A/N: Heeeyyy! Long time no see! Seriously. I can't see you. *dun dun tss* I know, my jokes stink. Anywho! I've been gone for so long. An unexpected trip to my grandparents pulled me into dark pits of despair and I wasn't able to update or anything! *breathes* So here is a really long chapter to help make up for it. And IchigoOkami requested some longer chapters so I hope this does justice :) Anyway enjoy and tell me what you think!

Zuko lay in bed, one arm resting over his eyes to help shield what little moonlight draped through the window and the other under his neck for support. The nights here in the fire nation were stiff and humid. No air flowed freely and the summer heat rested throughout the beach house.

Zuko was trying hard to sleep, but before he drifted off, his body would scream at him to role over and attempt to cool. Once again, his eyes became heavy and the distant sound of cricketants lulled him closer to sleep, but the moment his mind relaxed, his body became flushed and air seemed hard to get. With a frustrated groan, he kicked off the remaining sheets and flipped onto his stomach.

"I'm a firebender. This shouldn't bother me," Zuko grunted into his pillow. He quickly rolled over and stared sleepily at the ceiling. With a sigh, he finally pushed himself up and sluggishly sat on the cool wooden floor. The idea of meditating seemed relaxing at the moment and since everyone else was asleep, he was sure he wouldn't be disturbed.

Katara rolled onto her stomach and buried her head in her pillow, groaning at the movement. The hot air made her feel groggy and each movement made her head spin. Slowly, she rolled onto her side and tried her hardest to fall asleep, but the stuffiness of her room was closing in on her. Scowling, she kicked her sheets violently to the end of her bed and sat up. Calming herself before standing, she brushed her feet across the floor pulling dust with them.

She decided to take a walk, hoping the movement would either cool or exhaust her, and pushed off the bed and stepped silently from her room. The hall way dark and the house was so quiet that her ears began to ring. As she passed Sokka's bedroom she could make out his heavy snoring and sleepy mumbles. Giggling, she peeked inside.

Sokka was sprawled this way and that, his head leaning off one side of the bed and one of his legs off the other. His sheets were flung on the floor and he was cradling his pillow to his stomach. In the dim light, Katara could make out his messy hair and the drool on his cheek. She had to try her hardest not to laugh and quickly pulled the door shut with a quiet click. If only Suki knew, she thought to herself.

Walking a few windows down, she stopped in front of Aang's door. No sound came from his room and she slowly turned the knob to peer inside. Pushing her head through the crack in his door, she could see the him neatly folded in his bed, the blankets resting over his hips. Momo was sleeping at his feet, purring away, but lifted his head at her when she opened the door. Katara then pulled the door shut and made her way down the hall and to the stairs.

She tried her hardest not to let the stairs creak, but every step seemed louder than the last. She prayed to La that she didn't wake up Zuko as she descended knowing his room was right a across from the stairway, but as soon as she placed her feet to the floor, she stumbled and had to catch herself, knocking a vase over. Katara could hear rustling as it hit the floor with a clunk and she quietly fumbled in the dark for it. She bumped into the wall that paralleled with Zuko's room a few times before she felt the smooth porcelain touch her fingertips. Quickly, she snatched it from the floor and reached out for the table only to bump into it before slamming the vase down in frustration.

Zuko was in the middle of daydreaming when he heard the first creak, but being in an old house, he quickly shrugged it off. Then the creaks got louder and more distinct. He couldn't tell which direction they were coming from, only that they were coming towards his door. He tensed as they got closer, but stayed in his meditating position. Suddenly, they stopped, but something scooted across the floor with a soft screech and then something heavy hit the floor with an echoing clunk.

Zuko swiftly got up and moved towards his door, pressing his good ear against the smooth wood. Something was moving quickly around on the floor and even bumped into the wall that his room shared with the hall a few times before another loud screech reached his ears. Then something was slammed onto something else and then nothing. Everything went silent. Zuko tensed again and stepped lightly away from the door. What in Agni? Could it be a spirit? He could feel something standing there and then a soft footstep towards his door. He braced himself and could feel adrenaline starting to seep into his body. He watched as his doorknob turned and the door slowly be pushed open. Suddenly, he grabbed the door and yanked it towards him, pulling whoever was on the other side with it and caused them to crash into Zuko with a shrill and knock them both onto the floor.

Katara squealed as she crashed into something and flew to the floor. The door bounced from the wall and then slammed shut behind her, making her jump slightly. Looking up through her hair, she could make out Zuko's surprised face. A blush spread across her cheeks as she noticed the situation. She was sprawled awkwardly on Zuko's bare chest who lay on his back on the floor, him only wearing his red shorts and she only her white wrappings.

She quickly tried to crawl away, but a painful oomph from the prince made her freeze. He slid his hands up her arms and tightened his grip on her shoulders. She tried her hardest not to shiver, but the gesture gave her goose bumps. Suddenly he pulled her across his chest so they were nose to nose and looked her in the eye, making her tense.

