A/N: I can tell you know, the vast majority of this chapter is dialogue. Not much description so I'm sorry in advance.

Chapter 44
Trust?

Zuko blinked and nothing happened. The chamber was just pitch black around him.

"How long does it take to glow?" He asked.

"It happened instantly last time." She said.

"Well, it's not working this time."

"Obviously."

He cupped his hand again and ignited another flame.

"Hey, maybe we just have to wait a minute." Katara snapped.

"For what? You said it would glow instantly."

"No, I said last time it glowed instantly."

"So it's obviously not going to glow. I'll try to move some of those rocks so that we can get out the way we came in."

"You're too hurt for heavy lifting Zuko and I know how this cave works. You just have to wait for it." She said.

"We did wait and nothing happened."

"No, you decided to be impatient."

"I'm not impatient, I'm logical and don't believe in wasting time waiting for something that's not going to happen."

"Oh, so what I say is a waste of time."

"What? I didn't say that."

"Yes, you did. I said we should wait for the glowing to work. You said waiting was a waste of time. Why are my ideas a waste of time? In fact, why are my opinions a waste of time? You clearly don't value them." Katara shouted.

"Where is all of this coming from?"

"From everything. Nothing's changed Zuko. You still have absolutely no idea how to communicate with other people or listen. You just decide that you're right and you exclude me. That's why the glowing isn't working. You don't trust me."

"This has nothing to do with whether or not I trust you. I do trust you. I just don't think sitting around in the dark is going to get us out of here before we run out of oxygen or something. I'm not the reason why your glowing rocks aren't working. You said you were told to trust in love. What were you and Aang doing last time you were here? Maybe you don't actually love me. Maybe you're in love with someone else."

"What? That's ridiculous. Aang and I weren't doing anything and what's with these accusations. Who says it's me who's stopping the rocks from glowing? Maybe you're not in love with me, maybe I'm just an obligation to you. Who else could I possibly be in love with?"

"Oh, I don't know, Kaili!" He snapped.

"Oh, that's just ridiculous."

"Is it?" Zuko shouted. "The way I hear it, you've been spending a lot of time alone with him. Why is that? There are plenty of women around the palace to amuse yourself with but you'd rather be holed up with him. You disappear together and you were all cuddly on the ride over here. I don't think it's that far fetched Katara."

"Well, it is. I've been spending time with Kaili because you practically exiled me. The women in the palace are nothing but pretty faces. I wanted to talk about the real world, what's going on with the Earth Nation and within the Fire Nation and he actually values my opinion."

"I'm sure he values more than your opinion."

"That's completely groundless and crude of you to say. Don't put him on your level." She sniffed.

"My level! What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"What does it mean? It means this is your fault. You don't love me, you never have. You're just one of those guys."

"One of those guys?"

"The kind who will say anything to get what he wants. You wanted to be Fire Lord and you wanted it to be easy so you agreed to this treaty and then you had to get me to cooperate so you lied. You told me you loved me and all sorts of other things. You'd say anything to get me to have sex with you so you could get your heir and then you just forgot about me like last week's news as soon as you think I ought to be pregnant."

"Well, now who's making groundless accusations?"

"I've got more proof than you do. Just think about the last month of our 'relationship.' You haven't showed me once that you care about me."

"Haven't shown you that I care about you!?! Katara I just fell who knows how many feet for you?" Zuko snapped.

"Ha! Didn't you just say you were going to fall anyway? You probably just wanted to make sure your baby was okay." She spat.

"Yet another groundless accusation! How can I be making sure that my baby is okay when there is no baby? How can I just forget about you like last week's news when you're clearly not pregnant? I didn't say all that stuff because I wanted an heir Katara. I said them because I meant them. If this were about a baby we'd probably still be in my chambers because after an entire week together the palace healers haven't come to me once about a baby. For all I know, you're probably taking some tonic to stop yourself from becoming pregnant."

Now probably wouldn't have been the worst time for her to point out that she was in fact pregnant but he'd just managed to make her so angry. She had told him she wanted to wait. Why was that so hard a concept for him? Why didn't it matter to him what she wanted?

"And if I have?" She challenged.

"I knew it." He snorted.

"Knew what?" She frowned.

