Damn writer's block!!

It was decided that Katara would stay on Appa at all times, in case of attack late at night or the need to run. Someone would share Appa's saddle with her, alternating each night. The only problem was deciding who was going to get first night.

Everyone wanted to sleep in the saddle; it was twice as comfortable as the rock hard ground. Even Toph admitted that. So, they drew sticks.

"What? Why should that Firebender get the saddle? He hasn't traveled half as much as we have!" Sokka exclaimed as Aang helped Zuko throw together two extra sleeping mats.

"Show's how much you know," Zuko muttered darkly.

"I'm not talking about pampered ship traveling!" Sokka retorted.

"Neither am I! Did I look pampered back at that deserted village? Did I look comfortable when my uncle and I arrived at that house?" Zuko replied.

"I think it's best if we just hush now," Iroh said carefully. "We would not want any unwanted visitors tonight." Zuko and Sokka glared at each other, but nodded in response. Sokka took his sleeping bag and lay down near the remains of the fire while Zuko climbed aboard Appa.

"Sorry for Sokka's mouth," Katara said upon seeing him. "It was always getting him into trouble back home with Dad."

"He should learn not to assume things about people, especially those he hardly knows," Zuko spat. Katara frowned slightly, but nodded.

"That's Sokka. He doesn't like to change; it took him forever to adjust to Aang and me." For some reason, that remark hit Zuko.

"Are you and the Avatar…?" Katara paused, then gasped.

"Oh, no! He never knew any bender other than me before Aang returned. It took a little time before he adjusted to being in the minority. And when Toph joined up, she completely disregarded him as a fighter for a while. Then he saved her when that spear was heading for her and she couldn't see it."

"How does she see in the first place? Her eyes are covered with a cataract."

"A what?"

"A lens that covers the eyes, leaving most people blind. How can…Toph see?" Zuko asked again.

"Oh, she uses Earthbending to see with the earth, like wolf-bats use echoes to see the object in their way," explained Katara. "It's kinda difficult to explain unless you're Toph." She paused. "So her blindness is a medical condition or something?"

"Some people say that's it a curse, but I've never held much to Spirits," Zuko said. Katara frowned. That really didn't answer her question, but she wasn't going to push the matter. She was too tired.

"G'night."

Zuko woke up long before everyone else. Slowly, he checked that Katara was okay, then climbed down from Appa. He made sure everyone was still asleep, then headed off to a secluded area nearby. Meditation was long overdue.

He found a small area of trees not far off. After pulling small branches and piling them, Zuko lit them on fire. Finally. The former prince sat down and began to manipulate the flames using his breath.

In. Out. In. Out. Slowly, not too fast, or you'll burn down these trees. Dimly, Zuko registered that the stupid lemur of the Avatar had followed him. He opened his eyes.

Momo had a sugar-baked apple in his hand, meaning someone was up…and torturing Zuko with the smell of his favorite baked fruit, probably his uncle. Zuko stood and went back to camp, promising to give the worst death glare he could to Iroh.

He couldn't exactly hold to that promise when he saw the young Avatar making the apples. "Oh, there you are, Zuko. Iroh! You were right."

The elderly general laughed. "Of course I'm right. No one knows my nephew as well as I do."

"Uncle, care to explain the sugar-baked apples?" Zuko asked, ignoring his previous comment.

"Oh, Miss Katara woke up shortly before I did. With nothing else to do, we began to talk about foods and such. She mentioned her favorite fruit was an apple and, when she could, she made sugar-baked apples. That reminded me it was your favorite as well," explained Iroh.

"And where does the Avatar come in?"

"Young Aang woke up during our conversation and decided, instead of just talking, he was going to make them. Master of all four elements and an accomplished cook; you'll make a young lady very happy one day, young Avatar." Aang blushed furiously and mumbled something about he's only just thirteen and girls still seemed a little foreign to him.

Zuko rolled his eyes. He dimly recalled that, even now, he was skeptical around young attractive women. Azula fell into that category, so his skepticism was acceptable.

Katara giggled at the reaction from Zuko. "Are you telling me you're a lady's man?" she asked. Iroh looked at her wide-eyed.

"Spirits, no! I go through a lot of trouble setting him up on a date and what does he do? He runs away when the girl tries to kiss him, saying 'it's complicated'! Hmph." Zuko glared at Iroh.

"All you did was tell the girl I was going when I had no desire to! She wasn't even good-looking, not to mention what would have happened had she found out who I was!" Zuko retorted.

Katara smiled kindly. "Oh, I'm sure this girl wouldn't have run off screaming."

Zuko huffed. "I highly doubt that."

Toph laughed, then turned to Aang, sightlessly. "Whaddya want to do now? Wake up Sleeping Beauty over there or what?" Aang smirked in a way not expected with a monk. He grabbed a sugared apple.

"I'd like to go now."

"We're not going anywhere until this stupid sugary goop is out of my hair! Who put Aang up to it?"

"Not me."

"I'm stuck up here with a broken leg and arm. I can't put anyone up to anything."

"As much as I wish I could, I cannot claim this prank as my idea."

Sokka turned to Zuko.

"Even suggest it and I'll introduce fried Water Tribe warrior to the pumas in the Burning Mountains," Zuko threatened. "It's not my fault the world's only hope is a thirteen-year-old with a weird sense of humor."

"Hey, at least I have a sense of humor," Aang quipped. "I don't think I've ever seen you laugh or smile. And hanging around me, that means something's wrong."

"It's impossible not to be entertained around Sleeping Beauty and Twinkle Toes," agreed Toph. Zuko turned away.

"I don't laugh." With that, he began to pack up.

"What's up with him?" Sokka muttered. Iroh merely shook his head.

Grr...damn writer's block was the reason it took so long to get the freakin' chapter out, and it's a short one at that. Grr, sorry.