It was dark when Zuko returned to the group he had gathered fruit and fire wood while he was away. He placed the wood in a pile and placed the fruit beside Katara who was cooking. He chucked Aang a fruit and sat beside him. Aang watched as Zuko took a bite of his fruit and leaned back on the pillar with his arms behind his head.

"You know," Zuko started. "I feel a lot better getting that off my chest. I feel a bit lighter."

"You do know that wasn't what I meant."

"Oh of course." He smirked. "But since everyone was hounding me about my past, why not just let everything out. Now I don't have any secrets."

"That's not true." They heard Toph speak across the campfire.

"What?" Aang asked confused.

"Sparky lied. He does have a secret."

"How do you know I'm lying?"

"I'm the all seeing Toph. I can sense when you're lying, it's in my genes. Well my feet actually." This made all three laugh. "So what's your secret?"

Before Zuko could respond Sokka had come up to him nervously.

"Hey Zuko, could I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure." They walked towards where Appa laid snoozing. "What is it you want?"

"I was wondering if you knew of a place where they kept prisoners of the Fire Nation?"

"Who was captured?"

"When the invasion planned failed, some of our troops were taken."

Zuko shook his head "I don't think you want to know."

"Please Zuko, It's my dad." Sokka pleaded.

Zuko sighed. "The Boiling Rock."

"Huh?"

"It's a prison for highly ranked threats of the Fire Nation. It's a top a volcano and there's only one way in and out."

"Where is this place?"

"It's between here and the fire nation. You actually flew right past it on your way here." Zuko narrowed his eyes. "You're not planning on going there are you?"

"What of course not." Sokka scoffed, laughing falsely at what his friend had implied. "Just makes me feel better knowing where he is, that's all."

He walked away from a suspicious Zuko and frowned. The Boiling Rock Sokka thought, here I come.

That night, Sokka had packed his things and was creeping his way towards Appa.

"Hey boy." He whispered. "We're going on a little adventure, we'll be back soon." He pushed himself up too see a hooded figure leaning against Appa's saddle with his arms crossed.

"Not up to anything, huh?"

Sokka yelped when he let go and fell off Appa.

"Fine, you caught me. I'm going to rescue my dad. You happy now?"

He saw Zuko stand on Appa's saddle. "I'm never happy."

"Look Zuko. I have to do this. The invasion plan was my idea, it was my decision to stay when thing went wrong. It's my mistake and it's my job to fix it. You can't stop me Zuko."

Sokka pushed him aside and raised himself onto Appa's saddle.

"If I can't stop you, then I'm coming with you."

"No, I have to do this alone."

"How are you going to get there? You have no idea where it is. Plus last time I checked, prisons don't have bison daycares."

Sokka sighed and turned towards Zuko. "Come on." He gestured. "We'll take my war balloon."

Katara woke the next morning to Momo's fur in her mouth. She swatted him away as she sat up and spat out the lemurs hair.

"Momo, really?" She moaned. She noticed the lemur was holding something in his paw. "What have you got there boy?"

Momo flew away shaking the note in his paw.

"Come back Momo." She followed him out into the courtyard where the lemur leaped on her shoulder and dropped the note into her awaiting hands. Before she opened it she saw Toph and Aang coming into view.

"Morning guys." She smiled.

"Hey what you got there Katara?" Aang inquired.

"I'm not sure. I'm about to read it." She then looked at Aang quizzically. "Wait shouldn't you be with Zuko, training?"

"He never woke me up this morning. I just assumed he slept in." He shrugged.

Katara sighed and opened the note.

Need meat. Gone fishing. Back in a few days.

Sokka and Zuko.

Aang, practice your fire bending while I'm gone. Do twenty sets of fire fists and ten hot squats every time you hear a badgerfrog croak.

Zuko.

Right on cue a croak was heard from the distance.

"No one else gets homework." Aang groaned walking a safe distance away and started his training.