"Don't insult me Katara. It's incredibly obvious by now. Someone who wants a baby ought to be a bit more disappointed with not having shown any signs of pregnancy. Someone who had nothing to hide wouldn't be avoiding the healers like the plague."

"Well, then, you've just got it all figured out haven't you?"

"Can you prove me wrong?" He shouted. "You know Katara you keep accusing me of not being committed to this relationship but I think it's you. You don't want to be in this relationship and you certainly don't want to be with me. You have now made that abundantly clear so to hell with it. The Fire Nation is at war anyway so why should I be stuck with you and you with me? The minute we get out of here we end it."

She was shocked by how much that upset her. She'd been thinking it all along but now he'd finally said it. He was stuck with her. He didn't want to be with her. She felt like she was going to throw up. She wanted to turn away to hide the tears that had sprung up in the corners of her eyes but she hated to let him see her weak.

"Fine." She whispered. She had thought the softer tone would hide the waver she was sure would come when she tried to speak but it was just as obvious. "We end it but just so you know. You're completely wrong. I just wanted you to be honest with me and you finally were."

He frowned, why did she sound so sad all of a sudden? Wasn't that what she wanted to hear? He'd set her free. She could run off with Kaili or Aang if she wanted to and he wouldn't be in her way. Sniffling, Katara finally turned away from him, wrapping her arms around herself.

"I haven't been avoiding the healers because I'm taking some tonic to keep myself from getting pregnant. I've been avoiding the healers because I wanted to tell you myself." She whispered. "I wanted to wait and there's nothing wrong with that. I thought I was too young."

"Well, why didn't you just tell me? I would have been upset that you were taking something but I'd have tried to understand." Zuko cut in.

"No, Zuko, you're not listening. I'm saying I'm not taking anything." Katara said.

"Oh." Zuko murmured. He repeated it as things finally clicked into to place. Katara nodded encouragingly. "You're barren."

"WHAT?" She snapped.

"That's certainly unexpected, I mea-"

"Zuko, shut up!" Katara seethed, desperately wanting to hit him for being so slow. "I'm not barren and I'm not taking a tonic. I'm pregnant you idiot. I was avoiding the healers because I wanted to tell you myself. I thought it was an intimate thing so I should tell you myself. You've accused me of not caring but I do. I love you Zuko but all you did was push me away. I was so scared when you let go of Appa to come after me. I was scared but I was happy because I thought maybe you really did want to be with me to. I'm sure it all really has to do with your sense of duty and honor so thanks, I guess. I was mad at you for leaving me alone Zuko. I was lonely in the palace, I wanted to be with you and I didn't want to be pregnant because I was afraid I'd have to raise our baby alone. I thought if we waited I could persuade you to play a role in our baby's life but it doesn't seem to matter anyway. I'm still going to be alone and we're still having this baby."

"No, no, you're not going to be alone. Katara, why would you think you're going to be alone? Don't look so sad, this is great news. When we get back we'll celebrate and-"

"No! No we won't. When we get back, I'll pack my things. You were right. We shouldn't be together when all we do is make each other miserable."

"You don't make me miserable."

"Zuko, you said you were stuck with me."

"I said that when I was angry. I didn't mean it."

"You did. We always say what we mean when we're not thinking because it's the thing we've been longing to say the most."

"No…"

"Zuko, I'll have this baby but then we say good bye. You'll have your heir and you'll be able to marry someone you actually like, someone who doesn't drive you crazy and who doesn't mind sitting around doing nothing all day."

"Katara, you drive me crazy in a good way. I love you and I know I've been pretty preoccupied lately and I'm sorry. I'll fix that. I'll change. Whatever you want, it's yours."

"No, Zuko. It doesn't work like that. We'll just end up here again. Feeling hurt and insecure and fighting. I don't want to feel like this anymore. I'll just go home. I'm more useful as my brother's aid when he takes over."

"No, you're useful here. I need you. If I had just listened to you in the beginning rather than cutting you out we probably wouldn't be in this mess."

"And who's to say it won't happen again."

"We won't know until we try again."

"No, Zuko."

