OK, so the last chapter was super serious! Fili holds in her fear and sadness until it finally PWOHA! Tears and emotions scattered as far as the Eye can see!

BTW Pwoha is a completely made up and totally random word/sound when Pow and Uh, just don't cut it. Read it how you will :) but I digress. So there's going to be some seriousness in the chp because they are making up after the fight, but I promise it Fili will return to her normal quippy, sassy-frass self in no time, and Zuko is going to miss the peace and quiet. BWAHAHAHA!

Happy Reading!

I wasn't good at crying or talking about my problems. I just pushed them deeper and deeper. Whenever I was upset or stressed I would normally play video games and just destroy stuff. In my normal world that would have been fine, but now. With all the super mind juju I had going on, I was having intense nightmares that wouldn't just stop when I woke up.

I couldn't make myself go to sleep, not after the last dream. Ally was looking for me. For years and years she was looking for me, and she wasn't giving up. I saw her losing hope until it drove her to the breaking point.

I was losing control. I couldn't telepathically hear people anymore or anything else very well for that matter. Every time I closed my eyes I saw Alice reaching out for me, but I could never reach her. I didn't know how to deal with it so I took it out on Zuko, and looked at where that got me. He was just looking out for me and even tried to help. He could have just left me on Kyoshi but he didn't. I just didn't want him to see me cry.

In all honesty, I had been having a nightmare for a while, but after I saw all the Kyoshi villagers' faces, how scared they were, I couldn't hold in my own scared feelings. Also they reminded me of every time I would see Ally's face in my dreams: hurt, worried, and terrified. I had pushed it all down, deep down, in the hope that it would just fade or I would forget, but it all came boiling up to the surface.

Uhhh, I wanna be happy again! I didn't care if all my mind juju stayed away. I just wanted to smile and not fake it. Why can't I be happy again? Because I miss my sister, my apartment, and Mountain Dew.

I wanted to hit something, you ever get that feeling? There was a kind of punching bag thing in storage that the men used from time to time. I wonder if I could get it to my room without anyone , good luck with that, Fili. Your week in solitary must have broken your brain. You know you don't do well if you're in one place for more than a few minutes at a time. If you're trying to make yourself go insane you're doing a top-notch job.

"Oh, god, it's true! I am insane! I'm talking to myself. I have to get out of here," I jumped up and ran to the door.

Freedommm...! Or not, as I rushed out of my room I slammed straight into Zuko. Oh great, too late to retreat. He's already seen you, HARD! Stop talking to me, Me!

"Felicity?!"

"Zuko?" Ah, that was so high-pitched and weird, it hurt my own ears. I cleared my throat, "Um, what are you doing here?"

"This is my ship. I can go where I want." He straightened himself up.

"Right, right," ok, this was awkward.

"We're going ashore to search for the Avatar's trail..." He trailed off.

I nodded like an idiot, "Cool, cool, I was going to go to the storage hold, that's where the training equipment is right?"

"Yes, why?"

"Because, I want to hit something," he gave me this weird look and raised an eyebrow at me. "Don't judge it's how I cope."

He didn't say anything, just shook his head at me. It was weird I thought I saw him grin. "Well, I have to get going."

"Right, ok, good luck," I hurried away as soon as his back was turned. Now I really needed to hit something. Myself! For being a class-A idiot!

ZUKO'S POV

There were so many stands, and so many people. I had already made three loops up and down the street, and talked to everyone. No matter what, it was still the same. There was no sign of anything that looked remotely like something Felicity would like.

I don't know how to apologize to a girl. My crew and all my firebenders are all men. Uncle, had advised flowers or a gift, something that would show her that I understood her, whatever that meant. The only problem was I didn't. What if she was allergic to flowers? Plus, Felicity was a strange girl. I knew she liked laughing, teasing me, tai chi, drinking tea with Uncle, and writing in that notebook of hers.

I stopped at one merchant stand. There were lots of things other girls would have liked. Jewelry, shoes, cute little plush animals, but nothing reminded me of Felicity.

"Looking for a gift?" The shop owner asked me. He had watched me for some time.

"Yes, but I can't decide. Nothing looks like her."

