I woke up a little early and found Sokka sleeping next to me. I smiled and kissed him on the forehead before walking out of the tent. I stretched and then made some breakfast. I went out into the middle of the river and sat there. I closed my eyes and meditated. I didn’t notice that the others were awake until Katara came and got me.
“It’s time.” She said.
I got up and followed her to the training area. Sokka was already set-up there. I walked into the area and gathered the water in the air around me. It twisted around my arms and froze into ice spears. Sokka paused for a minute before attacking with his sword. I dodged his attacks the then had him cornered. My ice spear was pressed up against his throat.
“River wins! Next is Toph!” Katara said.
Toph stepped into the area. I was ready for her. I melted the water on my arms and then gathered some from the river. I spread it onto the ground around Toph’s and my feet leaving only a centimeter before freezing it. Toph smiled.
“Ready, river rat?” Toph asked.
“I was born ready.” I replied.
Toph slid her foot onto the ice and fell onto her hands and knees. I quickly gather more water and froze her to the ground.
“River wins! Aang is next!” Katara said.
Aang floated onto the ice ring as I melt Toph and she slid off the arena.
“Good luck twinkle toes! She’s good!” Toph shouted from off the arena.
Before Aang could use air bending, I froze my feet to the arena. Aang blew a wind attack at me and I managed to dodge it. When I moved my feet, the ice moved with them. It was tough defeating Aang. I finally did it when he got distracted from Katara cheering him on from the sidelines. I froze him to a rock outside the arena.
“River wins! Next is me!” Katara said and jumped into the arena.
The fight went on forever. It even ended up in the river at some point. We both used the river to attack and dodge. Eventually Katara had me pinned, but I managed to get water around her and freeze everything but her head.
Everyone was shocked and then they cheered.
“Tonight we are going into town and celebrating!” Aang cheered.
Sokka lifted me up onto his shoulders and paraded around for a few minutes before letting me down. Then we all went into town. It was a lot of fun hanging out and relaxing with the group although we were all dressed in fire nation clothes. And we were dressed in fire nation clothes for on obvious reason. We were in the fire nation.
It was when we were walking home that we ran into someone we didn’t want to see, Zuko. Everyone hid, but I didn’t have a chance to. My blonde hair flew in front of my face just before Zuko came into view. I brushed it out of my face as Zuko appeared. He paused for a second when he saw me and then came running up to me.
“Lily!” He said and embraced me.
“Hands off Zuko!” Sokka shouted and shoved him off of me.
“Wait!” I shouted.
They both paused. Sokka stepped away from Zuko and I approached Zuko.
“You have to remember me.” He whispered as I came closer.
I put my hands on his face and traced the lines. Then I ruffled his hair. Then I gently traced his scar.
“Zuko?” I asked.
“Yes! Please tell me you remember!” Zuko said.
“You seem so familiar.”
“That’s because I am!”
I traced his face again and then gasped. I remembered everything. I pulled Zuko close to me and he wrapped his arms around me. He buried his face into my neck.
“Thank god you are alive!” He said.
“I remember everything!” I gasped.
“What’s going on?” Sokka shouted.
Zuko and I pulled away.
“Sokka, Zuko is my fiancé.” I said.
Everyone came out from where they were hiding and gasped.
“Please let me explain.” I said.
“Lily, tell me what happened to you!” Zuko said.
“Zuko hun, remember the night I got stolen?”
“I remember it all too well. You had gone to bed early and I was wondering around the garden when I heard a scream. I ran to our room and you were gone.” Zuko said.
Tears were starting to fill my eyes and fall down my face. I fell onto my knees and Zuko dropped to his.
“It was earth benders! They were supposed to be guarding us, remember? They were the ones who took me! They were part of the revolution. They kidnapped me and took me to the highest part of the waterfall. They stripped me of my clothes and pushed me off the cliff! I fell into the water and smacked my head against a rock. I lost my memory and all of my strength. But then Katara found me. Sokka and Katara and everyone have been taking care of me.” I said.
