Iroh and Zuko sat in silence around a meager fire. The flames licked the wet wood making more smoke than heat. Iroh watched his nephew scowl into the flames as he wiped at his eyes trying to hide the tears that continued to well up.

"Prince Zuko-" Iroh began to speak gently.

"I don't want to talk about it!" Zuko snapped, his voice was hoarse and cracked as he pinched his eyes shut and hid his face in his folded arms. Iroh's heart broke for his nephew.

"It isn't too late to go back, Zuko." Iroh pressed forward. They'd left only a few hours ago. If they returned now Kitsu would still be at the inn and they could talk things out.

"Yes it is." Zuko gripped a hank of his hair so hard that it hurt. "You didn't see the way she looked at me, Uncle!" He felt like a fool as a sob strangled it's way out of him. This was all his fault.

Iroh frowned and looked into the flames. "I did not." Iroh agreed. "But I cannot imagine she wanted you to leave her this way."

"She told me to get out of her sight!" Zuko snapped. "She wouldn't listen! I tried! I tried to tell her I was sorry!" He wiped furiously at his eyes, trying to force the tears to stop falling. His throat felt like it was held in a vice grip as the image of Kitsu's face of anger and disgust seared into his mind's eye.

"She has a right to her anger, Zuko." Iroh tried to speak soothingly as he watched his nephew crumble. He felt partially to blame for not pushing Zuko to reveal their lie sooner. "But anger cannot last forever. Perhaps she has calmed down, perhaps she would listen now."

Zuko shook his head violently and coughed as the ache in his throat became unbearable. "She told me she loved me." He croaked. "And I ruined it!"

Iroh reached out and began to pat Zuko's back as he realized the true depths of the boy's misery. The old general could remember his own first heartbreak keenly. "That is a good sign, Prince Zuko."

"How is that a good sign?" Zuko snapped. "I loved her and all I did was betray her!"

"And she will be angry, and hurt by that." Iroh acknowledged. "But love is no small thing, Zuko. She has seen the good in you, and could be willing to see it again."

"No." Zuko shook his head weekly and hid his face in his hands. "I can't face her again. Not after what I did."

Iroh let out a disappointed sigh but chose not to push his nephew any further. He put his arm around the boy and resolved himself to sit as quiet company while Zuko cried out the pain.

The next morning.

They slept on the cold ground that night and awoke with the first rays of light. Zuko had cried more than he had in years, and now he was all cried out. He felt like shit and he could feel the old bitterness that he'd had a blessed break from creeping back into his mood.

Iroh cleared his throat and broke the silence of their meager little camp. "I know you will not like to hear what I am about to say, Prince Zuko." His nephew's golden eyes slipped from the cold charcoal of their fire pit to Iroh's face but he did not speak up. "We must still find our way to Ba Sing Se."

"What?" Zuko snapped. He couldn't believe what his uncle was suggesting. "No!"

"It is the only place that your father's forces have not infiltrated. It is still the safest place for us to hide from your sister while we gather our strength."

Zuko ground his teeth and scowled at the ground. "How will we even get into the city without... her?" He couldn't even bring himself to utter her name. He didn't deserve to. As much as he hated the idea of going to the same city as Kitsune he could not argue with the points that Iroh was making.

"I have allies nearby who can supply us with documents." Iroh rubbed his beard sagely. "But once we enter the city will be on our own."

"Then what will we do?" Zuko asked bitterly. "We have no money, no status. We're as good as peasants."

Iroh shook his head at his nephew's haughty tone. "We will do what peasants do, Prince Zuko. We will work."

Zuko let out a long exhausted sigh and rubbed his face. "Fine. We may as well get moving." He grumbled before getting to his feet. He held out his hand to his uncle and helped the old general up.

That night in Ba Sing Se

Ai had carried Kitsu back to her rooms, soothing her as best she could. When they reached the palatial rooms Kitsu pulled away from her and grasped the door handle for support.

"I want to be alone." She whispered as she sniffled and wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her kimono.

"Are you sure, Kitsu? I don't mind staying with you." Ai put her hand on Kitsu's arm and pinched her brows together in concern.

