"Alright, time to go." I said. I untied Katara's ankles, then her waist. But once I untied the rope around her shoulders, she collapsed into my arms.

"Get off me! Get off me, right now!" she cried. I raised my eyebrows.

"I didn't do anything. You fell as soon as the ropes were off." I said, starting to smile mischievously.

"Well...let go! I can walk myself, thank you!" she said irritably. She tried to get up, but her limbs wouldn't hold her, so she fell to the ground. I laughed and picked her up. "Stop it, Zuko!" she yelled.

"Well, you can't get up on your own, so how else am I supposed to get you to my ship?" I retorted. I put her arm around my shoulder and mine around hers. She leaned her weight on me and limped to my ship, groaning in pain. "What's the matter?" I asked. I suddenly realized how concerned I must sound. Katara looked at me confusedly, and replied with hostility.

"Why do you care?"

I covered up my mistake by saying angrily, "Because your whining is giving me a headache!"

She rolled her eyes and sighed. "I'm aching from being tied up so long." She suddenly looked very drained. "I feel...so...tired..." She trailed off, and fell asleep. I sighed and put my free arm under her legs so I could carry her better. As I walked towards my ship, I looked at her face. She looked beautiful, even sleeping. So calm and free. I almost dreaded her waking up; she'll be so angry and hostile again. Right now I was just enjoying her pretty face, peaceful and serene.

I watched as Katara's eyes slowly blinked open. It was only a few hours later; lunch would be soon. (She'd missed breakfast.) I had put her into my bed, and had an old cot brought in. She'd sleep in that later, but I'd decided to leave her in comfort, given her aches. Anyway, Katara took in her surroundings, and she saw her necklace laying on the night table. I'd put it there for her; she deserved to get it back. Katara tried to raise her arm to pick it up, but I guess her limbs were still too weak, because they barely came up an inch.

"Here," I said, "Let me help you with that." Katara's eyes jolted to me. She probably didn't notice me until then.

I pushed her shoulders up into a sitting position, leaving room for me to sit behind her. I picked up the little blue necklace and put it on her. Oh, how wonderful that felt. It really was a pretty necklace, especially on her.

"Th-thanks..." she said slowly, almost questioningly. "But...why?"

"Why what?" I said, still in dream-land. Now I was paying closer attention.

"Why did you bring me to your room instead of some prison cell? Why did you put me in your comfortable bed instead of that old ratty one? Why...why are you being so nice to me?" Katara persistence slowed at the last, burning question.

I replied, "I brought you to my room because this is where you'll be staying until we get home. I-"

"Why?" Katara interrupted.

"Don't interrupt me!" I said irritably, and rather loudly. She shrank back and nodded for me to continue. "I put you in my bed just this once because you're aching so badly." I hesitated at the last question. Dare I tell her? Do I want her to know yet that I love her? Do I know that I love her yet? Well, that's a yes. But...I don't want her finding out yet. Not so soon; but later she will know.

"Well?" she insisted. "Why are you being so nice?" I searched for an answer, and one appeared.

"The answer to that question is the same answer as your earlier interruption." I held her shoulders, stood up, and laid her back down. "During the trip home, and when we get home," (I started calling the Fire Nation "home," just to get her used to it...and to bug her.) "You're going to be my personal servant." I grinned; her jaw dropped.

"Wh-What?" she spluttered.

"Yes. You'll get to hang around anywhere on the ship, eat meals with my uncle and I, sleep in my room. It'll be great!" I looked at her maliciously. She glared back steadily. It's going to be hard work, breaking Katara. "Now, there are obviously going to be some rules about living here on my ship. First rule: You will be locked in this room until I wake up in the morning and let you leave. Don't worry, I get up fairly early." I said. Katara's jaw re-dropped.

"But...what if I have to go to the bathroom?" she asked, quickly finding a loophole. But she didn't have one. I pointed to a door in the back corner. She sighed, and looked away. She was still laying in bed.

