In this chapter we do find out what happened to Zuko and Iroh after they left Ba Sing Se. I left an unfinished conflict between them, so this is where we see how they got to where they are now.

Disclaimer: Insert something witty here about not owning Avatar.

Katara looked angrily at Zuko, "I told you to wait for me to call you!"

"Yeah and thanks to subtlety over here, I gathered you told them," he retorted hotly as he gestured to a sputtering Sokka. "It took you long enough."

Aang jumped to his feet, eyeing the newcomers warily. Sokka followed suit, boomerang and club in-hand. Toph however settled back and crossed her arms; apparently content to listen to the unfolding drama. And Katara took it upon herself to step in between the two groups, holding out a wary hand to her brother.

"Sokka look, I was caught out there. They already knew where our camp was. He has his uncle with him for a reason."

Her brother gripped the watertribe weapons so tightly his knuckles were turning white. "Katara," he spluttered, "I can't even…Of all the stupid, stubborn, reckless things you've done." He stopped waving his arms around in anger, took a deep calming breath and looked at his sister. "Look Katara," he said finally finding his voice. "I know that you have your ideals and all that about forgiveness and second chances and seeing the good in people, but," he turned narrowed eyes to Zuko, "didn't he already pull this in Ba Sing Se? Telling you that he'd changed? We can't trust him! He's been chasing us around the world forever! Now he shows up with his uncle, who incidentally he's already betrayed, and we just believe his little story?" It seemed that once Sokka had set Zuko in his sights he wasn't going to take his eyes off of him.

Zuko glared back just as steadily, simmering temper on the rise, and opened his mouth. Iroh quickly stepped forward and placed a pacifying hand on his shoulder and cut him off hastily. "Avatar, my nephew and I come to you now as friends."

Sokka snorted.

"As you no doubt know, I was taken prisoner by Princess Azula as a traitor of the Fire Nation. Zuko," he continued looking at his nephew standing tall, proud, and defiant before the others. "Zuko made a mistake, as we all do in life. Granted it was a big mistake. I beg you to try and understand; someone who has been taught to think and act in certain ways and value certain things all his life can find it hard to change themselves. And…"

"Uncle," came Zuko's warning voice. He broke off his glaring match with Sokka to send Iroh a look. "Anyway, my nephew has realized Azula's true plan, and at the risk of his own life has set me free and escaped. Now we come to you with a proposition."

"But let us not stand here as enemies. Why don't we all take a seat?" And with a snap of his fingers the fire leapt back to life. It was Aang, who had been carefully listening and contemplating this whole while, who now answered.

"Alright General Iroh, we will listen to what you have to say."

"But," Sokka began.

"Sokka," said Aang impatiently in a low voice, "We're just going hear them out. Everything okay so far?" he turned to Toph, momentarily forgetting that they had a human lie-detector.

She shrugged, "Everything feels fine as far as I can tell."

Warily the firebenders approached the others, and the two groups, once mortal enemies, sat on opposite sides of the crackling fire eyeing each other silently. The flickering light cast playful shadows upon the unlikely assembly of travelers, and tension hung heavy in the air. Sokka still gripped a dagger and boomerang, and his sister clutched her open water pouch tightly despite her earlier conjectures; though it was hard to say whether this was to protect herself against the newcomers or to check her brother. Finally it was Katara who broke the awkward silence.

"So, I told them basically how you two found me out in the woods. But I'm still not saying I believe you," she hurriedly added. "and I still don't trust you by the way." She jabbed a finger at Zuko. "You said you had changed. You have no idea how tough it was for me to believe you after you were the one that was chasing us all over the world; trying to hunt Aang and kill us!"

Zuko looked angry and offended. "I never tried to kill you per say," he broke in indignantly.

"Whatever, you could have, or injured us…Do you have any idea what it's like to go against all your past feelings your instinct, and put trust in someone just to have them betray you completely?"

"Actually I do," the dark young man retorted coolly.

Aang interupted firmly, "The point is why are you here? What happened after our fight? How is your Uncle with you and what exactly are you proposing?"

The Prince looked to Iroh. "This is your story to tell, Prince Zuko." The young man sighed heavily and turned back to his former prey.

