Thank you very much to my new beta: thatredheadedchick

XD

Azula was a writhing, fire breathing mass. Tears poured from her wide, afflicted eyes as she moaned and cried pathetically. Zoe could see Katara pitied her and, perhaps, Zoe did too, but not currently. Not as she had knelt down on the scorched ground, ripping the fabric from her skirt to wrap around the broken, charred body that was Huan. Not when the image of Zuko in mid air ready to take that bolt of lightening for her flashed into her head. No, not right now could she summon any kind of compassionate emotion for Azula. She was not Katara.

And right now the ever so compassionate Katara was healing the burns and scratches over Zoe's body, while at the same time telling Zuko exactly what had happened throughout the fight. Zoe wasn't listening, her eyes were glazed over, worry for the others nearly overwhelming her. She had buried the charred remains of her faithful pet and the little rabbit-hen's scorched corpse merely added to her fear of finding Sokka, Toph, Aang or Suki in such condition…

"Why did you knock me out of the way of the lightening?" demanded Zuko angrily, bringing Zoe back to his and Katara's conversation. He was standing in front of her, actually glaring at her. She looked at him, but didn't answer. "You know I can redirect it! You would have died!"

"You couldn't have redirected it!" snapped Zoe, her heart thumping and twisting in fear as the image of Zuko jumping in front of the lightening to save her flashed into her head. "I know what you're supposed to do, I saw Uncle teaching you! From that angle you could have died!"

"Then you should have let me!" steamed Zuko, his worry and fear as usual turning into anger.

Zoe knocked away Katara's healing hand and stood up, tears stinging her eyes. "Let you die?" Zoe repeated, the thought chilling her to the bone. "You still don't understand do you, Zuko?" she demanded, unsure why she was so angry. After having come so close to losing him…she had never wanted to be mad with him again! Her throat began to close up and tears welled up behind her eyes. "I can't…without you…there isn't…I…" the tears had begun to cascade down her cheeks like a flowing waterfall. She was just managing to choke words out through her tight, burning throat as it was. Before she was able to make sense of her spluttered words Zuko had pulled her to him, crushing her into his chest.

"I'm sorry…" he whispered into her hair, clutching her to him desperately. Zoe clung to the back of his shirt tightly, squeezing her eyes shut as the enormity of what had nearly happened dawned on her and pain pounded her chest. Tears escaped through her tightly closed eyes and began to soak the shoulder of Zuko's tunic, but he didn't mind. His own tears were sliding out of his good eye and into her hair, catching in the messy, curly locks. "I didn't mean to get mad…" he whispered hoarsely. "You just…" he pulled back slightly so to look at Zoe's tear stained face, his hand cupping her cheek. Zoe's eyes opened to face Zuko's golden ones and she was immensely surprised to see that Zuko's eyes had too become watery on her behalf. "You just scare the crap out of me with your…crazy recklessness!" he told her, giving a small shaky laugh, his thumb caressing her cheek softly.

"You should try being me," laughed Zoe softly, tears still escaping from her glittering eyes, "I have several heart attacks a day with the stress you put me through. Reckless fire bender…"

Zuko laughed again, in dizzy disbelief and pressed Zoe to his chest once more. His hand stroked her hair gently and his eyes closed as he rested his head against hers. Zoe allowed a small, soft smile to form on her lips as she remained pressed against his chest listening to the strong, sturdy beat of his heart.

Katara had long since torn her eyes from the couple, her face blushing furiously. Her heart was occupied with worry for Aang, worry and…regret. Perhaps she was wrong in telling him she was confused, perhaps in the middle of a war wasn't the wrong time, maybe it was the opposite. Maybe it was perfect timing. What if he didn't come back? What if she never had the chance to tell him how she feels?

Her eyes locked on the pathetic figure that was Azula. She had stopped her crazed screams and now lay panting, her eyes wide and staring at no where in particular. The sight scared Katara more than the screaming had. Suddenly, Katara's attention was taken by something else; taken by a rocketing sound of moving earth, running feet and joyful cries.

"Aang!" cried Katara in ecstatic disbelief, "Sokka! Toph! Suki!"

Zoe and Zuko broke off their apparently never-ending embrace and Appa roared from behind them. Overwhelming joy threatened to consume Zoe as her friends, her wonderful friends came speeding toward them.

Sokka was sitting on a round column of earth that Toph was speeding along with her earth bending, a huge grin plastered to his face and his arms held out wide. Toph too was grinning, her hair a mess around her pale, little face and Suki looked as though she were about to cry. And Aang…Aang looked as though he had gained another hundred years in wisdom. Though his face was still a boys, his eyes were as wise and mature as Uncle Iroh's. And he was here! He was alive! So…what happened to the Fire Lord?

