Can't apologize enough for the wait you all had...Just please forgive me, and I can guarantee you'll see another update by next week...

Well, chapter Ocho is here...so, enjoy!

As the almost full moon shone through the window, Katara couldn't help but feel restless, for more reasons than one.

It was well after midnight, yet the waterbender was wide awake and pacing in her small room in the Air Temple. After dinner, Zuko had asked her to wait up for him as he passed her his empty dinner bowl. Katara was positive no one but Toph had noticed her heart rate jump or the blush across her cheeks as she nodded her head a fraction of an inch.

She wondered what Zuko wanted to talk about...or if he even wanted to talk. She felt her face heating up as she involuntarily thought of her and Zuko doing...things. She stole a glance at the bed and almost felt her dinner coming back up.

It's not that she didn't find Zuko attractive enough for such...activities. But it was the principle thought. Having that kind of contact with him would be awkward because while she guessed he was plenty experienced from his years with Mai, she was nowhere near his level. Katara mentally kicked herself. She didn't even know where their current relationship stood. If their even was a relationship...

She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't hear the soft knock at her door. She continued her pacing and nearly screamed when she turned around to find herself face to face with Zuko.

"Zuko!" her eyes widened in surprise as she took in the sight of firebender in front of her. "I..you scared me."

"I'm sorry," he said keeping his voice low. "I knocked but you didn't answer so I came in." he regarded her for a moment. "Are you alright?"

Katara nodded quickly. Like she was going to tell him otherwise. "Yes I'm fine." she turned and made her way to the bed. "You wanted to talk to me?"

Zuko gulped. He took in her appearance. She was breathtaking in a simple blue robe with her hair loosely braided over her shoulder. Zuko could see a bit of the white fabric beneath that he knew to be her underclothes. He pushed mental images from his head. He came here tonight with a purpose, he reminded himself.

"I..I did want to talk to you." he stammered, then corrected himself. They needed to set things, whatever 'things' were, straight. "No, we've got to talk."

Katara gave him a weird look. "Ok." She looked around nervously and perched on the end of the bed. "Sit with me."

Zuko nodded and made his way to the bed. He sat a little less than a foot away from her.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Zuko had been rehearsing what he would say to her ever since Toph's story. He didn't understand why he had to though, in the past, whenever they would chance to meet, the words would always come so easily when he talked to Katara. Maybe it was the concept that his next words to her would keep her from being with him. He blamed Toph.

"What are you thinking about Zuko?" Katara asked, breaking him of his thoughts.

"You." he responded, almost involuntarily. He watched the slight surprise in her eyes, but she hid it well, as she always did. "I'm in love with you, but you already knew that." he chuckled softly. He looked up to see her glance away.

"I love you, too Zuko." Katara said. "Why are you telling me something I already know?"

Zuko wondered how he would phrase this. He knew ultimatums did not sit well with the waterbender. And to just tell her that they had to tell Aang or he would go...well that was just unacceptable.

"Because I have to do the honorable thing here Katara." He took a deep breath. "How am I to teach the Avatar firebending, be a mentor to him...if I can't be honest with him?"

Katara didn't speak, she just looked up at him. Her deep eyes, the ones that rivaled that of the ocean, stirred something deep in his core. He continued to speak.

"It's no secret that Aang has feelings for you. You know this, and yet...you still went and found love elsewhere. And with someone completely opposite you."

"What are you getting at, Zuko?" Katara asked, slightly afraid of what he would tell her. She knew very well how Aang felt about her. And for the life of her, she couldn't see how he could be so naïve to not realize that she had never once returned those same feelings.

Zuko regarded her wearily. "I want to be with you. For as long as I can. But...we have to tell Aang. It's the only way I can bear to face him."

"It'll break his heart." Katara said with a frown.

"You mother him." Zuko laughed quietly.

"He's never had a mother." Katara reminded him. "I lost my mother, and you did too. But at least you knew her. Can you imagine never knowing her at all?"

"I wouldn't be sitting here with you right now." Zuko admitted. "My mother always brought out the good in Ozai. He wouldn't have scarred me, or banished me if she was still with us. She would have never allowed it."

"I'm sorry." Katara reached her hand up and with her thumb, lightly massaged the place right under his previously scarred eye.

