That night when they arrived home, Chiara had dinner ready for them, and after eating she performed her usual routine of cleaning the dishes and kitchen. While she was busy, Zuko looked at Iroh.

"So, Uncle...," he said softly. "...um...is there anything I need to do?"

Iroh looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Test...," he whispered.

"Oh," said Iroh. "Right, right." He stood up, and after putting some water in a teapot, he looked at Zuko. "Follow me."

Zuko followed him into his bedroom where he knelt at a small table. He looked up at Zuko and motioned for him to kneel on the other side, and then he placed the teapot on a burner stand between them.

"What is Chiara's favorite tea?"

Zuko looked lost. He now realized his worry about the test was justified because he did not know her favorite tea. As far as he could remember she always drank what was placed before her, but he never recalled her requesting any specific kind. Or maybe she did, and he just never paid attention. He was sure he was not going to pass this test.

"Uh...she...appreciates...all tea?" he said unsure of what to say.

Iroh looked at him. Zuko started feeling more nervous, but then Iroh cracked the smallest of smiles.

"Of course she does; she's my daughter. But she does have a preference."

"She always just made her own or drank what you made," he said feeling frustrated, but trying to remain calm. "I don't remember her saying what her favorite is."

"Chiara," called Iroh.

Stopping her work, she walked to his room and opened his door.

"What is Zuko's favorite tea?" Iroh asked her.

"He usually drinks ginger if he has a choice," she answered, though she was puzzled by the question as he was sitting right there. "Do you need me to bring you some?"

"No. That was all. Thank you."

She went back to the kitchen. Zuko looked down feeling ashamed.

"She favors chamomile with a touch of mint," said Iroh. He pulled out two small containers from a chest and placed them on the table. "I'm going to reveal to you the secret to making Chiara's favorite tea."

Zuko sighed to himself as he remembered her reaction to the last time he made tea while Iroh was recovering from Azula's attack. At this point he thought an easier test might be breaking into the palace and kidnapping the king of Ba Sing Se.

"Heat the water," said Iroh.

Zuko looked down at the table. "Where are the spark rocks?"

"Use your own flame."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

Iroh nodded. "You will make her tea with your own fire."

Zuko produced a flame in his hand and he held it underneath the teapot. Iroh moved his hand down just a bit adjusting the distance between the flame and the pot.

"It will be more than just tea," he said. "It will contain a part of you, your warmth. It will be by your own work, your own power that this tea is made for her."

"How long does it take?"

"For as long as it takes to make it just right."

Zuko hated that answer. "How will I know if it's just right?"

"Heat the water just until it boils."

He patiently showed no sign of his internal impatience as he anxiously wondered how much longer it would be for the water to start boiling.

"Is it ready?" he asked as soon as he heard some soft bubbling and saw a few small puffs of steam rise out of the pot.

Iroh nodded, and Zuko pulled his hand away.

"Add one scoop of chamomile."

He did as instructed.

"Add just a small amount of mint."

"How much is a small amount?"

"Pick up a pinch of leaves between your fingers," directed Iroh.

"Is this good?" he asked as he held it up.

Iroh nodded, and Zuko added it to the teapot.

"Now cover it and let it sit."

"For how long?"

"Oh...long enough to sing Fire Lilies in the Golden Sunlight..."

"I have to sing?"

Iroh raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, okay," said Zuko trying to remain calm, reminding himself that it was probably all part of the test.

He started humming the tune to himself trying not to rush through it. When he finished he looked at Iroh who was also quietly singing to himself.

"So it's ready?"

Iroh nodded as he placed a cup on the table. Zuko poured the tea.

"Chiara likes a little honey in her tea," said Iroh as he set it before him.

"How much is a little?"

"A small spoonful."

Zuko did not find that helpful, but he put what he considered to be a small spoonful in the tea and stirred.

"Is that it?" he asked.

"Well, that depends on Chiara."

Iroh placed the tea on a small tray and they started walking to the other room. Zuko had a flashback of her spitting out the tea he made. He wondered what it meant if she did not like it. Would that mean he failed Uncle's test? Of course it would, he thought. Why else would Uncle make him do all this if it was not part of the test? Why did the test have to be tea? Why not swords? That he could do, and it would prove that he could protect her. But tea?

