Katara, a fourteen year old girl from the Southern Water Tribe, stood in the cold rain in Ba Sing Se, looking up absentmindedly at the clouded sky, her elegant fingers clutching her mothers' necklace subconsciously. It had been a full month after Zuko betrayed his beloved uncle and everyone else after succumbing to Azulas' words. Katara winced at the memory of being trapped inside the cave with Zuko, and how she believed he had truly changed like he said he had. Kataras' shoulders slumped, while they were trapped, Zuko and she had shared painful memories of their mothers and the Fire Nation, she felt she had formed a type of bond with Zuko then, one she only slightly felt when he had tried to bribe her into giving away Aangs' location with her mothers' beloved pendant.

Katara drooped her head in sadness. In the cave alone together she touched his scar for the first time, she had gotten close to the banished prince without fighting or malice, and she had seriously considered him a friend before he sided with Azula.

Katara shook her head and began waterbending some of the falling raindrops into a tight waterball. Aang had caught a slight cold and was resting at home in the lower ring, Toph and Sokka had left without telling her where they were going, Iroh had joined them after Zuko betrayed him and was now taking care of Aang while Katara got some time to spend alone with herself.

Katara sank onto the wet surface of the fountain she had been standing by and held her head with her free hand while still waterbending her collection of raindrops. "Why Zuko? Why make things so much more difficult for everyone?" Katara found herself whispering.

"Miss Katara? You'll catch cold as well if you keep sitting out here in the rain." Iroh said as he joined her on the marble fountains' edge.

"Oh Iroh, I hadn't seen you coming." Katara said. She forced a weak smile. "How's Aang doing?"

"He'll be fine, not to worry. I'd say a couple more nights rest and he'll be back to perfect health." Iroh assured.

Katara nodded and became silent. Without realizing it her hand went straight back to her necklace as it left the waterbended rain to fall to the stone ground. "Iroh, could I ask you something?"

Iroh smiled and nodded. "But of course Miss Katara."

"Zuko...why is he so concerned with regaining his honor and such? Why is it so important to win the love of a father who does not care fo him, and a sister who clearly hates him?"

Iroh stroked his grayish whie beard in thought. "I suppose it's because he feels that's all he has. A father and sister that hate him, maybe he felt that was better than nothing."

"But that makes no sense! You're his uncle and you loved him! In my opinion having someone love you is far greater than having someone hate you." Katara said, looking over at Iroh.

Iroh smiled sadly. "Miss Katara, Zuko knows nothing but pain. His entire life has been surrounded by it, he was born knowing he was inferior. Disappointment and destruction has been the only thign my dear nephew has known his entire life. Perhaps he thinks if he can control the Fire Nation alongside his sister, he will win favor in my brothers' eyes."

Katara looked away, unconvinced. "That's no reason nor excuse turn your back on the ones who love you for who you are..."

Iroh smiled. "Miss Katara, you are a good person." He stood slowly from the fountain edge and offered Katara her hand. "I wish Zuko and you would have met under different circumstances. He really needs friends like you."

Katara met Iroh's green eyes with her own blue. "Thank you Iroh. You're a very kind man." She accepted his hand and began walking back to Aangs' home where he was sleeping away his illness.