zuko slowly opened his eyes after the kiss, looking down at Jin, "I…i shouldn't have done that…" he muttered.

"why?"

"i can't say…i…i gotta go.' he mumbled, turning away from her.

"lee…" she started, following him.

Zuko stopped, he didn't know why he did, and slowly turned back to her.

she hesitated, looking deep into his eyes, "did…did i just kid myself thinking that what we just felt back there was real?"

Zuko's heart clenched a little, "i…"

"because i felt something." she said, "and i know you did too, i saw it in your eyes before you turned away…"

"Jin…" Zuko started, "it's…it's complicated."

"what's so complicated?" She asked with a little laugh, "I like you, and you like me, that's not complicated.'

"well that isn't but there's other factors that make it complicated." Zuko said.

"oh really?"

"Yes."

"and what makes it so complicated?"

"I…i…have a fiancee?"

Sokka walked down the street, rubbing his back, "why'd that guy have to throw me out?" he grumbled, he had been hitting on those poets and had been doing pretty good until he accidentally added two syllables to his improvised haiku and the guard threw him out. "Sheesh, acting like i'm some kinda jerk like…" he stopped as he saw someone familiar on the street in front of him, arguing with a girl, "wait…is that…"

"do you expect me to believe that?" Jin asked with a raised eyebrow.

"yes…i…i have a fiancee…" he finished, not very convincingly.

"Lee, if you had a fiancee you wouldn't have come with me tonight, you and i both know that."

Zuko sighed in frustration, "Fine, i don't have a fiancee, but…please believe me, nothing good will come of this…"

"and why not?" she asked, "because we're so different? because you don't want to get close to anyone? because-"

she stopped as Zuko grabbed her and kissed her, cutting her off, her eyes widened but she slowly closed them into the kiss.

Zuko slowly broke the kiss, looking down at her, his hands were shaking a little, "it's not that i don't want to get close to you…" he mumbled, "it's that i can't…no matter how much i want to…'

she looked up at him, "Why can't you get close to me?"

"it's-"

"complicated i know." she muttered, grabbing onto his arm, "but i don't care."

he looked t her, "you don't even know what it is that makes it complicated."

"i don't care that i don't know, it's not effecting me as of now, so i don't care."

he shook his head, "Jin…this could potentially kill you."

"what else is new?" she asked with a laugh.

Zuko smiled slightly, but it disappeared, 'Jin… we just met."

"Lee, i'm going to tell you this one more time, i don't care, i want to be with you, i don't care that we just met, i don't care if i might die for liking you, i just want to be with you, even if it's for a week…i want to be with you…" she looked down, tears coming to her eyes.

"stop crying…" Zuko said softly, lifting her chin up and wiping her tears away, he didn't know why he felt like this, she was just some poor earth kingdom peasant, not even royalty, and yet he found himself wanting to protect her, keep her safe, and not in the way he wanted to keep his people safe, but in the way he wanted to keep his uncle safe, and his mother when she was still there.

Jin looked into his eyes, "Lee…"

Zuko kissed her again, this one sweeter and longer than the previous two.

Sokka watched with an open mouth, he didn't understand what Zuko was doing with the earth kingdom girl, but he knew it was probably something bad, he hid as the two started walking his way, hand in hand, Sokka glared at Zuko, his hands itching to grab his boomerang and hit him with it, "No…that might hurt the girl…" he muttered, "I gotta tell the gang."

Zuko walked Jin to her home, "i'll see you tomorrow Lee…" she said with a smile, "I had fun tonight."

"so did i." Zuko said sincerely, as he turned to leave jin grabbed his hand and pulled him back, planting a kiss on his mouth, Zuko smirked softly and returned the kiss,he broke it off, "goodnight Jin." he said, turning to leave.

"goodnight lee…" Jin said.

"Zuko…" he said suddenly, making her turn around.

"Excuse me?" Jin asked confused.

"My real name…it's Zuko, my uncle thought it'd be a good idea to hide our real names since…"

"since you're not from the earth kingdom." Jin finished for him.

