Author's Note: I apologize for the delay. I did not update this weekend because it was a holiday weekend and I was with my family.

Chapter 28:

"Aang leaked the tape Katara. I wouldn't blame him considering he's obsessed with you. He was trying to catch me in a compromising situation but didn't get what he expected, obviously."

"I can't believe this!"

"You seriously can't believe it after I have been warning you for the past couple months that he isn't to be trusted. How oblivious could you be right now? I am giving you proof that the guy is no good and you can't believe it! What's next Katara he'll show up at the baby shower begging you to go back with him and you accept?"

"I want to hear it from his mouth before I make any judgements and especially before I move out of my apartment. Aang isn't invited to the baby shower anyway. It's family thing."

Zuko fidgeted with his hands a bit, "See about that, I invited Maya and Mai."

"Well why would you do that Zuko? It's a celebration for my niece or nephew, not an arena for cameras."

"I don't know. I just wasn't thinking. I'll take the invitation back. I didn't know."

Katara snapped, "You didn't know that your family isn't invited to MY family's functions. You can't buy my brother a crib. You can't invite your family to my events and you certainly can't just intrude upon my personal life."

"Intrude upon your personal life? You do realize we signed a contract to be as personal as possible in public? If you didn't want things getting personal you shouldn't have asked to use my home as a venue. Excuse me for trying to do something nice. Isn't that what friends do?"

"We aren't… Never mind. Just stay out of my personal life, okay?"

"Sure Katara, I'll only enter your personal life when it's convenient for you. You can make it personal when you need to use my home for an event or use my money to buy baby shower supplies or if you want every lavished designer gown or pair of shoes you see. I get it."

"What is your problem?"

"Oh I don't know. I find it hard to keep things not personal when we had sex, something we both seem to be avoiding talking about since it happened. I don't seem to have a problem. I always have your best interest. You seem to be the one with problem when you don't get what you want. Ever since this publicity you have turned into a selfish, pampered little princess. All you do is complain about how hard things are for you and blame me for everything. Even when I try to help you and tell you that Aang is the mastermind behind all of this you get angry at me when I have done nothing but be nice to you. You seem to only care about me when things are going well for you. Who are you really upset with?"

"I signed a contract. You of all people should know in a business contract it's important to separate business from pleasure separate. I'm not obligated to be nice to you and neither are you."

"It would be nice if you were just an investor or a business partner but we had sex and you act like everything between us has been strictly platonic still. The mere mention of anything involving personal things like your family or Aang you shut down. Before that night you were always open. Don't you think we should talk about it at least? I wouldn't be a good business man if I didn't make it my business to invest time into my partner, if you really want to keep this business charade up."

"If you kept your distance from my family and my relationship I'd be fine. And there's nothing to talk about as far as us having…doing what we did."

"Sex," Zuko exclaimed, "Sex. Sex. Sex. Say it Katara. We had sex. You aren't even comfortable admitting it so there's obviously something to discuss."

"Sorry, I'm not as sexually open as the guy who has a body count in the triple digits!"

"Low blow. That actually would've hurt if I haven't received the man whore criticism a thousand times before. My past aside that doesn't change the fact that it happened. It would do us both good if we had an adult conversation."

"Well I don't want to talk about it, Zuko."

"You keep avoiding the large elephant in the room. If you regret it that's fine, just tell me that. It'll be better to get off your chest. Still, I get it. You cheated on your boyfriend. I knew you were with him and I honestly didn't care. I shouldn't have put you in that situation or at the least I shouldn't have purposely tempted you. Your anger is still misdirected, Katara. You can't blame me for anything but offering the poison apple. You came to my room willingly that night. I didn't make you do anything you didn't want to do."

"Stop! I'm leaving. I don't want to talk about it. Forget it happened. It's not like it was that good anyway. I'm NOT moving in with you and I never will. Don't invite anyone to the baby shower again. Don't buy gifts. Don't worry about Aang. Just. Don't. This is hard enough."

"I LOVE how you think you're the only one with issues. My sister is in the hospital for an overdose due to your ex-boyfriend, Jet and I found out she was raped. I have to prep for court soon to try and win custody of my child, who I see once every two weeks. I have to manage this charade with you and it's really exhausting. I think all of the money I'm paying you is turning you into someone neither of us likes so I think you should go. June will contact you when we need to make an appearance."

"Fine."

~/~

Mai Stone was wearing all black today. Not because it flattered her figure, but because today she was mourning her friendship. Azula, one of her best friends, was in the hospital today. She had hit rock bottom all alone and Mai couldn't bear to imagine her once strong friend like this. Mai walked into the hospital room, which was full of cold air, and grimaced. Azula was thinner than usual and she didn't look her perfect put together self. Who could look stylish in a hospital gown? If anyone could it would be Azula. She was off her game.

