Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender, because if I did I would make myself into a character and marry Zuko. Also I don't own the song "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)", Disney owns that, as if they need more money.

It was dark and everyone else was asleep. The only light was from the dying embers of their fire. Katara sat on her bedroll thinking about all the people she'd met on her travels with the Avatar. Especially the boys. Katara sighed; she'd met a lot of boys.

One in particular came to mind and his name was Jet. Tall, dark and handsome. Jet was basically a dreamboat. Not only was he a dreamboat, he was a smart dreamboat. He was clever and a great leader. He had a unique talent with words.

Katara thought about how he had saved their lives, from a group of Fire Nation soldiers. He'd defeated them in a matter of minutes. Katara remembered how he'd looked in the firelight. So bold and daring. And how later he'd held her, while taking them to his secret hideout, high in the trees. Jet had made her feel so special; she had trusted him with their lives, that is, until he betrayed them all.

'If there's a prize for rotten judgment

I guess I've already won that

No man is worth the aggravation

That's ancient history, been there, done that!'

Jet had lied to all of them he'd said he was a freedom fighter. Jet's words came back to haunt Katara. "You fool!" Jet said to Sokka, "We could've freed this valley."

Katara also remembered her brother's response. "Who would be free? Everyone would be dead."

He'd said that he was fighting to protect the people. Jet's plan had been to destroy a village that had been captured by the Fire Nation. Killing not only the Fire Nation soldiers but innocent villagers, as well. Luckily Sokka had warned the villagers, and no one was hurt. Well, no one except Katara. It had taken her a long time to get over Jet.

Katara glanced over at the newest members of their party, Prince Zuko and his uncle Iroh. They weren't exactly strangers, Zuko had been chasing them, ever since, he'd learned of the Avatar's return. Something about needing capture him, in order to regain his honor. Then something changed, suddenly Zuko stopped chasing them, and offered to help defeat his father. Katara never asked why, she just figured that if he wanted her to know he would tell her.

Although Zuko and his uncle had been traveling with them for almost 4 weeks, and neither one had made any attempt to harm any of them, Sokka didn't trust Zuko as far as he could throw him. But, for some reason Aang did, and really that was all that mattered. It seemed strange, that they no longer had to worry about Zuko. And as added bonus, Aang now had someone to teach him fire bending.

Plus Zuko had a really nice body. Not that she would ever admit it, but he was really nice to look at. Katara blushed remembering, seeing his muscular body, one day while he was cleaning up after, practicing his bending.

Probably the most surprising thing was that Zuko was courteous to all of them, helping with the work and everything. The first time he had helped collect wood…

I had just stared, my mouth hanging open in shock. After collecting and armful of wood, Zuko had come over to where I was standing.

"What are you looking at?"

I had shaken my head to clear the cobwebs; I managed to force the words out, "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm collecting firewood, you know so that we can have fire. Maybe have some warm food. Or did you think that I was picking up all this wood so that I could build myself a little house?"

"I just didn't think that you would help. With anything."

That last bit had made Zuko a little upset, I could hear the anger in his voice, "Did you think that I was just some spoiled Prince that expects everyone to wait on him hand and foot?"

When I didn't answer, Zuko had known from my silence that he was right. He turned and walked back towards our camp. Saying over his shoulder, "I'm not you know. Everybody thinks so, but despite my noble birth, not everything has been handed to me on a silver platter."

Katara secretly thought that his uncle Iroh had something to do with Zuko's help, but who was she to complain? Katara knew that he had his faults, like his infamous temper. But he always was the perfect gentleman, even when he was angry.

'I thought my heart had learned its lesson

It feels so good when you start out

My head is screaming get a grip girl

Unless you're dying to cry your heart out.'

Katara thought about all the time that they'd spent together. Sokka refused to have anything to do with Zuko. And with Aang training with Iroh all the time. It meant that Katara and Zuko had a lot of alone time. Most days they found a stream and practiced their bending. Sometimes they would spar with each other, but most of the time they were silent, each of them concentrating on their respective elements.

Sometimes they wouldn't practice; instead they would just sit staring at the water. Sometimes while staring they would talk about whatever was on their mind. Katara thought back to their conversation that morning.

"Zuko?" He turned towards me on hearing his name; he stared at me waiting for me to continue.

"Zuko, I was wondering…" I trailed off, not how to continue my question.

"You were wondering what?" Zuko prompted.

"I was wondering, why was it so important for you to catch the Avatar?"

Zuko didn't answer for awhile, so long in fact that I began to wonder if he had heard me. I turned towards him; he looked as if he was deep in thought. I watched him take a deep, shuddering breath. Trying to control himself, it looked as if the memories he was reliving weren't that pleasant.

I rushed to tell him that he didn't have to answer the question if he didn't want to.

"No Katara, it's okay. I need to answer the question, not only for you but for myself as well." He took another deep breath and began speaking.

"It all started when I got this scar. A scar I got because, I dared to speak out at War Council. The Fire Lord, said that I showed disrespect, and that I must partake in Agni Kai. I was confident that I could defeat the old general that I had spoken out against. But when I got to the Agni Kai, instead of the old general, I faced my father.

When I saw that it was him that I faced, I dropped down on my hands and knees, and stated that I won't fight him, that I was a loyal son of the Fire Nation, that I only had the Fire Nation's best interests at heart.

He said that by speaking out of turn in his War Council, I had shown him disrespect. I'll never forget his words to me, 'You will learn respect, and suffering will be your teacher.' Then he gave me my scar. When I woke up he said, that by refusing to duel I showed shameful weakness. I was banished, and sent to capture the Avatar. If I captured the Avatar, I would be able to return home. Restore my honor, and prove to my father that I'm not weak and worthless."

Zuko stopped, and put his head in his heads. I let him cry; I scooted closer to him and put my head on shoulder, offering him silent comfort. I didn't tell him to stop crying, that warriors never cry, or that it showed weakness. Because to me it wasn't weakness, it was strength. He had been through so much, and he was only 19, two years older than I was! Gradually he stopped crying, and was now taking short, shallow breaths.

He took one last deep breath, and started to sit up. He used this thumb to wipe away a tear that I hadn't even known I had shed. I looked into his eyes, and saw the turmoil there. I wrapped my arms around him, and whispered in his ear, "You're not worthless. I think that you've shown more honor and strength in these last moments than he's shown in his entire life."

I felt his arms tighten around me just a little, before he let me go. I stood up thinking that he would want to be left alone. As I turned to go, he grabbed my wrist, looked into my eyes, and whispered, "Thank you."

I nodded, unable to speak. He let go of my wrist and I walked back towards camp.

It saddened Katara to think of the horrors that Zuko had been through, she lay down on her bedroll. Suddenly she sat up gasping, 'no, it couldn't be true, could it?'

'No chance, no way

I won't say it, no, no'

'Give up, give in

Check the grin you're in love'

'This scene won't play

I won't say I'm in love'

'You're doin flips read our lips

You're in love'

'You're way off base

I won't say it

Get off my case

I won't say it'

'Girl, don't be proud

It's okay you're in love'

'At least out loud,

I won't say I'm in love.'

Maybe it could be, Katara smiled and lay back down. She closed her eyes and went to sleep. Not knowing that a pair of golden eyes was staring at her from across the dying fire.

Author's Note: I know that the characters are slightly OCC, but who cares, it's my story and I'll do it how I want too.