A/N: This is the official sequel to One Night, my fanfiction from a few years ago. I know there's been some confusion with One Day, but please disregard that story and everything in it. This story, 3 Seconds Too Late is my way to connect back with One Night and everything that I used to love about it. One Day destroyed that for me. So here is my official sequel. I hope any fans out there may still be loyal and support this story. I know this story is awesome. I hope you will stick around to find out, too.

I'm on my new laptop (Apple Macbook Pro)! I don't know how, but somehow my bedroom has WIFI... Go figure. I just found it today. And I've been able to figure out my new laptop and the fact that I even have WIFI in my room because I had surgery on Monday. It's nothing big...not like what went on last Christmas. This is just the next step to getting dental implants. I did get to watch Transformers on here today ^^ That was awesome. If you haven't gone to see the second one yet, go see it!! Plus, you can use the excuse to go see the Avatar live action trailer. That trailer is before the movie, so there you go. A very nice excuse! (Plus it was a hands-down spectacular movie.)

Back to 3 Seconds Too Late. I do have some old characters in this, but most of my characters have been completely re-vamped. Everything has been re-written. Please forget the whole "father coming back to get Kabira" thing. That does not happen in this story. The characters I did keep: Zuko, Kabira, Cadee, and Mosho. I really hope you enjoy my second installment to the One Night series.

Also, this is rated T for a reason... (unlike One Night where nothing happened). In chapter 2 there is some suggestive material, as well as in chapter 3. So, as of right now, it is rated T for sexual material, and a few adult themes.

In case you were wondering...I listened to "New Divide" by Linkin Park and "Running Blind" by t.a.T.u. when writing this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar, nor will I ever.

3 Seconds Too Late

Chapter 1- Nightmarish Memories

Happy smiles...bright eyes shining excitedly in a game of chase...the double bending power that belonged only to her...the sun making bronze highlights stand out in blonde hair...holding her hand carefully, as if it might break....

Then the memories shifted. As she stared up at where he stood, fear slowly crept into her eyes. Her bright smile filled with joy changed into a silent scream. Her body contorted and twisted as lightning flashed and struck her once. When the flash was gone, so was she.

Zuko bolted upright in his bed, panting heavily. A cold sweat covered his body as he blinked away the last memories of the dream.

A dream...it had only been a dream.... His body shivered as he saw her body contort in that strange way repeatedly in front of his eyes.

It wasn’t a dream, though. It had been real.

Memories of that last night clouded over his eyes, blocking out his bedchamber that surrounded him. He saw Kabira working her best to keep the pounding rain off the soldier’s backs as they worked to stabilize the ship, the lightning, Kabira glowing, and then his memories reminded him of the way the rain once again hit his face as he looked up to see where Kabira was...where she no longer stood.

The remnants of the dream were few now, but that last scene played over and over in Zuko’s head as he tried to calm himself. It wasn’t the first time he had seen that and it certainly wasn’t going to be the last. In the last six months since Kabira’s disappearance, Zuko had dreamt the same dream every night.

At first he had tried to function without sleep. Just so he would not have to witness the same horrifying scene over and over again. After the third night without sleep, he caved. He told himself he could put up with the nightmares.

Zuko was still trying to convince himself of that.

He sighed, pressing the palms of his hands into his eye sockets. Slowly he rubbed, trying to ease the stress the dreams had caused. It helped only a little and he removed his hands when he began to see stars. Impatient to get a good night’s sleep, he threw the blankets back and let his feet rest on the cool metal floor of the ship. Spotting the small corner of his room dedicated to meditation, he made his way over to it, pulling his fingers through his now-shaggy hair. He had grown it out since Kabira had left. He knew his uncle and crew thought he was crazy at first, but his sub-conscience had something else in mind: if he grew it out the way she liked it, she might return.

Memories he didn’t wish to revisit right then flooded his mind. Kabira smiled up at him while they were taking a break from training one day. “Why do you wear your hair like that?”

Zuko looked up at her, confusion sparking in his eyes. “Excuse me?”

“Why do you wear it like that?” Kabira repeated. Zuko studied her for a moment. She seemed genuinely interested to know....

“It’s just how it grew out after I was...after I was burned,” Zuko replied.

Kabira cocked her head slightly and looked at him. “Well, I think it would look even better if you grew it out. You should cut it and start over.” She had smiled at him while he had glared back.

“Do you want to talk all afternoon or do you want me to train you?” He had snapped in return. Kabira smiled, knowing her words had at least reached him.

“Let’s train,” She said, standing up.

Her eyes had said something else that day. “I would like it if you grew it out.” Zuko had seen it in her eyes after she had commented on how he should change it.

Now she was gone.... And his hair was longer.

As he approached the area of his room he was headed for, Zuko lit the candles with a casual flick of his wrist and then sat down.

Deep breaths....

Images filled Zuko’s mind as he tried to calm himself. Not images of the past or the dream that had haunted him, but sights he had never before seen. Flickers of color crossed his mind and then faded back to darkness. Curious to see what shapes might appear, Zuko reached out with his mind toward the colors. They returned, this time more vibrant, sharp, and defined than before.

As the colors made shapes and faces he recognized, his breathing heightened, the candles flared, and his eyes snapped open.

No, no way...That wouldn’t happen. She’s gone and not returning. Zuko tried to make himself relax before the fire consumed the whole ship. Deep breaths...deep breaths...deep even breaths.... The words Uncle Iroh had spoken years earlier broke through his thoughts. Zuko focused, and the candles slid back down to their rightful intensity.

Deep breaths.... His eyes slid shut again.

A busy street... vehicles of transportation blurred past... laughter was drowned out... people trying to cross the street and talk to one another at the same time.... Then the scene moved to a less busy street. This street was lined with trees on either side...as his vision moved down the street, he saw vast fields come into view, making the trees disappear....

What were these images? Where was this place?

Suddenly, Zuko sat on nothing. The heat from the candles vanished. Zuko tried to open his eyes to see what was happening, but it was worthless. His eyes wouldn't open. Darkness rushed around him and when he finally was able to open his eyes, the darkness filled his consciousness.

What did you think?? Please let me know!