Bup du du da! Finally. I know I know. I should have updated sooner. But I'd been having trouble with this chapter, not to mention I went on vacation. To Hawaii. It was very nice. Anyway, not an excuse! But yesterday I was inspired by the many previews and good? news from NYCC. I got very excited and decided to write again! I'm really really sorry I havn't updated recently. I hope this chapter is satisfactory, it sure took me awhile and caused much difficulty to write. Hopefully the next one will be better. And oh! I forgot to mention. I changed my pename to Miss Milly, I like it a bit better. Alright, on with the show, its been delayed long enough!

Muffled footsteps crept through the halls, the darkness concealing their owner. Softly, she tapped on the door and pushed it open, praying it wouldn't creak. She slipped inside and edged towards the low bed.

"Zuko." She whispered in a hushed voice. When he didn't stir, she tried again. "Zuko!" She said in a harsh whisper. He didn't move. Katara rolled her eyes and opened her water pouch, thankful she had brought it along. She coaxed the water out with the pull of her fingertips and formed it into a sphere. Slowly moving it towards the bed, Katara positioned it carefully. Then, she let go. The water splashed over Zuko's head.

He woke up sputtering, and Katara found it hard to contain a chuckle. "Wha-" Zuko managed to say in is sleepy state.

"Zuko, I…" Katara paused, "I'll do it. If this is what it takes to finally end the war, I'll do it." She said determined. Zuko sat up in bed slowly, still trying to understand what she was saying. He rubbed his eyes. She'll do what? What war? With a yawn, his memory and senses returned to him and he finally realized what she meant. He opened his mouth to thank her, but she was gone.

Zuko lay back down in his bed and drifted off into a blissful sleep.

Later on, Katara was in the kitchen area making breakfast. Lee had come by earlier with some food for them and told her that Ursa would like to see all four of them as soon as they were finished. Stirring the porridge that he'd brought, Katara was still wondering if she'd done the right thing. She sighed. What's done is done; she already told Zuko she'd do it. Bloodbend. The thought of it sent shivers down her spine. Once breakfast was ready, Katara called for the boys. They all emerged from their rooms grumbling and protesting. Except for Zuko; his door remained shut.

Everyone had found their seats before Katara noticed he was missing and sighed as she realized she had to be the one to wake him. She approached Zuko's door, unsure. Finally she decided to knock. "Zuko?" Katara called hesitantly, expecting him to be in just a deep a sleep as the earlier. She opened the door tentatively and peered inside. To her surprise, she found him pouring over maps and parchment scattered all over the floor. "Uh, Zuko? I made some breakfast, if you want any…Zuko?" Katara asked puzzled when he didn't acknowledge she was there.

"Hm?" He looked up, surprised to see her there.

"What are you doing?" She demanded sharply, a little bitter he didn't notice she'd been talking.

"I'm uh, planning. You know, for the attack." His gaze quickly returned to a map of the palace.

"Well breakfast is ready." Katara snapped. "And once we're done, your…Ursa," She quickly substituted, remembering she wasn't supposed to know she was his mother, "asked us to meet her."

Zuko nodded mutely. Katara pursed her lips and slammed the door as she returned to the kitchen, but continued to glare at Zuko's door. She clenched her teeth harder with every second he didn't show up. How dare he! He asks her to do something morally and ethically wrong, and doesn't even thank her for it! She understood that maybe he was tired when he woke up; she was too. But he had more than enough time to this morning, and he said nothing. Then he won't even come out to eat the breakfast she'd made.

But the worst thing was that she didn't know why this was getting to her so much. If it were anyone else, she would scold them then just brush it off. But everything was…different with Zuko. Everything the insolent boy did, wrong or otherwise, infuriated her. He was planning for the attack and she was ready to tear him limb from limb. It was the mere fact that he was trying to be good, helping to defeat his father. After months of it being them he'd been targeting, Katara found it hard to believe he just switched sides.

But on another level, she knew he was good. Their conversation in Ba Sing Se had stuck with her. She was hurt when he didn't fight for what he believed in, she was hurt he didn't choose the right side, she was hurt he didn't choose her. After they'd talked, Katara looked at him in a whole new light. A good light. And though she would never admit it to another living soul, she'd actually considered him…worthy. Of her trust, of her respect, of…her. Right up until he'd betrayed them and his uncle, almost resulting in Aang's death. Katara doubted she could ever forgive him. But still, he intrigued her.

Katara sat with pursed lips at the table that had been set up for their meeting with Ursa, who was glancing between the four teenagers with an eyebrow raised. Zuko sat uncomfortably in front of his mother, though he was completely unfazed by Katara's mood. A few more ragged, but important looking men and women sat stoically around the small table. Finally, Ursa broke the silence.

"I wanted to explain in more detail about our…plans, for when the arrival of Souzin's comet." She paused, glancing across the table making sure she had everyone's attention. "We'll be sending our soldiers in a few weeks." Ursa smiled and prepared to continue.

"But how will we get all of them there without being noticed? Fire Lord Ozai will have the palace watched around the clock." Aang piped, an expression of puzzlement riddled his features.

Ursa's eyes flashed at Ozai's name, but quickly camouflaged it with a knowing smirk. "I'm not sure if you've heard, Avatar Aang, about the river that flows right into the heart of the palace?" Aang nodded eagerly.

"But," Teo interjected, "wouldn't it be watched too? If it really does go straight into the palace, he'd have soldiers there, right?"

Ursa nodded. "There will be a few, but Ozai doesn't know that you," She motioned to Aang, "know about it. We can get in fairly easily if we send a few ahead to take care of the guards." She explained casually while gesturing elegantly with her hands.

"But it will take a while to get there, especially on foot. There's no way we won't be noticed." Aang protested meekly.

"We'll disguise ourselves." Declared Zuko, who had finally spoken up.

"As what?" Katara challenged moodily, and continued to glare.

Zuko shrugged. "Carnival, musicians, nomads. The possibilities are endless." Katara was disgusted by his ease but could find no reasonable response so she slumped in her chair and furrowed her brows further.

Ursa nodded and smiled softly at her son. "We'll have to split up into about four different groups to make our stories believable. We have too many…soldiers to travel in one." She paused. "Now, we have to discuss what we will do once we invade the castle. We had a few ideas-"

Zuko stood up, motioning her to stop. He pulled out a pile of parchment and began to unroll them. "I've had a few ideas of my own."

Hmm...I wonder what Zuko is planning. Well, I don't but you (hopefully) do. So please review even if it is to tell me I'm unreliable scum who doesn't update!

Emily