(Sigh) the last chapter... How sad! And... strange. Tune in tomorrow for the epilogue/new story sample. And please leave tons of reviews! Thanks to everyone who's commented on the story, and this final chapter is dedicated to Atalla! Oh, and I finally saw the advertisement for the new season... Gak! I'm so excited:-D (I don't own Avatar)

We ran out on deck along with the Lieutenant and Iroh. At first I couldn't see anything through the thickly falling rain and rushing wind. But finally we caught sight of the helmsman hanging high above from a bar for dear life. At the same time Zuko and his Lieutenant headed for the ladder below the imperiled man, climbing quickly to reach him.

Lightning flashed in the sky and rocketed toward the ship, striking the spot where Iroh stood. The world lit up in a blinding yellow light and I thought for sure Iroh was toast as I cried out. But to my surprise he stretched his arm out to the side and the lightning continued to flow through him and into the water off the edge of the ship. He stood smoking once the lightning was gone, and I grinned crazily.

That was so awesome.

My thoughts were interrupted when the helmsman gave a cry and I caught sight of him falling toward the deck far below. But out of thin air, Zuko miraculously snatched him and handed him to the Lieutenant below him, exchanging a kind glance.

When they were all safely on the deck, the shaken helmsman was taken below to be cared for. The three of us were about to follow when a huge white shape shot past us in the dark, barely visible through the thick sheet of rain. But it was easily recognizable as the avatar's bison.

"Sir? What do you want us to do?" The Lieutenant asked respectfully, almost in way of apology.

Zuko stood silently, watching the shape disappear into the turbulent storm.

"Let him go." He turned to face us. "We need to get the crew and boat to safety."

I smiled. Zuko caught my eye and smiled back. Another sharp lurch of the ship brought us back to reality and the three of us climbed back below quickly, drenched to the skin.

As soon as I was out of the numbing rain the cold started to kick in. I shivered suddenly and wrapped my arms around myself. I could only imagine how I looked: Clothes dripping and baggy, hair plastered to my face and making the "medusa snakes" as my family calls them teasingly. I laughed; drawing looks from the others who didn't look a bit cold. In fact their cold clothes were steaming.

"I bet I look like medusa right about now."

"Who's medusa?" Iroh inquired.

"She's a mythological creature with snakes for hair and supposedly so hideous that all who look at her turn to stone." I grinned, and Iroh laughed.

"You are anything but hideous." Zuko smiled, making me blush again.

"Well… thanks." I shivered again uncontrollably and Iroh caught my eye.

"Ah that's right, you don't have the Firebender's ability to warm their body! We should get you into some warm, dry clothes soon." Iroh led me into the boiler room where a few other crew members sat huddled around the warm fire. He draped a thick blanket over my shoulders and sat me close to the flames. "I'll go fetch some of your dry clothes so you can change into them once you warm up a bit. Can't have you catching a fever!" He winked at me.

"Hah, thanks Iroh…" The helmsman was also brought in and sat next to the fire, steaming as well. Iroh, Zuko, and the Lieutenant left the room, I assume to direct the ship into safer waters.

Surprisingly, the storm didn't last much longer. Maybe an hour later Zuko and the others came into the boiler room, damp but not soaking wet. By this time I had changed into my dry clothes and was sitting around with the blanket over my shoulders mainly for the company. There was some unseen bond formed between Zuko and the Lieutenant after the storm; they each understood more of the other's position and respected him for it. I admired them both even more for setting aside these differences of theirs.

Zuko chose to sit beside me, radiating heat to warm and dry himself. Either that or I was blushing again; it was hard for me to tell which was more. Iroh watched us with a weird look on his face: a cross between a grin, a smirk, and a smile.

After this, the rocking of the boat continued to steady, becoming gentler as the storm subsided. I headed back to my room, much later that night, tired and happy again.

I changed into my pajamas: Capri pants and a red and brown layered top and climbed into bed, turning out the lights and submerging my room into darkness. It had only been about thirty minutes since I had gotten into bed when my door was opened slowly.

Because I'm not the type of person to scream when something startles me, I sat up slowly and tried to peer into the darkness to distinguish the person entering my room. I could faintly recognize the outline of the person.

"Zuko?" I whispered.

"I'm sorry, I…" He knelt on the end of my bed, looking at me. My eyes adjusted to the dimness and I could faintly make out his face.

"Are you alright?" I sat up further; tucking my legs under me in preparation for the long talk I assumed was coming.

Zuko sat there quietly, looking at me or down at my bed I couldn't exactly tell. "I just… I couldn't be alone tonight. I don't know why I came here." He made as if to get up to leave.

I gave a short, faint laugh. "It's alright, you can stay for a while. Do you want to talk about something?"

"That would be nice… yes."

We sat in silence for a little. I assumed Zuko wanted me to pick the topic, and I fished through my memory for something to discuss.

"I… your uncle… told me about your scar." No need to alert him to the crew knowing now. "I'm sorry for all of that."

Pain and bitterness literally seeped from Zuko, filling the air around him. "It… it isn't your fault." He forced out.

