Disclaimer: Seriously, I am not Bryan nor Mike. I am a woman who has a lot of free time. I do not own ATLA.

Chapter 37: Like Waves on the Sand

"So where exactly is this place?"

Zuko turned towards her and smiled before calling back towards the saddle, "Ember Island. My family has an old house on a private beach."

"And you think we'll be safe there because…?"

Zuko climbed into the saddle and knelt next to Katara, who has sitting against the left side, and he jutted out his jaw before answering plainly, and a little sadly, "No one in my family has gone to that house since we were actually happy. And that was a long time ago. It's the last place Azula or my father would look for us."

"Are you sure?" Katara leaned forward and clasped one of his hands between both of her own. "Don't you think Azula would think you would go there because of the good memories it holds for you? She may know you better than you remember."

Zuko shook his head and sat back before pushing his ever growing bangs out of his eyes. "She wouldn't dare go back to this place. It depresses her probably more than it does myself…" He sighed morosely before adding, "You and I aren't the only ones who lost our mothers to the Fire Nation."

Katara sighed and squeezed his hand before leaning in and giving him a chaste kiss on the lips. When she pulled away, she smiled comfortingly at him and stated, "We'll scan the inside of the house and then you can go back to get the rest of the group."

"Minus your dad, Haru, the Duke, and Smellerbee."

Katara rolled her eyes and pulled away before folding her arms across her chest and smirking at him. "Well they should be gone by the time you get back. And I'll clean while you're off getting them."

"Good plan, dear," Zuko replied as he smiled at her and winked before jumping back to Appa's head. Luckily, the trip was relatively short. In just an hour's flight, Katara could see the island on the horizon. Appa sped up and in no time, Katara could see the house. It was magnificently large, sitting against a large outcropping of rocks. Behind it were rolling hills of green grass that swayed in the wind, void of any large sections of trees. There was a zig zagging path up to the house coming from the beach, which was surrounded by black sand and cliffs.

"It's… beautiful…" she murmured to herself. She saw Zuko nod in agreement as he steered Appa down to the area in front of the stairs that lead into the house. Once the bison landed, uplifting some black sand in the process, Zuko jumped into the saddle, grabbed his and Katara's bags, and leaped off the saddle onto the ground.

"Alright, stay right here."

She nodded as he hopped up the stairs and set their bags down before rearing back and knocking his heel in between the double doors. They swung open, leaving some wood shards all over the floor. Zuko ran in and left Katara alone by Appa for a few moments. She furrowed her brow and folded her arms across her chest as she waited for him, feeling impatient and slightly insulted when he didn't want her to go in with her. If there was someone in the house, she would be perfectly able to defend herself. She was a master waterbender! There wasn't anything she couldn't handle.

A minute later, Zuko came walking out of the house, a frown on his face. Katara brushed her little frustration aside and strode towards him, meeting him at the foot of the stairs and clasping his clenched fist.

"Zuko?"

His lips were pressed in a line before he took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry. The house is clear. I'll go get the rest of the group and you can start cleaning up. Sound good?"

Katara leaned in and kissed him softly on his lips, bringing her body close to his. He wrapped his arms around her and sighed into the kiss, relaxing his body and pulling her closer to him. They broke the kiss and pressed their foreheads together, squeezing each other a little tighter before breaking apart entirely.

"I'll be back soon, I promise," he murmured to her as he rubbed his nose against hers. He stepped away from her and jumped back up onto Appa's head, using his horn for help. He brushed his bangs out of his face and smirked at her. "And when I get back, we're cutting my hair."

Katara raised her brow and grinned. With a teasing tone, she replied, "Are you sure? I think this is a good look for you."

He rolled his eyes and groaned in annoyance, "Fine. I'll grow it out after the war. But we're trimming it now. Deal?"

"Deal."

Zuko winked at her and snapped the reins so Appa would take off. The bison flew to the sky and the Prince on his head waved goodbye as he soared back to the Western Air Temple. After Appa was out of sight, she walked back into the house. The doors and windows were boarded shut, minus the one Zuko kicked down for their entrance. Now that he was gone, she could fully explore the expansive home.

