Yay! My first Zutara fanfic ever! Anyways, I hope you guys like and enjoy it. Well then, read on.

(Edit: I decided to combine some of the earlier and shorter chapters to make them longer as well as to shorten the chapter length of this fic. The content of the chapters has not changed, however.)

Disclaimer- Avatar: the Last Airbender belongs to Mike and Bryan, and I make no profit on this story.

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This chapter has been edited from the original

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Chapter One

Postwar Events

Opening sharp, golden eyes, Zuko blinked at the minimal amount of light that entered his expansive room as the early rays of the sun struck his pale skin. He always woke with the sun. That was just the way with firebenders.

Stifling a tired yawn, the young man sat up in his large bed and ran a hand through his short, loose hair as he surveyed his royal bedchamber. The bed was high and massive, almost covering one wall of the room, while large and comfortable cushions were spread on the other side of the impressive bedchamber. Gold and red were the prominent colors that decorated the room with a glossy, black marble floor. On one wall hung a large tapestry with the Fire Nation emblem, and impressive illustrations of Fire Nation scenery and magnificent dragons covered the other three. On the western side of his room was a large balcony, which oversaw the Capital, the best part being that from there he could see where the sun touched the sea as it began to rise or set in the sky. It was a beautiful, breathtaking sight, and he always tried to find time to see it.

His royal suite consisted of two large sections. One was his bedchamber and the other was the antechamber, which had to be passed in order to enter his resting quarters—though not many were privileged to do so since he enjoyed his privacy. In this antechamber was where he usually took all his meals, alone or with those close to him.

However, the royal chambers were now simpler than they used to be when Ozai had lived there. As soon as he became Fire Lord, Zuko had ordered for all the gaudy decoration his sire preferred to be tore down and the rooms remodeled.

Zuko smiled to himself as he finished scanning his sleeping quarters. He still had trouble getting accustomed to his new room and his new life. After spending so many years in a small cabin in his small metal ship, then sleeping on the hard ground as a fugitive, and then living in a small, filthy apartment in the lower district of Ba Sing Se, it seemed unbelievable. However, it was not only his room that amazed him but the fact that now he was the Fire Lord, ruler of the great Fire Nation, when he had once lost hope of ever regaining his throne and his home.

Pulling the covers away from his body, Zuko stood up from his impressive bed and stretched for a moment before he walked over to his meditation spot. Sitting on a small, elaborate cushion placed before a small altar with candles, Zuko lit them with a flick of his wrist as he closed his eyes and cleansed his mind. He always made sure never to miss his morning meditation for it helped him face his tedious work as Fire Lord and it was a way for him to be able to have patience with his advisors.

It was about a half hour later when Zuko opened his eyes and snuffed the candles out. He made his way toward his private bathing chamber that adjoined the room on the eastern side. The bathroom was as magnificent as the rest of his royal suite with a dark, marble floor and a spacious area, but what he liked most about the bathroom was the large marble bathtub that was placed near the wall facing the door, which he used quite frequently.

"Who ever said firebenders don't like water?" Zuko smirked to himself.

He waited for the water to fill the tub before he dipped his hand and warmed it with his firebending. Once the water was at the temperature he preferred and steam floated in the air, Zuko quickly removed his sleeping pants and climbed into the tub. He sighed as the warm water touched his skin, soaking up the soothing feeling for a moment, before he started scrubbing himself with a soapy sponge.

As he scrubbed his chest, Zuko paused and a small frown settled on his impassive features, the scar on the left side of his face becoming more noticeable. With tentative fingers, he touched the scar that marred his otherwise perfect skin, the scar Azula had inflicted on him as he flung himself in front of Katara to protect her. It had healed perfectly thanks to the lovely waterbender's healing and it was barely noticeable, at least not as noticeable as the one on the left side of his face inflicted on him by his own father. But even if it had not healed and was as visible as the scar on his face, he would not have cared. He received that scar in order to save Katara's life and he would receive more if it meant keeping her safe.

