Chapter 13: Flutters

(Amara POV)

Staring at the land in the distance, I leaned against the railing feeling the nice salty breeze lick my skin. Zuko was sparring behind me with another firebender named Chi, and I knew the advanced moves he was doing were too dangerous for me to try. I wasn't in much of a mood for firebending anyway, so I was okay standing to the side. I'd had a lot on my mind in the last few days.

One thing helped my stress though. I had noticed that the crew was still being nice to me. Despite learning that I was a dual bender, the men I ran into just smiled at me and went about their business. It was such a relief to know that my mistake the other day had not ruined my relationship with the men I was journeying with.

However, I couldn't help but feel a bit somber in the last few days. After learning from Iroh that my aunt was dead, I felt a tiny piece of my hope shatter at finding my Water Tribe family. Aunt Kya was supposed to be my link. With her being dead, all I had left was my grandma and Kya's children.

Was the quest to find my family a hopeless effort?

I sighed and pulled away from the railing. My eyes moved over to Zuko who was blocking flames sent his way by his sparring partner. Part of me suddenly felt uncertain. If I found my Water Tribe family, I would have to leave Zuko and Iroh. Over the weeks I had known them I had grown so close to them. Iroh was a father to me. And Zuko… well, I still didn't know what exactly Zuko was to me. I felt for him differently than everyone else on the ship.

My hand moved to my necklace and I let my finger trace the engraving. My heart fluttered as I recalled the feelings I had towards the prince before me. I had believed it was friendship… but something told me there was more…

Had my mom's heart fluttered in a similar way towards the man she loved named Bato?

I turned back to the water. My heart ached. I wanted to meet my family, but I also didn't know them. Would I be ready to leave the people I knew to go be with complete strangers?

I was so conflicted. I rested my elbows on the rail and dropped my face in my hands. I wanted to fulfill my mother's wishes, but I also was scared of not being with Iroh and Zuko. They were all I knew in the few weeks I had been free from my brother. What if I didn't truly belong with the Water Tribe?

I heard someone step beside me a few minutes later. Zuko spoke softly. "Amara… you okay?"

Lifting my head, I looked over at him and saw he was looking at me with concern. He had put his shirt back on, so it appeared training was over. That, or he ended it early because he noticed me.

"You've been a little lost to your thoughts these last few days," he noted. "What's up?"

I sighed again. Dropping my gaze back to the water below, I felt my heart tighten. "I was just thinking… about what happens when I find my family… I've gotten so used to being on this ship and with you and Iroh. I'm kind of… scared about leaving you if we do find them. They'll be strangers..."

Zuko fell quiet as he took in my words. Then he whispered softly, "Don't leave then… stay with us."

His words surprised me. I looked over at him with sudden uncertainty.

He kept his gaze on the water as he continued. "I know you want to find your family, but you have to understand something: If you do go to the Southern Water Tribe, then you'll only be in danger. The Fire Nation may attack the South Pole again… I… I don't want you to get hurt. If you stay with me, once I capture the Avatar you can come to the Fire Nation capital. You can live in the palace and be taken care of. I'm certain Uncle and I can convince my father that you aren't a threat. We'd make you happy."

His suggestion was sincere. However, part of me hoped he would never capture the Avatar…

I let out a heavy breath. "I… I don't know…" I hung my head and shut my eyes. "I promised my mom and Tu Lan that I would find my family…"

"So we find them so you can meet them, but then after we do you stick with us. We can protect and take care of you," Zuko spoke. "If you're worried about fulfilling your mom's wishes, I'm certain the only thing she ever wanted was for you to be safe and happy."

I knew he was right. My mom would want me to be happy. However, there was still a part of me that wanted to meet my family just so I could tell them that my mom never stopped thinking of them. I felt if there was one thing I could do for my mom it was to give that message to my grandmother.

"If… we were to find my family… and I did decide to stay with you and Iroh… would that make me a bad person?"

Zuko was quiet for a moment. He finally answered, "No. You're technically Fire Nation, so it's not like you're betraying your people or anything."

His statement made me flinch. He was right… Fire Nation… the enemy… would my Water Tribe family accept that part of me?

