DISCLAIMER: don't own AVATAR.

RealiTBYte101: thank u. glad u like the story.

ILoveSoraandAangMUHAHAHA: calm down, don't have a heart attack or seirzure or sumtin. here's the next chapter.

Yay! New chappie! I've lost my internet connection, so this probably won't b added rite away, like I usually do it…

Chapter 9: Understanding

Kellie cried into the night, and so much, she had to take her pillow and wring it out in the bathroom.

Finally, around 1 in the morning, she calmed down.

I'm here, she decided.

I probably won't ever see them again,

So I better make the most of it.

Kellie snuggled closer to Zuko, for she was starting to, surprisingly, feel cold, and she wanted some of his firebender warmth.

Within minutes, Kellie had fallen into the peace of a heavy slumber.

Zuko woke up very happy, and felt warmer then usual. He looked down, and saw Kellie's head lying on his chest. He gently stroked her hair, waiting for her to wake up.
Kellie moaned as she felt a light pressure on her head. Why did they have to wake her up? She had been having an excellent dream, and it had been of Zuko…

Don't enthrall me with the details.

Don't worry, all that happened was that he took off his shirt.

You would probably like him to take off something else, too.

GROSS! How could you suggest that?

You're a teenage girl, Kelso. It's normal.

If that's what normal's like, then I am damn happy as a freak.

Kellie cracked open an eye, and peered up. Zuko was smiling down at her.

"Good morning." He whispered. Then kissed the top of her hair.

"Hm." Was all Kellie said. She never said much right after she woke up.

"What? No good morning for me?" Zuko whined. Kellie groaned.

"Good morning. Happy now?" Zuko grinned.

"A bit." Kellie sat up, and stared him in the eye.

"What do you mean, 'a bit'? Isn't it good enough?" Zuko shook his head. Kellie growled, then caught on.

She leaned forward, and her arms wrapped around his neck. Thenshe finished the act by planting her lips on top of Zuko's. One of Zuko's arms wrapped around her waist, while the other went up, and his fingers got tangled in her hair.

Kellie pulled away finally, but Zuko leaned closer, hungry for another. Kellie just turned her head, and got a kiss on the cheek.

"Now is it good enough?" Kellie asked. Zuko smirked.

"Nope." Kellie rolled her eyes.

"Turn around." She ordered.

"What?"

"Turn around." She ordered again. Zuko did as he was told. Kellie grabbed his shoulders, and began to knead them.

Zuko groaned in contentment, and leaned into her touch.

Kellie felt little prickles in her spine when she heard Zuko groan. They traveled up and down, and made her shiver a little. If he groaned again, it would be noticeable.

Finally, she let go, and whispered in his ear.

"How about now?" Zuko sighed.

"Yes. It's beyond good enough. I would like to wake up to that every day, please." Kellie laughed, then grinned.

"Sorry, bud. But unless you got a million gold pieces, I only do that once a week." Zuko groaned in disappointment.

When Kellie heard Zuko groan, once more, the prickles went up and down her spine. Only now, they were shivers. And that caused the rest of her to shiver.

"Well, I don't have a million with me at the moment…" Zuko started, but Kellie's laughter interrupted him.

"Zuko, I was kidding about the money. But still, that's a once a week thing. Once a week in the morning, once a week at night." Zuko raised an eyebrow.

"At night too?" Kellie grinned evilly.

"Who knows? You might be really tired after helping your father rule the country." Zuko grinned.

"I'll make sure to work extra hard, once a week." Kellie laughed.

Kellie admired all the paintings that she passed. Yet again, Kellie had gotten lost, but didn't really care. The Palace was huge, and there were many things Kellie still wanted to see, so she would get herself lost, and look at all the things to see.

The paintings were all of previous Fire Lords and their Ladies. One Lord looked vaguely familiar as he stood next to his wife.

Kellie peered at the portrait, and realized that it was Ozai. And his wife. She squinted at the plaque beneath the painting.

Fire Lord Ozai and Lady Sierra

Kellie looked from the plaque, to the painting. And back again. Sierra looked like a wonderful woman.

"I wonder what she's like? I've never met her, nor seen her." Kellie asked no one. But she still got an answer.

"Sierra was a wonderful girl. You and her would have gotten along perfectly." An elderly voice sounded from behind. Kellie whirled around, and saw Iroh, staring up at the painting too.

"Would have?" Iroh sighed, and looked away.

"You see, miss Kelso, when Zuko was 10, the Lady disappeared from her room one night. No signs of a struggle, no signs of murder or suicide. The window was open, as Sierra always kept it. And there was no note saying she had run away, or there was a ransom on her head. We never knew what happened to her." Kellie felt tattered, even though she never knew the woman.

"Oh." Was all she managed to say. Iroh chuckled a little.

"You two would have gotten along so well." Iroh repeated. Kellie cocked her head.

"Why?"

"You two seem to be the exact same person. Certainly don't look the same, but everything else, even your voice, matches Sierra's. She could fire and waterbend, as well. She loved to cause mayhem when she could around the castle. You both love Zuko, but more importantly, you change Ozai's heart." Kellie's head was nearly on her shoulder.

"Huh?" Iroh grinned.

"You are so like Lady Sierra, that Ozai can't even see that you don't look like her. You act like her too much." Kellie's eyes got wide, and she took a step back.

"Miss Kelso? Is there-" But Kellie cut him off.

"That's why he kissed me. He couldn't tell the difference." She muttered.

"Come again?"

"Yesterday, Ozai kissed me. I didn't know why, but now I do. He thought I was Sierra." Iroh laughed.

"Yes, that would explain things. Well, I must be on my way. You must stop by my room for a good game of Pai Gow. The servants don't believe you beat me three, well, I guess you could say three years ago. Since you've gone through 3 birthdays since you first arrived." Kellie nodded. Been awhile since she whipped Iroh's hide at his own game. But it had been so long, she might not be able to do it again.

"I'll make sure to do that." Iroh grinned, and walked off. Leaving Kellie to stare at the portrait.

It makes a lot of sense.

Whoa, that's different. U c, others have done it where they look just like the fire lord's wife, but I changed it! Ha!

INSANITY AT ITS FINEST
LONG LIVE HIPPIES!

Zukoscute2