Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter: Homecomings

"Did you see the look on her face?" Sokka practically crowed as he swung Suki around and around the hold of the airship. They had ducked below deck minutes after retrieving Sokka's boomerang, leaving the two firebenders tending the furnace and Hakoda steering the vessel. "That'll teach that psycho to mess with my girlfriend." He stopped swinging Suki in celebratory circles so he could give her a long kiss. They were completely oblivious to the entrance of their shipmates until his father cleared his throat loudly.

Both embarrassed and pleased, Suki peeled herself away from Sokka and congratulated him more appropriately on his victorious final strike. "Never underestimate a boy with a boomerang!" Her smile faded a bit when she turned to face the other three men.

To Suki's surprise, Chit Sang was not leering at them. Instead, he wore a forlorn heartsick expression. Suki thought back to the woman, Xiaohui, waving her farewell. During Suki's time in the prison, she had only met the woman three times. Xiaohui had been distant but not unkind, keeping to the circle of long-term inmates but never provoking the newly interned. Despite her lack of a relationship with the woman, Suki now felt a keen kinship with her. She knew she would have made the same sacrifice for Sokka had she been the one left on the platform.

Hastily looking away from the heartbroken giant, Suki noticed the Fire Nation Prince had an uncomfortable almost pained look on his face. More awkward than usual for having interrupted his friend's romantic moment, Zuko was avoiding looking directly at the couple or anyone else. Suki sniggered a bit internally, making a mental note that displays of affection discomfited the firebender. She was sure the knowledge would come in useful at some future time.

At last, she met the gaze of the most important to her of the trio. Hakoda wore a stern expression but his eyes were twinkling with suppressed mirth. Suki had only met the man briefly in the yard and wanted to now make a good impression on him. Sokka and his father were very close. Cannily, she knew Hakoda's approval of her was key to her hopes of a future with Sokka.

Suki's own father and mother were stiff cold people obsessed with maintaining Avatar Kyoshi's legacy. They had volunteered her for the warriors corps on the day she was weaned, feeling there was no higher honor for a daughter than to undergo the training. In many ways, she was grateful to them for the opportunities and skills this had brought her. Despite her parents' reserve, she had grown up in the warm and loving family of her sister warriors. Now, she was faced with impressing a parent who cared deeply for his children and about their happiness.

Suki need not have worried; Hakoda was at that moment silently thanking Tui and La for his son finding such a strong capable partner. Her fighting skills and her experience leading of her own people were big points in her favor. But it was the expression of joy and love that Sokka wore when he looked at Suki that had Hakoda wholly prejudiced in her favor. He knew he had worn a similar expression whenever he had looked at Kya. Hopes of grandchildren in a few more years began dancing through his head.

Keeping these thoughts to himself, Hakoda spoke up, "We are heading northeast. Dusk will be on us soon. Perhaps we should make some plans about how we're going to return to Katara and your other young friends." Pointedly, he omitted mentioning the Avatar in Chit Sang's presence. The man had helped them escape but now that he was free, his loyalties became uncertain.

Zuko, leaning against some crates in fatigue, did not miss this omission. All the aches and pains from the Warden's abuse and the subsequent fights were catching up with him as the adrenaline retreated. In a weary voice, he suggested, "We may not want to head directly back. We don't want anyone unfriendly to follow us home." He glanced back over his shoulder to emphasize the Fire Nation they were still flying through.

"Good idea, Zuko. Evasive maneuvers," Sokka said slyly. As though even his body movements would help them evade pursuit, Sokka slunk forward with exaggerated stealth. Suki watched him with affection and amusement, before joining him to close the loose ring of escapees.

"I agree." Hakoda turned with a nod of acknowledgement to the young firebender. "Prince Zuko, you know your nation best. What course should we set to keep us away from searching eyes?"

Before Zuko could answer, Chit Sang interrupted having been startled out of his mournful reverie, "Prince Zuko? No way! You're kidding me! Crown Prince Zuko?" The man was looking amazedly back and forth between Hakoda and the prince. Receiving no reply from either of them, he turned his questioning eyes to Sokka and Suki, the latter of whom nodded at him in confirmation.

