"Forgetting all I'm lacking.
Completely incomplete.
I'll take your invitation, you take all of me now." - Hanging By A Moment, Lifehouse

This chapter alone is rated M for sexual content.

"Ouch!"

Katara tried not to shoot the tailor kneeling before her an angry look. She had just been pricked below her ribcage for the third time. Muttering an apology, the tailor risked a look up at the young waterbender. Seeing the look of fear in her yellow eyes, Katara sighed.

"It's ok. Just...try not to do it again, please? It hurts."

A light, velvety—the only way you could describe her voice—laugh sounded softly off to her right. Ursa sat in a plush chair in the corner of the room. She had asked Katara to join her for a trip into town after breakfast. It turns out it was a trip for Katara, and she was getting an outfit made for the celebration that would take place on the beach front tonight. It was rumored to be a good time.

"I know you might not be familiar with all of this," Ursa gestured to the fitter before her. "But being pricked it bound to happen. Azeri means no harm, Lady Katara."

She flinched at the formality.

"Please," she begged. "Katara is fine."

"Alright, Katara," Ursa teased with emphasis. "How did your rendezvous go with my son yesterday in the garden?"

Instantly, Katara's cheeks flushed and her stomach fluttered at the memory. All night she tried to find her reason for her sudden...boldness, but to no avail. After the first kiss, Zuko seemed to be washed over with confidence—she figured it was because of the permission she had granted by her statement—but he quickly took control. She mentally noted that a lot of their...encounters would be a battle for dominance because she was not one to back down. If there ever was another one, that is. After they left the garden, Zuko sought out his mother. Now she wondered what they had talked about.

"How- how did you know?" She stammered slightly, eyeing Ursa from her peripheral vision, looking as guilty as she was.

"I went looking for my son," she explained. "I watched him train for a while. Then you came out and things escalated quickly." Ursa's tone was playful and Katara was grateful that Zuko's mothered seemed to like her.

"It felt right." She admitted before she could stop herself.

Ursa smiled. "I have no objections."

Azeri, the dressmaker, seemed highly intrigued by the conversation topic at hand. Katara couldn't help but wonder if the woman knew who Ursa's son was. Katara watched as the woman's hands wove in and out of the crimson fabric. It had taken a lot of convincing to get her to agree to red, but Ursa had said that Zuko mentioned he liked the color on her. She didn't like to admit it, but she did want to look good for him tonight. Not that she had any expectations to meet. She allowed herself a smile at this notion.

"We're both committed, though. Well...sort of. Yesterday a letter arrived from my brother that said he saw my fiancé cheating on me. So I guess I am having nothing to apologize for." She mused, looking outside the small shop. The sky was clear. It seemed like a promising day.

"Zuko is no longer in an engagement."

She couldn't hide her shock.

"What?" Her voice was incredulous.

For some reason, she felt angry at this newfound information. Mai had told her that if she felt something for him, to act on it, but she never said that they would be calling off their engagement!

"Before the two of you left, Zuko and his girlfriend sat down and talked. Last night he explained to me that they came to a mutual conclusion that now that you had reentered his life, things would be different—that they already had been since dating as teenagers. You were in the palace for one night and Zuko couldn't sleep; he was too busy freaking out about you being within walking distance from him."

By now, Azeri had stood up and was putting away her supplies at a nearby table. Ursa stood up as she finished explaining, walking over to Katara and smiling at Azeri's handiwork. Katara looked down at her two-piece ensemble. Her shirt was a red corset—or what she assumed used to be a corset—as it exposed her flat stomach. Her matching skirt had a sash that tied in the front, and showed off more of her tan legs then she felt comfortable with. She shifted uncomfortably under Ursa's scrutinizing gaze.

"I…had no idea about Zuko and Mai," she said, trying to return to the conversation. "He didn't tell me."

"To be frank, I think it was a test. To see if you could feel a connection despite the circumstances." Ursa smiled, finally returning her gaze to Katara's cerulean eyes. She felt her shoulders relax and she turned around to face herself in the full length mirror.