"It's strange… being of two nations… it's like I'm stuck in the middle and don't know which way to go. Now that I know aunt Kya's dead, I feel like everything I was hoping to find is no longer a possibility… I feel even further from the family I've never known. Maybe… maybe it's better that they don't know about me…"

Zuko let out a heavy breath. "You might regret never meeting them though…"

I gripped the rail. I didn't know what I wanted anymore. Part of me never wanted to leave Iroh and Zuko. The other part wanted to meet my grandma. There was a war inside me.

After my chat with Zuko, I was even more confused about what I wanted. The next two days I spent in deep contemplation. I tried to distract myself with firebending, waterbending, reading, and writing, but nothing was really helping my turmoil. Iroh noticed I was distracted and unfocused. He suggested at dinner I try some meditation in my room to sort through my thoughts and calm my mind.

After his suggestion, I found some candles that night and set them in a line on the table in my room. I lit each one, and then sat in a meditative pose. Closing my eyes, I focused on my breathing just as I had seen Zuko do so many times in the past. As I inhaled and exhaled, I felt myself fall into the past.

My mother laid on the cot, her eyes shut as she dreamed away. I couldn't sleep. I felt fearful. We were just told earlier in the day that my father was killed in battle. The news of Admiral Gru's death had caused the whole estate to fall into despair. However, through the floorboards I could hear my brother Zhao speaking with my uncle. He was not in mourning. He was eager.

"Do you realize what this means, Uncle?! With father dead there is nothing stopping us from eliminating the burden he left us with!"

"What are you saying?" Uncle Xi was confused. "You mean kill?"

"Yes! Having that waterbender under our roof will be our undoing! If it's ever discovered that my father kept a captured southern waterbender for his own private use then the Fire Lord will not be pleased! We could lose everything!"

"Yes. I suppose you're right. What of the child though?"

Zhao was quiet for a moment. Finally, he answered, "She will have to be taken care of as well. Her very existence is just further proof of my father's crimes."

Uncle Xi argued. "Your father would not be pleased by that though. He had a soft spot for the child."

"You think that matters! Father is dead! There's nothing stopping me from destroying that brat!"

"Very well. I will do what you decide. We will need to handle this first thing in the morning," Uncle Xi suggested. "I will prepare a cart and we can dump the bodies in the orchard."

"Yes. That will work," Zhao spoke.

My eyes were wide with terror. Tears escaped me. Although I was young, I understood what was happening. As the voices faded downstairs, I crawled over to my mom and shook her awake. She was brought out of her sleep with a gasp. When she saw my shadow in the attic, she asked softly in the dark, "Amara… What is it love? Did you have a bad dream?"

I sobbed. "Mommy. We need to go. Zhao and uncle… they want to kill us."

My mother quickly lit the small lantern in the room and once we could see she was shocked to find me in such a state of fear. "Amara… What are you talking about?"

"I… I heard them. Downstairs. They want to kill us. We have to leave. Daddy's not here to protect us anymore."

Mom hugged me close to her. I shivered against her. "I feared this," she whispered. Her voice was broken. "Amara, sweetie… If they do try anything, I will protect you. I will do everything in my power to keep you safe."

"No… We go now," I begged. I pressed into her harder wishing she would listen. "I can melt the cuffs somehow. We can escape."

"If we leave here, we will be discovered either way… It's going to be okay, Amara. I will do what I can to change things. I promise."

I understood then. My mom didn't care if she died. She was tired of fighting. She was ready to accept her fate. I sobbed harder, realizing she was giving up. "Please, let's go!"

"Shh…" My mother hugged me tighter. "It's not that easy, Amara… I've tried to run away before. I was caught before I could get past the gate. There are guards everywhere… I'm too weak to fight, and you are just learning your bending. We won't survive if we run. But I will do everything I can to convince them to spare you tomorrow. I will protect you."

I shook my head. "I… I don't want to lose you, mommy."

"You won't… I will always be with you, love. Just make a promise for me…" she paused as she tried to regain her voice which was breaking. "If you ever find a way out of here, promise me you will find your grandma and aunt… when you do, tell them I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough… and that I never stopped loving them."

I whimpered. "We'll… we'll tell them together."

She pressed her face into my hair. "Promise me, Amara…"

I gasped another sob. "I… I promise."

