Hey There,

Welcome! Back to post as promised this April the 12th, and that in itself is a small miracle. I hope this reaching you all well and that you're as happy to be here as I am. But enough of my yakking! Let's get started!

First off, special thanks to my friend Rose-Aki for her wonderful review. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. I couldn't do it without you.

Standard disclaimers apply - I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender or any of the other trademarked items mentioned. I am merely borrowing all of these things for my own twisted plots. Most will be returned unharmed.

Dedicated to that friend who let me know I'm not the only adult who still dyes eggs for Easter. You know who you are and god bless you. This one's all for you!

Enjoy!

"They Forgot!"

Chapter 19 - Mutual Sleeping Quarters

(Sokka's Perspective)

By the time we were all back to the airship, Ty-Lee and Mai were allowed to become themselves again. As we flew back toward the city to drop them off at a bathhouse. So they could look even more put together. Ty-Lee had a story circle where she was sharing all kinds of tales she'd experienced or heard from her circus family. I have to admit to sitting near that squad for most of that ride myself. It was never boring over there, Suki was up and walking between all of the groups. Claiming it was a 'security thing' but I know she says that, and she really just wanted to see what everyone was talking about. Most of the conversations were still in awe at everything they'd seen and done today.

I don't know why, but I had been expecting Zuko and Mai to be chatting away and just as present as Ty-Lee. But mysteriously... they both disappeared immediately after they reboarded the airship... I wondered where they went off to.

But I didn't fret, I knew they were on board... someplace. And together most likely too.

So why worry.

((Mai's Perspective))

I was heading for the observation deck, the place where we'd sat before. But Zuko stole my hand and tugged me through that room and told his crew to. "Take off whenever everyone is onboard and accounted for. You have my permission whenever you're ready, inform me when we've landed. Before that moment, I am not to be disturbed."

"YES, MY LORD!" The crew members affirmed before I was dragged at lightning speed to the private quarter's hall and the large room at the end of that hallway.

This clearly was the Fire Lord's private quarters and as soon as the door closed on us, I wasn't just kissed to oblivion, I was also lifted over towards the bed. But we stood there for a while just holding on to each other for a long time. Making up for even more lost time than we'd gotten to behind that curtain tonight.

When the ship lifted off we both had no warning and were still standing near the bed. So we fell across the bed and both of us laughed. We held on to each other tightly as we waited for the ship to be at the right place. When it leveled out and we could move a little easier, Zuko said, "You don't know how I've missed you."

"I could say the same thing," I said, thinking I made a good argument. When we both sat up, a few of my extensions were falling out. So I started taking them out and Zuko started to help me. In no time at all I had a pile of them sitting beside me and my hair was just down and everywhere. It was trained into a weird style, so it was all in my eyes and face. We both kept trying to brush it back but it kept falling back into the same wrong places.

He tugged me closer and was lifting my legs to place them over his lap when he complimented me. "I know this outfit is a bit more daring than your usual style, but your legs... they've never looked better."

"You think?" I asked, still not so sure.

He insisted, "YES! They really look great." But that was when Zuko noticed the shape that my feet were in beneath the black nets. Which wasn't good after countless hours in unforgiving heels for a little more than a week. I'd been bandaging them of course, but the bandages were coming undone now. He even panicked, "Mai, your feet...you're bleeding. Are you hurt?"

I shrugged, "No, I've been in heels since dawn they're too numb I don't feel a thing."

He pulled me to the end of the bed again and sat in front of me on the floor. He gulped adorably before hooking his finger in my thigh-high fishnets and pulling them down each leg so he could get a better look at my feet. Even though it was totally innocent and he's always been nothing but a gentleman to me. It was such an intimate and adult thing to do that we both blushed. He unwrapped the dirty and unsavable bandages just crumbling away now. Telling me, "Mai you really should get a healer to look at these. You've got blisters on top of blisters and cuts everywhere. How were you even walking around on these?"

I told him, "Oh I'm fine, I'll just bandage them up in the meantime and get a healer to look at them when I can." I was going to do it myself. But Zuko insisted on cleaning and bandaging them for me. When they were clean and rebandaged, he even rubbed at the ankles of both eet and said, "Sorry you're hurt."

I told him, "It really doesn't hurt, though I admit, they do feel better after being personally treated by a king."

"Hey, I told your parents you were going to be my queen, and I wanted you treated like one." He reminded, pulling me to him by my legs, wrapping them around his waist. I may have given his waist a squeeze with my knees. Before he kissed me again he said, "You already are my queen to me, and I hope I always make you feel like one."

We kissed falling backward again on the bed, only this time. We'd both expecting. As soon as I could speak again I let him know. "You do, by the way. Make me feel like a queen, already."

"Good," He breathed before asking. "I know you needed to take it off to be Izumi. But where did your engagement necklace end up?"

