The endless darkness was fractured with shards of light as Skoochy's eyes opened, revealing a blindingly bright room. Yells and blue flash's of healing water were barley comprehensible to him. An intense grip of pain filled every part of his body, which had him seeking the comforting dullness of sleep once more.

Then a barley audible yell came from Jinora, and he found himself fighting despite the pain, her voice holding him to reality. Her blurry form came into sight over him. She had very puffy eyes; large circles shinning under them, making her look like she hadn't slept in days.

Skoochy tried to get up but his whole body felt like it was on fire. When he attempted to voice concern about Jinora's state, only small, strange growls coming out. The battle drained him to the point that even breathing felt impossible. After a moment the world dwindled away, Jinora's voice still echoing in his head.

Other flickers of Jinora continued to fade in and out of the nightmare land he seemed bound to. Her face getting ever more clear, but he didn't wake up again. Skoochy thought he felt her presence very close to him on several occasions and it seemed to lessen the pain.

Then finally after what seemed like an eternity, a room came into focus; there was no one there from what little he could see. Skoochy moaned as he attempted to move his arm, a dull pain coursing though his body, but it was only a shadow of the agony he felt last time. Slowly he pushed himself up and blinked.

A sunset could be seen through the windows, casting a crimson light around the elegant room, which seemed fit for a king.

He opened his mouth to speak, but the darkness was already calling back to him. Only the thought of making sure Jinora was all right kept him away.

Skoochy's hand slowly moved to his chest and he winced in pain, feeling the soft padding of bandages against his fingers.

He lay they're for what seemed to be hours, or maybe it was just a few minutes. Strange visions still threatened to retake him back to the nightmare.

Then a nurse came calmly walking in, looking at a folder. She glanced up. Her eyes grew wide before she quickly ran out of the room, dropping the papers on the ground.

Just a moment later Jinora came bursting in, the nurse rushing after her.

It felt like cold water had been thrown on Skoochy. The overjoyed face of Jinora seemed to snap him back to earth, the darkness disappearing complexly.

"J-Jin! You're alright," Skoochy said in a deep, scratchy voice, which didn't seem to be his own.

Jinora swooped down on him. Skoochy winced as she gave him a hug.

"I-I thought I had lost you!" Jinora sobbed, withdrawing slightly when he grunted in pain.

Skoochy opened his mouth then noticed the nurse still hovering with a stern look on her face. "Please?" was all he could utterer.

She nodded as she headed towards the door. "Very well, but you're still in very bad condition. Healers will be looking over you shortly."

After the nurse left Skoochy looked back at Jinora who was siting on the edge of the bed. Her eyes glimmered with tears that spilled over and rolled down her cheeks. Skoochy gently lifted a shaky hand to wipe them away.

Jinora closed her eyes, lying down on the bed next to Skoochy. "I knew you'd never leave…"

A weak grin stretched across Skoochy's face. "I couldn't break a promise."

Jinora's eyes opened. "Wha—"

"You made me promise to come back. I couldn't break it."

Jinora gently kissed him on the lips. Skoochy wanted to gasp her and respond with passion but all he could do was lay there. Then finally her lips withdrew and she settled her self next to him.

Time seemed to halt. Every endless second was blissful; Jinora seemed to be healing his wounds, and his soul. He wasn't quite sure how long they stayed there together; Skoochy only remembered drifting into a peaceful rest, the nightmare gone forever.

The morning sunlight made Skoochy's eyes flutter open. The first thing he noticed was Jinora being gone. He breathed deeply and glanced to his bedside finding a newspaper.

He learned much about what had happen after the battle as he sat there reading it, fighting the throb behind his eyes and the tightness in his chest. Most of the Alliance had been killed or captured, and a small snippet showed Lee being led away in chains.

Skoochy smiled to himself, then the door opened. A nurse followed by Jinora's father came walking into the room.

Skoochy felt his smile quickly fade. His calm, peaceful air was replaced by a tight uncomfortable pain. That didn't make the wound near his heart feel any better. He started to feel his forehead getting rather sweaty. With everything that had happened Skoochy almost forgot that he had been going behind the councilmen's back by seeing Jinora.

The Healer gave Skoochy a smile and said, "The councilmen would like to speak with you."

Skoochy nodded slowly, a cold shiver going down his spine.

The healer walked out of the room; leaving Skoochy and the councilmen in a very awkward silence. After a moment he pulled a chair to Skoochy's bedside, and sat down.

Skoochy gulped nervously "So…"

"So," the councilmen replied calmly.

Skoochy took a deep breath and opened his month, but before he could say anything Tenzin lifted up a hand for silence.

A small smile shined on his face. "Don't worry, I'm not here to yell at you."

Even with his reassuring words Skoochy still felt his mouth go dry, and after a pause he spoke. "Well… about me and Jinora going behind your back… That was…" He felt his voice trail away as Tenzin sat up a little straighter.

"I… understand now what you two really meant to each other. Although I am still unpleased with the secrets going on behind my back, I know why you two had to do it."

There was a small pause where Skoochy's mouth hung opened. "S-so… I can still see Jinora?" Skoochy asked, not daring to believe his luck.

Tenzin smiled warmly, putting a hand on Skoochy's shoulder. "Yes, after everything you've done for her, even risking your life to save her… You've earned my respect."

Tenzin began to stand up. "Just make sure not to lose it now that you have it," he said with a wink.

Skoochy quickly recovered from his shook. "Wait! I-is the police still out for my arrest?"

Tenzin raised an eyebrow. "No, quite the contrary. You're the hero of the city. Why do you think you have such a great hospital room?"

A broad smile spread across Skoochy face. Hero? He'd never had that word connected to his name before.

It was exciting, but…

They could give him a hundred keys to the city, and throw him a parade everyday, it would never match with the joy of knowing he could continue seeing Jinora.

The councilmen not wanting him taken out and killed on the front steps of Townhall was pretty comforting as well.

Tenzin moved to the door, and with one last nod he left the room.

Skoochy just laid there for a while, not worried about anything, happy thoughts steaming through his mind, a large grin still on his face. Then the door slowly creaked open and Jinora creped in looking worried.

Skoochy raised an eyebrow. "Healers know you're here?"

She came to his side, grinning. "Not yet." She leaned over, planting a kiss on his lips. "But what's going on with you and my father? I saw him walking out of here. He almost caught me."

Skoochy shrugged, a large smirking on his face. "I think your father loves me."

Jinora quirked an eyebrow. "Oh really?"

"Mmm, hmm… he came to tell me I've earned his respect. And that were buddies Well, maybe not buddies but you get it."

Jinora sighed in relief. "That's great! I was afraid that… well… something else happened."

Skoochy moved to one side of his bed as Jinora slowly slid in next to him. She put her head under his, and he moved her closer to him.

"Nothing will keep as apart anymore," Skoochy whispered in her ear. Jinora closed her eyes and held Skoochy tight. Both of them lay there in silence, only hearing their small breaths, and gentle beats of their hearts. Skoochy wasn't sure if that moment ever ended.

Author's note: It's not over yet! I'll be posting the epilogue tomorrow night, hopefully. Leave a review!