My eyes shot open. The fire on the candles was blazing towards the ceiling. Once I calmed the energy inside me, the fire calmed. My pounding heart which had been racing calmed as well. My body shook. I blew out the candles and then sat back on my knees in silence.

I assumed this was not the meditation Iroh had suggested.

Tears were falling down my cheeks as I thought about my mother more. I had tried to not think about the last night we had shared, because I wanted to avoid the truth. However, having just remembered that awful night, I felt betrayed. As much as I loved and missed my mother, I realized in that moment she had chosen to abandon me. My mother had decided to leave me…

"You… you didn't even try," I whispered. "You gave up… you left me…" I grabbed my hair and hunched over. A sob escaped. "We could've found them together… we could've run!"

I cried hard, pressing my hands to my face.

"WHY?!"

Third Person POV

Zuko sat in his room looking over some maps. He had been told by his uncle that Amara had gone to her room to meditate. They were both concerned for her. Ever since she learned about her aunt's passing, she had been in a melancholic state. Zuko wished he knew how he could cheer her up, but he was at a loss. He worried that what he had said to her the other day about staying with him and his uncle had upset her more.

He let out a heavy sigh. He rubbed his brow. He didn't understand why Amara was always on his mind. He thought about her more than he thought about the Avatar, and this puzzled him. For almost three years he had only been focused on capturing the Avatar. But then his uncle saved Amara and he became distracted.

He cared for her. He wanted to make her happy. She had suffered so much in the past, and he wanted to continue to help her heal.

"WHY?!"

A shout vibrated through the metal wall between Zuko's room and Amara's. He jumped from the abrupt sound. Concerned for her, he pushed what he was doing aside and rushed out of his room to his neighbor's door.

"Amara?! Are you okay?!"

He did not receive an answer, but he could hear a muffled sob. He knew then she was crying. He couldn't bear the thought of her upset.

"Amara! I'm coming in!"

He quickly opened the door and stepped inside. He was greatly concerned when he saw the girl on her knees, her face in her hands as she was hunched over crying.

"Amara," he whispered. He stepped over and knelt beside her. He gently pressed a hand to her back to let her know he was there. She kept her face hidden in her hands. Her hair shielded her from him. He wanted to see her face. "Look at me."

She shook her head. Another sob came out. He knew he wouldn't get her to talk, so instead he moved in front of her and grabbed her wrists. Once her face was revealed, he could see the pain on her expression. He wasn't sure what was causing her so much anguish, but he wanted to try and calm her.

He stood and managed to get her to her feet. Then he supported her around the waist as she fell against him sobbing into his shirt. He managed to walk her over to the cot, and he helped her sit down. Then he sat beside her and pulled her to him again. She cried harder as he hugged her, and finally she spoke.

"Why… why wouldn't she try and escape… why did she give up?"

Zuko wasn't sure who she was talking about. He could only guess she meant her mom. He pressed his mouth to her hair and rubbed her back just as he remembered his mother doing in the past.

"She left me… we could've been together, but she wouldn't run… it's not fair…"

Zuko thought of his mother again and how she had disappeared in the middle of the night. He didn't know what happened to her. Maybe that was better in a way. At least there was a chance his mom might be alive. Amara's mom was killed.

"No," he whispered. "It's not fair."

"I tried so hard… I couldn't convince her to run… she… she chose to die," Amara whispered. "She left me to survive on my own. It hurts so much. Why couldn't she have fought harder?"

He didn't speak. He didn't have an answer for her. He wished he knew what to say but he didn't. All he could do was sit with her and let her cry against him. After a moment, he finally said, "You have every right to be angry. When my mom disappeared, I was angry too…"

Her crying calmed slightly as Zuko continued.

"I blamed myself at first. I hadn't protected her. I hadn't realized something was going to happen. The last time I saw my mom, she came in my room and told me that everything she was doing was because she loved me. I didn't know what she meant. I should've stopped her… but I didn't. After a while though, I realized blaming myself and my mom would get me nowhere. I blamed my grandpa, because all of this started when he told my father he was going to kill me."

She was listening. Her crying was next to nothing now. She whispered softly, "Your grandpa… was going to kill you? Why?"

