Soooo I am feeling very nice and decided that, in addition to the chapter content I was planning for this chapter, I am going to fill in a blank spot, and that blank spot is:

Why did Zuko have to decided by that certain time? (btw that certain time is right now, same night as Katara's party)

P.S. Cookies to the first person to see the Disney Princess movie reference!

Enjoy! ;D

The festivities had died down quiet a bit. Families and elder citizens had turned in for the night, and now it was mostly just the young adults that remained in the square; but it was still a crowd. Zuko's mind had been buzzing since she'd kissed him. He recalled the pink stain on her tanned cheeks and the stutter of apologies that followed with a smile as he pushed his way through the people. He'd been sent to get drinks for their small group and he was now trying to get back to them, while ignoring the obvious flirting of girls he passed. There was only one girl on his mind right now.

"Come on, Z. You've got to make a choice," Zuko froze in his mid-step and turned to locate the voice. He saw that the conversation was being had by two girls, one was standing there with a pondering look on her face and the other was holding up two different pastries. The one who Zuko assumed was "Z" spotted him staring at them and smiled shyly; Zuko turned and continued searching through the crowd for his freinds, a bit more urgently then before.

How could I have forgotten? How?!

Zuko couldn't believe that he'd forgotten that tonight was the night he'd have to make clear his choice of loyalty. Complete his mission, or betray his country. Zuko scanned the rooftops for what he knew would soon be there if it wasn't already. And then he saw it, and it made his blood run cold.

On top of the city hall sat a Yu Yan archer, bow ready; And Zuko knew who their first target would be. Katara. Zuko dropped the tray of drinks and began running through the crowd screaming her name; he had to get to her, warn her to hide. He knew that he was receiving odd looks but he ignored it and continued scanning the crowd for her beautiful face.

Please, Tara. Please!

"Katara!" He yelled spinning on spot searching for her. Then he saw her face looking at him with a confused expression written on it, but she was too far away. He started pushing through the people, but it was then that he realized that he'd made a fatal mistake. The archer was looking for Katara, because she responded when he called her name, they would know who she was. He ran desperately now, but he knew he wouldn't be able to get her out in time. And there were to many people to risk using fire bending as a defense.

Zuko got an idea, one that he knew would risk his life; but he didn't care anymore. All he knew was that he needed to protect her. He blasted fire from his feet and used it to force himself into the air, as he flew people ducked and screamed but he locked his eyes on his water bender. He had almost reached her when he saw her turn her head sharply in the direction of the archer. Zuko heard it too. The snap of a bow string releasing. He put out his jetting fire just as he was in front of her, and he took the blow. The pain hit him and he felt it lodge between his ribs. He hit the ground hard and his head cracked against it. He reached to the location of the pain and felt the wooden shaft, coated in something warm. He didn't need to look to see that it was deep, too deep. The last thing he was aware of, was her scream.

"No!" She screamed when she saw it hit him, and she ran to his side. The tears instantly made their presence known when she saw the depth of the wound.

"Don't let them escape!" She subconsciously heard her brother shout, she was aware of her friends leaving her to chase the villain and she looked up to see people running and screaming in fear. It'd been a very long time since these people had actually felt the fear of being under attack, and it was taking it's toll. She grabbed the sleeve of a young man who was running past her and he looked down at her with terror in his gaze.

"Help me!" It wasn't an order, and she knew it didn't sound like one; it was a plea, "Please," he swallowed and reached down, looping one of Zuko's arms around his shoulder. Then, with Katara's help, they got him into a nearby building and laying on the families table. Two children peered from behind their mother's skirt as she stood in the doorway.

"That's the Fire Nation man, isn't it Miss?" Katara turned to see her looking at Zuko with the same fear she would have had when he arrived, but she wasn't angry with her question she felt compassion for her.

"Yas, Ma'am. And he just saved my life," the women looked at her in surprise before glancing back at the man on the table. Then, she put on a face of complete determination and pushed up the sleeves of her dress.

"Zuri, Jin-Lee, go down to the basement and stay quiet. I'm going to help Master Katara." Katara was surprised, but touched by the gesture.

"Thank you Ma'am," she said as the children scurried away. The women simply smiled at her and went to the water pump; after she washed her hands she joined Katara and her other recruit at the table. Although the women wasn't a healer Katara was astonished by how educated she was when it came to the wound.

"I'm going to pull it out on three, I need you two to hold him down in case he wakes," they both nodded in response Katara braced herself against his chest, stroking his head as she did so.

"This is going to hurt, Zuko. I need you to be brave for me," she whispered into his ear.

"One,"

"Thank you for saving me."

"Two,"

"I'm not even sure why you did it, but thank you."

"Three!"

Zuko sat up straight gasping for air as he felt a searing pain in his side. He lay back down panting and he realized how high his body temperature was. Normally, being a fire bender, he could control how hot he got; but now it was beyond his control. He looked around his dimly lit surroundings, not really taking in anything until his eyes rested on her face.

"Tara," he breathed, reaching up to touch her face. He wanted to make sure it was really her; she grabbed his hand in both of hers pressed it to her cheek.

"Zuko," she sobbed, and it was then that he noticed that her cheek was wet.

"Don't cry, Tara. I've been in worse scrapes then this, I can't think of any right now but," even as he said it he knew his words were choppy, he was having such a hard time breathing.

"Do me a favor and don't do that again," she said with a small smile, placing a hand on his face as he withdrew his own.

"No promises," he said smirking, this earned him a smile before the water bender turned to the women across the table.

"I think I can do it from here. Thank you so much for your help," Zuko could hear the gratitude in her voice and turned to the women as well.

"Thank you," he barely breathed before his vision began to fade again. He heard several footsteps leave the room and felt Katara move his hair back from his face.

"Hang in there, Zuko. I need you."

Yes, Zuko nearly died. Kill me if you must. But I had to do it in order for lots of things to happen so ssshhhhhhh

R-E-V-I-E-W!

You guys rock!

Kmsitterley