"A lovely young lady, hmm? Well, my friend, I'm sure I can help you find something she will love. I have the finest jewelry you could ask for, made with the best jewels in all the earth kingdom." He laid down a long flat box. When he opened it, it was lined in black velvet. There were many different types of jewelry. I had never seen her wear jewelry, ever. I'd never seen so many different shades of green.

"She's not really the jewelry type." I didn't know if she was or not, but she never wore any.

"Well then how about a lovely pair of silk shoes, everyone wears shoes." He had a point. He went on and on about the silk and where it came from, how it was dyed, and what a good price he was selling them at.

Just then, I saw it! It was perfect. It was even the right color, that blue-green like her small shirt. "This, this is it."

"That? Are you buying a gift for your grand-mother or your girlfriend?" He questioned, giving me a strange look.

"Neither! Do you want my money or not?" I laid the money on the table.

He was still giving me a strange look but he slid the money in his pocket, "Have a great day, young sir. I'm sure she'll love it, I guess."

Perfect, now I just had to find a way to get it to her. If I hurried, I could put it in her room when she wasn't there. I wasn't completely sure if it was something she would like, but I was sure she would know it's from me.

FILI'S POV

When I made it down to the storage hold where the training equipment was it was full of soldiers. What the halibut was going on? I thought they were all going ashore to look for Aang's trail.

Chan saw me and waved me over, "Good to see you walking about the ship."

"Thanks but umm… What's going on? Why are all of you here? I thought you were all going ashore to look for clues about the Avatar?"

"Prince Zuko wanted to go alone. We were going to go, but he said he wished to be alone. So what are you doing down here?" Chan smiled down at me. He was so super tall, even taller than Fussy pants.

All these men were so tall, why was I born a small fry? "I actually was going to take out some of my pent-up emotion on the punching bag. Sitting in my room isn't helping me at all."

"Oh, that's an interesting way to cope," Chan looked confused.

"Well, I'm an interesting person," Since when did 'interesting' mean 'slowly going crazy? Again, shut up, me!'

As I walked over to the punching bag, I took my phone out of my sweat pants pocket. Which song? Which one would work? Oh perfect, 'I'm not Okay' by My Chemical Romance.I pushed play, turned the volume all the way up, and put it on repeat.

I didn't move at first, I just stood there with my head pressed against the bag, and listened to the song. It was so loud, but that's just how I liked it. I wanted to drown out anything and everything around me.

'I'm okay I'm okay! I'm okay, now

(I'm okay, now)

But you really need to listen to me,

Because I'm telling you the truth,

I mean this, I'm okay! (Trust Me)

I'm not okay, I'm not okay

Well, I'm not okay!'

'I'm not o' fucking okay,' I hit the bag as hard as could. Over and over again. My hands started to hurt, but at least I was starting to feel. Kick! My grandfather always told me that pain was just the body's way of telling you that you're still alive. You can do it.

I would make it through this, and I would smile again. Left hook, right hook. If I was going to be stuck here, left, left, right, then I was going to take it. I may not be a fighter like they are, but I could show them what, 'Fight like a girl,' really means. I would laugh and I wouldn't let anyone see me cry.

I'm not sure how long I went at it like this, all I know is that when I stopped to catch my breath there wasn't anyone around anymore. Good, makes things easier for me.

OK time for a new song, Breaking Benjamin is always a good one.

'All is lost again,

but I'm not giving in!

I will not bow, I will not break,

I will shut the world away.

I will not fall, I will not fade!

I will take your breath away!'

I felt the heat in me again, I loved that feeling. I clenched my fist feeling the heat coil around my knuckles. Left, right, right. Again and again. The bag started to scorch which only drove me to hit it more, this may not be much but it would do for now. I wasn't going to let myself fall. I would find a way to get back, I don't know how, but I would.

I felt someone watching me. I turned around while wiping the sweat from my forehead, "Fussy pants!" He was leaning against the door frame looking tall, dark, and delicious. His arms crossed against his chest. He must have been back a while, because he wasn't in his armor, but his casual wear and robe.

He smirked when I called out to him, "You seemed to be more of yourself again. Looks like I'm going to have to replace that."

"What?" Oops, looks like I used a little too much heat, "Oh, sorry." The leather was burnt in many different places. Smoke was still rising from the last five or six places I had punched it.

