Hey there,

Welcome! I apologize for this taking two days to post (instead of one), but here it is finally! And I really hope it's just the treat you needed today. Let's get to it!

Special thanks to the people who just added me to their story alert or favorite stories. Also, thanks to the new person who added me to their favorite author's page or author's alert list! Thank you so much!

Standard Disclaimers Apply! - I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender, Nickelodeon, or MTV. I don't own them, or any of the other trademarked things mentioned. I am merely borrowing all of these things for my own crazy plots. Most will be returned unharmed.

Dedicated to that friend who totally would have freaked out with me, when I found Zuko's 'Blue Spirit' mask as a costume accessory. You know who you are! This one is for you!

Enjoy!

"They Forgot!"

Chapter 24 - Swords Over Knives

((Mai's Perspective))

To start with, Zuko escorted the former Fire Lord to his new prison. Then he was supposed to be gone for two weeks and home for a full week after that. Clearly, none of that happened. He was gone the whole time and I barely heard anything from him besides a note canceling our plans.

That was all one month ago, and he's still never been home.

We were supposed to be finalizing a bunch of things for Azula's formal wedding and spending anytime in between together. But none of that could happen when he never showed. I wouldn't have minded if those two missed weeks had been the end of it. But now I haven't seen him at all for an entire second month. Winter is here, no denying that anymore. And it doesn't sound like I'll be able to see him for at least another month entirely. According to the letter he finally sent me today. On top of all of that, he can't share with me all that has happened either. Because his letters could be intercepted by enemies. So I had to wait to hear everything the next time he was home.

I think I took the news well, and I think I would have made even my parents proud. If they cared enough to know why I was mad. It only took a few hours for that messenger to be taken down off the wall. His uniform wasn't completely ruined by my knives. He even took along the letter I had written for Zuko, expressing my thoughts on the matter. But a lot of good that'll do, I have no clue when I'll see him again. If I was feeling more dramatic, I would even swear that I may never see him again.

Luckily I'm just peeved not theatrical yet.

I spent a great deal of time after that helping around the manor. Because anyone with mad knife skills knows the best way to hone those talents and keep them razor sharp is food prep. Chopping and dicing plenty of things for the kitchen staff. They got used to the nearly constant chopping of my knives, over the years whenever I'm home. That time has been uninterrupted for more than two months now. As well as the pounding of my favorite clever whenever I needed to cut something so I wouldn't cut someone.

But all of that was just part of my recent problems. My other dilemma is something I have been dreading even more than I was that first face-off with Ozai. Tonight was the first high society dinner party that I was being forced to attend. Completely against my will, since the announcements of Zuko and my engagement went worldwide. Making me a celebrity overnight and my parents luckier than pure gold to be parents of such a powerfully titled lady. The invitations have been pouring in and my parents have been sidestepped for each one till tonight.

This was the very first party that I couldn't talk my parents out of, one of the most exclusive of the whole season… Not that I cared… like at all.

I had heard it all month long, "Fine! You can skip this one Mai, but not Colonel Yao's. Everyone who is anyone, will be there, Mai!" My mother insisted.

"We simply must make an appearance! Why even bother having children if you can't show them off when they're successful? When they make a name for themselves?" That had been my father who said that.

I was my parent's only real ticket in, and they weren't letting it go. Not only was I being dragged to this thing where I knew no one and knew it would be subjecting myself to open season for the rest of the Fire Nation's upper class. Full of women and girls who weren't picked to be the next Fire Lady. And spiteful men who didn't pick me as their Fire Lady. And they still thought that they should have a say in who their ruler chooses.

Kicking off that open season for all of them to strike out at me any way they chose. And these people were worse than thieves and murders I've been around in prison.

As if that wasn't all horrible enough. My mother couldn't let the torture stop there, no. She had to force me to wear the dress she had purchased just for this occasion. It was this terrible poofy nightmare of a white dress that made me look like my skin had no pigment whatsoever. Like my make-up wasn't there. She also insisted on taking me to her hairdresser and letting him experiment on my head for hours I could have been chopping things. I had no clue how I would ever get my hair back to normal again after that. Even looking at it now... no clue.

By the end, I looked like a vampire porcelain doll, fangs and all. With the too-tight choker, my mother had also selected to accent my engagement necklace. I felt like I had been collared and leashed for the night. And I looked like I could bite anyone who came too close to me. I wish that had happened, it would have been a much better night if it had.

