Hey...so remember when I said life got in the way of my writing the latest chapter...well it happened again because I moved!

So after settling into my new place I've FINALLY finished the latest chapter. Enjoy!

Zhrek Chapter 12

"Well there it is Caldera City." Zuko says pointing towards the volcanic crater, watching as the excited Princess leans out the front of the basket to try and get a first glimpse at her future home. This was it, the home stretch; by the end of this day life would go back to the way it was before. SO why wasn't he happier about it? This whole trip had been about getting his home and his life back but now all he could think about was Princess Katara. After all this time the two of them had grown close and even a small part of himself admitted that he really cared for her, but it made no difference. If he didn't take her to the prince he'd likely send out an armada to burn Ember Island to a crisp – with him on it. Besides, what how could someone as kind, gentle and sweet ever want to be with the likes of him The Exile – feared by all and loved by no one. Keep the girl and lose his home, or keep his home and lose the girl. In Zuko's mind no matter what he did he'd come out the loser.

'What else is new?'

Aang could see the disappointment in Zuko's eyes as Katara looks out at the horizon, trying to see the city even though they were still a fair way away. This was it, time to make one last stand and see if he couldn't make things work between his friends and finally get them to admit their feelings for each other.

Zuko may act tough, but he was a different man around Katara. He seemed genuinely happy – not counting that first moment in the desert – and he was really opening up, mostly to the princess not to Aang of course but that was alright. It was his understanding that men don't talk to each other about personal things. But whatever Katara asked Zuko was there with an answer.

Katara it was now obvious that when they had first met her she was putting up a front, acting all innocent and womanly and how most fairy tale princesses were supposed to act. Underneath all that though Katara was actually pretty tough, she was smart and clever and could take care of herself and others too. There was no denying the two of them had a lot in common and that it helped the two of them bond, but as they were still headed for the Fire Nation capitol it clearly wasn't enough.

Aang couldn't sit by and watch them throw away a perfectly happy future together because the two of them were too stubborn or shy to say anything about it. "Zuko can we stop early, I don't feel so well."

"Aang I don't think that's a good idea," Zuko says not wanting to prolong this anymore than he has to, already catching on to Aang's game. The boy was obviously playing sick and he knew why, but he wasn't going to cater to him because he wanted to try his hand at playing matchmaker.

"I don't know Zuko, Aang does look a little pale," Katara says placing her hand gently on his forehead, and feeling absolutely nothing. "We probably should stop. One more night won't hurt anyone will it?"

'It'll hurt me.' He thinks to himself. Sighing as he brings down the balloon for a landing down by an old barn, long since abandoned and over-grown with an unobstructed view of the Caldera that housed the city by the same name. Everyone piles out of the balloon, Aang slumps down pathetically against the basket.

"I'll go find us something to eat." Zuko says heading into the woods, unsheathing his swords.

"I'll get some firewood." Aang now left alone, relaxes watching the two go their separate ways. It was only a matter of time now….

"This is really good, what is it?" Katara asks around a mouthful of food.

"It's Komodo-chicken, they're pretty common around here." Zuko smiles to himself, she really liked it. Having been locked in a desert castle it had probably been years since the princess had had any meat, so Zuko had been left to prepare the food. He'd actually been pretty nervous, the three of them had been eating like rabiroos since they'd started this journey – which was okay with Aang – since it was easier to travel with.

"You sure you don't want some Aang?" Zuko calls teasingly to Aang.

"I'm good." The young airbender replies sullenly, his back facing the other two who were happily eviscerating the komodo-chicken. He knew Zuko wasn't trying to be mean – this time – but was only teasing him about earlier. When Zuko had returned with their dinner Aang said he'd be fine with it and he was sort of. He was fine when Zuko had plucked and skinned the chickens, and promptly fainted when the gutting had started. So Aang went about his business, eating his lychee nuts and giving the other two some alone time, while still staying within eavesdropping distance of course.

"This is amazing."

"Thanks. It's good that you like it, they use meat in pretty much everything in the Fire Nation."

"Really, Aang must hate it there." The two of them share a laugh while Aang sulks at being the butt of their joke. He turns to the two of them and catches Zuko's attention 'tell her' he mouths to him and Zuko looks back at him quizzically. Aang starts gesturing between Zuko and Katara and making a heart shape with his hands and judging by how red Zuko goes, he finally gets the picture. He shakes his head and gives Aang a rude gesture with his hands before turning back to the princess.

