Chapter 25:

Lee's recovery was quick. That's about the only thing that could be healed in a short amount of time. The Northern tribe had so much internal building, starting the royal family. Meaning, my father had to tell my mother the truth.

All was quiet in the study. My mother was reading an old, thick, brown book with pages that started to crisp and yellow. I walked behind her and her chair and just stood over her shoulder.

"This is our history, our lineage from way back when tui and la first decided to dance together. Every page has a story, every page a once great memory. When your father dies the scribes will fill his pages of this book." She flipped a page slowly, handling it like a fragile newborn baby.

"That's why I'm here-"

She cut me off, "Did you know we have Fire Nation in our blood? The chief before your grandfather had a concubine of Fire Nation descent. She was sent off because the child couldn't be known by the public for fear of the monarchy's fall. The child remained here. A boy. That boy was your grandfather. Of course that would never be written down in the books. Just passed around town between people in whispers"

So we have a history of enjoying companionship with the Fire Nation despite the status quot. It's hereditary in a sense.

"As much as we hate the Fire Nation we need them. They are a part of us, as are the other nations."

"So you would approve of someone, say having a platonic relationship with someone from the Fire Nation?"

"You and Zuko, I have best wishes for. Everyone else will have to grow with the time."

"I'm not talking about me and Zuko. Mom, you need to talk to Dad about his activities- with other women."

"You don't think I know what goes on in my home. I know he enjoys concubines. He sure hasn't touched me. Ever since we lost Cain he wanted another boy but I couldn't do it. The spirits cut my fertility short. And he cut his interest in me short. I know he still loves me but he loves his goals more. For the very qualities that attracted me to him, his passion and ambition, was slowly and irrevocably unraveling our relationship"

The very thing that attracted me to Zuko was the same thing that attracted my mother to my father. What will become of Zuko and I if we remain in the same roles? Him determined to reach his goals and me, sitting back and being passive thinking it would be better for him to be happy than for US to be happy.

"I know he loves that boy, even if he's part of something he hates. And I know he hates himself even though his pride must remain intact. I'm not going to sit here and pretend I don't know because I do. Now is the time for him to tell me so HE can recognize that I know. I've already gotten through the anger and I forgive him. I'm just waiting for him to forgive himself." She smiled a smile much like my own. I couldn't believe this wiser, older woman could be part of me. She so strong and so beautiful.

"Go talk to Zuko."

"What about Lee?"

"What about him? He's fine. The burns are healing nicely. He almost ready to burst out of the healing hut if it wasn't for Yugoda being so insistent for him needing proper rest." I smiled at the cheerfully delivered words. I turned my back to her and started to walk down the hollowed corridor. The hall seemed almost hot today, warmer than usual. In the distance I could see the sun burning bright from the window. I never payed much attention to how much the sun played a role in our lives. Providing warmth and light and comfort.

~/~

Inside the healing house Yugoda was teaching a class of young blue eyed, dark haired little girls how to heal a burn wound using a dummy as an example. She quickly bowed her head to her youthful, doe- eyed students in respect and excused herself. We stepped into one corner of the igloo for privacy.

I suppose she could see it in my face why I was here because the moment she was sure no one was listening she said, "Zuko's in the back. He's been unconscious for the past few days. Between the broken the bones, ruptured blood vessels, and the amount of blood freely floating in his body the chances of him making it through this is slim. It's up to him to fight for his life. I can heal the surface but as for the excess blood I can do nothing about it."

"So you're telling me he could drown in his own blood."

"Well not unless his lungs fill up first and he stops breathing, but yes. Either that or his brain will begin shutting organs down in a distress call for lack of oxygen. His body isn't producing anymore blood until it can drain all the extra blood. It's all about his brain and his mental capabilities really."

"I can't help him then." I scowled and my eyes dropped straight to the floor.

"I'm sure you can dear. Just knowing you're there will help him a great deal."

I nodded. "What about Lee?"

"He's fine. The burn is peeling nicely, pretty soon only a small scar will be left." I nodded again. She smiled at me. "Don't worry honey. By the looks of the bruises and scars on Zuko's body I know he's been through a lot. He's a fighter and most importantly he has pride. He's going to make it. I suggest you see Lee first though. First room to the left."

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Lee was standing near a window, staring outward. Behind him the bed was made up. His shoulder was bandaged, along with his stomach, calve, and knees.

