Holy, moly. This is the LONGEST chapter ever. I could easily break it into two parts but nah, I'll let you guys have it all. Cause I'm just cool like that. Thanks to everyone who has gone around pestering me saying 'Psst, update Homecoming why don'tya?' Yeah, this is why it's taken me so long. This update in word is ten pages long. Without the double spacing. Okay? Okay. Now, just to warn you I'm getting near the end here with this (unless I hit a JACKPOT of ideas but hey, guys, remember this started as a oneshot and it's bloomed into this HUGE --when I say huge I mean it with all you reviewers and were up to what? Fourteen chapters!--fanfiction) I still have like spring break to get to and I'll probably end it when they reach summer vacation, because if I just do this for too long it's just gonna get stupid when I run out of ideas...(kinda like if Avatar had 67 seasons) but DO NOT PANIC. Before you start running around in little circles screaming your heads off...hear me through on this. I have about a bajillion ideas branching off of this (okay only really three but...). I mean like a prequel, sequel, a sequel to the sequel. So my AU goodness doesn't end when 'Homecoming and Parties' does. But I do believe in the voice of the people so I need your input okay? So like on all those little game shows get out your voting pads. Or like on American Idol get out your cell phones and dial 1-800-uhhh...AVATAR-ROCKS! I don't know. Don't ask me. Really. But seriously don't really call. It'll say the phone number you've dialed is invalid or something. Here are you're choices though.
A) Prequel - You know how I was brining up that time Aang, Katara and Sokka went to the beach last summer? That's what this fanfiction is about. I've already got like a whole two paragraphs started and I've got somewhat of an idea on where that's going. But sadly, no Toph, Zuko, Mai...any of them. Just a roadtrip of Aang, Katara and Sokka. Maybe a few mentions of those characters, but they won't be prominate.
B) Sequel - Zuko dominate! Zuko takes a vacation with Uncle, Mai, and Ty Lee. Ideas are brewing in my head for this one like a hurricane. This is going to be fun my friends. But the downside to this one, not very many mentions of Aang, Katara, Sokka or Toph. And look there's sub categories for this one: B1: Post this as a seperate story. B2: Just add more chapters onto this story.
C) Sequel to the power of two! - This is probably my least favorite, but I could have the most freedom with this one. Just them all out of college and out in the real world. (This idea might be TOO similar to my 'Southern Air Temple' so I might just chuck it to the rubbish bin, but I wanted to see what people thought)
I'll probably end up doing both A and B but I want to know which idea is most popular and what I should get going on first. So basically your voting if you want to see more of Aang, Sokka and Katara or Zuko, Mai, Ty Lee and Uncle. Man, Toph looses out either way. I'll figure out a fanfiction for her, TO THE DRAWING BOARD! Ideas? Well, for right now, enjoy the super long post. Toph, since you never get to play significant parts here do the disclaimer.
Toph: That doesn't make up for all the hurt you've put me through. I'm such a neglected little child. I'll be in therapy for years. Kat doesn't own us. By the way, I did the disclaimer last time.
I know, that's just because I feel so bad for you.
Toph: I don't need your pity.
o0o
"I'm breaking out."
"What the hell?" Sokka's face contorted.
"I've finally had enough of Azula's shit." Zuko told him.
"Aand…?"
"Aannd…I'm coming over to your house. You don't mind do you? No, I didn't think so." Zuko said with a note of sarcasm in his voice.
"Zuko! I don't think—! Don't you have any other friends? What about Mai? Go live with your girlfriend!" Sokka hissed at him.
"Are you kidding? Azula hangs out with her every weekend! She'd find me to come torture me there too." Zuko yelled at him as if he were a moron. "Look, I just need to lie low until I figure out something with my Uncle? Okay? See you in ten minutes. Bye." Zuko hung up.
"What was that all about?" Katara asked, spinning on her office chair as she chatted with Aang online.
"Zuko. He's invited himself to live here for a few weeks cause he can't put up with Azula anymore." Sokka rolled his eyes.
"You're serious? Well, I couldn't put up with that bitch as a sister either." Katara rolled her eyes as she turned back to her keyboard and typed away at it.
