AN: Oh man, exam week. The only times during the year where I feel like studying is optional. LOL Sorry I've been MIA, guys. Honestly, it's probably not gonna stop. This semester is harder than my next one so I'll be writing more come November but will be super busy until then. So thanks for your patience and reviews and alerts and favorites~ You don't know how much they mean to me. You're all amaze-balls~ :3

Thank you's for last chapter:

sarah: I'm glad~ Please enjoy this chapter too! :D

Roseline: Thank you so much. T.T I'm very picky about characterizations and since both characters are minor I feel like I have to stay within the lines a little. But I'm glad I'm pulling it off~

nureen: I'm glad you liked the last one. There's a little more Jiroh (this is what I'm calling this ship, I don't care, lol) here. Not a whole bunch but more. Enjoy!

woah: My chapters usually average out around 4000-5000 words so I think it was about average. But this one's a bit longer so enjoy. :)

sasha: Thank you, bb! :DDDD

ruby: You're very sweet. I'm just trying to write a good story, is all. *blushes*

Stinker126: It took a while but there was really nothing I could do. :( I hope it was worth the wait though~

Alyson: Thank you! I hope you like it. A lot of stuff goes down. Haha.

Artemis: Unfortunately those three don't really make much of an appearance here. You'll just have to read and find out why. :3

Morgan: I'm glad you're so enthusiastic~ This was a weird ship but it looks like a lot of people actually enjoy it so I'm glad. Haha.

kate: Thank you!

catherine: If only I didn't have to go to school. Then I would do nothing but read and write. Haha. Thanks for reviewing~

zahara: Thanks! I'm glad that you like it. I like messy, tangled love stories, after all. ;)

Chapter Ten: Homecoming

A week and a half flew by without her noticing. It might've been the extra effort her friends had put into lifting her mood, or maybe that they'd docked more and she'd been left to her own devices. Or maybe it was the fact that, for the first time in her life, her head had been Iroh-free for nearly all of it.

Whatever the reason was Jinora was glad for it. Her initial bad mood had dissipated, leaving nothing but good vibes and a strange hope inside her. The days seemed a little bit brighter, the salty air a little crisper as she traced up and down the coastlines. And the renewed energy must've showed because she'd received more than a few compliments about her obvious glow.

"You seem quite well, Jinora. Are you that excited to leave us all behind?" Kei asked, chuckling at his own teasing. Sitting across from him at afternoon tea she realized he was right. Her time had dwindled down to nearly nothing. They would anchor tomorrow night and she'd be tucked into her own bed for the first time in over a month.

"I'm not excited exactly. Just… looking forward to it." The pert smile she gave him was covered as she took a sip from her cup.

"I suppose us army men aren't much company for a scholar like yourself. Not many on board are interested in the politics behind warfare, save for a few. They'd much rather take part in it."

"Everyone's been amazing. I'm definitely sad to see them go." Jinora hadn't realized how much until she'd said it, as she fingered the smooth edge of the table.

"Well that's good. I'm glad to see we haven't scared you off." He reclined in his seat, the crow's feet along his eyes softening. "You'll be missed, of course. If I didn't think your father would object so much I'd tell you to stay a little longer. We're heading east and I'm sure you haven't seen all of the Earth Kingdom yet."

"Don't tempt me. I don't think putting ideas in my head this late into the trip is gonna help either of us," she snickered, the thought of Tenzin throwing an apocalyptic fit dancing across her mind. But being grounded for eternity didn't fit into her plans, though the reason was tempting.

"We'll be sad to see you go, of course. And we'll be happy to have you back whenever you're willing." Jinora could feel her heart warm at his sincerity, as Keilor tilted a crooked smile at her. And not for the first time she could see flashes of the young man he'd once been. Handsome, cocky and charming, there was no doubt in her mind that he could have had his pick of women.

So why hadn't he? How amazing was the woman who'd turned him down? The questions gathered but they stayed there on her tongue, forcing her to swallow them down with a knock-back of her drink. If there was one thing in her life that Jinora understood it was secrets. She wasn't foolish enough to believe that she was entitled to this one.

