As promised ;)

Thanks everyone for reading! We love you all and thanks so much for your support.

It's kind of a filler leading up to something I have planned ;) just some cute stuff.

Anyways PLEASE give us your ideas for what we should do with our characters for Ember Island Players XD We need help!

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Chapter 30

Cameron

"Alright… I can do this…" I stared in the mirror at myself, trying to keep my spirit there. My heart was heavy as I thought about the whole situation. The bruises around my neck and the cut on my face should have been enough… but for some reason my stomach felt heavy.

The beatings… the nights were getting worse. I didn't question it- I didn't say a thing anymore. I refused to let him get satisfaction through a reaction from me. Even if it was killing me slowly on the inside.

I told myself it was because I looked like Mother- that was the only reason why. I told myself that just so that it wouldn't look like he was a completely sick bastard. In the back of my mind I knew that it wasn't the reason. I knew that there was more to it.

Flakes of blood stuck my hair together in some places. My whole body ached everywhere- my eye throbbing constantly. I couldn't go back.

"Are you ready?" I turned to see that Iroh was leaning on the doorframe, his expression grim as he looked at me. Nodding, I grabbed my bag off of the floor at my feet and smiled a bit at him.

"Zuko's going to hate me for this…" I murmured looking up at the man who was helping me out of this hell hole. Iroh gave me a sad smile and shook his head at that.

"No… He's going to forgive you. Prince Zuko doesn't now the situation. This is for the better."

Shaking my head at this I sighed. "Maybe I shouldn't-"

"Cameron." Iroh's voice was hard for once, he placed his hands on my shoulders and made me look up at him, his eyes blazing. "You are not staying here. Our paths will cross again but until then...you need to live. You're too young to continue to stay here and let that man slowly kill you."

With a sigh I nodded, rubbing one of my older bruises on my arm. Iroh knew of the beatings. He didn't know anything else though. He had been angered enough when he found out about it and there was no need for him to find out about the other things that had happened. His anger fuelled his need to help me escape. And while the man would usually find a way to make peace- he figured there was going to be no peace between my father and I.

Not while Zhao acted like that.

"Is the ship ready?" I asked with a sigh. I was just tired. Tired of this all…

"It'll be in five minutes. Once you're on you need to stay out of sight. Don't draw attention to yourself and wait for the right moment for you to get off the ship… I wish you the best of luck." Iroh took my hand in one of his own and squeezed it tightly. I smiled at the old man and though I knew that there was a chance that I would never see him again… there was also the chance that I would. And I was praying that I would.

"Before you leave…" He placed something in my hand and I looked down to see it was a fire lily.

"This is so cheesy." I laughed, starting to tear up. Iroh laughed with me and pulled me into a quick hug.

"There's nothing wrong with that. You're going to bloom like a Firelily in the world my dear."

He kissed me on the forehead before leaving the room. I looked back down at the flower in my hand and with a sigh I shut my eyes. This was going to be worth it in the end… It had to be.

I twisted the bracelet around my wrist as I made my way through the Middle ring of the Earth Kingdom. It didn't take me long to realize that the war was somewhat of a taboo around here so instead I found myself wandering- enjoying how normal Ba Sing Se felt.

It had been a while since I felt like this.

Smiling as I wandered around the town, I noticed a side booth with what looked like paintings for sale. Immediately this caught my interest. Usually when there was paintings around, there was an artist… an artist who might even have some supplies. I hadn't been able to paint or draw or do anything in what was probably months and with all of the sites that we visited, with all of the adventures and stress… I needed my release.

I found myself at the booth, humming to myself as I examined the paintings with a critical eye. It was obvious that whoever did these were majorly talented.

"You like them?" I jumped spinning around as the voice whispered in my ear. Smirking behind me was a boy who looked a bit older than myself. He was clearly from here- the tanner skin, dark hair, green eyes. Agni he was rather attractive...

"They're beautiful. Did you paint them yourself?" I asked shoving my hands into my pockets and he just shook his head laughing.

"I wish. My brother paints them and I sell. We're like our own little business. I'm Takashi by the way… you are?" He offered a hand which I shook with a smile.

"Cameron. I'm just visiting Ba Sing Se and was wondering where your brother got his supplies… See I travel a lot with a group and this is the first real break we get so I figured I should pick art back up… I miss it."

The boy frowned for a second before shaking his head. "Well my brother makes his own paints so... " Seeing the look of disappointment that flashed on my face he immediately backtracked. "I can always get you some! I mean I'm sure he won't mind and I was supposed to be taking a lunch break soon anyways…"

Nodding I wasn't able to keep the smile off of my face.

"That would be wonderful. In return I can take you to eat or something. Whatever you'd like because you're helping me out." I winked at him then wrapped my arm around his own.

About an hour and a half later I found myself walking down the streets with Takashi- a back of art supplies swinging at my side and a smile on my face as we talked. Though I didn't tell him that I was indeed traveling with the Avatar, I did tell him about some of our adventures and he found them thrilling. Apparently he lived in Ba Sing Se all of his life and wanted to travel out with his brother, after the two of them made enough money.

"And here it is!" There was a large smile on his face as he gestured to the tea shop that stood in front of us. It was on the edge in between the lower and middle ring and was actually quite quaint.

The shop itself was quite plain. It was a single story building with an overhanging welcome sign up front. Lanterns hung from the pillars and though it did look boring… Agni the place smelled good.

I took in a deep breath and felt a stupid smile grow on my face.

"They just got a new tea-maker. Apparently he's really good and all the rave. Are you alright with this?" Takashi asked running a hand through his hair and I nodded.

Smiling at my response he pulled the door open and we quickly took one of the tables. I folded my legs underneath me and grinned over at the boy who was looking around stunned.

I smiled softly to myself. I had my art supplies and as soon as I started painting… I knew I would be able to think clearly again. I could reevaluate everything. My relationship with Olivia included.

I loved the girl. I really did… but did it hurt when she said all that stuff? Yes… of course it did. I wanted to forgive her- make things normal again… but would my pride let me? If we're being honest… no. No it wouldn't.

Maybe if I hadn't lied about it all… maybe then things would be easier… but then again maybe if I had left the firenation earlier, none of this wouldn't happen.

"Welcome to Pao Family Tea Shop. What can I get you?"

My heart stopped for a second as I heard the voice. That voice. Without thinking I grabbed my bag from my side and shot to my feet- almost knocking the person over. I wanted to firebend but I knew I couldn't. I knew how much trouble I would get in if I did.

"Wait!" Zuko grabbed onto my arm but I pulled it free with a sharp yank. I smashed the bag into him once more before sprinting out of the tea shop only glancing back once.

His amber eyes met mine for a second but I was then off.

I almost didn't recognize him but… even with the changes there was no denying he was the Zuko I grew up with.

We hadn't seen each other since the North Pole and… time did him good. His face was thinner and his jaw looked stronger. All of the rest of the baby fat that he had seemed to melt off. And I wasn't biggest change was his hair though.

Gone was the pony tail and the baldness around it. Hair had grown in and though it was still rather short I had to admit the short spiky hair looked pretty good on him.

He finally was starting to look like the Zuko that I left behind all those years ago.

Shaking my head I slowed to a walk after making sure I hadn't been followed. My mind was spinning. How had Zuko known we'd be in Ba Sing Se? Why was he at a tea shop in the first place?

Agni there was no way I could tell the others about this… As long as he didn't know where we were and they didn't know he was here… things would be okay. It was going to be okay.

And here I was hoping that I was done with secrets