"So," my father said in annoyance at dinnertime that day, "We don't have to worry about whether or not to kill the Avatar anymore!"

"Wh-Wh-What d-do you m-mean?" Katara stuttered fearfully. I cringed, fearing my father's response. I couldn't interfere; Katara would still want to know. All I could do was stand and wait in terror.

"Well, I was telling him about how he'd be kept alive for now and all that. Then I wanted to deliver your message, but as soon as I said the word 'Katara,' he became quite furious and rude. I, of course, told him that he should not behave that way if he wanted Katara to live. And he went into the Avatar state in rage! Well, what else could I do except to kill the boy, or he would destroy the Palace, and me with it! So I shot him with a bolt of lightening and he fell. So, now we'll have to go searching through the Water Tribe to-...Where are you going?" he exclaimed suddenly as Katara ran out of the room. Throughout the story she had been sitting in paralyzed awe, but finally her body caught up to her brain, I guess, and she wanted to get out. I quickly jumped up to follow her, muttering a few irritated words to my father. "What on Earth...?" I heard him say, but I didn't care. Uncle would explain for me. I needed to catch up to her.

But she was running so fast in rage and pain, I lost her among the many halls. I stopped short at a four-hall intersection, until I heard a large door open. She was going out to the courtyard, which would be empty now. I sped up my earlier pace and went out the door before it had even closed behind her. My head whipped around as I searched for her. I found her next to the little pond underneath the tree. It had always been where I went when I was upset as a child. It had many memories.

"Zuko, that's what moms are like. If you mess with their babies...they're gonna bite you back!"

I walked up to where she was sitting with her face in her knees, arms hugging her legs. I kneeled down next to her and put an arm on each shoulder. She shoved me off and turned the other way.

"Stay away from me, Zuko!" she said through the angry tears.

I almost put my hand on her back, but I hesitated. "Katara...I'm so sorry. But...he'll be reincarnated." I offered.

"You don't understand!" she yelled, "He won't be!"

"I-...Why not?"

She turned her head around to look at me furiously. "If you kill an Avatar in the Avatar State, they stop reincarnating forever!" Katara cried, then turned from me and began sobbing again.

"Oh...Oh my gosh, Katara...I'm so, so, sorry. I...I had no idea." I stumbled, at a loss for words. She didn't answer. I sat back in sadness.

I had never even thought about what would happen to Aang once I had turned him over to the Fire Lord. It hadn't at all occurred to me that he would be killed. I had never meant for that to happen! And now, there would be no Avatar ever again- and it was all my fault! Now, I had not only lost Aang (who I didn't really hate; he was a good kid), but Katara as well. A risky thought entered my head. I looked at Katara's violent sobbing, and made up my mind. I knew it had to happen. I always had, deep down in my heart.

"Katara?" I asked.

"What?" she spat.

"What had Aang set out to do before I captured you guys?" I asked.

She turned to me confusedly, tears still streaming down her face. "He was...going to the North Pole so he could master waterbending." she said quietly.

"What then?"

She paused. "He was going to master the rest of the elements. And...defeat the Fire Lord, I guess." she replied, still softly.

I stood up, and held down my hand to pull her to her feet as well. She hesitated, then grabbed it wordlessly. "Since I have caused the Avatar to cease to exist, I will take his place." I said determinedly, "I will take down the Fire Lord so that the world may be in peace."

"Really?" Katara gasped.

I turned to her, face-to-face, and took her other hand in mine. "Yes." I said, "I screwed up. This wasn't supposed to happen; I've doomed the world. And I have to fix it. Bringing Aang here and having him killed was never my destiny. My destiny is to end this awful war once and for all. And...to get you to trust me again." I added nervously.

She smiled a beautiful, confident smile. "You've already done that, Zuko. You've got my trust...and my heart." As surprised as I was, my hands moved in complete confidence. I let go of her hands and held her small, delicate face in my large, protecting palms. I leaned down, pulled her lips up to mine, and I kissed her. She put her arms around my torso and kissed back. I heard angels singing in my mind, and I felt as if flying. It was the most beautiful moment I could ask for. And she was giving it to me willingly. When we finally separated, I wiped the tears from her cheeks with my thumbs.

"I love you, Katara." I said softly, "I always have. Since before I even captured you."

She giggled bashfully. "That explains a lot of things...things that I never noticed."

"It's okay. All that matters now is that you are here with me." I said.

"And that I love you too." she added, and pulled me into another wonderful, heart-stopping kiss. I wish I could have stayed there with her for all eternity. By the calm, serene pond; the only light coming from the few candles around the courtyard; beneath the little tree. But I knew I couldn't; I had a job to do. A job that I wished I had had the sense to do three years ago.

A/N - Yeah, I know I said the Fire Nation would win. But...I just couldn't let that happen. I realized that Zuko would never do that, especially if he had caused Aang's death (which I'd been planning all along). And Katara finally came around; you knew it had to happen! ;-) PLEASE REVIEW! This was a very emotional chapter and I want to know if it was any good!