Disclaimer: I do not own the Avatar: The Last Airbender series or these characters. This was for fun.

As Katara finished setting up the tent and getting frozen wood, figuring Zuko could make a fire, she sat on a down fallen over tree. Unfortunately, as Zuko and Katara made their way to the Southern water tribe- for her fire-bender boyfriend to meet her grandmother Kanna and master Pakku along with hopefully her father if he was in town- they couldn't get there by flying. Toph and Aang had taken the flying bison, Appa, on a 'romantic weekend getaway', which left them walking or by train.
Not that it mattered to Katara, spending alone time with Zuko was something she cherished. Also, it didn't hurt that when Zuko got to sweaty from walking he would take his shirt off. Nope, Katara thought with a smile, it definitely had nothing to do with that. However, as they made it closer and closer to the South Pole, it consistently became colder with every step you took. By now, the land was all covered in snow knee deep and icy rivers.
The campsite Zuko and herself had found on the way back to the Souther water tribe, was an opened snowy field with a small lake just ten yards away. That's where the banished Prince was bent over, trying to get water, he was dressed in warm clothes that he had borrowed from Sokka and a scowl on his face.
Katara figured she would comfort her boyfriend later, right now she was to excited. Her home was near, her grandmother and new grandfather were waiting, and she was ready. Ready to have some of her grandmothers famous penguin soup, but mostly ready for her boyfriend to meet her family. Katara hoped they would love him as much as she did.
"Are you cold?" Katara jumped, her eyes darting up to see Zuko standing right in front of her. His voice hadn't been loud, actually it had been rather quiet, but it was just the first voice she had heard. As Katara recovered, she shook her head.
"I'm used to it." She smiled up at him.
Zuko seated himself beside her on the tree, "Really? I could heat you up." He wrapped his arms around her waist, grabbing both of her glove-covered hands. Quickly, she felt the comforting heat of fire. Not enough to burn, but just enough to make her feel the warmth.
"That feels good." Katara whispered, closing her eyes. Wishing the warmth was everywhere on her body, not just her hands.
Zuko nodded in reply before bending his head down, his nose moved the braided hair from her shoulder before he breathed against her neck. His breath was warm, hot, it felt fantastic against her nearly frozen skin.
Slowly, Zuko let go of her hands as his moved up her arms gradually getting warmer - but Katara wasn't sure if he realized it. The breathing on her neck had changed to simple kisses as he moved up to her jaw, her cheek, her ear.
"That feels better." Katara whispered, overcome with the emotions he was swirling within her.
"Great." Zuko whispered, very softly. His hands were now at her face, gently moving it towards his before their lips met.
The fire that erupted between their locked lips was a fire that Zuko could not produce. It sparked through her veins, making her hands come up to pull his face closer to hers. Zuko had abandoned his hands from her face to put them one on her thigh and the other around her waist, bringing her closer.
Katara smiled, pulling away, "Will you start a fire?" She stood, motioning to the small firewood-pit she had made.
The fire-bender groaned at the loss of contact before he nodded, standing up as well before bringing his hand to in a fist as if to punch the air. But his punch created a flame, that quickly lit the wood Katara had collected.
"Thank you." She said, walking towards him to kiss his cheek. Already feeling the warmth that the fire was emitting.
"Anything for you." Zuko said, bringing his lips down to kiss her forehead. Then, he crouched down beside the fire to warm his bare hands. Katara would be surprised that he hadn't gotten frost bite, but then she remembered he was a master at fire-bending. "How do you live in this weather?"
Katara smiled up at the sky, where the snow fell, "I love this weather. It reminds me of my childhood."
Zuko grinned, happy with her happiness as he watched his love. Watching her eyes shift out of focus as she remembered her childhood. Katara's hand came out, catching a snowflake before her fingers came up around it and in an instant the snow turned to water. Katara moved the water around with her fingers for a few seconds before letting it fall to the ground. Zuko smiled wider, how did he get so lucky?
"Are you sure you don't want to find a cave?" He asked the water-bender beauty.
Katara grinned at him, mischief in her blue eyes, "What's that matter, Zuko? Afraid of wolves?"
He didn't smile, "I'm afraid of them getting you, not me."
"Zuko," She bent down to wrap her arms around his shoulders, "Don't worry."
Zuko smiled ruefully, "I always worry about your safety."
"Well, don't." Katara said, kissing his temple. "Come on, Zuko, I'm tired. Let's get some sleep."
After they set up their sleeping bags under the trees in an effort for the snow not to freeze them, Zuko wrapped an arm around Katara's waist. As always, his skin radiated warmth and made Katara sigh in contentment.
"I love you." Katara whispered, her eyelids drooping.
Zuko moved his head to kiss her lips, "I love you, too."
The words of love let the two fall asleep, and sleep they did.
Growling and chewing woke Katara the next morning, her eyebrows pulled together as she opened her eyes.
And then quickly closed them. In front of her was a wolf, only one that she could see, and it was eating through their food. She moved her foot slowly, slow enough to not draw attention from the wolves, to feel for Zuko. Horror laced through her veins as she felt nothing: Where was he?
Katara moved again, this time her hand moved to grab her water canteen and move her fingers around it to pull the cap off of it. Her hand moved up, she knew the water was moving in the air with her, ready to fight the growling beasts.
Katara's eyes opened, seeing not one but three wolves, ready to devour her for food. They were black with white stomachs and barred teeth. Their eyes seemed to glow red as they glared at the terrified water bender, the water she had started to control dropped to the ground. The scream that came from her throat emerged before she could stop it.
Before suddenly, Zuko was there. He kneeled over her body, his hand going up in a half circle with a streak of fire following it. The other hand was holding his body up in an effort not to crush the girl underneath him.
Seeing the fire, the wolves glanced at each other before running away. Quickly and quietly disappearing into the dark woods.
"Katara," Zuko's hands were touching her face, hair, shoulders in a panic, "Are you alright? Did they hurt you?"
Katara shook her head rapidly, still in shock, "No- They didn't touch me."
The prince's gold eyes were still vivid, "I'm so sorry, Katara. I was just going to the lake, to get more water - thinking that we could work together to unfreeze it- but then I heard you scream and I-" He shook his head, "I'm so relieved that you're alright."
"Thank you, Zuko." Katara whispered, touching his face, "For doing what you did."
Zuko whispered gently, "I'll always be here to save you."
Katara answered by kissing him, she threw her arms around his neck and pulled his body completely down on hers. Zuko was surprised by the kiss, but happy to oblige as he passionately kissed his girlfriend.
"Katara," Zuko said as she moved her lips to his neck.
He did not want to ruin the moment, but they needed to get on their way to the South Pole. He knew how excited she was to see her family again, for him to meet her family. Just not like last time, when he raided there village looking for the Avatar.
"Zuko," Katara whispered simply, her lips kissing his jawline.
He smirked, "Come on, we need to get going. Don't you want to go?"
Katara shook her head, "I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be."
A/N: Thanks for reading!