So soon, so soon! I'm so excited to FINALLY be getting to my favorite parts. So lets go go go!

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"I don't understand what you're saying," Zuko said, his eyes confused. He sat on the rock again, staring at the little girl, trees surrounding them. She looked so sad, her head down and her hair messy. Strands of hair lay over her gold eyes. He knew that this was a dream, and yet, Kaori was pregnant…and this girl…he knew that she was his.

The little girl looked up at Zuko, her gold eyes brimming with tears. "You won't see me anymore, it's so sad, but you won't and I'm going to miss you,"

Zuko stood up, going over to her and getting down on his knees. "But why? Why won't I see you anymore? What's going to happen?"

The little girl choked on a sob. "Bad things, very bad things. And we won't see each other,"

"But I'm right here," Zuko assured her. "I'm not going anywhere,"

Tears ran down the little girl's face and she shook her head wildly, her hair flying. "But I will! Don't you understand how much I'm going to miss you?"

Zuko took her shoulder's gently. "But what's going to happen? You have to tell me!"

Suddenly the little girl gasped, covering her face with her hands. "So bad, so bad," she muttered, slowly dropping her hands. When she looked at Zuko, he fell backwards, gasping. Half of her face was covered in a scar, her eye completely burned shut.

"Don't let me go away," the little girl whispered, reaching a hand out towards him. "I will miss you…"

Zuko let out another gasp and sat straight up in bed. A dream, just like he had known it had been. He looked beside him, checking to make sure Kaori was still there, and of course she was. She was laying on her side, her belly in her arms. It had been five months and her stomach had swollen up, like she had eaten a melon whole.

Zuko lay back down, wrapping an arm around her and placing it on her stomach. He was going to marry her once she had the child, he had promised her that. It hadn't been the greatest proposal, he simply wasn't good at things like that, but it had been honest and true. He would stick to it; he wouldn't leave her and the golden eyed little girl he knew would be born.

And yet…his dream was bothering him. The little girl…she had been one of the reasons he had come back to the island and now she was saying she wasn't going to be there? But that was impossible; he could feel her kicking at his hand through Kaori's stomach. She was alive and healthy, the doctor told them, in perfect condition. So why would she tell him she wasn't going to be there? And the scar…it all made no sense.

Shuddering slightly, Zuko curled up closer to Kaori, closing his eyes. Their baby- it still sent a strange flutter through his chest when he thought that- would be alright. In fact, she would be perfect.

XxXxXxXxXxX

The roundness of her belly still astounded Kaori and she ran her hands over it, smiling. She was eight months along now and she looked like she would burst at any moment. Hanging on her arm was a basket filled with fresh fruit that she had just bought from the market. Sure, it was simple enough to get someone to buy food for her, and then cook it, but most of the time Kaori did that herself. This was an island- there wasn't a lot to do. Even the simplest tasks gave her joy.

"Lovely Princess," a woman cooed as Kaori passed by her, offering a kind smile. "The child inside you is a healthy one! I can tell from your glow!"

Kaori laughed, smiling happily and patted her belly tenderly. "Thank you so much," she said, offering the woman a wave which was happily returned.

"Hey! Kaori!" She glanced up, seeing Aliruko running towards her.

"Aliruko!" Kaori exclaimed, her smile still just as wide. Aliruko had been so supportive through the whole thing- she was at Kaori's side the instant her name was spoken.

Aliruko stopped in front of Kaori, bending over a little, her breathing hard. "Geez, you're a hard woman to find…" she breathed, then stood up straight, stretching out her arms. "I wanted you to meet somebody, Kaori,"

Kaori raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Aliruko nodded, excitement in her eyes. She turned around, motioning someone to them. "Kaori, this is my cousin, Char,"

A young man approached them, skinny and tan. A lock of brown hair was thrown over his green eyes and he smiled lazily at them both. He was attractive, Kaori had to admit that, she did have eyes after all.

Kaori glanced at Aliruko though, taking her friend's shoulder and whispered. "Aliruko…I don't mean to be harsh…but didn't you tell me that your family was dead…"

Aliruko laughed loudly and shook her head. "No! Not entirely! My cousin is still alive, if he wasn't then he wouldn't be standing here!" She laughed again and Kaori chuckled a little, still rather confused.

"I…suppose that's true," Kaori finally said, then turned to Char. "Pleased to meet you then," She held out her hand in a friendly manner.

The boy smiled at her, taking her hand and shaking it- he had a strong grip. "It is a pleasure, Princess,"

Kaori shook her head with a chuckle. "Any friend of Aliruko's can call me Kaori,"

Char smiled widely, his eyes dazzling. "Kaori then. And I can see that you, Miss Kaori, are…well," He made a motion to her stomach and Kaori laughed along with Aliruko.

