Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or the song "Love from a Heart of Gold" from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, music and lyrics by Frank Loesser.

Author's Note: I was working on a longer one from first season, but this idea just took hold of me and wouldn't let go. I have actually been wanting to do a song from this show, anyway.

Love from a Heart of Gold

Where will I find a treasure
Like the love from a heart of gold?

Katara had occasion to regret the fact that she was the one alone while searching Ember Island for Aang. It gave her far too much time to think.

At least she wasn't in town, the area Sokka and Suki had claimed. Since that awful play was still showing and apparently extremely popular, the flyers and posters seemed to be everywhere. Completely aside from the fact that she couldn't help shuddering at the thought of the play's ending, the last thing she needed to be reminded of in Aang's absence was her last conversation alone with him.

Of course, she thought about it anyway.

Ever trusting and sweet
And awaiting my pleasure,

Aang's footsteps had disappeared into the water, so Katara found it very unlikely that he'd be at the center of the island. Therefore, she'd taken it on herself to make a circuit of the beaches as best she could. She knew he was a strong swimmer, but she couldn't imagine where he would have gone. She was hoping some sign of him or Momo might appear on another shore. Perhaps he'd just swum around the curve of land and lost his bearings.

As she searched, she remembered. She remembered the kiss on The Day of Black Sun. She remembered how she'd cast him aside as unimportant when he'd opened himself to her in trusting vulnerability. She had been selfish and capricious in the face of his steadfast devotion, and she regretted it now.

Rain or shine,
Hot or cold.

As the minutes stretched into hours, Katara found herself getting angry with Zuko. It was easier than being mad at herself for making possibly the biggest mistake of her life. After all, it had been Zuko who'd convinced her not to go after Aang and talk with him yesterday. She knew Aang better than Zuko did, and she should have followed her instincts. If she had, maybe she would have been able to make up for the past. Now, it might be too late

Only now was Katara realizing how much she'd come to depend upon Aang's presence. Since pulling him back from the brink after Ba Sing Se, she hadn't allowed herself to think about what her life would be like without him. Today, she found herself facing that again. It wasn't a pleasant prospect.

Wealth far beyond all measure
Maybe soon in my hands I'll hold,

At last, Katara returned to the Firelord's vacation home, her anger melting into despair. The last words she'd exchanged with Aang had been harsh ones, and she didn't know if she'd ever get another chance to mend the rift between them. She threw herself onto the sand in defeat and wrapped her arms about her knees, gazing balefully at his tracks as the only remaining connection she had to him. They were being worn away by wind and tide even as she watched. She wondered where he could possibly have gone and hoped she had not been the one to drive him away. He had to come back; he just had to.

And when she wept, it was not for the world's loss, but for her own. She was still being selfish, and that thought made her cry all the harder.

Ah, but where can I find
That one treasure of treasures -
The love from a heart of gold?

--

Author's Note: Okay, I admit I wanted to see Katara suffer some. That she seemed so little affected by Aang's absence in the finale bugged me, as well as the fact that she quickly agreed to go off with Zuko. I'll be dealing with that in the next chapter of Flying Embers.

Review responses:

airnaruto45: The plagues of Egypt? I honestly wonder where you come up with this stuff, although I suppose the same could be said of me. There are some good songs from that movie.

Wishing Only Wounds the Heart: I don't know. I think Ty Lee will chase anything in pants. Of course, since a lot of Fire Nation women wear pants, I guess that qualifies. She even tried flirting with Zuko once or twice. Anyway, I'm glad you liked the last one.

nutshak: Thanks, I'll try.