After breakfast Aang trained with Toph, while Katara watched with Momo perched on her shoulder. She was still amazed at how good Toph was at earth bending, she watched as Toph listened to Aang's movements and sensed what he was about to do. She flung her arm out and moved her leg forward and a wall of rock burst from the ground and was pushed by an invisible force towards the boy who sent three chunks of rock at the earth bender. The rocks smashed into the wall and crumbled to dust as the wall advanced. Aang stood head on to the wall and moved into another position and lifted his arms up. Three rock pillars darted out towards the wall and stopped it in its tracks, however Toph sensed this and stamped her feet. The ground underneath the air bender cracked and he yelped when he fell. Toph shifted her stance and the hole closed up and Aang was stuck with his head above the ground.

"I win again." Toph cheered. "We need to focus on your senses."

Toph loosened the hold on Aang as he air bended himself out.

"That sounds fun." He grinned.

His smile faded not ten minutes later when Katara had placed a piece of cloth over eyes. "How is this going to help?" He complained.

"You'll be sensing the way I do Twinkle Toes." Toph explained. " Okay just listen and feel with your body."

"Okay." Aang took a deep breath and focused on his surroundings. His ears twitched every now and then hearing certain noises. He could smell Katara's scent and he turned in her direction.

"Katara is there." He pointed in her direction.

"Awww man." She moaned. Aang smiled. He then focused on trying to find Toph. She was going to be difficult to locate, since she was the master. He tried to smell her or hear her if she moved. But he couldn't, he tried feeling with his feet. He noticed his feet could feel the vibrations in the earth, he concentrated on this. She's going to have to move soon, Aang thought, she's way to impatient. His head snapped to his left when he felt a vibration.

"Got you." He grinned.

"Excellent." Toph clapped.

Aang removed the cloth from his eyes and bowed to his teacher.

"How did you find us?" Toph asked.

"Katara was easy. I could smell her. Her scent gave it away." He turned to his friend. "It was a good smell." He assured. Katara blushed.

"And what about me?" Toph smirked hands on her hips.

"You were much more difficult. Since you're covered in the surroundings I couldn't smell you. Since you're a master earth bender I knew hearing you was to be impossible. I relied on the vibrations in the earth to discover your location. I knew you'd move soon since you're so impatient."

"Very good Twinkle Toes. So what have you learnt?"

"When one sense is cut off your other senses become heighted. I had to rely on the others because I couldn't see." He turned to Toph. "You're amazing, you know that?"

Toph eyes widen and she blushed furiously. "T-Thanks" she stuttered.

Katara stifled a giggle and decided to help her friend from an awkward position.

"So who wants lunch?"

The gang minus Sokka and Zuko sat around the campfire in silence eating their lunch. Toph decided to break the silence to complain.

"I miss Snoozles and Sparky."

Everyone grunted and nodded in agreement. Silence settled in again. Toph screamed causing Momo to retreat to Appa's side.

"I can't take this." She moaned. "There's no excitement, no arguing or fighting. No lame jokes. No nothing."

"Maybe we should play a game." Aang suggested.

"What did you have in mind?" Haru asked.

"Hide and go seek" He suggested. "I could be blind folded and I can rely on my sense to find you guys. It'll be good for my earth bending training."

"That's an excellent idea." Katara said.

"Alright Twinkle Toes, give us two minutes then the hunt begins."

Aang closed his eyes and started to count, he sensed them run away from him to hide among the air temple.

"118,119,120. Ready or not here I come." He shouted and with that Aang let his other senses take over as he walked into the temple.

When the game had finished, they were all discussing where they hid, how Aang found them and in what order they were caught. Teo was first, since he was in wheel chair he didn't have many places he could hide. Katara was next, her scent gave her up Aang explained, causing them both to blush. Haru and The Duke were found shortly after. That left Toph who managed to stay undetected for an hour and a half.

"That was fun." Aang said bubbly.

"It took way too long." Haru mentioned.

"Sorry, but Toph is a pretty good hider." Aang shrugged.

"The best." She corrected.

"Now what?" The Duke piped up. They all looked at the boy and sighed.

