AN: Um...I'm kind of sad. It's finished. Well, I might add a little something later, but as of now, I'm done. I know many people were expecting a battle, but I opted to not write it. I apologize if that's what you've been waiting for. But, honestly, with Book 3 rapidly approaching, I don't want to write something that will put an image in people's heads of the actual finale, conscious or not. I'm not a fan of reading battles because of that. You get a set image that's hard to shake when it actually occurs in the show. Not that my writing is anything compared to what would actually happen. Yeah. There's some very sweet moments in the end (hopefully fairly IC ones), and is actually the majority of this chapter. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for your support! It's what's been keeping me going since January.

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The aftermath of battle was always alarming at best. The moment that Azula's body fell to the ground with a final and deafening thud, Zuko realized just how very exhausted he was. He looked to the others, first to Mai. Blood streamed into her eyes and down her face, bruises and gashes disturbingly apparent. But she was alive. Everyone was…he hoped. Suki lifted Ty Lee with as much deliberation and care as she was capable of, unaware of how serious her injuries were. Returning for retrieving his boomerang, Sokka stooped over Azula's unconscious form. He eyed her, ever suspicious, then looked to the Fire Nation prince.

"We shouldn't leave her. Even if she won't come to for a while."

Zuko mumbled something, composing his thoughts, and ended with what sounded like a "yeah". Scooping the fallen enemy into his arms and carefully over his shoulder was not difficult for Sokka and he was able to join Zuko and Mai, facing the palace. Mai fought to catch her breath, her chest heaving for air. And then the ground shook violently, throwing most of them horrible off-balance. A brilliant stream of light shattered the darkness of the nighttime sky. Zuko stared for a moment, knowing what it was. The Avatar. Their struggle would end soon. Shouts and cries joined the chaos raging in the air. If the Fire Lord triumphed, Zuko was not certain of what he would do. Fight his father? Abandon the Avatar? However, he was left without an answer. The noise and light settled after several timeless moments.

They ran. Heartbeats thundered in their ears and each step was like lifting lead bars. They ran faster.

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"The Fire Lord is dead."

The words rang in Prince Zuko's ears loudly as Iroh spoke them. He didn't want to look. He didn't want to speak. In fact, Zuko didn't know what he wanted at all. He only knew that his body was beginning to shake with fatigue and yes, even sorrow. General Iroh offered a steady hand, placed on his nephew's shoulder, in commiseration. The Avatar and his party we also exhausted, and rightly so. Aang leaned on Katara for support, barely able to move.

The silence was unbearable. Their struggle was over. Realization after realization swarmed Zuko's mind and he felt that he might collapse. He was home. He was safe. He was Fire Lord. Or soon to be, anyway. It was much too much, much too soon. Zuko swayed a bit to the side.

"What now?" Katara asked quietly, almost as if she were amazing that they had been victorious. The question wasn't really directed to anyone specific. Iroh chose to answer.

"Not we must rest. There are still trials to come. Prince Zuko…" Iroh looked to the bruised and beaten prince. "There will be much to do in the days ahead. Our nation will be in a great struggle to end this war and adjust. As Fire Lord, you will have a great deal of responsibility resting on your shoulders. But it will all pass, in time."

Zuko offered a weary smile, nodding slowly. And then Katara noticed Suki and Ty Lee. Blood soaked the front on Suki's clothes and she gingerly placed the dying acrobat onto the smooth marble floor. The waterbender rushed to her side, drawing a great deal of water from her pouch. After a moment, Ty Lee's breath regulated, though she did not awaken.

"I don't know how much good that did. But Ty Lee's not in any immediate danger."

A great burden was, personally, lifted from Mai's shoulders. She looked to Zuko, who returned her expression of relief. The group of, essentially, heroes vacated the throne room, led by the natives of the palace to guest rooms and the like. Tomorrow was certainly going to be chaotic and busy. But it could wait.

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His room was just the way he left it. The bed was made. Dust had collected on antiques and furniture alike. Prince Zuko, presently, ceased to care. In fact, the only thing he bothered to do was wash away most, certainly not all, of the dried blood in a quick bath and dress in some suitable nightclothes. It was very, very late, or perhaps very, very early. Either way, the prince, soon-to-be Fire Lord, collapsed into his bed for the first time in three years. He sighed deeply into the plush silk and pillow. Zuko was so incredible exhausted, physically and emotionally drained. The prince began to sob. No tears made their way from his eyes, though he almost wished they did. Zuko shook with choked out cries and moans. He was unable to stop and somehow, it was a vast release. His father was dead. Even if he was unable to regain his father's love and pride, Zuko still loved him. Evil intentions or no, Ozai had still been his father. He hadn't even spoken to him since he left all those years ago. Zuko felt himself beginning to sweat and his skin gradually seemed to increase in temperature. He was feeling rather ill, actually. The prince choked on his own breath with a gasp, unable to discontinue his sobs in the dark.

