This chapter has little to do with Aang Katara and Sokka so far and focus's more on sentimental thoughts and feeling that are going on between Zuko and Ira so now read and then REVIEW!

Ira yawned dramatically as a statement to Zuko that it was getting dark.

"Were nearly to a village as you would know if you paid attention" he said glaring at her while he walked

"Well how would I know I've never been here" she said bitterly though she hated to admit it she was tired but there was no reason Zuko had to know that.

"well for your information I have never even been on this island" he informed her through gritted teeth she knew she was annoying him to the point of no return but she didn't care annoying Zuko happened to be the highlight of her day.

"But how can you know were getting nearer to a village" she wailed in a perfect pathetic maid servant groan.

Well for one were on a path and a well used one" Zuko said treating her as if she was a child which she supposed she deserved seeing as she had driven him up the wall ever since they had lost the avatar and his friends through the trees.

"And second were here" Zuko led her out into a clearing connected to a well guarded earth kingdom village.

"Ira looked at Zuko and then down at her frowning they would never be able to walk three steps into that village without being arrested.

"What is it I thought you would happy that we were here so you could sleep" Zuko said frowning at her she could barely see him in the light but she could tell he was slightly concerned from the tone of his voice.

"Nothing much really I just don't want to have to spend the night in a jail cell" she sat down at the base of a tree as she said that yanking slightly on the reins to the bison prompting him to lie down as well.

"Good point they wouldn't let us set foot in the village and now that you think about it" she could see Zuko strain his eyes to get a better view of the village

"Well… we could spend the night here…" she said hesitantly she wasn't really sure what to do surprisingly she was depending on Zuko to figure this one out.

"no." Zuko said firmly "there will be morning patrols around the village edge we don't want to be found" he turned to the village once again.

"Well what's your plan" she said agitated she should have been able to figure the part about the morning patrols instead she was sitting here like a frightened servant.

"the way I see it we have two choices one we get a disguise and walk in unnoticed and rent a room or I could find out how that bison thing works and leave you here" Zuko said almost happily as though he couldn't wait to get rid of me.

"I like option one but what are we going to do with the bison" she frowned and pointed over to the big hairy beast dramatically.

""we can bring him with us… do you think I could pass as the one goofy kid with the boomerang… we can say you're my sister and were looking for the avatar" Zuko frowned and turned away from me again.

Uh… no. if were going to lie I am making up our story" she frowned and began thinking until she came up with two possible stories and then she left Zuko to choose the most believable.

"I hope you don't mind pretending to be my brother who escaped from the army and needs a place to stay" she paused "and if anyone asks you about your scar say you got it In the war a misplaced blow by another solider… oh and add a nice little detail about nearly having to have your eye removed and I'll just be running around crying because my fiancée died in the same battle you were in she paused to catch her breath and Zuko stopped her

"Um…what's the second option" Zuko frowned slightly at the first option

"I don't think you'll like it" she said knowing exactly what sort of reaction she would get out of him when she told him then she frowned and told him the second option.

"well in the second one we are married and I'm 2 months pregnant and you got leave from the army to stay with me through the difficult times and you got your scar in an accident and we are going to my mothers house to visit before I have the baby and we need a place to stay" she paused she knew Zuko wouldn't like that one either.

"Um… what's the third option" he said looking around nervously

"Well um... ah the truth" I said then pausing continued "well which one does you like?"

"I don't care which is the easiest to believe" he looked at the disappearing sun and the village.

I sighed " people believe what they want to believe, them thinking were married will fill their appetite for a love story while your story of getting away from the army should give them enough of adventure for that day" she looked away at the bison who was chewing on some leaves of a branch rather then look at Zuko.

"Second one it is" Zuko turned toward Ira

she sighed okay then "I'll go tie up that bison I think a large tree should hold him for the night… she then turned away and walked toward the bison who would have thought of the three choices she gave him Zuko picked the most romantic one maybe there was still hope in the romance department for the banished prince.

