A/N: Here's the 7th chapter! I hope you guys like it! I made it extra long because I got so many reviews! Thanks guys! You guys should listen to Fall For You by Secondhande Serenade when you guys read this chapter! It totally fits!!

Previously...

"Well then how do you know how you meant what you said when you can't remember it!" He yelled turning to stare at me.

He glared at each other for a second before we both started laughing.

"Suprisingly I understood what you asked." I said brushing my hair out of my useless eyes.

"Good cause I didn't." He admitted and I scoffed.

"Actually I know Katara." I said taking him by suprise.

"What the heck? How does my sister already know every friend I make? Jeez!"

"What'd you mean?"

"Oh well I met this girl earlier that Katara had met before me." He explained.

"Oh poor little Snoozles, can't make his own friends so he steals his sisters."

"I do not ste- Wait what did you call me?"

"Snoozles. It seemed appropriate." I said with a shrug.

Previously...

Well of course that's not it!" She snapped. "You would make a good husband too!" Then she gasped snapping her mouth shut.

"What do you mean?" I asked quietly stealing her line from earlier.

"Nothing."

"Then why'd you say it?"

"I don't know! I just did! It doesn't mean anything!" She hissed.

Of course It didn't. What was I thinking? She probably just said it because she felt bad for me. Everyone does. Nothing is worse or more humiliating that living in your younger sister's shadow.

Then I felt a presence next to me but I ignored it.

"Your nice, determined, strong, smart, hard-working, handsome, a talented firebender, strong-willed, and...I'm sorry. I have no idea what your life is like and I shouldn't have made assumptions. Besides...what I said was a lie. What I said doesn't mean nothing, I completely meant what I said." She said putting her hand on my shoulder.

I looked into her blue eyes in shock. "Thanks."

"It's the truth."

I shook my head at her.

"Really. Any girl would be lucky to be with you." She said tightening her grip for a second.

'Any girl...' I thought glancing at her. Wait. What? No I couldn't think like that. She was from the Water Tribes. I was to be engaged to a noble girl from the Fire Nation. That's the way It should be. The way It would be. Besides we were only just becoming friends. It's not like I could see her often anyways. She lived halfway across the world. Might as well end it before it started.

KATARA POV

"So what's the Southern Water Tribe like?" He asked suprising me. I guess my shock showed on my face because he rolled his eyes at me.

"All I know about it is that It's cold." He continued making me laugh.

"Well yeah It's cold I mean It's mostly of Ice and snow..."

"It's made of Ice? Even the houses?" He interrupted his voice disbelieving.

"Yes." I said defensively. "There's not exactly any stone there to use. Almost everything Is ice and snow."

"So basically you live on a block of ice?" He said bluntly making me want to smack him but I could tell he was curious so I didn't...this time.

"Well I wouldn't put It that way..."

"Well how would you put it?" He asked and I ignored the sarcasm in his voice.

"It's...beautiful. When the sun rises in the morning the sunlight reflects off the snow and ice and everything sparkles. And at night the moonlight makes the snow glow a bright white. And even though It's not as extravagant as the Fire Nation Palace It's still amazing." I said. I didn't realize how much I missed my home until then. It took a really long time to get to the Fire Nation from the Southern Water Tribe. I sighed longingly fingering the choker necklace around my neck unconsciously.

"What's that?"

"What's what?" I asked looking into Zuko's gold eyes. They really were beautiful. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. Where did that come from?

"What's that around your neck? I noticed you touching it and it seems special to you." He said seriously keeping his eyes glued to the necklace avoiding my eyes.

"Oh." I said suprised at how observant he was. How had he known how important it was to me when we'd just met? "It's a betrothal necklace."

"Oh...." He said startled sliding away from me slightly. I looked at him puzzled before I understood.

"Oh No! It's not mine." I said with a nervous laugh tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "It was my mother's."

"Then why do you have it?" He asked looking visibly relieved which made my stomach flutter.

"My mom died seven years ago." I said biting my lip to keep the tears at bay.

"Oh." He said. "What was she like?"

"She was the best." I said wiping my eyes and smiling at the memories. "She was kind, loving, compassionate, brave, and peaceful. Dad says she was just like me but from what I remember she was prettier than me." I said lost in what few memories I had left of my mother. Then I heard Zuko's scoff and I snapped out of my thoughts.

"What?"

"Nothing It's just..." He trailed off not looking at me.

"Just what? Come on you can tell me. Were friends right?" I said nudging him in the shoulder.

He tried to keep a straight face but was unable to keep a smile from creeping onto his face. I smiled in response and waited for him to answer

"It's just that...I think It's hard to imagine your mother, or anyone for that matter, being prettier than you." He said looking me in the eyes a slight blush on his face. I stopped moving. I think I stopped breathing too.