"yes…i'm sorry for lying to you."he said bowing to her.

she giggled softly, "it's okay le-zuko.' she corrected, "i understand."

he smiled, "goodnight Jin…"

"Goodnight…Zuko…"

Iroh looked at his young nephew, "you told her your real name?"

"Yes…" Zuko said, he was sitting in front of Iroh, his head bowed, "I…i don't know what possessed me too…i mean, i just met her…"

"yes."

"for all i know she could turn me in to the Dai Li for being fire nation."

"Correct."

"but i took the risk!" Zuko stood up, starting to pace, "i mean…i could've just kept on going saying my name was Lee, but i told her my real name, why did i do that!" going to the window and leaning against it.

"i think it's pretty obvious why." Iroh said, putting his hand on Zuko's shoulder, "even though you just met her, you've fallen for this girl, whether it's an infatuation, a crush, or something more is hard to say, either way you care for her, let me ask you prince zuko, when you told her, what were you feeling?"

Zuko thought about it, what had been running through his mind? "I…i felt…guilty…" he said honestly.

"guilty you told her your name?'

"No…guilty i lied to her about my real name…"

Iroh smiled, "then there it is! you felt bad about lying, so you told her the truth, she probably respects you for it immensely, i know i do." Iroh walked over to a small chair and sat down, "and besides, relationships built on lies never last, if you truly want this to work, then you must tell her the truth when and where you can, i don't think it would be wise to reveal your true lineage, but that can be worked around."

Zuko nodded, "uncle…what about capturing the avatar? what happens if i succeed in that? i can't exactly bring her with me."

"i guess you'll just have to figure out what's more important, the avatar, or the girl."

"Sokka, are you sure that's what you saw?" Katara asked, "Zuko being in town is bad enough…but to be using someone like that?"

"yeah, he has something planned for that girl, and i don't want to see what it is, we need to stop him!"

"how do you know they're not just going out?" Toph asked boredly, scratching her foot.

"it's zuko, i don't think he's capable of love!"

"that's a little harsh Sokka." Aang said.

"but it is strange that Zuko's trying to get close to the girl." Katara said, "maybe we should investigate…tail him or something."

"lets do it." Sokka said eagerly, "we don't have anything better to do for…months… might as well right?"

"yeah sure, whatever." Toph said yawning.

"I don't like thinking about tailing someone during their private, intimate moments…" Aang started, "but what the heck."

the four started putting heads together, trying to find out the best way to tail them.

three weeks later

Jin woke up to the smell of her mothers cooking, she smiled softly to herself and sat up, she quickly got dressed and walked into the small kitchen they had, "good morning mom." she said, sitting down at the table across from her little sister, who was eating her food with gusto.

"well you look happy." her mother said with a smile, "i take it your date went well last night.

Jin smiled, thanking about the sixth date she had with Zuko, he had taken her to one of his favorite spots to relax at, it was an abandoned building who's roof had fallen in, making it the perfect place to look up at the stars, they had stayed there for most of the night until they both realized they'd get in trouble if they stayed any longer, "It was wonderful." she said with a smile.

"so, when are we going to meet this Zuko?' her mother asked.

"I…i never really thought i'd have to bring him home to meet you…i never thought we'd make it that far…"

her mother smiled, "well i want to meet him." she said, "He sounds like a great boy."

Jin smiled, "okay, i'll talk to him about it."

Zuko put up the last of the tea pots, "uncle! the dishes are all clean!"

"good nephew, i can handle the last of closing time, go ahead and go, i think Ms. Jin is waiting outside."

Zuko smirked a little, "thank you uncle." he said, running outside, almost bowling over his girlfriend.

"oh Zuko!" Jin said with surprise, "where are you off to in such a rush."

"well, i have this prior commitment to see my girlfriend." he said, looking at her with a serious face.

"oh really, and what will you two be doing tonight?" she asks with a smile.

"i'm not sure, i'm thinking about taking her to a place that i know she loves, the very first place we went as a couple." he shrugged, "but i don't know, maybe i should just stay home."

she pushed him playfully with a giggle, " so you're going to take me back to that restaurant huh?"

