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No, I completely get what you're saying. The fact that she's motherly towards Toph and Sokka makes her romantic relationship with Aang even creepier because it's like, she wouldn't want to be with either of them either, so why the heck is she with Aang who of the three of them needs the mother the most?
The pictures are hysterical by the way. It gave me an idea for a fanfiction. Aang goes to a Sigmund Freudesqe psychologist to have a dream analyzed. In the dream he is Katara and Zuko's son, but he has a huge crush on Katara. I'll call it Oedipus: The Last Airbender.

what about "oedipus: the last idbender"? rofl

Hehe, yeah. I can't help but wonder if Bryke even noticed how mother/father they were. xD I mean, look at this!

I think it did, for a little while. D: I was being a negligent captain.

Ooh, I'm likin' this theory. Lemme see if I can come up with anything else for it.

Trust:
- Like you said, Zuko and Katara are surprisingly open and trusting with each other. I think there's just something about Katara's character that makes Zuko feel comfortable enough to open up, and something about Zuko that makes Katara feel like she can break down and stop being the support. They've seen each other at their best and worst, and I think this is part of the reason why they're so comfortable and open and, well, trusting with each other.
- Katara has always had to be the mother/guardian of Aang (and Sokka, and Toph). Since day one, she's either looked at him as someone who needs to be babied and protected or a symbol of hope - not an equal, not someone who should help her with her own problems. Aang, on the other hand, has always seen Katara as someone who's able to care for herself and the symbol of all that is kind and good, or someone to fawn over and try to impress - not a vulnerable teenage girl who needs someone to breakdown to, not a human who has as much darkness within her as anyone else. They have unrealistic views of each other, and I don't think that's a healthy basis for a relationship.
- TSR is, like, a perfect example of why Zutara has trust and Kataang doesn't. Without really considering what Katara's going through and what she needs to overcome her feelings of anger and hatred (which, really, he should be able to understand. In fact, he was being an enormous hypocrite in this episode - anytime there's a slight chance of him losing someone (Appa, Gyatso, Katara in 'Avatar State') he goes berserk). Not to mention the fact that he of all people should no that Katara would never kill anyone, even if it was her initial intention - it's just not in her nature. Zuko, however, trusted her to make her own decisions and do what she needed to overcome her grief. He acted as moral support, not trying to force her into any decisions. Another thing that stands out is that, at a point in the series, Katara was still holding a grudge against Zuko, yet she still trusted him as truthful when he told her he could find her mother's murdered, and she let him come along for the ride!

Communication:
- Katara and Zuko, as previously stated, a very open with each other. Even when they're sworn enemies they open up and talk about what's bothering them (COD, anyone? I think that was the first time Zuko talked to anyone so candidly about his scar and banishment), and because of their history as enemies they aren't afraid to be honest about their opinions of one another. They know the other person can handle whatever they throw at them and don't feel a need to hod back and be gentle (this moreso in Katara's case, since she's usually the kind and motherly person in the gaang). And what's more impressive is that sometimes they don't even need to communicate to work together - TSR is a good example of this, as is the scene in the finale when they're destroying Toph's stone soldiers. They can fight with each other just as easily as they can fight against each other, and I think that's probably a good ability in a relationship.
- Aang and Katara have very one-sided communication. Aang expresses his worries to Katara, she comforts him, all is better. Katara has problems, she bottles them up, Aang smiles on obliviously. What's more upsetting is that they never so much as mentioned the kiss after the failed invasion - there were plenty of opportunities to discuss it, but they never did. And then, in TSR, Aang ignores Katara's statement of confusion by kissing her and pressing for answers about their 'relationship'. Which, again, is never discussed. In fact, pretty much anytime Aang does something like this it's left unspoken, hangingin in the air between them. I'm know psychologist, but I'm pretty sure that's a sign of an unhealthy relationship;.

Intimacy:
- I'm not sure how to go about this one, either, since there isn't a lot of physical romance within the series. But I think what you said is right - Zuko and Katara seem very natural and comfortable with each other. There relationship doesn't seem familial at all, and when they show some sort of affection for each other it never comes off as awkward or wrong.
- Kataang, on the other hand, has always weirded me out. One of them first episodes I saw featured a cheek-kiss, and it rubbed me all the wrong ways. There's something about them and their interaction that just makes it seem kind of... wrong when they're affectionate and intimate with each other. I think it's because Katara spends so much time mothering him and being the gentle, caring, protective figure that it seems very out of place for her to become his lover.

I dunno if I made much sense. o.O I tried.

First of all, Rach, I love your post, it said so much more than I did, lol.