She walked through the broken door and straight towards the opposite wall. There was a table with a few knick-knacks on top, plus a portrait hanging on the wall above it. Katara squinted her eyes at the painting and saw a family of four, two young children with their parents. The daughter sat in front of the mother, almost like the woman was sitting with her tiny clone. Katara looked to the other pair and saw the young boy was sitting in front of the father, the older man's hand on his shoulder.

Her eyes widened when she realized who the family was. Her eyes flickered around the page, suddenly recognizing the members. At first she hadn't noticed, but the small girl in front was definitely Azula, judging by the cold look in her eyes that was so similar to the man in the painting. It was then that Katara realized how much Zuko looked like his father, almost an exact copy down to the widow's peak in their hair and the concaved cheeks. Their eyes were similar, but not the same. Zuko's eyes were like his mother's in this portrait: warm and slightly sad.

When Katara looked at the younger Zuko, she could feel her heart breaking in her chest. Such a small, innocent boy. His eyes full of hope and wonder, his small smile so remarkably untainted. Then her eye flickered to the hand resting on his shoulder and went up the arm of its owner. The man who ruined this young soul. His face was calm, not like what she would have imagined Ozai to be like, but then again this was just a picture. They never do the soul justice.

Her eyes widened when she realized how that was how Zuko would have looked like if he hadn't been burned. How almost regally perfect he would have appeared. And how different a person he would be if he hadn't been burned. He wouldn't be travelling with her, that's for sure. And perhaps he would be at the palace right now, soaking in the glory that is the Fire Nation royal family. Katara decided it was a good thing he had gotten banished. Because he would never have stood up for the right thing, realized his destiny or found his way to her. It was bittersweet.

Her eyes went to the mother one last time, focusing on her features. Her elegant brow, her narrow nose, and most importantly her golden eyes. How much sadness was held in there, but also how much compassion was right next to it. Other than her eyes, the woman was a spitting image of her daughter. It's surprising how different on the inside two people of the same family could be, no matter how similar they are on the surface.

Katara shook her head and looked down to the table to see a small circular shaped rock with a handprint in the middle. At the bottom was Zuko's little name carved into the rock. She picked it up and ran her thumb over the little indentation, her heart warming at the thought of a little Zuko pattering through this house, laughing at the top of his lungs.

Deciding it was time to explore more of the home, Katara set down the cast and continued down the hall towards the sitting room and kitchen. The thoughts of a laughing child running through these halls followed by a sibling or two swirling around her brain. She imagined an older Zuko with hair past his shoulders, loosely tied back into a ponytail chuckling as the children tackled him against the cushions scattered all over the sitting room. She smiled to herself as she reached the kitchen, realizing her thoughts had carried her halfway across the house without even realizing it.

Her eyes scanned the room, noticing it was bare of any cooking utensils or food. With a huff of frustration that blew her hair off her face, she exited the room and made a mental note to check the attic for pots and pans and to go to the town market for food.

Katara found the stairs and quickly climbed them, two at a time, and found herself on the bedchamber floor. There were two doors on each side of the hall, all doors closed and a layer of dust caking the floor. She went to the first door on her right and opened it, creaking as it went into the dark room. The first thing she noticed was that the window was boarded shut, which was somewhat obvious to her considering the rest of the house was boarded up as well.

She strode over to the window, where small streams of sunlight poked through the separate boards, and pulled the wood away from the window frame. Now the room was drenched in light, illuminating the dust particles floating around the spacey room and the large bed in between the window and the right-hand wall. It was covered with a tarp of some sort, protecting the sheets underneath. Katara assumed that all the beds were covered in the same way, which was good for all of them. Comfortable beds and soft sheets for all of them.

There was a dresser of some sort next to the door, one of which Katara didn't notice until she turned away from the bed. It was surprisingly close to the fireplace against the wall to her right. On top of the dresser were three portraits. Katara walked over and looked at each of them, starting with the one of a shorter man with strong side burns and a young and taller man next to him. The inscription on the top corner read:

"To the third best Prince of the Fire Nation:

Have a wonderful birthday, my nephew. We will be home soon. Make sure you keep a day free of studies to enjoy with us.