Katara…

Memories of her tear-streaked face flashed before his eyes as she knelt beside him on that terrible day, her hands covered in glowing water as she tried to heal his wound, as she desperately tried to save his life.

Her soft, gentle hands sliding down my chest... Zuko thought with a smile before he shook his head.

There he went again. Every time he recalled that memory, his thoughts would wonder into something far less innocent that it was. Katara was just healing him and he would always be grateful for her help and for her concern for his wellbeing and his life. However, that still did not explain why, after all these years, he kept seeing Katara in his mind everywhere he went.

A soft knock outside his royal bedchamber roused him from his thoughts as his most trusted maidservant announced his breakfast.

Zuko answered that he would be ready in a moment, but took another few seconds to bask in the soothing, warm water. He sighed as he finally got out, lest his breakfast went cold, and dried himself with a soft, red towel. It was going to be another wearisome day reviewing long documents, signing petitions, hearing his people's requests, and then the dreadful meetings with his advisors. But he should not be complaining. He wanted to become Fire Lord in order to help his nation and his people, and so, he had to deal with all the duties and problems that came with that title. And all this he endured completely for the sake of his nation.

However, the hardest part of all this was trying to regain the trust of the other countries, especially the Earth Kingdom's. Many people still did not trust him, afraid he would become power-hungry as his father and grandfather before him, but Zuko was determined to show them that he wanted peace among all nations, all elements, just as much as they did. Thanks to Aang's peace seeking and Zuko's leadership, it seemed a likely possibility.

Dressed and with his fire crown glinting on his head, Zuko exited his room and entered his antechamber where the food was already set up on the low table. He nodded at the maidservant who bowed and retreated from the room.

He picked up his chopsticks and began the silent routine of his breakfast meal. It was moments like these that he wished he were still traveling with the gang, watching as Aang and Toph bickered with one another while Suki reprimanded Sokka for stuffing his face with food without leaving some for the rest.

Though he was confused as to why, Zuko most of all missed the way Katara would hand his bowl to him with her simple but delicious cooking while she aimed a radiant smile at him.

Brown locks danced in the frosty breeze as Katara watched her young waterbending students with care and pride as they completed their training for the day. She smiled at the concentrated looks on their cute, little faces and giggled softly to herself.

"Good job everyone. Remember to keep the water flowing gracefully around your form," she instructed as she demonstrated to the children by bending a small stream of water around her.

She waited until they got the move before she congratulated them, "Great! That was awesome! Well, I think that's enough for today. See you tomorrow, and remember to practice whenever you have a chance."

"Yes, Master Katara!" the children chorused as they ran to go play. Katara watched them as they raced to have some fun and she smiled.

"Katara!" she heard Sokka call from a distance.

Katara turned at the sound of his voice and watched as her older brother came up to her, walking with the air of self-importance.

"Don't you mean 'Master Katara'?" she replied with a teasing grin.

"Nope, Katara, that's what I meant 'cause you're still my little sister and I'm the Mighty Warrior of the Southern Water Tribe," Sokka replied seriously as he pointed a finger at himself. "Thus, you are the one who should show some respect to the Mighty Warrior Sokka," he finished with a large grin on his face.

"Uh huh," Katara uttered as she returned his grin. "Well, 'Mighty Warrior Sokka' perhaps we should see who is the one to show respect by having a little competition," she challenged as she summoned a rather large water whip and twirled it around him. "What do you say?"

Sokka's eyes widened as he stared at the water whip, but he straightened himself out comically as he coolly replied.

"Nah, I'm too tired because of all the new, great inventions I have to do. Maybe some other time, Sis," he said and yawned.

Katara laughed as she replaced the water into her water skin while she rolled her eyes at her brother.

