The next day, Sokka woke with his plan formed completely in his head. Iroh had been kind enough to give them all separate rooms, although Sokka thought it was a little weird that there were so many boarding places above a tea shop.

His plan was well thought-out, and as he sat up, stretching his arms, cracking his neck, he mulled it over. Placing his tired feet on the ground, he thought to himself, First off, today. Get food, lots of it. You'll need energy for the cold. Second, depart with Aang and Toph when Ty Lee and Grandpa Whoever aren't around. Find a way to get to the South. Save Katara from Zuko. Kick his ass. Then go somewhere where no one can ever separate us again.

Sighing, he shuffled to the chair that sat by the window of the room; he'd placed his top layers of clothing there, leaving only the undergarments on, so he could sleep comfortably. It was highly risky of him, but nothing had happened, so.

Sokka yawned, lazily grabbing his sword and attaching its sheath to his hip. Glancing out the window, he saw that the streets of Ba Sing Se were still deserted, and muttered something unintelligible; perhaps about the hoity-toity Fire Nation princess who ran the place.

Stalking out of the room and into the hall, he looked to either side and shrugged, going for the door nearest his own. That was Aang's room; Toph and Sokka had decided to put Aang between themselves. Ty Lee's room was on the opposite end of the hall, past Toph's room and next to the staircase, so that if she or anyone else tried to pull something, the earthbender would hear and be ready.

Not even bothering to knock on the Avatar's door because he knew the younger boy was still sleeping, Sokka entered the room and took in the sight of it; it was set in a cream-and-soft-yellow hue, whereas Sokka's walls and sheets were dark green. Light colors for a light personality? Sokka thought.

He tiptoed over to his sleeping friend and leaned over the bed, reaching out an arm to shake Aang awake. "Aang," he whisper-shouted. The door fell open again and a small form fell across the threshold; Toph waltzed into the room like she was born to do so, and perhaps, she was.

Aang woke, staring blearily up at the older boy and rubbing his eyes. "I don't want the cocoa moose," he protested, sounding aggravated and helpless. "Give me the ribbon."

"Okay, kiddo, but first, get up," Sokka said, placing a finger to his lips to hush Aang.

The airbender nodded sleepily, climbing out of his bed and adjusting his clothes. "Can we have breakfast now?"

"Not yet," Sokka insisted, pushing Aang towards the door. "We gotta go."

Toph led them out of the room and down the hallway, silent as a mouse, and they tiptoed down the staircase. It was just after dawn when they walked outside; Sokka smiled because this part of the plan had succeeded. He'd sat awake last night, thinking of how they'd all been conditioned to wake early, and that the waking times of Ty Lee and an old man would be far later into the more leisurely hours of the day, and he was right.

Zuko awoke with his hands still clasped around Katara's. He shifted slightly, not accustomed to sleeping on ice, but didn't get up right away. Staying beside the waterbender, he studied her sleeping face – she looked so peaceful, like she was dreaming.

Her eyes flitted around behind her eyelids, and sometimes her mouth would move as if she were about to say something. Zuko would tense, thinking she might be awake and not wanting to be caught staring at her while she slept, but all that would happen was that she would sigh and turn her head a little; sometimes towards him, sometimes away.

He smiled gently as her fingers tightened around his, then looked towards the opening of the tent – it must've been around the darkest time of night, because it was pitch black as far as he could tell, and little streaks of the waxing crescent moon were falling in through the small holes in the top of the tent.

Everything had that dusky appearance, like blue-gray dust had been sprinkled throughout the tent. His parka and Katara's parka no longer looked sky blue; rather, they were a dull dark blue.

Zuko noticed that his knuckles were still bloody, but they didn't throb like they should've. Rubbing his hands on his coat so that the now-dried blood came off, Zuko saw that his hands looked as if they'd never been hurt at all. Granted, he still had that teeny scar near the base of his thumb from that time when he was little, where Azula and he were playing with swords and he got cut, but the knuckles were barely even marked.

His hands flew to his face, pressing against the left side. Zuko's fingertips met his scar, and he felt foolish for even having thought…

She healed me, he almost said out loud, turning his hands over in front of his face and scrutinizing his knuckles. She healed…me? But…why? His eyes flicked to the sleeping girl next to him, and his hands fell into his lap.

He'd dropped her hands and she hadn't even stirred, so Zuko backed up against the other side of the tent and watched her for a little while longer.

The firebender was cold but warm; his rear end was freezing as he sat on just a layer or two of what looked like bear hide, but his chest and arms were warm. He would exhale steam and watch Katara shiver as it caressed her face.

They'd checked the place over before she'd gone off on her own, before he'd bloodied his knuckles. No one else was around, and Zuko could see a good distance in every direction, so it'd be obvious if someone tried to surprise them.

He wriggled over to the entrance of the tent and peered out; he could've stood and walked but he was much too comfy lying down. He laughed at the thought of being lazy at a time like this, but made no move to actually stand up.

