As I ease back into continuing this story, enjoy chapter twelve! Re-read the previous chapters if you need a refresher.

As the year went by, no one heard anything from Aang or Zuko's parents. Nothing from Katara or Mai either. They both felt really detached from their previous day-to-day lives, which was mostly a good thing, but it was also sad that there wasn't a way for them to be accepted in their old environment.

Azula and Ty Lee would often come by, and sometimes they would go out, or Azula would go visit her, but they spent most of their time nearby or on the beach. The weather was always warm, since the Fire Nation was full of volcanic hot springs. It was obvious to Aang and Zuko that Azula was beginning to fall in love with Ty Lee. Her whole attitude had changed, and she even seemed to have more self confidence. While she used to always put her hair up, she would leave it down from time to time. She really was beginning to discover her own beauty. A once selfish, egotistic princess had become a caring sister, friend to Aang, and a very special someone to Ty Lee.

While they had finally been able to feel at ease, Aang and Zuko had little inkling that something bad was coming their way. Ozai finally had enough of waiting for his son to come back, and was on his way to Azula's to make an attempt at taking Zuko home. He truly couldn't stand the idea that he and Aang were together- and it wasn't just that it was Aang; Ozai simply didn't believe in homosexuality. Not only did he think it was wrong, he also thought it was fake, and didn't even exist; that it was nothing more than confusion within some individuals.

Meanwhile, Zuko and Aang were upstairs watching a movie together, and Ty Lee had taken Azula over to her house.

Everything got quiet just as their movie was ending, and Aang heard a door click shut downstairs.

"Zuko, did you hear that?"

"Yeah, it's probably just Azula," he reassured.

"But she isn't supposed to be back until tonight," Aang persisted. "I'll just go say hi to her just to make sure I wasn't hearing things.

"Okay, if that'll make you feel better, go right ahead. I'm not going anywhere," said Zuko, nonchalantly.

When Aang got downstairs, he didn't hear anything.

"Azula?" He called.

There was no reply.

By the time Aang got to the kitchen, it was too late. All he heard was a thud, then a muffled scream, so he ran upstairs to see what it was.

Zuko wasn't there.

"Oh no," Aang said, in disbelief. "I've got to help him."

Aang didn't know for sure who was responsible for Zuko's disappearance, but he did know that he had to get him back.

As fast as he could get his shoes on, Aang ran out the door, and bolted down the road towards an escaping vehicle. He had no proof that it Zuko was in it, but he knew it was the one. As far as he could tell, it was just a sports car with tinted glass. The way it rapidly accelerated as Aang drew near, it became pretty obvious.

Aang was running as fast as he could, but the car kept speeding up, and he couldn't catch it. His feet were starting to rub against his shoes, so he threw them off and went barefoot. The distance between him and the car was widening a great deal. He continued to run, even though the car had vanished in the distance in a matter of minutes.

It was getting harder and harder to breathe, and Aang's heart was beating ten times faster than what it normally did when he was doing physical activity. So far, it looked like he was losing the battle.

When Aang tired out completely, he collapsed in a drainage ditch off to the side of the road. Gasping for oxygen, and desperately trying to think of where Zuko could be, Aang passed out.

R&R :D