A/N: BEWARE! THIS WILL BE RATED "M" FOR MATURE!

"Good morning earthbending student!" Toph greeted Aang ridiculously loud as she broke apart her earth tent, causing a bunch of rumbling, much to Katara's disapproval.

"Hey," The waterbender called softly, looking up from the sleeping Zuko next to her. "Zuko still doesn't feel well." She informed, gently wiping a hand over his sweaty forehead. He had informed that he hadn't been feeling well when they were in Gaoling, and after having a run-in with his sister and having to stay up all night, he fell even more ill due to what Katara figured was lack of rest and fuel, thanks to his terrible eating habits.

"Oh, sorry. We'll do our earthbending as quietly as we can." Toph whispered. Katara wasn't sure if she was being sarcastic or not and furrowed her brow at the girl as she rung out a rag to place on Zuko's forehead in attempt to cool him down out of his fever.

"Oh!" Sokka grumbled, sitting up inside his sleeping bag. "So because little Zuzu over there is still sleeping you're gunna be quiet!" He growled, continuing to mumble a jumble of words after completing his sentence, annoyed that they hadn't been quiet for him.

"Sorry, Sokka." Aang apologized, he had already woken Sokka up, telling him about how exited he was to being his earthbending training.

As her brother began to hop away, still inside his sleeping bag, Katara called after him, scolding, "Sokka, you know it's not like him to sleep in!" Sokka grumbled an angry, incoherent reply and continued to hop away from the group, far from any noise they were going to be making.

"So," Aang began, turning towards Toph. "What move are you gunna teach me first!" He asked, going on a ramble of different earthbending moves he was exited to learn as he did the motions he thought fit each of them.

"Lets!" She interrupted, holding an arm out in front of the young monk, putting a halt on his words and movements. "Just start with a basic stance." She said, moving into a strong, rooted stance that Aang easily recognized.

"Okay!" He exclaimed, but before mimicking the earthbender, he turned and looked over to Katara, asking her if she'd be watching him learn earthbending throughout the day.

"No," She shook her head, "I'm gunna stay here with Zuko."

Aang's shoulder's and smile dropped, but he turned back towards Toph and took a stance. "This is like the one Iroh taught me." He informed, smiling with the fact he had remembered his teachings from a couple months ago.

"That's great," Toph growled, unimpressed. "Now how about you do it correctly so you don't make him look like a fool." She said, pushing him over easily. She knew Iroh was a master in his element and would have never allowed Aang to get away with taking a stance so weak, the Avatar had been just being lazy. "Earth is a stubborn element, if you're going to move a rock, you've got be like a rock." She instructed Aang on how to do the movement, and showed him an example of the move by doing it herself, pushing a rock into the canyon wall a good ways away from her.

Aang nodded and attempted himself, but instead of moving the rock forwards, he sent himself flying backwards, the boulder not being moved an inch. He had tossed himself all the way back over to Appa, tripping backwards over Zuko's sleeping body, literally kicking him from his slumber.

"Aang!" Katara scolded as she helped him back up onto his feet.

"Sorry!" He avoided her and Zuko's glare as he tiptoed over the firebender. Zuko grumbled and pulled Katara down next to him, wrapping his arms around her as he snuggled closer to her, mumbling obscenities under his breath against the young monk.

Aang sighed and rubbed the back of his head as he made his way back over to his earthbending instructor. "I did exactly what you did," He breathed out, feeling kind of defeated all ready. "Maybe if I came at the rock at a different angle, or-" He tried, moving around the rock to examine it.

"No!" Toph exclaimed, stopping him in his tracks. "You can't keep thinking like an airbender. If you're going to be an earthbender, you have to think like one. There's no going around it, no different angles, no trick. You have to do this head on!" She yelled out as jumped up, literally facing the rock head on, using her skull to break the boulder into smaller pieces. Aang flinched back, and reluctantly went with Toph as she collected more rocks for him to try to move.

!