"yep." he said with a small smirk, "and i promise it'll be better than our last date there.'

"our last date there was perfect zuko." she said softly, "it was the best date i ever had."

Zuko smiled at that, "So, you ready to go?"

"of course!" she said happily.

Sokka watched Zuko and Jin walking down the street, he had been tailing Zuko since that morning, nothing exciting had happened at all, he slowly followed them, watching them with suspicious eyes, he strained his ears to listen in on their conversation.

"so, my mother wants to meet you." Jin said.

"really?" he asked, "why?"

"well…she know's we're going out…and know's we're kinda serious, so she wants to have you over for dinner some time…"

he nodded, "doesn't seem to be a problem." he said.

"well it's my mother, so i don't know what she'll do, she might ask questions that'll embarrass you like, 'when are you two getting married' or something like that."

Zuko's eyes widened a little, marriage?

"of course you don't have to take it seriously, we've only been going out for a month." Jin said with a giggle, seeing his eyes widen."

"hehe, right."

Sokka tried not to laugh at Zuko's awkwardness, "how'd he even trick this girl?" he asked himself while snickering.

Sokka got back to the apartment as Katara and the others ran out, fliers in their hands, 'hey, what's going on?"

"we're gonna put up fliers to help find Appa!" sang shouted gleefully, taking off into the air.

"but…but…i was drawing a flier!" Sokka complained.

"No offense, but your drawing wasn't very good sokka." katara said, walking down the steps.

"I couldn't even see it and i know it's bad." Toph said, to him.

Sokka looked down, "Fine! use your stupid fliers…" he muttered, grabbing a stack and following.

Zuko checked his clothes again, "you sure this looks good uncle?"

"of course nephew," Iroh said, not looking up from his tea, "just remember your manners and you will be fine."

Zuko let out a breath, "this is an important night Uncle…i'm going to meet her mother…her family…what if they don't approve of me?"

"i'm sure they will nephew, with Ms. Jin at your side, you'll be fine."

he nodded, and took a deep breath, "I'll see you when i get back." he said, walking out of the apartment, he walked alone through the dark streets for a few minutes unitl he came across a small house, he hesitated at the front door, and then slowly knocked.

Jin opened the door, her face instantly brightening when she saw him, "Zuko!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him.

Zuko allowed himself to smile, "hows re you Jin?" he asked softly.

"better now that you're here." she said with a smile, "come in! my mother is anxious to meet you."

"she's anxious? that makes two of us."

Jin laughed as they walked in, "mom!"

Zuko looked around the house, it was small, but cozy, paintings and antiques were hung up on the wall, as they walked into the dining room he was met by a delicious smell and a young middle aged woman, dressed similarly to Jin, "hello." she said warmly, "you must be Zuko, Jin's told us so much about you."

"Yeah!" a little girl squeaked out, playing with some dolls on the floor in the corner of the room.

Zuko bowed to her, "it is an honor to meet you, Ms…"

"Onin, Ms. Onin." she said with a smile, "my you are a well mannered boy, go ahead and take your place at the table, dinners almost ready."

Zuko sat cross-legged at the slightly raised table, Jin beside him, "you have a great home." he said softly to her.

she smiled, "I'm glad you like it, i was scared you'd think it was shabby…"

"Why would i think that?" he asked.

"I…i don't know, guess i was just being irrational." she said looking down.

Zuko reached over and took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze, she looked up at him and smiled, Zuko felt someone tap is shoulder, and he turned around, coming face to face with the little girl, "hi…i'm Zuko, what's your name?"

"Kila…" she said shyly.

"it's nice to meet you.'

she nodded, looking at his scar, "where'd you get that?" She asked, touching it softly.

Zuko flinched a little, "I…i got it from a fire bender…" he said softly.

"ow…" she said sympathetically, she kissed it and looked at him, "do you feel better?"

he smiled, "yes, i do."

she smiled and ran away into the other room, Jin smiled at Zuko, "she thinks kisses can help any injury." she said softly to him.

