Sam

It had been a few days since we spoke to Chang's mother. Zuko and I had resumed our regular duties and were preparing for the arrival of our friends within the next few days. Izumi was in school and today I would be meeting with one of the girls that was busted out. She had informed Fu Sen that she had information for me so she was being brought to the palace for me to speak to her. He also told me that she spoke my native tongue. Zuko wanted to join us but I told him I think, this time, it is best it just be me. I didn't think she would be so trusting of a man yet to open up the way I was hoping she would. It was different with the girls he'd freed. He had already proven himself to them. Ultimately, he agreed. I'd fill him in after we spoke.

I met with her in the same room I would meet with the people I was working with from the prison reform program. She was already here and when I walked into the room, I saw her at the table, nervous. She looked around when I went in, presumably looking for Zuko.

"He isn't with me." I told her. She looked at me and looked relieved. My theory seemed to be correct. I spoke to her in my native tongue. "What is your name, dear?"

"Samira." she said simply.

"Samira, thank you for coming to speak to me today." I said.

"Sure." she replied in our native tongue.

"So what information did you have for me today?" I thought it best to just cut to the chase. She looked at me, uncertain. "It's ok. Take your time."

"I…I'm sorry. It's still hard to talk about even though I've been out of it for a month." she said.

"Well, I don't think that you will get over it anytime soon, Samira. Do you want to talk about it?" I asked. She furrowed her brow and I thought she did but didn't know how.

"I…I thought he loved me." she said.

"Who?"

"The man who took me and sold me. He told me we would be together forever. Then he brought me to…him…and then walked out like nothing ever happened between us. I felt so betrayed. How can I trust anyone again?" she asked. That was a good question.

"Well, that is up to you, Samira. You will when you are ready. And not a moment sooner. I can imagine it will be difficult trusting men again." I said.

"Yes, that's for sure. Although…it wasn't just men." she said.

"What do you mean?"

"There were women there too. They treated us just as badly. I was never…by any of the women. I can't say the same for the other girls." This surprised me. Boys are not exempt from being victims, I never thought about the perpetrators being women.

"Did they come to you like the men did?"

"No, they worked for him."

"Do you know he is?"

"No, I only saw him once but I think I would recognize him."

"The man who sold you. Can you remember any details about him?"

"He was short. He had almost red eyes. Common around here from what I hear. He had a very deep voice. Almost unnatural. He had dark straight hair he wore in a…thing on the top of his head." I knew what she meant.

"It's a topknot. It's common for the Fire Nation. So are the eyes." I said. Zuko's were golden but his sister and uncle were more reddish brown. Like a rust color.

"You're Fire Nation. Why don't you wear it?" she asked.

"I do when the situation calls for it - like official meetings and such. Zuko likes it when I wear the topknot but I find it uncomfortable. Besides I don't think it looks good with my curly hair. So, I usually just wear my hair down. And I married into the Fire Nation. I'm an outsider." I said. It probably was obvious considering I spoke her language but I thought if I opened up to her, she would find it easier to open up to me. I didn't consider this an official session so I felt comfortable sharing my own information. "I come from the Koya Desert actually." This piqued her interest.

"Really? A lot of us are from there too." She said. I nodded. "Where are you from?"

"I'm from the kingdom of Kondai." I said. Her eyes widened with shock.

"I am from Kondai too! Wait. Your name is Samyah? Wasn't that the crown princess' name?"

"Yes, it is. I haven't been to the palace in over two decades." I said.

"YOU'RE Princess Samyah?!" she exclaimed. She stood to bow to me.

"Don't. I'm not Princess Samyah anymore. I haven't been since my family disowned me…" I said.

"I heard that you had left but I never knew the story. There were rumors, of course." she said. "Why did you leave?" I hesitated. I had only relayed this story to one person shortly after we were married.

"Do you remember Prince Jakar?"

"Of Aluma? Yes, I remember him. There were rumors about…him too." she said, pausing to decide how she would say it.

"Yes, I'm sure there were." I said. "When I was eleven, he had…taken a liking to me. He would come to my chambers and…" I trailed off, not wanting to say it. "Well, you get the picture."

"Really? Everyone said you and him and some unrequited love and the King and Queen didn't approve so they banished you. I didn't understand why you didn't just go be with him. Now I know."

"Yes, he isn't happy memories for me. And I definitely felt no love for the man. I know it's nothing compared to what you've been through but…I can relate on a certain level." I said. She smiled sadly.

"I'm sorry you can." she said.

"Are any of the people who run the ring from Koya Desert?"

"Some of them are. Many of them are from the Bending Nations though." I found it interesting she said "bending nations" and not "Fire Nation."