"How is he doing?" Iroh asked softly, handing Katara and small cup at tea as he sat next next to his sleeping nephew. Katara pried herself from Zuko's grip and sat up, taking a small sip of the tea Iroh had prepared for her.

"He's okay, I guess." She shrugged, unsure as to how he gotten sick. If he had picked up something in Gaoling, they were sure to all be sick as well, but they weren't. Sokka was the only one still sleeping in, but that's what he had always done. It wasn't like Zuko to sleep past sun rise.

Iroh raised his brow and took a sip of his tea before asking Katara if she knew why Zuko had fallen ill in such a way. She shook her head. Iroh sighed and looked down. "He's been confused about the choices he's been making recently. He's been on the offensive side for years, chasing after the Avatar, on the Fire Nation's obvious side. Now, not only is he in hiding, but he's with the Avatar, on the Avatars side. When we ran into Azula, Mai could have easily of given us away. His mindset had been carved in stone, go after the Avatar, get in him, return home. That had been the plan, but things are changing, he's changing. This won't be a pleasant experience for him."

Katara frowned as she looked down to the young firebender in front of her. It was obvious he was dreaming, the way his eyes were moving underneath the lids, the twitching of his muscles and the mumbling escaping from his lips. She wondered just what he was dreaming about, it didn't seem to be a good one. Poor Zuko, not only were his dreams a nightmare, but his life seemed to be as well. He just couldn't catch a break.

"Is there anything I can do for him?" She asked softly, obviously concerned for him.

"Be there for him. Assure that he's made the right choice, because he has." Katara nodded and ran her fingers through Zuko's hair, smiling when she saw his muscles ease up.

She didn't want to wake him, he needed to rest, but she wanted him awake, in a state to where he would be able to tell her how he was feeling and thinking. She didn't want to have to keep guessing, she wanted to know so she could help. But, if gently caressing him every so often to let him know she was there would help ease him through his nightmares, it's what she'd do.

Katara sighed and placed her unfinished tea down to the side, laying back down next to Zuko, snuggling close to him. She was happy to feel him take her back into his arms, but she wondered if he thought she was Mai. She huffed and pressed the thought from her mind, hearing Toph yelling at Aang to keep his knee's high from out in the distance.

She lay there with him for hours, feeling the rumbles in the earth from Toph's earthbending. Aang had been practicing all day. She knew he needed a break and just as she was getting up to go check up on him, Zuko finally began to wake from his sleep.

He groaned, rubbing his temple. He sighed and looked up, noticing Katara sitting in front of him. He lightly smiled and sat up, leaning over to catch her in his arms. "Katara," He sighed out her name as he tightened his arms around her into a bear hug until she squeaked.

"Hey, Zuko." She breathed, happy to see that he was happy to see her.

"Here, nephew," Iroh called out from behind him, holding out a cup of tea. "Have some tea." Zuko turned and plucked the cup from his uncle's hand, taking a small sip. "I'm glad to see you're finally awake," Iroh admitted happily, refilling up his own cup. "How are you feeling?" They watched as Zuko sighed, looking down into the tea. "Would you like to do some firebending exercises to try and clear your mind?" He asked, knowing Zuko had been longing to restart his firebending training. Now that Azula was after them, Iroh had been wanting to show Zuko a few knew moves to use against her and her skill in lightening.

Zuko nodded before taking another sip of tea. "Now that Azula is present, I think it's time you learned more about lightening." Iroh paused and watched as Zuko looked up at him, interested to hear more."It's pure, and is not fueled by emotion as other firebending is. It's precise and deadly, just like your sister. To generate lightening, you need peace of mind." Iroh paused one again and watched silently as Zuko sighed, knowing he was in no mental state to actually have his try at generating lightening as of right now.

He saw him shrug before taking another sip of tea, at least he would be able to learn more about it. The retired general smiled at his nephew's actions, in the past he would have gotten frustrated and insist on trying anyways. This change was going through was already proving to be a good one.

Iroh stood and took a few good paces away from the couple as he explained about the energy around them.

