A:n/ Sorry I've been away so long- turns out I didn't die! Er, I've got some really good ideas with how to end this now. So just keep reading and subscribe to my story! Kaelan xxx

Sokka POV

He was holding her.

Katara.

He had his slimy little hands around her-

-'Sokka?'

Aang pushed me sadly, his face an expression of a man that has lost his only love.

I forced myself to breathe normally.

'Aang? What is it?' I asked, almost calmly - my hands returning to balled fist mode.

'Just leave it, man. If she's happy with him...' Aang's voice broke slightly - I knew how much it was hurting him.

'But what if it's a mistake? What if that loser backstabs us and breaks her heart? What if -'

Again I was cut off.

-'Leave it Sokka. He's going to help us. Right now - we have to think of the quest. Of what we have to do - for everyone's sakes not just ourrs.' Aang instructed me wisely, he sounded way too grown up.

I glared at Zuko. Oh - if he dared to so much make Katara even think sad thoughts - he'd be sorry he'd ever turned his little red-coated ass near us!

Zuko POV

I could feel them glaring at me.

I could sense the way the heated glances and waves of hatred wafted in my direction.

Katara was snuggled in my arms, like a jigsaw piece. It felt so right, so final - we were finally together.

I knew at last - where my place was in life. What I was supposed to do.

I had to be by her side, I had to protect her.

'I love you.' I whispered as I brushed my lips across her caramel forehead. The feel of her against my mouth - made me burn with passion.

She stirred slightly, smiling in her dreams.

It made my stomach flip all over again.

'Zuko...?' She murmumred sleepily.

'Yes?' I squeezed her gently, letting my hand fall on her hair as I stroked it reassuringly.

'I... We'll always be together won't we?' She sounded scared.

I nodded in the darkness, solemnly taking the oath in my heart.

'Always. I will never leave you again.' I assured her, meaning it truly.

'Oh I wouldn't say that. Especially when you're making promises you can't keep.' A familiar voice echoed in the darkness.

I jerked upright, pushing Katara behind me.

'What are you doing here?' I shouted at the same time as Sokka and Aang who leapt into a defensive position.

'I wouldn't even bother - you're hopelessly outnumbered...' The man laughed at us cruelly, his hands twisting around his dagger.

'Light them up, boys!' He roared as the mass of soldiers lit their beacons - forming a circle of fire around us.

The man grinned around at his fire warriors.

We were at his mercy.

'Get them.' He snarled.

Before I knew it, Katara was being wrestled out my grasp and my hands were caught roughly and shoved behind my back.

The soldier behind me tied my wrists with such force - I felt the burn of the friction of skin and rope.

Katara was screaming and crying as the men tied her arms behind her too.

The leader smiled down at her with such a smile of cruelty - it made me physically sick.

'Oh, you are a pretty one. When my master's done with you - he might let me have you for seconds...' He tugged her hair violently, causing her to whimper in fear.

'Katara! Get your hands off her!' I screamed, trying to wriggle out of their grasp - but there were too many.

'Ah.. Prince Zuko.' The man turned to me with such sarcasm, I restrained myself from spitting in his face.

'After the little agreement... we wouldn't want to break our little bond would we? After all, my rewards will be great, now that we have found the Avatar.' He made a mock bow to me.

Katara's face drained of color.

'You did this? You betrayed us?' She practically screeched at me.

The look of contempt on Sokka and the Avatar's faces was predictable.

The look of horror on Katara's was heartbreaking.

'NO! NO I never - Katara I swear! I swear to you...' I fought furiously to defend myself.

The man laughed at our despair.

'No my little beauty, it was not your beloved prince who betrayed you. But I would let you know, Zuko. Someone very close to you betrayed us... turns out he's partial to a cup of tea after all...'

No.

'NO - You're lying! Not Iroh! Not Uncle - he wouldn't do that to me!' I started to wriggle again - fighting to get free so that I could rip his filthy face off.

'He might for a price.'

'What price? What price could possible be high enough?' I spat at him.

The man turned to face me with a smirk of such cruelty - it made my blood freeze.

'Your mother.'

What? But she's dead. He's lying he has to be lying. I thought to myself - shock and panic rising by the milisecond.

The man motioned to his men to place bags over our heads.

I made sure my last sight was of him, before we got karted away.

Him.

With that evil smile.

General Zhao.