If It Makes You Happy

Chapter 1

8 Days

Two guards were standing in attention in front of a dressed down Zuko, dressed down compared to his typical royal garbs, who called them off. They side stepped the metal door they guarded 24/7 while one of Zuko's personal body guards opened the door. "Father," he greeted in an even and contained voice, taking a step inside.

Ozai stared ahead in the dark jail cell he was being contained in, hanging limply by shackles that prevented him from moving to attack the new Fire Lord and instead pressed against the wall sitting. It wasn't as if he posed any real threat without his bending now, but like Iroh had told Zuko earlier Ozai was always arrogant about his own strength. Before Zuko arrived he ordered the guards to put shackles on him while he visited. "You've been here before, Fire Lord." He said smirking. "I know a family reunion isn't on your busy schedule, so you can only be here because of your mother...again."

Zuko glared and breathed in deeply through his nose to simmer down the flames that wanted to sprout from his hands. Fire is more than anger, remember? Just breath, he's doing this on purpose to set you off. He took a few more steps forward and maintained eye contact while staring down at Ozai. "Unfortunately, you're the only one who knows what may have happened to her. And you will tell me where she is," Zuko's amber eyes looked up at him, for the first time, dangerously rather than submissive. Evidently shocking Ozai, though he quickly covered it up. "I also suggest that you don't play games with me. You may be my father, but I have no problem making your lifelong imprisonment more uncomfortable than it is now."

This irked the older man, making him hold an equally intense glare with his son. "I told you before that I don't know where she ran off to. She was banished from the Fire Nation, and you know that, so she can be anywhere. Knowing how foolish you are you may have even seen her directly in the eyes and never even noticed it was your mother."

He inhaled deeply, reminding himself that his father wasn't just going to leave her alone and must have had her under watch by soldiers. "I'm giving you one last chance. Do you know where she is?" Zuko wasn't stupid, he knew his father, that's why he brought some help to the jail and worded his question carefully.

Ozai chuckled and shook his head with a smirk, "Of course not."

"But you did for some time."

"No."

"He's lying," Ozai snapped his attention to the small blind earth bender behind Zuko. "I can tell whether you tell the truth or not so you better make this easier on yourself and just tell Sparky here the truth."

Zuko kept his eyes on his father all the while and stood waiting for him to turn his attention back to him as well. "Where is she?" Ozai's glare let him know he wasn't going to cooperate before he even spoke so Zuko took to the offensive state and stood in a stance ready to attack his father. "Think carefully."

"You wouldn't," Ozai scoffed.

Somehow, Zuko's glare intensified and he finally allowed his hands to catch flame. "After what you did to me, the world, the fire nation, my friends, and most importantly Uncle I have more than enough anger to at the very least do more to you than what you did to me."

Toph could feel the awkward growing in the room as she watched, or rather felt, their intense stare off. She felt the need to make a smart remark but knew that it wasn't the time right now.

"Fine," Ozai sighed submissively. "You've already taken my throne, and the Avatar my bending." He chuckled bitterly, "It's not as if you'd find her either way."

Zuko's amber eyes stayed locked on him just like his stance. "The last I knew of her she was somewhere near Fire Fountain City, boarding a boat to Senlin Village in the Earth Kingdom, until she disappeared completely from Fire Nation detection." His arms started to loosen a little but his face lost all the hardness it stored before. "That was a week after she was banished. For all anyone knows she's dead right now." Ozai's face grew solemn and serious, "It's a fool's errand to look for your mother, Zuko."

His voice came out raw when he spoke, "Toph?"

Toph's head snapped up like she had just been caught spying on the scene in front of her. She swallowed a lump in her throat and spoke sturdy, more for Zuko than herself, "He's telling the truth."

He took in a relieving breath and smiled. Standing tall he turned and moved to leave the cell, "Let's go. There's no need to waste our time here anymore, Toph."

"Whatever," She said, silently smiling now that the heaviness of the room disappeared. "You owe me a komodo dragon for my birthday now."

The door slammed shut as the ex-Fire Lord glared at the floor, for once feeling completely powerless.

Aang blinked at Katara while she stood in front of him looking at the ground. "What?"

They were in the Fire Nation palace's garden. There were faint noises coming from the turtle-ducks and running water in the pond. A light breeze passed through Katara's hair, making a shiver go up her arms. She assumed that Aang brought her out here at this time for a specific reason, she could tell straight away from the setting sun. But knowing that a saber-tooth moose-lion is going to ram into you doesn't mean it's any easier to get up afterward. "I'm sorry, Aang." She whispered hoarsely.

