Woot! Last week of college! One more final and some papers due!! Can you believe it? I'm so close to being done with my first year : ) Then there will be so much more time to write, so expect more, a lot more, when this week is over. : ) I hope you're all enjoying it though!!! :D

Onward we go!

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Chapter Thirteen

Zuko sat on a rock in the middle of the woods. His eyes scanned around, taking in every color of green and brown, all the different shades. The wind blew softly through his hair- hair that covered his entire head in a thick mess. He reached up and ran his hand through it- this was something new for him, and he wasn't sure when he did it…

The sun glittered down from between the trees and he could hear the wind brush through the leaves in the trees. It was peaceful; he liked that, just taking a moment to pause and breathe.

In front of him, he saw someone approaching. There was no sense though, that this person meant him any harm; in fact, he knew they didn't, because as they came closer, he saw that it was a young girl, perhaps around the age of six.

She was smiling at him, dressed in a pale orange dress. Her skin was slightly tan, not as tan as Kaori's, he noted, and her black hair curled at her chin. She stopped in front of him, a few feet away, and blinked, regarding him carefully with her gold eyes.

After a long moment of silence, Zuko finally spoke. "Hi," he said simply, and the girl smiled widely.

"Hello!" she exclaimed, and then she laughed. "You're not very smart! I thought you would be,"

Zuko blinked and frowned. "I am smart," he said, shaking his head, and the little girl shrugged her shoulders.

"How can you be? Look where you are,"

Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, he was sitting in the middle of the deck of his ship, staring at the girl, but the ocean was all around them, the sun setting behind the girl.

"My ship…" Zuko said softly, frowning a little. He looked at the girl. "There's nothing wrong with this,"

The little girl groaned exasperatedly. "You don't geeeeet it," she whined, throwing her arms in the air. "This is so cold!" She stamped her little foot against the metal of the ship to show what she was referring to. "How can you want to be so cold?"

Zuko frowned, looking away from her. "I'll be fine,"

He felt a hand underneath his chin as his face was turned to look into the little girl's. She smiled at him and tilted her head to the side.

"But you don't have to be. You don't have to be so cold. All that warmth, it's yours too." she said, putting a hand on his cheek.

Zuko stared up at her, his eyes pained. "But…how do you know?"

The little girl laughed, letting her hand fall from his cheek and she turned slightly, staring at someone who had appeared on the other side of the ship against the railing. The person's hair blew in the wind and Zuko saw them extend a hand for the little girl.

"I just know," the little girl whispered, smiling brightly. Quickly, she kissed Zuko on the cheek, right against his scar, and then turned, running to the person against the railing. Zuko watched as the little girl jumped into the woman's arms, as she was spun around, laughing. He watched the woman smile widely and laugh as well, her eyes bright and her brown hair catching in the wind. He watched as she held the little girl close to her, hugging her.

And then she turned to Zuko, the girl in her arms turning to look at him as well, and she smiled. Zuko stared in wonder before his breath caught in his throat.

Kaori.

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Zuko sat up in bed quickly, his chest pounding. His eyes frantically skimmed around the room, taking in everything familiar to him- his books, his walls. He pulled a knee up to his chest, resting his elbow on it, and held his head in his hand. It had been a dream…only a dream and yet it had felt so real. He had felt so connected to that little girl, like he knew her.

And then Kaori… If Kaori was there…and that little girl… The black hair, the soft color of skin and the gold eyes- eyes that looked exactly like his…

He swallowed hard, closing his eyes. He could see her so clearly, that little girl. Deep down, he knew exactly who she was.

She was his; she was Kaori's- she was theirs. A child. Their child. He had never once in his life thought about having children. He was to young to think about it and all his life he had been obsessed with becoming stronger. Capturing the avatar. Making his father proud. There was no time to think about love and children; that future… It wasn't in the plans. He had known that all of that would be taken care for him when he got to the proper age. His father would choose a bride for him; someone who would benefit their nation, and then they would produce an heir. It was the life he had known.

This little girl was not something he knew about. Nor was the love that had radiated from Kaori's eyes when she had looked at him.

Something was gnawing at him in his chest. He didn't like this feeling and yet he couldn't get the image of the little girl out of his head. She had his eyes, his hair, she was his- he had helped to make her. He wanted to know her, to protect her, and it was a strange and overwhelming feeling; one he had never felt before. She didn't even exist and yet he felt that he knew her and had a connection to her.

He opened his eyes, determined to get the image of her out of his mind and yet, there she was, still in the midst of his thoughts. With a sigh, he laid down, putting an arm across his eyes. A father. He had never thought about being a father- he knew he had to have an heir, sure, but that was different. Did he even want to be a father? His own had been…well, more like an authority all the time; someone to impress and check in with. Now, his mother, she had been a good woman. She had been like what he had sometimes wished his father had been like. Kaori could be that woman; she would make a great mother.

