Hi everyone! I hope you've all being doing well! Here's the next chapter, & I'm so sorry it's taken so long. I just finished my freshman year of college, weeee!

please leave me a review when you're done letting me know how you liked it~

xo,

nightfall26

"Why do you want me come back with you, Zuko?" I asked, dreading the response he'd give me.

Because you're my best friend, Katara, why else? I imagined the worst. The pain was crushing me now, like a tidal wave. Struggling to breathe without bursting back into tears, I leaned on the windowsill. I listened to the sound of his breathing. Every intake of breath was a sign to me, a sign that he didn't love me, he didn't want me, that I was his friend and nothing more and never would be anything more.

He took a deep breath in, as if he was about to say something he knew would hurt me. The rasp of air was a stab to me. I pressed a hand to my chest as if it would stop the pain I was sure to receive.

I prepared myself.

"Because I love you, Katara."

Aang.

Today was a terrible day.

I hovered above the city, worry knotting my eyebrows together. Iroh had been scrambling about all morning trying to explain to the council why our Fire Lord was missing; personally, I would have liked to know myself. We were in dire need of a leader right about now, and I couldn't do the job for him. Neither could Iroh.

Not to mention Katara was missing. That was eating away at me like a disease. Had it somehow been my fault? Had I scared her away with all my talk of marriage and children and futures? I knew she was an adventurer, I'd always known that. But she'd spoken of wanting a family, too.

I sighed, shaking my head. I didn't know anymore. I was just about ready to give up on the entire female population, seeing as I couldn't understand any of them.

But the most worrisome part was what I was watching beneath me. People were running about, screaming, crying, trampling each other to get away from the spectacle behind me.

Which was, of course, an enormous explosion that had decimated one of the biggest buildings in the center of the Fire Nation's capital.

"Now I get to mop things up." I muttered, sighing even heavily than before. Of course, the civilians had reason to run and hide. Besides the building's explosion, several smaller terrorist attacks had occurred. In the main square, someone had ignited a huge column that sent smoke billowing high into the sky. Bombs had gone off underneath certain parts of the palace, and servants were running for shelter. Smoke, debris, and fire was everywhere, and everyone was doing exactly what they shouldn't be doing.

Panicking.

But then again, I was in a bit of a panic myself. Honestly, my chest was tight with fear and my palms were sweating. Honestly, all I wanted was Katara to wrap her arms around me and tell me it was all going to be okay. But I didn't have that luxury right now. I couldn't be afraid. I was facing down something that terrified everyone- and it was my job to stand up and face it.

Azula had returned.

three hours prior. Aang.

I was worrying myself sick.

I missed my friends, I missed the familiar faces of Toph and Sokka and Suki. Most days I went to bed clutching at pillows and remembering how it felt to lay beside a woman. Namely Katara. She had been my own personal paradise. Every stress or worry I could possibly have had disappeared as soon as she smiled at me- looked at me, even. Her fingers entwined with my own were warm, soothing, comforting, everything I could ever need.

"Everything is going to be just fine, Aang. I believe in you." Her voice rang in my ears continually. Sometimes it made me feel better to think about the memories we shared, sometimes it just hurt. Her timing was so strange, packing up and leaving the night after I had declared myself to her so fully. Then again, she had been acting off all day.

She sat on the edge of the balcony, her feet hanging over the edge and dangling in the air. She raked a hand through her wild hair.

"Do you think there are more places to see in this world that we haven't seen yet, Aang?" She spoke absentmindedly, playing with the ends of her curls. I shrugged.

"It's likely. Not that we're going traveling any time soon, it's so nice to be settled." I was busying myself with making plans, constantly making plans for me and Katara's future. Not only that, but the future of the Air Benders. I assumed that Katara would have no problems with helping me rebuild.

"I guess." She hoisted herself to her feet, brushing past me to walk coldly into the hall beyond. Dinner was odd that night. She'd picked at her food, her expression distant and off. Any conversation I attempted to make brought about vague, tired answers from my girlfriend. Katara didn't look up from her plate once.

The asparagus on my plate was a little overcooked. I frowned. Katara never let the asparagus get overcooked. She was a perfectionist when it came to cooking, she loved making food that made people happy. I loved seeing that proud way she presented her various foods from the places she'd been, the way she'd throw back her shoulders and grin as I took the first bite. She'd demand to know how it was at once, and I thought it was the cutest thing.