Outside, it was a foggy night. The sky was a strange shade of blue, like the sun hadn't quite set as it passed to the other side of the earth. Yellow and green swirls covered some parts of the horizon – clouds.

He breathed slowly out into the open air, and studied the steam that came out of his mouth; he wasn't even trying. The air was crisp and clear because of the cold – the humidity from the Fire Nation was definitely much better than this. Zuko's face squinched up in misery as he shivered, returning his head to the inside of the tent.

Katara was stirring and he didn't have long, so he scooted back over to his spot along the opposite end of the tent. Zuko crossed his arms over his chest and stomach to preserve his heat, breathing steam outward so that he could warm himself as well as Katara.

"Mmngh," Katara moaned, turning onto her back. Her eyes were still closed and Zuko watched awkwardly as her eyelids fluttered, like little tiny fireflies were tickling them. Finally, the waterbender sat up, blinking and reaching out her arms to stretch.

The places under her eyes were still puffy, but Zuko couldn't see if the shadows were still there – they'd both had some. The exhaustion of running all over the world in such a short time had taken a toll on the two, and it seemed that the circles under their eyes had been tattooed on.

"Good morning," Zuko said blandly, clearing his throat. He was afraid he might begin to cough, but the thought immediately went away when Katara's eyes met his.

"Whuh?" she asked, still half-asleep. "Morning?"

Glancing at the tent's flaps, Zuko replied, "Uh, no. Not morning. I was just greeting you."

"Oh," was all she said at first. Then, "We, uh, should really go rescue the others today."

"Yeah." He stood suddenly, lifting himself off of the ground and dusting himself off as if he were dirty. "Then we should probably get going—"

"Zuko," Katara interrupted, raising a hand to stop him. Rubbing at her eyes, she stood up, wobbling a little with the head rush that overcame her for a moment. "Um. I just, I wanted to thank you. For sticking around," she added.

"What do you mean?" asked the prince, confused.

"I mean...I d-don't hate you," she stammered, blushing. "I don't know if I like you – n-not that kind of like!" She squeaked, shutting her eyes and putting her hands over her face. "I just…I don't know what to do." The confession seemed small and weak, but Zuko saw that it had taken a lot to put out those few words.

It was so simple a phrase, but it changed how he saw her so significantly that he almost stepped forward and hugged her. Instead, he cleared his throat. "I uh, I don't hate you either."

"I know," she replied quietly.

Aang tripped over the third tree root that morning and caught himself, groaning loudly. "Sokka," he said, picking a dewy leaf off of his leg. "Do we have to walk through the jungle when the sun isn't up?"

"Yes," Sokka replied shortly. Obviously, it wasn't up for debate, so Aang let it go and followed the older boy as best he could. Toph was behind him, snickering every time he almost hit something.

"Where's that airbenderly grace?" she would ask. "Or, for that matter, that earthbenderly grace? Any benderly grace at all, basically."

The Avatar followed behind the stomping boy as best he could; every now and then he'd make a disgusted euugh sound as his foot squished into something indiscernible.

Near the late afternoon, after hours of silence, Toph spoke again. Her face was bright pink from the sun kissing her cheeks, and Aang suspected that he looked no different. "Aren't we going to, you know, talk about Zuko? Or Azula? Or just insult someone?"

Although Sokka's skin was darker, he had the same red blotches on either side of his face. Aang saw this as the older boy turned around to reply to the earthbender. "What do you want us to say?" he asked, his voice strangely husky. He didn't sound young or humorous like he usually did; now he sounded exhausted.

"Something," Toph answered him in her own soft voice. "It's too damn quiet."

And then, without meaning to, they all fell silent again. They'd come to a stop near a small creek, so Aang advocated that they sit and rehydrate themselves for a bit. It was an awkward kind of peaceful, one that let them hesitate but still be the best of friends.

"I don't like it," Sokka said after another long while. He sat on a rock about the size of one of Appa's toes, his hands still wet from cupping water out of the creek and tasting it. An eerie, forlorn look rested upon his face. "I don't like it at all."

"No one does." The Avatar was surprised to recognize his own voice; he hadn't meant to speak. Oh, well, he thought. Might as well get it out now. "I don't know why Katara's stayed with him. It's probably just that he keeps tracking her down and dragging her back, but she would've killed him by now."

It was a hard thought; to imagine Katara killing anyone. Aang closed his eyes, knowing perfectly well that she could if she had to.

"I would've," Sokka grumbled. "I would've gutted him like a fish, after everything he's done."

"Maybe he has changed," Toph chimed in. Sokka's head snapped towards her, eyes incredulous, but she just sat as if she couldn't feel him or hear him move. "Maybe what Grandpa said was true."

"You shouldn't trust firebenders, Toph."

"I don't. I'm just saying, maybe he's really changed." The earthbender's voice was a little less sure. She decided that Sokka was probably right; after all, Zuko had kidnapped Aang on multiple occasions, and probably would've killed him if the Avatar's trusty friends had come to the rescue.

"How are we going to get her back?" asked Aang. "Once we find them."

