A/N:

I'm back. Two more parts after this!

Part 4:

Severing their topknot and phoenix plume, they were now fugitives. Iroh had seen it coming after it was known by Zhao that they were plotting against him and it was even more obvious to him with the arrival of Zuko's younger sister, Azula. The girl was as crazy as ever and she clearly had it out for Zuko specifically. He just hoped that they could maintain a distance from her until they reached Ba Seng Sei. A place of refuge where they could hide out from the Fire Nation. Zuko wasn't exactly in agreement but he knew he had no room to argue. They needed to go there and wait til Katara's plan could be executed as they now had no other choice but to allow her to carry out her plan since they were now the enemies of the Fire Nation.

"Nephew, get some rest. What are you doing?" Iroh asked him as he saw his nephew was writing something.

Zuko told his uncle he was just writing Katara to warn her of Azula. "No doubt, Azula is after more than just us if father sent her. She'll be after the Avatar too."

Iroh nods.

As Iroh and Zuko got up the next morning, wanding into a village nearby, Zuko sent the message off to Katara, warning her of Azula's arrival in the Earth Kingdom. However, before the letter could reach the Waterbender, it was intercepted and Azula smirked after reading it.

"So, my brother is truly a traitor." Azula tossed the scroll aside and Ty Lee took it to read with Mai.

Mai glared at the letter as Ty Lee balled it and tossed it in the trash.

"Even more, he's trying to warn his treacherous consort. They're in cahoots." Azula smirked as she looked to Mai. "He must truly love her."

"He does not! He's still stricken with guilt." Mai hissed.

Rolling her eyes, "Mai, accept it. I know my brother. He loves that little water slut. Everyone knew it years ago. Even my father know, which is why he told me to go after her as a fourth target. He wants Zuko's punishment to be true suffering."

Mai sucked her teeth, "This is all because of her! She's why Zuko has to suffer more than he has! I'll kill her!"

"Watch it, Mai." Ty Lee said as she walked on her hands beside her friend. "Azula needs to bring her back to Fire Lord Ozai alive."

Mai skulked off on the ship as Azula grinned to herself. She knew Mai was going to try and kill Katara for Zuko's sake. That's why she brought her. Katara was why her brother was disgraced. She deserved to die but Azula couldn't anger her father by killing the waterbender herself, so Mai would have to take the fall.

…..

The past several months had been quite the adventure if you asked Katara. They had been running all over the continent of the Earth Kingdom and came across many things while doing so. They met a friend named Toph, a blind earthbender that would be teaching Aang earthbending. Katara was happy to have another girl on the team but Toph was…a 'different' type of girl. Which was fine. She just wasn't how Katara expected.

In their travels, there was much laughter and arguing. But at the moment, there was much screaming. They were being chased by their newest foe. Azula and her friends.

"Who are these crazy bitches?!" Toph spouted as she erected a wall from the ground to block a wave of fire directed at her and Aang.

Aang clenched his teeth as he blew out the fire with his airbending, "Katara says she's the princess of the Fire Nation and the other girls are her friends."

"How does she know the Fire Princess?" Toph was confused.

"Ask her later! Let's focus! She's about to strike with another attack!" Aang said as Toph stumped a boulder up out of the ground and sent it to the Fire Princess.

While they took on Azula, Sokka was fighting the acrobat, Ty Lee and his sister was fending off Mai, the skilled knife thrower.

Katara managed to block a close call with a knife with a shield of ice and jumped back as she swept a stream of water at Mai. Mai cut through the water with her blade and struck Katara in the shoulder blade, getting her to drop to her knees. Katara cried out and held her wound as she pulled the knife out and tried to quickly heal it.

"What is it about you that makes Zuko go out of his way for you?!" Mai hissed as she lunged at Katara for a killing blow.

Flicking her wrists, Katara sent icicles at Mai and managed to deter her attack. "What are you talking about?!"

"He loves you! I heard him tell you that before the Agni Kai match!" Mai pulled another knife out and threw it.

"Why are you mad about that?!" Katara hissed as she was grazed across the face.

Mai narrowed her eyes as she pulled another knife out, "You don't deserve his love!"

Katara rolled out of the way of another. She knew Mai had been Zuko's other consort when they all lived in the Fire Nation but she never thought Mai would be jealous of her. She always thought Mai only sought to spite her was the reason for why she became Zuko's consort. That and that Zuko didn't want to force her into a sexual relationship. It was commonly known that Zuko liked her since they were kids. She assumed he was only being nice at the time but looking back people always made comments about them from the beginning. Seemed her and Zuko were always meant to be. But what business was that of Mai? Did she have real feelings for him?

"Wait!" Katara shouted and put up her hands to gesture to stop.

"What?" Mai scowled at her. "You want to beg for your pathetic whore life?"

"No, I'm just curious." Katara said as she was looked at the knife thrower in an exhausted expression. "You like Zuko too?"

"Of course! Isn't that obvious?!"

"I thought you just wanted to spite me." Katara stated.

Mai glared and readied her knives to throw, "Not everything is about you!"

Katara was about to shield her face with her arms when Azula came and fly-kicked Mai to the ground before looking to the waterbender with a smirk.

"Long time no see, Katara." Azula grinned.

Narrowing her eyes, "Azula!"

"Look," Azula stepped on her friend's head and held her foot there. "I just saved your life. So the least you could do is answer the question I'm about to ask you."

Katara nodded with a guarded look on her face, "What?"

"You and my brother, have you two ever…ya know, fucked?" Azula asked. "I know things must have changed after he was banished."

Katara said nothing as she blushed and looked away. Mai's eyes widening in rage.

Azula smirked at this and jumped off of Mai to kick Katara in the gut, repeating this several times. "Can't have any bastards, can we?"

Katara collapsed to the ground just as Aang whooshed in with his staff and blew the girls away from her while Sokka landed Appa right beside Katara. Aang grabbed his water friends and the Gaang fled. When they were a safe distance away, they set up camp and settled in for the night.

"So, Sugar Queen, what was up with those girls? They seem to be mighty familiar with you." Toph asked and made sure her feet were planted firmly on the ground.

Katara sighed and averted her eyes from the group, "I was a slave in the Fire Nation for a few years until Zuko gave me my freedom. That was his younger sister."

"Who's Zuko?" Toph asked.

Sokka snickered, "Her boyfriend, the hothead prince."

Toph gasped at this sweet information, "Katara, you hooking up with someone from the Fire Nation."

"The Fire Prince, no less." Sokka added.

Toph burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Katara narrowed her eyes.

"You've got stockholm!" Toph laughed.

