Zuko poured tea into seven cups, smiling to himself at the familiar smell of it.

"No one can make tea like Uncle, but hopefully I learned a thing or two. Would you like to hear Uncle's favorite tea joke?"

"I like jokes!" Zuko could hear the grin in Aang's voice, and it made him smile. Even after everything that had happened to the young airbender, he still managed to smile. Zuko was trying to follow his example, but it was hard.

Hard not to think of... her.

Hard not to remember...

He shook his head and carried the tray over to his friends. He couldn't think of Kara now. "Okay. Well, I can't remember how it starts, but the punchline is: leaf me alone! I'm bushed!"

Silence greeted him.

"Well... it's funnier when Uncle tells it."

Toph laughed and said, "Maybe that's because he remembers the whole thing."

They laughed, and even Sokka smiled. He'd been quieter than usual lately. It was good to see him smile.

Even though, every time Zuko looked at the Water Tribe boy, Kara's face swam into his mind. It was hard not to look at Sokka and see Katara. They were a lot alike. Zuko hadn't realized how much... until Sokka was the only one he could see.

He clenched his fists and forced his mind back to the present.

"It's nice to get a chance to relax a little. It hardly ever happens." Toph took her tea, and Zuko smiled at her, even though she couldn't see him. He moved to Sokka, but the look on his brother-in-law's face stopped him. Something was wrong.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" Sokka stood and walked a few paces into the darkness, and Zuko frowned. This wasn't going to be good.

"So what's up?"

"If someone was captured by the Fire Nation, where would they be taken?"

"What do you mean? Who was captured?"

"When the invasion plan failed, some of our troops were taken. I just... wanna know where they might be."

Zuko shook his head and turned away.

"I can't tell you."

"What? Why not?"

"Trust me." Says the man who took your sister from you... and lies about it every day... SHUT UP!

"Knowing will only make you feel worse."

"It's my dad. He was captured too. I need to know what I put him through."

"It's not good, Sokka."

"Please. He's- he's all I have left, Zuko."

Zuko sighed. He couldn't argue with that. Especially since it was his fault.

"My guess is... the Boiling Rock."

"What's that?"

"The highest security prison in the Fire Nation. It's on an island in the middle of a boiling lake. It's inescapable."

"So where is this place?"

"Why do you need to know? What're you planning?"

"Nothing. Boy, you're so paranoid."

"It's in the middle of a volcano between here and the Fire Nation. You guys actually flew right past it on your way here."

"Thanks, Zuko." He yawned and walked back towards the fire. "Just knowing makes me feel better."

"Yeah. I'm sure it does." Sokka was planning something, and whatever it was, Zuko planned to be in on it. He had to- it was his job to protect Sokka. It's what Kara would want. If she were there, it's what she would do.

Katara. Her name is Katara.

Zuko scowled and followed Sokka back to the others.

________

Zuko added more fuel to the fire, raising the war balloon a few inches. Sokka leaned back in the corner, and Zuko fought the urge to think about what the Water Tribe boy would do if he knew who Zuko really was. That he was Katara's husband. Well, Kara's husband. Zuko didn't know if marriages counted when the bride didn't know what she was getting into.

Although, the spirits did marry them... so maybe it wasn't annuled... Zuko glanced at the fire-water tattoo on his arm, ran his fingertips over it gently.

He missed her.

So much.

"Pretty clouds."

"Yeah. Fluffy." Zuko knew that Sokka was just trying to make conversation, but he didn't want to talk. Not now. He was too full of Kara's laugh, Kara's smile... of Kara.

Sokka started whistling, jerking Zuko out of his memory. He glared.

"What?"

"What? Oh, I didn't... say anything. ... You know, a friend of mine actually designed these war balloons."

"No kidding."

"Yep. A balloon. But for war."

"If there's one thing my dad's good at it's war."

"Yeah. Seems to run in the family."

"Hey, hold on! Not everyone in my family is like that."

"I know, I know, you've changed."

"I meant my uncle. He was more of a father to me. I miss him." And her. My wife isn't like that, either. Neither are you, brother. But Zuko didn't say those things.

He couldn't.

"I think your uncle would be proud of you. Leaving everything to come help us. That's hard."