It was a cold, rainy and miserable night. And I'm a person who loves rain, saying that. I wished I was back in my hideaway with a good book, instead of out in it. I was sloshing around in my shoes even though I dumped the rain out three times [both shoes].

The moment we walked in, my parents were too busy soaking up their success to realize. We were the butt of every joke, the reason for every sneer. We were the topic of most of the circling gossip, and I know half of what they were saying about both parents was probably true. I lost count of how many drinks and plates were "accidentally" dropped on my white dress during the night. By those spiteful women and men. Some of them felt that those dropped plates weren't enough, so they stepped on it too, some hard enough to hear the sound of fabric tearing. But miraculously, the endless ruffles and frills hid any imperfections inflicted besides spills.

I think they were expecting me to care or cry or something. If only they knew how I kept picturing in my mind. My soon-to-be husband... using his bending to BURN this dress and putting it out of it's misery. That was what kept getting me through the night.

The first hour of this thing and my white dress wasn't white anymore. It was off-white in places, then yellow in others, and some places were even more of a red or brown (from wine spills or something called blood-gravy that apparently no one wanted to eat... who are these people?). The worst part of all of this childishness was that my mother is warped enough to believe I did this all to myself.

Because I didn't want to be here… I mean, I didn't want to be here. She's right about that, but when I did do that to another white dress she'd made me wear. To another important party like this, I was three years old. A normal and sane twenty-year-old doesn't do things like this on purpose. But I knew better than to argue, I just waited till the dinner part of the night was over to tell my parents I was leaving. Then they forced me to wait thirty more minutes of bragging before I told my guards. "I had had enough."

My Guards were kind enough to understand and a few stayed to keep an eye on my parents, for me. To make certain they didn't do anything too foolish. The others followed me.

As soon as I was back into the freezing cold of wintery night air. I felt a little better, the rain smelled like snow now. But it hasn't snowed in the capital city in at least seven years, maybe longer. It's that rare. The thought of going home, resigning myself to my parent's control. After just escaping it, I couldn't do it. I needed to go someplace else. But my fame limited my choices. Where else could I go?

My tallest guard, named Zephyr suggested. "You're always welcome at the palace, Miss Mai. If you can't go home, why not go there? I'm sure the Fire Lord would be happy that you were there. Even if he isn't there to greet you. He wants you to think of it as your home too. Remember?"

"You're right. He did say that didn't he?" I realized.

So even though the only part of the palace, that really made it a home for me, was missing. I had so many good memories with him there, that I still felt close to him when it came into sight. Just being there, and not stuck in my hideaway or my room at my family's mansion. I was so sick of those rooms I had been even spending more time in our pathetic gardens at the Manor (since a bomb went off there and killed nearly everything that had lived there, even the statures and stone features), or in the kitchen chopping away at my frustrations.

All of the people at the palace were so used to me by now. I was let in with no questions and allowed to go wherever I wanted. Even though the Fire Lord wasn't due to return for some time.

I had my guard escort me to the palace gardens, it's one of my favorite places. Then I asked for a little privacy once we reached the gazebo. They were reluctant to comply, but I think when they realize how close to tears I was. I scared them a little because they all seemed to busy themselves with securing the area and letting me "Catch my breath." Like that was even possible at this point.

I don't know how long I was out there in the cold. Hugging my knees, sitting on the floor of the small gazebo. Just a thin filmy wrap around me, made for show and not for retaining warmth. Replaying all of the terrible things I'd heard, seen, felt, and forced myself to eat tonight. The smell of the blood gravy on my dress made me want to gag.

I just let the misery and hurt have me for a few minutes. I hadn't let any of those people see me hurt, especially my parents. I hadn't let my facial expression change for more than a blink, if at all. But sitting in the gardens, a place where I have so many good memories surrounding me… I did cry. But those tears weren't about them or any of the night had been through. In that moment it was all about Zuko, and how much my heart ached from missing him.

When it wasn't all about missing him, it was because I knew it all along. That this was how it would be for me. Accepting Zuko's proposal and trying to be something I wasn't.

That Zuko could have thrown a rock in that room tonight and found a much more suitable match. A girl or woman who would have deserved the title of "Fire Lady," or "Queen." A woman who wouldn't shy away from the job, or any of the power that came with it. They could do it much better than I ever could too. I don't doubt that for a second.

