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That's pretty much the gist of it, I think. Though it will undoubtedly be spread out over several episodes of Zuko and Katara developing, considering and realizing each other, Aang finally seeing manifestation of it(if he's seen signs of it before or not) in the form of a kiss or whatnot, but 'running away' and avoiding consideration of the topic or pretending it didn't happen until it comes down to it in the final battle. But ultimately he'd accept it. He'd tell Zuko to take care of her, Katara that he just wants her to be happy...Because really. Aang's a good guy and wouldn't force it. It'd just take some adjustment and admittence.
Total agreed.
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As for the changing Katara's mind part, well, sticking to Greenifyme's/my theory about confronting the murderer of Katara's mother...
I have this vision of after the battle, where Katara is in great emotional stress and trauma, maybe even to the point of attempting to bloodbend(depending on how that fits in with the time of day and the cycle of the moon) much to her own confusion and disgust. Zuko of course takes over at some point and fights to protect her from him and ends up taking out or helping to take out the Killer. After the battle, they are both exhausted, both emotionally and phsyically, and Zuko's in a kneeling stance on the ground, overviewing the scene. Katara then comes up to stand above him, and for a few moments they just stare at each other, not saying a word. And the focus is kind of on Zuko and how he has no idea what she's thinking because of the blank stare, and almost expects her to hit him or something. Instead, she drops to her knees before him and collapses into him in a desperate hug. At which Zuko's surprised, but soon returns, holding her close.
To keep with the beloved 'no words needed' theme, nothing is said, but Katara realizes that Zuko is a friend who would risk his life to save her as much as Aang would, and Zuko realizes that he's been forgiven and thanked.
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I would really adore if something like this happens.

Another idea I've been high off of this week, is that of a Zutara dance! Like the one with Aang and Katara in The Headband, but...not. I think it could be possible, but it may not be, just because it's already been done by Kataang, so Mike and Bryan may want to give Zutara something completely different as their term of bonding(Which I'm all for, they'd probably rock it either way) yet it could also happen...maybe as a compare-contrast type of thing between the Kataang dance and the hypothetical zutara dance. They did that in Nightmares and Daydreams + Day of Black sun with the two drastically different Kataang kisses to show the avid Kataanger-Katara as opposed to ambiguous Katara...
So, I dunno, I suppose it could happen, but I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't. A little disappointed, but...Mike and Bryan know best! XD

I see it happening something like this...The Gaang join up with the White Lotus, if only for a little while, before the second invasion. And as sort of a spirit raiser, they hold this little dance/party thing. Music, dancing, partying, the whole shebang. Ursa is of course there, but I'm playing with the idea that Iroh shows up about midway through the Zutara dance and observes his happy little nephew dancing with Katara, the first time he's seen Zuko since he told him about Roku.^^
Anyway, Aang asks Toph to dance instead of Katara, since he'd already asked Katara last time and Sokka's off with Suki and Katara is elsewhere >.> . (yep, a little Taang thrown in here too!) Toph reluctantly agrees and she and Aang kind of do a bending dance. Katara and Zuko are standing off to the side, at this point good friends, and Katara gets an idea watching Aang and Toph do their bending dance. She pulls Zuko off, telling him, 'let's show 'em how a real bending dance is done' or something to that effect. Zuko is confused, but is dragged along anyway. Katara then leads him into dancing as if they were in battle, and because they've fought one on one so many times in the past, they are amazing at it. Basically, everything a Zutarian wants put into dance. Finally a peaceful 'battle' between them, in which they don't speak, but move around eachother in perfect harmony, not needing to communicate to keep in step and keep it fiery. I see it being kind of like the Tango( I think it's the tango...It's one of those fiery, passionate dances), but Avatarverse and with bending moves. I could even see Zuko using the lightning-redirecting move to grab her, take her into a sort of spin across his body, and off to the other side(*geekasms* That is the main imagery that's eating my brain <3)
That's where I see Iroh coming in, noticing Zuko's using his technique(and applying it to a waterbender XD) and smiling to himself, then telling Ursa he's never seen Zuko so happy. Or something cute to that effect^^ And also, Aang notices them dancing and being happy as such somewhere along the line, and there we have Aang's first clue to the oncoming relationship/competition...even a little bit of jealousy that will later come back as tension between him and Zuko.
Anyway, Zuko and Katara finish, each with smiles on their faces, and the crowd of White Lotus and the Gaang applaud them. I can even see Zuko finishing 'on top' in the dance position, and suggests that he's won this time around, to stick with the battle theme. Katara merely smiles up at him and maybe blushes. Slightly more angst from Aang? >.> And then only Iroh congratulating Zuko can bring them out of their connection.
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Gyah, squee, sorry for the essays, but I think you'll agree that both these options sound awesome...Gawd, I hope at least the first one happens...If the dance thing happens, that'd be icing on the cake that would probably kill me with it's sheer awesomeness and the "OMG, it actually happened" factor...
I think I'll have to look for some dance moves so I can translate them into Zutara and get these images out of my head and onto paper. The imagery of this dance scene is just...Aaah...*squee*

Him getting her a gift would be adorable!
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I mean, it's what he did for Mai, but she rejected it...He sort of gave Jin a gift by lighting those candles in Ba Sing Se...So it wouldn't be that farfetched if he does begin to develop feelings for her, it seems like the thing Zuko does when he shows interest for a girl...It could just be that he gets an impulse to get her a gift, but he doesn't know why.
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I think it might be useful, I mean, if the Creators want to go this far to imply a budding romance in between events of the show, that we see him give her a gift, and then see her react a lot differently than Mai or Jin did. Jin was kind of like, "yeah, cool, now kiss me,"(that is if I remember the scene right. It's been a while) while Mai...Well... Yeah. lol. It'd definitely show a contrast and show Zuko that his gifts to people ARE appreciated by a certain someone.
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I've been thinking that it'd be a good contrast between Zutara and Maiko since The Beach, actually. I recall grinning at the TV after Mai rejected the shell and saying, "You knw, Zuko, Katara would accept a seashell..."

He should get her some red beads for her hair-loopies!
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