This might possibly be my shortest chapter yet. Wow, over a thousand hits! I feel so proud of myself. And yet I feel so sad. My boss mysteriously disappeared for all of the last week so I haven't been working because he hasn't given me keys to the shop yet. But now he's back and he's giving me a spare set tomorrow meaning I have less time to write and check my review board obsessively. I guess I'll just have to keep trudging forward.

Plutobaby494: you will find out soon enough.

I'm stupid get over it: I lurv your name! It explains me to a T. Anyways, yes. Yes I am Zuko's sister (Sarcasm traslation: No! of course I'm not! That would be gross, I'm a country gal, but I ain't a Hillbilly.) Just kidding. Thanx for your review. I hope you enjoy the rest of my story.

Lovergal1227: I'm sorry about the whole little brother mix up. I read through your reviews again and it said clearly "my friends little brother". I'm just a doof that didn't pay close enough attention.

Newsiefreak9er9er: Oh, you'll get my reaction sure enough. But it's really Zuko's you should be excited for.

MitariWaterDragon: You know, I'm going to get fat from all the cybergoodies people keep lobbing at me through these reviews. Do you want Zuko to think I'm a lard? Just kidding. Thanx a million for your reviews, they make me feel shpeshul.

Zulaya: I'm still trying to figure out the direction I'm heading with the resemblence. I have a little fuzzy idea, but it's slightly out of focus, so just keep reading and I'll figure it out eventually.

Athenera: Don't worry. There will be plenty more Zuko.

Marie the fallin: That's a very interesting name. I'm glad you like my story so far and I must command that you do NOT eat sugar. It does straaaaaange things to reviewers and it rots your teeth.

O-dragon: I'm glad that you think everything is cool. Welcome aboard.

ZukoPunk: I'm confused, just what exactly are you jealous of?

Katie spent the rest of the day in the forest mulling over the portrait of Zuko's mother. How could she look so much like her and how could Zuko not have noticed? Then again, Shinja had said that Zerita had died fifteen years ago. Zuko had only been one or two. Katie thought about how hard it must have been growing up without a mother. She and her mom were best friends. After thinking about this a pang of homesickness hit her. Now thoroughly depressed she trudged on, deeper into the forest. The sun was getting low and Katie decided it was best that she turned back when she heard a cry of alarm in the distance. Thinking something bad had happened to one of Zuko's small cousins she began running towards the voice. She heard something more as she drew closer, it was someone shouting and they sounded angry. Katie crept through some low ferns and came upon a clearing. There in the center were three people and a very large animal.

"We can't go back into that town. The place was crawling with soldiers. Zuko or Zhao may be there as we speak." Katie felt her insides freeze at the sound of Sokka's voice.

"Sokka, we need to exchange this for cash or we won't make it to our next point." Katara said waving a locket in front of his face. Katie scanned her eyes over to Aang who was leaning against Appa, idly airbending. Two very large ears poked out from the back of his shirt, followed by a round face with giant green eyes. A tiny nose sniffed the air curiously and those eyes locked on to Katie. With a small hop the lemur took to flight right at her. Aang watched his pet go and began following it curiously. The lemur glided up to Katie and perched on her shoulders.

"No Momo, go back!" She hissed trying to unwrap his tail from her neck. Momo ignored her and buried his curious nose into her ear, sniffing loudly. Katie stifled giggles and got her fingers around the lemur's fat tummy, pulling him off her head.

"Who are you?"asked an innocent voice right in front of her. Katie looked up into the large gray-brown eyes of the avatar.

"Sssh. I'm not here." Katie whispered handing the lemur over to Aang and looking over his shoulder at the siblings who were still arguing.

"Um, yes you are."

"No, you never saw me. Got it?"

"Aang? What are you doing?" Katara asked and began walking towards them.

"Aw shammit!"

"I'm talking to a girl that's not here." Aang said with a shrug.

"That doesn't make sense." Sokka said walking forward as well.

"Oh! Hello, my name is Katara. What's yours?" Katara said once she got a clear view of Katie. Katie sighed and stepped into the opening.

"I'm Katie." She said giving a little wave.

"That's a weird name." Sokka said, glaring at her suspiciously. She didn't look like Firenation, but her clothing suggested otherwise.