"Lee." I murmured quietly. I didn't want to startle him.

"You should be visiting Zuko. No one ever survives the execution ceremony even if it isn't completed." Lee stated with urgency without even a glance behind him.

I walked across the room, stepping slowly until I was right behind him. I placed my hands lightly on his shoulders. He tensed up and shook me off.

"Stop it. Either you care or you don't.".

"What are you talking about?"

"This damned cycle Crystal. You say how much you love Zuko but all the while you kiss me and tell me you love me too. You aren't going to keep getting my hopes up and then dropping me when it's convenient. I can't be that guy."

"I have feelings for you too. I can't help it."

"I'm sure you do but think about it this way. Does Zuko know what we've been doing? Would he be happy if he found out?" He sighed. I was dead silent because we both knew the answer to that. "I'm leaving. I'm going to go some place where I can help people. Since my only role here was too marry you and I can't do that I should be somewhere I'm needed."

He's leaving. I don't want him to leave...Of course you do. He'd be a lot better off away from you, where he can actually start his own life...I AM his life! I'm technically his wife. We bonded spiritually.

...But you know your love for Zuko is stronger than your image with Lee...My image is everything. I've worked so hard to maintain it. I won't let him go... At that expense prepare to hurt every single person whom you care about. Just. Like. Zhao.

"Go." I murmured.

"What?" Lee leaned his head down closer to my mouth to hear me better.

"Go! You need to leave." My voice now shaking. "There's nothing left for you here."

Somehow that came out harsher than it was supposed to. I mean I'm the one that said it and I felt the burn this time around.

"Then it's settled. I'm leaving in two days. Yugoda just insists on keeping me tied down to this room. If I had my way I would've been gone a couple days ago."

He would've left without even saying goodbye. Ouch. I guess it's true: A home is built with love and dreams. Neither of those are available in the Water Tribe for Lee anymore.

"Goodbye Lee."

"We'll meet again later on. I know it. Love is something that never dies as long there's possibility."

I walked out knowing what he said true. We would meet again. This would only be one of the many byes we will share. I headed straight down the hall to the penultimate door on my left hand side.

Zuko was in bed. He looked so peaceful. This was probably the first time in awhile he'd been relaxed. There was bucket on the foot of the bed, probably to wash him considering he couldn't do so himself. The smell in the room was...less than flattering.

I took the rag from the bucket and rung it out. The first thing I did was pull back the red, cotton blanket, revealing his chiseled, god-like chest. I paused for a moment, being set back by the bruises covering his abdomen. His skin was once the color of a porcelain doll but now it was covered in blotches of red, brown, and purple. The veins beneath his skin were brown which contrasted with his actual purple skin color. The most noticeable were the red gashes on his sides where his rib cage is supposed to end. His body was in horrible condition. I took a breath in, trying to imagine how beautiful and perfect his body was before.

I began with his arms, tracing over his strong biceps and triceps with my finger tips. My fingers lingered when I got to his defined abs. It was very evident that Zuko had to be training for a long to receive such a pleasing muscle build. Not that I was complaining, every part of Zuko lit up my eyes.

"I'm sorry you had to go through all of this for me. I don't deserve either one of you really." I went back up and wiped his face free of sweat and dirt that had accumulated. "Lee's leaving and without you being awake to thank him. Not that I would change you hating him."

I leaned down and kissed his damp forehand. My lips stayed for a minute. "Now that I finally made it home, what purpose do I have now?"

I could hear an audible noise coming from Zuko's mouth, some sort of grunt as a response.

I smiled. Curling up next to him I began to talk and spit out things I had never even told myself. I told him about my deepest fears, my biggest dreams, and my greatest regrets. It didn't feel like I was wasting my time because somehow I knew he could hear me.

Author's Note: This update took me awhile. Now that I'm closer to the end I'm getting more writers block.

Question For Readers: What do you think Crystal should do now that her goal of going home and being united with Zuko again is completed? What's her new goal or purpose? Should she travel with Lee? Should she remain in the Water Tribe and bond with her people and family? Should she go on a spiritual hiatus and search for her brother? Should she join Zuko's quest for capturing the Avatar? Or should Zhao capture as prisoner? Your thoughts on these ideas and providing your own ideas would be most appreciated. So please provide your answer in your review. It would help me out a lot. :)

~Bre~