Well, thanx to everyone who comforted me about my kitty. I felt much better today. Mostly because it's Onion days up town meaning CARNIVAL FUNNESS BABY! I went with my friends and we spent three hours going on rides. I absolutely love the zipper. The only problem is that none of my friends have an ironstomach like I do, so after those three hours they started complaining about throwing up and the fact that their equilibriums will never function properly again. The whiners. I want to go again tomorrow, but the carnival sucked up my meager funds. There was also a school football game today. I am mildly curious to whether we won against Provo, but knowing our football team's record, the answer is probably no. We kinda suck at football, but we rock at basketball and our girl's teams in every sport completely dominate.

Alrighty then.

Katara183: Yeah, it's sad. If I do use the name, it will most likely be in this story. I let you know in an authors note or shoutout.

Lovergal1227: I'm really thinking she got hit by a car.

Khazia: I'm sorry to hear about your golden retriever. I don't think I'll be getting another cat anytime soon. My dad hates cats and only let me adopt this one because it was a drop-off. We get a lot of them out here in the country. So I guess I'll just have to be happy with my horse until I move out in two years. And to slightly quote O-dragon: "Don't ever say you're not pretty. Never put yourself down like that!" Or something along those lines. That really is a weird dream by the way. And that's coming from the queen of weird dreams. I bow down to your subconcious imagination.

Darklight4ever: Hey! A new name! Welcome aboard. As for my cat, I really think a car hit her.

I'm stupid get over it: Naw, I can't take a week off. I would go insane. And I don't think I could cry my eyes out if I tried, I'm just kind of a void of emotion.

Athenera: Yeah, I'm feeling better today. I'm glad you found my last chapter tasty. Hope you like this one as well.

O-dragon: Wow, I don't know where to begin. I guess I;ll just say 'thanx for your compliments'. I can't wait to read your new story, in fact I'm going to go read it right now after I finish posting this chapter. Yes, Katie and Zuko are going to get to know each other. As for the escape plan, I'm still trying to come up with sum'm clever. I don't want it to be just a 'they got the keys and jumped on Appa within five minutes' sorta deal.

albro62: Wow, I'm glad I checked my reviews before posting this chapter, otherwise I would have missed yours and then you would hate me and never read my story again! Gasp for breath. Just kidding. I hope I don't sound heartless when I say; I really didn't cry after my kitty died. I only had her for a week, so I didn't really get too attached. Plus I'm not a very emotional person.

Plutobaby494: Wow, I almost missed your review as well. I'm glad you liked the chapter and I'm pretty sure that my kitty was hit by a car.

By the way. I read on Masako Moonshade's story that the new Avatar episodes are coming in 21 days. Can anybody deny or confirm this because I'm bubbling over with anticipation! I still haven't seen the first two epsiodes though because the stupid Nickelodeon people must think we only want to see the Great Divide fifty hundred times. Sorry to fans of that episode, but it's my least favorite and it's all they seem to play. Anyways, this story deals slightly with a topic that will most likely make guys uncomfortable if you can dicern the title. So my sympathy goes out to ya.

Sokka's head felt like it was being split down the middle when he woke up. He sat up and glanced around in a half daze before the memory of the day's events caught up with him.

"Katara? Aang?" He asked looking around feebly. All he got in answer was a confused, rumbling grunt from the bison below him. Dread filled his chest. The only explanation was that Zuko had managed to capture them. Sokka got unsteadily to his feet and carefully made his way to Appa's head fighting back a wave of dizziness and trying to avoid looking at the trees rushing by a mile below him. After a mild struggle he managed to untangle the reigns and turn the giant creature back in what Sokka hoped was the direction they had come from.

Zuko was lying on his back reading from his mother's diary when Katie returned from the cellblock.

"So are they all right?" He asked glancing at her over his book.

