The fresh, cool tide lapped at Katara's feet, circling her as she sat, knees raised to her chest, on the warm sands. The salty water seeped slowly up the fabric of her powder blue robes where they met the shore. With a steady clench and release of her right hand, she drew the water in and out, as she stared blankly at the tiny waves that crashed upon her tanned feet.

'Katara?' Katara made no movement, but her brow furrowed in annoyance, she did not want to be found.

'Hey!' The voice rang out again. She knew it was Zuko. She ignored the leap in her chest, and swallowed hard. Why does this have to be so difficult?

Zuko ran clumsily over the hot white sands, losing his footing time to time in the loose dunes. He still wore his training robes; baggy, loose fitted black pants and a red upper robe, detailed ornately with golden trims and embroidery. A thick black sash tied about his muscular waist. The top knot that once gathered his black mane now disappeared, his raven hair falling about his face as his ran.

'What's wrong Katara? All the time you say your fine! And then you disappear!' There was a snap of anger and annoyance to his voice. Katara's fist clenched tighter as the tide roared passed her, lapping around her body before ebbing away again.

'It's him isn't it?' Zuko's voice relaxed, 'Katara…Aang's only here on official business. You don't have to…' His voice trailed off as the thought hit him, 'He's the avatar, what on earth so terrible could have happened between you two that you don't even want to see him?' He wasn't angry this time; his voice rang with concern as his eyes settled on the huddled water bender, sat soaked in the cold tide.

'It wasn't Aang….It was me.' Katara stopped her pull on the ocean and got to her feet. The wet fabric of her robes clung to the curves of her legs and thighs. She turned to face Zuko, her expression low and bitter.

'I as good as led him on… I mean-….After the war, after your coronation….I thought it was what I wanted, I thought he was what I wanted.' Zuko stepped towards her, gripping her forearms with his warm hands.

'I know water's your thing and all...' He smirked slightly as she shot a steely stare back up at him, 'But you must be freezing.' Katara glanced down at her bedraggled robes. Sighing a stifled smile before Zuko spoke again,

'Come on.' He pulled her gently, teasing her for the ocean to dry land. The night was just beginning, the sun low on the horizon, soon to be replaced by the soft glow of moonlight. The hairs on Katara's arms prickled up as the cool air rushed over her, although she knew Zuko had some play in this. His touch sent a waved of thrill through her, followed by that all too familiar guilt. Why was she here? She could have gone back home to the south-pole weeks ago, but something kept her here, in the fire nation, in the palace.

Zuko led them further onto the beach before settling cross legged on the still warm sands. Katara knelt beside him, as was tradition in the water tribe. Zuko lit a small fire in front of them, concentrating hard on controlling the blaze and not staring at the wet-through tribe's girl beside him. Katara knew she could just as easily bend the water straight from her clothing, but she was enjoying the moment between them, she watched as the hot flames curled from Zuko's palms and danced against the sands, entwining in each other and lapping at the night air.

'You know…you can stay here as long as you want….' Zuko didn't turn his head to address her, but continued his fixed gazed into the flames. 'It's been great having you around the palace…Since Mai left I-….' He didn't quite know how he intended to finish his thought, instead let it trail into the night.

'Do think I was mean…with Aang I mean…. I said he was like…my little brother.' Katara's eye's flicked down to her feet, shuffling in the sand. Zuko braced himself for her reaction to his next comment,

'He is.' He saw her head whip round to look out him; her eye's searching the scarred side of his face that faced her.

'We were all kids then. We were thrown into a situation well beyond our years, but at heart, we were kids Katara.' He turned his face to bare her full accusing stare, only to find that her eyes were soft and pensive, her breathing relaxed and slow.

'And kids sometimes make the wrong choice.' He smiled; his voice low and calm. 'Sometimes, we think we know what we want…. Because it's all we have known…. Or all we thought we knew.'

The two were now sat facing each other as the skies dimmed and the moon rose. The golden light of the fire flickered warmly across their skin, casting half of their faces into shadow.

'You've been listening to your uncle haven't you?' Katara grinned as his words sank in.

'He may have given a strikingly similar speech after Mai left.' Zuko smiled, reaching his hands out the run his fingers along her tanned, smooth arms. The damp, icy flesh tantalising his fingertips which glowed soothing warmth through her.

'I came here because this is where I feel the safest.'

'The beach?'

'No….' Katara smiled, 'To you… to the palace.'

Zuko took her hands in his and gently pulled her to her feet. They stood a while on the sand, hands still entwined, and taking in the cold night air.

'We should go back, you're frozen.' He cupped his hand around her face, which nuzzled cooly into his warm palm. Pulling his hand away from her face, and settling her own upon his waist, Katara leaned up on the balls of her feet. Their foreheads rested together for a moment, and Katara felt his warm hands caress around her tiny waist. She felt that familiar rush of energy coursing through her body as the moon raised high in the fire nation sky; her blues eye's flashed a silvery glimmer.

