Later on that day, after getting some work done around the city, Katalina made her way for the Jasmine Dragon. She was going to talk with Zuko once and for all. What she was going to say to him was another story. An unwritten story, better yet, because she had no idea. All she knew was that she was going to sort things out with the young man.

She arrived at the teashop, stopping outside of the entrance. And just as she was about to walk in, someone said, "Katalina?" She turned to see Mai standing there. "Katalina, it is you." She smiled.

She smiled back forcefully. "Yeah Mai, it's me. And it's also you."

"Iroh told Zuko and me that you were here in Ba Sing Se almost as soon as we arrived," she replied. "Oh, you should've seen Zuko's reaction when he found out." She laughed. "I don't think I've ever seen him so happy."

Now she held back a genuine smile. "Really?"

"Of course! He was so excited. Then that Jet kid walked in and ruined the moment for him."

"Yeah, I heard about that story when he and Iroh saw each other again. So that didn't go well?"

She shrugged. "You know how Zuko can get."

"Right."

"But once things between them got situated and we met your other friends, he left to find you."

"And find me he did."

She paused. "It may not be my place, but—"

"Then don't finish that statement or question," she cut her off. "Just let me know if Zuko is here or not."

"He's in back. Why?"

"I'm here to talk with him."

"Oh! I'll go get him for you."

She nodded once in reply and Mai headed into the shop. "By the way," Katalina called after her, stopping her, "I'm happy for you and Zuko," she finished as she mustered up another smile.

Mai smiled back. "Thank you. I'm really happy with him." She then walked into the teashop.

Katalina turned her back on the Jasmine Dragon. She still wasn't sure if she should just come clean to Zuko or wait and see what happens. She didn't even know what to say to him. It was too late to walk away now, though.

"Hi Lina," Zuko greeted her as he exited the shop.

She faced him. "Hi Zuko," she said back. "Can we talk?"

"I was hoping you would want to."

The two old friends started walking away from the teashop, but they were utterly silent. Katalina looked at the ground while Zuko was staring straight ahead of himself. There was an uncomfortable air about them.

"How's your hand?" he spoke up.

She looked at her freshly scarring fingers. "It's okay," she replied. "Not my first time getting burned."

"You've been burned before?"

Her eyes widened, but she quickly erased the expression. "I meant, like, during training back when we were little," she lied.

"Right."

They fell silent again as they continued walking along. She was now playing with her burnt fingers and he was playing with a loose thread on his shirt sleeve.

"Look," she now broke the silence, looking over at him, "about yesterday—"

"You don't have to explain anything," he cut her off. "Honestly, I just don't want to hear it."

"I'm sorry," she told him anyway. "Okay? I'm sorry. I was caught off guard and I overreacted. But that's only because I was scared."

"Scared?" he repeated. "Of what?"

"Well, there's this thing called change—" she began, but she stopped when she noticed that Zuko didn't look too pleased. "What?"

"Can't you give me a straightforward answer for once?" he wondered.

"I was afraid of what has changed," she clarified. "I am afraid of change itself. I mean, when Iroh told me that you would be returning to Ba Sing Se, I was petrified of seeing you again."

"Why?"

"Because I didn't know how you had changed. I didn't even know how I have changed. And I didn't want to know how we both have changed in the last three years. But I knew that seeing you again would mean learning how we've changed. So I was afraid that the new you and the new me wouldn't get along or have the same relationship as the old you and the old me."

"Lina, we haven't changed as people, we've just grown up," he responded. "And nothing between us has changed," he then reassured her. "Despite the last three years we've spent apart, you're still my best friend."

"I still wish I could have gone with you."

"It was better that you didn't."

"How was it better?"

"I left to track down the Avatar, Lina," he reminded her. "I guess I was afraid that when I found him you would betray me."

"Why would you think that?"

"Because you had always been against the war."

She shook her head at him. "I could never betray you, Zuko. That just wouldn't be possible."

"I'm glad to hear that." He chuckled a bit. "Well, how about this? The next time I leave, you could come with me."

"Where would we go?"

"Well, I'll have to check up on Fire Nation here and there."

"Wait, are you staying here in the city?"

"Only until Aang and I figure out what to do with the Colonies here."

"Then what?"

"Then I have to return to the Fire Nation and be the Fire Lord."

"You can't be the Fire Lord from here?"

He sighed. "Lina."