Chiara had finished her work and had been kneeling at the table looking over a paper with local announcements. Iroh and Zuko approached the table and knelt down with her, and Iroh placed the tray before her.

"Tea, Chiara?"

She set the paper down and seeing only one cup, she eyed them suspiciously.

"Try it," he said pointing to the cup.

She wondered if they were using her as some sort of experimental elephant rat to try out new concoctions. She took a sip.

"Tastes like chamomile with mint," she said.

"How is it?" asked Iroh.

"Perfect."

Zuko smiled.

"Why?" she asked.

"Zuko made it."

"Really?" she asked as she looked at him. "This is great. It's just the way I like it."

"Thanks," he said softly. She drank some more.

He was excited as he was sure he passed the test, but when he looked at Iroh, his uncle gave no indication that he had passed or failed.

"Chiara," said Iroh, "now that we have settled into our new lives, I believe it's time to let Zuko know our secret."

She started choking a little on her tea.

"Secret?" said Zuko.

She cleared her throat and tried to remain calm. "Which one?" she asked.

"There's more than one secret?" asked Zuko.

Iroh started chuckling as he shook his head.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"I believe he is ready."

She was hesitant. Zuko, however, was curious, and he could not imagine what the 'secret' could possibly be since he already learned the secret to making her favorite tea.

"You know he may never forgive me," she said to Iroh.

"We'll see," said Iroh.

There was a vase of flowers on the table around which they were sitting. She pulled out the flowers and laid them aside, and then picking up the vase she poured it out. The water quickly began running to the edges of the table making Zuko move back a little so as not to get wet, but then it stopped. He watched as the water was pulled back and formed a ball hovering in the space before their eyes. He saw Chiara's hands moving and controlling it as she drew it around the candle flame she had been using to read, and she moved it in such a way as to cast small rainbows around them. Her creation was beautiful and impressive, and even Iroh was impressed by its beauty, but Zuko's eyes grew wide and his jaw dropped as he realized she was a waterbender, so Chiara returned the water to the vase worried that he was angry.

"I-I don't believe it," he said shocked. "You...you've been keeping this from me since...since we were kids."

"Do not blame Chiara," said Iroh. "It is I who brought her to the Fire Nation and raised her there."

"But I thought she was from the Earth Kingdom."

"She comes from a Water Nation village in the northwestern Earth Kingdom."

"There aren't any Water Nation villages there."

"No, not anymore," said Iroh sadly.

"Does anyone else know?" asked Zuko.

"No one in the Fire Nation," said Iroh. "It would have cost Chiara her life if anyone there had discovered it."

"And possibly yours," said Chiara to Iroh.

Zuko stood up looking troubled. "I...I'm going to get some fresh air."

He walked out on the balcony where he stood thinking about Chiara and all that had happened to them over the years. Back at the table, tears fell down Chiara's cheeks, and Iroh tenderly placed his hand on hers.

"Give him time."

She nodded. "I will. I just need to say something."

She stood up and went to the balcony.

"I'm sorry," she said. "Father was afraid if anyone found out it would mean my death. I was always afraid if you found out, you would hate me. But now you know why I could never be worthy of you."

She turned to leave.

"I don't hate you," he said softly.

She wondered if he meant it, but she left him alone and went to her room.

Zuko continued thinking about everything. Looking back, he now recognized small signs—their jokes about having a waterbender with them, her "resources" in getting into the ice fortress, Zhao calling her 'Water Tribe filth,' her going into the water to catch fish.

Later, Iroh went to the balcony where Zuko was still lost in his thoughts.

"Do not be upset, Lee."

"I'm not upset. I always thought she might be from the Earth Kingdom. And I didn't care. I...I just never expected her to be a waterbender. She hid it so well."

"For her own safety, I forbade her to tell anyone or to waterbend without my permission. The first time she disobeyed me was for you."

Zuko was puzzled, and he turned and looked at him. "What?"

"There's a reason you're not blind in your left eye," he said softly. "Some of the great waterbenders have healing abilities; Lin is one of them."

"She...she can heal?"

"Yes."

"She's the reason I'm not blind?" He was struggling with the idea that without her he would have been blind in one eye.

