DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN AVATAR. ALL RIGHTS GO TO ITS RESPECTIVE OWNERS.

"Loving"

1.) a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person

2.) a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection

The pain was excruciating. Spasms of white- hot, prickling burning shot up and down his entire body, scorching anything in its path.

The lighting had just barely escaped piercing his heart. It managed to miss, but just by a fraction below its intended target. However, Zuko did not feel lucky. Not at all. He felt that he would rather die than to endure this endless pain that his sister had cursed him with. She always cursed him with pain, just like father.

He could hear footsteps drawing near but he could not move his body so as to see who the impending person may be. It was either Azula or Katara. Agni, please let it be Katara.

"Zuko!" Katara managed to exclaim despite her panting. It was obvious that she was extremely worried, just her voice served as enough proof of that.

She quickly lowered herself to the ground and pulled the water from her bending pouch.

The water formed a shimmering glove over her tender hands. And she hastily pulled the tattered and burned fabric aside to reveal the bloody, shocking wound in his chest.

Sucking in a deep, shaky breath, she set to work on reversing as much as she could of the wound. Zuko distantly noticed that even covered in sweat and blood, drenched in the smell of fear, she was gorgeous. Absolutely and completely beautiful. And it further proved that she was an angel come to earth as glistening drops of water clung to her hair. It was like a mystic glow outlined her form, even in this time of darkness there was the rare, symbol of hope. Which was her, in his case.

Zuko felt horrific pain then, as she attempted to reattach the tissue and muscle that had been torn apart because of the entry of the lightning bolt. It hurt worse than dealing with the initial pain, but he bit his lip, pulling blood from there as well. He wasn't going to make Katara feel any worse.

But he couldn't stop the gasp that he emitted once he felt the twinge of pain, despite her gentle touch.

Katara looked at him worriedly. Eyes already dripping with tears, they shined in apology. "I'm so sorry Zuko. The pain will subside in a moment."

And she was right. After a few more seconds, he felt relief. Only a tiny dwindle of pain remained, and she told him that that too eventually would fade.

"Thank you Katara," he whispered hoarsely.

"I think I'm the one who should be thanking you." She murmured back, pure, beautiful tears of relief streaking through the dirt on her face.

He needed to do something, and he needed to do it now. Zuko realized the moment that he jumped in front of that lightning bolt that he had never told Katara of his true feelings.

He tried to sit up, but Katara quickly stopped him. "It will only make the pain worse," she had scolded.

Rolling his eyes at her maternal attitude, he had pulled her closer, much to her surprise.

"Fine then," he whispered.

And then he touched her lips with his. The kiss was brief and had been overdue for far too long, but the emotion, the tender gentleness and the simultaneous burning passion had made it worth the wait.

They didn't think about obligation, or of their friends, or of Mai or Aang. They thought only of each other, only of the way they loved the other more than anything else in the world.

The world was at peace for the first time in a century. Why ruin that first, perfect moment of complete and utter happiness with the one you loved?

*****I think this is probably my second favorite so far. My first being Realization. I have always loved this scene! Always! And I just HAD to do my own take on it.

So R&R!!!!!

Kisses,

~Moonlit- Silhouette