Epilogue:

What Brought Us Together Is What Pulls Us Apart

Gray haze covered the skies over the Fire Nation palace, and the sound of light rain pattered over eves. The smell of wet earth wafted up from the warmth of the ground being rapidly cooled by the weather. Raya decided it was a fitting atmosphere for the day.

"You're leaving." It wasn't a question, or an accusation. If anything, it was a simple observation. The words echoed into the open space beneath the gazebo in the Western Garden. Raya felt an uncomfortable pang within her chest. She had been avoiding the Fire Lord all morning.

They had been staying in the Fire Nation palace by the grace of Zuko, but after three weeks, Aang decided it was time to keep things moving; the world wasn't going to right itself. Raya knew it was an inevitable conclusion to their stay, but the thought of saying goodbye was one she would rather avoid.

"I take it you've spoken with Aang," Raya said without turning from her leaning position. Her skin was damp with the rain, and it made her fiery spirit feel like a wet match. Small droplets of moisture were collecting in the white silk of the Demitar's hair, which hung loosely over her shoulder.

"I have. He told me where to find you, too," Zuko said. She could hear his light footsteps, indicating that he had stepped up into the shelter of the gazebo. "Are you going to look at me?"

The words hung in the air between them, and Raya felt her breath catch. If she were being honest with herself, she was avoiding the obligation. There was a difficult finality about the moment that she felt transpiring beneath the marble shelter. The silence was filled with her light sigh, and the fall of the rain around them. There was a reserved sadness etched into her face as she made eye contact with the Fire Lord. His hair was shagged around his face, damp from walking through the rain, and his robes were casual. His unbound robe revealed traditional fire nation pants, and his torso was the canvas to his most recent scar.

He stepped forward enough for them to be within arm's length of each other. She reached up and placed a gentle hand on the scar tissue, reminding her so much of her own. She would never understand the ruthless nature that fire benders possessed. It even lived within her, as much as she wished it didn't. Peace or war, there was a viciousness about the element she wished didn't exist.

He placed a gentle hand over hers and she looked up into his amber eyes. "We match," he said, touching her side gently where, beneath the fabric, her dragon fire scar lived. She gave him a halfhearted smile. "Come on, Raya." He placed a hand under her chin and lifted her face to fully meet his. He was serious, but a smile touched his lips which coaxed one out of her; a genuine one.

"I'm not sure when we'll return," she said finally. That was it; what had been eating at her all night and up unto this very moment. She knew how she felt about Zuko. Those feelings were true, and she wouldn't abandon them. However, she wondered if Zuko had taken the time to consider the implications of loving a Demitar. The world would call her away constantly. Could she even have a life beyond her duties?

"The world needs you," Zuko said with understanding.

"It will always need us; Aang and I. Until our dying breath; and in the next life," she remarked, her face turning a bit hard. Zuko stroked her cheek and she couldn't resist relaxing into his touch. This was wrong. It was only going to make leaving harder. And with that thought, she stepped away from him, out of his touch, and looked toward the large double doors down the path behind him.

"I've already told you that doesn't matter to me," Zuko said, trying to be patient. She could see the frustration building behind his eyes. "I mean, you being the Demitar matters, but not you being gone. This is the path I'm on, and it's a path I am okay with."

"But is it a path that will bring you happiness?"

"You bring me happiness," he insisted.

"Then your happiness will always be away," she said, moving past him and into the rain. It was pouring now, and she felt the droplets soaking into her robes. Her hair was becoming wet with rivulets of the weather and she made to move on to the door. A hand fell, not unkindly, on her shoulder. She stopped and turned her head back a bit to see the distraught look on his face.

"I don't see it that way," he said, and she felt his body press against her from behind. His arms wrapped around her gently and she felt him hug her. He held her there until she felt hot tears begin to spill from her eyes. She was suddenly grateful for the rain, as it mingled with her tears and masked their presence.

"Someday you might," she said solemnly. "What brought us together is pulling us apart," she thought aloud. Zuko rested his cheek against her white hair, wet now from the rain, and wished more than anything he could make her understand how he felt. It was as though she were pushing him away without any consideration for his side.

"Just because you are leaving doesn't mean you will never come back," Zuko said finally, seeing that she was making no more movements for the door.

"What if it takes a year? Two?"

"So be it," Zuko stepped up to her side, and then turned to face her.

"I won't let myself be the reason for your unhappiness," Raya said finally, glancing over to him.

"It's not your decision," he said with finality, and held her tighter. She gave up the fight, and let herself sink into his arms without hesitation. They were both soaked at this point, but Raya seemed to have forgotten the discomfort of the rain in that moment.

