Toph's POV:

I followed them along some buildings and down an alleyway. We finally stopped when we were no longer in view of any of the other people walking along the streets.

I watch as they turn back to me and I can't help but notice how quiet and reserved Katara is being. She's jumpy and doesn't seem to want to be near me at all which confuses me. I've never seen Katara so paranoid and full of fear but here at this moment she is completely stiff and watching me like a hawk. The man she is with turns to me and hesitantly says, "Well I guess we have some explaining to do huh?"

I raise my hand to my head in frustration and as I move it away from my face motioning to them I say "Oh gee, you think!" I glare at them still frustrated and trying to make sense of the situation we're in. Katara slightly shifts so she is behind the guy, "What the heck is going on?!" I point towards him, "Who, the heck, are you!?"

I hear murmuring and they shift a bit before he speaks, "I guess I can't lie to you, my name's Zuko."

My eyes bug out of my head, "As in FIRE PRINCE!" I can not believe my ears is this really possible? Why would Katara be with Zuko? I mean I know we suspected her to be with them but I didn't fully believe she would be. She hates the fire nation and Zuko why would she stay with him rather than come find us? Why isn't she happy to see me, why is she acting so fearful and as if she doesn't want to be near me?

Iroh's POV:

I sat drinking my morning tea as I watched Jia crawl to one of Zuko's daggers that he usually keeps with him during the night. As she got closer I watched curiously to see how she would handle the weapon. Of course, a sheath was protecting her from harming herself and I would stop her in a heartbeat if she even got close to doing anything that could possibly harm her. As she arrived to her destination she picked up said dagger and giggled as she looked at it. The next thing I knew she was floating, I can't believe my eyes! This child…..

Is an Airbender!

Whoosh!

The dagger nearly missed my head as it was pushed through the air, out of its sheath and in a random direction. She clearly didn't mean for it to come my way as she giggled and looked around for the toy she was previously playing with.

One Week Later…

Chief Hakoda's POV:

I stood on my ship looking out to the land we were quickly approaching. Sokka had informed me about how things are going in Ba Sing Se, I'm extremely worried about Katara, she's been gone for a month and there is still no sign of her and I blame myself. Maybe if I were around more this wouldn't have happened and my daughter would be here with me instead of putting herself in such danger with the Avatar. I know it is what has to be done, someone has to help Aang so that this war can end but I just wish I could be of more help or at least be with them more so that I can protect my children. I know they are more than able to protect themselves and I'm sure Aang will protect them but I can't help but feel like this could have all gone down differently if it weren't for me leaving. If I never left them with their gran then maybe Sokka would be more mature and readier to learn what it takes to be chief and maybe Katara would be on her way to becoming a strong young woman who will fight and help her tribe. To be honest I guess this is probably what they need, their destiny to help the Avatar I just hope we can find Katara and end this war quickly so that we can all go back to our homes and families.

As we approach the shores I can't help but dread what will happen next. Sokka had wrote to me and told me to meet them here in a week's time, that was a few days ago. He told me that he may have found Katara and that they will all be joining us on the ship because some things have changed and our previous plan will no longer be possible. I'm not sure what he meant by that but I hope he has found Katara, safe and sound and is headed this way.

Where we docked, was right around a mountain from a small village so we will be settling in and preparing for our next voyage as we wait. My men have been working non-stop, as have I and it is nice to get a small break once in a while. They have all planned a night of drinking and activities for one of our nights here just to relax and enjoy the time we have before we are off again.

To conceal our location, we had to move our ships into a little alcove covered in vines and behind a water fall. For the next couple of days, we will be relaxing as much as possible in this beautiful oasis until we hear from or see my children and their group flying in on their bison.

Back with the Group…(One Week Ago - Their Present Day):

Aang's POV:

Sokka and I had met back up on our way to meet in the market circle with Longshot and Smellerbee. We sat on some benches in the main area and waited for Toph to show up as well as Longshot and Smellerbee. Sokka was clearly worried for his sister and has been since she went missing, he wasn't the same since that day. He doesn't joke around like he used to, he's become much more serious and even his appearance has changed, he doesn't do much when it comes to self grooming so he has begun to grow a small beard, nothing serious.

We weren't waiting long when Smellerbee and Longshot showed up. They came up to us and seemed as if they were in a slight panic, they were running and panting as they got to us. Sokka and I both stood up and Sokka decided to speak first, "Guys, what's going on? Did you find Katara? Is she okay? She's with Zuko isn't she? He's keeping her captive right?!" His questions became more like demands as he spewed them out. He was clearly stressed and seeing them as they were was not helping his situation.

Smellerbee panted out, "Azula and her men were there! They broke down the door!"

We were in shock for milliseconds before we both jumped into action and started running in the direction of where they had come from, they were behind us, trying to keep up. Smellerbee panted as we went, "We didn't find them at their shop so we went to where their residence is. We didn't see Zuko or Katara, we never had a chance to look inside because Azula was there!"

As we ran we saw Toph coming out of an alleyway, she looked confused as Sokka grabbed her wrist and kept running she screamed, "What the hell is going on?! Where are we going?"

Sokka yelled out, "No time! Follow us!"

As we ran in the direction where Smellerbee and Longshot were telling us we heard screaming but it wasn't a scream of pain or fright it was a scream of anger as we got closer we all slowed down and knelt behind a building hoping we won't get caught. The whole way Toph was trying to stop us but we wouldn't listen so when we finally arrived and were kneeling behind the building she groaned, "Ok so now can you guys finally listen to what I'm trying to tell you!"