"sometimes they do." Zuko said as her mother came in with four plates.

"go ahead and dig in." she said, "There's plenty more where this came from."

Zuko picked up a pair of chop sticks and put some of the food in his mouth, "this is good…" he said after swallowing it down.

"i'm glad you like it." she said with a smile, "so Zuko, what do you do for a living?"

Zuko looked up, "i work in a tea shop with my uncle." he said.

"oh really? which one."

"well he just got a benefactor who will allow him to open a tea shop in the middle ring."

Jin's eyes widened, "really? you never mentioned it."

"i found out after my break today." he said, smiling at her, "we'll be getting an apartment in the middle ring too."

"oh…that sounds…great…" Jin said, trying to sound happy.

"well i think it's good, it's not every day people from the lower ring gets to move up in the world."

Zuko nodded with a smile, and then turned a concerned eye to Jin, who was now solemnly eating her food. after a few hours of conversation Zuko decided it was time to leave, he stood up and said goodbye to and Kila, and then he and Jin walked out, "i'll be back mom, i'm just going to walk Zuko home." Jin said.

Ms. Onin chuckled, "usually it's the boy walking the girl home."

Zuko gave a small smile, "come on Jin." he said, "it's getting late."

they walked off into the dark streets, Ms. Onin closed her door, watching the couple walk off with a smile.

Zuko looked at Jin as they walked, "what's wrong?" he asked softly.

"what do you mean?"

"i mean what's wrong? when i mentioned moving you stiffened up, got sad, why?"

"why?i would think the answer's easy to figure out." she said, her voice quivering a little.

"it's not, now please, tell me."

"Fine," she said turning to him, "you're leaving, you're moving to the middle ring, where i'll probably never see you again."

"it's not that far away, you make it sound as if i'm moving to Omashu."

"you might as well be!" she exclaimed, " you'll be separated by a wall, and if you think they'll let me just pass through all willy nilly then you're wrong."

"i won't let a wall get in my way." he said, putting his hand on her shoulder, "i'd come down every day just to see you, you know that."

she looked down, Zuko smiled, "come on, follow me."

"where are we going?" she asked as he lead her down the street, going the opposite way.

"the apartment." he said simply. they walked down the street and to the old building, as they walked in Zuko seemed to get more and more nervous, as they walked into the room where you could see the sky, Zuko turned to her, and slowly reached into his pocket, pulling out a silver chain with a small Jade Dragon pendant on it, "oh wow…" she whispered, taking it.

"I remember in my travels…i met a water bending girl, and she had a necklace around her neck, she said it was her mothers betrothal necklace…i didn't think much of it…until you mentioned marriage earlier today…"

she looked at him, he was smiling and blushing, scratching his head, "and…i know you said don't take it seriously…but…i did…and i thought about it…and i've never felt this way about anyone before…so…i decided to take a page out of the water benders book…" he looked at her, and it looked like she was close to tears, "i…i understand if…if you reject it…i mean…we've only known each other for a month…and i-" he stopped as she basically tackled him to the ground, kissing him fiercely, he returned the kiss and brought his hands up and around her, when they finally broke for air she looked deep into his eyes.

"yes…" she said breathlessly, "yes, yes a million times yes!"

Zuko smiled, "I'm glad…" he said.

Iroh looked out his window, waiting worriedly for his nephew, "where could he be…he said he'd be back by now…" he sighed and walked over to the kitchen, where he had a pot of tea waiting, he poured himself a drink and then went back to the window, looking for any sign of his nephew, "did he stay the night?" he wondered allowed, "It would have been nice to have gotten a warning before he did…"

Zuko laid on his back, his clothes bundled up underneath him and Jin so they weren't lying on the bare wood, her kimono was spread on top of them, to offer some protection from the cold, Jin had her head lying on Zuko's chest, she had a blush in her cheeks and a smile on her face as she looked at the betrothal necklace, she looked up at him, "I love you…" she whispered.

Zuko smiled, "I love you too.."

she nuzzled into his chest, "i wonder what my mother would say."

