Hi guys! here's another chapter that was most requested by you guys! I think you'll like it!

Chapter 18

The next day after the storm, they docked the boat to make a few repairs. The banished prince and his Uncle were waiting in the breakfast table for their breakfast made by the dark haired girl.

"I wonder what Liling is making today?" Iroh said with a hint of excitement in his voice.

Then the door opened with one of the kitchen's staff placing the meals down, Zuko raised a questioning eye brow…usually is Liling with their meal, maybe she was too busy helping the cook.

Iroh smiled and picked up his chopstick to start eating as soon as he took one bite he instantly coughed, Zuko gave him a flat look.

"This…this is nothing more than meat and plain rice!"Iroh mutered utterly repulsed by the food.

"This is what we always have Uncle."Zuko said

"How could you say that?! Liling always makes food taste delicious! Not like this! "Iroh demanded angrily giving his nephew a stern look. "Something must be wrong!"

"Well..you are right Lord Iroh." One of the men spoke up. "Liling wasn't in the kitchens this morning."

"What?!"Zuko and Iroh exclaimed

"Did she escape?!"Zuko said "Search the boat! " he barked out the orders as he quickly got up. She can't hide from me! How dare that peasant escape after everything….

Zuko was in such a fuming temper that even as he strode through the group of his men he barked loudly.

"What are you all doing? Get a move on!"

"Sir-"

"WHAT?!" he snapped turning around to face one of his men that spoke.

Minutes later they were in Lilings room, she was lying in her bed coughing and her face was flushed and slightly coughed loudly.

"What happened? What is going on here?" a voice puffed as Iroh finally came to a slow stop behind his nephew, As soon as he saw the young girl laying in bed, his face turned grim.

Iroh waited for a couple of moments and then quickly put a hand to hover over her forehead.

"She has a fever, it explains why she wasn't in the kitchen this morning, it was probably from the storm." he said softly but clearly enough so that the guards all about them now began murmuring worriedly.

"A fever? Will she be alright?"

"We should find a herbalist to treat her-"

Zuko was about to interject, as Iroh raised a hand, all fell silent at once to hear him speak.

"The poor girl is clearly very exhausted and she just need is plenty of rest and some herbs to help her. We should let her rest and in a while I'll check on her." Iroh said

Zuko frowned as he watched Liling, sweat formed in her forehead as she mumbled in her sleep.

Hours passed by and now It was dark. A few soldiers found an herbalist to check on the female while Iroh escorted her to Liling's room.

Zuko followed suit though he was quickly shooed away by the old woman as soon as he reached the door. He had stayed outside the door with his uncle.

"Soon, you'll be all better." The old woman said gently at the sleeping girl, she placed a few herbs in some water and boiled it by the small fire. "Once the herbal drink is ready you'll be up and full of energy by morning."

Liling barely could feel anything besides her burning skin even as she struggled and whimpered.

"Mom.."Liling whimpered

"Sweetheart…I'm sure you'll see her soon." The old woman said with a gentle smile. "You're too young to go out traveling alone." The woman took out the rag from Liling's forehead and replaced it with a fresh one. "You might find things that you are not ready to see..but you might find something that you weren't even looking for."

Liling's eyes slowly opened, her vision was foggy but she could see a silhouette of a woman.

"Mom?"She mumbled

"Just rest dear." The woman said kindly. "Some sleep will do you good."

Zuko scowled as he rolled over to his side the old woman had told him and his uncle that Liling will be fine in the morning.

But…what if she isn't going to be fine in the morning? What if she… gets worse?

But even as the thought crossed his mind, Zuko shuddered and curled even tighter into his sheets. After tossing and turning he couldn't sleep with the girl on his mind that he got up and went to get some air. He unconsciously walked towards Liling's room, wondering why? Why was he being like this? Is it because she's his bait for the avatar? He opened the door to her room seeing her still asleep.

He felt lost..

This was something he never in his life did, he remembered his mother checked on him when he got sick but he never actually taken cared of another person before.

He chewed his lip nervously as Liling's face scrunched up in discomfort and she began to whimper. Without even pausing to think he reached out and grabbed at her hand. It was somehow helping her.

All he could do was focus on her face as her mouth began to move in soft mumbles under her breath.

"Don't leave…don't leave.."

"I won't." he said without even thinking.

Liling let out a small contented sigh with a soft smile. He didn't know how long he was there but he somehow fell asleep without himself knowing.

The light of dawn slowly cracked at the new day, He was pleased when his body was engulfed in warmth at once and sighed softly. He rolled over and felt something rather warm, solid yet…soft?

Zuko slightly frowned he never found anything this warm or soft in his room before…He let his hands quide to where he was touching. It was soft and smooth, some parts of it covered in fabric but very few spots were bare.

He ran his hand over the side of the object and found it curved nicely under his fingers.

Unconsciously he snuggled closer to the object and buried his nose close to a curved bare area of smooth skin. It had a floral scent to it, something he oddly like.

His ears picked up in the darkness a small soft sigh that was definitely not his own.

Zuko's eyes snapped open just in time to see Liling sleeping peacefully turn over to face him, a small smile playing on her lips.

The prince couldn't help but stare for a moment.

It was that same little smile she'd given his uncle when they went out, whenener she won playing pai sho.

He snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of a soft giggle.

Oh no…

Zuko tried his best to scramble away but Liling only giggled harder her eyes still shut with sleep as she snuggled into his chest.

"So warm..…"

Zuko squirmed as the girl next to him suddenly decided to roll so that she was resting on top of him, her legs on either side of his waist and her head resting on his chest.

Zuko gulped as he felt her soft curves press against his own tense body. Is it getting hot in here? Why does it feel so hot right now? Why did it feel oddly good?

"Hey wake up!" he hissed softly, shaking her slightly.

This however did not still her. Instead she frowned slightly in her sleep and proceeded to snuggle herself further into his hold.

Zuko flushed red and quickly grabbed at her hips only to groan a little. Zuko stopped in his tracks his fingers still hovering over her waist as she lightly giggled.

"..That tickles..Stop it Ru.."

Zuko didn't know who Ru was, but the sound of the name oddly enough sparked something that made him angry. He wondered why it was bothering him so much of her saying a name…much less someone he doesn't even know!

"Hey! Just Wake up! " He said loudly

But it was pointless instead Liling giggled again and before Zuko could even do anything, she had leaned up to his face and pressed her lips against his.

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