"It's fine, It's not the first time that's happened. I've set one completely on fire before," it always sounded like a challenge.

"Zuko, I need to introduce you to something I like to call, Anger Management. I'm sure it will do wonders for you."

He just shook his head when he noticed my knuckles, "Come on, let's get you some ice for that."

We started walking to the galley, "Hey, Zuko?" He didn't say anything, just looked at me. "I'm sorry for what I said to you after Kyoshi. I didn't really mean it. I'm not good with letting stuff out when I'm mad. I was trying to hurt you when I shouldn't have."

"I lost my temper with you as well. Don't worry about it."

"So, everything can go back to normal?"

"I don't see why not?"

"Good," I smiled, "now about your hair-"

"Oh, don't even start!" He ran up ahead of me.

"What? You said we could go back to normal, and it would look good, trust me!"

Uncle Iroh was sitting in the galley talking to the cook, "Oh, hello! Good to see the two of you are talking again. Prince Zuko, We have received unconfirmed reports that the Avatar is heading north since you found that girl's necklace at the earth bender prison."

"That's right," I looked at Zuko, "He's been helping free earthbenders from all that jerky fire…" I stopped and cleared my throat, "That's not important, but those reports are actually true. He is heading north."

"Perfect," Zuko smirked. "Then we will head north too. Maybe we can catch a fresh trail. Get some ice for Lady Felicity's hands." He turned to one of the crewmen.

Iroh took my hands and examined the buries on my hand, "What happened to you?"

"Just letting out a little stress."

"You're lucky you didn't burn yourself," Zuko added.

"So, everything is coming back to you? What about the nightmares?" Iroh asked.

"What nightmares? What does he mean, coming back?" Zuko turned me around to face him.

Face Palm, "Nothing, Fussy pants, I'm just having a little trouble with," I paused, "There's no way to say this without sounding like I'm going crazy, is there?" I looked to Iroh, who was shaking his head. "Don't worry your pretty little ponytail over it, Zuko. I'm fine. It's just a mental block. It will pass. I still have all my future knowing wisdom."

After getting the ice, I told them goodnight and headed back to my room. I wasn't very hungry, mostly just tried and my arms were sore. Ok, I was hungry, but I had had enough awkwardness for one day. I opened the door but didn't bother closing it. I needed the light until I lit some candles. I focused on the candles on my desk-table, Zuko could light the candles like that in no time at all, me on the other hand, it took forever to light just one candle.

Once the light filled the room, I noticed a brown box sitting on top of my notebook. It was tied with a plain twine, and a small piece of paper was folded in half and stuck under the twine.

I opened it and saw the letters 'Z.u.k.o.' written very neatly. I pulled the twine and opened the box. I thought I was going to cry. I'd never had a guy buy me a gift before. I wasn't expecting something so sweet. I knew he had said something about losing his temper, but this. This was his, 'I'm sorry.'

I turned the box over. In it was a turquoise painted tea-cup with white-capped wave patterns. I held the tea-cup and closed my eyes. I felt a wave of peace rise up. At least for a little while everything felt ok.

I wonder if he's still in the galley. I turned to head to the galley, but there he was leaning against the door frame again, looking like a real prince charming, well except for the hair. But I'm working on that.

I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his waist in a loose hug, "You know, Zuko, if you keep this up, I'll have to take back what I said about your lady skills." I turned to face him.

He stiffened and went completely still, but he didn't push me away, "You like it?" He sounded surprised, but I don't know if that was because of the hug or the cup.

I nodded against his shoulder, "I love it."

He relaxed, "Well then, would you like to have some tea before you go to sleep? You haven't eaten either, have you?"

"Prince Zuko, are you offering to buy me a drink?" I leaned back, looking up at him, arms still around his waist.

He looked confused, "I was just going to have Uncle brew us some tea."

"You know what, never-mind, your lady skills still need a lot of work, my young padawan."

"Pada-what?"

"Nothing. Yes, I'd love some tea, and I could eat." I laughed, letting him go and looking at my tea cup again.

He straightened his tunic then waved behind him, "Good," three servant's entered behind him carrying a tea-pot and various foods.