Iroh nodded his head. "And the reason your scar is not as large as the original injury or as prominent as expected."

"Really?"

Iroh nodded again. "If she had been able to tend to your injury immediately, there would be no scar. The first thing she did when we stepped on board the ship was go to you."

Zuko felt touched, but he was also filled with guilt as he remembered yelling at her that day. He touched his scar as he remembered how the pain of the burn immediately left after she treated him. Suddenly, his mind was flooded with the other times when she told him to close his eyes, including after the explosion when his whole body had been in pain, pain which disappeared after her treatment.

"So her 'special salve'...?"

"Was just water. She was special."

How many times she had healed him and he did not realize it was through her own gift but he thought it was some special medicine.

"And those times she went in the water, she wasn't in any danger?" he asked recalling the times he worried about her.

"Oh, she was in danger. Even she cannot fight against a storm. That was part skill and part luck for which I did admonish her. She did not believe she was as essential on the ship as the other crewmembers."

"What?" he asked as he looked at Iroh. "She was essential."

"I told her so, but she too often places others' safety above her own." Iroh sighed.

Zuko considered how different life would have been on the ship without her.

"I imagine you have many questions that need an answer," said Iroh.

"Yes," he said. "But I don't even know where to begin."

"Let's go to my room," said Iroh. "I will tell you everything. We have begun a new life, so with a new start, let us have no secrets among ourselves."

After filling another teapot, Zuko followed him to his room where they knelt down at the small table on which Iroh began preparing tea.

"Chiara was the only survivor of a Fire Nation attack against her village," he started as he set up a flame underneath the teapot. "A child not much younger than my five year old nephew." Zuko was surprised that his uncle had thought of him when he first saw her. "Her parents had been among those murdered all in the name of the great Fire Nation."

"Why, Uncle? Why was her village attacked?"

"I sent a company of soldiers from a camp in the western Earth Kingdom to be garrisoned in the Pohuai Fortress. On their way, they discovered the village. The captain ordered every person who resisted to be put to death as well as their family. Every villager did resist, and everything was burned. I arrived too late to call off the attack, and as I was walking through the remains of the village, I found Chiara with her dead mother. She must have been hidden during the raid, otherwise she would have been killed. I felt compassion for her, an orphan left alone in this world, the only survivor of her village. Trusting no one but myself with her safety, I sent the soldiers away, and I traveled with her for a few days with the intent to leave her at the first village I came to. When we reached an Earth village, I walked her up to one of the homes and prepared to leave her, but then I made a decision I will never regret. I looked at her standing there alone and I could not resist bringing her home with me."

Zuko was amazed to hear the story. In all the years they spent together, he had never questioned where she had come from. He remembered the first day they met, and their friendship was so instantaneous, he never gave her history much thought. He felt like they had always known each other, and he could not imagine his life without her in it. It was his father who had questioned her lineage which Azula had quickly picked up on and assumed she was from the Earth Kingdom. Even though Zuko knew it was probably true, it never mattered to him. The few times he tried to insult her were nothing more than fits of anger for which he was ashamed, but he truly did not care from where she came.

"Did you know she was a waterbender?"

"As we traveled towards the village, I stopped at a river to clean her up. She was black from the ash. She noticed blood on my arm and she healed the wound. It would be how Lu Ten discovered her ability years later."

"So he knew too?"

"He did, but not at first. We were sparring and I accidentally cut his arm. When I returned from getting bandages, by the look on his face I knew what she had done. Lu Ten was, of course, shocked and angry. He was shocked that she was a waterbender and angry that I brought her into our home."

Zuko was surprised to learn this because all his memories of Lu Ten and Chiara together were happy ones, and he never recalled any animosity between them.

"I offered him my knife and told him I would not stop him if he took her life."

"You what?!" asked Zuko, shocked. "But, Uncle, what if he had done it?"

"I could make the same offer to you right now, Zuko, because I know you couldn't do it. Even if you hate her for who she is, I don't believe you could take her life. It was the same with Lu Ten. Chiara had been living with us for two years. She looked up to him, and he adored her. I knew he wouldn't do it, and he loved her just the same. In fact, there were times when I would take them to Ember Island, and she would impress us with her skills."

