Gahh, my chapters are getting soooooo long...

"A pirate ship?"

"I hope Lakai's okay."

"Maybe it's not the ship she's on."

"It better not be."

Slowly, the ship sailed closer to Len Sung. Ty Lee, whose eyes were better than anybody else's, looked closely at the gold writing on the ship.

"Avatar's Mainmast. That's the ship," she said, turning back to the group. "Maybe it's just the sails. Maybe they were the only type of sails the captain could find."

"That's possible. Anyway, who's going to speak to the captain?" Iroh asked. Aang raised a hand.

"I am the Avatar, and it has my title in the name, so I'll do it," he said. Iroh nodded. Everyone looked at everyone else and hoped that it wasn't a pirate ship.

Just before it would have scraped the reef that surrounded the port, the ship stopped and threw down several ropes just a few yards from where the group was waiting. Raucous yells sounded from the ship and several seemingly well-built men slid down the ropes.

"Well, let's go," Toph said. Everyone nodded and went towards the ship. Some of the men noticed Katara and Ty Lee in ways that made none of the boys happy. Zuko instinctively wrapped an arm around Katara's shoulder and Sokka took Ty Lee's hand, not caring that Zuko was touching his sister if it stopped the looks. Aang took Toph's arm, indicating that this was time to really play the helpless blind girl.

"We're looking for the captain of the ship," Aang said to one of the men who looked less frightening.

"Why?"

"We need to get passage on the ship," Toph interrupted.

"Good luck wi' that." He turned to leave, but Aang's voice stopped him.

"We heard a friend of ours is aboard, Lakai." The man turned around.

"Y'know Lakai? Why didn't you say so? Cap'n will be happy to talk to ya'll in that case." He motioned to someone on the ship to let down a ramp. "There ya go." He waved them along, not paying any mind to Ty Lee or Katara.

"The more I'm around this ship the more certain I am it's a pirate ship," Zuko whispered to Katara.

"At least I haven't stolen from them yet," she pointed out. Zuko chuckled as they boarded the ship.

A young woman with her brown hair tied back in similar fashion to Zuko's old style (only lower on her head and more hair) was arguing with one of the crew.

"I don't care about that! I need those herbs for the infirmary! Jala forsake it all! Why did Toshi have to have a stupid crew?" she muttered, walking away. She gasped when she saw Aang and everyone.

"Miss Lakai, it's great to see you again," said Iroh, bowing. Lakai bowed in return, then started questioning.

"What in the world are you guys doin' on the Mainmast? Is everything okay?" she asked, concerned. Aang nodded, then explained all that happened after they had parted ways. "So y'all need a safe to practice Firebending and not get killed by Princess Azula, right?" Nods. "C'mon. I'll you take to the map room. That's where the captain spends most of his time." She motioned for them to follow.

The map room was an airy cabin just under the deck. Inside, a young, well-built man stood inspecting the maps. Lakai didn't bother to knock; she just went over and kissed the man square on the lips. The man chuckled. "I know I told Komo to rid the ship of pests. How did you get here?"

Lakai laughed and embraced who was obviously the captain. "No matter hard you try, dear Toshiyan, you can't get rid of me. I'm like a stain or a bad smell."

"Or my wife. Who are these people?" Toshiyan asked, noticing the group standing there, slightly uncomfortable. Sokka coughed.

"Oh! Remember the former general I told you about, and how his nephew and the Avatar's traveling companions found us? This is them. Everyone, this is Toshi, my dear, sweet (if somewhat tardy) husband," Lakai introduced. Toshi bowed.

"Pleased to meet you."

"Likewise. Is it possible to sail with you for a while?" Aang asked, explaining Azula's pursuit of them again. Toshi nodded.

"You bet. If it'll thwart that bit-brat," Toshi corrected himself when he caught his wife's gaze, "I'll do it. She nearly ruined the Mainmast before we came to get Lakai."

"I told you, you can rob and scuttle the warships, but it's pointless to attack the Royal Sea Palace," Lakai said, wrapping her arms around Toshi's neck from the side. "The crew will squish you."

"This is a pirate ship, isn't it?" Zuko asked. Toshi shook his head.

"'Pirate' makes as if I don't discriminate which ships I attack. I only attack Fire Nation warships and rob the merchant ships. I won't touch Earth Kingdom ships. And I only, um, harm the soldiers who try to stop me from getting the treasures they carry," he explained. "I even have a few Fire Traitors in the crew. Really good for subterfuge."

