A/N: I love it when you guys try to speculate what's coming up or suggest something (Batrenz-love your Boiling Rock idea). I would love to see someone write a fanfic using only suggestions from reviewers...or maybe it's been done and I just haven't seen it. If I hadn't had this written already I'd have considered using some of your ideas.

Zuko was standing in the hallway outside Iroh's former prison cell wondering what to do next. He had just decided to go back to the tunnels when a guard walked up to him with his head bowed, and leaning towards him, he whispered, "Check the hidden passage at the end of the lowest West Corridor."

The guard quickly walked away. Zuko was puzzled, but he wondered if Iroh might be waiting for him there; then he wondered if it might be a trap. He decided to take the chance. Going down to the lower level, he walked down the West Corridor until he reached the end coming to a solid stone wall. He looked around in the cells nearby, but they were empty.

"Hidden passage at the end of the corridor," he repeated softly to himself.

He ran his hand over the wall, and remembering Ren inside the tunnels in the palace, he pushed on it. He was hoping the wall would move, but it still came as a surprise to him when it did, and he continued pushing it until it revealed another hallway. There were no windows as this part of the prison was deep inside the mountain, and the hall was only lit by a few torches, so he drew a sword and carefully entered. Holding a flame in one hand, he cautiously walked down the dim passageway. There were prison cells on each side, but they all appeared empty as he shined the light towards each one. He reached the end, and just as he turned to leave, he saw a small figure lying on the floor in the last cell. His heart stopped.

"Chiara?" he said.

He sheathed his sword before quickly opening the cell door. In the light he was holding, he could see scorch marks on her back through her torn and singed clothes. Holding his breath he approached her; he could feel his heart pounding in his chest and ears. As he knelt down on the floor, he saw her ring shining on her finger. Leaning over her he looked at her long braid flowing over her shoulder and coiled on the floor near her chest. He tenderly moved some loose strands of hair from her face.

"Chiara?" he said softly.

Her skin was cold and bruised and covered in blood. He touched her neck looking for a pulse. He felt nothing but a broken feeling in his heart. Allowing his flame to dissipate, he scooped her up in his arms and held her to his chest as he let the tears fall down his cheeks and onto her hair. He did not want to move. He wanted to stay there until he died holding her in his arms.

"I am so done with you," Azula hissed at her.

Chiara closed her eyes as Azula moved her arms in an arc generating lightning and took aim to shoot her. Suddenly, the streak of lightning shot across the room and struck the wall causing pieces of it to fly in all directions.

"You know what?" she said. "And this is just between us girls...I don't think I'm ready to end this family relationship." She leaned in close to her. "I am going to have much more fun breaking you." As she stood up straight she pulled off Chiara's diadem before turning to the guards. "Take her to my private cell below. And as far as everyone knows, she's dead." She narrowed her eyes. "And if it leaks out otherwise, I will find the one responsible and that person will be dead." Azula turned back to her and everything went black.

"I love you, Chiara."

"Prince Zuko?" she whispered.

Zuko's heart leaped at the sound of her soft voice. "Chiara?!" he asked as he moved her to look into her eyes.

"Am I dreaming?" she struggled to say.

"No," he said as he kissed her forehead.

"You're alive." She slowly reached up and tenderly touched his face, her chains softly rattling with her movement.

"Yes. And so are you."

He hugged her tightly.

"I love you," she said, her voice weak.

"I love you too." He released her and caressed her face. "I can't believe this. They told me you were dead."

"Azula told me you were dead," she said softly as tears of joy fell down her face.

"She's a liar. I'm so sorry she did this to you. I'm going to get you out of here."

