Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I don't own avatar. I really don't. Seriously. Or do I? (Dr.Evil finger thing) no. No I don't.

Amarante has had it hard her entire life. Her parents, they wern't in love, their marriage was arranged. The only person she could ever depend on for emotional support; was her little five year old sister, Kagami. They only had each other to depend on, their family was falling apart, and they knew that each other was all they had. Untill It was announced that Amarante will marry the son of another earth kingdom family. She and the man had gotten to know each other; and Amarante loved him. Sadly; she was the last thing in his heart. He loved another girl, but never dared tell her. Kagami was the flower girl for their wedding. Amarante stood in her room before the mirror, her brides maids getting her ready.Her wedding dress was tight around her chest; but poofy at the bottom. Kagami came in to tell her the wedding was about to start; Amarante nodded and followed her sister out. The church was filled with many people, some on the groom's side, some on the bride's side. Kagami threw flowers on the floor as she walked, and Amarante, walked close behind, her veil covering her eyes. She stopped in her tracks, the groom was getting married to another girl right at their wedding!She took her veil off, threw it down and ran out. Tears streaming down her face, and a horrible, stabbing pain in her heart.The sky was gray, and it had begun to pour down rain.Kagami followed her, into the forest where she fell to her knees crying; she was so hurt, she may seem to be over reacting, but seeing your future husband getting married to someone else at your wedding isn't a pleasant sight.Kagami held her sister as she cried, and as the muddy ground ruined her perfect wedding dress.

"Miss? What seems to be the problem?" They looked up from their sorrows and saw Iroh with Zuko on his Komodo Rhino behind him. "I see your wearing a wedding dress. Why aren't you..?" Amarante cried again, beating on the liquid mud.

"He never, ever loved me!" She screamed as she beat on the mud. Kagami had to explain.

"She saw her fiance marrying another girl at her wedding." Even Zuko felt bad, but didn't show it. Amarante's dress was stained with mud, and ripped from the branches that it got caught on.

"That's horrible." Iroh told her sympathetically. "Miss. Please come with us to the ship. You can get a hot bath and a change of clothes there."

"C'mon Amarante." Kagami told her softly. "Forget him. This nice man is offering us a place to go."

"Fine." Zuko helped her and her sister climb aboard his Rhyno, Iroh getting on as well. Amarante kept crying; it felt like it wouldn't stop. The pain was too intense for her. Kagami was there and sitting with her, telling her that things can only get better. They got back to the ship; and Amarante went to bathe, while her sister talked with the fire benders. Iroh poured her a cup of tea, which she drank great fully.

"She's pretty broken up." Kagami nodded.

"I don't blame her. The marriage was arranged at first; but she grew to love him, but he didn't love her. He never did. Even if she is hurt; I think It's better this way." Iroh nodded. Sipping his tea.

"Things will turn around. Why would your parents engage her to a man they didn't know was a two-timer?"

"They didn't care about her well being. They never have. They probably never will. Ever since before I was born, Amarante has been trying to be strong, telling herself that something will happen and she won't be hurt.When I was born, she played with me more than our own parents. We grew to depend on each other more and more, she would tell me that when she could, we would leave our parents' house and never come back. But now I think she's trying to forget all the horrible things she had done to her, every bad thing we had to do." There was silence within the room after she finished explaining.

"What...?" Iroh asked, not sure if he really wanted to know.

"Amarante had to crawl into the space under the house with the rats when she upset our parents, or when they just were. Her arm almost always had scars of where she was bitten-" They looked towards the door; she was wearing a shirt and a pair of pants that were too big.

"I didn't have anything else to wear. So I borrowed some, I hope that's OK." Iroh nodded. They were Zuko's clothes, but Zuko wasn't mad. "Kagami. You can go take a bath now." Her sister nodded; rose to her feet, got some clothes from Zuko's room as well, and went to take a bath. Amarante sat there quietly. Sipping at the tea Iroh had given her. There were many tiny scars down her neck, Zuko saw them clearly. "What has she told you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Kagami, what did she tell you?"

"She explained how unfit your parents were to raise you. How they made you sleep with the rats when they were angry. That's horrible. We insist you stay with us." Amarante shook her head.

"we can't."

"Why not? If you stay with them they'll most likely kill you. Kagami told us you've been in pain all your life, and today probably didn't help any." Amarante, swallowed a choke, knowing it was true, but she wouldn't let herself accept it.

"I'm sure I just misunderstood."

"How could you misunderstand something like that?" Zuko ased, sipping at his tea and then putting it on the table. "The man married another girl right infrount of you. That's something you can't misunderstand." Her eyelids lowered as she staired at her half-full cup of tea and sighed.

"I know..It's easier to think of it that way."

"But you know it isn't true." Zuko protested. "Your making yourself hope for something that you know is wrong."

"Zuko!" Iroh snapped. "Don't put her through more pain-"

"He's right." Amarante told him softly. "I shouldn't make myself hope for something that isn't true.." Tears seeped passed her eyes,but she wiped them away before they got any further than that. "Fine. We'll stay."

She and Kagami were given a room to stay in, which was dark considering they weren't fire benders and couldn't make the candles any brighter.

"Kagami..I'm going to sleep.." Amarante told her, crawling into bed and blowing out the light. Kagami layed her small head down on the pillow, and closed her eyes, hoping that she and her sister got a good night's sleep.

omg. I know. I started a new one when I haven't finished the other one yet. x.x well, I'll most likely get them both done during Summer Vacation.