Sokka began laughing with Toph as Aang and Katara didn't find it funny at all.

…..

Iroh was tired of this. Zuko kept leaving in the middle of the night with his blue spirit mask, doing Agni knows what in the nearby villages. He told that boy to stop getting carried away with being a vigilante for the less fortunate. While it was commendable, they had a mission that would better serve the misfortunate that was caught up in this war torn world. Zuko needed to stay focused.

"That boy is going to be the cause of a massive migraine." Iroh said to himself as he rubbed his temple and walked along the mountain side with his walk stick and baggage on his back.

As the elderly man made his way down the base of the mountain, he heard the sound of a woman angrily going on about something and looked around the woody area. He soon caught sight of a girl wearing blue and noticed that he recognized her. It was Katara and she had twigs in her fishtail braid.

"Katara." Iroh said in a gentle voice.

Turning around abruptly, "Iroh?" Katara's eyes were wide as she soon manifested a smile.

"What are you doing gathering yourself from a bush? Are you alright?" Iroh seemed concerned.

Chuckling awkwardly, "Well, long story short, my brother and our new friend Toph have been getting along pretty well and you see, I got knocked off of our flying bison's saddle during their laughing fits." Katara told the elderly prince.

Iroh sighed and gave her a smile, "You must be more careful, Katara. Next time you might not be so lucky to fall in a bush."

Katara nodded.

"Come, I was about to set up camp and put on some tea. Please, have some with me."

Helping Iroh set up his camp and then sit on a tree log in front of the campfire, Katara sipped on the tea and smiled to herself. "I miss your tea, Iroh."

"It misses having someone that appreciates good tea." Iroh replied. "You know how Zuko is. He takes after his father, not having a true appreciation for the art of brewing tea."

Katara giggled a little.

Iroh smiled at the young girl and noticed that around her neck was a new necklace. He asked her about it as he had seen her mother wear it as well as her on many occasions. He was well aware of what the necklace should look like. But this one, this one had to be new.

Touching the pendant, "It's a betrothal necklace. Like the one my mom had. Only this one is from my Water instructor, Master Pakku."

Iroh narrowed his eyes at the name. He knew Pakku. From their secret organization. He knew the man well and he never settled down due to his first fiance running out on him when he was young. Why would he suddenly choose to settle down now at his age? Even more, why a girl so young?

"I tried to speak to Chieftain Arnook about it but he said these were the terms in which Pakku was allowed to teach me waterbending the proper way. I have to marry Pakku." Katara shut her eyes. "I didn't know it would be this way when I became his pupil. I thought he changed his mind from the dogmatic rules of the Northern Tribe. I thought him knowing that my grandmother was his former fiance was perhaps why he decided to give me a chance."

That's probably why Pakku wants her. She must take after her grandmother. As Lovely as Katara and her mother were, Katara didn't exactly look like her mother in the face. So he assumed it had to be someone on her father's side.

"I plan to find a way out of this. It can't be for real that he wants to marry me, can it?"

Iroh begged to differ.

"Anyway, please don't tell Zuko about this." Katara told Iroh.

Iroh sighed and nodded, "We will keep this between us."

"Thank you, Iroh." Katara smiled at him.

As they two continued enjoying tea together, chatting amongst themselves about their adventures since the North Pole, Katara was startled when a blue ghoul mask wearing man jumped down in front of the flame with two dual broadswords strapped to his back, wearing a black tight-suit. Katara was frightened but heard Iroh chuckle.

"Zuko, stop scaring the girl."

Katara tilted her head at him and furrowed her brows, "Zuko?"

Grabbing his mask and removing it, Zuko stared looking down at Katara as the flames flickered in his gold eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"I feel out of the sky." Katara folded her arms. "Your uncle found me. Offered me tea."

Zuko glanced over his shoulder at his uncle, "You just look for any reason to have tea with someone."

Iroh shrugged, "What can I say? Tea is best enjoyed amongst friends."

Zuko rolled his eyes and looked back at Katara. "Where are your friends?"

"Somewhere. Probably looking for me." Katara answered as she had her eyes trained on him. She noticed his hair had grown out all over his head and it was ear length, hanging a little in his face. "What's with the hair? You're growing it back fully?"

Zuko nodded.

"Looks good."

Zuko snorted and folded his arms, "Just know the only reason I'm not tying you up is because uncle and I are fugitives. We don't have time to drag your ass around the Earth Kingdom. We're running from Azula."

"Great cause we are too." Katara told him. "I don't have time to be a captive."

"Well, good. We're on the same page."

Iroh groaned, "Oh, will you two stop acting as if you're not happy to see each other."

Zuko and Katara both looked away from each other and blushed.

"Did you bring anything for dinner, Zuko?" Iroh asked.

"I didn't know we were having a guest." Zuko said as he dropped a blood bag on the ground. "But I managed to catch three rabbits."

"Excellent. Katara, would you like help Zuko skin the rabbits while I got collect some water from nearby?"

Katara nodded.

As Iroh left, Zuko took a seat away from Katara and tossed her a rabbit. He wanted to sit by her, maybe chat it up with her about the last time they saw each other but they were both running off adrenaline and he didn't trust that their last encounter was really her returning his affection. Not that he wanted to think about that right now. It had been six months and he wasn't sure where her head was now. If she even thought about him or them all this time. She was so devoted to seeing that the Avatar became what he should be to the world, he felt she didn't have the time to think about herself or anything else.

"So…" Zuko started as he cleared her throat a little while skinning the rabbit. "How are things going?"

Skinning her rabbit, "Things are good. Found an earthbender to teach Aang. She's blind but really knows her stuff and is extremely skilled." Katara told him. "He's really coming around. We'll be ready by next summer."

"Next summer?" Zuko raised a brow. "What's so important about that?"

Katara eyed him as she realized she spoke too much.

Seeing her hesitation, "I'm not after the Avatar anymore, Kat."

"You're not?" She was shocked.

Zuko shook his head, "Uncle and I, we're going to try to get somewhere safe. Let you do whatever it is you need to do so that the world can be whole again. I don't think my way will work. It's a doomed idea to go up against you and the Avatar. Better to leave you to end the war."

Katara was surprised and taken aback. Did Zuko really mean that? Truly? She wasn't expecting this. She thought for sure they would still have to worry about Zuko as a threat these last few months but it dawned on her that she hadn't seen him once since the North Pole. Was he really not pursuing them anymore.

"Zu-"

"I'm not saying your way is right. I'm just saying my way isn't efficient enough. Not with Azula chasing us." Zuko explained as he finished skinning his rabbit and moved onto his uncle's. "If you fail in your mission, I'm holding it over your head."