"Yeah, I'm pregnant," she said, rubbing her belly.

Aliruko giggled and tickled the top of Kaori's stomach. "She's got a little one growing in there…." She looked up and glared at Kaori in a joking manner. "Could have waited a couple years though- I'm much to young to be an aunt!"

Kaori rolled her eyes and looked back at Char. "How long are you here for?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not sure. However long it takes to get caught up with my darling of a cousin here,"

Aliruko jabbed him in the side with her elbow. "Oh stop…you're to much," she laughed and Kaori grinned.

"Well, I've got to get these," she lifted the basket of fruit up a bit, "back to the palace. But I know I'll see you around later Aliruko, and it was nice meeting you Char!"

She turned and began to walk away, glancing over her shoulder and waving at the two. Char and Aliruko watched her walk away, their expressions serious.

Aliruko glanced over at Char, who still stared off towards Kaori. "…'Darling' cousin…? Little thick, don't you think?"

Char looked at her for a moment then turned on his heel, stalking off towards the direction they came from, saying nothing at all.

XxXxXxXxXxX

The waves lapped at the beach, soothing and calm, brushing up against Kaori's toes. It felt so good to relax and just sit, even if the whole getting up part was still hard to do. Her hands were buried in the sand, keeping her upright and she sighed, closing her eyes. That was the nice thing about living on an island- it was so peaceful.

All her worries seemed to fade away. Any worries about the war, the outside world, even Zhao, melted away… After all, there was no reason to worry about Zhao. He couldn't find her here, no one knew how to get to the island- and she was positive that the island wouldn't let him find her. So with no way of knowing how to get to the island, she knew that she was safe. She, Zuko, and their baby that grew inside of her.

She could hear footsteps approaching her and she smiled, keeping her eyes closed. "Zuko…" she said softly. "I was wondering when you would show up…"

"Sorry to disappoint you," a voice said, and Kaori's eyes snapped open, her head jerking to the right. "But I'm not the prince,"

Kaori blinked as Char walked over to her, hands in his pockets. "Oh, Char, I'm sorry, I just thought…"

He chuckled a little. "No offense taken." He motioned to the ground. "May I?"

Kaori smiled and nodded. "Course," She watched him sit down next to her. "So, how do you like the island?"

Char nodded, staring out at the water. "I think it's great; a little to quiet for me though,"

With a giggle, Kaori nodded. "That's for sure, but I like it that way. I wouldn't want some crazy city,"

Char glanced over at her. "Have you ever been to some 'crazy city'?" He asked.

Kaori paused, looking thoughtful. "No…I haven't…"

"Then how do you know?" Char asked, raising an eyebrow.

Kaori smiled and rolled her eyes at him. "Because…I just know." She put a hand on her stomach. "Besides, I want to raise my child here, not in the city,"

Char stared at her stomach and swallowed hard, his eyes suddenly going to Kaori's. "Can I…I mean..can I…"

Kaori laughed once and nodded, "Sure, everybody does, you're just the first one to ask,"

Char nodded, seeming entranced, and put a hand on Kaori's stomach. His eyes widened as he felt a kick press against his hand. "Do you…do you think the child will be strong?"

Raising an amused eyebrow, Kaori shrugged a little. "I'm not sure. Whatever this child is, I'm going to accept it for whoever it decides to be. Strong, gentle, it doesn't matter."

"But strong for sure…" Char whispered.

Kaori laughed a bit, unsure of what to say, and then glanced up, spotting someone else coming towards them. A smile broke out on her lips. "Zuko," she said.

Zuko walked towards them, though there was not a smile on his lips.

"It was lovely talking to you Char," Kaori said with a laugh. "But I've got to be heading back now,"

She held out her arm and Zuko took it, helping to lift her up. With a wave, Kaori walked away with an arm linked in Zuko's.

"Kaori, who was that?" Zuko asked, still frowning.

"Just Aliruko's cousin, Char," Kaori responded, looking at Zuko curiously. "Why do you look like that?"

Zuko shook his head a little. "I don't like the looks of him."

Kaori laughed and lifted his hand to her lips, kissing it. "You worry to much, Zuko, he's just Aliruko's cousin,"

Zuko glanced back at the young man who sat on the beach staring out at the water intensely, "I don't trust him, Kaori, he's something bad,"

Kaori said nothing, just kissed his hand again and continued walking. Zuko couldn't shake the feeling though, it felt like the one in his dream.

Something bad was going to happen. He just wish he knew what.