"I better go call Gran at the grocery store and tell her to baton down the hatches. We'll have an angsty teenager with family problems here for who knows how long." Sokka headed out of her room.
o0o
Ten minutes later there was a rapid knock at the door that didn't stop until Sokka eventually opened it. Katara came down the stairs to hear what was going on.
"Zuko, this is ridiculous. What the hell did Azula do to you anyway?" Sokka asked.
"Well, she was going to go out driving without a licensed driver in that pretty new car my dad got her for Christmas (why does she need a car? She's fifteen and has her permit for Christ's Sake! I suppose she should learn on the car she's going to be driving for a while…but she'll probably go total it here soon!) Anyway, and I thought about just letting her go and get in trouble but then I'd probably get locked away in my room for a week with no food or something if I didn't try to stop her and so when I try to stop her she almost ran me over with her new car and then bitched me out for almost denting her new car. And it was just the final straw, and I went and grabbed whatever I could and grabbed my shitty car and got the hell out of there." Zuko told them.
"And what are you planning on doing?" Sokka asked.
"You can't just live here." Katara agreed.
"I'm staying here until I can figure something out. My uncle lives an hour and a half away from here; if I go live with him right now, I am not driving an hour to school everyday." Zuko told him. "Now, go put my bag away, bitch." Zuko loaded the bag onto Katara.
"Excuse me, your living in my house. Go put your own bag away, bitch." Katara threw the bag back.
"Excuse me, but—" Zuko started.
"You're all excused, but I'm going to dinner with Suki tonight and I'm not going to be late." Sokka pushed his way upstairs.
"Well, Aang's coming over tonight!" Katara hurried up after him.
"Are you just going to leave me, I don't know where the guest room is and everything! And you're all going to go party and you expect me to sit up in my room all night." Zuko dropped his arms to his side. Katara sighed and turned around.
"Why don't you invite Mai over? Sokka, call Suki and tell her you're staying here. We can all stay in tonight." Katara suggested. Sokka looked at Zuko and Katara.
"I suppose. Let me go call Suki." Sokka slammed his door.
"So…where is the guest room?" Zuko asked.
"In the basement, just past the bathroom, you'll find it." Katara pointed over her shoulder.
"I hate the basement, it's cold and has spiders." Zuko complained.
"YOU'RE SLEEPING ON THE CURB THEN!" Katara shrieked.
"Fine." Zuko growled kicking his bag downstairs.
"And tell Mai to bring her bathing suit, we've got a hot tub!" Katara reminded him. She ran to Sokka's room.
"—so tonight Katara wants to do some little party get together thing…" Sokka told Suki.
"Tell her to bring her bathing suit." Katara told him. She ran into her room and signed onto instant messenger. Please be on, please be on, she pleaded.
Waterprincessx3 has signed on 4:47 PMHeadintheclouds91: hey katara wat brings you onto IM?
Waterprincessx3: just wanted to tell you to bring your trunks 2nite, u know how i said zukos over here? Well sokka had a date with suki and i suggested they stay in and zuko invite mai and we all hang out here and we can all get in the hot tub
Headintheclouds91: sounds good, 5:30?
Waterprincessx3: yup see you 2nite
Waterprincessx3: love u lots
Headintheclouds91: love u too –blows kiss-
Waterprincessx3: -blows kiss back- bye
Waterprincessx3 has signed off at 4:53 PM
"Aw, how sweet." Zuko said in her ear.
"Holy shit, Zuko!" Katara jumped. "What the hell are you doing in my room!?"
"I was bored in mine." Zuko shrugged.
"That doesn't mean you can come and scare the shit out of me! Jesus Christ, Zuko!" Katara hissed throwing FooFoocuddlypoops at him.
"Oh no. I wouldn't want to be hit by a old decaying teddy bear." Zuko said with a false fear.
"Just—go do something else! I need to get changed for tonight! Go watch TV!" Katara shouted at him.
"Where's a TV?" Zuko asked.
"Downstairs in the living room. Remote's on the table." Katara folded her arms. Zuko turned around and left.
o0o
As Katara fixed her favorite long fitted tee shirt and faded jeans she heard a shriek downstairs. Figuring it was Gran she ran downstairs.
"Who are you? Get out of my house!" Gran had a kitchen chair over her head. Zuko was up on the couch with his hands out in front of him in defense.
"Calm down, lady! I'm Katara and Sokka's friends!" Zuko exclaimed.
