(A/N: I can't believe you guys thought I was going to kill her, lol! Okay, so I did kill Iroh and Azula, and a few minor characters here and there... but Jin? That tells me I wrote the last chapter just right though.)

Jin slowly opened her eyes, sleep taking a while to clear itself from her face, and the first thing she felt was something warm wrapped around her hand and someone's breathing on her face. It took her a moment for her vision to clear, but once it did she saw Zuko's peaceful sleeping face and his hand holding hers. He'd probably been holding it the entire night, or however long they'd been asleep. Just this moment made her think back to the morning in the Fire Nation when he was to be crowned and she had woken up to him kissing her forehead and they had hidden out until he had to leave. Now there was no place they had to rush to. It was just peaceful.

Almost as if he'd sensed she was awake, Zuko's eyes opened slowly and his face glowed when he saw she was awake. "Hey..." he said softly and she smiled leaning forward to give him a kiss. "You're awake."

"How long have you been by my side?" she asked sleepily.

"All night," he said, then squeezed her hand a little tighter. "Not nearly long enough, I'm afraid." She smiled sadly and he kissed her cheek. "I love you."

"I know," she answered, and he pressed her hand against his face. She stroked his cheek, and he closed his eyes, breathing deeply. "What is it?" she asked him softly. He opened his eyes and frowned.

"I was so scared," he answered. "I was so scared I was going to lose you. At one point Katara said you were fading and I-"

"Oh Zuko!" she whispered and sat up, hanging her legs over the edge of the bed. He rested his head in her lap and closed his eyes as she ran her fingers through his hair.

"Just promise me you won't scare me like that again," he said softly. "Don't ever go where I can't follow." She nodded.

"I'm not leaving you, not ever," she whispered and he lifted his eyes to her. There was a darkness still there and he frowned. "I had nightmares all night," she said softly. "And even now it feels like they're still there. I can still see those faces and feel them wanting me to die."

Zuko stood up and climbed onto the bed beside her then pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "I'm so sorry."

"Why?" she asked. "It wasn't your fault."

"That's not entirely true," he said softly and Jin pulled her head back to look at him confused.

"Zuko, just because Mai had a crush on you doesn't make it your fault-"

"There's more to it," he said sadly. "Much more to it..." He stood up, not ready to confess it to her. When it had been to Aang and his friends it was different, but Jin was the love of his life and the last person in the world he wanted to know his darkest secrets. It wasn't so much that he feared she would leave, he only feared that her view on him would change for the worst.

"Zuko?" she asked softly. He paused in the doorway, then turned, giving her a smile.

"Don't worry about it now, Jin," he said warmly. "I'll see you later." He turned and left, and she sat there, feeling more confused than before.
----

Katara was eating in the great dining hall when Jin arrived, dressed in water tribe clothing that she'd been given by the chief. "Hey, you're up!" said Katara happily, scooting over so Jin could sit down next to her. "How you feeling?"

"Sleepy and I've got a headache," she said softly, smiling. "But other than that I'm fine."

"That's good," said Katara gently. "You really gave us a scare."

"So I've heard," she chuckled. "Thank you, by the way. I heard you helped a lot. I really owe you."

"I'm just glad you're all right," she said with a genuine smile. Jin was brought a plate of food and a hot drink which she sipped on for a few minutes before speaking again.

"Katara?" she asked.

"Hmm?"

"Zuko's been acting a little strange... guilty," she said softly. "Mostly about what happened with Mai. You don't know anything about that do you?" Katara paused and gave her an unsure look.

"I... er... I'm not really sure it's my place to tell you," she said. "I think that's something Zuko needs to talk to you about." Jin frowned.

"But something did happen there?"

"Yes... and no," said Katara. "You should really ask him, I shouldn't be talking about it." Jin nodded and returned to her food.

"So... where's Sokka and the others?" she asked after a long awkward pause. Katara explained briefly their parting and Jin seemed relieved to know the Dai Li was going to be taken care of. "Is it hard being separated from your brother like this?"