She felt like a little skeleton to him as he stood up with her in his arms. He carried her through the prison and held her as he rode the mongoose lizard towards the war balloon that was docked north of the prison as Yuza promised. Zuko carried her inside and laid her down, and then he took the balloon into the air. As soon as he saw the Avatar's bison flying off, he began following them. Once they seemed to be on a steady course, he knelt down by Chiara's side to check on her. After going through some of the supplies, he found a small knife which he used to pick the lock of her shackles that had left her wrists red and bruised. He took a clean cloth and water and began tenderly cleaning the blood from her face which revealed a cut on her forehead that had bled over her left eye and cheek down to her neck. Her lip had also been split on the right side, and her right cheekbone was bruised. He kept checking for a heartbeat as she looked so lifeless to him. He was relieved to find it each time he checked, but it was so weak he nearly missed it making his own heart stop a few times when he did not find it right away. He was relieved that she was still alive, but she was unconscious now, and he wondered if she would make it. He did not want her to die, but he felt some consolation that if she did, he got one last chance to tell her he loved her and she would not die alone in the prison. He would also have a chance to bury her, and he considered burying her near their cabin in the Earth Kingdom, but he knew it was too far and too dangerous to return there. He decided that he would find a beautiful area near a river. He periodically checked to make sure he was still on the right course, and then he would return to her side. He carefully supported her with one arm while putting salve on the wounds on her back, and when he finished, he gently laid her on her side.

Following Appa to the Western Air Temple, Zuko landed in a wooded area nearby, setting up camp near a river. He set up the balloon so they could use it as shelter, and he remained by Chiara's side for the rest of the day. Shortly after the sun had set, he carried her down to the river and sat in the water while holding her. He really began worrying about her when she remained unconscious, and his heart felt broken as he believed it was only a matter of time before her life would slip away. Often he would whisper I love you in her ear wanting those to be the last words she heard. He wished his uncle were there as he thought he might know how to help her. After sitting in the river for a while, he carried her back to the tent. They were both soaked, and it made him miss and appreciate her waterbending abilities. Laying her down on a blanket, he removed her kurta leaving her in her undershirt and palazzo capris. He also took off his own shirt and set their clothes outside to dry, and then he treated the wounds on her back and face. After caring for her injuries, he unraveled her braid and began brushing her hair. When he finished, he sat facing her, lovingly caressing her face and running his hand over her long locks.

That night after eating a small bit of food, he lay down by her side to sleep next to his wife for the first time since they had been married, but he had trouble staying asleep as he kept worrying she would pass away in the night and he would not be awake for her final breath. Every time his eyes opened he checked her pulse always holding his breath when he first touched her neck, and then always breathing a sigh of relief when he finally felt that first beat.

Zuko decided not to confront the Avatar until Chiara was conscious or until after she passed. He did not eat much, and twice a day he took her down to the river and sat for hours hoping she would wake up. After carrying her back to the tent he would put burn salve on her back and healing salve on the cuts on her face. One afternoon he carried her along the riverbank to the waterfall that lay east. He had hoped the sound might rouse her awake, but she still remained lifeless.

On the third afternoon he was sitting in the river holding her, her head resting on his shoulder, as they sat chest deep in the water.

"Hello, Sister-in-law," Azula greeted her. "Enjoying your underground suite?"

Chiara was kneeling silently, and did not speak to her nor would she even raise her eyes to look at her. The force of Azula's blow caused her to fall on her left side.

"Your princess has taken her valuable time to come visit you and keep you company in this dank cell, and you can't even show enough respect or gratitude by greeting me properly?"

Chiara continued ignoring her only moving to return to her previous kneeling position.

"Well, I was going to bring you news about Uncle, but if you don't care to hear it..."

She still did not say anything as she knew Azula was trying to get a reaction out of her.

"Fine," said Azula impatiently. "I guess you do have a right to know seeing how you were both in on your little coup together. Uncle was executed this morning. No mercy was shown to the traitor, nor will it be shown to anyone else involved with him. His execution will serve as an example to anyone who might be tempted to overthrow the Fire Lord."

Chiara felt heartbroken and tears fell down her cheeks. A small smile slowly formed on Azula's face at the sight of her tears.

"You really shouldn't waste your tears over that old fool. It's not like he really cared about you anyways. He just used you to get to my idiot brother."

Chiara still did not speak, but she just cried over Iroh's death.

Azula rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Let's just take care of other business then." She looked at the guards. "Chain her up," she ordered.

