Disclaimer: Hey, guess who doesn't own Avatar: The Last Airbender? Me of course!

Summary: What happens when Zuko, Iroh, Aang, Sokka, and Katara get stuck on an island together? Will they overcome their differences just to survive? Or maybe some unexpected relationships start forming…Zutara.

P.S. anything in italics is someone thinking!

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The Island

Zuko moaned as he started to sit upright, sand that had fallen on him slowly started pouring off of his back. His golden eyes fluttered open trying desperately to adjust to the strong sunlight. He scanned his surroundings with his pain-engulfed eyes. It was then that he noticed the throbbing, aching sensation in his right leg. He looked down to find it covered in blood and sand. It appeared to be broken. Where the hell am I?

He heard other moans in the distance. He tried to get up, but his leg would not let him. Finally realizing that he couldn't walk let alone stand, he started crawling to where the noises could be heard. As he dragged himself across the shoreline he finally saw a figure in the distance. "Uncle!" he called out. No answer. "Uncle! Can you hear me?"

"Prince Zuko? Is that you? Are you alright?"

Relief poured over Zuko at hearing his uncle's voice. "Yes, it's me. I'll be alright as soon as I get some rest." He lied through his teeth knowing that his leg needed more than rest. However, he didn't want to worry his uncle at a time like this. They had enough to worry about. And even though it didn't look like it, Zuko cared about his uncle a lot. After all, he was the only family he really had.

Just as his uncle came over to him he heard a moan coming from behind him. Needless to say he was surprised when the young water tribe boy who aided the Avatar came out of the clearing.

"Ouch, first I'm captured, then I'm blown off of a ship, which takes me to God knows where, and now I have a major headache…" he groaned unhappily.

"Well aren't you ever the optimist?" Zuko snickered with a smirk plastered on his face.

"Oh great! And on top of all that, I'm stuck with the likes of you! My day could not get any worse."

Before the two had a chance to fight, two more figures appeared from the brush. It was the water bender girl, who was holding the Avatar up with her shoulder. Her long dark brown locks flowed down her face from being strewn about after their little incident on the Fire Nation Warship. Even with her hair in her face, you could still make out her clear, unwavering, blue eyes.

"Sokka, stop picking fights and help me lay Aang down…" she stated in a calm, cool demeanor.

Sokka grumbled to himself but eventually went over to help his sister. Iroh bent down to look at Zuko's leg. "You'll be fine once you rest hhmm?" Zuko knew he couldn't fool his uncle, but he just didn't want him to worry. "Prince Zuko, as thick as your head is I don't think you're that stupid." Iroh said, wisdom covering his aged and rigid face.

"I'm sorry uncle, forgive me. I didn't want you to be concerned…"

"Very well Prince Zuko, but remember, I'm always concerned about you."

Once Katara and Sokka had laid Aang down to rest they looked over at Zuko and his uncle. Uncle Iroh was examining his nephew's leg with an intensity that was not normally part of his character.

"In my professional, medical opinion…your leg's messed up." Uncle Iroh stated.

"No kidding!" growled an angry Zuko. Anyone could tell that his leg needed help. "Uncle, you can be such a pain sometimes."

Katara could tell immediately that he needed to see a doctor very soon. Otherwise his leg could become infected. But this wasn't her problem she thought. Why should I have to help him? After all he has been tracking my brother, my friend, and me down for who knows how long. He deserves it. Then she noticed the pain in his eyes. She could tell he was in an immense amount of pain, and yet, he seemed more concerned about his uncle than himself. This surprised her. Here his leg was broken, had a huge gash, and was extremely bloody. Where as his uncle only had a little scrape on his forehead.

"I told you Prince Zuko, it's just a scratch. Calm down, I'll be fine."

"Fine, but you better take care of it. Honestly uncle, think about yourself sometimes."

Finally, after everyone made sure they were alright, Uncle Iroh spoke.

"Maybe we should start to look for some food. I don't think anyone's going to find us anytime soon. We should all start to find shelter and something edible."

Sokka went into the woods to find food, and Uncle Iroh went to find fresh water. Which left Katara with an arrogant Prince and a peacefully sleeping Aang. A lot of time passed by without any conversation, but finally as it started to get dark, conversation arose.

"What's taking uncle so long?" asked Zuko in an annoyed voice.

"Well Sokka's taking forever too. I just hope he's okay."

Suddenly Sokka and Uncle Iroh appeared out of the brush. "Miss us?" Sokka was grinning ear to ear while holding up the fruit, nuts, and rabbits he had found.

"Wow Sokka! You really are a good hunter."

"Well, actually the old guy helped me." he said in a sheepish tone while pointing rudely at Uncle Iroh.

Iroh was grinning as well. "I found a natural spring nearby, so if any of you need water, just ask and I'll show you where it is."

Just then Aang groaned and finally woke up. "Uuuuhhh, what'd I miss?" he asked, scratching his head.

"Not much, Sokka and this old guy found food and water. I think we're going to be on this island for a while."

Just as Zuko reached over to grab a fruit, Sokka hit his hand. "Hey! That's not for you! That's for Aang and my sister. Who said you could have any you mangy fire bender!"

"What! Who do you think you are you stupid peasant boy! I'm a Prince and my uncle helped you find that! I can have some if I want!"