"There are people involved from the other nations here?"

"Yes, I know the one who runs it is from Republic City. I don't know who he is but he resides there. We all are sent there first for him to 'approve' us." This surprised me and was our first good lead since this all started.

"What about the man who sold you? You said you knew information on him."

"Yes, I know his name."

"Yes? What is it?" I asked.

"His name is Buzi." my jaw hit the floor.

"Buzi? Are you sure?"

"Yes, he has a scar above his right eye." Holy shit. This was the same person. Chang's father has a scar above his right eye. He is short in stature and does have a weirdly deep voice. This was huge.

"Samira, would you be willing to testify if we needed you to?" She looked uncertain.

"I don't know. These people are powerful." She was obviously terrified of these people.

"What if Fire Lord Zuko and I could guarantee your safety?"

"You don't know these people, Fire Lady. They have connections. All over. If they want me dead, I will be." she said, "I…don't know. I'm sorry, Fire Lady." As frustrated as I was with her unwillingness, I understood.

"I understand. Please let me know if you change your mind." I said. I'd talk to her another time. After she has time for it to sink in. I had some ideas of how too enhance our interrogations and keeping witnesses safe. Things I learned in Las Estrellas. "I think that's enough for today." I looked at the guard, "Please make sure she gets back to the shelter safely." I said. He bowed and escorted her out.

After I finished with Samira, I went straight to Zuko. I knew he'd be in our office. I opened the door and he was so intently looking over his documents that he didn't hear me. I walked up behind him and placed my hands on his shoulders, making him jump.

"I'm sorry, my love. I didn't mean to startle you. You didn't hear me come in." I said. I ran my hands over his shoulders and started massaging them. He was tense. He groaned as I worked out his muscles.

"You can do that all day, Fire Lily." he mumbled. I stopped massaging and ran my hands down his chest and rested my chin on his shoulder. I crossed my arms over his chest and hugged him. "You're finished with the girl?" I turned his head to me with my hand and kissed his lips.

"Mmhmm." I muttered against his lips. He placed his hands on my arms and enjoyed the moment.

"Want to tell me about it?" he asked me. I did. I was dying to tell him. I looked out the window and realized it was almost time to greet Izumi.

"It will have to wait. It's time to meet Izumi." I said. I unwrapped my arms from his shoulders and stood up. He took hold of my hand and guided me onto his lap. I sat down and kissed him again. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held myself close. "Zuko, you're killing me." I whispered in his ear. He chuckled against my lips.

"Mm. Yes. I know." he said.

"Come on, babe. We need to…greet Izumi." I said. I pulled back from him and he scowled at me. I laughed, "Come now, Zuko. You know if we don't greet her, she will be upset." I said. I stood up and held my hand out for him. He took my hand and I pulled him to his feet. We headed down to the entrance of the palace hand in hand, to greet our daughter. Shortly after we got there, Izumi came around the corner and, when she saw us, she went into a sprint. When she got to us, she embraced us both.

"Mommy! Daddy! I missed you!"

"We missed you too, Turtleduck." Zuko said, stooping to her level, "How was school?"

"It was great! We played games and I learned a lot more words!"

"Well, we would love to hear about it!" I said. "Geshna, you are relieved for the day. Izumi, go on and take your bag to your room. We will be in the Turtleduck Garden."

"Yes, your highness." she said, bowing and walked away.

Zuko and I had been so busy with this whole trafficking thing, we didn't get to spend much extra time with Izumi. We sat down in the garden and Izumi told us all about what she had learned.

"What games did you play?" I asked her.

"A three-leg race!" she said, excitedly. "It was really fun, but we kept falling." she said.

"Yeah? Who was your partner?" Zuko asked.

"Oh…it was…Chang." she said, hesitantly. She knew what had been told to Chang and her parents. I personally wasn't sure how I felt about her sudden interest in Chang.

"Yeah? How did that go?" Zuko asked, cautiously.

"It was fun! We won da race!" she said. I wasn't opposed to her being friends with Chang, especially since she seemed like she needed one. I decided to add that to what I would talk to Zuko about tonight after she was in bed.

We sat in the garden for a while, talking and watching Izumi play. She asked Zuko if he would play hide and seek with her and Zuko, of course, agreed. He oftentimes had a dour demeanor, but not when he was with his daughter. He beamed with delight and I could see the child that he was never allowed to be reflected in his face.

After they finished playing, it was time to have dinner. The three of us went to dinner and ate our meals. After we were finished we put Izumi to bed, tucking her in, like we always did. Then we went into our bedroom. I took my clothes off and headed for the bathing room. Afterwards, we would talk.