+Forever+

Ty Lee always became distracted easily. It was hard for her to focus and she tended to gloss over her surroundings even when in a fight.

Yet, something about these silent moments with Azula made her realize why the princess was different from everyone else before. Because the world contracted around Ty Lee and she focused intently on the flecks of warm colors in Azula's golden eyes. Or how she smirked a little bit when she thought no one could see her. The emotions she tried to hide while other people watched, deep, dark, dangerous ones. The soft, low melody of her voice.

She notices the tide of her breathing as she lies awake at night.

And of course she notices the sharp sudden scream from her wife's lovely lips as Azula jolts awake. Ty Lee turns to her and sits up so that they are face to face.

"Are you okay?" whispers Ty Lee.

Azula ignores her, rising from bed and walking through the shadows to the window. Ty Lee sees only her silhouette from the bed, bathed in moonlight. It quickly becomes apparent to trained eyes that the princess is crying.

Ty Lee stands and walks over to her wife. She gently touches Azula's shoulder, but the princess pulls away from her. It crushes Ty Lee's heart.

"Are you okay? What's wrong?" Ty Lee tenderly asks, being as cautious as she can.

"Just nightmares. Jumbled ones." Azula shrugs. "I'm used to them."

"I wish you didn't have them," whispers Ty Lee.

Azula laughs dryly. "So do I. Just leave me alone and go back to bed."

"Are the nightmares about anything?"

"The past. And the past is in the past. Go back to bed." Azula sounds more severe this time, but Ty Lee ignores the thin threat.

Ty Lee breathes into the chilly night air, "I'm sorry for what I did. I'm sorry for making you this way. Maybe if…"

Azula ferociously snaps, "This isn't what I want."

Softly, Ty Lee inquires, "What isn't?"

"I have no desire to… navel gaze and question old actions from decades ago."

"Okay." That seems like an improvement to Ty Lee. The most difficult part of her relationship has been reliving the past every time they struggled.

Azula murmurs, tears dripping from her eyes, "This conversation…"

"Do you want me to leave?" whispers Ty Lee.

"Yes," orders Azula.

"Do you want me to stay?" whispers Ty Lee

"Yes," orders Azula.

Ty Lee wants desperately to help her but she does not know how. She never does. She just wants to apologize and do something but none of it works.

You cannot heal someone with the power of love alone. Ty Lee hated to learn that all those years ago when she dove into a situation like a fool.

"I just want you to be happy."

"Stop doing that!" screams Azula and Ty Lee feels weary.

"Doing what?" Ty Lee whispers.

"Being so—so—so understanding! It sickens me. I am sorry I am not as good of a person as you think you are!" spits Azula and Ty Lee does not know how to answer.

"I couldn't live without you, you know? It wouldn't be worth it."

"Then you're crazy."

"I guess we both are." Ty Lee smiles and for some reason that fills Azula with simmering anger.

Azula pivots around in a burst of rage and punches the wall, leaving a burning crater. Ty Lee does not even flinch. That level of trust confuses Azula to the core.

"You could live without me. You think you deserve someone else. You think you deserve better. I know that!" viciously accuses Princess Azula, studying her still-smoking hand.

"Maybe I deserve someone else, but I always wanted you, and only you. I've never loved anybody like I love you, because it's you and me forever, right?" Ty Lee takes a moment and gazes at her wife. "Forever?"

Azula hesitates for almost too long.

"Forever," she finally agrees.

Ty Lee hugs her wife tightly and guides her back to bed.