"It depends," Sokka replied quietly. His voice had a venomous undertone, but he kept his tone hushed. "On everything, I guess. The surroundings, Katara's well-being, Zuko's reaction…"

It just so happened that Sokka's current surroundings were more populated than he thought. He realized this when Toph jumped to her feet, facing the northeast direction and stepping into a fighting stance.

"Toph?" he hissed, immediately drawing his sword as Aang rose a little in the air, balls of air and earth forming in his palms. Sokka took a couple steps forward, eyes searching the various trees and bushes in front of them.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Toph falter. "It's…" her voice trailed off as she dropped out of her defensive position, expression unbelieving. "It's Appa. And two people."

Aang turned to Sokka, eyes widening. "This sounds like a trap, Sokka," he murmured. "Someone must've found him…"

"Yeah," Sokka agreed, nodding. His face darkened as he said, "We'll need to free him. Toph, are you sure there are only two?"

"I'm sure," replied the earthbender. "They're light, though. There's not as much vibration coming out of their footsteps as there would be for an earthbender. We're more muscular."

"Firebenders," hissed the older boy. "Probably Azula and the palest one. Ty Lee's in Ba Sing Se, which is why there's only two." He kept scanning the greenery around them, and then ultimately decided to move forward, searching for the intruders. "How far out are they?"

Toph moved to his elbow, with Aang behind her. Keeping her hands ready for a fight, she said, "Not too far. And they're moving slowly. I can't tell if they're unsure of where we are, or if they even know we're here."

"It's a trick, it has to be," Sokka said. "They're letting us think we can get the jump on them."

They fell silent, moving cautiously forward, trying not to make any noise. Forming a triangle with Toph in the front and Aang and Sokka at her flanks, they all let their backs touch each other's, facing outward so they could see all around themselves.

"We're getting close," Toph whispered at one point. Her forehead was sweating with her concentration, and she kept feeling around with her feet, waiting until they were almost past Azula and Mai. Then, she murmured, "Left! Be quick!"

And the three sprang through the trees, hopping over roots and branches and bushes until they caught sight of the two dark-haired girls. Toph moved around to one side of the girls and in response, the two fell into defensive stances, and everything was fast and time almost blurred and Sokka almost hit Azula over the back of the head until Aang screeched, "Stop!"

Sokka froze, turning towards his friend in confusion and frustration. "What?" he hissed, still holding his sword aloft.

"Think, Sokka! Do you think Azula would be caught dead with that hairstyle?" Aang growled back. "That's Zuko! And Katara!" He pointed, as if daring Sokka to prove him wrong. Sokka looked back over his shoulder to the two people dressed in Fire Nation Red, and his jaw almost hit the ground as he met the Fire Prince's eyes.

"It doesn't change the fact that he's still fucking crazy!" Sokka shouted, lowering his sword to punch the bewildered prince right in the face. Zuko stumbled back, groaning, and Katara put a hand on his shoulder, positioning herself in front of him. Sokka stared at her, dropping his sword altogether and opening his arms. "Are you alright?" he asked, pulling her towards him.

"I'm fine," she said testily, hugging him back before pushing him away with a force that could only be described as lovingly. She glared at her brother before turning to look at Zuko once more. "Are you alright?" she asked the firebender, cupping his cheek in one hand and his shoulder in the other so she could see the damage.

Zuko tried to wrest himself out of her grip, but she held on. Eventually, he sighed in defeat and let her look at him, raising his eyes to the tops of the trees so he didn't stare at her face, which was just inches from his. "I'm great," he hissed, allowing steam to flow through his teeth and hit her hair. "I'm really great." He tasted blood.

Aang was at his side in a minute, pulling Katara into a giant bear hug. "Katara!" he exclaimed, eyes watering with joy. Somehow, Zuko got pushed away, and he took that moment to examine his surroundings. Worrying his lip with his tongue, he figured out that it was split on one side, puffing up because it had been smashed his tooth. The Avatar was standing in front of him, with Katara still in his arms – Zuko ignored the bitter rise and fall of anger that coursed through his chest – and then Katara's brother behind her, staring at his sister's head like he was seeing the sun for the first time. Behind Katara's brother was the earthbender, whose arms were crossed. She wore a very confused expression.

Katara finally stopped hugging the Avatar and turned to greet Toph, saying, "I actually missed you. How'd you get away from them?"

"You knew we were there?" asked Sokka suddenly, one eyebrow cocking upward.

The waterbender nodded. "We saw you captured," she replied. "Zuko said that we'd just get captured too if we tried to rescue you, so we planned to get you guys out when Azula and the others weren't paying so much attention. But then…we got captured too," she finished in a small voice. "By June."

