Author's Note: This is my very first Fan Fiction so, please, bear with me. I'm going to try my best but I'm still nervous that I won't be able to do Avatar the justice it deserves. Gah x.x okay, enough with the negativity; enjoy!

Zuko POV

What a rare occurrence, Zuko thought. Everyone in the gAang was silent as they made their way back to beach house. Lost in their thoughts, I guess.

After a few more moments of silence, Zuko decided to be the one to break it; "That…wasn't a good play," he stated.

"I'll say," Aang agreed.

"No kidding," Katara muttered

"Horrible," Suki said with a nod.

"But the effects were decent," suggested Sokka, and everyone cracked a smile.

Katara POV

As soon as the gAang arrived back at the beach house and everyone was settled into bed, Katara slipped out the back door and made her way down to the beach. She was still tense from the play and hoped that the water would soothe her nerves a bit. Katara walked across the rocks along the ocean until she came across a small tidal pool. She smiled to herself as she watched the seastar-snail fish crawling along the bottom of the pool.

That play was horrific; she thought as she sat down by the water. They didn't capture my character at all. I am NOT some whiny, over-emotional, bossy, mother-figure who blabs on about hope all the time. Sure, I take charge of the chores and try to keep everyone in line and safe, but it doesn't mean I'm acting like a mother; I'm just trying to look out for my friends and keep everyone together. And sure, on occasion I may, POSSIBLY, be bossy about it, but hey, everyone loses their patience, right? But there is NO WAY that I am whiny and over-emotional. I'll admit that I have hope, and I try to encourage the others to have it too. I try to inspire people. I help people that need me. But I never whine. Ever. I yell, I scream, I lash out with water bending, I cry, but I don't whine and I don't complain.

Katara sighed. It wasn't just the play itself that made that evening so awkward and stressful. Aang played a part in her misery as well.

Why does he have to push me? She wondered. I don't even know how I feel about him anymore… I thought I liked him…but, ever since Zuko joined the group I've stopped thinking about Aang as a crush. I get feelings for Zuko that I've never had for Aang. When I think of Aang, I feel protective of him. I care about him and I want to be there for him, but I just don't feel a pull towards him. After I forgave Zuko- no, even before I forgave him (I was just too angry with him to acknowledge it) I felt a pull towards him. Every time I see him my heart starts beating faster, I blush continuously, and I can't help but stare at him. All of him. His perfect build, his toned muscles, his shaggy hair, his golden eyes, and most of all; his scar. I've stopped thinking of it as an ugly, unfortunate burn, but as a permanent reminder. A reminder of how he stood up for innocent people when he father was ready to have them murdered. I thought back to the day Zuko told me that story…

"Hahahaha! BEAT THAT!" Toph yelled as Aang tried to pull himself out from under the all the rumble Toph launched at him.

"HEY! YOU GUYS WANA FIGHT? TAKE IT OUTSIDE!" Katara screeched, "I'M TRYING TO CLEAN!"

"Whoaaaa Sugar Queen, calm it down, we're leaving," Toph said with a smirk, "C'mon, let's go, Twinkles Toes," she said whilst giving the floor a kick, thus launching Aang out the nearest window.

Katara, still fuming, went back to looking for a broom. There has to be one around here somewhere, she thought. I mean, back when people lived here someone had to have done the cleaning. Hmmmm, maybe there's one in the attic. Katara began looking around the second floor for a way up into the attic. Finally, she found it; a stairwell hidden behind a door in the Fire Lord's old bedroom. Katara shuddered and continued to look over her shoulder as she climbed the stairs. Sheesh, this room gives me the creeps. When she reached the top she looked around the dark, musty room. It was filled with about 10 or so old boxes and trunks. Each covered in an inch-thick layer of dust. Her curiosity got the best of her and she walked over to the nearest box and began to look through it. It was filled with old pots, pans, and dishes. Huh, she thought, these will come in handy, and she lifted the box and placed it by the stairwell so she could bring it down to the kitchen when she left. Then she moved on to the next box. This box was filled with old clothes, unfortunately none of them were large enough to fit anyone in the gAang. Next, Katara moved on to one of the trunks. Oh, Katara gasped. The trunk was filled with family portraits. It looked like there was one for each year until Zuko was about 11. I wonder if Zuko knew these were up here… Katara grabbed all of them up into her arms and ran down the stairs, through the Fire Lord's old room, and out into the upstairs hallway.

"ZUKO!" she yelled.

"Out here!" he called from the backyard.

Katara ran down the stairs and out the back door to find Zuko, Suki and Sokka skinning some animals they'd caught earlier.

"Hey," she said, out of breath, "look what I found!" Katara held up the paintings.

All three of them looked up and Zuko growled in disgust, "put them back, Katara" he muttered.

