*Asami's P.O.V.*

"Again! I am sorry!" Zuko exclaimed as he run after me as I walked to the dinning room. "And, again, sorry is not going to get you out of the doghouse this time Zuko." I said without looking over my shoulder and entered the dinning room, where Iroh was already sitting at a table, drinking tea with Kai. "Zuko still apologizing?" Iroh asked me without looking up as he pour tea for us.

"Yes." I answered as I sat down and took my cup of tea. "She still hasn't forgiven you?" Iroh asked Zuko as poured Kai's cup. "No." Zuko said with a sigh as he sat down. "Any advice?" He asked his uncle with a hopeful voice. "Advice?" Iroh asked as he handed Zuko's cup to him. Zuko nodded as he looked disparately at his uncle. "Keep apologizing." Iroh said and took a sip of tea.

"That's it?" Zuko asked with a frown. "Just keep apologizing?" "A woman's mind strong." Iroh said as he held his cup of tea in his hands. "Once a woman has decided on something, there is usually no way of changing her mind." "So what? I just keep apologizing until she's not angry at me anymore?" Zuko asked with a slight frown. "Exactly." Iroh answered and took a sip of his tea.

"Great..." Zuko muttered his breath and looked over to me, but I ignored him and drank my tea. "How long can a woman be angry at her lover?" He asked his uncle, getting a chuckle from the retired general. "Depends on the woman really." Iroh answered and took a sip of tea. "Some woman can stay mad up to five minutes. Some woman can me mad up to five or more years." He said and took a bigger sip. "Years?!?" Zuko exclaimed shocked while I smirked to myself behind my cup.

"Yes, years." Iroh said with a small smile and took a sip of tea. Zuko stared at his uncle in shock before his eyes over to me. I just shrugged at him with a small smile and continued drinking my tea. Zuko groaned and slummed down, slamming his forehead against the table, making both Iroh and I chuckle, while Kai yipped in amusement.

***

I went to my room to get a jacket for music, because I was wearing a black shirt than only covered the front and had my back completely open. When I entered my room, I froze on the spot when I saw my bed was covered with small notes of paper, and a turtleduck teddy in the middle of the bed. I frowned slightly and slowly walked towards my bed.

As I picked up the turtleduck teddy, I couldn't help but smile at the cute thing in my hand. It was small, but big enough to fit in my entire hand. Besides Kai, this is the most adorable thing ever! Now, their is no note that says who gave the turtleduck, but I have feeling that it came from Zuko. This is the cutest apology I have gotten. I smiled one last time at the teddy before putting it back on the bed and picked up one of the notes and read it.

As long as you may take, please know I'll wait for you to forgive me. Please accept my apology and allow me to show you that I am a changed man. I'm sorry...

I smiled softly as I read the note before picking up another one and read it.

Please give me your hand, and I will put it right on my heart so that you can hear it beating, and every beat will shout "I am sorry."

My smile brightened at the words on the note and picked up another note and started reading it.

I was always prone to doing dumb mistakes, but I never really cared, but taking away your freedom for even a moment is something I cannot accept. I am terribly sorry.

I couldn't help but smile so big that cheeks hurt, but I couldn't help it, because this one really touched my heart. Thinking that it can't get better than this, I picked up another note and read it, and got proven wrong, it can get better.

I really hate it when we fight. I hate it even more when I realize that it was all my fault. I am sorry. I love you so much. Please forgive me.

My breath hitched inside my throat when I read his words. This is the first time he says he loves me. I already know he loves me, but when he actually says it, it just warms my heart. I took a deep breath and picked up another note.

My shameful actions spoke loudly, but I hope that you can still hear my words. I love you deeply, and will do everything in my power to show you how much.

This one is was just as good as the others. I started reading the one note to the other, and each note is just as romantic as the other. I couldn't, even if I tried to, I just can't choose which note is the best. They are all so good, and definitely from the heart. Zuko might not know it now, but after reading all these note, and the turtleduck teddy is totally bonus point, the banished prince is forgiven. I'm gonna have to tell Iroh that I'm not joining music night tonight, and to look after Kai.