Zuko wiped the tears off my face and then stood up. He grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet. I cuddled into his side and he wrapped his arm around me.
“Thank you for taking care of her. It means a lot to me.” Zuko said.
“Hold on a minute! You’ve explained how you ended up in that river, but how are you Zuko’s fiancé?” Toph asked.
“She was a slave. My sister captured her from the northern water tribe and gave her to me as a present. I treated her well, but kept her because I thought she was special. She never attacked me. She only took care of me and did what I told her to. Eventually I stopped telling her what to do, but she continued to take care of me. I fell in love with her and she fell in love with me. Four months ago, I asked her to marry me and she agreed. Then she was taken away from me and now you know the whole story.” Zuko said.
“Zuko, they stole my engagement ring! They took it along with my clothes!” I said frantically.
“It’s okay. Don’t worry about anything. It will all be taken care of.” Zuko said and kissed my forehead.
Sokka let out a cry of anguish. I looked at him and I felt guilty.
“Sokka, I’m sorry.” I whispered.
I knew he could hear me, but he walked away.
“Sokka?” Katara asked.
“Come on guys. There’s obviously no reason to stay here.” Sokka said.
“Katara, thank you for everything.” I said.
“It was nothing. It was nice having a little sister for awhile. Take care of yourself.” Katara said.
“See ya later river rat.” Toph said.
“It was nice to meet you.” Aang said.
They all took off after Sokka who had started to run. I knew him though and I knew that he was crying.
“Let’s get you home.” Zuko said.
We walked home in silence as I went through everything that had happened in the last two months. I didn’t notice that I was at the palace until we were walking through the gates. Azula came running in her night gown. For some reason, Azula was really sweet to me.
“Lily, I’m so glad Zuko found you!” She said and grabbed me into a hug.
“Me too. Azula, it’s so nice to see you.” I said and hugged her back.
We let go of each other and Zuko pulled me close to his side.
“Azula, Lily is very tired and I’m sure you can talk to her tomorrow. Good night.” Zuko said and began walking with me by his side.
“Good night Lily!” Azula called.
Zuko brought me to his room. Once the doors were closed, I walked over to the bed and collapsed on top of it. Zuko came over to the bed and cradled me against him.
“I thought I would never see you again….What is the matter? Something is upsetting you.” Zuko said.
“Because I didn’t have my memory and Sokka was caring for me….We kissed twice. But that’s all we did! I would have never done it if I had my memories. Please don’t get angry.” I said.
“He kissed you?”
“Yes.”
“He kissed you!”
I rolled off of Zuko and landed on my feet just in time for him to burst into flame. The bed caught on fire and the flame burned bright. I pulled water from my pouch, the air, and a bowl that was filled with it. I circled it around my head and threw it at Zuko. It put out the flames and it sizzled. Zuko shook his head and water droplets scattered across the room.
“You didn’t have to do that.” He said.
“Yes I did or else you would have single handily burned down the palace.” I said.
I walked over to Zuko and made him sit down in a chair. I sat on his lap facing him.
“Zuko. What are you thinking?” I asked.
“I’m thinking about ripping off Sokka’s lips.” He answered.
I gently kissed along his scar. Zuko sighed and wrapped his arms around me.
“I haven’t felt your gentle lips in so long.” He said.
“Then forget about everything and just feel my lips right now.” I said.
Zuko tackled me to the floor. The part that wasn’t sizzling. He kissed me deeply, trying to draw every once of passion that was put into our relationship. It worked. We got so lost into the kiss that it almost got out of hand. We both started to undress each other when we heard a knock at the door. We both quickly got dressed and Zuko answered the door. It was a guard who had seen the flames.
“Is everything alright?” He asked.
“Zuko just got a little hot-headed like always and burst into flame. I dowsed him in water so it’s all good. But we will need a new room to stay in.” I said coming up and resting my chin on Zuko’s shoulder.
