Wow! Sorry once again for taking so long with this update. But alas…. With a boyfriend, babysitting my younger siblings, working, and caring for my 4 pet newts, I've barely had any free time on my hands at all. Oh, and I just got back from an overnight stay at my family friend's farm. Well anyway I'm going to try to get back into the writing "groove."
Thanks for all the reviews, and it was not blackmail shifty eyes really! So anyway thanks to all my wonderful reviewers, you made some great points that I hadn't thought about!

Sokkantylee: I like how you pointed out that Zuko and Aang are a lot alike in the way that both have lost their childhood to the war. And way to hit the nail on the head with Azula! Hahaha!

Scarladraconia: WOW a LOT of great points here! And you're totally right that Azula is a big part of Zuko's personality, and is a big demon that he has to fight to grow. sigh but she's not easy for me to portray and I hope I can pull it off. I'm just not naturally that coldhearted. But I'll take some time to work out her character instead of jumping headfirst into writing Azula.

Vashsunglasses: Not blackmail, I swear! I was sort of at an impasse with writing and to prevent it from turning into a full out writer's block wherein I don't finish the story (that's happened to me more than once before  ) I asked my readers what they want to read…

Ttavatarfan: I'm… loved!!! gets all teary-eyed thanks totally.

Well, that's all I think……

Zuko: Hey stupid! What about the Fic?!?!?!

Me: Huh? What?

Z: The Fic! The fanfic! The chapter you're supposed to be writing!

M: Oh yeeeaaahhh…. Sorry I forgot. Ya see, usually I do the acknowledgments at the end and…

Z: Yeah, yeah… Get on with it will ya!!!

M: Okaayy, okaaayyy. Eesh, still the moody teenager, aren't you?

Z: Sulks in a very Inuyasha-like manner Shuddap.

M: I DO NOT OWN THE AVATAR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT… BLAH BLAH BLAH, YOU KNOW THE DRILL. DON'T SUE ME OKAY? I CAN'T AFFORD IT.

Okay so here goes nothing. (Really… I'm totally prepared for this chapter to turn out like crud. And if it does please bear with me, I'll revamp it. I just need to get myself back into writing before I permanently lose any prose I have left!!! )

Okay, so LAST TIME ON FINDING HONOR : Aang was reunited with Momo, our gaang made a plan.

Two hours later, the door to Zuko's private quarters opened. "Guards! Bring cool water and other washing items. The avatar must be bathed. His current smell is offensive to me and will surely be so to the Fire Lord. Be swift, so I don't have to suffer from the stench for too long." With that he shut the door. Turning back towards his guests, the teenager noticed the look on Aang's face.

"What? What's wrong?"

"You just sounded so…. Real… just then. Like you really hated me…" The child's voice had become dead once more and his eyes seemed lost and sorrowful.

Suddenly a small smile wormed its way onto Zuko's face. "You bought that? Wow, I guess all of my years being around Azula have really helped me be a better actor. Look Aang, don't be daft. How else was I supposed to say that I was going to bathe you? I can't trust all of the soldiers on this ship with the knowledge that we are not enemies. It's for our safety that I keep up the impression of the coldhearted and determined prince about to buy his way back into royalty. Even those who are loyal to me and would most likely not tell could be forced to under torture. By keeping everyone in the dark I keep us safe, as well as them." He stroked the arrow on Aang's head gently. Squatting, he gently picked up the boy's chin, bringing the child's eyes level with his own. "Aang look at me. I will never, never, hurt you again. I promise. Okay?" Aang nodded, pulling softly away and wiping his teary eyes with the palm of his hand. A knock rang out at the door and Zuko allowed the guards to swiftly bring in two large buckets of water, a bar of chalky soap, some towels and a few washcloths. Looking at the items, Zuko sighed, wondering how on earth he was going to do this. "Well you won't fit in the tubs…." He remarked idly.

Iroh, on the other hand, had already gotten to his feet and was busy removing Zuko's already downturned blankets from his bed. "We'll change the sheets once we are done. The boy is much too spent to even sit up for much longer. He is still recovering from illness after all."

"Uncle, what…."

"We're going to bathe the Avatar… That is your intention, isn't it?"

"Well yeah, but…"

"So long as Aang is okay with us washing him…." Iroh looked towards the monk, who gave a soft nod. "Well it's settled then. Zuko help the child undress."

Zuko looked flabbergasted. "But uncle!"

"Prince Zuko, it isn't that big of a deal. You seem to forget, I'm a father… I have bathed my son many times when he was young, and once when he was drastically ill as well. If you intend to become a father one day, you will have to do this." As he spoke, Iroh gently lifted Aang's shirt over his head before helping the boy to lay down on the bed. Zuko looked down at the helpless Avatar. Without his shirt it was easy to see all of Aang's ribs. Too easy… Zuko swallowed hard at the realization that his young friend was drastically underweight and still very weak. Wordlessly he accepted a wet washcloth from his uncle and began to lather it with soap. As he started to wash the boy, Aang let out a harsh, wet cough. "You okay?" asked Zuko worriedly. Iroh, who was drying the child as Zuko washed him, nodded reassuringly. "He's fine. Just worn out is all." Quickly, they finished up and clothed Aang in one of Zuko's nightshirts. "His clothing should be clean and dry in a few hours. Should we wake him and return him to his cell Prince Zuko?"

Zuko shook his head. "No… He needs the sleep. And I can't bring myself to wake him only to place him back in that damp, dark cell…No. Let him sleep. Tell the guards…. Uhh… tell them that I will keep the Avatar in my custody for the rest of the voyage to, uh… for security reasons." Iroh nodded. "Sounds good enough. I will tell them."

As Iroh left, Zuko let out a sigh. Looking at the sleeping Avatar, he shook his head. "Agni be with us… I sure hope this all works out."

Princess Azula smirked through her spyglass. "Well, little brother… It seems you have almost succeeded at capturing the Avatar and restoring your honor. . . . Almost. But you seem to have forgotten one Very. Important. Detail: I never lose." An evil smile curled across the princess' evil face. Ty Lee bounded up from her seat next to her devious friend. "I know that smile! Azula has a plan!" she chirruped way too cheerfully. "Whatever. So long as it gives me something to do," Mai droned cheerlessly. Azula once again shrugged off the stark contrast between her two best friends. A Yin and a Yang, and Azula in the middle of it all, a neutral dividing line between the two. Not for the first time she found herself wondering how on earth she had become friends with these two characters. But at least they were useful. There's nothing Azula hated more than a person she could not use.

Well, that's about it. Let me know if you totally hated it. Not my best work I know, but I was sorta flying by the seat of my pants on this one. Well, as always read and review please!!! Until next time: Ja ne!