'Imprisoned' – Haru's Mother

In the dead of the night, they took him: without a fuss or a sound. The only thing that was left for her after this long bloody war was taken from her.

Nao turned around to the Water Tribe girl, tears in her eyes. As if in slow motion, the clay pot she was holding fell and shattered against the floor. It was the girls fault. Her fault. If she hadn't turned up and befuddled Haru's head with her stupid 'bending is a gift' ideas. For her family, it has been a curse. First Tyro, now Haru? She didn't know how longer she could stand her grief.

Her home was empty. She kept seeing Haru cleaning the floor, laying the table or simmering with rage at the Fire Nation. Haru. Gone.

Nao startled at the knock on the door, stirring her from her emptiness. The house around her was unkempt and seeing as all the mirrors were covered up, Nao couldn't see that she was also. She shuffled over to the door, convinced that if it was the Fire Nation demanding more taxes, she would punch that General so hard in the face that it would knock those stupid cheek moustaches off his face.

She opened the door, readying her hand into a fist when.. "Hello my love."

Her arm dropped loosely to her side, a slight sigh escaping from her lips. "Tyro?"

"Yes my love, I'm home."

A smile erupted across her face as she flung her arms around his tanned neck. "Your home, your home." She crooned as she stroked his hair. "And Haru, you too! What- How did you get off the brig?"

"It was Katara Mum, she saved us all!"

Her face fell slightly, "What has that girl been doing now?"

"Now now Nao, that girl saved us all, without her everyone would still be on that God-forsaken brig."

"She saved you all?"

"Yes, everyone."

"And you don't have to go back?"

"Well, we haven't got there yet, but she gave us the courage to gather up and fight back for our Kingdom."

"She does sound like she helped all of you Earthbenders out.." Nao said uncertainly.

"Now come on in. It's been such a long time since I've been inside a proper house."

"But you don't have to go!" Nao begged, "Please, you can't leave me again."

"I'm sorry dear, but this is not only for the good of the Earth Kingdom, but for the good of the world. Everyone is counting on us so we have to go."

"Let some other Earthbender do it please."

"Nao, you can't only worry about the safety of your family, there are other people in this world worth saving. Stop being so selfish!"

"Selfish! You are telling me that I'm selfish! You have no idea how much I suffered while you were away, all those nights I cried to sleep when Haru asked me where his father was, when I had to scrounge in the dirt looking for money to pay the ridiculous taxes. You have no idea what it was like!" Nao's bottom lip trembled with emotion as she stared her stubborn husband down. In many ways he was like the element he bent: unyielding, strong and enduring.

Tyro sighed, rubbing his creased forehead. "I know, I know. I shouldn't have called you that and I apologise. What the Fire Nation has put you through, it must have been terrible than what happened with me, but you see? This is why we must fight. Why we must go to the Fire Nation and on the Day of Black Sun, strike it at its rotten core!"

And suddenly Nao smiled. She remembered why she fell in love with this taciturn, rugged man. "Ok my husband. I have spent so much looking after my family, that I have forgotten the bigger picture. Go, go to the Fire Nation and bring back some dented helmets for me." She stroked his scarred cheek and kissed his forehead as if in blessing. "Look after Haru."

"It goes without saying."

"And make sure he doesn't go head-over-heels for that Water Tribe girl. She's obviously in love with the Avatar and the feelings are reciprocated."

"Ok, you know, we're going to have to keep an eye on him, he's getting to that age when women seem more appetising."

"Maybe you should give him the Talk. But after the attack, we don't want to scare him."

"Oh yes, we're facing angry, powerful Firebender's in their capital city in which their defences will be most extreme. You're right, we don't want to scare him.

When Nao found out Tyro had been taken prisoner again, and that the kids had been left with no parental guidance after the failed invasion attack, she was furious. But the family were reunited, Haru fell in love and they all went to Aang and Katara's wedding. And at the reception, Toph managed to overhear "You know what Tyro, I don't think that Water tribe girl is that bad."