Hello my lovely readers!~ I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to upload. I had written some chapters on my cruise for my other Zutara fic Fire and Water: Destined Love and I HATED it. The formatting sucked and it was just ugh! Horrible, so I decided not to do any chapters for this one T.T I'm sorry. I will bring my laptop on my next cruise so that I can type on word when I have the chance. It's a sacrifice I am willing to make for you guys!

Abyro, Zutara Love Shipper, thank you for the story Follow and favorite!

Olympic Platnium- I'm so glad your enjoying the chapters so far and THANK YOU for leaving a review for every chapter! It makes me so happy!~ :3

PrincessDefuego- I cant thank you enough for your long and thoughtful reviews! I'm so glad you have noticed the seriousness in Zuko's feelings. He's a hot headed boy who has no idea how to get Katara to like him but I hope you like what I've done with this chapter!~

Water Princess17- I'm glad you enjoyed the last two updates! Here's another one and this chapter is REALLY long...like 9pages on word long. No double space...yeah but it's a lot of dialogue too.

xXAngelOscuroxX- thank you for reviewing even as a guest! I hope you stick around for more updates!~

Zutara Love Shipper- Here's that update you wanted~!

Sundays

Katara's POV

Not going to lie but this Sunday morning sucked. I sighed at the raging headache going on and my inability to hold myself together last night. Groaning I sat up and immediately felt the world spin. I fell back into my covers, grabbing my phone from the nightstand and noticing a total of 20 missed messages. What the hell?

I opened my phone to find that Toph, Suki, Ty Lee, Azula and I were in a group message. I started reading the texts from the beginning fearing the conversation and what it might reveal about last night.

Suki- Ugh is anyone else having a terrible hangover?

Toph- Honey I'm pretty sure all of you are suffering. How the hell are you up anyways?

Suki- My fucking alarm clock. Sometimes I hate the blasted thing.

Ty- Thanks you guys for making my phone ring annoyingly and causing my ears to bleed. Why am I in this group message?!

Toph-I've added all the girls. Apparently I am the only one who drank a couple of glasses of water before I went to bed and two pills of painkillers! Don't you all want to know what happened last night?

Suki- Ugh no thanks I don't want to think about it.

Toph- Awww don't worry Honey you and Snoozles didn't do anything too crazy.

Ty- Snoozles?

Toph- Yeah Sokka fell asleep at the bar, Honey just watched over him all night. It was pretty hilarious to watch him fall onto the counter in a matter of seconds. PRICELESS!

Suki- Oh god…I remember that now.

Ty- Please do NOT tell me what I did….

Toph- aw you don't want to hear about your mystery man?

Ty- WHAT!?

Zula- SERIOUSLY WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS! MY HEAD IS RINGING AND I CANT STOP MY PHONE FROM VIBRATING! SHUT UP!

Toph- Calm down Azula! Just silence your phone.

Zula- I can't! I can barely see the screen!

Ty- How are you texting then?

Zula- Voice control.

Suki- hmmm smart.

Toph- Ahh makes sense!

I groaned again. Just looking at the conversation made me want to cry. I didn't want to participate but, if Zula got involved it was only a matter of time before she would text me and wake me up.

Zula- HELLOOOO KATARA~? U STILL SLEEPING?

See?

I pulled up my keyboard and started to join in on the conversation.

K- I'm here Im here! Geeze…Y cnt u all just leave me alone?

Toph- Whoa there Sugar Queen, lets spell all of our words out.

K- I'm txting, no.

Zula- She only does it in the mornings. Stubborn devil.

K- Whatever, Ill spell everything out for you guys then! Happy?

Toph- I think Sweetness woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning….or in someone's bed but her own ;)

I sat up quickly feeling the blush creep onto my face. Just for the safety of my heart I looked around. I was definitely home…wait how did I get home? Oh for fucks sake I hate hangovers.

Zula- Oh yeah Zuko took you home! YOU WERE TRASHED TARA!

K- Oh shit! Please tell me you're lying!

Ty- They're lying Katara don't worry! I remember taking you home.

Suki- Come on you guys don't mess with her!

K- Thanks Suki, Ty Lee. Toph and Zula please rot in hell.

Toph- Ouch that hurts sweetness! We are supposed to start working together tomorrow!

Zula- Oooo work! yay….*sarcasm for those of you who can't tell* I just can't wait.

Reluctantly I got out of bed and grabbed a glass of water and two Excedrin migraine tablets to ease the raging headache from last nights endeavors. After feeling them go down my throat I braved walking to my mirror and seeing the damage.