"Oh yeah, didn't we tell you? Zuko, here, is that Zuko," Sokka said helpfully. "Woulda thought the scar and the negative attitude would have given it away. Maybe no one can recognize you without that stupid ponytail bobbing along after you, buddy. Better grow it back out and shave the rest of that mess off."

"I do not have a negative attitude," Zuko grumbled, not appreciating his friend's teasing. "And my phoenix plume was a mark of my banishment, Sokka. Besides, you're one to talk. You have a ponytail too."

"It's a warrior's wolf tail," Sokka said in a tone of injured dignity.

"Your Highness," Chit Sang interjected. Sounding almost desperate, he fell into a deep subservient bow. "I beg you, forgive me! I didn't know it was you."

Hakoda, Sokka, and Suki all looked surprised and bemused by Chit Sang's sudden change in attitude. Given his defiance of authority back at the prison, they had not expected him to care that Zuko was a prince. Truly, none of them ever really thought of him as a prince. At least for Suki and Sokka, the title had always felt like a pretense of superiority. As they watched Chit Sang shudder and quake before Zuko, they had their first inkling of what royalty meant in the Fire Nation.

"Don't worry about it," Zuko muttered becoming more and more uncomfortable. "You don't need to call me 'Your Highness' either. I'm a traitor now so it doesn't much matter if I'm a prince or not."

"Thank you, thank you," Chit Sang replied still not rising from his bow or looking up at Zuko.

Suddenly suspicious that they had brought a spy along or that he was being mocked, Zuko demanded, "What were sent to the Boiling Rock for?"

"When I was young, I was drafted into the army along with all the benders in my village," Chit Sang began. "At first, we were all excited about the honor of fighting for our nation and the Fire Lord in the war." His tone darkened as he continued, "That lasted until after our third battle when we defeated an earthbender garrison outside a village in the Northern territory of the Earth Kingdom. We really thought we were heroes. Then the orders came to burn the village to the ground, taking no prisoners. It was like being dipped in ice. The village was so much like our home…"

"Did you do it?" Suki asked in a hard tone of voice. "Did you burn those people in their homes?"

Chit Sang did not seem to hear the biting questions as he said, "We started by setting fire to their storage buildings. The supplies went up in flames easily enough. Soon, the streets clogged with smoke and people dashing about. Several fights broke out as the villagers tried defending their homes. I was set to guard the boundary so none of 'em could escape into the woods. Not long after, I heard a child screaming. I turned and saw her, this old woman standing in front of a little boy. A group of soldiers started to close in around them. As their fireballs neared her, she bent a wall of stone, at least four feet thick. The flames blasted away chunks, eating away at her defenses. It was only a matter of time until they got to her. The child was crying louder and louder, coughing on the smoke. It was a horrible sound. The woman sent out waves of sharp rocks, killing several of the troops, but there were too many of us. When they broke through the wall, I could see the child clinging to her legs. I looked up into that old woman's eyes and I saw us as she did. We were monsters. And I just snapped. I started fighting back against my friends and my fellow soldiers. It took 'em awhile to subdue me but at last, they had me chained up. They sentenced me as a traitor and sent me the Boiling Rock. That was more than twenty years ago."

"And the old woman and the little boy?" Zuko demanded, watching the big man intently. "Did you manage to save them?"

Shame-faced, Chit Sand hung his head. "I saw their bodies being dragged away while I was being carted off."

A long moment of silence followed the conclusion of Chit Sang's story. Then, Sokka spoke up, "So you defended the people of the Earth Kingdom? And you're against this war?"

"Yes." Chit Sang looked up at Sokka. "I'm proud I'm a firebender. I love my country but this war is just wrong. I wish someone would end it." Chit Sang chuckled bitterly to himself, "Of course, that would take something like the Avatar coming back."

"He has," Zuko said quietly. He was still watching Chit Sang carefully. While he was not Toph, he was pretty sure the man was not lying. Moreover, the man had demonstrated a sense of honor and justice even while imprisoned. Zuko would be the last person to judge someone for having mixed feelings about the Fire Nation. "The Avatar has returned. I turned against my Father and forfeited my claim to the throne so I could help end this war. What would you be willing to give to end this war, Chit Sang?"

