They were there for him, just like they said they would be; and just in time too. It was in some deserted little town that Zoe and Iroh had tracked Zuko down to, whom himself had been following Azula, who had been following the Avatar.

They were fighting; Azula was hot on the Avatars tail (literally) and Zuko was right after her. They were chasing him up, round and under, but he was too fast and soon had run up a flight of stairs and leapt through the door well.

Zoe ran into the house that the Avatar had gone to, but he was floating above her, on a ball made of air where the upper floor should have been. She decided that was something she had to try. Azula had stopped, but only just in time, teetering on the edge of falling to the hard earth below. Zuko came next, and unlike Azula; he flew straight through the wall before he noticed there was no floor and Zoe and he were reunited... though not in the way she had imagined it.

"Oof!" She cried as he catapulted into her face on. They stumbled backwards and Zoe fell down, Zuko landing straight on top of her.

For a few moments they stared at each other, lost for words, but then Zuko's face broke into a very surprising grin.

But, it didn't last long as Azula had jumped to the floor below and shot a streak of blue fire straight at their forms. Zuko shielded Zoe with his body, blocking the flames with his own, but Azula's fire was too strong; they were blown out the door.

They hit the dirty road with a thud and Zoe dazedly noticed Zuko's arm around her waist. "Uncle!" mumbled Zuko and Zoe was about to inform him that no she was not his uncle when,

"Get up!" said a very welcome voice that did indeed belong to his Uncle. He pulled the two by their arms gently to their feet.

Zoe looked around her, her head spinning and she saw that the commotion had escalated with some new arrivals. The watertribe siblings were here and so was Toph who had left them on her own way the previous day. Then she realised that twinkletoes must be the Avatar, and that was why Toph wanted to know if she was a bender. She wondered if Toph would tell her suspicions to her friends, and what Zoe would do if she did. Once again she was hit with confusion at herself for why she was helping Zuko. Because he's changing? Perhaps, and perhaps because she wants to help him on the way… because she's fallen for him?

Before she could contemplate anything further Azula was there again, but she stumbled backwards as Iroh purposely hit her with his voluptuous belly. The Avatar and his friends were suddenly all around them too, and then all of them together with Iroh, Zuko and Zoe started stalking toward Azula, leaving her cornered in this decrepit town.

"Well, look at this." Azula said snidely, her eyes flicking to one persons face to another. She was calculating. "Enemies and traitors; all working together. I'm done!" She raised her arms in the air as if in surrender; no one dropped their weapons or stances. "I know when I'm beaten. You got me. A princess surrenders with honour." No one moved, Zoe's nerves were tingling, that feeling of foreboding and mistrust building in her twisting stomach. Then, with amazing speed Zoe barely had time to gasp Azula had shifted stances and shot a strong, powerful streak of blue fire directly at Iroh who cried out in pain, spinning to the ground.

"Uncle!" Zoe cried while Zuko turn as if in slow motion, shock, anger and grief written all over his face. And then, everyone attacked. Azula enclosed herself in a fireball as she was being catapulted by each of the elements and a boomerang. There was a mighty explosion and everyone was thrown backwards, hard. By the time Zoe looked up the Princess was gone.

She ran to Zuko who was kneeling at his Uncles side, angrily wiping the tears from her eyes that were blurring her vision. She began inspecting the wound while Zuko, whose face was contorted in pain and anger, shouted at the others to get away from them.

Zoe got out her small tub of healing balm that she kept in the pouch around her neck; she always had it with her for special needs.

"Zuko, I can help!" Cried the watertribe girl, Zoe was surprised by her kindness, but Zuko wanted no one else there.

"Leave!" He screamed and he threw his arm out creating a small wave of flame to fly over their heads. The four of them did as he said.

Iroh's wound was nasty. After she had peeled away the material from his burned tunic she found the enormity of the burn. The outermost edge was blackened skin while the inner was blistered, torn and bleeding. It looked like his skin was bubbling, Zoe had to swallow down the urge to retch with revulsion and smear the balm over his wound.

Sickeningly, but mesmerizingly his wound bubbled and lessened, shrinking into a smaller, red blistered burn.

"We need bandages." Said Zuko hoarsely and he ran to his grab his pack and bring it over. Zoe moved behind Iroh and gently pulled him into a sitting position and took down his sleeves while Zuko began winding the bandage around his chest.

With great effort, Zoe and Zuko had managed to heave Iroh onto their ostrich-horse with Zoe sitting behind him, and Zuko in front. Finally set, they slowly, so as not to hurt Iroh (who was out cold) more, set out to a safer destination (perhaps one that wasn't quickly burning down around them).

"He's going to be OK." Zoe sighed, reassuring herself and Zuko as they laid Iroh comfortably on their makeshift bed. They had found an abandoned and dishevelled hut that would do for their shelter that night.

"Thankyou." said Zuko sitting next to Zoe after finishing the fire.