A few minutes later they were walking through the village about a foot between them until they came to an inn were she was seized by Zuko and placed about an inch away from him were he snaked his arm around her waist pulling her closure were he whispered in her ear. Despite her attempts to get farther away

"Were supposed to be in love remember" and she instantly relaxed and leaned against him to his surprise

"just playing my part I'm supposed to be pregnant remember so if I faint or race to the bathroom just sigh and moan and say not again" Zuko nodded grimly then reached up to knock on the door which was opened nearly immediately by an elderly woman with a small bird like thing on her shoulder.

"What do you want" the woman said suspiciously when she saw they were firenation

"My wife needs a place to stay" Zuko said firmly and clearly

The woman hesitated still and now looked suspiciously at Ira

"please she's exhausted" Zuko looked down at her for effect and then back at the woman " please she needs to rest the baby is only 3 months along and she's feeling rather poorly" she glared at Zuko mentally it was 2 months not 3 I hope he gets the rest of the story right.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the woman flung open the door and ushered her and Zuko into he cozy inn were she began exclaiming and fussing over Ira who took it all and smiled and nodded calmly until after a while she could barely move under all of the blankets the woman had heaped on her she ambled over to Zuko who stood patiently with his arms crossed

"do you have a room we can stay in" Zuko then reached over and grabbed a blanket the woman was about to place on top of the other 10 blankets that were already piled on Ira and placed it on himself prompting the woman to show them the room.

"why yes we do there's an open one in the back follow me" the woman grabbed Ira and led her and Zuko down a while ask hallway asking questions about what they were doing in this land and when her due date was and stuff like that to all of the questions she gave an answer.

She was about to answer the last question when they reached the room and she was guided into the room by Zuko who then thanked the woman and shut the door and locked it

"Finally" he muttered if "I had to spend anouther minute near her I'm sure I would have screamed" he sighed and walked over to the bed.

"Your right she was annoying" Ira began getting rid of the blankets and depositing them on the floor and walking to the opposite side of the bed Zuko was standing at.

"So how is this going to work" she glanced at Zuko to see if he had a suggestion and looked around the room the bed was the only piece of furniture.

"Well I'm not sleeping on the floor" Zuko said and flopped down on his side of the bed were he didn't stay long his armor got in the way of him doing much ling down.

"Well neither am I" she frowned and flopped down on her side of the narrow bed with more success than Zuko who had now sat up and began removing his armor.

She looked down at herself and her dress which was ridiculously impractical it would be really hard to sleep in but luckily there was an under dress to it which was far more practical and easy to sleep in so there was only one thing to do and she began unbuttoning her dress to reveal the white under dress and by the time she had finished taking off her dress and turned around Zuko was lying down comfortably his arms crossed over his bare chest and she couldn't help but stare the last time she saw him without his shirt on he got his scar

Then the memories came flowing unbidden into her head her eyes began to feel hot and she quickly turned away from him and sat on the edge of the bed in case she ended up crying which she was coming close to she was shaking slightly wit the effort not to cry

"what's wrong" Zuko's voice drifted through her thoughts dragging her away from the memories "you seem upset" he sat up and put his hand on her shoulder attempting to calm her which did exactly the opposite the tears came then and fast she sank onto her pillow and sobbed into it.

"What is it" she could tell Zuko was worried now "please tell me you aren't really pregnant" Zuko said suspiciously.

She sat up and looked past him and fakes a smile "no I'm still a virgin… I guess I'm just tired" she turned away from him and lat down pulling the covers up and began crying even more.

Now he was really confused although he didn't want to admit it Mira was familiar somehow and there was no way she was just a servant she was too… experienced. He frowned and rested his head on a pillow about 3 feet away from Mira on the edge of the bed were he lay thinking about her reaction maybe she was horrified by him, maybe she was really just tired maybe… maybe he had known her once

Zuko sat up and looked at Mira again she was facing him now she had turned over during the last few minutes and he could see her face which was lit up with moonlight and her black hair shone. He reached over gently trying not to wake her and seized her left hand and studied her arm until he found what he was looking for on her wrist there were a few silvery lines slightly resembling a bird in flight on the middle of her wrist.

It was a scar that was very familiar to him, she had gotten it the day her mother died from her father it had been a painful reminder of that day to her

" no wonder your so familiar" he spoke reverently over her as he replaced her hand gently " I told you we'd see each other again and I was right" he then turned over and lay back down smiling slightly and fell asleep.

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