The guards pulled her up and attached her shackles to a hook on the wall above her head.

"Now that Uncle's gone, you can be honest with me," Azula said to her. "He was after my father's throne, wasn't he?"

Chiara remained silent as tears still fell down her cheeks.

Azula leaned towards her. "I'm going to hurt you every time you don't answer me or you deny the truth that he was a traitor," she hissed.

Chiara refused to speak. Azula threw back her arm and then brought it forward striking her with a fire whip. The pain of the blow drew a soft moan from Chiara.

"Admit that he was a traitor and after the throne!" she yelled.

Chiara tensed up waiting for her to strike again, but instead she felt a small jolt of electricity caused her to jump.

"All you have to do is say he was a traitor," said Azula.

Her silence was punished with another strike with a fire whip.

"You only have to be afraid of me now," Azula said in a calm tone. "Uncle's gone; he can't hurt you so you can be honest with me. Tell me he was a traitor."

She was again punished with a fire whip.

"Say he was a traitor!" demanded Azula striking her again.

Losing her patience with Chiara's persistent silence, she reached out and shocked her with small jolts of electricity. She then sent a steady stream of electricity through Chiara's body causing her to gasp from the pain. The edge of the shackles dug into her wrists as she strained to move away from Azula.

"Tell me what I want to hear and I'll stop," said Azula.

Chiara was feeling weak and tears continued falling down her cheeks over the loss of Iroh and the pain she was suffering, but she refused to give in to her.

Realizing she was not getting anywhere, Azula finally stopped. She motioned to the guards who detached the shackles from the hook and Chiara dropped to the floor, her body trembling from the torture inflicted upon her. Azula kicked her in the ribs.

"This isn't over, Sister-in-law," she said as she walked towards the cell door. She stopped and turned towards her. "You know, I do regret that I never visited you the last time you were in prison. This has been so entertaining. You're far more fun to be with now than when we were kids."

Azula and the guards left the prison as Chiara lay on the floor crying over Iroh.

"Father...," she whispered.

"Father," Zuko heard her say softly.

His heart leaped. "Chiara?"

"Where's my Dragon?" Her voice was a whisper.

"I-I don't know."

She slowly lifted her head but was still in his arms on his lap. He caressed her face and head, relieved to see her eyes opened.

"You're awake..."

"Was he executed?" she asked, her voice still soft. Her heart was pounding with fear.

"What? No."

"Azula said they..."

"No," he interrupted. "I spoke to him in prison days ago, but when I went to get him out, he was gone. It was the day of the eclipse; the Avatar and his friends were attacking. He must've taken advantage of it and escaped."

The tears fell from her eyes as she was relieved that Iroh was still alive. He caressed her head.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Weak."

"You've been unconscious for days. I've been so worried about you."

She looked around. "Where are we?"

"Near the Western Air Temple."

"Why are we here?" she asked, remembering the last time they had visited.

"I followed the Avatar here. I'm going to join him and help him defeat Ozai."

She was impressed with and excited about his decision.

"Have you spoken to him?"

"Not yet."

"The invasion...what happened?" she asked.

"I didn't really see much of it, but Ozai was ready for it. I saw the Avatar and his friends escape on his bison."

She looked in his golden eyes. "I missed you so much," she said as tears fell from her eyes. Lifting her hand out of the water, she tenderly caressed his face moving his hair from his eyes.

He relished her touch, and having thought he would never feel it again, he knew he never wanted to let her go.

"I love you," she said. "I didn't think I'd ever be able to tell you that again."

"Uncle told me what you said. He thinks you're dead. He said Azula did it."

"I thought she was going to, but she said she would have more fun breaking me."

Zuko felt angry with his sister. It was one thing for her to go after him as he had lived with her abuse most of their lives, but that she attacked his wife angered him more than anything else.

"The last time I saw her she told me that your father killed you." Tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I'm so sorry," he said. "Uncle warned me that you'd be a target. I never meant for any of this to happen to you." He hugged her and held her tightly. "I love you so much, Chiara."