Zoe blushed and looked at her hands in her lap. They'd been so busy fighting, helping Iroh and escaping that Zoe had forgotten this was the first time she'd been with Zuko in weeks. Suddenly, her body decided what to do before her brain had a chance to think and her hand somehow found Zuko's. It was like a shot of electricity went up her arm as she hand lightly brushed her fingers over his hand. She took in a nervous, ragged breath and took his hand in hers. She missed him.

Zuko looked down at their clasped hands, that warm tingling sensation coursing through him, and he smiled slightly. Whenever he was with her, it was like all the bad in his life didn't exist; it was almost like he was happy.

Zuko scooted closer to her and his warmth spread through her body. Without thinking she laid her head on his shoulder and his head fell on hers. It was like that that they fell to sleep, in peace.

For now.

Iroh was fine, well not fine, but he was alive and could move around and even show Zuko this new move: lightning.

But, Zuko couldn't do it. Instead of lightning it blew up like an explosion, but he wouldn't desist and Zoe was proud of him for that.

She wasn't wasting the time either though, she was attempting the ball of air that she'd seen the Avatar conjure up and float on. She could create the ball and get on top, but then went spinning off it again! He had made it look so easy!

She took a breath; it was going to work this time. She got into her stance, at the same time as Zuko was getting into his for another attempt, and she formed the ball and jumped on! There was another explosion and Zuko was thrown back to the ground, Zoe was still on her ball, but she couldn't control it; it was spinning madly, out of control with her on top straight towards the fallen, angry Zuko.

Not for the first time, Zoe found her self in a mess a top of the grumpy Prince.

"I don't think I'm very good at that move…" She said meekly, sitting up so that she was on Zuko's lap.

"At least it doesn't blow up in your face." He said angrily, but not as angrily as he wanted to because of the certain warm girl currently straddling him and completely at distracting him from his lighting failure fiascos.

Zoe sighed and leant forward, putting her elbows on Zuko's chest and her chin in her hands. Zuko raised his eyebrows at her in alarm; what was she doing? She clearly had no idea what this was doing to him. There was a very warm feeling in his lower abdomen and he felt himself stirring somewhere below…

Suddenly Zoe's face went very red as if she had just realised her position. She jumped off him, dusting herself off in a very flustered way, and then offered the Prince a hand up. He took it and she said, "I am sorry for knocking you down."

Zuko was flushing too, and desperately hoping that she hadn't noticed what she had done to him. "Uuh.." he said, his voice hoarse, he cleared his throat, "don't worry about it…" He was a teenager! He had to remind himself. These things happen, it's not like it means anything…

After a moment of awkward silence Zoe nodded and hurried off, breathing rather fast. She couldn't believe what just happened; why had she stayed there? She hoped Zuko hadn't realised, but that was…She had never felt that way before: there was a longing ache growing within her that that position had evoked. She could never let Zuko find that out, he would be repulsed, maybe already was.

To let off some steam Zoe decided to try her hand at making a tornado. It was always something she had wanted to do. Of course it didn't work very well. When she finally returned by twilight, with a storm oncoming, she found Iroh and Zuko doing some strange movements with their arms that reminded her strongly of waterbending.

"Excellent! You've got it!" said Iroh happily and Zoe smiled; she was so glad he was OK.

"Great!" replied Zuko excited, "I'm ready to try it with real lightening!"

"What, are you crazy?" Iroh asked in shock, "lightening is very dangerous."

"I thought that was the point!" cried Zuko, "You teaching me how to protect myself from it!"

"Yeah, but I'm not going to shoot lightening at you!" Iroh burst out scandalized. He turned away, "If you're lucky you will never have to use this technique at all."

Zuko turned to look at the sky. "Well if you won't help me…I'll find my own lightening."

Zoe slapped her hand to her forehead as Zuko grabbed the ostrich-horse and rode out toward the desert landscape where a huge storm was looming.

"I'm going after him." She said to Iroh and he nodded.

"He needs you." He said in agreement.

And so she ran right after him, into the pouring rain, the hail, the lightening. She said she'd be there when he needed her, and so she would be.

Thanking the spirits that she was so fast, Zoe managed to keep Zuko in sight as she saw him leave the ostrich horse at the bottom of a large hill and climb it. The rain was so hard her clothes were soaked through, making her heavy and her hair was plastered to her face. She jumped from rock to rock, using her airbending to help her climb faster, though it was difficult with the stronger wind that threatened to throw her off the cliff.

She made it finally to the top and Zuko was there, his back to her, soaked to the bone. "Well I can take it!" He was shouting to the sky, "And now I can give it back!"

Lightening crackled and lit the sky hitting a cliff not far from them. "Come on!" He cried louder, "Strike me! You've never held back before!"

