A/N: Ok everyone. This is the last chapter I can post before next weekend because I leave in like an hour! I'm so excited. If any of you go to Falls Creek in Oaklahoma I'll see you there! Anyway, enjoy :)
Katara lay in bed, twisting and breathing heavily. Every once in a while she would softly murmur before turning over and entangling herself in the sheets.
Zuko leaned against her bed post and watched helplessly as she tossed and turned miserably. It was the eighth night in a row that she was having these nightmares and he would do anything to see her troubled expression soften.
He couldn't really remember exactly when he started sneaking into her room to watch her sleep. He just knew that his own sleeping troubles led him to late night walking and sooner or later he found himself stumbling into the waterbender's room. It soon became a habit for him to slip into her chambers every night to watch her sleep and to listen to the sound of her gentle breathing. Lately, though, she hadn't been sleeping as soundly as she should.
The avatar had left, without a word to anyone. He disappeared one night and left a note telling everyone not to find him, that he would be back someday, and that he would miss them all. Since then, Katara had been having the nightmares.
She must feel so alone, Zuko thought to himself. He wanted to ease her quiet suffering, to hold her and let her know that they were all scared for the avatar as well and that they wanted him back, too. He wanted to lay next to her in her bad and stroke her face so she could sleep soundly through the night. He wanted her to be happy again.
Suddenly, an idea crept its way into Zuko's mind. Slowly, he walked over to her bed side and kneeled down so his face was even with hers. Her expression was painful and she was biting her lip. Tears lined her cheeks and she clutched the sheets that were tangled around her body. Zuko could feel his heart ache at the sight of her pain. All he wanted was to pull her into him and hold her close. Instead, he slowly leaned closer to her and hovered his lips above her ear.
"I know you're hurting and I'm sorry, but I'm right here. I love you, Katara." He then gently placed his lips to her cheek, but quickly drew back when she began to stir. She shifted and opened her eyes slightly.
"I love you, too, Aang," she mumbled. Her breathing evened out again and her expression looked calm. Zuko's chest hurt at her words and he wanted to scream out in frustration, but when he saw how serene she looked, he smiled.
At least now her mind will be harmonious. He then walked out of her room and headed towards his chambers. "That makes one of us."
A/N: Hope you liked! Leave me lots of comments please! :)