I couldn't find a picture for this chapter so enjoy my paintings I did for Halloween! Also there is a Author's Note at the end of this chapter!

Lea's POV

After getting back to the after party from the Fire Nation Tower where Ozai was being held, me and Zuko shared a side hug before going separate ways, both us having to go and mingle with guests and higher ups. I walked over to the snack table, grabbing a cup before filling it with Fire Flakes, my mouth basically watering in hunger. After filling it up, I turned around only to see Shinya walking over to me, cleaned up and wearing fancy clothing that seemed a little to big on him. I giggle at the sight, him rolling his eyes at me

"These are my dads, he made me dress up just for this one special occasion." Shinya stated, annoyed while adjusting his goggles that were still planted on his head from earlier this morning

"Lucky you, at least you don't smell like a badger-mole anymore." I stated and he shrugged, before smirking

"Same to you, Phoenix Princess." He mocked me and I playfully glared at him, my ears turning slightly red before taking a hand full of Fire Flakes and stuffing them into my mouth, moaning in delight once the spicy flavor hit my tongue after so long

"Want some?" I asked with my mouth full. He shook his head, grimacing

"I'm good, not to keen on anything spicy." I rolled my eyes at him, swallowing the contents in my mouth

"Come on! Try some, they are really good, they aren't even that spicy." I told him truthfully, shoving my Cup of Fire Flakes in front of his face, his nose wrinkling at the overwhelming smell they sent off

"No thanks, Lea. I would but I would like to keep my taste buds." I groaned, a few of the flakes in my hand and shoving them into my pie hole

"You're no fun!" I proclaimed, pouting that he wouldn't even try just one flake. He thought for a moment, staring at the cup in my hand

"How about, you try a piece of cooked lamb and I try some of those flakes." Shinya asked, my mind instantly going off, already knowing that I would do anything for him to eat something spicy

"And- if you spit it out, you have to strip into your underwear and jump into the ocean at the docks." I stated smugly, him groaning in regret. I giggled at the look of his face before he grabbed a tiny plate, a fork, and piece of cooked, probably really cold, lamb before handing it to me, me handing him the cup filled with Fire Flakes over to him. I stabbed the piece of meat with my fork before raising it up, bumping it with the cup of Fire Flakes Shinya held

"And no chickening out Shinya, if you do you will have to eat the whole cup of Fire Flakes, or maybe even something hotter." I informed him and he sighed. I raised the cold cooked lamb to my lips before opening up my mouth and taking a bite out of it. Grimacing at the full flavor, hell there wasn't any flavor! No spices or anything, just plain old cooked cold lamb. I chewed it slowly before swallowing it, shaking my head. Dang that tasted horrible. I shove the whole slice of lamb in my mouth, just getting it over and down with. I chewed before swallowing bits at a time, while also watching Shinya basically try not to drink any cold water to cool down his mouth from the Fire Flakes. He chewed the Fire Flakes in his mouth, his whole face just showing how hot they were to him, him coughing uncontrollably after swallowing them, patting his chest, his throat probably feeling like a volcano right now. I set down my plate and fork before lightly patting his back, helping him out. His chest heaved up and down, sweat pooling down his forehead, his eyes watering and his tongue hanging out of his mouth. I chuckled in amusement

"See, that wasn't so bad, now was it?" I asked him, taking a handful of Fire Flakes from out of the cup and shoving them into my mouth, happy that I got the bland taste of cold cooked lamb out of my mouth. After swallowing, I glanced over at the drink table

"I will get you something cold to drink, be right back." I told him and he nodded, leaning on the buffet table, covering his mouth with his hand. I walked over before grabbing a cup and pouring him some herbal tea that was cold but he would probably rather me not heat it up. I turned around only to come face to face with Uncle, him smiling cheerfully at me

"Oh hi Uncle! Enjoying the party?" I asked him and he nodded, bringing me into a hug, careful not to spill Shinya's drink

"I'm so proud of you and Zuko, I'm so glad that you both are together and happy again. If you ever need anything just let me know, alright?" I nodded, smiling from ear to ear. We pulled away from each other

"Okay. I will ask you if I ever need anything, or have any questions. I will talk to later because right now I have to give Shinya his drink, I kinda made him try Fire Flakes." Uncle let out a laugh, holding on his stomach. Nodding in understanding before letting me go and give Shinya his drink. I saw him sitting down in a chair, leaning his head back to look at the sky, still covering his mouth with his hand. I pulled up a chair beside him before sitting next to him handing him his drink, he gulped it down instantly causing me to giggle in amusement. He sighed in relief, giving me a thumbs up. For the next few minutes, me and Shinya just as there in a comfortable silence, watching as everyone had fun, dancing, singing, even Uncle playing his Tsungi Horn to the music that lifted everyone's spirits up. A smile was plastered on my face, and wasn't going to leave anytime soon. At the corner of my eye, I could see Shinya watching his father and brother joke around with one another, Teo spinning his wheel chair around as if he was also dancing on two feet. I blinked, realizing something

"Hey Shinya."

