"Katara?" Zhilan questioned the waterbender as she stood up from her bed.

"I want to go home," Katara stated firmly as the servant was surprised from her sudden outburst.

"The next dinner won't be till next week," Zhilan reasoned upset that the brown girl had changed her mind.

Katara sighed as she sat down on her bed. Ever since that conversation between the Firelord, she has felt uneasy. She didn't fear him, but was worried about her brother and especially when the avatar was with him. "If you don't mind me asking, You should give Zuko a chance before you leave," Zhilan explained taking a seat next to the poor girl.

"Zuko isn't the reason why I want to leave," She admitted avoiding the servant's eyes.

"Then why is it?" She asked placing a hand on her shoulder. Zhilan didn't want her to leave, but she didn't want to keep her here if she was unhappy. She did that mistake, and she feared to let it happen again.

She didn't answer her, but took the mintue to collect her thoughts,"I guess I'm homesick," She lied to the women.

Zhilan remained quiet as she slowly wrapped her arms around the madien. This caught Katara off guard, but she responded back by wrapping her arms around the servant.

The comfort felt familiar, and she couldn't help but wanting to stay in that position for a little longer. The touch of Zhilan rubbing the madien's hair made it clear that Katara saw her mother in Zhilan.

"If you feel that way, I will arrange something so you can be the next one to leave, but if you change your mind please do tell me," Zhilan explained as she let go of the madien.

Katara nodded as she got up from her bed. "I'll head out now, I'll see you in a bit," She waved to the women before exiting her room.

Today, was a free day where the girls got to do whatever they wanted. And, the prince was free to speak whoever he pleased. The waterbender met up with the warrior who had been in the main hall.

She was currently sitting alone as she drank tea and cookies. "Katara!" She waved at the waterbender who took a seat next to her.

"Hey, how come you wanted to hang out here?" Katara stated as she noticed two girls approached them.

"Wanted to introduce you to a couple new friends," Suki stated as she looked at the girls who sat down on the other bench.

Katara sent a smile towards them as she kind of remembered them, "I'm Katara," She introduced as the two nodded already well aware of who she was.

"I'm Jin," The brown haired girl introduced as she then turned her head to look over the girl next to her. She was quiet, and didn't really say much.

"She's Hakura, kind of shy," Suki introduced as she explained the girl's action. "I thought it would be cool if we had other friends instead of just us,"

Katara remained as she listened to Suki. She guessed that the warrior was right about making friends, "I can call over two of my friends," Jin stated happily as she got up and headed to a different group of girls.

"So Hakura, How's your day?"Katara asked as she looked covering the FireNation teenager. She had long silky black hair that was pinned back. She was wearing a red dress that was simple, but it looked good on her.

She remained quiet before she spoke in her soft voice, "It's fine," She answered blandly.

Jin returned with a familiar face, Mai and Marri. Mai looked annoyed at the fact that she was surrounded now by six people. "Why are we here?" She questioned as Jin looked towards the gloomy girl.

"Suki suggested we should bond," Jin stated as she grabbed other girl's attention. Katara looked around as she noticed soon that all thirteen girls were surrounding her.

"I like that idea," Boa stated as she looked at the other girls.

"Katara, what's up with you and the prince?" A girl asked interested as all head turned towards her.

The bender raised an eyebrow, "I don't know what you mean?" She asked, confused while the girl who asked looked unconvinced.

"Come on, its obvious that the prince has his eyes on you," She continued to speak as a few girls felt somewhat jealous on how a girl who isn't technically from the Fire Nation or the Earth Kingdom was a step ahead of them.

"I heard that he's been in your room a couple times," Varo accused as she moved her bangs out of her face.

"Is that true?" A few girls asked at the same time.

Katara stood up from her seat, "Stop!" She screamed out as the girls closed their mouth immediately. "I thought this was meant for us to bond, not question me," She crossed her arms as Suki stood up next to Katara.

"This was a bad idea," Suki apologized as the sound of the door opened. It was Peng, and it seemed he had walked in to get something or someone.

"Katara? Zhilan needs you for a few things," He stated as Katara nodded relieved that she was able to escape the mess that uprised in a matter of a few seconds.

Katara looked over at Suki as she mouthed a few words before leaving with the guard. Once they had left the room, Katara began to questioned him.

"What's wrong with Zhilan," She asked worried about the women.

Peng didn't answered her as he gestured her inside her room. Katara frantic step inside as she didn't saw Zhilan but instead Zuko.

She was surprised as she turned her head, and saw that Peng had closed the door.

"Hi Kat," He waved awkwardly as he approached the bender, "I wanted to talk to you,"

The bender furrowed her eyebrows, "I'm not interested," She stated firmly with her arms crossed.