"Yes. I need... I need to be alone for a little while." Kitsu swallowed the lump in her throat and gave Ai a week smile to reassure her. She could tell that her friend was hardly convinced but much to her relief Ai didn't argue with her.

"Okay... I'm right on the other side of those doors if you need me." Ai pointed to the doors to her room and urged Kitsu with her eyes not to hesitate to get her.

"I know." Kitsu nodded and blinked away more tears. "Get some rest." Before Ai could change her mind Kitsu swung open the massive door to her room and slipped inside. She pulled the door shut behind her and stood for a moment as she took in her surroundings. Somehow the room felt even bigger and more empty than it had earlier.

Despite her aunt and uncle's hopes, Kitsu doubted she would ever feel at home in a place like this. With a heavy sigh she began the uncomfortable, limping trek across the room towards the bed. A bundle wrapped in silk sitting on the bed caught her eye as she reached it. The bed could easily fit eight people in it, and it enveloped her as she sat on the edge. Curiously she opened the bundle and let the silk fall away. Inside were the clothe's she'd arrived in earlier that day. They'd been washed and dried. Kitsu's grip tightened around Zuko's shirt as a new wave of sorrow gripped her.

Slowly she raised the shirt to her face and inhaled, but it no longer smelled like him. Kitsu felt her throat tighten and shook her head as she lowered the shirt to her lap. Anger rose in her throat as she gripped the shirt tightly and a frustrated cry escaped her lips.

"What am I doing?" She asked the empty room. Kitsu pinched her eyes shut and shook her head. Anger and sorrow battled inside her chest fighting to take the reins of her misery. She was furious with him. He'd lied to her and taken advantage of her, but he'd also been so kind. How could she not have known? So many times she'd gotten so close to the truth.

Zuko's desperate voice echoed in her mind "Can't you?" Kitsu couldn't understand. He was the enemy. A fire nation prince, born to carry on his father's and grandfather's genocide. Banished or not he was fruit from the same rotten tree and yet... Kitsu took a deep breath and laid back on the bed, her feet still dangling to the floor. Those molten eyes flashed through her imagination. Try as she might to see evil in them, all she could see was the way he'd looked at her. Now more than ever she wished she could speak to her mother. She would know what to say to soothe Kitsu's aching heart.

Did her mother feel the same all those years ago? Did she struggle with the same conflicted feelings that swung wildly from fury to heartache? Kitsu wished she could reach into her chest and scoop out the part of her that had fallen in love with him. It would be so much easier to just be fucking angry.

Regardless of her foolish feelings, Zuko had left her. Granted she'd told him to go, but a little voice in her head reminded her that she wished she hadn't. What would have happened if she had heard him out? Would he be there with her now?

Kitsu stomped that thought out of her mind and shook herself. He was gone, and she would likely never see him again. There was no use in torturing herself with hypotheticals. As she lay on the bed the quiet chirping of frogs out in the courtyard reached her ears. How peaceful it would be to just be a frog. All she would have to concern herself with is singing at night and finding bugs to eat. The nonsensical thought caused her to chuckle cynically at herself.

With a heavy sigh she sat up and turned down the covers of her bed before wriggling underneath them. She couldn't be bothered to change out of her Kimono. Her body was too sore and too tired for changing to be worth the effort. As she settled into the bed that was too soft and stared up at the ceiling that was too high she tried to steady her breathing. She just wanted to be back in her cottage where things were simple and she just had to tend her sheep-pigs and root around in her garden.

Kitsu closed her eyes and tried to imagine her cottage. The cool stone walls and crackling fire filled her mind. Slowly her breathing evened out and she drifted to sleep.

Kitsu was standing in her cottage, cooking a stew on her earthen stove. Afternoon light filtered through the windows and she smiled to herself as she stirred the food. The breeze outside rustled the trees and everything was at peace.

The front door of her cottage opened and she turned to see who it was. Zuko stood in her doorway, smiling at her as he set a bundle of firewood by the door. "Hello, Princess." He greeted before crossing the room and wrapping his arms around her from behind. "How is dinner coming along?" Kitsu leaned into him and smiled as he placed a kiss atop her head. She was so happy she felt like she was glowing.

