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The journey wasn’t long, and when you finally landed, Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph were already there with Appa and Momo. Zuko opened the door to the big beach house, and everyone quickly spread out like they already knew where they would be staying. In truth, they did. You were the only one who had never been there, so you stood at the entrance with your bags, and when you looked to your side, Zuko was still there, waiting for you with a soft smile that created a knot in your stomach.

“Come on, I’ll show you to your room.” He took your bag from your hand and made his way up the wooden stairs, not even giving you time to protest that he didn’t need to carry your things. At the top of the stairs, a very badly done drawing was hung between two big vases.

“Did you draw this?” You pointed at it with a quirked brow.

“God, no.” He scoffed with what others might have considered far too much honesty. “That was Sokka. He made it when we all visited my uncle’s tea shop after the war ended.” There was a look of endearment in his face as he looked back at it, and you could see how much he loved his friends; to the point of hanging a horrible, childlike drawing in a central place in the house. You felt your heart skip a beat just before he turned to keep walking. The first floor was much smaller than the ground floor, and you noticed there were only two rooms in it.

“This is you.” Zuko stopped by the first door and opened it. “I hope you like it.” He entered and placed your bag on the bed. The house had clearly been prepared for guests; everything looked fresh and clean.

“Zuko, it’s beautiful.” The dark wood of the floors and beams contrasted with a soft cream tone of the walls, accompanied by the deep orange that made up the sheer curtains, bathing the entire room in a warm hue. The white linen bedding was topped with a dark crimson cover; its silk brocade mimicking the flickering of flames. 

“It used to be my room.” He looked down at you for a moment, just watching, silent. You felt a fluttering in your stomach, and you knew you shouldn’t, but you couldn’t stop yourself from staring back. Finally, he snapped out of it. “I’ll be right next door if you need anything. I’m going to go and get ready to go down to the beach with you guys before I check on Druk.” His hand brushed your shoulder as he smiled, before leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.

After he left you all at the beach, Zuko made his way to the volcano crater where Druk was. He preferred checking on him by himself, at first, to make sure the dragon felt comfortable and up for visits.

While Toph made sand sculptures to top up her sandbending skills, Sokka, Suki, Ty Lee and Aang were playing kuai ball, and you and Katara were playing around in the water, making a giant water octopus and big whirlpools. After about an hour, Aang and Sokka decided to go for a swim themselves, and you and Katara joined Toph, Suki and Ty Lee by their towels so you could dry off. You were enjoying the feeling of the sun on your face, when something suddenly covered it. You put your hand over your forehead to shade your eyes as you looked up; two strangers stood before you.

“Hey, I’m Ruon-Jian, and this is Chan. Are you new around here?” He asked you with a smirk.

“Uh, yeah. We’re on holiday here for a few days.” You signaled toward the girls, who were all looking at him. The other guy suddenly perked up.

“No way. Ty Lee?”

“Oh, hi.” She replied with her usual sweetness. “I can’t believe you remember me.” Her cheeks had gone pink.

“How could I forget you?” Chan made his way towards her and kept chatting.

“You’re only staying a few days? That’s too bad.” Ruon-Jian turned back to you.

Meanwhile, Zuko was just returning from his visit to Druk, when he saw you, laying on your towel, casually talking to some stranger who was clearly trying to flirt with you. Something took over him, something distant but familiar, and he sped up his pace as he made his way to you. As he grew closer, he noticed the guy hitting on you was the same that had flirted with Mai all those years ago, and his anger threatened to become uncontrollable.

“So, we’re having a barbecue later, if you guys would like to come. You can bring the boys, too.” Aang and Sokka had made their way out of the water by now, and were also walking towards their towels.

“She can’t. She’s busy.” Zuko’s voice sounded from behind you, and you looked to see him looking angry; his face was red, his arms crossed, and he looked like he was trying not to spit fire.

Unfortunately for him, his scar was unmistakable. “Fire Lord!” The strangers looked flustered as they straightened their backs and bowed. Zuko’s posture immediately softened at the realization that he wasn’t just some banished prince anymore, and you weren’t his girlfriend. But he couldn’t help how he felt. “Forgive us. We didn’t mean to-“

He cleared his throat. “It’s ok. I just meant – we already have plans.”

“We do?” You asked first, but everyone else in the group turned to him with the same confused look, which only made the scarlet in his cheeks deepen.

“Y-yes. We’re going to the theater.”

“Oh, that’ll be swell.” Aang rolled his eyes at the memory of the last play he had seen at Ember Island.

“Well, I can still show you around, if you’d like.” Ruon-Jian said softly, only to you now. The Fire Lord was single; everyone knew that. His relationship status was of national interest, particularly to the families who hoped to marry their daughters into the royal family. It was a completely reasonable offer to a woman who appeared to be single. But Zuko’s ability to think straight was barely hanging on by a thread at this point, and the fact Ruon-Jian kept trying only made him angrier.

“She doesn’t need a guide. I can show her the island myself.” The entire group looked at him with inquisitive looks, except Sokka; he looked like he’d just won a bet. “In fact, I came back to get you because I wanted to show you something. How would you like to meet Druk?”

Your eyes widened and you immediately rushed to get up. “I’d love to!” The smile on your face was so big, he forgot all about his anger and jealousy; smiling back at you. You quickly put on your beach dress and your shoes, and didn’t think twice before taking the hand Zuko offered to walk up the beach with you.

“Oh, please, don’t mind us. Who needs to see a dragon more than once?” Sokka commented.

“I’ve never seen one.” Toph quipped; her arms behind her head.

“You need to stop with the stupid jokes.” He said, annoyed.

“Only if you stop with the stupid remarks.” She chuckled.

Chan went back to chatting to Ty Lee, until Ruon-Jian tapped him on the shoulder and signaled for them to leave; his pride wounded.

