A.N.: ugh...man I wish for ideas...maybe since it's summer I'll get some, eh?...I hope so anyways...and I'll try to write this chapter well and make it longer than the last. I personally thought that the Keely/Zuko relationship was a little rushed...sorry for the wait...

Disclaimer: I ownith not Avatar: The Last Airbender...but I do own the first three dvds of book one...

Chapter 12:...

:Keely's POV:

Her spirits were high and her personality bubbly as they chased Aang and the others over the next few days. But she couldn't help but think that she and Zuko had rushed into a relationship too soon. Keely had always been a person who believed in love, but she had never experienced it.

'Being with him makes me happy; that's all that counts right now,' Keely mused to herself.

They were nearing the North Pole, so the temperature was steadily dropping. This caused a wardrobe change on Keely's part. Now she wore a long sleeved red tunic and a pair of warm black slacks. This was accompanied by a pair of leather boots and occasionally a pair of gloves.

Cool weather happened to be her favorite, but temperatures this low were just a little too low for her taste. The wind tended to whip her hair about fiercely, so she'd taken to braiding it loosely.

Most of her time now was spent with Zuko or on the deck thinking.

Keely knew she played a major role in the downfall of the Fire Nation, but couldn't bear to think about it because of what it would probably do to Zuko.

She would eventually have to leave him so she could teach the Avatar firebending if no one else would do so, and she seriously doubted anyone else would. Unless Zuko had a major change of heart and decided to join Aang and the others, they would soon have to part.

This realization tore at Keely's very heart and soul. Tears welled up in her eyes and she silently began to cry. She felt warm arms wrap around her waist and was pulled tightly up against the person she'd just been thinking about. He knew not to question her yet and just held her, hoping he was comforting her in some way.

Keely buried her face against Zuko's chest and continued to sob. She was really going to have to leave him. This thought just caused more tears to flow down her cheeks.

After a few more moments of this, Zuko asked quietly, "Are you alright?"

Keely nodded weakly, "Yeah...I...I am..."

He continued to hold her; he knew better than to pry into what had caused such sorrow in Keely. Zuko rested his head atop her own and breathed in the heavenly scent of roses that clung to her; he wished she would tell him, but didn't want to force her to do so.

Keely leaned against Zuko, never wanting to let go. She didn't want to lose him. What if he hated her after she helped Aang?

'Then he wouldn't be worth it in the first place,' a voice inside her whispered.

She supposed her inner voice was right...wait...when did she get an inner voice?

:Lyra's POV:

Lyra whistled happily from her place on Appa.

"What's got you in such a good mood?" Sokka asked irritably, still not having gotten over her most recent prank.

"Oh I've just been plotting deviously horrendous ways to torture you," Lyra teased.

"Why won't you stop that?" Sokka snapped.

"I like to tease and torture you! It's happens to be the high point of my day when I see you fall on your face!" Lyra giggled, "In fact, I'd even go as far to say that this is the most fun I've had in years."

"And I'd go as far to say that someone here has a little crush," Katara sang out.

"Who?" Sokka and Lyra said in unison.

"Clueless," Katara shook her head in disappointment.

"Well who?" Lyra prompted.

"No one," Katara assured.

"Liar," Lyra accused, but dropped the matter and brought out a simple blue book with the design of a flower creeping up the edge of it and a writing utensil that she had bought in the last village.

She began to write down something, and after a while the constant scratching of the pen against paper began to annoy Sokka.

"What are you writing anyway?" his voice sounded irritable again.

"None of your business oh Great Wielder of the Boomerang," Lyra barely glanced up from her work.

"When did Sokka become the Great Wielder of the Boomerang?" Aang asked with a laugh from behind Appa's reins.

"A while ago; I just never saw a situation in which the name would fit," Lyra replied, only half paying attention.

Sokka huffed and turned away from everyone, muttering stuff about everyone being against the guy with the boomerang.

Lyra rolled her eyes as she finished what had been occupying her attention for the past hour or so.

She smiled happily as she reread it, "Excellent. I'm satisfied with it for now."

"What were you doing anyway?" Katara asked curiously.

"Writing a song, why?" Lyra blinked and stretched.

"Oh so that's what you were so intent on," Sokka didn't appear as interested in it as he was before.

"You don't have to sound so bored," Lyra glared at him, "Wasn't it you that wanted to know what it was in the first place?"

"Yes, and now that I know...I no longer care," Sokka replied.

"Fine, then you won't get to read or hear the song," Lyra snapped.

She settled back against Appa's saddle and crossed her arms over her chest. Lyra now wore a long sleeved, azure top and comfortably warm, brown pants. Covering her feet were a pair of dark brown boots.

Her blonde hair was pulled into a low ponytail, yet a few strands escaped to frame her face. And her honey-brown eyes were gazing at the horizon, which was beginning to show the orange and pink tints that one would associate with sunset or sunrise.

Katara noticed that every now and then Sokka would look over to where Lyra sat; then he would shake his head and turn away quickly.

"May we read the song?" Katara asked motioning at herself and Aang.

Lyra blinked dazedly as she was pulled out of her thoughts, "Sure."

Lyra then pulled the book out of her bag and handed it to Katara, making sure that it was out of Sokka's reach as she did so.

Katara opened it and began to read; as she read to herself Lyra took the reins from Aang and let him go over to Katara to read over her shoulder.

A.N.: Yeah..I know...not much of a chapter...sorry if it wasn't as great as I wanted it to turn out...but it WAS longer than the last one...I know...I checked..and this would have been out sooner but for some reason I couldn't upload it...but now it's posted...yayness...and thanks for all the reviews on the previous chapter...reviews are always appreciated...so thanks again! No promises about when the next chapter will be out though...

:Libby-chan: