AN: This is just a little Oneshot where Zuko and Katara confide in each other after the events of the Southern Raiders. I always felt like there was more to be said between the two, so this is what I believe could've happened after. Not sure if I'll continue this and turn it into a full-length story. If that's what you all want, let me know in the Reviews.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Forgiveness and Closure

Katara took a deep breath as she walked out of her tent, inhaling the lushful scent of the trees around their campsite and the cinders from the fire they had lit during dinner. She halted her steps when she saw someone sitting in front of her tent. "Zuko?"

The firebender was sitting on a rock, his head lowered to the ground.

Katara covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. She knelt in front of the half-asleep firebender and shook his shoulder lightly. "Zuko."

Said boy threw his head up, eyes wide in bewilderment, which later relaxed. "Oh, it's just you, Katara."

"I'm sorry if I woke you up. I just needed some fresh air."

Zuko waved off her apology. "It's fine. I was gonna wait out here until the chance arose to speak with you."

Katara felt her heart skip a beat, but managed to keep a calm exterior. "What did you want to talk about?"

Zuko looked around their campsite cautiously, before looking back up to Katara. "Would you mind going somewhere… less crowded?"

Katara didn't know if the moonlight was deceiving her, or if her eyes were just playing tricks on her, but she could've sworn the faintest tinge of pink was coloring Zuko's cheeks. She tried not to gasp when she felt her own cheeks heating up. "Let's go. I know a good spot."

Katara led Zuko to the edge of a cliff that overlooked the roaring waves of the sea. It was completely widespread, with not a single tree to obscure the beautiful view in front of them.

"Wait," Zuko started. "This is where—"

"You tried to understand why I hadn't forgiven you yet, and I threw my frustrations at you," Katara finished, voice low as she recalled the moment, which was only a few days ago.

"You don't have to feel bad. I deserved it…" Zuko's voice was laced with guilt.

Katara turned around to see that his head was lowered in shame. "Zuko, I forgave you. There's no need to keep beating yourself up over your past mistakes."

Zuko's head snapped up, amber eyes narrowed. "But you were the one I hurt the most. I didn't just chase you all over the world. I stole your necklace, used you as a hostage to catch Aang, I…" His head lowered somberly. "I broke your trust back in Ba Sing Se."

"Zuko, I forgive you for that," Katara said sincerely, taking a step closer to him.

"I know, I just…" Zuko faltered, sighing in frustration.

Katara offered a small smile, hoping to make Zuko a bit more comfortable so he could finish what he was trying to say.

"All I did was help you find your mother's killer, who turned out to be a pitiful, empty old geezer. How is that enough for you?" Zuko's eyes held the same amount of desperation as his voice.

Katara smiled genuinely. "Zuko, you've done more than enough. Not just for me, but for all of us."

"I know I helped Aang learn the true essence of firebending alongside me, and I helped Sokka bust your dad out of the most secure prison in the Fire Nation, but I…" Zuko lowered his head. "I couldn't do much for you." He took a step closer to Katara. "You're still hurt, aren't you?" His voice was now a hushed whisper.

"I…" Katara lowered her head, turning her back to Zuko. She was hoping he wouldn't notice how hurt she still was. "Yeah, it still hurts, knowing that my mother had to die to such a pathetic monster." She felt her throat constricting, making it difficult to continue speaking, but she willed herself not to cry. She knew how prideful Zuko was and didn't want him to judge her.

"Why didn't you do it?"

Katara looked into Zuko's pleading eyes. "Huh?"

"Why didn't you kill him?" Zuko clarified. "If it were me, I'd have killed him without any regret."

"Just say it already," Katara snapped.

"Say what?"

"You think I'm weak because I didn't kill him, don't you?"

When Zuko's mouth opened, Katara braced herself for whatever insult he was bound to shoot at her.

But it never came.

"No, I meant, how did you have the strength to not kill him? Why did you do something so good for someone who didn't deserve it?"

Katara was caught off guard by Zuko's compliments. She was expecting him to insult her, to call her weak, a coward, or say how she wasn't strong enough to avenge her mother. But here he was, telling her that she was strong, that what she did—or what she refused to do—was a good thing. She remembered when he told her that he was going to stay out until he could speak with her, and she doubted he wanted to speak with her just to insult her.

She turned around when she felt her vision getting blurry. "I wanted to kill him, you know." She tried to keep her voice steady. "It's all I wanted. I just wanted to see that monster out of this world." It took a great effort to close her eyes, which felt like they were being weighed down by some unknown resistance. "But I just couldn't do it. And a part of me feels like I didn't avenge my mother." Katara allowed a tear to fall silently.

"Maybe she didn't want you to avenge her." There was a slight note of caution in Zuko's tone.

Katara felt like lashing out. What did a banished prince know what her mother wanted? She recalled him telling her about how his mother suddenly disappeared, and for all he knew, she might've been gone forever, and decided to let Zuko finish speaking.