"That's why I felt surrounded," Toph concluded, rubbing her chin as if she had a beard like Iroh's. "But I thought it was just Azula's soldiers…"

"We were coming to free you," Katara professed, her face beyond delighted. "See, uh, June was actually taking us to Zuko and Azula's uncle – he's okay, by the way – but we didn't know that so we got away, and then we were looking for you in a town near where you were caught, and Mai came – she's okay, I guess – and she told us to go to Iroh after all, so then we went and he told us that the Fire Nation was planning to attack the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom soon, so we went to warn the Southern Water Tribe, but I guess they went North, so they already knew, and then we were going to come back to Ba Sing Se…" her voice trailed off as she gestured to their surroundings. "We knew Azula wouldn't harm you guys unless all other ways of coercion were off for Aang, and we didn't know how long it would last. But thank goodness you're okay," she said, sniffing a little bit, ignoring the fact that she'd conveniently left out the bit about the kiss and her developing feelings for Zuko. "Oh gosh, you guys, I've missed you."

"I missed you too, sis," Sokka replied, staring at her with an expression of pride. "We all did."

Zuko emerged from behind Katara and Aang, and immediately, Sokka raised his arms to hit the prince. "Katara, get away!" he snarled, seeing his sister's eyes go wide in shock. He focused solely on Zuko, letting out an angry snarl, but Katara simply shook her head and tried to grab him. Sokka backed out of her reach.

"Guys, he's on our side," Katara explained, raising her head to look at each her friends. "He helped me—"

"He's not our ally, Katara. If he helped you, it was only because he wants Aang for himself." Sokka's voice oozed malice, and although he didn't have his sword on him, he looked as if he would and could take Zuko down.

The prince glared back at him, and it seemed like the entire forest seemed to heat up. Katara once again positioned herself in front of him, stammering and trying to explain the situation as best she could. Putting his left hand on her right shoulder, he guided her away from the budding fight, muttering, "I figured this would happen."

"No, stop," Katara hissed at him, turning from glaring at him to glare at her brother with the same tension. Putting a hand on Zuko's chest to hold him back, she tried to do the same to Sokka, but he was too far away.

Aang chimed in, "Guys, maybe we should just calm down—"

Sokka lunged for Zuko, who prepared to retaliate for the coming blow, and Katara shrieked a little. Aang grabbed her elbow and pulled her out from between the two older boys, and she groaned in defeat.

The sickening thud of fists meeting flesh sounded only twice before Toph raised her hands, pulling her fists backward to manipulate the earth. The ground underneath the two boys swept violently to the side, causing them to lose their balance and fall in a heap to the forest floor. "That's enough," Toph bellowed, stomping forward to grab the two by their collars. Holding them apart, she said, "I'm supposed to be the violent one. Not you, Sokka!"

The older boy ignored her, trying to get free while glaring at the firebender to his side. "Get back on your stupid freaking ostrich horse and ride off into your angsty distance!" he shouted, lamely throwing a punch towards Zuko. His fist fell about half an arm's length flat and just flopped back to his side.

"I don't even have the ostrich horse anymore!" Zuko retorted, exhaling steam. Katara noticed that he could've easily just burned her brother to stop his attack, but realized that even though Zuko may not like Sokka, he wouldn't hurt him like that. Not if Sokka was important to Aang…or important to her.

He's been burned before, she thought, fidgeting next to Aang. He knows how badly it aches, even after it's 'healed.' He wouldn't do that to my brother. Especially not if he's trying to get on Aang's and my good side. She didn't pay attention to the fact that he already was on her good side.

"Thank you, Toph," Aang said over the angry boys' heads, as if he were their responsible guardian and they were just misbehaving children. "But we still have to sort this out. Preferably without violence," he stage-whispered.

Katara left his side to take Sokka away from Toph, making him stand a good distance away from the firebending prince; this way, she, Toph, and Aang could all step between the two and stop them if another fight broke out. This is ridiculous, she thought. Although I understand why. I tried to attack Zuko too…She remembered when he'd come to her in the dead of night, freeing her from her chains and taking away her hooded blindfold. Smirking, she remembered how she'd kicked him in the gut.

"You can let me go," said the boy in question. He was limp under Toph's hand, grimacing in annoyance. "I'm not here to hurt any of you." Toph let him go, and he stood, rubbing his neck.

"Hey, Sparky," Toph replied, to which Zuko blushed. Sparky? he thought. I can barely control lightning. Stepping out of Sokka's hitting and kicking range, he moved to stand by Katara; neither of the two realized that he was standing just a smidgen too close to be mortal enemies.

"Listen, we should probably get out of here." Aang's voice was natural and more mature than the squealing that had come a few moments before, when he'd hugged Katara. "Just because these two aren't Azula and Mai doesn't mean that they haven't discovered that we're gone. They're probably looking for us right now."

"Azula and Mai?" Zuko repeated, his face contorting in confusion.

"What, did you think your girlfriend would follow you instead of your sister?" Sokka scoffed, still being held by Toph. He could get out of her grip easily, but the ground below him shook even if he just shifted his weight. She wasn't angry, but she wasn't about to let him get killed by a firebender, even though he thought it was worth it to beat the crap out of Zuko. True friendship was explained somewhere in that.

"N-no," Zuko grumbled, trying his best not to look at Katara. "I was just wondering about Ty Lee."

There was a pause in the conversation as Sokka looked to Aang, and the airbender returned the stare. Aang shrugged, turning back to Zuko, and said, "Ty Lee…converted. She's with your uncle in Ba Sing Se. Or she was this morning."

