I walk through the cavern, looking for a way out and knowing that I won't find one. The green crystals are beautiful, but they're a prison. A prison keeping me from getting to Zuko.

Keeping me from understanding.

They must have figured out that we're Fire Nation. It's the only explanation. And now they could be doing Agni knows what to Zuko and Uncle, and I'm trapped down here! I kick a stone out of the way, and it bounces off the wall.

Then I sit down and rub my foot, trying not to cry.

Where is Zuko?

Where is my husband?

That is my mantra now.

Where is my husband?

I'm so afraid for him! Suddenly I hear a groaning sound from above me, and I stand and stare up at it.

An earthbender, Di Lee by the looks of his clothes, stands at the entrance to a tunnel. Another Di Lee shoves a third person through the tunnel- Zuko!

I don't pay any attention as the Di Lee close the tunnel. I just run to Zuko. He stands and sweeps me into his arms. He holds me so tightly that I don't think he'll ever let me go. I don't want him to let go.

"I don't understand, how did they get you too?!" He clutches both sides of my face, and there is terror in his eyes.

"They took me from the tea shop right after you and Uncle left. I thought they'd done something horrible to you! Where's Uncle?"

"He- he got away." I breath a sigh of relief.

"We will too, don't worry. They can't have proof that we're Fire Nation, so as long as we lay low for awhile it'll blow over and they'll let us go."

Zuko groans. "No. It won't."

"Why not? Don't be so pessimistic, Koko."

He draws me closer, presses his forehead against mine. Sighs against my lips. Every part of us is touching, and Zuko is breathing me in as if he is drowning and I am fresh air.

"Zuko-"

"Don't. Just- don't, Kara. I- I won't ask you to forgive me. I know you won't. Just- just remember that I love you, Kara. No matter what, I will always love you."

"Zuko, what are you talking about?" He is scaring me. "We'll get out of this, we'll be just fine. Everything is going to be oka-"

I'm cut off by laughter. I turn my head to see a tall young woman standing a few feet away from us. She is pale and has amber eyes, just like Zuko. She is dressed like an Earth Kingdom noble, but I know that she is Fire Nation.

There's just something about her.

I don't like her.

"Oh. How sweet. You didn't tell her, did you, Zuzu? How very like Father you are." The girl laughs, and I am frozen. Father?

This is- this is Zuko's sister?

Zuko steps in front of me, between me and her. "Leave her out of this, Azula."

But the girl- Azula- just keeps talking.

"It's so devious, brother. Keeping the Avatar's little waterbender all to yourself, letting him think she died when she fell off that cliff. I couldn't have come up with a better plan myself."

"You don't know what you're talking about, Azula!"

But something she said has clicked in my brain. Fell off that cliff...

Images flash through my mind, but I can't get a grasp on them. There is only a feeling of fear and then calm, calm like the seas. And power, so much power thrumming through me.

"Wh- what are you talking about?"

"Ohhh. How sad. You don't remember? And Zuzu never told you. Tsk tsk." She laughs more as Zuko sends a fire whip at her. She dodges it easily.

"He never told you how you saved his miserable life? How you jumped off a cliff to save him... and now he's using you. It's so perfect!"

"That's not true!" But there is fear, real fear, in Zuko's eyes. And the things she's saying make sense to me.

We chased the Avatar and his friends all over the world.... She gave her life to save his...

Uncle's voice comes back to me... along with the look on his face when he saw me. The look on Zuko's face when he saw me in the water cave that night. Like... like he'd seen a ghost.

And that boy... that boy in the Di Lee's headquarters. The boy with eyes like mine. He called me.. he called me Katara.

He blamed himself for Katara's death... Katara's death... Katara's death...

She gave her life to save his...

This can't be happening. This can't be happening!

Things were so perfect!

I wanted to get my memory back. But I never thought about the cost of the truth.

I turn and run, and run and run and run. Azula left the tunnel open, and her Di Lee don't try to stop me.

I run and I run until I can't run anymore, and then I collapse on the hard ground, staring out over the train station.

Everything was a lie.

He knew. He knew who I was, and he never told me.

I loved him!

The last thought is too much, and the world goes black.

**__**

Zuko stared after Kara. He had never seen a sight worse than the look on her face as she ran away. Away from him. He had known this day would come, but he had never imagined how much it would hurt.

It ached through every part of him, because each piece of his heart that was breaking was a piece that belonged to her. And she was gone.

Every piece of him was just another piece of her.

And she was gone.

Zuko screamed, and he didn't stop screaming. He whirled on Azula and sent a burst of fire at her. She dodged it.

"What have you done?!"

"Oh, please, Zuzu, it's not like she really mattered. We both know you were just using her. And now she's gone, and you can come home. You have your honor back, Zuko."

Fury pounded through Zuko in waves.

"I LOVE HER!"

Azula's eyes widened, and she took a step back. And then Zuko was throwing wave after wave of fire at his sister, and she was returning them. Zuko was winning. He forced Azula back, onto her knees.

She couldn't beat him.

And then- then the Di Lee attacked. They surrounded Zuko- and then suddenly Uncle was there, fighting them off.

And beside him fought the Avatar. Zuko didn't stop to think. He squared off with Azula, but Aang got between them. Aang sent water crashing down on Zuko, and rocks flew at him from all corners.

"Aang! I'm on your side!"

But the Avatar wasn't listening.

"You. Killed. Katara!" Zuko blanched. This was bad. The Avatar's arrows and eyes began to glow, and he raised up into the air. A thousand voices screamed their hatred at Zuko, and he stumbled back.

And then- then lightning filled the air, and the Avatar... the Avatar fell from the sky. Zuko didn't think. He lunged forward and caught Aang. The Di Lee ran at him, but Uncle leapt between them.

"You've got to get out of here! I'll hold them off as long as I can!"

Zuko's heart wrenched. First Kara, now Uncle. But he had to get Aang out of there. Aang was the world's only hope.

He had to do this for Kara. Because if he didn't, there would never be any chance that she might forgive him.

And that was something the Fire Prince could not bear to think about.

He slung Aang over his back and sent flames shooting from his fists. They rocketed towards the tunnel Aang and Uncle had come through.

And Zuko didn't look back. Not once.

________

Soooo. How many of you hate me right now? I know, I know, I hate myself! But it was necessary, I promise.

Just so we're clear, YES, Katara just got her memory back.

Now... you've seen the BEFORE... let's move on to the AFTER. :P

(And you think you hate me NOW...)

COMMENT!! And vote, too, I'm not partial. :)

Five and I'll update as usual. :)

-Tess