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I apologize a thousand times over for how long this took! I was having the worst case of writers block.

I wanted to thank all the reviewers who had only nice and encouraging words to say. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

and I wanna specially thank Missy, who has helped me threw my writers block, love you miss!

Ok on with the story, im sure no one wants any more waiting, haha.

hope you enjoy!

disclaimer: I do not own the Avatar the last air bender nor do I own any of the characters in the amazing show.

Chapter 10

Thank You.

Mae had stayed in her room since they returned from port, instructing the soldiers to leave her food outside the door. She was ashamed of her face, it was smothered in gruesome bruises and small pink cuts. But she wasn't just ashamed of what had happened to her physically. It was much more than that. She was ashamed that she couldn't defend herself, that she coward away. She was taught to fight back, defend herself but she hadn't done that, and she knew it, no matter how many times she said she was. She wouldn't even talk to anyone. The only response she would give was ' go away' or 'leave' nothing more.

Zuko felt guilty if he had only gotten to her sooner she wouldn't be in such a horrible condition. Iroh had tried to ease his guilt telling him he couldn't have done anything more. Mae hiding in her room seem to only increase his guilt because he knew she felt bad. He would feel the same way if it happened to him. He knew how it felt to feel like you were tough, could take care of your self, and then when it came down to it, when your bravery is needed most, it never fails to fail.

Zuko was tiered of this, it was time she came out. Zuko stormed down the corridor to Mae's room. The fire prince banged ruthlessly on Mae's door, she didn't even answer, knowing the only one who would bang so fiercely would be Zuko. After long moments of pounding the prince was getting irritate fast, his hand throbbed. But occupant on the other side of the door wasn't without her grief either The banging was quickly becoming insufferable.

Zuko cursed his stupidity, he had the key!

The loud pounding stopped and Mae thanked the heavens, she wasn't sure how much she could tolerate. It was suspicious though, the determined Zuko usually spent at least a half hour. Mae heard what sounded like Zuko giving a victorious grunt. Which only heightened her suspicions, he hadn't banged her door town. So why was he so please with himself? She made her way to the heavy door, she pressed her ear to the cool steal. She listened intently for any sign of the prince being on the other side, she didn't hear anything, was he gone? Mae heard receding footsteps. Figuring staying pressed up against the door was a waist of her what she wanted to be valuable time, went back to meditating. But couldn't completely succumb to the peaceful silence.

No more then 10 minutes later, Zuko hurried down the dimly lit corridor to Mae's chambers. He smirked at his cleverness, even if it had taken a moment to sink in.

Mae was brought out of her relaxing meditation by the click of a key entering the lock on her door then a sharp scratching nose as it turned to unlock. Mae sprung to her feet and wasting no time throwing herself at the door just as it was cracking open.

Once Zuko realized it was Mae's weight that was preventing the door from swinging open, he snickered, does she really think she was any match against me? Zuko's thoughts were filled with his familiar arrogance. The prince applied his weight to the door, and pushed.

On the other side of the door Mae's small feet slid across the steel floor, when she realized her weight couldn't hold up against his she panicked. " Zuko no, please stop! Don't come in!" Mae pleaded but with no avail, Zuko just continued his task. " I..um.. im changing? it was Mae's last pathetic hope in him leaving her alone.

" Nice try Mae but you cant keep me out" Zuko said, amusement at her attempts rained in his deep voice.

The prince had successfully swept the door to Mae's room open, He tried not to but he couldn't hold back the gasp that escaped his mouth. Zuko's reaction made Mae feel all the more self conscious about her bruised features. She buried her head in her arms.

" Zuko just leave me alone " He could hear the tears in her muffled voice, and they stung at him, she always managed to make him feel horribly guilty, he despised it.

