-1Chapter 13

ZUKO'S SHIP

Not much happened that day. Trina didn't emerge from the room until well after noon. And when se did she insisted in speaking as little as possible so to 'rest her voice for later'. She watched silently as the crew set up for music night. They set up a raised platform in the middle of the deck. At this she was beginning to have second thoughts.

Iroh walked up behind her, "ready for tonight?"

She jumped slightly and flames flared at her fists because she didn't know that he was there. "Iroh please don't sneak up behind me like that."

"I could say the same thing to you."

"Sorry about that. I just needed to do something to wake up so I could go back to sleep. That didn't really make any sense… but that's just how I am. And as for tonight, no I don't think I am ready."

"Of course your ready my dear. Let me tell you a secret." He lowered his voice and leaned closer, "Prince Zuko is planning something special after you sing."

"Really? What is it?"

"That I can't tell you, it would spoil it."

"Is that why he's been meditating so incessantly?"

"Yes. I believe he's a bit nervous about it."

"Come on. Tell me."

"No, I'm sorry I can't. I believe that my nephew would try to kill me if I spoiled his surprise."

"Oh alright, I wouldn't want Zuko to do anything to you that he'll regret later. But one more thing, do you think I'll like the surprise?"

"Of course you will my dear."

"What are you two talking about?" Came Zuko's voice from behind them.

"We were just talking about the song I will be singing tonight."

"You're sure you weren't talking about other things?"

"Of course I'm sure, Love." Zuko blushed a bit from being addressed in such a manner, but went about his business.

"You think on your feet Tarrina."

"Thanks, but usually I can't. But in a way that's sort of what we were about before, mean we were talking about tonight, so I just improvised."

"So what are you going to sing?"

"That's for me to know and for you to find out," she answered smugly.

Trina spent the rest of her day trying to find the strength to force herself to sing, and wondering what Zuko's surprise might be. Nothing that she thought of seemed even remotely like him.

She put on the clothes that Zuko had bought her at the market and she decided that it was time for a change in her look, it was time to let her hair down. She took out all seven hair ties that she always wore and brushed her hair out. Zuko stepped into the room just after she had finished. He was stunned speechless at the change.

"You don't like it?"

"No, I love it. I've never seen anyone more beautiful," Zuko said before laying a soft kiss across her lips. "Music Night is about to start and Uncle Iroh wants you."

"Aren't you coming?" She asked when she started to leave and he didn't follow.

"I'll be right there." With that Trina turned and left the room and Zuko locked the door after she was gone. He opened the panel and got the ring out. "This is it," he told himself, "I can't back out of this now."

He slipped from the room and went out onto the deck. He found that she was already being pushed up onto the platform and she was looking more nervous than he was feeling. She seemed to resolve herself as she stepped into the center of the platform.

Zuko stepped out and stood next to his uncle. "Prince Zuko, how nice of you to join us. I know how much you love music night." Zuko had to restrain himself from rolling his eyes. "I seem to have been able to convince her to sing two songs, so wait till she's completely done." Zuko nodded.

Their attention was drawn bact to Trina as she began to speak. "Um hi, ya'll. It seems that I've been convinced to sing for you. Two songs in fact, so shut up and listen and don't make fun of me when it's really bad."

She began to sing:

Fire and rain is my favorite song
I say a prayer at 11:11
I could watch old movies all night long
I'm not sure about hell but I know there's a heaven
Sometimes I feel so alone it scares me
I talk in my sleep but there's no one to hear me

Unknown
I don't want to be unknown
The little things that make me who I am

I need to share
I need to know that someone cares

That I drink coffee black
That I sing when I drive
That I sleep with the TV on
More than anything
I don't want to be unknown

I love September when leaves turn gold
I get nervous in crowded places
Someday I want to see San Francisco
I'm bad with names, but remember faces
I need more than a kiss, more than a lover
I'm a world that's just waiting to be discovered

Unknown
I don't want to be unknown
The little things that make me who I am
I need to share
I need to know that someone cares

That I write down my dreams
That I love when it rains
I burn candles when I'm alone
More than anything

I don't want to be unknown
More than anything
No one wants to be unknown

When she had finished the song a cheer went up from the crew and she turned a brilliant shade of red.

Now during this whole thing Zuko was speechless and had to be poked by Iroh to bring him out of it. "Hey, snap out of it. She's not even done yet and your already in a trance."

As soon as the crew had quieted she started to sing again.

I'll show you worlds
You've never seen
The sun and moon and shadows
The rainbow's arch, the mountain stream
The sunless clouds
And the winter's dream

I'll play you sounds
You've never heard
The waterfall, the river
The thunder of the hummingbird
The whisper of the snow

What if you never know
How much you cared
Till you are parted
Like stormy sea

How could I let you go?
How could I have
My life without you
Here with me!

The world's a door
That's open wide
Because you're here beside me
And with the moon and sun
To guide me
Now my heart
Can fly
Now our hearts
Can be freeeeeeee!

Zuko knew that it was time to step up. He quickly moved from his position beside Iroh and was on the platform almost before he realized that he moved.

