Author's Notes

Sections of this fanfic are taken from the A:TLA series transcripts. (see I hope everyone enjoys how I integrated them. Some of my draft readers have had fun sorting out which episode I took some phrases from. I do not own the A:TLA characters or the episode transcripts, though I really wish I did… they are SOOO good.

Chapter 1: Beginnings & Endings

"How was your night Zuko?" Iroh asked, pretending to prune his bonsai tree.

Zuko slammed the sliding door to his bedroom.

Iroh's eyebrows rose in surprise. He had been watching out the window, hoping to capture some glimpse of the "happy" couple. Judging by Zuko's initial flare of temper, he wondered what happened.

Zuko slid his door open a crack and softly said, "It was nice," and quietly closed it again.

Iroh smiled. Coming to Ba Sing Se was the right choice, he thought. For once, his nephew was going to experience normalcy… not strewn with the chaos of war, Fire Nation politics, and deadly intrigues. He was glad to do their bidding, a promise he made to two lovely women, a promise he made to himself and silently to his nephew. He promised Ursa, then later Faelin, that he would care of the lad as his own, to give him what Zuko's own family could not. Iroh was content. His nephew had been on his first date. He smiled. Time to dig out a special tea to celebrate!

-----

The search for Appa continued in the world of Team Avatar. Katara watched Aang with concern as she could see his heart breaking with the loss. Where could Appa be? She dragged Toph out again to wonder the streets and explore. They took the train to the Middle Ring districts where all the shops and classy restaurants were. As they walked, she noted they were being followed.

Toph sneered. "I told you. We are being HANDLED. Get used to it, Sugar Queen. They won't let us out of their sights. It is like a prison or slavery ... only without the beatings."

Katara stopped in mid-stride, shocked. "Slavery? The Earth Kingdom doesn't really condone slavery, does it?"

Toph didn't bother waiting as she spoke nonchalantly, trying to ignore their followers, "Ya, every big nation does. You won't see it in the smaller villages, but in a city like this..."

"The Northern Water Kingdom doesn't believe in slavery!" Katara cut Toph's casual comment short.

Toph snorted, "Well officially, neither does the Earth Kingdom. They call it indentured servitude, but it is still slavery. And being watched and handled, as we are... it is just another form of slavery. I HATE the city."

-----

The next couple of days felt so odd for Zuko. He felt out of sorts. Something nagged at him about that girl, Jinn. Why did his life have to be so complicated? What was she really after? What could he actually do? He was so confused. He had been so sure she was a spy. Would anyone actually care who he really was here? Did it have to be complicated? Had he... given up on his dreams? He scarcely remembered those dreams anymore.

She was nice. It was such a whirlwind to be pulled through the streets by her. Her smile at the lit lanterns at the Fountain of Lights lifted his spirit. Now what?

"NEPHEW!" Iroh bellowed, interrupting his thoughts.

Zuko jumped from his reverie as the water had boiled away to nothing and the hot kettle was hissing with dry heat. He heard the familiar giggle. Jinn was in the Tea House.

Jinn giggled again. "Hi Lee! Be careful. I don't want to see you juggle THAT kettle!"

The Tea House owner smiled alongside Iroh at Zuko's awkwardness. Then he gave Zuko the afternoon off. Young men need to sometimes have time for their lady friends.

Jinn gingerly took Zuko's arm and led him off into the sunny streets of the Refugee Craftsmen's District of the eastern side of the Lower Ring. It was so weird. He never felt like he was in control around her. As they walked she chatted about all sorts of things that her family was up to and the different sights that her father had talked about from his trip to the Middle Ring. He could hardly keep up with the recitation. He even started to feel bad that it annoyed him somewhat. But he liked it, which also annoyed him.

She was describing a garden that her father visited when he saw from the corner of his eye a wisp of dark orange firelight. He turned to see if it was firebending as a young woman adjusted her cloak hood to better cover her head and shield her from the sun. He frowned. Something wasn't right. He shook his head hoping it would jostle the elusive memory more clearly into place. It could not be. He touched a small pouch he kept hidden behind the strap of his belt as he looked at the woman again, wondering who he had seen and if it was who he though it was. However, she had turned a corner and was gone.

Jinn tugged Zuko's hand. "Lee? Are you listening? What are you looking at?"

"What is down that way?" Zuko's eyes drifted distractedly to the place where the woman had vanished.

"Oh, don't go there. It is kind of rough sometimes. And men go there for... umm... personal reasons. There are all kinds of dishonorable activities. Someone could get hurt. Forget it."

She cheerily pulled him off to a new place for a late lunch. He looked over his shoulder in the forbidden direction. Then, he turned his attention back to Jinn. Why invite trouble?

She ate slowly, fiddling with her food and not talking, which was unusual for the normally talkative girl who would devour her food with great appetite. Now Zuko was more confused. "Lee?"

"Yes, what?" He looked up from his noodles.

Jinn mumbled not looking up from her own bowl of noodles, "I have to tell you something."

She was all serious. This was it. His world would be shattered. She was going to tell him she was sorry, that she was a spy.

Unwilling to meet his eyes, Jinn stated plainly, "I am leaving."

Zuko just blinked at her, stunned.

Jinn still would not look him in the eye. "My father got a house in the Middle Ring. We move tomorrow."

So it wasn't the world-shattering news he had expected. It was devastating nonetheless. He clenched his jaw, and then he took a deep breath and sighed. "I see. Then, this is goodbye."

He paid for their lunch and walked back broodingly to the Tea House. There he scrubbed pots and pans and dishes with such vigor he almost broke a few. So much for worrying about life being complicated! CRACK! Dammit. Zuko sighed. He set down the broken plate.