He swallowed his guilt and spoke again to Mae, his voice no softer then before, he didn't want to show that he was softening because of her obvious despair " You cant hide in your room forever you know"

" I can until my face heals" There was Mae's stubbornest leaking into her voice again. Zuko walked in front of Mae, and pulled at her wrists carefully trying to pry her hands from her face. Mae resisted the tug, her whole body moving with his force, but she kept her hands tightly clamped over her bruised and cut face, which hurt even worse now. But it was better than seeing Zuko or anyone else's reaction. Her ink hair flowed carelessly around her shoulders and shielding part of her face her hands could not manage to hide.

They had already make it a fourth of the way down the hall but he couldn't pull her the whole way it was ridiculous. Zuko searched his brain for a way to coax her into coming and eating.

" Mae please, just come down and eat with Iroh and I" He knew it wasn't the most persuasive speech.

" Pshhhtt, and have everyone see me like this? I don't think so"

"Not everyone is going to see you like that. Only Uncle. And I'll stop sending food to your room if you don't eat with us."

Mae sighed. She knew when to throw her hands up in defeat. Her hands dropped from her face and she met Zuko's gaze with one eyebrow raised.

"Just fallow behind me" Zuko said, as much for her comfort as his own. He wasn't sure he'd be able to keep his eyes from her face any other way.

Iroh's back was to them, but as they entered the room he turned and was met with such a shock he lost control of his mouth.

" Mae, child, are you alright? Your face looks-" Iroh bit his tongue as his brain caught up with his mouth.

Zuko meanwhile cringed behind Mae. He wouldn't have thought Iroh of all people would be so careless with his words. Zuko and Iroh exchanged several nervous glances, as Mae's head bowed and her hands flew back to her face.

Mae let out a strangled cry. Iroh looked to Zuko, who looked hopelessly back to him. Neither had any idea what to do. After several minutes of awkward silence interrupted only by Mae's occasional sobs Iroh moved to her. He was hesitant at first, the only person he'd taken care of in such a long time was Zuko, who would have reacted very differently. Iroh engulfed Mae in a large hug. Mae wrapped her arms the best she could around Iroh.Zuko looked on, trying to decide if prying her from her room was such a good idea, he decided not. Mae's sobs finally subsided, much to Zuko's relief. He was never good with the showing of that sort of emotion or watching it spill out of someone.

"Shall we eat now?" Iroh's voice was soft. Zuko smiled at his uncles paternal attitude.

Mae nodded and pulled away from Iroh. Her eyes stung and her face was hot, and she could feel her eyes had swollen even more. She couldn't look anyone in the face, she B-lined it to the table. Zuko sat down next to her, again so he wouldn't have a clear view of her face.

If there were ever and awkward situation, it couldn't hold a candle to the one the three were experiencing now.

Each stared there rice down with such an intense gaze, it was a wonder no one ended up crossed eyed. Zuko was the first to break the staring contest with his bowl of food. Mae could feel him shift next to her.

Zuko tried to think of anything to say to break the silence. Wait! He had it! It was music night. Perfect. They would discuss that.

Zuko cleared his throat, and two pairs of eyes turned towards him. " Are you going down to music night, Mae?"

Zuko received a look that made him feel like the stupidest person Mae had ever had the unfortunate opportunity of conversing with.

"Zuko, do you honestly think I would want to have everyone see me like this?" Mae's voice had stilled to a calming small voice, which scared Zuko even more then the hysterics.

Zuko looked from Mae to Iroh, panicked, then looked back to Mae. No one answered, and no one talked for the rest of the meal. Or he walk back to Mae's room.

Never had silence been so excruciating.

And so Zuko attended music night, alone.

It was the same as always for Zuko. Iroh signing and crew mates dancing, and himself watching the festivities.

Reflecting back on his decision to break the silence. He agreed with what Iroh has said after walking Mae to her room, it was a stupid idea. Knowing the fuss Mae had made, he should have realized she wouldn't want to come out. He really wasn't very good at this kind of thing.

As music night came to an end, with very few moments that stood out. All the ships soldiers lumbered back to bed with heavy feet.