"How do you know my grandchildren, you crazy—!?" Gran demanded.
"Gran!" Sokka eventually shouted. Katara stood mortified watching her Gran terrify Zuko. Suddenly she wished she had had a video camera. "Gran, that's Zuko. The friend I was telling you is staying with us for a few weeks." Sokka snickered. Gran looked wary of the teenager.
"He dresses funny." Gran eventually said.
"It's a style." Zuko proclaimed stepping off of the couch.
The doorbell rang as it cut the tension.
"Saved by the bell," Katara breathed as she ran to the door. Aang appeared on her doorstep.
"I know it's like 5:15, but I didn't think you'd care if we were early…" Aang grinned.
"Of course not, Aang." Katara gave him a hug. Aang kissed her cheek as he came in the door and he waved to Gyatso as he left the driveway.
"Anyone else here?" Aang asked.
"Other than Zuko, no." Katara shook her head. "Everyone's getting here at odd times."
"Did I walk in at the wrong moment?" Aang asked as everyone stood around.
"Uh…kind of. Gran and Zuko just faced off." Aang gave her a bizarre look. "Gran sort of mistook Zuko as a stranger."
"Oh…okay." Aang nodded, snickering, imagining the scene.
"You want to go put those upstairs in my room?" Katara asked.
"Sure." Aang agreed.
"Gran, what are we doing for dinner?" Sokka asked as his eyes followed his sister and Aang go up to their room.
"I got some frozen pizzas if that's okay." Gran started to unpack the bags she had dropped.
"Okay," Sokka nodded. He motioned to Zuko to follow him as they went up the stairs their backs pressed to the wall. All of a sudden Sokka jumped out pointing in a general direction of Katara's room.
Katara straddled her office chair and Aang was on the bed.
"You pulled me up here to see them talking? Being attacked by your grandmother was more fun than this." Zuko walked away.
"Aw, I was so sure I busted you two!" Sokka groaned.
"You want to bust us? Doing what?" Katara asked acting innocent.
"You know very well what." Sokka glared at them.
The bell rang again as Sokka and Zuko raced each other to the door to open it.
"You don't live here!" Sokka shouted opening it. Suki appeared.
"Damn it! Where is Mai?" Zuko groaned.
"She isn't late." Sokka told him as he welcomed Suki in. "What time did you tell her?"
"5:30." Zuko replied.
"It's barely 5: 30." Suki checked her watch.
"Exactly." Sokka agreed. Zuko went back upstairs.
"Hey, bitch. I'm thirsty, get me something to drink." Zuko told Katara.
"There's something in the fridge." Katara rolled her eyes.
"Hey, Zuko. I don't like you calling Katara a bitch." Aang stood up.
"Relax, little freshman. It's a term of endearment." Zuko pinched her cheek. Katara rolled her eyes as she pushed him away.
"Well, I don't like it still." Aang's voice shook.
"Aang, leave it." Katara told him.
"No! I'm going to stand up for what's right." Aang put his hands on his hips.
"I appreciate you standing up for me, but that's just the way Zuko is." Katara sighed.
"Just chill out, Aang. Not like she cares." Zuko pushed Aang back on the bed as he left.
"You haven't asked her! You don't know what she really thinks!" Aang shouted after him.
"Aang, stop it, I don't care. I don't want to pick a fight with Zuko when he's staying the next few however long." Katara sighed grabbing his hand.
"But it's not right." Aang told her again.
"Just—" Katara started but was cut off by the doorbell. They both dropped the fight, and went downstairs to welcome their last guest. Zuko was already at the door as he kissed Mai as a welcome.
"I can see you finally got away. Nice place to hide." Mai smirked.
"It was the only place available away from Azula." Zuko shrugged. "I already got attacked by Katara and Sokka's grandmother. She thought I was some robber and then she thought I was a sexual predator or something when I said I knew Sokka and Katara." Zuko laughed.
"Well, you kind of look like you could mug someone, no offense." Mai snickered.
"Hey, I—"
"No offense, Zuko, but you do." Katara sang. Zuko growled.
"Okay, now that everyone's here…we'll have pizza in a bit…you guys want to go downstairs?" Katara suggested. Sokka led the way downstairs.
"Hey, I didn't know you guys had a pool table." Zuko made his way over to the table.
