Pairing: Zuko and Suki
Rating: K+
Notes: This is part one of something that I am working on. It's more about Suki and how she adjusts to her new life.

Zuko's mouth twisted into a frown, sitting next to Suki on the floor as she applied her Kyoshi make up for the last time. He was watching her in the mirror carefully, noting every flick of her wrist and curl of her fingers on the brush. He wanted to savor everything about this moment. "I didn't want this."

Suki laughed, looking at his reflection. "It has nothing to do with you." She frowned, looking at him with one of her eye brows painted red over her white paint. It made her face uneven, causing him to look at her in a new and strange way. She still looked beautiful of course. "Ok, it's got everything to do with you." She chuckled, looking back at her reflection.

"I did not think you would retire so soon." He sighed, "I feel bad."

"Don't." She mumbled, drawing the brush covered in red paint across her eye. "This is my choice Zuko. I was going to have to eventually, figured I should do it now."

He nodded softly as he watched her, hating that this was the last time she would have the paint on. He had never liked her make up, it angered him that he could not see his love's beautiful skin. He felt a twinge of guilt that he would never see her in it again though. It was still something about her, a basic building block of who she was as a person, of what made him love her, and she was leaving it: For him.

He leaned over and pressed his lips to her white skin, making her laugh. "There will be plenty of time for that later." He stood up first, extending his hand out to her. She took it, smiling at him as she stood. "I love you." She leaned up and kissed him on the lips, wrapping her arms around his waist in a tight embrace.

He kissed the side of her head, his nose burying into her hair. "I love you too."

There was a cough from the door way, pulling both of their attention to the figure. Ty Lee smiled wide at the both of them, "They are ready."

Suki let go of Zuko and nodded softly, "Alright." She took Zuko's hand and walked with him out of her mother's house on Kyoshi Island and towards the Kyoshi Shrine. He held his head low, a soft frown on his face.

"Keep your chin up, Zuko." Ty Lee said with a laugh as she walked next to him. "I mean you will still have me to watch out for you at the palace."

"It's it not like I will stop being protective over you, stop guarding you." Suki smiled at Zuko, making him blush as he felt her gaze on him.

"I know girls." He reached down and took Ty Lee's hand into his own, making her laugh again. "I appreciate you, both of you."

"One of us more than the other, I hope." Ty Lee laughed, grinning.

"Well yeah." He chuckled, leaning over and kissing Suki on the cheek.

Zuko let go of both of their hands as they approached the shrine. Their friends and the other warriors were already around the small house, waiting for the guest of honor. Suki walked ahead, her head high and hands gathered in-front of her. Ty Lee followed her, going and standing with the others. Zuko sat in the soft grass between an already seated Aang and Sokka, crossing his legs in front of him.

"How is she?" Sokka motioned to Suki.

"You know how she is." Zuko smiled softly, "She is ok."

Sokka nodded and looked back to Suki who was walking to the steps of the shrine. There were two people next to her. One of whom was the adult leader of the warriors, the other of whom was Suki's successor. Zuko could see the tears on her cheeks, making him frown, his heart hurting at seeing his love upset.

After a few words from the leader, the attention turned to Suki. She spoke in a soft shaking voice as she relinquished her responsibilities as a Kyoshi Warrior. She glanced out at Zuko for a fraction of a second before she reached back and undid the tie that held her gold headpiece in place. She took it off, presenting it to the young girl next to her, bowing as she did so. The girl took the headpiece, placing it on her head and bowing to Suki. Suki stood and turned to the people watching. They all stood as well, watching her.

"I want to thank everyone who has given me love and support throughout my years as a warrior." Her eyes scanned the crowd, tears rolling down her cheeks. "It is my hope that moving forward in my life I will be a force for good, love and peace." Her eyes locked with Zuko's, smiling though her tears. "And it will be my greatest pleasure to do so."

She bowed to everyone, still smiling. "Thank you so much, I truly love you all."

Everyone in the small group smiled widely as her then bowed in return. Suki saw them all bowing and laughed a little bit, crying more. "Thank you all." Zuko's eyes were on her. She saw his eyes, smiling wider at him, "I love you." She mouthed at him though her tears, smiling lovingly.

Ceremonies and holidays on Kyoshi island were always followed by great feasts, with food and laughing abound. Aang, Sokka, Katara and Toph were more than happy to partake in the excitement, eating and drinking with the other inhabitants of the small island.