But what I did doubt, sitting out there in the rain. As low and meaningless as I felt, I knew. That any one of those vulture bees I'd seen tonight, could have been better Queens. But lack the capacity to love anyone the way I loved Zuko. Not because he was a King, or a warrior either. But because he's the best person I've ever known, he's one of my best friends and he does deserve to be loved. As a person, nothing more. And he deserves to be with someone that he loves just as much… even if that person is as cheerless and hopeless as me.

And I found myself hoping, wishing, praying that I could be that for him. Even if I never measure up, or deserve him. At least let me be the best at loving him and letting him love me too.

I sat there so long, I got used to the feel of the rain droplets hitting me when the breeze carried them just right. It felt like millions of tiny needle pricks, my dress was so poofy I didn't feel how wet it was getting. Till everything was pretty soaked through.

Out of nowhere, the rain droplets began to float down and turn white. First the white specks were tiny, but soon they were bigger white puffs.

It was snowing and just as enough had fallen to lighten the ground. I heard the crunch of approaching footsteps behind me. I anticipated it being one of my guards, worrying over me being out in the snow like this. So I said, "I know it's snowing, just give me another minute."

I was so lost in my own little world and so wrapped up in my own little pity party. I had no clue how cold I actually was. I also didn't listen as closely as I should have to the rhythm of the person's steps. So when I was expecting, a guard to be worrying over getting me inside. I nearly jumped outta my skin when a heavy wooly coat was thrown over me. Before being wrapped around me by-

"MAI? What are you doing out here? Did you even notice it's snowing?"

"Zuko?" I know I asked as I sprang up to sit back up, from where I had been laying on the floor of the gazebo. I was more than half frozen so I didn't really put up much resistance. As he was taking off his gloves and putting them over my hands.

I did ask him, "How are you here? I just got your letter today. Saying you wouldn't be home for another month."

"And you bought that?" He asked me before realizing. "Oh no, you did."

"Of course, I did." I complained. "What reason would I have for not believing it?"

I was trying to pick a fight and he knew that, but all he did was make that impossible as he asked, "Do you really think I could bare another minute away from you? After being away for this long? After months? Because of the ring of my father's supporters, we had to bust?"

"That's why you were gone so-" I began saying loudly, Zuko shushed me by bringing a finger to his lips. My hands flew over my mouth and I said softer, "Sorry."

"It's okay," he said before fretting. "But let's get you inside. It's freezing out here."

Before I could answer him, he touched my face with his almost hot hands. He did a little jump when he felt how cold I was. He decided the heavy coat wasn't enough. He took off the heavy cape he was wearing and wrapped that around me too. Before picking me up and starting to carry me back toward the palace. Telling me, "You're sitting out here like an ice sculpture. What were you thinking?"

"It was raining at first," I shrugged.

He asked with a smart-alike tone, "Is that supposed to make it better? Sitting out in the freezing rain before it turned into snow?... Come on."

I brought up, "I can walk you know-"

"Then why didn't you?" He asked me and before I could answer he said, "Nope, you had your chance. Too late, now I'm taking you there."

I tried to reason, "I thought the rain smelled like snow, but it hasn't snowed here in ages-"

"Probably a decade." Zuko agreed, rushing us through the doors and into the noticeably warmer indoors. I asked to be un-cocooned and put down. But the Fire Lord refused to un-snarl me till we were all the way back into his room. On the way he was asking palace staff to have some ladies maids meet us in the Master's quarters. Because "The Future Fire Lady was found out in the snow and requires immediate assistance."

As soon as we were in his room he finally placed me on my feet again and said. "I'm sorry about this. I'll have a whole new group of better guards assigned to your detail by morning."

"No. Don't." I asked him, making him stop and look me in the eye. I was so happy to see him and so surprised still. I ended up just hugging him around the neck while hoping I was leaning away enough not to get him wet. He wrapped his arms around me and squished me in a tight hug. While I went on saying, "I like the guards I have and we've all just gotten used to each other again. Since one of Tom-Tom's turned out to be an Ozai Loyalist. They're good at their jobs, all of them. I was only alone when you saw me because I asked them to-"

He kissed me and I kissed back, but he broke it off to tell me, "Why did you go out there? Why did you need to be alone and… what on EARTH are you wearing."

