Hey There,

Welcome to Chapter 8, on this Black Friday! I hope everyone who just celebrated Thanksgiving had a good one. If you were shopping this morning, I hope you caught all the deals. And everyone who's psyched for Christmas is happy to have the season in full swing now. This chapter picks up right where the last one left off and shows Zuko's reaction to Mai's answer, as well as some of Mai's reactions to what the after-party was like for her and her new fiancée. I hope everyone enjoys it!

Special thanks to Rose-Aki for her lovely review! Thank you so much! And the few new people following this story or me as an authoress. Thank you so much!

Standard Disclaimers Apply - I don't own any of the trademarked things mentioned. I am merely borrowing all of this stuff for my own twisted amusement. Most will be returned unharmed.

Dedicated to the other division dork! Making me feel better! LoL! You know who you are, this one's for you.

"They Forgot!"

Chapter 8 - Aftermath

(Zuko's Perspective)

She said yes! She said yes! She said YES!

I was so happy, I didn't know what to do with myself. What I ended up doing was popping back up to stand, and shooting off a flare in the air. Like I had earlier today. Only this one had a little too much heat because I was way too excited. And blasted it a little bigger than I was expecting. Which only made Mai laugh out loud from where she was still sitting on the ground. I yelled to our friends, "HEY-EVERYBODY! MAI-SAID-YES!"

There was an answering cheer from all of our friends (even Appa). Then I turned back to Mai and helped her back up off of the ground. Before picking her up and spinning her around. When she was back on her feet again, she asked me. "That's really why you were acting so weird? You were planning that all of the time?"

"Yeah, I think it was making me act strange before I even realized it myself. That that was it." I nodded. "I even had everyone in on it, you wouldn't believe all that went into it." Seriously, she wouldn't.

"When did you realize it? That this was what you wanted to ask me?" Mai asked, it was a good question. But after the rollercoaster ride I'd just been on. I didn't want to go all through it again just yet. Besides tonight was all about the fun, I didn't want to even mention her family right now. Or that I'd realized it when I was facing off with them this morning.

So I told her, "I'll tell you all about it, I promise, but later, because right now… since you've said yes, we need to handle one more gift." I reminded her. Our work here wasn't done.

She reacted, "Wait, are you telling me that you already have my engagement necklace and everything? All here and ready?"

"Yeah, why are you so shocked?" I had to ask.

"Well," she struggled to find the right words. "I just always thought if this were to ever happen. Ever. It would hit you like lightning and you couldn't keep it in long enough to plan so much ahead."

Reads me like a book, even in moments like this. Can you see why I can't live without her anymore? I couldn't do it, I couldn't lie to her. I had to tell her the truth and let her know. "Well, that's sort of exactly what happened. This morning, but I had been sort of planning this all along and even I didn't realize it till today."

"Okay, that sounds more like something that would happen to you." Mai agreed. Then I presented her with an old-fashioned box that popped open to show her the engagement necklace that would now be all hers. A simple gold chain with a discreet dark ruby heart charm. With a flame etched in the gemstone's face. Like my mother, Mai saw no point in jewelry that would make her fall over even though I could get that for her. I hoped she would love it, especially when she heard the story behind my choice. But my stomach still dropped till I heard her reaction.

She took a second before saying, "Zuko… it's beautiful."

As I took it from her to help her put it on, I explained. "It was my mother's, and this wasn't given to her by my father like the necklace Azula was wearing tonight. I don't know if you noticed it-"

"I did," Mai admitted, never misses a thing. "I remembered it from when we were little."

"That one came from my father, Mother thought that one should belong to Azula. But this was given to her by her true love-"

"The one she's married to now, Ikem?" Mai added.

"Yeah, and she kept it all through the years they were apart. She gave it to me and told me to only give it to the person I loved… without a doubt." I said as I was fumbling with her hair and the clasp.

"And you're giving it to me." Mai just had to confirm.

"Yep," I said as I'd finally gotten it fastened and turned her to face me. "It looks good on you too." I felt like I should tell her, "If you don't like it, we can get something just for you. Anything you want-"

"No. It's perfect… it's perfect." She insisted, effectively stopping me when she covered my mouth with her fingers. "I couldn't have chosen anything more perfect if I tried. And I love the history, but are you sure I can live up to something like this? She's an amazing person and a great Fire Lady."