When he released her, she looked down as she realized her arms were bare and the thin material of her undershirt was all that was between them. She blushed, and her first instinct was to cover herself, but then she reminded herself that he was her husband.

"Your dress was wet," he said having noticed her reaction. "And it was easier to treat your back."

She nodded. "I-I'm just not used to wearing so little," she said softly.

"I'm not used to seeing you in so little." His cheeks were turning red too. "We should probably put some salve on your back now," he said trying to redirect his thoughts.

He stood up with her still in his arms, and as he walked out of the river, the water flowed out of their clothing which made him smile.

"I really missed my waterbender."

He carried her back to the shelter where he placed her on the blanket on which they had been sleeping, and he handed her a skin of water.

He started putting burn ointment on her back, reminding him of the time at the cabin when he had treated her sword injury.

"Just like old times," he said.

She smiled, and then she tensed up.

"I'm so sorry," he said. "I know this must hurt."

"It's okay," she said.

"No, it's not. I shouldn't have let this happen to you."

"You had no control over this. You're not to blame."

"But I am. By taking you as my wife, I put you in danger."

"If we weren't married, I would've been killed by General Ikong," she said softly.

He realized she was right.

"Azula might be sadistic, but her cruelty kept me alive," she said. He felt bad for what she suffered. "And it was all worth it to see you again."

He was stunned, and he moved in front of her and hugged her.

He kissed her head, and then he started putting some salve on the cut above her left eye regretting there was nothing he could do for her bruises.

"You should eat," he said as he handed her a bowl of berries.

While she ate, he sat behind her and brushed her hair for her.

"That feels really good," she said.

"I'm not sure what's going to happen when I meet the Avatar. I've made so many mistakes; I'm not sure they're going to forgive me."

"It may take time, but once they see you're on their side, I'm sure they'll forgive you."

"I hope so. Mostly, I hope they do for you."

"Why me?"

"The Avatar's waterbender. She might be able to help you heal faster."

"The water helps, and the full moon will help even more."

He continued brushing her hair.

"When do you plan on approaching him?" she asked.

"Now that you're awake, maybe in a couple days." He thought back to his past. "I really betrayed them though," he said softly.

"I'll go with you," she said.

"No. I need to do this myself. And if they attack me, I don't want you to get hurt."

She stopped eating. "You think they'll attack you?"

"I betrayed them for Azula."

She turned around and hugged him. "It'll be okay."

He held her tightly having missed her.

"I don't have any clothes for you," he said as he released her. "And yours are torn, but you can wear one of my shirts."

He pulled one of his shirts out of his bag and placed it around her shoulders while she put her arms through the sleeves and then pulled her hair out from underneath it. It was big on her, but it fit like a loose, knee-length dress as he tied it closed for her. She breathed in, and the soft, smoky scent that always seemed to be present around him filled her senses and made her feel like he was wrapped around her, and she could feel her heart rate increasing.

"It looks better on you," he said, snapping her out of her thoughts, though he was now lost in thoughts of his own. He slid his hand over her left shoulder and down her arm to her hand which he lifted up and gently kissed near her wedding ring. Suddenly, another ring came to his mind, and he reached into his pocket. "I have something for you."

He pulled out her diadem and tenderly placed it around her head.

"I thought that was gone forever," she said.

He then pulled out Ursa's ring and taking her left in his he placed it on the same finger as her wedding ring. "This is a fire diamond. It belonged to my mother."

"Oh, Prince Zuko," she said softly in awe. "I-I shouldn't have this."

"As my wife, it belongs to you now." He tenderly kissed her hand. "When I thought you were dead, I had planned on returning to our cabin one day and burying it by the river in your memory."

She looked in his eyes with tears in her own and she wrapped her arms around him.

"I love you," he said holding her tightly. "I'm so happy it's on your finger instead."

She softly laughed as she released him.

"I also got your knife and your sword," he said.

"Really?" she said surprised. "How did you get those?"

"After I talked to Uncle, I went to the prison storage room. I thought you were dead, so I wanted everything they took from you. I thought it was all I had left of you besides your diadem."

