Okay. I'm getting right to it today. No hesitation what-so-ever.

HERE I GO.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"I'm still not rolling down a hill,"

"Then I'll drag you with me!"

She pulled herself down and Zuko came toppling down after. She was laughing the whole way down while he screamed. At the bottem he just lay there and she crawled over to his side.

"Hey Teken guess what?" she said.

"What?"

"You just rolled down a hill,"

"And I don't plan on ever rolling down another hill again,"...

"Hey," she said softly.

"Yeah?"

"Prove to me your not predictable..."

"Who's saying I'm predictable?"

"Teken..."

She put her hand on his cheek, her fingers laying on the scar.

"Prove to me your not predictable...kiss me," she said.

She turned around. There he was. Zuko. Standing in the doorway to the church. Kaori dropped her bouquet and ran towards the door. Everyone gasped at the girl running off the platform. She wrapped her arms around Zuko and kissed him.

Zuko was happy. He hadn't known that Kaori was getting married. He had come just in time. But he could feel Kaori wince when she first hugged him. She didn't push the kiss either.

Kaori pulled away smiling.

"Council and my people. You thought I couldn't find someone but I did," she stroked the side of Zuko's face with her hand," I found the Prince of the fire nation. And he found me,"

"Tell me you love me,"

"Kaori...I love you.."

"I love you too. As long as you miss me I will always be there,"

She coughed and a trickle of blood came from her mouth. She was fading fast. Zuko could feel his heart tighten. Seeing her like this...so weak...so fragile...so hurt...

"I will always miss you Kaori," Zuko said.

"Then I will always be there," Kaori whispered.

She lifted up her hand to the side of his face. Zuko placed his hand around hers. His face melted into her hand. Kaori slowly smiled. Then her hand fell to the ground, her eyes fell shut, and the smile remained on her face."

Then I will always love you...

Zuko sat up in bed quickly. His face had beads of sweat on it and his heart was racing. All that, it had been so real. Almost like reliving it. He could feel her breath on his face, warm and wonderful. She had been in his arms. He could feel her curves. Slowly, he eased himself back down into the bed. No...still alone. Still very alone. The room was empty. Only the moonlight peared in from the window.

Then I will always love you...

Would she? Would she always love him? He hadn't been doing a very good job with Otaki. Yes, it had been four weeks since she had arrived but she hadn't changed all that much. She talked with people more now, and had taught Heero much. But she still was shy. Maybe she just was a shy person. Maybe her couldn't get her to be who she was supposed to be. As long as she was happy. And she had certainly started eating more than she usually did. She even was getting a little chubbier.

Zuko rolled over on his side and closed his eyes. Kaori... Her face still lingered in his mind just edging him towards insanity. How he wanted to hold her once more. Just once. If only that was possible. She seemed so close. He could feel her breath on him.

He jerked his eyes open. That wasn't right. He really could feel breath on him! He let out a yell and tumbled out of bed. There was an odd squeaking from the bed and Pig looked down at him.

"You evil thing!" Zuko exclaimed pointing at it. Jin appeared at the doorway.

"Pig!" she scoulded. "I told you not to come in here anymore,"

She picked up Pig and left quickly, leaving Zuko on the ground. He picked himself up and let out a sigh. That was the third night that, that thing had been in his room. Always staring at him. Just staring...

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

"I'm okay... I'm okay..." Otaki muttered to herself. But either way, she held back her hair and gracefually vomited into a bucket. It was morning and her stomach was flip-flopping. She held it, rubbing it in a circular motion. She felt horrible. Her legs were wobbely. Why wouldn't this just go away? There was a knock on the door.

"Otaki?"

Otaki looked up. Oh no. Jin. That kid wanted to know everything. There's no doubt that she'd go and tell Zuko about this.

"Um...sorry Jin...I'm changing,"

"No you're not, I can see you through the key hole,"

"Jin!"

"What?"