I explained, "Technically, I'm still wearing it." I explained before I took off the majorly thick choker that had always been around Izumi's neck. It had a hidden compartment underneath it that had my necklace still safely on my neck. But hidden away. Since it had to be unlatched and put away in that compartment. I asked Zuko, "Could you please help me put it back on when I come back from the bathhouse. I don't want to put it on till I'm me again. I don't know if Izumi was your type."

Zuko grinned, "She was definitely from your darker and wilder side. She was fun... but I am more partial to you when you get to be yourself."

"Boring, moody, angsty me?" I asked.

"Yes, those's parts of you too." He said planting a kiss on my cheek telling me. "You're also smart, honest, kind, and wise. You're just as beautiful on the outside as you are on the inside. Whether I was a Prince, a disgrace, a prisoner, or a Fire Lord you always have treated me the exact same. And you know you did the same even when I got my scar. You knew me before it and besides my Uncle you were the first to tell me that it didn't change anything."

"Because it didn't," I felt like I needed to remind him. "You're still the same person. But we've got to change the subject. I feel like the only time I should hear these many compliments is when I'm peeking in on my funeral as a ghost."

"Are you gonna share with me why you picked Izumi?" He asked, humoring me. "Was that one of the suggestions you're parent's passed on for a baby sister?"

"No," I answered honestly. "When I was looking through a book of baby names. I tried to picture each name as a person, what would they look like, and what would their personality be like. For most names it was easy because I'd read about a character named most of them, or I'd met at least one person named each one. With most of the names I could easily do that. But Izumi had stood out for three reasons. One being I'd never heard of before and I wondered what she would be like."

Zuko asked wisely, "After this week being her, what's the verdict?"

I shared, "This girl can do anything."

"What were the other two reasons it stood out?" He didn't miss that.

"The second reason was I liked the creative freedom of it, since I had nothing to go on."

"Thirdly?" Zuko asked, not wanting to miss a thing.

"It's meaning." I shrugged, "Have you ever looked at the books like that? The names and their meanings listed, side by side."

"Yes," my fiancée confessed, "that's how I know my name means 'glory' and yours means 'dancing'... even though you hated it till recently."

"You looked up my name?" I asked surprised.

"Sure, I guess your parents were counting on you being a dancer." Zuko teased. Before he asked straight out, "What did Izumi mean to make you remember it?"

So I shared, "It could mean spring or fountain."

"Fountain?" He asked with a smirk. "You mean like the one we fell into together and were teased about endlessly."

"Everything has to start somewhere doesn't it?" I shrugged again. Not expecting to be nearly smothered in more kisses.

When we ran out of breath he did say, "Thanks for telling me, maybe if we ever have a little girl of our own, that's a name she could own."

I had to tease him, "First marriage and now you're even considering kids? What's happening to you?"

He claimed, "It's all your fault. I wouldn't think any of this stuff if you weren't so wonderful."

I had to share, "I know I've done nothing but complain about Tom-Tom since he was a possibility. I was bitter long before he was even here, I feel like I've done more raising him than both my parents put together-"

"Because you have." Zuko agreed, his voice distorted from where his face was resting against my shoulder. If not kissing his way down my neck.

"But I even have to admit after caring for him, after seeing you with him and Kiyi... The idea isn't as alien to me as it once was."

Zuko looked me in the eye to say, "It's basically Tom-Tom's and Kiyi's fault too... but did I hear you right? Did you just say you weren't completely grossed out at the idea either?"

"Maybe," I dodged.

After that, there wasn't any speech at all between that point and someone knocking on the door to inform us that we had landed. It's the first time I can remember riding one of these big ships and not feeling it at all when it landed. I had just been too wrapped up in our little reunion. I really didn't notice it at all. I did what I could to get my hair in its customary style, and left the room hand and hand with Zuko. As soon as we left I was stolen away to become Mai again in every way. Even though that transformation couldn't possibly compare to the way Zuko had just brought me back in that room.

(Sokka's Perspective)

So Suki, Ty-Lee and Mai disappeared with a flock of Kiyoshi warriors to go help them change back into their selves. Suki had managed to secure a nearly abandoned bathhouse just for this purpose… my girl really can do anything, can't she?

When we all visit Azula in the looney bin tomorrow. Ty-Lee and Mai could actually look like their real selves. Even though both girls had laughingly shared that if they had shown up in full character still. It wouldn't have been the strangest thing Azula had ever seen them do.

I was expecting Zuko to be completely over the moon about this. Mai was finally back, he'd been so glum all week just pushing through everything to get here. I was amazed to find my buddy all flipped out instead. Not in a good way either.

I asked him, "What's your deal, man? I thought you'd be thrilled to death to have the girls back." But really, having Mai back. "What gives?"