"I did," she admitted. "But I thought it was wrong."

"Katara, there are some things that you just cannot fight. The heart is one of them." Ursa set a warm hand on her shoulder, catching her eye in the mirror. Katara smiled, nodding.

"This is a beautiful outfit," she offered. "But it's not exactly…what I am used to wearing,"

"I know it might not be what you were expecting, but it will be warm tonight. You'll thank me later."

"I feel exposed," She muttered lamely.

Ursa laughed. "You are a beautiful young woman, Katara. I would think living in the South Pole where you have to be covered up all the time would make you forget that. Embrace your beauty. Plus, Zuko won't know what hit him."

Ursa winked at her in the mirror and her cheeks flushed. She was right, of course. Living in the arctic tundra did make her forget she had a nice figure underneath her parka. She felt a pang in her chest—she missed having a woman in her life.

"Thank you for doing this for me, Ursa. I had forgotten what it was like to be around a mother figure in my life."

Katara watched in the mirror as Ursa's face changed from surprised, to sad, to beaming. She leaned in a bit, her hands fluffing bits and pieces of her loose hair, and said, "You are very welcome. You make my son happy. It's the least I can do."

"Would you like to change back into your dress? We don't want to spoil the surprise," Ursa said with a sly smile. Katara nodded meekly. "You head to the dressing room and I'll take care of the rest."

The older woman stepped away from her, facing Azeri, who waited patiently off to the side. Katara was stunned into silence at how natural being around the royal family felt. They were from different parts of the world, lived different types of lives, but it was as if she was supposed to be here, too. Pulling back the changing curtain, she turned to look back at toward Ursa.

"I can see why Zuko adores you so much."

"I have a ruby embedded hairpin that might look good with your outfit..."

Katara was listening to Ursa talk accessories when a woman emerged from Ursa's office. They had been immersed in conversation the entire walk home. Katara thought it was refreshing to have someone she could have girl-talk with. As much as she loved Toph, the blind earthbender was not much of a girlie girl. She eyed the approaching woman suspiciously. Ursa stopped talking once she saw that they had company.

"Hello, Destiny," Ursa greeted, eyeballing her office door. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"I was looking for you." Destiny replied. The light brown hair woman seemed very stern. With shoulders set back, lips set in a tight line, she comes off as a woman of power.

"I was out shopping with Lady Katara," Ursa gestured to her and Destiny's gaze landed upon the intimidated waterbender.

"Lady Katara," she gave a polite bow. "I have heard much about you. How is your stay at the abbey treating you?" She mirrored the woman's actions and smiled.

"Very well, thank you. Everyone has been very polite."

"I'm glad to hear so."

"Destiny," Ursa interjected. "Have you seen my son?"

"I believe he may be asleep."

"But he usually wakes at dawn…it's nearly lunchtime." Katara blurted, shrinking back when Destiny gave her a look she couldn't quite decipher.

"He saw me about a headache. It's possible he dozed off—I suggested he rest after taking the herbs."

"Thank you," Ursa said. "How about I meet you in your office in ten minutes? I am almost finished with my business with Lady Katara."

Destiny nodded. "Yes, very well. Have a good day, Lady Katara." The woman bowed once more to both women before carrying on her way.

Once inside Ursa's office, Katara let out a breath she did not know she was holding.

"You must excuse my fellow sister. She can be very intimidated once you first meet her." Ursa explained, smiling as Katara slumped down in a chair in front of her desk.

"If I thought Zuko was intimidating…she gives him a run for his money," Katara laughed lightly, shaking off the nerves Destiny caused her to feel. "How come we have not met her yet?"

Ursa walked around to her desk, setting down the package that held Katara's dress. She took a seat across from the water girl and frowned slightly.

"Destiny is a very busy woman."

"Ah," Katara nodded, looking around the room. Her eyes settled upon a poster above the fireplace. "Well if you need to—"

Her voice trailed off as her eyes landed upon a bald, young boy in the middle of the poster. She did not acknowledge the two people—her brother and herself—on either side of the monk with the blue arrows. She felt her brows come together as she suddenly transfixed by the boy.