I looked horrible, exactly like I feared. Groaning I decided it was best to just strip and get a shower. I tossed my phone on the bathroom counter and turned the shower on. Putting it on a lukewarm temperature setting I walked into it, running my hands through my birds nest of hair. After cleaning up in the shower for 15 minutes I jumped out, lathering my skin in my favorite lotion. My phone vibrated multiple times while I was in the shower, I grabbed a towel tying it around my body and walked back into my bedroom scanning through the texts.

Toph- Azula you don't even work!

Zula- I have classes though…that's work.

Suki- Ugh I have to work…Ty Lee do you have a shift tomorrow?

Ty- Yeah from 8-2pm what about you?

Suki- 12-7pm guess we won't see each other for long. I guess that means Aang is working late with me.

Ty- Probably…

Toph- Hey Sweetness Sparky told you your schedule right?

….

Toph- Helloooooooo? Earth to Sugar Queen.

K- Sorry I got in the shower. No he hasn't.

Toph- What the hell! He was supposed to tell you! Let me text him, I'm pretty sure he's up.

Suki- He might still be in bed, it is a Sunday…

Toph- He says he "rises with the sun" fucking idiot. Can't lie though he really is always up. He got pretty trashed last night though.

K- Was he really?

Toph- Not really but it was pretty funny...ugh Sparky isn't answering.

Ty- Why do you call him Sparky?

Toph- Because he has one hell of a temper…trust me he could throw a tantrum as a kid.

Zula- He was always a mama's boy.

K- I forgot he mentioned you guys are childhood friends, when did you meet?

Toph- Too long of a story for a text message, I'll tell you at work tomorrow. Then you can tell everyone else.

K- K!

My phone vibrated and I saw an unknown number pop up in my phone. I clicked on it with my index finger opening up the new chat.

xxx-xxx-xxxx- Hey it's Zuko, are you awake?

K- Yeah, how do you feel? I hope better than me…

While I waited for him to text I quickly added his contact info into my phone. I wasn't sure what to call him so I just stuck with Zuko. He quickly responded after I finished.

Zuko- Fine. Don't tell me you didn't drink water and have some aspirin or something before you went to bed…

K- No, I just got the lecture from Toph so don't bother Sparky.

Zuko- She told you about that huh? We still good for lunch? Maybe a little later until you feel better?

Shit I had totally forgot about our…date? Is that what it was? I shook my head and looked at my clock. It was 10:48 now, I really slept in…what time did I even get home? I groaned at the lack of information I was able to remember from last night. I feared the worst especially since I clearly remember making out with Zuko.

K- Yeah she did, it's cute really ;)
I'm still in for grabbing some lunch. Maybe around 1?

Zuko- Sounds good to me. I'll pick you up, what's your address?

K- 2834 Water street road it's about thirty minutes away from the office building if you need help just call me.

Zuko- I got it, I had a friend who lived in that area a while back. I'll be at your door at one ;)

K- Okay sounds good! See you at 1 :3

I closed the chat with Zuko and looked to see that I had missed an entire conversation with the rest of the girls. I groaned, I didn't want to read it all so I decided to just end it there.

K- Hey you guys I got to go! I have somewhere to be at one.

Zula- OOooo a hot date with my brother?

I blushed, she was so straight forward.

Toph- Oh wow you guys are getting pretty close huh? Something happen at the club last night that I'm not aware of?

Ty- Katara promise me if you two start dating you will tell me straight away!

Suki- You guys I'm pretty sure we all know they are already dating.

K- WHOA WHOA WHOA! Everyone calm down! Yes I have a date with Zuko, no we are not dating…I don't think I want to.

Zula- What?!

Toph- uh oh…

Ty- WHYYYY YOU GUYS ARE SO CUTE!

Suki- Did he hurt you already?

K- Uhm your all forgetting that he is now my BOSS! I just don't want to mix work and my personal life.

Zula- you might want to talk to Zuko about that.

K- I know I am…

Ty- awwwww I really wanted you two to date…

Suki- Well it's your choice Katara…it's not like people don't mix the two every now and again.

Toph- Sparky is pretty professional I don't think you would have to worry about it…

K- No I'm pretty sure I want to keep them separate. I actually need to get ready now, He'll be here in an hour.

Ty- Have fun! Don't break his heart!

Suki- Have an open mind! You need a good relationship….

Zula- text me afterwards, we need to compare notes for Tuesdays class.

Toph- I'll make sure to help you on Monday if things get awkward after today.

K- Thanks you guys.

Zuko's POV

I looked at my clock after finishing getting ready for lunch with Katara, it was 12:15. I shrugged my black jacket on and grabbed the keys to my red Dodge Challenger. After unlocking I rolled down my windows and turned the engine on, reversing out of the parking lot and into the direction of Katara's apartment complex. Just like she had said it was about a thirty minute drive from the main building, and it was fairly close to where my friend used to live. I checked the mirror for my hair and appearance before taking a deep calming breath. I had never been so nervous picking up a girl before. Hell this was the first time I've ever invited a girl out! I leaned back in my chair, I had a couple of minutes before it was one.