"Stop saying sorry Katara," Zuko murmured. He eyes slid shut as he relaxed under her touch. He reveled in the fact that one day, this could be his. One day, if fate allowed, he would be able to relax under her touch for the rest of his life. If only...

"We have to tell Aang." he breathed. Katara removed her hand and he opened his eyes. "It's the right thing to do."

"I can't stand to hurt him, Zuko." Katara said helplessly. "What would I say to him?"

"You could tell him the truth." Zuko said seriously. "He deserves that much. You can tell him that you do love and care about him, just not the way he feels about you."

"You make it sound so..simple." Katara looked at her hands folded neatly in her lap.

"Toph told me, that his love for you was his driving force." Katara looked up at him, questions in her eyes. "Because he's got so much weighing on his shoulders, fighting for peace, saving the world, restoring his people, his love for you makes him stronger."

Katara shook her head sadly. "Toph said that?"

Zuko shrugged. "In so many words."

"I can't do this." Katara shook her head more vigorously. "Not after that. It will crush him."

"Or it'll make him stronger." Zuko added. "Uncle once said that if something doesn't kill you, it will make you stronger."

"Your Uncle is a wise man." Katara sighed.

"Yes he is. I'm sorry I've ever taken him for granted." Zuko looked down in shame. But oh if his Uncle could see him now...

For a while they sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Zuko debated pressing the issue with Aang further, but he knew that would only make her dig her heels in more. So he would wait. As long as she felt on the fence about it, he wouldn't do much to push her off.

Somewhere during their quiet time, Zuko had pulled Katara close, wrapping a safe, warm arm around her, letting her know that he would always be there. And also letting her know that he was the one comforting her...not Aang.

"I'll tell him." Katara said at last. "But not until he knows the basics of firebending. That way if he gets too upset...and he takes off or..you leave, he'll at least know all four elements."

"If that does happen..you know I'll follow you anywhere right?" Zuko just needed her to know. Whatever happened, he would NEVER stop loving her.

"I know." Katara replied. "And I would follow you, too. Until the end of the world. And then into the Spirit World as well."

"Or...when we end this war, you can follow me into a new era. One with peace, and happiness."

Katara locked eyes with him, her blue eyes seemed to stare right through his gold ones. "I'd love to."

"I'm afraid Princess that I do not understand the grounds for your visit."

Azula, Mai and Ty lee had reached the Boiling Rock by midday and were now currently strolling the halls with Mai's uncle, The Warden.

"Oh it's nothing serious." Azula said smoothly. "There's just a few prisoners here I would like to talk to concerning the Avatar and his whereabouts."

The Warden cocked a curious eyebrow. "I was not aware that any of the Avatar's friends were in here. I thought that prisoners caught during the eclipse were kept in the Capital Prison."

"Well, Father seemed to think that putting them in the middle of the Fire Nation's most secure area was the best option. I can't say that I agree. Here, they will rot."

Ty lee pretended not to hear the level of viciousness in her voice.

The Warden turned a hard eye on the young princess. "Very well, Princess. Who would you like to see first?"

Azula glanced at Mai. "There's a girl. The leader of the Kyoshi Warriors. Her name is Suki, I believe."

The Warden gave a cruel chuckle. "Ah, the young brunette. I'm well acquainted with her, if I do say so myself."

Mai swallowed bile in the back of her throat. Ty lee placed a small hand on her shoulder that she shrugged off obvious. Mai ignored the hurt look on her friend's face.

Azula held up a well manicured hand to prevent the man from saying anything more than she wanted to hear. As long as the girl suffered as much as possible that was enough for her. "Say no more. Just show us to her cell."

The Warden nodded and led the girls in silence to a seemingly deserted area of the prison. He stopped outside of a huge metal door. "This is where we keep those who fought against us on the Day of Black Sun. All those acquainted with the Avatar.

"How fitting, Zuzu will already have a spot picked out when we find him and his little friends." Azula smirked at the look of hurt that flashed across Mai's stoic features.

The Warden pulled a key from his pocket and opened the huge door. On the opposite side, were four heavily armed guards. They all bowed at the sight of the menacing Princess and the Warden. He continued to lead them through a dank, metal passage where another door stood. Once again, the Warden extracted a key and opened the door. Four more guards stood amidst a long row of jail cells.