He explained, "It's the private quarters on board for me and everybody else. Because of some crazy disaster that JUST happened. I've just been told about as I walked out here. None of us can use any of the private rooms tonight. They've been blocked off and won't be useable till major repairs are made. I even asked our crew 'what was wrong with getting it fixed now.' But they're convinced this is the best course to arrive at all of the places we need to go and keep on schedule. After giving our crew the day off, we need to stick to that more than usual. Be more strict. Maintenance has maintained the problem enough for travel but there's no way we can reach those rooms. Not till the repairs are actually made, which they're planning to do while we meet Azula tomorrow. So we all have to share a space to sleep in tonight, which I wouldn't mind usually. I spent years on ships like this one and stuff like this happens literally all of the time… but I really wanted to spend some alone time with Mai… you know, after having to be away so much."

I asked Zuko, "Hey! Isn't that where you two disappeared to, ya know, earlier?"

Zuko admitted, "Yeah, it must have happened when we left."

"Why can't you still do that?" I asked him honestly. "It's not like any of us will care… or not be doing the same." I wanted the same thing with Suki, shared space or not. Of course, I could be helping out a friend too. I could totally work that into my story and stick to that. Suki loves helping people, Zuko usually ends up being someone she helps a lot, it was foolproof.

"I don't know if Mai's going to be alright with that." He elaborated, "She's not big on being very... you know, affectionate when she knows other people can see us."

I felt like he should remember, "I'm sure Mai's missed you as much as you've missed her. I saw you guys gripping each other in your chair the other day. And Ty-Lee caught you guys making out behind the curtains at the fair tonight. She might even surprise you with how open she'll be to not caring this once."

But then Zuko also shared. "That's not even the worst of my worries right now."

"It's not?" I asked in shock. What could possibly occupy his mind besides Mai, right now?

"Remember that we're giving one of the Fire Elders a lift to the institute from here too. That's one of the reasons we had to come back to the city." He reminded. I had totally forgotten about the older guy who had just come aboard a little while ago. "They want to meet with Azula and Kavin over some of the details of their ceremony first. Before they even crack into mine with Mai. He's gonna be one of the people who handles the decisions on both ceremonies. And his bed is gonna be somewhere in that room with us. We can't afford to be inappropriate in front of him and ALL of these guys are WAAAAAAAY old fashioned. Like old world courting rituals, old fashioned. They could see me holding her hand or sitting too close as bad."

I simplified his explanation by saying, "So, doesn't sound like you're gonna get to spend very much time with your lady."

"Oh! I'll spend time with her, but I'll have to be across the room from her, or a respectable distance at all times. And I pretty much can't touch her... EVER!" He complained, making huge ring of fire and punching it out.

"Tough break, buddy." I said, patting him on the back. You know, when he wasn't punching like crazy anymore. He was still seething but he was standing still, that's pretty good for how ticked off he was. "But look on the bright side-"

"There's a bright side?" Zuko asked darkly.

I pointed out to him, "Hopefully mister Fire Elder person could be a sound sleeper. Maybe he even wears one of those little frilly sleeping masks too or earplugs, yeah. So you can at least be with Mai, once he's asleep."

"You don't know how Mai is about stuff like that," Zuko continued to stress. "When she knows other people are around like that. I bet you she won't even take her hair down, because she'll know other people will be around. She'll have it all perfectly styled and somehow sleep on it without getting a single hair out of place... It makes me CRAZY!"

"Why is that?" I wondered out loud.

It was more of a rhetorical question, but of course, Zuko was answering me in a second. "Because her parents are jerks completely ruled by image. They told her she looks weird whenever she was not this portrait perfect look, all the time. The image they're going off of isn't even her choice either, as much as it's theirs. It's a big part of why she's always under the impression that she's not very pretty at all. It's their FAULT!"

"But Mai is pretty." I pointed out. "You can't tell me she doesn't know that a little." I thought all girls did.

"No! She's not like my sister, Ty-Lee, Suki or Katara who always know they're beautiful. Mai doesn't know it all! She's so bad, she avoids glancing at herself in mirrors, or any other reflective surface-" Come to think of it, I've seen her do all of that too. Zuko fumed on, "And she's always so careful about letting anyone see her relax. Before the island, I'd only seen her hair down a few other times. And I'm her FIANCEE! It felt like an achievement that I'd gotten her that comfortable around me, I almost got her to take it down every single night. It's all because of her warped perspective. Twisted only because of those people who raised her. For ALWAYS being so cruel to her twenty-four seven." He kicked an empty trash bin nearby and sent it up high flaming into the air. It came back down as nothing but ash and cinders.

"Yikes!" I had to admit, and for the millionth time, I was thankful for my own loving parents. Who would never treat me or Katara like that. I don't pretend to know everything about my parents since we both lost our mom so young, and our dad was off to war. But that, I was sure of and never doubted for a second. I had no idea what a gift that had been till I got around all of these friends who struggle so much with family problems. I continued trying to maintain my cringe. "I know they're worse than I'd been expecting. No wonder Mai's got all that pent-up hostility. With parents like that, I'd be throwing knives too. Knives… and other sharp objects."

"Yeah, tell me about it." Zuko agreed trying to fight a smile. At least I was getting him to lighten up a little. Even though I'm certain Zuko understands how Mai feels on a different level from me. His family's no happy sunny portrait all of the time either. At least that is something where they share some common ground.