Katara chuckled a little, "Okay, Zuko."

Zuko smirked at her, "I mean it. You'll owe me for cut off my only chance to return home."

"And what will I owe you, Zuko?" Katara smirked back.

"Marry me."

"Ah, I knew it."

"And I want a lot of children." Zuko told her. "Five at the very least."

"Five?!"

"Yes, five." He grinned.

"If we are defeated and I survive, then yes, I'll give you as many children as you like, Zuko."

Chuckling as he looked away from her, "Then pray you win. I'm not ready to be a father."

Katara burst out laughing. "Shut up, Zuko. You're so silly!'

Iroh returned to Katara and Zuko laughing, it reminded him of the early days of Zuko's banishment. They were both so close then, even with Zuko's anger issues in the beginning. He was glad to see him relax again. He had been so tense and he knew Katara was the best thing for his nephew in regards to maintaining his cool. She brought the good out in him.

As the three had dinner, Iroh asked Katara about her run-ins with Azula. She told him that Azula wanted to capture her too. For some reason the Fire Lord ordered that she be captured along with the Avatar. It frightened her thinking what he might do with her once he got his hands on her.

"You must be careful, Katara. My brother is a sadistic man and he views you as a traitor alongside me and Zuko." Iroh informed her. "I'd rather die than end up in his custody branded a traitor."

Zuko and Katara exchanged grim looks.

"Anyways, I'm headed to bed." Iroh sighed.

The two said goodnight to Iroh as he retired to his tent. As soon as he was gone, Zuko got up and moved to sit next to Katara. She smiled sweetly at her and he smirked back at her.

"Want to travel with us?" Zuko asked her. "We could use a third link in our travels."

Katara looked down at the fire, "Aang needs me, Zuko. Remember? Neither of is trying to have five kids like you said."

Chuckling, "I guess you're right."

"But if we win the war and you become the Fire Lord, maybe it won't be so bad having five kids. We'd have plenty of help from servants."

Zuko's eyes were wide on her. "You'd still want me to be Fire Lord?"

Katara nodded. "Just because I want the Avatar to defeat your father, doesn't mean I don't want you to be the Fire Lord. I think you'd make for an excellent Fire Lord. You actually have a kind heart and care for honor. I think those are qualities any leader should have."

"Thanks, Kat."

Waking up in Zuko's tent, curled up against him, Katara rubbed her eyes as she sat up and saw Zuko stirring. Nothing happened between them. Katara made it clear that nothing could happen between them right now. Not when there was so much on her mind. She didn't have time to think about them and their relationship with one another. Zuko respected them and didn't push for anything as he felt similar. They did share a kiss before bed and cuddled up to keep warm.

"Zuko, I'm going to get going." Katara told him.

Tiredly looking up at her, Zuko ran his hands into his hair and groaned for her to stay a little longer.

Leaning down to him, Katara kissed him on the lips before telling him she could. She promised him if they met again and they didn't have immediate pressing matters, then she'd stay with him a little longer. Zuko sat up to cup her face and kiss her one last time before she left his tent to continue on with her journey to find her friends.

As Zuko got up and left his tent, Iroh raised his brow at him and he rolled his eyes.

"We didn't do anything."

"Oh, I know that. You two have a habit of making too much noise."

Zuko groaned.

"But Katara is good for you. I'm glad we no longer have to be her foe anymore. Maybe in time, you might think about joining her cause."

Sucking his teeth, "I agreed not to get in her way. I never said I'd joined them."

"And why not?"

"Because…it's not my fight. Sure, father is a terrible man and I'd love to see him defeated but-"

"But what, nephew?" Iroh tilted his head. "I heard her say she'd want you to be Fire Lord."

"And I will but only on my terms." Zuko said. "I have too much pride to let it be handed to me."

"And how will you accomplish that?"

"I'm still figuring that out." Zuko admitted.

Iroh sighed and shook his head, "Just when I begin to think she's gotten through to you, you prove to me that you're a brick wall, nephew."

Zuko scoffed and got up to walk off his annoyance.

…

It was fortunate of them that Toph had not let them sink into the sand with the library but they had lost appa in the process. Katara had to calm Aang down as he was furious about Appa's kidnapping. However, she knew there was no time to sulk. Not when they had the information they did. Next summer there would be a solar eclipse and they needed to make the Earth King aware of it to plan an invasion. Katara had to pull the gang together in order to get them focused on what needed to be done. While she held Aang's hand and kept Toph in front of her to lead the way to the nearest solid land there was, Katara made sure to look behind her to see if Sokka was keeping up in his intoxicated state after drinking cactus juice.

When they finally teach solid land, Katara heard Toph mention there was a ferry that would take them to Ba Seng Sei. She was all for it. They needed to get to the Earth King fast. Toph managed to get them passes to ride the ferry using her family name and crest. They were on their way to Ba Seng Sei until Katara saw a couple struggling to buy tickets and her compassionate heart caused her to give them their tickets. The entire gang was mad at her for not being responsible above being generous.

"There's always the serpent's path but I warn you, it's dangerous." Toph told them.

Sokka and Aang looked at Katara.

"What?!"

On the ferry heading to Ba Seng Sei, Zuko and Iroh stayed in the corner. Zuko was sharpening his dual broadswords when a strange guy about the same age as him approached with dual hooks for a weapon.

"Hey, nice set." The strange guy said.

Zuko glanced up and nodded, "Thanks."

The stranger sat in front of him and crossed his legs, "Name's Jet. Yours?"

"Lee." Zuko replied. "And this is my uncle, Mushi."

"Nice to meet you." Jet said.

Zuko nodded as his uncle greeted the young man with a soft smile.

"So, you two fleeing behind the wall too?"

The two nodded.

"Yeah, the war's really ramped up. Me and my friends got separated on the way here. Hopefully, they're on their way into the city." Jet said.

Zuko didn't really know what to say to that. He wasn't exactly the friendliest. Hell, Katara was his only childhood friend for a reason. He didn't know how to make friends and his uncle had offered her up to him. How was he supposed to make friends with a guy like this? He was rough around the edges and looked like trouble. Zuko could read people well and he knew getting mixed in with this guy wouldn't be ideal.

But nonetheless, Jet came around quite frequently during the day to see Zuko and hopefully gain a new friend. Iroh always pushed Zuko to speak up whenever Jet came around, wanting him to make another friend. Zuko eventually went along with it as it wouldn't hurt to befriend Jet. He seemed like a decent individual above all the things Zuko didn't like about which were all trivial.