"Yeah. They were a little cold so I got them blankets. Other than that they were fine." Katie said grabbing her pajamas from where she had dropped them. Zuko really had no concern for decency and didn't care who saw him as he got dressed, but for her sake a screen had been brought in to change behind. After she changed she went and lay down next to Zuko, resting her head on his chest. He put one arm comfortably around her and continued reading. Katie gazed at the characters but she could only recognize a few after two weeks of lessons. Zuko began reading from the diary quietly. There were poems on just about every third page or so that were absolutely beautiful. Katie wasn't really one for poetry, but she felt as though she could listen to these for hours on end.

"I'm in this entry." Zuko said quietly.

"Oh, really?" Katie said curiously. She knew that Zuko had read through the diary at least a dozen times by now, but she only knew what was on the first twenty pages or so. She didn't think there was anything in here from after his birth.

"Yes. All those other entries were from when she was carrying me. This one's about my birth. 'The glorious blessing of life has finally come in the form of a small pink bundle. I am naming my tiny prince Zuko for his great grandfather. I've never seen Ozai act more tenderly than when he held the delecate miracle in his shaking hands. To think that this beautiful child will one day be as great a Lord as his father is absolutely amazing. I can't wait for the day that I can stand behind him and watch as his crown is placed on his head.'" Zuko sighed happily. "Do you think she will be able to watch from the spirit world as I accept my crown?" He asked.

"No. I know she will be able to. I also know that she will be very proud of you." Katie whispered. She could feel him smile and he turned back to finish the passage.

"'He was born at sunset last evening. He weighed no more than Geigi fish and my nursemaids assured me that a healthier baby had never been born. The thought that I brought this life into the world is more than I can bear. I don't think I could ever be happier than I am at this moment. And now I leave my writings to kiss my son goodnight.'" They sat in silence as Zuko read over the passage several more times in his head. "I really wish I could have known her. Who knows how differently things would be now if she had lived." He said quietly.

"We can only imagine." Katie murmured. She sat up and kissed Zuko's forehead before moving over to her own bed. They said their 'goodnights' and Zuko extinguished the lamps. It was past midnight by now and Katie knew she should be exhausted. But her mind wouldn't stop spinning. She wanted to help Aang and Katara, she had given them her word that she would. But Zuko had taken a big step in proving that he trusted her, and in return she betrayed him at the first chance she got. Her stomach began churning. She needed some fresh air. She stood up as quietly as she could. She knew that Zuko was still awake so she gave him a quiet explanation before slipping out of the room. The air had been growing colder the last few days. Zuko had told Katie that they were within 100 miles of the North Pole. But now they had turned and were returning south. Aang had come such a long way and they had snatched him just when he was within sights of his goal. Katie sighed and rubbed her face in frustration. She looked up at the stars, hoping to find comfort in the familiar constellations she had been picking out for her entire life. But these stars were so different from the ones she knew. Instead of comfort she felt even more frustration. She let out a small growl and looked back down into the black water. Gazing up at her was a pair of sapphire blue eyes. Katie nearly jumped out of her skin. Sokka reached up and quickly clamped a hand over her mouth before she could make a sound.

"Where are my sister and Aang?" He demanded as quietly as he could. Katie pulled her face away from her hand and glanced over her shoulder to make sure nobody was within hearing distance.

"Are you crazy? Someone is always watching me. You're going to get yourself killed." Katie hissed.

"Just tell me where they're being kept."

"They're in the prison cell on the bottom deck."

"Can you take me to them?"

"You've got to be kidding me! I just told you that someone is always watching me and you want me to take you there?"

"Well I can't just stand aside and do nothing."

"I'll talk to them and come up with something. Stay out of sight and keep an eye on the deck at night. If I come out here alone then come on down." She heard a door close just below deck and footsteps. Sokka sank back down into Appa's saddle and drifted out of view. Katie pretended to be gazing out over the water when she felt two warm arms wrap around her. She leaned back into Zuko's chest and felt another pang of guilt at her treachery.

"Are you alright? You've been acting very strange all day." He murmured.

"Yeah. I guess I'm just a bit confused and homesick." She said.