"My mom made me wear this," I shrugged at him as he unwrapped me from his cape to look at my ruined gown. Peeking out from under the coat he'd draped over my shoulders. I slid my arms into the sleeves. Now that I could.

"You're mom made you wear a stained evening gown?" He asked with his nose all wrinkled, then he found a hole that had some of my thigh peeking out. "And a ripped one? Were you eating at Colonel Yao's house?"

"How did you know?" I asked him.

"I smell that putrid blood gravy stuff, is that what those stains are?" He asked fingering a gritty brown spot on my hip.

"Yes... but No," I corrected, "My mom made me wear a white evening gown. This is why I still swear by black."

"Why White of all things?" He asked before leaning his head against mine and asking. "Does she know you at all?"

"It does make you wonder doesn't it?" I said, letting him try to warm me using his fire bending to heat the coat I was wearing with his hands. The coat was obviously his and tented me, even in this gaudy gown. It was very hard to stay concentrated on our conversation with his hands going everywhere like that even with his touch remaining innocent. And it looked like I wasn't the only one affected either.

But he stopped and cradled my head when he realized, "What happened to your hair?"

"Mother, again." I went on explaining, "Tonight was that first dinner party I've had to attend since our engagement went public. The guests at the party were apparently having a contest. To see who could shame the future Fire Lady the best. Hoping to terrorize me out of the job. Nobody won of course, for them to win I would have had to show emotion at some point of the evening. Which I didn't… "

"But you were crying, I heard you." He accused, "Was it because of anyone in particular?"

"No, not anyone worth remembering." I lied, but none of my treatment tonight had been unexpected. I didn't cry till I'd left, and he'd been the only one to witness it besides a few guards. I told him, "When I was finally able to get out of there… I couldn't stand to go home… so I asked to be escorted here and… I just missed you so much. That's what got to me the most." I said, even though I saw the fists he was clutching. And I knew he was going to be badger moleing my guards for names the minute my back was turned. I'd seen those smoking fists too often before to doubt it.

"I missed you too." He admitted, kissing my forehead so tenderly. Between using his hands to try and warm me again, he kept trying touch my hair and trying to make sense of all the piles of braids and knots up there. I told him to, "Just give up, I already have."

"No, we can fix this, I know we can." He said, with confidence. While I could tell he was trying to maintain his anger too. He wanted to know more about the people at the party. But was thankfully too concerned with getting me warm again to ask more.

That was when the head of housekeeping came in with a tray holding a couple of steaming cups of tea. Escorting in three ladies maids with her and they all bowed to us both. Zuko realized he would need to let me go for a moment. He thanked the head-housekeeper and handed me a mug telling me to "Drink that while it's hot. It'll help, one of Uncle's secrets for warming up fast."

Then he told the maids, "Would you three please aid Lady Mai with her hair. I don't know what kind of warfare that is, but it's beyond me... But only her hair, I will care for whatever else the future Fire Lady needs, myself."

What was that now? What did he mean by that? Wearing that punk smile too? Just what did that mean?

The maids all bowed, "Very good, My lord and lady."

Then I was taken into the bathroom's brighter lantern lights and my hair was disassembled from it's hive-like height. To finally resemble hair again, of course, it was kinked and crimped in all the wrong places. It was pretty wild but that would all wash away the next time I washed it. They even tucked it all into a nice cap to make it manageable till I could wash it. As soon as my hair was settled my betrothed reappeared and said, "Thank you ladies, that will be all, I'll take it from here."

I didn't miss the black strap across his torso, or the handle of his twin swords peeking over his shoulder. I don't think the ladies maids did either the way they disappeared in a giggly heap. When we were alone I asked him, "What's with the swords? You planning on sparing with me to warm me up?"

"No," He said in a tone that was pretty light for being armed and dangerous. Then he asked me, "Do you remember the time Azula fell off of that ship in an evening gown? The time she almost drowned from the weight of it pulling her down? Or any of the several times it was Ty-Lee who was drenched in one of these things?"

I assured him I did, while I reminded him. "I think you're forgetting who had to cut them out every time. It wasn't you."

"You're right, it wasn't me." He admitted. "But I seem to remember this gorgeous girl who was just as formally dressed borrowing my swords to cut through some of those dresses. Since this time it's you, I thought I might be able to help you out."

"Really?" I asked. "You think I need your help?"

