But Zuko had at least one more assassination attempt, a stop at the Fire Nation and a huge lie to tell before he could even think about coming to see you. And by then, a month had passed.

"So, where are you going again?" Mai asked as her arms snaked around Zuko's chest.

"Omashu Colonies." Zuko responded shortly. That's close to the Foggy Swamp Tribe.

"And when will you be back?"

"Why does it matter?"

"I want to know when I'll get to see my boyfriend again. Is that so weird?" She kissed his neck.

"No." He frowned and held her hand. He still cared deeply about Mai. But he was concerned about you. And he wanted to see you, regardless about whether or not continuing a relationship with you would be an option.

She sighed.

"Whatever, Zuko."

But whatever wasn't right. He was traveling by himself, in secret, just like the old days. And he would have been lying if he didn't admit that it was something of a relief. The pressures of being Fire Lord were gone just briefly and the enjoyment of being alone was enough to calm him down for the trip.

That calmness did not last the entire trip however. Upon reaching the Swamplands, Zuko was incredibly grumpy.

"My damn shoes and pants are soaked in this nasty bog water now. Bugs are swarming me. It's a million degrees." Complaints rolled off his tongue.

"Haven't ya ever been to the swamp, Zuko?" the familiar words twanged out at him for the second time in his life.

"YN?" His eyes widened as he searched the thicket for you.

"If you're hot, you could take off some of your clothes." You repeated words that you said when you first met him.

"Only if you do first." He smiled as he admitted the next sentence. "Please, come get me."

With a laugh, you paddled on your canoe with your limited waterbending towards the grumpy Fire Lord.

"I'm glad ya got ma note, Zu." You smiled as you helped him into the canoe.

"AHH!" He immediately recoiled once he got in. "What's that!?"

Slim snapped at the young man, who was dangerously close to stepping on his tail.

"Not 'what', 'who'. That's Slim." You corrected him. "Ma pet catgator!"

"Slim... uh... Good boy, Slim?" Zuko tried to pet the catgator, but Slim turned his head away.

"Don't mind him, we gotta get back to ma family! They said you ain't comin' but I knew. I knew you comin' to me." You smiled at him and held your rock necklace. "Ya know, 'cause of this."

"Wait." Zuko took your wrists. "Before we go do that really scary thing. I want to talk to you alone."

"Oh..." You gulped, knowing that you would likely have to spill your secret at this point. "Alright."

Zuko glanced down at your catgator.

"Alone, alone." He verified.

"Slim, go home." You commanded, pushing the pet with your foot.

With a growl, Slim slithered out of the canoe and left you and Zuko alone, in a canoe, on the edge of the hot Swamplands. Both of you had some important secrets to say. Neither of you knew what the other was going to say.

This was going to be interesting.