Zuko hugged her closer. "My cousin Lu Ten had just died. My father wanted the throne instead of it rightfully going to Uncle. He told my grandpa since Iroh no longer had an heir that he should hand the birthright to the youngest. My grandpa was outraged by my dad's heartless words and told him that he should feel what it is like to lose a first-born son. My mom found out and then the next day she was gone and my grandpa was dead. I don't know what happened… I was forbidden to ask…"

Amara kept her head against Zuko as she thought about what he had said. "That's sad… You must wonder what happened to her a lot…"

"I do," he whispered. "Every day."

She let out a heavy breath. "My mom… I told her we should run. I heard Zhao and my uncle talk about killing us. She refused to. No matter how much I begged her to try and escape with me, she wouldn't. After nine years in captivity, she had lost her will to fight. The next morning when Zhao and uncle came in to kill us, she begged them to spare me. She told them that I was an innocent child and would not cause trouble. I was not a threat she told them… I would be obedient…"

She breathed heavily again to stop another sob.

"She saved me, but only so I could suffer for another eleven years at the hand of those monsters… Sometimes I wished I had died with her that day. Other times I was furious she didn't try harder to beg for her own life. And then like today, I'm mad she never tried to escape when I begged her to. She left me alone in my prison with only Tu Lan as company. The only thing that kept me alive was the promise I made to her the night before she died… that I would find my Water Tribe family... but part of me wonders if my promise to her should even matter. She promised she would always protect me, but she left me."

Zuko let out a sigh. "Promises are easily broken… at the end of the day, I think you need to do what you feel is right."

She nodded slowly. Pulling away slightly, she stared up at Zuko's face. She had stains from her tears. She asked softly, "Did… you get that scar because your mom left?"

He shook his head. He released her for a moment so he could brush his fingers on the area around his eye where the pink tight flesh was. "No… I received this right before I was banished. I asked Uncle to let me attend a war meeting my father was holding. He had told me to keep silent to not anger anyone, but something was said that I didn't agree with. I spoke up and embarrassed my father. He challenged me to an Agni Kai, and when I realized I would be fighting him I refused. My refusal was a mark of weakness, and he burned me to teach me a lesson. He told me the only way I can earn back my honor and my birthright as future Fire Lord is by capturing the Avatar. After almost three years, I finally found him, but he keeps escaping… I'm so close… So close to getting to go home… I can't give up."

Amara listened to Zuko's painful past. She frowned deeply and rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry… It must've been terrifying for you to have to leave home like that..."

He shrugged. "I had Uncle… He left everything to journey with and help me. I wouldn't have made it this far without him honestly. When he saved you from Zhao… it kind of reminded me of when we left the Fire Nation. He mended me back to health and offered me comfort. He saved me too."

Amara nodded. "He's a good man… you are too..."

Zuko's heart skipped as her words lingered. "Thanks…"

They sat in silence for a few more minutes. Then Zuko let out a deep breath. "You should get some sleep. It's getting late."

He went to stand but Amara grabbed his arm.

"Stay," Amara begged. "I don't want to be alone right now."

Zuko's cheeks burned. "Uh… I don't know… it's late…"

She looked confused by his statement. Then her face fell more. "O… okay…"

Zuko immediately felt torn. He let out a heavy breath in defeat. "I… I guess for a little bit… I'll stay until you fall asleep."

For the next hour Zuko had Amara read some of the new books that Iroh had given her to distract them both. He knew that if the crew found out how close they were at such a late hour there would be some teasing or suspicion, so he hoped he could sneak out once she was asleep without getting caught. As Amara leaned against him though, Zuko couldn't help but enjoy the feel of her warmth.

At some point, Amara finally drifted to sleep. He carefully maneuvered her so she was on her back. Once he had her laying down, he rested beside her. Laying on his side, he looked over her peaceful face in the firelight. His finger gently brushed a strand of black hair off her cheek.

Zuko had known how liking a girl felt. He had a crush on his sister's friend Mai in the past. This was something stronger though. Not only was Amara beautiful, but she was also different than any girl he had ever met. He thought about her more than anyone else. He knew why… he was starting to deeply care for her. He enjoyed her company and his heart hurt at the thought of her leaving him.

