A/N: See? I didn't leave you hanging tooooo long did I?

Disclaimer: I don't own Airbender, barely own my mind! Hah!

Zuko watched in horror as the events seemed to play out in slow motion before him. He saw Umi slump as she blacked out and heard the loud crack as the tree that had supported their shelter was snapped at the base like a twig. As they were flung into the ground he somehow managed to retain consciousness and fought through the pain of landing very hard and sliding along the forest floor to stare in shock at the massive tree which was crashing down directly above them. In that moment all he could think about was Umi, how much he didn't realize he cared for her, instant regret at how he would never be able to tell her how he truly felt and happiness that uncle was safe. His last conscious action was to scramble as quickly as possible to cover Umi's crumpled form with his own body before darkness welcomed him into its fathomless embrace.

Umi awakened just in time to feel her body crashing to the ground. As she slid she attempted to force her body to obey her but she was still too groggy from the blow the crutch had given her to properly move. Too dazed to open her eyes she heard the tree groaning in pain as it was completely broken. She felt the forest screaming as the wind howled and the broken tree came smashing down to end their existences through no fault or choice of its own. In that moment she felt something hit her and realized it was Zuko. He had covered her with his own body. She tried to scream at him, to tell him to move, but her mind was still foggy, and she couldn't control her physical form.

Just as a tree branch slammed down on top of Zuko, Umi broke free of the haze in her mind and dispersed her body into a small but strong flow of fast-moving water. She grabbed hold of the unconscious boy and nearly flung him out from under the massive tree trunk just as it slammed into the ground with enough force to shake the earth around them.

With the wind still howling and blustering Umi quickly re-formed her body and moved some ways away to place Zuko's limp form on the ground. She could feel his heartbeat, but the water spirit feared for the damage that might have been done to his head which was already bleeding profusely. Quickly she allowed her water to flow over the injury in a healing stream; she focused her power to let the healing energies of her water sink into his body and repair the damage the tree had done.

Once she was certain she had healed his head injury and could feel no other major injuries that needed her assistance, the tired water spirit allowed herself to dissolve into the air to regenerate; though she kept a close watch on the unconscious boy below her, just in case he awoke, and just in case another tree decided to give in to the demanding winds.

The banished former prince slowly came to, trying to remember what had happened. He was sure something terrible had transpired but he didn't quite remember what. He ached, and he was certain the forest floor was attacking him. Gingerly he opened his eyes and reached up to rub his face. Before he was able to even formulate a word suddenly the water spirit he instantly remembered attempting to protect re-formed her physical body directly beside him and smiled at him, reaching out boldly to cup his cheek with her soft hand. "Zuko" she couldn't keep the happiness from her voice "I'm so glad you're alright! I thought..well.." she stumbled over her words for a moment then recovered.

"I thought I might not have done enough, I wasn't sure you'd awaken…" her words trailed off as he smiled, a genuine, small-but-sincere, smile, and her smile grew larger in return. Zuko reached his hand up to barely cover her smaller hand that was still cupping his cheek. He was unsure if his action would be welcomed, but he was unable to stop his errant hand. "You're ok" he rasped, his throat feeling like he'd been gargling sand.

"Oh Zuko!" She cried, leaning closer to hear him over the wailing of the wind. "You're ok too!"

He struggled a bit to sit up and she quickly helped by pulling him upright, slightly saddened that her hand was no longer touching his face. Instantly he regretted his decision to sit up, as that made her move her hand from where it had been warming his jaw and cheek; he missed it already.

He opened his mouth to speak and as soon as he did the wind whipped his hair into his mouth, effectively silencing him. He coughed and spit out hair while Umi giggled behind her hand in an effort to hide her amusement from him. He grabbed his hair with one hand and held it tightly before attempting to talk again. "How did we survive the tree?" he yelled through the wind.

Umi didn't respond right away and looked over at the huge tree trunk that was laying not far from where they were seated on the ground. "I..I pulled you out just before it hit" she shouted back to him.