“That does sound like the prince.” The guard said.
I could tell Zuko was glaring at him because he straightened up and then saluted.
“I’ll prepare your room right away. Please wait here for a few minutes. I shall return then.” The guard said and ran off.
I spun Zuko around and saw the glare. I kissed each of his eye lids very carefully.
“I’m still mad at you.” Zuko said.
I kissed him briefly.
“No, your not.” I said.
I smiled and kissed him again and again until he smiled.
“Fine, I’m not mad at you.” He said.
“There’s my snuggly hot-head I’m use to.” I said.
Zuko pressed his forehead against mine and we closed our eyes. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close to him. We heard someone clear his throat and separated only slightly.
“Your room is ready. Please follow me.” The guard said.
Zuko and I followed him to one of the better guest rooms. We put a “Do Not Disturb” sign up and then continued where we had left off. The covers were laid loosely on top of us. I had my head on Zuko’s chest and he had his arm wrapped around my waist.
“Since you told me about Sokka, I want to tell you about Mai.” Zuko said.
“Let me guess, ex-girlfriend who still cares about you, best friend of your sister, you still have small feelings for her but you would never cheat because you love me more than her. Am I right?” I asked.
“You are correct on everything. How did you know?”
“Azula told me this when we first came out of the closet, so to speak.”
“Well, then there’s nothing to explain. But how did you know that I would say that I love you more now?”
“Because you are forgetting that I know you more than you know yourself right now. You are conflicted about the Avatar, you don’t know what to do, and you are trying with all your might not to get up and go kill Sokka.”
“…..You’re amazing. Will you marry me?”
“Aren’t I already?”
We both laughed and then kissed. I sighed and snuggled closer to Zuko.
“Get some rest. It’s been a long day.” Zuko said and kissed my forehead.
I closed my eyes and he hummed me a lullaby. I had to force myself to start breathing slower to look like I was asleep, but I just couldn’t fall asleep. Something in my gut was telling me to stay awake. After ten minutes of waiting, I knew why. Zuko carefully slide from bed and put his clothes back on. He quietly slipped from the room.
I sat up in bed and watched him run across the courtyard.
Stupid men! They always have to be a problem! I thought to myself.
I got up and quickly put on my own clothes. I ran out into the courtyard and began to follow Zuko. He was faster than me but I made it just in time. Zuko had Sokka by the front of his shirt. I pulled some water from the air and made a whip. I snapped it at Zuko’s fingers and he backed off. Aang used his air bending to pull Sokka back towards the group which had gathered by the water’s edge. I ran and stood a few feet in front of them.
“Zuko! Have you lost your mind?!?” I screamed.
“It’s tearing me apart! I can’t live knowing that he’s felt your lips!” Zuko screamed back.
“Sokka!” I heard Katara exclaim.
“What?” I heard him retort.
“I won’t fight you!” Zuko yelled.
I relaxed my defensive position.
“Then don’t. Let’s just go back home.” I said.
Zuko wasn’t looking at me though; he was looking at Sokka which fueled his rage. He shouted and fired off a fire ball. It barely grazed me, but it burned my clothes. The group behind me avoided the fire ball. I glared at Zuko and then brought up the river. I wrapped it around me and the group and then froze it.
“What’s going on?” Toph asked.
“We’ll explain later.” Aang said.
“What are you doing Lily?” Katara asked.
“I’m fighting my fiancé.” I replied.
“Yes, but why?” Katara asked.
“Because you guys are my friends and no one hurts my friends. Leave Zuko to me. He won’t hurt me. Stay in here until I let you guys out.” I said.
“Good luck.” Aang said.
I hugged everyone and gave Sokka and Katara a kiss on the cheek.
“Thanks for everything.” I said.
I went to a corner and opened up a part of the ice just big enough to let me through. I resealed the ice and then faced Zuko.
“Are you really going to do this?” I asked.