"Katara?" Ursa asked in alarm. She followed the waterbenders gaze and let out a small gasp.

"What- what is that?" Katara asked, standing up. She pointed a finger at the poster as she walked across the room and stood in front of the fireplace. She felt very confused – like she could not remember where she had seen that person before.

"It's a poster for a play I saw back in Ember Island a few years ago." Ursa explained in a guarded manner. She could feel Ursa's amber eyes locked on her.

"Stay back, Katara!" Sokka's voice cried out in what sounded like a plea. He tried grabbing his sister's arm, but she yanked away too fast. Her eyes were locked on a body nearly ten feet away. His body was splayed out in the most uncomfortable-looking manner.

"No!" she yelled. "I have to help him! I-I can save him!" She cried, tears falling down her face as she side-stepped another attempted grab as well. She lost her footing over a rock and fell face-first into the sand. She wiped away the sand from her mouth as an ear-shattering wail escaped her throat. She shook her head back and forth—unwilling to believe he was actually gone.

Warm arms wrapped around her middle from behind her. They pulled her ungracefully to her feet.

"They're gone, Katara," the voice said. "Both of them..."

Katara reached out for the mantle to steady her wobbly legs. She shook her head—she was overwhelmed with sadness. Ursa was beside her in an instant, wrapping an arm around her shoulder to help support her weight. Katara shrugged out of the reach, tears threatening to escape as she stepped away. She looked up at the woman with furrowed brows as she inched her way toward the door.

"I have to go find Zuko."

Zuko was awake as soon as his door flew open. His heartbeat pounded in his chest, his eyes glassy from sleep. He sighed audibly, looking to scowl his intruder until he realized that she was crying. Concern quickly overpowers his alarm, and his whole demeanor softens considerably.

"Katara-" He tries.

"Who is he?" She interrupts.

"Who is who, Katara?" He tries to cover up his fear by using a neutral, yet concerned tone. She's standing next to his bed now, but on the side opposite to where he was laying.

"The boy with the arrows,"

"What do you remember, Kitten?" At this, she looks up at him. But she quickly closes her eyes and her frown returns.

"I'm trying to run to a body. Sokka's yelling, I trip, and you wrap your arms around me and tell me they're gone. I think everyone was trying not to cry." When she opens her eyes, it's gold on blue. The pain in her eyes is as clear as day. She's reliving a day that they all wish to forget.

"Come here," he offers. He scoots back until he is propped up against the headboard. He was never good at consoling people, but for her, he tries. "You look like you could use a hug."

Nodding, she crawls across the bed until she's beside him. Feeling her against him is enough to cause his heart to flutter. Now is not the time, he scolds.

"That…" he starts, trying to figure out his words; something he has always struggled with. "That is our friend. He died in the war." Next to him, she snuggles against his chest as her tears silently fall. He tightens his grip around her frame and plants a kiss on the crown of her head.

"What's his name?" She whispers. He gulps.

"Aang. His name was Aang and he is the world's hero."

He holds her in silence for a while, allowing her as much time as she needs to gain control of herself. He strokes the back of her hair absentmindedly – trying to focus on the feel of her body against his own and not the day they discovered the bodies of his father and a fried avatar.

"You should drink this," he breaks the silence by leaning over toward the nightstand and grabbing the cup that Destiny had given him. "Destiny gave it to me and it knocked me out. You need to feel better and rest."

She takes the cup from his hold as she sits up beside him. She rubs her eyes with the back of her free hand. He suppresses a laugh as she looks into the concoction and scrunches her nose.

"What is it?" She questions, looking from the cup to him.

"I have no idea," he answers. "She agreed that it looked revolting but it actually tastes very sweet. It will also have you sleeping in about five minutes." She surprises him with a halfhearted laugh.

"I could use some rest." She agrees.

