Mercifully Zukos condition seemed pretty stable and Zuko slept through the night, though sometimes he would start tossing and turning and Toph informed that his readings was that of someone in danger or having a panic attack.

Thus pretty obviously. Zuko had nightmares. Fever dreams that was nightmares.

Not that Aang could really blame him. They had been through a lot together, and Aang now also knew of Zukos true past and how horrifying it was in many ways.

At sunrise as Zhau-Li came to take over from Toph Zuko woke slightly, he was clearly delirious though, but eager to drink any water offered to him.

Katara said it was entirely possible that Zuko wouldn't even remember any of this ones he got better. Which Aang thought was a pretty good thing honestly. It would a shame to call Zukos face…. Peaceful.

It was anything but.

And Aang too, now that things had settled down and he had time to think. The horror hit him. What had actually happened.

They had been on track. Things had seemed good. They were going to have an army and important intel.

Then Aang had gone away. Just a few days he had left his friends…. And now everything was in shambles.

Ba Sing Se had fallen! The fire nation was now in control of the earth kingdom.

Aside from a few villages and individuals fighting back… The fire nation had won.

Zuko had gotten hurt, hurt so bad and then there was Iroh.

Aang liked Iroh a lot. It had been really nice with an older person with them for a while, and he was so nice and made them tea and liked playing with them. Like when he challenged them to extinguish his flame.

It had been so much fun.

Iroh reminded Aang of Gyatso in many ways. And that had felt so nice. And now he was a prisoner... And Aang didn't know where any of the fire nation refuges were. Or Kui. His friends.

"What am I going to do?" Aang asked hopelessly as he grabbed his head while Zuko was laying on his back in front of him.

Lin-Lin was on Zukos chest, laying down with closed eyes. The bird had come flying after Appa with Momo not long after they had landed in the water tribe camp and had now made himself comfortable on Zuko. Refusing or leave. Only barely had Katara llowed it and Aang hicupped.

"I'm sorry. I messed up." Aang sniffed. "It all happened again. I left the air temple, I ran. And they all died. And then I left again, at Ba Sing Se, and now you're hurt." he gasped for breath. "Where do you think Kui is now? Or Jet? Or any of them." he gasped. "I'm sorry about your uncle! I'm so sorry! He's with Azula. Sokka said they can't execute him, not really. But there are so many other things they could do." he wrapped his arms around himself. "I have to be the worst Avatar ever huh?" he asked. "I messed up the entire world. And just hurt everybody I know." he swallowed as he looked up.

And then suddenly he realized. Zukos eyes were open, and they looked directly at Aang.

"Zuko." Aang gasped. "Zuko are you okay?" he asked scrambling forward.

"You idiot." Zuko spoke in a hoarse raspy voice making Aang gasp. "It isn't your fault. How can you even think any of it is your fault? You didn't do anything wrong dumdum."

Aang halted stunned as he looked at Zuko. Then tears slowly fell down his face.

"Does Azula really have my uncle?" Zuko asked.

"Yes. I'm sorry." Aang said. "Azula caught him before we made it back into the city. And when we freed you we had to flee."

Zuko closed his eyes as he laid back. Groaning slightly.

"I'm really sorry." Aang said again.

"It's okay. I know why we had to flee. There was no time." Zuko swallowed. "Azula probably kept us separated on purpose too." his fist tightened, and then hammered it down. "If I just hadn't been so stupid to let myself get caught." he hissed. "He asked if I wanted him to go with me when I went looking for Toph. Why didn't I just say yes?" he asked annoyed. "Or why didn't I just run? I'm such an idiot!"

"Zuko." Aang gasped. "You couldn't have known. It's not…"

Zukos eyes squinted and then he inhaled a deep breath.

"You're not an idiot. There is no way you could have known." Aang repeated then Zuko turned his head so he looked at Aang.

"Same goes for you Aang." Zuko said making Aangs eyes widen.

Zuko swallowed as his golden eyes rested on Aang.

"My uncle said something ones. I don't think I was meant to hear it though." Zuko commented. "He was pretty frustrated. It was while I was banished, we had come upon this fire nation camp that had been ambushed. There were casualties and uncle… Chewed out the commander. It stood out to me. Uncle is never angry, so to see him frustrated is always weird. He said… There's is nothing fair about this. All these children forced to fight a war started by old men."

Aang gasped for breath.

"Uncle tried to tell me… A lot of times. I shouldn't be in such a rush to become an adult." Zuko commented. "He wanted us to go places. Explore… Swim at the beaches. Try to have fun. I don't think he wanted the war to be on my shoulders."

"Sounds like him." Aang said.

"I guess what I am trying to say is…" Zuko commented. "It really isn't fair at all. That you should be tasked with saving the world. It's not fair that you are tasked with fixing this thing some really old dudes started a hundred years ago. It shouldn't be on you."

"But it is." Aang said.