"Oh. That's what you meant? You didn't have to make I big deal about that. I was expecting you to reveal some deep, dark secret." I said shrugging off his comment and laughing in relief. He really scared me there for a moment.

"Well you are. And of course, but I mean you must have known that already. I bet you're told that all the time being a Princess and all." He said.

I shook my head. "Not really. The Southern Water Tribe it way different than the Fire Nation. Were not as...luxurious and formal." I said. The nations really were different I mean my last party was not nearly as extravagant as this. Not even close.

"But I mean your a Princess. Surely you have servants and people that do whatever you say." He said unable to grasp the concept of living without people serving your every whim.

"My Nation is not the same as yours, It's far from it. The Water Tribes put men before women. Men go out and have adventures, do what they want. While the women stay home and cook and clean and do all the boring stuff. It took forever to convince my Granddad to train me to waterbend." I said scowling at my tribe's old ways.

"Seriously? Wait what did you do to convince him?"

"I...um kinda challenged him to a fight." I said sheepishly.

"And you won?" He asked incredulously.

"No. But I guess I put up a good fight because he agreed to train me." I said with a shrug. Just then a huge gust of wind blew through the garden and I shivered. Wasn't this the Firenation? I thought it would be extremely hot.

"Look at you. The Princess of the Southern Water Tribe shivering in the Fire Nation." He said teasingly.

"It's windy! Besides I don't have a jacket. and I'm wearing this short dress!" I said defensively wrapping my arms around my shoulders for warmth.

"Yeah I noticed." He said smirking at me. I rolled my eyes.

"Your sarcasm doesn't help me being cold." I huffed tightening my grip on my arms.

"Come on." He said making me realize he had stood up.

"Where are we going?" I asked letting him pull me across the garden.

He didn't answer but continued to tug me across the path.

I sighed impatiently and let him pull me wherever he was taking me.

"What are we doing here?"

"Well It has a roof so it should be a lot less windy." He said stepping into the gazebo. (A/N: I think that's what its called but correct me if I'm wrong...)

"Oh. Your right." I said dropping my arms from my shoulders.

It really was a lot better in here. The wind couldn't reach us under the roof. I looked out admiring the garden. This was probably one of the most beautiful places in the Fire Nation. At least out of all the places I had seen. Maybe Zukowould show me the city later...If he had time with his busy schedule. I thought wryly. His life was so completely different from mine. I wonder what It would be like to have servants...somehow I have a feeling I wouldn't like it.

"You know I don't have many friends." He said suddenly breaking the silence.

"Really? Why?" I asked taken off guard. How was that possible? I mean he was a Prince and we got along just fine.

"Well I've had plenty of people who were glad to be Prince Zuko's friend...but not just my friend. Not Zuko's friend. Am I making sense?"

"Yeah. I mean I can't really relate, but I get what your saying."

"Your not using me to get something are you?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

" Oh yeah, I'm doing it to get free stuff." I said sarcastically rolling my eyes. "Please Zuko you know me better than that."

"Actually, I do. Feel like I know you I mean. You just get me, even though were like opposites and completely different. Just, thanks for trying to get to know Zuko. And even though I don't know when I'll see you again, I just needed you to know that I consider you my friend. " he said sincerely.

I was suddenly hit withthe reality of what he just said. We wouldn't see each other. Ever. I mean were complete opposite. Opposite elements. Opposite sides of the world. Opposite countries. Opposite lives. I was suddenly overwhelmed by the truth of my thoughts. This wouldn't work. Us trying to be friends. This wouldn't work at all. It would be a miracle If we would be able to send eachotherletters...and that wouldn't work. I mean who wants to only contact your friend through letters? Especially since we were both royalty. I could imagine how mad my dad would be If he found out where I was right now. And Zuko's parents would probably react the same way. But right now. In this very moment, I was having a hard time imagining myself without Zuko there.

"Shhh...Katara It's alright. I'm here. Don't cry. It'll be okay. I'm here. I'm here." He whispered brushing his knuckles across my cheek before pulling me into his arms. I didn't even realize I was crying until he said something. My epiphany must have effected me more than I thought it did. I gripped the front of his shirt in my hands and rested my head in the crook of his neck.

"I-I'm S-s-s-orry." I mumbled tears still running down my face. "Y-our s-s-hirt."

"Shh...I don't care about the shirt now. It's okay, just let it out."

I closed my eyes and did exactly what he told me to. What I hadn't done since mom died. I let someone comfort me.

After a couple of minutes my sobs subsided and I started to pull back away from him. I can't believe I had just lost it like that. But once I started I just couldn't stop. I had no control of my body. I smiled shyly at him and apologized for ruining his shirt.