He said with confidence. "Usually any moisture renders the fastenings of these things pointlessly locked. Try if you like but I bet you can't undo anything back there without a helping hand."

I tried, I even pulled out my knives and nicked my back three times trying to cut into myself. All of that and I still had to admit Zuko was right.

He confirmed, "Told ya."

I warned him, "Don't be smug, what exactly is your master plan here?"

"Since it is clearly ruined and I doubt you're very sentimental about this fashion disaster. I thought I could cut you out of it and help this go a little quicker."

"Say what?" I asked before repeating, "You're gonna cut me out of this thing and let me use your bathtub to warm up?" I wondered why I hadn't thought of that. It would be the perfect send-off for this deathtrap, I wondered if Zuko could still burn it though. Once it had dried and if he would let me dance on the ashes. Even that didn't seem like enough for this horrible piece of torture.

He blushed a little and scratched at the back of his head, what was he thinking now? He said, "Actually, this bath was drawn for me and it's probably gone a little cold. So I was hoping we could share it, just to make sure you get warm in a hurry. You know, 'cause I'm a firebender and heat is sorta what I do?"

Given his tub is the size of a small swimming pool, but steam was still coming off of it. It probably wasn't cold at all, but the thought of sharing, and being cut out of here by his swords... There was no way I was passing up on an evening like that.

So I consented, "That's fine with me, but how do you want to do this?"

First we had to take off the coat he had put on me outside. I had still been hugging it closed around me. I apologized for getting it all wet, and Zuko said, "I don't mind." But then something made it hard for him to say anything else. He just kept pointing at me and the mirror behind me. When I turned to look for myself, expecting a murderer the way he was acting. I realized that since it had gotten wet, my no longer white gown had gone translucent and you could now see my slip and underwear all clearly outlined through the material. The dress was also tight to my shape leaving nothing to the imagination.

Someone knocked on the door to check on us and you should have seen how quick he threw something over me. The person didn't even come in or open the door, they just spoke through the door. But the voice was clearly male and Zuko was acting like I needed to conceal my appearance. I waited till the voice had left to ask him, "What's with you?"

He said, "Sorry, I didn't want any other guy; looking at you, like this?"

"Like what? They all know you're helping me?" I asked. "And I'm wearing things under here, it's not like you can see everything. It's like seeing me in a bathing suit."

"But you can see enough." He complained before saying softly, "I want to be the only one to see this. Can you blame me?"

It was sweet but something else I had noticed in the mirror was that my lips were turning a little blue. So we needed to work faster, so I kissed my fiancée's cheek and turned my back to him saying. "Alright do your worst. But can I just ask that you do it where I can look through a mirror and see what you're doing?"

"Sure." He said pulling out his swords and splitting them into two. I felt warmer already. If I wasn't careful, a night like this could start me choosing swords over knives. I would have to remind myself just how superior knives still are. But that could wait.

Once he was sure I could see everything. He knew just how to stick the blade down the back of the garment and not hurt me. He had the sharp side up against the back of the dress and let the harmless side rest against my skin. He got it in the right place, made sure he was just cutting the dress off of me and nothing else. Then he counted to three and gave one powerful yank.

He'd split the whole back open, all the way to the backs of my knees. Revealing my soaked-through slip underneath, if you thought the dress was see-through. My slip was practically clear at this point. He helped me step out of the gown first and helped me outta the slip next. I couldn't help but notice his face as I was watching him. He really was trying to help me and not ogle me, he wanted me to feel safe above all. In all honesty, I did too.

He was trying to not act on all of the feelings and urges he was bound to have rushing through him. It was all in the set of his face. Believe me, I was feeling them too. But even so, I didn't miss the way his hands traced my figure at the sides as he helped me get out of the stubborn sticky wet coverall. He said, "I know I'm not supposed to look and I'm supposed to be only helping... but you seriously are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

I turned to him and kissed him lingeringly before leaning my head against his and telling him, "Thank you for helping me."

Zuko answered, "Thank you for letting me, you don't know how much I've missed this... missed you."

"I think I have a pretty good idea." I reasoned, before stealing one more kiss and letting him help me step into the tub. Yes, I was still wearing my underwear, so it was more like a makeshift bathing suit situation. I was so glad I hadn't listened to my mother and had worn my more comfortable black underwear. If I'd chosen white like she wanted, Zuko could have seen everything. But in all of our years together, this was something we had never done before. Share a bathtub at all... but after months of separation against our will and an unexpected snow fall. It was just what we both needed.