When they reach Ba Seng Sei and were passed through customs, Zuko and his uncle told Jet to join them in finding a place so they could stick together. Jet was thrilled as he knew his friends wouldn't be here for sometime and he needed a place to crash. With his charismatic charm, Iroh got all three of them a job at a teashop with room and board above the teashop.

"Ah! A bed! Finally!" Jet sighed happily as he plopped into his bed.

Zuko chuckled at this, "Haven't been in a bed much either, have you?"

Hugging his pillow to him, "Not since I met this pretty girl a while back." Jet grinned. "She was beautiful, Lee. Just beautiful."

"Was she?" Zuko asked as he sat on the edge of the bed.

"Yeah," Jet grinned. "We didn't do anything but we cuddled for a long time, talking for hours until she fell asleep against me."

"Sounds like a good time." Zuko said as he started unpacking his things on his side of their shared room.

Jet sighed, "Wished she wasn't so hung up over this Fire Nation guy she kept talking about."

Zuko raised a brow at this, "A Fire Nation guy?"

"Yeah, how's a waterbender like her supposed to be involved with a Fire Nation man? I mean, she's the sweetest thing in the word, pretty like a doll, big blue eyes and these shapely hips. If she wasn't so hung up over this Fire Nation guy, we'd probably have gotten busy those few nights we spent together. We made out a little, got frisky a little bit, she even seemed like she wanted to go further but idk, Lee. I feel like I imagined her." Jet was in a daze just recalling the girl. "She's from the South Pole. Said she met her 'boyfriend' or whoever the guy is to her while she was in the Fire Nation as a slave."

Zuko's eyes widened at this. He better not be talking about who I think he is.

Jet rolled on his side and looked to Lee, "Think I'll ever see her again?"

I hope you don't. "Sure, maybe."

…..

Finding Appa and getting to finally speak to the Earth King after having to deal with the corrupt Dai Lee and Long Feng was a relief for the gang. They could finally calm their nerves a little and patiently wait for when the eclipse came to attack the Fire Lord. Of all of them, Katara felt the most relaxed since Toph was still teaching Aang earthbending and Sokka was working with the Earth Kingdom generals on identifying the threat of the Fire Nation. She got to roam about the city and shop for new clothes to wear so she could blend in. Katara even wore her hair completely down with a pink flower placed in it.

Katara eventually got on the train to go to the middle ring in order to do more shopping in their market district but snoozed a bit longer than needed and ended up in the lower ring. She asked the conductor to take her back to the upper ring but he insisted his job was done for the night. She felt so stuck and didn't know what to do. Where was she going to go?

Zuko was out with Jet and his friends that finally showed up. Jet moved in with his pals but still worked at the teashop to make enough money to provide for his friends. As the group was strolling through the lower ring, Zuko saw a girl in a green dress struggling with a large set man and he paused.

"Hold on, guys." Zuko said as he strolled away from his friends.

"Lee, don't try being captain save a hoe." Jet laughed. "Girl's probably the instigator."

Zuko rolled his eyes at Jet and proceed to try to see if the girl needed assistance.

"You're coming with me, girlie." The man said with a deep voice.

Hitting the hand grasping onto her wrist, "Let me go!"

"I don't think so, girlie."

"Hey! She said let go of her!"

Katara turned to the familiar voice and saw it was Zuko, her eyes widened. Zuko paused on his way over when he saw it was Katara.

"Kat?"

"Zu-"

"You know this girl?" The man asked.

Zuko nodded as he furrowed his brows.

The man scoffed and threw her at the young man before skulking off, mumbling about her being too much trouble.

Catching Katara as she was thrown at him, Zuko saw her looking at him with wide eyes.

"What are you doing here, Kat?" Zuko was confused.

"I was going to ask the same." Katara said as she pulled her strands of hair from her face and tried fixing up her hair.

"Hey! Lee! What's going o-" Jet asked as he made his way over to Zuko and his eyes widened at the sight of the girl with his friend. "Katara?!" He couldn't help but grinning at her.

Zuko cursed under his breath as it was now confirmed that the girl Jet had spoken about a month ago was Katara.

Katara's brows furrowed as she stepped away from Zuko and pulled water from her waterskin, "Jet, stay back."

Jet put his hands up in surrender. "Come on, Katara, you're not still mad about 'that' are you?"

"If you don't want to get water whipped into next year, I advise you to stay away from me."

Jet sighed, "Katara, I've changed. I promise. I'm not like before."

"Jet, you were going to make me drown an entire village full of innocent people." Katara was pissed off and Zuko could only stand aside as the two spoke.

"Innocent?! Katara, they were Fire Nation people! They're not innocent! Look what they did to you and your mother! Both slaves to a nation that destroys lives!"

Katara sent a stream of water from her waterskin and slapped Jet with it before Zuko took her wrists, pulling her along with him.

"Come, we'll go to where uncle and I stay." Zuko said.

Katara nodded.

Arriving at his humble abode, Zuko helped Katara through the window of his bedroom to avoid his uncle seeing them. As she took a seat on the bed, Zuko rustled his chin length hair and sat on the spare bed across from her. Katara asked him what he was doing here and Zuko answered, even explaining how he met Jet on the ferry. Katara sighed and told him that they were here in the upper ring as guests of the Earth King.

"So, you know Jet too?" Zuko asked as his eyes narrowed on her.

Katara averted her gaze, "Yeah."

"How so?"

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

"You don't have to. Jet told me all about how you two used to cuddle, make out and talk about your feelings together." Zuko spat as he stood up.

Standing up, "Zuko, it was a year ago. I was just so hurt and lonely after we became enemies, I kind of looked for an escape from it." Katara explained. "But I didn't sleep with him. I couldn't bring myself to do that."

Running his hand through his hair, "Okay, Kat. I believe you. I just hate to think you could be with anyone else."

Katara placed her hand on the pendant she was wearing and sighed, "Zuko, do you really think we can survive this? Not just the war but everything that comes with war. Can we survive all that and truly be together? I mean, you'll be Fire Lord eventually and I- I'm just a sl-"

"Stop saying that!" Zuko shouted at her. "I don't know how many times I have to tell you, you're not a slave! And yes, we'll survive this, Kat. I promise. I don't care what I have to do to make it happen, I want you to be my wife. No matter what."

Katara looked at his sadly, "Zuko-"

"Shhh, Kat." Zuko got on his knees in front of her and cupped her face as he smiled at her with a hopeful look on his face. "It'll happen. I promise. Nothing's going to get in our way."

Katara smiled and nodded.

Smiling back, Zuko wiped her small tear away and pulled her into a hug.

Hugging him back as tightly as he held her, "Is it okay if I stay here tonight? The train back to the upper ring is shutdown for the night."