The prince seemed taken aback; his good eyebrow went up a little and his eyes widened slightly, but other than that, he remained calm. Nodding, he said, "I guess that's good. That makes two of us."

Aang blanched. Sokka blanched. Toph blanched. Appa blanched.

"…Um, come again?" Aang asked sheepishly, raising a hand to stick a finger in his ear. It was his way of fidgeting, and as he looked at the firebender across from him, his stomach leapt in all directions.

Zuko swallowed, taking a deep breath before letting his eyes drift towards Katara. Her face was serious and she gave an encouraging nod; behind her, the Avatar stared at him with wide, bewildered eyes. Opening his mouth, Zuko said, "I want to help you."

An immense groan erupted from Sokka, and he wrestled away from Toph. Pointing a finger at Zuko, he hissed, "As if! All you've ever wanted was to capture Aang." He didn't charge his enemy again, but he rested a hand on his sword, which was sheathed at his side.

"I know," Zuko replied. "I'm crooked." He was still looking at Aang, but Sokka saw his gaze falter in contempt. Somehow, that only made Sokka more angry.

Turning to Aang and Katara, he still pointed to Zuko in anger, and said, "I know you guys won't fall for this. I know it."

"Sokka," said Katara, stepping forward and raising a comforting hand. "He helped me. He got me away from June, and I couldn't have done that on my own, as much as I hate to admit it."

She watched as her brother stepped closer to her, then stared up into his dark eyes as he looked down at her. He was close enough that his heavy breathing hit her chin, but she didn't flinch. "Don't kid yourself, Katara," he growled, so that only she could hear. "You'd have found a way."

Frowning slightly, the waterbender gave Sokka a pleading look. "Sokka, you don't understand," she murmured, glancing at Zuko over Sokka's shoulder. The prince had taken a cautious step towards the two, perhaps because Sokka was standing over Katara in a very threatening manner. Making a small motion with her hand, she shooed him back. I can deal with my own brother, she thought at him.

"What don't I understand? No – no, really, I want to know what you think I don't get." His words were harsh and he glared at her like they were the only two in the entire forest; like this was just their fight, not Toph's or Aang's.

Opening her mouth to speak, Katara realized that she simply couldn't explain it to him. How was she supposed to tell her own brother that she had unresolved feelings for the enemy? Especially when Suki was locked away in a prison camp under the rule of Zuko's father…

"Exactly," Sokka said, ending the silence. "You don't know either."

"T-that's not true," Katara stammered, not allowing herself to blush. Crossing her arms over herself, she said, "I believe him, Sokka. If you won't trust him, trust me. Think about it: Would I, of all people, tell you to accept someone as awful as he is without a good cause?"

He huffed. "And what cause is that, again?" Assuming the same cross-armed pose as his sister, he glanced behind her at Aang, whose eyes were darting between the siblings and Zuko.

"He wants to help us," Katara replied. "He wants to teach Aang how to firebend. He wants to help us defeat his family." Her voice shook a little as she tried not to stare her brother down; intimidating Sokka would only prove fruitless if she wanted him to agree with her.

"I don't like it."

"Well, it's not just your decision. It's all of ours," she said, gesturing around them to Aang, Toph, and Zuko.

"Then why are you acting like I'm the only one against it?" he hissed back, stooping towards her again. Looking over his shoulder at the exiled prince once more, he shot Zuko an icy glare.

Katara fell silent, and her jaw set. Turning on her heel and stepping away from her brother, she looked Aang in the eye and said, "Do you want Zuko?"

Aang shrugged, eyes widening. "I don't really know what's going on, Katara," he said. "And I don't know if I can trust him."

"See?" Sokka breathed from behind her. "I'm not the only one."

Katara ignored him, staring coolly at Aang, tapping her foot. He stared back at her awkwardly, but kept glancing at the firebender behind her and her brother.

"Why?" said a new voice. Everyone turned to look at Toph, who had remained silent until now. She stood with her feet shoulder-length apart, planted in the ground, and her arms crossed. "Why do you want to join the Avatar?"

Realizing that the earthbender's question was directed at him, Zuko took the opportunity to explain his intent. Bracing himself, he began, "Well, I guess I realized how terrible I was. How terrible Azula and my father were – are. I know all the things I did up until I left were wrong, and I want to…redeem myself, I guess. All my life, I've always wanted to live up to the Fire Lord's expectations, and outdo my sister when she lived up to them. I want to teach the Ava—Aang how to firebend, so that when the time comes that he faces the Fire Lord, he'll be ready."

Swallowing, he stared solely at the earthbender; he didn't want to glance at Katara and falter. He figured that the earthbender was the only one who wasn't staring at him, and on further inspection, he realized that she was blind. Amazing, he thought. How could I have overlooked that before?