"How are you feeling? Try lifting your arms." I said, trying to lighten the now heavy air. Katara raised first one arm, then the other. She smiled her gorgeous smile. "Well, that's good. How about sitting?" Katara slowly lifted her torso up into a sitting position. "And standing?" I asked. The Water Tribe girl turned so her feet were on the ground. She pushed herself up with her hands, but fell back. I stifled a chuckle. I didn't want her mad at me again. "May I help you?" I said, smiling at her. Her muscles could lift themselves, but could hold her body weight.

"No!" she retorted.

I raised my eyebrows. "Really? Alright, then, I'm going to have some lunch." I started towards the door.

"Zuko..." Katara said quickly.

I turned back expectantly. "Yes?" I asked innocently. Katara grumble a little to herself.

"Zuko, can you-...will you help me...walk." she said, clearly embarrassed. I decided to embarrass her a little more.

"Didn't quite catch that!" I said. She glared at me. "I'm waiting."

"Zuko, will you help me walk!" Katara said a little louder.

"What's the magic word?" I was milking this waaay to much, but I couldn't resist.

"The mag-...what?" I put my hand to my ear and looked at Katara. She stared back at me angrily. I continued to look at her, my hand still behind my ear, waiting. Katara sighed and said reluctantly, "Will you help me walk, please?"

"Oh, well of course!" I said immediately.

Katara carefully limped, leaning most of her weight on me, down the stairs. I watched her extremely determined expression with sympathy. Luckily she didn't notice; she was concentrating too hard. I hoped her muscles would strengthen soon. There's a lot of stairs on this ship.

We reached the bottom of the stairs and went into the dining room. (The crewmen ate in the galley below deck.) I sat Katara down and sat down myself. My uncle was already there.

"Hello, how are you doing?" he asked Katara.

"Fine." she replied, almost coldly.

"Please do not be angry while you are here." Iroh said kindly. He said something quietly into her ear, and laughed his hearty laugh. Katara giggled a little too. "So, are you doing better? Last time I saw you here, you were asleep in my nephew's arms!" I tried frantically to cut him off as he was saying it, but it was too late. He didn't realize what he'd done.

"What?" Katara asked, whirling her head towards me. "Were you carrying me here?" There was a hint of anger, but mostly confusion.

"Uh- yes, well..." I tried to find some excuse. "I, uh, had to get you on my ship somehow, didn't I? Yep, that's it!" That didn't sound too convincing, but Katara bought it. My uncle knew I loved her, but Katara was too tired to figure it out, I suppose.

"Whatever. Can we eat, now? I missed breakfast." she said.

"Oh, yes, so did Zuko. You two must be starving." Iroh said. He's either really stupid, or torturing me on purpose!

"Um, no I didn't! I had breakfast...with the crew. I was...making sure they weren't...getting too rowdy down there!" Alright, that was a little better. I guess I'm getting a little better at the quick lying. And apparently my uncle wasn't getting any good at picking up my signals! "Now...let's just eat." I wanted to get off that subject. Luckily, Uncle Iroh got the point that time, and we talked about other things. Eventually, Katara asked the question I knew she would.

"So...can I ever see Aang?" Jealousy flowed over me. I wanted to say no so badly it hurt. But she would only hate me ever more.

"Yes, but only when I come with you. I have to be sure you don't help him escape. You brother, however, you may see on your own." I only wanted to be there when she was with the Avatar because I knew he liked her since the moment I saw the two of them together. I didn't think they'd escape at all.

Katara growled, but said, "Fine. Then take me to him now." By now we were all finished eating.

"Alright." I helped her stand up and walked with her, again leaning on me, to Aang's prison cell. (Although to her I referred to it as "Aang's room.") I now noticed how uncomfortable Katara looked having to lean on me. And that, I enjoyed even more! But Katara was trying to end that.

"I think I can walk on my own now." she said. However, I was feeling how much she was leaning on me, and I knew she wouldn't be able to hold herself up yet.

"Okay, give it a shot." I stepped away, and she fell right back into me. "Guess that's a no." I said in reply.

"Well you didn't give me any warning!" Katara said angrily.

"Are you ready now?" I asked slowly. She nodded disdainfully. I carefully got her weight onto her own legs. She wobbled a little, but stood up just fine. I scowled to myself. "Alright, let's go." I led her to the trap door, and went first in case she fell, but she didn't. Finally, we came to the door of Aang's cell.