So, here's another chapter. Oh yes, I keep forgetting to mention that chapter 24 was the start of part 3 hehe. woops. Well, since the avatar season premiere is looking towards september, I have decided to finish the story my own way. Hope you enjoy the rest of the story!

Chapter 26: Love and Death

I woke up to find myself sleeping across from Zuko. He was still wearing the same clothes from last night. I looked down to see that I still had my dress on too and that Natasha was sleeping at the end of the bed. The sun was beating down on me from the window. I focused my gaze back on Zuko. He looked so peaceful sleeping. I could feel his warm breath lightly touching my face. I reached over and lightly kissed his forehead. He woke up and looked at me.

"Hello my Prince Zuko," I said lightly and playfully.

"Belle," he said, slightly confused, as he reached out his hand to touch my face. I smiled at him.

"It wasn't a dream...you're really here," he said quietly as he continued to stroke my face.

"Of course I am..." I said with a slight laugh. I then rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes. I couldn't believe I was this tired but everything seemed so peaceful again. I then gently stroked his chest as he brushed my hair back.

"Zuko...what happened last night?" I asked, my voice sounded small and fragile.

"You fell asleep," he said. There was a tint of tiredness in his voice. I looked up at him to see that his eyes were closed. It was then that something occurred to me. He was tired...and I was tired...and we were in bed together...

"Zuko...we didn't do anything...right?" I asked a little nervous. He opened his eyes and looked down at me. It took him a moment to figure out what I was talking about. His lips curled into a crooked smile.

"No Belle," he said. I was relieved and rested my head close to his neck. Yes, I remembered now. I had wanted to but Zuko didn't but that was okay because all that mattered was we were together again.

"...Zuko...when did you know?" I asked him as I cuddled next to him.

"Know what?" he asked back, nearly asleep.

"When did you know that you loved me?" He didn't say anything for a while.

"When we were on the mountain together and when you held me," he said softly, "you?"

"...when I thought you were dead...when your ship exploded," I answered just as softly as he did. I knew that he was smiling slightly.

"How stupid of me..." he whispered to himself. How perfect this moment was. I had never felt so relaxed in my entire life. All I wanted to do was sleep next to him forever. I wanted to wake up every morning and find myself next to Zuko. Was that so much to ask? I gently kissed his neck. Zuko gave a big sigh. I felt myself rise and fall with his breath.

"What am I going to do with you, Belle?" he said. I held onto him tightly at his words.

"Don't leave me," I murmured. That was the last thing I wanted.

"I won't leave you," he said gently.

"You promise?"

"Yes." I sat up and faced him. His eyes seemed to be even more golden, richer than before and I knew he wasn't lying. I then bent down and kissed him tenderly. Zuko's arms curled up my back. The same feelings from the previous night came back. My hands made their way up his shirt. I gently rubbed his bare, soft chest. Once again my breathing was heavier when I reached Zuko's stomach. He ran his hand through my long, black hair, trying to distract his sexual desire. His breathing had also become heavier. It was only when I reached his lower abs that Zuko stopped me. I looked down at him apologetically but he forgave me with a gentle kiss. This was all I wanted...just to be with him.

My heart jumped as I heard a knock at the door. Zuko quickly got up and took my arm. He made me hide behind a curtain. Natasha stayed by my feet. I heard the door burst open. I felt my heart beating very fast. I could hardly believe that I was this scared.

"Your girlfriend isn't in her room," I heard Azula say angrily.

"She is NOT my girlfriend!" Zuko yelled and I had to giggle a little despite my fear, "and I don't know where she is." I don't know why I was so scared as I hid behind the curtain but my breathing suddenly became heavier.

"One of my Dai Li agents said they saw her in the dungeon. No doubt she went to see uncle...Zuko she is going to betray you again. We need to get her to the Fire Nation where she'll face trial along with uncle."

"I understand," Zuko said. I heard her footsteps coming towards the curtain. I desperately tried to calm myself down. It was then that I realized why I was so scared. I remembered hiding under the floor as people searched for me above, wanting to kill me. I remembered how afraid I had been as I waited for someone to come and get me the night my parents died. As Azula approached closer to the curtain, I stopped breathing all together. I heard her pause for a moment and then turn around. I could hear her footsteps moving towards the door.

"I'm sorry this had to happen Zuko," Azula said. Pss yeah right. "If you're lucky, maybe father won't sentence her to death."

My eyes widened as she said this and I had to clasp my hands over my mouth to stop myself from screaming. Tears of fear filled my eyes and I could feel the blood drawing from my face. I heard Azula leave the room but I was too afraid to move. Zuko moved the curtain back. I immediately clung to him, crying. I felt myself trembling.

