Zuko felt Katara stir slightly and shift so that her back was to him, still clinging to the arm that he'd wrapped around her shoulder. He moved his free arm and begun running his fingers through her think brown mane, untangling knots as he did so. Then he pulled her closer to him and buried his face in her silky hair. It was one of the things that he loved so much about her; women's hair in the Fire Nation was almost always black which gave their sharp facial features a threatening look. But not Katara's, when her brown wavy locks were down like this it gave her a warm welcoming air, especially when she smiled.

He had been seeing it more and more lately, that adorable upward turn of her lips. He closed his eyes and pictured the way her blue eyes would crinkle around the edges when she laughed, or the way her beautiful white teeth would contrast against her tanned skin. Her smile certainly couldn't compare to the tame, venomous, grin of Fire Nation women; nothing about her could.

Zuko leaned back and looked down at her, remembering how she'd looked at him across the fire. When he first noticed the fear and slight confusion on her face, he had grabbed his swords anticipating an attacker; only after that had he realized that she was looking at him. He didn't know what she was seeing, but it had clearly fled her sight as suddenly as it had appeared. He'd wondered what it was that had been bothering her, but she slept peacefully now, and that was all that mattered.

Katara shivered and he realized that the fire had died a while ago. Shifting his weight carefully, he moved his arm out from under her and stood quietly.

"Zuko?"

Zuko jumped at the voice and spun around with both of his flame-covered fists ready for attack, "Whose there?" He asked when he saw no one.

An older woman dressed in red stepped out of the shadows, "I believe you have my archer locked behind bars."

Nothing about her appearance gave the impression of being hostile other then the hood that hid her face, but he stood his ground and moved protectively in front of Katara none the less.

"Katara," he whispered harshly.

"Let the girl sleep, Zuko. I have no intentions of harming either of you," she chastised him before sitting in front of the ashes that use to be their fire. Their only light was the moon that shined through the leaves of the trees overhead and he felt extremely hesitant to put out his own light in case they were about to be ambushed.

The hooded women looked up at him, and waited a moment before speaking, "Zuko," she started gently, "I'm not here to hurt you, I'm here to help you understand why you are doing this."

"I know what I have to do," he growled.

"I didn't say 'what' I said 'why'. Anyone can understand what it is they're doing, but not many people understand why they are doing it. Armies march at Ozai's command and slaughter the masses; of course they know what they're doing, but how many, do you think, know why?" She said calmly. Zuko didn't know why, but he found the women's voice soothing and it seemed almost familiar to him. The way she spoke was warm and kind and he found himself slowly sitting across from her, never taking his eyes from her cloaked form.

"None who are willing to do anything about it," he answered after a few moments, "Have we met before?"

The women stiffed slightly, "We have more pressing matters, Zuko. I need you to tell me why you are doing this."

He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his crossed legs, "To set things right."

Before he'd even finished what he was saying she was shaking her head, "No that is what you will be doing. Everyone who plays a part in this has their own specific reason for why they must do this. I must know that you have a reason, Zuko."

"Why?" He asked with a suspicious tone in his voice, "Why do you need to know?"

"Because," she started gravely, "without true motivation, you will fail. What is your reason, Zuko? Why is this so important to you?"

"Because," he started, furrowing his brows in thought; he tossed a glance over his shoulder to check on his water bender when it hit him.

"I'm doing it for her," he said with resolution in his voice and determination in his eyes, "her life wasn't supposed to happen this way. She could be living a better life, one without all this war."

The women was silent for a while before she spoke again, but when she did she surprised him with what she said, "You're a good man, Zuko. I'm so proud of you."

Zuko leaned forward in an attempt to see under the hood but she tilted her head down, keeping it in the shadows. He was more sure now than ever that he knew this women, he just couldn't place her identity.

"I'm going to get more firewood. Are you gonna stick around or disappear?" He asked suddenly, standing to his feet.

She contemplated this for a few moments, "I can stay for a few minutes, but not long."

He nodded before walking into the shadows, he wanted to know who this woman was and he wasn't letting her leave until he had her name.

Katara's eyes snapped open and she sat up straight to see a cloaked figure sitting across the dead fire pit. She had her hand on the hilt of her dagger in less than a moment and she was about to jump up and place it against the forms throat when it spoke.

"I'm not going to hurt you."

It was a woman, an older woman. Katara couldn't see her face, but the gentle voice reminded her of her mother.

"Who are you?" She demanded, then noticing for the first time that Zuko was gone, "Where's Zuko?"

"I haven't harmed him. I-"

"Where is Zuko?!" She demanded, standing into a fighting stance.

"Katara, you're going to have to trust me when I say that I could never do anything to hurt Zuko."

She scoffed, "And why should I believe that?"

The women slowly pulled her hood away from her face, revealing a Fire Nation woman, a noble by the looks of it. Her eyes were sad, and their golden glint reminded her of someone else she knew. And then it hit her.

"Because I'm his mother."

Dun Dun Daaaaaaa!

Ok, so to be perfectly honest tardis-blue-jay inspired me to "pick up the pen again" (so to speak). Thank you so much for your review, it almost made me cry and made me smile bunches, I'm so glad that you are enjoying this story :)

CONTEST TIME!

Any ideas on were good ole mom has been this whole time? Leave your theories in a review and the winner will receive story promotions from me! I'll tell people to check out your stories in the next 3 chapters of each of my stories and help you bump up your followers! :)

P.S. I haven't read the search so don't just that plot cause it won't be the same. And if it is... that's just sad.

Love you guys so flipping much!

Kmsitterley