A/N: Just to acknowledge the inspiration for this fic, Jaela Jay's "Requiem For The Lost" , I just realized linking hasn't come up for me as a problem for me, I find this odd since i used to be Web Page Designer lol. Anyway yes, I found Jaela's fic to be...captivating, is the only word i can think of. R&R that fic, it's awesome! Enjoy both our fics!

Chapter 1
Redemption and Trade

"Why, why would you do it?" Azula asked him, Staring into his eyes looking for an answer. Azula's hair had become long and thick with frizz from refusing to bath in the rustic conditions of the prison bathrooms. And the only way she had managed to keep her finger nails at the length she liked them was running them along the stone walls of her cell, but instead of being manicured and made to look like polished marble, some were split down the middle with the cuticles caked with blood that seemed only a few hours old. She looked old and worn out, her anguish of failure and hatred in general had finally taken it toll on her face, she was no longer beautiful, her vitality was gone, and she was like the beginning of an old woman.

"Because I believe in forgiveness." He Sat down on the cobble stoned floor and sighed. "You understand it means I must take precautions, only one."

"What is it?" Azula's eyes burned through his with interest. Trade and diplomacy were things she thoroughly enjoyed. For it gave her real power to end another's life without her firebending, where the only physical contact was a handshake and not a kick or punch, and the only heat felt was not from fire but the tension before the trade.

"I have to take your firebending away." Azula stood up and backed away in shock.

"My firebending… my father's respect and approval, are the only two things in this world that I hold precious… you have already taken one from me!" Azula yelled frantically, she had the crazy paranoid look she had one the day she became Firelord.

"You did that on your own. You Azula, asked me to forgive you. You told me that if nothing else that you wanted walk freely in the halls of your palace again." Aang's explanation seemed to sink in, as Azula's face softened and she relinquished her hold on her pride.

"I… I want my life back Aang." She bowed her head in sincere respect. She had only called him Aang once before, when she asked for the mercy of execution, because in her mind she had failed her father and her nation. Instead she had been wasting away in the solitude of her own private cell in the Boiling Rock. Of the first couple months she had been in the cooler every day, she had nothing else now, her bending had now become her life, the frantic psychotic break and wildness thereof faded slowly when her spirit broke.

He picked her up by the shoulders. "Give me your forehead." He asked her kindly, not commanding anything of her, as this was her decision.

She closed her eye and raised her head a little. Aang just placed his thumb on her forehead and his index finger and middle finger on her temple. The transition between them was quite easy, Azula did not fight at all and her energy was over taken quickly.

The scene returned to normal and Azula collapsed, Aang quickly caught her in his arms. "I… I'm sorry." Azula did not look at Aang, but he felt the heaviness of her heart and the sadness in her voice. Her hurt was genuine.

"Firelord Zuko." He heard the guard's voice from outside. There was a pause; the guard must have been bowing in respect.

"Is Avatar Aang still with my sister?" Zuko asked simply, not wishing to waste time.

"Yes my lord." The guard replied simply.

"I wish to see them, unlock the door." Zuko commanded sternly. The next sound that was heard was the lock sliding back from the stone slit in the wall it was secured to.

"Aang." Aang peeked over his shoulder and saw Zuko standing a few feet from the door. "Is she ready to go back?" Zuko tried to look at his sister's face, trying to discern if she was awake or not.

"Yeah, she's weak though. I have to carry her." Aang's voice reflected the weight of the girl he carried with her arm over his neck for support.

"Azula?" Azula's head rose slightly at the sound of her brother's voice.

"Zuko… have you missed me?" Azula asked weakly.

Zuko just smiled, took her one free arm and put it around his neck. "We'll see." This wasn't his sister, this person was someone he had never met. He needed time to get to know her before he could truly miss her, if she ever left that is. There was silence between them as two nearby guards stepped out of their formations lining the walls and took both of Azula's arms. Azula's groaned softly at the transition of her handlers.

They arrived back in the palace and Zuko ordered Azula's bed and room be made up as quickly as possible. The Firelord and the Avatar heard hurried footsteps. Sokka appeared from behind a corner of the hallway. "I heard you guys went…" he had to pause for breath, sweat was dripping from his forehead and it seemed he had been looking for them for quite a while. "To the Boiling Rock." He finally managed to speak as if he had just exhaled deeply.

"Yeah Sokka, we-."

"Sokka, where did you go?" Katara's voice echoed ominously through the enormous palace hallway.

"Katara, over here. I found Aang and Zuko." Katara and Aang hadn't seen each other for the five days. It had taken Aang five days to reach the Western Palace from the Southern Air Temple, Aang and Katara had decided it was time to settle down, and so they had been living at the southern air temple for about four months now, trying to start a new life and a family.

"Aang!" Katara called down the long hallway, she ran, and leapt at him, almost knocking him to the ground. They kissed quickly and wrapped each other in a hug. She then turned towards Zuko with a smirk and crossed arms. "So what have you been doing Zuko, that you tear my fiancé away from me for five days?" She teased him, this was her new favorite thing to do to the Firelord, seeing as how every other month there would be some kind of business he needed Aang for. She put on an extremely exaggerated sad face to guilt him with. He looked away with one eye, but somehow he could not look away completely and it infuriated him.