"Someday. I'm not gonna have to listen to my father forever, y'know," she joked, leaning forward to rest her elbows on the table. "But thank you for the offer, Master Kei. It's one you'll probably regret but I'll definitely keep it in mind."

For some reason her room had felt oppressive that night. She'd stared at the ceiling for a good hour, memorizing every little detail in the light of a dying candle. But it hadn't bored her to sleep like she'd hoped, as she sat up frustrated and restless. Changing into her robes, Jinora was careful to make as little noise as possible as she stole onto the main deck. This was her last night aboard and she didn't want to cause trouble. She knew she'd done quite a bit of it already.

The cool air hit her as soon as she stepped onto the platform, the wind carrying the scent of saline and the beams of a waning moon. It was a sight she was well acquainted with, one she saw from her bedroom window when she left it open on warm evenings. But there was something about it that was especially gorgeous tonight, as she stood against the railing and stared up at an infinite black canvas.

The butterflies hadn't stopped since yesterday while the crew members had been saying their goodbyes. It makes no sense to bombard you all at once as soon as you're about to leave, they explained with more than a few hearty pats to her back. To show their appreciation, food had been plentiful and rich, vegetarian despite a few morose complaints that only made her smile.

After all, the feast wasn't all that surprising when one looked at who made it. Da Wei had made it no secret that she had become a good friend over the last month. She could remember hovering at his side while he doled out instructions, being bothersome and getting in the way as she asked him a million questions. And as exasperated as he was, he indulged the little airbender, finding her spirited and lovable. She could make friends with a Ming snake, he swore to anyone who would hear.

And then there were the gifts, things she'd been too embarrassed to take with good conscience. But none of them were having her modesty. No matter how much she argued, in the end Jinora found herself going home with fine scarves and warm blankets and even a few costly trinkets she'd been unable to take her eyes off of. The men had come to see her as their daughter, sister, friend. This was the least that they could do before sending her off, or so they said.

"What a serious face for a nice night."

Nearly jumping, Jinora nearly swept up a whisk of wind at the newcomer. Luckily she was able to stop the impulse as Hao ambled his way toward her. He was probably on night duty. It would've been hard to miss her if he was on patrol.

"I'm just thinking. People do that sometimes, y'know," she shrugged, smiling when he settled in beside her.

"Was that an insult to my intelligence?" The sardonic rise of his eyebrow forced her to swallow the laugh at her lips.

"Take it however you want. I didn't say a thing about your intelligence, just thinking in general."

"But it was definitely meant to besmirch my character, wasn't it?"

Jinora snorted indelicately. "'Besmirch your character'? I've read a lot of books, ancient ones even, but I've never heard someone use that kind of language in real time." She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, playfully. "Just how old are you, Hao? If that is your real name."

He chuckled softly, making her heart light with satisfaction. Jinora had always been rather quiet, unfriendly if someone caught her on the wrong day. But she wasn't. Far from it, she really did like talking to people, getting to know them. But it was hard to compete with three louder, bolder younger siblings.

He turned his gaze towards her, the ends of his mouth upturned. "I'm going to miss this. It's nice having a break from the guys. They're cool and all, I really respect them, but it's different with you." Awkward, he looked away then as if he knew he'd said too much.

"Well, I guess being the only female makes me nurturing by default," she joked, trying to wave away the tension. But something at her core became uncomfortably tangible, beating a rhythm in tandem with her heart. There was a reason she'd avoided being alone with Hao for long periods of time. This was a mistake on her part.

Shaking his head, his eyes turned to golden steel. "That's not it. I've always thought you were different. The minute I saw you I could tell you weren't like others girls."

Oh Spirits, please don't confess to me, not now. Panic flittered across her face, so fast she hoped he hadn't seen it. And for a moment she wondered if this was how Iroh felt every time she approached, as she did her best to not look so anxious or excited.

It would've been nice if he'd told her how badly she'd failed at it.