"Well, I promise. After we present the avatar to my father I will take you to see your family." After he said it he felt a fear blossom inside. If he did take her home would she choose to stay? Butthe promisedidn't seem to lighten her mood at all. She heaved another sigh and rested her head back on his shoulder, looking up at the sky.

"Do you know about any constellations?"

"Any what?"

"Constellations, star formations?" she said hoping that one of these terms meant anything.

"Oh, yes I do."

"Can you show me?" She asked, desperate for anything to take her mind away from her inner conflict. Zuko disappeared for a few seconds in which Sokka flew away on Appa. When Zuko returned he had their pillows and blankets in his arms. They set them out and lay stargazing throughout the night. They returned to their room as a bluish haze began appearing in the east to get at least an hour or two of sleep. When Katie did wake up, Zuko was nowhere to be seen. She got changed and forced back the urge to run to Aang and Katara's cells immediately. Instead she joined Iroh in the dining hall for breakfast. She still wasn't hungry. Her stomach was full of hot, boily guilt. But she forced down some bread slathered in butter.

"Have you ever been to the Firenation my dear?" Katie shook her head. "You are going to love it I think. Some people call it the land of eternal summer. The ocean there is bluer and the sunsets are redder than anywhere else in the world."

"It sounds beautiful."

"Oh yes. It is. And what makes it more beautiful are the loved ones waiting for us there."

"Do you have any family Iroh?"

"No. There was always some obligation in my life restraining me from settling down. But I don't regret it. My life has been just the way I wanted it to be. You never know. Maybe I will find a wrinkled old woman that will take me in when we get home." He gave Katie a small wink and she smiled. When she forced down as much food as she could, Katie stood up and set out to get down to the holding cells.

"Where are you going?" Zuko asked when the two hallways they were taking converged.

"Oh, um. To see the prisoners." Katie said with a nonchalant shrug.

"I don't know if I want you down there anymore. It will only bring pain to grow attached to them." Zuko said, slightly uneasily.

"I just want to help the girl. She's having a personal problem that can't be too comfortable from a prison cell." Katie said. She had come up with this alibi that morning.

"What kind of problem?"

"A woman problem that you don't need to know the details of. Trust me." She said. Zuko nodded but still stood in her path stewing over the problem of letting her go down there and possibly forming a friendship with the prisoners. Finally he let out a defeated sigh.

"Alright. But remember what I said. Don't. Grow. Attached." Katie kissed his cheek and continued on to the cell. The guard gave her a curt nod when she entered and Katie gave him her friendliest smile.

"How's your monthly bleeding cycle Katara?" Katie asked sympathetically, giving Katara a wink that she should play along. "Are you horribly crampy or tired?"

"Not much worse than usual, but I've been gushing like a geyser." Katara said catching on quickly. As could be predicted, the guard started coughing uncomfortably and moved out of hearing distance. Aang looked back and forth between the two girls in confusion.

"You're bleeding? Where?" they both laughed at his innocence.

"I'll tell you when you're older." Katie said quietly. She lowered her voice even more. "Sokka is alright. He's flying somewhere around here out of sight, but we should come up with a plan soon before he gets spotted."

"We'll have to discuss it between ourselves. Can you come back later today?" Katara asked.

"I don't know. Zuko's getting suspicious as it is and I really feel uncomfortable about going behind his back like this."

"Just try to do your best. We'll come up with something in the meantime." Katara murmured. Katie nodded and turned to leave.

"Yes, I'll be back with some clean towels later. All I can tell you is to take a nap lying on your stomach to get rid of the cramps. That always helps me." Katie said over her shoulder as she disappeared.

"Seriously. What are you guys talking about?" Aang asked.

Eh, I couldn't help it. Sorry to any guys out there that had to read that conversation, but I laugh at the expressions I'm picturing on your faces. Please review. As for me, I'm so stuffed with cotton candy and hotdogs that my iron stomach is beginning to corrode and I may have to go toss the lunchmonkeys. Please review!