In the cell closest to the door, Ty lee saw a man hunched over, his back to them. She felt a surge of pity. The whole thought of prisons and jails was scary to her, but this...this was unnatural. She had been through nearly the entire Boiling Rock on their way down here, and she heard the noises. The shouts and jeers from the prisoners within. But down here, as the Warder led then past rows and rows of cells, they were all silent. And she knew the cells held people, because she'd seen them. What was worse was, none of them looked at her or Azula or Mai or The Warden with hatred or disgust. They were just blank looks. Oddly, Ty lee thought she even saw some looks of pity. It was unnerving.

Mai recognize a few of the Kyoshi warriors, but she paid them no mind. She could care less. To her left, she saw Azula sneering at the prisoners. No doubt she knew most of them by face...

As they passed empty cells, Azula made mental notes of where she would put her enemies. I'll put that pesky little earthbender there, except I'll burn her feet first...Then I'll put that sorry excuse for a warrior there; or maybe I'll just put his boomerang through his heart... And that water tribe girl. She'll go in that one. No, maybe I'll keep as a special toy to play with...

"Princess." Azula was snapped from her thoughts. She looked up to see that they were standing in front of the Kyoshi Warrior's cell. "Should I stay-"

"No." Azula replied sharply. "We can find our way back." The Warden nodded and left, after opening the cell.

Azula stepped inside and she ignored the chilly air. There, lying on the small cot was the warrior who she so easily impersonated while taking down Ba Sing Se. The cell was big enough to allow Mai to sulk in the corner, and Ty lee to keep safe distance from the princess if she got violent.

Azula watched the girl laying on her cot. She looked completely at ease with her left arm pillowing her head and her right arm resting on her bended right knee. The fact that she seemed so calm in the face of Azula upset, yet intrigued her. Not for long.

"Get up," she spat through her teeth. "We're going to have a little chat."

She raised her head a fraction of an inch to see, then went back to her original position. They heard Suki give a single, hollow laugh. "Well well well, if it isn't Crazy Bitch, Sulky Bitch, and Bendy Bitch."

Ty lee frowned a little at the crude nickname. Sure, she had a hand in landing the girl in prison, but it was ALL Azula. That was the only drawback to traveling with the Fire Princess. When people hated Azula, they tended to hate Ty lee and Mai as well. Not that Mai cared...

Azula eyes glinted evilly. "That's very clever. Did you think of that all on your own?"

Suki shrugged. "Sulky Bitch used to be Senbon Bitch, but some of the other girls thought that wasn't offensive enough. Flexy Bitch sounded stupid. But you," Suki gave that hollow laugh again. "You've been Crazy Bitch from the very beginning."

Azula gave a feral snarl and before anyone could see it coming, she had hurled a blue flame right at Suki. It landed on the wall right beside her bed, and right above her face. "You filthy peasant, I could have your head for that!" she yelled.

Suki was unfazed. "Oh really?" she sat up in bed, giving the girls a good look at her. Her brown hair hung to her shoulders, but it had lost it's shine. He bright, brown eyes were cold and seemed to burn right through Azula with the purest hatred. Even Mai regarded her wearily. "I'm so. Scared."

The following night at dinner, the occupants of the Western Air Temple were unusually quiet. Zuko and Katara not speaking. Aang and Toph not speaking, and Sokka ignoring the lot of them. Haru, Teo, and the Duke wisely did not try and force conversation the teens. That would only lead to awkwardness none of them cared for.

After dinner, Katara busied herself and pretended to not see Sokka wander off after Zuko. If he attacked the firebender, she was well aware that Zuko could handle his self.

Sokka found Zuko hanging out with Appa on the ledge of the temple. It was surprising, at the least, that the huge beast got along with Zuko so well. Many nights, Zuko just sat with Appa. He didn't talk to him like Aang did, but he liked to think they had a certain level of understanding.

"Hey Zuko,"

Zuko looked up to see Sokka standing above him. He nodded. "Sokka. What can I do for you?"

"I was uh, wondering if I could ask you something." Sokka stated firmly, as if to say he would ask it anyway. Zuko shrugged, and the warrior took a seat next to him. "Where do the Fire Nation keep their prisoners?" he said simply.

Zuko started for a moment. That was the last thing he expected from Sokka. "The Capital Prison is where most prisoners are sent. Why do you ask?"