"Hmm?"

"We totally forgot your birthday." I told him, realizing that factor. His eyes widened before laughing, shaking his head

"How on earth did I forget my own birthday?"

"Probably because we have been so busy lately to the point of forgetting some things. How old are you now? 55?" I asked him and he glared at me causing me to laugh. He shook his head at me before answering my question

"13 years old, can't believe I forgot about my own birthday." He stated, shrugging to himself

"Well, now I have to find and give you a present then. Hmm.." I thought for a moment, trying to think of the perfect present for my partner in crime

"No need, finding my family and the war ending is a present to me, I don't need anything else. I'm happy and that's all that matters." My eyes widened, my gaze directly on Teo in his wheelchair who was now speaking to Aang. I stood up, dusting myself before turning towards Shinya, grabbing his hand and forcefully pulling him up from his seat

"Lea what is it?" The confused earth bender asked me, his olive green eyes staring at me in curiosity

"I know the perfect gift for you, something that only I can do." I told him, his eyes showing that my sentence only raised his confusion and curiosity. I pulled him over to where Aang and Teo were, stopping right next to them

"Hi Shinya and Lea! Want some?" Aang held peanuts out to us and I shook my head

"No thanks Aang, do you mind if I talk to Teo for a moment?" I asked Aang and he shook his head at me

"Nope, just call me over when you are done!" Aang told me and I nodded, the young Avatar patted my shoulder with his free hand before walking away over to where Zuko and Uncle was. I turned my attention back to Teo who was staring confusingly up at me. I lightly leaned down to where his ear was before whispering to him a sentence that only me and Teo could hear. When I stood back up a straight, he nodded, smiling at me and Shinya

"Uhh, what did you tell him?" Shinya asked me suspiciously

"More like asked him, and he agrees. We will do it to tomorrow afternoon, alright?"

"Yeah sure, I will just let my father know is all." I nodded in understanding before calling Aang back over, the two boys continuing their conversations about peanuts. Unknown to me, me and Shinya's hands were still conjoined, and Shinya took that to his advantage. He tugged me away from the two, walking over to a corner that no one was at. He stopped, turning towards me with a stoic look

"What did you ask my brother?" He asked me and I rolled my eyes

"It's a secret, you won't know until tomorrow afternoon. Probably after lunch." I informed him causing him to groan in dismay

"Tell me Lea! I need to know, especially if it involves my little brother." I shook my head, keeping my lips sealed

"Lea~!" Shinya whined

"Shinya~!" I mocked him and he glared at me

"I do want to tell you but it's a surprise! What is the point of surprises if the person we are surprising knows about it?" I asked him and grumbled something under his breath. I sighed, shaking my head at him before wrapping my arms around his torso, burying my face into his shoulder. I could hear his steady heartbeat and feel his even breaths.

Shinya sighed before wrapping his arms around my shoulders, pulling me more into his chest, resting his chin on the top of my head

"Fine, I will wait, but it better not be anything crazy, alright?" I nodded, smiling to myself before humming

"No promises, but the secret is for the good, not the bad."

To Be continued

Hey Sapphires, so I haven't updated this in weeks and the reason why is because I have been just to over encumbered which triggered my depression, thinking as if I'm not good enough or I'm not doing everything up to my full potential so that triggered me into basically not feeling like doing anything really, so that's why I'm both Quotev and WattPad I haven't really been updating anything because I'm dealing with that. But I have gotten better, coping with my depression so that's better than I have been doing these past couple of months, especially this past Summer. So I have been trying to side track myself by keeping myself moving, and yes I am talking about exercising (The devil itself!) but being more active helps me cope with depression and anxiety so if you are going through tough times right now, try something new, like exercising, painting, drawing, playing music, and etc. Thank you all for being patient with me I love you all and I will see you all later! -Golden