General Iroh

P.S. You and I are going to go visit Piandao while I'm in town. I need a new sword and I heard you already finished your training with him. Perhaps we should have a sparring session.

Prince Lu Ten"

Katara's eyes widened when she recognized the seasoned general in the picture. And she realized that Lu Ten was his son, one Iroh had never told them about...

With a shake of her head, she looked at the second picture. It was a charcoal portrait of Azula and Zuko standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean, Zuko's arm around Azula's shoulder and warm smiles on both of their faces. They both looked no more than ten, and Azula had both of her front teeth missing. Zuko's hair was in a messy ponytail, billowing in the wind and some pieces coming out of the tie and falling into his face.

Katara smiled and looked at the last picture, which was of Zuko's mother. Her sad eyes the first thing Katara noticed. In her top knot was a flame ornament and her long locks were cascading over her shoulders and covering the front of the soft mantle of her robe. Her face was delicately painted, much like Azula's always is when they meet in battle. It was eerie to be looking at a woman so similar to her enemy, but so close to her lover's heart.

Her eyes flickered to the characters at the bottom of the portrait and read them out loud, "Princess Ursa…"

A smile spread across her face as she finally learned Zuko's mother's name. She finally decided to leave this room, letting Zuko break in the rest. Considering it was his. She moved into the hallway and went to the other rooms, pulling the boards away from the windows and removing the tarps from the beds. Even though this was the Fire Lord's summer home, Katara noticed how all of the room were pretty much the same size, minus the chambers that were obviously Fire Lord Ozai's. His bed was ornately large compared to the others and the bathroom that connected his and Ursa's room was larger than the entire kitchen downstairs.

"With such a big house comes a lot of cleaning," Katara whispered to herself as she climbed down the stairs, brushing off the dust that gathered on her tunic and pants. She went past the kitchen and towards another hallway that led to another door. She removed the boards and opened that door, revealing a long covered walkway that surrounded an enormous cobblestone courtyard that hosted a dried out fountain in the center. There were weeds poking through the gaps in the stones, but aside from that, it was beautiful.

Katara didn't have much time to stare in wonder, because she heard the familiar, but faint, groan of Appa. She whirled around and dashed back into the house, jumping over the cushions in the sitting room and down the main hall that led to the front door. She leapt down the stairs and raced down the path leading to the beach.

Appa was to the west, a black silhouette against the setting sun. Katara skidded to a halt in the sand, sending up a cloud of dust into the ocean. She grinned widely as Appa flew overhead and landed behind her on the edge of the beach.

"Katara!"

She waved as she ran towards the bison and her brother jumped off and ran in her direction. The moment she reached him, she was swept up into his arms as he swung her around and squeezed her tight.

"I'm so happy you're okay!"

Sokka set her down and she shot him an incredulous look as she replied, "Why wouldn't I be? I've been here the whole time."

"You were alone in the heart of the Fire Nation," he stated flatly. "I got a little worried."

Katara just pouted as she folded her arms against her chest. Sokka shrugged in response and hugged her once more before turning away and helping Suki unload the luggage. Toph slid down Appa's leg and stumbled to a bush, where she promptly lost the entire contents of her stomach. Katara had to refrain from giggling and she trotted over to rub the small earthbender's back.

"No matter how many times we ride on there," Toph mumbled before she wiped her mouth with the back of her wrist, "I still can't do it without feeling sick. It didn't help that Sparky wanted to book it."

"'Book it?'" Katara drawled out as she turned and eyed Zuko, who had turned away casually and began to whistle as he picked up a few of the bags and began heading up towards the house. Katara just shook her head and smiled as she continued to rub Toph's back. She grinned at Zuko as he and Aang picked up the rest of the supplies and started heading into the house, but her smile was stopped short when she noticed the melancholy look on Aang's face as he spared a look at the two girls kneeling by the bushes.

