She stood on the bridge in a pale blue dress, the big full moon, outlining her curved body stunningly. She stood frozen before him and he moved toward her, propelled by what seemed like gravity. Her mouth opened as though to say something, but he held a finger to her soft full lips, "Say nothing, Princess. I know this isn't exactly proper. But I don't care. I want to throw the rules away for you." He voice was soft and subtle through the night.

Yue looked at him with those large luminous blue orbs of hers, "I told you… my name is Yue. Not 'Princess'." She smirked in his direction and his heart tripped in its beating.

He bowed his head graciously, "Forgive me, Yue. I meant no offense. It was not my intention." He held his hand out for her and she took it with a slight smile.

Leading her across, he started to take her aboard his ship. But she hesitated, pulling away from him and his body felt like he was on fire, "Yue? What is it? What's wrong?"

She shook her head and took a breath, as though steeling herself, "Zuko, there's something you should know before this goes any further. I-" he cut her off before she could finish.

"Yue, whatever it is, it doesn't matter. Nothing you confess will make this any less real or make me run away. There's something pulling me toward you…" He took a step toward her, "I know you know what I'm talking about. I know you feel it, too." He towered over her and she gulped, "You do feel it! I knew it,"

"Zuko…I- I don't think this is a very good idea." She looked around them, her eyes panicky, before laying her eyes back on him, "I'm a… and you're a… this isn't right. This can't work!" she pulled away from him again and stepped back.

Zuko's heart raced and he felt like his plan was starting to fall apart. He felt like a hand had gripped his heart in its palm and refused to let it go, "But, Yue… there's nothing wrong with this. Just…give it shot. Don't you believe in taking chances?"

She swallowed hard and he felt like maybe he was making progress with her; those gorgeous eyes of her had lightened and her body language relaxed an inch, "One hour. You have one hour to convince me that this is worth the risk before I go up to my chambers."

He grinned and took her hand again in his and pulled her towards his ship, "That's all I need, Yue. This will be worth the risk and so much more. You'll see."

He didn't notice the way the princess bit her lip in trepidation or the way her eyes flickered over the scenery as though someone might pop out and catch them. He didn't notice the slight hesitation in her steps or the way she continuously kept trying to pull her hand away from him because she didn't want to get closer to him…

The only thing that was on his mind was that he had met the girl of his dreams and knew on that second's impression that he would wed her; they would run their nations in the most peaceful era the world had ever known and he would spend every second, every minute, every day, every week, every month, every year with the woman he knew was meant for him.

He pulled, and pulled and frickin' pulled me along with him, taking me along the shore of our island. I kept my eyes down, always watching his steps and the imprints he left in the snow. I was mesmerized by him and I knew this. And I knew that it would only get me in trouble!

I shouldn't be doing this.

I shouldn't be here.

I shouldn't have agreed to come here.

I shouldn't have given him an hour.

I shouldn't have down anything.

I shouldn't have.

I groaned quietly under my breath and squeaked when I ran into the wall that was his back when he stopped suddenly. I looked up quickly wondering the hell was going on, "Z-…"

My voice trailed off as I looked up to see a massive Fire Nation ship anchored at our shores, "Holy sh-" I covered my mouth hastily, hoping he didn't hear my foul language. Oh, Tui, imagine what he would inquire had he noticed!

I cleared my throat and blinked quickly, trying to regain my composure, "That's your ship, Zuko?"

He turned to me and grinned happily, "She is! And she's magnificent! I don't know why she broke down, but I'm so thankful to her that she did." I looked at him inquisitively, but he answered before I could ask, "Had she not, I wouldn't have had the pleasure of meeting you, Yue. Had I not met you, I wouldn't have known such exquisite beauty." He paused and looked deeply into her eyes, "There is no one like you out in this world,"

With every ounce of willpower I possessed I suppressed the blush that try to steal over my face, "That's very kind of you, Zuko."

His face fell as though he was disappointed with my lack of words…and he probably was. More than likely, he was expecting me to succumb to his charms, his oh, so godly charms, and sweet, sweet words and spill all my secrets about him to him.

But what he didn't know was that I wasn't Yue, so I couldn't be falling in love him. Therefore…I couldn't succumb…I couldn't care about him. But I knew that was impossible, because the more time I spent with him, the more I realized I liked everything about him.

Dammit, I was screwed. So damned screwed.

Even if the princess came home and it was actually me he liked, there was no way he'd go for me! He was too uptight! About everything…

If only I could loosen him up a bit…

No!

I bit my lip, mentally kicking myself for my erratic thoughts.

I couldn't even think about trying to like him. He wasn't mine to like, he was another girl's and no matter what he thought he knew, he'd never know the real me, because he wouldn't accept it.

I wasn't of royal blood.

I couldn't help him gain the nations like he spoke of when he first started to court 'Princess Yue'.

I wasn't his princess.

And he wasn't my prince.

I didn't belong in this world and for the first time since my mother signed me up, I wanted out and never wanted to come back here…

No matter how this scenario played out, someone would get hurt…

"Yue…?" his voice broke me out of reverie and I looked up to see his pale face looking down at me in the moonlight. His scar dark and angry against his face. On impulse, I reached up and touched the wounded skin. He shrank away from my touch at first, but then easily leaned into it.

My voice was barely a whisper, "What happened, Zuko…?"

He sighed and pulled away from me, "If I tell you, you will want even less to do with me," I highly doubted that, but I couldn't tell him that. Instead, I searched his face, gazing deep into his eyes until he answered, "A battle. Between my sister and I broke out. She doesn't think I'm a good enough leader to have throne. She challenged me and although I was scarred in the process, I won the battle and she backed down." He looked away as though ashamed and all I could think of was that this man before me had just gotten that much more appealing.

"Why do you hang your head in shame, Zuko?"

He looked up at me quickly, surprised, "It doesn't repulse you? The scar?"

Without thinking about it through all the way, I answered on my own heart's desire, "Of course not. It gives you character and makes you real. Prone to pain, vulnerability and life. There is no reproach in that."

He smiled and pulled my hand to his lips, kissing the palm softly like he had done before and it sent a zing through me.

No, no, no!

This couldn't happen!

I pulled away slowly and softly, careful not to hurt his feelings, "Zuko, you have only half an hour to prove to me that you are worth something worth risking my honor for. Are you going to waste them standing there?" I gave him a coy smile and turned away, walking towards the ship.

He grinned and caught up to me quickly, "No, of course not, Yue," he walked past me and pulled on the drawstring, pulling the ramp down and I walked briskly up the ramp, entering his prized ship.

Half an hour to make me love you more.

Half an hour to convince you to wait before you did anything rash.

Half an hour more to tease and torture me…