Everyone looked to Aang. He paused, then broke into a huge smile. "These are the type of pirates I look up to!" he said cheerfully. "Is there enough room for Appa on the ship?"

Toshi frowned and turned to Lakai. They had a whispered conversation, during which Toshi's eyes widened. "There should be, but only on deck. He'd sink the ship otherwise," he concluded.

"I told you those cabins were a good idea," Lakai said. "Someone go get Appa. I'll show the others to your rooms." Aang ran off to get his beloved bison; the rest followed Lakai.

"Iroh, this will be your cabin. There's a few boxes of tea in there for storage, but the bed's the biggest and easiest to get into," Lakai told them. Iroh bowed in gratitude and went into the cabin. Lakai showed the others to the remaining cabins. When she completely passed by one, Sokka raised a question.

"That's the captain's quarters," she explained in a hurry. Everyone nodded. Zuko gave Katara a sideways glance.

"If Captain Toshi spends all his time during the day in the map room, then that must be where he spends all his time at night with Lakai," he muttered. Katara had to stifle a giggle and swatted him.

"Katara, this is your cabin. It's connected to the ones next to it by a curtain; as a matter of fact, all the cabins on this side of the ship are," Lakai was saying.

"Which is why the captain's quarters are on the other side of the ship," Toph said with an evil smirk on her face.

"Yes, that's exactly why. Come on!" The flustered Waterbender hurried down the passage. Everyone started laughing.

That night, in celebration of having Aang aboard, the entire crew decided to have a party. (Not that they needed a reason to have fun. Toshi had fun-loving crew under his command.) Out of respect for the younger ones, the typical amounts of ale and wine were absent. But the music was still there.

"This is better than Music Night back on the ship, Zuko!" Iroh cried gleefully. The music was more upbeat and had everyone dancing or keeping time. Even Zuko, who tried to hide it.

"C'mon, Cap'n! Show us that dance you and Lakai do!" one of the men, the one that Aang asked about passage, cried. The thin, pretty girl next him clapped.

"Yeah! Show the Avatar and his friends the dance with the Waterbending!"

Lakai, who had been playing the flute, stopped and looked at the girl. "Asha, you've known me since we were small. I hate dancing in front of people!"

"Oh, come on Lakai! I want to see you dance!" Katara teased. "It has to be better than Sokka's dancing."

"Hey! I can dance!" protested her brother.

"Like an artic hen."

"I do not!" Sokka turned to Aang and Ty Lee. "Tell her I don't dance like an artic hen."

"Actually…"

"The platypus bears back at the circus dance better than you, Sokka," Ty Lee giggled. Sokka "hmphed" and sat down. Lakai laughed.

"Fine. C'mon, Toshi dear." She set her flute down and took Toshi's hand. The man next to Asha took the flute and played a few notes on it.

"Ready when you are, Cap'n," he said. Various other crewmembers got their instruments ready.

Toshi nodded. "Ready, Komo." Komo started playing a gentle tune. Lakai and Toshi waited a few beats, then Toshi nodded to Lakai.

Lakai took a basic Waterbending stance and drew water from the ocean into a water whip. In time with the music, she moved the water into shapes and characters. She sent it to Toshi (also a Waterbender), who mimicked her movements.

Komo sped up the music and the two Waterbenders sped up their dancing accordingly. They danced in a traditional manner with the water weaving around them. Every time Komo sped up, Lakai and Toshi sped up. By the end of the song, you couldn't discern water from Waterbender or man from woman. They finished with a flourish.

Everyone clapped enthusiastically, even the crew, who had seen this dance several times. Ty Lee was bouncing on the balls of her feet.

"You guys would be great in the circus!" she said when Lakai and Toshi came over.

"No. I hate contortionists," Toshi said. Lakai looked at her husband.

"You do? 'Ey Komo! Just when were you gonna tell me your brother is scared of contortionists?" Lakai called, falling into that accent.

"He is? Gotta be the most well kept secret in the hist'ry of siblings!" Zuko and Katara looked at each other. They clearly didn't know how well kept from Sokka their secret was.

"Now, whose turn is it to dance outta the new guys?" asked Asha. The various couples, even if two were in secret, looked at the skinny Earth Kingdom woman. "What? Komo an' I had to dance when he proposed. Speakin' a-which, when are ya gonna marry me?" She turned to Komo.

"Cap'n already did it, Ash," Komo said nonchalantly. "I told 'im, he congratulated me, he pronounced us married." Ash gaped and raced after Komo.