We all shush her as we watch the building that was supposedly where Zuko and his uncle were staying. Someone inside was yelling angrily and I was a little concerned that it may be directed at Katara and that she might get hurt. We watched as Azula, disguised in Kyoshi Warrior gear, stormed out of the building with a bunch of Dai Li behind her, "I can't believe you, how can you be so blind to not see that they aren't in there! You said you saw my uncle and that obnoxious baby! Are you incompetent or just plain stupid! I can't believe this now they will be more careful because of the damn mess you made!"

We all looked to each other in confusion but also in relief, at least Katara is still safe if she is with Zuko and his uncle. I decided to lead everyone away and once we were far enough Toph stopped in her tracks which made all of us stop and look at her as well, "So…Are you guys going to finally listen to what I have to say? You know it could have saved us a lot of time if you did."

Sokka groaned, "What is it Toph?" He was clearly frustrated with the fact that we still have not found his sister and have been running around Ba Sing Se unsupervised which could get us into a lot of trouble like a bunch of idiots.

She glared, "Fine I won't tell you that I found Katara and that I know where to find her and who she is with." She rolled her eyes and started to walk away.

My eyes popped out of my head in shock, "Wait! You found her? Where is she? Is she okay? Who is she with? Is it Zuko?"

Toph turned back to us and smirked, "Follow me and you'll find out."

With Zuko and Katara…

Katara's POV:

Zuko explained to Toph that what has happened to me is something that should be talked about in private with the whole Gaang so we don't have to repeat it again. He told her that he was helping me and that his uncle was as well and that they meant no harm to me nor my friends. She flipped a little and was clearly annoyed but also confused, it's not every day a friend of yours is taken for a month and when you see her again she is withdrawn and not really comfortable around you.

Zuko told her that he did not know of all of the atrocities his family has been responsible for. Not many people know of most of the horrors the Fire Nation has caused people around the world. He explained to her after finding me and seeing the shape I was in he knew his destiny was not to capture the Avatar. He told her how he's learned a lot from being banished and does not want to be a part of his family's past, he wants to be the future that he believes should be full of peace and harmony.

Surprisingly, but I guess unsurprisingly, Toph believed him and what he was saying which makes me believe that he truly is someone I can trust though the real question is, is Toph really Toph or is this just someone pretending to be her. Toph told Zuko that she and my friends have been searching for me non-stop and that they were very worried about me. She asked if it was okay she would like to bring them to us so that Sokka and Aang can see that I'm alright.

At her request Zuko looked to me for affirmation, he wanted to make sure I was okay with it first. After the little meltdown I had in the tea shop I guess he was worried that I was about to have another one. I look at Toph and then back to him in deep thought before nodding deciding I would have to face the music at some point and with Azula probably after Jia and I we're going to need all the help we can get. I would need their help even if it's a trick at least I have Zuko on my side to help me if something goes wrong.

When Toph turned and walked away from us Zuko turned back to me, "Are you sure you'll be okay? I don't want you to feel forced into this if you're not comfortable. I do think your friends would do anything to help you, to make you feel more comfortable and to protect you. You may not trust them right now but I'll stay with you if that's what you need and I don't know if uncle would come along but if he does he'll be there to help you as well."

I nod and sigh a little nervously, "It's okay. I probably should see them to get accustomed to them again. I don't want to go my life without seeing my brother again so now is better then ever to just get it out of the way and see them again. I need to warn them as well and if they really are who they say they are they need to know about Azula and where I was taken. You'll stay with me? You won't leave right?" I look at him nervously, I've barely been with him a couple days and have already become attached and trust him like family. I guess traumatic events can really change a person.

Zuko seemed a little surprised but nodded nevertheless and took my hand into his, "I'll do you one better, I promise I'll never leave your side until you're sick of me and tell me to go away. How about that?" I giggled a bit as he smirked at me, I can't believe that in just a few days I go from a scared, traumatized crying mess to giggling and joking, around with Zuko no less.

Back With Iroh and Jia…

Iroh's POV:

I couldn't believe what I was seeing as Jia gently floated back down to the ground and started to crawl over to me giggling. Once she got to me she raised her arms up for me to pick her up, which I did. As she settles in my arms she giggled and started to innocently play with my beard, we watched each other and I smiled. She was such a lovely and happy child and I've become just as attached to her as she has become attached to me. I now know why she is so important for the fire nation to find, they don't want people to think they failed in their mission of taking over the air temples and they don't want anyone to have hope. They also really don't want people finding their prisons because it would take away a lot of power from them that they have been working on keeping, they want to win the war and control all bending so that fire bending is the only bending and they have full control of the world. But why would they not just kill all of the other elements instead? Wouldn't it make more sense to just get rid of the competition?

I watched as Jia seemed amazed by my long facial hair, her fingers tangled themselves with my long grey locks and slightly tugged as she attempted to get a better look. I take a closer look at her features and realize that if she is an air bender that must mean that one of her parents were one as well or at least a part of that nationality. She looks like she is from the fire nation but that means the other parent must have been a fire bender or of the fire nation. It took me a minute to realize but now I know there must be more to what goes on then what we know in those prisons, the people and the guards can't all be against each other and the prisoners must be afraid for their lives if they cannot bend and fight their way out.

CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH!

I hear the sound of footsteps outside. Nothing too alarming considering people pass by all the time on the current street we are on.

CRACK!

I hear the cracking of a tree branch and realize that it was coming from just outside the building, but that would mean someone is approaching. No one comes to visit us so I decide to take the utmost precaution and high tail it out of there. Just as I'm leaving the back door I hear a crash of the front door being kicked down! Somebody is after us, now I know I must move!

I make my way through town looking for my nephew as I carried Jia in my arms, said baby seemed unbothered about the sudden movements and change of scenery. Luckily for me she stayed silent and continued to play with my hair as I made my way through the market.

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed! Please review!