***

"Asami?" Zuko said in confusion as he opened the door after I knocked on it. As soon as the door was opened wide, I lifted up my hand and showed him the turtleduck teddy. "I'm keeping this." I said with a serious face expression. Zuko's confused expression soon turned into amusement when he saw the teddy and heard my comment. "Your never getting it back." Zuko chuckled at my words before stepping back and let me come into his room.

"It's yours." He said with smile as he watched me sit down on his bed. But his smile drop and blushed deep red when I took out some of his notes. "These are really beautiful." I said with a loving smile as I placed the notes and teddy onto the bed before standing up and walked over to him. "Did you mean it? All of it?" I asked him as I slowly wrapped my arms his neck. "Every word." He answered as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Especially the ones where I say, 'I love you.'"

My smile brightened as I blushed, while my heart beat faster. "Do you?" I asked as I tightened arms around him and stood up on my toes so I could be closer to his face. "I do," He said as he tightened his hold around me with one arm and cupped my cheek with his hand. "I love you with all my heart." He said as his thumb rub against my cheek. "I love you too." I said as I looked deep into his golden eyes with my grey eyes.

Zuko lowered his down closer to me and gently kissed me on the lips. I took a breath through my nose before both our lips slowly started moving together in sync. He let go of my cheek and wrapped his arm around my waist and brought me closer to him as he deepen the kiss. As the kiss deepened, Zuko moved his arms down until they reached my thighs before gripping them and lifted me. I gasp in surprise and quickly wrapped my legs around him.

Before anything else happened, Zuko our lips again and walked over to the bed and lowered me down on it. I pulled away for a moment and stared into his eyes. "I love you." I said softly as my lips graced softly against his. Zuko smiled against my lips and pecked them before questioning me. "You sure you don't hate me?" He joked against my lips. "Never." I muttered as I graced my lips against his. "You sure about that?" He asked against my lips. "Absolutely." I said and kissed him again before he pulled away.

"I love you too." Zuko muttered against my lips before reconnected our lips and passionately kissed me. He gently licked my lip, begging for an entrance as we continued kissing. I parted open my lips and softly moaned as his tongue entered my mouth. Our tongues wrestled against each other until his won and roamed in my mouth as we continued to passionately kiss. Zuko groaned in pleasure and tightened arms around me as we continued to kiss with more passion.

Without breaking the kiss, I slowly rolled us over and deepen the kiss. Zuko's hands gently roamed around my body before his hand moved up on my back and gently tugged the string of my shirt. I pulled away from the kiss and sat up straight. Zuko followed me and sat up straight, looking me deep in the eyes, searching for any doubt in them, but he didn't find any.

Taking a deep breath and nodded yes before I placed my lips back on to his. He immediately kissed back and untied the knot of my shirt's string. Instead of moving on to the button at the front of my neck to loosen my shirt more and take it off me, Zuko pulled back and removed his shirt from over his head before wrapped his arms around me again and replaced his lips back on mine and kissed me with full of passion.

Zuko's hand slowly moved up on my back towards my neck and gently moved it to the front of my shirt and played with the button, trying to loosen it without breaking the kiss. The button was about open my shirt when the door suddenly flew open. Both Zuko and I yelped in surprise and turned to the door and saw a wide eyed Iroh with Kai on his shoulder.

"Uncle Iroh!" Zuko growled with a glare while I grabbed Zuko's pillow and held it against my chest. "Oh no." Iroh muttered worriedly as Kai yipped from his shoulder. "There's a word," I started off as I glared at the retired general as well. "It's called knocking!" I snapped. "For the last time, neither Asami or I are playing the tsungi horn!" Zuko snapped as he picked up his shirt and put it on. "No, it's about our plans. There's a bit of a problem." Iroh said as I turned around and tied my shirt's strings back.

"Well aren't those beautiful tattoos."

I froze when I heard his voice after he enter the room and looked over to Zuko, who was looking in front of him with wide worried eyes. Praying that I heard wrong, I took a deep breath and slowly turned around and the one person I never wanted to see my tattoos. "Zhao." I said when I saw Admiral Sideburns standing next to Iroh with his evil smirk.

"Those look like airbender tattoos." Zhao said as his evil smirk got bigger. "There not." Zuko answered before I could, wrapping his arm around me and pulled me behind him as we still sat on the bed. "What's he doing here?" He asked his uncle who stood there nervously and worried as his eyes moved from his nephew, to me and then to Zhao. Before Iroh could answer, Zhao stepped closer and answer the question. "I'm taking your crew."

