Hey guys, and here is my not-so-happy ending to Wings of a Phoenix. I hope those of you who are still reading like it :) It's much shorter than the other ending. Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed last chapter ;)

Enjoy. And please review.

The Not-So-Happy Ending

Winter came and just as it had been that time so many years ago, it was strangely cold. Many people fell sick with colds and flues, and those who weren't strong enough did not survive.

Azula became sick. Zuko stayed by her side for as long as she could. The doctors said she wouldn't last the winter. Zuko wanted to prove them wrong. He stayed with her, even during the night and took care of her himself.

She would sleep soundly with him there. His lap would become her pillow and he'd rub circles on her back to sooth her. He'd wake her from her nightmares before they got too horrible and they started to talk.

Her throat hurt from coughing, but as the days of winter went on by, she spoke more and more, making proper conversation. She wouldn't cry as much when she saw her mother and she would smile whenever she saw Zuko.

"Zuko, remember that time the Dragon gave the Phoenix a flower and they ended up in a different world?" she whispered in her strained voice.

Zuko stiffened for a moment and looked down at her in shock. Neither of them had spoken of their childhood game since he had given up on trying convincing her to play again.

He smiled gently at her, "Yes, I remember."

She smiled weakly up at him. "Do you remember the bush of flowers mother had planted for us to use when we played that game?"

"Yes," he whispered, running his fingers through her hair as she lay it back down in his lap.

"Did it ever grow back after the winter ended? I never took another look at it after it died."

Zuko hesitated for a moment, "No, it never came back to life."

He felt her emit a sad sigh. "Do you remember how good we were friends back then?"

His lips trembled slightly. "Yes."

He felt her smiling, "I missed you."

He said nothing, but kept smiling at her.

"I love you."

A tear dropped down from his face without him realizing. "I love you too."

Something deep within Zuko died that night. When she stopped breathing, half of the piece of his heart that had belonged to her fell back into his possession. The other half was whisked away with her spirit. But as she lay unmoving, with her head in his lap, he smiled, because he knew that, somehow, the Phoenix had found her wings again and was eternally free.

And there you have it. The alternative and not-so-happy ending. Hope you liked it and please review :)