"Zuko are you going to sing too?" Trina asked jokingly.

"No. I have a question for you while you're here." He moved closer to her and stroked her cheek. "I've known you for only a short time, but that can't change the way I feel. You've brought a happiness back into my life that I thought I could never feel again. I can't live my life without you. I love you so much." He dropped to one knee. "Will you marry my?" He asked taking the ring from his pocket.

The crew was utterly silent so they could hear her answer. She squealed in delight, with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh my God, yes!" She jumped into his arms as he stood and they shared a long slow kiss.

When they finally separated Zuko slipped the ring onto Trina's finger. The crew was now cheering wildly.

"Come on now let's have a drink in honor of the happy couple," shouted one crew member above the rest.

"Ah yes! Come down here you two so we can toast your engagement," Iroh called to them.

They stepped down of the platform hand in hand. Trina was a bit apprehensive about the whole toasting thing because she knew she would be expected to drink as well. When they stepped down Iroh was there and handed each of them a goblet of wine. Trina stared at hers for a moment before she raised it in the toast.

"To the happy young couple. May their days always be filled with love and prosperity. May they be blessed with many children and long lives together. And finally to love!" (Iroh was rather pleased with his comment about children because Zuko hadn't been able to scold him for it that time.)

A cheer rose yet again from the men as they all lifted their mugs and downed their liquor. Trina slowly raised her own goblet to her lips and was pleased to find that this wine didn't taste horrible like the wine and champagne that she had tasted at home. She finished it and was in the process of sitting the goblet down went Zuko refilled it.

"What are you doing?"

"I wish to toast again, just you and me. Here's to a long, love filled life," he said as he stroked her cheek and kissed her again. When he pulled back they both drank.

"That, My Love, was a heck of a toast. Now, no more booze for you. I'm not spending the night with a drunk fiancé."

"But I won't-"

"No. I know how drunks get all touchy feely, and you aren't getting any further with that until after we're married."

"Awww man." Now when he said that he sounded exactly like Jake Long (Disney Channel YAY!) and Trina burst into hysterics.

"Maybe you already had a little too much Tarrina."

"Could be. I've never drank this much before before."

"What? Are you kidding me?"

"Where I'm from I'm still underage. Back home you're supposed to be 21 before you're allowed to drink, not that that stopped a bunch of people I know." She swayed slightly and was beginning to think perhaps Zuko was right about her having too much to drink already. Zuko noticed the fact that she was beginning to sway and stood beside her to steady her. She leaned against him and inhaled his scent deeply from the maroon robe he was wearing.

"You smell really good. Did you know that?" Her words were slightly slurred.

"You've definitely had too much." He turned toward his uncle and called, "I'm taking her to bed. She's had too much to drink already."

Iroh laughed and said, "now you two have fun."

Zuko left Trina standing where she was and was in front of Iroh in a second. "I thought I told you to stop saying things like that. Nothing is going to happen, not till after the wedding. Am I clear on that Uncle?"

"Crystal."

"Good."

He moved back to Trina and picked her up and as he passed through the crew with her he heard all sorts of comments and suggestions that should not be heard by, well, anyone. He simply ignored them and carried Trina back to their room. He knew there would be wild rumors flying about in the morning but he didn't care at the moment.

As he entered the room he realized that Trina had already fallen asleep against his chest. He smiled down at the sleeping girl in his arms. Not just any girl, my fiancé. He laid her down on their bed gently and kissed her forehead before getting ready to go to sleep himself. He lay down on the bed beside her and whispered, "You seem to have a wonderful habit of getting me out of Music Night." He knew that she wouldn't hear him but he didn't care. He wrapped his arms around her and simply lay there for a while. It was still early so he laid awake for a while savoring the feeling of her body against his, listening to the sounds of music night as it continued without them.

WITH CAROLINE

Caroline awoke in the middle of the night and she wasn't sure why. Then she heard the sounds of someone shivering. She crawled out of the sleeping bag and the cold air chilled her instantly. She shivered herself and immediately used her fire bending skills to raise her body temperature. Comfortable once again, she followed the sound of shivering and found Sokka curled in a ball beneath his thin blanket. Amazingly, he was still asleep.

Caroline knelt beside him and shook him awake. He looked at her and pulled the blanket tighter around his shoulders. "You're not cold?" He asked curiously. "How could you not be cold?"

Caroline smiled. "I recently discovered that I can use fire bending to raise my body temperature. I am quite comfortable." She said. She walked over to the fireplace and started a fire using her bending. Sokka quickly came over and sat beside it, soaking up its warmth. Caroline continued to talk. "I want you to take your sleeping bag back. I can use the blanket until I can get myself one."

Sokka tried to protest but Caroline placed a finger on his lips. "I'm half fire bender, you're not. Now don't argue with me!" She whispered. She stood and dragged Sokka towards his sleeping bag. "Now get in there and go to sleep, I'll be fine."

Sokka decided that it would be best not to argue for the moment. He crawled into the sleeping bag and was soon sleeping contentedly. Caroline smiled to herself and took the blanket that he'd discarded. She curled under it close by the fire, and soon she too was asleep.