"After you escaped I was laying low in the Palace and going along with Azula's plans; waiting for the Fire Nation to be slipped into the city."

"And I was enjoying a relaxing stint in the Earth Kingdom's prison holds," Iroh interjected, grinning. His nephew grimaced.

"Two days ago I overheard her plotting my destruction through lies." He didn't add that it was really his father who wanted him disposed of.

"I broke my Uncle out and we escaped together. We have nowhere else to go. It was my Uncle's idea all along: to join with you, to fight back against this war, against our nation. So Avatar," he continued in a halting emotionless voice, "we've been tracking you for almost two whole days, hoping to find you...

------------------------------------FLASHBACK---------------------------------------------------

The renegade firebenders had ridden hard and fast away from the walls of Ba Sing Se, never looking back. They needed to get far away from Azula's reach. Almost day and night they traveled across arid desert landscape, digging through brambles and dense wilderness. They caught a few hours of sleep here and there, sometimes dozing in the saddle. They needed to find the Avatar before he could travel much further; his little group of rebels already had a few days head start.

But that presented another problem, where are they? Obviously he had been seriously wounded. Wounded, not dead. There would be a sign, Uncle would know. He would want to be far from the city, but not too great a distance; the child would need to rest and regroup.

The Prince, lost in his thoughts, finally noticed his uncle scrutinizing him closely. "What?"

"Something troubling you Prince Zuko?"

The turbulent young man sighed. The last few hours had been ridden in silence; he had still not spoken with Iroh about his actions. "A lot of things, Uncle. As usual."

Iroh was surprised by the honesty of his answer. "It is time we speak Zuko about what has happened. I will be truthful, I am slightly angry. You did after all leave me to Azula's will, and a dank prison cell. However, I am mostly disappointed in you. You have been through much my nephew, too much pain, anger, rejection," he said sadly as Zuko looked away. "But you always had your mother's strength and integrity in you. You have always been a good person Zuko despite your flaws; your impulsiveness, your temper, and blind love of your father. My brother is not a good man. He might have once had the potential to be, but he was never a good father to you, as his father was never to him. And I thought you realized this. Under Lake Laogai you renounced your false destiny placed upon you by Ozai and your own ambitions. I know it is not easy when tempted as you were by your sister. Everything you had previously valued, everything you had strived for was to be returned to you for one small price. But that seemingly small cost Zuko, was great indeed. I admit I thought you were stronger than that, wiser. What are we doing now Zuko? Why are we searching for the Avatar again?"

The Prince unconsciously brushed his scar with his fingertips; feeling the old hurts and uncertainties, long repressed, surge through him. But then, a wave of clarity. Some of his Uncle's words made sense. "You were...are..a father to me."

Iroh's eyes teared and he abruptly stopped his mount.

Zuko followed suite. "I am sorry Uncle. I should never have betrayed you after all you have done for me. With me. I knew what Azula was, what she is." He took a deep breath and told his uncle what he had heard overheard. Iroh made a comforting motion with his hand and braced the other on his shoulder. "I don't know if you think I did it to save my own skin. But we are going to find the Avatar and join him. We, or you really, are going to teach him firebending."

Iroh sent them both tumbling towards the ground with a sudden tight embrace. "Uncle!" But he was half hearted in his rebuke. With difficulty Zuko stood up, his uncle still gripping him around the middle. Iroh chuckled and withdrew a step, looking up at his nephew with his hands still resting on his shoulders. "I completely forgot where we were. Ozai!!!...I don't even want to know what he said to do with a worthless old coot like me!" More seriously he continued,"I forgive you, my nephew. You made the right decision in the end, even more courageous because you admitted that you were wrong. Never forget Zuko that you always have the power to change yourself."

Zuko, becoming uncomfortably (and though he would never admit it, a bit teary-eyed), stepped away from his uncle and remounted. But Iroh understood, and merely smiled, remounting beside his nephew. "I never thought I would say this but, we must find the Avatar!"

