Miss SJB: Glad you like the story, maybe this chapter will help you.

Clearheart: Thanks, I really hoped that people would like it because I've been trying no to make it too mary-sue-ish.

BeautifulFirestone: Thank you and I hope it continues to be interesting!

Mikomialchemist: Umm…thank you for reading? Don't worry I will try to update as much as possible!

Breathelsslove: thanks for reading and I hope you keep reviewing! (actually, I hope YOU ALL keep reviewing…)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Avatar characters blah blah blah this is so getting old and I love Zuko!

I wasn't sure how to feel exactly when I returned to the palace. I slowly walked through the silent maze, wondering where everyone was. It felt as though I was walking in a dream and I kept touching the high stone walls of the maze to reassure myself that everything was real, that what I had seen was real. How could I have thought that there had been a mistake? I leaned heavily against one of the walls and cried quietly. How could Yoko have hurt me like that? How could he have done something like this to me? I loved him and he broke my heart.

"Aya?"

I turned my head quickly at the sound of my name. With a sick feeling in my gut, I recognized Yoko, standing uncertainly in the middle of the garden path. I stood up quickly and wiped the tears from my eyes.

"Go away." I said coldly, staring him straight in the eyes. "Leave me alone!" He took a step forward.

"Aya, please, let me explain…"

I glared at him menacingly and stepped back. He flinched and took another step forward, more haltingly this time as if trying to make sure I wouldn't run away again.

"Please Aya." He whispered, his voice quivering. I hesitated. He sounded like he was about to cry and a small sliver of hope broke through. Then the picture of…them came rushing back to me. I narrowed my eyes.

"Get away from me! I used to think of you…I used to think that you would never hurt me! And now…" I broke off and started crying again. He came forward and put his arms around me, squeezing me tightly.

"Aya, I'm so sorry. It was a huge mistake and I am so sorry. There was nothing going on…it just happened so quickly that…" I pushed him away angrily.

"How dare you!" I snarled. His yellow eyes watched me helplessly. "How dare you touch me? How dare you even think of touching me?" All thought of a second chance left me then and I could hardly bring myself to look at him.

"Go away." I said quietly, my hands clenched tightly into fists. It was all I could do to hold back the fire that threatened to break through. Yoko opened his mouth to say something but thought better of it. With one last glance, he walked away slowly, dejectedly, out of the maze. I watched him go without an ounce of sadness.

……………………………

The day before the Prince's birthday, he came to my house. When Kiku answered the door, she was so flustered that she could hardly speak and I had to come from upstairs to save her. I bowed and invited him inside.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, Prince Zuko?" I asked as I showed him to the small tea table. Kiku silently brought out two teacups and set them before us. She poured us each tea and then left. I could hear the door close and knew that she would be listening on the other side. I rolled my eyes to myself and directed my attention back to the Prince. He was sitting quietly and sipping his tea as his eyes slowly wandered over the walls. After a minute, he sighed and set his cup down.

"Lady Aya, my father, Fire Lord Ozai, has willingly chosen you as a bride for me." He said quietly while avoiding my gaze. I looked down at my lap and said nothing. I had thought about Yoko a lot in the past few days, but he had hurt me in a way that I was sure could never be fixed. I had decided long ago to accept the Prince's marriage proposal if he ever made me one. And if he hadn't…well, I would have found someone else. I could live without Yoko. When he didn't say anything, I stood slowly and kneeled next to him. His yellow eyes found mine and they widened slightly in surprise. I bowed low to the floor.

"Prince Zuko, please accept me." I whispered quietly. I felt him shift next to me and then his hand was on my shoulder.

"Sit up." He commanded. I complied and he took one of my hands. I found myself looking into his eyes. His scar looked differently to me now from when I had first seen it. Now, it made him a different person, a braver person. I didn't love him I knew, but maybe it would be alright.

"Aya, I…will you be my bride?" He said this a little awkwardly and I smiled slightly. I looked down and he let go of my hand.

"Yes, Prince Zuko." He let out a sigh; of relief or of something else I couldn't tell. He leaned against the table and rubbed his scar with one hand.

"This has been too complicated for me." He said. "This whole thing with marriage and just coming home was hard…" He sighed loudly and stood up. I stood with him and followed him as he walked slowly to the door. Behind me from the kitchen, I could hear someone talking but ignored the voices. When he reached the doorway, he turned to face me once again.

"Aya, you and your family will have to meet with my father…later." He said quietly, not quite meeting my eye. I nodded and looked away. Wouldn't that be unpleasant? He began to walk back to the palace with an escort of just one guard.

"Prince Zuko," I started and he turned quickly back to me. "My father is away. How will he meet with the Fire Lord?" I asked. He nodded thoughtfully.

"I'm not sure. My father may have sent for him." I nodded and watched him and the soldier walk back to the palace. When I went back inside, I fund my hands were shaking slightly. I took a deep breath and walked towards the kitchen door. The voices had not stopped, I found, and when I opened the door, I saw Kiku and Aki talking to each other. When they finally noticed me, they stopped in surprise. Aki's face was unreadable but Kiku had a mixture of excitement and surprise.

"Oh Aya, the Prince! How wonderful!" She put a hand on her breast. I looked at Aki and he grinned grimly.

"Someone should tell your mother." He said quietly. There was something in his eyes that made me look away. I'd never done that before, not to a servant anyway. They all knew about what had happened between me and Yoko of course. That very same day he had tried to come into our house. Kiku had let him in but I refused to see him and he was then forced into telling the story. He left quickly and my mother's hoarse yells could still be heard throughout the streets. Aki's face did not bode well for me. I could see well that he wanted to talk to me about something and I was sure I would not like it much.

"I'll go and get her." Kiku said, still breathless. She went into the kitchen to do a quick clean-up and then waved goodbye as she disappeared through the door. I stared after her, trying to avoid Aki's eyes. Eventually, I had to talk to him.

"Lady," he started gently, and put a hand on my shoulder. I didn't shrug him off and only turned my head to look at him. "Lady, why did you say yes?" He asked. I held his gaze for a moment and then looked down.

"I wanted to." I said quietly. He sighed and dropped his hand.

"I see."

"You do? Do you really?" I asked. A note of hysteria had entered my voice. His eyes slid over me and landed on the wall behind me.

"You know that you will then be a part of the royal family. A princess."

I nodded.

"Yes, I know. I have realized."

"And you will be a daughter-in-law of Fire Lord Ozai." He said this quietly and almost soothingly. Almost in disbelief, as if there was something wrong with me, like it was an impossible idea. I nodded.

"Yes, Aki, yes I have realized all of this and more."

A pause.

"That does not mean that I have absorbed it just yet. I am still trying to understand." I said. My eyes were burning and I was trying hard not to cry. Why, I didn't know. Shock, mostly, some happiness, some sorrow but there was something else. I was a little afraid. I was scared. Terrified.

A tear ran down my cheek and I hurriedly wiped it away. I turned my back on Aki, not wanting him to see, but he knew me better.

"Lady, please, Lady it will be fine. Everything will be alright." He said and took my hands. I could feel his calloused hands encircling mine and I squeezed them tightly. My amber eyes met his deep brown ones and he smile at me.

"Everything will be fine." He repeated and I nodded.

I hoped it would be.