Note from the Author: Hey guys! So here is the next chapter. I am so happy so many of you are reading this and already reviewing it! Already so many have added this as a follower or to their favorites. Literally made my day! I love you all so much :) This chapter is a little shorter than the last one, but I felt this chapter was dragging on a bit. So enjoy and review :* xoxo ~

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 2

Zuko looked into Katara's eyes and saw the she was hesitant, but he had to push her a little. He smiled a little as she started to lean it to. So close and...

"Katara, I don't think Aang is going to get used to this", Sokka walked in and being who he is, didn't even sense what was happening. Katara pushed away from Zuko quickly and walked into the kitchen and Zuko sighed with frustration. He was so close. Like literally centimeters from her face! He frowned at Sokka as he continued to tell Katara how Aang still wasn't coming in and he walked outside.

"Zuko, don't!" Katara called after him and he could hear him following her.

"What is your problem?" Zuko walked outside and yelled at Aang," Everyone else seems to understand what's happening except you! I have said my piece. You're supposed to be the Avatar. Forgiveness and peace is your thing! So if you can't accept my apology and respect Katara's choice, that's on you!"

Aang stoop up and was about to yell back, but sighed," Fine. You know what Katara, I was hoping one day I could be the father to Haku, but obviously that's not going to happen!"

Katara blushed and looked away, but Zuko kept his eyes on Aang.

"As for you", Aang pointed at Zuko," If you so much as hurt her again, I'm going to hunt you down."

"Then you will have to get in line because Katara's first", Zuko smirked at him, but Aang wasn't having any of his humor.

"What is your father planning?" Aang asked Zuko.

Zuko frowned," I thought you knew."

"Only a little..."

"What are you talking about?" Katara asked, stepping forward.

"Maybe this is a conversation better discussed inside", Suki told them and looked at some of the villagers looking at them from Zuko and Aang's yelling match.

They all headed inside and sat around the table.

"Now", Katara started," Let's start over. Zuko, what are you and Aang talking about? What plans?"

"Katara, I told you", Zuko looked at her," I was banished because I wasn't following my fathers orders."

Katara nodded," Yeah, but you never specified what his orders were."

"I'm going to just come right out and say it, there is a war coming", he told them and Katara gasped, but Aang, Suki, and Sokka looked like they knew.

"What are you talking about?" Katara asked, placing her hand on Zuko's arm. He tried not to enjoy her touch since they were discussing such urgent matters.

"My father plans to take over other nations like he did with the Air Temples, but much more powerful and much more agressive."

"Oh no", Katara looked at them with worry," Why aren't you as shocked as me?"

"Well Katara..." Sokka started," We kind of have had suspicions for awhile."

"Why was I not told?" she looked at them with confusion.

"Well..." Suki started, but Aang took over. He was still furious with Katara and he knew she wasn't to blame, but he was hurt and people say things when they are hurt.

"Katara! You aren't a fighter anymore! You live in your safe little haven where nothing fazes you. We didn't tell you because you can't help. You're a mother and now you have him. You have so much on your plate how can you possibly handle a situation like this? The most you're ever concerned about is what vegetable to buy!"

Suki and Sokka looked at Aang with shock and Zuko looked like he was about to kill Aang; but Katara looked like she was about to cry, but then sadness was quickly filled by anger.

"Get out!" she stood and pointed to the door," Get out now! You wanna know why I could never be with you? Because you behave like this when you are upset! You are a boy and I need a man. Zuko is a man. He takes responsibility and doesn't act like a child when things go his way. Now get out!"

Aang stood, tipping his chair over and walked out, slamming the door behind him. Sokka kissed his sister goodbye since he took Aang leaving as the cue their visit was over. Suki walked over to her and hugged," I am so sorry for Aang's behavior. You know it's just because he cares about you deeply. Don't take what he says to heart."

Katara nodded and kissed her goodbye. After she heard them leave she sank into the chair and put her head in her hands, trying not to cry. She heard Zuko sit down next to her," I am so sorry he behaved that way to you Zuko. I told you it wasn't going to go well."

"Katara, you're looking at the bad side of things", Zuko put a hand on her shoulder," Look at it this way, Suki and Sokka accept your decision and Haku is happy. Now Aang knows somewhat what my father is up too."

Katara ran her hands through her hair and smiled a little," Yeah, you're right... Aang is just upset right now. He just needs time to calm down. So what now?"