Four years had passed since the end of the war and many things had changed since then. Waterbenders from the Northern Water Tribe travelled to the Southern Water Tribe to help with reconstructing the southern nation. Once a small village with a few igloos and huts scattered here and there, the Southern Water Tribe was now a large city that continued to grow. When the men came back from the war, many families sprang up and many children came into the world, especially when many warriors from the Northern Tribe married and settled in the South.

Much like its sister tribe, the Southern Water Tribe now was made of beautifully carved ice buildings that were placed in a complex and elaborate pattern—thanks to Sokka. Not only did he planned this with the village leaders and his father, the chief of the tribe, but he also made suggestions on how to make the canals run through the city and how to build a stronger defensive wall that would keep any invaders out, which she hoped would never be needed for such a thing.

Katara thought that the best idea that Sokka came up with was how to illuminate the city at night. Many lamps had been placed along the streets, bridges, and along the walls of the houses. Candles were placed inside light-blue glass lamps that made the city glow in a heavenly light, causing the ice city to become a winter wonderland.

Katara's thoughts were interrupted when Sokka spoke up again.

"I just received another letter from Suki!" he exclaimed, briefly showing his sister the letter he had pulled out from his parka before he brought it back to his face and lovingly stared down at it.

"Suki says that Kyoshi Island has grown larger and stronger. And she says that the Kyoshi Warrior membership has grown so much they had to open another school! Can you believe it? More warrior women! Women are starting to gain control of the world!" he commented with a laugh.

"Who ever said women never had control? I can recall you doing anything I said in order to fill your big belly," Katara countered playfully as she poked his stomach. She grinned when he rubbed his stomach with a huff. "And Toph always bosses you around. Not to mention that she's younger than you!" She laughed loudly.

"She doesn't boss me around! I agree with whatever she wants because I'm a nice guy," he countered as he looked back down at the letter before muttering, "Besides, I don't want to end up crushed between two boulders. What would happen to my handsome face?"

Katara giggled.

"It's not like it's not already messed up," she teased.

Sokka looked up from the letter to glare at her.

"Besides not all faces have to be flawless to be handsome," she said with a shrug.

The image of Zuko's scarred face emerged in her mind as she said this and she remembered the way she had touched his scar. It was rough, but at the same time, it was smooth and velvety. Even though the scar covered almost half of the left side of his face she never thought him as ugly, maybe a bit intimidating at first, but never repulsive. The scar actually added to his complex character, giving him a bad-boy look, making him look mysterious…handsome.

She blushed as these thoughts entered her mind. Though she admitted that she thought about the firebender more than she thought was actually proper. Every time she would stare at a glowing flame—be it a candle, a torch, or a bonfire—she would be reminded of Zuko when he would firebend, as well as that horrible day he had almost died while the Fire Nation Palace courtyard burned as a result of his fight with Azula. Katara winced and lightly shook her head.

That memory always made her stomach twist painfully as she recalled the way Zuko lay in pain on the cold floor, electricity sparking from his body, after taking a bolt of lightning to his chest in order to save her life. She had never felt so scared and worried as she screamed his name and ran to him, not even when Aang had been struck by Azula. She was confused as to why it was so, but either way she was extremely grateful to Zuko for risking his life for her after the harsh way she had treated him when he had first joined their group.

Sokka's deep sigh snapped Katara out of her thoughts and she looked up with a sheepish expression on her face.

Sokka, oblivious to what his sister was thinking, cried out dramatically, "If it wasn't because they need me here I would've left to Kyoshi Island a long time ago to see Suki!"

"Aww! How cute," Katara cooed teasingly.

Sokka's tanned cheeks reddened before he scowled at her.

"What?" she asked innocently as she tried to hide her smile when he grumbled under his breath.

She knew that even though Sokka acted all tough and macho-like he would practically do anything Suki asked because he was madly in love with the Kyoshi Warrior. Who would have thought that such a sexist and terrible fighter like Sokka would end up becoming, well…less of a sexist, a very skilled warrior, and a genius—the 'idea guy'?