"I told you it was no big deal. I'm more worried about you. What was bothering you?"

I sat there in silence for a moment thinking of the best way to phrase this...

"Er...I mean only if you want to. You don't have to tell me, I completely understand. It's probably none of my business anyways." He said mistaking my silence for something else entirely.

"I had just realized that...well that I wouldn't see you again after this." I said softly averting my eyes. I didn't tell him exactly what I was thinking about afraid of his reaction. He put his hand under my chin and lifted my head up.

"Said who." He asked looking amused.

"Well, we just can't I mean I'm from the Southern Water Tribe and your from the Fire Nation, were completely different." I said floundering for words.

"That's just our Nation's Katara, that's not us. And distance can't keep people apart." He said shaking his head.

"You know what? Your right. Just because were from different nations doesn't mean we can't be friends." I said firmly.

"I usually am." He just shrugged and turned around to look at the pond. I followed his lead and sat back down on the ground leaning back against the bench. We sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

"My mom's gone too."

"What?" I asked thinking I misheard him.

"My mom disappeared when I was little." He repeated making my head spin. Suddenly I felt insanely guilty. I was over there crying on his shoulder when he didn't even know where his mom is.

"What happened?" I asked scooting closer to him.

"No ones sure. All I remember is her waking me up one night, telling me that she was sorry, kissing me goodbye on my head and then I never saw her again. The next day my Grandfather was announced dead and my mother was blamed for it." He said in an empty voice.

"D-did she..."

"Yes. I'm pretty sure."

"I guess we do have some stuff In common then." I said making him chuckle lightly and I beamed.

"Yeah. I guess we do." He smiled at me and my words died on my lips.

"Thank you Katara."

"Hey that's what friends are for." I said smiling.

"Yeah." He said smiling to himself. "You know I-"

"Prince Zuko!"

I froze and jumped away from him suddenly.

"Prince Zuko? What are you doing here?" A girl probably his age came walking up to him. I held my breath and prayed that she wouldn't hear me. Only Fire Nation royalty were allowed in the gardens unless you were invited by someone of high status that could enter the garden.

"Relaxing Lady Arisu." Zuko answered turning to the girl.

"Oh well mind If I join you?" The girl asked either completely ignoring me or not noticing that I was there at all. Either way it made me extremely annoyed. Unable to stop myself I interrupted.

"You mean us?." I asked stepping out from Zuko's other side.

"And you are?..." She asked appraising me. I crossed my arms wondering the exact same thing about her.

"Katara of the Southern Water Tribe."

"Well then. I'm Arisu of the Fire Nation. Don't you know this is for Fire Nation royalty only."

"I invited her." Zuko said quickly covering up for me. I shot him a grateful look before turning my eyes back to the annoying girl in front of us.

"And since your here that means that you must be Zuko's sister." I concluded.

"Um Katara. My sister is Princess Azula, Arisu's father is a counselor in the Fire Nation court, so she's not my sister." Zuko said much to my chagrin. Dang...

"Speaking of Azula that's who invited me here." Arisu said. So thats how she got in here...

"Prince Zuko your father is looking for you." She said extending an elbow towards the shocked prince. "Allow me to escort you."

"That's okay, I've got him." I said stepping to his side and slipping my arm through his. I wasn't going to let some random 'Prince Zuko' fan-girl walk steal him away, especially since this would probably be the last time I would see him...

SOKKA POV

"Sokka?" I turned away from Toph and saw Suki looking at me from the side of the wall.

"Suki?" I gaped. I had forgotten she was here. What was she doing here? Where was Michio?

"Toph?" Suki asked in shock looking at the small girl sitting next to me.

"No duh Fan-Girl." Toph said sarcastically making me grin despite myself. then I frowned confused.

"Fan-Girl?" I asked looking at them in confusion.

"I'm a Kyoshi Warrior." Suki said dismissively. "Um...Can I join you guys?"

"Sure."

"No."

Me and Toph answered at the same time. Suki smiled at me and came to sit on my other side ignoring Toph's refusal.

"OW!" Suki shrieked making me jump.

I looked down and saw a piece of Earth jutting out from the ground. She glared at Toph who smirked evilly.

"Whoops...my bad." Toph retracted the jagged piece of rock and Suki sat down her eyes locked on Toph looking for any sign of bending.

"So..." I said scratching my head. This is awkward...

A/N: Review and tell me what you guys think! Also I know this chapter took two weeks for me to write, so would you guys rather longer chapters every two weeks or shorter one's every week? Let me know! And thanks so much for the reviews! Also I won't update till I get reviews cause I think this chapter deserved some :) Luv u guys!!!