Author's Note: Okay so I know I said my next story would be These Lives We See but this idea popped in to my head and nagged at me until I had to start writing or simply go insane :P So here it is - let me know what you think :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar

It takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it - Unknown

Chapter 1

All was still in the pituresque stone fortress that was the Western Air Temple. A light breeze played through the empty halls, dancing through the fine layer of dust that blanketed the cracked floor before finally finding the lone figure hunched over the fountain. It lifted a few strands of her brown curls up around her face and she pushed air passed her teeth in an irritated sound, distractedly brushed them from her eyes. Her hands worked furiously at the clothes they held under the water, scrubbing at the stubborn grass stains in vain. How the boys managed to get their shirts so dirty when they didn't even wear them to train, Katara would never know. While presentation wasn't particularly important with Sozin's comet less than two months away, she'd be damned if anyone called her boys scruffy. Finally admitting defeat (for now anyway), she left the garments to soak in the fountain's water and stood up with a slow stretch.

The sun hung low in the sky, it's light spilling on to the courtyard floor, leaving half of the area cast in shadow. She took the one step that brought her out of the darkness and in to the deliciously gentle heat. For one rare moment, she simply stood there, basking in the peacefulness of the rapidly approaching evening. The lay rays of sun tinted everything in a dusky rose. Despite the Fire Nations many, many failings, she had to hand it to them; the weather was pretty nice. She surprised herself slightly with her unusually optimistic mood.

Of course it was too good to last. Seconds later, three children came crashing in with hurricane-like force. They blasted past her, seemingly oblivious to her presence. She started forwards as they ventured dangerously close to the edge. Aang could take care of himself, for the most part. But the Duke was only a little kid and Teo wouldn't be able to do much for himself if he fell off the edge. Her anxiety only increased as she caught sight of the black pot they were carrying between them. They placed it carefully on the floor and took a step back.

"What are you doing?" At her stern voice, they snapped round to look at her, guilt tattooed on each of their faces as clear as Aang's blue arrow.

"Nothing," Teo replied quickly.

"We were just..." Aang glanced at the pot then back at her. "Cooking,"

"Cooking?" She repeated, her eyebrow raising slightly at the poor excuse.

"Yeah," Teo added, backing him up. "We know how much work you do around here and we just wanted to help out,"

"Oh really?" Ignoring their protests, she moved past them to peer in to the pot. The black, gooey substance inside hissed and spat at her. Then the smell hit her and she all but cringed back. It was like they had taken ostrich-horse manure and mixed it with the most rotten eggs they could find. "What is that stuff?"

"Just something we were trying out," Teo replied reluctantly. "We were going to tidy up after. But the smell was really bad so we brought it out here,"

"What exactly is in it?"

"Stuff," Aang replied vaguely, scratching the back of his neck.

"I told you this was a bad idea!" The Duke hissed. "Now we're gonna get in trouble!"

"What's a bad idea?" Toph's voice startled Katara slightly and she briefly wondered how the noisy girl had managed to sneak up on her so well when she caught sight of Zuko carrying her on his back. He crouched slightly while she slid off, his eyes dropping to the ground the second they caught Katara's cold gaze. Toph sniffed, then grimaced. "Gross! Did Appa have an accident again?"

"It didn't start to smell bad until Aang heated it up," Teo commented, ignoring Toph's question in favour of winning Katara round.

"You shouldn't try to heat questionable substances," Zuko informed them, tugging at Toph's shirt to stop her from moving closer to the pot. "Some things react badly to heat," His eyes flickered, almost reflexively, to meet Katara's. She narrowed her own and turned her back to him.

"Nah, it's fine," Aang insisted, crouching over the pot. "See..."

His breath came out in heated waves, distorting the edges of the pot in his attempt to prove a point. There was a beat of silence. Then suddenly the whole thing exploded with a loud bang. Katara stumbled backwards, startled. Before she could fall, a pair of warm hands caught and steadied her.

"You okay?" Zuko asked, his breath close to her ear. She shrugged out of his reach and moved forwards to check the others weren't injured. Apart from being covered in the thick, black mess and a little smoked, no one was hurt. Luckily. After scolding them about playing with dangerous experiments yet again, she sent them away to get cleaned up and bent down to examine the damage closer. The cooking pot was charred and dented beyond recognition. Fragments of it lay scattered on the floor.

"That was the last good one, too," She muttered, frowning a little. She gathered them up in to a pile, vaguely wondering if Toph would be able to bend them back in to shape again. They were running out of supplies as it was without yet another good pot going to waste.

"You missed a piece," A pair of pale hands suddenly slid in to her vision, black shards contrasting with the white of his skin as he waited for her to take them. Pursing her lips together to hold back any of the biting comments just itching to break free, she snatched them away and glared at him. He recognised the challenge and held up his hands in a peaceful gesture, his expression giving nothing away. She glowered at his back as he left the room, hands itching to waterwhip him in to next week. But she thought of her promise to Aang and forced herself to let it go.

