Come Back Home.

Everyone was at Iroh's tea shop in Ba Sing Se. Aang and Katara still hadn't returned from the balcony, but they weren't missed. Zuko grinned absentmindedly, it was all right for the Avatar to disappear for a while, but when the Fire-Lord announced that he was taking a vacation, all the advisors of all the four nations would instantly mob him. But it was fine; Zuko knew that he had a lot of work to do, what with rebuilding the whole world and inspiring trust in the Fire Nation once again. The Avatar had done his share; only Aang would have the guts and the talents to strip Ozai of his bending powers.

Zuko got up.

"Uncle, I'm going out."

Mai looked up and started to follow him. Last time Zuko 'left', he betrayed the Fire-Lord and dumped her. This time…Mai wasn't too sure about whether or not she really trusted him as much anymore. Iroh touched her arm, now was not the time to question Zuko's intentions. Mai let out a breath and went back to the group, glancing over her shoulder now and then.

Now was definitely not the time to question Zuko. He was already confused.

"Where is my mother?"

It rushed back. Months after Aang took out Ozai, weeks after his coronation, days of intense wondering, hours before, minutes before, seconds before that confrontation, it all rushed back.

"Where is my mother?" Zuko asked his father, his voice firm and steady. He wanted a straight answer after all these years. His father chuckled, his dead eyes glistening.

"You still care for that traitor? Oh I forgot. You traitors like to stick together, don't you? Well you won't find her here. Hah, oh no. I got rid of her a long time ago. Long ago. She wanted to protect you, after you shamed me in front of my father. Oh yes, I got rid of her. Sent her far, far away. Didn't want her to interfere or come back, oh no! Made sure that she wouldn't, made sure that she couldn't!"

Zuko felt cold. His father, the last piece of the puzzle, the one person who knew where his mother was, had gone mad. It was over, all over. Zuko fell to his knees.

"Yes indeed. She was troublesome, oh but I got rid of her. Sent her to Ba Sing Se. Kept her there, told her I would kill her and her family if she ever came back…yes I did."

Zuko started.

He left the prison, his knees shaking.

Zuko had asked around Ba Sing Se. No one had heard of his mother, Ursa, but at the tea shop, he had eavesdropped on two people, who had talked about this one fire bending lady who owned the house two blocks down. He could have gone then, but he procrastinated. What would his mother think after all these years? Would she forgive him? Would she even remember him?

But Iroh had found out. And there had been no stopping him, Dragon of the West, when he found out that his dear beloved sister-in-law was still alive. Of course, Zuko had reserved first rights to visit her, so Iroh began rushing him to go visit his mother. Like he needed to be rushed! He was going to visit her, sure. But he wanted some time to adjust to all this before…before, you know, he met her.

Now he was here. She was in this house, he knew it. He knocked once, twice, his breath short and fast. A woman with long black hair, her eyes shrouded, clothed in a green and gold robe. She looked like Ursa; he desperately wanted her to be Ursa. She smiled uncertainly.

"Can I help you?"

Zuko grinned. She even sounded like Ursa. "Mom?"

The woman blinked. Zuko's heart soared, the woman's mouth opened, hesitant. Already, he could feel his mother's embrace, her tears of being reunited.

"Excuse me?"

What?

"Aren't you…aren't you Ursa? She lives here?"

But it was no use. The woman looked straight at Zuko, and he knew. That wasn't his mother. He turned around, ready to walk away, wanting to hear that woman say that, no! it was just a mistake! I really am Ursa!.

"Wait, young man!"

Zuko spun a full 180 degrees, his metal clad shoes sparking against the rocky pavement.

"I d-don't know if this will help…I mean it's been so long. But there was another owner of this house. I bought it from her, you see, about ten years ago. Not quite sure, but perhaps her name was…Why don't you…why don't you come in?"

His mouth twitched.

"I would love to."