No one really made any move to stop him from speaking, so he swallowed again and continued. "I know I'm not a trustworthy person – you have absolutely no reason to believe me or anything I'm telling you – but I think you need my help, and I'm willing to give it to you. It's the least I can do to make up for all I've already done to you. I know there are better selections of teachers out there for you, like, say, my uncle. I know that. I do." He raised an eyebrow, turning to look Aang in the eyes. "But I knew Azula. And I know Mai. I-I don't really know my father all that well, but…"

"Stop," Aang said, putting up a hand. He stepped around Katara and Sokka and towards the firebender. "I've heard enough."

Zuko flinched. Lowering his head, he knew the airbender had rejected him. He didn't want to meet the Avatar's eyes, or Katara's eyes, or even Sokka's eyes. He just wanted to help. Sure, maybe it was some sort of restoring-the-honor type of ordeal that he was famous for, but he'd rather it be that than have them think it was all a huge scam so he could take them to the Fire Lord and win his redemption.

Somehow, he couldn't help himself from saying, "It's good of you not to trust me. Smart. But you should know, Azula's far more cunning than I am, at everything she does – that's why she's always been Father's favorite – and she'll come after you, she'll come after you more ruthlessly now that she knows you can't be persuaded. She'll harm you. She'll harm your friends. J-Just…be careful."

"I am being careful," Aang replied, gazing up at the firebender in front of him. Zuko wouldn't meet his eyes, but Aang knew that he had the prince's attention. "But careful isn't good enough. Not after what we've just gotten out of." He was speaking about Katara's departure and capture, which had inadvertently led to his, Toph's, and Sokka's capture. "And I know that the only way for us to remain a real threat to the Fire Lord is that if we remain together, and if we grow stronger."

Zuko raised his eyes at this, admiring the Avatar's wisdom. He knew that Aang was over a hundred years old, but had only matured to age twelve before being frozen. Standing a little taller, he met Aang's eyes grimly.

Inclining his head, Aang didn't break his eye contact with Zuko as he said, "And in order for us to get stronger, I need to learn how to firebend." He tried not to giggle as he saw the pale firebender turn even paler. "And I think you'd be a great teacher."

Sokka's jaw almost hit the ground as he bellowed, "What?!"

Aang startled, turning to face his friend. "I mean it," he said, eyes wide. "I believe him, Sokka."

"No, fuck no, you don't!" Sokka growled. "You're only in this because Katara says it's okay!" He almost stomped away, but his pride made him stay. He wouldn't run away from Zuko. Not ever.

Trying to ignore the small smile on his sister's face, he glared at Aang. "How could you, Aang? After all he's done!"

"I'm sorry," Zuko said, his voice hoarse from the truth. His heart was beating so fast and hard that he could feel it thudding in his palms. Exasperated, he looked to Katara. "I can't apologize enough, to any of you. And I know I don't deserve to be a part of you."

"Then why are you even trying?" Sokka hissed. "Teenage rebellion? Or are we just convenient because you've been banished again?"

"No! I want to help! I can't make that any clearer than it already is," Zuko declared. "I'm repenting, trust me. I just want to overthrow my father and do what you're doing. I want to unite the world again. I…I want to be your guys' friend."

"Yargh!" His foot connected with a nearby tree as Sokka tried to be violent towards something that Toph wouldn't knock him over for. "I can't believe you guys. This doesn't even make sense," he shouted. Holding his head, he tried to force away the pounding headache that was taking form in his head. "The whole family is crazy! Fire Lord Crazy, Princess Crazy, and if you haven't already been introduced, which I'm pretty sure you have, this is Prince Crazy!" He thrust an accusing finger at Zuko.

Blinking slowly, Zuko steeled himself against Sokka's anger. "I've changed," he said to Sokka. Then, to everyone in general, "You have my word. I promise you, I'll take care of you as best I can. I'll help you. I'll train with Aang. I have friends in good places. I have things to offer," he reasoned. "I know I'm not a huge ally. But I'm reliable. I'm abandoning whatever corruption I've induced and—"

"Better men have hit their knees," Sokka snarled.

"That's what I keep saying," Zuko groaned, slapping a hand to his forehead.

Sokka went to say something more, but Katara cut him off. "Guys, stop arguing," she hissed, moving to stand next to Aang in front of Zuko. "Aang's voted."

"Well, you can count my vote against," Sokka growled back at her. "I already put up with Ty Lee and the uncle."

All heads seemed to simultaneously turn to Toph, who was standing a little ways away from the rest of him, arms still crossed. As if sensing their stares, she went, "Does that mean I have to vote, too?"

"Yeah," Aang, Katara, and Sokka said in unison.

Making a rude noise that was somewhere between a groan and a sigh, Toph uncrossed her arms and walked over to join the group. "I don't really have any problems with it like Sokka does, but do you really think it's a good idea? I mean, you guys have hated him for longer than I've even been with you…"

"Exactly," Sokka muttered.

"W-Well," Katara began, looking down at her hands. She couldn't seem to stop fidgeting. "It's been a month, you guys. I've spent the entire past month with him, and I know he's really changed." She swallowed, glancing at Zuko, then Aang. "He's telling the truth."

