Sorry it's a little late - but I am on a roll and I know how to finish it now! :D Kaelan xx

Zuko POV

'What do you want from me?' I could hear the cry repeating over and over in my mind.

'What do you want?' She cried again, her voice slowly becoming muffled and subdued. She was giving up.

'Katara...' I mumbled softly, resting my head against the coldness of the iron bars.

My prison was not elaborate, the bare simplicity engulfing me - becoming my world.

I gazed around me again, looking for an escape - anything.

'I want you to cry, dammit girl. I want you to suffer - to make your little Zuko hurt. Tell him what I'm doing. Break his little heart.' Zhao's voice snarled, followed quickly

by the sharp sting of a slap on flesh. Her flesh.

'Katara!' I cried again, louder this time. I had never felt so helpless, so useless.

'Why Iroh... why did you do this to me?' I moaned, writhing in my pain, my suffering. It was no use now - it had no meaning any more.

All my hopes were with Katara. And like Katara - they were getting shattered, piece by piece.

3rd Person POV

Katara shrank in the corner, her face shielded by arms that trembled with such fragility - it would touch any man's heart.

Anyone's but General Zhao's. The man was as unfeeling as the frost that coats the winter homes of the Water Nation and as bitter as the North Wind that blows on

the shattered destruction of the Air Nation.

Zhao knew that the return of Ursa would result in civil war. He knew that the coming of Zuko would mean an uprising against Ozai.

He needed the Crown Prince on his side, he needed his loyalty to remain in power. To bring Ozai down.

He needed the Prince to bring down the Fire Lord. Before he killed him and took the throne for himself. Fire Lord Zhao.

And for that, he needed to persuade the Prince. He would do it with the little, Water Nation girl.

Ursa POV

'Why? Iroh...' I gazed at the usually jovial man, sat arms abreast and a firm scowl on his bearded face.

'Because...' He pursed his lips impatiently at me, his golden eyes silently disapproving me.

'I had to check that you were okay, Ursa. I haven't seen you in nearly seven years. Zuko... He needed you.' Iroh let the words hang in the air before I snatched at them.

'I know. I know, Iroh.' I said heavily - it was a known secret - my banishment. Fire Nation traitor, it had been scandalous. Especially as I was married to the Fire Prince.

'You know... You know that if I could have changed things - they would have been different.' I choked, my emotions causing a lump to rise in my throat.

'I did what you asked of me Ursa, I have protected the boy.' Iroh nodded, placing a hand comfortingly on mine.

I nodded, tears beginning to form.

'If there was any way... If only... you know that I would have stayed. I would have stayed to watch my Zuko grow up. I would have been his mother...' I wept freely.

Iroh nodded in sympathy.

'We cannot change the past, Ursa. We cannot alter your decision to save Zuko. But we can save him now. Zhao has him and the Avatar locked away on a battle ship.'

I nodded, this too was a known secret. Zhao couldn't resist bragging and pretty soon, word had spread across the lands.

'The girl, the Water Bender who travels with the Avatar, you know who she is - don't you Ursa?' Iroh smiled, looking more like his familiar self.

I nodded, a small smile passing my lips - this I did know.

'Where do you think I have been for the past seven years, Iroh? I have much to tell you...'