“How long do you think until they finally get together?” Sokka asked the group.

“It’s all up to Zuko. He’s the Fire Lord. She’s never going to think she has a chance.” Katara seemed sad for you. Even though you hadn’t told her, she already knew exactly how you felt. It was as if she could read your mind sometimes. There was a moment of silence at her statement, which was broken by her brother.

“Well, then, considering how oblivious he can be, she better come back and go on a date with that guy.” There was a harsh sound of solid rock, followed by a shriek and a harsh splash. Toph had thrown Sokka up in the air and into the sea, making everyone burst into laughter.

By the time you had reached the top of the beach, you dropped Zuko’s hand, and he reluctantly let go of yours. You walked in silence for a few minutes, until you finally worked up the courage to talk.

“Uhm – Zuko, what was all that at the beach?” It would have been naïve to think you would have just let that whole scene slip with no thoughts or questions. But, despite expecting it, Zuko couldn’t help but feel nervous.

“Uh – I –“ There were a few seconds of silence as he thought of what to say. “I just don’t like those guys. I met them a few years ago and they were all entitled jerks. They invited us to a party just to flirt with Ty Lee and… the guy that was hitting on you… tried to hit on Mai too. Even though he knew we were dating.” He went quiet, cheeks blazing, looking everywhere but you.

“Oh.” He was just being a good friend, as usual. “Well, no wonder you don’t like him. Makes sense why you didn’t want him near your friends. Thanks for looking out for me.” When he finally turned to you, you were already looking at him with a sweet smile.

I didn’t want him near you. “Of course. You know I’ll always be here for you.” That last sentence left his lips before he could think about it.

Druk was kept on Ember Island’s dormant volcano. It had a cave were he could sleep and hide, and he could walk freely around its massive crater. When you arrived to the tunnel that led inside the crater, its entrance was heavily guarded. Six soldiers stood there to keep anyone from entering, and when you walked into the crater there were six more inside. Druk seemed to have expected you; he was sitting upright and facing you.

“I told him I’d be back and bring someone for him to meet.” Zuko tried to explain, expecting you to be frightened by the dragon’s stance. You should have probably been scared, but you couldn’t hide the absolute awe and wonder that coursed through you at the sight of such a magnificent creature.

“He’s so beautiful.” Your eyes were wide, and your lips parted into a smile. “Can I approach him?”

“Carefully. He’s going to judge you first. Don’t be offended if he doesn’t let you touch him, he doesn’t allow most people. I think it’s because he’s still a moody teenager.” The dragon grumbled, as if he resented the Fire Lord’s remark.

“I heard you were also a moody teenager.” You teased him, raising your brow with a smirk.

“I-“ His brows pinched together as if he were about to protest, until he remembered it was true, making you giggle.

You looked at Druk again and slowly approached him. “I can’t believe there’s so few of you left.” Your eyes glossed over as you admired the dragon and thought of all the creatures that had nearly been extinguished by the war. You thought of Aang, the last of his people. Despite being close at that point, instead of approaching further, you stopped and just looked at him, blinking the tears away. Zuko had been somewhat nervous for you. Now, he was confused, just as Druk was; but he knew better than to come between the two of you at such a crucial moment.

“I don’t need to come closer. I just wanted to meet you.” A smile painted your features. “It’s an honor.” You bowed.

The dragon took a step forward and stretched its neck slowly, until his nose was mere inches from you. He gave you a sniff, before a warm exhale dried the tears on your cheeks.

“Thank you.” You beamed. Druk’s eyes quickly shifted to his companion, before turning back to you and shutting completely. His head lowered, and he nudged your chest with surprising gentleness, as if asking for you to pet him. So, you did. He was warm, like Zuko, but his scales made him rough to the touch. The Fire Lord was in complete awe.

“He’s never asked for anyone else to touch him. Except for me and Aang.” You could tell by his voice that he was now right behind you. “How did you do that?” Druk looked at Zuko again, and somehow, he knew. He knew the dragon knew his heart, and he knew it was showing him his heart had chosen wisely.

“Maybe he’s in a good mood today.” You remarked absentmindedly, your hand still caressing the dragon’s skin.

“Yeah… I guess he is.” Despite their bond being fairly recent, it was already a deep one, and an exchange of looks was enough to hold entire conversations. There was a request in Zuko’s eyes. A plea for reassurance. “Would you like to… go for a ride with me?”

Your head snapped towards the Fire Lord. “What? Are you sure?” You didn’t remove your hand from Druk, but you knew better than to push your luck. The dragon didn’t move. He stood stoic, holding his companion’s gaze.

“Yes. I am.” Finally, his eyes turned to you. “Would you like to?”

You blinked, finding the courage to answer. “If Druk doesn’t mind, then I would love to.” As if to answer, Druk laid flat against the ground.

“I think he’d love to take you, too.” Zuko couldn’t contain his happiness. He felt like a giddy child again; a feeling he didn’t get to experience often. He grabbed your hand and pulled you towards the dragon’s neck, where he helped you climb on. In only a few seconds, he was behind you. His arms came around your waist, and he picked up the reins that curled around Druk’s horns.

“Ok. Knees tight against him - don’t worry, it won’t hurt him - And hold on to his mane. I’ll hold on to you, too, don’t worry.” His arms tightened around you, encircling you and pulling you flush against him.

“Do you also have to go yip-yip?” You joked, trying to feel less nervous.

“No. That’s dumb. He understands us.” The deadpan way in which he said it almost made you laugh, if he hadn’t immediately given the order. “Druk, go!” The take-off was different from anything else you had ever experienced. Riding on a dragon’s neck was incomparable to anything else, though when his gaze was fixed, it was surprisingly steady.