"Hao, I'm not…" The girl you think I am, the girl you want me to be. For spirits' sake, Jinora wasn't even the girl she wanted to be. But that was too hard to explain with the way her tongue seemed to swell with her nervousness, making it hard to form the words she wanted. "I'm not who you think I am."

"I think you're amazing." The way he said it so plainly, voice as soft as his words were certain, made her flush. There were few people she knew that could pull of that kind of sincerity. And Hao had always been terribly kind, to the point that she'd avoided him and what she had no doubt was coming. Jinora had never been good at turning people away.

As soon as she started, her mouth wouldn't stop. "I'm not, not really. I'm someone that fakes my way through the day. I hate waking up early and I'm up at ungodly hours because my brain works better at night. I read too much and ramble about weird things and I have no idea why you'd like any of those things about me because I don't and I have to live with myself. And sometimes I can't because I'm so weird that I wonder how I've even lived to be twenty and how I haven't gotten hit by a car or fallen into a hole because I'm so preoccupied with my own thoughts."

"Alright, Jinora, hold on a sec. Take a breath once in a while, okay?" Hao clasped her shoulder, forcing her back to reality. Her embarrassment colored her even darker, as she held in a gulp of air and tried to calm herself. But it was a fruitless endeavor.

It only took a few seconds for her to find her courage. "I'm sorry, Hao. You have to know that I don't feel the same about you."

He stilled then, arm slipping away as if her body heat had literally burned him. The silence was deafening as it drowned out rushing waves and gusts of wind. Letting a moment pass, Jinora peered up at him, taking in his detachment. Had she been wrong about his feelings? Had she made an assumption based on her own experience instead of his?

The thought was sobering, skin paling as she opened her mouth for something to say. A joke or some witty remark. Anything but the quiet measurement of Hao's glance as he watched her.

But he beat her to it. "I know."

"What?" Jinora nearly stammered, taking a step back. Most people would've denied it, at least. To save their pride or look less like a fool. But Hao was looking at her with no such vices, guard stripped of shame another person would've felt. And for a moment, she was envious of his honesty.

"I know how you feel about me, Jinora. I'm your friend but not the way Feng is. He's the one who really gets you, and I confess, I was jealous. But I also understood that there were things he got that I didn't, things he could say to make you feel better when you needed someone's ear."

"Like what?" she asked, defensive.

He smiled at her then, so boyishly that she almost regretted her question. But Jinora wasn't prepared to hear his answer.

"Like how you were so infatuated with General Iroh."

Air managed to escape her lungs, as she opened her mouth to say something. A flippant response was what she wanted, even an uncharacteristic insult if she could find one. But the plainness in Hao's eyes left her grasping for something appropriate, anything to take away the truth from his words. Her silence, however, was much more telling.

She couldn't deny it. "How?"

"How did you fall in love with the general? Shouldn't you be telling me those things?" he asked smartly, trying to diffuse her shock with another one of his jokes. But he could see it hadn't done anything, only made her even wearier.

"No, how did you know I was in love with him?" She stopped, eyes widening as something dawned on her. "Are there other people who know? Tell me the truth, Hao."

For a moment he studied her, watching as her usually straight shoulders slumped, as her bright eyes dulled into an angry brown. And he was so still, like a statue as he pieced her apart as if he could figure out her mystery with inspection alone. The idea made her more irritable, as she swung her face away to look out over the black water.

"No, not many know," he shrugged after a while, turning away to lean against the rail and stare up at the sky. "You hid it well. Only those who knew you and watched you closely could figure out that particular secret."

"Is that how you and Feng learned it? You watched me until you understood me?"

"I don't know about Feng but that's how it worked for me." The side of his lips tipped upward but again he refused to look at her. "You were always staring after General Iroh, and I was always staring after you. And for a long time I wondered who he'd been staring after to make you so sad."

"Hao, I'm sorry. I knew about your… but I didn't think…" Feeling the pain ache between her eyes, Jinora bit her lip to try and focus her thoughts. But her carefully constructed world had started peeling at the edges, unpleasantly revealing just how flawed and ugly it was.