"Now, we relax a little. There isn't anything we can do about the oncoming war yet, so for right now, we just stay tight. Besides, we can't do anything either without Aang. When he calms down, he will find me and we will start making plans. But for right now, let's just go about your normal routine and I will learn things around here and learn how to be a father."

Katara smiled at him," You have only been here for a day and already you've helped me out more than you can imagine. Thank you."

"So I take it you're warming up to me?" he smiled at her and leaned forward.

"Zuko, I still can never forget about what you did. I will never forget the feeling I got when you looked at me in the eyes and told me your choice. I don't know when I will be able to trust you again, but yes, Zuko, I am starting to warm up to you."

He smiled and grabbed her hand in his. She smiled and stood up, her hand slipping from his.

"Ya know, you almost kissed me", Zuko said quietly walking up behind her as she approached the sink, peeling some carrots for dinner that night.

"Zuko, I don't know what came over me, but I wouldn't have kissed you", she told him, but he could see her neck turning red.

"Katara, just admit you missed me", he said closely behind her.

"I did. Earlier", she retorted," But that doesn't mean I want to be physical with you."

"What about all you said?" he asked her, risking to place his hands on her shoulders. She tensed slightly and felt her head telling her to run away from him and not to trust him, but her heart was telling her to risk it. She turned and faced him. She was surprised by how close he was to her.

"Just one kiss, and I promise that if you don't like it, you don't ever have to kiss me again", he smiled wickedly at her. She took a deep breath and looked away. What's the harm? I'm not going to like it and then I don't have to kiss him ever again...

Katara looked at him and she swears she could hear his heart beating. Before she knew it he grabbed her face and kissed her. She closed her eyes and sighed, savoring the kiss because she wouldn't allow this to happen again. She heard him moan quietly and she decided it was now or never.

She gently placed her hands on his chest and pushed him away," We have to go pick up Haku..."

"Katara", he breathed and she could feel her knees buckle.

"No Zuko. You said that if I let you do that, it doesn't have to happen again", she told him, getting her shoes on.

"Oh please! Like you didn't enjoy that", he rolled his eyes and got his jacket on," Even you're not that big of a liar..."

"Regardless if I liked it or not, it's not going to happen again", she told him walking out the door.

"Why not!" he yelled after her and shut the door.

Katara sighed, but kept walking," How many times are we going to discuss this? I feel like we've been saying the same things for the past day! I can't get hurt by you again. It's one thing allowing you to live with me, it's another thing to let you in my heart again."

He sighed and held her hand. She looked at him weirdly," Oh please Katara. It's just a hand. At least let allow me this much."

She rolled her eyes at him being so dramatic, but allowed it. She instinctively gripped his hand tighter without even meaning to.

"Daddy! Mommy!" they heard Haku yell and saw him running towards them. Katara smiled when Zuko bent down and picked up Haku in his arms.

"Look what I drawed in class", he showed them a picture.

"It's drew Haku", Zuko corrected," You say 'look what I drew in class.'"

Haku nodded," Sorry. Look what I drew in class."

Katara smiled at her son using the proper grammar and took the paper from him. She smiled at the photo of stick figures.

"That's you mommy. I am there and there's daddy", Haku pointed out the stick figures. Katara looked at Zuko who had to hide the tears he had in his eyes. Katara knew this was an important moment for him.

Katara was the first one this time to hold Zuko's hand as they walked home. Zuko tried to remember Katara's words when she said don't read to much into the things I say and do, but he couldn't help but feel this was a big thing. He squeezed her hand and saw her smile from the corner of his eye and held Haku on his shoulders.

At first Katara was nervous about having Haku up so high, but she relaxed more when she saw how happy Haku was.

"Did Uncle Sokka already visit?" Haku said when they got closer to their house. Zuko frowned and Katara sighed," Yeah baby. He had to leave with Uncle Aang and Aunt Suki."

"Uncle Aang?" Zuko quirked an eyebrow at Katara," Seriously?"

Katara shrugged," Well what else would he be called?"

"Katara, the guy was trying to be Haku's father. I don't think 'uncle' is the best name", Zuko laughed.

"Who's going to be my dad? You're my daddy, right?" Haku hugged Zuko's head. Zuko smiled and looked up at Haku," Of course I am bud. Forever."

