AN: This story is taking forever, but I will write to please my awesome readers and reviewers. You guys rule. I have decided to submit this story into its parts, so that you guys don't have to wait forever and will be able to be hooked onto this story. I know I don't like to wait. Oh and wait! Who do you think this mysterious cloaked romantic is? You will find out soon. Thanks again, please read and review.

Chapter 11

Mai's POV

After Zuko had left me in the room alone, I walked over to the window, forcing it open. The coolness of the night chilled me, and goosebumps formed along my arms, legs, and neck.

He's going to that stupid garden.

He went every single night whenever he woke up from a dream about her, leaving me with a cold bed for the rest of the night. That is until…

"What are you doing out here in the cold, my beautiful rose?" a voice whispered into my ear, making my knees feel like jelly.

Gripping my shoulders, he turned me around and pulled me close to his chest. The warmth of his body enveloped all around me, bringing a blush to my cheeks. His steel gray eyes flashed in the radiance of the moon. The paleness of his skin shone brightly against the darkness of the room.

"What are you doing here? You know he could come in here at any minute."

He chuckled, his laughter sending chills down my spine, "Oh, but you also know that doesn't. Besides he's a little busy."

My eyes had widened at his statement, "With who-"

"Now, now, don't worry your pretty little head. Just focus on one thing at a time, and don't worry about him. Worry about me and my poor lips. We're both dying without a kiss from your beautifully perfect lips."

I looked at him skeptically, "You are really cheesy, you know that?"

He laughed quietly, "Only when I am with such a gorgeous woman."

"Well then let's shut your lips up shall we?"

Zuko's POV

I sat in the garden after Katara left the balcony, shutting the glass doors to her room loudly. The moon made shadows across the well-kept grass.

What did she mean by 'she'?

When I looked up to the moon, I saw the faintest glimmer of a face, a girl's face. Her snow-white hair was as luminescent as the moon's ethereal glow, her skin flawless, and her eyes shone more brightly that it would put the sun to shame.

It couldn't be… The girl from the North Pole, Princess Yue…of the Northern Water Tribe, of course! Uncle told me of her sacrifice for the world and to save her people, Hakoda mentioned her as well earlier, but I never truly met her, or ever seen her face… until now…

Katara didn't truly want to marry any man that she did not choose, but rather she would for the safety of her own people. She will never turn her back on those who need her. She is willing to give up her own life for the people who want her to, just to ensure their safety.

She is truly braver than any other person in the world…

Mai's POV

My eyes were heavy and I felt whole and complete. I was wrapped in his embrace, listening to the sound of his heartbeat and breath, meshing into one. I traced my fingers on his chest with small circular patterns absent-mindedly.

I wish that things weren't like this… I can't keep hurting him. I love him too much to keep hiding him… I also don't want to hurt Zuko in the end…

"Are you having fun, my love?"

My eyes widened, and I looked up into his gray orbs.

"Well, as much as I can while thinking that Zuko is going to come barging through the doors."

Chuckling he said, "Do not worry about him, my love. The Fire Lord is too busy with his own nightmares to deal with. I am going to enjoy my time with you, while I still can."

Grasping his hand in mine, "I wish that we could be together forever."

"Well we could," he said with nervousness in his voice, "if you would be willing to run away with me. We could elope, and never to have to worry about anything ever again."

"No, I couldn't bear it if we were caught, and you were arrested, or worse."

With skepticism in his voice, "Are you sure that it's not because you still love him? More than me?"

"You know that's not true. I love you, and I only love Zuko in a different way. You are my true soul mate if it even exists, but Zuko was the first guy that I ever did love…"

He began to pull away from me, but not after I said, "But I love you now. I used to love Zuko in the romantic way, but now everything is different. I was young and I wanted to know what love was, and now I have found it. Zuko may have been my first love, but I want you to be my last, until the day I die. I just don't want to hurt him."

That was when he got up from the bed and began pulling on all of his clothes that were strewn across the floor. When he was finished, he got up and headed for the door. Finally, he stopped before he touched the doorknob and said, "The thing is, while you try not to hurt him, you end up hurting me instead. I can't just have a part of you. I want to be able to shout my love for you in front of the entire world, but because of your fear of hurting him, I can't. I am sorry, but I can't keep doing this anymore. I love you so much that it hurts me to see you with him. Goodbye Mai."

He pulled the open the door and shut it quietly, not looking back to see the tears that were streaming down my face.

"I love you…"