"Sure, of course." Zuko said as he got up and told her she could sleep in the bed across from his.

"And can I borrow something to sleep in?" Katara asked with a flushed expression.

Zuko nodded like it was no big deal and handed her one of his tunics. Katara started changing in front of him when they both noticed this and Zuko quickly excused himself to the room. His uncle raised a brow at him.

"Katara's spending the night." Zuko said.

Iroh was surprised to know Katara was also in Ba Seng Sei. "I guess I'll get started on dinner and make some tea."

As Katara finished dressing in Zuko's tunic, she blushed when he reentered the room and started at her hard for a few seconds before forcing himself to look away.

"Kat, when did your hips get so…- and your breasts were not that size when we were…-" Zuko cleared his throat and glanced back at her

"I guessed I still had much more growing to do." Katara pulled her hair behind her ear as her face was red hot. "I did just turn seventeen, Zuko."

Zuko forgot it had been two years since he let her have her freedom, two years since they had been together. A lot seemed to change in that short a time. Katara was shaped like a woman now.

"Umm, anway, my-my uncle is cooking dinner and brewing tea. Did you-"

"Yes!" Katara said gleefully. "I love some."

"Great."

The three had dinner together and Iroh told Katara to be sure to only refer to them as Lee and Mushi around others. Zuko also told her to pretend like they just met as to not arouse any suspicions about how they met. Jet knew all about her being hung up over a Fire Nation guy, he'd start to speculate about them and he didn't want their covers blown.

When it was time for bed, Iroh told them to keep it down and they both blushed. In Zuko's room, Katara settled on the spare bed and Zuko sat on his, staring at her.

"What?" Katara asked.

"Want to push the beds together and cuddle?" Zuko asked her.

Katara smirked and nodded.

When the bed was pushed together, Katara and Zuko cuddled one another until they fell asleep. The morning sun woke them both along with the knocking on the door.

"Zuko, your friends are here." Iroh told him.

Zuko had Katara lying on one arm while his other arm was wrapped around her middle. He yawn and felt her turn around to face him, her nose moving against his as they both chuckled.

"I could stay like this forever."

"Yeah and then Jet will know something is up."

"I could careless." Zuko yawned as he sat up with Katara, rustling his hair a little before getting up to find his shirt he threw off for bed.

Katara watched him search around his room for his shirt and bit her lip at how handsome he looked with the messy hair of his. It had grown so much since last time and she wanted to rake her nails through it while- No, Katara, we're not doing that. Not now. Not when we're already promised to someone else. Sighing, Katara pulled herself out of the bed and walked up to Zuko, pulling her tunic off to hand to him. His eyes widened at the sight of her breasts and she smirked at them.

"Maybe sometime I'll let you play with them." Katara told him as she reached up and pecked his cheek. "I'll sneak out the window so he doesn't see me. I don't want to ruin your friendship."

Zuko wanted to tell her that Jet could go to hell but Katara told him that now that she knew he lived here, she'd come visit. Kissing her one last time, the firebender watched as Katara dressed, then climbed out his window and down to the street below. It was just in time as Jet barged into his room in a fit.

"Hey, why'd you run off with my girlfriend?!" Jet demanded to know.

Zuko rubbed his neck awkwardly, "She seemed like she was going to kill you or something. I just took her back to where she was trying to go and she left."

"Where was she trying to go?"

"Upper ring." Zuko said. "Her and her friends are there, she said."

Jet sighed and looked from Lee to the two beds pushed together, raising a brow. "You have a girl over or something?"

Shaking his head, "Just wanted a bigger bed for myself." Zuko said awkwardly.

Jet smirked at his buddy, "I've figured out what your problem is, Lee."

"What?"

"You need a girlfriend and I've got the perfect girl for you." Jet told him as he threw his arm over Lee's shoulder. "Jin."

"Jin?" Zuko was confused.

"Yeah, she comes into the shop all the time just to see you. She even complimented your tea one time."

"She did?"

"Yup, buddy."

"I don't know, Jet. I kind of don't really want a girlfriend right now."

Jet scoffed. "What? You just want to beat your meat all day instead having some pretty little thing take care of your needs for ya?"

Zuko looked at Jet with mild disgust.

"I'm just saying, Katara's mad at me right now but I'll get her to soften up and when I do, you better know I'm not gonna be using my hand anymore."

Zuko wanted to stick Jet in the face so badly.

Back in the upper ring, Katara saw her brother and Toph talking with Aang in the sitting area. She stepped in and her brother perked up, giving her a scowl as he charged up to her.

"And where have you been, missy?!"

"I got stuck in the lower ring." Katara told him. "I'm just getting back."

"Where'd you stay all night?" Sokka folded his arms.

"I got an inn." Katara lied.

"Lie." Toph said as she walked up to them with Aang trailing behind her.

"Lie?" Sokka looked from Toph back to his sister. "Where were you sleeping, Katara?"

Katara averted her eyes. "At a friend's place."

"A friend?! What friend?!" Sokka demanded to know.

Toph smirked, "It was Zuko, wasn't it?! I bet he's here in Ba Seng Sei too!"

Katara glared at Toph.

"It is." Aang's mouth dropped. "What's he doing here?"

Katara sighed, "He and his uncle are amongst the refugees that live in the lower ring. I ran into him last night by accident and he let me stay with him."

"Sleeping with the enemy. I'm disappointed, Katara." Sokka shook his head.

"I wasn't sleeping with him! Not like you're implying. We just cuddled!" Katara crossed her arms over her breasts and pouted. "Plus, Zuko isn't the enemy anymore. I've told you all that. Azula is the one chasing us. Zuko and Iroh just want to wait out the war."

Aang beamed, "Well, if that's the case, maybe they can teach me to firebend."

"Hold on, Aang." Sokka stopped him right there. "Who's to say you're not being played? I don't believe someone as determined Zuko would just give that up."

"He did! He hasn't chased us since the North Pole, Sokka!" Katara shouted in annoyance.

"I don't trust him. You're just blinded by your girly feelings for him."

"Shut up, Sokka." Katara spat before storming off.

"Sugar Queen doesn't like you talking about her man like that, Snoozle."

Sokka rolled his eyes. "I'm just being honest."

….

When her friends got busy again, Katara left to return to the lower ring to visit Zuko. She didn't care what her brother had to say. Zuko wasn't their enemy anymore. He could easily become their ally and teach Aang firebending. She would bring it up to him eventually but for now, she just wanted to keep things light, be free from pressing and concerning matters that stress her out. As she walked down the street from the train station, Katara remembered her way to where Zuko's apartment was and saw there was a teashop below it. She peeked her head inside the teashop, curious about it and saw Zuko serving tea to a couple. She grinned and slid inside, taking a seat to be served.