I told him, "Cheer up! You can't let Mai see you looking like this. You guys shouldn't waste a minute of the time you've got."

I tried to snap him out of it, so he could greet Mai happily when she came back looking so much more like herself. I have to admit to giving both returning circus entertainers a little extra attention. After listening to Zuko talk about Mai's tendency to feel inadequate, who wouldn't? And she shouldn't, she really is very pretty, even elegant... perfect for a Fire Lady! I really thought all girls knew that they were pretty. That all parents kept telling their little girl how precious or perfect she was. It's all I had ever seen done... it was truly sad to me that Mai hadn't gotten that kind of love... not till now anyways. I could see what he was talking about too, she didn't look like she knew how to handle compliments. Even when they came from two fools like us.

She did finally smile when Zuko told her, "You don't know how good it is to see you as yourself again."

Ty-Lee had even teased, "I am here too, you know?"

Zuko smiled, "It's actually good to see you too Ty-Lee."

She shook her head and said, "Riiiiiight, I'll pretend to believe you if you pretend to have NOT noticed how my Drag Queen friends were all checking you out at the circus. Even if their Mai's crew now even more so than mine."

"Deal," Zuko promised as they shook on it and Ty-Lee walked up the entry ramp on her hands… how does she even do that and not fall on her face? I wouldn't have been able to have made it through one step of that. Can you still call it a step when it's arms and not legs?

While I marveled at Ty-Lee's abilities again, Mai asked Zuko, "Could you help me with this?" It looked like she was holding up her engagement necklace, but I only took a quick glance her way.

Zuko said, "Sure," and I pretended to follow Ty-Lee. I wasn't eavesdropping or anything... but I did want to hear how he worded it and how she reacted. So I hung back, But I didn't hear anything. When I glanced back to see if they were still there. They were, but they were leaning against the side of the ship making out in the dark. so if any more people were to walk by, they wouldn't be seen. Not that I blame them. It doesn't sound like they'll get too many chances like that when they're on board.

After an acceptable pause, I heard Zuko say, "Looks like some of your fake tattoos want to stay."

"I may have to add a few of these permanently too." She warned before, "Would you hate that?"

"No, it's like I told you the first time you showed me some of them. It's your body, your choice, I'll love you even if you decide to have as many as Izumi did." Then he whispered something else that had to do with "fun" and "finding them all eventually." Which had me wondering how many does she already have? No... you know what, I don't need to know.

Zuko started again, "Before we get back on, I need to warn you about a few things... okay?"

"Yeah, I'm listening." She said flatly as only she can.

He began, "During my meetings this week one of the Elders asked to hitch a ride with us to the mental institution. He wants to observe you and me a little, see what we're like together. While he's really more interested in meeting with Azula again. Meeting Kavin for the first time and figuring out what they will be doing for their ceremony. We've agreed to let them go first, before we start to worry about ours."

Mai said, "I always assumed that was the way things would go anyway. But you know that talk about not being concerned with us yet, and observing us, is bogus. They're gonna report our every move back to their party. We'll have to be extra careful around them all night and tomorrow." Mai had been about to walk inside, before Zuko caught her and spun her back to him.

"Wait there's one more thing." He said quickly, "There's been some weird maintenance thing, and now we can't reach or use any of the private rooms on board. When we all turn in for the night it will be in a huge room where all of the beds were brought out."

"Weren't they the rooms we were literally just in? Together?" Mai asked flat as a pancake.

"Yeah." Zuko matched her flatness. "It must have just happened after we left."

"Convenient," Mai observed, "Does any of this strike you as being a little too convenient? Like it's a set up?"

"Totally!" Zuko admitted, before confirming that he had checked it for himself and the area was all blocked off for a reason. He even revealed to Mai that he had tried to even see if they could climb in through the windows. But the rooms appeared to be all full of the same steam as the hallway.

"And that steam wasn't left over from us?" She asked making Zuko smile.

"No, this wasn't that kind of steam... sadly." Zuko still fought to remain serious.

"We must be slipping," Mai teased before sounding a little impressed, as she realized out loud. "You were that desperate to be alone with me?"

"Are you kidding?" Zuko asked, before confirming. "That little reunion earlier... not nearly long enough."

"I know," Mai agreed. "But at least we get to be together. It could be worse."

Zuko agreed, "Yeah." But he didn't sound too convinced and very glum.

Mai stage gasped and asked him, "Just what were you plans if you had been successful at sneaking me into your private quarters, Fire Lord?" She asked acting like she was completely scandalized by the very idea. Why doesn't she share this funny side more often?

Zuko was smiling as he complained, "Come on! You were planning it too, admit it!"

"You'll never prove it." She said confidently.

"Oh! You just try me." He challenged.

She quipped, "I'd like to, but now, I can't. It would just be too cruel now."