Haku smiled and pulled Zuko's hair a little," Ow...!"

"Haku, we've talked about the hair pulling", Katara helped Zuko out by pulling his hair out of Haku's hands.

They got into the yard and Zuko put Haku down," So what happens now?"

"Anything you want Zuko", Katara laughed," We don't plan things. We just go with the flow."

"The flow? Katara, us two gentlemen are firebenders. We don't flow", he smirked and Katara stuck her tongue out.

"Mind if I show Haku some firebending her could manage?" Zuko asked Katara who smiled," Zuko he's your child too. If you want some responsibility you decide. Just be careful with him. You can decide what he does too now. You're raising him too."

Zuko smiled as Katara went inside to grab her knitting supplies and came back outside to knit on her porch swing.

"Alright Haku", Zuko smiled at his son," I'm going to teach you some firebending."

"Really?" he jumped up and down smiling.

"Of course! If you're going to be the best firebender in the world, we gotta start practicing now", Zuko smiled," Over the years, you will learn and I will be by your side the whole time coaching you."

Katara smiled at Zuko planning to be in Haku's future, teaching him to be a great firebender. She knew Zuko was considered one of the best firebenders in his nation before he was banished. She trusted Haku in his hands.

"Alright Haku", he told his son," Stand right in front of me, hands at your side. Stand up straight."

Haku did as he was told, but within seconds he was squirming.

"I said stand there. Don't move", Zuko pointed at Haku and Haku stood still, for only about a minute. He began to fidget and squirm again.

"Haku, I told you to stand still!" Zuko yelled at him and pointed his finger at Haku. Haku's eyes widened and his bottom lip stuck out, but he remained still.

"Was that needed?" Katara put her stuff down and walked towards them," Zuko, that was rude!"

"Katara, that's how firebending is taught. I don't think you understand", Zuko told her and placed his hands on his hips," This is how I was taught by my father."

"Yeah, and look at him!" Katara yelled," Do you really want to be him?"

"I'm not him, but Katara, regardless if I was taught by him or another master, this is how firebending is taught", he told her," Firebending is about discipline. Fire is not something to joke about Katara. It's dangerous. If it's not controlled it can harm and devastate. You know that more than anyone."

Katara took a deep breath and nodded. She didn't like her son being yelled at, but she knew Zuko knew what he was doing. He was right. Fire was more harmful than water and without Haku being taught how to control it, it could get out of control. She wasn't able to teach Haku how to handle it, so she was happy Zuko was here, regardless of how strict he was.

"Fine", Katara said quietly," Just don't hurt him..."

Zuko nodded and turned back to Haku who was actually standing still, but he had a sad look in his eyes.

"Haku", Zuko bent in front of him," I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, but firebending isn't a joking matter. Can you understand that?"

Haku nodded and bit his lip," Yesth daddy."

Haku sniffled and Zuko hugged him," Don't you want to be a great firebender?"

"Yes!" he answered, wiping his nose on his sleeve.

"Then you need to listen and trust me Haku and know that what I teach you, I do it with love. Okay?" Zuko told him slowly so he understood. He wasn't going to be like his father and how he taught him. His father burned him and yelled at him. True, it made Zuko into a great firebender, one of the best his nation had seen, but it came with a cost. The cost of a father and son. He wasn't going to do that to Haku.

"Alright Haku. I want you to stand there. Hands in a fist at your side, chin up, eyes forward. I want you to stay like that until I tell you to stop. Okay?" Zuko told him. Haku nodded and stayed put. He didn't want Zuko to yell at him again. Zuko walked away and back up to Katara.

"Zuko, how long are you going to keep him like that?" Katara asked and looked at Haku with worry.

"Only about 10 more minutes", Zuko sat down next to her and draped an arm around her," I'm not only teaching him discipline and how to listen, but I'm also solving the problem with him not sitting still in class."

Katara smiled at Zuko and was happy he remembered what Haku's teacher had told them to work with Haku on. Katara leaned slightly into Zuko's arm and was happy he was actually making an effort.

So there it is! Review please :)

Aipom4: Thank you so much! And thank you for being the very first reviewer. Love you!

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stordec23: Thank you! I'm so glad you're reading this one too. You are one of the reviewers I actually recognize from FFA :) Love ya.

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LoveTearsLies: It's rate M for language and later content. I like my stories to get pretty physical so just be patient :) It will get Rated M later!