Okay I am so excited about the new season coming out on Sept 11! And I am sure a lot f you already know this but I jsut read yesterday about the movie Trilogy that is in the works! WOHOOO!

Though the new seaosn is coming out I do not plan to let it interfere with my Zutarian world. No matter what!

The Cave of Two Lovers

Part 2

Aang:

(The night Toph rescues Sokka, The night of Katara's Arrest)

Aang flew low to the water, breathing in the salty air until he reached the northern edge of the Earth Kingdom. The moon was casting an eerie red glow on the landscape below as he flew over the vast kingdom. Smoke and death took the place of the salty air smell, bringing back many memories as he glided across the sky. From what he could see, Azula's army was widespread, invading like a disease. His heart sank and guilt once again crept in, he had let the world down for a second time.

Careful not to fly over any major populated area, Aang went around the city of Ba Sing Se, taking cover in the clouds when they were available. He wasn't quite ready to announce his return to Azula just yet. He needed to find his family first, and beg them for forgiveness.

He had been flying for quite sometime when he reached the Serpent's Pass, he was running on adrenaline. He flew over the area where they had helped Ying and Tahn, and witnessed the miracle of hope. As he continued to fly, so many memories of years past and the people he, they had helped came to him. It made him feel that at one time he had made a difference in the lives of people.

The closer he got to the city of Omashu, the more the landscape beneath him changed, the desert turned to mountains. Still darting in and out of the clouds as he came closer to Omashu, Aang noticed to the east of the city there was a large fire burning, filling the air with smoke, ash and dust. The closer he got, he realized there was some sort of commotion going on. Something had all the guards in a panic; then he heard it, rock smashing against rock. Earth shattering vibrations as the ground rumbled below. Earthbenders must have invaded the encampment.

Moving closer, landing in the nearby trees, he couldn't believe his eyes. Toph was taking on an entire battalion of Fire Nation guards. Fire and weapons being hurled at her in every direction; Sokka was on Appa, calling for her to come on. Momo chattering, jumping up and down on Appa's back. As usual the Firebenders showed no control setting the surroundings on fire.

Finally Toph climbed onto Appa with the assistance of earth stairs and they flew east of the prison. Instantly Aang followed them, using the smoke as a screen to hide him. He didn't get too close; instead he kept back at a distance. Suddenly Sokka took Appa down into a valley near the edge of the mountains. Still keeping his distance, Aang again took refuge in some nearby trees, he didn't want to risk the chance of Toph "seeing" him if he landed on the ground.

He could hear Sokka talking about a cave in the mountains and apologizing to Appa for taking him in. He felt the tree rumble as Toph opened up the mountain to let them in, and then sealing it behind her. He knew Toph would know he was there if he entered into any part of the cave, but he didn't want to loose them, and still he wasn't quite ready to face them. It wasn't about what he wanted or needed anymore; Aang decided he would wait giving them time to get a little ways on into the cave then he would follow in.

As he waited he could hear the uproar of the camp below. Smoke was filtering higher into the air, choking him. He knew that a search party would be sent after Toph and Sokka at any minute, and he needed to be there to help them this time. They needed to make a plan then do what he should have done years ago. Take down Azula.

Aang entered into the cave opening a small door of rock closing at as quietly as he could behind him. He kept light on his feet, following the labyrinth as he did before, this time he knew that the glowing stones in the ceiling would lead him to the center cavern, where the tomb of the dead lovers was. He had forgotten that the cave was so vast and went as deep as it did in the mountain. He was glad Sokka had chosen this place to hide.

Eventually Aang came to the center cavern and happened upon a very private moment between Sokka and Toph. He could hear them talking; making sure he kept his movements light and steady Aang edged closer to the small platform the he and Katara stood on a long time past. Just as he came into view of the large cavern below he realized just how intimate the scene before him was- Toph and Sokka – together, naked. He was about to move back when he heard Sokka say his name; something compelled him to stay, and eaves drop on the conversation.

"Aang," Sokka said with lament.

"Oh you love Aang?" asked Toph seriously.