As much as he understood Amara's desire to meet her family, he wanted her to stay with him. She was the one person he felt he could be honest with besides his uncle. She trusted him with her secrets too. She also was the first person to make him laugh in over three years.

He wanted to protect her forever from being hurt again. He wanted to make her happy for the rest of her life. While he had never known much about love apart from how he felt towards his mom and Iroh, he knew that the feeling inside him was definitely similar. But also stronger.

He was starting to fall in love with Amara. Over the weeks he had come to know her he had felt a feeling inside him, but he tried not to dwell on it much. However, having had time to think about it as he comforted her in the last hour, he knew he was seeing her as more than a friend.

He brushed another strand from her cheek, enjoying the softness of her flesh. "Don't go," he whispered, knowing his desire was selfish. "Please stay with me. I can take care of you..."

He stayed with her as he watched her sleep. He didn't realize until it was too late that he was dozing as well.

Amara POV

Warmth surrounded me. I felt so at peace. I felt so content. My worries from the day before seemed to be dim in my mind. I felt safe as I was hugged close to someone. My head rested on a chest and I heard a heartbeat.

Opening my eyes slowly, I saw the room was dim. What remained of the torch from the day before was now dying. Soft breaths could be heard, and the chest moved slowly up and down. Finally, I realized whose arms I was sleeping in.

Zuko… he had stayed with me last night.

I smiled and shut my eyes again listening to his heartbeat a little longer. Having him with me was reassuring. Waking alone, I was always scared something bad may have happened through the night. Having Zuko beside me, I knew everything was okay.

As I rested against Zuko, I suddenly realized what I wanted. While I knew my grandma and cousins were out there somewhere, I was okay if I didn't meet them. My mom had wanted me to be free and happy, and that's what I was.

Zuko… I'll stay… with you and Iroh… you're my family.

Zuko shifted suddenly, but I didn't move, continuing to enjoy his warmth. However, he gasped and sat up causing me to sit up too. He jumped off the cot, his face red and his eyes wide as he stared down at me. I stared up at him in bewilderment. His reaction had confused me.

"A… Amara… I…" He covered his face and turned quickly. "I didn't know I fell asleep… This was a mistake… Uh… I'm going to see if Uncle's awake for breakfast." He went to leave.

I was puzzled by his reaction. "Did… I do something wrong?"

He kept his back to me. He answered with hesitation, "No… it's… just not good if people catch us… sleeping together… in the same room." He grabbed the door latch. "They may think I'm… doing something I shouldn't be to you…"

Finally, it clicked. My eyes widened. I recalled the conversations I had overheard men at my brother's harbor and at my family estate have in the past. I knew a little bit about intimacy.

"Oh… you mean…" My cheeks went red. "Like what dad did to mom?"

His body stiffened. He was quiet for a moment. Finally, he said softly, "I'll never do anything to you that makes you uncomfortable… but we… we can't let this happen again… others will assume there's something going on between us."

I frowned. "But… we weren't doing anything. We were sleeping. Tu Lan would sleep by my cot sometimes."

He groaned. "That's not the same, Amara." He turned and met my eyes. "We were in bed together… and I…" He shook his head. "I can't explain this to you."

"Zuko… I know you wouldn't ever hurt me. It's okay."

"It's not okay," he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Especially because…" He stopped. His cheeks turned more red if that was possible. "Dammit! I like you, Amara! More than a friend! That's why!"

His words made me fall quiet. I was shocked. My heart fluttered faster than it ever had before. He turned on his heel and threw the door open rushing out. The door shut behind, and silence fell over the room. My breathing hitched.

Zuko… He felt for me like mom had felt for Bato…? like Tu Lan had felt for my mom…?

Zuko liked me more than a friend?

My hand moved slowly to my necklace. I brushed my finger against the charm.

For sixteen years I had been a prisoner. For eleven of those years I survived on my own without my mother. All I had for a decade was Tu Lan to care for me.

However, I was finally free and had a chance to live. I had a guardian that cared for me as a daughter. I had a crew who accepted me for being a dual bender.

I could've never imagined finding a young man who would feel anything for me other than a friend. I finally knew then what the heart flutters inside me meant. I was falling in love with Zuko as well. He was my friend and protector. I wanted him to be happy. I wanted to help make him happy. I wanted to be with him for as long as I could.