"A little," admitted Katara. "But I know he'll be all right. He's with Suki and Toph, and they're both very strong fighters."

"What about him?" asked Jin. Katara laughed.

"Again I say, he's with Suki and Toph and they're good fighters..." Jin burst out laughing and shook her head, Katara laughing as well.
----

Zuko stood a distance away, watching as the waterbending class wrapped up and waited until the last of the students had left and only Master Paku remained. When it was just the two of them he hesitated a little, but why, he didn't know.

"Are you going to greet me or stand there as my personal statue?" asked Paku after a moment, not even looking at him.

"Sorry," muttered Zuko and he stepped up. "I just wanted to thank you for your help yesterday."

"It was really no trouble," he exaggerated. "I'm always pleased to help an alli."

"The last time I was here though I wasn't your alli," said Zuko. "You would have had every right to have turned me away but you didn't. I'm in your debt."

"Firelord Zuko, if I had turned Jin away I would have been nothing short of heartless. Why would I punish a young woman for the sins you committed? And why would I hold a grudge against you when you're so clearly a friend now?" he asked. Zuko couldn't answer. "I don't care who you were then. Who you are now is not an enemy, and I believe you will help put the Fire Nation back in its place and restore peace between them and the other three nations."

Zuko nodded. "I hope so," he said softly. He turned to leave but Paku stopped him.

"Jin's got a lot of recovering still, you know that don't you?" asked Paku. Zuko turned, his expression showing he clearly didn't. "Though the major damage has been dealt with there's still some that lays deep in her mind that only time can mend. She'll need someone she can depend on by her side till the day she dies."

"She said she was having nightmares..." said Zuko sadly.

"I'm not surprised. I caught a glimpse of the illusions running through her mind. There was great darkness there... and suffering."

"Will she ever fully heal?" he asked sadly.

"Only time will tell that." He stared for a moment and Zuko soon became aware that he was staring at his scar. "Your scar on the other hand..." he said softly. "No doubt the remains of a bad memory, one you need not share with me." Zuko closed his eyes. His screams were the last thing he remembered that horrible night. "You could be free of it." He opened his eyes.

"Katara had said that once," he said softly, reaching up and touching it.

"With the water from the spirit oasis, your scar could be gone completely." Zuko smiled a little but shook his head.

"Thank you, but I'll have to pass on that offer," he said softly. "This scar holds bad memories for me, but I don't believe in fully forgetting the past. I know now that if I hadn't gone through what I went through... I'd have been exactly like my father. A monster." Paku gave a ghostly smile.

"I admire you for that then," he said softly. "I suggest you go back to your fiance. Chances are she's searching for you." Zuko nodded but was stopped a final time. "And whatever it is you're hiding from her that I can sense..." he said, making Zuko pause, slightly surprised. "...not confiding in her would be unwise. If she's to be your wife she'll be your partner through it all. You'll need to be open and honest with her. Are you planning on getting married during your stay here?" Zuko nodded. "I'll speak with the chief then and have it arranged that you two will have the ceremony very soon."

"Again..." he said, glancing over his shoulder. "Thank you."
----

Both Jin and Zuko recieved word back that the ceremony would be held the following night which was very soon, but made them happy since they'd been planning to get married quickly. Jin admitted that she was a little sad her family couldn't be there, but Zuko assured her he would hold a more formal celebration for them in the Fire Nation and she could invite whomever she wished. This pleased her very much and she gave him a hug to thank him.

That night, when everyone else was asleep he crept into her room, hoping she was still up so he could talk to her. When he'd knocked on the door he heard her scrambling around a little and she cried, "Uh... just a minute!" He chuckled a little and waited until she opened the door wearing a robe. "Zuko!" she exclaimed with a smile. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to you, but if this is a bad time..."

"No! Come on in," she said and she stepped aside so he could enter.