"Yeah, you want to play?" Sokka challenged.
"You're on." Zuko smirked as he grabbed a cue stick. Sokka started to chalk his stick as he glared at Zuko. Katara and Suki took a seat on the barstools as they started to chat as Sokka and Zuko decided what they wanted to play. Mai leaned against the wall as she watched them. Aang stood behind Katara as he distractedly played with her hair.
"You are the guest…you break." Sokka offered. Zuko raised an eyebrow as he bent over and lined up his aim and shot as he got the twelve ball into right corner pocket. He moved around the table to look for his next shot. At last he locked it in. As he lined it up, he looked up at Mai who was watching him.
"Come here." Zuko beckoned her. "You take my shot."
"I don't know how to, I've never played." Mai shrugged.
"I know, I'll show you, come here." Zuko told her. Sokka groaned as he walked away, to see what Suki and Katara were talking about.
"Here, put your fingers like that…and put your arm back here, okay, keep your arm straight here." Zuko leaned down beside her and helped aim her shot. "Ready, set, go." Zuko led her arm through the shot. It banked off of the edge of the hole. Zuko groaned.
"Sorry," Mai apologized.
"It's no problem." Zuko shrugged.
"Are you guys done yet?" Sokka asked as he grabbed a handful of M&M's sitting out.
"Yes, please, grace us with your greatness, Lord Sokka." Zuko bowed out of the way. Sokka rolled his eyes as he took his position to shoot.
Just as he drew back the cue stick and shot the doorbell rang.
"Who would that be?" Katara asked as she got up.
"I don't know but they messed me up!" Sokka shouted.
"But you made a shot! My turn!" Zuko snickered. Katara ran up the stairs as Mai, Suki and Sokka stood at the bottom of the stairs and listened up.
"Just a second!" Katara shouted as there was a harsh knocking. She swung the door open to reveal Azula.
"Azula!?" Katara gasped.
"Azula!" Sokka repeated back downstairs.
"What!?" Zuko asked.
"Azula, what are you doing here?" Katara asked, back upstairs.
"Are you blind? My brother's car is here. Where is he?" Azula asked.
"Dude, your sister is here, hide in the closet in your room!" Sokka pushed him back.
"No! I'm going to go give her a piece of my mind and tell her to leave me alone. My dad isn't here to protect her, I can do whatever I want to her now." Zuko pushed him away.
"That's a stupid idea! You're hiding, remember!" Mai grabbed his arm.
"Stop it!" Zuko shoved her and ran upstairs.
"Azula, why do you want to find me so badly? You hate me. Wouldn't you just be happier at home without me?" Zuko growled as he came up behind Katara.
"Aw, Zuko. Dump Mai to come hang out with this slut? I do hope you let Mai down easy, I don't know about her but I sure wouldn't want to be replaced with a wench like this." Azula made a pouty face.
"Azula, you better—!" Katara clenched her teeth. Mai hurried up the stairs eager to join in the fight.
"For you're information, Azula, I'm still with Zuko. And I'm about sick of your crap. You've bullied me into being your friend since elementary school and I'm done with it. I'm done with all of your shit." Mai hissed at her. Azula looked positively shocked Mai would dare stand up to her.
"This is your mistake, Mai. The only reason you were ever close to popular was because—you—hung out—with me." Azula hissed through her teeth. "This is the biggest mistake you'll ever make," she told her.
"I don't need your popularity, Azula." Mai smacked her across the face. It was silent, as Azula held her face with her jaw open, as she was completely stunned.
"Ah—bu—an—wh—well!" Azula stormed off. She got in her car and slammed the door as she started the engine and backed out of the drive.
"I hope she gets pulled over for speeding and gets caught for driving without her license." Mai spat.
"Whoa…you totally just bitch slapped my sister." Zuko ran his fingers through his hair. "You just took her on! And gave her a taste her own medicine! You just—Oh my, God. That was just awesome!" Zuko jumped around with wide eyes, like a kid on Christmas morning. "I could kiss you and I will." Zuko grabbed her and started to kiss her. Sokka, Suki and Aang came upstairs.
"What just went on? I heard a catfight, and I think I heard a slap was that Zuko and Azula?" Sokka snickered.
"Sokka, stop it!" Suki playfully punched his arm. Zuko broke away from Mai.