Exasperated Aang rises, "I'm going for a walk."

"I'm sorry Aang, we didn't mean to make fun of you." The princess says covering her mouth and trying to stifle her laughter.

"No no, it's fine. I just want to stretch my legs, besides I'm sure you two will have plenty to talk about." Without another word Aang shuffles off into the forest. After a few feet he circles around, getting close to Zuko and Katara and their campfire, hoping Zuko would take his advice.

"Aang's been acting kind of weird lately hasn't he; it's not just me right?"

"No it's not just you," Zuko laughs, thinking of all the ways he was going to kill the little cue ball later. What was with him leaving the two of them alone, and all that…love stuff earlier. It was ridiculous, even if he did, hypothetically, l-love princess Katara what good would saying anything do? She was dead set on marrying prince Ozai and having that silly fairy tale ending. Just as Zuko was resigning himself to fate, he could hear Aang's voice in the back of his mind,

"if you allowed yourself to trust other people, they'll do the same in turn, they'll accept you."

'I cannot believe I'm doing this….' but looking at Katara, ringed by the fiery glow of the setting sun, it suddenly seemed less crazy, right even.

"Um princess?" this was it.

"Yes Zuko?" He opens his mouth to tell her how he feels, but looking into those deep, innocent blue eyes he just can't bring himself to do it. So instead he points lamely to the last piece of chicken, still skewered on the end of a makeshift kabob. "I, um, I was wondering are you – are you going to eat that."

The two immediately look away from each other, blushing intensely, one from embarrassment, the other in strange disappointment. Shaking it off Katara takes the chicken from the fire and holds it out to him, "Oh, no it's fine you can have it."

Muttering a lame thank you he reaches for it, and ends up placing his hand over Katara's. as though the two of them are linked by that small connection they simultaneously jump, feeling a small jolt like lightning when their hands touch and the two face each other, eyes locked and saying nothing.

"Wow, isn't this romantic? Just look at that sunset" Aang says appearing out of nowhere and placing a hand on each of their shoulders, causing the two of them to jump apart. Zuko clenches his fist the branch in his hand quickly catching fire as he fights down the urge to kill the airbender. This train of thought is derailed though as Katara shoots to her feet,

"Oh no, it can't be sunset already." She cries, clearly distressed.

"I see what's going on here" Aang says, you can practically here the smirk in his voice

"You do?"

"You do?" Zuko echoes, not believing Aang could figure his way out of a potato sack, let alone what was going on with the princess.

"Of course it's so obvious. You're afraid of the dark aren't you?"

"Yes…yes that's right I'm terrified of the dark." She says laughing nervously, which clearly meant that she was most definitely not afraid of the dark. "I'm just going to go to bed now, you know before the sun sets."

Katara runs up the steps into the barn, pausing at the door for only a moment to bid them a brief goodnight, then slams the door leaving the two boys alone. Zuko gives a melancholy sigh to which Aang raises an eyebrow.

"So…did you finally tell her?" Aang's voice brings Zuko out of the moment and he turns to glare at the young airbender, feeling his face heat up.

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh come on Zuko, a blind man could see you two obviously have feelings for each other."

Zuko shakes his head, rubbing his temples like Aang is giving him a headache, which he probably is. "Aang you're being ridiculous. I'm just bringing the princess back to Ozai, whatever you thought you saw was me realizing that this will all be over soon."

"Yeah, and I'm a four hundred foot tall purple platypus bear with pink horns and silver wings. Zuko you have to tell her how you feel." Aang says placing his hand on Zuko's shoulder. He can feel him tense under his hand but Zuko doesn't pull away, instead his shoulders slump in resignation

"There's nothing to tell…even if I did tell her, hypothetically, because I'm not saying that anything you've said is true...she's a princess, and I'm…."

"The Exile." Aang sighs, taking a seat. Without saying a word Zuko rises, shrugging off Aang's hand and walking away. "Where are you going?"

"To get more firewood," Zuko says, barely more than a whisper and stalks off into the growing night as the sun continues its descent below the horizon. Looking over at the already large pile of firewood Aang stands, but instead of going after Zuko he turns and starts walking towards the barn, it's time he and Katara have a little heart to heart.