Lakai laughed. "I was wonderin' how long it would take Ash to ask Komo that. But she is right. Two y'all have to dance. It's only fair. But not Sokka." The warrior pouted.

"That leaves Zuko and Katara, since I can't dance to save my life," Toph said. "Being blind can cause that."

"Hey, I can't dance either," Zuko said. "I never took those lessons. The most dancing I can do is spinning a girl and holding one."

"And the Fire Nation's national dance, but even crippled people can do that," Iroh added.

"What dance is that?"

"A very heated dance," Zuko said, glaring at his uncle. "The Fire Nation isn't one for modesty when it comes to enjoying themselves. Especially adults."

Some of the crew had been eavesdropping; since six of them were former Fire Nation citizens, they huddled. Snickering with "evil" intentions, the other members got the six to take up the proper instruments. Sneakily, they started playing the dance. Zuko spun around, fists about to flame. Iroh and Toshi laughed.

"I think they got you, Zuko. My advice; dance with Miss Katara and try to keep it clean," Iroh laughed. Zuko and Katara blushed furiously, causing more merriment.

"Would you mind terribly if I were to freeze your uncle to his bed tomorrow?" Katara muttered. Zuko closed his eyes and shook his head.

"I'll try not to lose you. This dance is fast," he said, taking Katara's arm and spinning her around so her back was pressed against his chest. He wondered if she could feel his heartbeat and how fast it was before they had even started dancing. He waited a few beats, then spun Katara.

The dance lasted only a few minutes, but during that time, Zuko had managed to loose Katara's braid, cause both of their faces to become flushed, increase the heat of the fires and torches to a degree hotter than Hell, and receive many hate-filled glares from Sokka. The two teen benders finished the dance with Zuko supporting Katara as he dipped her down.

There was a moment's pause, then wild clapping broke out. "I think they just beat your Waterbending dance hollow, Lakai," Ash said. Lakai nodded.

"That they have."

Zuko brought Katara up slowly, locking her gaze with his. Katara, panting, kept her grip on his hands even after she was upright. Sokka made as if to separate them, but the grips three people stopped him. He looked at Lakai, Toshi, and Iroh, but they refused to let go. Aang was dozing, so he didn't notice Katara and Zuko walk off to the cabins.

In the lantern light of the passage, Zuko had to catch his breath. Katara looked a mess, but he oddly found it attractive. He pulled Katara into her cabin. "I've never had so much excitement that didn't constitute me running for my life before," Katara gasped, resting in Zuko's arms. Zuko chuckled.

"Your brother didn't seem too happy multiple times I had you tight against my body," he teased. Katara smiled slyly and moved closer so that her back was against Zuko's chest again.

"You mean when I was like this?" She moved the way she had during the dance, swaying slightly. Zuko growled and grabbed her waist.

"Precisely when you were like that." Zuko brought his face closer to hers. "You're beautiful when you look like this," he murmured in her ear. "Especially in this light."

Katara giggled. "What light? The candles and lanterns aren't lit; you can barely see me at all."

Zuko quickly remedied that with a wave of his hand in the direction of the candles and lanterns. The small cabin flooded with light. Zuko nodded in satisfaction. "Happy?"

"No," Katara said stubbornly. "You danced with me and still no kiss." Zuko turned Katara around.

"You didn't say you wanted me to kiss you. I thought you thought this just infatuation." Katara smiled slyly again.

"You mean it's not?" she taunted. "In that case…" She reached up and caressed Zuko's scar. He shivered slightly at her touch. "And about what you asked when I told you I had removed your shirt to heal any injuries, yes, I did like what I saw."

Zuko smirked and pulled Katara closer. "Did I ever tell when my birthday was?" he asked. Katara shook her head. "It's today. I'm seventeen." Katara gasped.

"Why didn't you tell me? I have to find something to give you!" She tried to get out of his arms, but Zuko just tightened his grasp around her. He leaned in, pausing just before their lips touched.

"This will work," he murmured before closing the gap and kissing the helpless Waterbender with all the passion he could muster. Katara moaned and kissed him back, allowing herself to be rotated and put against the wall.

"Who's birthday is this, mine or yours?" she murmured when they broke away for a few seconds.

"Definitely mine. I have the most beautiful girl in my arms," Zuko replied before going back to continue what he had started.

Recap- The Gaang is on Lakai's husband Toshi's ship, the crew decided to be evil and play a very heated dance, and Zuko's birthday present is a make-out session with Katara! Everybody's happy! Well, except Sokka.