Her eyebrows pinched together in thought as she watched the boys walk away, both of them giving the girls one last glance before entering the house. Zuko's happy, while Aang's was depressed.

"Hey, Toph? What's wrong with Aang?"

"Why should I care?" Toph muttered after she wiped her mouth once more. She brought her knees to her chest and rested her chin on top of her arms.

"Toph," Katara started with a cajoling tone, "tell me what happened."

The earthbender sighed and pressed her cheek against her forearm. "Well, this is what went down after you left..."

After Appa lifted off, Hakoda turned to the group and started barking out orders.

"Sokka, you and Suki gather as many blankets as you can so we can divvy them up between the two groups. Haru, you and the Duke go pack up your things as well as Smellerbee's. She may be getting healthy again, but she's still tired and weak. Toph and Aang, go gather some fruit from above the temple and add them to our pile of food. We'll need to divide that up as well. I'll start getting all of the other packs from the rooms and bring them out here."

There was a carol of 'yes sirs' as the group split up and began to start their tasks. Toph and Aang took the stairs leading to the surface, hand in hand the entire time, and found themselves in a forest of fruit trees.

Aang handed her a basket and said, "Hold this and I'll pick the fruit. Sound good?"

Toph rolled her empty eyes and scoffed, "Just because I'm blind doesn't mean I can't pick fruit."

"Toph, hon, can you even feel where the fruit are?"

The earthbender was quiet for a moment as she tried to sense the trees around her, but she only could feel the obstructions in the earth made by the roots. She couldn't sense the actual trees. With a defeated sigh, she held up the basket and waited patiently as Aang floated around the small garden and picked the fruit. They were both silent for a while as Aang gathered the food, Toph nervously chewing on her lip as her boyfriend, or whatever he was, flounced around.

After about ten minutes, she had enough. She shifted the basket in her arms and then earthbent a pillar and placed the basket on top. Aang noticed and slowed his movements, making his way towards her.

"Aang, we need to talk."

He stopped walking and she could feel his heartbeat pick up slightly in worry. "About what?"

Toph blew her bangs out of her eyes and took a deep breath. "I've been thinking, the comet is just around the corner and we haven't really discussed what you were going to do with Ozai. I mean, do you plan on fighting him before the comet, or during the comet? Are you going to kill him or spare him and let him be tried for his wrong doings?"

Aang shuffled his feet and took an awkward breath to steady himself. "I don't know, Toph."

"What do you mean, you don't know? You should be figuring this out! The fate of the world is on your shoulders and you can't even decide what you're going to do!"

He sighed and took a few steps forward. His hands were on her shoulders and he took a steadying breath before replying, "I just don't know, Toph. I can't just kill someone because I don't like him. Ozai is a human being, and Zuko's father! I don't think-"

Toph stepped out of his grip and felt her lip quiver. "Just because he's Zuko's father doesn't mean he deserves a pardon! The man burned off half of his face! I think I could kill him myself just for that! He's terrorizing the world, Aang! People are dying and more are going to die when he burns down my entire country. Have you not thought about this at all?!"

"I've thought about it every night since Sokka told us what Azula revealed to them," he stated with a cold edge. "I can't do it, though. It goes against everything the monks taught me. I can't turn my back on my beliefs."

A tear sprang from her eye and she shouted at him, "I thought we talked about this! You have to sacrifice your beliefs in order to do your duty as the Avatar!"

"But I do need to keep the teachings of my people," he spat back, his passive nature leaving his voice. "I'm the last airbender. I can't teach the ways of the Nomads if I went against them. I just don't know what to do!"

Toph didn't answer him. Instead, she took a step back and earthbended a pillar into Aang's chest, shooting him across the garden. He landed on the ground with a hard thud and all of the air left his lungs as his back collided with the ground. She fumed for a moment before turning on her heel and heading back to the temple.

"Toph, wait!"

She stopped and looked over her shoulder, just so he could hear her as she spoke lowly. "Aang, I think that if you feel that way, then you might as well kiss goodbye to all of us. We are all willing to sacrifice our beliefs in order to win this war. And this is what it is, war. And in war, people die. If Ozai lives, he will still kill even if he's locked up. And it will be on your shoulders."