Loving Iroh had given her a sense of order, and realizing just how fruitless it had been had left chaos. Chaos that rippled in Hao's direction, as the mask of their friendship was clawed until it broke, revealing what she had always known. But she hadn't been brave enough to go to him, to do what Iroh had been reluctant to do as well. Confrontation had never been her strong suit, not when she was so good at diplomacy.

Or so she thought.

"You don't have to apologize, Jinora. Actually, it's a little insulting if you do," Hao said, running a hand through his dark hair before fixating an understanding glance on her. Although only three years separated them, Jinora felt like they were light-years apart. "I don't expect pity or anything like that. I just wanted to let you know how I felt before you left tomorrow. Because I don't know when I'll get to see you again, or if we'll ever see each other again."

"Don't say it like that. No one's dying," she tried, voice not as light as she'd like. But still he grinned at her, all forgiveness and consideration, and she pondered how someone so kind could believe himself in love with her. There would be better women for Hao, ones who would see him and love him and treat him with the respect he deserved.

One day it could even be her, Jinora thought as she watched him walk away out of the corner of her eye. Crossing her arms over the rail, she rested her head on them and let the sea hypnotize her with each rock and lull of the boat. She hoped one day she might even regret turning him down, because that would mean that he ended up with someone more suitable than her.

But hope was fickle and time was absolute. Until then she could wait for the regret and the inevitable happiness she'd feel for him. As his friend, she owed him that much.

Saying goodbye was bittersweet, as the crew gathered along the main deck to see her off. The bay that hugged Republic City came into view and her heart danced, as she twisted her hands along the iron guardrail and took in Air Temple Island. It was so close, she could glide there if she wanted. But there were so many people who put that need on pause, as she looked behind her to see rows and rows of soldiers.

Jinora was going home, but she was leaving a piece of herself right there where she stood. The idea made her eyes sting, blurring at the edges as she turned forward to look for any signs of her family. As the boat coasted to a glide, the smile that came to her lips was immediate.

In the distance, Meelo and Rohan were bounding up and down, bending themselves meters into the air and no doubt chaffing their father's nerves. Ikki was surprisingly more subdued, waving her hand and calling out to her. Jinora couldn't help but cup a hand around her own mouth, yelling back in hopes that her voice would carry.

Her mother was clutching her father's arm, and even in the distance Jinora could see how her eyes were wet with tears. And Tenzin wore the largest smile she'd ever seen, spine straight and unyielding but with more gentleness than usual. The feeling of coming full circle made her grip the steel harder, riding it out along with the waves down below.

It was Kei who came to her first, standing at her elbow. "It's time, little one. If you don't leave now, I don't know if I could stop your family from tearing the boat apart."

"A vessel made by Sato Industries torn to pieces by a few wild airbenders? Definitely not. Make sure Asami doesn't hear you next time," she chuckled, following after him as he led the way. She waved as she went, earning a few playful jeers and a kind ruffle of her hair.

Whatever sadness she might've housed vanished with each encouraging smile and she vaguely understood where the emotion came from. After all, what man wouldn't give everything for the chance to return home, to a wife and house full of children, to parents with loving embraces and siblings with stories to tell?

But the contentment withered a little when she hugged Shaw goodbye, him lifting her up with ease that made her laugh unexpectedly. Feng was next, wrapping her up with softness he wasn't known for. And then there was Hao, as sincere as always as he pulled her close, her arms doing the same.

"Don't forget about us, okay? Especially me. You and I aren't done yet, Jinora."

Catching her off-guard, she pulled away a little too hastily but not enough to fall. Opening her mouth, she was tempted to ask him what he meant but there was nothing about him that gave it away. All she could do was be led towards the bridge, their gazes lingering before she faced forward. But the ambiguity didn't disappear even as she made her way back to the familiar, old dock.

"Jinora! Welcome home!" Ikki cried out happily, giggling while Rohan made a beeline straight for his sister. It took great effort to stop the ball of energy, as he attempted to floor her with a shooting gust of air pushing him. Behind him was Meelo, jumping around and demanding gifts and stories and asking a million questions a minute.