"Maybe… she wanted you to save the world from the evil that killed her."

Katara looked up at the moon, which illuminated the sea and the grassy field in a shimmering white light. She was certain the moonlight just made her tears all the more noticeable, so she refused to turn around, but the next word out of Zuko's mouth changed that.

"Katara."

It was just one word.

It was spoken with such softness, it sounded like a completely different person uttered it. It sounded like someone who was trying to understand and confide in her whispered her name.

Zuko held a concerned expression. "You're crying."

Katara wiped her tears with a smile. "I'm fine, Zuko."

Zuko just took a step closer to Katara.

"I'm fine," she repeated. "I'm… fine." More tears began to fall down her cheeks. "I'm… I just miss her." She was sobbing now, but she didn't care. She now knew Zuko wasn't here to judge her, so she just let everything out. "I just want to see her again. Why did she have to die? What did she do to be taken out of this world? To be taken from me?"

Zuko's eyes never left hers when he spoke. "She didn't deserve it. She was a casualty in a meaningless war. I'm… sorry, Katara. If I could bring her back, I would."

Katara fell to her knees, her sobs now escaping her mouth in forceful chokes, as if her throat was being constricted by a vine. "I'm sorry… for demanding that… of you… You didn't… deserve that."

"You don't need to apologize for the way you've treated me since I joined you guys," Zuko said. "If it's any consolation, I deserved it."

Katara tried to stifle her sniffling. "I know there's nothing… I can do… to bring her back…" She wiped her tears, but they just continued to flow down her cheeks like a waterfall. "But even though I know that… why does it hurt so much?"

Zuko's sympathetic expression was blurred through Katara's tears, but she still caught sight of it.

"What am I supposed to do now?! Tell me, Mom!" Katara's cries echoed over the cliff's edge. All she could do was cry and pray that her mother would come back to her. But she knew she was never coming back. She knew that since she was a child, yet never bothered to accept it then. And now here she was, letting out all the anger and sadness and pain. "I just… want you… to be here… with me…"

"Katara…" Zuko said slowly. "All we can do is hold on to the memories we still have left… And step forward in a way that would make her proud." The usual determination wasn't in his voice. Instead, it was soft and even more raspy, almost as if he was on the verge of tears.

"...Make Mom proud…" Right after those words left her mouth, memories of her mother flooded Katara's mind. She remembered her warm embrace, her soothing words of encouragement and wisdom. How protective and brave she was. When she was gifted with her mother's necklace… Katara's hand instinctively touched the Water Tribe pendant around her neck. "Mom… I'm so lost without you…"

"You're not lost, Katara." Zuko's voice was steady and more clear.

Katara looked up to meet his gaze, then lowered it when he knelt so he was now eye level with her.

"You're not lost," he repeated. "You've accomplished so much. You're a master waterbender and healer and you've helped so many people. You're probably the strongest, firm-minded, amazing girl that I know."

The heat that climbed Katara's cheeks felt just as intense as the heat radiating off of Zuko's. They were both staring at the dark blades of grass, embarrassed.

"Thank you, Zuko," Katara managed to say.

"You're wel—"

But before Zuko could finish, Katara wrapped her arms around him in a gentle embrace.

"Thank you," she said again. "I really needed this."

Zuko, who hadn't even made a move to return the embrace, just stared blankly in front of him.

Katara pulled him closer to her, hoping to make him somewhat comfortable.

"Katara…" A few seconds after saying her name, Zuko returned the embrace, which was gentle, almost hesitant, as if he felt like he would hurt Katara with the slightest touch. "I'm sorry."

"You don't need to feel sorry for anything," Katara reassured him. "I already forgave you." She paused when she felt something wet drip onto her neck and pulled out of their embrace, only to see that tears were falling down Zuko's face silently. "Zuko… Why are you crying?"

"It's just… It hurt after my mother left, and I thought I could live with the fact that she might not be here anymore. But now that I know that there's a slight possibility that she's alive…" Zuko took a deep breath before continuing. "It hurts even more."

He suddenly lurched forward, letting out a muffled cry, but Katara caught him in yet another embrace.

"I'm sorry about your mother," she said sympathetically. "I'm certain she was a kind and strong woman."

The corners of Zuko's lips twitched upward just slightly. "She was."

The two stayed silent for a few moments.

"I've been thinking about her a lot back when I was alone in the Earth Kingdom," Zuko suddenly mentioned, but he never let go of Katara.

"I think that's what she'd want you to do. Just remember all the good she's done for you, and make her proud."

"I know, and I think I'm moving in the right direction… but I just really miss her." Zuko's tears started flowing freely and he was now sniffling, but Katara didn't know if he was trying to hold in his cries or not.