"Azula," Mai murmured as she shut the room door behind her.

Azula was shaking profusely. She couldn't even sit up without rocking back and forth. Mai walked over and sat near Azula, who was in obvious discomfort. The door came open and a nurse filed in. She put something in her IV and then left as soon as she came. Within a few minutes Azula was completely calm. Azula laid flat on the bed now and stared at the ceiling.

"I don't want you seeing me like this. Why did you come? Done being a traitor."

"I know we haven't talked in a while but I still care about you Azula. We were best friends. Of course I would come visit you."

"Pst, did my brother tell you I was here? He probably gloated and relished in my defeat."

Mai eyed Azula's hair, which was all over her head, "He loves you. He's worried about you. I decided to come on my own, Azula. Let me braid your hair. It's all over the place right now."

Azula sat up and turned her back to Mai. Mai grabbed a section of hair and started to form the braid.

Mai smiled, "Remember when we used to have sleepovers and braid each other's hair."

"I remember you sneaking off and spending the night with my brother."

"I guess I deserve this. I wasn't there for you when you might have needed me. Just because Zuko and I had our issues it shouldn't have affected our friendship. I'm sorry."

Mai finished the braid and let it fall down Azula's back. Azula was quick to lay back down. She must have been in pain.

"You should've been loyal to me before you loved him. Look at where you are now. Unmarried with a baby, alone, and desperate. I could've told you money can't make you happy, especially if it's someone else's money."

"I'm here now aren't I? I know my relationship with Zuko lead for our friendship to fall on the back burner. And I'm not desperate. I've been trying to get over Zuko. It's just been hard. How can still love someone that's hurt you so badly?"

"When you find that answer you tell me," Azula flipped over on her side, "You look good you know. After the baby. I was sure you would've blown up like a pufferfish by now."

"Thanks. The gym helps a lot. Having a child that is allergic to gluten also helps. Carbs are the devil."

"How is she? Your child, I mean."

"She's great. She's so much like Zuko it's ridiculous. She's in ballet now and makes straight A's. She's a perfect outcome to a bad situation. I'm sorry I haven't brought her around you all. It's just Zuko told me all about Ozai's abuse and I know you have been drinking. I just didn't want to risk anything with Maya."

"I'm fine. You think I'm pathetic. I don't want your pity, Mai."

"You aren't fine. You haven't been for a long time. Don't you want to know your niece, Azula? If you get help and get sober I'll let you see her. She wants to get to know her dad's side of the family. If you don't want to be clean for her, be clean for yourself. You are better than your addiction."

"Fine."

"Zuko's trying to get custody of her. I'm so angry at him I could kill him, but I want to try to be civil. Maybe if he sees I'm trying he won't take her away from me."

"Are you stupid? In a war no one is going to consider the fact that you were nice before they slit your throat. You destroy his existence before he even thinks of doing battle with you again. Don't give him the control and don't let him take your power away. Really Mai? I thought I taught you better. Being a mother has made you soft."

"Same old Azula."

"Have you met his new woman? She's as clueless as him."

"I have met her unfortunately. I don't trust her. I wish he'd drop her and come be a family with me."

"You're delusional. He bought her a one of kind pink diamond ring."

"Wait, is it massive with a diamond band?"

"Yea. It's pretty distinct. It's all over Instagram."

Mai pulled out her phone and pulled up a picture of Katara's ring, "Oh that little bitch!"

"Well, time for you to go. You're ruining my mood and sucking up my air."

~/~

Katara arrived home an hour later. She needed to decompress because right now she was fuming. She was so angry at Zuko for being the one angry at her. She just didn't want to talk about the sex. She didn't even want to think about it. She parked in front of her apartment building and noticed a certain bald man standing in front of her building. She sighed in annoyance. She couldn't get a break from the drama for just an hour. She dragged her feet as she got out of her car. She wished she was invisible at the moment so he wouldn't see her and she could scream in peace.

"Katara, I need to talk to you."

"I don't want to talk to you right now Aang. Please leave."

"What's wrong Katara?"

''Could you just leave me alone? Don't you get it? We are over. I want nothing to do with you. I don't want to see you again."

"Can you at least let me explain my side?"

"There is no side Aang! You leaked the tape. That's all I need to know!"

"You have to let me explain! I wasn't working alone and I just knew he was going to do something at the party. I wasn't going to leak it, I swear but Jet he made me do it. "

"What is this? Scott Pilgrim vs the World? What is it with my exes battling Zuko? You've been working Jet this entire time! Leave me alone Aang."

"I'm not going to stop until you listen to me! Jet has something big planned!"

"Well you keep trying. I don't want to hear anything you say!"

Katara slammed the door in his place and went to her apartment. She curled into bed and cried her eyes out until she fell asleep.

Author's Note: What do you guys think?