Disclaimer: I don't own AtLA. That's all.
Sequel to Sleepless Nights
Five years passed. Five years to raise their daughter away from the public eye. Five years to perfect a plan that had been so hastily made at first in the back room of an apartment in Ba Sing Se. Seven, almost eight, years ago the War of a Hundred Years ended. Prisoners of war and soldiers alike returned home. Others didn't. Banishments were revoked, in hopes of drawing out a single person who hadn't been seen in fourteen years.
"Ata, look! Taku!" Kyrsa bounded into the office, a Fire Lily held as delicately as a five year old can manage in one outstretched hand, "Aga told me to give this to you so you'd know the fire lilies are blooming." She beamed.
Zuko set down the papers he had been reading on the ornate desk. Included were various treaties between the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom. Details on the progress made in rebuilding the Northern and Southern Water Tribes. Some resettlement plans for the Fire Nation colonies.
"Tell her 'thank you' for me," he tossed her in the air and caught her. Repeated the action a few more times; sent her on her way.
She giggled, skipped away down the hall. The words, "I will, Ata!" floated back to him.
A couple hours later Katara leaned against the doorframe, caught sight of the slightly crushed flower on the desk, "She adores you."
"How are the plans coming along?" He didn't look up.
"Within the month they'll be off paper and in action." It only took the better part of four years to perfect everything.
"There," he finished reading the last line of a letter from Uncle about how the Dai Li continued to interfere with the mail system of Ba Sing Se. Old habits die slowly it seemed. "Where is she?"
"In her room, taking a nap." Katara wasted no time, "She needs to meet the rest of her family. My side, I mean. Really know them. I haven't even met my nephews and niece."
"I can't just leave, you know that."
"We wouldn't be gone long; it's only a couple weeks at the South Pole."
"Who's going to watch over the Fire Nation while I'm gone? I get anonymous death threats every day. At least four have been from people who work for me within the past three months"
"Well, what are they supposed to do? Chief Sokka can't leave the Southern Water Tribe and Fire Lord Zuko can't leave the Fire Nation Capital."
"You'll have to manage without us."
"I traveled all around the world, but I am not going to let our family be apart. Ever. She'll miss you. I'll miss you!"
"Katara, it's a couple weeks. You said so yourself."
"A couple weeks turns into a month, or a couple months and before you know it she hasn't seen her dad in two years because of some stupid little trip! I want our daughter to grow up with both of her parents around. Not off in some other part of the world. I want her to have what we never got."
"I'll have to contact Uncle, ask him to stand in for me as long as we need," Iroh was the only person left Zuko trusted.
Three days later Kyrsa had her first look at a decommissioned navy ship. The same one her father was banished on in an impossible search. She knew nothing about the war. Of Fire Nation soldiers raiding villages. Of families ripped apart in an instant. But nothing can be hidden forever from the curious.
A/N: Here's the sequel. The chapters will vary in length. Ata and Aga mean father and mother respectively in Yup'ik. Taku is look in Inuit. Please review!