Sam

I woke up. I was still laying between Zuko's legs. I loved laying like this. After my embarrassment last night, it felt good. Him holding me so close. I felt comforted and safe. I looked up at him. Of course he was awake. I looked out the window and it was well past sunrise.

"We slept late. Well, I did anyway." I still wasn't convinced he slept.

"I slept, Sam." he said simply. It occurred to me that he probably didn't sleep well. He couldn't have been very comfortable. Someone knocked on the door. I got up to answer it.

"Sam!" Zuko shouted.

"What?" I said, confused.

"You can't answer the door like that!" he held his hand out to me. I looked down. I forgot I still had no clothing on. I blushed and grabbed my robe. I opened the door and it was a servant.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, my lady." she said. She appeared to be eyeing the room behind me, clearly not here to talk to me. I felt the door open further and Zuko appeared.

"Yes, Belna?"

"I wanted to let you know that everything is ready, as you requested, sir. And your friends have just arrived in the palace." I looked at him confused. He looked down at me and snickered.

"You were really out, Sam. She came in and gave me an update. I didn't want to wake you. Don't worry, you were covered by the blanket," he clarified when he saw me awkwardly shift my stance. He turned back to Belna, "Thank you, Belna. We will be out shortly." She bowed and left.

"You need to get some actual clothes on, my love. Our friends are here." Zuko and I got dressed. Because today would be official, he and I dressed in full regalia. Once we were dressed, we headed down to the throne room where our friends were waiting.

When we got there it was Aang, Sokka, Chief Hakoda and Toph. I looked around and then at Aang.

"No Katara?"

"No, she is staying home with the children. Besides," Aang said sheepishly, "she is pregnant." My eyes lit up.

"PREGNANT?! Oh, Aang I'm so happy for you! When is she expected to deliver?"

"Well, within the next couple of weeks, actually. So I won't be able to stay long. What is going on, Zuko? Your messenger hawk said it was urgent."

Zuko smiled and approached Aang, shaking his hand, "congratulations, buddy! I'm sorry she couldn't make it but I'm happy for you both!" Aang yanked Zuko's hand and pulled him into a hug. He still wasn't a fan of hugs. I could tell he was uncomfortable but he didn't pull away.

Once the greetings and "hellos" were finished, Zuko put on his all-business face. He turned to one of the servants, "Will you please fetch my uncle?" The servant smiled, bowed and scurried off. Zuko saw the looks on everyone's faces. "He wants to be here for this. He was here for…my father's funeral and once he heard about what happened, he wanted to stay." Everyone looked at each other and back at Zuko. They all gave him their condolences which he graciously accepted. The next person to speak was Chief Hakoda. He stepped forward and placed a hand on Zuko's shoulder.

"Zuko, I know that you and your father had your differences and I'm sorry about what happened. I also heard about what happened to your wife," his eyes went to me, "I am glad to see you are in good health now, Fire Lady Sam." He turned back to Zuko, "I know things have been rough for you both recently, son, but don't lose hope. Things will get better soon, I promise you."

Zuko bowed to Hakoda. It always jarred me when I saw him bow. He never bowed to anyone. Except maybe Iroh. "Thank you, Chief Hakoda. Your kind words mean the world to my wife and I. You are a good friend." This time, Zuko hugged Hakoda. Besides me, I'd only ever seen him voluntarily hug his uncle.

We all headed to one of the council chambers. We decided to use a smaller room since it was only a few of us. I wasn't exactly sure how this meeting was going to go but I had decided to let Zuko take the reins on this one. I was completely out of my element and I always liked seeing Zuko being Fire Lord. Zuko was at the head of the table, running the meeting. I was to his right and Iroh to his left. Hakoda was at the other head of the table. Sokka to his right and Aang to his left. Toph sat next to Sokka. Zuko cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Thank you, everyone for coming today on such short notice. I assure you, it is of the utmost importance. I have evidence that Earth Queen Kia tried to have my wife murdered." Everyone gasped and their eyes went to me and I blushed. "And she used Ozai and his followers to get it done.

"It started when Sam went to see Ozai," he left out the part where I had gone against his wishes and the ensuing fight afterwards. "he had goaded her and he tried to kill her. Luckily, I got there just in time to stop him. We didn't know it at the time, but the dye was already cast. He had already been formulating his plan. His prison guard was a supporter of his and he wanted me dethroned. He was Ozai's eyes and ears. He gathered the members of the Ozai Society and they decided the best way to dethrone me was through my wife." He gestured to me. I continued to sit silently.

"They didn't know how they would do it but they knew they needed help. They didn't have the funding nor the resources to succeed. After they heard about what happened with Kia, Sam and I, they took a gamble and decided to approach her. She, of course, readily agreed to their plan and provided them with the necessary resources. The rhinos, the weapons and their other gear. She also provided someone who specialized in chi-blocking. While I was on my annual prison tour throughout my kingdom, they kidnapped Sam." he looked over at me. I looked at him, sadness in my eyes. He reached over and took my hand into his.

"Their plan was that I would find Sam and would kill them all. If I didn't kill them when I found then, I would execute them. Either way they would be made martyrs. They expected, then, that my people would turn their backs on me for murdering 'innocent' Fire Nation citizens." Zuko paused. This part was as hard for him as it was for me. I reached over and took his hand, rubbing the back of it with my thumb. He closed his eyes for a moment and continued, "When I found her I wasn't sure if she was dead or alive. She wasn't moving. I didn't know she had been chi-blocked. They had tortured her…in many ways. Fen, our physician, was surprised that she survived it." I shot a look over at him and he looked at me out of the corner of his eye. I didn't know Fen had said that. "After I found her she convinced me not to kill them, because I was going to," he admitted. "Once we arrested everyone, we interrogated them and this is how we filled in the blanks."