But would he make a great father? He turned onto his side, contemplating the fact. He didn't know the first thing about children, nor what to do with them or how to act around them. They were completely foreign to him and yet… that look in the little girl's eyes had said that she didn't care.

He stared at the wall, thoughtful, until he drifted off into sleep again.

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"You're leaving,"

Zuko turned around quickly, the hood of his cloak falling around his shoulders. The sky was dark, the only light provided from the bright of the moon above him. Uncle stood before him, hands folded against his belly and a small smile against his lips. Zuko stood beside one of the small metal boats that his ship provided. He hadn't meant to wake anyone; he had wanted to slip out quietly but it seemed like this wasn't a skill of his.

"Uncle…" he said softly, not sure of what he could say.

Uncle Iroh held up a hand, smiling at his nephew. "It is alright, nephew, I did not come here to stop you,"

Zuko blinked. "You…you didn't?"

"Of course not!" Uncle Iroh said, with a small laugh. "Who am I to stand in the way of true love?"

Zuko looked down at the boat and then back at his uncle. "I'm not…in love."

Uncle Iroh raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you stealing one of your own boats to leave and return to an island where a particular girl waits?"

Zuko hesitated a moment, trying to find the words. "Because…I want to find out what I'm feeling. What my dreams mean."

Uncle Iroh was silent for a moment and then stepped forward, engulfing his nephew in a hug. "I," he said slowly, still holding onto Zuko. "Have never been more proud of you. A man truly has honor when he does what his heart tells him to do, and not his country,"

Zuko hugged his uncle back, though not as tightly, and nodded. "Thank you, Uncle, for everything,"

Uncle Iroh stepped back, laughing softly again. "Oh, I'm sure that we will see each other again nephew. I will come visit sometimes,"

Zuko frowned a little. "But how will you find the island?" He didn't even know how to find the island, he realized.

Uncle Iroh shrugged. "I'm not sure, but I have a feeling that I will. So I'm not going to question it," He paused. "That would be foolish," he added quickly.

Zuko smiled a little and nodded, stepping onto his boat. "Then I'll see you soon, Uncle." he said, walking to the control panel. He reached underneath it and shot a flame into the engine, setting coal on fire and bringing the boat to life with a small hum.

Uncle Iroh watched the boat begin to leave and he waved. "Try not to get into any more trouble!" He called, just loud enough for Zuko to hear. Zuko chuckled a little and turned to the steering controls on the boat. Kaori had said to just go and the island could be found- that it found a person rather than the other way around. He didn't know if it was true, but there were to many things pressing on his mind. Things that he couldn't stop thinking of no matter how hard he tried. He had to give it a chance. He had to try. He would go crazy if he didn't.

He watched as his ship became smaller and smaller and then he closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. Then, without pause, he took a blade from his pocket and brought it to the back of his head. Swiftly, he cut off his pony tail and threw it into the water. He didn't look back after that.

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Kaori stood out on the beach, her gaze unemotional. It had taken some time for her to recover, but after a week, the council had approached her, and now there was no more running. It was a reality, a sick and twisted horrible reality. Her parents, had they been alive, would have been furious. Yet, they weren't here and there was no other way.

The long white dress she wore blew in the breeze at her bare feet which were buried in the sand. Her usually wild hair had been set up on the top of her head, decorated with white beads and flowers. She was a bride, just not the blushing kind- the resentful and bitter kind suited her more.

She stared at the ocean, wanting to jump right into it and let it carry her away. This was supposed to be her life, not any one else's and yet here she was, giving away the control to someone else.

With a sob, she fell to her knees, not caring if sand got on her dress. She pressed her hands to her eyes, letting the tears burn down her cheeks. Why did things have to be this way? Why was life so unfair? Her shoulders shook with her sobs, strands of her hair coming undone and falling against her face.

"Kaori?"

Her head snapped up, eyes wide, and she was sure she looked insane. At that moment, however, she just didn't care. She knew that voice. Her head turned to the left slowly and she blinked, getting to her feet even slower. She couldn't breath; if she did then this mirage would go away.

"Kaori," the figure said again, and Kaori stumbled towards it, tears still falling from her eyes. She reached out a hand, touching the figure's face and the figure closed their eyes, not saying another word.

"You're…you're not real," Kaori muttered, a tear falling down her face, catching on her lips.

The figure smiled just a little and shook his head. Kaori ran her hands across the thin buzz of hair that he had and her eyes were filled with confusion and all sorts of emotions.