Neither was sure who moved first, or how they got to this, but they soon found their lips brushing against the others. The strange sensation of cool meeting hot, they lingered for a moment.

'Only if you want to….' Zuko whispered against her supple lips.

He thought he felt her head nod gently against his, before her lips were pressed to his. Katara's hand reached up around Zuko's neck, pulling him closer towards her. His own wrapped around her waist, drawing her navel into his. They fitted together perfectly, abdomens pressed seamlessly together, the way the swells of Katara's chest nuzzled up against his ribs, his hands resting perfectly in the hollow of the nape of her back.

'…inflation stands currently at double the last annual count.'

'It's still not enough, we will never meet the quota before the years up if it continues this way.'

'Then what do you suggest? The people can't pay any more when they have nothing left to pay!'

'We work off the debt, rebuild the structures damaged, re-farm the lands-'

'And what about our lands? Who will care for them?'

'Our nation is in debt to both the Earth Kingdom and the North and South Water tribe, for war damages that stretch back one hundred years! We need to be doing all that we can in any way we can! And count ourselves lucky that we are not be held to any financial costs for the destruction of the air temples and the entire air nomad culture!'

'Fire Lord Zuko, we need a solution.'

Zuko's mind was catapulted back into the room. He sat cross-legged on the dias, before him, seated at a low squared table, were three men. Master Jun, the royal financier, who reported all of the financial standings of the nation to the palace. He sat cross-legged on his satin cushion, dress sharply in black and red, his hair scraped tightly back into a small top knot which was secured with a tie of red silk. His face was thin and gaunt. The second, Master Lin-Teng, was the delegate for home land. He wore the same dominantly red robes. An elder man, his grey long hair half hung loose down his back, the top part tied neatly in a loose top knot. The third, Master Beau Sao, was the delegate for the colonies. He was the only man not to wear the traditional fire nation red. Instead he was adorned in Earth Kingdom green, his long tunic restricted him from the tradition cross-legged sit, and instead adopted a more Earth and Water descended kneel.

'We cannot survive as a nation if we do not all pay our part to restore what was damaged by fire nation forces during the years of the war.' Zuko looked sternly down at the three men. His posture was strong and upright, he commanded their attention.

'The Palace has paid above and beyond its part, any more and it is the humble staff who will pay the price. The loss of jobs and families income is not what I want to inflict on my people.' He braced himself for what he was about to announce.

'I notice… that the nobility of my nation are dragging their heels. The majority of the debt so far has been paid by the working classes of the nation. Why is the expense not being paid in proportion to the classes wealth?' His eyes narrowed at the three men, who eyes were all fixed on the ornate table before them.

Master Lin-Teng spoke first.

'Most Honourable Fire Lord Zuko. There would be a great amount of resilience towards the Palace, from the most powerful of the nation, should they be asked to pay any greater price than others.' Zuko was not satisfied.

'You think that we should not do what is only right, because of upsetting a few money grabbing nobels, who clearly have more selfish immoral conducts than respect for their nation?' Zuko's voice was angry, but controlled and firm.

'My Lord,' Master Beau Sao bowed low as he spoke. 'There has also been talk amongst the colonies, that it is not right that people who have lived away from the home land, instead in the Kingdom that has been devastated, and faced the hardship of criticism for their heritage, should be asked to pay as the people of the home land do.'

'It is a burden for all of us to bare Master Beau Sao, as a nation. The amount that we are in debt to will mean that people born long after the war ended, will be paying for the mistakes of their forefathers, whether they live in the colonies or the home land. It serves as a reminder of our great fall from true balance and peace. We are not only restoring the damages we made, but the bridge between our nation and the world. We must bare this burden equally, and be grateful that our fellow nations have been so kind and lenient.'

The three men fell silent. In the silence, Zuko's mind raced back to his wife. He recalled her words to him just a few days ago; don't let them dictate to you Zuko. You are a kind and honourable leader, but sometimes, you need to lay down your word… for the good of your nation.

'It will be enforced, that the richest of the nation will pay an increased share of the national debt, to suit the wealth of their house. The poorer families will pay only as much as they can afford whilst maintaining a reasonable standard of living. Let any man who argues this be sent to the Palace to speak his mind; he will be met with a strong resilience.' Zuko's voice echoed through the throne room.

'Master Jun, I will expect a report within the following month of the progress in both the home land and colonies.' Zuko rose from his dias, the three men scrambling to their feet in a hurried show of respect. Zuko did not wait for a reply, he strode passed the men at a quick pace, feeling all three pairs of eyes on him.