Zuko pulled out a scroll. The scroll. "One of my palace guards was part of this plot as well. In hindsight, I think he was probably one of the leaders. He had the scroll in his apartment which my men retrieved." He handed it to Iroh to read and pass down. Zuko and I sat quietly in our places while everyone read it. Anger, disgust and sympathy for me flashed across their faces. I didn't find out until later but Hirshu had detailed what they had done to me in the scroll. What he said was accurate. Once the scroll arrived back at us Zuko spoke again.

"I know we have been trying to remove the Earth Queen from her throne but we haven't had strong enough allegations against her but, with this, I think we could move forward with it. What do you all think?" Sokka spoke.

"I think the evidence is strong. We need to do something about her. She is cruel to her people and abusive to them. I think this is strong enough to remove her for good. What do you think, Dad?"

"I agree. She needs to be dealt with and swiftly. After what she did to Sam, I think we can move forward with it." Next Aang spoke.

"I agree. I am the mediator and peace keeper between nations. There is no peace with her as queen. She needs to be removed." Toph and Iroh both agreed.

We formulated a plan to remove the queen. After my attack, Zuko was not willing to leave me so he would remain here. Toph, Sokka and Aang would confront the Earth Queen and she would be imprisoned. A new king would be appointed - Kuei's brother, Luk. After Kuei died (a suspicious and sudden death), he was supposed to take the throne but Kia usurped it from him and they weren't able to do anything about it. Until now. They would send a hawk to Zuko once it was done and we would all finally be able to work towards peace in the Earth Kingdom once again. However, everyone would be spending the night here. Iroh would return back to Ba Sing Se with Aang on Appa.

We all had dinner and we spent time among friends and it was finally time for everyone to retire. We all went to our respective rooms and turned in for the night. Zuko and I came to our bedroom. He opened the door for me and then he followed me in, closing the door. I looked at the bed. I was really starting to hate this thing. I wished I could share it with Zuko like we used to. I wasn't sure it ever would happen again. Tonight though, we needed to talk.

"Zuko, I…need to talk to you."

"Yes?" he mumbled, changing his clothes.

"You need to go with them." I declared as I changed out of my own clothes.

"No, I'm not leaving you here alone and we can't both go."

"You have to, Zuko. You summoned them all here to take care of Kia and then you aren't going to follow through? You have to go. I'll be alright."

"Yeah, I remember the last time you said that." he said darkly.

"I know but, hunny, that threat is gone. They are no longer on the loose."

"There will always be threats, Sam. Not just them."

"Yes, there will be. And you will have to leave me behind eventually. I will be alright, Zuko. You have to go. You can't stay and protect me forever. You will have to leave eventually."

"I know, Sam but it's too fresh for me. I can't stand leaving you."

"I don't like being separated from you either, Zuko, but you are the Fire Lord and part of the Council of Nations. You can't send everyone else and you stay."

"Katara isn't going." Zuko reason. I rolled my eyes.

"You and I both know that isn't the same thing. She is pregnant and taking care of the kids. I am just here. Zuko, think about how this looks. How it will look. If they go to confront her and the person who collected all of the evidence is nowhere to be seen? It will discredit the mission." I knew he was starting to see reason but he was so stubborn.

"I'll think about it." I knew what that meant.

"There is nothing to think about. You will leave with them tomorrow. It'll be just a few days and you'll be home again with me. I will have plenty to keep me busy." He furrowed his brow in thought. I could tell he was considering.

"What if I leave Iroh with you?" Seriously?

"Iroh is hitching a ride on Appa back to Ba Sing Se. He can't stay. I don't need a babysitter."

"I didn't mean to imply you did. I just…don't want anything to happen to you."

"It won't. I want you to go. This is too important. You know I'm right." Zuko closed his eyes and sighed.

"Fine, I'll go."

"Good. Thank you, Zuko." I crawled into bed and he did the same. I scooched over to him and we settled into our position. We laid with each other, enjoying our company for the last night for a little while. He stroked my arm and I stroked his chest, tracing his veins. We laid like that until we both fell asleep.

Zuko and I woke early. We wanted to make sure that he would be ready in time to leave. He dressed in his Fire Lord travel gear. It was more armor than it was robes. I always thought it looked incredibly uncomfortable although he looked great in it. We walked out and everyone was boarding Appa.

"Wait! I'm leaving with you!" Zuko shouted running towards Appa.

"Zuko! You're coming along!" Aang said happily. It looked like they were missing Chief Hakoda and Sokka who I guessed were on their way. Zuko turned to me and took me into his arms. I laid my hand on his chest.

"I'll be home soon, my Fire Lily." He took the hand on his chest into his. "Be safe. I put the guards on high alert to make sure you're safe."

"I will."

"Don't go anywhere. Stay in the palace." he said.

"I promise."

"And the guards know not to let anyone who they don't know into the palace." It was at this point that Sokka and Hakoda walked up to us all.

"Zuko, you're coming with us?" Sokka asked, excitedly. Zuko looked at him and nodded.

"Ok, Zuko. I'll be safe."

"And stay alert! Don't let anyone surprise you." I rolled my eyes.

"I promise, Zuko. Until you return, I'll lay in bed in the fetal position." I said sarcastically. Zuko's brow furrowed and he glared at me. Meanwhile, Sokka laughed.

"Good one, Sam." I smiled at him.

"Stop worrying. I look forward to your return home. Have a safe journey." We kissed each other and held it for longer than necessary. He climbed up on Appa and they all set out for the Earth Kingdom Palace.