Now, for your convenience (and because neither part was long enough to be a whole chapter), this chapter is spilt into two parts. AND, at the advice of SEVERAL PEOPLE (you know who you are!), the, uh, scene, in Part One has been taken down…A LOT!

I think it still gets the point across though.

-

PART ONE

After the battle, a barrier was broken down in Jun and Zuko's relationship. They fought together with more enthusiasm (and closer contact…) and kissed and laughed at the dumb things Iroh sometimes said. Most of all, they talked. They pursued every subject, from what Zuko would do as Fire Lord, to why Jun had left her shirashu, to better plans to capture Aang. And the more they talked, the more Zuko fell into a state of complete contentment with the world. Suddenly, capturing the Avatar didn't seem so hard. Honor and approval from his father didn't matter. Time meant nothing. Love was making its presence known.

One night, the young couple lay together on the deck under the light of the stars. Jun rested her head on Zuko's chest, feeling the deep rise and fall of his breathing and the drum of his heartbeat. She gave a sigh of happiness.

"Zuko?"

"Hmmm?"

"Are you happy? Right now?"

The prince thought for a moment.

"Happier than I've ever been in my life." He smiled at Jun and looked up to the sky.

"It's getting late. But…"

"But what?"

"But I don't want this to end…"

"It doesn't have to," Jun said quietly. Zuko shot her a questioning look.

She smiled sweetly, got to her feet, and offered her hand to help him up. Zuko allowed her to lead him down below deck and into their room, her fingers laced around his.

Jun closed the door after them. When she wasn't looking, Zuko also locked it…

-

Hours later, not long before dawn, they laid quietly, still awake, in each other's arms. Zuko massaged Jun's bare back and whispered, "Jun?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too," she whispered back. She sighed deeply and fell asleep.

Zuko remained awake a few minutes longer, just watching her sleep and thinking, thinking of how different things had become since a few hours ago. And although he didn't even know the full effect of their actions yet, it was still remarkable think about. Jun's mouth spread itself into that mysterious, knowing smile again, but this time, it was her that didn't know.

A few hours ago…

Wow. No comment.

-

PART TWO

For a time, every thing was fine. For a few, short, blissful weeks, life was pure and uncomplicated, the way it should be. For Zuko, it was almost like living in someone else's life, a life of peace and love. But it was Zuko's life, so it didn't take long before all the happiness evaporated and the storm rose again.

It started out simply.

One morning, Jun woke up nauseous. Still being tired and not fully awake, she sat up slowly and tried to work out the problem.

"Morning, Jun," Zuko said sleepily and rolled over. Jun didn't say anything. She was afraid to open her mouth. The ship suddenly hit a rough wave that jostled the room around. That was it. Jun leaped out of the room and sprinted to the side of the deck, where she proceeded to throw up. Again…and again.

Zuko stumbled out of bed and caught up with her.

"Jun?" he asked tentatively, as she vomited a fourth time. "Are you all right? Are you sick?"

Jun turned around and wiped her mouth. Her skin had turned a ghastly pale white and she was trembling.

Iroh came up to see what was going on.

"Oh, my," he said. "Jun, do you not feel well?"

She weakly shook her head.

"You need rest," Iroh said wisely. "Go get some more sleep." And that was exactly what she did.

-

Jun curled up in Zuko's bed and didn't get up again until late afternoon. She wandered to the dining room, where everyone was eating lunch and discussing her dilemma in hushed voices.

"Jun!" Zuko exclaimed, relieved to see her up. "Are you hungry? Would you like some thing to eat?"

"Well, maybe," she said, sitting down. Iroh handed her a bowl of noodles. Jun stared at it for a moment, before suddenly jumping up and running out. Zuko went after her again and stood back as she emptied her stomach yet again. Seeing the girl he loved so vulnerable and sick brought a pain of sorrow over him. After she finished, he tightly embraced her, stroking her hair and letting her quietly cry on his shoulder.

"Jun, really, are you going to be okay?" She sniffed pitifully.

"I don't know. I really don't know…"

-

Jun's illness continued for three long days. On the fourth day, both Zuko and Iroh were fully thankful when Jun marched right out of bed and sat down to eat breakfast with them.

"Good!" Zuko said. "Do you feel better? Are you hungry?"

The latter was a pretty stupid question. Jun seized every dish within reach and began to eat as if she was starving.

"'M fne," she said thickly through a mouthful of roast duck and reaching for the rice. The prince, the old man, and the entire crew gave her a look that suggested she was dangerous. It was bizarre to see someone who had been so sick just yesterday eat like a wild hogmonkey.

"What?" Jun said irritably, noticing their staring. No one had the heart to say anything.

"Fine, if you don't want to put up with me, I'll go somewhere else."

She grabbed enough food to feed a small army and stormed off. Zuko turned to Iroh.

"Do all women get like this or am I just lucky?"

Me, the Goddess-As for Jun's strange symptoms, I will say nothing because I am the author and I don't just give away things.

Jun-As for my strange symptoms, I will say nothing, because it's really none of your business.

Zuko-As for Jun's strange symptoms, I will say nothing because I don't actually have the slightest clue to what's going on.

Bring on the controversy!