He told them about the positive and negative energy and how only a few firebenders could separate the energies. Iroh spoke about how by separating them, you create an imbalance while the energies want to restore, then come crashing back to each other while the bender offers guidance, creating lightening. He stood and demonstrated, sending a bolt away from them. "Once you separate the energy, you do not command it. You're only it's guide." Iroh turned around to face towards his nephew and Katara. "I don't think you will be able to do this for quite some time, Zuko." He said solemnly. Zuko nodded slowly, knowing his uncle knew that he was still not completely confident in his recent choices. He was still in the middle of a battle inside his mind, though it was now obvious which side was winning, but still no place to have a go at lightening.

"I've got an idea," Iroh admitted, smiling. "I'll teach you move that even Azula doesn't know, because I made it up myself!" He exclaimed, pointing proudly to himself. "But first, I'm going to show you something else." Iroh plucked a stick from the small pile they had collected for a fire and began to draw symbols in sand in front of the two young benders. He explained to them about each element, and the people of that element.

Katara smiled and nudged Zuko as his uncle spoke about the people of the water tribe and how they adapted easily and had a strong sense of community and love that holds them together through anything. She took his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together, silently letting him know that she would be there for him in his time of need.

Iroh smiled at the two and told them about how you needed to learn from and understand the other elements, and that this understanding is what makes the Avatar so powerful, but could also make them powerful as well.

"I learned this move from studying the waterbenders." Iroh informed, smiling at Katara as she smiled back up at him, thrilled and flattered that he had taken the time out of his life to learn something from her element. She smiled and stood, telling them about a pond they could go to that wasn't far.

The firebenders nodded and followed her. She made her way into the water, them following not far behind. Iroh took the stance and she mimicked, smiling, knowing exactly what he was about to do. She seeped up a nice blob of water and pushed the water towards him. Iroh moved in the motion so perfectly, as she pushed and pulled the water back and forth, it looked as though he was waterbending with her.

He explained about how waterbenders worked with the flow of energy, turning their defense into their offense, turning their attackers own energy against them. Iroh fell out of the movement as he told Zuko about how he had figured out how to do this with lightening.

"You can teach me how to redirect lightening?" Iroh nodded and showed him the movement, but told him to practice with Katara first.

Katara smiled and pulled up new blob of water to use with Zuko. "Push and pull the water," She informed. Zuko snickered, it sounded as if she was trying to teach a firebender how to waterbend. She narrowed her eyes at him, "Pull," She said softly as she pulled the water away from him, "and push!" She said, sending the water towards him, drenching his what was dry torso with water. He groaned and splashed the water back at her, causing them both to laugh. "Okay, okay." She said, holding her hands up. "Seriously now." She smiled and went back into the movement with him, telling him which way to move in order to get the motion right. Iroh watched from the edge of the pond, heating his hands to dry his pants legs while they practiced the movement together.

"Katara," Aang called softly in a voice of defeat, obviously exhausted from his earthbending training. "Can I-" He paused as he looked up from the ground, catching her in the water with Zuko. "You're waterbending?" He breathed, "With Zuko!" He yelled, clinching his fists together. "I've been slaving away all day trying to learn earthbending and I come here to try and catch a break and you're waterbending with Zuko! He can't even waterbend!" He huffed, glaring at her as he motioned towards the firebender in the water.

Katara furrowed her brow and dropped the water, angry. She placed her hands on her hips and shifted her weight onto one leg. "Iroh is trying to teach Zuko how redirect lightening. He learned how from watching waterbenders! I'm just trying to help him out!"

"Do you know what Toph's been making me do all day! She tried to have a huge boulder roll over me!"

"Aang, it's fine. Just keep trying, I'm sure you'll get it soon." She growled, turning back towards Zuko. She ignored Aang, hearing him let out a growl in frustration as he kicked at the dirt in front of him.

She continued moving with Zuko for a little bit longer before the guilt started to creep up on her. "Maybe I should go talk to him," She sighed, dropping the water. Zuko nodded and made his way out of the water with her, stopping in front of his uncle.

Iroh stood and began teaching Zuko the redirection movement as Katara made her way back to camp.