He can hear her making herself comfortable in his bed as he stands up and stretches. Something in his belly flutters when he looks back and sees her curled up in the spot where he had been sleeping. He can't help the smile that escapes.

"What? It's warm." She murmurs.

"Mm-hmm," he hums. "I'll let you rest in peace. If you wake up and you're alone, just check with my mom. I'll probably be with her."

"Ok," she whispers. "Thank you."

He nods once, but she can't see it since her eyes are closed. He makes his way across his room, but a sudden thought stops him.

"Oh. Katara..?"

"Yes?" Her voice is barely audible.

"Aang would be proud of you."

"We can talk about it later, Sokka."

Zuko rolled his eyes at her disjointed response. After he shut the door behind him, he leaned against the wood and sighed.

"I miss you, Aang."

Katara had no idea how long it had been, but she managed to lose Zuko at the start of the celebration. The beach front was lit with lanterns, a band of musicians—Zuko said they would have made Uncle Iroh jealous—were playing on a stage, and a tiled dance floor had been set up. It seemed like nearly everyone was out celebrating the night, and Katara was swept away from her companion after a herd of dancers got caught between them. A man, no older than her, had grabbed her hand and started twirling her around. She only obliged because she liked dancing and she would admit that he was easy on the eyes.

That was the beginning of the night.

Now, she was swaying her hips back and forth on the shoreline to the beat of the drum. She was working on her second bottle of firewhiskey, and she was feeling good. High, blazing bonfires were set up at intervals and they cast everything surrounding them in a light orange glow. She could feel the heat of the fire on her backside, but the night was cool and refreshing. Just like the water at her feet.

As much as she was feeling good, she thought she was going to go insane. The moon was full in the dark sky, and a throbbing sensation in her core would not stop pulsating. She was in a hypersensitive state; every touch was maddening. Her last dance partner seemed to take notice and tried to lean in for a kiss. That is how she ended up by the water.

"Ladies and gentlemen," a booming voice called through a microphone on the stage. "It is ten minutes to midnight! If you would like to light a lantern, please make your way over to the stage and grab one from our volunteers! Enjoy!"

After the announcer finished, Katara took a swig of her drink as she turned her attention toward the dance floor. She made her way through the sand – which seemed to be a lot more difficult to walk through now than it did a half hour ago. She felt warm and fuzzy inside; her mind was reeling in a way that made her crave for more.

"I have been looking everywhere for you."

A warm – very warm – hand snaked its way across her lower back and Katara yelped as she was pulled into someone's side. Their hand squeezed her left hip and she felt a surge of electricity run through her.

"Mm," she sighed, resting her head against their shoulder. "You smell good."

"As do you," The voice said.

"Zuko…" She giggled, looking up at the firebender. Instead of a man with a scar, a man with a flawless face looked down at her. She gasped, shoving away from the stranger.

"What's the big idea?" The voice yelled, taking a step toward her.

"I don't know who you are!" She yelled back. Her drink sloshed out of her bottle as she failed to find proper footing.

"What's going on here?" A new voice asked, grabbing Katara by the arm to steady her. She looked up and saw the perfectly flawed face of the firebender she had been looking for.

"Zuko! Thank the Spirits you found me."

"Hey, Katara," he greeted without looking at her. He focused his gaze on the man who had grabbed at her. "Do we have a problem here?"

"I think he's mad at me for shoving him off." She answered, taking another sip of her drink. She pulled it away slightly, closed an eye and inspected its contents. Sighing, she tripped her head back and finished the rest of the drink off.

"Fire Lord," the man said. "Forgive me; I did not know she was your company. We had danced earlier…and she seemed to enjoy herself…"

"All is forgiven," Zuko nodded. "Now if you'll excuse us."

"Of course, My Lord," The boy bowed and quickly continued on his way.

After the nuisance was out of earshot, Zuko turned to face the slightly tipsy waterbender. She noticed the serious look on his face and offered a ghost of a smile.

"Where have you been all night?"

"Uh…" she started, looking around their whereabouts. "Mostly on the dance floor...dancing…and drinking by a fire."