I had to say after imagining it on her all day. Now seeing it for myself, "I think it was even more meant for you than it was for her."

I don't know if she pulled me to her, or if I'd pulled her to me. All I do know is that we shared another kiss that lasted long enough to make us miss the grand finale. Well, the one that was happening in the sky. When they were finished everyone cheered and started to head back toward us and the inn. As we all met up at the main entrance we were getting congratulated all around, by everyone. Even after everyone had gone again (to bed this time for real) and it was just Mai and me walking hand and hand up the stairs.

Mai kept messing with her face with her free hand. I asked, "Are you alright?"

She said, "I don't know how you do it."

"Do what?" I asked.

"Smile so much." She clarified, "My face is stinging so much, it's numb."

As I walked her to her door I chuckled and confessed, "I had to get used to it, I don't want you to be uncomfortable. But I do hope you'll be smiling a whole lot more in the future."

"Well, I already am," She said as she still rubbed at her cheeks. "While it is a little annoying, the sting. I can't say I hate it either."

That was when we reached Mai's door and I had been about to ask her if she was ready for the night to end. Because I sure wasn't, when I noticed something odd. All Of my things were sitting next to her door in the hallway, along with two hulky guards. They bowed and said, "A thousand apologies, your majesty. But your sister said this missive would explain everything."

Apparently, Azula and Kavin had taken over the Fire Lord's suite for their honeymoon destination. Knowing I wouldn't need to look far to find better accommodations. Azula's note had even said, "I'll take this as my wedding present. You can thank me later, tell Mai to keep her knives sharp and nearby in case you get any ideas, little brother." Then signed it "-Your sister, Azula." Just like all of her recent letters to me.

I burned the note in my fist and said only, "Unbelievable."

"It's okay," Mai said lightheartedly. "You can just stay with me. It would make me feel better about all of the times you've had to help me out." She smiled easily even though I knew her face was starting to feel weird.

I said, "I can't believe Azula pulled this on me. It's probably the most normal prank she's pulled in ages."

"You look like you're almost happy about this." Mai picked up on.

I had to admit, "It does feel good to have my sister back in this way… I hope it lasts."

"Me too," Mai seconded.

I had to say, "It's usually you who gets left in the hall like this because of Ty-Lee. Not me."

"At least she gave you your things first, Ty-lee needs to take notes." Mai expressed, still smiling. But I owed Ty-Lee for some of those times she'd abandoned Mai for alone time with a guy. They had been very beneficial to me. Like my favorite time, when Mai hadn't just been left out of her room without her things. She had also gotten drenched and had to borrow one of my shirts for the night. Best. Night. EVER.

I felt myself smiling back even though I was so annoyed. I couldn't help it, I couldn't stop, since she'd said yes, even though my face was starting to sting too. I was still smiling uncontrollably. My girlfriend reminded me, "It's not like you have nowhere else to go either. You can just come with me, it could be worse."

"Well, the joke's on her." I shared. "I didn't take the best room this time, I left it to you. Being the birthday girl and all."

"Riiiiiiight." Mai drew out, seeing right through me again. "Wasn't like this had been your ultimate plan all along to end up here, with me, anyway."

"You deserved the best on your big day." I maintained.

"See, good deeds do get rewarded sometimes," Mai said.

I still had to ask her, "Are you really sure you don't mind sharing?"

"Um, didn't you just ask me to marry you or something?" She asked as she opened her door and let the burly men take my things inside for me.

"I did," I smirked, "And I somehow got you to agree to it too. Though I still have no idea how."

"Me either," Mai agreed. Even when she put her arms around my neck. "But aren't we gonna be sharing nearly everything after that?"

"I think that's the way it normally goes, yes." I grinned, liking where this was going. I said so only she could hear, "But then again when have we ever stuck to the normal way of doing things?"

"I think this could be one of those rare instances." Mai agreed again. Before I pulled her the rest of the way to me so I could kiss her. It had to be quick because the men were coming back out of the door and saying they would keep watch over the hall tonight. Kiyoshi warriors already had all of the other places secured. Even though a ton of them had been at the party. They had made sure I would still be protected no matter what. Also that Azula had no chance of escaping from here or her new husband either. As important as all of this information was to me. Especially the detail on my sister, I had to hold Mai's hand when she'd let go of me. Trying to help me seem more professional, I felt like I couldn't even let her get further than arm's length away.