Patting Rohan's head, she let her mother inspect every inch of her. Not that Pema could probably see much with her glazed stare but Jinora didn't say so. Ikki and Meelo followed soon after before running over towards the small pile of gifts that'd been brought with her stuff. No doubt they'd take their favorites and leave her the scraps. She rolled her eyes but let them go through their loot, as she made her way over to Tenzin.

Hovering, she watched as her father clasped Iroh's shoulder. It was a sign she recognized well, one of both relief and adamant trust. There were few people that made her father look like that. Iroh, Korra, Lin, Pema, only a handful of people in the world that would ever gain that kind of respect from him. Really, looking back, was it any wonder Jinora had fallen for Iroh? He already had her father's unwavering approval.

"… thank you for all your hard work," Tenzin praised, letting his arm drop before turning towards her. The obvious pride shone back at her, enough to make the tears gather again at the edges of her vision. But she pushed it back, as she walked over and embraced her father for the first time in weeks.

"It was no trouble. You should be very proud of Jinora. She did a wonderful job," Iroh smiled, watching the way she duck her face into her father's robes, trying to hide her happiness. "I'm sure you'll be hearing from a number of dignitaries in the next few months. They'll probably want to discuss a few of the ideas she was pitching."

"Is that so?" But Tenzin wasn't looking at him but Jinora, wiping away a stray tear with paternal fondness.

"I'm very sure. And if you'll ever allow it, it would be a privilege to have her aboard again."

"Not anytime soon though. She just got back," Pema hollered from the sidelines, crossing her arms over her chest in faux indignation. But then she broke out into a grin and looked over at the young prince. "Now, since my husband has forgotten all his manners, why don't you stay for dinner, Iroh? I know you must have a wonderful chef aboard but we'd be honored to have you."

"Oh I don't wish to impose…" Darting a glance at Jinora, she almost laughed at the expression he gave her. The great Fire Nation prince and United Forces general was asking her permission to stay for dinner? A snort escaped, just a hiccup really, but he caught it. And there was no doubt he didn't appreciate her amusement.

"No, please stay. My mother would hate it if you didn't rest here for a while," she nodded. The glower he was shooting her didn't lessen but the reply didn't come from him.

"Why, I think come traditional Air Nomad cuisine sounds fantastic. And exotic, as well. Besides, how could one say no to such a beautiful woman?" Keilor interrupted with a grand gesture, bowing over Pema's hand as if she were a queen. The way she flushed must've been a sign of approval because then she was extending an invitation to him as well.

Not that Tenzin was going to take that lying down. "Stay away from my wife, Keilor." He stomped over towards them, raining down a few insults at his gleeful friend, the reunion ruined by his flirtations. That was when Iroh came to stand beside her, equally amused at their antics.

"These are the men that rule the world." Raising a brow, he watched as Kei expertly dodged out of Tenzin's way.

"Yes, and one day you will be one of them. Even more terrifying, in my opinion," she jabbed him in the side before shrugging. He grabbed her wrist before she could walk away, making her meet his gaze. Her eyes went directly to the crease between his brow, lightly matted with worry.

"Are you sure about this? About letting us stay, I mean," Iroh asked quietly, careful to extract his fingers in case of intruding eyes. One never knew when an airbender baby would pop in unwanted.

"I wouldn't ask you to stay if I didn't mean it. I'm not that nice, y'know," she frowned. He was too careful, always sidestepping her like a child while her pride called foul. But it was a habit she knew better than to berate him for.

"I didn't mean to offend you, if that's what you're thinking."

"Of course I didn't think that." I did but I wouldn't tell you that. It was annoying that he read her more accurately than most. A strange and annoying talent, that. Because it took only a look at her and Iroh was frowning, not comprehending the change in her mood. Not that he would. He was the cause of it, after all.

As her mother gestured towards the house, Jinora purposely ignored his presence. It would be easier to keep civil if she stayed away, thought about her reactions rather than let him goad her into one. She kept that in mind throughout dinner, as she regaled her family with stories about the things she'd seen and done.