"Yeah, I know, I know…" she trailed off, also sighing. "A lot has happened in three years," she then stated. "How did Aang fight against Ozai?"

"He used the Avatar State."

"Did he kill the poor bastard?"

"He did not."

She looked disappointed. "Why not?"

"Because Monks don't believe that kind of stuff…or something."

"Then how did he defeat Ozai?"

"He took away his bending abilities."

Her eyes widened. "So you're telling me that Ozai can no longer firebend?" She smiled widely as he nodded. "That's freaking amazing!" she exclaimed. "Oh, and what about Azula? What happened to her sorry ass?"

"She seemed to have gone a little insane."

"Insane? As in crazy?"

"Yeah. She pretty much lost her mind."

"Well, that's really not surprising after the way her parents—"

"Hey!" he cut her off.

"Zuko, I know you loved your mother, but I'm sorry. She wasn't good to Azula. And Ozai put way too much pressure on her. Plus, she was only fourteen. She was bound to break eventually." She paused. "Where's Ty Lee gone off to? Why didn't she come back with you and Mai? Did she return to the circus?"

"No, Ty Lee is now a Kyoshi Warrior."

"Is that so?"

"It is indeed."

"That's pretty interesting." She thought for a moment. "And how exactly did you and Mai happen?"

He smiled at this. "I don't know," he replied at first. "It just sorta…happened. I mean, she did make the first move. But once I returned to the Fire Nation, things between us just began to fall into place."

"Right. And you fell back into line and into your throne next to the man who burned and disowned you."

Now he sighed. "Here we go again…"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're getting angry at me again over nothing."

"I've heard the story, Zuko. I'm just upset that you actually chose Azula and Ozai over Iroh. That doesn't make any sense! Iroh was really the one who raised you as a true son after all."

"Is that really any of your concern? You weren't there. Besides, that's in the past now. And Iroh has forgiven me."

She shook her head. "Well, apparently I can't forgive and forget as easily as the rest of you can." She began to walk away.

"Hold on!" he called after her. "I never even did anything to you, Lina! So why do you keep getting so angry with me?"

"I don't know!" she admitted in exclamation. She covered her face with her hands. "I guess I just think it'll be easier."

"What will be easier? Us hating each other?"

She sighed, uncovering her face. "I'm just trying to protect myself."

"From me?" Now she shrugged in response, causing him to sigh. "That's not an answer, Lina. C'mon, this is the second conversation we've had in three years and you've managed to turn it into another argument!"

"Believe it or not, I don't mean to."

"Yeah, I can't believe that. You seem to be trying so hard to stay mad at me and to make me mad at you. I just don't understand why."

"Don't worry about it." She turned to leave.

He grabbed her wrist, stopped her. "I'm not letting you go until you tell me what the hell is wrong."

"Lina!" a male voice suddenly called.

They both turned to see Jet coming their way. Katalina inaudibly sighed in relief at the sight of him.

"Do you mind?" Zuko replied, releasing her hand. "We're kinda in the middle of something."

"And she's kinda needed elsewhere," Jet told them both. "Some urgent renovation shit going at the wall."

"Guess we'll pick this up where we left off later," she said to Zuko. And before he could respond, she and Jet were on their way. "They don't really need me over at the wall," she stated once they were a good distance away.

"Oh, of course not. Why the hell would they?" He laughed. "Please, I could pick up your distress signal from a mile away."

She laughed as well. "So I tried talking to him again and failed miserably."

"You know that you can be his friend without worrying about what it could do to his relationship with Mai, right?"

"You know that I really don't want to talk about this, right?"

"Lina, you have to figure this shit out."

"You think I don't know that? Because I do. And I still think Zuko and I would be better off just forgetting everything and not being friends anymore."

"Fine. Then stop being his friend. Let's see how that helps you."

"I'd be perfectly okay with it."

"Would you? You'd be able to walk around this city knowing he's here and being okay with not ever seeing him?"

"Didn't I say I didn't want to talk about this?"

"Since when do I ever listen to you?"

She sighed deeply. "It's just…not that simple."

"Maybe you two should sit down with Iroh so he can act like a mediator and keep things in a calm setting."

"I won't be able to talk to him if there are others around and listening."

"Then just go with your original thing and don't talk to him and stop being his friend."

"I can't decide if you're trying to help me or not."

"I'm just trying to be supportive."

Katalina looked Jet up and down before sighing again. "Fine. That's what I'll do, then. So I'm officially done with Zuko."