A/N: So for yesterday's prompt, I accidentally made a mistake. The prompt was supposed to be Danger not Disaster. I have no clue as to how I got that wrong, but oh well. I hope you accept it, but if not, maybe at the end of Maiko week I'll rewrite that one. Anyway, I'm pretty sure I got all the other prompts right and now it's time for Day 3!

Thanks to the reviewers Kimjuni2, Alabaster86, Ocheeva, and Somariel! You guys made my day!

Notes: Takes place AFTER The Boiling Rock, but BEFORE The Southern Raiders. Why? Because I said so and you don't need to read a fic where EVERYONE'S like: "Aww, poor Zuko!" So instead, Katara's still all "I'm gonna kill you!", which makes it all that much sweeter.

Dreams

Zuko watched as Azula and Ty Lee expertly made their way back to the platform. The guards that were sawing the cable wire began to do it with more vigor when the princess's feet touched the solid rock. And then the most unexpected thing: Mai appeared and began to pin each and every guard; the ones who were sawing the cable were the first to go.

"Mai…"

Sokka came up next to him; his eyes squinted to get a better look. "What is your girlfriend doing?"

"I have no clue."

"Well to me it looks like she's trying to save you."

"Save me?" Zuko turned to Sokka in confusion. "What do you mean "save me"?"

Sokka rolled his eyes at the clueless one before he answered. "Yeah, it's something some people tend to do when they care for someone—or even love them."

She loves me? He thought quietly to himself. Of course she does! Mai never says anything like that just outright, but she did leave subtle hints—things he was originally trying to figure out what meant. Zuko felt a genuine smile cross his face for the first time in a very long time.

"Hey, what's going on?" Zuko snapped his head up and joined in on Sokka's confusion. Mai was standing in front of Azula and Ty Lee; it appeared as if they were having a conversation. Then suddenly his sister lashed out with a huge ball of blue fire and Mai went down.

"Mai!" Before he knew it, Sokka and his father, Hakoda, were pulling him back inside the gondola. "Mai! No, let me go! She could be hurt or—or…" He couldn't say the next word, but his thoughts supplied it anyway; dead. "Mai!"

"Zuko you need to stay here! They'll kill you!" Sokka gave another powerful pull and Zuko stumbled back and fell into a heap.

He could vaguely hear Sokka to his left and Hakoda to his right, but it didn't matter. Tears slowly leaked down his face. Mai…

The Gaang, plus Hakoda and Suki, were all seated around a fire just enjoying each other's company. The Duke, Teo, and Haru were all a couple feet away sleeping. Chit Sang was closer to where Zuko was sleeping, but both were pretty far from the fire; Zuko with good reason that is. Hakoda had been telling all of them about his adventures from the past two years when Toph suddenly cocked her head to the side, as if she was listening for something.

"Guys, is something wrong with Sparky?" Everyone looked over to the firebender in question, but he was still sleeping.

"No, he's still sleeping. Why'd you ask, Toph?" Aang questioned.

"His heartbeat's all over the place and his breathing is kinda heavy."

"Maybe he's dreaming of a world where everyone here finally figures out that he's lying about being on our side." Sokka and Toph shot Katara a look, but she ignored it.

"Katara…" At her father's warning, Katara just huffed and turned in the other direction.

Toph scrunched up her face in concentration. "He seems really scared of something…"

Suddenly a low, whimpered word cut through their thinking silence and everyone froze. "Did he just say something? In his sleep?" Suki asked incredulously.

Aang looked on in surprise. "Wow, I never took Zuko as a sleep talker." He turned to his blind earthbending teacher. "Do you know what he said, Toph?"

"He said "my." What could he be talking about thought; his what?"

Sokka, though, understood what was going on. "He didn't say "my" as in my boomerang, but he said "Mai." That was his girlfriend's name. You know the knife thrower?"

Katara rolled her eyes. "Oh great, now we have to deal with this."

"Mai! No, let me go! She could be hurt or—or…" Zuko's voice started out loud and grew softer towards the end.

Suki scratched her head in thought. "What do you think he's dreaming about?"

"He's not dreaming." Toph said, resting her hands on the ground to have a better "look." "He's having a nightmare by the sounds of his voice, heartbeat, and breathing."

"Mai!" With that shout, Zuko sat up looking around himself wildly. Then he saw the Gaang sitting around a fire and paused. It was just a nightmare… The others could clearly see the tear tracks down his face. Zuko sudden jumped to his feet and ran off somewhere in the temple.

"What's his problem?" Katara asked with a snooty voice.

Sokka turned towards his sister in exasperation. "His girlfriend was arrested at the Boiling Rock, what do you think his problem is?"

"Whatever."

Sokka stood up with a slight stretch. "I'm going to look for him."

"He's in the room we originally gave him Snoozles."

"Thanks Toph." Sokka walked off.

He gazed at her through the small peephole in the cell door. How could he? And then he ran off… leaving her alone.

Mai woke up quietly and could feel her face was wet. Lift up a hand, she could feel the tears on her face and the fact that they wouldn't stop. Scowling slightly, she brought her knees up to her chest and buried her face in her arms.

"Mai?"

"What Ty Lee?"

"Are you okay? I saw that you were crying…"

"I'm fine."

"But—"

"I said I was fine Ty Lee!" Mai felt a little guilty about snapping at her only friend, but she really didn't want to discuss her feelings right now.

I may hate your guts right now Zuko, but I still miss you…

Yeah, it's another short one, but sorry, my inspiration was a little lacking. Also, sorry that Mai's section was so short, but I figured there wouldn't be much to say considering they're locked up somewhere. I also think that I might continue the Zuko/Sokka bit in a separate one-shot; I'm also a sissy for Zuko/Sokka bonding fics. Thanks for reading and leave some feedback please!

Luna