Thinking back in my years I never had time to become infatuated with a girl. I was always told I would have to marry Mai for the family so I never gave anyone else the chance. I sighed, this was so new to me. So far Katara was everything I thought I would never see in a girl. I looked at my dash board where the clock said 12:55, I stepped out of my car and walked to the second floor looking for apartment 2834…found it. I took another deep breath and knocked on the door three times. Stepping back I waited for her to open the door. I waited for a minute or two and then she came out, looking amazing.

I probably looked stupid as I stood staring at her, she was beautiful. Her hair fell down freely in her delicious brown waves, mimicking the motion of the ocean. Then she wore a light blue crop top and a plain white kimono that ended at her elbows and ended just above her knees. She wore high waisted jeans and a pair of light blue vans. I had forgotten that today should be more of a casual outing, I felt a little over dressed with my jacket on. I could always take it off in the car no big deal. "Hey, how are you feeling?" She shook her head stepping out of the doorway and locking her apartment up. I took this chance to admire how her ass looked in those jeans of hers.

"Better, I had some Excedrin and water…lots of water." She turned to me with a perfect smile and sky blue eyes. "You ready?" I nodded and walked her back down the stairs to my car. When I unlocked it I heard her gasp behind me.

"Wow," I smiled opening the passenger side door for her.

"Impressed?" She smiled and jerked a thumb over to the baby blue fiat with a tan convertible roof.

"Just a little, but my car will always be my favorite." I smiled and noticed something very intriguing about her. She sat inside and I made my way over to the driver side, buckling our seatbelts and heading towards the restaurant I had planned out for our date.

"I like Fiats, classics but fun. I can't help but notice that you have a lot of blue. Is it your favorite color?" She smiled leaning an elbow on the side door.

"Of course. Let me guess…yours is red?" I chuckled nodding my head.

"How did you guess?" I asked sarcastically. She giggled, and oh what a perfect sound it was to my ears.

"Oh I don't know maybe because Azula told me. Or it could be the fact that everything you own is red. Seriously your office, your clothing, your car. I bet if I ever went to your house there would be a fair share of red there too." I shook my head. Not only was she drop dead gorgeous but she had a bit of spark in her. I drove us to a more populated part of the city to a small cafe that I had found online claiming to be a good date area. There was park just a couple of minutes walk from the café. The part I was excited about was the scenery, the café was a standalone from the other buildings that were also near it. The whole area was brand new with beige colored bricks on the floor then a giant fountain in the middle. It was very open and peaceful. My mother had been last week with our father.

When I pulled up I could see Katara was looking outside at the view. Her smile was small and genuine. We stepped out of the car and I led her to a table that was outside. A waitress in a cream and pink apron came outside giving us menu's and taking our drinks.

"I'll have a coke. Katara?" She looked through the menu and looked to the waitress.

"I'll have your blueberry ice tea please." The girl nodded and headed back inside. Finally Katara looked at me and blushed fiddling with her hair again. I could finally determine that it was a nervous gesture, an extremely cute nervous gesture.

"So…" I started, she chuckled and looked at me.

"So, I guess we need to talk about last night…don't we." It wasn't a question. I nodded nervously, more than anything I wanted to get closer to Katara.

But for the first time in my life I was terrified to hear her response.

"Katara, I…I really like you." Her blush brightened on her face and our waitress came back with our drinks. "Oh, thank you. Could you give us some time to order our food?"

"Of course! Take your time." She walked away and Katara took a sip of her tea obviously enjoying its taste. She looked at me and sighed. Sighing was never a good thing.

"Zuko…I like you too," my heart did back flips at the declaration "but…" uh oh. "I don't think this is a good idea. I mean we just met and I don't feel like it's a good idea to pursue this. I'm about to work for you and I don't like mixing work and personal life…" I sighed leaning back into my chair. This was NOT what I wanted to hear, and much to my surprise it hurt a lot more than I wanted it too as well. The painful pang in my heart proved just how much I was really falling for this girl.

"Katara we could make it work. Sure we haven't known each other for long but you can't deny you have feelings for me like you just admitted. I can't ignore the growing feelings I have for you. I would love to date you and get to know you. I think if you gave it a chance we could make it work. I ca-"

"No Zuko. I can't see it working out. I mean I just met you. Yes okay, I like you. Your attractive funny and probably much more but I don't want to risk it." I sighed this girl was stubborn as hell. I felt a bit of fear creep into my heart over her friend Aang.

"Would you date Aang then? I heard him talking about wanting you back." She leaned forward with urgency.