"How did you…how did you get here?" she asked, her eyes going back to his.

He pointed down the beach. "About a mile down is my ship. I've been walking ever since I landed."

Kaori was still for a moment, staring at him, and then she let out another sob, throwing her arms around his neck. "Oh Zuko," she cried, tears falling from her cheeks again.

Zuko hesitated for a moment and then wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her.

"I'm supposed to marry Tonu today and I don't want to and I can't and now you're here and I'm so happy for so many reasons because you're here and I missed you and I don't want to marry Tonu and with you here I don't have to and I just-" she stopped mid ramble, looking at him suddenly, panic in her eyes. "You…you are here…because you…you want to be with me…right?"

Zuko hesitated for a brief moment. "Do I have to take Tonu's place today?" he asked slowly, and the panic slowly drifted from her eyes.

"No," she said quickly, "No, you don't, we'll just explain everything to the council. They may be able to betroth me, but if I find royalty on my own, they can't complain, they can't, I have the overall say,"

Zuko smiled a little, relief filling him. He hadn't come here to get married right away- he was only eighteen. But he did want to see where this would lead him.

Kaori smiled widely, taking his hand. "So lets go tell them, kay?"

She started to move, but he stood still, so that she merely tugged on his hand. She turned, looking back at him with a confused expression.

Zuko hesitated for a moment and then leaned forward slowly, closing the distance between them. He pressed his lips against hers, the pressure soft and gentle. He could feel his heart racing- this was it. This was his decision and there was no turning back from it. The Prince of the Fire Nation would no longer exist; he would vanish from the world and no one would ever find him. The girl against him, that was his future. That was what he wanted to follow.

Against his lips, he could feel her smiling, and as they took off towards the village, her hand in his, he could feel any fear he had falling away with each footstep.

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The room was filled with only the light from candles that were hanging from the wall. It was a bare room, filled with only a small and thin wooden table, a Fire Nation emblem on the wall, and other than that, nothing. Metal, cold walls surrounded them, five people. Three of these people were dressed in armor, their faces covered and their hands clenched into fists in case they had to do anything.

The fourth person in the room was a young woman who sat in front of the table. She looked down at her hands which were clasped in her lap. Her eyes were troubled, her face already stained with tears.

The fifth person was pacing back and forth slowly, stroking the facial hair he had. His beady gold eyes looked at the woman and he smiled at her.

"So…you say you saw him down there?"

The woman nodded, still not looking up. "Yes," she whispered. "He told me not to tell anyone I saw him. But for the duration of her stay, I had been bringing her water…feeding her…"

The man scowled at her. "Why would you do that?"

With a shudder, the woman answered. "I just…I don't like to see suffering when I can help ease at least a little pain…"

"And yet," the man smiled. "You are here…telling me all that you know,"

The woman swallowed hard. "You said there was money involved if anyone knew anything,"

Leaning down, the man hooked a finger beneath her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. "Yes, there is, and your information is very useful to me. So continue,"

The woman nodded, staring up at him with fright. He was like a monster, she thought. Exactly like one. "I would listen in on what he would say to her. Things about getting her out of there. I think…I think they felt something for each other. He would not let her die."

The man nodded, stroking his facial hair again. "Interesting." He turned, heading for the door. "You've done well." He stopped next to a guard. "Pay her…" he said softly, so only the guard could hear. "But not with money,"

The guard nodded and motioned to the other two, and they walked towards the girl.

"Hey, what are you- what's going on, hey!"

The man walked out of the room and shut the door before he heard a high pitched scream and the sound of flames filling the room. With a smirk, he walked down the hall.

So, the Prince had helped her escape, there was no doubt in his mind that he had. The filthy air bender was alive and the prince who hadn't been seen in days was out there in the world, probably with the air bender. No one got away from him though; no one embarrassed him that way. No one could escape from his grasp- he would finish off the air bender just like he had meant to years ago. And the prince. Abandonment of one's country was a crime. He would have to suffer the consequences.

Zhao turned a corner, smirking wider.

They thought it was over.

But this was just the beginning.

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END OF PART ONE!!! (Parts for me are like…sections in a book. So you had a bunch of chapters now, and then you get more chapters coming soon- all in this thread, don't worry about looking for another story : ) )

Summary of Part two:

As years pass on the island, Zuko realizes that the choice he made was the right one. As he watches the life of his island, things in life change for the better- with surprises and love all wrapped together in the greatest of packages. But yet someone can not leave them alone; someone filled with resentment and anger. As Zhao gains power, Zuko's life on the island becomes threatened. New faces show up on the island and a love is tested as the life Zuko dreamed of is slowly torn apart.