What can I say? I was inspired. It's simply impossible to resist the call of inspiration, especially in the form of plot bunnies. And now, Maura Estella (my muse) with your local disclaimer on the eights.

ME: If you really think she owns Avatar: The Last Airbender, can I have some of whatever you're on?

And last, but not least, a bit of randomness to start this all off.

WARNING! WARNING! RANDOMNESS AHEAD! I REPEAT, RANDOMNESS AHEAD!

It's illegal to hunt camels in the state of Arizona.

AGES:

Toph: 16
Aang: (1)17
Katara: 19
Sokka: 20
Zuko: 21

I'm too cool for that line thingy.

"Don't touch that, Sokka."

Sokka looked at Toph in amazement. "How did you-"

"She's an earthbender. She can tell," Katara said.

"I knew that."

Katara rolled her eyes. "Sure you did. Now stay away from the food."

"But I'm hungry!"

"So what else is new. We have a certain amount of food, and it needs to be rationed until the next town. Besides, if anyone here gets extra food, it's going to be Toph. She is feeding two, after all."

"But-but-but..."

"Toph's pregnant. She needs all the comfort we can give her, and if that means your stomach isn't full all of the time, then so be it. Besides, I'm sure Aang'll agree with me on this."

"Of course he will! He's her husband!"

"My decision is final, Sokka. Go find food yourself if you're that hungry."

"But that's too much work!"

"Then you're not hungry enough. Wait until tonight."

"But I'm hungry now."

"If you're hungry now, you'll be hungry later."

He didn't have a retort for this, so he just crossed his arms and hmphed.

Toph sighed. "And round 109 goes to Katara. That makes it 108 for Katara, one for Sokka."

"Hey, wait, I've actually won one?"

"Yeah. You were arguing with Katara while she was asleep. Naturally, she was the first one without a comeback, so you won."

"She was asleep then?"

"Yeah. It was actually pretty funny watching you argue with her."

Sokka hmphed again. "Well, at least... um..."

"Toph one, me 108, Sokka one."

"My Lady, I gladly sacrifice my victory to your just and noble cause."

"I thank thee, Lady Toph."

"Hold up. What's Katara's noble cause?"

"Why, making you look like a fool, of course."

"Not that you need any help," Toph added as the two girls collapsed in a fit of giggles.

He stood there, mouth agape. Fortunately for Sokka, however, he was saved having to reply by Aang's arrival.

"Hey guys! I finally found someone to teach me firebending!"

"That's great Aang! Who is it?" Katara asked.

"Um, well..."

"Aang! I think the baby just kicked!"

"Really?" He hurried over to his wife, grateful for the subject change. However, the look on her face wasn't anything to be grateful for.

"If it's who I think it is, we're having a talk later," Toph hissed into his ear.

Aang gulped, but said, "It's getting dark. We should make dinner."

"Good idea. Katara, you get the fire wood, and I'll cook."

Everyone else present looked ill at the mention of Sokka's cooking. They remember clearly when he last attempted to cook, and it hadn't been pretty.

"Why don't I cook, and you can gather fire wood. Aang can look after Momo and Appa."

"I'll gather the firewood, and Sokka can feed them. See you later!" Aang practically flew away.

"Hm... Wonder what's gotten into him?"

Sokka just shrugged and went about feeding Appa, but Toph felt Katara looking at her and nodded. There was something suspicious about this firebender of Aang's. Something Aang was nervous about.

Toph helped Katara cook, using her skills as an earthbender to weigh and measure different vegetables and spices. The two used this as a cover to talk about the suspicious firebender.

"I think it's Iroh."

"Most likely. Who else could it be? Jeong Jeong finally died, so there's no one else that would teach him. Besides, Jeong Jeong had an extremely negative attitude about firebending, so he wouldn't have made a good teacher in the first place."

"I heard him once. Definitely not a motivational speaker."

"You're telling me. But Iroh really is the only possibility."

"I agree."

The two went back to preparing the meal in silence.