"What were you doing a minute ago?" he asked, looking slightly amused.

"Trying on the dress..." she admitted sheepishly.

"The dress?" he asked.

"Oh you have to see this!" she exclaimed, and dragged him over to the closet and pulled it open. Inside was a gorgeous white gown with decorative water tribe style beads and it looked more exquisit than anything she had ever worn.

"Where did you get this?" he asked, gaping at it.

"The Cheif loaned it to me for tomorrow night. It was supposed to be his daughter, Yue's, but she died, so he said I should wear it. Otherwise it would never have been used."

"That was very... generous of him," said Zuko as he watched her put it away.

"I know," she said. "He also said it was his way of thanking us for our parts we played in the war." Zuko smiled and nodded and she gave a peaceful sigh. "So... what did you want to talk about?"

At once the cheer seemed to vanish from his face and he pointed to the small balcony just outside her room which showed off an excellent view of the palace. "Mind if we sit outside?" he asked. She shrugged and took his hand lovingly as he lead her out, picking up a wool blanket from the bed as he passed it. A cool breeze helped distract him from the dread he felt about telling her the truth, and when they sat down he placed the blanket over both their shoulders to keep them warm.

"Look at that moon!" gasped Jin, pointing to the large silvery orb illuminating the night sky. "It's so beautiful."

Zuko smiled and nodded. "Yeah, it is." Jin rested her head on his shoulder, still holding his hand. For a moment Zuko wanted to just forget about telling her and stay like this, so quiet and peaceful. It had been the first time in so long that they'd been able to be together like this. Why did he have to ruin it by telling her? Was it really necessary?

"If she's your wife, she'll be your partner through it all..."

Zuko sighed and reluctantly inched away from her a little so he could think clearly. "Jin..." he said softly. "There's more to Mae's story than a simple crush." Jin looked up at him. "All Mae's suffering, all her anger, nearly everything that happened to you... was because of me."

"Zuko, you can't blame yourself for her!" said Jin almost scoldingly. "It wasn't your fault she made the choices she did."

"Actually..." he said, standing up and stepping away from her, almost too ashamed to look at her. "...it is." He sighed and closed his eyes. "Better... get comfy. It's kind of a long story."

Jin could tell from his tone that he was not looking forward to this but felt compelled to be honest, so she sat patiently and listened very quietly as Zuko retold the entire story, starting with its origins when he was a child and ending with her fiery suicide. As he spoke there were moments filled with very silent pauses, times when he had to take a deep breath to compose himself, and moments when his voice gave away that he was struggling to tell her this.

When at last he finished Jin sat silently, letting it all sink in. Zuko was standing a few feet away from her with his back to her, head hanging low as if a dark cloud was hovering over him. A part of her knew she should feel angry with him since he'd been right, it was his fault, but at the same time she couldn't. He was only 14, the age when his world had only begun to fall apart.

He walked over to the beautifully sculpted gard rail and leaned forward, resting his palms on the icy surface, closing his eyes. Jin rose slowly and approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder and massaging it slowly with her fingers.

"If I could take it back..." he said softly. "I would. I'd take back every bad decision I'd ever made. I'd live a life only for you, and I'd never have left your side in the first place." A tear rolled down his cheek. "But even now... if could only feel that I'd been forgiven but the one I caused the most pain. That's all I want."

Tears escaped Jin's eyes and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and rested her head against him. "You don't need to carry all this weight on your shoulders alone," she said softly. "Let me help you, let me be beside you and whatever burdens are yours will be mine too. No more seperation, no more partings. Just you and me forever tied. That's all I want from you." He looked down at her and kissed the top of her head.

"I'll never know what drew you to me in the first place," he said softly with a sad smile.

"It was your eyes," said Jin softly. "I saw pain inside them... and it made me feel... relieved..."

"Relieved?" he asked surprised.