“This is nothing like riding Appa!” You held on as tight as you could and risked a look down at the island.

“Don’t tell him I said this, but I think it’s more fun.” He spoke against your ear, and the feeling of his breath gave you goosebumps. Suddenly, a pull of his reins made Druk dip into a quick descent as you closed in on the beach. The swirl in your belly was exciting, and you couldn’t help but laugh instinctively. The locals were used to seeing Druk flying by now, all of them sworn to secrecy until he was grown enough to leave the island. When you flew closer to the shore, Zuko waved at your friends, and you shot them a big grin as you passed by.

“Hey, why does she get to ride the dragon and I don’t?” Sokka exclaimed.

“Maybe the dragon doesn’t find you worthy.” Toph provoked him.

“Or maybe you need Zuko to fall in love with you first.” Suki giggled.

“I’m going to join them” Aang quickly picked up his glider and got up.

“No, you’re not!” Katara grabbed his arm. “Let them have their moment. Maybe this is the little push they need.” The Avatar looked between his partner and the sky, and realized she was right.

“Hey, kid.” John sounded tired, as usual, but he also seemed somewhat upset. “Is your uncle home?” The door behind you opened wider and your uncle Bobby stepped out, remote still in hand. Dean was sitting in the passenger seat with a heavy expression, but it softened when you made your way to the car.

“Evenin’, John. Everythin’ alright?” He clearly hadn’t been expecting the visit, otherwise he would have told you.

“Sorry to show up like this. Can I have a word?” The two men quickly made their way inside, and the way they didn’t acknowledge Dean made you think something was up.

“Hey, Dean. How are you?” You hugged him when he stepped out of the Impala, and were about to ask him about Sam, when the door behind the passenger seat opened with a characteristic creak.

“Fine, as usual.” The answer was always the same, but you could sense the tension in his shoulders, and when you looked at Sam, you saw his eyes had a soft red tinge. It had been months since you had seen him, and he seemed to have grown at least five inches since you had. He’d gotten more handsome too, if that was possible, and you chastised yourself for the way you felt your cheeks burn.

“Sam.” You smiled at him, and despite the clearly upset look on his face, he hugged you with the same sweetness as always.

“Hey.” One of his hands landed on the back of your head, and the other circled your shoulders to hold you tight against him. He took a deep breath before letting go, and when he did his eyes were glossy.

“Everything ok?” You asked worriedly, bringing a hand to his arm.

“Oh, everything’s great, or at least it’s about to be for Sammy, here.” Dean quipped, pulling a single rucksack out of the trunk of the car and closing it with a heavy hand. He made his way inside the house before you could even ask what he meant.

“What’s up with him?” You asked Sam, walking toward the house with him.

“He and my dad are pissed at me because I told them I wanted to go to school. Properly, I mean. At least for a few months.” He replied meekly.

“Is that why you’re here?” The hopefulness in your tone was barely concealed.

“Yeah, dad got tired of my complaining, we got into a fight, and he just drove here. He’s asking Uncle Bobby if he’ll have me.” Despite getting what he wanted, Sam didn’t seem satisfied. It was to be expected. When you’re made to feel guilty or burdensome for your wants and needs, it’s hard to enjoy them.

You placed a hand on his back as you both climbed the stairs to the small porch at the font door. “Of course he will, he loves you, and we love having you here.” He gave you weak smile in return for your words, and you both entered the den just in time to see John and Bobby trade a curtly pat on the back.

“Thanks Bobby. I’ll send you money every other week to cover the costs. Dean and I have to get going, we’re hunting a werewolf pack in Wisconsin.” John turned to leave. “Bye, kiddo.” He patted you on the shoulder and walked out the door without so much as looking at Sam.

Bobby hugged Dean tight. “Bye, kid. Call me when you get there; and be careful.”

“I’m always careful.” He replied smugly, and both you and Bobby rolled your eyes. Despite being upset, Dean couldn’t leave his brother without saying goodbye. “Bye, Sammy. Don’t forget to call.” He rustled his hair, patted his back and walked out into the night.

“I’m glad you’re here, son.” Bobby held Sam, who was clearly hurt by the way his father ignored him. “Don’t mind your dad, he’ll get over it. You made the right choice askin’ to go to school. I wish your brother had been as wise.”

“Thanks, Bobby.”

“And you had perfect timing; school starts next week.” You said supportively, offering a comforting smile. He smiled back, the tension on his shoulders gradually fading.

“Well, if you’re stayin’ longer than a few days, I don’t want you sleepin’ on the couch. Sunshine, why don’t you help Sam get settled into the library? There’s a spare bed there, get the books off it and I’ll clear it out properly tomorrow, so he has more room.”

“He can stay in the extra bed in my room- I mean, if he wants to.” You quickly offered, and Sam seemed to light up at the idea. Up until you were about 12, anytime the boys stayed over, you and Sam shared your bedroom, talking and laughing late into the night. After that, Bobby thought it best to keep you apart at night; he could have some old-fashioned ways. Despite that, Sam still sneaked into your room sometimes, when he had a nightmare, or couldn’t sleep, or just wanted to talk about things he could only share with you, only to wake right before the sun was up to sneak back into his own bed. Dean usually slept in the living room with him, so he always noticed when Sam sneaked away, but he pretended not to know, and never told on the two of you. You and Sam had been attached at the hip since you had met, and his brother felt it was cruel to try to keep you apart when you did see each other.

“Aren’t you two a little old for sleepovers?” He asked with a raised brow. You both shared an awkward glance, neither of you daring to attempt an answer. After a few seconds of absolute silence, Bobby sighed. “Fine, I’ll let it slide today, but tomorrow we’re fixin’ the library into a bedroom for you.” He asserted, pointing at Sam. “You’re probably gon’ be yappin’ all night anyway. How long’s it been since you’ve seen each other? Eight months? A year?” He rubbed his temples. “Just keep it down, I need my beauty sleep.” Both your faces lit up with a smile, you looked like you were 10 years old again.