I could tell that she missed the Fire Nation, though. She missed her friends, and being around people at all. There she'd had an entire kitchen staff to assist with her mad scientist concoctions for meals, new recipes to try, and Fire Lord Zuko to impress.

Zuko. Fire Lord Zuko.

Selfishly, I was happy that she'd been separated from her 'best friend'. They'd spent just about every waking moment together, being secretive and dodging Mai's overseeing eye. Sometimes I felt like they were hiding something from the world. Some kind of deep, dark secret that neither of them admitted to anyone else. Katara, every so often, would confess to being sad and conflicted about the war. I'd brush off the statements she made with the promise of a brighter future.

But sometimes, the darkness in her words did nothing but confuse me.

Those were usually the times when she'd get up in a huff and go searching for Zuko. It was as if she couldn't talk to me anymore. That, or she didn't have the patience to.

I had decided that tonight was the night I was going to ask her. I'd been planning for months, and now, her tired state spurred me on. After all, it would be the perfect way to cheer her up.

So after I helped her clean up the dishes, I suggested a walk.

"Just around the top of the Air Temple. It's nice out tonight, I'd like to show you the stars." I smiled at her, my hand resting on her arm lightly. Katara's eyes flitted to my own briefly, and the sorrow within them distracted me for a moment.

"Sure, Aang. Just let me finish here." Her tone was so despondent and empty.

"No, no, don't worry about the kitchen. I'll get it later. Come on, live a little." I tried to joke with her, a grin cracking over my face. But she didn't respond. She nodded once, slowly, following me outside as if I were ordering her to do a chore.

"It's such a lovely night out." I stood still for a moment, feeling the breeze ruffle my clothing. I closed my eyes to enjoy it.

"Yeah." Katara's one-word response made the soft, cool breeze slightly less enjoyable for me, and so I grasped her hand gently to walk to the top of the temple. It was a pretty view of the stars from up there, and I had the betrothal necklace I'd fashioned her sitting heavily in my pocket.

We sat down on the cold stone together, quiet, the silence of the night making the silence between us that much more obvious. Usually she'd cuddle up closer to me, her head on my shoulder, smiling up at me. But tonight she held herself, arms wrapped around her legs and her head resting on her knees.

I was nervous now.

Weeks ago, I hadn't been, when I'd stolen her away from the Fire Nation and our romance had seemed to blossom beautifully. Katara had liked the animals that visited us in our new home, the nearby river, the forest that surrounded us. She'd liked the peace and quiet, and the way that we bonded.

But now, the rift between us was growing. As a last attempt to pull us back together, I turned to face her.

"Katara, I've loved you since the day I met you."

Did I imagine the sigh of dread escaping her lips?

"All I've wanted was for you to be by my side, every moment of every day. Make me the happiest man in the world and promise to stay?" I cupped the necklace in my palms, offering it to her. I felt so vulnerable in that moment of silence. So scared, like a baby lemur. I was trembling.

Her eyes were great pools of sorrow for a moment, staring into mine as if she were wronged in some way. But she reached for the necklace anyways, nodding to me, a small smile on her lips.

"Of course, Aang. Of course."

I tried to convince myself that the kisses that followed weren't half hearted. I tried.

But in the morning, when her side of the bed was made neatly and her things were gone, I allowed myself to feel the sorrow that had been reflected in her eyes that night. The necklace I'd so carefully crafted for her was laying forgotten on her pillow.

I'd spent that day searching for answers in all of our favorite places, the rocks by the river, the meadows by the edge of the forest, the trees hanging over the water. Those places caused me great pain and confusion.

But when I'd finally picked myself up off the ground and flown to the Fire Nation, something within me had cracked. I no longer was trying to enforce positivity on myself. I didn't try to smile, I didn't try to look at the bright side.

Instead, I allowed the grief to consume me.

mai.

I'd known Zuko hadn't loved me for so long. I'd known it. And yet, I'd still gone to his chambers, offering myself to him, giving him the luxury of a woman whenever he desired it. I rubbed my hands together sorrowfully. Had I been a fool? Had I just been giving myself to a man so devoured by grief that he no longer found joy in life itself? I sighed, massaging my temples.