"Katara. Why are you in my room?" he said. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and relaxed. With a sigh, she propped her chin in her hand and looked at him with a smile.

"Just thought I'd pop in," she said casually. He gave her a smirk and then wrapped an arm around her waist. She blushed brighter as he flipped on his side, gently lay her beside him, and loomed over her.

"You know, pretty young girls usually don't sneak up on sleeping boys in the middle of the night in their underwear without wanting something," he said relaxing his head on his palm to prop himself up. Her cheeks reddened even darker and embarrassment flashed across her face. She quickly sat up and placed her hands on her hips.

"You seemed pretty eager for me to come in. Couldn't wait for me to say hello?" He suddenly sat up and gave her a look. "It's not my fault you got paranoid and pulled me into your room!"

"I yanked you in because you were sneaking around, very loudly I might add, outside of my room. How was I supposed to know it was you? You could've been Azula for all I knew!" Suddenly a smirk set on his face. "No you couldn't be Azula. She's quiet when she walks!" Katara stood up and looked down at him.

"I tried to be quiet! Maybe if someone would let us light a candle in this forsaken place I wouldn't have knocked the vase down. I couldn't see a thing in that hallway!" He quickly stood up and copied her pose, giving her a glare. Katara wondered if she had struck a nerve.

"Excuse me for keeping you safe!" he hissed. "You know if there was light someone would notice and contact Ozai. You should be thanking me."

Fury lit up in her eyes and she turned to storm out the door, but right as her hand touched the knob, Zuko's hand pressed against the door keeping it closed. Katara turned to face him and opened her mouth to tell him to let her out, but stopped when she saw his face. He looked calm and relaxed and his eyes had the slightest hint of longing in them. Katara let go of the doorknob and leaned against the door, looking up at the firebender. She glanced at the arm that rested next to her ear and watched as his free hand lifted up and cupped her cheek.

"I'm sorry, Katara. But if I wasn't so paranoid I could lose you guys. I don't know what I would do if something happened to you." He leaned closer and placed his forehead to hers. She closed her eyes and lifted her hands to his chest. She could hear him sharply take a breath and she lightly slid her hands up towards his shoulders and curled her fingers around his neck, the tips ruffled in his hair. The hand on her cheek moved down over her shoulder and rested right above her waistline. Tugging slightly, she could feel his body move closer and press gently against her front.

Katara opened her eyes and looked into his. Slowly, he lifted his face away and titled his head. Katara could feel her heart beat faster and faster as his lips came closer to hers. Only hairs away, she watched his eyes close before she did the same, ready for what was coming. A moment passed and nothing happened. Katara opened her eyes and looked up at Zuko. He was looking down but not at anything in specific.

"What is it?" He pulled away so that they weren't pressed against each other anymore. "Zuko?"

"I just…feel like I'll ruin something if I get too close to you," he whispered. Katara could feel her stomach clench and flutter at the thought of her and Zuko becoming more than friends and she loosened her hands so that they rested on his shoulders. She thought for a moment and then smiled warmly at him, lifting his face to look her in the eyes.

"Zuko, you are one of the most important people in the world to me. You're friendship means the world to me. Do you know why?" He shook his head slightly and she continued. "You fight for things that are important to you and you don't care what others think. You fought for my friendship even though I threw all of your efforts back in your face, and look at us now. I never thought I would be so close to someone before."

Zuko's eyes widened and a smile pulled at his lips. No one had ever told him something like this before, and since the words came from Katara, it meant more than he could say. He suddenly cupped her cheek again and pulled her close to him. He lightly brushed his lips against hers like a feather before he pressed them to hers in a soft kiss. Every part of him shivered in happiness and his head spun from not breathing. He pulled away and looked her in the eyes. Her mouth turned up in a grin and her eyes sparkled with joy.

"Zuko…" Katara started to say but Zuko cut her off.

"I know," he said sadly. He knew that this was a first and only, but he would always remember. "Goodnight, Katara."

"Goodnight, Zuko." She turned and opened the door, but turned back at him before leaving. "And thank you. For protecting us. For protecting me." He smiled warmly at her and then she closed the door. Zuko could hear her feet creak up the steps and he chuckled quietly. He moved over to his bed and laid down. With a sigh, he rolled over and faced the ceiling.

Katara found her way back to her room in the dark with ease and flopped down on her bed. A smile spread across her face as she rolled over and faced the ceiling. She was still giddy from what had just happened, but her eyes were starting to become heavy.

They both soon fell asleep and dreamed of one another, smiles apparent on both of their faces.

A/N: Sorry if there was any grammar errors! It's really late and I didn't feel liked reading it a third time. Yes I double check that much. But I really hope you guys enjoyed it :) I wanted it to end differently but I couldn't form my thoughts into words so it seemed awkward to me right after the kiss. Now I'm in desperate need of some ideas. I've been getting writer's block like crazy and I absolutely love it when I can make a person smile cuz they like how I put their idea into a story. So tell me what you think and shoot some requests this way! :)