Katalina spent the next few days avoiding the Jasmine Dragon and Zuko again. She kept telling herself that she wouldn't go back until after he and Mai left for the Fire Nation. And the day they were supposed to leave, she found herself loitering by the city's wall with Jet, Jin, Yolanda, Hakara, and Shion.

"This is the first time in a long while just the six of us have spent time together," she pointed out.

"I was thinking the same thing," Hakara replied. "I missed this."

"Well, we've all been so busy with different parts of the city," Yolanda stated. "So it's understandable."

"At least the construction is coming along nicely," Shion said. "Ba Sing Se will be restored to its former glory in no time."

"And then what?" Jet wondered.

"What do you mean?" Jin asked in reply.

"There'll be nothing left for us to do," he explained. "What reason will Lina and I have to stay here? I mean, at this place is home to you three. Lina and I don't have a place to call home."

"You two can stay here and make Ba Sing Se your home," Hakara told him. "I mean, I would hope that your friends are a good enough reason to make you want to stay here."

"I didn't mean it like that," he denied. "Lina?"

"No, I know what you mean," Katalina admitted. "I haven't really given it much thought, though."

"You wouldn't want to return to the Fire Nation and watch it progress?" Yolanda asked.

"The Fire Nation was never my home to begin with. So there's really nothing there for me to go back to."

"What about your parents?" Shion questioned.

"My parents are the reason I'm here. They didn't want me." She paused before shrugging. "Not that it matters."

"Of course it matters!" Jin declared. "Not that the war is over you should try to reconcile with your parents."

"They're probably a part of the frigging riots going on in the Fire Nation right now. Trust me, the last thing they want is reconciliation."

"Speaking of which," Jet started, "doesn't Zuko leave today?"

She nodded her head once. "He does. And he'll probably be gone for at least a month."

"At least Mai will be gone, too."

"Why aren't you going, Lina?" Hakara wondered.

"Because Mai is going."

"That's the only reason?"

"What other reason do I need?"

"A better one than that."

"That's actually a really good reason, Hakara," Jet defended Katalina. "Mai can't stand Lina and she hates it when she's around Zuko."

"Doesn't she trust Zuko?" Jin checked.

"No, it's me she doesn't trust," Katalina responded. She proceeded to roll her eyes. "I mean, it's not like Mai and I ever got along in the first place, but now she's just overreacting about every damn thing. It's actually really pissing me off."

"When was the last time you saw Zuko?" Shion then asked.

"When he got the initial letter that he'd have to go back to the Fire Nation," she answered. "Why?"

"He's coming this way."

She spun on her heel to see Zuko walking towards them. She wanted to run like she had done so many times before, but she felt immobilised. Plus, he had already seen her, so it was too late anyway.

"Hey guys," he greeted them.

"Hey Zuko," Jet replied first. "We thought you were leaving today."

"I am," he confirmed. "I needed to speak with Lina before I left, though."

"Mai can't be too pleased with this," Katalina mumbled.

"Can you guys excuse us, please?" he then asked.

"Of course we can," Yolanda said.

She and the others walked away, leaving Katalina and Zuko alone.

"Were you just going to avoid me until I left and came back?" he assumed.

"That was the original plan," she admitted.

"Well, I'm changing your plans."

"What do you mean?"

"Mai got sick the other night," he told her. "And she's still too sick to travel, but Uncle really doesn't want me going back to the Fire Nation alone."

"Then go with Aang or Sokka or someone."

"Lina, will you please just come with me?"

"You do know that I'm not willingly avoiding you, right? I'm just trying to save your relationship. And my going with you isn't going to help that."

He looked down, his jaw clenched. "It's not your relationship to save," he told her. "Nor are you destroying it. Mai's doing a fine job at that all on her own."

"Zuko, you really shouldn't say shit like that."

"Say shit like the truth, you mean?" He sighed, shaking his head. "I know how prone you are to lying and keeping secrets, Lina, but I'm not like that. I—"

"You value honesty," she cut him off. "I know."

"Well, this is all beside the point," he went on. "The point is that I should've left already, but I came to find you first because I really want you to come back with me. And so does Uncle."

She folded her arms across her chest. "I just don't think it would be a very good idea."

"Come on, I'm asking you as a friend."

That's what she had been afraid of. And it's what she had been waiting for. She kept avoiding his gaze until she finally just closed her eyes, keeping her head down and hanging low. Suddenly, there was a hand cupping her cheek and it lifted her head. She opened her eyes to lock with Zuko's gaze. Her breath caught in her throat.

"Please," he said shortly, his voice soft. Katalina couldn't form any words. So instead she just slightly nodded her head. He smiled now. "Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me," she forced out the words, though they were almost inaudible.

"C'mon, we really need to get going now," he replied, still smiling. He then kissed her forehead before turning and rushing back in the other direction.

Katalina remained still as the others rejoined her.

"What the hell just happened?" Jet questioned.

"I don't really know," she admitted. "But I guess I'll see you guys again in about a month." And she hurried after her best friend. "A month alone with Zuko," she said to herself. "This could either ruin us or make us."