So, yeah...there hasn't been too much, i dunno...love, for lack of a better word...in this lil' story between katara and zuko. so, for a little bit i'm going to build on that before they can get to the capital. I noticed i didn't show any of aang's actual thoughts, but this way was easier to write in, i think. it moved alot faster for me to write, anyways.

It took them an hour to finally set sail for the nations capital. Katara found she had no problem convincing Aang to come to the ship. He had a sense when she first called them down that the prince was telling the truth, and the fact that Sokka trusted Katara to go retrieve Aang without any protection was a sure sign all was well. When he got to the ship, there was tension everywhere. Zuko's soldiers were tense because they didn't know what was going on, there was a tension between Katara and Sokka (but Aang expected that), there was tension between Zuko and the old general, and even the children were acting up. Bree and Ronan were fascinated by Aang, wondering how he could possibly be 112 years old and yet still look not much older than they were.

After being briefed on the situation, he found there was not much he could do but wait. It was another 2 hours to the capital, and he explored as much of the ship as he wanted to in less than twenty minutes. Coming up from the mess hall with a piece of fruit in his hand, he noticed Katara standing with Zuko. Excited to finally find someone talk to, Aang started to hurry over to say hi, but stopped cold when he saw Zuko offer Katara his hand to hold…and Katara take it. Out of shock, his fruit fell from his hand, splattering on the deck. Thoughts of reason wanted to race through his head, but he couldn't bear to face them. All he knew was anger and loss.

Before he could make a rash move, Aang heard Bree and Ronan call out to Katara and Zuko. The two quickly let go so the children didn't see. He watched the four exchange words and decided it wouldn't be wise to blow up in front of the children. He turned to walk back down below, but Ronan called for him before he could get away.

"Aang! HI!" The younger boy ran to him with enthusiasm.

"Hi, Ronan," Aang mumbled. He groaned inwardly when he saw Katara and Zuko follow Bree to where they were standing.

"Aang, where've you been?" Katara asked with a slight smile. Her face was flushed, either because of the wind on her face or the intimate moment she had just shared with Zuko, Aang couldn't tell which and didn't want to know.

"I've…been walking….around…the ship," he answered lamely. Katara didn't seen to notice his mood.

"Are you busy? Could you entertain Bree and Ronan for a while? They're restless and Zuko and I…need to talk," her eyes glanced over to the Fire Bender. Aang felt his anger boil again.

"Sure…yeah, I'll do that…" he forced through clenched teeth. Again, his attitude seemed to be lost on her. Katara smiled.

"Ok! It won't be long..." She and Zuko walked away. Aang stared after them, feeling as though his heart had been tied on a string attached to her hand and when she walked him with Zuko, she ripped it right out. He was contemplating attacking Zuko when Bree tugged on his sleeve.

"Ronan keeps trying to start me on fire!"

"I am not!" Ronan yelled back as he extinguished the small flame in his hand. When Aang turned his gazed to the kids, they both were taken aback by the emotion in it.

"Aang," Bree said. "What's wrong? What…" she noticed Katara and Zuko walking away over his shoulder, hand in hand again. "Oh…"

"What?" Ronan asked, oblivious to emotions.

"You like Katara, don't you?" Bree asked with sympathy. Aang couldn't open his mouth, afraid of what would come out, so he just nodded dumbly.

"Oh," Ronan finally caught on. "Wow…uh, sorry abou' that." The kids didn't know how to deal with this, so a short silence fell over the three. Aang got the courage to talk.

"How…long? And…who else knows?" His throat was dry.

Bree answered, "It was gradual…I guess. But before we got you guys. And…I guess the whole ship."

"Sokka…?"

She shrugged. "I doubt he knows. Because if he did, I figure he'd'a attempted to kill Zuko by now."

"Speaking of Mr. Unstability…" Ronan said as a warning that Sokka was coming.

Aang was able to wipe the emotion from his face so fast that it was as though he'd never been hurt. "Do NOT tell Sokka about this. I almost lost it myself just now, and we can't afford this now. Spread the word this is to be keep from him," he hissed in a whisper to the kids. "Go…now."

They nodded and ran off. Sokka came up to Aang.

"Where're they off to so fast?"

"I…uh…sent them on a little treasure hunt. Katara…asked me to entertain them for a while." Aang was sure Sokka could tell he was lying. He was never good at it. When he lied, his mouth tugged into a slight smile. Barely noticeable to someone who didn't know, but Sokka had been around him long enough to know. Sokka gave him a skeptical look, but said nothing.

"So…this is a weird way things are turning out, huh? I mean, allying ourselves with the prince and all. It's happening so fast I can't digest it all yet," Sokka said leaning against the rail.

Aang sighed and looked out over the sea. "You don't know the half of it…" he mumbled.