The rest of the day passed without incident. After the boys had apologised profusely - with just a little encouragement from Toph - and promised never to do it again, Katara had given them all jobs to do to keep their idle hands busy. All except Aang who had an Earthbending lesson with Toph (he pleaded with Katara to make him do chores instead). Their rations were beginning to diminish rapidly and Katara found herself once again dishing smaller portions of rice and stew that night than the night before. She handed out the bowls and found herself checking up on each person as had become her habit of late. Sokka, Aang and her father were pouring over maps of the Fire Nation, planning for the final battle (though Aang looked more interested in feeding Momo leechy nuts than really paying attention). The other prisoner, Chit Sang, had left only a couple of days after arriving to gather more support. With a little luck they would meet at a rendezvous point one week before the attack. Normally Katara disapproved of plotting during dinner. But with Sozin's comet just around the corner, she knew every detail needed to be tweaked to perfection.

Teo and the Duke were crouched over their own plans. Every now and then they glanced anxiously at Katara and she made a mental note to put a lock on the supplies cupboard. Maybe if they couldn't get at any of the food, they wouldn't be able to try any more experiments. Haru sat alone in one corner, his expression troubled. She felt a stab of sympathy for him. They hadn't had any word from his father yet and he was understandably worried. She would have to pull him aside later and let him talk it out. It would be no good for him to bottle it all up.

Suki sat close to the camp-fire Zuko had started. The dancing flames cast her face half in shadow and she appeared lost in thought. At first they had tried to get her to talk about what she had gone through under Azula's imprisonment. But each time the subject had been broached she would completely melt down and eventually Sokka tabooed it.

Toph and the Duke sat either side of Zuko, much to her chagrin, apparently too absorbed in whatever it was he was doing to notice her. She caught sight of a sheet of yellowed paper and a thin dagger in Zuko's pale hand. The tip darted across the page making dots and dashes but leaving no visible marks. She willed herself not to be interested, bit back the question that was on the tip of her tongue. Instead she cleared her throat loudly.

"Dinner. And Toph don't eat lying on your stomach. You'll give yourself indigestion,"

Toph muttered something about Katara not being her mother, but did as she was told without much fuss. Katara began to move away again but her curiosity made her hesitate.

"What are you doing?" She asked finally, her voice colder than necessary.

"Writing," Zuko replied without looking up.

"I've never seen writing like that," She admitted, momentarily forgetting to be snide.

"It's special writing," He straightened up and placed the dagger back in it's sheath. "Done. Now give me your hand,"

For one horrible moment, Katara thought he was talking to her. But then Toph placed her small hand in his grip and allowed him to guide her to the paper.

"I can feel the marks," She commented, running her fingers across the page. "Which one is my name?"

"This one right here. And this one is Duke,"

"It's The Duke," The Duke corrected impatiently. Toph shifted so that he could reach the page too. In the flickering light of the fire Katara could just make out the soft bumps and indents apparently forming words. Zuko gently moved both children away before putting the knife back to work. When he was done, Toph's fingers traced the pattern it had left there.

"What's this one?"

"Katara,"

Katara blinked, surprised. Cautiously, she crouched down and stared at the page. Zuko spun it so that it was the right way for her. She could make out the marks more clearly now, though they weren't in any language she recognised.

"You have to feel it with your hands, Katara," The Duke informed her, smiling expectantly. Studiously ignoring Zuko's gaze, she did as she was told, feeling the foreign bumps with her fingers.

"And people who are blind really use this in the Fire Nation?" Toph asked, tilting her head so that she was facing Zuko.

"It's called Braille. It's a special language so that they can read and write," Zuko explained.

"Huh. Hear that, Sweetness? Not everything in the Fire Nation's gloom and doom,"

Katara shot her a glare, the spell broken. "Yeah well, I'll be sure to mention that to Suki," She felt Zuko's grimace and quickly straightened up before she could feel guilty. "Eat before it gets cold,"

"I'm a fire bender. My food won't get cold," He muttered but she ignored him. When everyone was finished she went back around, collecting up the bowls. She wanted to get them washed before she turned in for the night.

"Do you want some help?"

Her eyebrow twitched slightly at Zuko's offer. Every night he asked the same thing and every night she gave him the same answer. "No,"

"Are you sure?" He persisted, holding on to his bowl when she tried to take it from him. For a moment it stayed there, connecting the two of them. Resisting the urge to drop the last of their precious bowls, she firmly snatched it away. Shooting him one last glare, she turned away from him and left the room. She paused outside to adjust the pile in her arms and Toph's voice floated out in to the hallway.