“I can’t let his lips survive this night.” Zuko replied.
I sighed. I gathered most of the river up around me.
“Don’t make me do this.” I said.
Zuko didn’t attack me, but he attacked the ice dome. I wrapped the water around Zuko from the neck down and made him sit. Once he was sitting, I froze him to the spot.
“Lily!” He screamed.
I melted the ice dome and returned the water to the river.
“Lily, what are you doing?” Katara asked as she ran up to me.
“Well, Zuko and I are going to stay right here until he calms down. I think it’s better if I stay here with him and try to calm him down.” I said and sat down next to Zuko.
“Then we are staying with you.” Aang said and sat down.
Everyone made a line in front of Zuko.
“Can we talk civilly or are you going to bite?” I asked.
“Not funny.” Zuko grunted and struggled against the ice.
I pulled on his ear and brought my lips to it.
“I swear to god, if you melt the ice and try to attack my friends again, I will take you down.” I said.
“Thanks for giving me an idea.” He said and smiled evilly.
I slapped him across the face and he grunted.
“What did you do that for?” He complained.
I melted the ice around him and tackled him. I sat on his chest facing him. I froze his hands and feet.
“More comfortable?” I asked.
“Not really.” Zuko answered.
“Good. Sokka and Katara, come sit next to me.” I said.
They gasped, but they believed that I had everything under control. Sokka sat on my left and Katara sat on my right. I placed my hands on their heads and looked at Zuko.
“These are two of my friends. No one, including you, can harm my friends. It’s fine to be a little friendly with them.” I said.
I grabbed their hands and place our intertwined ones in my lap.
“See.” I said, holding up our intertwined hands.
I could see fire start up under the ice I had created. I let go of my friend’s hands and slapped Zuko across the face. He stopped fire bending and glared at me.
“Be nice.” I warned.
Zuko continued to glare at me. I sighed and got up. I went over to the campfire and got one going.
“Looks like I’m gonna be here for awhile. You guys wanna eat?” I asked.
“Hell yeah!” Toph said and came over to the fire.
Everyone, except for the still frozen Zuko, joined Toph and my self at the fire. Katara and I made a tasty soup and everyone, except Zuko, ate. It was just like last night had never happened. I was laying across Katara and Sokka when Zuko walked up. Everyone jumped up and got into a defensive position. I sighed and walked up to Zuko. We both embraced each other and Zuko held me close to him.
“I’m sorry. I now see that I was wrong to come here and attack your friends.” He said into my neck.
I knew everyone could hear him because we were all standing close together.
“You are taking your first few steps closer to knowing who you are.” I said.
Zuko pressed me as close as I could be against him.
“Hun, your squeezing just a little too hard and I’m about to pass out from exhaustion.” I said.
“Sorry.” Zuko said and let go of me.
“You guys can stay here for tonight.” Aang offered.
“No thanks. Everyone will be specious if we aren’t there in the morning.” Zuko said.
“Thanks again for everything guys.” I said and rubbed my eyes.
I went around and gave everyone one last hug.
“I’ll never forget you guys.” I said.
I walked over to Zuko and grabbed his hand. I began to walk in the direction of the palace, but before I realized what was happening, Zuko picked me up like a child and held me against his chest. Automatically I wrapped my legs around his waist.
“What are you doing?” I asked, blushing.
“You are going to fall asleep walking home. It’s better if you just fall asleep on me.” Zuko said and began walking.
I rested my chin on his shoulder and sighed.
“That’s my cuddly hot-head.” I said.
I could hear everyone laughing.
“Thanks for that.” Zuko muttered.
“No problem.” I giggled.
“I’m gonna get you back.”
“Maybe tomorrow.”
“We always have tomorrow.”
“Hmm…yeah.”
The walk home was mostly in silence. About half-way home, I fell asleep. When we got home, Zuko changed me into my nightgown and then got ready for bed. He crawled into bed next to me and cuddled up against my side. Everything was back to normal.
