A/N: okay, I'm back yet again, and this is a romantic, yet very sad, zutara fiction.

Bold flashback/memory happenings

Italic lyrics

Disclaimer: don't own Avatar

Claimer: the song is "(When We Were) Free as Birds" and it is TOTALLY ALL MINE! Yes, I wrote it…

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Here I am,

Sitting all alone

Dreaming of things

On which the sun has shone

I see the sunset, oh…

And I think of your last words…

He stands near the old turtle duck pond, looking down at her memorial…

Now I don't…

Know just what to do

Because your life

Recently turned untrue

Now when I see blue eyes

I just wilt and die inside…

Memories… they flood back like a wave…

"I-I'm sorry Katara… I didn't realize I was only a pawn in Azula's sick plan…"

"It's ok… but now you have to help us win this war…"

"Katara, get out of here!"

"I'm not going anywhere without you!"

"Katara… I love you… will you marry me?"

"Y-yes… Zuko…"

"You, handmaiden, when can I see my wife and child?"

"I-I am sorry Lord, something has happened to the Lady…"

Can't you see…

What you've now done to me?

You left me here

Wandering all alone…

Now I've walked

So many miles

I feel I've strayed

Too far from home

But home is with you

And now you're not here.

So what's a man to do?

When his lover's heart isn't beating dear?

He wipes a tear away and his hand brush over his left eye, his fingers meeting soft, smooth skin… it had been her wedding present to him…

Now I look…

Upon your lonely grave

And I remember

All those memories we made.

It's killing me inside

'Cause you left me the life…

A handmaiden slowly approaches him, a small bundle in her arms.

"My Lord…"

He looks down at her, holds out his arms and the handmaiden places the bundle in them.

The handmaiden leaves as quickly as possible.

After he loses sight of the maid, he looks down at the tiny face peaking out of the red blanket.

Dark skin… a mop of chocolate brown hair… and big, bright blue eyes…

Tears come to his eyes again as he looks down at the infant… his child…

Can't you see…

What you've now done to me?

You left me here

Wandering all alone…

Now I've walked

So many miles

I feel I've strayed

Too far from home

But home is with you

And now you're not here.

So what's a man to do?

When his lover's heart isn't beating dear?

"Zuko, please, I want a painting of us…together..."

"Fine…"

He remembers sitting perfectly still for almost three hours while the finest artist in the whole Fire Nation painted a picture of him and his wife sitting on the bench under the very cherry blossom tree he is standing under. They were holding hands and smiling at each other.

The picture now lies in a safe under his bed, for he cannot bear to look at it…

So many mornings

I can't get myself out of bed.

You're lively voice is playing off,

Running in my head.

And now when I look at your grave

I feel no need to say some words.

I hate to look at that picture

When we were free as birds…

He walks forward and sets his child down in front of her memorial before getting down on his knees and leaning forward.

Can't you see…

What you've now done to me?

You left me here

Wandering all alone…

Now I've walked

So many miles

I feel I've strayed

Too far from home

But home is with you

And now you're not here.

So what's a man to do?

When his lover's heart isn't beating dear?

I can't stand to look at that picture…

It brings back too many memories…

I can't look at that picture

When we were free as birds…

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