"It's complex." Aang replied putting a hand on his Katara's shoulder.

"It's Private." Zuko told her almost immediately after Aang through gritted teeth.

"It…" Katara got into Zuko's face to where their noses almost touched. "Concerns my fiancé, and therefore it concerns me." Her voice was slow and moody, it reminded Zuko of his encounter with her at the western air temple when they were younger.

"You're engaged to Aang!" Sokka yelled in disbelief, interrupting the subject of conversation. "You've only been living together for four months!" He wined desperately.

Aang stepped over to Zuko's side afraid of what his brother-in-law might do. "We let Azula out of prison." Aang told them trying to sound innocent.

After a moment of silence Sokka's voice rang clear. "Well put her back!" he commanded furiously. "Look, I know you guys meant well in all of this, but she's dangerous." He turned to face Aang standing there not knowing how to act. So he tried to say something even though he knew Sokka would interrupt him, which she did. "Aang, we've been friends for a long time but this time you've gone to a place I can't go, what were you thinking?" His voice itself sounded as if it was desperate for an explanation.

Aang thought of the only thing he could. "I believe that if someone or something still breathes, it is capable of redemption."

"THIS… IS… AZULA!" Sokka spoke slowly and yet came down on them like thunder he was so loud. Aang had tried to back away because he had gotten slightly scared, Katara grabbed him gently by the arm and her hand grasped the hand of her lover.

"I agree with Aang, Sokka, you must understand-." Sokka had interrupted the conversation once again, Zuko especially disliked this trait, and stood straight and tall and glared at Sokka.

Sokka seemed to be oblivious to this, as he just stood where he stood ranting and raving about how there would be riots for letting a war criminal with crimes against humanity out of prison. "If you really want to know what I think-"

"No actually I don't think we do." Zuko's new favorite game was called 'Interrupt Sokka'. He did this very often, and besides his now 'occasional' visits from Aang and Mai's company in the royal courtyard, this was the only other thing that brought a smile to his face.

Katara couldn't help giggling at the newfound humor in the situation. "And Sokka." Zuko continued. "While you're lecturing me and Aang about how everyone will not like the fact that we're making amends with the rest of the royal family, why are you assuming what all the other nations will think about this? Aang took her firebending away and hes the only one who can give it back."

"Because, she's insane!" The silence fell upon them once more, and Katara and Zuko could only glare at Sokka, incensed by the way the other had acted. Footsteps then came from the stairs echoing through the long hallway and keeping a steady and slow pace as if the person was concentrating and watching or listening for something. "I heard yelling from upstairs and I thought it might, be fun to investigate." Azula's voice came closer and closer to the group as she spoke, and on her last word she appeared from behind the corner that Katara and Sokka came around.

She strolled over to the group casually. "Are you feeling better Azula?" Aang piped up trying to include her, as no one else would speak to her.

"Yes thank you." Her eyes rested upon Katara who she immediately recognized as the only waterbender ever to match her. "I remember you." Azula's voice was slow and thoughtful.

"This is Katara Azula, and her brother Sokka standing next to her." Aang replied feeling the need to fill in the blanks.

Azula seemed to be pleased that Aang was filling in the blanks. She smiled and asked sweetly. "Hmm, Katara, you were that one waterbender that bested me in the courtyard weren't you?" Katara could tell she was playing dumb, but decided to show at least a little bit of courtesy out of respect for Aang.

"Yes Azula I was." Katara couldn't help but feel a little awkward, as she had no idea what to say.

"You're the only waterbender that has, and I've decided that you and I shall be friends because of that." Azula smiled at her, trying to be friendly.

"Fri-friends?" Katara uttered with confusion. "Why?" She asked untrustingly.

"I respect your power as a bender." She told her. "You and I match each other with our elements... I would have loved to have a friendly sparring match sometime... that is if aang would be willing to restore my bending for good behavior."

Sokka laughed, seemingly for no particular reason except to taunt Azula. "How stupid do you think we are?" He drew his sword from its sheath on his back; the tip just a few inches from her chest.

"Sokka what do you think you are doing!" Katara yelled in surprise.

"It's okay Katara." Azula told her coolly, putting her hands up near her head with palms facing forward. "Sokka, I know you must feel incredibly skeptical of me right now, but I'm harmless without my bending. You can trust me." Azula just stood there as if nothing was happening, looking almost bored still with her arms raised near her head.

His sword remained locked in its place as he spoke. "No, I can't." the blade of his sword then did a u-turn and came up in an upward arc. Azula's arm just batted away the blade delicately, being careful not to touch the bladed edges. She then turned and rolled down Sokka's arm and the momentum built up the power for a perfectly executed turning kick, knocking him to his feet, still clutching his sword.

He then gaped in shock at what just happened. He looked around the floor and at himself as if he had just fell in mud. "I thought you said you were harmless!" Sokka yelled.

"I said I was harmless, not helpless." Azula grinned at him and everyone laughed. Katara put an arm around her shoulder and smiled.

"I think you and I will get along great Azula." Katara smirked at her brother and the two girls walked off together toward the courtyard. Zuko offered his hand and helped the young warrior to his feet. He brushed himself off quickly and as best he could, snuck after them and shadowed them all the way to the courtyard.

A/N: Will update as soon as I can, my life is hectic.