"But I thought..." His gray eyes lowered. "After the war-"

The hurt in his voice was so painful, but she had a feeling he felt worse than she did at the moment. "I know, Aang." She tried reaching out to touch his hand but as expected he took a step back. "Aang...You know I love you."

"Don't." He said icily. "You don't love me."

If there had been any other noise she might have not caught his last statement but she did. "Yes. I do."

She preferred him being evasive, Katara decided, after he turned his gaze to her again. "No! Because you don't love me the way I love you!" Her heart stopped seeing tears pooling in his eyes. "Geez, I'm so stupid!" He groaned wiping angrily at his eyes.

That ignited her old protectiveness and Katara snapped, "Stop!" He wouldn't look at her again. "Aang, you are not stupid." She sighed, "If anything I'm stupid. You're such a great guy and you deserve so much. But I..."

"Why don't you love me, Katara?" Aang asked with so much pain Katara had to hold back a sob. "Is there something wrong with me?"

"No!" She shouted and wiped angrily at her own tears. "There's nothing wrong with you, Aang."

"Then why?" He whimpered.

She shook her head desperately now. "I don't know. I'm just...I'm confused." She hated using that word again after Ember Island, but it was true. She honestly didn't know what she wanted. After the war kissing Aang had just seemed right to do after everything she put him through. In fact she even thought she was reciprocating his feelings, but she soon realized she didn't. She liked Aang, but not as strongly as he likes her.

"I can wait," He whispered in his determined tone of voice.

Katara could feel him just pulling at her strings, soon she'd end up breaking down in front of him. But that wasn't something she should do while he was worse. "No, I don't want you to." He was about to object but she stopped him. "I don't know if I ever can return your feelings, Aang. I want to, I really do, but I don't know. And if I can't then it would only be worse for you."

Storm clouds built in his eyes and he stepped forward raising his arms in the air, "How can it be worse?"

Her voice shook, "Trust me, it can..."

"Hey guys! Zuko just..." Sokka's voice died down when he saw the tears and tension between them. "...got back." His eyes traveled from the moping monk to his sister and said carefully, "Katara, is everything-"

She swallowed to try and ease her dry throat, plastering on a fake smile before nodding. "Everything's fine, Sokka." His expression told her he didn't buy it but he'd let it go for the mean time. "So...um, dinner will be ready soon I guess, right?"

"Yeah," He said barely above a whisper.

Katara nodded and walked away from Aang, missing the moment his hand hesitated to move forward and grab her hand. "I'll go get ready then. Don't forget to tell Suki and the others."

Her older brother sighed, "Right."

Dinner was different, to say the least. Aang was quiet and brooding after the events in the pond. Toph seemed to be reflecting on something instead of exchanging witty banter with whoever was her latest victim. Sokka would sometimes space out. Zuko was smiling...alot. And in response everyone else (Haru, Teo, the Duke, the Mechanist, Hakoda, Iroh, Ty Lee, Mai, Suki, Pipsqueek, Bato, and the Kyoshi Warriors) were slightly less chatty than usual. It wasn't awkward, but it wasn't normal either.

But regardless of his smile, there was something else off with Zuko. "What is wrong, nephew?" Iroh spoke up after taking a bite of roast turtle-duck (not from the pond, of course). "There seems to be something on your mind troubling you."

Zuko smiled respectfully, "Nothing can possibly bother me tonight, Uncle."

The wise general shook his head and took a sip of tea with a smile, "Your eyes will fall from your head if you continue to look around everywhere."

This puzzled him at first, before Zuko realized what had seemed amiss during all of dinner. "Chief Hakoda," he called out to the water tribesman. "Where is your daughter?"

"I," he paused and turned to the empty spot in the dining table next to Haru and Aang. "I'm not sure."

Sokka grew more worried, but spoke up on his sister's behalf. "I went to check in on her before coming, she said she felt kinda sick so she'll be missing out on dinner tonight."

Zuko nodded, "I'll send one of the palace nurses to—"

He waved his hand, "Nah, don't worry about it. She's fine, plus she's a healer so she can do better on her own."

Zuko sighed, "Fine." Then his smile re-lit his face. Standing up he cleared his throat, "Everyone, I have an announcement to make."

"You're gonna make it a law that Haru should shave his mustache?" Toph asked bored receiving a glare from the other earth bender.

