A/N: Wow, has it already been two days? Time flies... when you are editing plain chapters into epic tales of fiction! Like I just did. Yup- I got a new one for y'all! this was really short and kind of meh- but I revampeed it and made it actually work into what I had in mind! so yay! hope you guys like it! Thank you all for your constructive reveiws- I still haven't gotten any requests for more fluff, but I did get a heads up that the story pace was a bit jumpy, so I will work on that, and add more fluffyness just because I want to! So there, live with my fluffy plot bunnies! Anyway, this is a more in between chapter, but a story is only as good as it's filler chapters and I hope I served up! I really like it, we get into the royal duo's thinking about two certian blue-eyed siblings- heh heh. Read on!

DISCLAIMER: NOPE. NOT MINE. I WISH, BUT NO.

Cahpter 11: Think Time on the Back of an Air Bison

So the next morning Azula and Zuko found themselves on top of the flying Bison with the young Avatar, on their way to a place that could very well no longer exist.

And the two firebenders were geting antsy.

"We've been flying for hours! I don't know why, but I imagined this thing would go faster!" Zuko exclaimed, exasperated as he irratably watched the water rush by- as he had been doing for the past three hours.

Appa groaned, lifting his tail and letting it drop again.

"You're right Appa, in our group we usualy like to start our day with a more ubeat attitude!" Aang said cheerily, flicking the reins.

"He does know we've been here for the past week and never once abided by that rule, correct?" Azula mumbled to her brother, who in response muttered something along the lines of "You have got to be kidding me."

Aang, who had heard the whole exchange just chuckled airly. "You guys will get the hang of it."

Zuko fell onto his back, staring up at the cloudy sky.

Azula took to examining the large beast they were on from every angle she could. She counted 6 legs, one giant tail that could rival her bed back in the Frie Nation, and one head with two horns and a brown arrow similar to the one on Aang's head.

"How did you manage to find this thing anyway?" She asked her young friend, grabbing onto the bison's fur and pulling out a few loose strands.

"Who? Appa? He and I go way back, don't we bud?"

Appa groaned in response as Aang pat his head.

"When air nomads are young, we pick an Air bison baby to be our animal companion for the rest of our lives. They used to be the only transportation able to get people in and out of the Air cities… but ever since the war… It's just been me and Appa. And momo." Aang said, a melencholly look on his face.

Azula felt bad for being insensitive- she was slowly getting used to feeling regretful emotions- and scooted over to the front of the saddle.

"Look… I'm really sorry for what happened… if Sozin had listened to Roku… maybe we wouldn't be in this mess."

Zuko, listining from his spot a couple of inches away, was shocked at his sister's soft tone and sorrowful words. He knew she had changed, but there was that small sliver of doubt in his mind…

Azula always lies.

Zuko shook his head. He was…ehhh- 90% sure she was compleatly changed, if her loss of fire bending was any indicator. And today would hold the moment of truth. It was them and Aang. Alone. If she was sincere, he would know for sure by tonight.

As for right now, she had a hand on Aang's shoulder, smiling somewhat softly at the younger boy who seemed grateful for whatever she was saying- Zuko wasn't really tuned in, lost in thought- and she looked glad to be here to help.

Today would tell all, and Aang would finally see that they really have come full circle.

Well, Zuko for sure, at least.

Maybe the rest of the group would notice too when they saw the young avatar-hopefully-safely returned to their family.

Katara would see.

The thought popped into Zuko's mind unbidden. It startled him, but he figured if this ride was going to take any longer, he may as well sort out his thoughts on the young master.

What is it about her… I know I want her acceptance. But why is it only her acceptance I care about?
…And why should I even care? She obviously still hates me… but she's starting to like Azula more and more. Was it because of what I did in Ba Sing Se? Azula literally killed the avatar. And she was being kind of nice to me before I sided with Azula in the cata-

Oh wait…

Could that be why…

No way. She can't hate me because of THAT! I'm good now!

But… Was it because I turned on her personally? Because she let me in but after I did the same, I pushed her back out? Was she starting to see me as more then the face of the enemy?

Ugh. I wish uncle were here- he would understand.

Ok. So now I kind of understand why she wishes I was dead.

Now for why I can't drop the thought of her.

It's never been like this with girls. Not even Mai! And that's saying something because we…uh, anyway. What do I even see in her?

Many qualities he had picked up on her showing flashed across his mind, instances. Pictures of rare smiles he saw when she spoke with the group. Her head-strong yet nurturing attitude. Her outlook on life.

How she didn't judge people unless necessary.

He groaned and shut his eyes. What was wrong with him?! He hunted this girl down-along with her group- for months and… found her attractive even then- great, it's been like this from the beginning.

Ever since he saw her at the poles, he noted her beauty- thought the thought was more subdued thanks to his obsession with capturing Aang at that point. She was nothing like he always saw in the Fire Nation, where all the women were tall and thin and pale and quiet.

And then this shorter-then-him, dark-skinned, toned, loud mouth girl has the audacity to not only face him when he tries to capture her friend-but fights him with everything she has in order to defend Aang and Sokka.

And even when he was fighting back, he had realized that he actually liked that she was fighting him.

He just couldn't figure out why. What was with this sudden spark that he had never felt with anyone else ever? He couldn't really fathom it.

And it was driving him insane.

And what about Aang? It was obvious he was head over glider for the girl. Was he really going to have to go up against the avatar again, only this time for a girl? What had his short life come to?

Seriously, what was happening?

Unbeknownst to Zuko, his sister was riding the same train of thought, though it was about the other water tribe member in their group.

There is something about him that has caught my attention… why can't I get my mind off of him?

Azula's mind had been flooded with thoughts of the young watertribe's men ever since he and her brother had safely returned from the prison.

He is obviously good-looking, even Toph could see that. But the last time I decided to persue someone based off looks alone, that ended in a house on Ember Island burning to the ground.

Azula scowled at the saddle as she recalled her interactions with Chan.

Well, Sokka is obviously no Fire Nation air-head. Water Tribe air-head perhaps, but that's not the point.

Much like Zuko, she tried to find where the attraction to this particular person lay. Granted- their relationship was much less complicated then that of her brother and the Katara's, but she was still unsure of it.

Was he even interested in her?

A part of her instantly said Of course, you're the princess of the Fire Nation. What's not to love?

But she squashed that thought almost imidiently, no use thinking like that now.

And was he even over Suki? Doubtful.

And what about the little earthbender? Azula was not blind- wow ok, she did not word that correctly- she could see-again, horrible wording, Holy dragons!- but she could… sense, the romantic tension there, despite the age gap between the two.

Huh. Who would have thought the renowned Princess of the Fire Nation would have competition for a romantic interest with a 12 year old?! How would that even work?

I'm older and more experienced- I don't care if you "saw" him first, I want him he's mine.

Yeah, that would go over well.

And even Suki. What if after the war she wanted him back?

Azula sighed. This was going to be hard. She had never really experienced feelings of the romantic sort. Nothing more then a physical attraction anyway.

This was a whole new level.

And she was not sure what to expect from herself, nor the boy in question.

Despite their previous annoyance with the length of time this trip was taking, the two firebending siblings found themselves able to pass said time with figuring out what was so hot about two people that came from a place so cold…