Her mental praise was interrupted at the sound of Sokka's stomach growling noisily.

"I'm hungry!" Sokka complained as he clutched at his protesting stomach. "What does a great warrior have to do in order to get some food around here? Why can't dinner be earlier?"

Katara rolled her eyes. It seemed some things will never change.

Sitting silently on his throne among his flames, Zuko listened carefully and somewhat impatiently as the members of his Court Council argued amongst themselves about the well fare of the Fire Nation. Hours had passed since Zuko had stepped into the meeting room and he was beginning to feel a headache coming on.

"More soldiers should be sent to protect and gain more control of our colonies in the Earth Kingdom!" one old and rather obese advisor yelled. "If we do not show more control, the Earth Kingdom residents will surely start a rebellion and will seek to overthrow our rule!"

Some of the older advisors agreed with him with low grumbles and nodding heads. Zuko resisted the urge to rub at his temples.

"But we cannot spend more money on recruiting more soldiers. Besides, as much as you hate it, we are not at war anymore. We have to use our funds in order to keep manufacturing goods so we could export them to the other nations. If we spend more money on the military we won't have enough for our resources," another elder explained calmly, which gained the support of most of the other advisors.

Zuko nodded in agreement. Opening up trade with the other countries was what helped his nation regain its feet, and not to mention a bit more trust from the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom. And in order to keep goods going they needed the funds. Once, Zuko almost laughed when he read the monthly report that stated that what the other nations demanded greatly was not their famous steel, but red wine.

"But most of our products come from our colonies and if we do not keep control on these colonies, then guess what will happen…if you are smart enough," the first advisor sneered, his large belly jingling as he moved. "We would not only lose the colonies we fought so hard to gain, but we will also lose your precious goods, you fool!"

Zuko narrowed his eyes as he glared at the old man. His name was Wei. He was rather old, but had a sharp mind and a sharp tongue. He was one of Ozai's old advisors and was one of the few who still favored world domination. He constantly tried to argue that the war was for the betterment of the Fire Nation, but Zuko knew Wei only wanted power and wealth for himself.

Zuko hated the man. Wei was the first one on his list of the advisors he wanted to dismiss as he ascended the throne, but Iroh convinced him it was best if he kept the most influential and most wealthy around him in order to gain their trust and their support. Unfortunately, Wei was the wealthiest and most influential of them all. Even though some still sided with Wei, many of the others have started to see the foolishness of the war and longed for peace once again to settle among all nations.

The other man who was arguing with Wei glared at the fat nobleman. Chao was his name and he was one of the men Zuko had appointed to his Council. Not only was Chao one of his uncle's friends, but he was also wise and patient and he argued the best against the war among his fellow advisors. Not to mention he always asked for Zuko's views and opinions and backed him up in every decision he made. Something Zuko had noticed Wei never did.

The young Fire Lord always had to calm himself down every time Wei disregarded him because the old advisor thought he was too young to rule and not intelligent enough to comprehend how to be Fire Lord. He especially hated every time Wei would call him 'the Young One'. He was not a child, for Agni's sake! Zuko had to breathe several times so as not to act on his urge to burn the ever-present stupid grin off Wei's face.

"Well, I think we should ask Fire Lord Zuko to give us his opinion on this matter," Chao replied, looking confidently up at the twenty-year-old ruler.

All the advisors turned to look up at him, sitting behind the orange flames. Zuko could feel Wei wishing to see him make a fool of himself, but thanks to Uncle Iroh and Chao, Zuko had quickly learned how to handle politics.

"Yes, let us see what the Young One has to say," Wei simpered as he leaned back in his spot.

Zuko clenched his hands as he growled in his head. That stupid imbecile! I'll burn that stupid smirk...

While he cursed in his head, his facial expression remained placid and neutral.