"Belle, calm down," Zuko begged as he held onto me tightly.

"You won't let me die, you won't let me die," I kept saying.

"Belle, I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I promise, I'll keep you safe." I loosened my grip at his words of comfort. He let go of me and I felt his gaze on me. I was still pale and I still felt weak. Zuko gently took my arm and led me out of his room. Natasha followed as well.

"Where are we going?" I asked him weakly. He didn't answer. Or perhaps he did and I couldn't hear him. I then heard voices coming from behind and our pace quickened.

"There she is!" I heard Azula's piercing voice. I felt someone pull me away.

"Zuko!" I yelled. I reached out for Zuko's hand and he tried to grab me. One of the Dai Li agents tied my hands with his gloves. I desperately tried to break free but I was too weak. Something wasn't right, something didn't feel right. It seemed as though all the life was being drawn from me. I felt myself collapse to the floor. I looked up at Zuko for help. His eyes widened as mine began to close. Zuko caught me and held me in his arms. He shook me a little. I think he was trying to tell me something but I couldn't hear him. I couldn't hold out much longer. I decided to close my eyes and just give in to whatever was happening to me.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

I was in the forest once more. Why was it always the forest? But this time I knew why. It was because of Lee. His body was in front of me, dripping with blood. My Lee. I looked at my hands and they were covered in blood too. It wasn't my blood or Lee's. I looked over at the other dead bodies. The trees contained burnt marks. My mind was completely numb. All the memories of him began to come back. I started to remember things like the first time I held him when I was little. Or the first time we played in the snow together. Tears began to burn my face. It was then that I saw my dagger lying beside me. I slowly reached for it, my hands trembling. I didn't even know what I was doing anymore. I was just fading, fading into darkness...

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

I opened my eyes and found myself in a room. It took me a moment to realize that I was in the room Azula had given me. I turned to see Zuko sitting at my bed side. He looked down at me with sadness. I tried to sit up, but Zuko laid me back down. He then placed a rag on my head. I stared at him, in his sad eyes.

"...Zuko, what happened?" I asked him. He didn't say anything for a moment.

"We...don't know...you fainted...but the doctors don't know why."

"...What's going to happen to me now?"

"Nothing. Not until they figure out what's wrong with you...But Belle...it has to do with Lee doesn't it?" I sat up despite Zuko's gesture. I couldn't look into his eyes. Zuko sat closer to me and placed his arm around me. A lump started to form in my throat and I fought back my tears. I didn't want to tell him, I didn't want him to know. I was afraid what he would think of me once when I told him.

"Belle," he whispered in my ear, "please tell me. I want to help you." I took a deep breath, still not looking at him.

"...When I told you about Lee...I...I didn't tell you everything that happened. When I woke up...and when I found Lee, the earthbenders...they were still there...the grabbed me...and they tried to..." but I couldn't say it. I cried a waterfall of tears. Zuko's grip on me tightened with hatred for the earthbenders.

"They didn't touch me Zuko," I said reassuringly, "...because I killed them before they could." More tears filled my eyes. It was just like when I first told Zuko about Lee. Except this time Zuko was holding onto me and I was glad. He held on to me tightly, close to his heart. I listened to the sadness of his heartbeat and I knew that although he didn't show it on the outside, on the inside he was crying. Crying for me.

"Belle, why didn't you tell me?" he asked me gently.

"I don't know...I was so ashamed of what I did...I didn't want anyone to know...I'm sorry...please forgive me," I cried.

"You don't have to be sorry. But why is this happening to you now?" It was then that I realized that it was summer, the same time of year when Lee had died. Had it been a year already? A year of pain and suffering?

"I...I think it's because the anniversary of when Lee died...it's coming soon." Zuko pressed his lips against my head. Natasha curled up next to me and began to purr. I wished Uncle Iroh was here too. Zuko held onto me for a long time. We sat there in silence for I don't know how long. It was nice though, I felt like a small, fragile child. The small child that had been hiding inside of me. Maybe, for once, it was alright to be the damsel in distress.

"I have to go," he said to me finally, "you need to sleep."

"I'm fine."

"Stop being stubborn," he said gently as he kissed my forehead. I decided to obey. Not just because I was still drained but also I was afraid I would be sent to the dungeon if Azula saw me awake. I still felt Zuko's presence over me as I drifted to sleep. Like the night after the opening of the tea shop, Zuko leaned close to me.

"It's my turn to watch over you."