A/N

Warning: this sense of normalcy in the Avatar's company won't last long. ;)

Oh, and I'm trying not to let the finale affect how I write the Aftermath or the next installment in my trilogy, Facing Fears.

Last Chapter. Woot.

Don't read this unless you're up for mush.

xxx

Under Katara's precise and all-knowing direction, the group slowly fell back into their old, easy pace. She and Aang resumed his water bending training; Sokka gradually lost his suspicion of Zuko; and Iroh clamored joyously over the uniting of his nephew and a girl.

Zuko and Katara were allowed small fragments of time alone together, most of which was spent at the market, where affection was somewhat shirked by the masses of people. Sokka and Aang were still uncomfortable with the couple's kissing, so Katara and Zuko only brushed lips occasionally, never experiencing anything as wondrous as their first kiss on the balcony, but they were together. And being together was a thousand times better than nothing.

xxx

"So… Zuko… Buddy…"

Zuko glanced up from the scroll he was reading and stared at his intruder. "What do you want, Sokka?"

Sokka had his arms folded in a strained sort of calm. He leaned against Zuko's door frame. "It had just been awhile since you and I talked, and I wanted to know what's going on in your life."

Zuko raised an eyebrow skeptically. "You do?"

"Yeah… So… What's going on?"

Zuko bent over his scroll again, ignoring the other boy.

"Whatcha readin'?"

"It's a soldier's report of Fire Nation troop formation near Serpent's Pass."

Sokka started. "Where'd you get that?"

"I told a servant in the hall that the Avatar had requested it."

"And…And you got it? Just like that?"

"Yes. Just like that. It's called using your resources." Zuko's finger trailed down the paper, coming to rest on a comment he found suspicious. "I don't like this."

Sokka shrugged off his detective façade and shuffled next to Zuko, peering over his shoulder. He read aloud, "'One small group of forty moves between the larger group, passing back and forth with no sign of slowing.'"

"How many men does it take to carry a message?" Zuko asked.

"One."

"Not forty."

"So?"

"So obviously it's not a messenger team, and it can't be a supply run… That doesn't make sense."

Sokka studied the number of troops seen and shook his head. "We're in Ba Sing Se: the greatest and biggest city in the Earth Kingdom… I don't think a mere thousand men can do any damage to the outer wall."

Zuko sighed, shuffling the paper to the side and stacking it carefully. "So? What did you want to talk about?"

"Kissed any girls lately?"

"No." Zuko ground his teeth. "You won't let me. Remember yesterday?"

Sokka rubbed his chin, trying to remember. "Hm… Yes…ter…day…"

Zuko scowled. "It was just one kiss in the hall, and you-."

"Oh, now I remember!" Sokka chuckled. "I apologize. It really looked to me as if there was someone about to attack you from behind."

"What?" Zuko snapped. "There was-."

"So of course, I had to smash between you two to get to the intruder… But… No one was there." Sokka shrugged. "Better luck next time, pal."

Zuko shook his head. "Have you talked to Aang recently?"

"No. He's keeping to himself a lot lately." Sokka paused, studying Zuko carefully. "I think you should talk to him, though."

Zuko looked away uncomfortably. "I don't know what to say to him."

"Maybe you'll figure it out once you start a conversation."

xxx

Just as before his new relationship, Zuko couldn't sleep. He hated his insomnia, and he hoped it would stop soon, but in the back of his mind he knew it wouldn't cease until he had faced all of his demons, the larger one being his father.

Zuko heard Momo chattering in the lounge, and he rose out of his bed to see what or who he was talking to.

Aang was hunched against the wall, same as always. He gave Zuko an encouraging nod when he walked in.

"Looks like things are normal again," Aang said softly. "Neither of us can sleep."

Zuko nodded, sitting against the opposite wall. "Did you… have a bad dream?"

"I had a dream, but I don't think it was a bad one necessarily."

"… Maybe a ride will clear your head?"

Aang smiled faintly. "Only if you'll come with me."

xxx

"The last time we did this we discussed Katara," Aang said, sighing as the wind rushed over Appa's crown and onto his own.

"Yes," Zuko acknowledged. He was slumped in the saddle, watching the clouds above them race across the moon. "Are you… disappointed?"

Aang laughed dryly. "I'm guessing you mean that you reached her heart before I could…" He continued when Zuko didn't argue. "No… I'm not. She's happier than I've seen her in a long time, and she deserves to be happy. So do you."

"And you don't?"

"I'll find happiness in another way." Aang answered. "It's a big world out there. I am curious, though… Is she as good of a kisser as I remember her being?"

Zuko shifted. "I think she is."

Aang smiled. "You're a lucky man, Zuko. Don't forget that."

"I won't." Zuko muttered in reply. "Aang… What did you dream about?"

Aang grew pensive, bowing his head and refusing to answer for several moments. "I dreamt I fought the Fire Lord again."

"Did you win?"

"Well, I'm not sure. I woke up before either of us could strike a single blow, but… I know I wasn't alone this time, and I wasn't afraid."

"I'll be with you, Aang." Zuko said gravely. "I will help you defeat the Fire Lord."

Aang turned around to face him with grateful eyes. "Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure in my life," Zuko replied truthfully. He paused. "You found the hope in me, and you believed in me. Now I've found the hope in you, and I believe in you."

"You think I'll win?"

"I think we'll all win this, Aang. Like you said, you're not alone anymore."

xxx

A/N

-tear- Oh, the sadness! Time for some author mush. I think I deserve to have the soap box for a moment.

I'd like to thank my good friends IcEKoLd and zukos-swig for their support in the making of this fic. I'd also like to bow down and kiss the toes of my sister, wish-upon-a-fanfic (WUAFA) for patiently reading my chapters and helping me shape them up.

I've had a great time making this fic, and the following people have made it a pleasurable experience for me: Irrel, zutara-shewolf777, Folle, blade liger knight, Silver Shadow 75, A Twisted Vine, heynamassu, and all of my other wonderful reviewers!

By the way, this chapter is going directly into the next story installment. See my profile for FACING FEARS.

See you 'round!