Zuko regarded the men in front of him calmly as he carefully thought over what to say. He needed them to side with him and see that ruling over the whole world was not the best thing for the Fire Nation. If there was one person that could give out inspirational speeches that would make them all see reason he would, undoubtedly, name Katara as that person. But unfortunately, the waterbender was all the way in the Southern Water Tribe, and so, not only could he not hear her voice, but he could not see her beautiful face or find comfort in her presence either.

A small cough brought him out of his thoughts. He inwardly shook his head before he straightened himself out so he could begin.

"I believe that what you have said is correct, Wei. Our colonies are a very important source for the production of our trading goods," Zuko began. He could see Wei's smug grin broaden.

"But…" he continued and he inwardly smirked as Wei's face changed, "I do not think sending more soldiers would be a good idea. Our colonies are well protected as they are and the governors I personally appointed are running the cities with justice and a fair amount of control. I have received reports stating that both Fire Nation citizens and Earth Kingdom residents are living well together. There may be some tension now, but I am sure that with time trust will win out."

Many of the men in the meeting room chamber nodded in agreement, but he knew some were still skeptical.

"Besides, if we send more soldiers to the colonies, we might give the wrong impression. The Fire Nation citizens might believe they are being protected because they are in danger and might begin to distrust their neighbors even more, while the Earth Kingdom residents might think we are trying to control and oppress them ," he glanced at Wei for a second, "which might actually start a rebellion."

Zuko paused and looked around the room behind the glow of flames.

"I really believe that in order for the Fire Nation to regain its honor and glory we need harmony among those living in our colonies. And if there is harmony between the elements in the colonies, then there will finally be peace and harmony among all nations and all elements that will hopefully never be broken ever again."

The young Fire Lord stared at the men before him as the room went silent before he settled back on his throne cushion with a small sigh.

After removing his Fire Lord attire and putting on a comfortable shirt and a pair of pants, Zuko sat at the table in his antechamber reading over some documents he had not finished in his study. After giving his opinion in the meeting room, Zuko was actually surprised when most of the men smiled and even applauded him. He thought that maybe he sounded too idealistic, but that is just the way he felt the world should come to be. Peaceful. Mo more war, hatred, suffering, and death.

'No more children being ripped from their parents,' was what Katara had told him once when she was healing his chest a few days after the Agni Kai with Azula.

His thoughts were interrupted as a monotonous voice commented, "I hope this time they make a better soup."

Mai sat across from him, folding her hands on her lap under the table. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he had not noticed his thin, dark-haired girlfriend enter the room.

Zuko smiled slightly at her.

"Mai, I didn't hear you come in. I'm sure the soup will taste fine. The Palace Cook always makes delicious plates," he replied passively.

Mai just nodded.

"So, how was your day?" Zuko asked as he placed his papers to the side, hoping to get distracted from his work and thoughts, if only for a bit.

"Nothing interesting, just the same old routine, practice with my daggers and reading," she replied without emotion. "But I did receive a letter from Ty Lee. She seems to be enjoying herself at Kyoshi Island and informed me that they had opened a school for incoming Kyoshi Warriors," Mai said evenly as she watched him with her dull, dark eyes.

"Well, Ty Lee always enjoys herself no matter where she is. I'm glad Kyoshi Island is doing well," Zuko replied, hoping she asked him about his day. He wanted to have a conversation with someone who was not always judging him or was intimidated by him.

A few of his advisors where frightened by him not only because of his temper–which as he grew older he was gaining more control of—but because he had proven himself to be a great leader despite his young age. This made them uneasy because he had proven to be hard to manipulate and thus hard for them to advance in their own interests.

Mai only nodded and sat there without moving. Zuko frowned as the silence became a bit uncomfortable. He was never good at initiating conversations...that was his uncle's job. He missed Iroh terribly. He missed his uncle's wisdom and his annoying hints. Hell, he even missed his uncle's tea!

Zuko wished Iroh was there helping him with his rule, but the old man had decided to go back to his teashop at Ba Sing Se as he realized that his nephew had learned how to handle the Fire Nation. As the silence grew longer, Zuko let out an inaudible sigh.