"What? Why?" Katara asked.

Zuko stood up, grabbed Katara's arm and led her into the house; away from the other two. "I don't want to see them. In fact, leave them in the fireplace. I'll burn them later."

"Zuko!" Katara gasped.

"What!" He snapped.

"Why would you do such a thing?"

"Because I hate my father!" Zuko said, nostrils flaring.

"Zuko…" Katara was silent for a moment. Trying not to anger him, she whispered, "Why?"

"Katara..." he sighed, exasperated, "you don't understand."

"Please, Zuko. Open up. Just ONCE," She paused, "Please tell me why"

Zuko was quiet for several minutes, but Katara's gaze never left his. Finally he sighed and began, "Those pictures are nothing but a painful memory. Of what my family used to be and of how much we've lost. We used to be happy. We used to come here every summer to vacation together, but when my mother left…my father…well, he lost all patience, all happiness. Don't get me wrong, he wasn't ever easy to deal with, even with my mother around, but once she was gone it was like…he lost all humanity. He didn't want to speak to Azula or me unless it was about our training, and seeing as that was the only way I could spend time with him, that's all I did. I trained and trained, trying to please him, but Azula was always better, and he was always disappointed in me; disgraced because my baby sister was better than me; the heir to the throne. But, finally, I had found a way that I could please him, a way that Azula couldn't possibly prove to be better than me, because she was a girl and wasn't allowed. I begged uncle to allow me into the War Room during one of my father's meetings. I wanted to prove that I was old enough, strong enough, and intelligent enough to be a part of a war meeting. All I wanted was my father's pride," Zuko said, clutching his fists, "but when I arrived to the war meeting, and heard what they were planning…I couldn't just sit there. I had to say something. The General wanted to sacrifice an entire regiment of new soldiers in a battle against the Earth Kingdom. They were going to use them as a DISTRACTION," Zuko spat, "so that they could win. It made me sick, and I spoke against it. But I was young and therefore not supposed to speak in war meetings. I disgraced the general by speaking out of turn, and against his plan. He challenged me to an Agni Kai. I was naïve; I accepted. I thought I'd be battling the General," Zuko paused, and took a deep breath, "On the day of the Agni Kai, I was excited; I turned to face my opponent, so eager to prove myself. But when I turned I saw not the General, but my father. I had outspoken in his War Room, and so it was him whom I had disgraced. When I saw him I fell to my knees, and I begged forgiveness. He told me to get up and to fight like a man, but I stayed down; praying he would forgive me. But no, he looked down at me with disgust, and when I wouldn't get up to fight, he shot a fire ball at my face. And then he banished me." When Zuko finished he was glaring at the floor, absolutely livid.

"Zuko, I-"

Zuko cut Katara off, "No Katara, don't say anything, it's not worth talking about. But now do you understand why I hate him?"

"Yes, I-"

"Good," he nodded, not meeting her eyes, "so will you please leave those in the fire place? I'm going back outside to finish skinning the meat," and he left without giving her the chance to answer.

***END FLASHBACK***

Katara pitied Zuko…but she was also proud of him. And in a way, happy he had done what he had. Because maybe if he hadn't spoken out, then he wouldn't have become the man he is today. He may have turned out like his father and sister; a merciless, brutal, killer. Katara shuddered.

"Cold?" a voice said from behind her.

Katara jumped up and spun around, getting into a defensive position, but then realized who she was looking at.

"Whoa, whoa! Calm down," Zuko exclaimed, holding his hands up in a surrender position.

"Sorry," Katara mumbled, "I didn't realize it was you," she said, sitting back down.

Zuko sat down beside her, "Yeah I was standing here for 5 minutes, and you didn't even notice me. You must have been pretty deep in your thoughts."

Katara nodded, "What are you doing out here?" she asked.

Zuko shrugged, "I noticed you leaving and when you didn't come back after an hour I got worried I guess."

"Oh," Katara smiled, "I'm fine, just thinking."

"About what?" he asked.

"The play… and Aang."

"Oh," Zuko muttered

"Yeah, I'm not so sure that I, uh, like him the way he likes me, you know?"

"Oh?" Zuko said, "Yeah I know what you mean, I went through the same thing with Mai…sort of. I guess the best thing to do would be to tell him the truth?"

"Yeah…" Katara nodded, "You're right…thanks Zuko."

"No problem," Zuko stood up, "So uh, you ready to go back now?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm beat"

Zuko laughed and held out a hand to help Katara up, "Oh yeah," he said, "because we had a hard day of lazing around the house"

Katara giggled and they continued to make jokes on their way back to the house.

Author's Note: How'd I do? Good? Bad? Decent? Please leave a comment and let me know!