Wedding Day BlissAuthor: G.I Jess

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar. You know that already.

Pain was something Zuko was all too familiar with. He had been denied his birthright, scarred and banished by his Father, and nearly killed by his younger sister. He had felt the pain of when his mother had left, and when he was called a Peasant for the first time. After all, the fall from Prince and heir to the throne to nothing but a peasant barely scraping by was a long one.

Yet none of this could amount to the feeling of agony he had blossoming in his chest. His throat seemed to be clogged with some sticky substance and he swallowed thickly, though it did not ease his suffering. His gold eyes darted towards the Water Tribe member before him. She was pretty yes, gorgeous even, but he had no feelings for her, and she fortunately was the same.
It was obvious in the way she scanned the crowds, her eyes always seeming to land on the Avatar. He had always known the two had something, it had been obvious even when he was trying to restore his honor. He assumed she had exactly the same feeling of agony constricting her heart, as it did his.

His eyes, one marred by the disfiguring scar, swept over the thousands who had crowded into the chapel. Despite his wishes, they landed upon a certain female. Mai. He remembered the small blushing girl who never seemed to look him in the eye, and he found the strange urge to chuckle lodged into the back of his throat. She had changed so much.

No longer a blushing little girl, she was a tall, powerful looking young woman who's emotions were nearly unreadable. Not even her stoic expression however could hide the way her hands shook in what he presumed was a mixture of frustration, nerves, and heart break. She was near the front of the crowd, her hands clasped tightly upon the arm rest in an attempt to stop her shaking hands. He had harbored feelings for her during his younger years, and apparently they both had continued to due so, despite all the trouble.

He had saved her from Azula during the Final Battle, though she had complained of not being a 'damsel in distress' when he had carried her to the healer, her leg gravely injured. She had spoken dryly, but he knew she did not mind if he was her savior. In fact, he had assumed she rather enjoyed it. The two had gotten to be closer, to the point he was contemplating whether it was too soon for him to ask for her hand in marriage. He was not given any further time to think about this, for this wedding had been decided to take place.

The small smile that threatened to curve his lips upward disappeared, and his face became solemn and stiff once more. He felt his back go rigid and his throat clog up to the point he could barely breath as the girl reluctantly stated "I do," Now all eyes were on him, and he swallowed roughly once more."I do,"He spoke solemnly, though he did not believe these words were his own. His listened stiffly to the Priest's words, but only "Speak now or forever hold your peace," rang in his mind. He could protest, but that would offend the Water Tribe. They were already reluctant to make peace with the Fire Nation, he could not anger them further. And suddenly, breaking the gloomy silence was a man he knew all to well, protesting against the marriage.

(AN:) DUN DUN DUNNNNN. It's a cliffhanger. -gasp- If you can guess who, I applaud you. I hope this chapter was good enough, I was struggling with it.

Oh, and P.S
MAIKO AND KATAANG! WHOO!