Suddenly, there was a cool pressure, a touch on his back that soothed the heat that radiated from his own skin. He stilled for a moment, unsure of the identity of the person who offered him such solace. Zuko pressed his face further into his pillow, regaining control over his breath. He could feel the sensation of nails lightly raking down his back. No longer concerned with identities, and being too exhausted to turn and look, and yet knowing in the back of his mind who it was, Zuko let Mai carry on with her noiseless massage for several more minutes. When had he last felt her touch? It seemed like ages ago, though it was only several hours prior.

Mai sat on the edge of his bed, softly breathing in his scent. The raven-haired lady knew that it had been bold to come into the Fire Lord to be's chambers, relationship notwithstanding. She'd seen the color drain from his face when they learned of the outcome of the end, when he was forced to say goodbye to his father, though he was already long gone. Almost uncharacteristically she'd thought to come to him and offer her shoulder. If he wanted to talk, she'd listen. If he had perchance, wanted to sit in silence and unreactive to her, fine. And in the event that he wanted to hold her close breathing gently whispering sweet nothings, well, that'd be even better. In fact, it would be rather ideal, but this was not about her. Mai mentally reprimanded herself briefly.

Zuko turned to face her, his eyes shining in the small bit of moonlight. The expression Mai was neither of contentment or a frown; it was more of sadness than anything. She remained hushed, but it was absolutely perfect. She did not need to come up with verbose speeches to soothe her prince, which he appreciated wholly. Zuko gradually sat upright, allowing Mai's slender hands to slide from his back and onto the bed. They sat there, without a word, for a quite some time, though not so much as to encourage any kind of discomfiture between them. Mai chose to lean into Zuko's chest, her unbound hair falling gracefully over one of her shoulders. Almost tentatively, she placed a light kiss on the underside of his jaw, lingering there for a moment. Zuko freed a contented sigh, closing his eyes as Mai slid her hand into his dark hair.

"I love you."

For a moment Zuko thought that perhaps he was hearing things. The words were soft and nearly inaudible. Had Mai's voice not been as naturally low as it was, it might have come out as a squeak. The look on her face, however, suggested that that was indeed what she had said. She peered at him from under her hair with gentle eyes, a warmth pooling in them. Zuko wrapped his arms around Mai's lean frame. She seemed to tense for a moment, as if by surprise, then relaxed further than she had been, faintly nuzzling into the curve of his neck. Mai could feel his breath with each exhale and the moment made her heart go into a tizzy of fast beats. The overwhelming sensation only furthered when she felt Zuko's lips press lightly into her cheek, and then again. Zuko continued his assault on her delicate features, peppering the side of her face with kisses, inching closer and closer to her mouth.

"I love you, too." Zuko whispered before meeting Mai's lips in a kiss of passion and fervor. And suddenly, the prince of the Fire Nation didn't feel so alone anymore. Zuko whispered soft nothings into his lover's ear. Mai felt like smiling. She did just that, her mouth very close to his. To her surprise, he smiled back.

Gazing sleepily at the prince, Mai let a satisfied sigh fall from her lips. Zuko ran his fingers through her thick, shiny hair, lying down with great care. With heavy-lidded eyes and exhaustion beyond any fathoming, the lady and prince drifted off into a peaceful slumber, dreaming of little joys of the past and those to come in the days to pass.

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She stares through my shadow
She sees something more
Believes there's a light in me
She is sure
And her truth makes me stronger
Does she realize
I awake every morning
With her strength by my side

I am not a hero
I am not an angel
I am just a man
Man who's trying to love her
Unlike any other
In her eyes I am

This world keeps on spinning
Only she stills my heart
She's my inspiration
She's my northern star
I don't count my possession
All I call mine I will give her completely
To the end of all time

I am not a hero
I am not an angel
I am just a man
Man who's trying to love her
Unlike any other
In her eyes I am

In her eyes I see the sky and all I'll ever need
In her eyes time passes by and she is with me

I am not a hero
I am not an angel
I am just a man
Man who's trying to love her
Unlike any other
In her eyes I am
In her eyes I am

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Song: In Her Eyes by Josh Groban
Please review. Again, thank you for your support. Look for updated on my new story, Towards the End, soon.