Suki was not in the mood for drinking or eating right now though, she only just wanted to be alone in her room at her mother's house, alone with him of course. Zuko's attention was on his task at hand, the removal of her make up with a soft cloth and gentle soap. She was still crying, making his stomach churn in discomfort at seeing her in pain. He rinsed out the cloth in the small basin next to him, his eyes breaking away from her's for just a second.

"It was harder than I thought it would be." She shook as she spoke, "And I know it was my choice to do it and I knew that I had to do it but now that I've done it I hate it."

"I know darling." His hands traveled over her skin, taking off the last of the make up. "I'm still so proud of you."

She just nodded, looking in the mirror at her clean face. "I feel like I've lost part of myself."

"Suki…" He held her cheek in his hand, pulling her gaze back to him, "You're still a beautiful and amazing woman, nothing will ever change that." She let out a small cry and placed herself into his arms. She laid her head on his chest, curling up in his lap as a few more tears rolled down her face. He did the only thing he knew to do, which was to just old her, rubbing her back and kiss her head lovingly. "I'm so very proud of you."

Suki's mother Alma walked into her room with a trey of food in her hands. Zuko looked up at her with a smile, welcoming her. "I figured you both would be hungry."

Suki pulled away from Zuko and smiled at her. Alma wined a little bit when she saw her daughter in tears, setting the trey down hugging her daughter, kneeling down on the floor with them. "Oh sweetie." Her hands went to her daughter's hair, combing her hands though it. Suki sniffed and smiled at her mother. "I want you to know that you are, and always will be my hero."

"Mine too." Zuko added, his hands rubbing the back of Suki's arm.

Suki looked at them both and smiled, "Thank you, both of you."

Alma kissed her forehead comfortingly, giving her a warm smile. Zuko smiled at seeing them together. Every time that he looked at Alma it was like looking into a time machine. He was sure that it was what Suki would look like when she got older, and seeing them together still made him smile.

"Come on." Alma said to her future son-in-law, standing up. "Lets get you something to eat."

"Will you be ok?" He asked Suki.

Suki just nodded, "Yeah. I think I need to be alone for a bit."

He leaned over and kissed her softly, a smile on his face. "I love you, Suki."

She smiled, "I love you too."

He stood up and left the small home with Alma, his hands in his pockets as they walked. Alma smiled at him, looping her arm into his. "She will be ok." She assumed both herself and him.

"I know." He smiled over at her, "I will make sure of it." He sighed.

Alma patted her arm, a smile on her face. "You're not all bad Zuko."

He laughed a little bit, "I'm glad you think so. You know you can still come to the capital with us if you want."

Also shook her head, carrying the same frown that he had seen so much on Suki, "My place is here, not in the palace."

"It would mean a lot to her, you know."

She glanced over at him, "I know. Its just more than I'm ready to deal with right now."

He felt his cheeks flush over a little bit, feeling the distance between them. He knew that Alma accepted him for Suki's sake, but he could still sometimes feel the tension in the air when it was just the two of them.

"I'm sorry that I doubted you, Zuko." She rubbed his arm, making him look at her with a smile.

"Do you still?"

She shrugged, smiling as he looked ahead. "Sometimes."

"I wish I could prove you other wise."

She looked over at the you man that her only daughter had chosen as her beloved. "You're getting there."

"Well good." Zuko looked at her with a smile, "I'm trying Alma."

Alma laughed a little bit, "And you're doing just fine. I see how happy you make her and I will forever be grateful to you for that."

He smiled over at her, a blush on his cheeks. "Thanks."

"There he is!" Sokka stood up from the large table, his arms extended to Zuko.

"We saved some fish for you!" Katara called out to him as Aang sipped some tea.

Alma smiled at him and let go of him, walking to her own group of friends and family. Zuko sat down at the table with his friends, smiling at them.

"Is Suki going to join us?" Aang asked, a serious look on his face.

"I think she just needs to be alone." Zuko reached out and took a piece of bread, starting to nibble on it.

"Sometimes a girl needs that." Katara commented, rubbing her the small baby bump that was present on her abdomen.

Zuko nodded, looking back towards the small house, "And I will always give her what she needs." He mumbled to himself, smiling a little bit.