"Better than that-"

"How can there be anything better than that?" Teo laughed.

Haru stood up angrily, "Ok, that is getting so old!"

A dagger flew past each of their heads before more could be said. Mai sat down with a smirk and nodded to let Zuko know to continue. "I have a lead on where to find my mother." There was a chorus of congratulations before Zuko continued proudly. "I'll be leaving soon to find her so in my stead I'm leaving Uncle in charge, if that's okay?" He asked nervously. After Iroh nodded he continued. "Also, I don't want you guys to feel trapped or anything but it would really help my country if a few of you stayed to help him while I'm gone." There was sudden silence in the room. "I know it's a lot to ask, especially now that the war is over, but I need your help." He bowed his head waiting for some type of a response, no longer looking like a Fire Lord.

Aang stood up and cleared his throat, "I'll stay, it's my duty as the Avatar and your friend."

They exchanged a silent pair of smiles before Sokka stood up, "There's enough men going back to the South Pole already, they don't need my help as much as you do, Mr. Jerk bender."

Toph shrugged, "Everyone already knows I'm staying if they're sticking around."

The Mechanist was the last to stand, "I would like to offer my services in reconstructing these lands before doing so for the Earth Kingdom." Teo smiled up at his dad and nodded.

"Thank you," Zuko smiled. "All of you."

While the dining room rejoiced, Katara hugged herself closely as she silently cried in bed. The last thing she ever wanted was to hurt Aang, and now she did just that. Worse, she reminded herself, I broke him. Images of him crying and grasping at every bit of hope he could at the pond turned her stomach and refreshed the tears that spilled from her eyes.

Her room was beautiful before she began to let herself cry earlier. There was a nice window looking outside, a washroom connected to the bedroom, a huge canopy bed, and various other furniture throughout the room that screamed royalty and beauty.

Now her water skins lay thrown near the washroom somehow, her boots lay strewn in front of a futon, the sheets of her bed were a mess, and the room echoed with her cries. Tears stained not only the sheets and her clothes but also her hair which matted against her skin from those very tears. Her hair was a mess, her clothes were a mess, she was a mess, and even more her life was a tangled mess of confusion.

A little after her sobs turned into whimpers, there was a soft knock on her door.

The door slid open slowly. "Can I come in?" Sokka asked peeking inside the large room. Katara wiped her tears and nodded awkwardly. His eyes softened as he padded to her bed and took a seat beside her. They were silent for a few moments as she tried to make herself look more presentable. Knowing that this was one of those moments where he shouldn't be too careful with her, Sokka eased himself on the bed next to her and pulled her under his arm.

Katara's tears kept running down her face but she refused to sob, even if it was in front of Sokka. But she knew it didn't matter, because at that moment it was like old times. It wasn't Katara and Sokka, the Avatar's companions; it was Katara and Sokka, brother and sister. She curled up against his side as he ran his hand over her head soothingly. "I'm sorry I missed dinner." She whispered against his chest, noticing with a grimace that her voice broke all over the place.

"It's fine, don't worry." Katara felt like there was a warm blanket made of fur surrounding her at his words. Sokka was using his brother voice and that always seemed to soothe her, if even just a little. "I can get some food to you later if you want." She shook her head. "I didn't think so," He smiled wiping a tear from her eyes with his thumb gently.

She tried to smile back but it didn't work, her wall had fallen long ago when Sokka came in as she cried. She needed to change the subject, get her mind off of things. "Zuko and...Toph?"

His momentary sadness at knowing how much she didn't want to talk about things evaporated after remembering their conversation during dinner. "Good news," His big brother voice weakened into a more carefree Sokka. "Zuko has a lead on where his mother might be. He's already setting up things to leave soon. He's leaving his Uncle in charge for the mean time. Plus he asked that we all stay while he's gone to make sure that everything in the Fire Nation stays under control while he's gone." A smile tugged at the corners of Katara's lips lightening the burden on Sokka's heart. He sighed remembering another interesting bit of conversation from earlier that night, "Toph wants to stay permanently."

"In the Fire Nation?" It was shocking. Katara always thought that Toph would eventually want to return to her family's home.

"Yeah, I mean it makes sense that she doesn't want to go back home." Sokka clearly felt differently than her. "It's just a bit shocking. But if that's what she wants...Zuko actually said she could stay in the palace with him."

Katara scoffed, "Sounds like a proposal."

He laughed loudly, slightly shaking her off of his arm, "That's what I said! Until...his grumpy girlfriend threw a knife at me."