Zoe made her slow way over to him, her falling tears joining the flow of never ending rain drops. Zuko saw her, catching her from the corner of his eye a moment before his own tears filled them. He cried out again and fell to his knees, but Zoe was there to catch him in her arms and he didn't throw her off. She hugged him tighter, but didn't say a word and they stayed there, a vulnerable boy and girl atop a cliff in a storm. He needed her, and she needed him no matter what they tried to tell themselves.

"Why don't I ever get to steer?" Demanded Zoe with her hands on her hips, "I won't let us fall off a cliff or anything you know."

Zuko rolled his eyes, "Just get on the back behind Uncle." He said simply; he was avoiding at all costs another incident involving her anywhere near his lap. If she ever found out why…well, she'd probably attack him.

Zoe glared at Zuko, but didn't get on the ostrich-horse.

"Fine," he said jumping on the front and taking the reins. "Just stay here then."

"Hey!" fumed Zoe, jogging after the retreating animal. She just managed to jump on the back whilst huffing angrily.

Zuko was secretly snickering at the front. Iroh was quite content; the only time he saw his nephew looking happy was when he was with Zoe, even if they were arguing again.

By mid morning Iroh was groaning and moaning between Zoe and Zuko, and once the sympathy had grown old it was really getting on their nerves. They'd asked if he wanted to stop for camp, but he kept refusing!

Finally after much complaining Zuko brought the ostrich-horse to a sudden halt and Iroh slid of gratefully, sitting with a groan on a nearby boulder.

Zoe stretched and yawned then decided to walk over to Zuko. "I'll steer now if you'd like a break." She said cheekily, but before he had a chance to reply their ostrich-horse looked up suddenly as did they as they heard the sound of something…many something's approaching.

"What now?" Groaned Iroh as Zuko and Zoe took up their bending stances.

Suddenly they were surrounded by some very buff men, all armed with different weapons and atop of kimono-rhinos.

"Colonel Mongke," said Iroh in a welcoming voice that Zoe new was him stalling. "What a pleasant surprise."

"If you're surprised to see us then the Dragon of the West has lost a few steps." Said the one named Mongke in a gruff, superior voice. Everyone suddenly showed off their weapons menacingly.

"You know these guys?" asked Zuko, just as bemused as Zoe who shook her head in wonder.

"Sometimes I wonder why I am friends with you two…" Zuko glared at her, "Well of course it is because of you Zuko." She affirmed quickly.

Zuko's mouth twitched into a tiny half smile.

Iroh was still talking; apparently these guys were a great band…and deadly weapon experts.

"We're not here to give a concert," Said Mongke, "we're here to apprehend fugitives!"

"Would you like some tea first" Asked Iroh pleasantly, stroking his beard with a mischievous glint in his eye. "I'd love some." His gaze swapped to a man holding a very sharp, pointy spear, and he asked him if he would like some tea too. Zoe giggled.

"Enough stalling!" cried Monkge, "Round 'em up!"

And they attacked. Zoe didn't get a chance to see what the others were doing because she was nearly hit with a flaming arrow. Zuko got there before she had a chance and snapped it in two, then sent either the arrow back at the archer, or his own fire blast; Zoe couldn't tell, but she was impressed.

Then there was more fire, from Monkge who was unfortunately a firebender. Without even thinking, Zoe conjured the air ball that she kept failing at and jumped on. Once again, she stayed on, but this time she had a little more control.

Well, a very little.

She spun in the vague direction of the Fire bender, ducking the blasts and scootering over his kimono-rhino causing it rear and attempt to buck off his rider. Proud of herself, Zoe then scootered toward the ostrich-horse so that they could make their escape. Of course she crashed into the beast first. Zuko in the mean time had somehow, managed to smoothly and lithely kick the lead fire bender off his rhino and stood there waiting as Zoe ran toward him atop their mount.

He jumped on behind her, understanding completely her smug smile and they quickly ran to Iroh and brought him aboard.

As they cantered away from the Rough Rhino's (this was their group name apparently) and bombs a thought struck Zoe: they really should name this ostrich-horse; he had helped them out on many occasions now.

"I have decided we should name our fourth companion." She said, "Phelan, for 'the brave one'. That is his name, and we can call him Fifi for short." She patted him fondly.

"Fifi?" repeated Zuko in horror. "That's just as bad as 'Zuzu'. If you must have a name can't we call him Lano (lay-no) for short?"

"Lano it is!" Zoe said excitedly, "so Uncle, you have any old friend's that don't want to attack us?"

"Hmm…" Iroh said thoughtfully, "Old friends that don't want to attack us…"

Zoe laughed slightly, but then fell back slightly in her seat when Lano jumped over a fallen log. Zuko inhaled sharply. Zoe giggled again, "Sorry Zuko; is this uncomfortable for you?"

Zuko didn't reply, he wasn't sure what she meant by that, but Iroh laughed as if understanding Zuko, though Zoe was left oblivious.

But, very comfortable.

A/N Please review! =) I'd love to know what you think!