"Yeah, but he could've pulled some creepy Fire Nation magic trick and brainwashed you," said her brother. "It's not like he didn't have enough time to do it!"

Zuko cocked his good eyebrow. "I don't know any creepy magic tricks that would brainwash someone," he said. "That's more Azula's thing now, since she's in control of the Dai Li."

"Shut up," Sokka hissed at him. "I didn't mean literally!"

"Guys," Katara said vehemently over whatever response was about to come out of Zuko. "You're like two little boys! Let Toph speak." Placing herself in between the two, she made a show of paying attention to the earthbender.

Toph scratched the back of her head. "Uh, thanks. Um, I guess if Aang really wants him for a teacher…we can do it. But that doesn't mean you're allowed to do whatever you want to do. I think we should at least supervise him."

"You've gotta be kidding me," Sokka muttered.

"I'm not," replied Toph. "I'm not saying it makes me the most comfortable person in the world, but we need to think more about what Aang needs as the Avatar. Zuko's connected to the royal family, and he's a firebender. I think the circus freak and Uncle Iroh are on our side, too, so…"

"Thank you," Zuko said to her. "I'll help you in any way I can."

"Don't make us regret this," she warned. "I'll have no trouble burying you if you try to harm any of us."

"…Sokka?"

Katara's voice wafted through the air to him, and he jumped a little. He hadn't heard her come up behind him; hadn't even wanted to be found. Blinking slowly to focus his thoughts, he raised his head and turned a little, looking over his shoulder in her general direction, but not at her.

"How long did it take for you to notice I was gone, Katara?" he asked, snorting. They'd been eating dinner around a small fire which Zuko had ever-so-swiftly produced. They hadn't traveled too far, but they were heading back to Ba Sing Se, to sneak in and join forces once again with Ty Lee and Iroh.

"I noticed the moment you stood up and left," Katara replied, shocked that he would even ask that question. "I just figured you wanted to be alone."

"I did," he said, then felt instantly crappy for how harsh his voice had sounded. He wasn't mad at her, not anymore. He'd been thinking about her decision, and Aang's decision, and Toph's decision. Although Zuko was basically the scum of the earth, if he could teach Aang, if he could contribute, he would be useful.

"Oh…well…"

"Yeah?" he asked with the same hesitance. He didn't really want to hear some explanation for why she'd allowed Zuko to stay. If she'd been with the firebender for a month and she thought he'd changed, then Sokka would try to accept that. What he couldn't accept was the fact that, while Zuko could contribute and be of use to them – he, Sokka, couldn't.

"I'm sorry," she said, surprising him. "I'm really sorry." This time he heard her take a step forward then lurch to a halt, as if she were afraid to approach him or something. Normally, he would've rolled his eyes, but this time, he understood. She went on, "I know you're angry about it, and I'm a little surprised that he was accepted so easily, but…"

"It doesn't matter," he replied. "It's done, now. Aang wants it, and I guess that's what's important, right?" He was crouching with his arms resting on his knees, and he rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet as he said, "You and Aang usually make the big decisions anyway."

Sokka heard her take in a deep breath. He could see her without looking; he knew how she was standing, what her face looked like. She was his sister, his best friend. If there was one person he knew better than anyone, it was her. So he knew that her hands were clasped and fidgeting in front of her, by her skirt. He knew her head was bowed slightly forward so that her hair draped the sides of her face. And he knew that her eyebrows were turned slightly upward at the inner edges, so that a teeny line formed between them.

"We voted, Sokka. Yours was the only one against, but that doesn't make you any less important in this situation, or to us." Her voice was quiet. She took another step closer, as if he were a wild animal and she didn't want to frighten him away.

Turning his face away from her again, he looked out over the bushes and small trees, towards the moon. Sometimes, especially times like these, he'd talk to Yue. Even though she couldn't really respond, he'd still tell her things. He'd talk about everything and nothing; about the latest developments in their goal of defeating the Fire Lord, or about how he'd eaten a tasty fish that afternoon. Sokka always felt her presence around this time, like she was with him. He knew she didn't mind when he talked about Suki, or when he didn't talk much on certain nights and just went straight to sleep.

Feeling her around him, in the air and on his skin – not exactly solid or visible, he wondered if Katara and the other waterbenders always felt this safe under the moon. Since he wasn't with his fellow warriors at home anymore, this was the only time he felt truly connected to the water tribe.

"That's where you're wrong." His voice shook as he said it, but at least he'd finally gotten it out. Sometimes he liked to think that it had started when they'd met Aang, but the truth was that it had only grown worse. It had really started when he'd realized the difference between himself and Katara; not that they were boy-and-girl, sister-and-brother type thing, but the fact that she was a bender and he wasn't.

"What do you mean?" she asked, taking the final step closer to him and slowly kneeling down, until she sat on her feet beside him. Not moving to touch him, she looked up at Yue—the moon too, and sighed under its glow.

"I mean I'm not important," he said as calmly as possible. He wouldn't allow himself to get emotional over something like this; he wouldn't. "I'm not individual, like you. I can be replaced. But you guys – each of you has a role in helping the Avatar. I'm just the funny guy."

