Her arms laden with a basket of fruit and vegetables Zoe slowly made her way back to their new apartment. She loved shopping in the upper ring; it was so much more pleasant than the lower ring. It was the evening after their first week of work at their new tea shop Zuko had been missing all day, which was very odd in Zoe's opinion. So she and Iroh had held down the fort at work, though it seemed Iroh was not worried about Zuko's whereabouts. As she passed the gates that led to the lower regions of the city she saw a pale man with messy black hair walk through them. She was certain it was said boy whom had been missing all day, but what was he doing down in the lower rings?

"Lee!" she called to him, she'd be happy for some help carrying her groceries. Zuko apparently didn't hear her and suddenly ducked off down a back street. Frowning Zoe thought she may have mistaken him. Though, she could have sworn she saw a red scar across the left side of his face.

She continued on, checking the passing streets for any sign of Zuko. She still had not ventured to find her old house here in the upper district; she wasn't sure that she would even remember it. No, that wasn't true, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to see it, or if it would still even be there. She kept saying 'there', she didn't even know where 'there' was.

After a quick browse through the evening market stalls near their home, Zoe stopped herself from buying an unnecessary, but pretty kimono, and found herself dumping her produce in their kitchen.

"Zuko? Iroh?" She called, but no one answered. Well, that was bizarre. With a yawn, Zoe stretched and headed to her room; perhaps a quick nap was in order.

But, when she entered, her bed was already occupied by a certain black haired boy.

He looked up at her innocently, his golden eyes only distracting her for a moment as she noticed something wriggling madly in his hands.

A fluffy, brown, baby rabbit-hen was attempting to free herself from the confines of Zuko's grip.

"Huan!" Cried Zoe ecstatically, "Zuko you bought her?" And with that, she was on top of him, hugging every bit of him that she could reach.

"You…are the nicest…" more hugging.

"Zoe!" cried Zuko.

"Person…" hug, hug.

"Zoe…"

"Ever!"

"Zoe, you're squishing Huan!"

"Oh," Zoe leant back quickly. Zuko was now lying on his back, Huan still in his hands and Zoe sat atop him. She picked Huan out of his grasp and snuggled her briefly. "Sorry Huan." she crooned and Zuko sat up.

Zoe looked back at Zuko, her smile attempting to fill her entire face. "Thank you Zuko." This explained where he had been all day. Zoe felt an overwhelming feeling of warmth course through her as though she'd never been happier. It wasn't because she had Huan; it was because Zuko had spent the whole day searching for the little animal and bought her for Zoe. Suddenly she threw her arms around Zuko's neck, emotion overwhelming her, and hugged him tightly, dropping Huan safely in their laps.

Zuko seemed to stiffen slightly, but his arms wrapped around her waist nonetheless and Zoe buried her face in his neck, breathing deeply. Her breath tingling the hairs on Zuko's neck, the soft brush of her finger tips driving his heart wild.

He had to breathe quickly, his breath ragged; Zoe's every touch setting fires to blaze through his veins. Her very close proximity was intoxicating him. He closed his eyes, his face in her hair, breathing her in. His hands on her back were desperate to move, to roam further, but he had to restrain himself; he was certain he would scare her if he was too forward. But, then, she had started kissing his neck; she couldn't help herself! He smelt so good, so intoxicating that before she knew it her lips and tongue were scaling the expanse of his skin. Zuko inhaled sharply, his fists clenching around the material of Zoe's robe and his stomach muscles clenched, his blood boiling.

"I think…" he croaked, as if trying desperately to distract himself, "I should buy you things more often…"

Zoe abandoned her assault to his neck and faced him with a small, coy smile, her cheeks very flushed. However, before she could say anything Zuko had taken his chance and captured her lips. She gasped, but then moaned, his lips were hot and firm moving sensually with hers in a way neither she nor he had ever experienced and heat pooled in her lower stomach, her abdomen tightening and she pulled her self closer to Zuko, as if they weren't touching enough already.

Zuko groaned as he could feel her every curve pressed against him and he deepened the kiss. But, then just when Zoe thought she could stay like this forever Zuko leapt off her yelping in pain. He picked up Huan angrily, one hand rubbing his thigh.

