Last chapter! Even though this is still a remarkably short story it is longer than it was before. My hope was to flesh out the characters and put a little more meat on the bones of this skins-and-bones tale. Let me know if you read the first version and let me know what you think of this version.

"Good breakfast Katara. One of your best." Sokka sighed in content, leaning back to lay in Suki's lap. He patted his full stomach releasing a well timed burp. "Aaahh….excuse me." Suki giggled as Sokka lounged against her.

Katara smiled in response, glad that the hasty breakfast had been met with approval. "Thank you Sokka." Katara leaned back on her palms. She had finished her breakfast before everyone else had woken up like normal. She was used to being the mother in the group so eating early was routine by now. "So what's on the agenda for today?"

"Earthbending." Toph interjected before Zuko could open his mouth. "Twinkle Toes needs to practice his Earthbending. I got dibs on him until tomorrow."

"Well I guess I'm Earthbending then. What about you Sokka? Suki?" Aang flopped onto his back, clearly not excited about the beating he was going to receive today. At least with firebending he wasn't left bruised and battered at the end of practice.

"Sokka and I were going to have a day to ourselves down by the river. If that's all right with the both of you that is." Suki directed the last part at Katara and Zuko, knowing that Sokka and herself leaving would force the pair to be alone for the day.

"Yes that should be fine. If you all leave your dirty clothes and blankets out here I can get them washed for you." Katara looked out of the corner of her eye at Zuko. This day was just getting better and better. She couldn't wait to spend the remainder of it with Zuko even if she did have to do laundry

"I definitely did not agree to this." Zuko's face was wrinkled in disgust, a soiled undergarment dangling between two fingers. He was pretty sure that it belonged to Sokka and had no desire to touch it more than was required.

"Oh come on Zuko. It's not that bad." Katara gave her new love a light shove, smiling at him as she did. "I used to have to do everyone's clothes alone. You think I wanted to touch your dirty clothes? At least now I have you as my happy helper." Katara planted a quick kiss on Zuko's shoulder before stepping lightly to the riverbank to set down her basket of wet clothes.

Zuko followed closely, the soiled undergarment on the top of his basket of dirty clothes. He had yet to wash that most of the items in his basket, in particular that one item of clothing on top.

"How about you wash, and I dry?" Zuko asked, wrapping his strong arms around Katara's waist. He buried his face in her neck, kissing and nibbling the sway of her neck lightly. Shivering in pleasure, Katara turned to face her firebender. She ran her fingers over his bare chest and arms, marveling at the strength in them. She could feel the heat radiating from his core.

"Sounds good to me handsome." Katara whispered the words into Zuko's lips, ending with a passionate kiss. It felt fantastic to be out in the open kissing and touching the man she loved. A day alone was exactly what they had needed. Hopefully it would give them the courage to tell the others what had happened between them.

Disentangling herself from Zuko's embrace, Katara grabbed the basket of dirty clothes and waded out to the middle of the river. Bending a column of ice next to her to rest the basket on, Katara set to her task. Secretly, Katara loved washing clothes. Her bending made the task quick and enjoyable. It gave Katara great pleasure to know that she was now powerful enough to push water through the fibers of the clothes and blankets fast enough to clean and not cut.

Unbeknownst to her, Zuko was watching Katara from the bank, completely captivated by her graceful bending. He loved her so much it was painful. He had never seen someone so beautiful. His relationship with Mai was nothing compared to the feelings he had for Katara.

Remembering his promise to dry the clothes for Katara, Zuko turned his back to his beautiful waterbender. Seating himself on a clean patch of grass, Zuko set to work using his own bending to dry the clothes. It was a monotonous task but the time passed quickly.

Finishing his basket, Zuko looked up for Katara at the exact moment she turned to look at him. Their faces broke into matching smiles. Katara quickly made her way back to her prince, her sopping basket of clothes in her arms. Setting the basket down gently she launched herself at Zuko, tackling him. The firebender let out a shout of surprise, laughing as his waterbender attacked him with kisses.

"Katara! Katara stop! The clothes are still all wet!" Zuko grabbed Katara's forearms, pushing her away from him. The playful glint in Katara's eye was something Zuko hadnever seen before. It was kind of a turn on.