She caressed his face.

They spent the rest of the day together at the camp or at the river, and that evening they ate a light dinner from the supplies that Zuko had brought with them.

"I told Ozai I was joining the Avatar," he said conversationally.

"Did you? What did he say?"

"He called me a traitor. I also told him I wasn't taking his orders anymore, and what he did to me was wrong."

She placed her hand on his.

"He said that my mom could still be alive."

"Did he say where she is?" she asked hopefully.

"No. He said she was banished for treason."

"There's no way Aunt Ursa's a traitor," she said. "What could she have done that he would banish her for treason?"

"I think...I think she might have killed my grandfather."

"What?! I don't believe it."

"Ozai told me that Fire Lord Azulon commanded him to kill me."

"Why would your grandfather do that?"

"I remember Azula and me hiding behind a curtain listening to them talk. My d...Ozai," he corrected, "asked Grandfather to revoke Uncle's birthright because of...because...Lu Ten was gone. Grandfather was angry with him, so I left. That night Azula said he was going to kill me." He let out a dry laugh. "That's probably the only honest thing she ever told me."

"So what happened?"

"Ozai said that when Mom found out she would protect me at any cost. She had a plan that allowed Ozai to become Fire Lord and I'd be spared."

She now understood Azulon's death was not natural. She thought back to Iroh hearing the news of his father's death so soon after the loss of Lu Ten. She remembered feeling sorrow over the loss of the Fire Lord, but now she felt conflicted. To think that Azulon would command Ozai to kill his own son, his own grandson—the idea disgusted her.

"I'm so sorry," she said softly.

"For what? That you have evil in-laws?" he asked.

"I'm glad Aunt Ursa did whatever she could to protect you," she said as she moved some strands of hair from his eyes. "That doesn't make her evil, it makes her a mother." He felt comforted by her words. "And not everything Ozai's done is evil," she added softly.

She noticed his puzzled expression.

"You were the best thing he ever created," she explained. "And I'm sorry he's never understood that."

As her words sank in, he grabbed her and held her tightly, and an overwhelming feeling of relief that she was alive and here with him suddenly hit him.

When he released her, he looked in her eyes. "I redirected lightning," he blurted.

Her eyes grew wide. "What? Really?" She was impressed. "Wait...who tried to kill you?!"

"Ozai. But I sent it back towards him."

She was angry at Ozai, but excited for Zuko. "What was it like?"

"Exhilarating."

She gently laughed. "That's what the General said the first time he did it." She placed her hand on his cheek. "Are you okay? Any aftereffects?"

He shook his head. "I felt a bit...tingly afterwards?" he said unsure of how to describe it. "I really didn't have time to think about it; I had to get Uncle out of prison. Then I found you."

"How did you find me?"

"A guard whispered to check a hidden passage. I thought I'd find Uncle...or be attacked, but I found you."

She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. "Thank you."

"I wish I had found you sooner, but everyone thought you were...gone."

The thought that he might have left her there, not knowing she was still alive made him sick to his stomach, and he held her tighter, relieved that he had found her and thankful to the unknown guard who tipped him off.

As it got late, they lay down and went to sleep.

"My dear Sister-in-law," said Azula. "You look well. I see our meetings haven't brought you down."

Chiara stayed silent.

"You don't say much, do you? I can't possibly figure out what my brother ever saw in you."

Chiara still said nothing.

"Although, I must say, I do look forward to our little sisterly visits. I find them so entertaining." She looked at the guards. "Chain her up."

They did as commanded and attached her shackles to the hook on the wall, and then Azula began whipping Chiara whose back was already covered in wounds from previous beatings.

"I really should thank those bumbling assassins for this," said Azula, pausing her torture. "If it wasn't for their incompetence in dispatching you the last time you were in prison, I wouldn't be able to have such fun." She continued beating her.

After signaling the guards to unfasten her shackles from the hook, Chiara dropped to the ground weak from the torture.

