A/N: Aurgh I know, this took forever to be posted and it's short so that doesn't make up for it. Plus words weren't really working with me in this chapter so the quality might be lower than usual, so sorry for that. Hope it's not too bad.

Zuko's POV:

"Aang?" I call out when I notice Appa diving down yet again, but this time I get no response. I call again, more urgent. "Aang!" I go over and peer over the saddle's ledge to find Aang completely passed out. "AANG?!" When he doesn't stir I begin cursing under my breath. "Great, whose dumb idea was to let him do the steering?"

Fortunately Appa must have sensed something's wrong with the young Avatar as he pulls up suddenly, flinging me back. I crawl back and onto Appa's head, taking the reins from Aang's limp hands and steer Appa slightly, into the right direction back to Republic City. Once everything's settled I cast a look at the Airbender. 'He's unconscious just as the doctor said he would be. I thought it wouldn't happen at least for a few more days. I don't even know what to do!' I try shaking him, hoping he just fell asleep but I get no response. I groan aloud in worry. 'I swear there's always something with him. It's never easy.' I try to will Appa to go faster, but he's exhausted from the fly over and a little while later we're forced to land for the night. I sigh, frustrated. 'He hasn't even twitched.' But just as that thought crosses my mind I hear a groan coming from beside me. My neck snaps to my right to see Aang scrunching up his nose.

"Roku." He mumbles. My eyes are wide as I try to shake him, but with no luck. And then for the next few moments all I hear is incoherent gibberish. 'He must be in the spirit world if he mentioned Roku. That's probably a good thing then, he'll sort out this block and everything will be fine...right?'

"I can't!" The sudden shout makes me jump and I watch the Airbender wearily. 'If he ends up bending at me I will not be pleased.' I think and then focus on his words. 'I wonder what he and Roku are talking about anyway. Seems quite intense.'

"I just can't tell them ok? It will...break...hearts..." Aang's broken mutters causes me to frown. 'What in the world? How many more secrets is he hiding?! Do I even want to know?' But when I see the trembling in Aang's form I realise what a burden that whatever this thing is on him. 'Surely it can't be worse than hiding his attempted assassinations.'

"I don't want to die early!" The next screech makes my heart stop in dead cold fear for a second. I shake my head, 'he's probably talking about those assassins.'

"It's not fair! I didn't ask to be saved...iceberg. Can't leave them...do...do...know...how long... I have?" I go pale as the implications of his words hit me. And I start shaking my head more vigorously. 'No no no. I must have misunderstood, I mean he keeps cutting himself off. There's no way that he will...' I put a hand to my head, not able to finish the thought. Until another one pops in 'But it makes sense, I mean how many times have you asked yourself how did Aang remain the same age for 100 years...being in the iceberg for that long must've had negative consequences on his body.' I gulp harshly. 'I have to be wrong. I have to be. Aang can't die.' Anxiety starts to build-up within me. I get up and urge Appa to wake. He must sense the urgency in my actions as he does so with little protest. Guiltily I push him hard to get to Republic City by the next evening and we do. All the while Aang has barely said two words outside of: "arrow and no" both of which sends a mixture of confusion and fear through me. The weird breathing noises has also been scary to listen to. I jump down from Appa and give him a grateful pat and sling Aang's arm around my shoulders as I drag him to Sokka's office. I barge in to find him sitting with a half opened mouth. I look to my left and see Katara with watery eyes who quickly wipes them away.

"Zuko?!" They both exclaim in unison. Then they both focus on who I'm holding and jump to their feet. "What happened?!" They say again in the same time. 'Jeez, these two are definitely related.'

"Long story short, Aang has some sort of spiritual illness or at least that's what the doctor said. I think he's currently in the Spirit world to sort it out but I don't know if he'll be ok and his breathing has been a bit off for the last hour." I say in a rush and Katara goes to my side and eases him towards her. Together we lower him down onto the ground as she whips out some water and runs it over him. She clucks her tongue and returns the water back to her pouch as she leans back.

"It doesn't look good. It's like there's some sort of poison blocking one of his chi points, but I can't grasp it because it's solid." She states in frustration. Sokka bends down beside her and runs his eyes along Aang's form.