"She bit me!" he accused glaring at the fluffy little creature and Zoe retracted her arms from Zuko's neck, stifling a laugh as Zuko looked quite adorably… aroused? She took Huan, who was looking at her with big innocent eyes, out of his grasp.

"Good work Huan!" She cheered and Zuko scowled. She was glad to see him scowl; it was actually something she missed with his new positive self. Sometimes she thought the new him wasn't real, like he was hiding from reality, taking on a life that couldn't last. She hated thinking that, but she couldn't help the thoughts that streamed in. She shook her head dazedly; she was being stupid, she should be happy for Zuko and Iroh! She begun to think of how much things had changed since she first met the Prince; when he was so angry, so desperate for the Avatar. Now he was happy, he was here, he was kissing her. But, for some reason a strange uncomfortable feeling had settled over Zoe: foreboding. Like something bad was going to happen.

She pushed the thought away.

Zuko touched Zoe's cheeky gently, trying to get her attention back to him as he noticed her eyes glaze over. She blushed and looked up to see Zuko staring at her, and she held his gaze, and felt better; her worries and fears fading.

"Zuko? Zoe?" called Iroh from the front of their apartment. The two jumped away from each other, both with identically guilty faces.

Zuko flattened his hair and Zoe straightened her robes, picked up Huan once more and the three of them went to greet Iroh.

"Great news!" He told them both, excitedly, "We have been invited to serve tea with the Earth King!"

"Uncle, that's fantastic!" Said Zoe and Zuko smiled, happy for his Uncle and he slipped his arm around Zoe's little waist. She blushed, a small smile appearing on her face. "When do we go?" she asked.

"Tomorrow morning, before midday!" Zoe had never seen Iroh so excited before, and she was, of course, ecstatic for him, but the strange looming shadow that she couldn't shake stopped the excitement spreading to her.

"Ooh! Who is this little fellow?" asked Iroh, tickling Huan under her throat.

"Oh, Uncle, meet Huan, Huan Uncle." She introduced and Huan made a tweeting noise.

"What tea will we serve him Uncle?" Asked Zuko.

A glazed look came over Iroh's face he stuck his finger in the air like an idea hit him, "I must write a list!" He cried, "All of our best teas must be brewed for his liking!" and with that he ran off back out the door.

Zoe was wearing her best robes and was currently madly trying to make herself look presentable to a King.

She huffed in agitation as her curly hair refused to do as she wished. Giving up, she decided to put on a small amount of make up. Some blush and eye liner…and maybe a little lipstick.

By the end of the process, half her hair was braided back, the rest falling (messily in her opinion) over her shoulders. But, at least she thought her face looked quite nice. She walked out of the bathroom and Zuko dropped his bowl of juk, his mouth falling open like a koy fish.

He blushed madly and turned his back to her while cleaning up the mess he had made.

"My, you look beautiful, Zoe!" Complimented Iroh, who himself had cleaned up rather well too.

"Thanks, Uncle." Mumbled Zoe, ducking her head embarrassed. Zoe picked up Huan from the table and tucked her in her robes. "Are we ready to go?" Her stomach flipped when she said this; she must be nervous to see the Earth King, well that was perfectly reasonable really.

"I believe so!" said Uncle happily, picking up his little white chest full of his best tea leaves. Zoe smiled at him warmly and Zuko's stomach did a back flip.

She walked over to Zuko shyly as he was still just gaping at her, apparently wordless. The corner of Zoe's mouth hitched up into a cheeky grin as she had an idea and she kicked Zuko's shin…hard.

"Agh!" he cried grabbing his leg, "what was that for?"

Zoe smiled satisfied. "That's more like it." And he glared at her, making her smile widen. She stood on her toes and kissed his pouting lips and his face transformed into a soft smile. She turned around swiftly and elegantly, "Let's go chaps!" and she made her way to the door, unfortunately ruining her graceful façade by stumbling over her feet on the way out. She picked her self up, Zuko chuckling and walking up behind her. She ignored him, face flushing furiously and stuck her nose in the air, continuing out the door proudly.

"What's taking so long?" asked Zuko, agitated and Zoe could hear the slight nervousness in his voice. A nervousness she shared. Something was not right.