"No, Mai just totally took on Azula! It was awesome!" Zuko retold the story.
"Mai?" Suki asked.
"Yes, believe it or not." Mai smirked a bit.
"Well, I think pizza's almost done." Katara peeked around the corner towards the kitchen.
They had dinner, and afterwards Katara suggested getting in the hot tub, since she had everyone bring their bathing suits. Everyone occupied bathrooms and bedrooms as they changed.
"Hey, Katara, do you have an extra towel I can borrow?" Aang asked as Sokka came out of his room.
"Hold it right there!" Sokka exclaimed.
"What?" Katara groaned. Sokka pulled a roll of duct tape from behind his back and advanced on Katara and spun her around. "What are you—?" Katara asked.
"Making sure you're top does not fall off this time. I'm devising plans from now on to 'Katara and Aang proof' things we do." Sokka wrapped the duct tape around the latch on Katara's bikini top.
"Okay, do I want to know what you're doing?" Zuko asked as he came upstairs.
"Last time we were all in the hot tub, Katara conveniently lost her bikini top. It's not coming off this time." Sokka tore it off, and finished it.
"Oookay then." Zuko raised his eyebrows.
"Are you going to change into your swimming trunks?" Katara noted that he was only wearing denim shorts instead of swimming trunks.
"I sort of ran away and brought enough clothes. I didn't bring a bathing suit. I'll just wear this and put it in the dryer later." Zuko shrugged. Soon they all moved outside on the deck as Sokka remove the cover.
"Damn it, the wind is cold! Hurry up!" Mai hissed. At last they all got in.
"Ooh, this hits the spot." Suki grinned.
"Hey, Aang. Try to get the duct tape off my bikini…" Katara said, quietly but loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Katara! Don't you dare—!" Sokka screamed. Aang snickered.
"I was kidding. God, Sokka. But you know, if this duct tape is supposed to keep my bikini on for good, how am I supposed to take it off? I suppose you won't volunteer for the job…I suppose I'll just have to have Aang do it." Katara's gaze drifted to Aang.
"No way. Nobody's doing anything. I can cut it or peel it back off or something. I just had to make sure you or Aang won't try anything to sneaky." Sokka told them.
"Next thing you know, he'll be locking you up or something." Zuko laughed.
"But seriously this is my favorite suit. You better not destroy it." Katara glared. A light went out next door and they could hear a window slide open as someone struggled up a fire escape ladder. They all remained silent as they watched. Toph appeared, coming out of her basement bedroom with her towel and her bathing suit on.
"You guys were having a party and didn't invite me?" Toph asked.
"Toph! Well, it's just so hard with your parents…" Katara exclaimed. Toph fit into the crowded hot tub.
"Yeah, I don't blame you. I know. But my parents are having a dinner party tonight and I saw all the cars over here, so after dinner I complained that I ate to much and I told my parents that I'd sleep it off." Toph shrugged.
"Nice." Sokka grinned.
"So what brings you to the 'hood, Zuko and Mai?" Toph asked.
"I didn't know we were all gangsters now, but I am now living in this 'hood." Zuko replied.
"What!? I didn't see any houses up for sale or you didn't say you were moving. Aw, that means we have Azula in the neighborhood!" Toph groaned.
"No, no. Zuko decided to move in with us." Katara rolled her eyes in Zuko's direction.
"Zuko…decided to move in…just like that? Why? It's not like…wait. If you're excepting people for board, can I move in?" Toph asked.
"Rather you than Zuko." Katara mumbled.
"Hey! I need your spare room! Azula pushed me over the edge, and then Mai pushed her back into place." Zuko kissed her cheek.
"Really?" Toph asked.
"Yeah, right before dinner Azula showed up asking where I was and she thought I dumped Mai and I was going out with Katara," Zuko gagged and Katara slapped his arm.
"I'm not that horrible!" Katara exclaimed.
"I wouldn't go out with you if my life depended on it." Zuko told her.
"Yeah...same here." Katara agreed. "We're more of a brother-sister rivalry."
"Anyway, Mai came and practically dumped her as a friend and slapped her across the face. It was awesome!" Zuko retold the story again, proudly.
"That's awesome that Mai stood up to her like that…but what I don't get is that, Mai has more guts than you?" Toph asked.
