My muse is being a fickly little bitch lately. I had a hard time with this chapter, I rewrote it three times then got mad and had to get off of this story for a while...couchthree monthscough I didn't mean to stray so long. But hey! I think I might have just kicked My muse enough to get her to start singing again. Here's hopin ;-)

Appa was in bad shape, luck for the group had turned for the better. A rather large village was just beyond the break in the trees. Sokka and Aang had managed to disguise Appa as much as possible. In his condition he wasn't able to move much. At Iroh's suggestion, they all decided that they needed to let him rest, especially since the village was so close by.

They rested for the rest of the day taking time to eat and force feed the giant bison. Katara was distant from the rest cooing and cuddling with Riyo. The small boy squealed and gurgled in joy. Sokka watched his sister and shook his head. He calmly walked over to her and sat down next to her.

"Hey."

"Hi. Sokka." She looked up at him as she bounced Riyo on her knee. She watched him watch her for a moment then sighed.

"What?"

"Why are you acting so strange?" Katara sighed again and looked to Riyo. She laughed as he began blowing bubbles. She reached up and wiped his mouth then looked back to her brother.

"The man that saved me. I wasn't able to get him out. I couldn't help him."

"Katara, you do realize that you were captured by cannibals and that they probably had him for an appetizer." Katara frowned and glared at him. If he was trying to help he wasn't.

"You aren't comforting me." Sokka shrugged as he leaned back on his hands.

"I wasn't trying to. I just want you to quit worrying about a person that might already be dead." Katara frowned and stood up putting Riyo high up on her shoulder. She kicked some leaves at her brother and turned back to where Iroh and Zuko had lit a fire. Since the night was starting to build they were making ready to head into the village.

There were ideas that said that it would be better to go in the middle of the day while the market was bustling with people so they would blend in better. But after a great amount of argument it was decided to go as close to night as they could. They would stop at the local shaman shop and get the herbs that they needed. As close to night and as many faces that would have been seen through the day, that was the time that they would be least recognized.

"Let's go." Sokka said in a low voice. Iroh and Aang covered Appa with a blanket of grass and reeds for camouflage. Zuko nodded and pulled his long brimmed hat down over his eyes. Katara pulled her cloak around the baby and the hood over her head.

Iroh led the way by torch light with Katara behind him. Aang and Sokka were next with Zuko bringing up the rear. There had been a squabble about who was going to be the rear guard but now it all seemed rather childish.

Iroh killed the torch as they reached the small clearing that lead into the village. Katara took a deep breath and turned to look for Zuko. He walked up and put his hand on her shoulder and looked toward the village. Aang walked up beside them and shook his head.

"The torches of the village are all bright. They didn't go to sleep." Iroh nodded and turned to look back at the group.

"Yes, perhaps they are more of night people."

"I knew we should have gone midday." Sokka grumbled. Katara shook her head.

"It doesn't matter now. We need to get in there and get out." She said and started forward. Without another arguing remark the rest followed her.

The village was deserted. The lamps all burned bright and most of the houses were dark. Iroh walked a little ahead of the group to the lone merchant that still kept to his shop. The others stopped a good bit away so that perhaps they wouldn't be recognized.

Katara snuggled Riyo against her and sighed. She closed her eyes and tried to draw comfort from the sounds of the night. She frowned and opened her eyes. She heard laughing. She turned around and noticed that the building they were standing in front of was a tavern.

"Well that explains where every one is." She said to Riyo in a soft voice. Something rang above the other noises, and she froze. She listened intently then her eyes widened.

Zuko turned just in time to see Katara disappear into the tavern. He growled and followed her.

Katara stopped as she stared into the room. There were close to fifty people crammed into the small tavern all of them looking to the far corner. She moved a little closer to see what everyone was looking at. There in the corner on a chair of cushions surrounded by women sat the source of her curiosity.

Nakin sat stretched out with the women pawing at him and touching him on his shoulders, chest, and face. Nakin's pick eyes scanned the crown and met Katara's.

"Well lookey der. Din't tink I eva see you agin honey-child." Nakin pushed the women off of him and stood up. He walked over to her with a smile. She stared up at him.

"How did.." Katara stared but Zuko growled and stepped between her and the albino.

"Demon.." Zuko hissed through his teeth. Nakin cocked an eyebrow and took a small step backwards.

"I'd hoped I wouldn't eva see you agin." Nakin's smile faded away as he locked onto Zuko's eyes.

