Fire Lord's Daughter
Chapter 1
It was a normal day in Capital City, Zuko sat in the dining hall with Iroh enjoying a cup of jasmine tea.
"The Avatar wants to have a reunion again, I honestly think that I need it." Zuko smiled as he watched the steam roll off his tea.
"You and Mai both need the break, plus it would not hurt if you shared the new bundle of joy with your friends." Iroh sipped his tea.
"I have told them, it isn't like I have kept them in the dark completely. The only reason they all have more kids than I do is because I have more work then they do." Zuko sips his tea looking at his uncle who just laughs at the Fire Lord.
"Toph has a child on the way and this will be her first and probably her last child. You will not be the only one with one kid." Iroh enjoyed the company of Toph many times and it wasn't rare for Toph to come to Capital City to just see Iroh and seek his wisdom.
"You and Toph have a special relationship Uncle, I think that she see's you as her father like I do." Zuko hadn't realized that he was kind of jealous of the Earth Bender.
"Zuko, everyone in the Gaang I see as my children, you will always hold a special place in my heart that the others will never touch." Iroh wrapped a arm around Zuko with a firm squeeze.
"Touching conversation." Mai's voice rang in the room, Zuko turned and smiled at her.
"Mai" He watched her as she cradled the newborn in her arms, Zuko was a little scared about his new daughter turning out like Azula. Mai had assured him many times that he wasn't like his father and their daughter was going to be just like him.
"Your daughter has been wanting you" Zuko took his daughter from Mai's arms and held her close. Mai hadn't gotten much sleep since their daughter had been born, it had been rough on Mai and she hadn't really recovered from it.
"Go get some sleep." Mai rested her head on Zuko's shoulder, he kisses the top of her head.
"I think that eating would be better for me right now, then I will go sleep." Mai smiles at Zuko and kisses his cheek before she heads to the kitchen to grab something small to eat. He watched her leave and gave a sigh, he looked down at the cooing little fire ball in his arms and smiled.
They named her Anali, and she was just like Iroh predicted, a strong Fire Bender like her father. Iroh came over and looked at his new niece, her eyes were bright gold and hair black as night he could see the fire burning behind her eyes wanting to be freed. She had so much to learn in 16 years, but if Zuko was able to learn as much as he did in such little time, Iroh knew that Anali would excel at all Fire Bending.
It wasn't long before Zuko, Mai, Anali and Iroh were on a ship heading to Ember Island where Aang decided would be a good place for the reunion this time. It was night fall and Zuko had gotten up again with Anali, he wasn't sure if the waves were keeping the little one up or if something else was. He walked around the ship humming a lullaby and rocked his little bundle trying to get her to go back to sleep, he was loosing sleep and he wanted to make sure Mai was okay.
"Zuko, I'll take care of her for a while, you have walked past my door 10 times in the past half hour. You need your sleep." Iroh took Anali from Zuko and shooed him back to his room, Zuko gave Iroh a worried but relieved smile and headed back to his chamber with Mai. As he walked away he could hear Iroh begin singing to the rather discomforted infant, he left the door open and slid back into bed with Mai.
"Is she alright?" Mai's groggy voice broke the silence as she cuddled closer to Zuko, she missed the warmth that he emitted when he left.
"Yes, she is fine. Go back to sleep." he kissed the top of her head and held her close, he hoped that maybe Katara could help her with whatever was causing Mai her discomfort. It wasn't long and Zuko fell fast asleep again with his head resting on Mai's, neither of them minding the closeness.
It seemed like a short nap before Zuko woke to the feel of the ship stopping, he hadn't given the orders to stop for anything unless they arrived at Ember Island. He noticed Mai had rolled out of his arms in the night and was now facing the wall, he got up slipped on his robe and headed up to the deck to see what was the cause of the sudden stop. He seen that the Gaang was heading up to the Royal Family house, a smile spread across his lips he headed back down to wake Mai and to make sure Iroh didn't need any help with anything.
Mai was awake and getting dressed in her beach attire when Zuko walked back in, she had a hand placed lightly on her lower stomach. Zuko did worry about Mai, her eyes didn't shine like they use to and she hardly ate anymore. Iroh walked by with a sleeping Anali in his arms, he to shared a look of concern for Mai's health.
"You both act like I am going to shatter into a million pieces. I will be fine, You two wouldn't look all that great if you had to carry a child for 9 months." Mai pushed past Zuko and took the sleeping bundle from Iroh, Zuko knew she didn't sleep well once again but her normal attitude was still there.