Almost unwillingly, the big man met Zuko's piercing mismatched eyes. In an awed whisper, Chit Sang replied, "Anything, my Prince." He was definite in his answer, having just lost the only thing in the world he valued above this cause. Zuko nodded solemnly in acknowledgement.

"Do you, Chit Sang son of Fire, pledge your life and your honor to the service of your Lord, before Agni and the First Flame? To live, bleed, and die for his cause if called upon to do so?" The ancient words of the oath of homage felt strange on Zuko's lips as he finished, "Do you swear to be true in counsel, honorable in action, and courageous in battle until your lord releases you or death takes you?" These were the most binding promises one firebender could make to another. Once sworn, the breaking of the vow in any way would cause the great Lord Agni to strip a firebender of their inner fire and sentence them to walk cold and alone in the Spirit realm for eternity. Zuko himself had never even heard the words spoken allowed. He would never have required the pledge for his own sake but their mission was too important to risk betrayal.

The other three remained silent watching the two Fire Nation defectors. They almost felt like voyeurs, intruding on something private and sacred.

Chit Sang's eyes went wide with surprise but to his credit, his voice did not falter as he spoke the words of the oath. When he was done, the former prisoner stood as Zuko stepped forward to clasp the larger man's arm. They were bonded. The weight of the oath rested on both their shoulders. While Chit Sang was now pledged to Zuko, the Prince was in return responsible for the other man's life and welfare. He stood accountable to the world at large for any action of mistake the older man might commit. It was a great trust.

After another moment of loaded silence, Sokka let out a low whistle and said, "I've no idea what that was all about, but it sounded serious. Now that your Fire Nation mumbo jumbo's done, can we start talking about how we want to give your crazy Sister the slip? Aang and Katara are probably freaking out about how long we've been gone. We can't take too long getting back to them or they might be stupid enough to come looking for us."

"You've got a point," Hakoda agreed. "Katara has never been one to wait around when she thinks something might be wrong. I'd be surprised if they aren't already looking for you."

"Let's continue on our current heading for the next several islands. We can change directions once enough scouts have spotted us flying towards the Northern Water Tribe and the Earth Kingdom." Zuko suggested, trying to shake off some of the gravity of the last half hour. "Then we'll have to be careful not pass over any populated islands or patrols. It won't be the fastest route but it'll be safe."

"Sounds good to me," Suki approved. "We should try to fly above the cloud layer whenever possible if you two firebenders are up for it?" It would require near constant stoking of the furnace to keep the balloon up that high.

"Don't you worry, we can handle it" Chit Sang responded assuredly.

With that the group separated, Hakoda returning to the tiller and the firebenders to add fire to the furnace. Suki turned to Sokka prepared to pick up where they had been interrupted. Unfortunately, Sokka was preoccupied with the new idea presented to him.

Looking to Suki for reassurance, he asked worriedly, "You don't think Katara would have come after us, do you?"

"Did you tell her where you were going before you left?" Suki thought that if Katara knew about the prison, the waterbender might be headed right for them.

"No," Sokka replied. "We left a note that we were going fishing."

"So she wouldn't have known you were going into the Fire Nation? Even if she is looking for you, she probably wouldn't think to look for you in enemy territory. And there's no way she'd let Aang go anywhere near here." Suki credited Katara with being the more sensible of the two siblings. "I am sure she's fine, Sokka. She's a master waterbender after all. She can take care of herself."

"You're probably right," Sokka muttered relaxing at Suki's logic. He wrapped her in his arms pulling her close. "So where were we?"

Several days later, Zuko stood on deck alone watching for the ravine where the Western Air Temple was hidden. It had been an awkward few days aboard the airship with no one but Sokka completely comfortable in the others' company. All the men had quickly begun knocking loudly before going into the hold to avoid interrupting Sokka's and Suki's embraces. Half in disgust and half in envy, Zuko thought it was if the two were trying to make up for all their lost time together before they even reached the temple. Chit Sang had continued his almost painful deference to Zuko but seemed to be warming up to Hakoda.