"Ignore him. That's my brother, Sokka and our friend, Aang." Katie nodded and waved to each of them.

"Where did you come from?" Sokka demanded.

"Um, I'm staying with…my boyfriend's relatives over that way. Can I help you guys…or anything?" Aang smiled, an idea forming in his head. He grabbed the locket, which Katara still had in her hand and turned to Katie.

"No, but we can help you. A lovely young lady such as yourself must be interested in fine jewelry." He brandished the locket in front of her, Katie smiled at him calling her young even though she was five years older than him.. "And I must say it will compliment you much more than the stone your wearing. Isn't it your lucky day, because we are practically giving this beautiful locket awayat the small price of two silver pieces." Aang gave her his biggest, cutest smile. She had to admit he was a good salesman. She brought her hand up and touched the necklace she was wearing. It was a piece of pewter or something made to look like a gray slate of stone with a black X carved in it. It wasn't anything special, just something she had found at a yardsale and liked.But she hadn't taken it off in months and she considered it a good luck charm. She didn't think she could replace it with a locket.

"Hmmm, I don't really need or want a locket just now, but I will give you a gold piece to let me touch Momo and Appa." She said reaching into her deep pockets. She had been carrying the purse of money that Iroh had given her wherever she went. She didn't know why, maybe she wanted to keep it safe so that she could return his money back to him.

"How do you know their names?" Sokka said suspiciously. Katie froze.

"Um, I heard you guys talking about them a while ago." Katie said handing over the gold coin.

"I don't think we have talked about them since we landed." Sokka said glaring.

"Just don't worry about it okay? And don't let Zuko know that I've helped you." Katie scratched Momo's ears and disappeared into the trees leaving behind a very confused group of teens.

Zuko still hadn't gotten back after dinner was eaten and cleared. Nor did he get back when people began leaving the sitting room to retire to their beds. Katie wanted to wait up for him but Shinja was thinking the same thing. Katie really didn't want to be stuck in the same room as the old woman for however long, so she said she was going to wait in the library and finish reading that book. This turned out to be an even worse idea. Her eyes kept drifting over to the painting of Zerita. Katie took down the blue book and stared at the Chinese characters until they began twisting around in her mind, making shapes and telling stories. Her eyelids began to grow heavy and she rested her head against the arm of the couch. Despite her struggles against it, sleep overtook her.

Katie drifted back to the surface of consciousness when a large warm hand began stroking her cheek. She sighed and stretched before opening her eyes, she already knew who it was.

"Good morning." Zuko whispered.

"And you as well." Katie said grinning. Zuko had lit a small fire in the fireplace. Again her thoughts drifted back to a vision of the two of them cuddling with a book. "Is it really morning already?"

"No, it's almost midnight though." Katie sat up so that Zuko could sit down. He sighed and stretched his back, wincing slightly.

"So did you get to speak to Iroh?" Katie asked resting her head on his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer.

"No, we tried to but the ship was too heavily guarded. We finally found a falconer that sent a message for us. He sent us a reply that he'll meet us at the next port. It's a two day journey so we should leave tomorrow. Agni I'm sore!"

"I'm sorry."

"About what?"

"About you being sore."

"You didn't make me sore."

"I know, it's just…never mind." She wrapped her arms around his waist. "Zuko?"

"Hm?"

"Do you remember your mother?" She could feel his body tense.

"Why do you ask?" He asked after a short pause.

"Just something your aunt said. You don't have to answer if you don't want to, I'll understand." Zuko sighed and rested his chin on top of her head, thinking intently for a little while.

"I remember that her hands were very soft, and they smelled like violets. Sometimes I can hear her voice singing to me. But I can't really remember what she sounded like, if that makes sense." Zuko gently stroked the arm around his waist.

"Do you remember what she looked like?"

"No. After she died, my father went into a rage and destroyed all her portraits. My uncle said she was very beautiful though." Katie sat for a second, chewing on her bottom lip. She wanted him to know what his mother looked like, but would her resemblance cause a rift in their relationship? In the end, she knew she was being selfish and stood up, taking his hands she led him to the portrait.

"Zuko, this is your mother." He looked at Katie curiously and then looked up at the painting.

Oh, I am so evil. This seemed to be as good a place as any to stop and I really want to see what kind of reaction I get from the readers. Bwahahahaaa!