"You let her waterbend on Ember Island?"

"When it was just the three of us," he said. There was a sad tone in his voice as his mind filled with memories of Lu Ten.

"What about the Avatar?" asked Zuko. "She spent days with them. Do they know?"

"She assures me she told no one. Master Jeong Jeong would've been the only one who knew during that time."

Zuko looked down as he tried to process everything. He thought about how much he loved her. He had known her for so long and loved her so much, he was overwhelmed by the news, but it did not change his feelings for her.

"So this is the real reason why you said I couldn't marry her," said Zuko sadly, "because she's a waterbender?"

"It is true, though, that we cannot trace her lineage, at least not to the Fire Nation."

"But none of that matters now, does it? We started a new life. I can take her as my wife?"

"If-if that is what you want...," started Iroh.

"It is," he said without hesitation. "She's who I've always wanted. I don't care where she came from."

"Then you passed the test, Zuko," Iroh said softly. "You have my blessing."

"R-really?"

Iroh nodded. Zuko was excited, and he was so anxious to tell Chiara that he immediately stood up, but then he hesitated.

"Can I tell Chiara now?"

Iroh gently smiled. "Yes. You may tell her now."

Zuko jumped up and quickly walked towards her room. He wondered what it might have been like for them had he known all these years, how they could have practiced together, fire against water. But then he realized they would not have been able to practice without others discovering her ability.

He stopped at her door and he took a few deep breaths to calm himself, and then he knocked.

"Can I come in?" he asked when she opened the door.

"Of course," she said softly.

She stepped aside and he walked in.

"I meant what I said earlier," he said. "I don't hate you, and I'm not upset or angry. I'm...I'm...I just can't believe I had no idea you were a waterbender. We've been best friends most of our lives, and I never knew."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. I understand why you didn't say anything. It's best that you didn't," he added softly.

"Should I not have said anything tonight?" she asked as she was beginning to regret showing him her ability.

"It's good that you told me—here, now."

She was surprised by his calm disposition as she expected him to be angry or even distant.

"I don't care where you're from; I never did," he said. "I love you. You know I've always loved you."

Tears fell down her cheeks. It was one thing to come from another nation, but that she was a waterbender, she was sure he would resent her for it.

"It would be better if you didn't," she said softly.

"Uncle said I should consider a wife. You're the only one I've ever considered."

"I...I can't. I don't want to dishonor you..."

"You won't dishonor me, Chiara. I'm no longer Prince of the Fire Nation. Whom I choose to marry is now my choice, and I choose you."

"You're still Fire Nation royalty. Changing your identity doesn't change who you truly are, and I refuse to bring dishonor to you."

"My life in the Fire Nation is over. This is my life now. I've...accepted it." He found the words difficult to speak.

"This won't be your life forever. Your heart still lies at home. You may think you've let go of it, but it will draw you back because it's who you are."

"Uncle gave me his blessing. He never would have done that if he thought I had a chance to go back." He went to the door. "Uncle!" he called.

Iroh entered the room.

"Tell her you give me your blessing," said Zuko.

"Chiara, I've given Zuko my blessing to marry you if you accept."

"But...his honor..."

"I've told you before you would not dishonor him or me," said Iroh. "I have always thought you two should be together, but under our previous circumstances, it was not meant to be. Now, however, you are both free to join your future together."

"Chiara," said Zuko, "I love you." He took her hand. "I want you to be my wife."

More tears fell down her cheeks as she felt it was too good to be true. She looked at Iroh again, who smiled at her.

Her eyes moved back to Zuko's, the fire and excitement she saw in them as he anticipated her answer made her heart skip, and she was reminded of that bright-eyed Zuko she had missed.

She nodded. "I will."

Zuko took her in his arms and embraced her tightly.

"We can have your wedding in the tea shop," said Iroh excitedly. "It will be wonderful. When shall we plan the lucky day?"

"As soon as possible," said Zuko as he released her.

"We have much planning," said Iroh.

"Tomorrow?" asked Zuko.

"It is too soon," said Iroh. "We will need flowers for the tea shop. You will need wedding bands and wedding clothes. Wait here..."

He disappeared.

Zuko looked at her.