"I see," he said. "Well, would you like to light a lantern with me? I figured that was something you might be into."

Katara smiled. "Lead the way."

As they locked fingers, she felt her stomach flutter.

During the excruciating decision whether or not their lantern should be blue or red, Zuko found one that had both colors in it. If she had been sober, she would have argued that it was ugly. But being under the circumstances that she was, she agreed after her shock of such a lucky find. It took a few minutes for Zuko to stop laughing. He had led their way back to the beach—with hands intertwined—and stopped when Katara found a spot that she liked.

In her drunken haze, she inspected the Fire Lord. He wore a sleeveless red vest that had a deep-v and showed off his defined chest. It tied at the waist and his pants stopped at the knees. Before leaving the abbey, she bugged him until he agreed to wear his hair down. It blew it the cool night wind, but overall, he looked rather handsome.

"You look nice." She blurted. This seemed to catch him off guard because he stopped messing with the lantern.

"Thanks, you look nice too." He smiled, looking her up and down. Ursa had decided that she was to wear her hair down as well, but her loose hairs that she usually tied back with a simple ribbon were held down by the ruby encrusted hairpin she had been talking about.

"Fire Lords aren't supposed to stare." She scowled, catching his gaze on her top. Even in the dark, she knew that he was blushing.

"Sorry," he apologized. "You just look…alluring."

Her already chipper mood increased by his compliment.

"Really? That's sweet. Thank you." She blushed, looking down at her feet. Zuko slipped a finger under her chin and tipped her head back up.

"Don't hide that smile." He teased.

"So, tell, does the Fire Lord have someone to kiss at midnight?" Which should be any minute now, she thought. He seemed to ponder—jokingly or not—his answer for a moment.

"I'm not sure," he answered. "Does the magnificent Lady Katara have someone she's kissing at midnight?"

A sly smile crept onto her lips, but before she could answer, the announcer boomed through the speakers.

"It's time to light your lanterns!" the voice roared. "Happy New Year, ladies and gentlemen!"

Katara smiled as she held on side of the lantern, and with his free hand, Zuko shot fire onto the wick. She gasped when the bright light shone within their lantern, and the flowers seemed to pop out as an affect from the fire.

"One the count of three," Zuko said. "One…two…three!"

Together, they watched their lantern float up into the starry night sky. Hundreds more joined in within a matter of seconds. Happiness washed over Katara, and as she turned back toward her companion, she found he was already gazing down at her. His eyes were alight with happiness, and he smiled.

"About your question…"

"I'm going to help you remember the first time I kissed you," he cut her off. "It went a little something like this…"

He took one step forward, cutting off the remaining space between them. His hands ran down her arms and she shivered under his touch as he lowered his head and captured her lips with his own. He lifted her up by the back of her legs and she wrapped them around his waist. She snaked her arms around his neck, knotting handfuls of his hair. He placed one hand on the middle of her back, and the other cradled the back of her head. The pulsating sensation in her core seemed to grow stronger, and as their tongues battled against one another, hunger erupted through her.

She pulled away, gasping for breath. Her eyes darkened as she looked down at the appetizing firebender that held her against him.

She leaned down to whisper in his ear, her breath hitting his neck…

"Are you the now or never kind?"

"Now!" he growled.

Ten minutes later, it was a battle for dominance.

His bedroom door was shut by Katara being slammed against it. Her arms were above her head as Zuko lifted her shirt up and off her body. He felt himself harden as his hands found themselves on her exposed chest. He flicked her nipples between his thumb and forefingers. She let out a small gasp as he pressed himself into her, letting her know what she was doing to him. His lips found hers, their tongues working against one another.

Zuko wrapped his fingertips into the front of her skirt and slowly brought it down her legs. He felt her hands slide into his own waistband and tug at the front of his pants. He broke off the kiss and looked down at her, amber eyes dark with lust, and smirked when she tugged once more.

"Is that what you want?" He whispered, his voice husky. Katara stepped out of the skirt that was around her ankles, and kicked it off to the side.

