The next couple of weeks were a blur: Work, school, dates, and catching up with her dad. Suki couldn't believe how her adopted father came to be here. When she and Aang visited Mom's house (safe knowing the oldest couple had gotten the physical reunion done for now), Dad regaled them about how he gone looking for Aang and ended up captured at the border of the now-destroyed whore house.

Azula could call it a pleasure palace, but it had held people against their will. Not all of them were into sex, least of all her brother, but now that the place was gone, perhaps he could let the painful memories diminish. However, knowing he had a photographic memory, it would take nothing more than amnesia to make him forget.

Pushing away thoughts of that hellhole, Suki brought herself to the preset, in which the four members of their family were out for lunch. Aang kept smiling ad tapping away at his phone, clearly engaged with Katara. She couldn't help but smile, seeing him happy. It had been so long since ay of them had seen him this way they had almost forgotten how he looked with a shining face.

Dad seemed to notice too, for he asked, "How is the young lady, Aang?"

Blushing, grinning like a idiot, he replied, "She great, Dad. We're good, actually." He chuckled a bit, glancing at Suki. Smiling back, she marveled at the change of him since Aang and Katara became a couple. He was more open then ever, bringing an air of refreshment that it almost boggled her mind. He had been such a scared person some months back, hell anyone would be in such circumstances, but he had come a long way from that scared boy to the almost man he was now. She couldn't be prouder at that moment.

It was gratifying to see him this way. Suki had to thank Katara for accepting him.

Mom broke into the conversation. "We're glad to hear it, sweetheart," she said warmly, reaching to grasp his hand. Another obstacle he was still working on, but he no longer jumped at every touch; at least with those he knew best. Azula had really done a number on him, but she wasn't going to win. That woman will be brought to justice; not just for taking and hurting Aang, but for all the harm she had caused other people.

Clearing her throat, Suki asked, "I take being in a relationship is making you happy?"

Giving her a deadpan look, save a small smirk, he replied, "You better believe it, sis. Are you and Sokka?"

Blushing at having the tables turned on her, she raised her nose haughtily at him. "We are doing excellent at present, thank you." In fact, just the other day, they had sat under a tree at the pack after school, talking about their future. Sokka decided to go with engineering, since building things was something he was good at, while Suki decided to become a self defense instructor. About wanting to move in together when they secured jobs, and living together for many long years.

It sounded like perfection. Or a proposal. The idea made her heart skip a beat. There have numerous times she dreamed of marrying Sokka, but until they had gotten together, that dream had seemed like an impossibility.

Mom and Dad chuckled, sharing amusement at the kids' antics, before the latter spoke. "At least we know you two are happy."

Aang sighed happily, glancing at his phone again. "We are," he said softly, content. Suki nodded in agreement.

Just then the waiter came over, took their orders, and walked away. Conversations turned to other topics, such as school and work, as well as their relationships. While Aang explained what him and Katara planned on doing later, Suki couldn't help but feel like something was amiss. Of course she was content, but something made her aware that all was not calm.

Casually looking out the window, she caught a glimpse of someone turning away from them. He was average height, wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses. The guy seemed like an ordinary man enjoying the afternoon. Nothing about him really stood out. Still, a tingle of familiarity went down her spine, almost foreboding in its presence. The person was walking away, waving to other people, but the feeling of danger didn't pass until he was gone.

Suki's heart was beating a fast tempo, drowning out her hearing. Something was wrong, very wrong. She couldn't help but think, 'Azula is still watching us.'

Turning her brother, she noticed how tense his shoulders were, but he was still talking with their parents. He must have sensed they had been watched as well, though he was keeping it together because of Mom and Dad. Smart, but she was going to do everything in her power to keep that bitch from ever fucking with her friends and family again.

Whoever that man was, he was bad news, and there was no way Suki was going to sit down and let someone else threaten Aang. The guy has been through too much trauma in the last two years to suffer anymore. If anyone tried to get their claws on him, she was going to kick their-

"Suki?" her mom asked, forcing the girl's gaze away from the window.