As she continued back to the temple, she could feel Aang slump against a tree and heard him say to himself, "God, I'm an idiot."

"And that's what happened..."

Zuko frowned as he helped Aang unload the sack of food into the cabinets of the kitchen. Out of the corner of his good eye, he saw Aang stare glumly at an apple in his palm. The firebender sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose before taking the apple out of the airbender's hand and set it on the counter.

"You want my advice?"

Aang kept his head down, but nodded once.

"She has a point. You can't avoid the inevitable when it comes to your destiny. You are the Avatar. Keeping balance is what your are meant to do. Whether it be in the actual world or the Spirit World. Your job is to make sure there is balance between everyone, regardless of their nationality. And if that means you have to kill a tyrant, so be it. It's your job. Your duty comes before your beliefs."

"But I can't just go around killing anybody!"

"If it's for the sake of keeping balance, I think you do, buddy."

Aang sighed and looked at the bushel of apples on the counter before turning back to Zuko. "He's your father. How do you feel about it?"

Zuko looked down to his feet, knowing that the question was going to be asked. He raked through his mind, trying to find a plausible reason why Ozai should be spared. But even as he stood in the kitchen where his father had once hugged him so many years ago, there were none.

"I think that if it is to keep balance, it needs to be done. Besides, once Ozai is defeated, we can all go and work on restoring the peace around the world. I'm sure we can finally ride the hopping llamas like you wanted to."

Aang tilted his head down and shook it in silent laughter, "If you say so."

Zuko chuckled before turning around and heading out of the kitchen. Before he was completely out of the room, he called over his shoulder, "I'm going upstairs. We need to figure out who is going in which room."

"See ya."

Zuko waved over his head and went straight to the stairs. He glanced outside and spotted the two girls still sitting near the bushes. Toph had her arms wrapped around her knees and Katara was rubbing her back comfortingly as the earthbender spoke. He guessed they were talking about what he and Aang had just spoken of. Luckily, Toph was confiding in someone who could give a good two cents about how to deal. Zuko felt that even though he and Katara had been in a similar situation, he couldn't tell Aang something useful. Toph's anger was similar to how Katara had felt, but Aang's reaction had been different. Though the fight between Zuko and Katara had been in a completely different arena compared to what Aang and Toph were going through.

With a shake of his head, Zuko headed up the stairs. He made his way to the top level and saw that all of the doors but one were open. The door to Azula's old room was closed and Sokka's sash was tied to the handle. With a groan, Zuko strode over and knocked on the door once before swinging it open.

"Sokka, I need-"

His eyes shot wider at the sight in front of him.

"Dude! Didn't you see the sash?!"

"I... uh, sorry."

He felt his face flush as he closed the door behind him. With a shudder of disgust, he headed back down the stairs with his hands fisted at his sides, his mouth clamped shut and his face blushing in embarrassment. Once he reached the main floor, he marched to the sitting room and plopped down on one of the cushions. He didn't hear anyone approach over his embarrassed laughter, but he did hear them speak.

"What's wrong with Sparky?"

"You know, I'm not entirely sure."

"He went upstairs to get Sokka and Suki. I don't know why he's laughing though."

Sokka pulled Suki inside, their bags in hand as they quickly scanned the house for the stairs. Once he spotted them, he tugged her along and brought her upstairs. Immediately, he dragged her to the room to their left and shut the door behind them.

"You have no idea how badly I've wanted to be alone with you," he murmured as he strode over to her and embraced her in a deep kiss, his tongue passing through her lips quickly and his arms wrapping around her waist. Suki responded enthusiastically as she began running her hands through his growing hair and pulled it out of its wolftail.

She pulled away from him and he started to suckle on her neck as she breathed out, "Me too. Your dad being around really put a damper on your advances."

Sokka snickered into her skin and purred, "Well, now he's not here. And Katara won't care. So it's just you and me, baby."

Suki moaned as his lips pressed against the pulse point under her jaw. Sokka didn't feel her hands as they nimbly untied the sash around his tunic. But he did notice when she pulled away slyly and grinned mischievously, pulling the sash in between her hands and wiggling her eyebrows.

