I have a secret: I dont own Avatar! (I know, I know, Big surprise, right?)

This is just a bunch of Zuko and Iroh oneshots that I am making. I love that team, their remarkable. I dedicate these stories to my little brothers and sisters who are the worlds most annoying brats and the best little brothers and sister the world has ever known.

And especially to my little brother the D-My-ster, He's a sweet-heart and I love him. No matter how many times he's stubborn, bratty and mischievious. He's a riot, a genuis, and really kind. (Plus he's a got a knack for art) He's just like me when I was little (and even now): Always dreaming when he should be awake, Always speaking when he should be quiet and really, really good-hearted! Enough with the mushy stuff onto my story

Zuko and Iroh, Iroh and Zuko

1. The Best Medicine

Iroh sat on his silk recliner bed, three pillows under his head and back, a soft warm blanket on top of him kept what little draft that came in through the sun-windows off of his fevered skin.

Servants bustled about, adjusting curtains, taking the bed sheets, filling his ink jar, offering him tea and a young nurse constantly changed the wet cloth on his forehead. None of it helped to soothe his fever. Despite the fever burning in his skin, his teeth chattered. His nose felt runny and congested at the same time. The fire nations best herbalist had all sent over one remedy after the other. But it wasn't helping his case of the Summer Fever-Flu.

"Lord Iroh, perhaps I can make you more comfortable if you'd only let me arrange these pillows." "Lord Iroh, Kaza, the best healer in the city of Kagashi has sent this for you. The instructions say that if you rub this on your chest three times a day. You will feel better in three days!" Everyone was talking at once which only helped to stoke the fever flames that caused him a migraine.

"Lord Iroh? Lord Iroh?" "What do you want now!" Iroh finally had had enough, he was a paitient man, but this was too much. He was sick, he needed rest. Every medicine they'd tried said to take it and rest, yet there was always atleast four people in his room at all times treating him with something new. He'd been sick for two weeks and was no longer up to being a good paitient.

"Is their anything we can do to make you more comfortable?" "Yes." Iroh said, coughed heavily for a few moments, sniffed, and then. "Please, just leave me." He no longer felt up to the remark he'd planned on using. "But, General Iroh…" The servants all began to protest. "Retired General," He corrected habitually, He had no intention, no desire to return to the military. "I have suffered far worse than Summer Fevered-Flu, If I can just get a few days of rest I will be just fine." He grinned at the looks of embarassed dismay of the servants.

"I thank each and everyone of you. You were all so kind to look after me but now, I just need rest. Please." "Yes, General Iroh." "Don't disturb me until dinner time." Iroh added quickly as the servants bowed and filed out quietly closing the door behind them. "Finally." Iroh muttered.

With little effort of his bending skills he restricted the bright flames to dim glows. "Now, for some classic rest…" Iroh muttered as he snuggled into his blankets, coughed a few times and then closed his eyes.

Tap, tap, tap…..TAP, TAP…KNOCK, KNOC, KNOCK! Iroh leapt up into a sitting position, then immediately regretted it as his muscles strained and his chest pounded, he choked on coughs for a few moments. In that time the knocking at his door grew louder, and faster, then softer and sparce. Then, finally stopped.

It had'nt been half an hour when he was disturbed. Iroh lay back down, pulled his blankets over himself, he considered who could've been at the door, It was probably a swarm of servants or healers apprentices who'd come to check on him. Iroh sighed, blew his sore red nose and lay back down.

He closed his eyes, the door cracked open slightly, Iroh could see a long shadow through the crack, he closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. Someone came in his room, closed the door. He figured it was a determined servant who just hadn't gotten the memo.

Soft padded steps aproached his bed-side and then a voice. "Uncle? Uncle, are you asleep?" It was the young prince Zuko. Iroh decided to play a little joke, instead of answering he snored and snorted,coughed some and then rearranged himself. He opened one lid ever so slightly that he could see out but no one could see them selves being watched. Thank you years, and years of military training and experiences.

Zuko was the average height for a seven year old, his muscles were only slightly defined because he didn't produce enough hormones to actually sculpt his body. He wore a basic robe of red and black, Fire Nation colors. He had a quill pen tucked behind his ear, plus from the position of the sun, Iroh could tell that he had just come from a lesson. He had a short break before he spent four hours on his bending training.

"Uncle?..." Zoku shrugged and then went to his uncles desk he climbed onto the iron and cushion chair, then rummaged until he found a blank scroll, Rolling it out flat he searched his pockets and vest before remembering the pen behind his ear. He licked the top of the pen, which was getting dry. From the expression on his face Iroh could tell Zuko didn't like the taste of browned coal ink. Iroh smiled softly as Zuko began his writing, or drawing or what ever he was doing.