"Well, I can't help but feel sorry about it all. That isn't how a father should act, Fire Lord or not. I have a friend who's got dad problems too… though maybe not the same as yours. Her dad had a ton of money hidden from his family, even though they were having financial issues, and he eventually just up and left one day, taking it all with him. He had started to be abusive and mean and… it really hurt her." I smiled sadly, remembering the talks and tearful prayers we shared.

"That's too bad."

"Yeah it is…"

Another silence in the darkness. I decided to break it.

"Are you-"

"Would it-" Zuko started at the same time.

I laughed and shook my head. "Go ahead."

"Would it… be alright if I stayed with you tonight?" He spoke slowly, embarrassed. I raised my eyebrows in surprise.

"Um… sure, I guess."

Zuko's being really weird… not at all like he usually is.

I reached behind me, grabbing the dry blanket I had used earlier that evening. "Here, you can use…" I suddenly became aware of someone really close to me, and I looked over my shoulder. Zuko had leaned toward me, his face only a few inches away from mine: I could feel his hot breath against my face and neck.

Again he leaned in and kissed me, surprising me with his passion. My stomach flipped and I froze as Zuko continued to kiss me. Suddenly I felt his hand slide onto my hip and I gasped, pulling away.

"No…" My voice was raspy and strange to my ears. Zuko stayed unmoving, leaning forward but his head turned away from me. I didn't know what to say, I'd never been in this situation before. "I'm sorry…"

"No. I'm sorry." His voice was hard again, as he used to be. He got to his feet and stood with one hand on my bedroom door. "I shouldn't have. Goodnight, Kristen." Then Zuko turned swiftly and left the room, closing the door behind him and leaving me in darkness.

I found myself at a loss. I didn't know what I should do. Zuko had just "made the move" on me, but…

I groaned in frustration and threw myself back on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. This was just too confusing. My thoughts were a mess; all jumbled and mixed up making it nearly impossible to sleep. But somehow I did end up falling asleep, though I don't know how long it took.

The next morning I woke up still tired and with a headache. For some reason I knew I couldn't stay there anymore. Zuko wouldn't ever be the same after what had happened, and I know I couldn't either. But for some reason, I also felt a sense of release: like I didn't have to stay any more. This place had become more and more like home to me after all my time here, and I knew that if I set out on my own everything would be fine.

I set to work hurriedly, packing my backpack and bag with all my old clothes I arrived with as well as my new clothes, including the mask. I stuffed my electronics, sketchbooks, and books in the bag and held my sword in my off hand. My room was completely bare, save for a small note left on my dresser letting whoever found it that I had left and that it was for the best.

Even though we were still in the middle of the ocean, I knew I could get to land if I flew long enough. Maybe if I landed in the Earth Kingdom I could get supplies and head north to the North Pole and perhaps meet up with Aang, Katara, and Sokka along the way if I was lucky.

It was still early morning, and no one was up yet when I snuck past both Iroh's and Zuko's rooms and made my way toward the stairs leading to the deck. I reached them without running into anyone, and looked back one last time down the long empty metal hallway. Sighing deeply, I stepped onto the stairs and into the sunlight above, temporarily blinded by the light.

I blinked and closed my eyes, trying to clear my vision. The winter wind blew crisp and cool against my face, and a few leaves flew into me as they followed the breeze.

Leaves…

I opened my eyes, forcing them to take in the scene around me. I was standing on a hard, paved concrete sidewalk. Behind me was a two-story house with bushes and trees in front of it, and across the street was my white Jetta, parked in front of my Grandparents' house.

I stared in shock for a good minute or two before I chanced to look down at my clothes, still the same tunic and pants I had put on when I left Zuko's ship, and my bags and Katana were still clutched in my hands. I unsteadily walked slowly across the street and looked into my car window. The time on the dashboard said only ten minutes after I had first arrived at their house. Surprised, I looked up at the doorway and walked toward it.

I knocked first softly, then harder and stood back to wait. Hardly thirty seconds had gone by when I heard footsteps approaching inside and Anne, my Grandpa's new wife, opened the door.

"Hello! Sorry we're late, I hope you haven't been waiting long?" She glanced over my clothes for a moment, then smiled.

"Um… no? No I haven't been waiting … long." Something was really weird. I had been in the other world for a few months, but no time had passed at all. I stepped into the walkway and Anne led me upstairs to the guest room.

"Do you want anything to drink? We could order a pizza tonight for dinner, is that fine?" She looked a little concerned, possibly over my bewildered attitude and strange clothes.

"No I'm fine for now, but a pizza sounds great." I replied in a firm, reassuring voice. "I'll just unpack my stuff and then head downstairs."

"Alright, make sure Max doesn't get locked in the closet. He'll meow constantly if he does to let you know."

"Okay…"

Anne left and I shut the door to the room, Max slipping in at the last second and jumping onto the bed where my bags were lying scattered on the comforter. I sat next to the kitten, clutching my sword tightly and looking into space.

All I could think about was Zuko, and how I had messed with him. I should have talked to him one last time before I left… but I was too afraid to.

Maybe I would see him again someday, maybe I would go back…

"I'm sorry…" I whispered, pressing the cold hilt of the sword against my cheek. "Next time will be different."

THE END

to be continued?