"I wouldn't worry about that. She always gets like that when someone tries to stop her doing her thing,"

"Yeah, for some weird reason she actually likes doing the chores," Sokka commented, rolling up the scrolls he and Hakoda had been using. "She's always done them since mum died,"

"Oh," Zuko frowned slightly. "So she's always so...?"

"Stubborn?"

"Head strong?"

"Snappy?"

"Scary?"

The suggestions flew in from all directions and she very nearly marched back in there to give them all a piece of her mind. Zuko sighed audibly. "I was going to say touchy,"

"Don't get me wrong," Toph said. "I love Sweetness to bits. But she needs to lighten up,"

Lighten up? How was she supposed to lighten up when the enemy was currently sleeping three doors down from her? Had everyone simply forgotten all those times Zuko tried to kill them? Well, he never actually tried to kill any of us. But he wanted Aang and she was willing to be he'd do almost anything to succeed. Not wanting to hear anymore, she left and by the time she was done they were all getting ready for bed. She checked in on The Duke, knowing that he liked her to tuck him in though he'd rather die than admit it. She heard Suki's distinct giggles as she passed Sokka's room and shuddered - there was a reason she had moved rooms from right next to them after Suki moved in. Outside Aang's room she paused. The door was open and she caught sight of him standing beside the window, the moonlight casting his pale skin in an almost unearthly glow. As she watched, he lifted his hand and slowly traced the blue arrow that travelled up and over his bare head. Although she could only see half of his face, his expression was drawn and much to weary for that of a twelve year old.

She very almost stepped inside, suddenly craving the warm comfort that came from being needed by him. But then the memory of soft, insistent lips pressing to her own resurfaced and she moved back in to the shadows before he could sense her presence.

She started awake with the instant sense that something was wrong. Pulling the water out of her pouch as she went, she tiptoed through the dark temple, listening for any sign that something was out of the ordinary. Sokka's snores echoed through the corridors but they didn't draw a smile as they usually did.

"A little late to be wondering around, isn't it?" Zuko's voice was warm on the back of her neck and she resisted the urge to step back on to his foot.

"Something's wrong," She muttered.

"I know. I felt it too,"

Thy crept through the darkness, moving as though drawn to the courtyard. Toph leant against the fountain, head tilted curiously to one side.

"Someone's coming," She said as Katara and Zuko approached.

"Who?" Zuko asked, flames leaping in to his fists.

"I'm not sure. One of them feels like it should be familiar. But the others are drowning it out," Toph replied, frowning as though straining to hear something.

"How many?"

"Three. Maybe four. It's hard to tell with your heartbeats messing with me too now,"

"Should we get the others?" Katara asked, glancing nervously back in the direction of the bedrooms.

"I don't know. Maybe..." Her voice trailed off suddenly and she sighed, her posture visibly relaxing. Before Katara or Zuko could question her, three ropes suddenly hung in the air before them. Seconds later, three people slid down them, dropping silently to the floor. They both stepped forwards, water and fire at the ready. But Toph simply laughed. "Geez, you really gave me a scare there, Pops,"

They each adorned a white cloak that hid their faces. As the shortest and broadest of the trio stepped forwards, Zuko shot a flame in to the air. It spilled light over the chilly courtyard, pooling around them and warming Katara right down to her toes. The strangers hood fell back and Katara gasped slightly in shock because he wasn't a stranger and Zuko was moving away from her, slowly at first, then tumbling to his knees like the time he had begged them to take him away in chains. Like then, his head was bowed in submission and, like then, she couldn't help but wonder at the difference between the humbled boy in front of her and the Firebender that had thrown her against a pillar in Spirit Oasis.

"Uncle..." His voice choked on the word and he had to start again. "Uncle, please forgive me,"

For a moment, Iroh's expression remained impassive and Katara had a horrible feeling he would reject his nephew. But then his features softened in to a small smile and he bent to pull Zuko to his feet again.

"Prince Zuko, do not fear me so," He chided lightly. "It is our choices that define us, not our mistakes. I was very proud of you when I heard of the choice you made,"

Katara's eyes widened as Zuko seemed to wilt before them, crushing himself in Iroh like a child in desperate need of being cuddled. Iroh appeared just as surprised as her but recovered much quicker, bringing his arms up and around Zuko. Toph cleared her throat and Katara's cheeks flamed as she remembered herself and tore her gaze away from what should have been a very private moment.

The sounds of quickly approaching footsteps and concerned shouts announced the arrival of the others. Sokka and Hakoda charged in first, both brandishing weapons. Suki came next followed by Haru who placed himself between the newcomers and Teo and the Duke.

"What's going on here?" Sokka demanded.