"That's not true," Katara argued, turning to face him. He didn't meet her eyes; just kept staring out over the wilderness. "Sokka! You're my brother, and you're our best friend. You get food and you talk our way out of a lot of things. You're a bigger help on missions than Aang or I am, and you're very important, to all of us."

"Then why am I overlooked all the time? No one ever thinks, 'Hey! Let's kidnap the Avatar's waterbending teacher's brother! That'll do some damage!' – No, the only time I'm important to them is when I'm with one of you!"

"Sokka—"

"And should we even mention how, even though I'm so unimportant, they'll still use me to hurt someone? I'm like, an excuse." Sokka's breathing was now ragged, and his face contorted in frustration as he let out a huge groan.

Katara threw her brother a puzzled look, but he wasn't watching her. His eyes were still glued to the moon, as if he were asking it for guidance. She knew that he viewed the moon as Yue, and she sometimes did too. The look in his eyes was so impossibly sad. "Why are you saying all this?" she asked, although she already knew the reason. Sure enough, he voiced it, turning to look at her in anguish.

"It's because I miss Suki, Katara! I miss her, and I miss Dad, and I miss Mom, and I miss our whole tribe back home! I'm tired of being on the run all the time and not even being a help to anyone!"

"You know that's not true—" she reached for him, but he brushed her off.

"It is true. I can't even bend at all! I just wave around a sword until you guys take care of everything! You've got Aang, who's a master airbender, and Toph, who's a master earthbender, and Zuko, who's a master firebender, and then there's you, who's a master waterbender! And me? I'm nothing." Sokka let out a noise that sounded both like a snarl and a sob. He turned away, scrubbing at his face with the back of his hand, and Katara wasn't sure whether she'd be allowed to comfort him.

Putting a hesitant hand on his shoulder, she said, "We'll get her out, I promise. Don't forget that Suki and Dad can look after themselves. They're tough, right? It's okay to worry, Sokka. I know I do. But you have to have a little faith."

"Faith in what? The fact that while they're in prison – probably a Fire Nation prison, getting crappy food and crappy treatment by firebending guards, I'm sitting here eating and being with you guys and exploring the world? I can't have any honest fun without feeling guilty." His shoulders shook, and his voice was torn, but he went on: "I just hate watching you guys laugh all the time. I hate having a good time with you when Suki's probably being tortured for information about us, just because I'm connected to the Avatar – it's all my fault."

"It's not your fault," Katara countered, finally giving in to her urges and embracing her brother. He willingly leaned his head against her shoulder, and she felt him shake as he sobbed quietly. "None of this is your fault, Sokka. The only person responsible for this is the Fire Lord."

"Suki was the only one like me, and now she's gone," he choked, letting tears fall freely onto Katara's red shirt. "She was the only one who understood me when I talked about not being a bender – she helped me so much. She told – she told me that it was okay, and that I could be better than I was without having to be a bender." He paused to let out an exasperated sob, squeezing his eyes shut and rocking back and forth, like a child. He hated that he was being so childish. Wasn't he supposed to be the one taking care of his sibling? Katara was his little sister.

"We'll get her back," Katara promised. "We'll find her. We'll get Zuko's help, and we'll find her."

"How can Zuko help?" he asked. It was the first mention of the prince since the beginning of the conversation.

"He knows about firebending guards, and the prisons," she replied eagerly. "And Ty Lee does, too. And together, they can get Mai on our side. She, uh, she found us and told us to visit Iroh – and then he told us about Azula's plan, but that's not the point – the point is, she's obviously, uh, allied to Zuko over Azula. They were…involved, I guess."

"Mai and Azula?" Sokka asked.

"No! Mai and Zuko."

"Oh," Sokka said. "He's just one big drama queen, isn't he?"

"At first," she replied. "But after, he's not so bad." She let her brother go as he moved to sit up, wiping his face again with the back of his hand. It seemed like he'd calmed down, and that was good. That was really, really good.

"What, are you two like, best friends now?" he asked sarcastically, and she couldn't resist giggling.

"Never," she retorted, standing up. "Come on, let's go back. There's still some food left." She held out a hand to him, and he grabbed it, pulling himself to his feet.

"Katara?" he asked, making sure he looked normal. He wouldn't dare go out in front of the others if he looked like a giant crybaby.

"Hmm?" she asked, still tugging on his hand as she walked ahead of him.

"I love you."

Author's Note: Welp, it's been a while! (Three months, ahaha...ha. Sorry.) I've been busy with school and whatnot, and other fics like The Boy Who Fell From Grace. (Read that! It's a crossover of Draco Malfoy and the eleventh Doctor!) But here's chapter 14, long-awaited. It was very tough to write this, because I wasn't sure how I wanted to go about making Zutara and the rest of the Gaang meet up. Finally, I just decided, what the hell, and made it happen unexpectedly! I really hope you enjoy this although I know it's a bit choppy.

Anyways, please leave reviews! They're the life of this story, I think.