"So I heard something," started Azula casually, "and I was wondering if you can tell me if it's true. Some months ago, there was a rumor that some soldiers encountered my brother in the Earth Kingdom, and the girl that was with him prevented him from being stabbed in the back by stepping between him and the soldier. The soldier, who was quite burned by the way, was sure he killed the girl. Would you know anything about that?"

Chiara remained impassive, so Azula approached her and pulled her tunic down off her right shoulder revealing the scar from the sword wound.

Azula looked closely at it, and then she began to smile. "So you would defend him with your life. How sweet." She stood up. "But also such a shame because I have one more message from my father. Because of you Zuko was put to death for treason."

Chiara's eyes filled up with tears. "No...," she cried softly.

Azula was surprised to hear Chiara speak, and she realized she hit a nerve.

"Oh, yes," she said. "You desecrated royal property, so the punishment was death. So, you see, you should've let him die. It would've been a much easier death. By depriving him of a more honorable death in battle, you caused him to be painfully executed like a common criminal."

Through her tears, Chiara looked at her wedding ring as she cried over the loss of her husband.

"There, there," said Azula feigning comfort. "If it makes you feel better, I can tell you his last words. He said that he hated you and that it's your fault for seducing him, and he hoped you would die a horrible death."

"He can't be gone," she cried not listening to anything else Azula said.

"Just imagine, my father had to kill his only son because of you. I guess you couldn't protect him this time. In fact, you caused his death."

Chiara had her face in her hands as she continued crying.

"You selfish, arrogant scum!" yelled Azula. "I just lost my brother and you can't even comfort me or take responsibility for it!"

Chiara quickly formed a small ice dart with her tears and whipped it at Azula so fast that none of them saw it coming before it stopped over her heart, still nearly invisible.

"He was my husband!" cried Chiara.

Azula, upset that she would have been unable to stop the dart before it pierced her heart, had a look of horror on her face, and she was stunned by the wild look in Chiara's eyes which sent an unexpected rush of fear through her body. Suddenly, the dart melted and the tears dropped to the floor. Azula, ashamed by her own rare feeling of fear, especially in light of what she saw as Chiara's weakness in refusing to be as ruthless as she herself would have been, became angry.

"You should've taken my life, not his," said Chiara.

"I agree. And trust me, I will take yours," said Azula deeply. "And it's going to be a long, slow death."

She started walking towards the door of the cell.

"But I have to admit," she started, "when that time comes, I'll miss our meetings."

Azula left, and Chiara lay crying, the pain in her heart unbearable.

Her eyes opened to darkness. Wiping away her tears, she saw that she was not in her cold, dark cell as the moonbeams poured in through their shelter, and instead of Azula's voice, she heard the insects chirping outside. She slowly sat up, the pain in her back increasing as she moved. She looked next to her to see Zuko sound asleep. More tears fell from her eyes in relief, and her whole body relaxed upon seeing him alive—or so she hoped he was alive and that she was not dreaming now. She did not want to wake him, but she needed to hear his heartbeat, so she carefully placed her head on his chest trying not to put too much pressure on him. She felt his arm around her back pulling her against him. Relishing his touch, she ignored her pain and relaxed on his chest taking comfort in the sound of his heart and the warmth of his body. She was afraid to go to sleep, afraid that she might wake up in the cold cell and never feel his warmth or hear his heartbeat again, so she forced herself to remain awake until the sun rose.

After they were both awake, they meditated together in the morning sun before eating a light breakfast, and then they walked down to the river and sat by the water.

"I've been trying to figure out how I'm going to approach the Avatar," he said. "It looked like there were a few other people traveling with him."

"You don't think he already found a firebending teacher, do you?"

He thought about it, and he wondered if maybe he had found someone to train him, possibly one of the underground Order members from the Fire Nation.

"I-I don't know," he said thoughtfully. "But even if he did, I still want to help them take down Ozai. I promised Uncle I would."

She nodded, but she wondered if he would take the throne after him.

"I think I'm going to go down there tomorrow," he said.

"I should go with you."

"I have to do it on my own."

"No, you don't," she said. "I want to help you."