X

The halls were quiet, and Raya made her way slowly to her room. She need to pack the few things she had to take with her into her travel satchel, along with some of the new robes Zuko insisted she depart with. She took up the fabric between her fingers and felt each and every one of them, admiring their integrity and quality.

"Hey," a familiar voice sounded from the door. She glanced over to find Aang knocking lightly on the open doors frame as he sought permission to enter. She nodded her head in acquiescence, and the young Avatar made his way in. He had a light smile on his face, but it began to fade as he picked up on her mood through their connection. "Everything okay?"

"Sure," she said, trying to force a casual air. It didn't work well when the person you were trying to fool had a direct spiritual link into your soul. He gave her a knowing look and folded his arms. "Okay; not really. It's nothing, though. I'll be fine."

"You finally said your goodbyes." Aang was peering through her recent memories with his connection. She didn't block him, and merely shrugged her shoulders. This kind of closeness was something she had grown used to by now.

"Like I said: I'll be fine," Raya insisted as she stuffed the last of her things into the travel satchel Zuko had given her when she first escaped the Fire Nation. She probably could have used a bigger on at this point, but the bag had grown on her.

"You can still keep in touch. And we'll probably be back before you know it," Aang said, trying to bring a more positive atmosphere into the room.

"Easy for you to say; you get to continue traveling with Katara," Raya said, but her words caught a bit at the end. Through the connection she saw something she had not anticipated. "When did she decide that?"

"She and Sokka just told me today that they want to head back to the South Pole to help their father and the rest of the tribe rebuild."

"I'm sorry," Raya said, standing.

"Don't be. This is life. We all have to keep moving and living. Just because I'm dropping her off at the South Pole in a few days doesn't mean I'll never see her again. I'll write her all the time, and I know I'll always find my way back to her. I guess what I'm saying is, it's not forever." Aang shrugged and looked toward Raya.

She looked at him thoughtfully for a moment and then down at the floor. Maybe Aang was right. She had considered that she had been overly dramatic about leaving the Fire Nation, a place she once hated, but it had all been in Zuko's best interest. She loved him, and that was something she was going to have to live with. She had been pushing Zuko away because she knew as the Fire Lord, he would almost never leave the palace, let alone the Fire Nation. Who was she to hold him back like that? To bind him to herself with promises she may have to break?

She had already considered the fact that one day Zuko would have to marry for the good of his people – a match that would make the country more prosperous and peaceful. The Demitar was in no position to consider herself as a good marriage partner for the Fire Lord, if she ever found the time to settle. Aang didn't seem the least bit concerned, however, as his heart was clearly set on Katara. This gave Raya a small glimmer of hope for the future she envisioned.

"Maybe you're right," Raya finally said as she walked to the door. Aang fell into step at her side.

"I know it seems hard now," Aang said as they closed the bedroom door behind themselves and continued on down the hall. "But at least we have each other." Raya smiled at this and considered that fact. It was true; she would never have to roam the world alone, for the most part. Of course there would be times when duty would pull them away from one another, but that spiritual connection bound them in this world and the next.

"That we do," she agreed.

X

Fire Lord Zuko stood in the main foyer of the palace and waited patiently to see his guests off on the next leg of their journey. Raya gave him a pleasant smile as she descended the large stair case with Aang at her side. She saw him visibly relax as he returned her smile. She felt a bit guilty, realizing that she had made things tense between them earlier in the garden because of her solemn mood.

Aang departed from the Demitar's side and met Katara at the bottom of the stairs. Raya stepped up to Zuko and they all began walking to the door as a group. Sokka, Suki, and Toph were already outside, packing the large sky bison for travel. Katara and Aang stepped through the large doors first, and Zuko lingered in to doorway. Raya took pause and watched as Aang and Katara descended down the stairs and toward their flying companions without giving Raya or Zuko a second thought.

The Demitar turned to face the Fire Lord with gentle eyes. He looked like he used to when he tried to talk to her. His brow was furrowed in thought and his eyes were pointed at the ground. She smiled gently and tilted her head slightly. She would miss these awkward moments.

"Raya," Zuko finally said as he looked up to her. There was melancholy in his eyes, but also an intensity that made Raya's heart skip a beat.

"Yes?"

"You will always have a home here – if you want it." Raya cleared the distance between them in three easy steps and wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him tightly. She felt his arms return the embrace with the same amount of enthusiasm. She pulled her face back only slightly, and tilted her head back enough to whisper to him.

"I will always want it."