Falling for the Enemy (Sun and Moon Book 1)

Chapter 51 - Missing

Zuko dug his feet into the sand as he stared out over the waves. It was late and the moon was high, but he couldn't sleep. If he slept he dreamt of her, and that he could not bear.

He missed her more than he had ever missed anyone, even his mother. He wondered where she was, if she was okay, if she'd fully recovered her memories. If she hated him as much as he deserved to be hated.

Footsteps sounded on the sand behind him, scrunching through it.

Toph sat down beside him. "Couldn't sleep?"

She smiled. "No. You?"

"No."

They were silent as they stared out over the water.

"How long do you think we'll be safe here?"

"Until the comet comes, for sure. My family hasn't stayed in our house here since I was a kid. Since before my mom..."

Memories flashed through Zuko's head, of his mom in her garden, or sitting by the turtle-duck pond. He missed her. She would know what to do about Kara. Katara. It was hard to think of her as Katara.

She was his Kara. His center.

His fists clenched in the sand.

He had wanted to share this place with her. She would have loved Ember Island. Now... now she would never share anything with him. She hated him. But Zuko didn't know what he could have done differently.

He could have told her who she was, but she would have just hated him sooner. And he never would have fallen in love with her. Maybe that would have been better. Maybe it would have been better if Zuko had let her return to Aki that day in the woods.

But Zuko couldn't make himself regret his decisions. Because he loved her, and the time he'd spent with her were some of his best memories.

Zuko sifted sand through his fingers.

How quickly things can change.

Only a few months ago, he and the Avatar had been mortal enemies. And Katara had been just the Avatar's friend, a girl that he noticed and followed and... well... stalked.

And now- now, Aang was one of Zuko's best friends, along with Sokka and Toph. They were allies, fighting against Zuko's father and sister.

And Katara... Katara was Zuko's wife, but she hated him. She was gone. Forever gone, because nothing he could do would make up for what he'd done. He knew her well enough to know that.

And it killed him.

But there was nothing he could do.

So he focused on teaching Aang firebending and coming up with a strategy to beat his father. He focused on being good, and in the moments when things were darkest, he prayed that someday, somehow, Katara would forgive him.

Suddenly, Toph punched Zuko in the shoulder.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Cheer up, Sparky."

Zuko just shook his head and sighed.

Soon it would be over. Aang would fight the Firelord, and Uncle would take over. And everything would be okay, at least as far as the world was concerned.

And Zuko- Zuko would be okay, too.

Eventually.

Although, he wasn't sure-

Running footsteps skid through the sand behind them, and Toph frowned.

"Something's wrong."

Zuko turned as Sokka stopped beside them. "What's happened?"

"It's Aang- I can't find him!"

_____

So... here we can see a slight passage of time... but where's Katara?! 0.o

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-Tess