“Thanks, Uncle Bobby!” You said in unison. Sam picked his rucksack off the floor, and you darted up the stairs toward your bedroom together.

“How did you fit an extra bed in your room? I thought you’d finally gotten your “grown up” double bed.” Sam inquired.

“Well, actually…” You opened the door to your bedroom and, when Sam entered, he only saw your big double bed. He looked both confused and flustered. “It’s not a double bed, it’s our old beds, I just put them together.” You looked at him and saw the flush in his cheeks. “I’ll pull them apart, of course!” You raised your hands up to your chest and waved them frantically. “Let me just go get us some single sheets.”

“No!” Sam said, a little too quickly. “I mean, I don’t mind if you don´t. It’ll be like the old days, when we pulled the beds together and talked under the sheets.” There was a gleam in his eyes as he spoke, and you couldn’t help but smile.

“Yeah. I’d like that.” You pulled him in for a hug, and he dropped the rucksack so he could hold you properly. “I missed you, Sam.” Your eyes closed instinctively as his warmth encased you.

“I missed you too.” He leaned his chin against the top of your head and stroked your hair softly for a moment, until you looked up at him.

“I got you something.” You said excitedly. You pulled away from him and reached for your closet to get his gift.

“Why?” He questioned. It was a dumb question, if he were honest, because Sam had gotten you something too, way before he even knew he was coming.

“I got it for your birthday, but I didn’t get to see you until now.” You handed him a small box. “Happy sweet 16.” You chuckled. He tittered and took the box into his hand, opening it to reveal a small chain necklace on top of a leather pouch. “It’s silver.” He smiled and picked up the pouch to see what was inside. “It’s a lock pick kit, silver too, so it’s double useful.”

“Thank you.” He smiled and hugged you again.

“Don’t want you dying on me, Winchester.”

“Great minds think alike.” He said, reaching for his rucksack and pulling out his own small box to hand you.

“What-“

“Come on, it was your birthday too.” Sam handed you the box which you opened with shaky hands. Inside was a necklace with a pendant of a snake vaguely curved into an S shape.

“Sam- It’s beautiful.”

“It’s silver, too. Don’t want you dying on me.” He parroted your expression with a grin.

“I love it. Thank you.” You reached up to kiss his cheek, and the warmth of your lips seemed to spread throughout Sam’s face, though he didn’t understand why.

You spent all night talking, catching up and telling jokes, until you both fell asleep with your heads touching. It was as if he had never left.

That was the year Sam told you he wanted to quit hunting, go to college, and have a normal life. You knew his family wouldn’t like that, but you made sure he knew he had your and Bobby’s support. After all, you yourself were planning on going to college, even if you didn’t exactly feel the need to completely cut anything to do with hunting out of your life. The immense library that was your uncle’s house had always been your passion, along with the many cultures and languages he had taught you about, so it was only natural for you to follow that path.

When the time came, Sam’s dream came true. He went to Stanford to study Law, and you, much to your uncle’s pride, got a full ride at Sorbonne, in Paris. At first, you managed to stay in contact fairly regularly, but the distance, the time-zones and life itself gradually drew you apart, until the calls became more and more sporadic. Eventually, they stopped completely, and after you tried calling him once after months of no contact, he didn’t answer, so you gave up.

Once your degree was done, there was still a research bug within you, so you decided to get a master’s degree to continue your folklore and mythology studies. Following the master’s, you wanted to keep researching, but you were burnt out, out of ideas and, if you were honest, you missed your uncle. You thought about Sam, but you had no idea where he was, and you hadn’t spoken in years. The last you had heard, John Winchester had died, and he was hunting with Dean again.

Then, one day, while you were still ruminating on the thought of taking a break from your studies and going back to Sioux Falls to be with your uncle, he called you.

“Sam and Dean just got back from a hunt. They’ve been comin’ ‘round more lately. I can’t tell if it’s because they think I’m lonely without you or because it’s convenient.” He grumbled.

“Maybe it’s a mix of both, and maybe, just maybe, they also like you. You’re their uncle too, you know.” You disputed his argument, trying to keep your tone even, but you couldn’t stop yourself from focusing on a realization. The boys were home. They were home and they hadn’t told you; Sam hadn’t told you. You paused and took a deep breath. “Hum… I know I told you I’ve been thinking about taking a break and coming back home. But- maybe I should just stick around; keep trudging on and try to find a PHD topic, you know?” You fidgeted with the snake pendant on your necklace; the one Sam had given you years ago.

“Now, why would you do that?” Oh, Bobby knew why, alright. You had been complaining about how tired you were lately and saying you weren’t sure about doing a PHD straight away. The fact you were walking back on your plans just when he announced the Winchesters were staying with him was no coincidence. He knew you and Sam hadn’t spoken in years; he’d been the one to tell you when he left college, when he started hunting again, and even when John died.

“It’s just- the house will probably be full, and-” You said hurriedly, trying to come up with an excuse. Bobby knew you wanted to come home, but he didn’t want to push you, not until now.

“The house will be full?! Young lady, who do you think you’re tryin’ to fool?” His voice was so loud over the phone it made you scrunch your face and pull it away from your ear. “You know darn well there’s room for the three of you, just like there always has been. Now, stop bein’ an idjit, get your ass on a plane, and come home. It’s about god damn time I see my niece.” He hung up, not even giving you the opportunity to protest.