Of any pair on the ship, Zuko and Hakoda seemed to have the least to say to each other. They had been alone together a handful of times during the flight. On these rare occasions, not a single word had been spoken between them. Zuko, who was naturally shy and reserved, was at a loss as to how to begin conversing with the oddly stately Water Tribe man. It did not help that he knew more than he should about the man. Katara had spoken about her father and his absence during their time in the cavern. 'So why did you decide to abandon your children when they were young and motherless?' did not seem like an auspicious opening to Zuko. He was fascinated by their family's dynamic; so opposite to his own. What would it be like to have someone like Hakoda for a father? Zuko wondered. Probably not too different from having Uncle around, he reflected.

For his part, Hakoda had been closely observing the prince. He found Zuko to be a serious, dedicated, young man. Perhaps the boy was a little too taciturn, except when with Sokka. The Water Tribe Chief had yet to see the firebender smile. Despite this, Hakoda was predisposed to like Zuko, having been rescued by him. Sokka had also spoken highly of his friend which had allayed the majority of Hakoda's natural concerns about allying themselves with the son of their arch enemy. His son had given him a summary of the group's history with Zuko, not glossing over some of the thornier periods. Hakoda's only remaining reservation lay in an offhand remark of Sokka's about Katara not being happy with the firebender's joining the Avatar. With this in mind, Hakoda stoically awaited their return to the temple to pass final judgement.

As the cliffs surrounding the Western Air Temple hove into view, Zuko felt excitement surging within him. They had made it back! He could hardly wait to see the group again and surprise them with their adventure and new companions. In particular, he was hopeful that rescuing her father might earn him a 'thank you' from Katara. Maybe even a grateful hug. Hastily, he squashed that hope before it had a chance to take root. He wanted to be realistic in his expectations but his anticipation was almost overwhelming. Strangely, this felt like coming home. Unlike his return to the Fire Nation after his long banishment, he knew that happiness and friends awaited him upon his return. Calling out to the rest of those aboard the airship, he began guiding the vessel in towards the main veranda.

With many cries of surprise and relief, the group at the Western Air Temple welcomed home their missing friends. They were just as welcoming to the three escapees, with Aang jubilantly embracing both Suki and Hakoda. The rest of the boys all marvelled over the daring and triumphant rescue mission.

After introducing Suki and Chit Sang to the larger group, Sokka drew Toph aside to ask her anxiously where Katara was. Despite his initial fears about her being captured trying to find him, he had unconsciously been expecting his sister to come flying into his arms scolding and hugging him the moment he stepped off the airship. Zuko hovered nearby the duo, having immediately noticed that the waterbender was not amongst the group. He was in a silent state of near panic over her absence. He had impatiently been waiting for someone to ask for an explanation. With her usual tact, Toph informed Sokka of Katara's departure. The rest of the group was made aware of the exchange when Sokka shrieked, "SHE DID WHAT?!"

"She left," Toph repeated exasperatedly.

"No, no, no! This is not good!" Sokka started wringing his hands nervously as dread for his sister's safety washed through him.

Beside his friend, Zuko felt ice flood his body. Katara left… because of me?

After hearing his son's initial shout, Hakoda approached the three teens a look of concern on his face. "Where is Katara?" He had been looking forward to seeing his daughter since their moment of separation.

"For the third time, she left," Toph intoned without elaborating.

Aang joined them and apprehensively explained, "She left the same day as you and Zuko, Sokka. None of us know where she is. It's all my fault. I really made her mad." The young monk hung his head dejectedly.

Aang's fault? Katara would never get mad at Aang, Zuko thought disbelievingly. He had always been under the self-conceived and inaccurate impression that Aang could do no wrong in Katara's eyes. It had been a source of some irritation at times in the past. He now struggled to revise his understanding of the friends' relationship.

"The day we left?" Sokka paced as he thought out loud. "So she's been gone for 17 days? And none of you went to look for her?"

"Of course we did!" Aang replied indignantly. "I flew over the whole island. Haru tried to track her through the forest. There was no trace of her." Shooting a glare at the blind earthbender, he accused, "Toph refused to help!" It had been a couple of the worst weeks of Aang's life, only surpassed by losing Appa and the defeat at Ba Sing Se.