They both erupted into comfortable laughter until they were both sitting up holding their sides, later realizing they were only laughing at each other. Katara smiled genuinely at her brother before hugging him tightly, "Thank you, Sokka."

He smiled and hugged her back, "Eh, what are big brothers for?"

They let go and he smiled reassuringly at her one last time before standing up and walking to the door. Katara moved around in her bed, getting ready to sleep now that she felt better. After all, crying can really tire people. Before Sokka opened the door, though, he turned around and spoke softly; "You know, even though I'm not a girl and we've gone through life threatening situations that might make you think your normal girl problems aren't important and everything...I'm still your big brother and you can come to me if you ever have a problem."

"Or you'll hunt me down again?" She laughed.

Sokka just gave her one of his crooked smiles, "You don't always have to be strong for others, Katara."

Her eyes lowered remembering what happened in the garden with Aang. "Thanks." Just as he was walking out she called out quickly, "I love you!"

"Love you, too." His voice faintly carried through the room as he shut the door.

Zuko sighed as he entered his room after the morning council meeting. Well his new room. The Fire Lord's room. The room was amazing, as it should be for the Fire Lord, but it reminded him too much his father. He made sure to burn anything that reminded him too much of Ozai in the first place when he moved into the room, but if he concentrated hard enough he could still smell him in the room.

"How'd it go?" Mai's usual monotone drone met his ears before he even had the chance to remove his crown piece.

He shrugged, "They won't show any signs of objecting at least."

She stood from his bed and walked up to him, gently holding his arm. "But...?"

Zuko sighed again walking slowly to sit on his bed. "They strongly suggested that I hold off on leaving for another month." As soon as he sat down Mai plopped down right beside him.

He usually enjoyed Mai's company, but today he just wanted to be alone. Zuko wasn't a prince anymore which meant he had a lot more on his plate to deal with. "I was thinking," As she spoke she placed one hand on his chest. "I spend a lot of time here with you, right?" He looked down at her confused but nodded. "Well maybe you should just get some of the servants to bring some of my clothes to my spare room here and save myself the trouble of going back and forth between the palace and my home."

He raised an eyebrow, "But you live across the street. It's not like it's that far away, and you usually take the palanquin."

She sighed and retreated her hands angrily. "Are you saying you don't want me here?"

"No, Mai." Zuko tried to hold back his frustration and ran a hand over his face. "Look, just do whatever you want as long as it doesn't get in the way of my work too much."

She turned and glared at him, "I didn't think I was that important to you."

He sighed for the third time since he entered his room and took hold of her hand, until she snatched it away. "I'm sorry. It's just I have a lot on my mind right now, Mai. I'm glad to know that you want to stay in the palace with me, it's just right now I have a lot to worry about and I let that get the better of me."

She slowly smiled lightly and turned her head. "I know, I forgive you. I just thought that after the war ended we'd have more time alone together."

"I'll try my best to make that happen," He smiled back, halfheartedly. "But until I come back from looking for my mother I don't think it will happen too easily."

She frowned again, "Maybe if you make it so that I stay here permanently, preferably in the room next to yours, we wouldn't have such a big problem."

Zuko gulped realizing what she was hinting at, "Can we talk about this some other time? I just need to rest a little before having to deal with paperwork."

"Fine," She leaned forward and placed a kiss on his lips. "Just think about what I told you."

A week passed swiftly and strenuously for Zuko afterward. First Aang received an urgent message from King Kuei asking for his assistance in rebuilding Ba Sing Se. Toph volunteered to go with him and they both promised to be back in time for his departure. At first Zuko thought that they'd probably return with time to spare until he remembered how large the kingdom was and how much damage the war inflicted on it.

He found reassurance in his Uncle staying until he announced last minute he would be leaving with the Avatar to check on his tea shop and promised he would return on time as well.

On the bright side, after they left Katara seemed to return to her usual self. She wasn't locked in her room as much and she talked during meals much more. Her and Sokka even seemed to enjoy each other's company much more.

But that only lasted for a day until Suki announced that she and the remaining Kyoshi warriors, including Ty Lee, had to return to Kyoshi Island. Of course Sokka volunteered to go with them and help with rebuilding the village after Zuko burned it down.

The next day before they left Sokka pulled Katara aside and say his last goodbyes. "You'll be fine without me, right?" Katara just nodded trying to fake a smile. In truth she was still holding back on a lot of worry from before but she could talk to Sokka about things later.