Pulling the menu up to her face as she waited, Katara picked out what she wanted for tea and her paired snack.

"Ma'am, what can I get you?" She heard Zuko's voice.

Pulling down her menu, Katara smirked at him as she saw him look at her with some shock and annoyance. "Can I get ginseng tea paired with two slices of plum cake?"

"Kat, what are yo-"

"Katara!"

Katara turned to see Jet exit the kitchen and she grimaced.

Zuko rolled his eyes and walked away to get her order as he did, Jet came over to her table and sat beside her.

"What did I say about coming near me?" Katara asked in an annoyed tone.

Jet chuckled, "I just miss you is all. You don't have to be a sourpuss."

"Jet-"

"How about you let me take you out and make up for being such a jerk back then?"

Zuko had returned with Katara's order as he came back, he saw Jet all over Katara, making her visibly uncomfortable.

"Jet, they need you back in the kitchen." Zuko told him.

Jet told Katara to stick around till he got off his shift and she looked at him with a look that told him to go to hell. When he was gone, Zuko set her order down and sighed as he asked her if she came here to annoy him.

"I wanted to see you. I didn't know you worked in the teashop." Katara explained.

"You wanted to see me?" Zuko raised a brow.

"Yes, Zuko." Katara giggled. "I missed you and since you're not after me and Aang, I figured we could see each other more."

Zuko was happy to hear this.

"When do you get off work?"

"In thirty minutes." He told her.

"Then let's go on a date, hmm?" Katara asked him.

Zuko's face flushed as he nodded, "Sure. I'm done."

As soon as Zuko was off work, Katara and him went out exploring the lower ring together. They ate some food together and enjoyed the diverse culture of the lower ring. So many people from different places around the Earth Kingdom. Zuko discussed more of his travels with her and how evading Azula had become an ongoing endeavor as she had it out for him. Katara told him how Mai wants to kill her and every time they fight, she fights to kill. She told him how Mai hated her for being the one he loved and Zuko rolled his eyes.

"Mai's an okay girl but she's too much like most Fire Nation girls." Zuko said. "She'd make for a great Fire Lady."

"Oh really?" Katara lifted a brow at him.

Zuko nodded. "Mai has the kind of energy and appearance the people are going to want out of a Fire Lady. There hasn't been a fire Lady in more than four decades. She'd be what the people would want."

Katara sighed and looked around them, taking in the scenery. "I wouldn't want to be Fire Lady anyway."

"You wouldn't?" Zuko seemed shocked by this.

Shaking her head, "I don't ever want to step foot in the Fire Nation again." She told him. "I hate it there. Just a reminder of all the pain I've felt. My only hope is to free my mother and find my father, so they can reunite."

Zuko furrowed his brows, "But…Kat, I thought…-"

Katara decided now was the best time to tell him. "Zuko, I'm eng-"

"Hey, Lee! What are you doing with my girl?!" Jet shouted as he ran up on them.

Katara rolled her eyes as Zuko stepped away from her.

"I'm not your girl, Jet!" Katara bit out as she folded her arms.

"You will be." Jet smirked as he threw his arm around her and she shoved him away.

Katara figured it was time to get back now that Jet showed up and she wanted nothing to do with him. Jet was disappointed when Katara stated she needed to go and when she left, Jet raised a brow at Lee.

"So, you're trying to steal my girl, huh?"

Zuko rolled his eyes, "She asked me to come out with her since I helped her against that creep the other night."

"Oh, well, don't get any ideas, okay, Lee? I like you and all but you're not going to get in the way of me and Katara. Got it?"

"Whatever." Zuko didn't even care. Jet was a cool guy and all but Katara wasn't into jerks. He knew from experience. Plus, Katara was his girl. He felt very secure in that fact.

Katara returned but didn't make the same mistake as before and traveled up to Zuko's room. She waited till he was off his shift and smirking when he was stunned to see her in his room. Shutting the door behind him, Zuko looked back at Katara and held his arms open for a hug. She didn't hesitate to hug him and clung to him tight as he kissed her forehead.

"Wanna come to the upper ring with me?" Katara asked him. "That way Jet can't interrupt us?"

Zuko raised a brow, "But wouldn't your friend interrupt us?"

"They went to dinner with some nobles that was so 'honored' to be in the presence of the Avatar." Katara said.

"Why didn't you go with them?" Zuko asked.

Katara shrugged, "I don't like that sort of stuff. I had enough of it in the Fire Nation. Remember, I used to serve at all your uncle's dinner and garden parties."

Zuko rubbed the back of his head, "You really hate the Fire Nation, don't you?"

Katara nodded as she snooped around his room, "You and your uncle are the only things about the Fire Nation I like." She told him honestly. "The rest of the world, even during the war, is much better. I've enjoyed being away from there."

Zuko sighed, "Then how are we going to marry if you hate the Fire Nation and you don't want to be Fire Lady?"

Katara turned to look at Zuko and sighed as she reached for the collar of her dress and pulled it down for him to see the necklace.

"You got a new necklace? Where's your mother's?"

Katara dropped her gaze, "Do you know what these necklaces mean?"

"No." Zuko scratched his head.

"They're betrothal necklaces. My mother's was given to her when my father wanted to marry her and this one is-"

Zuko furrowed his brow, "Wait- What-"

Turning away from him, "My waterbending instructor broke the tradition of the North by teaching me, a girl. Something they haven't done for hundreds of years. He said to make up for it, I marry him and the Chieftain is backing our union. I'm already promised to another man, Zuko."

Zuko's hand raked through his hair as he gripped the back of it in frustration, "Kat, what do you mean you're promised to-"

"When the war ends, good or bad outcome, I'm supposed to marry Master Pakku." Katara told him.

"WHY?! All because he agreed to teach you against their customs?! That's his fault! Not yours!"

"Zuk-"

"No, Kat, I won't accept that! You're my- you're mine. Got it?"

"Zuko, that's not how it works." Katara sighed. "Pakku-"

"Fuck Pakku!"

"Zuko-"

"Don't Zuko me! You're trying to marry another man!"

"I'm not, Zuko. I promise." Katara cried. "I want to be with you, I do, even if I hate the Fire Nation but…Pakku, he said there would be consequences and with you becoming Fire Lord when the time comes, I don't want your reign to have anymore conflicts than it already will have."

Zuko couldn't help but feel hurt by what she was telling him.

"Pakku is old. I'll marry him and then when he passes in a few years, we'll be together. Okay?"