Sokka shrugged nonchalantly and looked around. "Just wondering. But you said most prisoners. Where is everyone else?"

Zuko shook his head. "How about you tell me why you're asking? Then I'll see if I want to disclose that."

Sokka stared at him hard, his blue eyes just as piercing as his sister's. Then they softened and he looked down. "It's my dad. On the Day of Black Sun he and the other warriors stayed behind as prisoners so the rest of us could get away. I just want to know where he is."

Zuko shook his head. "Prisoner of War. You're better off not knowing. Trust me."

Sokka looked up sharply. "No. You'll tell me where he is. I can handle it. Did they...kill him?"

"No they didn't kill him I'm sure. But...where he is. It's not very pleasant."

"Tell me!" Sokka said fiercely.

Zuko looked at Sokka, the fierce determination in his eyes. If someone knew where his mother was, but refused to tell him, he would be having the same reaction. In reality, he had been having that same reaction his whole life...

"The Boiling Rock." He said finally. "The most secure place, in the entire Fire Nation. It's a prison, located in the middle of a boiling lake in a volcano. They send people with the most crimes against the Fire Nation there. Prisoners of War included."

Sokka looked down. Zuko recognized the thoughtful expression on his face.

"Sokka going there would be suicide. There's no way anyone could sneak in there unnoticed."

Sokka got to his feet. He cast a skeptical look down at Zuko. "Who said I was sneaking in?"

…...

That night, Zuko couldn't sleep. His mind was filled with thoughts of Katara, Aang and...thanks to Sokka, the Boiling Rock. He didn't know which was driving him more crazy. The prospect of revealing to Aang that he loved Katara, or the fact that Sokka might be stupid enough to attempt a rescue mission to the Boiling Rock.

Around midnight, he still couldn't sleep. This time, a nagging instinct in the back of his mind kept him from keeping his eyes shut for longer than a minute. He decided that a walk would calm his nervous energy.

On his way to the common area, he passed by Katara's room. The breeze from her open window kept blowing open the curtain that served as a door. He could see right in. She was laying on her stomach, with her face turned towards the wall. From what Zuko could see, she was in just her underclothes; the just barely see through white wrappings that she sometimes practiced her bending in. Just thinking about it, Zuko felt his pants getting a tad bit tighter and he bit down on his lip hard and moved away from her room.

Out in the common area, he heard a noise. Instantly, he was on defense, creeping towards the sound which was coming from just outside.

He poked his head around the corner and saw Sokka loading a bag into the same war balloon Zuko arrived in days ago.

"I thought I explained to you that going to the Boiling Rock was suicide."

Sokka jumped at the sound of Zuko's voice, but kept working. "Well, I'd risk it, if I could try and save my dad." He turned to Zuko. "Look, I'm sorry, but you don't know what it's like to have a dad that would do anything for you. I do. And now I'm returning the favor."

Zuko sucked in a breath. Sokka was right. He didn't know how that felt.

"You're right Sokka." Zuko admitted aloud. "But it's still dangerous. So I'm coming too."

Sokka's eyes got wide. Then he shook his head back and forth vigorously. "No. No, no. Aang's go to learn firebending. You've got to stay here and teach him."

Zuko scoffed. "Aang will be fine. But have you thought about your sister? How hurt she'd be if something happened to you? No, I'm coming to help. Plus, you need a firebender to work this thing." he gestured to the balloon.

Sokka sighed, but couldn't deny that it would be pretty hard to navigate the balloon without Zuko.

"Fine." he hissed. "Grab you stuff and be back here in 5 minutes."

Several moments later, the two boys were done loading up and Sokka was scribbling a note. He stuck it under a sleeping Momo and climbed in the basket after Zuko.

"Are you ready?" Zuko asked.

Sokka's eyes were wide, but he nodded. Zuko blasted fire into the small furnace, and silently as they could, they were off.

A/N

So, I'm hoping you all enjoyed this. I took some stuff from the script,

but then I changed it too...I DONT OWN A:TLA...

And, If you all were wondering what was up with Suki, well,

you try being locked in prison with the Warden torturing you

and you see where all your sunshine goes...

Reviews are welcome, and will let me know that I still have some

readers out there who don't hate me for not updating...

No pressure :)