"Lets go so the servants can get our luggage" Zuko wrapped an arm around Mai and the two headed for the beach with Iroh close behind them. Zuko smiled as Kya, Bumi, and Tenzin raced around the island chasing each other, how Aang and Katara kept up with their kids was beyond him. They headed up to the beach house, Zuko wondered what everyone's expressions were going to be.
"Bumi! Tenz-Zuko! Mai! Baby! Baby?!" Katara's eyes doubled in size as she ran down to the Royals. "When did this happen? Mai are you feeling okay?" Katara had to many questions and Mai didn't feel like answering them now.
"This is Anali, she's only a couple days old." Mai pushed past Katara and continued towards the house. "If you wouldn't mind taking a look at her later, she's been having abdominal pain since she had Anali. I'm worried about her." Zuko shared a look of concern and a soft smile, Katara simply nodded and let Zuko catch up to Mai, who was probably getting surrounded by questions by now. Zuko was happy to see that everyone had abandoned the house and moved to the beach so Mai was swarm free, she sat on the couch and was feeding Anali before the Gaang came back to the house.
"Zuko can you get some sunscreen for her?" He nodded and dug in the baby bag that was just brought in and handed it to Mai. "I thought you were going to tell them about Anali before we came here?"
"I was but I wanted to see the shocked look on their face and its easier to answer questions all at once instead of writing the answers over and over again." he sat down next to her and watched as Mai applied the sunscreen so delicately to their daughter.
"I guess that makes since, I am sorry that I have been so moody lately." She gave him a small smile which he gladly returned.
"I don't mind, I will still love you no matter what."
"I see hot pants and his wife are here." Toph laughed but cut short. "I didn't know there was a little Zuko, or is it a little Mai?"
"Her name is Anali." Mai smiled as she looked at the, what she could assume, was a 8 month pregnant Toph who was chewing on a slice of bread. "How is your little bun in the oven?"
"Happy and healthy. You don't seem to be up to par Mai." Toph walked over and sat on the other couch in the living room.
"Its only been a couple of days since I had her Toph. I don't expect to be 100% for a few weeks." Mai wanted to laugh but nothing more than a content sigh came out.
"Understandable, and still Zuko drug you along." Toph shook her head as she finished off her bread.
"I didn't want to leave her home alone, plus Anali is a 3 person job." Zuko laughed as Iroh walked in and set down a tray of tea.
"I see you brought Iroh with you as well."
"It is good to see you again Toph, I see you are doing well." Iroh hands out the tea to those who are in the room.
"I am, sugar queen has been keeping me where ever she is. So I do apologize for not visiting you as often." Toph sips the tea she was given and smiles.
"That is fine, you shouldn't be traveling around in your condition anyway."
"Hey Zuko is here" Suki came out carrying her own child, Zuko estimated that he was about a year old if that.
"Hey Suki. I see Sokka got the son he always wanted." Zuko laughs, Anali coos sending a little fire ball in the air.
"Oh goody, now I have to make sure she doesn't burn me to a crisp." Mai hands Zuko their bundle of joy.
"Oh it won't be that bad, it could have been worse. Like Azula worse." Zuko cradles Anali in his arms as Suki joins the group in drinking tea.
"Please don't mention your sister, just her name makes me nauseous." Mai makes a disgusted face while she drinks her tea.
"Sokka is happy that we had a son, but he's a water bender not a normal kid." Suki shrugs and smiles.
"Oh poor Sokka, his son will be smarter than him." Toph pours herself another cup of tea.
"At least he will have a great Water Bending teacher as an Aunt." Zuko smiled at Suki who chuckled at Zuko's comment.
It wasn't long before Sokka came in to see where Suki was; he gave Zuko a hug and soon froze when he spotted Anali in Zuko's arms.
"Hey buddy, when did you finally have an heir?" Sokka smiled at the little girl who appeared to be having a ball playing with the fire that she created.
"Just a couple days ago, I thought that I would surprise everyone." He chuckled at his daughter, Iroh chuckles at something Toph had apparently said.
"Well consider me fully surprised. Good job buddy." Sokka sits down next to Suki and plays with his son.
"What is your son's name Suki?" Mai asked not really all that interested but she wanted to show she wasn't in the great amount of pain she really was in.
"We named him Kyo, and not because Katara's daughters name is Kya. It's short for Kyoshi." Suki didn't want to answer the 100 questions that normally followed the revealing of Kyo's name.
"I am sure that he will live up to the standards his name comes from." Mai tried to give a soft smile but pain over ruled her expression.
"Yeah, Mai are you okay? You look really uncomfortable." Suki hands Kyo over to Sokka and sits on the floor next to Mai.
"I think everything is just trying to go back to normal after having Anali" Mai wasn't lying, but she really wished that she felt better than she did at the moment.