"Kat, a few years?! Really?! By then I'll have to have already married!"

"Then marry Mai!" Katara shouted. "You already said that she would be perfect and what the people want. I can be your consort when my marriage to Pakku ends with me as his widow."

Zuko glared at her. "I told you, Kat, I want you as my wife."

"Your wife, Zuko, that's not going to happen! No one is going to want a former slave as the wife of the Fire Lord! No one!"

"It could happen, Katara. I can make it h-"

"No, Zuko, there's only one way we're going to be together and it's not the way you want it. So accept it and be patient. We might not always get our way but fate clearly favors us, Zuko." Katara chuckled through her sad tears. "We're clearly meant to be together. Otherwise would I be here with you now?"

Zuko didn't want to hear anything else about fate. To hell with fate if it was going to do a number on them before they could even be together. It was ridiculous. Maybe he needed to step in the way of fate because clearly, it was yanking them around like a bunch of fools.

"To hell with fate, Kat! I say we make our own destiny and stop leaving it to chance!"

Katara shook her head.

"Why not?! Don't you want to be with me?!"

"I do-"

"Then stop making up more excuses every time we talk about this! Fuck Pakku, I'll challenge himself for your hand if I have to! Understand me?!"

Katara folded her arms and glared back at Zuko. "You don't have to be so angry about it."

"Well, you make me angry, damn it!" Zuko scoffed as he sat on his bed and eyed her funny.

Sitting beside him, Katara took his hand in hers and kissed his cheek. "I just want you to know that I love you very much, Zuko. I don't mean to hurt you if I have."

Sighing as he looked her over, "You know, you could make it up to me."

Katara giggled. "How?"

Zuko smirked.

"My place?" Katara smirked back at him.

An hour later, Katara was sneaking Zuko into the house she and her friends were staying in in the upper ring. She pulled him along to her room and giggled as she shut the door behind them. As soon as the door was shut, the two started making out and fumbled with each other's clothes. Just as Katara pulled off Zuko's vest and unbuttoned his shirt, her door swung wide open, walking in her brother and Toph.

"Look what we got here, Sugar Queen and her fire boy." Toph smirked as she folded her arms.

Sokka glared at them both, "What the hell were you two getting up to?"

Zuko reached for his shirt on the floor as Katara covered him by standing in front of him.

"How about you knock before you barge in?"

"Can't when we catch you sneaking around and then catch you in here with the enemy!" Sokka said as he looked at Zuko with narrowed eyes. "Aang is asleep in the other room! Do you want him to get captured because you're missing your boy toy!"

"Sokka, I told you he's not after the Avatar anymore!"

"I'm really not." Zuko said as he rustled his hair.

"But you're clearly still after my sister and her panties! Get out!"

"No, he stays!"

"Not here!" Sokka yelled. "I'm not going to risk our whole group's safety because you want to fuck this Fire Nation piece of shit!"

"Hey, who you calling a piece of shit?!" Zuko bit out as Katara had to hold him back.

"You asshole!" Sokka spat. "You think cause you have the desire to fuck my sister that that makes you better than the rest of your filthy kind but it doesn't! You'll just hurt her in the end like I know you will!"

Zuko narrowed his eyes at Katara's brother, "I love her! I'd never-"

"Your kind can't help it!"

Zuko lost it and pushed Katara aside to get to her brother but a rock wall came up, stopping his pursuit.

"That's enough lover boys." Toph said. "Sokka, you love your sister and he loves your sister. Calm it down."

"Toph, stay out of this!" Sokka hissed.

Katara pulled Zuko back, "Let's just go back. I'll stay the night with you."

Zuko simmered down at this as Katara tugged him through the other door of her room and told her friends she was leaving.

"Don't bring him back, Katara! I mean it! He's trouble!"

Returning back to the lower ring, Katara clung to Zuko and giggled as she whispered in his ear what she planned to do with him tonight. They reached the teashop and Katara kissed him under his jaw as he smirked at her.

"LEE!"

The two turned to see Jet storming up to them and him try to swing on Zuko. Zuko dodged the attack and shoved Jet away.

"Stop it, Jet." Zuko hissed.

"Stop it! Why's my girl kissing on you?!"

"I'm not your girl, Jet! I'm Lee's girl." Katara said as she hugged Zuko's arm to her breasts. "He's my boyfriend."

Jet and Zuko were shocked by this declaration.

"So get lost. Me and Lee have evening plans." Katara said as she pulled Zuko into the teashop with her to make him take her upstairs.

The following morning, Zuko woke to a naked waterbender wrapped around him and grinned to himself as he laid in bed, combing his fingers through her hair.

"Morning." Her voice rasped.

Smirking, "Morning."

Katara wiggled herself against him and giggled. "Wish we could stay like this all day."

"We can. I don't have to work today."

"Mmmm," Katara purred as she rolled on top of him and straddled his hips, her breasts in full view of him. "I don't have anything to get back to either."

Zuko smirked as he ran his hands up her side up to her breasts and bit his lip as she slipped his erected member into her. She rode his stiff cock, taking his slow and deep. Eventually, she picked up the pace and leaned forward to claim his lips to which caused them both to moan in pleasure. Just as Zuko grabbed her hips to fuck up into her, the door swung open and his uncle gasped at the sight of them. Katara quickly pulled the covers over her as Zuko looked shocked.

"UNCLE!"

The door shut, "Sorry, nephew! I was just worried you had gotten sick with all your moaning! I should have known!"

"KNOCK NEXT TIME!" Zuko held Katara to him as she was flustered and embarrassed.

Katara giggled against Zuko's chest as they laid still in bed.

"What?"

"This feels like old times." Katara told him as she looked him in the eyes.

Smirking, Zuko grabbed her ass and thrusted into her, her lips parting as she threw her head into the nape of his neck. "Does that feel like old times?" He whispered.

"Even better." She moaned as she bit her lip and Zuko continued thrusting up into her.

Later that day, the two resurfaced from the room and Iroh greeted them with lunch. Katara blushed when he said he wanted to make sure they replenished themselves after being held up in the room all morning. Zuko cut his eyes at the old man and sucked his teeth.

"I'm glad to see you two getting along well again." Iroh beamed at them. "Will there be wedding bells in the future?"

Zuko looked away at his uncle as Katara sighed.

"I told him about Pakku."

Iroh sighed at this as Zuko raised a brow.

"Wait, you knew?" Zuko asked his uncle.

Iroh nodded as he placed his hands in his sleeves, "When Katara disclosed to me her situation, I wrote to Pakku as he is an old friend of mine. He stated that Katara reminds him of his former fiance that fled, her grandmother, and that he will not allow another bride to leave him at the altar."