Katara snaked her hand up to the back of his head and pressed it firmly in the crook of her neck, remaining silent and letting Zuko cry.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Katara whispered. "I'll help you find her again."

Zuko suddenly pulled away from her, teary eyes widened in astonishment. "What?"

Katara smiled warmly. "I'll help you find your mother."

"You don't have to. And I don't even know where she is."

"Again, I'll help you." Katara's voice was firm. Her hand was now gently resting on his scar, which caused the both of them to blush. "Zuko."

He was forced to look into her eyes.

"I know your mother would be proud of you."

Zuko closed his eyes, letting out a shaky breath. "But I've made so many mistakes. I tried to capture the world's last hope for peace. I hurt people. I hurt you. I hurt… Uncle…" He bowed his head in shame.

"But you regret everything you did, right?"

Zuko nodded. "More than anything."

"Then your mother would be proud to see the man you've grown into. I know I'm proud of you." Without even thinking, she began to lean closer to Zuko.

Zuko just stared at Katara with wide eyes, not even blinking as the gap between them closed by the second, then took Katara's hand in his right before her lips could touch his. "We can't do this."

Katara looked away shamefully. "...I know."

"It's just that we're still in a war and Sozin's Comet is only days away. We can't afford to get distracted."

Katara gasped. She assumed Zuko only dismissed her advances because he wasn't interested. But he explained that they were still in a war and didn't have time to worry about other matters. Did he also feel a connection back in Ba Sing Se?

Zuko took her hand in both of his, grabbing her attention. "But, I'd at least like to tell you this one truth."

Katara's heart began to beat faster in anticipation. "What is it?"

"I…" The heat radiating from Zuko's cheeks was as hot as the fire he bent.

"You can tell me."

Taking a deep breath, Zuko proclaimed in a clear and steady voice, " I love you, Katara."

The night was silent and still, the only hint of life was the waves that crashed against the cliff.

Katara was now gaping at him like a slack-jawed idiot. Never would she have imagined that the banished prince of the Fire Nation, her sworn enemy, would have feelings for her, a "Water Tribe peasant" in his eyes.

"You don't have to say anything. I understand that you're still learning to trust me and there's still so much I need to do to repay you. All of you." After not getting a response, he stood straight with a heavy sigh.

"Wait!" Katara suddenly cried, latching onto his wrist, which caused him to look down at her curiously. "I still… have a lot to think about… but… please just stay here with me for the night, okay?"

Zuko just stared at her blankly, as if he didn't understand what she requested, then he smiled. "Of course I will."

Before either of them could do anything, Appa walked up to them and let out a deep, hearty chuckle, then laid down, as if he was inviting the teens to stay with him for the night.

Katara snaked her hand into Zuko's and smiled up at him.

He returned the gesture and they both laid on one of Appa's arms, his thick, white fur providing all the warmth they needed.

"Katara."

"Hm?" she hummed, fighting off the torrent of exhaustion that suddenly hit her.

"Thank you for forgiving me and for staying with me now."

"You're welcome." Katara continued to stare into his amber eyes, which eventually closed fully, and all she could hear was Zuko's steady breathing as he now slept.

Her gaze fixated on his scar and she was brought back to when they confided in each other back in the crystal catacombs of Ba Sing Se.

Her eyes softened as she paid attention to every detail about Zuko. His soft, rhythmic breathing as he slept, the angry scowl he always held, and the burnt flesh on his left eye.

She remembered when she offered to heal his scar, but he ended up betraying her. She never told anyone, but that broke her. She truly believed that Zuko wanted to change back then.

She remembered how comforting it was to share their trauma, even though they were still enemies. And she even found herself attracted to the banished prince once she was able to see him as a normal person. Even after he betrayed her, she never quite got over those feelings. She just forgot about them.

And now they were resurfacing again, and to her surprise, she didn't mind it. Ever since Zuko joined up with them, she couldn't get him out of her mind, but that was only because of how much she hated him. But now she was thinking of him! And she wasn't sure if she wanted to stop.

Her gaze trailed down to his lips, before she closed her eyes and softly whispered to herself, "I love you, Zuko."

AN: I hope you all enjoyed this little Oneshot! I had a lot of fun writing this. I kind of want to continue this, but am not entirely sure yet. I've always wanted to write a full-length Zutara fic, but I'm not sure if I want the setting to be after Sozin's Comet, during Crossroads of Destiny, or at some other point during Book 2. If you all want a full-length Zutara story, let me know which setting you prefer, and maybe even shoot some ideas. I'm more than happy to hear what you all have to say!

I know, there wasn't much Zutara romance in this. I wanted to make it work, believe me. I'm a sucker for anything Zutara. But it would've been way too fast for anything more to happen.

I'd also like to credit yumedarling for their amazing Zutara tumblr posts. They're what inspired me to write this after putting it off for so many years.

Thank you all for reading and have a blessed day!