Ok, I decided against my earlier idea. What I'm planning should satisfy most, but I have a feeling it will come up a little short.

A little too keen, perhaps, Zuko staved off temptation until Katara was truly awake to speak with her. Not the one for tact or subtlety, he merely requested her presence in a more private area while the rest of the gang went about gathering supplies and loading Appa. She looked at him askance for a moment, contemplating her position. But with an encouraging smile that melted her heart- and her resolve -she went with him.

'What is this about?' she asked, her sapphire blue eyes cast downwards so that her lashes formed a soft curtain to fall about them. 'You know we cannot-'

He interrupted. 'We can. The Avatar informed me that he has decided to stand aside, for your happiness. He is willing to remove whatever has separated us.'

Startled, her eyes flew up to greet his. 'Truly? Aang did that...'

She was well aware of his rather oppressive crush. It always made her especially guilty to turn her mind to her traitorous thoughts and desires, as harmless as they appeared to be.

Harmless no longer. With a thrill, she saw him slip her Mother's necklace out of his sleeve and, without request or permission, come behind her and tie it gently to her neck, where it sat happily, back in its rightful place. Her hand stroked its surface absently.

What position did this leave them in now?

Well aware of his warm breath on the base of her neck, she heard him loud as thunder when he whispered.

'I keep my promise Waterbender. Your necklace is safe where it belongs.'

'Your presence is fire to me,' she said without meaning to.

'Burn, then.'

She turned her body to his and he bound her with her gaze. Transfixed, like one who has seen the beauty of a radiant sunset, she stood. Finding his throat dry, Zuko staved the need to speak for a few more moments. Then, finally:

'Then, Katara, I ask. If you will have me, I am yours, and you mine. If not-'

But she would not allow him to speak thus. Silencing him, she replied.

'I have been yours for a long time.'

Their closeness was thrilling, but when his arms enfolded her in an embrace she felt as though she must surely drown in sheer bliss.

If his presence burns me, she mused to herself, and his touch holds me in an inferno, then surely his kiss will destroy me.

But she did not perish; she had survived it once before and she did again, though she felt its furious, wonderful power all the more.

Back at their camp, which was rapidly enfolding itself within various bags and pouches, Toph felt some curious vibrations in the Earth, something that made her grin.

'Didn't think Sugar Queen had it in her,' she chuckled. Iroh, naturally curious, questioned her over her comment.

'Well, as far as I can see, young Sparky and Sugar Queen have run off to a rather "secluded" area, and are currently in the process of eating each other's faces,' the grin on her face seemed to, if it was possible, get bigger.

Alarmed at this blunt way of putting it, Iroh nevertheless let out a great chuckle.

'I knew it! Ah, my beloved nephew has his very first girlfriend. He will not hear the end of this!' Iroh declared, his face matching Toph's.

'Wait-' Toph held up her hand, concentrating. She let out another giggle and gave Iroh a running commentary. Iroh, rapt, listened carefully, laughing every so often. He craned his neck to see with his own eyes, but he could not.

Aang, still a little sombre, couldn't help but wonder as he looked up at Iroh and Toph, giggling away like a pair of naughty children. It was really quite bizarre to see the old man muffling his laughter with his hands, and he puzzled over what was making them so jovial. But from his angle, he could see what it was, and for fear of his heart breaking, he turned aside.

Zuko held Katara in his arms for a little longer, almost unwilling to relinquish her for fear that something else would take her away from him.

Yet he finally did, wishing that he could hold on forever. Katara, snug where she was, was also reluctant for them to part.

But they did, and whether it was true love or teenage passion that bound their hearts together, they remained tied for long after they had parted in flesh.

I'm ending it here. Short and rather unsatisfying, perhaps, but I'm lazy, and I think I've contributed something good to the Zutarian fan community. YAY. As for the other pairings...well, for fear that I will offend or upset people, Sokka and Aang went on Blind Date, where rabid shippers carried them off, but the reader (you!) broke in and decided who they ended up marrying. hooray! Everyone's happy!

((In my version, Sokka and Aang ran away and got married together and left the shipping fandoms in turmoil...talk about forbidden love :D ))

Let's end on a poetic note, shall we?

I made this for school a while ago. It relates (sort of) to Zutara so, purely for the fact that I would like to make the content of this chapter bigger, here it is... for your ire or your amusement.

If you are the Ocean, I am the flame

If you are the cure, I am the bane

If you are the lantern, I am the moth

If you are the needle, I am the cloth

If you are the flower, I am the bee

If you are the lock, I am the key

If you are the black, then I am the white

If you are the dark, then I am the light

Vaguely Zutara. Cheers, thanks for reading, I really appreciate all those reviews and happy readers. Sorry to let you down, but...ya know...

Peace ya'll, and here's hoping that the Kataang vs Zutara rivalry will finally calm down... with the victory of Zutara of course... (shifty eyes)