Azula couldn't quite put a name to how she was feeling at the moment, but she was certain that "happy" wouldn't quite cover it, and neither would "relieved" or "grateful."

She was sprawled out carelessly on her back on her bed in her silks, having already discarded the heavy leather and metal of her armor. Ty Lee was curled up against her, one leg resting on top of Azula's; her hand was rubbing gently over the princess's flat stomach. And that was something she treasured far more than the return of her crown. Azula smiled up at the ceiling and pulled the little acrobat closer. She'd heartily missed this – the simple, trusting, physical contact.

And it was all the sweeter since Ty Lee had chosen to give that trust, even though most of what she could remember apparently warned her to do the opposite.

Ty Lee slipped upward, her brown head coming to rest on her lover's shoulder. Azula looked down at her, amber eyes softening. Mild gray eyes returned the scrutiny. The princess cupped Ty Lee's cheek in her hand and brushed her thumb lightly over one delicately-curved brow. I wonder what I ever did right to deserve her? Azula bent her head down to kiss her. Ty Lee's lips were soft and warm and tasted faintly of rice wine. "I love you," Azula whispered.

The little acrobat's cheeks flushed pink. She looked away; her hand moved downward, and Azula felt the buckle of her belt loosen. The princess watched as it was pulled away. With adorable hesitancy, Ty Lee slipped her fingers beneath Azula's shirt and began to caress her belly again. Azula leaned in for another kiss as her own fingers fumbled at the laces that held Ty Lee's collar closed.

This was different than it had been before, Azula thought. It was as if she and Ty Lee were back at the beginning, at the first time they had touched each other. The acrobat's hands were tentative, her kisses brushing her lover's skin as softly as a butterfly's wing. Azula's touch, too, was less sure than it once had been; she didn't want to frighten the gymnast, or do anything to break the fragile trust she'd just been given. So for a long time, neither of them went much farther than this – the soft kisses and very gentle flutters of fingers against skin.

Finally, Azula gathered her courage. She peeled aside the collar of Ty Lee's shirt and, sliding herself downward a little, nibbled on the creamy shoulder she'd exposed. She heard the acrobat gasp softly. The fingers caressing Azula's stomach stilled abruptly, then began to twitch as the princess continued to nip at her. Ty Lee shivered and moaned.

It was good. Azula rolled onto her side and pushed her lover down on her back. Ty Lee stared up at her with a mixture of nervousness and trust, and the princess smiled. She captured the acrobat's lips with her own. "It's okay," she murmured. "I won't hurt you."

"I know." Ty Lee returned the kiss, less timidly than before, and slid her arms around the slim waist of the princess. Azula gave a sigh of pleasure. It's been way too long. Gods, this is good.

Gently and insistently, the princess coaxed Ty Lee's shirt off. The little acrobat returned the favor, peeling off the crimson silk that covered Azula's torso, and then sliding her hands over the naked back of her lover. Azula left off her ardent kissing of Ty Lee's collarbone to groan.

So good.

The burn of lust was deep in her gut, now, but Azula's touch was still soft. "I love you," she whispered against the sleek muscle of Ty Lee's shoulder. "I do, Ty."

There was a gentle tug at her topknot, and Azula's dark hair spilled down over Ty Lee's pale skin. She lifted her amber eyes to find the acrobat smiling shyly at her. A moment later, she felt their hands clasp together, with the cold metal of her golden hairpin in between them. "I like you with your hair down," Ty Lee murmured, threading the fingers of her free hand into it. "It's really pretty."

Suppressing the urge to promise never to put her hair up again, Azula simply returned the smile and kissed her. This is what I want, she thought blissfully. And if Mai and her toadies don't want to give me this, they can all go to blazes. Let them tear each other to pieces like dogs over the remains of my father's kingdom. Strong hands slid down her back and slipped beneath the silken waistband of her trousers.

Things went a little murky after that. Azula's awareness shrank down to her own body and that of the girl in her arms. She was lost in the floods and jolts of sensation, in the passion that was reigniting between them. Her heart burned, and her flesh burned, and the heat of it was so intense that it wrung soft cries from her lips. Even firebending couldn't touch this, she thought dimly, as Ty Lee's teasing fingers slid up her thigh and made her back arch uncontrollably. Nothing could.

Finally, the two of them lay quietly. Azula felt sated in body and spirit – the soft glow of a deep contentment had supplanted the fiery passion. She considered this as her fingers stroked idly through the soft hair of the head that was now resting peacefully on her breast. This could be like fire, too, she mused. Only this is more like the little fire Ty Lee lit every night in our house so she could cook dinner. It's…warm, and comfortable. She sighed softly and looked down. "You all right?" she murmured.

"Yes." Ty Lee's eyes were still closed, but she smiled. Azula felt the arm that was draped over her middle tighten in a gentle squeeze. "I think maybe I love you back."

"Maybe?" Although Azula's lips quirked with sardonic amusement, her eyes sharpened plaintively.

"Maybe." Ty Lee kissed the breast on which she was resting. "Probably."

And that's probably all I'm going to get for now. Azula pressed her lips against the top of her lover's head and gave a soft sigh. It's all right. She'll figure everything out eventually. "Are you looking forward to going home, Ty?" she asked.

"I guess so." The little acrobat's fingers drew random patterns on the skin of Azula's thigh. "Am I really going home?" she asked suddenly. "To…to my parents, I mean. Are you going to send me back there, Azula?" She peered up at the princess.

Something caught in Azula's throat. She had been so confident when she'd demanded that Mai allow Ty Lee to be her consort, but what if the girl didn't even want that anymore? It was one thing to decide to trust her, and even to sleep with her, but…what if Ty Lee no longer wanted to stay with her? "Do you want me to?" she asked gently, keeping her voice steady with an effort.

Ty Lee's eyes dropped. "No," she said. "I think they'd make me marry that young admiral they like so much, and then I'd have to stay at home and be a lady and…well, and just have children." She moved her hand up to caress Azula's belly again. "I mean, I like kids, you know. But…"

"But." The princess couldn't quite restrain a grin of relief.

"But I'd rather not," Ty Lee admitted quietly.

There was silence for a while. Azula struggled with herself for some time before finally giving up the internal fight with a sigh. "Ty?" The gymnast grunted softly. "What would you think of just staying with me?" The princess gently brushed loose strands of hair back from the gray eyes that had suddenly fixed themselves on her. "Before you were taken by the Dai Li, we'd talked about this," Azula murmured. "I promised I'd ask you to marry me, because you asked me if I would. And…I still want to." Her throat constricted. "Do you still want to?"

Another, longer silence followed. Azula studied the girl's face as she waited, hoping against hope. Gods, maybe I shouldn't have asked. It's too soon, it's too much to ask. Should have kept my mouth shut… She clamped her jaw shut and watched her lover. Ty Lee regarded her gravely. At last, with quiet deliberation, the little acrobat scooted up Azula's body until their eyes were on a level. Her lips curved into a solemn smile as her eyes searched the princess's. "Yes," she said simply. "I think I do." And she leaned down and pressed her lips to Azula's.

It was too much. It was just too much. Azula clasped the girl against herself, closing her eyes as she felt the familiar head burrow into the crook of her shoulder. Whatever tomorrow might bring, she had this – she had it. Her voice, when she could finally speak again, was soft and broken. "Then we will, Ty," she whispered. "Then we will."