"It's almost ready." She murmured. Zuko ducked his head and began placing tender kisses on her neck. Kitsu began to melt into his touch and let out a soft chuckle. "You're distracting me." She chided. "I'm going to burn the food."

She felt Zuko grin against her ear as he extinguished the flames in the stove. "There, now you won't burn the food." He purred against her neck.

"Aren't you hungry?" She asked as she turned around, causing Zuko to grumble as his lips left her skin.

"Not for food." Zuko smirked as he scooped her up. Kitsu smiled broadly as he laid her down on their bed and kissed her deeply. She snaked her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through his silky hair. Zuko's rough hand slid up her thigh and settled on her hip where her gripped her firmly. She could feel how much he burned for her when he hooked his hand behind her knee and wrapped her leg around his waist.

Kitsu let out a gasp as he pressed her into the bed and moved from kissing her lips to kissing her neck and slowly pulling her dress away from her shoulders. "Zuko~" She sighed as his warm lips peppered her skin. Her heart was pounding in her chest as he pulled away from her and yanked his shirt over his head before tossing it onto the floor. The way his shoulders flexed as he lowered himself over her made her bite her lower lip and he grinned at her knowingly.

"I want to see you, Princess." He ran a hand down her body savoring her curves. Kitsu flushed, the faintest tug of a distant memory nearly pulling her out of the moment, but the way his molten eyes raked over her hungrily made her lose the thought almost as quickly as she had it.

"Okay." She breathed as she nodded her permission. Zuko's hands found the hem of her dress and began hiking it up. Kitsu raised her arms above her head and wriggled as he slipped the dress up and over her head before throwing it away to join his shirt.

"You're so beautiful." Zuko breathed huskily as he took in her naked body. Kitsu felt a blush rising up her neck at the way he was looking at her. She could see a fire in his eyes. Slowly he trailed his hand up her thigh, over her hip bone and across the span of her stomach. Goosebumps raised on her skin and she felt a familiar heat pool between her legs. He was taking his time with her, as though he didn't want the moment to slip by too quickly, but it was making her squirm with anticipation. Frustrated by how slowly he was teasing her Kitsu reached out and ran her hand from his collar bone to the hem of his pants and watched his gaze go from hungry to ravenous.

Zuko sat on the bed and pulled her up so that she was straddling his lap. He began kissing her hungrily and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Kitsu gasped into his lips and he gave a low growl as he palmed one of her breasts. The warm roughness of his hand against her nipple made it harden beneath his touch and she felt a shiver run up her spine. A low moan escaped her lips and Zuko stiffened as he pulled her closer against him. She could feel how hard he was and it made her want to melt into him. Kitsu was losing herself to the heat of the moment, but something tugged at her nagging at the back of her mind.

"Kitsu." He groaned . Kitsu tried to focus on the sound of his voice and ignore the feeling that something was wrong. "Kitsu." She looked into Zuko's eyes but they were no longer full of flames. He was looking at her heartbroken.

They weren't in her cottage anymore, and she wasn't tangled around him in the throws of passion. They were in the lakeside inn again, and Zuko was looking at her with anguish in his eyes.

"Kitsu!"

Kitsu shot up in bed nearly scaring Ai out of her skin.

"Are you alright my lady?" Ai asked with a look of concern pinching her brows together.

"Wh-what?" Kitsu's eyes searched the room, frantically trying to make sense of her surroundings. The morning sun filtered through the open windows of her bedroom and all at once the memory of the past two days flooded back to her.

"You were sweating and groaning in your sleep. I was worried your fever had returned." Ai put her hand to Kitsu's forehead and to check her temperature but Kitsu swatted her away and buried her face in her hands.

"I'm fine Ai." Kitsu couldn't stop crimson flush of embarrassment that flooded her cheeks. Her dream was still fresh in her mind and she couldn't believe herself. She'd never had a dream like that before.

Ai sat on the edge of the bed and chewed her lip as she tried to puzzle out what was wrong with Kitsu. She decided ultimately to let it go.

"I'm sorry for waking you, Kitsu. Your Aunt asked me to let you know she would be paying you a visit shortly."