"Tying me up? Already?" Sokka grinned and took a step towards her. Suki just shook her head and strode towards the door. She opened it and tied the sash quickly around the handle, just as deftly as she had tied the same sash around his wrist and ankle when they first met. The door shut quickly and she sauntered back towards him.

"Just so no one barges in," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "The sash around the door is something married couples in Kyoshi would do so no one would interrupt their 'alone time'. Hopefully, everyone here gets the message."

Sokka smiled and pressed his lips against hers before leading her to the bed.

(Lemons!)

Sokka nipped at Suki's earlobe, making her press her body against him. He was about to roll them over when there was a single knock on the door and it swung open, revealing a wide-eyed Zuko.

"Sokka, I need-" He stared at the couple for a moment before swallowing as an embarrassed blush filled his face.

"Dude! Didn't you see the sash?!" Sokka shouted without covering his and Suki's naked bodies.

"I... uh, sorry."

The door shut quickly behind him and they heard his retreating footsteps. The two warriors stared at each other before cracking up in laughter. Sokka rested his forehead against her bare shoulder and nuzzled his nose against the smooth skin before kissing it languidly and murmuring, "Well we know we won't have any more distractions after that. Shall we continue?"

Suki's eyes became hooded as she responded softly, "I thought you'd never ask."

Once Zuko calmed down his uncontrollable laughter, the cause baffling Katara, the group all settled into their new rooms. It was pretty much unspoken that Sokka and Suki would take Azula's room, considering they had already broken in the bed. Katara and Zuko took his old room, while Toph decided to camp out in the sitting room on the floor and Aang decided to sleep with Appa and Momo. The Fire Lord and Lady's rooms were not to be touched, as they didn't need to be.

Katara skipped down the stairs after unpacking her sack and headed straight to the kitchen to make dinner. When she rounded the corner, she was surprised to see Aang leaning against the counter with a stoic look on his face.

"Oh, hey Aang," she stated with a smile. The airbender's head lifted and he answered with a slight grin. "I didn't expect you to be in here. What's going on?"

He just shrugged and sighed heavily, bringing his gaze back to his feet. "I don't know. It's about Toph. We had a fight."

"I know," Katara replied, stepping forward and cradling her stomach. Aang looked up with confusion and she continued, "She told me."

He nodded once and looked away from her silently. When he didn't reply for a few moments, Katara grabbed his shoulder gently and pulled him away from the counter. He eyed her warily and she just smiled warmly before pulling him out of the kitchen and towards the front door. "You and I are going to take a trip to the market. We need more food and Suki needs clothes. You and I can talk on the way there."

Aang stopped and grabbed the long-sleeved Fire Nation tunic from his sack against the kitchen wall and pulled it on. He grabbed a hat from his bag and pulled it onto his had to hide his arrows. Katara just smiled and pulled him out the door and towards the market.

Zuko stepped down from the attic, covered head to toe with dust. He cursed himself for not wearing a shirt when he went up there, sub sequentially getting his entire sweaty torso coated with dust particles, spiderwebs, and dirt. He scowled to himself as he marched through the house, heading straight for the ocean. Sokka was using the tub in between the rooms and the bathroom on the main floor didn't have a large enough basin for a bath. The ocean was his best option.

He peered into the kitchen to see it empty, which was a curious thing to Zuko. It was almost sundown and Katara would usually start dinner at this time. Perhaps she was resting or something. With a shrug, Zuko turned and headed out of the house and down the winding path to the ocean. He expected the private beach to be abandoned, so he was already untying the drawstring of his pants when he reached the sand.

"Hey, Sparky."

Zuko yelped and brought a flame to his hand, helping him see Toph sitting off to the left with her toes buried in the sand. He extinguished the flame and knotted his pants and walked over to her, sitting down in the sand next to her and burying his feet next to hers.

"What are you doing out here, champ?"

Toph shrugged and blew air out of the corner of her mouth to move the hair away from her eyes. "I just need some time to think."