Once I was in the warm water, and I wasn't completely overwhelmed by the heat. I realized that he was still standing there and fully dressed. And suddenly his comfort and safety was my top priority. I made a point of turning my back and I told him, "Okay, I'm not looking go ahead and get ready. You know I won't peek either... unlike some other people here. Who say something then do the opposite."

I wasn't looking, as promised but I heard him chuckle before he asked, "You're STILL sour about that?"

I reminded him, "You promised me that you wouldn't peek, and then you confessed later that you did it anyway. Even though you promised, what do you expect? A Handshake? A slap on the back?"

"I was just curious, is all." He shrugged, I could just hear it. Even if I didn't see it. He knew exactly, what I'd meant. Our last trip to Amber island together. "We were in the ocean... at night, it was dark. And the undercurrent stripped both of us out there, it's not like we meant to be skinny dipping. It's just how things happened and I peeked, but it's not like I wasn't embarrassed too. And I didn't tell you to go first, you did that on your own."

I asked with a warning in my tone, "Are you telling me it's my fault you peeked?"

"No!" He said quickly enough, as it sounded like he was walking around behind me. "It's like I told you here. You are beautiful and it was just a glance."

"Was it really?" I questioned because he sounded like he was leaving something out.

"Well... I meant it to be a glance. But then you were so beautiful. What I did see, it was dark, the moon was full. I kinda stared and tried to turn around before you noticed." He said as I tried not freak out because I could hear him stepping in. I turned so that my back was still to him and I was still keeping my promise. I was so dedicated to keeping it, my eyes were shielded by my hand and closed. I could hear him coming closer. My head was still swimming from how good the warm water felt. I could tell he was heating the tub [or pool] as he went too. It was a shift you couldn't miss in temperate.

I was fully submerged from my shoulders down, and my feet weren't touching the bottom. I was hanging onto a wall, trying not to panic. When he turned me to face him, it was clear this had been build to accommodate him, he was submerged the same way, but it was clear that he was standing comfortably. "Relax." He told me, "You are all tense, are you nervous or still too cold?"

I admitted, "I'm a little nervous, but the temperature's fine."

"Is the water too high, I can lower it." He asked, I guess he noticed the way I was clinging to the side. "Sorry, they filled it for me and they know how tall I am."

I said, "No. I'm fine."

"Anything you need to feel more comfortable." He said, for what felt like the tenth time.

I let go of the wall and wrapped my arms around his shoulders instead. Asking him, "Is this okay?"

"Are you kidding?" He smiled, looks like I wasn't the only one feeling a little nervous. But as he pulled me to him I could feel all of that tension leave both of us in a breath. The water made me weightless, so I let him hold me for a moment. As we just got used to one another's presence. The next thing he did say to me was, "Aren't you gonna wash your hair?"

"I was thinking about it," I admitted it was a mess. But the ladies who had helped me take it down had heaped it all into a cap that held it up from getting wet.

Zuko's next question came out a little excited, "Can I help?"

"You want me to wash it that badly?" I asked, had it really looked that bad?

He clarified, "No, I just always wanted to. You know?"

I shook my head, "I see the months apart did nothing for your weird obsession."

"Cut me some slack, I'm a sick man going through withdrawal." He claimed. Before gingerly taking off the cap and letting down my hair out of it. Then he dipped me backward. Helping me get it all wet, it felt like we were dancing. The way he helped me but still held me so close.

When I popped back up, with a newly soaked head. I asked him, "Still thinking it's worth it, after seeing me look like a drowned rat-pigeon?"

His expression turned so soft and he wordlessly pulled my into a long kiss. Then when it ended he claimed. "I would still marry you right here if I could. In this tub if possible and it's not the first time I've seen you all wet."

"But it is the first time we've shared a tub like this." I pointed out. "Keep spoiling me like this and it almost makes me forget how mad I am at you."

"No. you're not mad at me, you're mad at the situation," Zuko said with too much confidence.

"No, I'm pretty sure some of this rage has been distinctly pointed at you." I didn't let up. Hoping he could convince me other wise.

He reasoned. "Why don't I tell you everything while I wash your hair? Then you can decide for yourself who you're really mad at? Does that sound fair?"

I let him know, "I'm listening."