"It wasn't that hard." Not now. Now that Kara hates me. He couldn't get used to thinking of her as Katara. That wasn't who she was to him. Not anymore.

"Really? You didn't leave behind anyone you cared about?"

If only you knew.

"Well, I did have a- girlfriend." Wife. Life. Happiness. The list goes on. But it was never really mine. I just borrowed it for awhile. It really belongs to you.

"Who?"

"Her name is Kara. You don't know her." Zuko looked down, looked away. Anything to avoid his brother-in-law's eyes after that lie. He was getting tired of the lies.

"My first girlfriend turned into the moon."

Ouch. And I thought I had relationship troubles. My girl just lost her memory, and now she's got it back, and she hates me. At least she's still around.

"That's rough, buddy."

They didn't say anything else the rest of the way to the Boiling Rock.

__________

Zuko looked up as the prison door opened, and a man stepped into the room.

"Well, well, well. I never thought I'd find you in here, Prince Zuko." Oh no.

"How did you know who I am?"

"How could I not? You broke my niece's heart." Huh? What is he- oh.

"You're Mai's uncle? I never meant to hurt her." Of course Zuko never meant to hurt her. Things had just... changed. Before Zuko was banished, he and Mai had started... something. Zuko wasn't sure anymore what it had been. Having been with Kara, Zuko knew what love felt like. And he'd never had that with Mai.

He knew it had hurt her when he chose the Avatar over her and the Fire Nation, but... to be honest, he hadn't really thought about it much. He'd been so broken-hearted over Kara... was still broken-hearted over Kara.

Mai was... just a girl he'd known. He felt kind of bad about that.

"Quiet! You're my special prisoner now. And you best behave. If these criminals found out who you are- the traitor prince who let his nation down- why they'd tear you to shreds."

"So what's in it for you? Why don't you just tell my father and collect the reward?"

"Oh in due time, believe me. I intend to collect."

The warden left then, and the cell door slid closed behind him with a bang. Zuko breathed out slowly, controlling his anger. This man didn't deserve his anger. The important thing was that Sokka was still out there, and he would get Zuko out. And Suki, too. Whoever that was...

_____

"Be in the yard in one hour." Zuko stifled a laugh as Sokka punched the pillow he held. Then the guards opened the door and Sokka grabbed him around the neck. Really? Zuko was almost glad when the guards dragged him out of the cell and away from the Water Tribe boy.

"What're you doing? Where are you taking me?" They opened a door and shoved him in, but he caught himself on the chair.

"I didn't do anything wrong!"

"Come on, Zuko. We all know that's a lie."

"Mai!" What is she doing here?!

"How did you know I was here?"

"The Warden's my uncle, you idiot." Oh. This is not going to go well.

"Mai, I never wanted to hurt you. But I was banished, I couldn't go back!"

"I know that, you idiot! But after that, you could've come home. And you didn't."

"This isn't about you! It's about the Fire Nation!"

"Oh, thanks, Zuko. That makes me feel all better."

"I have to do this to save my country."

"Save it? You're betraying your country!"

"That's not how I see it."

Suddenly a guard was at the door.

"Ma'am. There's a riot going on. I'm here to protect you."

"I don't need any protection." Well that's for sure.

"I'm sorry, but I'm under direct orders from your uncle to make sure nothing happens." Hmm... a perfect opportunity.

Zuko stepped forward and sent a blast of fire straight at the guard's feet. He leapt in front of Mai, and Zuko headed for the door. He slammed it shut, meeting Mai's angry gaze through the narrow slit.

Then he turned and left.

His family needed him- Sokka and Hakoda and Suki. Katara's family was his family now. Mai and Azula and the others had no hold on him anymore.

___

Soooo. I wasn't going to put this in here originally, it wasn't in my plot, but I was watching an ATLA marathon and saw these episodes and thought HEY THAT'D BE AWESOME! So here it is, lol, enjoy and COMMENT! and vote. :)

Also- I've decided that ALL chapters now require five comments before I update, effective starting with this one. There'll still be only two chappie a day but if you want an update the next day I need five comments on the second chappie. Just message me or whatever if that doesn't make sense. :) byebye!

-Tess