"About?"

"Did Aang tell you about our fight?"

Zuko nodded and picked up a rock by his foot and threw it into the approaching tide. "You were right, you know. He's running away from his destiny and he's too afraid to admit that he's going to have to grow up in a few days and consciously take a life."

Toph huffed and wrapped her arms around her knees again. "I just don't get why he can't just suck it up and be a man. If he doesn't kill Ozai, the lunatic is going to still spread hatred and war through his cronies. If he's gone, they will be leaderless and won't cause problems."

"I agree with you," Zuko sighed. "And I know that Ozai needs to go down. The man on the throne is no longer my father, so if Aang goes through with it I won't feel any remorse."

Instead of answering, Toph just clasped his hand and scooted a little closer so their sides were pressing against each other. Zuko wrapped his free arm around her shoulders and pecked her on the crown of her head. "We'll figure it out, Toph. If Aang doesn't go through with it, I'm sure we'll be able to stop him no matter what."

"... And now she won't talk to me! What should I do?!"

Katara set down the tomato she was examining and clasped both of Aang's trembling shoulders. "First off, Kuzon, you need to calm down. Second off, I think she has a point. Your duty is to the world. You can't be detached like the monks before you."

Aang's dejected and defeated look tugged at her heart and Katara sighed. This was like telling a toddler that he couldn't have a toy. She went back to grabbing the last of the food they needed and paid the vendor. She steered Aang away from the stall and towards a bench on the edge of the road.

"Look, Aang, you need to realize that you can't always do things the way the monks taught you. These are different times, considering that as the Avatar your duty comes first. You have to be detached from the things that make you an individual. I know it sounds horrible, but that's the curse of the Avatar."

Aang looked at her deeply before grabbing her shoulders and pulling her into a hug. Immediately, she wrapped her arms around his lithe waist and pulled him closer, reassuringly. He had grown taller since she had broken him out of the iceberg all those months ago. And his muscles had developed as well since he began training with Zuko. But in reality, he was still a kid. With the world at war on his shoulders.

"I don't know what to do, Katara," he mumbled into her shoulder. "I'm scared that I will fail again. I can't fail again."

"And we won't let you," Katara murmured back. "We all are right behind you. We'll follow you until the end."

He pulled away from her and wiped his eyes of some stray tears. She smiled at him and bent down to grab their things. "C'mon. We need to get back. Sokka's probably already dying from starvation."

"Where is Katara? I'm STARVING!"

Zuko plugged his ears the moment he stepped back inside, seeming the ear-splitting whine coming from Sokka echoed throughout the entire property and most likely the whole island. He sounded worse than a hurt baby mongoose dragon crying for its mother. And that wasn't any more pleasant. Zuko and Toph made their way into the sitting room, where Sokka was laying across several cushions and had his arm draped dramatically over his eyes as he wailed.

"SNOOZLES! SHUT UP!" Toph shouted, causing the warrior to jump and hit his head on the nearby table. He moaned as he rubbed the sore spot and glared at the earthbender before she took a few steps forward and plopped down on the floor. "Sweetness and Twinkletoes went to the market. They're on their way back so quit complaining."

Sokka's eyes lit up and he clapped enthusiastically before bolting up and racing to the front door to greet his sister. A few moments later, Zuko could hear him badgering her before her feet even passed through the doors.

"Did you get meat? What are we going to have to eat? I'm starving, Katara!"

"Sokka, seriously, if you don't shut up I'll waterbend you into the ocean. And I won't bend you back."

The warrior paled in the face and backed away from Katara as she and Aang carried their purchases into the kitchen. As Katara passed Suki, she handed the Kyoshian a smaller bag and continued into the kitchen. Suki looked into the bag to find an entirely new outfit inside, accessories and everything.

"Thanks, Katara!" Suki beamed as she clutched the bag to her chest.

"No problem," Katara called back once she reached the kitchen. "I knew you were getting sick of your prison garb."

Zuko walked into the kitchen right as Aang pushed past him and made his way to the stairs. He stomped up and there was a shutting of a door that echoed through the whole house. The firebender turned to the girl in front of him, his eyebrow quirked up in a silent question and she just shook her head in response.

