Sorry for COMPLETELY ignoring the kind reviews you all gave me ):] I promise I'll respond to the reviews for this chapter in the next chapter!

o0o0o

Chapter 29

Rain slammed against Aang's body as he leaped through trees, over rocks, and across streams. Wet mud, dirt, and grass covered him from head to toe. He wasn't positive, but there might have been some blood mixed in as well. A few times he had lost track how long he had been running, ant at one point he almost gave up. But he couldn't, he had to get back to Katara as fast as he could. No matter how much strength it would take, no matter how long he had to run.

Aang scowled, and froze. Alright, this is enough. He drew a large breath, and let out a huge gust of wind, that was soon miles behind him. He took off at full speed, using as much air as he possibly could, and charged north. He ran and ran, until his knees wobbled and he could almost count how many blisters he had with out even looking at them. As soon as he felt the least bit safer, he decided he had to rest. He sighed in relief as he saw a small entrance to a cave just up ahead. He hurried into the shade, sighing again as he let his back slide against the cool wall of the cave. Aang let his hand wander to the top of his head, almost automatically reaching for his new wound. He blinked as he also felt something else: hair. He groaned, Maybe I should just let it grow out. He let his eyes close, and his mind ease. The sound of the rain slamming against the cave slowly faded into silence, as Aang entered a deep sleep.

---

Zuko winced at the site of his palace, what was he going to do? Just walk right in, after disappearing for days without any exclamation to anyone about where he was, or what he was doing?

"What's wrong?" Mai asked, finally noticing he was no longer walking beside her.

Zuko shook his head,"Just forget it." He muttered.

Even if Mai barely remembered him at all, she could tell he was avoiding something. But, she couldn't tell how to deal with it. She huffed, and followed after him up to the palace.

o0o0o0o

To Zuko's surprise, the guards greeted him at ease. Unfortunately, the servants didn't have the same reaction. They didn't even have a similar reaction. Instead of greeting him, they scowled at him and avoided him.

As soon as Mai noticed the change in atmosphere, she turned towards Zuko. His expression showed he was genuinely confused.

"Now what is it?" She asked, trying not to sound annoyed.

Zuko frowned,"I don't know..." He decided just to ignore it, and headed towards the garden where he knew his mother would be.

---

Katara leaned against her window sill, watching some children playing hide-and-explode near the entrance of the palace.... Definitely not a game she'd ever want her children to play. She tightened her grip around her knees at the thought of her children. She remembered the time at Aunt Wu's village, where she was told she would produce two children of her own and three grandchildren in her lifetime. Katara shivered, then propped an eyebrow. She had always set her mind on three to four kids, but maybe that'd change... Then, she shivered again. Having kids means having... Katara shook her head, and.... Aang. She froze.

"Oh boy..." She whispered to herself.

"What?" Came Sokka's voice from the thrush hold.

Katara jumped and spun around,"What? Oh, nothing." She blabbed quickly, preparing an excuse if he asked again.

He just shrugged.

"Suki and I are going to the doctor's today... We were wondering if you, I don't know, wanted to... Come along?" Sokka asked.

She blinked,"Oh, sure... For what?" Katara bit her lip, she was still shuddering from that thought from earlier.

"We want to see if it's a boy or a girl." He said with a smile.

Katara smiled back,"Really? You think it's late enough to tell?"

He nodded,"Probably... And Katara?"

She hesitated,"Yeah?"

Sokka frowned,"Are you doing okay?"

Katara almost felt insulted, what had he meant by you? "I'm fine." She lied. She was the complete opposite of fine. Aang was gone, it seemed like nobody cared about finding him, her father was preparing to leave for the South Pole again, and now a new thought swarmed in her mind.

Now she was just angry.

"Actually, I can't go." Katara said suddenly.

He looked up,"What? What do you mean you can't come? Why-"

She cut him off,"Because, I have to find Aang."

---

Ursa stared out at the sky, and faked a smile as she saw her son and his girlfriend make their ways up to her.

"Mai!" Ursa gasped, not only because they had found her, but because of how big she was... And how frail she looked. "Mai..." She repeated, this time less cheerful.

Zuko looked down. Ursa stood up and went to hug Mai, then turned to Zuko.

"Did.. Where..?" She didn't have to finish.

"I'll explain later." Explaining in front of Mai would just make her feel worse.

Ursa stared at the ground for a moment, then perked up trying to brighten the mood. "But, you found her. You'll have to go wake up Ty Lee, she'll be thrilled."

Zuko frowned, he wasn't ready to let Mai go just yet. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her against him, just to prove his point. Ursa would of giggled, but his expression was so serious she was shivering. She quickly formed another fake smile, that Zuko could see right through.

"Are you alright?" He asked, his serious expression was now full of concern.

She nodded,"Yes, why?"

