Author's note: I was asked by three people to continue this, and have developed a plot subsequently. Therefore, STORY TIME! This will be a decently long story, so be prepared and spread the word.
Read and Review! There's lot of drama and angst on it's way, and a very defined plot. Don't you guys worry. New chapter coming soon!
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DISCLAIMER: I don't own Avatar. Only the plot and words are mine, not the characters.

"What?" I repeated, dumbfounded.

"You said Zuko's name…a couple of times in your sleep. I asked if you were okay." Aang replied, a small, comforting smile on his face. Oh… naivety. He thought I was having a nightmare. I looked at Aang, wide-eyed. The grey-eyed boy with the arrow tattoos I had once thought I was in love with, now I could barely handle touching him.

And it wasn't that I hated him, or didn't like him. I do love Aang- just not romantically. He's my best friend. A sweet man, kind and forgiving. Not… like Zuko. Aang was a quiet lover, and didn't know a thing about how women worked. Not that I knew if Zuko did either but Zuko held power. Had always held power. And I guess I had had a thing for Zuko for a while… I just didn't want to look at it like that. I was too busy trying to love Aang.

I sighed, and shook my head, my body forming goosebumps due to the sweat on my skin. "I'm fine, Aang."

"What was the nightmare about?" He asked, ever-so-curious and always worried.

"It wasn't a nightmare." I admitted. I felt like I couldn't keep this charade up much longer.

"What….? What was it, Katara?" Aang asked, now thoroughly baffled. His bald head was tilted to the side, eyebrows furrowed.

"It was nothing, Aang. I'm going to go get some air." I stood up, stretching. I felt bad for being so snarky with Aang but right now I didn't feel like dealing with him.

I walked outside, greeted by a rapidly chattering Momo climbing all over me and pulling at my messy hair. I swatted him away, scowling as he jumped off my shoulders and used his wings to glide a short distance, shaking a tiny Lemur-fist at me before running inside. Always with the attitude from Momo…

I sat on the ground, dangling my legs over the Cliffside. Of course we didn't have neighbors. The Air Temple didn't have neighbors. Occasional visitors, sure. But I had not even left the place in months. Maybe over a year… I sighed, dropping my head into my hands.

And that's when it hit me.

I needed to leave. I stood up, excitement coursing through my body like life-giving blood, and waltzed inside.

"You seem much happier, Katara." Aang said when I nearly bumped into him.

"We need to talk." I said. Maybe, if I could leave, explore, visit friends, I would miss Aang, and want to come back, and be with him. Aang quirked an eyebrow and nodded for me to continue. I sighed. "I'm leaving. I mean, not for good. But I need to get out for a while, on my own. Explore. Visit friends and maybe make new friends. I know it'll hurt you a bit but I won't be gone too long. A couple of months or so. And I'm going alone." I stressed the word and looked pointedly at Aang.

"Oh." He had never heard me be like this. And I wasn't particularly giving him room for disagreements. "Okay. When are you leaving?"

"Today." I said, and bolted off to go bathe and change. It was summertime, meaning hot. I packed a small bag with a change of clothes and bindings, my water skin and some other necessities including some non-perishable foods. I packed lightly, though. And then I bathed, scrubbing my skin. I knew it wouldn't be long before I missed bathing regularly. I got out and left my hair down, to towel dry, before putting my hair "loopies" back into place and pulling on a figure-fitting, pale blue dress. It rose just above my knees with a small slit in one side that came to my thigh. A sash tied the middle, and it was the color of the sky at midnight. The neckline rode a bit low, but not scandalously low. I put on comfortable shoes, and went to find Aang. To say my goodbyes.

I gave him a quick peck on the kiss and a thank-you, and set out on my adventure.

First stop? Fire Nation.

And the trip was long. The trip itself took well over a month, considering a good bit of it was by feet, or by Ostrich Horse. Closer to the fire Nation, I took a carriage drawn by a Dragon Moose. But finally, quite exhausted, I arrived in the Fire Nation, near Caldera city. I wasn't quite used to traveling anymore, and it took a lot more out of me than I remember. Not to say I wasn't in shape- I did bending exercises every day for hours a day, no matter what.

I was just tired.

But I still wobbled myself through crowds for a while, muttering apologies when people rammed into me to save the dirty looks I was getting. I stopped at an inn, paid for a night with what little money I had left over, and bathed. And slept. And washed my clothing.

And the following morning? I walked up to the Palace.

Met by guards with weapons raised, I was questioned. "Who are you?"

"I am Katara. A friend of the Avatar and a friend of Zu- Fire Lord Zuko. I've come to see my old friend." At first, they didn't buy it. But Zuko himself walked out to see the commotion… and stopped dead.

"Katara." He said, his voice low.

"Zuko." I responded with a nod and a mock-curtsy.

"You're here."

"Sorry it's unannounced. I had to get away for a bit."

Confusion crossed Zuko's face. He still looked so close to the same as he did years ago, although, as in my dream, his hair was longer. Pulled into a strange sort-of bun. His scar was blatant, but I couldn't help but love the way it looked. His eyes, molten gold, were piercing but still held friendliness- at least towards me. And he was draped in luxurious silken robes of lava red. He looked incredible.

"Come in, Katara. We have a lot of speaking to do."