LOL JUST REALIZED, ALMOST FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THIS FIC. I don't know how to feel about that...D:

Back to finish this little story arc up! Thank goodness for Fall Break! Even though my friends and family have been keeping me super busy, I've finally gotten to finish this chapter up. Probably isn't my best chapter...probably because I planned it so long ago and then by the time I finally fleshed it all out I had forgotten exactly where I was going with it /depression/. I really appreciate everyones patience...even though it does take me a while to update I still enjoy writing this fic.

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Aang and Zuko left the restaurant.

"Okay, do you have a plan?" Aang asked. He glanced at the dark shop across the street and gulped. It was intimidating…but Appa was in there.

"Just wait like two seconds, okay? We have to observe the place and determine what to do and where to infiltrate." Zuko's eyes scanned the store across the street.

"You're the only one going in though…right?" Aang asked. "I'm just keeping an eye out?"

"Yeah…" Zuko nodded.

"Do we have a signal in case something some thing happens?" Aang asked.

"Nope, just make a racket if anything's happens." Zuko shrugged.

"Uh…" Aang stuttered.

"Relax, we'll be fine." Zuko shrugged. "Come on," Aang followed Zuko across the street. "Just stand out here and keep an eye out. Try to look natural and like your not keeping an eye out….Okay?" Zuko asked. Aang nodded nervously as Zuko hurried into the alley that led behind the shop. Aang sighed and stood against the building next to the antiques emporium. He anxiously shifted his weight back and forth and picked at his fingernails. He was so anxious he could hardly concentrate enough to keep an eye out. Even if Katara was completely irrational, she was right to be worried. He didn't exactly think people were going to start shooting everyone, but there was a possibility of being caught or possibly hurt by the men in the shop. Aang jumped when he heard footsteps approaching from the alley. He could hardly draw breath to scream before he realized it was Zuko.

"I see a kennel back there, but I can't be sure it's Appa's." Zuko pulled Aang down the street.

"Zuko, where—?" Aang asked.

"Just walk, I'm not sure if someone saw me." Zuko hissed as he tugged Aang along.

"Okay, well this looks suspicious, slow down to a normal walking speed." Aang tore away from Zuko. "Who did you see?"

"I just saw a figure move inside." Zuko breathed. "So I got out of there as fast as I could." They reached a stoplight and Zuko pushed the pedestrian button, to walk. There wasn't much traffic and they could have easily made it across, but waiting for the 'Walk' signal gave Zuko a chance to catch his breath. Eventually the signal changed and they walked across the street in silence and casually made their way back to the Jeong Jeong's restaurant. Katara greeted them outside.

"What happened?" Katara demanded. Zuko stared at her, sighed and went inside to find his uncle. "What?" Katara asked Aang.

"He saw a kennel behind the store but he's not sure if it's Appa's. But he also saw someone inside move and he wasn't sure if he was seen or not." Aang explained.

"I knew this was a bad idea." Katara sighed, rubbing her temples.

"No one's been shot yet, though…so…" Aang tried to comfort her.

"Are you making fun of me?" Katara folded her arms.

"No!" Aang nervously laughed. Katara furrowed her eyebrows. Aang nervously bit his lip before moving in to kiss her. She gave in and kissed him for a moment before pulling away from him.

"Aang, I'm genuinely worried for you." Katara growled, "And you think this is a joke?"

"No, I don't, Katara! But you have been acting a little irrational…" Aang shrugged.

"I'm—!"

"Yes, you're worried. Will you two stop making out and come inside…we need to decide on what we're going to do." Sokka stuck his head out of the door. A couple was headed to the door Sokka was blocking, he sighed as he moved out of the way and held it open.

"Wow, this restaurant even has a door man! This is a classy restaurant." The woman exclaimed. Sokka rolled his eyes.

"Are you two coming are not?" Sokka growled.

"No, I think you make a good doorman." Katara laughed as a family walked up and went into the restaurant, each of them thanking Sokka as they walked through.

"You guys! I'm leaving you out here, I'll go get Zuko if I have to!" Sokka exclaimed.

"Oh, no! Not Zuko!" Katara sighed, dramatically. "Anyone but Zuko! I'm terrified!" Aang chuckled at Katara's sarcasm as he followed her into the restaurant. Sokka growled as he followed his sister and his friend inside. They meandered their way back to the table where everyone else was sitting.

"So, now what?" Katara asked as she sat down.

"Zuko, saw someone inside didn't he? I say we go knock down their door and demand the dog back!" Toph exclaimed.

"We aren't positive they have Appa." Zuko shrugged.

"Iroh saw them with Appa! And you said they had a kennel in the back?" Toph shrugged.