"He's a little frustrated about the comet," she responded. "I tried talking to him, but he just won't listen. I hope he figures something out."

Zuko stepped to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. After kissing her neck, he rested his chin on her shoulder and said lowly, "If all else fails, I can be the one who takes out Ozai..."

Katara turned around in his arms and pressed her face against his chest. "Promise me you won't do that. I know you hate him and what he's done to you and the world, but I know it will tear you up inside if you did that. Promise me."

"Can I at least burn him a little bit?"

Katara looked up and saw the playful expression on his face before they both broke out in laughter. He pulled her close to him and kissed the top of her head. A feeling of dread settled over him, but he pushed it to the back of his mind. Right now wasn't the time for following gut feelings. Right now was savoring the feeling of having the woman of his dreams in his arms. Because he may not be able to in a few days.

He felt Katara pull away from him and smirk before pushing the hair out of his eyes and getting on her tippy toes to kiss his marred cheek. Once she was flat footed again, she said, "I'm going to cook dinner, then we'll cut your hair. Alright?"

Zuko rolled his eyes and dropped his arms to his sides. "Fine. Now hurry up, we're dying here."

"As you wish, your Highness," Katara cooed as she bowed elaborately to him. Zuko groaned and shook his head exasperatedly and left the room without another word. He made his way past the sitting room and out to the stone courtyard, where Toph, Sokka and Suki were all sitting on the stairs waiting for their meal. Zuko settled next to Sokka, where Suki was sitting in front of them and Toph was sitting to her right. They casually discussed their plans for the night, considering it was their last one before they needed to start training again.

"Hey guys, dinner is ready!" Katara called as she carried a tray full of plates out to the courtyard. She laid it down on the stone and started handing out plates, two with extra meat for Sokka and Toph, one with less spices for Suki and one with more for Zuko. She turned to hand the vegetarian dish to its perspective owner, but noticed he was missing. She turned back to the other teens, who had already scarfing down their food and she spoke up, "Where's Aang?"

They all halted and looked at each other before shrugging or murmuring that they hadn't seen him. Zuko looked up to the house and then back to Katara, who housed the same worried expression he most likely had on his face. With a swallow, Zuko finally realized he should have acted on that gut feeling.

He didn't realize where he was going. There was just something... calling to him.

Aang had gone up the stairs and locked himself in the Fire Lord's old room, trying to hopefully find something incriminating that would constitute ending his life. But to no avail, Aang ended up empty handed. So he settled with going out onto the balcony and looking out to the ocean. He breathed in the humid and salty air, feeling the quivering of rain in the air as if it was about to fall any second. His eyes fluttered closed as he shut out all of his thoughts and focused on the sounds of the ocean and the breeze blowing against his clammy skin.

Aang opened his eyes and tore off his tunic, shoes and hat and tossed them on the floor of the balcony. He hated how hot the Fire Nation got this time of year. It was always humid but it almost never rained until the autumn equinox, and then it rained for days on end like a monsoon. He preferred the dry air of the Earth Kingdom, where the occasional rain shower came over but it was never a stifling humid rain like the Fire Nation had.

He sat lotus style on the floor and focused again on the sounds of the ocean and the breeze. He felt his body relax and his mind sharpen. This is what he liked about meditation. He didn't have to worry about outside world. He was alone with his thoughts. Certain thoughts he wanted to retreat from, but couldn't escape.

He had a decision upon him. Take a life or spare him somehow. But he knew deep down what he had to do. Toph had said it before. Kill, or be killed.

His thoughts were stopped short when a strange feeling washed over him. He stopped his meditation and unconsciously stood and jumped off of the balcony into the woods below and headed towards the ocean. He didn't know where he was going. It just felt right.

His bare feet touched the sand and he carried himself right to the water line, diving in as soon as he was deep enough. For some reason, it felt right. He knew that, wherever he was going, it was going to help with his decision. Perhaps he could find a new solution.

A/N This chapter was revised on December 20, 2013.