"What?!" Zuko exclaimed in shock and flew up from his bed. "I've recruited them for a little expedition to the North Pole." Zhao said as I got up from the bed and walked over to Zuko. "Uncle, is that true?" Zuko asked as I stood behind him and placed my hands on his shoulder, silently telling him to calm down. "I'm afraid so. He's taking everyone," Iroh answered before crying into his arm. "even the cook." He said as Kai gently patted his neck with his paw.

"Sorry you won't be there to watch me capture the Avatar. But I can't have you getting in my way again." Zhao said with a glare, which made me glare. Zuko cried out in furry and charged at Zhao, but both Iroh and I grabbed him and held him back. "No!" Iroh said as I wrapped my arms around Zuko's waist and held onto him tight.

Zhao suddenly turned and walked over to the wall where a pair of broadswords hang. He takes one off the wall, which made Zuko flinch slightly as his eyes widen in worry, which made me frown and wonder what he did to make him worry. Zhao then started practicing with the sword he has removed from the wall before he started speaking. "I didn't know you were skilled with broadswords, Prince Zuko."

"I'm not. They're antiques. Just decorative." Zuko answered as he wrapped his arm around me and held me close to him. "Have you heard of the Blue Spirit, General Iroh?" Zhao asked as he inspected the sword. "Just rumors. I don't think he is real." Iroh answered honestly while he petted Kai on the head, who's still on Iroh's shoulder.

"He's real, all right." Zhao said and walked over to us. "He's a criminal, and an enemy of the Fire Nation." He added and handed the broadsword over to Iroh, who took it. "But I have a feeling justice will catch up with him soon." Zhao turned to Zuko and I, and looked down at my left arm, observing my fire arrow tattoo.

"Life, power." He read out loud before huffing in amusement. "Interesting choice of words." "It's what the Fire Nation stands for." I answered as Zuko and I tightened our holds on each other. "Interesting..." Zhao said looking down at the tattoo again before looking back at me. "Are you sure those aren't airbender tattoos?" He asked as he looked at me with a daring look to either lie or tell the truth.

"Do my tattoos look exactly like the Avatar's tattoos?" I asked with a neutral face expression, which made Zhao glare at me. "No, they don't look exactly like his, but they do look similar." "They're her own design, and she got them in honor of the Four Nations." Zuko suddenly said. "Oh really?" Zhao said with his stupid smirk. "Yes." Zuko answered and held me closer.

"I see..." Zhao as he looked down at my tattoo again. "They're not airbender tattoos, just simple arrow tattoos." He added and looked me deep in the eye with his evils eyes. "Which clearly states you are not an airbender." "Of coarse not." I said, lying without even blinking. "The Avatar is the last airbender. The rest of the airbenders died a hundred years ago." Zhao hmphed at my comment before turning to Iroh.

"General Iroh, the offer to join my mission still stands, if you change your mind." Zhao said as he walked out the door and closed the door. Both Zuko and I sighed in relief when he finally left and hugged each other. "That was close." I said in his chest. "Too close." Zuko admitted and tightened his hold around me and kissed me gently on my head.

***

"Good luck!" One of the crew members called out to Iroh and I as we all waved goodbye to each other. "Safe travels!" I called out to them before placing Kai onto my shoulder and entered back into the ship with Iroh. "I can't even imagine what Zuko's feeling right now." I said as Iroh and I walked to Zuko's room. Iroh sighed sadly and nodded to me before opening Zuko's door.

"The crew wanted me to wish you safe travels." Iroh said as he and I entered the room. "Good riddance to those traitors." Zuko said bitterly as he laid on his bed, glaring straight at the ceiling. I sighed softly, shaking my head before I walked over and sat down on the bed next to him. "Everything's going to be okay Zuko." I said softly and took his hand in mine and gently squeezed it, which he returned without to looking at me.

"It's a lovely night for a walk. Why don't you three join me? It would clear your head." Iroh suggested, but just continued glaring up at the ceiling. "Or just stay in your room and sit in the dark. Whatever makes you happy." Iroh said before looking over to me. I shook my head no before standing up and walked over to him. "Here, take Kai with you." I said and handed Kai over to the retired general. "He'll give you company." I said with a small smile.