Zuko growled and I could hear him firebending again, Mai calmed him right down though and said, "Hey hey hey - Listen to me now! Hey!" I think that's the loudest I'd ever heard her raise her voice. The huge balls of Fire emitting from Zuko's fists were still smoking but they were just fists again. She leaned her face against his and said. "You lose it, I'll lose it... we're in this together. For better or worse, right?"

"Yeah, you're right." He said taking a breath before admitting. "This just... this just really sucks."

"We'll get through it. We always do... and we'll make it count the very next time we can be truly alone again... right?" She painted him a lovely picture.

Zuko smiled, "After all of this time apart. Now we have to be sitting right there together and... I can hardly touch you... when we are alone together again. Lady, it better be good."

She said something softly, but I think if I heard right, she'd promised to make it worth his while.

Mai not only knew how to tame the fire-breathing beast. She also sounded like she already knew how these old folks could be, and she was just as concerned as Zuko. So they were planning to keep things respectful while he was with us. But even I could hear how that was code for 'this is gonna suck!' If that had been Suki and me, I would have SO lost it seconds into the game. I wondered how these two would fair, even with their limited outbursts of affection.

So I walked back on board and pretended I didn't know what was keeping them. Even when I'm sure I had an idea. Not to point fingers or anything but it looked like that fuddy duddy Fire Elder was trying to snoop on Zuko and Mai even before they reboarded the airship. Lucky for them I caught him and wrangled him back to the observation deck. What a nosy knucklehead, even if he seemed nice and jolly.

When they joined us moments later, they sat together, as close as they dared. I noticed Zuko taking her hand at some point in the conversation when the Elder was speaking to Suki. But if you could have seen the way they kept looking at each other… My heart went out to them. The Kiyoshi warriors on board were all beside themselves in sympathy. Their plots to get Zuko and Mai alone were way more sinister than mine, they were contemplating throwing the Elder overboard... from an AIR ship. My plots were the lesser evils by far, so I developed that better scheme, one that even Suki could get behind. I had to promise Ty-Lee that I would see it through (Because her week was fully catching up with her and she was starting to crash as we spoke).

When bedtime finally arrived for everyone not steering the ship (or any of the guards not on night duties). Zuko's mood took a plunging dip that could not be lightened anymore. He sat on his cot, arms crossed and pout protruding, across a large room from his fiancée. My cot was even closer to hers than his. And Ty-Lee was bunked between Mai and me.

Ty-Lee who was already asleep, drooling a little, face down, and one arm hanging out of her bed. One leg kicked out impossibly high over her head in her sleep too… I keep forgetting she can do stuff like that. When Mai stepped a bit closer to me, putting Ty-Lee in a better 'more suitable' position and tucking her in. I asked Mai, "Are you really gonna sleep with your hair all done up like that?" It's Zuko's fault he got me noticing it. That and I realized I don't think I've ever seen it down, even when we went swimming and it got wet... That's strange.

Mai insisted, "Trust me, I look too weird when it's not styled like this." Just as Zuko had warned. But when she was straightening Ty-Lee's covers. She stepped a little closer to me and said, "Besides, whenever I let it all down Zuko gets a little-

"Ob-sessed?" I supplied.

"Yeah," She almost smiled. "He really needs to stay where he is, and I'm all for teasing him. But I don't want to kill him."

I said, "You're right, save that kind of torture for the honeymoon."

"Then we both have things to look forward to." Mai reasoned.

I couldn't believe it, but she'd made me laugh and even laughed with me. Then she whispered, "Night Sokka."

"Yep, later Mai." I winked and she headed back to her own cot. While Zuko watched her every move from across the room. Even though he was laying down you could tell he was staring at her like a feline hybrid watching its prey. Good thing I had gotten together with our staff earlier and hatched a plan that could not only get me where I wanted to be. But it would hopefully bring together these two crazy kids from across the room. Who have been missing each other just as much... I'm a genius!

I wanted the old man to be snoring for a good while, then I set these plans in motion. Wish me luck! Here I go!

((Zuko's Perspective))

No matter how I tried to sleep, I just couldn't.

I was too restless for that, it wasn't even because the Elder was snoring loudly nearby. My Uncle's snoring is ten times louder, so that didn't bother me either. It was the fact that I could see Mai, she was just as restless and I couldn't do a thing to help her from all the way over here. I had to watch her toss and turn just as much as me, before she gave up and started to read by the moonlight shining down on her cot from the window next to her.

She only reads like that when she's given up on sleep altogether. Then she usually reads till she falls asleep with the book still in her lap. What I wouldn't give to be able to help her out, more than any book could.

Before I had a chance of stopping him, Sokka was tiptoeing towards the elder with a girly pink silk sleep mask in hand. It even had a little lace on it, it was that girly, so he must have borrowed it from one of the girls onboard. Cottonballs I'm guessing were earplugs and another pillow to prop him up. Some people stop snoring when they're propped up like that. Several other people were trying to stop him along his way. But he was relentless. He managed to prop the old man higher till the snoring stopped, Plug up both ears with cotton balls, and slipped the mask over the older man's face. The snap of the strap to the back of his head made him stir. While Sokka comically froze and made everyone else too. Gesturing hugely with his arms. When he was sure that the old man was still asleep for certain. He thumbs upped everyone else and didn't even bother crossing back to his own bed. He just slid in with Suki and told everyone else. "Goodnight Everybody!" In a hissed whisper.