"Thank you and goodnight," I'd said, hoping it sounded more official than it felt. I was a goofy mess after the night we'd just had. I tugged Mai's hand and pulled her inside the room with me. As soon as the door closed on the space we now officially shared. We both did something a little unusual for the both of us. We laughed.

I pinned her to the door and kissed her much better than I had been able to in the hall just now.

When we stopped Mai was laughing still, and I had to know why. She said, "It's just occurred to me that this would have been a whole lot more awkward if I had said no. Or if I couldn't give you an answer tonight."

We were both twisted enough to find this fact hilarious. Until I let her know, "If you had said anything besides yes, I would have taken this as my chance to get that yes. I would have spent all night if I had to, getting that yes out of you."

Mai shot me a look and said, "Damn, why did I have to make it so easy on you."

"You didn't," I let her know. "That was still the hardest thing I've ever had to ask anybody."

She put her hand on my face and said, "I know it was." Before I pulled her back into another kiss. Still pinned to the door, still hadn't even made it into the rest of the room. When Mai pulled away from me and said, "But seriously, you're really making me wish I had made this all a little harder on you-"

"Mai!" I complained.

"Oh come on, you can't say something like that and not think I'll take you up on that challenge." She insisted. Before sweetening the deal by reminding me, "The pressures all off of you now, you know you'll get exactly the answer you want. I'm just really curious how you think you could have gained a yes from me. Even if I'd already turned you down or said I couldn't give you an answer."

I love her dark side!

So I lifted her from where I'd been trapping her and carried her over to the bed. Before I could place her on it and get that second yes, and hopefully a few more. She realized, "Wait a minute, maybe I should change first."

"Why?" I asked, with her still lifted up high.

"Because do you remember the last time we forgot I was wearing a new dress?" Mai reminded me flatly.

How could I forget, "It was my birthday, I just tore it a little and I replaced it that same week." I reminded right back.

Mai said, "I'm not all that sentimental, but everything I'm wearing tonight was a gift and this dress was from you."

I tried to look on the bright side, "Then you know I can easily have it replaced."

"Zuko!" Mai caught me, just before I could get away with it and pointed down at the floor. Made me put her on her feet. She bolted for the bathroom saying. "Just a minute."

I tried taking a deep breath through my nose, but no it didn't help at all. I was still too worked up, I could still feel her warmth on my hands, arms and lips. And if she didn't come outta there soon, I was gonna either blast the door off of it's hinges or self-combust.

The bathroom door flew back open after a couple of minutes and my fiancée walked back in still wearing the dress and fiddling with the back. I said, "I thought you were gonna change, you didn't want to mess up the dress."

"I don't and I'm trying," Mai said as she reached, but then she turned around and showed me. Just what the hold-up was. "But this zipper is stuck and I can't get a good grip on it. Can you help me, please? It's hopefully just the angle I'm pulling it from."

"I don't know, I can try," I said because I've never been real good at all of those girly things. They're always made so teeny and break so easily. I was amazed I'd gotten that necklace around her neck.

I came up behind her and took a couple of light tugs on the tab. "Well, it's definitely stuck and it's not just you."

I pulled her closer and closer till we were nearly standing in the same spot. And when I finally got the thing to budge. It eased down only a teeny bit and stopped again. And didn't want go any further down at all. I asked her, "How did you manage this on your own earlier?"

"I thought it was too easy." She shared, so I ended up bringing it down real slow and exposing more and more of Mai's bare back inch by inch. I couldn't resist, I planted a kiss or two on her skin while I was at it. She complained, "Zuko?"

"It's not down all the way yet, hold on," I told her planting a few more kisses.

"It tickles!" Mai said, like I had committed a crime.

Stole one more and insisted, "This isn't the only way I could tickle you."

She reminded me, "You do remember, I'm armed, right?"

"No, I forgot, we could have cut you out of it," I said stealing the last one before she turned to face me. Having to hold on to the dress so she didn't let too much show. Not that I would have minded.

"I told you, I don't want to destroy this one." She reminded me, before saying. "Thank you for your help." And walking back to the bathroom with as much dignity as a girl could have when the back of their dress was hanging wide open. Her black bra and top of her black underwear were peeking out of the open split up the back of the dress. It wasn't something anyone could really notice unless they stared and I was staring. Her head was held high, and I was doing my very best to keep my laughter to myself. It wouldn't do at all for her to hear me laughing and I ended up on the couch. It didn't look very comfortable.