Iroh smiled back to me before he and Kai left the room and closed the door. "Looks like its just you and me." I said with a smile and walked back to his bed and sat down. Zuko's head turned to me with small frown before he sighed and took my hand in his. "What am I going to do Asami?" He asked before he moved his face back to face the ceiling. "I need a crew to sail this ship."

"We'll figure something out." I said as I rubbed my thumb up and down on his hand. Zuko sighed softly before releasing my hand and say up on his bed. "How?" He asked as he turned to face me. "Zhao has a whole army on his side to help him capture the Avatar." "Well, you of all people should know that my brother isn't easy to capture." I said with a small smile. "And that was when he only knew airbending, imagine how hard when he knows waterbending as well."

Zuko groaned and fell back down on his back. "That's both good news and bad news for me." He said as he looked back to the ceiling. "Good news, Zhao won't be able to capture him," He started saying without looking away from the ceiling. "Bad news, it will be harder for me to capture him." He groaned and laid his arm over his eyes.

"You could always just stop trying to capture him and join our side?" I suggested with a small shrug. "And do what?" He asked as he removed his arm and looked over to me. "Teach the Avatar firebending?" He asked sarcastically, but was actually a good idea. "That's actually not a bad idea!" I said as I smiled down at him. "I was joking!" Zuko said with wide eyes and sat up straight. "Yeah, but what if you weren't?" I said as I turned to face him properly.

"I can't just everything and join the Avatar's team." He said as he turned to me. "Why not?" I asked with a frown. "Because I'm the Fire Lord's son, and I've been trying to capture the Avatar months now!" Zuko said to me in a tone as if he's stating the obvious. "So? Aang will understand and forgive you." I said, knowing what I said was true, Aang will definitely forgive Zuko.

"You don't know that." Zuko said as he shook his head and turned away from me. "Of coarse I do!" I said and placed my hand on his arm. "How?" He asked as he turned his head to me. "I'm Aang's sister, I know him better than anyone else in this whole world." I said with a look that says 'I dare you to argue with that', which made Zuko groan and fall back onto the bed on his back. I chuckle down at him before laying down right next to him.

"So are you going to think about it?" I asked with a smile as I turned on my side to face him. Zuko groaned again before he turned his head to me. "You're not going to let this go are you?" He asked with a slight glare. "Nope!" I said with a bright smile, making Zuko groan again as he looked up. "Of coarse you're not." He muttered under my breath, making me chuckle softly. "Hey, you started with that idea!"

Instead of saying something, Zuko turned over to me, grabbed me and slammed his lips onto mine. I gasped in surprise for a moment before I started kissing him back. Zuko went to deepen the kiss, but I pulled away and looked at him with a fake glare. "Are you trying to distract me by kissing me?" I asked him with a fake glare. Zuko stared at me for a moment before answering. "Maybe... Is it working?" He asked. "Only a little." I answered before I started kissing him again.

Zuko groaned in pleasure, and started kissing me in more passionately, making me moan in pleasure. "I love you." He muttered against my lips. "I love you too." I muttered against his lips and wrapped my arms around him as he deepened our kiss. Without breaking the kiss, Zuko wrapped his arms around me and rolled us over, with him laying on top of me and gently licked my lip, begging for an entrance as we continued kissing.

I parted open my lips and softly moaned as his tongue entered my mouth. Our tongues wrestled against each other until his won and roamed in my mouth as we continued to passionately kiss. I moaned in pleasure while he groaned as we each tightened our hold around each other and kissed even more passionately, pulling away for split moment to catch over breaths before we immediately started kissing again.

We both continued kissing until we suddenly heard a slight creak. We immediately pulled away and looked to the door. "What was that?" I asked as both Zuko and I sat up from the bed. "Uncle?" Zuko called out sat stood up from his bed and walked over to the door. "Uncle, is that you?" He asked as he opened the door and looked around. Zuko waited for a moment before glaring and stepped into the hall in battle stance.