"Did she say why?" Kitsu peeked out from her hands as she felt dread replace embarrassment.

"No." The younger girl shook her head and shrugged. "Just to get you ready."

Kitsu sighed heavily and nodded. "Okay then."

Half an hour later Kitsu was dressed in a green cheongsam and seated on the windowsill that looked out into the walled garden. Ai was making up the bed when a polite knock sounded at the door. The two women shared a brief glance before Ai hurried to the door to open it and welcome Lady Poppy inside. Ai turned and offered Kitsu a reassuring smile before stepping out to give them some privacy.

Lady Poppy smiled as soon as she caught sight of Kitsu. "Good morning!" She chimed sweetly as she crossed the room. Kitsu began to stand but lady Poppy shook her head and waved for her to sit. "Please, don't strain yourself. I'm happy to come and sit with you."

Kitsu watched as her aunt joined her and settled herself on the windowsill, still smiling. "How are you feeling?"

Kitsu barely knew how to answer that question. She felt tumultuous. As if she was back in that little life boat being tossed around by the sea.

"I don't really know." Kitsu answered honestly. "I'm still... taking everything in."

"I can imagine that this is all very overwhelming." Lady Poppy nodded as her smile grew more serious. "I am terribly sorry if we upset you during our meeting yesterday. We did not mean to be insensitive about your situation."

Kitsu shook her head and looked down at her hands, unable to reconcile herself with the concern on her aunt's face. She'd never imagined her aunt this way. "Don't be. None of this is your fault."

Lady Poppy considered Kitsu for a long moment before folding her hands in her lap and gazing out the window. "If you are willing, I would like to ask you some questions about what your mother explained to you about our family, and your place in it."

Kitsu swallowed hard and looked back up to her aunt who was the picture of gentle encouragement. "She never told me very much." Kitsu admitted with a shrug. She felt more comfortable interacting with her aunt this way. No one was watching them, and she had only one person's opinion to be concerned with at a time.

Lady Poppy nodded solemnly and took a calming breath. "Can you begin by telling me what you do know?"

Kitsu nodded. "She always told me I was half Beifong. That, our family was extremely wealthy. She told me that if I was ever in dire need, I could use my coin and reveal myself to you... But she didn't want me to do that unless it was absolutely necessary."

The older woman nodded as her face betrayed a flash of sorrow before she swallowed and regained her smile. "She never told you about her position in the family?"

Kitsu shook her head, unsure of what her aunt was getting at.

"Your mother, my older sister, was next in line to inherit the title of Matriarch. Do you know what that means?" Poppy watched as Kitsu once again shook her head. "In our family, women can inherit titles the same way that men can. And your mother, as the oldest child, was set to become the head of our household when your grandfather passed away." Poppy watched as wheels began to turn in Kitsune's head and did her best to tread carefully with how she proceeded. "I have been managing the household in your mother's absence, but according to the laws of inheritance, you are now the Matriarch of the family."

Kitsu felt the blood rush from her face and she gripped her stomach as it began to somersault in her ribcage.

"N-no. I can't. I have no idea how to run a noble household, I can't do that!" Kitsu's brain was running to quickly, and all too suddenly she realized why her mother had never wanted her to come here.

Poppy took her nieces hands into her own and looked at her earnestly. "You don't have to do anything, Kitsune." She reassured her. "Right now, all you need to do is rest, and recover." Poppy stroked her thumb over Kitsu's knuckles gently and watched as her niece relaxed ever so slightly.

"Your mother and I were prepared our entire lives to fulfill our duty to the family. I don't expect you to be prepared to step into your role immediately." Poppy waited until she saw Kitsu nod and her frantic breathing slow.

Kitsu noted, all to poignantly that her aunt had stressed the word 'immediately'.

"I am telling you this, because it would not be right to hide your status from you. You've been kept in the dark long enough." Poppy's voice caught and she struggled for a moment to regain her reassuring smile. "There will be some necessary meetings. To pass your mother's properties and accounts into your name, and when you are ready we will need to present you to the King."

Kitsu's head was spinning as she took in the information her aunt was providing her. Her mother had properties? And accounts? Why had they lived in poverty her entire childhood if her mother had the means to provide a comfortable life for them? The idea of being presented to the Earth King was so wildly absurd to her that she couldn't even be panicked about it.