He looked past her shoulder and blushed, probably looking at Suki. When he looked back at Katara his face turned calm, "Can I ask you something?"

"It's about Suki, right?" He nodded smiling.

"I've been thinking," He began with a faraway look. "I'd like to find out, in the near future, how she would look with a betrothal necklace." Her eyes widened.

She tentatively grabbed his arm, "Sokka, are you sure about this?"

He nodded, "Yeah. I love her, Katara. There's no one else I'd rather see myself with." He noticed the worried look in her eyes. "I'm not saying I'll do it soon, but maybe after her village is fixed..."

"Wow," She let out in a breath. "This is serious."

"I know," His tone was serious. "But I'm serious about her, and I think she feels the same way."

"Sokka!" Ty Lee shouted waving her arm behind them. "It's time to go!"

He cupped his hands around his mouth, "I'll be right there." He turned back to Katara with a cheeky grin, "Well, I guess this is goodbye."

Katara wrapped her arms tightly around him, scared to death for what would happen once Sokka left on the airship. "Be careful," She whispered into his ear before letting go.

"Don't worry so much," He chuckled. "I'll be back before Zuko leaves."

As soon as the airship left Katara was wrapped in her father's arms. Zuko watched from the side, realizing that the two siblings had been together for years and probably never separated for as long as they would be now. He wondered silently what it must feel like to have such a strong bond with a sibling.

The following day Hakoda decided that the Southern Water Tribe needed help and was ready to have what remained of his men leave the following day with him to help. Until Zuko stopped him, asking that the chief stayed to help him handle business between both nations. Hakoda agreed and asked that there be a meeting between the nations when Zuko returned from his search to sign a peace treaty.

In effect this left Bato leading the men out the following day, Katara decided to stay and help Hakoda face the council, and Zuko beginning plans for a peace conference and signing more paperwork.

Zuko counted the days that passed until he could leave. It was a total of 28 days and it was just day 8. Everything was planned like clock work though. On the fifteenth day Hakoda would meet with the council. On the seventeenth they would start making a contract on how much aid would be sent to the Southern and Northern Water Tribes for the mean time. On the eighteenth day he met with the council to discuss his trip again, the nineteenth day was left on hold in case the meeting needed to last another day. On the twentieth day Mai planned to move in her stuff. From the twenty first day to the twenty sixth he would reevaluate how his nation's community was in all aspects. On the twenty seventh day he would have another meeting to discuss what should be done about the homecoming soldiers and pack things for his journey. Lastly on the twenty eighth day he would leave to Senlin Village.

The night of the eighth day wasn't easy though. Which was probably why Zuko couldn't stop thinking and decided to walk around the palace instead of sleeping.

He wasn't the only one, however. Katara couldn't sleep that night either and was walking around in a fire nation robe around the palace with a cloak wrapped around the thin fabric. She was too occupied with her own thoughts to sleep. She wondered what things would have been like if she'd said yes to Aang. Would she be happy just because he was? It struck her mind that maybe she felt guilty because Aang was the last guy left alive she knew who had any true interest in her. She was sure that if Jet was dead she'd be calmer.

After all she just missed out on a great opportunity. Being with the Avatar was what most girls wished for. Girls like Mang and On Ji. But she didn't want to be known as the Avatar's girl. Especially when she knew in the bottom of her heart she never actually like him romantically.

Plus now that the war was over she wanted to do something other than start a relationship. She seemed to be the only one who wanted something more than just that. She wanted to do something. She just wasn't sure what

She sighed absently, hugging herself. "Hey," A soft voice called out to her.

Her steps stopped in front of the stairs leading to the next floor. There sat Zuko, alone, several steps above her. She smiled lightly at him and he returned the greeting. He raised an eyebrow at her, quietly asking why she wasn't asleep. "I needed to clear my head."

He nodded before answering her inquisitive glance, "Same." They staid quiet for a second contemplating their own problems until Zuko moved slightly to the side on the step he sat to offer her some company. She smiled graciously and took him up on his offer. Once again a moment passed between them as they thought. Zuko couldn't stop thinking about his mother, his nation, and Mai while on the other hand Katara was thinking about Sokka, Aang, and what she would do now that the war was over.

"It's strange," She whispered softly.

Zuko looked down at her, her eyes glued to the marble step beneath her feet. "What is?"

She turned her face to him and attempted to smile, "Everything I guess. The war being over," Katara began to list with the most important one.