So… this was what love for another felt like?

Later at breakfast, Zuko was still embarrassed and avoided looking at me as we sat at the table with Iroh. Iroh could sense something was going on between the two of us. He sipped his tea, but he looked back and forth between us with curiosity.

Finally, he asked, "So where were you this morning, Prince Zuko? I came to ask you a question and you didn't answer your door."

Zuko's ears turned red. He glanced out the window toward the sea to try and avoid Iroh's gaze. "I… took a walk…"

Iroh smirked. "Really? Because Fe could've sworn that he saw you sneak out of Amara's room this morning."

Zuko slammed his chopsticks down and stood quickly. "We weren't doing anything! We were sleeping!"

The room was quiet as Zuko defended himself. His whole face was a tint of red now.

Iroh laughed. "No need to overreact, Prince Zuko. I trust you have good intentions. Just be aware that there is some gossip circulating the ship now."

Zuko groaned. He sat back down and dropped his head in his hands. "This is exactly what I wanted to avoid."

I came to our defense. "Zuko didn't do anything, Iroh… he comforted me last night and accidentally fell asleep beside me. He was there for me… it's my fault because I asked him to stay."

"I understand, Amara. You need to be aware though that it's not exactly proper for you and Zuko to be so… close at night." Iroh sipped his tea. "At least not until you're married."

Zuko gasped. "Uncle! It's not like that!"

I felt my cheeks burn at the thought of marrying Zuko. I had only known him for about a month. It was too soon to marry him.

"Urgh! I need some air!" Zuko stood and left the room without another word.

I kept my eyes on my half eaten meal with embarrassment. I hadn't realized such an act last night was improper. I guess I never imagined Zuko would try anything inappropriate, and last night had felt like a harmless moment. I had been locked up for so long, I really didn't know the rules of this world.

Iroh sighed. "So… you were upset last night? Your meditation was not helpful?"

Iroh's question brought me out of my flustered state. I cringed and shook my head. "Um… no… I thought about the past instead. My last night with my mom." I let out a deep breath. "I was upset because last night I remembered how my mom was the one to abandon me. I had begged her to try and run… and she wouldn't."

Iroh let out a heavy sigh. "Your mother went through something no one should ever have to experience. She lost her will to fight. But in the end, you were spared that day, and you survived."

I moved my food as a frown fell over me. "I wish she had tried though. If we had tried to run, we may have escaped… and then we could've gone to find our family together." I placed my utensils down and crossed my arms. "I… I honestly don't know if finding my family is what I want anymore… without my mom, I'll just feel like an outsider. And I've gotten so comfortable with you, Zuko, and the crew… I… I don't want to leave you all."

Iroh gave a sad smile. "It's understandable that you want to stay with us. However, you must understand something, Amara. If Zuko captures the Avatar and returns to the Fire Nation, there is a possibility that you may be in danger. As much as I want to believe my brother would accept you, Ozai is unpredictable. Honestly, if we hadn't found information on your family and Zuko captured the Avatar, I would've taken you to live with a good friend of mine in the Fire Nation. You are not safe in the palace as long as my brother is on the throne."

His words surprised me. My heart clenched. "So… either way, I can't stay with you and Zuko…?"

He reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "As long as the Avatar is free, you are welcome to remain with us." He smiled. "And I have a feeling that will be for a long time. So don't be upset. Enjoy the journey for now."

I smiled slightly. "Okay. I will, Iroh."

He pulled away from me and sipped his tea again. "And who knows… Zuko may change his mind and decide on a different path one day. Then you won't have to fear being separated from him." He winked at me and poured me more tea.

The rest of the day I thought over what Iroh had said. As I practiced my bending and worked more on my reading, I wondered how much longer I had with Zuko.

A knock sounded on my door a little after noon. I quickly opened it to see Zuko. He kept his eyes on the floor and his arms were crossed. "Hey… I… wanted to talk to you about this morning."

I felt my heart pound hard again. I nodded and stepped aside to let him in. He stepped inside, and the door shut behind. We stood in silence for a moment. I waited for Zuko to speak, knowing he would when he was ready.