"Zuko?" I questioned as I got up from bed as well. "Stay here." Zuko said, showing his hand to me to stop without looking at me. "Excuse me?" I asked shocked, but Zuko was still looking around and not at me. "I'm going to go check it out." He said without looking at me again. "You stay here where it's safe." I scoffed in annoyance and marched over to him. "Excuse me, but I am the Avatar's Protector! I'm suppose to tell you to stay where it's safe!" I snapped.

"Asami, please, not now." Zuko said, before groaning in frustration when I moved in front of him and then moved down the hallway. "Asami!" He whisper-shouted at me in frustration and followed after me. We continued checking the one hallway to another until we arrived the control room, finding nothing. "Must have been our imagination." I said with a shrug.

Zuko sighed slightly before we both turned to leave the control room when we saw a familiar iguana parrot sitting outside by the window. "Isn't that the pirates we fought iguana parrot?" I asked Zuko with a frown as I pointed at the animal before it cawed at us and flew away. Zuko's eyes widen in realization before a sudden boom went off and the ship started shaking. We Zuko and I cried out in surprise and grabbed on to one another for balance.

"Zuko!" I cried out in fear as I looked to him in both worry in fear. Suddenly, a stronger blast went off and the control room was filled with fire. "Asami!" Zuko cried out as he grabbed me and held me tight against himself, before he turned his back to the fire, using himself as a shield to protect me. Before I knew it, we both were screaming in both surprise and pain when we got shot out through the window and landed straight into the sea, blacking out immediately.

***

"Asami! Asami!" I flinched in pain as I slowly gain conscious. "Please dear Asami, please wake up!" A voice that sounded like Iroh's, begged. "Uh..." I groaned from pain, rubbing my head as I slowly tried to open my eyes. "Oh thank goodness you are alright!" I opened my eyes and saw a relived Iroh and a happy Kai. "Uncle Iroh?" I said as I slowly sat up with the help from the retired general. "What happened?" I asked before Kai jumped onto me and licked my cheek excitedly.

"There's been an explosion."

That's when I remembered everything. "The ship!" I exclaimed as my eyes widen from realization. "The ship, it exploded!" I said before I started looking around to see where I was when I remember that I wasn't the only one on the ship. "Zuko! Where's Zuko?" I asked Iroh as I grabbed his arms. He calmly took my hands in his and gently told me to calm down. He opened his mouth to answer my question when a group of Fire Nation soldiers interrupted him.

"Over there!" One of them exclaimed before they run down to us. "General Iroh! What happened?" Another asked when they stopped. "There has been an explosion." Iroh answered before looking down at me with sad eyes, which made me more nervous. "I'm afraid that..." He started saying before stopping as if he's trying to stop himself from crying and finished what he was saying. "Prince Zuko did not make it."

My world just break there on the spot.

"No..." I said with a whimper as the tears slowly started rolling down my cheeks. "NO!!!" I screamed in heartbreak and cried my eyes out. Iroh immediately wrapped his arms around me and comforted me, while Kai jumped onto Iroh's shoulder and gently patted my head, comforting me in his way. "No, he can't be gone! He can't be!" I cried as I whimpered into Iroh's shoulder.

***

"I'm devastated to hear about Prince Zuko." Zhao said as he poured tea for Iroh and I. "Just... devastated." He added as he went to hand my cup to me, but I stared down at the table, with Kai on my lap. "The Fire Lord will not be pleased when he learns who was responsible." Iroh said as he picked up his cup of tea. "You know who was behind the attack?" Zhao asked surprised. Yeah, you! I thought to myself as I mentally glared at him.

"Yes... pirates." Iroh answered as he put down his cup and slammed his fist against the table. "We had a run-in with them a while back. They wanted revenge." He added, and as he spoke, I saw Zhao's lips smirking slightly before he took a sip. I held onto Kai to stop myself from attack the Admiral before I started playing with my teardrop starfish necklace, the one Zuko got me.

"I can't believe he's gone..." I said softly before releasing my necklace and brought Kai to my chest, hugging him for comfort. Kai yipped softly to me and rubbed his cheek against mine, trying to comfort me. Iroh gently rubbed my back while Zhao looked at me with a fake look of pity. "I'm terrible sorry for your loss." Zhao said with a really fake sorry look, which took everything in me to not to glare at him.