"Katara, I know I screwed up but I told you I'm new at this. I'm not used to being in a functional relationship or at least not one where you see the other person on the regular basis, and I've never been in love. I'm sorry I hurt you and I want to make things right." He said, taking her hands into his and drawing her close. "Katara, please."

"Zuko, it's just going to happen again. We're not the sort of people who are meant to be together. We're complete opposites so we'll always end up fighting and that's a horrible environment to raise a baby in."

"So we'll work on us."

"We don't have time. That's why I wanted to wait but you and I think too differently. That thought never even crossed your mind did it?"

"No but it crossed yours."

"Zuko, that's not good enough."

"Then teach me."

"It's nothing something that can be taught."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Just let me go."

"What? No, Katara, I can't do that. Haven't you been listening? I love you. I want this baby. I want us to be together."

"You just think you want all those things."

"But I do. How can you expect me to just turn it all off?"

"You did it once before."

"But I didn't. I missed you every minute that I was away from you. I've loved you for what feels like forever. If I lose you I know I'll die."

"No you won't." She said, slipping her hands free of his. "Zuko please try to understand."

"I don't. Katara, we're having a baby. Why are you pushing me away? I love you. I want there to be an us. Please don't take that all away. I took it for granted last time but I won't do that again." He pleaded, pulling her into his arms. "You've got to believe me."

He cupped her face in his hands, searching her eyes for the love he had once seen there. He saw fear and doubt and it pained him. He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers. "Please forgive me Katara."

"I do forgive you. I just, I can't do this again. Zuko it hurts."

"Just tell me what to do." He whispered, lips traveling gently over her ear, causing her to shudder at the warmth of his breath. His kisses traveled over her cheek and along her jaw sending a familiar warmth pooling between her legs. She closed her eyes, she had to focus. What they were talking about was important.

"Zuko it's not something you can just change. It's just the type of person you are. You shut people out as a reflex and I can't handle that. I can't stand feeling so useless and insecure. I wasn't me, I was some helpless girl who can't do anything. I never just sit around and cry but that's all I felt like doing while I was at the palace."

"I understand that. I won't let it happen again."

"I'm not sure that you can."

"I can, I'll figure it out. I don't want to hurt someone I love and if you love me, you'll stay."

"Zuko, I do love you but I can't stay." That had come out a little breathier than she had meant it to sound. She needed to sound firm but that was very difficult as his lips moved to her neck and she was suddenly having to focus the majority of her attention on keeping her knees from buckling.

"Why do you want to go?" He asked, his warm breath tickling over her bare skin.

Her eyes fluttered shut as one hand caressed her belly and the other her neck.

"I don't want to go, I have to. It's for the best." She half breathed a sigh of relief and half wanted to smack him as he suddenly stopped. She was embarrassed at the fact that she tottered a bit on her weakened knees but quickly recovered at the look on his face.

"You can't mean that." He whispered.

"Zu-" Her words were cut off by the punishing kiss that was currently bruising her lips. Her hands grasped at his shoulders and she whimpered a bit for mercy but he did not let up on intensity. He held her close and forced her mouth open to him. She was trembling in his arms by the time he released her and she wasn't quite certain how she was going to survive without his touch, his kisses, his love.

"And now?" He asked. She wanted to cry. His question had instantly reminded her why she had to do this. He couldn't just kiss his way out of everything. She had to be firm with him. If she stayed she'd just be setting herself up to get hurt again.

"I can't stay Zuko." She had barely finished when she found herself wrapped back in his arms under the attack of another bruising kiss. Her resolve was weakening because thinking of spending the rest of her life not wrapped up in his arms like this was killing her.

"What about now?" He begged.

"No, Zuko." Her body was pulsing with want but she couldn't give in. They'd just end up fighting again. She'd go back to the South Pole until it was time for her to have the baby. She wanted desperately to raise her own child but she couldn't be around Zuko and she knew her baby was meant to be the next Fire Lord so she'd have to turn her child over to the wet nurses that the healers would find. A tear rolled down her cheek at the thought.

They stood in the darkness. She wasn't sure at what point the flame he'd been carrying had died or at what time their eyes had adjusted. It was too dark to clearly make out his features but she could imagine the look on his face right now and it was tearing her up on the inside.

"Zuko, I love you but we can't be together. It's not in anyone's best interest."

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