"What?" she asked, looking at the men in her group.

Aang looked concerned as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?" he asked.

Taking a small breath, Suki smoothed her face into a smile, to reassure the family that had become her own. "Yeah, I was just lost in thought."

Though there was some skeptical looks their faces, their parents went back to their foods, but Aang still looked at her like he knew she was hiding something. He must have felt that same foreign presence as she had, but they remained silent.

With her eyes she said, 'I'll tell you later.'

He nodded once, then went back to his spinach Alfredo, not letting the circumstances stop him from enjoying the meal. Suki ate her steak and potatoes slowly, her mind not leaving the strange figure. Something was about to happen. There was danger in the air, like the feel of heavy clouds of a thunderstorm. When the rains hit, she could only hope that could make good on her word to help her friends when that trouble came.

No matter what, they were going to fight.

If only she had predicted what would happen in the next week.

(***)

When they got home after saying goodbye to his parents, Aang couldn't help but feel that something was wrong. He had felt a strange presence earlier that day, and could tell that his sister had too, but it wasn't until they were ensconced in his room that they began to talk.

"A figure?" Aang asked, heart sinking.

Suki nodded. "I don't know who he was, but I know he was watching us."

Ugh, great. Another psycho was coming into play. 'Most likely by Azula,' he thought, grimacing. He really wished she left them alone, but because of everything that had happened, it was likely she was not about to give without a fight. Although she was in hiding, there were plenty of people who would be willing to do her bidding at the right price.

Running a hand through his hair, Aang muttered, "I knew something was going on."

She frowned at him. "Has this happened before?"

Aang wasn't sure how to explain it. For a while now the feeling of someone watching him had grown, like ink spilled on paper. It just kept expanding until it was worrying. Even when he was out on his dates with Katara, the feeling didn't abate, despite the public settings.

No, trouble was brewing, and it was coming for them.

For him.

For the first time in a while, the urge to run crept on him, but he ruthlessly pushed it down. There was no point; no matter where he would go, Azula would find him. It was only a matter of time before one of her cronies attacked. His friends and family were going to be there, to fight with him, no matter what. As much as he wanted to protect them all, they were adamant that they stay together through this threat.

"Yes," he said simply, as a fact. No point in hiding the truth from his sister.

Suki looked to the floor in contemplative silence fore a while, chewing over what she wanted to say. Finally she spoke softly, still looking down. "I don't want to lose you again, Aang." She met his gaze, cobalt eyes glistening in the light from his window. "We thought you were dead. I don't want go through losing my brother again."

Tears stung his eyes as he hugged her, feeling the almost too tight grip on the back of his shirt when it was returned. "I'm not going anywhere, Suks," he said gently, feeling her weep silently on his shoulder. "I won't let Azula win. We won't have more taken from us."

She didn't say anything for a time, just clinging onto his back as they held each other protectively. It was a while before the tears ended, but when she looked at him, he could see the red rimmed eyes of a girl who lost family. Suki said, "I want to believe that."

Aang smiled, wiping the last of the tears from her face. "We will survive this, Suki. We're not alone this time; there's Katara, Sokka, and our parents. We can make it pass this storm."

Suki smiled a bit, nodding, then stood up. "You're right, I guess." Taking a deep breath, she added, "I'm going to see Sokka. He needs to know about this."

Aang nodded in understanding, watching as she left, before the smile faded from his face as a frown replaced it. Of course he believed his words, but there was a small chance that his friends wouldn't be around when this person attacked. The last thing he wanted was for anyone to get hurt on his behalf. The guilt would tear him apart at the seems.

And Katara... His beautiful, talented girlfriend wanted to help in protecting him. But if anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself.

If it came down to it, he would battle his last demon without assistance. There might not be any other way.

If there wasn't a choice, he might have to fight alone.