"Are you going to let Katara take a look just to make sure, you shouldn't be in this much pain." Suki lightly rubbed Mai's leg that was closest to her.
"I don't think I have a choice in the matter since Zuko already signed me up with her." Mai gives Zuko a sort of mean look that held no actual threat. She was loosing her touch at the emotionless attitude she worked so hard to keep up.
"I only did that because I am worried about you; if I didn't love you I wouldn't be as worried as I am." Zuko did have worry in his face and he wasn't going to try to hide it, he didn't see a point to hide things from his friends.
"See there is a reason for everything, and we all are worried about you why do you think we ask?" Suki gives Mai a gentle but warm hug and returns to sitting next to Sokka who is totally wrapped up in Kyo.
"I guess I am just not use to people actually caring about me, old habits die hard I suppose." Mai smiles and lays back against the couch. Katara and Aang came into the house trying to wrangle their kids who were doing everything but behaving.
"Zuko, we will pay for everything that they break." Aang sighs but smiles at the Fire Lord.
"Don't worry about it, kids are kids and at lease they can't Fire Bend and burn down the place. Then I would make you pay for all the damages, not really." Zuko laughs causing Anali to coo and giggle. "Come sit I want you to meet some one officially." Aang raises an eyebrow and does as told while Katara takes seat next to Mai receiving a rather displeased look from the Fire Lady.
"What is it Zuk-" Aang was stopped mid-sentence when he noticed Anali in Zuko's arms.
"This is Anali, the future Fire Lord" Toph yawns and lays her hands over her belly.
"Honestly twinkle-toes you should have seen this coming from a mile away, I did. We all know that Zuko had to either produce an heir or pick someone from Capital City that would be worthy. Lets face it, there aren't that many Fire Nation citizens that like the way Zuko has things now." Everyone looks at Toph and her matter of fact statement that she didn't hold back anything on.
"That maybe true Toph, but I don't think it had to be said in that way" Aang gave her a questioning look knowing that she couldn't really see it.
"Toph I hope mother hood is as rough as it is on me" Mai, like Toph, didn't hold back what was on her mind. Zuko placed his hand on Mai's leg to keep her and Toph from tearing into each other like they have tried to in the past.
"No fighting guys, this is supposed to be a good vacation not one where we have to keep Mai and Toph from killing each other like last time." Aang rubbed his head not wanting to remember the horrible event, Zuko merely nodded with a sigh. Suki didn't want to be the one to break Mai and Toph up and she was a couple months along by that time and shouldn't have gotten in between the two.
There was a reason why Toph and Mai didn't get along and Zuko was the reason, Toph had a huge crush on Zuko and had for a while but Mai was always in the way even when she wasn't around. Toph tried the life changing field trip with Zuko, but he was more concerned with finding the disappearing Aang then he was to changing Toph's life. Even if the others weren't intentional. Zuko was loyal to Mai, and that was something that Toph loved about Zuko but it was still a problem for Toph. Toph wandered off taking the pot of tea with her, Iroh simply shook his head knowing the thoughts that Toph has had about his nephew.
"Why do you and Toph fight Mai?" Sokka asked as Suki took Kyo back.
"She isn't a good looser." Mai sighed as Katara went to trying to figure out what was causing Mai so much pain.
"How so? I don't understand" Suki sighed and turned to Sokka
"Toph has had the biggest crush on Zuko since he came to our side and Mai has always come first in Zuko's heart so Toph didn't get chosen. Sorry you were being spacey again dear and weren't catching up on the hints that have been dropped like rain" Zuko sits blinking unsure how to take the sudden awareness of his friend's attachment to him.
"Like I said, she isn't a good looser." Mai lightly rubs Zuko's leg and gives him a soft smile.
"I only see Toph as a friend, a little sister even, I had no idea she thought of me that way. I knew she was like madly in love with Sokka for the longest time." Iroh shakes his head
"Toph has been having a hard time and for the longest time she was afraid that she wasn't going to even have a boyfriend like every one else has. She feels like just because she is blind and doesn't hold back anything that is on her mind, honestly I see where she is coming from and I don't blame her." Iroh stood and went to the kitchen area to make more tea since Toph took the pot that he had made earlier, he wanted them to think about how arrogant they were being and how they were ignoring their friend. .
After the first night the rest of the week stay went smoother, Mai was thankful that Katara was about to stop her discomfort. The Gaang spent a good portion of their time at the beach, the kids enjoyed the ocean that licked at the sandy beach. Sokka made multiple attempts to make a sand sculpture of Suki but they were never all that great, but Suki loved them no matter what. Soon they were all heading back home to resume their lives and duties, they agreed to meet up again soon but the location was yet to be known.