Disclaimer: Not mine. Wish it was.

Chapter Twenty; What I Remember

In the camp of Omashu citizens, Aang and the others were seated around a campfire. The baby was wandering around after Momo and making cute noises. Momo ran past Katara and Sokka, his water tribe club lying on the ground. The baby picked up the club, his attention drawn away from the lemur. Sokka grabbed the club and held it up.

"No! Bad Fire Nation baby!"

The baby began to cry. Katara looked over at her brother crossly and whacked him across the face. He looked contrite and was about to give the club back when instead she picked the baby up and began singing a lullaby to quieten him.

"Do you hear the west wind blow?

The autumn trees are here.

Can you see the fire glow?

A gentle, soothing flame-"

The Resistance Leader was sitting on the other side of the camp fire silently, but on hearing Katara's song, he leant forwards.

"Where did you learn that song? Isn't that a fire nation lullaby?"

Katara became curiously engrossed in rocking the now silent baby, and when she replied, her voice was quiet.

"I was captured by them as a little girl. I picked it up there."

The Resistance Leader's face was grave and it looked like he was going to speak, but before he could, a messenger hawk screamed across the moonlit night. The bird landed on a rock, a scroll clearly visible on its back.

"A messenger hawk!"

OoOoo

Aang, still wearing his hat, Katara and Sokka stood at the bottom of the scaffolding of a huge statue that was under construction. Each of them looked ahead with defiance as they waited for the other party to arrive.

Mai, Azula and Ty Lee mounted the platform, Mai leading the trio. The two groups faced each other at opposite ends of the construction platform, tension filling the air. A crane was lowering a metal coffin suspended by a chain. Inside, laughing and snorting could be heard. Sure enough, the coffin twisted on the chain to reveal Bumi's face, visible through a porthole in the metal.

"Hi, everybody!"

The coffin landed standing straight up behind Mai and her friends.

"You brought my brother?"

"He's here. We're ready to trade."

Azula interrupted, a nasty smirk on her face.

"I'm sorry, but a thought just occurred to me. Do you mind?"

Mai turned to look at the princess.

"Of course not, Princess Azula-"

There was a startled shout from the other group.

"Azula?!?"

Azula looked up, her eyes narrowing as the baby-carrying figure headed towards them. She came to a halt before them, bowing formally.

"Katara. What a surprise to see you here. I thought you had died at the North Pole."

"Princess Azula."

Katara straightened up, Tom-Tom playing with her hair, and giggling as he did so.

"Do forgive my brashness, but am I right in supposing you do not intend to relinquish King Bumi?"

Azula's expression flickered for a moment before she controlled her features back to her usual cool mask, but that was enough of an answer for Katara.

"I thought as much."

She picked Tom-tom out of the sling and handed him over to Mai. There was a shocked shout from behind her.

"Katara! What are you doing?"

She ignored Sokka and bowed again before moving back towards Aang & Sokka, leaving Mai to deal with the wriggling baby. She would have preferred to leave Ty Lee to deal with him, but that may have aroused Azula's suspicions. She reached the others, the determined glint in her eyes stopping anything they may have said.

"I'm sorry. But I know Azula. She's ruthless. She never would have given Bumi up for Tom-Tom."

She smirked and gestured towards the king as he was being hoisted back up.

"Go save your friend, Aang."

So he did.

A/N: My version of The Return to Omashu.

Sorry for the lack of Zuko-ness, but he seems to be on a sabbatical.

The creators of my fandom lurk secretly, and may well be reading this.

(lolz hi mike and brian)