"Relax, Snoozles," Toph called, rolling her eyes. "It's only Sparky's uncle and some friends. Although, if it had been a bunch of Fire Nation agents sent to kill us, you certainly took your time waking up,"

Sokka flushed slightly but any come-back he might have had died on his lips when he caught sight of Zuko. His reaction was so comical had it been any other time Katara might have laughed. His eyes widened significantly and his lips shifted to form a soft 'oh'. Several seconds passed before the general gently but firmly pushed his nephew back, still holding him at arms length.

"You have grown, nephew," He commented with a smile.

"You've changed too," Zuko replied. "Have you lost weight?"

"That, Prince Zuko, is a tale for another time. We are officially here on business," As he spoke, the two other intruders stepped forwards, revealing their faces for the first time. The man was tall and fairly attractive with jet black hair and strong, broad shoulders. The way he stood - upright and rigid - reminded Katara of a soldier, like Zuko when he was in all his armour but with the discipline of a man where Zuko had still held the uncertainty of a boy. But it was the woman who caught her attention. Her skin was tanned and her long chestnut hair had been pulled in to a bun traditional to the Northern Watertribe. To top it off, her eyes were a shade of azure not dissimilar to Katara's own, albeit a little richer.

"You're a waterbender!" She announced, her lips turning up in to an excited smile. She hadn't met another waterbender since Hama.

The woman smiled and bowed her head slightly. "My name is Sayuri. This is here is Akito. And you must be Master Katara. It is an honour to meet you. All of you," She added, smiling warmly around the small - and increasingly confused-looking - group.

"Uncle, what's going on?" Zuko asked, frowning slightly.

"All we be explained shortly," Iroh replied, addressing the group at large. "But if it isn't too much trouble, we have travelled two days without rest to reach you in time. Would it be too much to ask for a few rooms to sleep in? We can discuss everything in the morning,"

Mother-mode kicked in before she could think to check it and Katara stepped forwards with a smile. "There are plenty of rooms that haven't been used up yet. I'm afraid most of the blankets we've found in the temple are kind of worn out, though,"

"That's perfectly fine, child," Iroh said. "Will you show my friends the way? I'm sure Zuko can find me a room,"

For a brief second, Zuko's eyes darted to Katara. She caught the hesitation there and resisted rolling her own. Honestly, even if they were some crazed murderers, it wasn't like she couldn't take them out. But she bit her tongue in the presence of visitors and turned to Toph.

"Toph, why don't you come with me? You know your way round this place better than I do," It wasn't a lie. Katara could never get her head around the strange architecture. For Aang and Toph it was easy. Aang was meant to live in a place like this and Toph could feel the whole structure beneath her feet. She shot Zuko a look that clearly said 'happy now?' before turning back towards the temple.

"C'mon guys," Toph ordered, glaring at the others as they continued to stare suspiciously at the newcomers. "We've got this covered,"

"Toph's right," Katara added when her father looked ready to protest. "You should get back to bed. It's still a few hours before sunrise,"

With some reluctant mutters and half-hearted protests, the group finally shuffled back to their rooms. Sokka glared suspiciously for a second longer before draping an arm around Suki and walking away.

"Sorry about them," Katara apologised as they headed in the opposite direction. "We can never be too careful,"

"Not at all," Sayuri agreed seriously. "I would be suspicious if a group of strangers turned up at my home in the middle of the night. We would have sent a letter ahead, but we didn't want to risk it getting intercepted. It was also kind of last-minute,"

Katara smiled in understanding, biting back the curiosity that bubbled in her throat. She led them to two rooms side-by-side and after fixing them up with blankets, she and Toph headed back towards there own rooms.

"So what do you think?" Toph asked when they were out of ear-shot and Katara didn't need to think about what she meant.

"They seem okay," Katara replied carefully. "And Iroh brought them here, so he must trust them,"

"Well we'll know for sure tomorrow. I'll be listening out for any lies,"

"You shouldn't be so difficult to trust, Toph," Katara chided, earning herself an amused snort. She stopped as they reached Toph's room and frowned. "What?"

"You're lecturing me on trust? Zuko's been with us for weeks now and you still don't let him alone with Aang," She elbowed Katara lightly. "When're you going to give him a chance?"

I already gave him one. And Aang almost died. "You should get some sleep, Toph. You get cranky when you're tired,"

"Whatever," Toph turned back at the last minute and grinned. "Speaking of trusting the new guys, nice choice of rooms,"

Katara flushed and looked away. "I don't know what you mean,"

"Oh please. You put them as far away from us as possible and made it so they would have to pass my room to get to the others. I would feel them straight away. If you ask me, I'm not the one with trust issues here,"

Katara glared as the door shut, realising it would have no effect on the blind girl and not caring anyway. She didn't have trust issues. She was just being careful. But that night she slept with her water pouch close at hand.