As other couples were pairing up left and right… I saw my chance, and I took it.

I finally crossed the room to where Mai must have been really into her book. She didn't even notice anything Sokka had just done. She'd had her back turned to it all and had been staring down… that or she just ignored it all, thinking his plan was flawed and he'd be caught. That was more likely, why she hadn't looked up. I whispered, "Hey? Mind some company."

She whispered my name as her hands flew out to stop me. She threw a glance at the elder sleeping at the back of the room. I explained, "Sokka bought us some time… mind if I squeeze in there with you? Just for a little bit?"

She whispered so softly, it sounded professional. "I don't know if that's a good idea. They're not being put under a microscope by the Elder. we are."

"He's asleep and even if he wakes up he won't see right away. I can sneak back to my own bed before he notices."

Mai maintained, "It's too risky."

I warned her, "Believe me the bigger risk is me losing it over there because I can't be with you... please."

She still hesitated, claiming "I don't even know if we'll both fit."

"I think we can," I said finally climbing under the covers with her. It was tight and we had to be very close, but that's how I liked us to be anyway. As we pressed in close to each other and I settled down into this new place. I'd pressed into her back. And I had to ask her, "How can you be wrapped up in blankets and still be this cold?"

She shrugged her shoulder that was sticking up into my view. "Its chilly in here. Not all of us have firebending to fall back on, hotshot."

"Will you let me warm you up?" I whispered directly in her ear.

"As long as it doesn't involve an open flame," she requested. So I wrapped my arms tightly around her and focused on making myself warmer first. Then I brought more warmth to my hands and gripped her left shoulder and right hip. I felt her shiver in my hold, but I think I'd caught her just before she'd needed an extra blanket.

She pushed up on me to peek around at everyone else in the dark. While I think she was scoping for any eyes in general, I could tell she was more concerned with the Elder, Suki, Sokka, and Ty-Lee more than anyone else. When she looked back at me, our eyes locked like they had when I had still been stuck to her board earlier. When she had been pulling out her knives, and letting me free. She asked, "Why couldn't you sleep? Are you nervous as I am about having a Fire Elder with us?"

"No," I shook my head and spoke softly directly in her ear again. "I had this girl named Izumi make me a little crazy earlier tonight. Something with lots of knives and this crazy board she pinned me to became a table with on kick of her boot. It was crazy. I had every intention of sharing a private quarters with you tonight after that tease. But then we all ended up here and I'm still a little nuts."

"Really?" She said turning herself to press against me and ask, "Only a little?"

"No, I've been dying to be with you like this again since our last sleepover. I've struggled to sleep every single night since. Now we're here and I feel like we're just getting robbed." I couldn't help but confess to her, you would too, if she had you as well as she had me, right then.

"I know," she sighed resting her head on my shoulder. "I feel the same way."

"You do?" I closed my eyes and held her a little tighter.

"Of course, I do." She breathed and her hand came up to brush my face. Before I could even see her expression, she'd turned my chin towards her and started to kiss me. The girl I just knew wouldn't be like this when there was a possible audience surrounding us. I felt like the fireworks were going off again that shot off all around us when I was stuck to that 'table-board-thing' tonight. I also couldn't help but be reminded of another night when fireworks had been going off as well. She doesn't always initiate affection like that, so whenever she does… it effects me more than if I'd done it.

We tried to be quiet, tried to be careful not to get caught. But somewhere along the way we both fell asleep there. Curled together, and finally able to sleep without so much strife and struggle. I woke up first, because I was shaken lightly by the Elder who asked to speak with me outside. Claiming he was afraid of waking the others. When I tried to slip out Mai's grip, she clutched me harder and said in my ear. "I'm coming with you."

I whispered back, "No, stay here." And planted a kiss on her cheek before I followed the gentleman out. To the outer deck surrounding the ship. We'd landed at our destination and weren't flying anymore. But the deck was as windy as if we were still airborne.

I tried to prepare myself for whatever the man had to say, I expected him to be mad. A military class lecture on behavior and courting to start with. But the moment we were out there and away from everyone else who was still asleep he smiled and said, "I'm so sorry to disturb you, my lord. But I just wanted to offer you my congratulations on finding a real love match for yourself."

I couldn't help it, I said, "Huh?"

He went on, "I know what you must think of all of us Elders. You think we're all retired military or high society and we're all too involved in your life or business. I won't pretend that some of my brothers and collages aren't exactly like that. But if you ever do review the documents where we freed you to make you're own choice of bride. You'll find my name as the first signature setting you free."

I don't know what made me turn to this guy and ask him, "Why?" But that was the next brilliant question to leave my face.