I was dutifully quiet, letting him explain. Even though I had so many questions about his care for me along the way. Like how did he have my shampoo? My special soap? And other personal items here, ready to go? Even the detangling cream that does the best on my thick straight hair? How did he know when to add what? How did he know to massage someone's scalp like that? I kept it all in and let him talk.

He did seem to share everything he'd been through over the past two months. He said he was telling me everything he could, but it also didn't sound like he'd really left anything out. I felt so bad for him after hearing all of the trauma he must have had to relive throughout everything. That once my hair was clean, I asked him, "Since you helped me with my hair and you've always wanted to do that. Can I do something for you I always wanted to?"

He nodded, "That sounds fair. What did you have in mind?"

"Would you let me wash your upper half? Just your back, arms and chest, we gotta leave some things to look forward to when we are married."

He smiled, "Does that mean when we're married you're gonna wash all of me? Sometime?"

"When you need it, sure." I shrugged.

"Okay." He agreed. Before he drained some of the water so I could stand comfortably and work easier. He pointed out to me his soap and sponge he used. And yes I did smell it, ask yourself. Would you pass up a chance like that?

Then I got to treat him to some spoiling hopefully. He seemed to relax a lot more under my care and his eyes were closed more often then not. When I had almost finished rinsing him off. He started washing me the same way, before rinsing me off. When we were both soap free he picked me up again and pressed me to the wall, kissing me with all of the things I'd stirred up in him slowly. Him having to share so much of his personal battles had probably been a great part of it too. He took my hand and noticed how pruny we both were and said, "Guess we better get out, even though I could stay here all night."

"Me too." I let him know.

"Are you okay with that? Getting out now? Are you warm enough? Clean enough? Did I miss anything?"

"Yeah," I said as I unfolded my legs from under me and anticipated him putting me down.

But he refused to set me down saying. "Before we leave. Can you promise me we'll have more nights like this? This has literally made all of that time melt away and I have to know we'll get more time like this together."

I let him know, "Of course, there will be. When we're married, we won't even have to keep on underwear anymore." I reminded watching his face turn so red. Ears and all, adorably. Before I promised, "We'll have much more fun in the future. Tonight was just a preview. Thank you for making me feel so safe." I kissed him and teased, "Maybe even if next time happens before we're married, you don't have to be quiet so safe and careful next time."

He laughed, "I might hold you to that."

Then he insisted on walking out the tub carrying me, he wrapped me in towel, while I wrapped one around his waist. Then he placed me on a bench next to dry clothes. He told me, "You dress in here, take all the time you need, I'll dress in my bedroom. I'll brush my teeth when you're done."

When I thanked him for the millionth time, he told me. "Don't thank me yet. Next week the real work starts on Azula's big formal wedding day. You might be mad at me again when you see how much of that is going to be up to you."

"Next week? I thought you said you'll be home this week?" I asked because I thought that was what he'd said when he'd' explained. Had I heard wrong?

He clarified, "Next week the work starts, this week is gonna just be me and you. That is if that alright with you?"

"Really? The WHOLE week? For just us?" I stressed.

He affirmed, "Yeah. One week is ours, Azula's commandeering the week after that. She and Kavin are even coming here to stay when that's happening. I'm gonna need you both weeks. Sorry, I guess I didn't do a great job explaining after all."

"No, no." I was surprised. "That's great! I can't wait to get started?"

"With the wedding?" He asked.

"No. With this week where it's just us. That... that just sounds wonderful."

"It already is, if you ask me." He smirked. Before he realized, "Right! I'll get outta your way and let you get ready for bed. See ya soon." He shut the door behind him. A full week with Zuko and another where we're working together to help with Azula's wedding plans. I felt like it was all too good to believe. But I hoped that we could really spend that much time together after being apart for too long. As I readied for bed quickly and left the bathroom to dry my hair by the fireplace. As Zuko came and put his arms around me, I knew that there was no place more made for me than here with him. I just hoped that during this next week. I could assure him of the same thing.

That's all for now!

But don't worry readers! I will be back with more soon as I can. A full week together to work with! I won't be away for long. Several future chapters are already in process. So I won't leave you hanging long. Thank you so much for sticking with me this far. If you can please write in and review, I would love to hear from you. As always, hope you're having an AWESOME day. Take Care and Much Love!

~DarcyBeDippy85