Iroh scooted softly, soundlessly to the edge of his bed…Carefully placing his feet on the floor he tip-toed behind his young nephew. Zuko hummed softly as he leaned heavily over his work. Iroh didn't dare lean over enough to see past the boy. Instead he just waited.

Zuko finished after almost ten minutes. "There, all finished." Iroh withheld laughter as Zuko talked to himself. "I'll just leave it propped open so that it can dry," Zuko made a chirping sound, "Then Uncle, will see it and feel better when he wakes up." Zuko put the wet pen behind his ear once again, then climbed out of the large iron wrought chair backwards.

"Boo." Iroh shouted in a deep voice, blowing a licking flame past the boys ear. "Eeep!" Zuko leapt almost three feet in the air, went pale, and formed fireballs around his fist and shouted a peircing "Go away!" so quickly Iroh could barely register it all.

"Zula! I told you to-" Zuko stopped short, as he turned and saw his uncle standing their grinning. "Uncle!" Zuko yelled "How could you? You scared me!" He said in gruff frustration. Iroh laughed. "Stop laughing!" Zuko shouted.

"It's okay Prince Zuko, it's only me." Iroh said putting a hand on his shoulder. "That was mean." Zuko hissed pulling away from his uncle, though not in cruel manner, just as a reflex. He was upset and didn't want to be pacified. "Don't be that way, Prince Zuko, I was just having a little fun." Iroh said looking at the back of the pouting boys head. "It wasn't funny." Zuko snapped, his cheeks a little pink. "I am sorry, nephew, but I have been so lonely sitting here, for two weeks with nothing but bossy servants tending me."

"Oh. But, Unlce, I came to see you six times." Zuko reminded him. "Yeah, but you only come for a few minutes in the evening and we dont have anytime together." Iroh sighed. He enjoyed his usual games of chess and pai-sho with the young prince. They usually played at night time in the gardens a few times a week. "I didn't want to upset you." Iroh said after receiving no relpy.

Zuko was only seven, and Iroh knew that he was to energetic and didn't have the focus of mind it took to be angry for more than a few moments. That is why he wasn't surprised when he'd only reached fourty-nine, in his mental count when Zukos smiling face turned to face him. "That's okay uncle, I am sorry your sick. I came to show you what I learned." Zuko said pointing to the scroll on the desk.

"I made an even better one in class. But it's not finished drying, when it is, I will bring it for you to see." Iroh examined the scroll. There was a note, and a drawing. The note read:

Dear Uncle,

I am sorry that you are sick and hope you feel better.

I miss playing games in the gardens with you a lot.

I learned a new set of bending maneuvers, but cant say they are perfect.

When you are better will you help me practice them. (Goody-Goody, Azula is two sets ahead.) Here he'd drawn a distorted picture of his sister.

Iroh smilled at the picture

Hope that you feel better soon, Prince Zuko.

(the bottom half of the scroll was covered in an elaborate picture of a game

board sitting in the center of stone table in the garden. Zuko and Iroh each sat at one end)

Iroh smiled warmly, Zuko was a boy of many talents. Drawing was one of them. Even though Zuko didn't really care for it, Iroh loved his drawings but Zuko always refused. Now he'd created a wonderfull scene that if someone dripped color into it, no one could really tell it was a picture until they looked carefully.

Not only was the picture there but Zuko, whose hand writing was normally atrocious because he could'nt bring himself to care more about it unless required for his studies, had written the words each one using special calligraphical runes. It was all very well made. The drawing wasn't as detailed as Zuko could've made it, but it was still of high quality, no one would guess that a child, of seven could've drawn it.

"I heard someone say once that receiving letters when they were sick made them fell better. I thought I could write you one so you'd feel better." Zuko said "Zuko, Thank You." Iroh said, looking at the picture, smiling warmly, his chest felt less congested already. Then he coughed a little, and winced as the coughs racked his body.

"So do you feel better Uncle?" Zuko asked eagerly. His migraine still pulsated in his head, his chest was congested and his nose couldn't decide whether to drip or just clog itself up. His skin was twice as warm as it should've been. His eyes were tired and his knees felt weak. "Yes, Prince Zuko, much better." Iroh said, surprised at how true the statement was.

END

I know that wasn't so great. But please R&R anyway. I love Firebending, so I dont mind Flames! ;