"I don't know." Aang muttered.

"What do we usually do?"

"You guys search the temple. Katara cleans and argues with Zuko. Toph and Sokka insult each other and I train."

"Well since Zuko and Sokka aren't here, Katara and Toph can argue and insult each other, while you focus on your avatar training?" Teo suggested.

"Sugar Queen is no fun teasing." Toph grumbled.

"And Toph just complains, she doesn't fight back like Zuko does."

They all sigh again.

"So," Toph started. "Why did you change your mind about Sparky?"

None of them knew who she was talking to since she was blindly looking at the fountain.

"Who are you talking to?" Aang asked.

"All of you." She simply stated.

The Duke started them off. "Zuko scared me. But when he agreed to teach me, I found him to be caring and admirable."

Teo spoke next. "He seemed distant at first. I didn't have a problem with him to start with actually but of course after what I heard about him, I was wary. When I first spoke to him he snapped at me but he apologised. After that we got along fine, I knew he was just as nervous as I was."

"I knew Zuko had good inside him but my decision was based on the group. I let him join based on your vote. Since I've gotten to know him, he's shown his worth, he's loyal and has taught me a lot about the world. I'm proud to say I consider Zuko a friend." Aang stated, smiling.

"I didn't like him to start off with." Haru simply stated while he looked at Katara. "But when he emerged from the woods with The Duke, I knew that Zuko was a good guy. He treats everyone with the same respect."

Aang couldn't help but think back to the argument he had with Zuko the night before. Listening to the comments about him, Aang noticed that Zuko had shown his true self but in parts. He showed compassion to his companions without him realising it. This made Aang smile. There was a silence for a minute before Toph spoke.

"Katara?"

"hmmmm?" She murmured.

"What changed your mind about Sparky?"

"Oh, well, you see." Katara spluttered. "He apologised to me about what happened between us in Be Sing Se. He's been helping me with the chores. He's been nothing but a gentleman since he came here."

"Gentleman? What about all the times you've argued?" Toph scoffed.

"He always seems to find a way to make up for the way he's acted." She blushed. Thinking back to now flustered his was when she caught him playing the guitar. She could help but forget their argument that happened earlier that day. Or the time when she insulted him about his father and he was the one to apologise for his behaviour. She shook her head and look at Toph.

"What about you? What made you change your mind?"

"What are talking about?" Toph laughed. "I was on his side from the start remember?"

They all looked at each other and realised she was right.

"And why was that?"

"Because he was telling the truth. He knew what was at stake and he took it anyway. He treats me like he would anyone else and I wouldn't have it any other way." She smiled brightly and crossed her arms. "Now can we all take the time and think about how I was right. Again."

They all groaned and Toph laughed, soon joined by the rest of them. They continued their discussion of Zuko asking what they thought of his outbursts. How his past made him the person he is today and what would of happened if his father hadn't scarred him. They then changed to subject to their own childhoods. Katara spoke about the harsh winters and how she and her brother rode on penguins. Aang told them all about his meeting with Appa, his friends and his teacher, Monk Gyatso. Haru mention his life before his father was taken away. Teo spoke about his father and his time at the Eastern Air Temple. The Duke told them all about his family and what happened to them, how he found Jet and how the boy helped him. Toph spoke of the badger moles and the Earth Rumble Six, she left out everything about her parents and they didn't blame her.

During their talk Katara had made dinner and it was now late. The Duke stifled a yawn but Katara saw.

"Off to bed young man." The Duke sighed and left. Haru and Teo left shortly after. Aang was next to yawn and bid the girls goodnight before his turned in.

"Hey Sugar Queen, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Do you remember when you had an argument with Sparky about contacting the Fire Nation?"

"Yeah.." She glanced at Toph in confusion. Where is she going with this? she asked herself.

"Do you remember when he came back with Snoozles and you gave them the food?"

"Yesssss." She furrowed her eye brows. "Where are you going with this?"

"I was just wondering why you were being so nice. You were muttering about how infuriating he was then you changed your whole aura when he approached."