STILL TOO COOL FOR THE LINE

"That was close," Aang muttered. "UNCLE IROH! ZUKO!"

"Not so loud, young Avatar. You wouldn't want your friends to hear you and ruin the surprise, now would you?"

"Um, yeah... I know Toph and Katara are at least a little bit suspicious, even though Sokka is still clueless, as usual."

"Remind me why I'm the one that has to teach him firebending?"

"Because I am getting too old for such an endeavor. You are surely better suited, Prince Zuko."

"Uncle, I told you not to call me Prince!"

"But what else am I to call you?"

"Try Zuko, for a change."

"But you are a prince."

"I want no part in the Fire Nation, Uncle."

"But you are still a prince."

"As are you."

"Very well, Zuko. I shall refrain from using your title."

"Thank you, Uncle."

"Glad to have been here for this moving, profound family moment, but we have other issues at hand."

"Such as?"

Aang took a deep breath. "Youhavetojoinustomorrow."

"What?"

"You have to join us tomorrow. We're moving on soon anyway."

"What is the rush for, young Avatar?"

"I already told you. Katara and Toph are getting suspicious, and I'm not that good of a liar."

"Very well, Aang. Zuko and I shall come for breakfast tomorrow. Then we may meet our traveling companions."

"Thank you Iroh-ji."

"You are welcome, Aang. Now, here is some firewood. Hurry back before your friends get worried."

"Yes, Iroh-ji."

Aang flew off, leaving Zuko and Iroh alone.

"Such a nice boy. And he has wonderful manners, too. You could learn from him, Zuko. Etiquite lessons in exchange for firebending lessons."

"Uncle, if you know what's good for you, you'll stop talking. And why did you tell him we'd be there for breakfast? And you gave him our firewood! Now I have to go get more, and then it'll take even longer to get dinner!"

"Calm down, Zuko. The Avatar needed that more than we did. Rumor has it he is traveling with a pregnant woman."

Zuko stopped short. "What? Who?"

"I'm not sure, but rumor has it that it is the Water Tribe boy's."

"Uncle, you need to stop listening to rumors. One of these days it's going to be your downfall."

"You worry too much, Zuko."

"You don't worry enough!"

"I worry more than you think. The Avatar is the world's salvation." Iroh gave him a hard look, and Zuko looked away, ashamed.

"I'll go get the firewood."

Too cool for you!

"Did you get the firewood Aang?"

"Yeah. Here you go."

"Thanks. Sokka, get the fire started so we can cook."

"Why me? What do I look like? Your servant?"

"Yes. Now start the fire!"

Sokka started mumbling, and slowly got up from his place on the ground.

"Ugh! You're taking too long, Socks! Twinkle Toes, use your firebending whatever."

"But I can barely do anything!"

"I don't care! I'm pregnant and hungry!"

"Fine."

Aang concentrated and started moving his body. A small part of the tinder caught on fire. Katara quickly fanned it so the rest of the wood caught fire.

"Finally! Now that we have a fire, dinner will be in about ten minutes."

"Okay."

"Whatever."

"That long?"

"If you don't stop whining, Sokka, I can make it much longer."

"Ten minutes is good."

"I thought so."

in the morning

"Zuko! Wake up!"

"Uncle? What's wrong? Are we under attack?"

"No! It's much worse!"

"It's the Fire Nation attacking?"

"No! We're going to be late for breakfast!"

"Uncle, you woke me up for that?"

"But there might be tea!"

"So?"

"Tea, Zuko! It is the food of life!"

"Uncle Iroh, tea isn't food."

"All the more reason to go!"

Zuko rolled his eyes, but got up any way.

"Get out so I can get dressed."

Iroh beamed at him. Zuko rolled his eyes again and pushed Iroh out of his tent.

whatever

Funness-Eagles may soar, but weasels never get sucked into jet engines.

Have fun and review. Depending on the number of reviews I get, I may or may not decide to continue this story. So review. Because this story's life depends on it.