"What if this is all some freakish coincidence and Appa just ran off and the place across the street is just…" Aang shrugged, searching for the right words.

"Bringing muzzled dogs in the middle of the night?" Sokka asked.

"On the same night as Appa goes missing?" Toph shrugged.

"Like, I said. Some weird coincidence?" Aang sighed. "I don't feel right just going over there and demanding something we aren't completely sure about."

"Okay, we're ninety-eight percent sure. Really, how much proof do you need? Do you want your dog back or not?" Sokka exclaimed.

"Can we decide what we're doing? I'm exhausted and want to get home sometime tonight." Mai sighed.

"Okay, how about we go over there and knock on the door and question whoever is in there about it. If we think it's going to turn bad then…we'll get out of there and call the cops or whatever." Toph shrugged.

"No cop is going to investigate an old Chinese man about a stolen dog." Zuko rolled his eyes.

"I don't see you coming up with any ideas, Scarface!" Toph shouted at him.

"I—bu—How?" Zuko scrutinized the blind girl. "WHAT DO YOU FEEL MY FACE WHEN I'M ASLEEP? HOW DID YOU KNOW I HAVE THIS SCAR?" Zuko exploded.

"Zuko, does that matter now?" Katara sighed.

"Yes, Zuko. I wait until everyone's asleep and I go around and touch everybody's face. I have a right to know what facial features you all have, right?" Toph shrugged sarcastically.

"Toph, stop being creepy…" Sokka rolled his eyes.

"Oh, Sokka. I want to feel your face though…" Toph reached out and grabbed Sokka's face, pinching his cheek.

"Toph! This isn't the time!" Katara growled. "We should just go home and call someone about this, we shouldn't be the ones taking care of this!"

"We shouldn't let the guy just get away with Aang's dog though. By the time we call someone to investigate, this guy could have sold Appa, or chopped him up to eaten him in his dinner!" Sokka exclaimed.

"Uncle, decide what we're going to do. I'm done arguing over this." Zuko yawned.

"I agree with Sokka and Toph. We need to take action." Iroh nodded. "If we walk over there as a group and knock on the door and politely ask if they've seen the dog, we may get results. Even if we run into any trouble with the owner I have back up right across the street." Iroh nodded to the restaurant around them. "I'll tell Jeong Jeong to keep an eye out for us. Let's go." Iroh motioned for them to stand up and move out.

"Now?" Katara asked, taken aback.

"Yes, when else?" Toph questioned as she stood up.

"No, let's go…" Katara shrugged. Iroh hurried off to inform Jeong Jeong to watch the shop before they left the restaurant. They exited the restaurant, and the group crossed the road to the antiques shop.

"Are you sure about this? It's so dark inside!" Katara exclaimed. Iroh raised his fist and knocked on the door. The chimes on the inside of the glass-paneled door rattled. There was no movement inside. Iroh knocked once more and they spotted a man coming to the door.

"Can't you see that we're closed?" the man shouted, which they assumed was Long Feng, of Long Feng's Chinese Antique's Emporium.

"Yes, yes. I apologize to inconvenience you!" Iroh called. "I have a question about your business." The man, Long Feng, stopped and slowly approached the door.

"How much money do you have? What are you interested in? I don't remember receiving any contacts or scheduling anything for tonight…" Long Feng asked through the door.

"I've heard you have something we're interested in." Iroh called. "Now, can you please open the door, so we can properly talk?"

Long Feng tentatively opened the door to the shop.

"I don't know how you heard about…my little business…but…" Long Keng mumbled.

"My Uncle saw your men take a dog." Zuko grabbed a hold of the door and pulled it open.

"Zuko…now, now. Let's not be hasty…" Iroh chuckled.

"Wh-what…the hell do you want?" the shop owner stuttered. The group slowly pushed their way into the shop. It was mostly dark except for a light coming for the back room.

"You see…Appa was my dog…I'd kindly like to ask for him back." Aang declared.

"Shut up, Aang. That never gets you anywhere." Zuko hissed.

"That was your dog, then? Hmm…most interesting…" the Long Feng asked.

"Yes, he was my dog!" Aang exclaimed.

"That still doesn't change the fact that the dog is a rare breed." Long Feng furrowed his brows. "In fact I already have a buyer and I'll be in some deep trouble if the man who is interested in the dog doesn't receive what he wants."

"Look, we need the dog, buddy." Zuko pushed his way in front of Iroh. Long Feng reached inside his robes that he was wearing. Mai flinched and reached forward as he pulled out what looked like a concealed knife. She deflected it away from her and twisted it wrist as she pulled the knife away from Long Feng.

