Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's note: Sorry for the long gap between updates—many things have happened, as usual. A brief summary of the things I've had to deal with were final exams, the death of my grandpa, and job searching for summer. Writing comes slowly, but once again I thank my readers for being so understanding! Love ya'll!

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o CHAPTER 18 0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o0o0o0O

After his abrupt awakening, Zuko adopted a steely, unstoppable determination to recover fully. He patiently endured Katara's experimental healing session, practiced his meditation with General Iroh everyday, and made the effort to mend his relationship with the Avatar and Sokka—for Katara's sake. His progress was slow at first, but gradually accelerated.

Thanks to the herbalist's efforts and Katara's newfound healing abilities, Zuko took his first steps without help after two weeks. Three weeks passed, and his determination strengthened, beginning to mirror the stubbornness he had so fiercely displayed in the past. But he didn't return to angry, angst-ridden teenager he had been just weeks ago. For the first time in years, Zuko felt genuinely happy, and it showed.

"Zuko, what are you going to do now?" Katara asked delicately one night while they were sharing their dinner together in his room.

The firebender looked thoughtfully at her. "How do you mean?"

Katara frowned at her question being thrust back at her. "What I mean is," she struggled to articulate what she wanted to say. "What I mean is…what are you going to do with your life, now?"

"You mean, am I going to stop chasing you?" The Prince's mouth tugged upwards, forming a trace of a smile. "That depends."

"On what?"

"On whether or not you try to run away from me."

Katara cast her eyes downward, fingering the food on her plate but not eating it. "Zuko…I don't want to leave you. But I can't abandon Aang either. We have a job to do, remember?"

The firebender's eyes darkened slightly, not with cruelty or malice, but with sadness. "I remember," he breathed, glancing away.

"We can't abandon it. Aang has to defeat your father before—" Katara's voice was suddenly cut off when Zuko leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. The waterbender's eyes cast on him a look of both love and uncertainty.

Zuko breathed deeply. "Katara, I understand what you and your friends must do. And I'm…I'm not going to do anything to stop you."

"But—is that okay? I mean, you'll never be able to return home."

"I know."

Then…what now?"

Zuko glanced up with his penetrating yellow eyes. "I don't want to chase the Avatar anymore. What I want is…if you'll permit it…to help."

Glancing downward again in shyness, Zuko heard the faint, rasping sound of Katara's sudden gasp. The next thing he sensed was the feeling of her body in his arms, her arms snaking gently around his neck, and her lips granting him a delighted kiss. Then the waterbender pulled away, a bright beautiful smile on her face.

"Of course, Zuko," she breathed happily. "Of course."

THE END

My dear, It's time to say i thank god for you.
I thank god for you in each and every single way.
And, i know... i know.. i know.. i know...

It's time to let you know. time to let you know.
Time to let you know. time to sit here and say...

I know we are... we are the lucky ones.
I know we are... we are the lucky ones.
I know we are... we are the lucky ones.
I know we are... we are the lucky ones, dear.
We are the lucky ones, dear...

(ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo)

Personal Thingy:

Finally. "Into the Fire" is finished. takes huge, relieved breath Sorry for the super-short ending chapter. It's probably not the literary fireworks some of you were expecting, but I feel that this ending is fitting—and happy! And then, I found the wonderful lyrics to Bif Naked's song "Lucky." The words suit the finale of "Into the Fire" perfectly.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY FAITHFUL, WONDERFUL, AND INSPIRING REVIEWERS, ESPECIALLY ML7. YOU DEFINITELY NEVER GAVE UP AND KEPT ME ON MY TOES THROUGHOUT THIS VERY, VERY, VERY LONG PROJECT OF MINE. I EXTEND MY ABSOLUTE GRATITUDE AND LOVE TO ALL OF MY REVIEWERS. THANKS.

ROSEBLADE22