Fine. It was fine, really. It was just Sam. Sam, who had been your best friend since you were six and shared everything with you. Sam, who always called you from whatever motel he was staying at to make sure you knew he was ok. Sam, who spent the first half of junior year following you around like a lost puppy, or a guard dog, you couldn’t tell which. Sam, whom you hadn’t seen since he went to college to start his new life. Sam, who never called you again three months into his new relationship. Sam, who had gotten back into hunting and didn’t call you even then.

He had become a memory. The only vestige that he had been in your life was the necklace you never managed to take off, everything else stayed home with Bobby. Now, suddenly, you were supposed to go live with him again, as if nothing had happened, as if he hadn’t hurt you.

There was no point fighting it, your uncle told you you were being an idiot, and he was right. You needed a break and to go back home, and Sam Winchester wouldn’t be the reason you didn’t. Who knew, maybe you’d even do some hunting. The past few years had pretty much been a normal, monster free life, aside from the odd werewolf or vampire you caught trying to lure college students. Not that you hunted a ton before; Bobby was always hesitant to bring you, no matter how much you trained. He wanted you to be able to defend yourself in case anything happened, but he was adamant that you at least had a somewhat normal childhood and young adulthood. Hunting could wait and, if you chose never to follow that path, he had no complaints.

The journey home had you fidgeting more than when you moved to an entire new continent. You were excited to see your uncle and Dean, but the idea of seeing Sam created a bottomless pit in your stomach. When you finally arrived, after many hours and two connecting flights, Bobby picked you up at Sioux Falls Regional Airport just before dawn. There were a few new gray hairs in his beard and some new wrinkles by his eyes, a reminder of how long it had been since you had last seen him. When you reached the junkyard, there was a familiar black car parked outside the house. You looked at it and back at Bobby.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so stoic after seeing that car parked in the driveway. The European air must have dulled your senses.” He teased, before he slapped his legs and got out of the truck, making his way to the back to get your bag.

The familiar smell of your uncle’s house flooded your nostrils as you opened the front door, and memories of what seemed like another life filled your mind. You made your way to the den, just in time to see Dean come down the stairs, looking like he had just woken up.

As soon as he saw you, he reached for you and gave you a warm hug. “Hey, sunshine. Long time no see.”

“Don’t call me that, Dean. You know it’s a Bobby exclusive nickname.” You complained, but there was a smile on your face and a pep in your voice as you hugged him back. He hadn’t changed much, and he still had that same leather and musk smell you remembered.

“Yeah, yeah, quit the tough guy act, you know you love it.” He tussled your hair as if you were still a little kid, which was still as annoying as before, if not more. “How was Europe? Heard you got a fancy master’s degree in hunter lore.”

“Something like that, yeah.” You chuckled. “It was good, but I’m glad to be back. I needed a break from stuffy academics. How are you, though? It’s been years!” You hugged him again.

“Ah, same old. Still hunting throughout the country, though we’ve been staying with Bobby a lot more lately.”

“I’m glad. We have so much to catch up on.” You said in a light tone as you looked around. “So - uhm, where’s-“

“Sam’s upstairs. He’s staying in your room.” Bobby cut in.

“He-“

“They’re staying a while, so I don’t want them sleeping on the couch. Dean is staying in the library, and Sam’s in your bedroom, where he’s always stayed.” Subtlety wasn’t your uncle’s forte, but it was true. Apart from the year he spent living there, Sam always stayed in your room. Besides, Bobby wasn’t dumb, he knew he spent half that year sneaking into your bedroom to spend the night talking to you. He didn’t like it, but he trusted the two of you or, at the very least, he trusted how oblivious you were to the possibility of anything romantic happening between you. Things had changed, though. You were adults now, and, most of all, you needed to fix whatever had happened between you. He’d be damned if his kids didn’t get along.

“Oh, well, Dean can stay there and I can go to the library, it’s fine by me.”

“Nonsense!” Dean peeped, much too quickly. “It’s your bedroom, you should stay in it. Besides, Sammy’s probably ecstatic he doesn’t have to listen to my snoring all night. It’s probably why he’s not woken up yet; he’s enjoying a peaceful sleep for once.” Great. He was in on it too.

“Since you’re going up to put your things down, why don’t you wake him up and tell him to come down?” Bobby asked.

“Fine.” You sighed, picking your bag up and slowly bringing it upstairs.

Your hand was shaky when you turned the doorknob and slowly opened the door. There he was, lying in the middle of those two twin beds you had pushed together all those years ago, bathed in the morning sun that shone through your translucent curtains. He had grown so much, and yet seemed the same in so many ways. You stood at the door, not knowing what to do, just watching his chest rise and fall, and your hand trembled again as you felt that familiar heat in your face that came just before you cried. Suddenly, your massive trunk fell on the floor with a thud, making Sam jump out of his sleep. His wide eyes quickly turned into a squint as he became aware of the brightness in the room; he started rubbing them when he saw you, calling out to you as if he wasn’t sure you were really there.

“Hi.” You said meekly, the corner of your lip twitched up as you tried and failed to smile at him.

He jumped off the bed and hugged you so tightly he picked you up off the floor for a moment, which was terrifying. No one had picked you up since you were a child, not even Sam, but when you felt the massive firm muscles around you, you weren’t so surprised. “It’s been so long. I’ve missed you.” He really had, though he only realized just how much when he saw you and remembered how you felt in his arms. You had grown too, not much in height, but your features were no longer those of a teenager.

“You – you did?” You blinked.

“Of course I did.” He looked at you with that same sincere, puppy eyed look he always had. There was a sweet, easy smile on his face that made you soften instantly.

Once the war ended and the new Fire Lord rose to power, he made it a point to keep his allies, and those neglected by Ozai, close. Your father was honoured with a position in the royal council, which meant moving to the capital, but you were hesitant to move with him and your mother, and abandoning your beloved home. The new Fire Lord, Zuko, was someone you had seen only in childhood, in the very few times you had been to the palace. He was a sweet boy, unlike his sister, and you were saddened to hear of his banishment, especially after your father received a letter from Iroh explaining why it had occurred.