Zukos eyes closed. "Well actually… It's kind of on both of us isn't it?" he asked.

"Yeah." Aang sighed. "It shouldn't be on you. You shouldn't have to do this." he swallowed. "Fight your own sister and father… Redeem an entire nation. You're only sixteen. How is that fair?!" he asked only to be stunned by Zukos golden eyes looking at him.

And then suddenly Aang realized… the pure irony. The thing Zuko had been getting at.

Aang honestly couldn't help but smile amused. And Zuko actually smiled in return. "I'm just sixteen?" Zuko asked amused. "You're twelve!"

"Actually i'm one hundred and twelve." Aang said in a bemused smile.

And then they both chuckled, over the pure absurdity of the entire thing. But also a little relief. They really were in this together. Whether they liked it or not. Fortunately, they both seemed to be in agreement now.

Aang shook his head and then his eyes fell on the box next to Zukos head doubling for a table where they could have a watcher pitcher and a glass. And also there was Zukos swords laying on it… And a golden hair piece for a top knot.

The crown meant to be worn by the crown prince of the fire nation. Zhau-Li had kept it safe and put it on the little box table while Zuko was sleeping.

Aang hesitated a bit and then picked up the golden object. Remembering how it looked in Rokus hair. It was odd. He felt like he remembered how it felt to hold it, and even how to put it in his own hair. In spite the fact that Aang never had hair long enough for this.

"How weird is it?" Aang commented as he turned the crown in his hands. "When I woke up at the north pole. A hundred years after I got frozen in that ice-berg. You were right there. Almost seems like destiny doesn't it?"

"I don't know. Maybe." Zuko commented. "It did feel like it." he admitted. "It really did. When I saw you. Both at the pole. And then later… The storm. You remember?" he asked. "My ship. It was caught in a storm. We sailed to the eye of the storm, to be safe. And then suddenly you emerged from the waters. On Appa. You were right there." he said. "I saw you in the saddle. I know you saw me too. You looked at me."

"I do remember." Aang said. "And it did feel… Strange."

"You felt it too huh." Zuko commented.

Aang nodded still looking at the crown in his hands. "Sozin and Roku were friends. Not just friends… They were like brothers." he said. "And here we are. A hundred years later." he looked up at Zuko.

Zuko exhaled deeply. "Well I guess this is our destiny then." he commented and Aang smiled, he looked up at Zuko who slowly propped himself up to a sitting position.

And then Aang sniffed as he dropped the crown and launched himself forward to hug Zuko.

Zuko winched in pain but returned the hug. Padding Aang on the back.

"I was really... really scared." Aang admitted. "I don't want you to die! You're my friend!"

"I'm not going to die." Zuko assured padding him on the back and Aang sniffed as he sat back drying his eyes.

Only for Zuko to start coughing in his hand.

"Are you okay? Can I get you something?" Aang asked. "Katara said you should drink as much as possible." he said pouring up water for Zuko and offered it to him.

Zuko didn't hesitate grabbing the glass. Easily emptying it and handing it back. "Thanks."

"No problem." Aang smiled putting the glass on the box and filled it again before looking up at Zuko. "Are you hungry?" He asked. "Katara said that if we could make you eat we should."

"Honestly." Zuko said. "I'm starving."

"That's great!" Aang beamed. "The others are going to be so happy. Everyone was super worried about you."

"Really?" Zuko asked.

"You're seriously not surprised about that are you?" Aang asked.

"Sorry I just…" Zuko blushed deeply. "I'm still getting used to it. The things I'm doing worrying anyone else than my uncle."

"You need to get used to it then." Aang said. "It's sort of a lifetime thing."

Zuko smile a little amused.

"I'll go get you some food then!" Aang grinned as he stood up. "Some… not water tribe food. Honestly water tribe food is kind of terrible."

Zuko blinked as he looked at Aang.

"Also I'll get Katara. She wanted to be told when you were awake." Aang said. "Braise yourself though. She's going to give you an earful for jumping in front of lightning like that."

"What else was I supposed to do?" Zuko asked honestly confused.

"I don't know. Something which didn't put you in life danger I guess." Aang said. "And I am with her on that! Stop trying to kill yourself all right! You are not allowed to die! You got that? Iroh would never forgive us if we let you die."

"Oh really?" Zuko asked. "Well I suppose I have to stay alive so Iroh wont be angry at you."

"I'll never forgive you either. Just so you know." Aang snorted. "So stay alive! And no more jumping in front of lightning. Got it."

Zuko smiled amused. "Got it." he said.

"Good!" Aang said. "Now stay here while I get Katara and some food that wont make you gag." he said finally leaving the tent.

Seriously making Zuko wonder what all this talk of terrible water tribe food was about. Fire nation and Earth Kingdom food wasn't that different. Aang had a thing about over exaggeration. Zuko was sure the food was going to be fine... Probably.