From that moment on everything seemed to happen in a big, happy, hazy blur. Everyone was either crying or shouting in delight as the hugged each other and the Fire Sages stood awkwardly in the background as they had been since the battle between Prince and Princess. Zoe wondered why they hadn't done anything, but couldn't care enough to find out.

No one was badly injured except for Sokka, whom had broken his leg, and there were a few burns and bruises shared around. In fact, not even the Fire Lord had been killed; though he had certainly been defeated. Aang had disappeared on a giant lion-turtle and learned how to energy bend, thus learning how to take Ozai's bending away. However, what Zoe was most excited about was that a lion-turtle's shell was covered in foliage and, in fact, looked like an island. Zoe had been right.

"I told you so!" she cried, punching Zuko's chest, he caught her hand when it made contact with his skin and held it.

"You were right, and I was wrong." He said, a small smile tugging at his mouth. "I know. I'm sorry."

But, it didn't matter to Zoe that she was right. None of that mattered. What mattered to her was that everyone was OK. Both Ozai and Azula were taken to prison cells and Zoe felt that, just maybe, things might turn out well at last.

The word of Ozai's defeat spread quickly, as did the word that Zuko was to assume the throne having defeated his sister who dishonored the laws of an Agni Kai. Iroh had re-conquered Ba Sing Se with the other members of the White Lotus just as he said he would and Zoe's heart was brimming with joy.

Currently their gang sat in the Prince's bed chamber, blankets and pillows strewn all over the floor as they set up to sleep together that night that they won the war.

Zoe sat with Zuko who was watching his friends amusedly as they turned his royal bedchamber into what looked more like a cubby house. Zoe lifted her hand to touch the back of his head where dry blood still coated his hair.

"Can I wash this out please?" she asked; her stomach flipped every time she saw it.

Zuko looked at her, a small grin on his face. "Can I wash yours?"

Zoe shrugged, "if you feel so inclined."

So, the two silently crept out of the room to head to the royal bath chamber.

"Why is it so empty?" asked Zoe, clutching Zuko's arm; the silent palace freaked her out.

"Apparently…Azula banished everyone." said Zuko, his voice odd. "The Fire Sages told me. She went a little…crazy leading up to her coronation."

"Can we trust the Fire Sages?"

"Well, they haven't tried anything yet, but, that doesn't mean we shouldn't keep our guard up." He looked down at Zoe who was now eyeing the corridors suspiciously and he chuckled. "This way." He said suddenly leading her to the left and into an immaculate bath chamber.

Zoe's jaw dropped. "This…is normal for you?" she spluttered. Zuko hummed in response. Zoe quickly closed her jaw, taking the enormous bathroom in her stride. "Right, well take your shirt off. Hurry up." she ordered.

Zuko looked at her startled, a small blush covering his cheek. "Uh…I thought you were washing the blood from my-"

Zoe silenced him with her hand. "Don't talk about that. And yes I am, surely you don't want your shirt getting wet?"

Zuko stared at her.

"Would you like me to remove it if you're so incapable?" asked Zoe, for some reason the sentence coming out much lower and….seductively than she meant it to.

Zuko raised an eyebrow at the girl before him. "You're right." He said lowly, "I am incapable. I'd love you to help me, thank you."

Zoe stared at him for a moment. Then quickly she gained control of her composure and her hands found the sash around Zuko's waist. Her fingers worked at undoing the knot and a small, rosy blush covered her cheeks. For some reason she could not look into Zuko's eyes right now, which were currently smoldering and boring into the top of her head. Finally she undid the sash and let it fall to his sides. Then her hands moved to push the tunic off his shoulders, her heart fluttering in her chest.

Zoe nearly sighed as she removed the piece of attire to reveal Zuko's stunning chest. She cleared her throat, and tore her eyes away while ignoring Zuko's smirk and forced him onto a stool. He nearly pouted in disappointment when she removed her hands from his chest.

Zoe went to fetch the bucket of water, noticing that her hands were still shaking as she brought the canteen of liquid back toward the Prince.

"Uhm, would you like to heat it?" asked Zoe and Zuko turned around to look at her, hearing something off in her voice.

He stood up, his brow creasing slightly and moved over to her. Without breaking eye contact he slid his hands beneath hers on the bucket, heating his palms to create the right temperature. Zoe's heart stuttered and sped up in her chest.

Zuko removed his hands, allowing her to hold the bucket by herself once more. Gently he tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear, his thumb brushing along her cheek tenderly. "It's OK." He told her, "Everyone is fine. We're fine. We won."

Zoe swallowed hard, blinking furiously and looking down. "I…I know, I'm just…a little shaken still…" That, and the fact that Huan wasn't fine. She was dead. Zoe scowled at the floor. Huan had saved her and now she was gone; Zoe needed to stop thinking about it. She looked back at Zuko's concerned face and smiled, a wave of warmth washing over her. "Hey, what are you doing? Get back on that stool!"