He realized she wasn't shouting as loudly as he'd had to, and rather than reply again he relaxed on the ground and they waited in companionable silence as the wind slowly died down. When he felt he could speak without damaging his vocal chords he looked sideways at the lovely water spirit, because she was, very, very lovely he allowed himself to realize, and quietly cleared his throat. She had saved him again.

Somewhere in the depths of his masculinity he felt shame, but he tamped it back down and only allowed the gratefulness to rise. She HAD saved him, and herself, and he was very thankful. "Thank you." Zuko said simply "I thought..well I thought that was it." Umi nodded. "As did I for a moment; I was not sure if you would survive until I could heal you." She looked down shyly and Zuko tilted his head questioningly. "I must also thank you" she continued, "when I was knocked unconscious you were willing to sacrifice your own self." She turned and looked him fully in the face. "In the split second you had to make a decision you chose to throw yourself on top of me trying to save me. I don't…that is, no one has ever done that for me before." She placed a gentle hand on his, and he nearly jumped from the contact. Once again her hand was soft, warm, and he could have sworn he felt a jolt of electricity the moment her hand touched his. "Thank you Zuko."

Her words reached down into a scarred and wounded part of him and reminded him of what he was. Not just a broken cripple, or a banished prince, but a man. Those words, so sincerely spoken made him feel like he could do anything. Zuko gave her a smile and placed his free hand over hers. This was it, he wasn't going to ignore it, stall, or pretend it didn't exist anymore.

As their eyes held each other's gaze, and Zuko opened his mouth to speak, a loud crashing sound could be heard from a little ways off. They both startled and stared in the direction of the sounds, neither sure of what they could be. Umi quickly stood up and helped Zuko stand as well. His crutch was nowhere to be seen so she wrapped an arm around his waist and motioned for him to place his arm around her shoulders. He blushed as they did so, and hoped she was too distracted to notice.

"ZUKO!" Came a frantic yell from a voice that could be none other than uncle. "Umi! Where are you?" They looked at each other in consternation, they'd been so absorbed with their near miss they'd forgotten all about him! "UNCLE!" Zuko hollered, "we're here, on the other side of the tree!" Moments later he could see his uncle over the trunk of the massive tree. "Zuko! Umi! You're alive!" the old man wheezed as if he'd run for quite a ways. "When I saw the camp, the shelter..I was afraid…" his voice trailed off. "it's ok uncle, there for a moment, I thought we were, but Umi saved us" he said, glancing her way and allowing the corner of his mouth to tip up. She blushed ever so slightly and nodded.

The old general paused in his quest for air and took a moment to really LOOK at the two. Something was different, very different. He took another deep breath and let it out, a huge smile growing on his lined face. Now THIS, this was something to celebrate…if only they had the time. He felt the smile slowly sag into a very serious expression. "I am sorry. I wish I did not have to be the bearer of bad news at so difficult a time and yet a happy one as well, but there is something we must speak of. Now."

Zuko frowned at the serious tone his uncle had taken. What could possibly be wrong? Umi sensed his thoughts and gently squeezed his waist where her arm steadied him. He wanted to kiss her for it. Kiss her? Where did that thought come from? He wanted to slap himself but he was afraid it would create more questions so he slapped himself mentally instead and tried to focus on what uncle was starting to say.

"We can't stay here." He said flatly, "we need to leave; as soon as we can." Zuko blinked. He knew the shelter was a complete loss but couldn't they simply rebuild? He said as much and Iroh shook his head sadly. "We must attempt to destroy whatever evidence there was that we were ever here and set out first thing in the morning." Tired of what his uncle wouldn't say, Zuko half-growled. "Uncle….WHY? Why do we have to leave?" The old general sighed and leaned against the trunk of the tree separating them, dreading the next words he would have to speak.

"Azula is coming."

A/N: Guess who's finally gotten onto the 'cliffhanger' band wagon?! ;) My apologies for the short chapter but never fear; there's more to come!