Disclaimer: I don't own Zuko, Ok? Or anyone else from ATLA. Just me and my OC's.

Takes place after the events seen in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Short fic told from Zuko's point of view.

Five years.

Five years is a long time. I should know, I became Fire Lord five years ago. Five years ago, Avatar Aang, defeated my father, Fire Lord Ozai and ended the 100-year war between the nations. It's already being called The Great Fire War.

It wasn't that simple of course, nothing that important could ever be simple. It started late in the summer, when I captured the 112-year-old Avatar. He'd mastered all the elements with time to spare, but I didn't know that. It was the happiest day of my life. I could finally reclaim my honor and place on the throne next to my father. I did feel a little sorry for him, of course, I'm not as heartless as some thought. But, more importantly, I could finally go home to the Fire Nation.

Turns out, what you don't know does hurt you. Uncle Iroh was wrong on that one. Being captured was just part of his plan to get near my father before Sozen's Comet arrived and defeat him. It worked perfectly. He was brought to the Fire Nation three days before the Comet's arrival. My father officially unbanished me. The next happiest day of my life. Azula refused to come, but Uncle Iroh never looked so proud. The next day my father called the Avatar before him. The certainty of victory was his undoing. The Avatar was stronger than any of us knew. I should hate him for killing my father but I know that he was a cruel man and an unjust leader.

It's taken me almost all of these five years to get the other world leaders to trust the Fire Nation, a least a little bit. Surprisingly, the Avatar and the Southern Water Tribe were the first to make peace. Turns out those peasant siblings were the children of the Southern Water Tribe Chief. Go figure. Now, finally, everything is starting to turn around. It's not like the happy times before I was banished, but it is good.

"What's wrong Zuko?" She interrupts my memories with her soft voice.

Just old memories my love. Nothing to worry you about.

"Nothing, honey."

I hope she never knows how hard those times where, those first few months without her in my life. No one would dare to tell her, but if she somehow found out…

"You're a terrible liar."

Darn.

She turns around so she can look me in the eye.

"I don't know why you try to lie to me. I always know and only upsets me more."

Ow. "It's really nothing. I was just…reflecting on some things, you know?"

Please don't pursue this further. I can't stand to make you sad.

"I know you 'reflect on things' too much, Zee. The past is the past and you can't change it. Why stress over it? Now you won't be able to sleep tonight."

"I can always sleep with you beside me." She smiles and snuggles closer. "Go to sleep." I whisper.

"Only if you do too." She says before putting her hand on my chest and falling asleep.

"I'm willing to make that deal." The world is at peace now and so am I. "Goodnight, my wife." I say softly before falling asleep. Goodnight my love.

A/N: I can't believe I wrote that stupid piece of…romance. It's so unlike me. That's what I get for just writing stuff on a whim, but I do think Zuko deserves a happy ending with a nice girl. After all he's been through, he needs the relative peace and security of his caring wife. At least I think so.