His frown deepened. She sighed,"It's nothing."

They were interrupted by Mai's stomach growling, and he quickly headed towards the kitchen. Just before they went inside, he shot Ursa a we're-not-finished look. She shook her head, and went back to watching the clouds.

---

Aang's eyes sprung open as he jolted forwards. He whirled around and saw the sun was pretty much in the same position, which meant he hadn't overslept. He sighed in relief, and cracked his knuckles, preparing to blast away. But before he did, he remembered something.

"Wait..." Aang spun in a clumsy circle, searching for the cave he had fallen asleep in earlier. Now, he was surrounded by trees. "Where..." He shook his head, sleep walking at a time like this?. There was no time to worry about it. He gathered as much air as he could and blasted it behind him as he sprung forward. He kept going in the same direction as last time, hoping he would find the cave. To his relief, he found the mountain he had to go up earlier to reach the cave. He froze.

"How did I sleep walk down a mountain?"He wondered aloud, then shook his head again. Focus. He warned, then used airbending as a shortcut up the cliff. But his thoughts didn't settle down. Something was weird...

When he was halfway up the side of the mountain, his body started to slow down. What's going on?! He tried to yell, but nothing happened. A second passed, and he was a few feet above the ground. He tried to use airbending to keep him from crashing, but he couldn't move. He couldn't even see. It was like his body was forcing him to sleep.

---

"Mai," Ty Lee started, her voice barely audible. "Mai!" She started again, this time shouting. Ty Lee threw her arms around her.

"I thought you were there when we got her back." Toph said, resting her head against the table.

"I was but I fainted.... Remember?" Ty Lee shot at her. Mai just blinked and stared at her in confusion.

"What's wrong?!" Ty Lee asked, not noticing she was shouting right in Mai's face.

Toph groaned,"She doesn't know who you are, smart one."

"What?!?!" Ty Lee shouted again, somehow managing to make her voice an octave higher.

"She lost her memory." Toph replied nonchalantly, turning her head to face the wall.

Ty Lee's jaw dropped, she couldn't believe what she had just heard.

"Mai! How can you not remember me?! I'm your best friend! You have to remember-"

"Apparently, shouting in someones face ''You have to remember" doesn't actually help them remember." Toph snapped.

Ty Lee frowned,"Well sorry I'm surprised to hear my best friend in the whole world lost her memory." Toph rolled her eyes and shrugged.

"How did you lose your memory? Er- What can you remember?" Ty Lee asked, wide-eyed.

"I r-remember..... I mean, I remember something but... I don't know when it was..." Mai trailed off.

"What is it?" Ty Lee asked, leaning in.

Mai clenched her fists, and tried to concentrate on the only memory she had.

"It was nighttime."

"Was it with Zuko?!?!" Ty Lee asked, leaning in even closer.

Mai blushed,"N-no!"

Toph snorted, and rolled her eyes again.

"I was outside and then.." Mai closed her eyes,"And then I couldn't see... And then I was inside... And that's all..."

Ty Lee's mouth fell open,"Do you think it was the night you were captured?!"

Mai kept her eyes on the floor,"Maybe..."

---

Zuko eyed his mother and folded his arms. "What is it?"

Ursa sighed,"It's nothing.. I mean I was just thinking about..." She bit her lip.

"About what?" Zuko challenged, deepening his frown.

"About..." She sighed again in defeat,"Ozai."

"Why." It wasn't a question. He clenched his jaw.

Ursa was quiet for a moment, then leaned back up against the tree by the turtle-duck pond. "He used to be so different... I don't know what happened." She smiled,"He used to be a lot like you, actually."

Zuko blinked,"What?!"

She nodded,"He even used to smile. But then... His mother started getting sick and, it really... Changed him." Ursa decided that that seemed to be the right word.

Zuko stared in disbelief, then quickly shook his head. He couldn't even imagine Ozai showing emotion for anything.

"I'll be inside." He muttered, and headed towards the doors.

"Wait!" Ursa called after him. He hesitated.

"I want you to have this." She gave him a small smile, and handed him a betrothal necklace.

His mouth fell open at the sight of it, it was covered in white crystal, covered in smaller red and white crystals.

"It's..." Zuko couldn't find a word to describe it.

"I know. Ozai gave this to me, before his mother was ill."

"Da- ... Ozai?!" Zuko moaned, and shook his head. He always imagined Ozai giving his mother a piece of coal in the shape of a heart or something... But he never thought he would even think to get her anything like this.

"I know how you feel about Mai." She started, and took his hand into hers. "I want you to give this to her, when you're ready."

Zuko slowly nodded, and tucked the necklace into his shirt pocket. Ursa gave him a small hug before departing into the kitchen, and left Zuko staring at his reflection in disbelief.

':O See, I'm not dead!...xD

Please review!!! I promise I'll update faster next time ;D