Author's Note: In response to a few reviews I've gotten- of course Katara is a bit out of character... she's older. She's finally coming to terms with herself and her life. The characters have all grown and this is the way I perceive it. Everyone will have a different view or perception on how they all grew up, and this is mine. They won't be the same as they were years ago!

Things are slowly starting to get the wheels turning and I certainly hope you all enjoy as the drama unfolds!

Read and review and spread the word, por favor! According to my stats I have 53 people following this story! If everyone that follows that hasn't reviewed would leave one review with some feedback, I'd be SO thrilled. I do take the constructive criticism, feedback, etc. to heart, and try to apply it.

also... If there's anyone who wants to challenge me to write a fic or a oneshot, let me know in the review or in my inbox! I'll accept your challenge!

As we trekked to Toph's home the following morning, when the sun was barely peeking over the horizon, the forest still dark and silent, I couldn't get the previous night from my mind. Zuko had barely brushed his lips across mine, but it was something I couldn't stop reliving. In that mere second my body had come alive, sparks of sensation whirling through my blood and my veins. I groaned in frustration, and Zuko stopped, looking back at me.

"Are you okay, Katara?" He asked, face a mask of seriousness and concern. But I couldn't have been imagining the knowing glimmer in his eyes.

"I'm fine." I snapped. Zuko shrugged and motioned for me to keep walking.

It was maddening! Really, it was. Did he have any clue what he was doing? Or was this just how the Fire Lord was? He couldn't be as awkward and naïve as he was years ago, that I knew for a fact.

We continued to trudge on in silence. The walk was a long one, but not overly long. About two hours through the overgrown forest. Every attempt at conversation ground to a halt. Zuko seemed to be trapped in his thoughts, and kept running a finger across the scar marring his face. That man was a mystery, by the Gods. A mystery that I wanted so badly to figure out. To fix. If there was anything to fix.

Finally, after a long, awkward, and silent walk, we reached my brother's and Toph's house. A pretty, simple rock house that I can only imagine Toph made herself. Inside it wasn't overly decorated, but it was comfy, spacious and cozy all at once. We spent the better part of the morning eating and talking, although Zuko still remained mostly silent and quite stoic.

Finally, nearing the late afternoon, Toph called me over.

"Yeah?" I asked, nervousness and dread for having to explain myself brewing in the pit of my stomach.

"Outside, Sugar Queen." Toph said, motioning. We walked out into their yard, where Toph promptly plopped into the dusty ground. I followed, sitting next to her, and she trained her unseeing eyes on me.

"Don't lie, I can feel it." She said. I nodded, and Toph smirked. "So. Sparky."

"Well…."

"Nah. Shush. What went wrong with Twinkletoes?"

"Nothing went wrong, Toph."

"Well, you're not lying. So why tired of him?"

"I don't know. I just… I guess we were so expected to fall in love. We were so young and I thought I was. But I'm so cooped up there. I eat vegetarian and I meditate and I just don't think we're really a match. But he's still in love with me. I had to get out." I sighed, exasperated and frustrated.

"But you went to Sparky." Toph stated. Why was I even… oh what the Hell. Toph had grown up. She'd always been curious and nosey and… whatever.

"No! I went to the Fire Nation first because Zuko was the only one I hadn't seen in years…" I trailed off as Toph's grin grew, mischievous.

"You're only telling the half-truth, Sugar Queen."

I groaned and my covered my face with my hands.

"You think I didn't know about your thing for the Fire Lord? Your heart always flutters when you look at him. It always has."

"It wouldn't matter either way, Zuko is off-limits, I'm married and for the sake of the Gods, he's not interested!"

"And if he was, what would you do about it, hm?" Toph challenged. I fell silent for a few moments.

"I don't know. I don't know how to go about leaving Aang. I don't know how to break a heart gently. Especially the Avatar's heart." I felt silly, admitting this all.

"Have you actually brought it up to him?" Toph spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, and my eyes widened.

"Well. No."

"So do that."

"I will. Not yet."

"Have you and Zuko banged?" The question took me off guard like a slap to the face. I could feel my face prickling and growing hot, and I squeaked.

"NO!"

"Hey, you're telling the truth."

"Zuko doesn't look at me that way, Toph. I already said that."

But Toph was already getting up, dusting off her green dress and stretching, yawning loudly. Always so ladylike. "If you say so, Sugar Queen." She said, walking off. "SPARKY! KATARA NEEDS TO TALK TO YOU!" She screeched, then looked back at me, pale eyes wide and a huge grin as I groaned and tilted my head back, falling flat on my back onto the ground. Damn her.

I heard footsteps lightly scuffing the ground and opened my eyes, to see Zuko standing above me, looking down at me pointedly. I sighed.

"Toph said you need to talk to me?" His rasping voice made me shiver. I shrugged in the most offhanded, nonchalant way I could manage.

"Not really." I tried to play passive. Zuko sat down next to me, and I pulled myself into a sitting position, shaking the dust from my hair and combing my fingers through it.

"I think we do need to talk." Zuko said. I quirked an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Things left unsaid."

"Go for it, then." I vaguely waved my arm in a 'continue' gesture, trying to continue my careless game.

"When we were younger I liked you." Zuko said. Inwardly, I sighed as my heart sank into my stomach. When we were younger. Of course.

"Okay." I replied, voice flat.

"I mean. I think I might have been in love with you. I thought about you a lot. Way too much. Pretty little Water Peasant with the long hair and amazing eyes, all stubborn and outspoken and protective. But then there was me, the dishonorable Fire Nation Prince, with an ugly scar and a bad attitude. I knew you'd never even look at me the way I hoped. I gave up once you and Aang got married. Who would want the scarred, damaged Fire Lord when they could have the Avatar… right?" Zuko's cheeks burned red and his eyes were trained forward as he spoke the words like they were being thrown forcefully from his throat.

"W….wow." I breathed.

"And then you pop back in, unhappy with your marriage and seeing me before anyone. And you're not just the Water Peasant anymore. Look at you, Katara. You're a rare fucking find. Tall, beautiful, thick hair, those eyes. That attitude." He sighed, head hanging between his knees. "You'll never hear anything like this from me again." He added.

What do I say in a situation like this? I didn't have a clue. "Why didn't you ever say anything?"

"Aang." His reply was instant. "And there's nothing that can be done about it now."

"Are… Are you stupid?" The words flew out of my mouth of their own free will. And I instantly regretted them.

"Excuse me?" Smoke was breathed from his nose, signifying his annoyance.

"Are you stupid?" I repeated. "I mean. I hunted you out. I let you come with me. I let you touch me, let you kiss me. And you're pitying yourself for me never wanting you?"

Zuko's eyes widened and the color drained from his face. He stood so quickly I jumped, almost expecting him to strike me. He strode away, fists balled up, nd left me sitting on the ground with my eyes welling up. It was like rejection. I didn't know what to do anymore. One thing about having a husband basically planned for you, means you never have to face rejection... and I never did, until now. I buried my face in my arms, wanting to cry. But I was no longer a kid... I couldn't cry over a crush. That was stupid. But nonetheless, a few stray tears fell, and I ignored them, leaning my head back and staring at the sky, zoning out to my thoughts, until Toph came out and snapped me out of it, telling me to come eat.

I walked into the house, wiping my face off and trying to put on a 'nothing's wrong' facade, and stopped short. I would have dropped dead that instant if I could have.

Aang was sitting at the table, grinning his cherubic grin and looking beyond thrilled to see me.