Luckily for her, Kei and Iroh had chosen to omit her little escapade with the Lieutenant. They dropped hints on occasion, smirking gently as the talked about the 'ruckus she caused' or 'how trouble seemed to follow her.' Her retaliation was passive-aggressive but effective, accidentally tipping saucers and mishandling shakers that just happened to be passed to her. Her parents had scolded her more than a few times that night but it had been well worth the knowing scowls, she chuckled to herself.

As Ikki helped Pema with the dishes, the rest were excused from the table. Jinora offered to help too but their mother had chided her about the long journey, making their ears bleed when Ikki complained of favoritism. Meelo and Rohan had gone on their way, shooed off while the men went into her father's study. On any other occasion she would've finagled an invitation out of them—through charm or trickery, whichever worked faster—but not tonight.

Instead she found herself on the way to the library outside the main house, abandoned by now at this time of night. Curling up with a book, especially one she'd read a million times over, seemed like a grand idea, as she crossed the threshold and flipped on a lantern.

Fingers spanning across old spines and edges, Jinora found the one she was looking for effortlessly. A brown, aged text that had seen far better days, she handled it with care as she moved to read by the windowsill. With a sliver of moonlight filtering in, the yellows pages looked even more fragile as she carefully tested the texture and skipped to her favorite part. It was a fitting scene for her mood.

Sitting there, Jinora wasn't sure how much time had passed or if she'd been missed. The boat was due to leave sometime that night and she hated to think Iroh and Keilor had waited for her before departing. Still, she couldn't go to bed without finishing the passage. So when she snuffed out the light and made her way back to her home, the text was tucked safely under her arm.

In retrospect, she should've known that he'd come looking for her eventually. Even in the quiet of the night, his footsteps were as silent as hers. But she could sense him coming, could always sense him if he was within reach, even when she wasn't always sure he was really there. As Iroh's shadow crept along the ground, Jinora felt herself freeze along the stone pathway as he made his way towards her.

And for a moment, she was five years old all over again.

Her eyes traced the same trail, from black boots to crème pants and a red blazer she knew she'd always associate with him. The height difference wasn't nearly as bad but still a wide margin, she mused with a smile, as he came to a stop before her. But this time her book was securely in her grasp, as she tightened blunt nails into the worn cover.

Iroh seemed to understand what she was feeling as well, taking in the darkened area with nostalgia. This was where they had first met; this was where he'd humbly introduced himself as a boy rather than a prince; and this was where she'd first felt the sparks of young love. It almost seemed right that everything would end where it started.

"I've been looking for you," he said finally, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "You tend to wander away a lot, you know that? Your parents say it's your worst folly."

"There are worse things than a wandering mind, I think," she shrugged helplessly, sheepishly, as if she couldn't help herself.

"Yes, I suppose there is," he grinned, eyes falling downward and onto her novel. "What do you have there anyway?"

Looking down at it, Jinora cradled the worn-out book in her hands. It'd been her favorite as a child and it was still her favorite now. "It's a story, a diary to be exact. I was thinking about it while on the boat so I looked for it."

"And what's it about?"

She hesitated but only for a moment. "Your grandfather, Fire Lord Zuko."

Surprised, Iroh took a step forward but saw how she recoiled, protecting the thing as if it was sacred. So he stopped, doing his best to appear harmless. "And what could you possibly be reading about? I'm sure that you know as much about my grandfather as I do."

"It's your great-grandmother's diary actually. I used to read it as a kid, about how Fire Lord Zuko went on a journey to find her." Her mouth stilled then, biting the inside of her cheek. But she continued, just as she looked away. "I admired your grandfather very much. He's the kind of person I wanted to grow up to be like. Because he was dynamic and flawed and always looking for the right choice even when it was the hard one, all the things a good leader is. Even now, I read things like this and I still have dreams of wanting to be like him."

"But why are you reading that now?" He took another step forward, seeing how she stood her ground this time but her grip locked again nonetheless. "You said it fit your mood but I don't understand."