When you first saw him upon arriving to the capital, you saw a trace of that childhood sweetness in his features, marred by the cruelty of his father. Nonetheless, the embers of his goodness seemed to persist, and he had grown into a beautiful man. He caught your eye immediately, much to your dismay, for you had no intention of remaining in the capital for too long. Unbeknownst to you, you had also caught his eye, and a friendship between you quickly formed, something that brought both your father and his uncle happiness, because neither of you had ever had many friends. For Zuko, that had only changed when he joined the Avatar and his friends, but they, too, had duties, and those could keep them apart for long periods of time. Spending time with the Fire Lord was one of the few pleasures of being at court. You had no interest in idle gossip, and the ladies didn’t seem too interested in getting to know the forgotten village noble, which meant much of your time was spent alone.  

Eventually, you tried returning home, but when you did, there was a hollow feeling within you, left by the space you had created for Zuko. You maintained contact, and you decided to spend your life between court and your village, moving from one to the other when the longing for either peace and comfort or the Fire Lord’s company got too intense.

Despite being so aware you loved him; you never made your feelings known; unsure whether he reciprocated them. After a few years, however, the talks of finding a wife for the Fire Lord started getting more frequent, and when the time to make a decision came, Zuko knew exactly who he wanted by his side. He went to your father, first. Not because he thought he should be the one to make that decision, but because he wanted to be sure when he asked you, you wouldn’t say yes because you felt you had to. He was as oblivious to your feelings as you were to his. Your father’s answer to him was that while it would of course be an honour for him to have his daughter join the royal family, he had not raised you to put the family’s honour above your own; as long as you honoured yourself and your convictions, you would never dishonour the family. This was something far removed from the way Zuko had been raised, but after so many years learning from his uncle, he had come to that same conclusion.

The knowledge that your answer to his proposal would always be honest brought him some comfort, but it didn’t quell the fear and anxiety attached to the possibility of a rejection, maybe even an end to your friendship. He knew you enough by now to understand you liked your privacy, especially when it came to vulnerable moments, so he decided to visit your village while you were staying there. You had never been so happy. To have him come to you to the place you felt most at peace filled your heart.

It was a warm summer night. The moon was full, and there were fireflies all around your garden; their light shining over the flowers and bushes and reflecting off the koi pond. He had asked you to go on a walk, which wasn’t uncommon, but you could tell he was nervous about something.

“Zuko, are you alright?” The two of you had just sat on a stone bench under a willow. “You barely ate at dinner, and your hands are shaking.” You took his hand into yours, its soft tremors stilling at your touch.

“I – yes – I mean – maybe – I mean – I need to tell you something.”  His stuttering was worrying you, it seemed like he was about to give you horrible news.

“So – um – you know how the council has been insisting that I find a wife?” There was an intense flush to his cheeks, as if he was burning up.

“Yes.” You replied calmly, still holding his hand and rubbing small circles to it. The time had come, he had chosen a wife and he was about to tell you who, and you would never be able to be this close again.

“Well, I don’t want to marry someone I don’t know; someone I don’t – love.” He gulped. The amber in his eyes was like a thin ring around his blown pupils. “And – I want you to know I value your friendship, and that I wouldn’t want to lose it.”

“Ok…” You whispered.

“I-I – I was wondering if – I wanted to ask – what I’m trying to say is –“ He took a deep breath. “I like you. I have for quite some time, and, if you feel the same – only if you feel the same – I would like to ask if you would honour me by becoming my wife.” The movement of your thumb over the back of his hand stopped, and you were frozen looking at him. The red of his cheeks spread down his neck to his chest at your silence.

“Zuko – I –“ Your chest was rising and falling quickly. You genuinely weren’t expecting him to tell you he felt the same way you did.

“It’s ok if you don’t want to! I mean I don’t want you to –“ His nervous rambling was interrupted when you pulled him by his robes into a kiss. At first, he was surprised, but his soft lips quickly melted into yours.

“I’d love to.” You blinked slowly at him through your eyelashes, and he could have sworn he was about to combust. Zuko held your face in his hands and looked at you as if he couldn’t believe you were real, before pulling you in for another slow, sweet kiss.

It had been just under a year since your marriage, and you were no more used to being a royal than on the day of your wedding. You were hardly ever alone, always surrounded by maids and valets, whatever diplomat or dignitary you had to deal with for the day, or worst of all, the court ladies. They had been raised for life at court and displayed interests and tastes that were befitting to ladies of their station. Beyond that, they were the same ladies that had ignored you before you became Fire Lady, but they knew the game of politics and how important it was to stay on the royal family’s good side; not that you’d ever bother with punishing them.

It all felt like a constant act, a role you had to play in order to fit the role you had married into, but today, it was simply too much. It had been weeks since you had had some proper alone time, with rest from all the pretence of court life. You felt yourself start to crack, your posture begin to wane, and apparently, the court could see it too. Just as you were walking through the garden, you heard a couple of ladies talking about how you were unfit to be married to the Fire Lord, how he deserved someone better, up to the task, more composed, prettier. Most days, you knew better than to listen. Gossip was as much a hobby as a social currency in the palace, and being the Fire Lady, you had pretty much all the chips in your hand, you just needed to know how to play them. That day, though, it was the final arrow to pierce through your carefully laid armour.

