Chapter Two-

Ok, this chapter might be a little sappy but I think it's pretty standard Avatar talk (you'll see what I mean).

Zuko and Zerra sat under the tree, looking out at the pond. Zerra pulled of a piece of her role of bread and tossed it into the water. The animals, fish and duck a like, scrambled to get some of the treat. Neither said anything for a while; they sat there silently in the shade, happy with their own thoughts. Zerra glanced over at the cat, who was sitting rolled up beside her. It had taken a liking to the girl.

"I guess I should give him a name, huh", she asked, breaking the silence. Zuko was startled by the sudden noise pulling him from his brooding.

"W...what", he asked, looking over at Zerra. She motioned to the Panther cat and he shrugged. "I guess so".

Zerra reached down and picked the sleepy animal from its resting spot and held it out in front of her, "I think I will name him…Zanzun".

Zuko smirked a little, "That's a funny name for such a serious looking cat".

Zerra bite her lip gently. "That was my brother's name".

That she had referred to her brother in the past tense had not escaped Zuko and he scolded himself internally for snickering at the name.

"Where…is your brother now", Zuko asked cautiously. Zerra sighed and set Zanzun down. She slowly turned her head and looked at the prince.

"He's…with our mother now, or that's how I like to think of it".

Zuko frowned. He had opened up an awkward topic. He closed his eyes, wanting to help break the silence that had now fallen on the courtyard.

"My mother is gone too. We use to spend a lot of time here".

Zerra understood it as a signal that he wanted her to explain her statement, but that would be a rude question to pose to someone you just met. She turned her whole body to face him.

"Mother died three years ago from a sickness. It was right after my brother left home to join in the war", she looked out over the water.

"My brother was a brave warrior…but he never came back from the siege at the North Pole…my father…took it very hard. My father loved my brother very much, he was a great fire bender, strong, cunning, and was even due for a promotion soon."

Zuko furrowed his brow. This all sounded familiar somehow.

Zerra turned her eyes back to him and smiled. Zuko could tell it was fake.

"I'm useless really. I can't fire bend at all…I took basic battle classes in school but it's embarrassing how unskilled I am. What I can do though is try and make my father happy…if only a little. If…if that means I have to change for him then I will!"

She suddenly stopped. A deep blush spread over her face and she turned away.

"Wow. Here I am just babbling on. I'm sure that all sounded really stupid". She laughed nervously.

Zuko reached his hand out, placing it on her shoulder, his face gentile.

"I didn't think it sounded stupid at all. Really…I think I understand how you feel".

Zerra looked up into his golden eyes. She saw a flicker of something, but she wasn't sure what. She smiled again at the prince and was preparing to speak again when someone called for her from the terrace. They both turned to see a servant standing there, in a deep bow. Her eyes turned back to Zuko.

"Well, guess that means I should go". She stood slowly, brushing some grass from her dress. "It was a pleasure meeting you Z…Prince Zuko", she smiled, "really".

Zuko stood also and nodded. "Well…see yah around, since your dad will be up here for meetings and all..."

"Does that mean you want to see me again prince?"

"Huh? Well, that would…I guess so. If I run into you or something we can talk some more". Zuko sighed internally wondering why he was so bad at making pleasant conversation.

Zerra gave a short bow and turned quickly, trotting over to meet the servant.

Zerra smiled to herself as she made her way home. She had heard things about Zuko but she had not expected him to be so…well she couldn't think of the right word for it. Never the lass, she liked whatever it was.

Over the next few weeks Zuko and Zerra 'ran into one another' in that courtyard several more times. The two would sit and talk, feeding the turtle ducks. They had grown to enjoy one another's company and Zerra felt like she could show some of her true self to the prince.

Then the day of Black Sun came.

Well I hope you like this chapter. Again, sorry for any bad grammar.

Feel free to send me a message :D.