"I can't believe this," he said. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," she said. She tenderly caressed his face. "I never thought..." Tears filled her eyes. "I never thought you could be mine," she said as the tears fell.

He reached up and softly brushed the tears from her cheek before leaning towards her and pressing his lips tightly against hers, and this time her mind and heart were in unison and she did not pull away until Iroh walked back in the room.

He held out a bag.

"What's this?" asked Zuko.

"A wedding gift. I have been saving for something special, and I can't think of anything more special than this. You can use this to take a few weeks off and start working on all those grandchildren you promised."

Zuko and Chiara laughed, and then they hugged him.

"I just hope that goat gorilla injury doesn't prevent that," said Zuko making Iroh and Chiara laugh.

They continued their routine living their lives quietly in the Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se while Iroh made the arrangements for their wedding. He was pleased to see Zuko the happiest he had seen him in years, and even Chiara found that he was more like that young Zuko she grew up with in the Caldera.

One afternoon at the tea shop, two and a half weeks after their formal engagement, Iroh left his business in the hands of his employees while he took Zuko and Chiara to his office in the back. There was a man present who was waiting for them and whom Zuko and Chiara recognized.

"You both remember Fire Sage Shyu from the Fire Temple on Crescent Island," said Iroh.

Chiara bowed to him. "I'm honored to meet you again," she said remembering him when they visited the Fire Temple before sailing to the Western Air Temple.

Shyu bowed in return. "It is good to see you again as well."

"You helped the Avatar at the Fire Temple," was all Zuko could manage to say as he felt the bitterness beginning to well up inside him.

"Yes, I did," he answered.

"How did you get off the island?" he asked, trying to overcome his growing hostility.

"Commander Zhao arrested all the Fire Sages for treason. But...I was able to make my way to the Earth Kingdom," he said not really giving him an explanation, though his eye contact with Iroh gave Chiara the impression that a certain Pai Sho tile might have been involved.

"He has been living in Ba Sing Se for some time," said Iroh. "He will be presiding over your wedding."

"I-I thought you were going to do it," said Zuko.

"I had planned on doing so had Fire Sage Shyu been unable."

"This is great," said Chiara. She hugged Iroh. "Thank you, Father."

"There's more," he said as she stepped back.

He pulled out a small box and opened it. Chiara gasped when she saw the two wedding rings. They were gold each embedded with a gem cut in the shape of a flame that looked like fire in the sunlight.

"Uncle, where did you get these?"

"What does it matter how I obtained my gift to you?" he said, refusing to divulge his secrets. "But I can tell you that they were made in the likeness of the rings of the royal family."

"You've done so much for us already," said Chiara. "This...this is too much."

He embraced her. "It's not everyday I can give my only daughter a wedding."

"Thank you, Uncle," said Zuko as he wrapped his arms around them.

Meanwhile, in the palace of the Earth King, King Kuei had been entertaining three Kyoshi Warriors.

A/N: As always, thanks for the reviews. I appreciate that you guys take the time to write your thoughts on it.

I posted at the beginning that I quickly wrote most of this story a long time ago (some ending closure still lacking) for my own entertainment which is why there is a lack of thorough detail and imagery. Lately, I've just been proofreading it for grammatical errors and typos before posting it pretty much as it had been hastily written. This is why I've been able to post chapters so quickly, even two at a time.

So, first, I apologize for any repetitive recaps in the story, including this chapter (between Iroh and Zuko). I wrote those so I could keep up with who knows what info as the story progresses as well as their reactions to learning it. (This occurs in later chapters too.)

And now that brings me to a "crossroads of not-so-much-destiny" that will be coming up in the story, and I'll let the majority rule.

In my current story there are about 5 chapters of, for lack of a better term—fluff—that start about 3 or 4 chapters from this point. It diverges from canon for a while, and rejoins later. It basically consists of interactions between the 3 main characters. It doesn't really add anything to the storyline that's absolutely necessary, but I originally wrote it so Zuko could: 1) learn more about Chiara's history that had been withheld from him, and 2) redeem himself from a very bad decision. It also serves as an antithesis to their difficult time of exile in the Earth Kingdom.

I can leave it in, or I can streamline it by deleting those chapters and any references that come up later in the story...your call...