"What no! Zuko believe me I like you and I would love to date you. I will be turning Aang down as well." I shook my head in confusion, this didn't make any sense.

"Katara how can you turn me down if you haven't even given us a chance?" She shook her head.

"I already said, I don't want to mix work and my personal life. Dating you would just…just be the worst."

"Ouch Katara." She sighed heavily.

"Zuko I didn't mean the aspect of dating you but when it comes down to it. If I dated you not only would you be my boss but also my boyfriend. There would be No boundary between work and personal life. I don't want that." I rested my head on my hand.

"So if we had met each other before, when you and Azula became friends would you have dated me?" She bushed before nodding slowly. That was all I needed to know. "Then I'll prove it to you that I can separate work and personal life. You have to give me a chance though Katara. I've never felt like this for someone before, I told you that. So please give me at least a fair chance at winning you over." She looked like she wanted to reject me but, she gave up.

"What would that entail exactly?" I smirked lacing a hand with hers on the table.

"You have to go out with me at least twice a week for a meal. You have to give me chances to show you what it would be like to be my girlfriend. In return I will honor your end and treat you like nothing more than a friend and employee like Toph at work." She looked at our hands and giggled again. I was beginning to really love that sound.

"I feel like neither of us could really keep away from each other during work if we were also having dates on the outside." She stated. Damn she was good thinking into that. I thought hard about her personality, or what I knew of it so far. Smiling I knew that she was stubborn and competitive. I thought about the sudden kiss I had given her while we were in the club.

"Fine let's make it a game then." She smiled resting her face in the palm of her free hand.

"A game?" I nodded.

"Since you don't think I can keep my hands off of you during work we can make a game out of it. If I don't make any advances during the work day you have to go on a date with me that week. The more days I go the more days I get a date." She shook her head smiling.

"Okay but where's the challenge in that? Surely you can do that easily." I grinned.

"Exactly, that's why you have to find ways on making me crack and trust me," I leaned forward kissing her hand, "there are plenty of little things you could do that would make me crack during the day." The blush appeared on her face again but she still seemed reluctant. I huffed letting go of her hand and leaning back in my chair smirking at my ingenious plan. "Of course, if you don't think you can win then I say you should just give up and let me take you out whenever." I could see the competitive side come out and her stubbornness to refuse defeat at a challenge.

"Fine Zuko have it your way. If I can make you blush, squirm, or show any signs of slipping then I win and I get to choose if I go out that night or not. If I can't then I will agree to you taking me out on a date." I smirked. This worked out better than I expected. I looked down at the menu feeling a little hungry and looked up at the woman in front of me.

"Deal, would you like to order now?" She nodded and I saw her smirk but I tossed it to the side as nothing. The waitress came back and took our order, she had ordered a fruit salad while I had gone with a simple turkey sandwich with a side of fries.

Katara and I talked about our favorite TV shows and celebrities while we waited for our food to arrive. When it did I noticed that Katara had started smirking again, she grabbed a fork and started poking around at her food. "So when do you want to start this game of yours?" I smiled.

"Now if you want? Also If I can get at least ten dates in a month then you have to agree to date me" she nodded smiling and grabbed a strawberry from her bowl. She pushed it against her lips and gazed at me with half lidded eyes. Shit, she was serious. I watched as she glided her tongue over the fruit before taking a bite of it. I sat in my seat completely still, fighting the urge to show a reaction to her eating her strawberries.

After a full twenty minutes I had survived lunch much to her disappointment. I paid for our lunch and walker her back to my car and opened the door for her.

"Thank you for the lunch Zuko, it was very nice." I felt her purposely brush against me but kept myself calm and collected. I closed the door and walked towards the driver's side. So far it was a win for me. I started the car and turned to her. "You're welcome, I'm pretty sure if you let me take you on another date I could give you better memories."

"I'm sure you could too. Zuko?" I turned to look at her when she kissed my cheek. I felt the blush rise to my face. I silently cursed at my body's reaction. "W-what?" She smiled, maybe she didn't notice?

"I win today."

What have I gotten myself into?

Whew this was a long chapter...it's currently 2 am so my eyes are screaming "Go the fuck to bed"

I really wanted to update for you guys and I will write the next chapter tomorrow. My other fic has 10 chapters and yet this one only has 7...not good I need to update like 3 chapters worth so that they are aligned again. I promise I will work hard!
There was a bit more dialogue in this chapter than in the others due to the texts but I really wanted to do the whole group chat thing!
Please tell me what you guys think!~
Review Review Review~!

Next chapter will be the day Katara starts working, and Toph's back story! At some point I will cover everyone's back story but for now it's Toph tomorrow :D~

Ciao

Rae