"Just...hold on,"

"Hey, what's that? I'm coming in,"

"No-"

Jin opened the door. She scrunched up her nose. "You're sick aren't you? Let me go get daddy, he'll get the doctor,"

"Jin please,"

But it was to late. Jin was gone before she could get a word in. Otaki sighed and rolled into bed. She covered her head with the covers. Why wouldn't it just go away?

xXxXxXx

"She's sick daddy,"

"Let me have a word with her,"

"Okay, but watch out for the bucket..."

"Uh...okay?"

"Good,"

Jin left Zuko infront of Otaki's bedroom door. Zuko knocked once and got the muffled response of 'Go away'. He opened the door slightly, then reilizing that it was safe to enter, came in. There was a bump in the middle of the bed.

"Otaki..."

"I'm fine,"

"Jin said-"

"Jin doesn't know what she's talking about,"

Zuko smiled a bit and walked over to the bump. He tugged on the covers. "Otaki, come out from under there. I'm not talking to a sheet,"

"I don't want to come out..."

"Otaki,"

"The light hurts my head. Please, just let me be,"

Zuko frowned. No... "You're head hurts? Anything else?"

"My stomach. I'm dizzy okay? Just let me lay here in my misery,"

"Kaori?"

Zuko walked into the room silently in case she was sleeping. Before he knew it, a pillow came flying at him. He dodged quickly.

"I didn't know I was about to be attacked!"

There was a groan from the bed. "I'm...sick..."

"I know that,"

"I'm...pregnant..."

"I know that to,"

"You're not helping. You could tell me that I'm still beautiful or something,"

He sat down on the bed next to Kaori, who was sprawled out on her back. Her hair was frizzed and her eyes had dark circles under them. Morning sickness... Zuko placed a hand on the side of her face and pushed the hair off.

"You are beautiful," he whispered.

"I'm ugly,"

"You're beautiful,"

He bent down and kissed her gingerly. Kaori hit him with a pillow again.

"Stop lying. I'm dizzy and my stomach hurts and my head is about to explode. Light it very evil to me right now. And so are you...meanie..."

Zuko laughed and laid down next to her. She leaned her head on his shoulder.

"We're going to have a baby..." Kaori sang softly. "But I have to go through all this crap..."

"I don't know whose got it worse.. You or me with the constant pillows bombarding him."

"You poor thing.."

She kissed his lips softly, tracing the line of his chin with her finger. And before he knew it, another pillow hit his face and Kaori's laughing filled the room.

"Otaki please, why don't you come down and get something to eat,"

She let out a moan. "Don't mention food,"

"Otaki..."

"Yes?"

He was silent for a moment. This was all to firmiliar. All to firmiliar. He took a deep breath then spoke. "Did you and that boy- Aiden- ever..."

The covers came off. Otaki stared at him, her eyes like they were when she first arrived. Zuko had refrained from ever speaking of the boy. Now he had to. Her hair was frizzed and her skin was paler than usual.

"Ever what?"

"Get...intamite?"

"A couple times..."

"Have you considered that you might be..."

"Yes,"

"Oh," He was silent, suprised, then spoke. "Otaki, I know it's going to be hard because he won't have a father but-"

"I know what you're thinking,"

"What?"

"That Aiden is the father. That we had this perfect happy marriage,"

"Well I..."

"He's not the father,"

"What? Then...who is?"

Otaki was silent for a moment and Zuko let his mind wander. Certainly not... No...He pushed the thought away.

"Who Otaki, who?"

She was silent. Zuko went over to her and held her shoulders. His eyes were wider with fear. He shook her a bit and hair fell over her shoulders.

"Tell me Otaki, who is the father?"

She stared at him, tears gathering in her eyes.

"Otaki, tell me. Tell me. Is the father Zhao?"

She looked up at him behind her dark lashes.

"Yes," she whispered.

xXxXxX'

TA DA.