"I don't know what to say." Kitsu muttered as she pulled one of her hands out of her aunts grasp and anxiously tugged at her braid.

"I know this must be overwhelming for you." Poppy cooed as she reached out and tucked a stray hair behind Kitsu's ear affectionately. "You don't have to learn everything all at once, and your uncle, Toph and I will all be here for you every step of the way."

"What if I'm never ready?" Kitsu blurted out as her anxiety swelled. "What if I can't be who you need me to be?"

Poppy considered her for a long moment before smiling. "You come from noble blood Kitsu. Both your mother and father navigated their roles as nobles and I have no doubt that you will flourish here. It is all scary and alien now, but this life runs in your veins."

Kitsu hardly felt reassured but she nodded none the less. For a split second she wondered if running was really worse than staying here, but her aunts gentle smile made her feel guilty for even thinking about it.

"I also have to ask, and I apologize if this is intrusive... is there any chance that you are with child?" Poppy lowered her voice to denote the delicacy of the matter and watched as her niece turned red with embarrassment.

"No. No. There is no chance. We... we were not married long and we didn't get the chance to... consummate." The awkward lie made Kitsu feel nauseous. She hadn't been married at all, but she was far too ashamed to admit that, even to her gentle aunt. Her dream flashed through her mind but she forced it away. She could only handle so much embarrassment at once.

"I see." Lady Poppy nodded and seemed to digest this new information. "That will make things easier for you."

Kitsu's brows knit together in confusion. "Easier?" She could hardly imagine what Poppy meant.

"We would have accepted the child, of course. Please know that...I only mean that it is a heavy task, raising a child alone. Even in a wealthy family." Poppy glanced out the window briefly before returning her gaze to her niece. "It also means that it will be much easier for you to remarry if you ever choose to do so."

Kitsu blinked and remained silent for a long moment before nodding her understanding. The mere thought of being a mother, let alone mother to the child of the prince of the Fire Nation, terrified her. She'd come foolishly close to risking that very outcome and it made her feel sick to think of it.

"What meetings will need to happen?" Kitsu asked, wanting desperately to change the subject.

"We will need to meet with your mother's lawyer and banker. They have been managing her funds and properties in her absence while I oversaw the household. We will need to present them with your coin, and have the titles put in your name. They will be able to draw up identification papers for you as well. We will also need to have you fitted for a proper wardrobe, and see to it that we select tutors to assess and continue your education."

"Is that all?" Kitsu asked with an anxious breath of sarcasm.

"Not quite." Poppy shook her head. "Eventually you will need to take up residence in your mother's house. It is her eon the estate, but it has been closed up since your mother... left." Lady Poppy watched as Kitsu gnawed her bottom lip and twisted a strand of her hair nervously. She patted her hand reassuringly. "I promise I will be by your side the entire way."

Kitsu nodded, unable to formulate an intelligent reply. She felt like the air was too thin and the walls which had felt so spacious, were threatening to close in on her.

"Before we do any of that we must get you well. I had my maid send for the finest physician in Ba Sing Se. He will be coming today to examine your wound and will oversee your care."

"I can tend to it myself." Kitsu snapped, finally breaking under the stress of her situation. Poppy's look of surprise at her outburst made guilt twist in Kitsu's stomach.

"I'm certain that my sister taught you how to heal, and I do not doubt that you are very skilled at it." Lady Poppy spoke as if she were navigating a diplomatic negotiation. "But you do not need to do everything by yourself anymore... It would make me feel much better if you allowed the doctor to oversee your care. Do you think you would be willing to do that, for me?"

Kitsu wanted to shrink away in that moment. Being cared for was still so new and foreign to her, but she did not want to snub her aunt. Lady Poppy had been nothing but kind to her, and despite how lost she felt, Kitsu wanted desperately to have a good relationship with her.

"Alright." Kitsu relented. "I'll do it." The beaming smile that Poppy rewarded her with made her feel ever so slightly better.

"Good." Poppy nodded in approval. "Now let's send for something to eat. I'm sure you're starving."