"Being the Fire Lord," Zuko added his own two cents with a scoff.

"Being in the Fire Nation Palace without chains," She giggled slightly.

"Ozai and Azula being in prison."

"Sokka thinking about marriage..." She sighed remembering her brother's earlier conversation with her before leaving.

Zuko's interest peaked, "Marriage?"

Katara nodded, "Yeah."

He was silent, thinking about the new subject before adding something to their list again. "Mai hinting about marriage."

This shocked Katara more than Sokka's own news to her. She remained quiet, swallowing down tears she knew would prick at her eyes again. "Aang hinting about marriage," Her voice came out in quivers and as one whole breath.

His eyes widened at the new revelation, "Aang?" She nodded. "But you—"

"It's kind of why I broke things off with him," That didn't sound right to her. "Even though we weren't technically even dating in the first place." She heard him exhale, loudly compared to the silence in the palace. Looking up at him she felt a bit on edge realizing she just told Zuko what she wasn't able to tell anyone for the last week. "Um...sorry."

His face relaxed from its previous state of concentration. "For what?" He asked in a new mask of confusion.

"I would usually go to Sokka...or Aang, about these type of things but..." Taking a deep breath Katara locked her eyes with his. "It's just hard, you know? After the war ended I thought I might be able to develop stronger feelings for him and I think instead I just made things...worse, for both of us. He told me he loves me and couldn't wait to go back to the Air Temple and asked me to go back with him to help him restore what remained of his culture. And then he started promising me a good life there and all this other stuff..." She sighed, finally turning her eyes away from Zuko's completely. She couldn't believe that she just spilled her guts to him, but he'd proven in the past and now that he was just so easy to talk to. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't add to your load of problems...being the Fire Lord and all." She started twisting her fingers into the fabric of her clothes to distract herself from noticing how stupid she felt for putting him in such an awkward position.

Too busy twisting her shirt, Katara didn't notice the smile that formed on Zuko's lips. He let his body move on its own accord and grab hold of her hand to stop her from ruining her clothes. She looked back at him shocked and confused. He just continued to smile in return, "Don't worry about it. I'm actually flattered that you feel comfortable enough around me to open up about your feelings."

She blushed lightly and blinked at him reflecting on what he'd just said. Somewhere along the road, Katara realized, she actually became comfortable around Zuko. Even more than with her brother, she figured, considering she told him what she couldn't tell Sokka. Granted she was crying part of the time he tried talking to her. "I guess I am."

Zuko's smile widened slightly when she smiled back at him. "That's another thing that's strange, I guess." She continued to smile but gave him a partially confused stare. "You don't hate me anymore."

"I never hated you," Katara scoffed moving forward to intimidate him slightly.

He rolled his eyes doing the same, "Right because threatening someone when no one else is around is no sign of hate."

"I just didn't trust you," She retaliated. "And I mean after what happened in Ba Sing Se you can't really blame me."

That felt like a stab in the chest. "I know..."

Katara's eyes lowered realizing what she did. When she did she also noticed that their hands were still connected. She smiled turning her eyes back to him and squeezing his hand reassuringly, "But you proved me wrong." His face still didn't lighten up. She let go of his hand and moved to sit right next to him now. "After what you did for my family and me you didn't just gain my trust, you deserved it."

"No, I—" He tried to stop her from giving him too much credit.

"Don't start being all humble," she insisted stubbornly. "You saved my dad, you gave closer on my mother's death, and you took a shot of lightning to save my life."

Zuko smiled appreciatively, "I wanted your trust." Then he smiled sheepishly, "As for Azula's lightning..." He paused thinking his words through. "I'm sure anyone who was in my place would have done the same thing."

Katara felt a rush of feelings pass through her before she found her arms around Zuko's neck. He was still for a second before returning her embrace. She whispered next to his ear, "I heard that you might be able to find your mother." He pulled back slightly and nodded. "Let me go with you. Help you find her, just like you helped me before."

AN:/

Moody1656: I have caught Zutara fever! Anyways this is more like a prologue/chapter 1 so most chapters won't actually be this long. I hope you guys all like this. So this is my first time writing in the ATLA category so I'm having a little problem. Please review or go to my poll and vote for the couples that you wanna see other than Zutara.

AangxToph

AangxOn Ji

AangxMang

SokkaxSuki

SokkaxToph

SokkaxTy Lee

So please vote cause I wanna start developing the relationships next chapter. Please review! I really tried hard and I'd love some feedback.