"Maybe the Earth King over slept?" suggested Iroh.

"I don't think so…" mumbled Zoe as twenty or so Dai Lee agents entered the room, heads down. Her nerves were tingling, waiting for what was about to happen.

"Something's not right…" hissed Zuko eyeing the agents out of the corner of his eye.

"It's tea time!" Zoe almost froze in shock as that fear inspiring voice invaded the small room.

But, for Zuko, it was more than just the hateful voice; it was like everything came crashing down around him. His perfect little world of being normal, being with Zoe, living happily, working with his Uncle wasn't real. He couldn't' just be a boy in Ba Sing Se that worked in a tea shop and had a girlfriend. He was Prince Zuko, son of Fire Lord Ozai and brother of Princess Azula. He was the banished prince, he had no mother, and he had his fathers shame of him burned to his face. His life would never and could never be perfect.

Reality… it hurt.

"Azula!" he cried, shocked and furious and Zoe heard the old him back in his voice. The hurt that had been missing over the past week was back.

"Have you met the Dai Lee?" Azula continued sweetly, "They're Earth Benders. But, they have a killer instinct that is so fire bender! I just love it."

Zoe stood next to Zuko, glaring defiantly at Azula and Iroh started to speak, picking up his cup of tea. "Did I ever tell you how I got the nickname, 'the Dragon of the West'?" He asked and Zoe looked at him bemused.

"I'm not interested in a lengthy anecdote, Uncle." sighed Azula, examining her nails preciously.

"It's more of a demonstration, really." Iroh finished, lifting his cup to his mouth. Then, before Zoe could take a breath Zuko had grabbed her waist and puller her down in front of him, Iroh grabbed their forearms and spun them round so that they were behind his back and suddenly flames filled the air. Flames that were pouring from Iroh's mouth.

And they were off, running madly from the room. Zoe took a glance at Zuko's face; his calmed, peaceful look was gone. He was now angry, hurt and it pained her to see it. They ran on, the Dai Lee shooting their…fingers? Oh right, they were coated in earth. They sent their earth fingers at them with a speeding whistling sound and they catapulted into the wall, barley missing Zuko, Iroh and she.

They came to a dead end, but Iroh blasted through it with lightening and it exploded. He jumped out landing with a thud below. Zoe hesitated, she saw Zuko slowing down out of the corner of her eye.

"Zuko, come on!" She urged, trying to pull his arm.

"No.' he snarled, "It's time I faced Azula."

"Zuko don't be stupid!" cried Zoe and she yanked him harder, but he grabbed her off him and took her quickly to the broken wall. Zoe tried to get out of his grip, but it was too strong, to firm and he had pushed her off the building. She would have been angry, but he had done it in such a way that she didn't even need her airbending to land in a dive roll. Well, he didn't want to hurt her; the point was to get her away from harm.

Huan squirmed in her robes and Zoe pulled her quickly, but she was fine, nipping Zoe's finger as if it was her fault they'd been thrown from the second floor.

"Uncle!" she cried desperately, "we have to get to him!"

"We cannot get him from Azula right now," said Iroh, hiding well his own anguish as usual. He put a steadying hand on Zoe's shoulder. "it is too late."

"It is not too late!" shouted Zoe yanking herself out of Iroh's hold and running toward the wall.

"Zoe!" She had never heard Iroh so stern. It wasn't angry…but it was commanding, something in his tone made Zoe stop and turn back. "Listen to me, we need help, we cannot get Zuko back alone."

Zoe hung her head; she knew he was right; Azula had played her part too well. But, who exactly Iroh planned to get help from she had no idea.

She followed him, her face set in a determined frown. Her world had just been turned upside down. But, she had no idea how much further it could still by thrown.

A/N Wow, thanks so much for the reviews everyone! I have had the best day because of them! I found this chapter...annoyed to write so I hope it's OK! Anyway, christmas eve, YAY! MERRY CHRISTMAS! I know I said that on an earlier chapter...but that was because that day i was seriously convinced it was christmas eve. Very weird feeling to then look at your computer 9;30 that night and see that it says the 22nd...anyway... definitely the 24th today, so happy christmas! hope everyone has a great time!