As Zuko joined him in the movement, Iroh asked how he had been feeling about the recent choices he had made, and expressed to Zuko that he had been worried for him.

Zuko huffed and slumped out of the movement. "I just..." He paused, trying to think of how to put his feelings into words. He began doing the movement again, feeling the energy flow throughout his body. "Need time to let everything sink in, you know?"

"Yes, I know. But are you happy, nephew?"

Zuko took a long pause, honestly thinking about it. He wouldn't say he was exactly 'happy', but he wasn't unahppy, either. He was more content than anything. He still had his worries and his doubts, but between the Avatar and the water tribe boy, there was plenty of light-hearted, happy moments, and that earthbending girl was tough, but had a great sense of humor. Not to mention, he got to wake up next to a beautiful girl he was sure he loved every morning.

"I suppose I'm getting there," He breathed out, feeling as though a heavy weight had just been lifted off his shoulders, finally admitting to himself that he had been holding on to things, and was now finally letting them go. "I just need to clear out some things; get used to things." Iroh nodded, a genuine, happy smile on his face.

Finally, Zuko was letting go of anger and hurt he had been harboring for years. Iroh could swear that he could literally see the bricks from the wall he had put up around himself falling down one by one, shattering into pieces. Finally, he was allowing happiness and love seep in. He was finally accepting other peoples love. He was finally realizing that just because he wasn't high on his father's priority list, didn't mean he couldn't be on others. Just because Ozai didn't show him that he had cared for him or had loved him, doesn't mean that others can't or won't.

Iroh let out a big sigh of relief. Ozai was finally losing control over his son.

He looked over into the direction Katara had walked off in and gave her a silent 'thank you'.

!

Katara looked around the camp and noticed just how empty it was. It was nearly dark, and Sokka hadn't been around all day. It wasn't like him, he should be back by now!

She looked around and only found Aang sitting on a rock. She didn't want to call for him after what had just happened, but she knew she had to. "Aang," She called softly, feeling the tension in the air rise immediately after he realized it was her.

"Meditating here!" He growled out, trying his best to ignore her. She rolled her eyes, but spoke in a nice voice as he told him about how she hadn't seen Sokka all day. Aang huffed and twisted around to face her.

"I'm sure you haven't," He spat, "You've been too busy looking after Zuko all day!" He growled, turning back around in attempt to begin meditating again.

Katara sighed and walked around the rock to be able to face the young, angry monk. "It's nearly dark. He wasn't at camp, he should be back now, Aang. I'm really worried about him." Aang opened his eyes and noticed the look of honest concern on her face and in her eyes. He huffed and stood.

"We'll find him faster if we split up." He said, taking off into his own direction as she turned into her own.

!

"Aang!" Sokka cried out at catching sight of him. He nearly ran right past him. Somehow, Sokka had managed to get himself wedged into the earth and had been there all day. "Thank goodness! Have you got any meat? Get me outta here, will ya?" He asked, pawing at the space in front of him, reaching out for Aang.

Aang tried pulling him out, but was unable to. He wouldn't budge. Aang sighed and scratched his head, "Maybe I could air bend you out of here." He attempted, sending a gust of wind into the cracks around Sokka. The warrior sighed at the second failed attempt and pointed out that he needed some earthbending to be able to be freed from the split in the ground.

Sokka watched carefully as Aang sighed and turned away from him, sadly telling him that he didn't know how to earthbend.

"I feel like I'm caught between a rock and hard place," Aang sighed sadly as he took a seat next to his friend, explaining to Sokka about he wasn't comfortable with coming to Toph for help and how he was in awkward position, everyone expected him to get earthbending so quickly.

"How 'bout that..." Sokka noticed a small animal with brown fur walking towards them. He recognized this animal and motioned towards him. "Aang, this is my friend, Foofoo Cuddlypoops, Foofoo Cuddlypoops, Aang." He introduced the monk to a baby saber-tooth moose lion, only he hadn't realized that Foofoo was of that species, and told Aang that he looked nothing like one.