"I felt bad about what I had accused him of. I realised he turned his back onto his whole life to join us and I was being unreasonable. So I decided to change my attitude." She explained.

"I see. Well Sparky was confused so I thought I'd ask on his behalf." Toph cracked her knuckles. "Night Sugar Queen."

"Goodnight Toph."

The next day played out the same. Aang would fire bend when a badger frog croaked and Katara made breakfast. Then Aang would train with Toph after. They then played Hide and Go Seek lasting a little longer. The gang then spoke about whatever came to mind. Night came quickly and everyone fell asleep instantly. The next morning Katara was getting anxious about the absence of her brother and the Fire Prince.

"I hope he's okay." She whispered.

"He'll be fine. He's got Sparky with him, no harm will come to Snoozles." Toph reassured .

Damn her and her good hearing, Katara thought. "Thanks Toph. But Zuko can't make everything right."

"Of course he can. He's furiously protective of his friends."

Katara smiled at the girl's enthusiasm of the Fire Prince.

"You really trust him don't you?"

"Sure do."

"Are they back yet?" Aang emerged.

"No." Katara frowned.

Momo flew into the clearing squawking loudly, flying circles around Aang's head then flew to Appa who started grunting.

"Hey guys. What's gotten into you?" Aang questioned. That was when a fire nation balloon appear before them. They saw Sokka waving frantically at them. Katara's eyes widen and waved just as frantically back. The door to the ship opened to Sokka standing in the middle, wearing a Fire Nation soldiers uniform while Zuko was standing at the side holding the lever, wearing scruffy red rags.

"What are you doing in this thing? What happened to your war balloon?" Katara asked.

"It kind of got destroyed." Zuko scratched the back of his neck.

"Sounds like a crazy fishing trip." Aang laughed.

"Did you at least get some good meat?" Toph added.

"I did." Sokka swelled his chest. "The best meat of all. The meat of friendship and fatherhood."

The gathered gang watched as three bodies appeared all wearing the same as Zuko. Katara's eyes widen and started to tear up when she saw the one person who she thought she'd never see again.

"Dad?" She sniffed. She ran towards him and threw her arms around him.

"How are you here? What is going on?" She turned to the boys. "Where did you do?"

"We kind of went to a Fire Nation prison." Sokka explained as their father pulled him into the embrace. No one noticed the Fire Prince walk away.

"Look who else is here." Sokka exclaimed as he broke the embrace. Katara looked behind her father to see Suki smiling at her.

"Suki!" Katara cried. She flew herself at her friend. "You were there too?"

"Yeah but I'm fine. Sokka and Zuko came to save me." They both turned to Sokka and gave him a smile. Suki then looked around for her other saviour.

"Are you not going to introduce me?" A big burly man spoke.

"Oh guys, this is Chit Sang." pointing to him. "Chit Sang this is Katara, my sister. Aang, the Avatar and Toph, an earth bender."

"It's lovely to meet you all." He bowed.

They all said hello in return before Suki interrupted.

"Hey where did Zuko go?"

"He left." Toph pointed in a direction. "He seemed upset."

"I'll go see if he's okay." Sokka offered.

"No I will." Suki intervened, "I must thank him for rescuing me."

Suki followed the direction that Toph said and found the prince sitting by a pillar with his legs hanging off the temple, with a little flame in his palm.

"Hey Zuko." Suki greeted. "Can I join you?"

Zuko looked up towards the intruder. "Sure." He gave her a small smile and looked back down at his hand. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked up to see Suki frowning at him.

"What's the matter Zuko?"

Zuko looked out into the canyon then back at Suki while he closed his fist and distinguished the flame.

"Just seeing Katara and Sokka with Hakoda makes me think about everything I've lost and what I'll never have."

"I know how you feel." Zuko looked at her in surprise. "I lost my family when I was young, I'll never be able to feel the touch of my mother or hear the rough voice of my father."

"Sorry." Zuko smiled weakly. "It must be hard talking to the murderers son."

