It took the girls half of the day trying to find Aang, they looked through the insides of the temple until Sokka called them out seeing he was flying around through the cliffs with momo.

Sokka jumped on appa and the girls climbed on the saddle immediately trying to catch up.

"Aang Wait!" Sokka cried out.

"Slow down or I'll shoot you down!" Azula called as Aang was ignoring them.

"Aang can we talk about you learning firebending now?" Katara called back rolling her eyes.

"What's that? The wind is to loud to hear you!" Aang called back. Azulas fist bursted in blue flames but Katara shook her head.

"Check our this loop!" Aang laughed back as he did tricked in front of them but far enough that they couldn't catch up.

"Aang I think we should be making some plans about the future!" Sokka whined.

"Okay we can do that while I show you the giant pai sho table," Aang landed on the ground again as they followed him and got off before Aang could escape again.

"Oh and your going to love the all day echo chamber," he beamed brightly at them.

"I think there's more important things to handle," Toph said and pointed back behind appa as the bison moved.

Zuko was walking over running a hand through his hair. He looked up seeing everyone looking at him already in shock.

"Uhh hello... Zuko here," he waved awkwardly.

"You're okay!" Azula gasped running to him and threw her body against his as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

"Yea I'm fine, you're okay too," Zuko smiled hugging her back tightly.

"Where's uncle " he looked around confused.

"He wasn't there," Azula whispered looking down.

Zuko let go as he looked at the others.

"What happened?" He asked quietly.

"We couldn't find Ozai, the fire nation was a step ahead," Sokka told him as Zuko looked at them confused.

"Uh... I saw Ozai..." he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Did you kill him?" Aang asked wide eyes.

"No..." he shook his head.

"I have to talk to you," Zuko grabbed azulas wrist.

"Why?" Sokka asked confused.

"It's person," he said calmly.

"Zuko if it's going to help us-" "it's not," Zuko cut Katara off as azula held onto his arm wanting to know what he had to say.

"Anything Ozai says can help us Zuko," Aang tried and Zuko shook his head.

"It's about our mother," he said flatly as azula froze.

"She might be alive, grandfather never killed her, she committed treason before Ozai could kill me," Zuko looked at azula calmly as she covered her mouth.

"She was banished," he gulped.

"She's alive?" Azula whispered.

"We have to find her," Azula grabbed his wrist but he shook his head.

"No, not now... Aang will you let us stay and help you end this war? I know we said we've leave after the invasion but..." Zuko was lost for words as he looked down at his feet.

"I mean twinkle toes does need a fire bending teacher!" Toph perked up. "Only if you teach him,"

"Yea, anything you need," Zuko nodded as azula rolled her eyes. It wasn't mandatory, but it was a good way to convince him to teach.

"Great! Problem solved," she beamed brightly.

"What else did dad say to you?" Azula asked as she pulled Zuko away from the others.

"Nothing worth going back for," he nodded.

"I'm sorry I couldn't find uncle," Azula bowed her head down ashamed.

"Don't worry, he's out there, I'm just glad your okay," Zuko put his arm around her as she leaned her head against his shoulder.

"I love you Zuzu, I hope you don't die," she whispered closing her eyes.

"Your better at compliments," he smirked down at her.

——-

"Are you hurt at all?" Katara walked into zukos room as the sun was setting.

"No, I'm okay," Zuko sat on the bed as she had slight blush on her cheeks.

"Sorry the plan didn't end up how you wanted," he looked up at her as Katara joined him on the bed.

"It doesn't mean we lost the war, we still have Aang," she sighed crossing her ankles.

"Did you need something?" Zuko asked gently seeing something was on her mind.

"Sorry I kissed your cheek before," she blushed embarrassed looking down.

"It was just a friendly kiss, no worries kat," Zuko smirked at her seeing she was concerned.

"I know you and Aang have feelings for each other," he shrugged a little hoping to ease her conscious.

"Course I have feelings for Aang, I care about him, he's my best friend," Katara shook her head as she couldn't look at him. "I never thought he would kiss me though,"

"I mean it's obvious he has a crush on you," Zuko teased a little.

"What?" Katara blinked surprised.

"Or not as obvious...?"

"I don't know, I'm so confused with it all... I don't know how I'm suppose to feel..." Katara groaned bowing her head down.

"Why are you coming to me about it?" Zuko asked raising a brow.

"You're easy to talk too, your a good listener somehow for a hot head," Katara smiled back up at him.

"Isn't that what friends are for?" Zuko shrugged. "Literally, I'm still new to the whole friend thing,"

"Please, you had friends growing up probably," Katara laughed a little.

"Only kids there were was Azula, ty lee and mai, but they were azulas friends," Zuko pursed his lips leaning back on his elbows.

"Aw you really never had friends," Katara covered her mouth a little trying to hide her laugh.

"Uh my cousin and I were close before we went to fight in the war, he was six years older than me," Zuko shrugged.

"What happened to him? Is he still fighting?" Katara asked gently.

"No... he uh died when I was ten, my uncle was devastated," he looked away a little.

"My family is kinda messed up if you couldn't tell," Zuko looked back at her trying to not be so angsts.

"Yea I noticed," Katara giggled a little.

"Thanks for being kind to my sister and I," Zuko sat up again as he looked at her softly.

"You've said that before," Katara smirked.

"Have I apologized for how awful I use to be?" He asked a little smug.

"I could always hear that once in a while," she shrugged.

"Well I'm sorry for how awful I was, and I thank you again for doing what no one else would've done," Zuko brushed back some of Kataras hair.

"I don't think I could've left you guys behind, i knew you weren't a terrible person when we were in that cavern together, you seemed human," Katara blushed softly with a smile.

"If it helps I'm sorry for that... month... Hama was from my tribe, so I guess both of our nations are a little messed up," Katara sighed brushing her hair over her shoulder.

"Were you scared?" She whispered.

"Everyday," he nodded.

"I don't like to think about it," he sighed and Katara gulped but nodded.

"You get one free pass on a talking session for my problems, starting tomorrow, no boundaries I promise," Zuko let out a long groan knowing it'd make her happier.

"Really?!" Katara gasped excitedly.

"Your psychotic," Zuko blinked at her surprised.

"Don't care, talking out trauma is healthy," Katara kissed his cheek standing up.

"What the hell was that?!" Zuko cried out wide eyes as his face turned red.

"Oh shit I didn't mean too!" Katara squealed covering her face realizing what she's done.

"Why are you freaking out!?" He motioned to her.

"Cause your freaking out!" Katara motioned back to him wide eyes.

"I'm not freaking out!" Zuko threw his arms up.

"I'm leaving! Cause I'm not freaking out!" Katara cried out backing to the door. "Spirits I'm so confused!"

"Okay! Cool! Me too!" Zuko shrugged his shoulders dramatically as Katara left the room. She leaned against the wall next to the door as she whispered cuss words to herself covering her face.

"Why am I the way I am?" She hissed under her breath.

Katara turned back to the door but felt Zuko grab her arm and spun her back, before she could question him as she pressed against his chest, Zuko pushed his lips to hers gently and pulled away.

"Still confused?" He whispered close to her lips. Katara looked at him wide eyes but stood on her toes kissing him again as he caressed the side of her face gently deepening the kiss.