"Yes." She shoved him backward and walked toward him, completely naked. Zuko's eyes roamed her lean form and smirked as she gave him another shove. The back of his knees hit the side of his bed, and before he could steady himself, he fell onto the soft mattress. An airy chuckle filled his ears as she straddled his lap, slowly rocking back and forth against his length. A deep growl escaped his throat and he grabbed her hips.

She untied the sash that held his vest together and threw it behind her. Soon the rest of his shirt disappeared and she ran her hands down his exposed chest. Her fingertips lightly traced the scar below his heart and he watched her pout. Not wanting to ruin the mood, he did the first thing he could think of.

"Look at that lip," he whispered. "I'm going to get it."

His hands moved from her hips to her face. He cupped her cheeks and sat up, lightly biting her lower lip. Before he could pull away, her lips claimed his and another tongue battle ensued. He took this time to flip her over onto her back, and lowered one hand to her center. Her back arched at the touch, a moan erupted through her closed mouth, and he smiled into the kiss as he slide his finger teasingly across her wet slip.

"Zuko," she breathed. "Zuko, you know what I like. Show me what I like."

"Is that what milady would like?" He asked, trailing kisses along her jawline and down her neck. He gripped a piece of flesh between his teeth and started sucking; a spot that he knew would make her squirm.

"Yes. Oh, Spirits, yes!" she whispered, squirming underneath him and pressing her knees together. Zuko slapped one of her legs lightly and they reopened for him. He pulled away from her neck, continuing trailing kisses across her collarbone, in-between her breasts, and down her tummy. A girlish giggle sounded when he kissed her tummy, but he knew that she enjoyed the sensation.

He positioned himself between her legs and he felt her gaze on him. He licked his lips, meeting her eye and he saw a blush creep onto her cheeks. He smiled at her self-consciousness.

"Relax, Kitten," he cooed. "It's nothing I haven't seen before."

He placed a kiss on the inside of her thigh and she trembled before him.

.O.

Katara's fingernails dug into his back and she bit into his shoulder to suppress a moan. Zuko growled in response to the nails, and she brought them up his back. The pace set between them sped up on his end as he relished in the sensation of the scratches. He felt her clench her muscles around him and he threw his head back and could only think one coherent thought: tight.

Oh Agni.

Katara screamed out his name as she reached her second climax of the night. The sound of his name escaping her lips caused him to thrust faster, and faster, and faster. She scratched his arms, tightening her legs around his middle. He felt his own finish approaching and demanded that she bite him. She happily obliged, and as he was filled with the familiar blissful sensation right before his release.

Panting, he collapsed beside her and they laid in silence for a few moments. She rolled onto her side and snuggled up into his chest. He kissed the top of her head and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"That was a wonderful way to start the New Year." She commented, kissing one of his pectorals.

"Yes, yes it was," he agreed. "I'm tired now."

She giggled. "So am I. Do you mind if I sleep here?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Kitten."

Katara was surprised when she woke up at dawn and saw a soundly sleeping Zuko next to her. She didn't know if it was common for him to sleep in later than usual nights after having sex, but then again, it didn't really matter. He should be sleeping in since this technically counted as a vacation for him. She couldn't even imagine the stress of ruling a nation, or the lack of sleep that came with the job.

She slowly slid out of the bed, stretching as she walked across the room and collected her scattered clothes. Today was the day they were due back to the Fire Nation capital, but something was weighing heavily on the back of her mind.

Ursa's office door was open when she arrived. She was reading a scroll behind her desk and sipping on a cup of tea. Instead of knocking, Katara cleared her throat and smiled when she was acknowledged.

"Katara! Good morning, dear." She greeted, waving her inside. Katara stepped inside, shutting the door behind her.

"Morning, Ursa. Do you have a moment?"

"Of course. Is something wrong?" The woman studied her with concern.

"No, not exactly. I uh, went to bed with Zuko last night." She admitted before she could stop herself.