Aang picked up the cub and told Sokka that it was hard tell before their giant teeth and horns grew in. He smiled and examined the baby.

Both Sokka and Aang shook at the sound of a loud growl behind him. Sokka hissed and tensed up as he saw the mother moose-lion begin to shake her horns at the two, she was about to charge!

"Aang!" Sokka cried, "You gotta get me out of here!"

As the moose-lion began to come at them, Sokka let out a cry and shrunk down as Aang airbent the giant beast up and over him, one of her claws barely missing his head. Sokka watched full in fear as she recovered from the attack and turned back around to face the.

"Aang, you have to earthbend me out!" He cried, writhing around, desperately trying to free himself. He stopped once he heard Aang let out a huff and try a couple of earthbending moves, all ending up being unsuccessful.

Aang airbent himself up onto one the rocks a little ways away from the trapped warrior and called out to the angry, protective mother as he did a dance to try and distract her away from his friend. She barely even glanced towards the monk before charging towards Sokka.

Aang immediately jumped from his rock and stood in front of Sokka, sending a gust of around them, causing the beast to end up behind Sokka once again.

"Please, don't leave me again."

"I wont," Aang promised as he watched the moose-lion charge towards them once again. He waited until she got to the perfect position for him to send a giant gust of wind towards her, sending her backwards in defeat. She shook it off and made her way back in to the bush.

As the dust around them cleared, Aang caught the sound of someone clapping not too far away. He looked to his side and saw no one but Toph, perched up onto a rock, sitting casually.

"Good work, twinkletoes." She praised. Aang furrowed his brow and snarled.

"You've been there the whole time! Sokka was in trouble, I was in trouble! Why didn't you do something!" He yelled, stomping over to her as she threw a single nut down in front of her. She had been using his staff to break them open and to purposely annoy him.

"Guess it just didn't occur to me," She said, taking his staff and swinging it over her shoulder, but while it was slicing through the air, Aang caught it before it could come anywhere near the nut.

"Enough!" He yelled, taking his staff from Toph's grasp.

"Do it, now!" She yelled at him, hopping from the rock she had been sitting on, landing firmly on her feet in front of him.

"What!" He spat back at her, leaning towards her.

"Earthbend! You just stood your ground against a crazy beast! And what's more impressive, you've just stood your ground against me!" She said, pointing towards herself. "You've got what it takes, now earthbend!"

"But-"

"Do it!" Aang furrowed his brow and twisted, doing the move Toph had taught him first. Much to his surprise, the rock he had wanted to move, moved. He had been able to send it gliding across the ground until smashed into one of the rock walls that surrounded the area they were in. "You did it!" Toph exclaimed, honestly happy for him and proud of her own teachings. "You're an earthbender."

"You know, this is really a wonderful moment, but you see," Sokka began slowly, "I'm still stuck in here!" He yelled, squirming around as much as he could.

"I'll get you out!" Aang offered, running towards him, only to be stopped by Toph. She told him that he was still too new at earthbending, and he'd probably end up crushing Sokka.

"Yeah, no crushing, please." Sokka agreed, nodding. Toph did a single, simple movement that lifted Sokka out of the split he had been stuck in. She grabbed him by the top of his head and pulled him out the rest of the way before turning to make her way back to their camp.

!

"You found him!" Katara exclaimed as she ran towards them, her arms already extended, tackling her brother into a hug.

"All that time I was in that hole, not knowing how I'd end up, it really makes a guy-"

"Hey, Katara!" Aang called, interrupting Sokka mid-sentence. "Look what I can do!" He moved, and pushed a rock off another one, showing her that he could now successfully earthbend.

"I told you you'd get it!" She called out to him, happy for him.

"What's going on?" Zuko asked, walking up the group just as Aang was explaining to Appa what the key to earthbending was.

"Aang finally learned how to earthbend!" Katara answered, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"That's great." He said softly, putting his arms around her waist as he watched the sky bison lick Aang, causing him to fall out of his stance.

A/N: Please leave a review and tell me what you think! :]