The prince looked at her confused, "Did I upset you?" He asked as he slightly hurt. He walked towards the door as Katara took a seat on the edge on her bed.

"You told the FireLord about my brother," Katara spat out as she looked at his golden eyes.

He raised his eyebrows confused on what she was talking about, "No, I didn't," He answered back as she didn't believe him.

She rolled her eyes at his lies, "How else does he know about him? He told me that my brother would be one of his soldiers," She explained loudly as her anger was getting the best of her.

"Katara," He walked towards the bender as he placed both his hands on her shoulder. Her cheeks reddened at how close he was. How close he leaned in to grab her full attention. Usually, his scar didn't stand out as she grew accustomed to it, but seeing it up close--she saw the details of it. It didn't disturb her but it brought back the curiosity behind it. "I don't know how he found out, but your brother was going to come here and be my personal guard so you wouldn't feel lonely," Zuko explained as he sighed upset how his plans to surprise her were ruined. "It was meant to be a surprise,"

Katara blinked a couple times as she looked at the prince. Sokka isn't going to be a soldier but a personal guard. Just like Peng was for Ursa.

"A surpise?" She asked

Zuko nodded, "Suki had helped me plan it out, and my guards are looking for him," He explained into further details.

Katara felt bad as she basically brought it upon herself. She believed the words of the monster. "Zuko..."

"I understand if you don't trust me, but I want to gain your trust," He made clear of the situation while he was mad deep inside, "I don't know how the FireLord found out, the only person I granted permission from is from my Uncle, and I doubt he told him anything since they aren't on good terms,"

Katara was conflicted on whether to believe the prince and he knew that. He sighed as he back away from the madien. "Come with me, I wanna show you something,"

He opened the door to her room as he waited for her to tag beside him. With no hesitation, she did. She stood right beside him as they walked out.

She was curious on what Zuko wanted to show her, "Where are we going?" She asked as they exited the hall of the girl's rooms.

He didn't answered her but grabbed her hand as a way to tell her to trust him. She was caught off guard, but she felt how cold his palm was. It was an odd thing especially since he is a Firebender and their body temperature are meant to be hot.

She liked the feel though, the warm of their hands together brought both comfort. Something they are missing.

"Here we are," Zuko exclaimed as he opened the door and allowed Katara inside. She grew nervous at the sight of bed. "We are in my room," He closed the door and gesture Katara to take a seat on the couch.

He bent down under his bed as he pulled out a box, "I have an alter ego," He began as he showed her the box. He lifted it up and sat down next to Katara. "No one knows this, but I did say I want to gain your trust," He opened the box as she gasped seeing the mask.

It was the same mask she saw that night. The prince had saw everything. Zuko looked at her confused of her sudden reaction and she quickly recovered, "It's so beautiful," she complimented as he took out the mask.

"It was my mother's, she used to be in plays before she met the FireLord," He explained as he looked at the carve designs.

"Why do you have an alter ego?" Katara questioned as he looked over at her.

"I like escaping the prince life once in a while," He answered as he handed her the mask.

Katara follow the carve marks with her finger. She still couldn't believe Zuko was there, and the fact that he almost put himself in danger. She wanted to yell at him, but she can't exposed her identity like that. It will expose everything.

"One more thing," She said grabbing his attention, "If you don't mind asking how did you get your scar?"

"I will tell you once you tell me a few things about you," He stated as a smirk appeared on his lips. "You almost know everything about me, and yet I only know so little about you,"

Katara rolled her eyes as she looked at the prince "Well, what do you want to know?"

"I know you are from the water tribe, you act very different, and I want to know more about it," Zuko stated as he reached towards her hand and held it in his.

Katara noticed, but didn't mind as she was occupied with the statement he had just said, "Alright, I'm from the Southern WaterTribe," She answered as he payed attention to her.

"I didn't think people still live there," He stated honestly as he scooted closer towards the bender.

"Well, my village is very small," She answered.

"How was your childhood?" He asked interested as Katara slowly place her head on his shoulder. She was hesitant but it felt right as she noticed how closed he was sitting next to her.

She closed her eyes remembering the good moments with Sokka and her Gran Gran, "It was great, my brother and I always played with the other kids. You know everyone, and they know you. "

Katara continued talking about her past and how much she missed the village. Zuko listened but couldn't help but notice how she was playing with their hands. She would slightly move it around and he found it quite adorable.

He never once thought that the two would be in such a position but it gave him hints that she was growing feelings for the prince and it made him happy. Maybe, Suki was right.

Maybe he has fallen in love with the WaterTribe madien.