"i don't know, but i'm sure Iroh will be completely ecstatic." Zuko mumbled, "he's always been like that, getting excited over things that he should be getting mad at."

she giggled, "i always loved your uncle, he's so wise."

Zuko nodded, "he's more of a father to me then my own father…" he said with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"you never really talk about him…what was he like?"

"he was distant most of my life…always told me that i was lucky to be born…he's the one who gave me this scar…"

Jin touched the scar softly, "he was a fire bender? like you?'

he nodded, "I had dishonored him…so he challenged me and gave me the scar…"

"that's horrible…" she whispered.

Zuko sighed, why am i telling her all of this? he thought, i only met her a month ago, we're not even close to being the same…and yet…

"i'm not going to ask what you did to dishonor him…" Jin said softly, "nothing is dishonorable enough to scar your own child…"

'Dishonor is dishonor…that's why i'm here…because i have lost my honor, and have to gain it back."

Jin propped herself up on her elbow, "and who's to say you ever lost your honor? with the way you act and carry yourself, i would say you have plenty of honor."

Zuko smiled, "i'm glad you think that…"

she smiled and slowly sat up, wrapping her Kimono around her, "I think it's time to go before my mother goes to the law enforcers to find us."

Zuko sat up and kissed her, "thank you…for listening…"

Jin smiled, "of course, if i can't listen to my betrothed then what kind of wife would i be?"

Zuko chuckled, they walked out and went their separate ways, Zuko walked down the street alone for a while, smiling to himself until he made it to his apartment, where uncle was still up.

"Nephew!" he said in happiness and relief, "i was wondering what was taking you, how was your dinner."

"It was good…it was really good…" he said with a smile, "um…i have something to tell you uncle…"

"What is it Nephew?" Iroh asked.

"um…i um…i gave Jin something today…it was a necklace…"

"well that was nice of you nephew i…" he stopped, his eyes widening, "w-what kind of a necklace was it?"

"a jade dragon," Zuko said, 'It was a promise…one that i was ready to make…"

Iroh turned around and looked at him, his mouth going slack, "you gave her…a betrothal necklace…"

"yes…you asked me a few weeks ago what i thought was going to be more important…the avatar or the girl…and i chose…"

a big smile spread across Iroh's face, "My nephew! betrothed to a lovely lady!" he boomed in happiness, wrapping zuko in a hug, "this is a cause for celebration!" he let Zuko go and ran to his stuff, he dug into them and pulled a bottle of fire whiskey, "let us drink to yours and 's health and love!"

Azula sat with Mai and Ty Lee, deciding what was coming next for them, "we need to go into Ba Sing Se." she said, "and the Kyoshi armor will help us in that…but when we're in, we'll need allies."

"there's bound to be Fire nation sympathizers in the city." Mai said boredly, "maybe we can contact them."

'No, they may support us, but i doubt they'd be very good in a fight." Azula said.

'maybe we could sneak a few fire nation soldiers in with us." Ty Lee suggested.

"we don't have the resources for that." Azula said, scratching her head, 'Hmm…"

as she thought the doors open and a loud voice shouted, "a round for everyone on me!" making everyone cheer, she looked over and saw five men walking in, an assortment of armor on all of them, each carried a different weapon, the leader, who had brown shaggy hair, carried two katana's on his side and an Odachi on his back, the shorter, blonde haired man behind him carried an axe, the bald muscular man behind him carried a spear, the large towering brute of the group carried a large two handed war hammer, the slim raven haired man carried a bow, and the last man, clad in dark robes, carried a staff, the leader walked up to the bar, smiling a charismatic smile, and talking to the bartender, "this job gave us more money then we know what to do with!" he said.

"It also gave you a new set of scars." he said, motioning to the fresh scars on the mans left face. three of them, looking like claw marks, went vertical on his face, the middle scar looking to have gone through his eye, making it a milky grey, "you're getting sloppy Stryker."

he shrugged, "How was i supposed to know they had a tigerdillo." he asked.

"mercenaries." the bartender snorted.

Azula's eyebrow raised, "mercenaries…that could be the ticket."