You made your way to your bed chamber, trying your best not to cry, because you knew someone would come check on you before you could be at peace. When the maid came in, only a few seconds after you entered, you told her you felt sick and asked not to be disturbed. As soon as you heard the door close behind you, the tears poured out of you, accompanied by the sobs you couldn’t hold back anymore. You spent the day in bed, crying your eyes out until you finally fell asleep. By sunset, you woke up and managed to get up to change into your night gown, before crawling back between the silk sheets. A few moments later, the same maid from before knocked, but didn’t enter. She asked if you would like dinner to be brought to you, and you thanked her, but refused. That was the only sound around your room for the next few hours.

When Zuko noticed you were absent at dinner, one of his attendees told him you felt unwell, and wouldn’t be coming. Alarms immediately rang in his mind. He knew how stressed you had been lately; he could see it in your eyes and feel it in your touch. The Fire Lord ordered a tray of your favourite foods to be brought, so he could deliver it to your chambers himself.

The moon hung high when you heard a soft knock at the door. You were about to ask to be left alone again, when your husband entered, carrying a large tray.

“My love.” He placed the tray on a nearby table and made his way to you. “What’s wrong?” His hand caressed your cheek as he sat beside you. You were leaning against a mountain of pillows, not fully sat, but not lying down either. As soon as you felt his soft, warm skin the tears threatened to come back, leaving your eyes glassy. “Hey, hey. It’s ok. I’m right here.” Zuko laid closer to you, pulling you into his chest. He smelled like violets and smoke, and when you breathed him in you instantly felt calmer.

“I just – I feel like I’ll never fit in here. Why is it so hard for me? I wish I could just take it all in stride, be a good Fire Lady, attend court, but it’s so exhausting.” A sniffling sound came from where your face was against his chest. “I feel like I’ll never be the wife you need. The one you deserve.” Your words made him feel like he was being struck in the chest. He took your face in his hands and tilted your head so you’d face him.

“How can you say that? My love, you are so much more than I deserve. I know how hard it was for you to change your life completely. I know what a struggle it is for you to live in this gilded cage, always being watched and scrutinized. And still, you accepted that fate without a second thought.” His thumbs rubbed small circles on your cheeks. “As for how well you do it. You do do it well. Every visitor you attend to always speaks so highly of you and how you receive them, the council respects you, our people adore you.”

“I’m just so tired.” Your eyes closed slowly with a pinch of your brows.

“I know, sweetheart. I know you are. And still, you allow no one else to see it, you do your duty, carry yourself with dignity and do so much more. What could have possibly made you think there is anyone else for me?”

“It’s just – I heard the ladies-“

“Those rat snakes? Why would you ever listen to anything they gossip about? You know very well they’re just jealous you took the place they wanted for themselves.” The expression on your face showed him you knew what he meant, and that you felt silly for ever falling into their trap. “You’re my sun; the stars in my night sky. I’m the one who has to strive to deserve you.” He laid a gentle kiss to your lips, a show of his love, and a promise. “I’ll always be here to catch you when you fall.”

“I know. Thank you, my love.” You reached for another kiss, filled with love and gratitude. “Even though it’s hard sometimes, I wouldn’t change anything. I could never be without you. I love you.” Your fingers tangled in his smooth raven hair.

“I love you too.” Zuko laid a kiss to your forehead, before speaking again. “Our anniversary is coming up. What do you say we go on another honeymoon? We can visit your village for a week or two, and then spend a few more weeks on Ember Island, away from prying eyes and courtly duties.”

“I’d really like that.” A smile bloomed in your face; one that was reflected in his.

“Good. Now, I brought you your favourite foods. The Fire Lady must eat so she can have all her strength to come up with a way to keep the court ladies in line. If she doesn’t, I will.” You knew he meant it. With that, he got up and fetched the tray to bring it to you. Once you had eaten, he cuddled up next to you, and you spent the night tangled in each other’s embrace.

“I’ve missed you guys.” You picked Momo up, removing him from your head, and held on to him while you scratched his chin. The room was, like most of the palace, composed of dark red hues with gold accents, decorated with piles of pillows, settees, and small tables filled with snacks and drinks. A soft breeze was blowing in from the balcony, making the sheer curtains billow.

“We’ve missed you too! Come, let’s have a drink and you can tell me all about that lightning show you and Zuko did. He refused to tell us about it without you.” Katara pulled you towards the center of the room, where she picked up a glass of flaming plum liqueur, which she handed to you before ordering you to sit. You looked back at Zuko, whose eyes were already fixed on you, to make sure he followed.

As the hours passed, despite the fuzzy feeling given by the drinks you had, you became more and more aware of how Sokka kept watching you. He seemed to be forming a theory in his mind, watching you for a moment, then looking at Zuko. Even in the midst of everyone’s jokes, there was something he was trying to figure out, and you were scared that he’d point it out. You liked Zuko from the moment you saw him, but getting to know him only made your feelings stronger. He was smart, sweet, attentive, cared about his people and justice; he was even funny sometimes, though it was mostly unintentional. He could be awkward from time to time, but that only made you like him more. You yourself could be like that too, so it just felt like you understood each other; like it was ok to be a bit blunt sometimes. It also didn’t help that he was so tall and beautiful, with those warm amber eyes, that long, flowy black hair, those broad shoulders and strong arms.

You realized you had been staring at Zuko the whole time he had been speaking, and you turned to Sokka to see he had noticed it. As soon as the Fire Lord ended his sentence, he prepared to shoot his question.

“So, are you guys-“

“I need some air!” You shot up from your seat and spoke way too loudly, making everyone stare at you. “I mean- I feel too warm- from the plum liqueur- I’m going to get some air and cool down.” Sokka slumped in his seat, frustrated at your escape, and everyone resumed their conversations. You made your way to the balcony, internally cursing yourself for how obvious you had allowed yourself to be.

The moonlight shone over the pond below; its light reflected onto the entire garden. You took a deep breath, having realized you actually were too warm, and put your hands to your cheeks to cool them down, like you had done for Zuko at dinner.