He said, "Oh come on, are you telling me that you don't remember the dinner that followed the presentation of that document to you?"

"I-I'm-I'm not sure if I do," I stammered and stumbled, I'd just woken up. "I have to admit to throwing quite a few important dinners at the palace lately."

He reminded me "The Fire Council of Elders had permitted you, my lord. With the choice of your bride being ultimately yours to make for yourself. It was a first time in history, but our group had been so impressed with all of your decisions up to that point. We were all a bit excited to see who you would select as a partner too. Some of my fellow old souls were worried you would need some suggestions. So about a dozen eligible girls were brought along with us and ate at the palace as well."

I was starting to remember it a little bit, so I nodded. "Yes, I can remember a lot of daughters, granddaughters, stepdaughters, nieces, and neighbors being in that group of girls too."

The Elder went on, "I was seated beside your Uncle Iroh who's an old friend. He was the one who told me that none of our friendly suggestions would turn your head. He even tipped me off to why there was no contest and I'm so glad that he did."

"My Uncle did that?" I asked in surprise.

"Yes-Yes! Do you remember when Avatar Aang's famed gang joined us at the party a little later on that night?"

"Vaguely," I answered, but that was when the real thing I remembered about that night hit me like a ton of bricks.

(Memory Sequence-Still Zuko's Perspective)

It wasn't all of the girls who had been dressed to the nines hoping to catch my eye, maybe Aang's, or even Sokka's. I wasn't the only legend in that room.

It wasn't the conversations with the Fire Elders present that night. It wasn't even the fact that Uncle had gotten some of his buddies to play music with him so embarrassingly, "All of these young people could dance." Some of Aang's extended teammates had been with him and had asked the dating eligible girls to dance when the music started. But I hadn't, even though I knew how to dance pretty well by then. I wasn't gonna lead anyone on, I did dance with a few older ladies and dignitaries though. Just none of the single ones.

Mai had been helping out with the battles in the city all day that day. She had come in later than even Aang had, in the end. She spotted her parents among our guests and a very fussy Tom-Tom who became her top priory in a blink. He needed to go to bed, it was past his normal bedtime. So even before she ate or did anything for herself. She went to her mother and took Tom-Tom to head home. I didn't want her to miss out on dinner so I told her to just put her brother down on my bed. He could sleep there in the meantime, it wouldn't even be the first time we'd done that. That way she got a chance to stop running around so much before she ran him home. She'd looked so tired and probably had been coming from a heavy battle. Aang was sharing a full retelling of what had just happened and it didn't sound like it had been for the faint-hearted.

That and after I saw her, I wanted to talk to her, spend some time with her. Mai had said, "Okay, let me see if that will work."

I had expected this to be a quick trip, but when Mai wasn't coming back right away. I excused myself to check on her and found her in the foyer just outside of the dinning hall. She was holding Tom-Tom and dancing around like he was her tall male partner. Even though he was so tiny, she was carrying him through the movements. When I asked her, "What are you doing?"

Tom-Tom waved, "Hi Zuzu! We Dance!" He told me happily.

"I see that, but why?" I asked Mai.

Mai explained, "Tom-Tom's favorite nanny, who was the best at getting him to sleep at night. Danced and sang all day long, you know... before my parents fired her. So whenever he won't sleep, I have to try and dance like she used to. Sometimes it works, sometimes I just look ridiculous… like right now. But I hope you don't mind-"

"No, no!" I waved off, "But why are you doing that out here and not on the actual dance floor?"

"Because I'm aware of how odd we siblings look." Mai said, "And I look bad enough when I have to dance now, I'm so glad there aren't any mirrors out here."

I noticed they were slow dancing and my Uncle's beat was too upbeat. So I whistled and called out to him, "Play a slow one, Uncle! We're trying to put a baby to sleep, here!"

Uncle thumbs-upped me and said, "You got it, Nephew!" He whispered the name of the tune to all of his friends and they started to play a softer almost floatier tune.

Mai was holding up a hand and saying, "You don't have to do that, I usually just hum at home he's totally getting spoiled enough with any music at all."

The whole time Mai's saying this, Tom-Tom keeps waving me over closer to them and makes Mai stop dancing till I come over to them. When I leaned down and asked, "What's up, little man?"

"You dance with us." He says tugging me closer and saying, "You're more my Sissy size… Tall! So Tall! Is he too tall, Sissy?"

"Yes, he's way too tall, besides he likes dances as much as I do." Mai said, trying to give me an out. Not knowing I didn't need one, the second Tom-Tom had yanked us together with him sandwiched between us. I'd taken hold of his sister's waist and I didn't want to be anywhere else but here.

Oblivious to our staredown, Tom-Tom said, "Come on! Dance, dance with me… Or I no go to sleep at all! Uh-Ah! No way!"

So I took a hold of both of them and we danced for while. Somewhere along the way, Ty-Lee came and took Tom-Tom when he was drooping between us. But we kept on dancing, it was the first time we'd used our newly acquired dancing skills since class. And I felt like my feet weren't even touching the ground with her that night. When we realized the song had ended. I'd asked her, did she want to dance with the others. I think even she'd surprised herself when she'd said, "Yes."