Zuko pushed Katara backwards with his body as he backed up.

"Get out of here." Katara frowned and stepped out from behind him. Zuko's eyes turned fire towards her.

"Katara?!"

"This is the man that saved me. I owe him thanks." Zuko's eyes narrowed and he turned back to glare at Nakin.

"Thanks won't be all he takes from you."

"Ya still tink as high of me as you eva did. I's flattered that ya remember me." Nakin said and took a step closer to Zuko. Zuko hesitated but fought the urge to take a step back.

"You should have died Fiosha." Katara stepped in front of Zuko and stared him in the eyes.

"Care to fill me in?"

"Later. Now we are leaving." Zuko said and took Riyo from her as if he didn't trust her with him at the moment. He pulled the child close to him and took Katara by the wrist. He started to walk out when Katara stopped. Nakin had her by the other wrist, gently not like he was trying to hurt her.

"I will tell you dis, suga, dat man der hates me. I din't save you jes cause I wanted sumtin in return, just for de reason I already told you." Zuko Jumped around Katara dn threw Nakin back.

"You don't ever touch her!" Zuko growled and grabbed Katara and pulled her towards the door.

"Oh an Prince? Tell dat beautiful sista of yours I sed 'hi' won't ya." Was the last thing they heard before Zuko flung Katara out into the street.

"What the hell is wrong with you lately Katara!" Of all the ways he could have handled the situation that was the worst. Katara grabbed her arm where he had been gripping it and stared at him.

"What the hell is wrong with you!?" She growled back. Zuko walked over to her and stared at her like she had sprouted a second head, and possibly a third.

"If you want to play with demons, keep my son out of it!"

"Zuko, listen at yourself!"

"No. You listen to me. If you want to get killed do it away from me and find a better way of doing it. Not that way, not by him!" He growled. But before anymore could be said Riyo began to cry, and it didn't take long for the crying to turn into full lunged screams. Zuko looked down at his son and cuddled him to his chest. He looked back up at Katara then turned and walked back out of the village and into the forest where Appa was.

Katara stood frozen. The look in his eyes. She hadn't seen that look directed at her for a very long time. It was raw and untempered rage, that had a hint of something else. That little hint of something else made Katara fall to her knees. Hate. He had hate in his eyes when he looked at her. She rubbed her shoulders as she sat on the ground staring at the dark dust beneath her. She studied the ground very hard as she tried not to cry. She felt movement beside her and didn't have to look up to know that it was Sokka and Aang. Aang dropped down next to her and tried to look at her.

"Katara what's wrong?" Before she could say anything or push him away he jerked back up to his feet.

"Don't eat me!"

"Why's you still tink I's gonna eat you?" Katara closed her eyes as she heard that thick accent float to the ground. She saw the pair of black boots stop in front of her. A pale hand reached down and grabbed her shoulders pulling her to her feet. She refused to look at him. For some reason Zuko felt hate towards her now because of this man.

"I neva would have wished dis on you, or ennyone. To cause a rift in love so strong is unheard of. I's won't botha you ennymore after dis night, but you should talk to him or his Iroh, whoeva will talk, about me. You don't see me as a danger because I helped ya, but der are reasons dat even royalty call me demon." He stepped back from her and let his hands drop to his side. Nakin looked over at Aang.

"Young avatar, I's wish you well in your journey. Ifen der eva be a time when you need de assistance of a demon, jes follow de screams." He nodded once toward the avatar and disappeared back into the tavern.

Sokka looked to his sister then to Aang then back to Katara. He walked over in front of her and looked at the tavern then back to her then back to the tavern again. He shook his head as he turned back to his sister.

"You pick some of the weirdest men."

"Not to mention some of the scariest." Aang added as he put a hand on her shoulder. He turned her around but her pale face didn't shown any sign that she thought they were funny.

"Katara what just happened?" She didn't pull away from him and she didn't pull away when her brother touched her other shoulder. She shook her head and looked up from the ground at both of them.

"We need to get back to Appa." Sokka nodded as did Aang. Iroh came to join them with a large bundle in his hand.

"I found the herbs that we need. Shall we get back to our Appa now?" The three nodded but Iroh looked around.

"Where is Prince Zuko?" Katara sighed.

"It's a long story uncle. But he stormed off back to the camp I believe." Iroh sighed. Young love was such a treasure but all treasures were guarded by horrible monsters.