Zuko rolled his eyes and sent his horse into an abrupt canter.-----------

Hours later, even Zuko had to admit that perhaps the fates were leading them on. They journyed blindly, aided by random miraculous acts; a stray bit of bison fur, a doused fire, or a random stranger pulling them ever onward. Nearing almost the end of a full two days of travel they again, inexblicably stumbled across a helpful local peasant. Earlier that day he had been hunting in the nearby forrest, and seen a bald monk camping out with three other kids. So the firebending kin followed the creek, the only source of water, deeper and deeper into the woods. An hour of searching the dark forest until Iroh spotted the barest whisper of smoke about three hundred yards away, rising lazily above a low point in the trees.

Iroh closed his eyes, breathing deeply for a few long moments, "It's a small fire, big enough for warmth and cooking, but not large enough to attract undue attention. Besides, the hunter said they looked pretty well settled in."

Hunger, chill, and exhaustion dissipated with the hope that rose in both of their chests as they walked their tired mounts towards the fire. Until ther older man stopped the Prince with a hand on his shoulder. "What uncle?"

"Zuko, I think it's best I wait here with the horses. Go, if it is them we don't want to scare them off. We must appear diplomatic and non-threatening."

"But uncle I'm not…you should…"

"Now Zuko. This is your task."

Too tired to argue, the Prince nodded resolutely and made his way further towards the smell of the dying fire. "Splash."

What the heck was that? Zuko peered out of the trees, expecting to see a small woodland creature by the creek. Instead, he distinguished a small blue-clad figure perched upon a rock in the water. He stopped in his tracks. It's the water peasant girl!!! We've found them!! But where was the Avatar? Stupid girl, she could get eaten alive out here by herself. Oh well, not my problem. Upon closer inspection he found that she seemed have her eyes closed, breathing steadily and deeply. Interesting. The water behaved as his fire did when meditating, moving in time to her rhythm.

Well I can't let her see me now, after Ba Sing Se… The bender began to make a circle around the girl, giving her a wide berth and praying she didn't hear him.

He let out a sigh of relief when she disappeared from sight. Unfortunately, his triumph and anticipation didn't last more than a few paces when he spotted a familiar figure ahead in the trees. Zuko inwardly groaned. Great, just great. She's always getting in my way! How annoying can one little girl be? He slowed down, watching her progress and waiting for her to pull ahead of him.

"Crunch."

He bit back a curse as she came suddenly to a stop and cocked her head. As quietly as possible he lifted his foot from the bush he had stepped into. Zuko breathed a sigh of relief when she started walking again, albeit faster, apparently dismissing the noise. He followed her a few paces, and so intent was he on watching her that he didn't notice the overturned rock until it was too late. "Son of a….!"

------------------END FLASHBACK---------------------------

"So," said Katara slowly after a few moments silence, "Azula betrayed you?"

Sokka rolled his eyes. "Ptuh, yeah, big surprise there."

"Listen you water tribe…" Zuko began furiously, but Aang stopped them with his own query.

"So why are you here? Why'd you come to us?"

"As I understand it young Avatar, you need to master fire bending. And seeing as there is a deficit of friendly and willing firebenders to teach you; I am proposing that I and Prince Zuko become your teachers," Iroh answered gently.

Aang's eyes widened, "You're part of the Royal Family, Zuko's heir to the throne! You would betray your country, your family? After hunting us for so long?"

Zuko countered harshly, surprising everyone, "They betrayed us. We're fugitives now, and have been since the battle at the North Pole. There is nothing there for us now. We have no loyalty and everything to gain by helping destroy the Fire Nation's cause. We join you to defeat them and take our vengeance."

The others gaped at the Fire Prince in astonishment; they had never heard the taciturn teen so verbose, and speak so openly, in such a manner as to denounce everything he had stood for in the past.

"Uh okay," Aang said finally. "Could you give us a minute to talk this over?"

"Of course." Iroh inclined his head politely and withdrew to the edge of the clearing, Zuko following sullenly.

"So what does everyone think?" Aang asked.

Toph spoke up for the first time, "As far as I can tell, they're being truthful. Angry boy's pretty confusing though."

"What does that mean?" Sokka asked quickly.

"Well it seems like he's telling the truth, but he's got so much confusion turmoil inside. I feel is his body going all over the place; so it's a bit muddled."

