A/N: Ok, its time to clear up a few things.

1)Aurora's adoption isn't formal: the rest of the royal family still don't know, but that may soon change cough ZHAO cough, cough

2)Aurora was pretty much ignored by everyone in her village, so she decided to learn how to read whatever she could find. (this explaining her wide vocabulary and knowledge of birth time and pregnancy)

3)Since villagers gossip, she heard about her father and mother's story by listening/ eavesdropping to them.

4)You can't be too young to firebend…you're born with it. It usually shows up for the first time when your 1 ½ or 2.

5)If anything doesn't seem to add up, plz tell me and I will try to fix or explain it.

Your reviews make me feel warm and fuzzy inside! So plz R&R!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything with the words "Copyright" on them.

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After a wonderful dinner, Aurora was feeling sleepy, so Zuko took her to her room to sleep. As he helped her into her new pajamas, she asked him, "Will you check under my bed for monsters tonight, please?"

"Sure." He replied, tucking her in. He lifted the sides of the covers to look under and said, "All clear. No monsters."

"Thank you, Daddy." She said, clearly relieved. "Night-night."

"Goodnight, Princess. Sleep tight." He said, extinguishing the candles and closing the door.

Then, she went to sleep, unaware that her dreams were about to become much less pleasant.

xxxxxx

A loud scream awoke Zuko that night. Racing into his daughter's room, he found he sitting on the bed shaking, her face pale with fear.

He ran to her side and he heard her whisper, "Don't let him get me, Daddy, don't let him get me…" she hugged him close. "I was so scared, Daddy, I was so scared…"

He held her tightly and asked her, "Who's trying to get you?"

"Zhao…" she whimpered.

"Shush…" he said rubbing her back. "I'm here…"

Then, he thought of a song his mother used to sing to him when he had a bad dream.

Come stop your crying,

It will be all right.

Just take my hand, hold it tight.

I will protect you from all around you,

I will be here, don't you cry.

For one so small,

you seem so strong.

My arms will hold you,

keep you safe and warm.

This bond between us,

Can't be broken.

I will be here, don't you cry.

'Cause you'll be in my heart.

Yes, you'll be in my heart.

From this day on,

Now and forever more.

You'll be in my heart,

No matter what they say.

You'll be here in my heart, always.

Why can't they understand the way we feel?

They just don't trust what they can't explain.

I know we're different but, deep inside us

We're not that different at all.

And you'll be in my heart,

Yes, you'll be in my heart.

From this day on,

Now and forever more.

Don't listen to them,

'Cause what do they know?

We need each other,

to have, to hold.

They'll see in time.

I know.

'Cause, you'll be in my heart,

No matter what they say.

You'll be in my heart, always

Always…

When Zuko finished the song, Aurora was sleeping peacefully in his arms. So, he decided to put her into her bed, bringing the covers up to her chin and kissing her forehead.

"Sweet dreams." He said, leaving the room and quietly shutting the door.

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(Somewhere no one wants to be)

"Admiral!"

"Yes?"

"We are in need of supplies."

"I thought we just got some." The Admiral said, his anger rising.

"Well, its seems that the rats in the storage have eaten most of the replacements we bought. We will need to stop again soon."

"What's the next port?"

"Kusabana, sir."

"Very well. Chart a course to Kusabana, and be quick about it!"

"Yes sir."

Zhao rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Why must I be surrounded by idiots?" he said to himself, staring out at the sea.

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Aurora was a very gifted writer. Her calligraphy was magnificent, always perfectly shaped and her strokes were graceful and purposeful.

One day when she was practicing her transcription, Iroh asked her when her birthday was.

"I think it's in about 5 days." She replied, not moving her eyes from the page.

"We should throw a party! It will be wonderful! There will be cake and music and presents and –"

"NO!" Aurora protested loudly, almost knocking over her inkbottle. "I mean, no thank you, Uncle Iroh, I'm fine truly…"

"Oh nonsense! We'll stop at the next port to buy you a gift, even if you don't want a party."

"Okay, uncle." She said defeatedly. She never really liked parties, they were too loud and she was usually never invited to one.

Iroh had already scurried off to find his nephew when Aurora returned to her writing.

"Prince Zuko!" Iroh called after reaching the captain's room where his nephew was currently leaning over a map.

"What now, uncle?" the prince replied exasperatedly.

"Did you know that the Princess's birthday is in a few days? We need to stop at the next port to find a gift."

"Fine, uncle. Helmsman! Set a course for Kusabana!"

"Yes sir!"

Zuko turned back to his uncle. "Happy now?" he asked.

"Very." Iroh replied.

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A/N: Now the REAL fun begins! Next chapter is called "Lost"

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