No, no. I had to be in the bed if I was gonna show Mai what I meant about getting that yes. If I hadn't already heard her say "yes," her wish had to be my command tonight. If that was what she wanted, it wouldn't be twisting my arm. Especially since I had planned all of that out in my head as well. Just in case I'd needed it. And I was liking this context much better than my original plot.

I'd already gotten the answer I really wanted. This was just gonna be for fun.

((Mai's Perspective))

As I stepped out of my dress finally and hung it back on its hanger. It felt good to see it hanging there in one piece after the nightmare my dress had become after Zuko's birthday. He hadn't intended on destroying it, it was just something that had happened when we were alone after his party. He did replace it as he'd said, but I liked this dress even more than I had that one. I was also glad that I had planned ahead and placed my nightgown in the bathroom ahead of time. I somehow knew that I wouldn't be coming back here alone tonight. Not after the way I kept noticing my boyfriend looking at me. The heat he'd been keeping under wraps before he proposed…

He proposed…

And I said yes…

It was still so unreal to me…

It feels like any minute now I'm gonna wake up. And realize it was all a dream, a really surreal and wonderful dream. Sleeping on the couch in my hideout, where my family forgot again.

Then I remember just how that dress from his birthday had gotten so tattered. And I rushed to get back to him. I quickly stepped into my nightgown brushed my teeth and got off some of the makeup I had been wearing. Just the stuff I didn't want to rub off on my pillow… or fiancée. I still can't get over calling him that.

Then I started remembering more of Zuko's birthday… How that night had gone…

I had to splash my face with cold water because it was turning all red again. Just thinking about what Zuko had said, the way he had been kissing me earlier. The way his eyes had been following me all night and the way he had just teased me while he'd helped me out of my new dress.

When I came back out, I was glad it hadn't been very long. And Zuko was seated on the side of the bed. He had changed out of his dress pants into sleep pants. But he was still wearing the dress shirt from earlier. Untucked and loosely buttoned, which had been black of course, this had been all about pleasing me, hadn't it? No one wore black better than him.

I asked him, "If you had time to change the bottom out, why haven't you changed the top too?"

"Because I wasn't planning on needing one." He smirked, "How am I supposed to gain a yes if I don't do everything I can to get the upper hand."

I'd asked, hadn't I?

"Suit yourself." I shrugged before busying myself, tidying up a little. I let him know. "But it's not gonna be that easy." I wasn't looking at him, I just kept putting everything away that was still out from when I'd been getting ready earlier. As I told him, "It's gonna take a lot more than a bared chest and skilled kissing to win me over."

He had surprised me by, being serious. "Before we get too carried away in this fun. Can I give you your last birthday present?"

"I thought the fun was the last birthday present." I had to be frank with him.

He laughed right in my face before admitting, "That's true." Then he corrected himself. "Will you allow me the chance to give you the last birthday present that is the only thing you asked me for this year?"

I lied and said, "I don't really remember asking for anything in particular."

"Yes, you did. Only one thing that you requested and I want to make sure you have it, okay?" He said before he handed me a sealed envelope. Identical to all of the ones he used to send whenever he was away. It really had been all I wanted. And I immediately took it from his hand and hugged him.

"I thought you'd forgotten or gotten too busy," I said as I was still holding on to him.

"No, how could I?" He said. "It was the only thing you said you wanted."

But when I stepped back and flipped it over to open it. He stopped me and said, "Don't open yet. Wait till I'm not around or the next time you need it. The way you asked me to write it when you thought you wouldn't see me this whole birthday."

"Okay," I promised, even though I was dying to know what he'd written.

Then his hand brushed at the side of my head as he asked, "Why didn't you take down your hair?"

"Did you want me to? I look so weird with it down." I said as I pat it back into place.

"No you're not, you're free and beautiful… and relaxed, can I see you take it down?"

"Why would you want to see me do that?" I asked.

"Because I've never seen you do that." He said so cute, that against all my instincts. Because I'm fully aware of how strange I look before I have it up in my customary style. I let him stand beside me as I sat to take it down a vanity table. When I was halfway into my process, Zuko asked, "Who made you so self-conscious about this? Was it my sister? Ty-Lee? Was it me? You'd tell me if it was me, wouldn't you?"