"Well, you Sneaky Sneakerton," I just laughed. It didn't take long for my stomach to start growling. We sat down and he told the servants they could leave. Normally he sat across from me but tonight he chose to sit on my left. That's weird.

"Uncle told me to have chamomile prepared, so I did," he poured me a cup.

"Yes, thank you." I added three spoons of sugar. "It's one of my favorites, but I like it sweet."

"I hope you like-"

"Don't tell me what it is."

"Why not?"

"Because if I'm eating some weird animal, then I don't wanna know about it. You guys have some pretty strange animals here," I took a bite. Oh, so good. "See, now I'm glad I don't know because it's delicious."

"I don't think I'll ever get used to you," he laughed.

"At least you'll never be bored," I smiled back. We ate in silence for a little while, mostly because I was hungrier than I thought.

"You can eat for a girl." I just looked up at him with a raised eyebrow, "Uh, not that that's a bad thing. Most girls I know are just so prim and proper."

I nodded, "Keep digging. What do you want on your tombstone, Prince Zuko or Fussy Pants? Oh, I got it Fussy Pants Prince Zuko, Lord of the fussiest pants in the land."

"I didn't mean it like-"

"Calm down, fussy pants," I laughed at him. "If I was mad at you I wouldn't have said anything, but this delicious food would be gracing your face. I know I'm not like girls you know, thank god."

"What do you mean?"

"Prim and proper rarely makes history. Why would I want to be like anyone else when being me is so much more fun?" I took a sip of my tea. My hands were starting to feel stiff.

"I wanted to thank you for your help in my hunt for the Avatar. If only you would just tell me more. Your hints haven't been as helpful as I had hoped." He reached out and took my hand.

"Zuko?"

"If I found him with your help, do you know how I could reward you once I was back in the fire nation? You would never want for anything." He ran his thumb across my knuckles. I felt my cheeks turn red. "Please, Felicity, I know that I can trust anything that you say." He leaned closer to me, "I just want to go home, with you by my side."

"I guess I could. No! I really shouldn't," I looked away but he caught my chin and turned my face to make me look at him.

"Please."

"Zuko?" I leaned in.

"Yes?"

"You..." I swallowed hard. His face was inches from mine.

"Shh, just close your eyes," He leaned in.

"You…. are getting really good at this!" I backed up and slid my hand away, *Fake sobs* "I am so proud."

When I pulled my hand from his, he slipped, knocking over the tea-pot. The hot tea covered his hand and lap. He growled at me in pain.

"That's what you get for trying to seduce information out of me," I handed him a hand towel. "Although, I have to say, you're pretty good at seduction. I was even blushing, and I'm not a girl that blushes easily. Come on, try it again. I might even let you kiss me this time." I just laughed and patted his cheek.

"Why won't you just tell me, Felicity?" he growled again, and swatted my hand away.

"That's right show me you 'grrrr' face."

"I'm serious, Felicity!"

"So am I. Your 'grrr' face is really cute."

He sat back down steaming from the tea, "I don't know why I thought that would work."

"I don't either, but it really was a good try. If I was any other girl, I'm sure it would have worked perfectly." I put my hand on his shoulder, "I would let you know more if I could, Zuko, but I really can't. I told you from the start, I would help you reach your true destiny. Did you ever stop to think that maybe, just maybe, that means something different from finding Aang?"

He looked away, "All I know is that I can't go home without the Avatar."

"That's true and you will go home with the Avatar, but only when it is supposed to happen. Just trust me, ok?" He just nodded. He wasn't all that happy, but I had told him what he was hoping to hear, so he didn't press it.

I walked him to the door, "Thank you for the dinner and I love my tea-cup, it's beautiful." I smiled as he walked through the door. "Zuko?" I reached out and caught his hand.

"Yes-" I felt him tense when I wrapped my arms around his neck, but a second later I felt his arms around my waist. "You are going to come with me...and Uncle ashore tomorrow to look for the Avatar? Right?"

I turned my head just enough so he could hear me, "You know it, Fussy pants. Try not to burn anything down if you can," I slid my arms away from his neck and let them rest on his chest. "I really don't want to pass out again trying to clean up your messes. How are you ever gonna make any new friends, if you can't play nice with the other kids."