"Because when he meets his mother for the first time in years, I always remembered the feeling of coming home. And tonight I thought, it was wonderful to leave but it's much nicer to come back." Jinora stared back him with owlish eyes, the eyes that he remembered on her even as a child. "I think it's fitting, no? I've come home but the journey isn't over. I feel like I've just come back to recharge but there's a lot of road left until I reach the end."

The sentiment hovered over them, coating his skin like humidity in jungle terrain. And for the first time, Iroh could appreciate how much Jinora had grown up since the last time they'd stood in this garden. Or maybe she'd always been like this and he was only just noticing.

Shaking the thought away, he knew it was better not to entertain such a dangerous idea. "Well, regardless of where you go, I'm glad I was a part of your journey so far." He paused but added, "We'll miss you, of course. The crew, your friends and Keilor…"

"And what about you?" Fiddling with the spine of her book, Jinora tilted her head in open curiosity. "Are you gonna miss me too, Iroh? Because… I'm certain I'll miss you."

Taken aback, Iroh searched her for signs of coaxing, of hapless starry eyes and hopefulness that had more than once left him cold and guilty. However, that innocence was washed from her dark eyes, light skin, slight stature, gone along with whatever spell she used to be under. It was as if she'd transformed while he wasn't looking, using a single fortnight to become someone else entirely.

And she was turning into a woman that he wanted to get to know.

Don't be an idiot. She's still a child and she's still your friend. Don't complicate what's finally simple, he berated himself as he fought to meet her impatient frown. The silence was probably insulting. He couldn't even say he'd miss her without thinking long and hard about it.

"Y'know what, never mind, I take it back. I'm definitely not gonna miss you and that big head of yours so get on your stupid boat and sail into the stupid horizon with your stupid self!" Throwing a small tantrum, she trudged past him, muttering curses he hadn't known she was capable of. The sight of her hunched form as she hobbled down the pathway made him snicker, as he followed after her at a more sedate pace.

When she was in such a mood, Iroh couldn't help but goad her a little. "I will miss you, Jin. Why wouldn't I? You're more fun than any of my underlings, that's for sure."

"Oh yeah, I totally believe you. It only took you three minutes to come up with an answer."

"I was weighing the options. I can't make such a rash decision without considering the pros and cons of your absence."

"Well good news for me too then because I can only see good things happening when you leave. Only wonderful, happy things," she grumbled as they came up the side of her home. From the open window her family's voices filtered out, saying their goodbyes to Kei magnanimously. Before she could round the corner though, a soft grip on her shoulder stopped her.

"It'll be lonely without you, Jin. I'm serious." The hum of his voice, so soft and familiar, made her stomach kick uncomfortably. Taking a deep breath, she faced him and for a second she wondered if she was going to cry. What was even worse is that she didn't know what she was crying over.

"Yeah, I know," she replied finally, choked a little at the end. She swallowed a bit of spit, trying to loosen her taut vocal cords. "Of course you are. I'm hard not to miss. But don't worry. I doubt this is gonna be my last trip."

The smile she made felt hollow but it was enough to make him grin back. And she didn't understand why it hurt so much to tell him goodbye, especially when she'd been waiting weeks to say it, had nearly died of anticipation for day. So why was it when he wrapped his arms around her did she feel so empty? Why did she want to memorize how his shoulders were so wide and how much larger his body was compared to her own?

Those were treacherous questions, Jinora told herself as pulled away and looked into kind, gold eyes. But even scarier than the questions were the unwanted answers that came with them. If only they left with him instead of beading against her skin, as she watched him walk away.

AN: This was longer than I expected. It's a bit of a transition chapter but lots of stuff happens. And there's much more to come. I have no idea how long this story is gonna be (it'll easily hit the twenties, I think) but I'm trying to keep the pacing up.

And, yay, this story turns one year this month~ *applause and cheers* I actually thought this would be a dead fic, just something to write in my nonexistent spare time. But everyone's reviews and alerts have kept this alive so thank you so much, guys! :D

Thanks for reading~ Until next time!