A/N:HEY GUUYS! I know I know, it's been a long time sice I updates and I am SOOOO SORRY. Life becomes busy as you get older. Anyway here it is...


"Mom! MOM..." I ran to her as fast as I could. Her brown curls, swaying with the wind. It felt all unreal, but for some reason, I was so excited that I believed every single breath. "Mom!" I became closer, her back was to me. That's when I realized my surroundings. Well...I exactly didn't know what it was. It was a mist white area that seemed like the spirit world. I mean I haven't seen the spirit world, but I imagined it like this.

"Katara." her voice like warm honey...sweet, loving, comforting and warm. "Sweetheart, I am so proud of my beautiful child," she sighed with content, "and I know this is not easy for you. But my dolphine-seal, I need you to protect our family. Your Dad and brother are not benders Kat, you are the one with the beautiful gift of bending."

"Mom, What do you mean?" I questioned the one she missed so much.

"Katara, I know this plan proposed by the boy named Jet is not right. Tricking a boy into love so that he will tell you information on the fire nation is not right. But Kat, understand one thing. There are thousands of kids who were orphaned and killed because of the fire nation. I know how much you miss me Kat, so imagine those children who were left without anyone. Katara, this war needs to end. No matter what."

My Mother's eyes were stern. She meant business. "so you want me to go through with what Jet says?"

"I won't force you, but you need to protect your family Katara. Maybe this boy may lead you to your father. Do you know where Dad is now?" my Mother questioned. I nodded my head 'no'.

"One more thing before I go Katara. This boy is more than the fire prince, he is much more than that. He has a soul, one that is broken and bruised. Katara, you are a wonderful healer. Even if he doesn't help, you may be able to show him the good within. Sweet heart, I love you. And no matter what you chose to do, I will always love you. My baby girl."

Katara's eyes opened to the bright sun.

Katara slowly made her way back. Along the way, her mind kept replaying her mother's words. She discovered a beautiful pond. How come I didn't see that last night? It was clear and blue with a grassy shore. Little rose-dandelions were along the rim of the pond. She stopped by pond and undressed. She entered the cold water and cleared her head of every thought. Silence. She went under the water and emerged back. Katara opened her eyes. The first thing that came to her mind was the fire prince, in a dark room. Tear stained cheeks and pained eyes. he was hugging his knees and looked up at Katara. She walked over and and placed a hand on his scar. He began to glow and when she turned away, she was looking at a world of laughing and smiling children, hugging their parents, learning to bend without fear. Katara came back to reality. She came out of the water, with her mind set. Katara dressed and made her way back. She came into the clearing where the Earth temple was. Her approach made everyone stop what they were doing. Katara walked straight with her head held high, her back rigid, her face stern and her eyes steeled. She reached Jet and Sokka and said, "I need to get a job at the Jasmine Dragon." She was met by shocked eyes.


So far, no one had showed up looking for a job and Zuko was starting to let work get to his head. With Uncle's amazing tea brewing knowledge, more and more people crowded their petite tea shop. Usually the rush hours was towards the evening although there were few that came just to talk to Uncle. Zuko usually went off into a corner doing busy work. Sometimes his Uncle would nudge him when a fairly decent girl walked into the shop, and of course Zuko would blush, making the girl smile, causing him to redden even more. Whenever a girl looked towards him, the first thing that came to his mind were the cerulean eyes. Zuko just wanted to know her name so badly. He rested his head on the pillow and lulled himself to sleep, not that he needed any help sleeping after a tiring day.


Katara woke up early and went back to her little pond. She didn't tell anyone about it. It was her little relaxation place and bringing a stubborn earthbender, an annoying brother, somewhat ex-boyfriend, and her brother's chirpy girlfriend and a bubbly avatar didn't sound appealing. She brushed her hair and took a nice long bath. Once finished, she tied her hair in her usually loopies and put on her earth kingdom clothes. Green is not my color. But Aang did say green made my eyes pop. Aang is such a sweetheart. She came back to see Suki cooking. "I thought breakfast is on me?" Katara asked Suki.

"I know. But since you are going to meet the Prince for the first time, I don't want you to smell like porridge." Katara was pleased with her reply even though it was due to fire prince. It was hard for her to eat. She barely ate a spoon. Katara made no eye contact with any of the boys on the team. Looking at Sokka would make her want to plead for another plan, looking at Jet would make her angry, and looking at Aang would make her feel let down. After, everyone got their stuff and headed down to the wall. Aang stayed behind, Katara didn't know why, and she was happy he didn't come. They reached the gate and Toph opened the little passage. "Go get him Sugar Queen!" Toph encouraged Katara. Katara smiled. Toph and Katara didn't have the best companionship, but Katra was starting to like Toph like a little sister. She hugged the Earthbender and proceeded with Sokka, Jet and Suki. Jet and Sokka arranged jobs at a nearby factory that made metal. Suki found a job at a zoo. And Katara, well she found the job of a spy. They reached the front of the teashop, Suki hugged her. "the zoo is pretty close. I promise I'll visit whenever I can." Katara gave a weak smile to the Kyoshi Warrior. Next was Jet. he seemed more cool and enthusiastic about the situation. "Kat you are beautiful," He said tucking in a fallen piece of hair. "You can do this." He looked like a proud father sending his daughter off to college. Katara didn't care about what he said. She smiled and he hugged her, but she didn't return it. Finally it was Sokka. "Katara, I will never ever let anything hurt you. Even if I have to die." Sokka said with so much power and concern, Katara felt tears prick her eyes. I love you sis." He hugged her and Kat sobbed into his shoulder. He lifted her face and wiped her cheeks. "From here on, you are Tara."