"Well, I sure did have a very tiring day at the meeting today," he began.

She yawned lightly.

"Yes, I'm sure it must have been. Just like every other meeting," she replied.

Zuko did not know whether to think she yawned because she was tired or she just did not want to listen to him talk about his dreary day, though he was slightly surprised that he was unaffected by it. As the years passed by, his relationship with Mai had become unexciting, not that it had been that much in the first place when they had become a couple after he returned with Azula after what happened at Ba Sing Se.

A few months ago, Mai had asked him if she could move into the palace and he had accepted since he did not see any problem with it. Though he had to wonder what the point was since they hardly spent time together. Sometimes he wondered if he had asked Mai to be his girlfriend because he hoped for their relationship to become something meaningful or because back then he had been so lonely he accepted her affections when she had approached him and confessed she had had a crush on him since they were children.

Just then, dinner arrived and all thoughts of recounting his day were forgotten. They ate in silence as each dwelled in their own thoughts.

After they finished their meal, Mai looked up at him and glanced at the doors that led to his private rooms before she looked at him again. Zuko pretended he did not notice her request to enter his room and coolly looked away. He did not allow anyone into his sleeping quarters, except a few trusted servants to clean it, not even Mai.

When she realize that Zuko was not going to invite her to his room like she had hoped ever since he became Fire Lord, Mai suppressed a huff as she gracefully stood up.

"Well, I'm sure you must be busy, so I think I'll go to my room now if you don't need anything. Goodnight," she said almost coldly.

Zuko nodded and he, too, stood up to walk her out his door. He was a bit surprised, though he did not show it, when Mai turned around and kissed him lightly before the servants entered the anteroom to clean it.

"We should go to Ember Island again one day, Zuko, at least for some change in this boring life," she murmured as she ran her thin hand down his chest.

Zuko frowned. Boring Life? Running this great country should be an honor.

"I'll think about it and I will see if I have time for a small vacation," he answered impassively.

Mai frowned slightly, but quickly recovered her emotionless expression as she gave a small nod and walked out the door.

Zuko sighed as he went to his bedchamber while the servants cleared the dishes from the low table. He removed his clothing and changed for the night. Piling all his paperwork on his lap as he sat on his bed, he began to recall all the events that had happened in the last four years.

Becoming Fire Lord of a nation that had been badly governed and that had caused a great deal of destruction to the other countries was difficult. He had to deal with national debt and on top of that, he had to regain the trust of the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom. But the worst part was having to deal with the hatred of his own people, mostly the elders, more accurately Wei. They had been outraged when he called for peace and the end of the war and thought him unfit to be their Fire Lord, not only because back then he had been a seventeen-year-old teenager, but because they thought him a traitor to his own country. That really hurt, but Zuko never gave up and was determined to keep his promise of peace and even more determined to regain the honor and glory the Fire Nation had lost in the hands of the previous selfish rulers. Thanks to his determination and great leadership, his nation became more prosperous and all the countries began to trade with one another, and in a way began to accept each other.

Zuko rubbed his temples as his vision began to blur for concentrating too much on the documents. It seemed that every time he finished one pile, another would spring up in its place. Putting his papers aside, he settled into his bed.

With a wave of his hand, the candles extinguished, but the fire from the fireplace near one wall illuminated the room a bit. However, Zuko's thoughts did not end there, but wandered into more serious problems.

The light from the fireplace cast shadows around the large bedchamber as darkness settled in. As Zuko lay in his bed, his thoughts wandered to Mai and their relationship. He had imagined that once he became Fire Lord everything he wanted and wished for would finally come true, but it was not so. Mai was still…Mai. She was still dull and monotonous and she rarely talked. Not to mention her physical appearance had not changed much except for the fact the she was as tall as him. There were times when they did have great times together, but that was rare. And it did not help with the fact that he was busy all day with running a nation.