Suki took Zuko's hand and smiled. "Don't be silly Zuko. It's not your fault. So don't blame yourself. You hear? Don't let it get the best of you. People like us, we've got to stick together." Suki put her head on Zuko's shoulder. "Keep your head up. We are all misfits living in a world on fire." They both smiled.

"Thanks Suki. I'm sorry about everything I've done."

Suki raised her head.

"You're already forgiven. Let's get back, I'm sure everyone is waiting to welcome you back."

The both got up and Suki turned to face him. She hugged him around his middle.

"Thank you for saving me." She removed herself and looked him in the eye and her smile faltered. His face was cringed with pain. "Oh my goodness. I wasn't thinking. I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"

"It's okay, I'll be fine." A small smile appeared on his face. "Just please don't hug me again."

They both made their way to the courtyard.

"So how exactly did you escape?" Aang questioned.

"The quick version is, Suki captured the warden we ran to the gondola and Zuko broke the lever so they couldn't stop us. We made it half way when Azula and Ty Lee showed up and started attacking us. Then they started to cut the line. We saw the girl with knives come to our rescue. What was her name?"

"Mai, I believe." Hakoda inputted.

"That's right. Zuko's ex girlfriend. So Azula and Ty Lee left and we escaped. We came back on Azula's war balloon."

"Wow." Aang stared at them in awe. "What happened inside the prison?"

Hakoda and Sokka exchanged glances and frowned.

"Oh this and that. Nothing important." Sokka waved him off. "Oh here comes the hero."

Zuko and Suki emerged from the corner and Suki went over to Sokka and planted a kiss of his cheek. Zuko looked over to Toph to see her frown and look away.

"You okay Zuko?" Sokka asked.

"I'm fine." He replied. He went over to Toph and pulled her close to him.

"Hey, ignore them." He whispered. "I'm here now."

Toph laughed and hugged her friend.

"Do you have any idea how much we've missed you?" She spoke loudly.

He was taken aback. "You guys missed me?"

He looked around the group and they all nodded. This made him blush and smile.

"Thanks guys."

"What about me?" Sokka exclaimed.

"Of course we missed you Sokka." Katara reassured.

"Good, good." He muttered. "So what happened while we were away?"

"We played Hide and go Seek. Twinkle Toes here was blindfolded."

"Why was he blindfolded?"

"So he could use his other senses. Like me." Toph explained.

"That sounds stupid." Sokka scoffed. "I mean why would he need to do that. He isn't blind like you."

"Well thanks for reminding me." She seethed. Toph stormed off with all pairs of eyes on Sokka.

"Sokka, why would you say something like that?" Katara moaned. Sokka just shrugged.

"She shouldn't take offence to that kind of stuff. I mean she insults us all the time."

"Son, you should go apologise to the young lady." Hakoda ordered.

"But..." Before he could finish his sentence, Zuko spoke.

"I think you should just leave her alone. I'll go talk to her." He rose. "Why would you say something like that?"

"Say what. That she's blind?" Sokka scoffed. "Everyone has weaknesses. She just won't admit it."

Zuko's eyes narrowed and scowled at him. "Her blindness is not a weakness, if anything it makes her stronger." With that he stalked off after the earth bender.

"Sokka." Hakoda spoke sternly. "I did not raise you to poke insults at people especially those who are sensitive about their abilities."

"But she insults us all the time."

"It doesn't matter. You need to apologise to her went you get the chance. Do you understand?"

Sokka looked his father in the eye, trying to match the intimidation in his irises. Hakoda narrowed his eyes further. "Sokka?"

Sokka sighed and flew his arms in the air. "Fine. I'll apologise."

Hakoda smiled and crossed his arms. Aang then spoke.

"I didn't think you'd say something like that." He shook his head. "She's one if not the best earth bender I've ever seen. She listens and waits and strikes at the appropriate time. Just because she's blind doesn't mean she's weak."

"Alright, I get it. I'm in the wrong." Sokka defended. "Just leave it now."