Zuko scoffed and called the man a pervert if he was a friend of his uncle's, meant he was old like his uncle.

"Pakku is older than Iroh." Katara stated awkwardly.

"Gross." Zuko cringed.

"Gross indeed." Iroh seconded.

Katara left a little while later before it got dark. Zuko spoke with his uncle more about Katara's engagement to Pakku and his uncle informed him that Pakku expressed having every intentions of seeing their engagement turned into marriage. Iroh warned his nephew to allow Katara to handle the situation as she was the only one that could get Pakku to reconsider the marriage arrangement. But Zuko didn't want to hear that. If he became Fire Lord, he'd set the terms that Katara be his wife in order to maintain peace. Sure, it was a terrible thing to hold over the head of the world but Katara just meant that much to him. He had to find a way to prevent her from having to marry Pakku. There had to be a way.

…

"Your highness, we've located all four targets. Would you like us to bring them in?" a Dai Lee agent bowed to the Fire Princess as she sat on the throne.

Smirking, "How about you bring in my idiot brother and uncle. Make them think they've been summoned for their dreadful tea."

"As you wish, your highness."

Zuko didn't know about this but his uncle seemed real excited. The Earth King had caught word of his uncle's tea making skills and wanted to try some for himself. However, Zuko felt something eerie in the midst. Why would the Earth King specifically want anything to do with them? Two peasants with a secret past. It caught Zuko off guard a little but he went along with it because his uncle was so delighted to be sharing what he was passionate about with the Earth King.

When they reached the steps of the palace, the two made their way up but as soon as they reached the top, Iroh fell through a trap door and Zuko was about to take action in the split second but was apprehended by the cuffs of the Da Lee. He struggled and fell to his knees.

"Zuzu, long time no see." Azula stepped out from the shadow of the palace entrance. "Let's have a chat."

Picked up and carried to the throne room where he saw Mai and Ty Lee present, Zuko focused his attention on Azula as she took to the throne.

"Where's the Earth King?"

Azula chuckled as she wore a sinister smirk, "Oh Zuzu, you know, father gave me quite the mission when he sent me here to the Earth Kingdom. Capture you, uncle, the avatar, and your water slut was just part of the mission. Neutralizing the central threat of the Earth Kingdom was top priority, however."

Zuko furrowed her brows, "Did you kill him?"

Azula grinned, "This is war, Zuzu. I thought you of all people knew that seeing as you've been hanging around refugees in the lower ring like you're dear old pals."

"You've been spying on me?!"

"You and your water bitch. See you two are very well acquainted. Too bad she's promised to someone else."

Zuko's eyes widened as he realized that Azula knew about Katara's engagement to Pakku.

"I know you just hate it. Some old bastard fucking your precious waterbender." Azula feigned pity. "But I have a solution to your problem."

"Why would you help me?" Zuko narrowed his eyes at her.

Azula sighed and twirled her hair on her finger, "You're father's heir. He wants you to redeem yourself, Zuko, and quite frankly, I feel the same. Aid me in capturing the Avatar and restore the honor you lost the day father banished you."

Zuko narrowed his eyes on her.

Katara was just getting out of the tub when she heard her brother shouting and rushed out in a towel to go see what it was. Dripping wet with her hair down, the waterbender saw her brother yelling for someone to leave but soon saw it was Zuko and he didn't look good at all.

"Zuko!" She shoved her brother aside to hurry to Zuko and help him to his feet as he looked like he couldn't stand.

"Azula…she's here." Zuko said as he coughed up some blood and winced as Katara helped him to walk. "I just barely escaped."

Katara helped him to the sofa and lowered him to lay down on it as her brother walked around with his arms folded.

"Azula is here? How'd you escape? Where is she hiding?"

Zuko narrowed his eyes at Sokka's suspicious nature. "Yes, Azula, she killed the Earth King. My uncle helped me escape."

"Sure, he did." Sokka narrowed his eyes back at Zuko.

Wincing as he forced himself to sit up, "I'm telling the truth."

"Toph, what do you think?" Sokka asked their walking lie detector.

Toph shrugged, "I can't tell. He's out of balance from his injuries."

Sokka scoffed, "He's up to something."

"Sokka, stop!" Katara yelled at her brother. "Look at him, he has to be telling the truth. He wouldn't lie. Not to me."

"We need to leave pronto." Zuko forced himself to stand on his feet and groaned in pain, holding his ribs.

Katara went to assist him and she told her brother to get Aang from the courtyard so they could get ready to leave. But before any of them could make a move, the flames in all the candles went out and they all froze as they heard a familiar chuckle.

"Thanks Zuzu. Couldn't have done this without you." Azula said as she ignited a blue flame and they all saw that Aang was knocked out in her grasp.

"I told you!" Sokka shouted as he looked at his sister who was frozen stiff in disbelief.

Katara's lip trembled as she felt a blade at her neck and Zuko stepped away from her, turning to face her.

"My father wants me back home, Kat. I'm sorry but I-"

Katara's face went from hurt to betrayed and she spit in his face, "Fuck you, Zuko! I should have never trusted you!"

"Aww, don't worry, Zuzu. Once we're back in the Fire Nation, she'll be back to her old position as your consort. Father will allow it so long as you remain loyal to him." Azula grinned. "Ty Lee, take care of the rest."

…

Chained up in the bowels of the ship, Iroh saw Katara be shoved into a cell across from him along with her friends all in separate cells. Everyone except the Avatar and his nephew.

Scooting himself to the edge of this cell when the guards locked their cells and left, Iroh called to Katara. She looked over at him with tears in her eyes and Iroh felt panic in his heart. Was Zuko alright?

"Katara, my nephew, where is he?" Iroh asked in deep concern.

Furrowing her brows as she sniffled, "He made a deal with Azula. Us for his return home."

Iroh's eyes widened. "No, he wouldn't"

"We were there." Sokka said as he was laid on his side, chained up from his arms down to his ankles. "He helped Azula capture us."

Iroh couldn't believe this. He thought for sure that his nephew had decided to let Katara and her friends end the war. But it would seem he reverted back to his old way of thinking and was now siding with his evil sister.

Sighing in his cell, "Something must have happened. Azula must have toyed with his head."

"Like that matters." Sokka scoffed. "We're screwed and so is the world."

"Katara, please, my nep-"

"Is a cold hearted bastard!" She spat as she sat with her back facing the other cells. "I should have known better but I let my feelings get the better of me." This was just like what Aunt Wu warned her of. The unforgivable act of Zuko. "I should have known."

…..

A/N:

I'm changing how this story ends, btw.