"I would-"

"Like you'd bumped into me when I was punk prince. In the hallway at a sleepover or something and I said something really stupid. Too dumb to even remember?" He guessed.

I assured him, "I would tell you and that didn't happen. It wasn't any of you, if I really think about it, and point a finger. I guess it was my parents, they always preached about images taking a lifetime to build and seconds to raze. When I befriended Azula they got way worse."

"Why?" He asked taking a brush from me and so gently dragging it through my hair as he stared at it.

I was using the mirror to watch him, and his face was so serious. He was being so careful with that brush. Like it was a weapon or something, even when he caught a knot, he was so gentle. It was so cute I nearly forgot why he'd asked. But I recovered, "I guess they were afraid... since I was known as their daughter and I was spending so much time with a princess. They were scared I wouldn't look like I belonged there, standing next to royalty. Unless I looked a certain way, if they saw us now they'd probably faint from the shame."

He put the brush on the table in front of us and crotched behind me to wrap his arms around me. So that they crossed in front of me and kissed the right side of my face as he said in my ear. "It'd kill them to know how much I love it when you're just like this. How perfect you are all on your own. Or if they got a peek at what I thought of you, period."

I gripped his hands and told him, "Good thing their not mind readers."

"No, they definitely can't do that." He rested his head against mine.

"Are you happy now that you've seen this incredibly mundane process?" I asked him.

He closed his eyes and admitted, "Yes, but the whole reason I wanted to do this. Was because I don't want you to feel like you have to be so self-conscious around me. About this or anything else. And the moments you think that you're not perfect, are usually the moments I think you're at your most beautiful… okay?"

I shook my head at him, and we locked eyes in the mirror. "This is how your 'yes' came so easy." He chuckled in my ear, before his grip on me tightened.

"Seriously, I don't want you to go on thinking everything has to be so perfect all the time." He said at a normal volume. "And I don't want you to go on thinking that your parents are right."

"I didn't say that." I finally turn to face him.

"Maybe not," he agreed. "But you have been letting them make you feel inadequate. When no one could be more custom-made, to be my Fire Lady."

He said things like this all the time, but for some reason. This time gave me chills, I guess it was because I never truly believed it could really happen, till now. So I was honest and I told him, "I can't promise that I'll be able to just stop doing that overnight-"

"I don't expect you to either, I just want you to know you have nothing to be ashamed of, or worried about. You're the only one for me."

"And you're the only one for me," I told him before stealing a kiss and hug. Where I promised him, "And I'll try to work on the self-conscious thing."

"Good." He said, before he stood back up from where he'd been stooping and I had been sitting. He said, "Now," and clapped his hands and rubbed them together, with a sparkle in his eye. "Time for me to earn that 'Yes.'."

First, he put out most of the lights that had been lit around the room. They were all lanterns so he was dousing out teeny flames everywhere. When he blew out the one sitting next to me, on the table. He scoped me up from where I had been sitting to carry me back over to where the bed sat. Just like he'd done earlier, only this time I didn't stop him. He placed me in the center of it and trapped me there immediately. I played like I wanted to escape, but he knew if I really wanted to I could have.

I reminded him, "It won't be easy."

"As I said earlier," he said as he came down close, just before he kissed me. "I wouldn't rest till I hear yes."

Then he kissed me and I reminded him. "Didn't you say you weren't gonna need that shirt?"

"I did," he smiled and put out the lanterns on each side of the bed. So handy having a firebender as a boyfriend. He could do all of that while still trapping me. Now we were in complete darkness together.

I asked him, "Can we leave one lit?"

"Why?" He asked, and I realize why this seemed strange. It's because usually whenever we are together like this it is in perfect darkness and that is what I prefer. But tonight felt different, it felt special.

I said, "So I can see your face better… please? Just one light."

He lit the one on my right and his left. And when I could see his expression again. It looked like this request had affected him. In a good way, and when he kissed me again, I could feel some of that reaction coming through. I tried to tease him, "It could be a long night for you." To lighten him up a little.

He gave me a full smile, and said, "Totally worth it."

That's all for this chapter!

I hope you all have enjoyed as much as I have. Write a review if you can, I really appreciate it and I hope you're having a great day. Much Love!

~DarcyBeDippy85