Realizing his mistake, he blushed and muttered incomprehensible apologies as he fled the room.

Katara growled sleepily from her bed.

"Katara," Toph began, "it's times like these where I can see that you and Snoozles actually are related…"

Ignoring the animal-like sounds of objection coming from the top bunk, Toph silently dressed and left the room.

After her bunk-mate left, Katara burrowed her head deeper into her pillow.

It had been a long night for her.

Katara couldn't help mulling over what Zuko had said about Mai – or rather, the way he had talked about her.

His voice had been soft. Gentle. Forgiving. Maybe even a little regretful?

Ever since she had heard it, the water-bender hadn't been able to keep her mind off of the subject. It was like a baby tooth that had begun to come loose.

She couldn't help worrying it and nudging it.

Why can't I just leave it alone! she wondered.

Taking a moment to avoid thinking about it, Katara pounded her fists against her pillows.

A light knock on the door caused her to pause.

"Come in," the water-bender called out, frustrated.

Zuko opened the door. Warily, he stayed in the doorway. "We've arrived," he told her.

Katara sat up in her bunk, disgruntled and a little startled.

Zuko tried not to stare at her, but he couldn't help absorbing the image of her loose, tousled, coffee-colored hair, her dark, even skin tone, and her wide, blue eyes.

For a brief moment, his eyes even lingered on her inviting lips, but he quickly snapped himself back to reality. "You should get up," he suggested. "You could always sleep later, once we get settled in…"

Accepting this idea, Katara moved to jump down from the top bunk.

Worried for her safety, Zuko came over to help her. Giving her a look that showed her wanted to help, he put his hands on her trim waist.

Lightly setting her hands on his shoulders, she scooted off the edge of the bunk and found herself in his arms.

He's warm... she thought.

Not just physically – although I'm pleased to discover that he could replace my blankets any time… Wait! Bad thought! No! Bad Katara!

I mean… He makes me warm… Wait! That's not any better! Gahhh!!!

Since she was trying to hide her muddled thoughts, Katara hardly noticed that Zuko had set her on her own feet.

Zuko looked over at the sixteen-year-old in his arms. Before he could entirely stop himself, he found himself leaning towards her, maybe to rest his forehead on hers. Maybe to kiss the top of her curly-haired head. Maybe…

Her bright blue eyes stared up at his warm amber ones. Her eyes were trusting. Artless. Innocent.

Abruptly, his arms released her.

Katara was in a state of shock.

Embarrassed and blushing, Zuko mumbled a soft "Excuse me," and exited, closing the door behind him.

Katara remained in a haze.

I wonder if he would have tried to kiss me…? she wondered vaguely.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

A/N:

Okay… obviously things are heating up in my pretty kettle of fish…

One thing I need to ask is…

Eventually… when there actually is a kissing scene…

How should it be executed?

DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT!!! I'M ONLY SIXTEEN! I HAVE ZERO EXPERIENCE WITH GUYS (ROMANTICALLY), SO SUE ME!

Anyhow… (deep breaths)

Any advice on how to write my first kissing scene?

I don't think that it would be in the next chapter (I don't think that they're quite there yet), but I know that a kissing scene will show up…

For some reason or another, in most of the Zutara fanfics I've read, Katara ends up against a tree…(wtf?)

I kind of like that idea, though, so maybe I'll end up going for it… (even if the idea is growing stale…)

(My apologies to anyone reading this that used that situation in a fanfic…)

SO PLEASE REVIEW!!!

Give suggestions on how they should kiss…

Where they should kiss…

Heck! Why they should kiss…

[There are reasons, right? It wouldn't just be like:

High-Pitched-Damsel-in-the-Woods-Katara: Oh, Zuko! What am I doing up against this tree?

Gruff-Horny-Teenager-Zuko: I don't know… But while you're there, I might as well give you a steamy kiss…]

HAHAHAHA!!!

Sorry… I am just too amused by this hypothetical situation…

So, please, do me a favor. Review.

(Please!!! I need advice!!!)

(Damn-it! This is entire author's note has been embarrassing! I promise that the next one won't be quite so awkward!)