He just grinned and shook his head, "No promises."

"Mmhm, well good night, Zuko," I slid out of his reach and walked back to my room. "Sweet dreams," I smiled over my shoulder.

"Good night, Felicity," He closed the door for me.

I wish I knew what you are thinking right now, but then again, I might have a pretty good idea.

THE NEXT DAY

I had to hand it to Iroh; he really knew how to relax. While Zuko and the other men were all out looking for Aang and his group, Iroh and I went exploring. We came across something awesome! Hidden in a bamboo forest was a network of hot springs.

"I'm gonna, um, find another hot spring, whoa!" I quickly covered my eyes.

Iroh didn't waste any time, "All right, but don't go too far."

"Mmhm, kay," I was barely able to make it out alive!

I finally found another cluster of hot springs on the other side of the bamboo. This was going to be perfect. A nice hot soak was just what I needed. I slipped out of my dress and underwear and laid them on the tree branch then took off my shoes. As long as I was here relaxing, I might as well listen to some tunes right? I put my phone on speaker and as Iroh put it, soaked away my troubles.

"Ahh now that's the stuff," I lowered down in the water until it reached my chin. It was the best feeling, all the tension from my neck down started to melt away. Due to my poor sleep lately, I hadn't been able to use any of my mind juju unless I was completely still and relaxed. Maybe now I could make a breakthrough.

I'm not sure how long I had soaked when I heard Zuko calling through the trees. "Uncle! It's time to leave! Where are you? Uncle Iroh!"

"Over here!" Iroh answered.

"Uncle? We need to move on. We're closing in on the Avatar's trail and I don't want to lose him."

"You look tired, Prince Zuko. Why don't you join me in these hot springs and soak away your troubles?"

Oh man, it really sucks that I'm missing this.

"My troubles cannot be soaked away. It's time to go! Where's Felicity? Uncle, you were supposed to be watching her."

"You should take your teacher's advice and relax a little. The temperature's just right. I heated it myself." He paused. I knew it was to breathe out steam to heat the water. "She went to find a private hot spring of her own. I'm sure she's close by."

"Enough! We need to leave now. Get out of the water!"

"Very well!" I heard the splashing of water as he stood up.

"On second thought, why don't you take another few minutes? But be back at the ship in a half-hour or I'm leaving without you! I'm going to look for Felicity. We're in enemy lands, she shouldn't be left alone." He pushed through the bamboo. "Felicity? Felicity, can you hear me?"

"Looks like relaxing time is over," I sat up just enough to pull my shoulders out of the water.

"Where are you, woman?"

"Over here, Marco!" I laughed.

"Marco? Who's Marco? What are you-" He pushed through another layer of bamboo then froze.

I just smirked at him, "You're supposed to say, Polo. It's a game. Never mind, I'll explain later."

"Please tell me you're wearing your-" Just then he noticed my underwear laying on top of my dress.

I tried to hold back my laughter as his face turned red, "What's wrong, fussy pants, never seen a girl's underwear before?"

"No! Well none like that before. They're so lacy and small."

"HEY! They are not small! I'm just the right size!" I stuck my tongue out at him.

"No, that's not what I meant! You're right, you're perfect-"

"Really, now?" I winked at him and smiled. "Well then, fussy pants, you'll be welcome to join me. I promise I won't bite."

"Uhh, stop doing that! I meant that those," He blushed and pointed down at my clothes, "look different than the normal ones."

"So, you have seen a lot of girls' underwear?" I crossed my arms, raised an eyebrow, and stared at him.

"Yes," He stopped, thought about it and growled, "NO! I told you to stop doing that!"

"I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about," I said innocently. I turned my back to him and stood up. I heard him gasp and when I looked over my shoulder he was turned around with his back to me.

"Well, if you're not going to join me would you mind handing me my small underclothes, then?"

"I'll...um… I'll just wait for you over there," He walked back to the edge of the bamboo.

I laughed at him again, "Ok, fussy pants, one minute." I stepped out of the water and used my heated chi to dry off enough to put my clothes on. I walked over to him and patted his shoulder. "All done."

"Good, let's get back to the ship and never talk about this again."

I shook my head at him, "Spoil sport!"