"Lee. I think you will be happy." The rounded man called into the back of the room. "So you guys just came in huh? new refugees. We are so happy that someone came to work here,my nephew was struggling. Katara looked at Sokka, wishing him to reply. He realized Katara's wish and replied, "Yeah. We are from Oma Shu, and we sort of broke out of there while the fire nation attacked. Our parents helped." Sokka added when he saw the suspicious look from the old man. Katara's heart began to pound harder, she could hear footsteps from the kitchen, well she thought it was the kitchen because of the aroma seeping from it. Jet and Suki headed down to their work. So it was her brother that accompanied her on her first day of misery. Then she saw him...her boyfriend to be.


Then I saw the cerulean eyes. She was with some boy I didn't know and he was my age. Uncle was blabbering about a new employee, but i just stood there like a tree and stared at the girl. She noticed me but quickly looked away. WAIT! Did Uncle say employee. I zoned back to the conversation. "My Nephew, Lee will teach you how t wait tables. Just do as he does. You will get paid at the end of each week." The girl smiled at my Uncle at looked back at me from the corner of her eyes. She then turned to boy, and hugged him. I'm guessing that's her brother, maybe its not, but I really wished it was her brother and not the other option. Stop it Zuko, she most likely thinks that you are a freak. You came here to start a new, stop adding extra stress to yourself. Zuko was extremely good and stressing out and getting mad. He walked over stiff and straight, chanting, "Don't Fall, Don't Fall, Don't Fall." He reached his destination successfully and smiled at the girl. "This is my nephew Lee." Uncle introduced him.

"Hi. I am Ping, and this is my sister Tara." Zuko punched the air with joy inside him, but remained calm on the outside. He turned to the girl and gave a slight nod. "Hi. Nice to meet you. I am Tara." She greeted him. Again, he heard this voice before, well it was sort of like this. He attempted to smile but failed miserably. "Lee." That's all he choked out. Zuko felt like punching himself , so much for first impressions. Katara gave a questionable face, and he looked away. "Lee will help you, just do what he does and you will be fine." His Uncle said and walked away. She turned to her brother and he said "I'll be back to pick you up." He gave her a quick hug and run out the door. She watched her brother run away, and continued to look out the door. "So... the uniform." She said turning back to the amber eyed boy. "Right!" He said remembering. He starting to closet and gave a gesture telling Katara to follow. Zuko searched through the closet for a small uniform. He returned out of the heap of clothes and supplies with a shirt. He held it up to Katara's shoulders and checked the size. "Too big." And he threw it back. Katara had a perplexed look on her face, what was she supposed to do. The only thing that ran through her head was, I need to make this fool fall in love with me. He seemed like the quite mysterious hot guy. So Katara decide the best way make him fall in love was to be casual, maybe even a little hard to get. Again, that cold feeling washed over Katara. Zuko turned back right then and saw Katara's uneasy face. "Are you okay? You look sick." Zuko looked genuinely worried. And Katara liked that. "This might work," she thought. "I'm okay. Just a little homesick." He nodded and turned back to the closet to look for an apron. Katara thought he would want to know more, but that's all she got. Katara made a face to the back of his head. He handed her a brown apron, a sleeveless halter top which was dark green, and baggy pants. It was fancy. "the bathroom is over there" He said pointing. Katara walked over and changed. She kept the loppies and let the rest of her hair down. She walked back out to see Zuko serving some girl that was beaming at him. "Would you look at that, I have competition for this jerk." She glared at the girl. Then Zuko caught her eyes. His eyes widened, and he seemed shocked. "Was That a Blush!" Katara thought looking at him closely and of course he turns away. Katara watched Zuko for the whole day and helped him small things. Like gettig the cups or refilling the tea. He wasn't to keen on Katara waiting the tables. Exactly,at 7, Sokka came with Suki and Jet. Katara ran out and hugged Sokka and Suki and last Jet, which lasted longer than usual. She turned to see Zuko, but his face was normal. "What was that for." She whispered to the freedom fighter.

"To make him jealous." He replied with his signature smirk. She shouted bye back into the shop, Iroh and Zuko was cleaning the tables. Katara had helped with most of the clean up. Iroh laughed and said bye back and Zuko just looked up. After their morning talk, Zuko shied away from her. Katara didn't push it. On the way home she told them everything and Jet paid close attention to every word. Katara didn't know if it was because he loved her or because he wanted revenge. Tomorrow her actual job will start. Falling in love.


They got home to see Aang and Toph covered in mud. "What are you guys doing." Sokka questioned looking at their state.

"We were trying to make diner" Aang said falling to the floor laughing accompanied by Toph. Katara nodded her head in disapproval and started to head out to her little pond. For some reason the water in that pond made her head clear. Well every source of water does. But Katara feels like she sees more there. She never understood that. She reached the pond and submerged, emerging with a picture of a boy and a girl kissing. He had a blue mask that she was holding by her side and she had a veiled wide brimmed hat that he tipped back to get access to her lips.


A/N: Again I am terribly sorry. If you guys don't like it let me now and I'll try to add more changes. But now I think you understand where the story id going. Thanks so much and...HAPPY HOLIDAYS. I'll update more over the break.