“Are you okay?” Your eyes closed and a sigh escaped you at the sound of his voice. Having cooled down properly, you removed your hands from your cheeks and turned to see the Fire Lord’s worried eyes.

“Yeah! Yeah, just- needed to cool down, that’s all. I heat up quick when I drink.” You chuckled.

“I think more than one glass of flaming plum liqueur will make anyone too hot.” He chuckled, and you noticed how red his cheeks were. Zuko was always warm, and could tolerate high temperatures, but it was impressive just how much heat he generated. You watched as smoke came out of his mouth, blown into the breeze. I guess royal fire and blood burn hottest.

“So, you can cool down on your own.” You raised your brow, throwing him a mischievous smile.

The smoke turned into a flame, and he began coughing as if he choked on the fire. “I – sometimes. If I’m not too hot, or sick.” He explained. “It’s always easier for firebenders to create heat, and sometimes we can’t help but burn like fire ourselves.” Your eyes wandered through his frame. His hair, flowing lightly in the breeze, his golden eyes, his long neck, partially hidden by his robes.

“It’s like making cold for me. I’ve always found it easier to create ice and cool down fevers than warming people up.” He was close to you now, and you both went quiet.

“Makes sense, we’re opposites.” He whispered after a few moments, and raised the tips of his fingers to your cheek, sharing a sliver of his warmth. You did the same, and he felt a soothing cold against his skin. Droplets of water collected around you, as if the air itself was condensing. Suddenly, tiny blue sparks erupted for your fingers, and you each felt a prickle in your cheek that made you pull away.

“Sorry-“ You both said.

“Now that’s what I call having a spark.” Sokka said from the doorframe of the balcony. He was leaning against it with his arms crossed, looking smugly at the two of you.

“Sokka-“

“Hey, don’t mind me.” He raised his arms in surrender. “I was just trying to catch a glimpse of my ex-girlfriend.” You and Zuko looked at the bright full moon.

“Won’t Suki get jealous?” You asked smugly, trying to change the subject.

“If I could actually kiss the moon, maybe. But since I can’t, she doesn’t see it as real competition.” He shrugged. “So, if you two are done… electrocuting each other, Aang wanted to know when we’re supposed to head to Ember Island.”

You looked between Sokka and the Fire Lord. “You’re going to Ember Island?”

“We’re going to Ember Island. You’re coming too.”

“What are we doing there?”

“Even the Fire Lord deserves a holiday from time to time. Besides, I have to check on Druk. I think he’s grown enough now that I’ll finally be able to bring him to the palace.” The Fire Lord’s dragon was a well-kept secret, shared only with his caretakers on Ember Island, and his group of friends, which you were now part of. The idea that you would get to see, maybe even meet one of the last remaining dragons in the world, was beyond exciting.

A few days before you departed to Ember Island, you were on your way to deliver some scrolls to the Fire Lord, when you heard the Lord Chamberlain’s voice in the throne room.

“My lord, when you return, we must address the matter of your lineage. The council believes it’s time you found a wife and produced an heir. We have made a list of the best candidates in the nation, that will bring honor to the royal family and are of adequate status.”

You felt the air leave your lungs. How could you have been stupid enough to think you had a chance? Zuko was the Fire Lord, and you were just some water tribe nobody. Even if you were someone of standing, it didn’t matter; your review of the history of the Fire Nation for the educational reform showed you that no Fire Lord had ever married someone from another nation. It made sense. Could you imagine if the Fire Lord had a bunch of water bending children? It would cause an uproar. He had a nation and a dynasty to worry about. Surely, he would never even think of seeing you as more than a friend, and you would just have to accept that. You handed the scrolls to a scribe that was about to enter the room and left as quickly as you could, back to your office.

“What if I don’t want any of your candidates?” The Fire Lord’s brow quirked.

“Well, if there is anyone you have in mind, the council would of course look into it and evaluate the propriety of the match. It is expected that you marry a lady of status from our nation, preferably one with bending abilities.”

“Expected?” Zuko rose from his seat. “I have given myself, my time, my life to this nation.” The braziers in the room erupted, creating a wall of fire the likes of which hadn’t been seen since the reign of Fire Lord Ozai. “I do everything that is expected of me, and more. We live in times of unprecedented peace and prosperity because of the efforts I make daily!”  The wall of fire puffed as he spoke, reaching all the way to the chamberlain’s feet. “Do not forget your place, lords.” His fiery gold gaze passed through the faces of each council member. “You are part of a council. As such, it is your job to counsel me. I trust your wisdom and expertise on many matters, but you will not choose my wife. Is that understood?” As soon as he finished speaking, the wall became stable, only a few flickers broke through.

“Yes, Fire Lord.” The council members spoke in unison, bowing down in reverence. They had seen Zuko angry before, but very rarely was it at all of them, much less to the point that the room became a fire pit. There were amongst them a few who thought he didn’t possess the authority needed to rule the nation, like his father before him, but this display showed them that the new Fire Lord was simply a man of wisdom, who knew to listen to others when necessary, but who would make his own decisions when he made up his mind.

“Good. Council dismissed.” The brasiers returned to their normal state, and the Fire Lord walked out of the throne room. On his way out, the tiny scribe nearly bumped against him, and immediately bowed down, extending his arms holding out the Water Tribe scrolls.

“Fire Lord. The Water Tribe envoy has asked me to deliver these.”

His rage seemed to have quickly subsided, something he had gotten better at with time. “Why didn’t she come give them herself?” He asked with a raised brow, taking the scrolls into his own hands.

“I don’t know, my lord. She seemed to be in a hurry.”

“Thank you.” She must be busy. He thought to himself. Though, you had never been too busy to see him even for a short time, especially if you had something to give him.