"I know you do, but I need the Avatar to trust me." He sat in thought. "Okay, how's this?" he asked as he stood up in front of her. "'Hello, Zuko here...but I guess you probably already know me...sort of. Uhh...so the thing is I have a lot of firebending experience, and I'm considered to be pretty good at it. Well, you've seen it, you know, when I was attacking you.'" He felt ashamed as he thought about it.

"You probably shouldn't mention that," she said.

"Uhh...yeah, I guess I should apologize for that. But anyway, 'I'm good now. I mean, I thought I was good before, but I realize I was bad, but anyway, I think it's time I joined your group and taught the Avatar firebending.'"

A badgerfrog nearby croaked at him and then jumped on his head before hopping away as Chiara giggled which made him smile.

He shook his head. "How am I supposed to convince these people I'm on their side," he said. "What would Uncle do?" he asked thoughtfully. He stood up straight and began imitating Iroh. "Zuko, you have to look within yourself to save yourself from your other self. Only then will your true self reveal itself."

Chiara was laughing which made Zuko laugh again.

"Even when I'm talking for him I can't figure out what he means."

"That was adorable though," she said.

"What would Azula do?" he asked. He began imitating her. "Listen, Avatar, I can join your group or I can do something unspeakably horrible to you and your friends. Your choice."

He sighed as he dropped down next to her.

"I guess I'm just not that good at impersonations."

"Actually, that sounded like Azula," she said softly.

"I don't know what I'm going to do."

She put her arm around him. "Just be honest with them. That's how the General approached the Northern Water Tribe."

He nodded.

They spent the day relaxing by the river or walking through the woods collecting fruit and nuts, and later that afternoon, when they returned to their camp, Chiara prepared their small dinner while Zuko started a fire.

"Chiara, you shouldn't be working," he said when she knelt by him and handed him a plate of food.

"I love you, my Prince," she said.

He leaned towards her and kissed her. "I love you too, but I still don't want you working."

"Putting food on a plate can hardly be considered work," she said.

"And I can just hear you tomorrow, 'Hunting in the forest can hardly be considered work,'" he said in a falsetto voice.

She was giggling at his imitation of her. "Okay, that was pretty good."

He smiled at her, and then they started eating.

That night as the moon was rising he took her back to the river and they sat in the water for a while. The moon was growing brighter each evening, and though she was still weak, she could feel it strengthening her a little more every night. When they returned to the camp they lay down to sleep.

A sharp pain across her back woke Chiara up. She looked up to see Azula.

"Did I interrupt your dreams?" she asked.

"Prince Zuko?" Chiara struggled to say in a soft voice.

"Aw, Zuzu's dead," said Azula. "Because of you. Because you somehow convinced him to marry beneath him, he was executed."

Chiara started crying. Azula struck her back.

"Water tramp," said Azula. "This is all your fault. You're the reason he's dead. You killed him."

She struck her back again.

Chiara sat up with tears running down her face. Zuko, who had been asleep next to her, woke up and immediately lit a lamp.

"Chiara?" he said as he turned to her.

Seeing her tears, he tried brushing them away, but more fell. She threw her arms around his neck holding him tightly as he held onto her.

"What happened?"

"Azula," she whispered.

He tenderly caressed her head. "I'm so sorry."

"You're alive," she said as more tears flowed. "Please don't let this be the dream."

"It's not," he said. "We're here together, and you're safe."

When she released him, he wiped her tears away again.

"I'm so sorry," he said. "I'm so sorry for what she did to you."

"Believing you were dead was the worst torture."

"I'm right here."

He lay down and pulled her to him so she rested her head on his chest listening to his heartbeat, but it took her a while to fall asleep again.

A/N: The guard who told Zuko to check the hidden passage was one of the guards with Azula during her confrontations with Chiara in the prison. At one time I had it written in that he was an admirer of General Iroh and was deeply affected when Chiara broke down crying after Azula told her he had been executed, and also that she refused to give in to Azula's torture and call him a traitor.
Since I had changed those scenes to Chiara's flashbacks, they didn't fit in, so I had to delete them.