"Uncle, where'd Arie go?"

"Into the woods I think..."

"YOU THINK??!! You even let her go when you knew Zhao is out there?!"

"Admiral Zhao, Zuko."

"YOU THINK I CARE??!!"

"ZUKO!!"

Zuko heard the voice shout from within the woods.

"Arie!" he said, running towards where the voice had come from.

His men followed.

When he reached the clearing, Zuko saw Admiral Zhao ready to kill Arie as he threw her, making her hit a tree. Zuko sent a blast of fire at Zhao, taking him by surprise.

"So, you came for her..." Zhao said, nastily.

"NOBODY messes with her but ME!"

That got them all into a fight. Zhao was way too outnumbered so he ran away. It started to rain. As men ran back to the ship, Zuko ran ober to Arie, who had passed out, picked her up bridal style, and got onto the ship. He brought her to their room and lay her on his bed as she woke up.

"Arie, you alright?" Zuko asked.

She nodded, crying.

"Don't cry. Why are you crying?" Zuko asked, brushing away her tears and pulling her into his arms.

"I was scared he'd kill me," she whispered.

"I wouldn't let him," Zuko said.

Arie smiled.

"I know," she said, hugging him.

"Get some rest," Zuko said, laying her back down.

He went to get up, but Arie grabbed his hand.

"Don't leave me," she said.

He smirked.

"Can't blame you if you want me," Zuko snickered.

"You and your stupid pride," Arie laughed.

Zuko got into bed next to her.

"Oh, that hurt..."

He blushed as Arie cuddled up to him and lay on his chest. Zuko kissed her forehead.

"Sleep well, Arie," he said.

Because I love you

-The next morning-

Arie woke up in Zuko's arms. She was on top of him. She tried to get up, but her arms were being held down.

"Zuko," she said, knowing he was awake.

He laughed.

"Morning," he said,"Well, lets see you get away from me. NO hurting anything that helps me have children!"

"Why, you won't use it anyways," Arie laughed.

Zuko smirked.

"Arie, I plan on having you have my kids you know.'

"Not even in your dreams."

"Sorry, I dreamt about that 2 nights ago."

"You sicko."

Zuko laughed.

"Well try to get away."

"Fine!"

To Zuko's surprie, she started to grind him. He was biting his bottom lip.

"Whats wrong?" Arie grinned.

"I'm liking this..."

"PERVERT!"

"Arie," he moaned," Stop playing with me."

She stopped.

"Thanks," he said," I knew you wanted me."

"You moaned, Zuko," she reminded him.

He blushed crimson.

"S-Shut it."

"Zuko, you've never...you haven't...?"

Zuko shook his head.

"You?"

"No."

"Okay...um...how about we go have breakfast?"

Zuko got up and pulled Arie up with him.

"Yeah."

-Later-

"Iroh?" Arie asked.

"Yes," he answered.

"I've kinda...fallen for Zuko," she said, blushing.

"You love him?" he asked.

She nodded, going even more crimson.

"Go tell him, then," Iroh said.

"Will you come with me?" she asked, pleadingly.

"Oh, alright," he smiled.

He followed her down to the deck(they were in the tower)where Zuko was.

"Zuko," Arie said, running up to him," I have-"

"Arie, I've decided to talk to my father," Zuko said," I'm going to tell him to cancel it, the wedding I mean. Isn't that great?"

He hugged her.

"Oh, no," Iroh muttered.

"Uh, um, yeah, its great, Prince Zuko," she said, frowning.

"You still don't have to call me "Prince" you know," he said.

"Oh, no, its respect. I-I'm just going to, um, rest a bit."

Without waiting for an reply, she ran below deck.

"Uncle, she didn't seem as happy as I thought she'd be," Zuko said.

Iroh was shaking his head.

"You picked a wrong time to bring out your confidence," he said.

"What?"

"Do you love Arie?"

"Well, yeah, I just thought-"

Zuko stopped.

"Wait...was she about to...?" he asked.

Iroh nodded.

"Stupid! Idiot! Moron!" he started shouting at himself.

"Just go down there and tell her you love her and all that sappy stuff, Zuko."

Zuko dashed down below deck and went into the room. His heart almost broke when he heard Arie crying on the bed.

"Arie," he said, softly embracing her," I'm so sorry."

She sniffed.

"For what?"

"I'm not going to tlak to my father."

"But you don't-"

Arie was stopped by Zuko's lips crahing into hers. The kiss surprised her, it was gentle and so full of love.

"Arie, I want to marry you, be with you, have kids with you someday, and wake up every morning knowing you are in my arms and you'll be the first thing I see," Zuko said," I love you."

Arie was shocked.

"Zuko, I-I love you, too," she said.

She then kissed him.