"Katara-"

"Wait! That's not what I came here to say," she sighed. "Doing…what I did last night, it made me realize I miss what we had. Even if I can't remember, I feel this longing to. I want to remember what I lost because I want us to be together."

"So you're saying you want to me restore your memories? Heal your mind?" Ursa asked, setting down the scroll in her hands.

"Yes, that is exactly what I want." She nodded, gulping.

Ursa smiled. "There is no need to be afraid, dear. It will not hurt."

"It won't?"

"No, it won't," Ursa explained, standing up from her desk. She beckoned the waterbender over to a sitting mat in front of the fireplace. "There will be a flash of images, but you might pass out for a few hours."

Katara stopped a few feet in front of Ursa, on top of the mat. Her heartbeat step up as it dawned on her that she was about to remember everything she had forgotten. She would not be the same person that she was when she woke up. She would be whole again. It was quite nerve-wracking.

"Close your eyes," Ursa instructed. Katara did as she was told and felt Ursa's warm hands on either side of her head. "Relax, Katara."

At first, Katara thought nothing was going to happen. She opened one eye to see that Ursa's herself were closed and she seemed to be concentrating. Rolling her shoulders back, she took a deep breath and relaxed her mind.

Suddenly, Ursa's hold felt like a vice. An eruption of color and images flashed behind closed eyes and it was almost as if she could hear a whirring sound as everything that was being said rushed by as every image was quickly replaced by the next. She was swaying in Ursa's grip, and it seemed like some images were being retracted. Furrowing her brow, she opened her eyes and saw Ursa chanting something.

"What are you-" Katara cried, shoving her away. "Whoa."

Katara swayed, feeling utterly dizzy. Eyes rolling in the back of her head, darkness engulfed her.

Zuko had not expected to wake up alone the following morning. Feeling like he had been beaten, he groaned as he sat up in bed. He rubbed his neck and winced. Katara really did a number on him. Speaking of which, he thought, where is she?

As he stretched and stood up, he noticed that her clothes were missing. He pulled on a pair of drawstring pants and headed for the door. Running a hand down his tired face, he figured his mother was the best place to start looking.

He could hear movement about in her office as he approached the door. Knocking as he popped his head inside, his mother quickly spun around and greeted him.

"Mom…what's going on here?" He asked, his eyes landing upon a sleeping Katara.

"Don't touch her," Ursa warned. "She's sleeping."

"Why is she sleeping in here?"

"She asked me to restore her memories."

Zuko felt like his heart had stopped beating. He opened his mouth to speak, but quickly closed it. His eyes were wide as he looked at his mother.

"What? Why? Everything was going fine!" He cried, throwing his hands up in frustration. Ursa smiled softly at her son.

"Zuko, relax. She said she wanted to remember so that the two of you could be together. She wanted to remember what she had forgotten."

"But…she's going to remember everything. She's going to be hurt."

"Fate told me she would be coming to me. It was meant to happen, my son."

Zuko dropped his head into his hands. "I…I can't believe it. We had such a good time here together and now…"

"She won't remember. She will be exactly as she was before the accident."

"How is that possible?" He asked with pure incredulity.

"I took away the first few days of her recovery. She will wake up and be the girl that loved you, but think that she has been living in the South Pole."

Zuko regarded the sleeping waterbender on the floor. His fists shook at his sides, but he couldn't tell if it was out of anger or excitement. He wasn't sure if he could decipher the difference at the moment.

A/N: This was a doozy. First, we have Katara (sort of) remembering Aang. Then, we have a tipsy Katara and a sex scene. I struggled with writing a full scene because I can't force smut. I wanted to post this chapter today, so that's the best I could do. I insinuated what Zuko was about to do to Katara, and the last few minutes of their actual sexytime. I hope that's fine, lol. Lastly, we have Katara shoving Ursa off of her, and Ursa's comment to Zuko. That will be revealed next chapter. As in, why Katara shoved her away, if what Ursa said will actually happen, etc.

We're back at the palace next chapter! Thanks for reading!