"Let's get him upstairs into one of the bedrooms." Sokka and I lift the Airbender as Katara trails behind, her eyes glued to a book she found in Sokka's office about spiritual illnesses, 'I mean why would Sokka even have such a thing? I'm tempted to ask him but I decide there's more pressing things to discuss. The only thing is, do I say it or wait till Aang's awake and confront him?' I sigh, knowing I wouldn't be able to wait till then.

"Sokka." I start which causes the warrior to turn his head towards me slightly, his eyes waiting. "Do you know whether Aang is hiding anything...something he hasn't told us?" I ask hesitantly. He seems taken back by my question as he frowns.

"Yeah, there is apparently one thing that he refuses to tell anyone. Why?" Sokka's eyes pierce into mine. I shrug uncomfortably.

"He was muttering while he was unconscious and said some stuff...I'm worried." I say in a hushed whisper. Sokka glances behind him to see his sister's head still buried in the book.

"We'll talk later. After we've got Aang upstairs ok?" Sokka says quietly and I nod in agreement.

Later on...

Back at Sokka's Office:

"Ok, so what did he say that's made you so worried?" The pony tailed warrior starts with as he we both take a seat, having left Katara to watch over Aang.

"He mentioned Roku's name to start with. Bu then he was saying that he couldn't tell us something…" I take a deep breath and look at Sokka directly in the eyes. "I think being frozen in the iceberg has had a negative impact on him and will shorten his lifespan." I force out between grit teeth, it takes a moment for Sokka to show any reaction and when he does it's not really what I expected.

"He's 116 years old, you didn't really expect him to live for another 100 years did you?" I blink at his bluntness.

"So what, you're saying you expect him to die soon?" I snap, not really liking his lack of empathy. He frowns.

"I'm not saying that. I'm just saying that scientifically the possibility of him staying around for another 100 years isn't likely...although you seem to be suggesting that Aang isn't going to stay around for another 60 years..." Sokka deduces as he bites his lip. I nod my head slowly. "But that would be too young...are you sure?" And then finally I see the creeping expression of fear in his face.

"I'm not sure. I want to confront him about it, but I couldn't hold off not telling anyone until then."

"You said he was muttering, maybe you were only hearing half of the story?" The pony tailed warrior suggests, but I shake my head.

"There's definitely more to it for sure but I know what I heard." I insist stubbornly and Sokka leans back into his chair. 'I don't get it, why's is he so calm about it?' And before I can stop myself I voice my thoughts.

"I don't get it, you're acting so passively as if it doesn't bother you." As the words shoot out my mouth I watch as Sokka purses his lips and suddenly he roughly pushes back his chair and gets to his feet.

"Since you've been gone I've had to watch my sister cry and fall to pieces about her situation with Aang. And I haven't had much luck in comforting her. I care about Aang ok? I always will, but it's hard to watch him hurt my sister." Sokka confesses, his expression torn between fury and concern. I blink, bewildered, trying to run over in my head any possible situations that involves Aang and Katara but come up empty.

"What situation?" I ask, confused but Sokka just shakes his head.

"It's not important now...how...how long do you think Aang has?" The Warrior asks hesitantly and I finally see the worry that he was concealing so well in spite of whatever's going on between Aang and his sister.

"No idea. But I'm starting to see the importance of Aang getting married as soon as possible and giving birth to Airbenders. If the council knew this they'd be furious." I say, running over their expressions in my head.

"Don't tell them. Aang has a right to marry when he's ready...although I think between us we should put a little friendly pressure on him. Aurgh. I can't believe he would hide this! This is huge. Oh my gosh if Katara knew she would flip! And heavens know what Toph would do." Sokka frets and puts his head into his hands. I bite my slip, suddenly feeling guilty of accusing him for not caring. 'It's obvious he's got a lot on his mind.' I get up and put a hand on his shoulder. He begrudgingly lifts up his head to look at me.

"Hey, what's up? There seems to be something else that's troubling you." I ask awkwardly, 'comforting is so not my forte.'

