Upon my request, Sokka and Suki wasted no time to get me onto a Fire Nation balloon. Suki demanded that Sokka remain with the others to help calm everyone, and, while he protested, he eventually caved and let us go.

"You're going to be okay," she told me as we rose into the sky. "You're going to be just fine."

"I know," I nodded, wincing. I wrapped my arms around my torso and hugged myself tightly. Maybe everyone was right - I shouldn't have been involved in the fight. Hot tears rolled down my cheeks. I bit down on my lip to keep from groaning in pain. I closed my eyes again and tried to focus on something else. Anything else.

I thought about Zuko. I thought of his face before this all began, calm and comforting. Things have changed now. Boy, things have changed. What was happening now? Was he okay? Was everyone okay?

No! I scolded myself. Something else. Think of something else.

I thought of the time Zuko and the others had taken me to see the Ember Island Players shortly after my wedding with Bao. They all had spoken of their....interesting experience the last time they had seen one of the theatre troupe's shows, but they still wanted me to see it for myself. It was weird, no doubt. The play followed the lives of everyone in the group, and everything was fairly accurate.

Except the man playing Zuko had the scar was on the wrong side, an uncomfortably muscular man was playing Toph, woman was playing Aang, and the woman portraying me was the love interest of every single male she encountered.

It was strange. It was stranger to know that they somehow knew my entire life story.

I vowed, that day, to never watch the Ember Island Players again.

"We're here," Suki announced. "Saki, we're here!" I kept my eyes closed. Suki's weight shifted as she went about the procedure of landing the hot air balloon.

Once we were landed, Suki assisted me to my feet. My arm was slung over her shoulder as she latched hers around my torso. I finally opened my eyes while we stepped out of the balloon. In front of me was the great palace of Ba Sing Se. With Suki's support, the two of us trudged to The Jasmine Dragon.

Think about something again. Distract yourself.

My mind was racing as I desperately searched for anything to keep my mind off of the pain. I grasped at the faded idea of returning to the South Pole. Maybe things would be better there.

Right, argued the voice in my head, because why not return to a place you barely remember? Why not return to people that have likely forgotten about you?

I grunted inwardly and looked up. We were nearing the tea shop. A wave of relief slowed my pounding heart. We ran into the shop, catch a number of strange glances from customers as they froze mid-conversation.

Iroh, who had been serving tea, stopped as well. His smile fell into a thin line. He finished pouring tea for this couple in front of him, then excused himself to approach us. "Take her to the back room," he said to Suki. "I will join you in just a moment."

"I'm sorry to take you from your shop," I sighed as Iroh sat beside me on the bed. "I know you wanted a quiet life away from all of this."

He let out a soft chuckle. "Oh, no, Saki," said Iroh with a sympathetic smile. "It is a pleasure. You can always come to me in times of need." He handed me a cup of tea. As expected, it was jasmine-mint - my favorite. "You stressed yourself too much," he said. "You must be more careful from now on. It isn't just you that will be effected now."

"Maybe everyone was right," I sighed after sipping the steaming tea. "I shouldn't have been in that fight..."

"You know," he shifted his body and hoisted himself off of the bed, "as I've watched you grow and mature, you and my nephew have become very similar. You're both headstrong, and stubborn." He chuckled and began leaving the room.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

He chortled, "Well, I still have a shop to run!"

I smiled and finished my tea. I set the cup on the floor and laid my hand over my belly. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "I'll do better to keep you safe. I promise." I sighed and laid my head down on the pillow. Iroh was right, as always. I had to be more cautious. Not just for me, but for my child.

Just as I came close to falling asleep, a voice startled me awake. "Saki? What are you doing here?"

I opened my eyes and was met with Aang's hazel eyes. He had Zuko slung over his shoulder, but he didn't seem to be struggling even in the slightest. "I had a little mishap outside of Yu Dao," I said. "I got scared, and this was the first place that came to mind when I needed somewhere safe to go." I paused. "What happened to Zuko?"

"He fainted."

I rose an eyebrow doubtfully.

Flustered, Aang said, "Honest! He didn't get hurt or anything, I promise!"

"I believe you," I chuckled, unable to keep a straight face while watching the Avatar become nervous - as if he thought I'd hurt him if anything had happened.

Well, he wouldn't have been wrong.

"Here," I said, climbing out of the bed. "Lie him down." I helped Aang lay Zuko in my place.

"If you'll excuse me," Aang said, "I need to go speak with someone." And, without another word, he left.

I paid it no mind. Just more Avatar business, I supposed. I looked down at the unconscious Fire Lord and felt myself give a small smile. "You know, Zuko," I said in a hushed tone, "I'm not used to you being this calm and quiet. I kinda like it." I laughed softly to myself and began removing his armor. Once he was comfortably in his robe, I pulled the blanket up to cover his body and kissed his cheek before seating myself on the mat adjacent to the bed.

I poured myself more tea, and sat quietly. This lasted for hours. I spoke to him about things that I hadn't quite shared with him while he was awake, and I wouldn't dare repeat to anyone else. Not even you, person whom I keep imagining, despite the fact that you know every detail about my life.

Come nightfall, Zuko began to stir. I ceased whatever confession I'd been sharing and watched him carefully. He groaned as he turned to his side, eyes narrowed. "Saki?"

"I'm here, Zuko," I smiled.

"Where are we?"

"Your uncle's tea shop," I told him. "Aang brought you here."

Zuko pushed himself up and held his head for a moment.

"Come on," I said, standing up and extending my hand for him. "Iroh and Aang will want to know that you're awake."

He accepted my hand and stood up. For a second, he looked down at himself, then looked at me. "Who changed me out of my armor?" He asked.

"Don't worry about it," I told him, and we walked out into the shop. Iroh beamed at the sight of his nephew. Zuko was quickly seated at a table, and handed a blanket and cup of tea. His uncle rushed outside to share the news with Aang.

"You were right, Saki," Zuko said while we were alone. "This whole time, you were right. The Harmony Restoration Movement was the wrong approach."

"Aren't you glad you have me as your advisor?" I smirked softly, making him laugh. When Aang entered with Iroh, I stood from my seat. "I'll let the two of you talk." As the Avatar took my place, I joined Iroh behind the counter.

"Now that everyone is in good condition," he said excitedly, "I have something that I'd like for you to try."

"You're making me nervous," I teased. "What have you got up your sleeve, old man?"

"I've invented a new beverage!" He grinned. "First, I cook little balls of tapioca until they're soft and tender. Then I drop them into some tea so that they sit like little pearl-sized snacks at the bottom of each cup! I add some milk and - ta da!"

He shoved a cup in my direction, which I had to guess was the newest pride and joy of his shop. Shrugging off the unsettling feeling I had towards the unusual tea, I convinced myself to try it.

What a bad idea that was.

Iroh watched me excitedly as I forced the oddly-textured drink down my throat. Not wanting to disappoint him, I simply said, "You know who would really enjoy this? Zuko and Aang! Why don't you go take them some?"

"You're right!" He said proudly. He poured two more cups and carried them out to the boys, and I followed closely behind. "Nephew! Aang! Please, try my brand-new beverage - a revolution in tea has been born!"

The two of them had the same distaste that I had, but were much more blatant about the disliking. As Iroh frowned in disappointment, I couldn't help but giggle as I watched Aang attempt to chew the tapioca balls while Zuko spit the drink back into his cup and scrape his tongue with his fingers to rid himself of the taste.

Maybe things wouldn't be all that horrible from this point on. I was sure of it.

End

Author's Note

This is the end of The Promise, but now it's time to move onto The Search saga. Stay tuned for more updates!