And BOOGERS, in my little comparison, I forgot Maiko! *facepalm*

First I'll say this though, I can admit that Maiko was foreshadowed and actually an honest emotion felt by Mai(Don't look at me like that, yes, she has SOME emotion) I truly do believe that she was in love with him...And St' Jun forgive me, I'm starting, after all these months, to accept that Zuko loved her too(Though I still don't see it too much, and it still came out of nowhere. ) Let's just say they didn't build up to it enough or properly.

The thing I can say for Maiko is that, at least it was somewhat mutual during the show and progression of things, not like Kataang. *dodges shoes*

Anyway, the one thing I can also say Maiko had, was INTIMACY. It was the most physical thing in this whole show besides that Sukka suggestiveness in TSR when it came to romance. It was just in your face intimacy that made all of us cringe and shift uncomfortably in our seats after we got over shouting at the TV. They certainly had a TON of intimacy...but it got in the way of actually solving their other problems...

Trust: Obviously, there's not much of this in their relationship. Zuko keeps everything from her until it bursts in The Beach. Even then, he's not all that specific. Zuko even gets jealous when the other boys are talking to her. not very trusting. I see his reaction as rejecting that anything could take away Mai who was apparently the only thing good he had left in his life even with his fathers love away from him...yet he didn't trust her enough to let her take care of it herself and not leave him. Either way, I'm not a big fan in that they made him possessive. >.>
Mai on the other hand...Well, I think she trusts him...Until he leaves. Then he's a "traitor" and the "Jerk". Even after he tries explaining to her, she doesn't get it. Refuses to get it. Refuses to listen.

Communication: Again, Zuko never tells her anything. because he can't. He spends most of his time silent and sulking, and she has no idea what's wrong with him. There is almost no communication with these two. Mai never communicates anything to him, either. She never communicates how she's feeling, and he never communicates what's bothering him. He couldn't, because she wouldn't understand, or she'd possibly tell Azula.

The only saving grace in this is post-war stuff, and how their relationship would change after the finale. Maiko I believe is the only thing that could work, because now that I'm thinking on it, Zuko really COULDN'T say anything because of the time they were living in, and it was kept inside because Iroh was ignoring him. But now that that era is over, and Mai has somehow become A-ok with it, things could be different. I'm kind of growing a tolerant-hate relationship with it. (I blame Hina Meta on TegakiE)...Their relationship was less than perfect in the show, but I think with more work it could be salvaged. *dodges more shoes*

Kataang however, I can't wrap my head around. It's just too unhealthy, had all those holes where there should have been development and communication, and it just DOES. NOT. FIT. in my mind. You're right, Rach, having something like the uncomfortable kisses and "Kataang drama" hanging in the air, undiscussed cannot be healthy. Even AANG should be wondering, hey, WTF was up with that, Katara? But he never will, because he got his dream girl and can now go play penguin sledding with her in the ice and snow.
Not to mention, as you said, all the things they don't know about each other, their false images of each other. I especially love what you said about Katara's view of him. Aang in her mind is a child; Katara in his mind is a Goddess. Until of course when Aang saves the world, then he is suddenly a big boy who deserves a more manly kiss. Then again, I tend to consider that moot point because the finale was just so damn rushed and pulled together out of Brykes a**.

I say they could have done a LOT better of a job with season three if it was less filler and more develoment of their most awesomest of awesome pairings, EVUR.

Ooh, I like your analysis of Maiko. It does help it make a little bit more sense, though I still consider them incompatible.

Uhh... *Can think of nothing else to add*. ^.^;; Yeah I think they definitely have some major trust and communication issues, even if they are a little over-the-top in their intimacy. One out of three is... not good.

I definitely see what you guys are saying.

That's the problem I had with Maiko from the start, that it was certainly there on Mai's side, but for Zuko, it just came out of nowhere. For all the Maiko shippers say it was young love, I never saw an OUNCE of a sign that showed that little Zuko returned the feeling. He was too wrapped up with his mother and hearing what Uncle Iroh was doing in the war and such. Did he honestly even see Mai as anyone other than one of Azula's little friends?
Again, like Greenifyme once said; Maiko was the first time we'd seen a romance in a show, but NOT seen how the two fell in love. It leaves a lot to be desired and obviously made us miss something.

And yeah, Mai really doesn't understand. If the finale wasn't fixed up all nice with everyone in party mode, Mai would still be confused all to heck about why he helped overthrow his father, was ending the war, etc etc...Again, chalk it up to bad, rushed writing.

And the fact that she did cooperate when she knew what Azula would do...that actually IS disturbing. .__.; I mean, I loved her back then for being apathetic and unconcerned with everything, but really, what was she planning to do if Zuko HAD been captured?? That does raise some questions....

Dude, I honestly think that he would have done the same clumsy and panicked save if the apple had been on Ty Lee's head. Seriously, it's a Zuko thing, am I right?