One For Want of Nail

Katara stopped in front of the tea shop, considering. She scratched Momo's ears. "What do you think, a little tea before we get back to the king?"

Momo chirped, and Katara smiled, walking toward the Jasmine Dragon. She walked inside, and two ladies bowed, all smiles. "Table for two, please." Katara asked politely.

"Right this way." One of them said.

Just then, a familiar voice drew Katara's attention, and she froze.

Zuko stood in front of a counter. "Uncle, we need two Jasmines, one green, and one litchi!"

A voice responded jovially. "I'm brewing as fast as I can!"

"Ma'am?" The hostess asked. "Are you all right?"

Katara mentally shook herself, and smiled. "Of course."

"Ah, then let me show you to your seat."

Zuko picked up the tea orders, and moved between the tables as quickly as courtesy would allow. He moved to a table in the corner, and froze.

A dark-skinned girl dressed in blue and wearing a smug smile on her face was sitting there.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, surprised.

"Waiting for my tea?" Katara suggested sweetly. "Which you happen to be holding."

Zuko blinked, then set her tea down, confused. "I would have thought you'd be running to the authorities."

"Truth told, I'm considering it." Katara replied. "After all, the last time I saw you, I got a face full of fire just for asking to help your Uncle."

To Katara's surprise, an apologetic look crossed his features. "I'm sorry." Zuko said softly. "I…I did a lot of things to you and your friends."

"Zuko! I need your help!" Iroh's voice came from the kitchen.

Zuko looked at Katara. "Will you stay? I…I want to try and explain."

Katara spoke before she realized what she was saying. "I'll be here."

Zuko smiled, and turned to walk off, then turned back again. "By the way, call me Li. No one knows where Uncle and I are from."

When Zuko had gone, Katara looked at Momo, who was nibbling a tea biscuit. "What? Don't give me that look!"

Momo tilted his head, chirping curiously.

Zuko took a seat across from her a short while later. "You stayed." He said, sounding pleased.

"I wanted to hear this excuse of yours." Katara told him. "And I didn't want you to think I'm a liar, but…"

"But you're still going to report us." Zuko said. "I…I guess I understand."

Katara blinked. "No! I just…" She lifted the pouch. "I have to go see the Earth King. These are the battle plans for our…" She stopped herself.

Zuko frowned slightly. "Battle plans." It wasn't a question, and he stood. "I don't need to know what's in them. But this can be a dangerous part of the city. Would you care for an escort?"

Katara hesitated for only a moment. "Sure. You can explain this radical change of yours."

Zuko surprised her with another smile. "Its kind of a long story. Let me tell Uncle I'm leaving."

"So, you and your uncle bummed around the Earth Nation, finding your way to Ba Sing Se." Katara smiled. "You know, you probably were at the ferry the same time we were."

"Really?" Zuko asked. "Its a good thing I didn't know that back then. I…I might have made trouble."

"Less than what we did go through." Katara told Zuko about the serpent, watching his face go from amusement to shock.

"All I had to worry about was this straw munching idiot named…"

"Jet!" Katara stopped, and stared at Zuko. "You met Jet?"

"Sure." Zuko blinked. "How did you know him?"

Katara blushed slightly, and Zuko's good eyebrow raised in amusement. "We met when I was traveling with Aang. He turned out to be a bigger jerk than you were."

"I kind of noticed. He tried to expose my uncle and I, but the Dai Li took him away."

"Well, he's…" Katara looked away. "He's not going to be able to hurt anyone again."

Zuko didn't press her, but he was curious what happened to the Freedom Fighter. He decided to change the topic. "Has the Avatar found an earthbending teacher?"

Katara looked at Zuko, and finally decided he was just being curious. "The best around. Do you remember the short blind girl with us back in that ghost village?"

Zuko nodded. "How does she fight so well being blind?"

"Toph sees with her earthbending." Katara answered him.

"Like the badgermoles?" Zuko frowned. "She must be incredible."

"Yeah." Katara replied. The two walked on, the silence growing somewhat tense, and Zuko, looking for a good topic, blurted:

"Well, I've gotten better. Uncle has been teaching me about expanding my mind to learn from other nations."

"What do you mean?" Katara asked, interested.

Zuko smiled, glad the tension was gone, and explained what his uncle had told him about the 'avatar stuff.'

This new branch of conversation carried them all the way to palace.

"I guess this is where we part ways, Katara." Zuko said, stopping at the gate.

"Why?" Katara asked. "I think you should meet the Earth King. He's kind of naïve, but a good man anyway."

Zuko followed her, but couldn't resist a final comment. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you don't want me to leave."

Katara threw him a reproachful look, and Zuko laughed.

"Suki?" Katara asked as they approached the throne. "Its good to see you here." She sensed Zuko stiffen next to her, and her eyes widened when 'Suki' spoke.

"Hello, Zuzu."

"Azula." Zuko's eyes narrowed, and he stepped in front of Katara. "Katara, get out of here."

"Ty Lee, Mei." Azula spoke, and the two attacked.

Zuko managed to get a counter off, driving back Mei, but Ty Lee pinched a spot on his spine, and Zuko collapsed, cursing.

He heard water splash on the floor, and a thud, and knew they'd stopped Katara as well. "Azula." He ground out.

Azula stood over him. "Well, Zuzu. If you're here, then Uncle must be as well. I think its time for a family reunion." She gestured, and two Dai Li appeared.

"Take them away."

I'll get you, Azula. Zuko thought. You'll pay for everything. He hoped Katara was unharmed.

Yes, the one story I said I would never do. A rewrite of Crossroads of Destiny. Truthfully, I couldn't resist. It was too much a good storyline not to do something with it. Trust me, you'll like this...As long as you like Zuko and Katara as friendly people, if not lovers.

By the way, the chapter title is taken from a poem I heard when I was a kid about how one small change in history can effect everything.

Adversus solem ne loquitor.