"What!? No! I don't have a girlfriend tougher than me!" Zuko growled. Mai raised her eyebrows and folded her arms waiting for his explanation.
"Well, you know, you just let Azula walk all over you and finally you cracked and you had to wait for Mai to put her in place. I'm just saying you could have done that all along." Toph shrugged.
"Are you crazy?" Zuko exclaimed. "If I did? I don't even want to think about it. My Dad would have my head if I raised my voice to her or laid one finger on her." Zuko explained.
"Man. Well, it's time someone stood up to her." Toph shrugged.
"Now, if Ty Lee will turn on her…" Mai thought.
"She'll be completely friendless!" Sokka exclaimed.
"Not exactly, she has her little group of followers, but she'll loose her two sidekicks from elementary school and she'll start to crash and burn." Mai shrugged.
"So how long are you staying, Zuko?" Toph asked.
"Until this summer, when I can move in with my Uncle for the summer. He lives about an hour and a half away from here, so I couldn't go live with him now." Zuko replied.
"So, you must really like to hang out with your Uncle?" Katara questioned.
"Oh, yeah. Before my mom disappeared, she'd use to take me out to visit him every other weekend, because she knew I liked to visit him. After that I'd save up my money to take a bus to the city and then a taxi out to where he lived. My Dad never did like to visit him. He and Azula always thought he was kooky and he is a little bit, but it's better than those two. Then I was so excited when I got my license to drive. I could drive out to visit him all the time." Zuko explained.
"So when was the last time you went to visit him?" Suki asked.
"Probably a couple of weekends ago. Mai went with me." Zuko explained.
"We went miniature golfing." Mai told them.
"My uncle's idea." Zuko rolled his eyes. Katara sniggered.
"What'd you score, Zuko?" Aang asked.
"Actually he did the best out of all of us. Scored a hole in one on the windmill hole." Mai said, proudly.
"That's amazing." Toph rolled her eyes.
"I just went so I could get a snow cone afterwards at their little indoor arcade." Zuko growled.
"A snow cone?" Sokka smirked.
"Yeah, like a flavored ice?" Zuko explained.
"I know what they are!" Sokka exclaimed, "But you like snow cones?"
"Yeah, my mom used to take me to the park and get me them all the time. I like them, it reminds me of her." Zuko defended himself.
"Oh," Sokka shifted around feeling very uncomfortable.
"TOPH!?" There was a scream from the house next door. "TOPH!?"
"Oh, shit." Toph cursed. "Damn it, they never check on me after I go to bed! Now they think I've been kidnapped!" Toph stood up. "I'm over at the neighbors house! I haven't gone anywhere, honestly Mom!" Toph screamed. She started up over the edge of the hot tub but it was slippery and her foot caught on the ledge and Toph tripped and fell straight onto the deck with a sickening crack.
"Toph!" they all screamed. Her parents just then came out on their deck.
"Ouch…" she groaned as she slowly tried to sit up. Sokka hurried out of the hot tub, making sure not to make the same mistake. He turned on all the lights around the deck. There was already a bruise starting to form and it was starting to swell.
"What's going on?" Gran came out.
"Are you okay, Toph?" Sokka asked.
"OBVIOUSLY NOT! LOOK AT MY ANKLE!" Toph screamed at them.
"It might be sprained or broken. Does it hurt when I touch it?" Suki asked as she lightly toughed it.
"OUCH! Yes!" Toph yelled. Toph's parents came down to the deck.
"Oh, my poor baby! What happened?" her mother asked.
"She was trying to get out and she fell." Katara told them honestly.
"She should have never been out in the first place," her father said sternly.
"You keep me locked up and I never get to see my friends—!" Toph started.
"Look! We don't need arguing." Aang yelled.
"He's right." Zuko agreed.
"If her ankle really is broken, we need to get her to the hospital to get X-rays. Can you get up to walk?" her father asked. They helped Toph get up as she gingerly put her foot down.
"Ouch. Ouch. Ouch." Toph groaned. At last her dad picked her up and got her to the car.
"I hope your okay, Toph!" Katara shouted after her.
"Well, that was enough excitement for tonight. I'm getting inside, getting changed and going home." Mai sighed.
"Me too." Suki agreed.
"I'll call my Uncle to tell him the party's kind of over." Aang grinned sheepishly at Katara.