Maybe if he approached this situation like a Pai Sho game, he'd have more luck. Strategy. That was the key to winning Katara back. He had to convince her that she still loved him.

Zuko sat straight up, his amber eyes wide.

Of course she still loved him. Why wouldn't she still love him? Somewhere... deep inside her...

What if she doesn't? The voice in his head sounded distressingly like Azula's.

"Shut up. Of course she does. She has to!"

No, she doesn't. She doesn't have to do anything. You lied to her and betrayed her. You're her enemy.

"No I'm not!"

She doesn't know that.

Zuko picked up one of the blue and white fluffy pillows on his bed and hurled it at the wall. It hit with a barely audible thunk, but the motion of his arm and wrist felt good. Zuko picked up another one, and another, and another, until the floor was littered with pillows and Zuko was panting, cursing, practically crying.

He'd never considered that she might really be over him. That she wouldn't love him.... ever again. That... that he couldn't win her back, couldn't get things back to the way they were.

Even if he convinced her that he wasn't her enemy.

But that was ridiculous! She had to still love him.

It's been years, Zuko. If she still loved you she'd have forgiven you by now.

"SHUT UP!" What's the matter, Zuzu? Can't handle the truth? Why don't you run and tell MOTHER!

Zuko clenched his fists in his hair, feeling his inner fire rage through him.

He had to calm down. Now.

He stood, moving to the window. But it was facing the wrong direction- he couldn't see the ocean from here.

So he looked up, at the bright half-moon, focused his energy on the silver spirit above him. And slowly, ever so slowly, his rage and his fear faded, until he was calm again. His inner fire retreated, leaving him exahusted.

He leaned against the window frame, staring out over the courtyard below him. He would get her back. He would make her see that she'd been wrong- that he really did love her and always had. Always would.

He would make her understand- because if he didn't, he didn't think he'd be able to go on. He didn't think he could survive in a world where that hope- the hope that he could hold her, kiss her, love her- was gone.

In a world where she was gone.

So the Fire Lord stared at the bright, shining moon over the Southern Water Tribe, and he prayed that someday, somehow, his wife would come to her senses.

Suddenly, the door slammed open, banging against the wall. Zuko's head snapped up and he frowned, because Sokka was standing in the doorway, boomerang drawn, face... outraged?

Zuko stood, hands held open in front of him. "Sokka?"

"How dare you come here! I'm going to kill you! After what you did to my sister, you think you can just come here, and get away with it?! You're dead!" Zuko's breath cought and he stared at the Water Tribe Prince, shocked.

"She told you?" He couldn't believe she would betray him that way, endanger the peace between their nations- no matter how mad she was at him, Zuko just couldn't see his Kara doing that.

"No. I figured it out- and you're going to die, so get up and fight me like a man!" Sokka pointed his boomerang at Zuko, and Zuko contemplated laughing. It was completely innapropriate, but the urge was there, nonetheless. Zuko supressed it, though, and tried to come up with something to say. But what? Katara hadn't betrayed him- for that Zuko was glad. But her brother- his brother-in-law- was still here, still wanting to kill him.

But before Zuko could say a word, Suki burst into the room and grabbed Sokka.

"Sokka, you need to calm down! What by the spirits is going on here- Sokka, please, put down the boomerang."

"No! He hurt my sister!"

"Sokka, don't make me hurt you! Please, my love, just put down the-"

But Sokka wasn't listening, that much was obvious. So Zuko stepped forward, letting the tip of the weapon touch his chest. Suki looked worridly between them, but Zuko just stared into Sokka's blue eyes. So like his sister's eyes.

"Katara is my wife."

"Wha- what?!" Suki stumbled back, shocked, and Sokka gaped, then glared.

"I don't believe you!"

"You don't have to believe me- just-" Zuko took a deep breath, holding his hands out from his body in a 'peace' gesture. "Just hear me out. Please, Sokka, for the sake of Katara, just hear me out. I can explain all of this."

The young Water Tribe Prince obviously wasn't happy- but he lowered his weapon.

"You get five minutes."

________

Yippie an update! I'm so sorry it's taken so long, guys, but seriously I have been SO busy, you wouldn't BELIEVE... anyway.

So, yeah, TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!! Will Sokka ever forgive Zuko? Will Zuko get Katara back?! Let's hear some ideaz, hmm?

Also- if you guys love me AT ALL, please please please PRETTY PLEASE with a cherry on top (and I'll even throw in an ice cream sundae...) go check out the books on my other account, Nereid14. Especially For Love of Sin- I'm rewriting it and it is going to be AMAZING, it's already AWESOME, even if I do say so myself. Seriously, guys, I know it sounds like I'm whining, but I feel like my fanfics are the only books you guys actually read, but they're not my only well-written and plotted books. I write the same no matter what I'm writing, and I always enjoy reading my stories.

And the people who've read them have liked them, too, so PLEASE, guys, help me out here. I don't want to be just a fanfic writer. I want to be known for my original books, as well; honestly guys, I know I'm a good writer even if some of my stories could use some work. And speaking of which, how am I supposed to know what needs work if you guys don't read them and tell me? Please, I'm literally begging you- read my other stuff!

And as added incentive, Angel, Shadow Girl, and For Love of Sin on my other account are already finished. I just haven't completely updated them because no one is reading them.

So seriously, guys.. I'm not kidding around, here. PLEASE read my other stuff, too.

-Eon