Awww, guys!! Okay, I'mma get mushy for a minute. You guys are amazing!!! Thank you so much to everyone who has read, commented, and/or voted on my stories! I'm running out of ways to tell you guys that you're amazing, but you really are! You guys inspire me to keep writing, even when I feel like sometimes my stories aren't that great, you guys always prove me wrong. Thanks so much! I'd be nothing without you guys, you know that right?

*wipes away tears*

Okaaaay now that that's over.. 0.o on to the chapter!

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I frown at Uncle and take the paper from him. "What's going... on..." my words trail off as I read the words written in Sokka's handwriting.

'Katara- Aang is in danger. Please come as quickly as you can--we have to go to Araden and get him back before something terrible happens! I'm sending Appa so you can get here fast. He hurt one of his legs so he's a little slow--Hawkie will probably get there before him. Be gentle with Appa, but hurry!

-Toph'

I feel my heartbeat quicken, and raise my eyes to meet Uncle's. His expression is troubled, but there's something else going on, I can feel it. Didn't Twila say Aang was the only one capable of surviving the journey? How are we supposed to go to Araden when we don't even know where it is?

Toph can barely see in the city, she'll be completely blind that deep into the Pole. But I can't worry about that now. If Toph says Aang is in danger then she's probably right--Toph doesn't do anything without a good reason.

Suddenly I feel Uncle's warm hands on mine--I look down to see him gently pry my fingers apart. I'd been crushing the letter without even realizing it.

"When will you leave?"

"You aren't coming?"

"The Deep Pole is no place for a little girl. Someone has to stay with Allia."

I frown. I don't like the idea of leaving her here without me--I stop myself. Isn't this what I wanted? A way out without hurting her?

I nod to Uncle. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

Then I run up to my room to pack--and to tell my daughter that I'll be gone for awhile.

**__**

"I understand why you sent for Katara, but she's never going to agree to go! You should just let me ask Master Paku and--"

"No, Zuko. It has to be Katara. She's the strongest waterbender in the world."

The three friends--Sokka, Zuko, and Toph--walked along a balcony, all of them wrapped in Water Tribe furs. Even now, at the start of summer, it was cold in the South Pole. Zuko sighed. "Sokka, you don't understand, she hates me."

"Why does she hate you?" Toph sounded confused. "She's barely met you! You guys haven't talked since... ever." The blind girl frowned. "Why is that?"

"It's complicated. Trust me, she's never going to agree to go with me."

"Well she'll have to. I'm not going to let her say no." Sokka said, determined. Zuko put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Sokka, I appreciate what you're trying to do." His amber eyes told the Water Tribe boy that Sokka wasn't fooling him. The attempt at matchmaking was obvious.

"But I KNOW Katara. She won't go. Not with me."

"Then you don't know her as well as you think you do, Zuko."

Toph stomped her foot. "Hey, confused earthbender here! What's the problem? What'd you do to her, Sparky?"

"It's... complicated."

"Yeah, you said that." She crossed her arms, glaring at him with her blind eyes. Zuko ran a hand through his hair, and shook his head.

"Katara lost her memory."

Toph tapped her foot in the silence. "I KNOW that, Sparky."

"Well, she lost her memory... and I found her. And she didn't know who she was. And I didn't tell her. So then she got her memory back..."

"And she's mad at you. Way to go Sparky. Did you tell her you're sorry?"

"It's not that simple, Toph." Sokka stepped in, and Zuko smiled gratefully.

"Why isn't it simple? Just tell the girl you're sorry so you can save Aang! He's the important thing here, not your stupid fight!" Angry, the blind earthbender stomped away, leaving Sokka and Zuko standing on the balcony with twin expressions of misery.

"We'll figure this out. She has to come around sometime, Zuko."

"Why is this so important to you?"

"Because we're family. Because she loves you. And she needs you. And I will never turn my back on her. Ever."

"You're wrong. She doesn't love me. Or need me." Zuko leaned on the icy railing, his breath fogging the early morning air. His words were hopeless, but his heart jumped at Sokka's determined assessment.

"How do you know? Did you ever, I don't know, ASK her?"

"I didn't have to ask her, Sokka! You didn't see the look on her face. You didn't hear her voice."

"I know my sister, Zuko. Maybe she doesn't know it yet or want to believe it, but she does need you. And you need her." Sokka shook his head at Zuko's silence, and leaned with his back against the rail, tipping his head back to look at his brother-in-law.

"I'll convince her to go to Araden with you. You'll bring Aang back and everything will work out. You'll see."

"How can you be so confident?"

"Because I have to be. I... know some things you don't, Zuko, and trust me... all you have to do is try. She doesn't hate you. Maybe she thinks she does, but that's just because she wants to. Katara can be really stubborn, but when she really loves something... a part of her will never let it go."

Zuko looked away, staring out over the city. With a soft sigh, Sokka walked inside. He should have told Zuko about Lia, he knew that. But... it would be better if he found out from Katara. She needed to be the one to tell him, or they would never have a chance of reconciling.

**__**

The wind is cold up here, but I knew it would be. I pull my coat tighter around me, my fingers locked around Appa's reins. Despite his hurt leg, we're moving pretty fast, and I'm grateful for that. I'm so worried about Aang. Toph didn't tell me WHAT was wrong or how she knew.

Did Aang send her a message? Did Twila? What's going on? I'm getting more and more worried, and I don't know how to help. But if I can do anything to help Aang, I will. He's the Avatar, and more than that, he's my friend. I can't abandon him.

No matter what I have to do.

I will never turn my back on my friends.

Appa gives a low growl and starts to descend through the clouds, and I feel my chest tighten--we're almost there. My gaze searches the cloudscape until we're through it, and then... then I see my city, spread out and glittering like ice. It's beautiful, but... it doesn't feel like home. I wonder at that for a moment, let myself feel sad. I don't have a home anymore. I wouldn't even know where to look for one.

Appa flies over the gates and toward the palace. I let my eyes roam over the city, and I wave at the people I see. They seem happy--they don't know what's happened.

I don't know what's happened! I'm going to strangle Toph when I see her.

Flying closer to the palace, I see a figure leaning against the railing on the upper balcony. I wonder who would be crazy enough to be up there this early in the morning, with the sun barely having risen.

We fly past the balcony, towards the inner courtyard, and I see who it is.

Zuko.

Everything inside me stands still for a full minute, and then my heart starts to beat faster, the familiar mixture of hurt and anger welling inside me.

Why is he still here?!

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Yaay! I'm a busy person guys, but I promise I'll write and update as fast as I can! You guys just keep commenting, to help me along, okay? :)