But he could not deny the fact that he was thankful that she stood up to Azula in order to save him from his psychotic sister. And he was impressed since it was not an easy thing to do—she could have really gotten hurt if Ty Lee had not intervened in Azula's wrath.

Zuko frowned. He often thought about this event and he always felt guilty for not going after Mai when he helped Sokka rescue his father and Suki from the Boiling Rock. He had completely forgotten about her as he tried to find the transportation in which Azula had arrived at the island prison in order for them to escape.

He began to feel even guiltier by admitting that he forgot about her because he was too busy with other matters such as finding a better way to firebend, teaching Aang firebending, the whole Sozin's Comet situation…

Helping Katara find her mother's killer in order to gain her forgiveness and friendship…

Zuko frowned and scowled slightly at himself for his thoughts.

Of course he wanted Katara to forgive him after all he had done to her and the rest of the gang. He had wanted her to see that he had indeed changed and the only thing he wanted was for his father to be defeated and the war to end. Besides, he had not wanted any more tension among the group as Katara and he had their differences. It had nothing to do with him wanting the lovely waterbender to like him. Of course not! That was just ridiculous!

Somehow, he had this feeling as if his conscience was laughing at him.

Okay, so maybe he did want Katara to like him, at least a little. There was nothing wrong with that. Right?

Zuko rolled over in his bed. Besides, he helped her find her mother's murderer because it was the only way she could get closure. It was the only thing he knew he could do to help her. And it worked. Katara did forgive him and she gave him her friendship.

Not only did she give him her friendship and trust, but she had embraced him as well. The only other people who have ever hugged him were his mother and his uncle. He could still recall the day when they had return from comforting Yon Rha. The sun had been setting over the horizon, turning the sky and the ocean a bright orange and rich red color as Katara sat at the small dock with her feet dangling into the water before she rose to greet them when he had returned with Aang. The young monk had tried to comfort her, but she refused his words of comfort and instead turned to him and a small blush had seeped onto her cheeks.

Before he could have pondered deeper about the blush, she had walked over to him and told him that she was ready to forgive. Then she had flung herself at him, circled her arms around his neck, and embraced him. He had frozen in shock for a second before he quickly encircled her waist and returned the embrace, but all too soon, she pulled back.

He had surprised himself when he had almost tightened his hold on her when he felt her start to move away, and even now, he still wished the embrace could have lasted a bit longer or perhaps be repeated again sometime in the near future. He liked the way her small and soft body felt against his, how her hair had caressed the side of his face, and how her arms had encircled his neck.

Zuko frowned at his sudden need to see the waterbender and berated himself for having such thoughts about Katara. With a sigh he wondered what was going on with him after what happened that day and why all of the sudden his thoughts switched from his reflection on his relationship with Mai to the Master Waterbender.

"Katara is just a very good friend," he argued silently to his dark room. "And Mai is my…girlfriend. And she was there for me after my fight with Azula."

But you didn't even think about her until she showed up in your room…right before your coronation, a small voice in his head said.

He flinched since he could not deny that. He had actually been surprised when he heard Mai's voice as she entered his room to help him into his robe since he was in pain after Azula's attack.

But I was glad she was there and that she was well, Zuko told himself.

Though there had been a part of him that wished it had not been Mai that had entered the room to help him, that it had not been her that he had kissed but…Katara.

Zuko closed his eyes and sighed deeply as he waited for sleep to claim him so he could be able to find some peace from his confusing thoughts. The same thoughts he had had for the past four years.

A/N 2: So I hope you guys liked the (new) first chapter of this story. I know it's kind of slow and short, but I promise you that some great action would come, as well as longer chapters!

Just to give you guys a heads up, this story is rated M for some violence, sexual references, and of course, some smutty stuff! xD But this will occur much later in the story, so have patience! I'm warning you that this story will be very long, so if you like those fast paced ones, then I suggest you look elsewhere, but hopefully you continue reading!

~alwaysZutarian