But that was what I remembered of that night. Not the faces of all the Fire Elders I'd talked to or how many of them had been speaking to Uncle, Aang or my friends. I remembered Mai, and I remembered how the moment she'd come into the room. I was with her, I couldn't help it. No wonder I had no clue what dinner this Elder was refurring to in the end. Mai, as usual, was all I remembered,

((Back to Zuko's Regular [real time] Perspective))

The Elder I was facing now on the outer deck of our craft, couldn't possibly remember that night the way I did. There was just no way that was possible.

But he surprised me and said, "All of us had been observing you that night, my Lord. Hoping for a spark of interest somewhere. And an idea of the type of Fire Lady we could expect. The moment Ukano's daughter entered the room, it was clear to me that she would probably be the one you chose. Even before your uncle had pointed her out as a big possibility. What I witnessed that very night combined with my findings this morning. I want you to know that you both have my full support-"

"You saw us dancing together that night?" I asked.

"Yes, though I liked it better when you two were dancing together in the foyer with the little boy between you." He complimented further. "The two of you painted such a lovely picture together that night. That when I observed you last night I was concerned about your consistency as a pair. That's why I bought out your crew and arranged for this whole shared space situation."

"What?" I freaked, "That was a test?"

"A sinister one, but you and Miss Mai passed with flying colors and I know you'll do great things together. Once you're finally completely united in every way. When we arrive at the institute. I only hope that I can tell your sister and brother-in-law the same good news." He smiled, and I couldn't believe my ears.

I thanked him and bowed to him in respect. All of the Elders I'd dealt with up to now, were nowhere near this cool. I knew the others still wouldn't be so easy to work with. But the fact that even one guy like this was on the board gave me so much relief and hope. I couldn't wait to tell Mai, so I rushed back inside the first moment I could and found her straightening her hair in a mirror Ty-Lee was holding.

When I asked her how that had happened innocently, she let me know. "Someone had to insist on putting their face in it and knocked one side completely down."

Still innocent as I could, I asked. "Now who could have done a thing like that?"

Ty-Lee felt the need to point out, "It's probably the same face that can't seem to stop smiling now. Mai, it's perfect, I'll give you two a minute."

"Thanks." Mai called after her, as she walked off waving. Before turning back to face me and giving me her full attention. I was still so elated and reileved, the first thing I did was kiss her. She broke it off quickly and cautioned, "Zuko! What if somebody sees?"

"Let them see." I said kissing her again... slower. I waited to feel her give up, and smile into that kiss before I let it end. Then I just told her, "I love you."

"I love you too, but aren't you the least bit worried about someone seeing us like this?" She asked as she was still backing out of my hold.

"Nope, not even a little bit and I want to tell you why. But in a minute." I informed her.

She demanded, "Let me know now, what's gotten into you?"

So I caved and came clean, "We were set up, this whole shared space thing was a test set by our Elder passenger and you know what?"

She asked, "Should I be afraid?"

"No, because we passed his test with flying colors." I let her know, "We have his full backing and he's hoping when he sees Azula and Kavin together. He can tell them the same, he seems different than most of the Elders I know. I'm still watching him, still don't trust it entirely, but I'm so glad right now, I had to tell you what he'd said."

"Well, I'm glad you did." Mai began, "And I'm glad that we passed but I'm a little embarrassed at how we passed."

"Not me." I had to be honest.

"Why am I not surprised?" She asked no one in particular.

"I'm afraid to trust it, think it or say it... but, what if this isn't gonna be as terrible as we've both been imagining?" I said, knowing I was tempting fate.

Mai said, "Because they want us to relax and hope for the best. That's when everything always goes all to hell...but hopefully our wedding won't be all that bad. We can hope for that."

Mai keeps it real and gave me that reality check I needed. But still, If Azula got to be happy, truly happy with Kavin and I got to finally be happy with Mai. Then I just knew I could handle whatever else needed to be handled. I could weather any storm or battle, as long as I got to remain beside her, like I was right now.

That was when Ty-Lee came back around the corner and asked me. "Hey, Zuko? I hate to interrupt you guys' little love fest over here. But did you know your mother's coming to these discussions today too?"

"No! Why? Did you see her? Is she here?" I asked in freakout mode a little. I knew I needed to visit my mother soon and tell her all about everything. I had written her a few letters since all of this had happened. But I hadn't heard from her in a while. I hadn't prepared to be facing her today too.

Ty-Lee thankfully said, "No, I didn't see her yet, but the people at the front desk mentioned it and I bumped into Kavin right after that. He mentioned Fire Lady Ursa's arrival being imminent."

I growled, "AZULA!"

That's it for this Chapter

But don't worry more will be posting again tomorrow! I'm not so cruel. LoL! Can't wait to share that too! Hope you're having a great day! Much Love!

~DarcyBeDippy85!