Zuko rolled his eyes, but a small smile pulled at the corner of his mouth and he obeyed her. Zoe followed him, and then hesitated, looking at the bucket held in her hands.

"Don't even think about it." snarled Zuko, not even needing to turn around. Zoe sighed.

"Ooh fine." She said, supposing it would be useless to throw the entire water contents over his head as she would just have to fetch more then anyway. Zuko chuckled.

He leant his head back and slowly Zoe poured the some of the water through his hair, dragging her fingers softly through the tresses and scrubbing the dirt and blood from his scalp.

When she got to the back, where the bloodiest locks of hair were she started to feel dizzy and lightheaded. Her fingers tingled and she swayed as watery red liquid streamed over her hands, dripping sickeningly to the floor.

"Are you OK?" asked Zuko suddenly, looking up to Zoe's suddenly pale face.

"I'm fine." she said quickly, closing her eyes for a moment to steady herself. "It's just…there's a lot of blood."

"You're scared of blood?"

"No." snapped Zoe, "I'm scared because you lost so much blood. And it was my fault…if Katara hadn't of been there…"

"It wasn't your fault." said Zuko almost harshly. "It was Azula's. And anyway, Katara was there to heal me. I'm fine. Don't think about what couldhave happened." he said, lifting a hand to Zoe's bloodied one.

She nodded quickly, then moved away to wash her hands while Zuko washed away the remaining blood and water from the floor. It was a sickening sight.

"Let's…get out of the bathroom." said Zuko when Zoe stood staring at the glistening stone floor as if still seeing it coated in blood.

He took her hand and practically had to pull her from the large chamber. She shook her head dazedly as a cool night breeze hit her face flowing from an open window at the end of the corridor. She looked at Zuko. His hair was sopping and he was still shirtless.

"Your shirt…" she said, blushing slightly as her eyes followed the droplets of water that cascaded down the pale skin of his chest.

"Leave it; I'll get a fresh one." He said, smiling at her and moving to walk on, but she held him back.

He looked at her curiously and she looked at him, her eyes wide and vulnerable. She placed a hand tentatively on his chest above his heart. It pounded steadily against her palm. She took a step closer to him so that their bodies were only inches apart and his heart sped up beneath her hand.

She sighed, looking at the contrast of her olive skin against his paler tone, and then her bright eyes flicked back up to Zuko's. She inched forward again, placing her other hand tenderly on Zuko's cheek and then stood upon her tip toes and tilt her head toward his. In a slow, heart fluttering moment Zoe pressed her lips against his, welcoming the soft and comforting warmth that he offered.

Zuko exhaled slowly, his arms wrapping around Zoe's waist and back, hugging her to him as he kissed her back. There was something different about this kiss; it wasn't urgent and lustful, but full of some deep passion that sent a slow, but blazing fire through their veins. It was loving, tender and held something more meaningful than words could describe. Zoe's heart blazed and beat in a rhythm with Zuko's and she moved her hands around his neck to hold him closer.

Their lips began to move faster as the fire blazed and spread, the remembrance that they had nearly lost one another lingering in the back of their minds. Zuko's hands tightened on Zoe's back and he crushed her to him, the burning heat the radiated off his body easily seeping through Zoe's clothes to her skin. But, the heat only made Zoe clutch Zuko harder and pull herself closer.

Finally, Zuko broke off the kiss when his need for air finally became too desperate to ignore. Zoe always seemed to last longer than him, he decided it must be an air bender thing. However, said air bender was also breathing heavily, her silver eyes locking with his.

"You know," she said, moving her hand back to his scarred cheek. Her finger lightly traced the tender skin. "I really think everything does happen for a reason."

Zuko closed his eyes for a moment at her tender touch. "I agree." He said finally, reopening his eyes. "But, why do you say that right now?"

"That day we first met when you nearly killed me," she explained, "was also the day you saved my life."

Zuko's heart skipped a beat at her words and he shifted his hands on her back, somehow tightening his hold. "No, you saved me. " He disagreed softly, leaning his head into her caressing hand.

Zoe smiled softly. "We saved each other." She consented and Zuko's smile mirrored hers. "We need each other." She decided.

Zuko's heart warmed in his chest, "Yeah." He said. "We do."

A/N getting close to the end now! =O But, that's OK. Then sequel time!

Thank you very much for all of your reviews! And the anonymous reviewers (Jo, Kimsara, A.M.H.Z.P.M, Water dragon and ReadinFromPhone)Thank you!

Aaaaand please review!

ReadinFromPhone: Lol yeah your reviews are still coming up as no name! It's very strange. Hahah, you offended FF somehow =P I wanted to put some juicy heat in this chapter just for you...but, then it turned all soft! But, there will be plenty to come! (sequel...) ;) Promise! XD Anyway lol thank you again for always making me laugh XD