"And I'm not gonna!" Toph said, planting her feet and crossing her arms. "Like I told you before, she needed some time to herself to sort through some things."

Zuko interpreted this somewhat correctly to mean Katara wanted to get away from him, desperately. So his presence had driven a wedge so deep between the companions, that the heart of the group had ripped herself away. Continuing in this melodramatic vein, he thought, She really is going never to forgive me…

"You talked to her before she left and you didn't stop her? Katara never takes time for herself!" Sokka argued, rounding on Toph.

"Maybe that's why she needed to do this, idiot! I told her she needed to learn to put herself first for a change. And we all need to learn to stop taking her for granted!" Her blind eyes swept the group fiercely. In a less combative tone, Toph continued, "Snoozles, she told me to tell you that she went 'walk-around'?"

"Walkabout?" Hakoda queried.

"Yeah, that one."

"Wooooooooooaaahhh!" Sokka said, exchanging wide-eyed looks with his father. "Walkabout, that is serious!"

"What is 'walkabout'?" Aang asked looking thoroughly confused.

As he processed his daughter's unprecedented behavior, Hokoda hurriedly explained, "In the Southern Water Tribe, walkabout historically refers to a rite of passage involving a journey, living in the wilderness for a period as long as six months to make the spiritual and traditional transition into adulthood. Usually, only the boys do it." If there was ever a female Water Tribe member to do it, he supposed it would be Katara.

"SIX MONTHS?" Aang, Teo, Haru, and the Duke exclaimed in unison.

Plaintively, Aang said, "We've just spent the last couple of years journeying in the wilderness. Why doesn't that count?"

Sokka replied tiredly, "Because it needs to be done alone."

"Alone in the sense that you do not take anyone with you, but you can meet people along your journey," Hakoda clarified, thinking back to his own walkabout. It had been when he first met Kya.

"But six months?!" Aang whined.

"Not much we can do now," Sokka sighed. "The trail is more than two weeks cold, too much rain has fallen. Guess we'll just have to wait. Did she even have a plan for how she would find us if we suddenly had to shift bases?"

"Yeah, she did," Toph answered. "I don't know what it was but she seemed absolutely certain. She said that she'd always be able to find each of us. It was actually kind of creepy the way she said it."

"Of course she didn't give us any details…" Sokka trailed off, exasperated. "Fine. I still can't believe Katara of all people went walkabout. How much more adult does she want to be? She already mothers everyone she gets her hands. Lecturing, cleaning, cooking-"

"Speaking of which," Toph interrupted. "You guys did bring back some actual meat, right?"

"No, why?"

Aang said, scuffing his toe on the ground, "Well, with Katara gone, we've all been sort of struggling for meals. Not that meat would do me much good."

"And no one has done laundry in over two weeks," Toph added helpfully.

Upon hearing this, Hokoda assumed control of the group. He was the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe after all. "I will take Chit Sang and go hunting. Some of you should form a foraging party. The rest of you, maybe try cleaning something," he directed surveying the unkempt group and the surrounding temple courtyard.

Suki, who had been silently absorbing and approving her friend's decision, spoke for the first time, "I can lead the foraging party."

To no one's surprise, Sokka called, "I'm with Suki!"

The group dispersed forming work parties. There was generally an unsettled feeling amongst them like the victorious homecoming was none too victorious because there was no longer a 'home' to return to. No one but Toph noticed Zuko slip away on his own. Drowning in guilt and disappointment, he could not face the others. No matter what anyone might say, he felt ultimately responsible for Katara's departure.

A/N:

Made it back the Western Air Temple at last! This was one of the first chapters I wrote for myself when first dreaming up this story. It feels odd to finally post it. The original draft only had the conversation at the WAT.

After writing Between a Rock and a Hard Place, I thought more time was needed developing the escapees' relationships. I always found it hard to believe that group would just blithely bring Chit Sang back with them.

Next chapter, we will catch up with Katara and her adventures on Oolong Island.

A special thank you to DeannaBear, you motivated me to get this out this week.