"Oh Zuko. Always so single-minded." Katara sat up quickly. With one swift sweep of her arms, a mass of water shot out of the baskets and into the air. Dropping the globule into the river, Katara turned with a smirk back to Zuko. "All done."

"You know there really is no reason for me to be here." Zuko huffed, a little irritated that he had been so unnecessary. She could have saved him the trouble of having to touch all the dirty clothes. And Sokka's undergarments.

"Yes there is! Heavy lifting!" Katara pointed at the baskets of clothes and blankets. "We need to get back and fold all of that. Afterwards, I have plans for you." Katara bit her lip slightly, eager for her evening plans to ensue.

Equally as excited to see what his bender had in store, Zuko shot up like a rocket, grabbing the baskets and bolting back to the air temple. Katara walked after him, laughing at his ridiculous behavior.

"So now what?" Zuko asked, dropping the last folded shirt into the basket next to him. It had taken awhile to get everything washed and folded with the large amount of people in the group

"Now we redress your bed. Your blankets were washed as well." Katara poked Zuko's nose lightly, standing and holding his blankets in her arms. She headed down the hall towards his room, knowing that he would follow.

Shoving aside the dark red cape that served as Zuko's door, Katara dropped his freshly laundered blankets onto the little bed in the corner. The bed was made in mere seconds as it comprised of only two blankets; Zuko was able to create his own heat and didn't require as many blankets in the cold night as the others.

"Katara you said you had plans for me." Zuko leaned casually against the doorframe to his room, one eyebrow raised. He wasn't very eager to find out what she wanted to do with him. She had the ability to be very devious.

"Did I? I don't remember that. Oh well!" Katara laughed at the frustrated expression on Zuko's face. Teasing him was the only way to guarantee that look appeared. Turning to walk past him and out the room, she was quickly intercepted by one of Zuko's strong arms around her waist. The exiled prince yanked her into him, trapping her in his embrace.

"You're lying." Zuko growled into her ear. "And if you don't have plans for me, than I have some for you."

The couple's lips met in a clash of fire and water. The cool tide of Katara's tongue met the flashing fire of Zuko's with eager excitement. Zuko pulled Katara into his room, letting the cape-door fall shut behind him. Pinning Katara against the wall, Zuko put his hands on either side of her head and let his lips roam across her cheek and up and down her neck. Nipping Katara's pulse point, Zuko made sure to leave a love bite. He wanted people to know that he was hers.

The sounds of Katara's light moans of pleasure absolutely drove the fire prince crazy. He had never felt so passionate and on fire before.

"Take off your dress Katara." He growled as his animalistic side started to take over. Katara quickly did as he said, letting her blue dress pool around her feet. Not about to let Zuko get away with being fully dressed while she was not, Katara quickly removed his shirt, moaning again as her hands roamed across his toned stomach and arms.

Katara took charge suddenly, shoving Zuko off of her and onto the bed. Laying over him, Katara covered her firebender's neck and chest in kisses, licks, and bites. Small groans of pleasure rumbled from Zuko's chest, his internal fire sparking at the sudden arousal.

Rolling over so he was on top, Zuko stared down at his waterbender. "Katara. I love you." He whispered to her, kissing her forehead lovingly.

"I love you too Zuko. I wanted to show you how much." Katara trailed off, sitting up slightly. Zuko realized what she was doing a second before it happened. Before he could stop her, Katara was lying completely nude under him, her hand trailing up his thigh to brush his hardened length.

"Katara are you sure?" Zuko asked, trying to stop himself from shivering in pleasure at his lady's touch. He wanted nothing more than to go as far as was possible but he was pretty sure Katara had never gone that far before.

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life." Katara whispered. "I love you Zuko. I want you to own that part of me."

"Thank you Katara. I promise you won't regret it." Zuko raised his eyebrows at Katara and gave her a wink. She laughed joyfully, glad that he was back to his old self. Outside the sun had reached its peak. The fiery blaze reflected perfectly in the still of the river, the fire and water melding perfectly in a union of complete opposites.