Zuko was doing the same as his crew when he heard his Uncle's voice. " An exceptional night for the stars, isn't it nephew?"

Zuko twisted his head to the sky. Iroh was right. You could see the soft, dark sky for miles littered with stars.

Mae didn't know what she was missing, he thought.

Mae heard the last door click for the night. Aching for fresh air, and the night sky she cautiously tipped toed to the deck of the ship. Moving to the rail she sank to the floor and tilted her head back. It was a night sky to remember.

The hollow sound of foot steps on the metal floor made Mae's whole body go ridged. A shiver of fear snaked down her spine as the worst of thoughts shot through her head. She heard Zuko's nervous cough and Mae's heart beat simmered down to its normal steady rhythm, as the realization set in that it was only her rescuer. She was acting ridiculous.

The moons florescent glow cast the eeriest of glows across Mae's face, already darkened with bruises. Zuko exhaled a heavy sigh, not even knowing what to think, and sat beside her.

"Troubled?" Mae asked, her glazed over gaze still fixed on the stars.

Zuko snorted " Yeah, but Im sure it's nothing compared with you"

" True" Mae joked, the twinkle in her eye back for the slightest moment, or maybe it was only a reflection of the stars. He liked to think is was the first.

"So are you feeling better?"

" Yes, I suppose I over reacted earlier" next to her Zuko was silent. She smiled as he didn't contradict her.

Both sat silent, and Mae lapsed into her own thoughts.

The salty wind blew fierce, pinching her face as she rested on the deck, the wind drew dangles in her ebony hair that Mae knew would be a pain later, but not now, now she paid no mind. Her eyes had moved from the sky and now fixed unseeing on the lapping water. The waters movement reminded her of, her mothers silk kimono, rustling gently and rippling as she walked.

Her mother.

She had to go back to her mother, she needed to see her again. Mae missed her mother more than she could even begin to express. For so long they were all each other had.. The terms in which they were so insensitively ripped apart made her wince. She'd go back to her home. Home. She relished in the comfort of a single word could bring to her. It had been so long since she could call a place home, she couldn't believe anyplace could replace the home she had made with her mother.

Mae looked to Zuko, who sat next to her his arms crossed over the rail. She was just going to have to say it. She breathed deep. This was the perfect time to bring it up.

"Zuko, I " Mae struggled to swallow, this was harder than she had imagined. " At the next port, I'll be getting off." Mae turned her eyes from him, and the water back to the sky.

" If this is about you face, it will heal and things will go back to normal" Zuko prayed the desperation didn't show in his voice. He couldn't loose her, she was his friend. His only friend. And maybe something more... He shook the thought away, she wouldn't be anything if she left.

"No, no it's nothing like that. I just, I need to see my mother. It's been so long" Mae looked to Zuko sympathetically, she knew him well enough to know how much he was trying to not show his emotions, like always. Unless of course that emotion was anger.

Silence filled the silence between them. There was so much to say, but no way to say it. Zuko wanted to say something, anything to make her stay, if only he knew what he should say.

"Thank you" It was Mae who first spoke.

Zuko looked over at Mae. As silly as it was he had forgotten she was there, while he was trying to find something to say to her. He wanted to thank her, she had given him a friendship, at a time he need it most.

Taking Zuko's moment to register reality as him just having nothing to say,Mae got up and made her way across the deck when Zuko's hand grasped her wrist. She turned. Zuko met her gaze, no longer finding it difficult to ignore the bruises across her face.

" Thank you, Mae" Zuko let Mae's wrist slide from his hand and walked to his room.

Mae stood on the deck long after Zuko had left. She wished he had said more. Why had he thanked her? Mae let out a sigh. She would have to pass on answers for the night and just settle for sleep.

What did you think? Add a review! Haha.

Well thanks for reading, im not sure when ill update next. Hopefully it won't take me as long as this one did.

Again thanks to all the kind and patient reviewers, you guys rock!

Breathlesslove.