Longest chapter yet, FTW! Thanks to all the amazing reviews AGAIN! You guys rock my socks, float my boat, and a bunch of other clever, witty things that I can't think of!

Not my best chapter, as I have to work on my dialogue savvy-ness...Hm. Here's to the hope of getting better with hard work and practice!

I give you, Chapter four!

"…No."

Katara immediately stilled, hand remaining in her bag, thoughtlessly stuffing in clothes, and turned slightly to her father.

"What do you mean 'no'? I have to go!" She continued in her packing frenzy,"It isn't like I'm going on vacation or anything, Zuko needs my help."

"I just don't like it. He's a teenage boy, Firelord or not. Why else would he call for you specifically?"

This time, Katara did an incredulous about face, bag hanging half full in her hands.

"He isn't just some boy and you know it! How can you say that? Besides, we all know Zuko would never ask for anyone's help, it was General Iroh. " Her scowl deepened, "And as to why, maybe it has something to do with the fact that I'm the only one in our group with more of an emotional wingspan than a moon peach!"

"Ouch."

Both heads snapped to the new, somewhat joking voice. The corners of Katara's mouth twitched upwards.

"Sorry, Sokka. No offense meant."

"None taken."

He went to stand beside his sister.

"Dad, I'm with Katara on this one. Iroh wouldn't have sent for her it wasn't absolutely necessary."

If she was shocked, it didn't show. Hakoda, however, leaked a bit of surprise through his mask of irritation.

"Sokka, you aren't her father, and this isn't for you to decide."

Katara bit in before her brother could retaliate, "Don't talk to him like that! Sokka's been just as much of a father to me as you have!"

Silence.

Sokka's gloved hand found hers and offered a reassuring squeeze.

"I…I just got you two back." The Chief's face had fallen noticeably, "Things are just starting to go back to normal."

The siblings rushed to their father in a tight embrace. Katara smiled, mumbling "When have we ever been normal?" into the thick fabric of his parka.

Hakoda let out a a defeated sigh. "Okay."

Katara looked up at him, eyes full of the same familiar hope. "Really?"

"Yes. You have my full blessing."

The man, of course, knew deep down that his daughter couldn't have been stopped, but as she tightened her grip on him, whispering her thanks, he found himself grateful for it.

After all, Katara was, more and more so every passing day, her mother's daughter. Saying 'no' to her paralleled refusing the dawn to break.

Finally disentangling themselves, Hakoda smiled heartily at his children before exiting the igloo.

The Waterbender wasted no time in returning to her hasty packing.

She didn't falter at Sokka's attention seeking cough, but nodded towards him to reveal she was, indeed, paying attention. He sighed before continuing, "Sis. Are you gonna be okay? I mean, alone with Zuko?"

Confusion danced across his sister's face. "But, you just said-oh, never mind. Why wouldn't I be? Come on, this is Zuko we're talking about! I'll be fine."

Sokka cracked a smile.

"I know, I know. I guess Suki's just putting ideas in my head…"

Katara finally finished tying off her over packed carrying skin, and turned questioningly to her brother. "Ideas? About what?"

Sokka immediately held up his hands, shaking his head and flushed pink, "Hey, don't you have a ship to catch or something?"

She let the subject drop with a shrug of her shoulders, and hoisted her single bag.

"Lead the way, Sokka."

"UNCLE!"

Three…two…one…-

The door to General Iroh's room burst open and a blushing Firelord rushed in, swiftly shutting it behind him. The older man smiled.

"Good evening, Nephew. Would you like a nice cup of tea?"

"Why the hell is there a girl in my room?"

Iroh looked slightly confused, "Zuko, why are you whispering?"

The teen quickly straightened, remembering himself, and coughed once into his fisted hand.

"Uncle. We've been over this a million times. I don't need or want a harem!"

The tea enthusiast was already handing his wound up Nephew a steaming cup, grinning slyly.

"Forgive me, Nephew. This old man only wanted to find a means to help you relax a bit."

Zuko promptly choked on his tea, and narrowed his eyes.

"I'm completely fine. I don't need your help on this, Uncle."

My nephew, stubborn as a mule.

The General merely nodded his head, gesturing for the Firelord to take a seat across from him. Begrudgingly, he complied.

"I sent word to the Southern Water Tribe. If all goes as planned, Miss Katara will be arriving sometime next week."

The younger man gazed down into the shallow depths of the soothing liquid, sagging his broad shoulders.

At his silence, Iroh continued.

"Nephew, you must be willing to put forth an effort if you wish to see results."

It was Zuko's turn to nod slowly, before looking up to his Uncle and grumbling, "May I be excused?"

A wry chuckle.

"That depends on if you will only be leaving to brood alone in the dark somewhere, Firelord."

The youth pasted on an attempted smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"I won't, Uncle." Zuko stood to exit.

…

He lied.

"I promise, I'll be alright. Don't worry."

Katara was anxiously waiting to board her transport to the Fire Nation, saying goodbye to her family.

Sokka stood beside a clearly freezing Suki, warning his sister of the consequences she'd encounter should she not write periodically.

"-and be sure to tell the Jerkbender 'No touching'-" He hugged his sister tightly, before backing out of the hold to clutch Suki's hand, "He'll know what I mean."

The Waterbender rolled her azure eyes and pulled her brother and his girlfriend into another quick embrace.

Gran-Gran cleared her throat, and beckoned Katara over in a 'come hither" motion.

Tears threatened to gather, and she blinked them away as best as she could, giving up on words to simply throw her arms around her grandmother. "I love you, Gran-Gran."

"I love you, too, Katara," She raised the girl's chin to meet her gaze, "Be safe."

Katara melted back into her arms.

"I will be. I promise."

Two strong arms tightly wrapped themselves around the women.

"I'll miss you too, Dad."

He couldn't return it, just buried his head into his daughter's thick curls.

Katara broke away from the her family with a quick inhale to keep herself together, before nodding to them and boarding the ship, appearing minutes later, flailing her arms on the deck, yelling "I love you, guys! I'll be back before you know it!" among other such sentiments.

She did so until they disappeared from her vision, a good seven minutes later.

It hurt only a bit, but was hard none the less. Besides, any type of stimulation welcomed itself to Katara, and what better way than to see an old friend in the hottest place in the world to shake off the frost bitten boredom that was the South Pole?

No, that isn't why I came.

That night at the Jasmine Dragon so many months ago would not go forgotten.

Katara made a silent vow, clutching the cold, steel railing on the giant ship, that she would help Zuko through his ordeal, just as he did for her, no matter what it took.

She surveyed the frozen landscape one last time before receding into the ship, seeking out the warmth of her room.

Back in the South Pole, Sokka paced frantically in front of a fire, and a seated Suki.

"You're wrong about them, you know."

Suki looked up from the dancing flames to gaze at her boyfriend.

"I don't know Sokka, Toph and I have pretty good instincts. Well, we call it Woman's Intuition, but still."

He stopped, and hovered over her.

"No way. It'll never happen." He resumed pacing, muttering to himself distractedly. "Never in a million years…"

She grinned in a very uncharacteristic, very Toph like way, and it worried the warrior immensely.

"Whatever you say Sokka," she looked back to the flames, "Whatever you say."

A/N

Because trickery is DEFINITELY afoot! Review for any suggestions, comments, anything! :D