"So, have you reconsidered my offer?" Zhao asked as he looked over to Iroh. "Yes, I accept." Iroh answered with a bow. "It will be an honor to serve as your general." He said and picked up his tea cup and held it in the air. "To the Fire Nation!" He toast before Zhao followed along with his tea cup in the air. "To victory!" Zhao said with a smirk, while I closed my eyes and tried to hold back my tears as I continued to mourn Zuko with Kai in my arms.

***

After Zhao and Iroh finished there tea, Iroh walked along with to my room. When I got to my room, I opened my door and saw my bag and staff laying on my bed. "Not much has survived from the explosion, but I was able to save a few of your things." Iroh said as he watched me walk over to my bed and opened the bag while Kai sat on my shoulder. As I opened my bag, I found a few of my clothes, gloves and scarves in it.

Among the dresses, was my yellow dress and orange dress Zuko got me. My heart throb when I saw those two dresses before I continued going through my bag before I froze when I saw an item in bottom of the bag. A turtleduck teddy. Zuko's apology gift. The very last thing he gave me before the ship has exploded.

My eyes started watering again as I held the turtleduck in my hand. Before the tears could fall, I took a deep breath and quickly wiped the tears away and turned to face Iroh with a fake smile. "Thank you Uncle." I said with a fake smile, getting a half smile from him as he saw right through me. "If you don't mind, I would like to go to sleep now. It was a long day today." I said as I took my bag and staff off the bed. Iroh nodded and said, of coarse, before leaving and closing the door.

The second the door shut closed, I burst into tears and fell down on my knees as I cried my heart out. Kai was caught by surprise, but immediately tried to comfort me, but I couldn't stop crying. "I lost my people, I lost Zian... Now I have lost Zuko." I whimpered as I laid against the bed and continued crying my eyes out. I continued crying, and Kai continued trying to comfort me, until my door suddenly opened and closed.

I gasped and looked to see who opened my door and saw a Fire Nation soldier with a helmet on. Not even thinking twice, I placed Kai onto my bed and jumped up in battle stance. "You choice the wrong day and the wrong woman to try your luck with today buddy!" I said with a glare. Instead of saying something or walking closer to me, the soldier slowly raised his hands up to his helmet and took it. When I saw who it was, I gasped and dropped my battle stance.

"Zuko..."

"Asami." He said with a soft loving smile. Before he could say anything else, I run over to him and jumped onto him as I wrapped my arms around him. Zuko was caught by surprise from my jump, but he quickly caught me and steadied us before we could fall. "I thought I lost you!" I said as I held onto him tight. "Never." Zuko said as he rubbed my back up and down. "You promise?" I asked as I pulled back and looked him in the eye. "Absolutely." He answered and kissed me softly on the lips.

Before the kiss could go any further, I pulled back and inspected Zuko. His right eyes, left cheek, and lip was bruised, while his nose and forehead had a few scratches. "You look like hell." I said a frown, getting an amused hmphed from him. "Rather me than you." He joked as his thumb rubbed my cheek, which made me frown more when I remember that he used his body as a shield to protect me from the blast.

"You used yourself as a shield to protect me..." I started of saying before he interrupted me when he laid his forehead against mine. "Don't worry about it, I'm fine." He said, making me frown more, but left it alone for now. "Does Iroh know that you are here and alive?" I asked as I pulled away from him and sat down on my bed. "Yes, he does." Zuko answered as he sat down on the bed, and immediately got attack with licks by Kai.

"Missed you too buddy." Zuko said with a small chuckle and petted Kai before picking him up and placed Kai on his shoulder before looking back to me. "Uncle Iroh was suppose to tell you our plan, but the soldiers showed up before he could." Zuko said as he looked to me with a look full of sorry. "I never wanted you to think that I was dead." He said as he took my hand in his intertwine our fingers. I smiled lovingly to him and moved closer to him.

"It's okay." I said and cupped his right cheek with my left hand. "You're here now and alive, that's all that matters now." I said before leaning in and kissed him, which he returned. I pulled back and smiled, at him while he smiled at me. "I love you." He said without breaking his smile, making me smile more brightly. "I love you too." I said before moving closer to him and kissed him again before we got interrupted by Kai, who yipped at us and glared at us, grossed out, making both Zuko and I laugh.