Falling For the Prince

Past Relived

Zuko and I had sat out by the pond for quite a while. Maybe about an hour or so. It was nice. It's been a while since I could just relax and be myself; my real self.

Zuko cleared his throat. "Well, we should probably get back inside.

I nodded and stood up and stretched. Man, sitting in one place for a long period of time could really tighten up your muscles. Zuko stood up, too, also stretching. They way he stretches is kind of cute... Okay. Again, no. He's a Prince and you're just a mere servant, not to mention an ex-thief.

"You may want to help with our dinner tonight. We have guests coming," he told me. he started walking back to the door.

"Oh, of course," I said, quickening my pace to catch up with him. "If I may ask, who are our guests?"

"Mai and her family are going to be here, along with Ty Lee."

Oh great. I'd heard about them. Mai is Zuko's girlfriend, and Ty Lee is one of their friends. I'd heard from a few other maids that Ty Lee was quite annoying. Mai, on the other hand, barely ever showed emotion. Maybe that was where some of Zuko's sour attitude came from.

Well, whatever the reason, they were coming. Nothing I could really do about it.

Once we were inside, we went our separate ways. Me, to the kitchen, and Zuko... Somewhere else.

Upon reaching the kitchen, I found all of the cooks already hard at work to prepare dinner. I washed my hands before going to find the head chef. After finding him, I asked if there was anything I could help with. "Um, e-excuse me. Is there anything that I can help with?"

"Yes, actually," he said while rolling dough. "Over by the stoves, one of the chefs is preparing the dessert. You can help with that."

I nodded and headed over to where he had told me. The chef there seemed to be making some kind of tart, for there were a few pans with crust in them.

"Are you here to help?" she asked me.

"Yeah. What do you need me to do?"

"Take over with the crusts," she said, stepping back from the counter. "I need to start making the custard." So I was right. She was making a tart. A custard one.

"Alright." I took her place in front of the counter and started kneading the dough. 'Wow, this is pretty thin...' I thought. 'Oh well, I'm not the chef.'

She came back moments later with the ingredients and set them on the table beside the counter. "You're doing pretty good with that," she said, watching me knead the dough.

"Yeah," I said. "I used to bake with my parents a lot." I smiled, thinking back to those times.

*~*

"Crystal! Can you get the flour?" my mom called across the small kitchen. We were baking a pie today.

"Yeah, give me a second!" I hurried over to the cupboard and took the flour out. I ran over and handed it to her. "Here, mom!"

She grinned as she took it and proceeded to measure two cups. "Want to help me with the dough?" she asked.

"You know this, mom. I always do!"

We continued with the baking process until the pie was safely in the oven to bake. My mom heaved a tired sigh, collapsing into a nearby chair.

"Baking is so tiring!"

I giggled. "But you get to enjoy a tasty treat when it's all over with!"