After a good minute, he finally let out a deep breath. "So… what I said this morning… I… did mean it, Amara… but I understand that you may not feel the same way for me."

I felt my heart quicken. I crossed my arms. "Well… it's not that I don't," I spoke softly. "It's just… I don't really know a lot about… being in love… I've been told stories about maidens falling for warriors and other types of love stories, but up until you spoke this morning I thought the way I felt for you was just friendship." I rubbed my arm embarrassed. "I don't know how to return your feelings… because I don't know how to be more than just a friend. Before you and Iroh saved me I didn't know how to be anything but a prisoner."

He nodded. "I know… that's why I wanted to talk to you. I just… got caught up in the moment this morning. You're beautiful, Amara. I've always thought so since the day I first saw you. I… just want you to understand that I really care about you and if you stay with me and uncle… well I promise I'll protect and take care of you. But I'll never ask you to be more than my friend until you're ready. I know it's too soon for the both of us."

His words only made me blush harder. "I… I do want to be more than just friends. But I don't know how… I may not be able to give you the same feelings you have for me."

He stepped forward and cupped my cheek gently. "That's okay… just be yourself. I like you as you are, so you don't have to change for me."

I was frozen as his warm hand pressed against me. My breathing hitched. I heard my heart pound loudly in my ears. He leaned forward and kissed my forehead softly. His lips on my flesh caused shocks to shoot through me. I enjoyed the feeling. I shut my eyes soaking in the touch.

He pulled away after a moment. He whispered while my eyes were still closed, "I love you, Amara."

When I opened my eyes, I saw he was leaving. The door shut behind him. I stayed where I was in bewilderment. My heart was still pounding heavily.

Zuko… loved me…

Third Person POV

Zuko laid on his cot, staring up at the ceiling in amazement. He couldn't believe he had actually done it. He had told Amara he loved her. Over the weeks he had come to know her, he had grown a strong affection for her. When he woke that morning to her in his arms, he had loved the moment so much. After almost three years of feeling alone and unwanted, Zuko finally felt true happiness for the first time. Amara made him happy, and she also made his heart light.

His uncle had spoken to him a little after breakfast, telling him that he could sense Zuko was developing feelings for her as well. However, Iroh had warned Zuko that if he continued to pursue the Avatar then the young prince would need to ignore these feelings.

"Say I do like her… what would the Avatar have to do with that?"

Iroh frowned. "Zuko… Amara is Fire Nation, but she is also Water Tribe. Capturing the Avatar will be the end of her mother's people. You know with the Avatar out of the way the Fire Nation will finally defeat the Water Nation and the Earth Nation. Also, going to the Fire Nation palace will not be safe for Amara. I know you want to believe your father will accept her, but I do not agree with you. Ozai will see her as a threat. He will most likely have her locked away like her mother was."

Zuko scowled. "You're wrong! I will tell my father she is not a threat. He will believe me and treat her well."

Iroh shook his head. "I do not believe he will. I only want what's best for Amara. If you capture the Avatar, I cannot allow you to take her back to the palace. I will take her somewhere else where she will be safe."

Zuko argued, "That's not up to you!"

Iroh stayed firm. "It is. I am Amara's guardian. Her safety comes first, and I will not allow her to go anywhere near Fire Lord Ozai. So in the end, you must decide Prince Zuko… are you willing to end your quest to be with Amara, or are you okay with forgetting these feelings so you can please your father?"

Since Zuko had spoken to his uncle, he was so conflicted. He couldn't believe his feelings for Amara were making him doubt his mission. He wanted more than anything to reclaim his honor and his throne, but he also wanted Amara to stay with him. Since he had admitted his feelings to her, he felt even closer. However, part of him knew his uncle was right. As long as Amara was a waterbender, his father would not trust or accept her.

She would probably be locked up if she came to the palace with him…

Zuko let out a heavy breath. There was still time before he captured the Avatar... For now, he would just continue to be there for Amara. Then once he captured the Avatar, he would try to prove his uncle wrong. He felt he could convince his father somehow that Amara was not a threat.

One thing was for sure (and he knew it was selfish to even think it)... he hoped they didn't find Amara's family. Because he didn't want to lose her.