"To know that I wasn't the only one who'd seen bad times..." she answered. He leaned in and kissed her lips tenderly, cupping her face in his hands. She leaned in to him, locking her arms around his neck and kissed him fully, his body warm enough for her.

"Jin," he whispered softly. "I told you once that I was fully yours. I still am. I'm always yours. I always was."

"And I'm yours," she said softly, looking up at him with tears of joy in her eyes. "Always." He smiled down at her and kissed her passionately, not even the moon shining as brightly as them.
----

The day of the wedding was not nearly as stressful as Jin had feared it would be, though there was no sign of Zuko all day. It wasn't until she ran into Aang that she learned that he was avoiding her because of the superstition that it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding. That made her laugh, feeling relieved and Aang assured her they'd have him there on time.

So she spent most of the day to herself, thinking on what was coming and trying to contain herself. She was a little nervous, but extremely happy at the same time. When she finally had to get dressed, Katara helped her, adjusting the gown just right and fixing her hair up for her. "Look what I bought for you," she said suddenly, reaching into a beaded bag she'd brought with her and pulled out a gently folded piece of cloth. Jin unwrapped it curiously, and inside it laid the most beautiful pearl necklace she had ever seen. In the center was a silvery shell with a black symbol painted on it. It was the symbol for the earthbenders mixed with the symbol of the Fire Nation.

"Do you like it?" asked Katara. "I had it custom made. I mean, I know you're not technically an earthbender, but you're from the Earth Kingdom and you're about to be joined with someone from the Fire Nation."

"It's so beautiful..." whispered Jin. "Thank you, Katara." She gave her a hug and then looked at her reflection in the mirror.

"Well," she said softly. "I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

"Let's do this thing!" chuckled Katara and Jin nodded, smiling, and she hurried off with her to where the ceremony was to be held.

The wedding was done in the Water Tibe tradition, which wasn't so different from what either of them was used to, and though it was only a small wedding since they were planning a bigger celebration once they were back in the Fire Nation, it was still more beautiful than Jin had imagined. When she approached Zuko, her soon to be husband, his eyes were glowing and his smile made her smile just as brightly.

As they gave each other their vows, their eyes remained locked on each other, neither of them fully aware of anyone else in the area. There had been few moments in his life that had left him completely breathless, but the moment Zuko saw Jin step into view in that gorgeous wedding dress, his heart had stopped a few beats and he felt like the wind had been knocked out of him.

When the entire ceremony was over, he kissed her passionately, not caring about the others watching and cheering, and they were all surprised with a celebration party held by the cheif right afterwards. There was dancing, great food, and plenty of wine to go around. Much to her surprise, Zuko wanted to dance with her, and she found once more as he held her close that their bodies truly fit together almost perfectly. She looked up into his eyes and smiled softly at him. "How does it feel?" she asked.

"Surreal," he answered. "In a good way," he quickly added. "How does it feel to be Firelady?" She smiled and shrugged.

"It's all right I guess," she answered. "Not nearly as great as being your wife."

"Yes, well, this means you get to rule alongside me... all that power." She laughed and he chuckled. "They'll be crowning you at the celebration when we get back. You'll get your own thrown, servants, and wealth beyond comprehension." She placed a finger on his lips to silence him.

"As long as I'm with you, that's all that matters. Not riches, not power. Just us." He smiled at her and bent down to kiss her.

"Even so," he whispered in her ear. "I'm glad to have you with me, Firelady Jin." She smiled widely and kissed him.

As everything began to wind down, they excused themselves from the room, applause following them, and once they were in the hall, Zuko suddenly grabbed her with a force that startled her and pinned her to the wall. He stared into her eyes for a moment, his eyes penetrating her, and his mouth crashed down on hers, kissing her with such fiery passion and longing. She moaned softly, returning the kiss with as much optimism, and when he pulled back, he lifted her off her feet and carried her into their room.

----
(A/N: Aaaand... I'll leave the rest up to your imagination. Still not over yet though! R&R!)