"Everything's up! Aang and Katara have been giving me headaches since he left 3 years ago and now I'm finding out that he could potentially die soon, in my lifetime! That's not fair, he shouldn't be allowed to keep leaving us like this. What am I going to tell Katara? First, he doesn't want to marry her and now he's going to die who knows when! And now my dad has started probing me to take over him as the Chief, I mean seriously dad? I have enough on my plate in the Republic City council I can't leave it all. I can't return back to that wasteland...I haven't told anyone but I felt so suffocated when I went back; it's like my eyes were opened when I went travelling with Aang. But I don't want to disappoint him." I reel back at the amount of complaining that shoots out of him, but my mind seems to focus on in thing in particular.

"Wait, Katara wanted to marry Aang and he said no?!" I question astonished. Sokka looks up at me with slit eyes.

"After all I said, that's the only thing you heard?" He asks, clearly annoyed. I shrug.

"It just doesn't seem like something Aang would do, he'd fall head over heels for Katara." But then I pause, internal wheels start turning.

"I know right?! I seriously don't understand him anymore. I know he's changed quite a bit, but I thought I'd still be able to predict him, apparently not." He mutters but I start shaking my head at Sokka.

"No. He knew that he was going to die early. Maybe he refused Katara because of that, so she could marry someone who will be able to spend the rest of their life with her because he couldn't." I say carefully. The Water Tribe man opens his mouth before snapping it shut as his eyes widen. He slaps his forehead.

"I'm such a fool. Of course that's what Aang would do. It's not because he doesn't want to marry her but it's because he feels he shouldn't marry her. Spirits why didn't I think of that. I keep thinking the worst of him when all his actions are always so selfless. Aurgh I can't decide whether to tell Katara this. It would be both good and bad news." But just as those words leave Sokka's mouth the office door opens and Katara steps in her eyes red. I glance to Sokka and see his aghast face.

"You don't have to worry about telling me or not. I heard it all." Katara states stonily. I gulp, knowing the look of Katara's anger and right now she's seething but instead of the shouting I expect she collapses into a spare seat and sobs loudly. I shift uncomfortably, ready to try and soothe her but Sokka gets to her more quickly and kneels beside her.

"Hey, it will be ok." He says but Katara just shakes her head.

"I just got him back and now he might leave us? That isn't fair. I can't believe he kept this from us!" She cries out and starts wiping the tears from her face. I get to my feet and subtly try to exit the room, but Katara catches me leaving.

"I need you to get Toph." She says. I tilt my head, silently probing her to explain.

"The solid substance is made of metal. I'm hoping she can get it out of him." I nod and begin to leave until Sokka asks a question.

"How did that even get into him?" I look back to see Katara drop her head slightly.

"I think he got it from that arrow he took for me." I leave after that and make my way to the police station. 'Great, things are never easy and I've managed to cause a panic in everyone, maybe Sokka's right and I misheard...I really hope so.' While I'm deep in thought I don't notice the repeated calling of my name until...

"Hey Sparky, have you gone deaf?" The insult makes me look up and low and behold I'm already nearing the station. "I heard Appa flying over, but it seemed too soon for Twinkletoes to be back so I thought to check things out. I didn't expect to bump into you. What are you doing back?" The blind Earthbender asks with folded arms.

"That arrow that Aang got hit by seemed to have blocked his spiritual chi or something and has him unconscious right now. Katara thinks you can get it out because the poison is metallic." I explain. I watch as Toph's eyes widen and we make a sprint back to City Hall. However, as we get nearer Toph's feet slowly comes to a halt.

"I don't know if I can help, I mean I've never bent metal that I can't see." I watch as the Earthbender bites her lip and I can't help raise an eyebrow. 'Toph doubting herself? It looks like everything's going to pot!'

"What happened to being the greatest Earthbender ever?" I tease which earns me a jab.

"I am, but even I have limits." Toph says as she blows her bangs out of her face.

"If there's anyone that can do it then it's you." I say encouragingly and put a hand on her shoulder briefly before retracting it.

"Well you're right there. Ok, let's go."

A/N: Yeah I know that was very unsatisfying, but I think you'll like the next chapter better. I think I was a bit optimistic with the whole once a week update thing. I've been so busy it's ridiculous. I guess I just need you all to be patient with me please. The next couple of weeks I've got some deadlines so next chapter probably won't be till early Nov, but we'll see. Anyway, hope this chapter wasn't too disastrous and as always thank you for your support. Sorry, I would talk more but so tired and I'm going to head to bed. Hope everyone is well!

18/10/19