That peasant girl, Katara, had she offered herself to him too?

I shook my head. Sad he might be, but Zuko was not a dishonorable man. When he gave his word, he kept it til the end. I drifted about the halls of the palace like a ghost, a bitter, ungrateful, exhausted ghost. I supposed I was waiting for him to tell me to leave at this point.

When he returned, would he have a new Fire Queen on his arm?

I shook my head yet again, trying to dislodge the dark thoughts from creeping into my head.

But even still, I couldn't help but want to lodge a stiletto in the Water Tribe girl's heart. She'd taken what had once been mine, and that was unforgivable.

I knew Azula had returned. I just hadn't decided whether or not I was going to join her.

But as my gaze hovered over a painting of Zuko with Aang and his other stupid little friends, bile rose in my throat. There was the Water Tribe girl, her hand on his arm protectively.

I pushed myself out of my chair. I couldn't stand by and watch filth like her take over my throne. It was rightfully mine- and I'd make it known.

Oh, I'd make it known, alright, by hanging her up by her pretty hair and having target practice with her.

Then, maybe Zuko would see what was right.

zuko.

I paused after saying the words, my eyes scanning her face, her delicate features. Those huge pools of endless blue were radiating with a happiness so tangible it was filling me with warmth. Her lips were curving upwards slowly, gently, pushing her quiet dimples into view.

"Zuko." My name sounded so lovely when she said it. I shivered a little.

"Katara." I answered, feeling her hands drift across my face and down my shoulders. We were smiling at each other now, eyes only for each other, the warmth growing between us.

"I love you." I'd only hoped to hear those words from her. I'd only imagined it, dreamt it, even. But hearing them from her in person, in real life, was so unimaginably, deliriously wonderful. It was as if I'd gone my whole life without really living; and only now, in this moment, was I truly alive.

"I love you, Katara." The words were a little choked, and she replied by easily looping her arms around my neck to embrace me. Slipping my arms around her waist, I lifted myself to my feet and held her to my chest as tightly as I could bear.

"I'm so thankful- Agni, so grateful- to have found you." I murmured against her hair, pressing my lips to her cheek. She pulled away a little to look at me. She was glowing. Literally, glowing. Her skin was bright with a happiness that couldn't be defined, her eyes shining like the light of a thousand suns. There was a poignant moment in which we stared endlessly at each other, growing closer with each passing moment until our lips met.

I hoisted her closer still, feeling the way that she wrapped herself tighter, the smoothness of her lips against mine and the steadily growing heat between us.

"I didn't think you'd feel this way." Katara whispered against my mouth, the words a tightly coiled fear emerging from the depths of her heart. I sensed the deep emotion within her.

"Katara, I've loved you since the moment you placed your hand on my scar and promised to help me." The words were urgent, as if I'd needed to say them for a long time. She smiled at me then, brushing her fingers over my hair.

"And I you. I was so confused, so lost as to why I couldn't look Aang in the eye any longer and declare my love to him. It felt so wrong, so morally wrong, and I couldn't explain why. So I ran. But this time apart gave me perception into what it was that I was missing in my life. I saw it everywhere- from tea shops to crowded marketplaces to my dreams. I saw you everywhere."

My heart was pounding in my chest, a constant reminder that this was now, this was real, and the girl in my arms was as in love with me as I was with her. It was almost as if I couldn't believe it.

My best friend, my sole confident, my favorite person in the world. Mine; not Aang's, mine.

"I'm never, ever letting you out of my sight again, Katara. You're safe with me." The words came between long, slow kisses that I dragged along the length of her throat and jaw bone.

"La, Zuko, I missed you." She slipped down to place her feet on the ground now, her arms tightening, our lips meeting, fingers scrabbling to find the lock on the door.

We found something in each other that night beyond definition. Peace, perhaps. I found myself in every curve of her body, in every tendril of loose hair that tangled between us. I found comfort and solace in her eyes, and love in the way her hands clasped mine.

There was an assurance that we had finally found the other half of ourselves that we had been searching for. It was hours before we slept, hours of talking and soft, loving kisses. It was something neither of us had felt before in our lives.

We were home.

I hope you all enjoyed that chapter!

Please review, I'd really like to hear everyone's opinions on this story! Thank ya'll so much for reading (:

much love,

nightfall26