"See," Sokka hissed, "we can't trust him. What if it's just some scheme that that Azula girl put him up to, and he's lying?"

"Iroh's telling the truth," said Toph stolidly, "and he trusts Zuko. And I trust Iroh. Besides," she continued ironically, "it'll be fun to have jerk face and water warrior over here, together." The earth bender grinned maniacally.

Aang looked to the water bender. "Katara?"

She looked up uncertainly; torn between past events, her own nature, and gut feeling. The inner turmoil made her hesitate, biting her lip. "I don't know Aang. Zuko seemed pretty sincere out there. When I tried to fight him he wouldn't fight back. And he did seem to really mean what he said. It's just so hard given our history together." She glanced at Sokka. "I suppose it's possible that this could be a plot of Azula's." The water tribe warrior looked triumphantly around the little circle, but was crestfallen at her next words. "But then again Aang, you need to master fire bending. The summer solstice is coming closer, and the day of the eclipse. Even though you won't be able to use your firebending, it's a part of you; it makes you complete and strong. And it's so unlikely that we'll even find Jeong Jeong, let alone in time. Besides, they're pretty powerful assets to us even without the whole teaching thing. They're both strong benders, good fighters, and they know the inner workings of the Fire Nation, the Fire Lord, and the army. And even though Zuko's reasons aren't the most noble or pure, I say," she continued twisting her hands and avoiding Sokka's gaze, "I say we let them join us."

Aang contemplated all of their input for a few moments. "Sokka, I hear your arguments and I understand them. But the benefits outweigh the possible danger."

"Guys, come on this is nuts!!!" said Sokka angrily. "Heeellllooo??! Am I the only sane one left?! This is Zuko we're talking about, as in Prince Zuko, Prince of the Fire Nation, you know, next Fire Lord!"

"That's why we need him!" Katara interrupted urgently.

"Oh so now we need him!"

"Alright, so it's settled. Sokka," Aang said glancing at him, "until they give us reason to do otherwise, we'll trust them and let them join us."

Sokka let out a very unmanly cry that sounded somewhere along the lines of, "'gggrrrrrhmmmmppphh!' Alright fine, but I'm watching him like a Dragon Hawk! And when he betrays us all and screws us over I won't be mature enough to not say 'I told ya so.'" He crossed his arms indignantly.

"Great!" the twelve year old Avatar exclaimed enthusiastically, and bounded over to the firebenders. Truth be told, he was expecting Sokka to put up way more of a fight.

Zuko looked as unhappy and broody as usual, staring into the woods with his arms folded while he listened seemingly indifferent, to the boy and his uncle. In contrast to picture he presented, Iroh listened with a gentle smile, hands clasped beneath his long sleeves. "So I would be honored to have you as my firebending master…Sifu Iroh." He bowed to the old man.

"And I will be honored to have you as my pupil Avatar Aang." Aang grinned a toothy grin, and turned around to lead the firebenders back to his companions and announced,"Right well okay...um, now that's decided let's just try and all get to sleep. It's been a long night." All heartily agreed with the young Avatar, except...

"Aang," Sokka started indignantly, "we just met them and you want us all to go to sleep together, all nice and ripe for the plucking!"

He was merely ignored as the rest of the group bedded down, including the neglected Appa and Momo who had been watching the proceedings with interest. Momo was all curiosity (as usual) and Appa regarded the strangers with distrust; he remembered them from various harrowing encounters. As long as they posed no threat to his boy or his friends and stayed away from him, he could sleep soundly. But Appa did make a mental note to drop a "present," by the angry bender of fire in the near future. Zuko and Iroh meanwhile, made themselves as comfortable a possible with assorted blankets and cloaks. Intent on watching the pair of firebenders, Sokka propped himself up in his fur bedroll with a tight grip on a curved half-moon dagger as slowly, one by one the exhausted group fell asleep. Even Sokka, though making a valiant effort, eventually nodded off chin-in-palm. Soon only sounds slumber were heard above the soothing rustle of the leaves and occasional pop of the dying fire. The unlikely group rested exhaustively, peacefully, and the night seemed to smile with tranquility, as if indeed this is how it was supposed to be