Both Zuko and Sokka started fuming and growling at each other. "Well then come and get some dirty fire bender!" Sokka yelled.

"I will!" But as soon as Zuko tried to get up to fight Sokka, he screamed in intolerable pain. He fell to the ground clenching his injured leg, gritting his teeth and mumbling something under his breath. His leg started bleeding again, which was not good seeing as how none of them had bandages.

"Zuko, how did your leg get like this in the first place?" Katara asked.

"It's a long story that I don't want to get into right now. Besides, it's none of your business."

Katara hated him! Why did he have to be so rude? She was just trying to be nice. Why'd he have to get so bent out of shape? Can't he just accept help from other people for once! Geez…

Soon night fell with Zuko and Uncle Iroh with a campfire in one spot, and Sokka, Katara, and Aang trying desperately to make one for themselves. Sokka had insisted on being kept away from Zuko and his uncle, so they had a separate camp. Once they were just about to give up Zuko spoke.

"You! Water bender girl! Move aside for a minute."

"What? Why should I?"

"Just do it!"

Katara moved aside. Sokka was getting suspicious of Zuko talking to his sister, so he hugged her towards himself to protect her. No sooner had she moved, fire burst out of Zuko's hand and shot right towards them! Sokka, Katara, and Aang braced themselves for the impact, but it never came. They opened their eyes up to see a roaring fire in front of them. Katara looked over at Zuko with puzzlement written all over her face. Why did he help us? He has no reason to. I'm so confused.

"That was a very kind act Prince Zuko." Iroh stated with a smile on his face.

"I'm not kind uncle, I just couldn't stand listening to them yell at each other about how to do it right. That's all." He slowly started to frown. He knew that his uncle could tell what his intentions were. He was kind. He just didn't like showing it. Uncle, I think we should try to form a truce with them while we're here. We need each other's help in order to survive on this island.

"That's a wonderful idea Prince Zuko. We'll run it by them in the morning. Until then why don't we get some sleep? A man needs his rest you know."

"Very well, good night uncle."

"Good night Prince Zuko."

Iroh waited up with his nephew until he drifted into slumber. The sounds of the night calmed him, and the crickets serenaded him. Stars twinkled above as he closed his eyes and drifted off into a dream filled sleep.

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Zuko woke the next morning to a pair of beautiful, clear, blue eyes. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he yawned, and stretched his arms out. The water bender girl was sitting next to him, looking out at the ocean. "Good morning Zuko." She said.

"Uumm, good morning. Where's my uncle?"

"Oh, he left this morning to get water. Sokka went to get more fruit, and Aang left to meditate." Her eyes seemed to have a puzzled look to them, like she had been in deep thought before he woke up. "I need to ask you something." there was a brief pause. "Why did you help us last night? You didn't have to do that you know. I don't see why you would have done that. You hate us. You've been trying to capture my friend. Why would you be kind to us?"

"First of all I'm not kind. So don't tell me I am. I have done nothing kind. I simply couldn't stand to hear all of you bickering about how to start a simple fire. I mean even if you aren't fire benders, you could still rub two sticks together, or use some flint. It's not that hard. Didn't you and your brother have to make fires a lot when you lived in the South Pole? You guys really are stupid."

Katara bit her lower lip while trying not to lash out or yell at Prince Zuko. "Oh, I'm sorry Prince Zuko, I didn't think that it was such a crime to think you could be nice for a change." And with that she left in a huff to sit down somewhere else and practice her water bending. Water bending always calmed her. She let out a long sigh, trying to forget what Zuko had just said to her.

Then, no sooner had she opened her bottle of practicing water, she heard a thud behind her. She whipped around to find Zuko lying on the ground panting heavily and sweating. It looked as if he couldn't catch his breath.

"Oh dear God." she said in a whisper. "Zuko? Are you alright?" She leaned over him and noticed that his pupils were dilated. "This can't be good, he looks really sick. He really does need a doctor. I just hope he isn't infected." She rolled up his pant leg to get a better look at the wound. There was a huge gash, but luckily the bleeding had stopped a while ago. She reached for her bottle of water and poured it onto her slender hands. The water enveloped them and started to glow and form around her hands like a glove. Then, gently, she rubbed the water over his wound. It started to heal right before her eyes. A few moments later it had healed, maybe not completely, but good enough for now. At least he started to breath regularly. His sweating stopped as well.

An hour later he woke up. He looked around, but no one was in sight. He looked down at his leg and saw that it was wrapped in a bandage and had a splint around it. He was confused. Who did this?

That's when Sokka, Uncle Iroh, Aang, and Katara came back. Zuko looked up at Katara's face. Wow, I never noticed how kind her face looks. She looks just like…her Uncle Iroh looked down at Zuko and noticed the look on his face. "Well Prince Zuko, it appears as if Miss Katara healed your leg for the most part."

"Yes, it appears so. Thank you. You didn't have to show me kindness though, especially after how I treated you."

Everyone looked at him in shock. Did he really just say that? "Uuuhh, you're welcome, I guess." Katara just barely managed to get the words out. He seemed so strange that one minute he could be harsh and ruthless, and the next be kind and thoughtful. What makes him tick? Katara thought. Maybe I should find out. Who knows, maybe I'll see something I didn't see before…

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