Well here it is... Can anyone tell me what song lyrics I used in this chapter? The lyrics just seemed to fit.

Missing

A Hero Always Comes Home

Late that night Zoe got up. She packed all of her belongings into a small bag. Zoe made her bed. She unrolled a piece of parchment and began to write. When she was finished she rolled it up and put it at the foot of her bed. Zoe put on her cloak and picked up her bag. She started towards the window. She looked back remembering the old man and all he had done for her. The closet thing she had to a father. And she was going to break his heart by running away like this. She climbed out the window, tears rolling down her face. When her feet hit the ground she ran and didn't look back.

In the morning Iroh went to wake Zoe.

"Zoe the sun has risen! A firebender should be-" Iroh stopped short when he saw the parchment.

"No." He whispered. He unrolled it.

Dear Iroh,

Please, please forgive me but I won't be home again. Maybe one day you'll look up very conscious and say to no one "Isn't something missing?" You won't cry for my absence I know. You forgot me long ago. But I'm leaving now. You can't stop me so please don't try. You helped me through so much. You gave me hope when I had none. But now Hope 

is dead. I have nothing now. I won't let you take care of me. It's not fair. And when I see Zuko, I'm reminded of Hope. I want to forget. But some things don't go away. You can't help me anymore. I can take care of myself. Don't look for me. Please.

Love,

Zoe

A tear rolled down Iroh's cheek. Zuko walked into the room.

"She left didn't she?" Iroh didn't respond. Zuko took the parchment and read it. He sighed. Why should I go find her and bring her back?

Because Iroh loves her like a daughter. Zuko walked out of the room leaving Iroh alone. Zuko walked into Katara's room. She was sleeping. He woke her up. Katara bolted upright.

"What?" She asked irritably.

"Zoe ran away. I need your help to find her."

"Why are you looking for her?"

"Because Uncleloves her like a daughter." Katara sighed.

"Ok." Katara packed her bag. She walked up to Sokka told him that she was going away for awhile. Then she told Toph.

"With who Sugarqueen?"

"Zuko."

"I knew you to would end up together." Toph laughed.

"But who knew you'd have a crush on the Avatar?" Zuko fired back. Toph blushed.

"I'm gonna kill you Sparky!" Toph rolled over and fell asleep.



Zuko and Katara walked into the forest. Katara knelt down.

"What is it?"

"Zoe's ying yang necklace."

"Then we better hurry."

Zoe was running. The sun was rising in the sky. They were going to look for her. She heard the river gurgling. In the back of her mind she heard laughing.

A young girl was laughing.

"Zoe look what I can do!" Hope cried. She raised some water and made it into a heart.

"It's pretty Hope." The girl splashed it onto Zoe.

"Hey!" Zoe cried. Hope ran. Zoe ran after her. They were laughing. Suddenly an ostrich horse ran by. Zoe jumped onto Hope and pushed her out of the way.

"I'm always gonna keep you safe."

"How?"

"I just will."

Zoe smiled. There was a time when she could smile, when she could laugh.

Zoe ran up to the Guard and pinned him to the wall.

"Where is Hope?"

"Hope-Hope the waterbender?"

"Yes." Zoe bended the water into an icicle. She pointed it at the guard's chest.

"She's-she's"



"Spit it out!"

"She died. A-a year ago." Zoe became furious.

"You're lying!"

The alarms sounded. Zoe ran to the exit. Tears stung her eyes.

Zoe closed her eyes and shook out the memory. But it was always there. Some wounds run so deep they never show up and pain so intense that it can't be healed. Zoe reached for her necklace and realized it was gone. The small thing had always brought her comfort. It was her security blanket. It helped her remember who she was. Even if she didn't want to remember. But that one thing that brought her comfort was gone. And so was everything else that mattered. It was all gone. And Zoe couldn't get it back.

I tried for some Taang fluff. I think I failed miserabely. Tiny Zutara fluff in the next chapter. But it will be either tiny or medium. If I'm in a fluff mood then it shall kill my chapter. But I'm not usally in a fluff mood.