"NO!" Sokka exclaimed. "I mean yes, but- What?"

"So you do love Aang." Toph said, her voice carrying in the cave where Aang was listening.

"Yeah, he's like my brother." Sokka answered. "It's just I thought - I thought that you two, were- well- a- thing."

"You are blinder than I am." He could hear the amusement with Sokka in Toph's voice

"Okay now I am confused." Aang smiled to himself, the same old Sokka.

"Aang loves Katara, Sokka," Toph enlightened him.

Aang felt his face flush at the words, anxious to Sokka's reaction.

"Don't tell me you couldn't see it, even I could see that."

Obviously Sokka was clueless from Toph's reaction, again causing Aang to smile.

"So Katara loves Aang."

Aang closed his eyes, picturing Katara the last time he saw her.

"I didn't say that, I said Aang loves Katara."

His eyes popped open and his stomach knotted at the words that brought him from his memory.

"Katara doesn't love Aang?" Sokka asked a bit puzzled. "Why?"

Toph sighed.

"That is something better left answered by Katara," she said.

Aang's mind blocked out the rest of the conversation between Sokka and Toph; his minds eye filled with Katara and times he witnessed her falling in love with a selfish, self absorbed, spoiled prince. He hadn't even realized Sokka and Toph had stopped talking until he heard Appa's snoring, sometime later.

When he was sure that the two of them had fallen asleep, he got to his feet, and silently leapt to the cavern floor where Appa was laying. He knew he could wake them. Gently his hand reached up and petted his beloved pet on the nose, instantly two big eyes opened. Aang put his finger to his lip, indicating for Appa to be quiet.

"About time you joined us twinkle toes," Toph's voice echoed off the cavern wall.

"How long have you known I was here?" Aang asked climbing on top of Appa's back and into the saddle.

"Since you entered in the cave." She grabbed her tunic and pulled it on as she sat up. Aang covered his eyes when he saw a flash of skin; he turned his back completely when she crawled out of the sleeping bag to get her pants.

Sokka stirred, sitting up rubbing his eyes.

"What's the matter Toph?" he asked looking over at her, not noticing him yet.

"Hi Sokka," Aang said turning back to see his friend.

"Aang? Aang!" Sokka jumped out of the sleeping bag, forgetting that he was in the buff.

Suddenly he was knocked back and his face hurt. Sokka had slugged him square in the jaw. Aang rubbed his chin moving it from side to side as he sat up.

"I guess I deserved that." Aang continued nursing his jaw.

"Cool it," Toph said putting her arm in front of Sokka as he moved toward Aang again. "Get your clothes on." She slung Sokka's pants in his chest.

Aang knew his friends would be upset, but he hadn't expected to be assaulted by one of them.

Sokka said nothing dropping his hands to his side, and then took his pants from Toph. Aang watched as Toph sat down directly in front of him, while Sokka dressed behind her.

"Where's Katara?" he asked looking at Toph.

"We don't know!" Sokka said angrily as he whipped around.

Aang felt the blood leave his face. How could they not know where she was?

"What? What do you mean you don't know?" Aang looked up at Sokka who was still standing, his arms folded and his hair wild, making him look capable of savagery.

Sokka moved forward in a very intimidating manner, Toph again held her hand up stopping him.

"Aang, we were separated in an attack on Ba Sing Se, shortly after you disappeared from Makapu." Toph stopped looking up at Sokka, taking his hand encouraging him to sit. "Sokka has been in a prison camp for nearly five years, and I have been on the run, with Appa and Momo, neither of us have seen Katara since that day. Tonight was the first time I saw Sokka in all this time."

"But what I saw tonight, I-," Aang broke off, as Sokka jumped from Appa's back.

"Aang when you vanished and we couldn't find you, we thought, well we thought you were dead." Toph hung her head momentarily, her long hair falling over her shoulders, before she lifted it back up looking at Aang. "Where have you been Aang, we needed you, the world has needed you."

Aang was silent; he knew they wouldn't understand his leaving.

"It's complicated," he finally responded in a distant voice lowering his head.

