Chapter 10 ~I don't own the avatar-

Side note, the reason I've been so slow with this chapter is that my big sister had a baby two weeks ago, and now I have a nephew! I've been going over a lot to help, and I've been working more since the holidays are coming up. Sorry for it taking so long!

I woke up thinking it was a dream. It felt too good to be true, and if it wasn't for the jasmine blossoms in the small vase on my desk, and my dress laid across the back of my chair, I would have considered it all a dream.

Everyone had been asleep when I came home. Gyeong was sound asleep in the front room, an embroidery hoop in her lap and glasses falling down her nose. Before heading to bed myself, I moved the hoop and glasses and covered her with a blanket, leaving her hairpin in her desk drawer.

Halfway up the stairs, I found Eun and Keiko, sleeping in a heap on the floor. I'd pulled the two into their room, and somehow, they'd stayed asleep while being drug across the floor. Once I had them somewhat on their bed, I left Keiko's slippers by her dresser, pulling their door shut as I left, and went to bed myself.

But, as the sun finished rising, and the building began waking up, I knew it wasn't a dream. And before I was even able to change from my nightgown, Eun threw open my door.

"Jin! How was your date? Do I need to punch him? Did you eat good food? Do you love him? If you do, can I still punch him?" he asked, grabbing me in a tight hug. Keiko came skipping in, beaming at me. "How was your date?"

"Good, no, yes, not yet, no. We're going out again tonight."

Eun pouted, and Keiko patted his shoulder. "That's great, Jin-jin! Where'd you go?" I grabbed both of their hands, pulling her to face me. "He took me to this really fancy place. He took me to the upper ring!"

Both of their jaws dropped.

"The upper ring?!" Eun whispered, voice cracking. "He took you to the upper ring?! What's it like?!" I pulled my legs underneath me, and they sat beside me. "It's better than I imagined. Everything is bright and clean, and the roads are actually proper roads!" Both of their eyes widened, muttering at the same time. "Woah."

Gyeong chuckled from my doorway, a tray of teacups in her hands. "I heard everything. Jin honey, I'm so glad that he's still so kind to you."

She passed out the cups, sitting beside me as I told them all about the restaurant, us running away from the guards, our walk through the gardens, and our ride in the carriage.

After I finished, they all bombarded me with more questions before Eun and I had to get ready for work. We walked quickly through the streets, Eun talking the entire trip about what all I could change if Zuko and I got married. Most of it was nonsense or better for the world if no one allowed it to be legal.

It still felt strange to think that there was a chance, even if it was small, that I could end up as the fire lady and Zuko's wife. I knew deep in my heart that I'm falling in love with him. I pray to all the spirits that he feels the same way.

"How was your evening, Fire lord Zuko?" Somsak asked, eyebrows raised and a scroll in his hand.

Last night was the best night of my life.

Jin's happy smile flashed through my mind, the feeling of her soft lips on mine, the sound of her laugh in my ears. "It was nice." Somsak gave a tight smile and a nod.

"Good. The earth king has asked that you attend a banquet to be held a week from today. He also included that your, ehm, lady is also invited."

Jin would like that.

She seemed to really enjoy being in the upper ring last night, and I really wanted to show her more of my world. A small part of me also wants to show all the stuffy nobility that a girl from the lower ring was classier, smarter, and made for more enjoyable company than any of them.

"Thank you, Somsak. I'll ask Jin tonight." I said, taking the scroll from him. He sniffed sharply, bowing stiffly, sticking his nose in the air as he left without a word.

My life was too wonderful right now to care about what he thought.

I unrolled the scroll, the familiar handwriting of my uncle gracing the page. I had sent word to him when I found Jin, and had been waiting for his response.

'My nephew,

I'm overjoyed to not only hear that your mission of love was so successful. Love can be fickle, but I know all will be well for you both. Tell our lovely Miss Jin that I say hello, and that I hope she is still fond of jasmine tea. Everything back home is just as you left it, with the exception of your sister's results from the hospital.'

Oh, no. What did Azula do now? Do I need to go home? I broke out in a cold sweat and my stomach twisted into knots.

'Azula is responding to treatment better than was expected, and seems to be somewhat back to her usual self. However, they note that she seems to have fallen into a depressive state that they did not anticipate. According to their letter, she has acknowledged the evil that your father committed. Hopefully this is the first step in the right direction. I wish you the best in your endeavors of courtship, and send you my own love.

Uncle Iroh.'

I let out my breath, not realizing I'd been holding it in.

Good news. He sent good news. He sent good news about Azula. Today could not get any better, even though I knew it would. After all, I would be seeing Jin in roughly an hour.

Placing the scroll away among my others, I removed the golden flame in my top knot, as well as the ribbon holding it up.

Going to the lower ring as the Fire Lord would be the stupidest thing I could do, so I dressed in the green and brown clothing of the Earth kingdom. My guards had tried talking me into bringing them with me, but as that would draw far too much attention to us, they instead insisted that I bring my twin swords with me.

With the familiar weight on my back and the sun lowering in the sky, I set out for the lower ring.

Finding the bakery wasn't hard. It was the only one in all of the lower ring, after all.

A small bell above the door jingled when I stepped in, and my heart skipped a beat. Jin had spun around from the counter when I came in, a small streak of flour on her cheek, and a bright smile on her lips.

My uncle's comment from before I left rang through my ears. 'Then you can wine and dine her, make her your fire lady.'

The idea of marrying Jin felt right. Obviously, it wouldn't be for quite some time, but I prayed that it was right for me to think so. I knew deep in my heart that I'm falling in love with her. I pray to all the spirits that she feels the same way.

Faby Gadget- Thank you! I was honestly a bit worried that I hadn't heard from you! I'm so glad you like it!

Mr. Demon- I'm glad you're enjoying the ship, and that you found my story! Thank you!

Fitzclaire37-Thank you so much!