"We just want to do things peacefully…no need to pull a knife…" Mai sighed, in an uninterested voice.

"Damn, Mai!" Sokka exclaimed, standing petrified.

"With paranoid parents like mine…all that self-defense didn't go to waste." Mai shrugged as she inspected the knife, carefully.

"So, what was the price the dog was going to bring in? I'll pay double." Iroh pulled his checkbook out. Long Feng perked up, as his eyes grew wide.

"Iroh!" Aang exclaimed in shock.

"We don't want any trouble…we just want the dog back." Iroh promised. The man looked conflicted for a moment.

"I want fifteen thousand," he declared.

"Don't joke, you bastard." Zuko growled. "If you think your stringing my old man along, I don't think you're so cute."

"Zuko, Zuko…the man is confused. Let me talk to him privately." Iroh suggested.

"Will you be okay?" Zuko asked, tentatively.

"I'm a military veteran of twenty years service. I've seen worse than this. I'll be okay." Iroh grinned to Zuko. Zuko, who was clearly still worried, rolled his eyes at his Uncle. His goofy tea-loving Uncle did not seem the type to be 'okay' in these situations. "Do you have somewhere we can speak privately?" Iroh turned to Long Feng. He appeared irked at how he was being treated in his own shop, and at his own game. The shop owner led Iroh to his back room. As soon as the door shut the group of teens burst into hushed mumbles.

"Guys, I'm worried about this." Katara hissed.

"God, of course you are…" Zuko rolled his eyes.

"Can Iroh seriously pay that much just to get Appa back? He can't—I don't want him too…" Aang stuttered.

"He has to have some sort of plan up his sleeve." Mai commented quietly as she clutched Zuko's arm. They patiently waited for another ten minutes. The tension grew as everyone kept nervously glancing towards the back room.

"This place is so creepy…" Katara sighed as she rested her head on Aang's shoulder. Eventually the back door opened and everyone snapped to attention. Iroh was the first to appear. Everyone waited with baited breath.

"So…?" Aang finally asked.

"Appa is rightfully yours." Iroh smiled. "We may follow Mr. Feng to retrieve Appa out of the kennel in the back," he gestured to the elderly Asian man behind him.

"Just like that?" Zuko muttered.

"We'll talk later, my nephew." Iroh nodded. The group followed Long Feng to the back door where he opened the door and went to the medium sized kennel and opened it.

"There," the antiques dealer sighed, with a scowl. Appa timidly poked his nose out.

"Appa!" Aang exclaimed. Appa perked up and cautiously jogged over to Aang who scratched him behind the ears. "Thank God!"

"Good night, Mr. Feng." Iroh nodded as they turned and headed back through the store. As they left the store everyone exhaled a breath that they seemed to be holding in.

"I can't believe Appa's back…" Aang sighed as they crossed the street back to the restaurant.

"This is great and all…but how are we going to get Appa home in my car for a ridiculously long drive?" Zuko groaned.

"He can sit on my lap…or at my feet!" Aang chuckled and scratched Appa's ears.

"Appa, we're so happy you're back!" Katara grinned.

"As long as he doesn't like go in the car…" Zuko rolled his eyes. "Let's load up then…I'm exhausted."

"Do you need me to drive, Zuko?" Mai asked.

"No, I'll be fine." Zuko shrugged. "Let's go."

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Uhm...notes...Okay, Long Feng, I wanted to have him apart of this whole dognapping business, but I never write him, so yes? No? Meh. MOAR KATAANG? LESS ZUKO? Yes, I know. D: I'm trying. I really am. I need a shippers rehab plz. Also, yes, Zuko has a scar in this fic...because Zuko just isn't Zuko without his scar and Daddy issues...have I addressed that? I feel I've thought about that...urgh. He has a scar from when Azula 'accidentally' pushed him into the kitchen stove as a child. JUSTIFIED.

Also, thanks for all messages, reviews, SUPPORT, JUST EVERYTHING. This story would not be here today if it weren't for you guys. No seriously. It wouldn't. FOR REALS.

Conn, I think it's more...hrm...realistic? Maybe? If Aang isn't like 'master of all kung fu' kid. How many kids do you know who that disciplined to practice like that? I've personally always loved the adorkable, goofy, fun-loving side to Aang, so maybe that's kind of why when I wrote him he turned out to be more of a wimp than a badass. *shrug* Perhaps I will have him begin a discipline of kung fu or something...that may be interesting.

The Confused Airbender, I'm so glad you like it :D, I don't want to be boiled in oil! Yeah I totally know what you mean about the movie! THERE WAS LIKE NO ACTING. And the bending...D:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! (to those who celebrate! And those who don't, just eat a lot anyway...;D)