He felt more isolated now than he did back in his cave in the side of the mountains. Their bitterness was understandable. Sokka appeared back in the saddle a few minutes later, standing there just staring at him, burning a hole into him.

"Please tell me Aang that you have been held captive by Azula in her deepest darkest dungeons, or in some Fire Nation prison somewhere," Sokka said with annoyance. "I will even accept you being Zuko's prisoner, just don't tell me you had a mental breakdown and couldn't deal with the war anymore."

Aang could see the anger in his eyes, the proof of imprisonment across his arms and chest. He wished that he could tell him he had been held captive in a Fire Nation prison; he wished he bore the marks on his skin like Sokka did the marks of persecution. He was being held prisoner, just not by the Fire Nation.

"I can't," Aang said with embarrassment, shame.

"You know what, just go back to where ever it is you came from; we don't need your help."

Sokka's words burned him.

"Sokka, you don't mean that," Toph cut in.

"The hell I don't!"

Aang couldn't find any words to defend him self; Sokka and Toph both were right. He was a deserter.

"We'll find Katara on our own, and you can go freeze yourself in another iceberg."

"Sokka," Toph stood, "that's enough."

Aang watched him carefully, though he couldn't blame him for hating him. Toph placed her hand on his chest, and he seemed to calm a bit. He closed his eyes and shook his head, then turned and hopped off Appa again.

"He doesn't mean it," Toph said, sounding like Katara. "He's just angry, he'll be fine."

"It's okay, I deserve it." Aang turned his head up looking at the glowing crystals.

"Aang, I won't pretend to understand why you left, all I know is that you are here now, and despite what Sokka says, we do need you."

He felt her hand squeeze his. Once again he found himself without words.

"We need to find Katara," she said.

"How do you know she even survived the attack in Ba Sing Se?" It pained Aang to say the words, but her not being with Sokka and Toph did not give him much hope of her even being alive.

"I don't, but hey I thought you were dead too, and look here you are, sitting in front of me."

"We will need a plan, the Fire Nation will be looking for you guys everywhere," Aang said his voice a little more assertive.

"Like were not used to that," Sokka said appearing again from the side of Appa's saddle. "But the greatest advantage to that is that they are looking for these guys." He held out the old wanted posters of them. They were younger versions of them, six or seven years younger.

"Wow, Toph you have changed."

"Watch it now twinkle toes."

Aang looked at Toph then at the wanted poster, she was definitely not the little kid in the poster anymore. Sokka's hair had grown down to the middle of his back, and he was much bulkier than the skinny teenager in the drawing. He then looked at his; his head was now covered in a thick mane of hair, long and barely kempt. The arrow tattoos on his arms were barely visible and the one on his head was now covered mostly by hair. He then looked at Katara's and wondered had she changed as much as they had. Moving through them he saw Zuko's and Iroh's wanted posters.

"I don't think Zuko is wanted anymore though, he is in under Azula's charge now," Sokka said stiffly. "Last I heard at the prison was he was in Ba Sing Se, over the guard post there, and Iroh was still running his tea shop."

"Sokka thinks that Zuko had something to do with the attack on us in Ba Sing Se." Toph said. "We also thought that he had something to do with your disappearance."

Aang didn't respond he just looked at Toph then Sokka, who was still staring at him with disbelief.

"So the last time you saw Katara was in Ba Sing Se?" said Aang shifting his position.

Toph nodded her head.

"Right before I was ambushed by Mai and TyLee." Sokka's expression was void.

"Then we shall head to Ba Sing Se." Aang said as he stood.

"We don't need to just fly out of here with out a plan and some supplies for our journey." Toph grabbed her rucksack shaking it.

"Right, we will gather supplies, courtesy of the Fire Nation." Sokka smiled for the first time since Aang had seen him. "I know their rotations, and they owe me a weapon or two."

"We should get some rest now," Toph said placing her hand on Aang's. "Tomorrow we knock Fire Bender heads."

Aang nodded in agreement; he lay down and stared at the ceiling of glowing crystals, his mind was busy. He thought about the past, present and future until he fell asleep.