What I've Done.

He silently prepared dinner; it had been weeks since he'd said much. She regretted it, of course, but for some reason she expected Iroh to get over it quicker. It sounded selfish even in her mind, but Lian never had to deal with her husband being angry with her – maybe even disgusted. Maybe now he realized what everyone else saw her for; nobody. How she would give anything to take it all back, to see him smile or hear him laugh. To hear his voice.

Lian looked up from the sink after washing her face, a woman she didn't want to recognize showed in the reflection of the mirror. Pale porcelain skin and silky black hair, beautiful. Beauty only ran skin-deep, though. That beautiful woman in the mirror, she secretly had an addiction to her antidepressants. She was also selfish, expecting her husband to clean up her mess. That woman, the one in the mirror, she was a liar. She was deceitful, disgraceful, miserable, and needy; everything Iroh wasn't.

That woman killed their baby.

She wouldn't love her either, if put in Iroh's shoes. She had to let go, she knew she did. If she clung onto this, she'd kill herself. To let go of what she'd done, she had to start again; erase what she'd become. She wanted to go back to the way things were before they'd married, before all the shit came out. She opened the medicine cabinet and opened the plastic orange bottle. Her hands were shaking, and she suddenly found her hands shaking beyond her control. Without thinking twice, she dumped them into the toilet, doing the same until all her pills were gone. Maybe this wasn't how she should deal with it, but she couldn't risk it anymore. She flushed and sat on the bathroom floor, silently crying to herself. Why was she upset? Wasn't this a good thing?

What if she upset Iroh more?

About twenty minutes later he knocked and entered the bathroom, to check up on her. He arched a brow and held a hand out, to pull her to her feet. She graciously accepted and sniffled, having calmed herself down already.

"What are you doing here?"

"They're gone, my pills…everything, I want a fresh start. I'll do therapy or whatever you ask, Iroh…" She whispered and he gave her a sympathetic stare before pulling her into an embrace. "Forgive me for what I've done."

"I do, Lian."

Lost In You.

A fresh start; Lian meant it when she said it. It was like she was a different person, like they had started dating. Iroh didn't mind, she was doing so well and it was without the medication. She was herself. She woke up earlier, to see him before he left in the morning, to tell him she loved him. She always said he was everything; he said he was nothing without her. She said if it wasn't for him, she'd probably be dead; he said she would pull through no matter what and she was stronger than she thought she was.

For Christmas, after visiting the family (and meeting Ursa, Ozai's new girlfriend), Iroh gave her a necklace. It had belonged to his mother, Ilah, but he believed she deserved it. Ilah wanted him to pass it down once he was married. She took it to heart; she was supposed to.

"I don't make much of my own money…" She hardly had any income, but she was working part-time now. He was still encouraging her to finish college, he'd pay. She said that'd be too much. One day he was sure he'd convince her.

"I don't expect a materialistic gift from you, dear. Once the holidays pass over, we can go for a nice dinner or something." He smiled and she returned a true smile. Her eyes filled with excitement and he pecked her lips. She returned and bit her bottom lip, bouncing in her seat like a child. "What do you want to tell me?" He whispered with a chuckle.

"I…don't know how you'll react." She suddenly frowned, second-guessing herself. He pulled her on his lap and leaned his head against the top of hers.

"I am sure whatever it is, I'll take it well."

"It's soon…well, it's been months really, a lot of months….and I'm pregnant." She looked down and he stroked her hair. He pecked her cheek and tilted her chin to face him; which she did.

"And I couldn't be happier."

The Good Life.

Eight months later, Lian lay panting on the hospital bed. She was apologized to numerous times, being reminded that complications were highly possible because of her miscarriage. She heard that the entire time she was pregnant – they even tried to talk her into abortion. No, she had things right this time. She was ready to be the hero mom to her little boy or girl. Iroh held her hand tight and pushed her matted strands of hair to the side.

"Ma'am." The nurse came in with a bundle of blankets and caught both of their attention. Cautiously, the nurse placed the bundle that held an infant in Lian's arms. She couldn't help but move the blanket out of the baby's face to get a curious glimpse. It didn't look like either her or Iroh; was it too soon to tell? She didn't want to sound like an idiot by asking. "You've given birth to a healthy baby boy…I'll give you a moment." She waved enthusiastically and left the room. Iroh laughed and pecked her cheek.

"He is beautiful…you did a fine job." He whispered and she smiled. He always made her feel good, even when she felt so drained of her energy. The baby cried and her brows arched in worry. Slowly cradling the baby calmed him down, he even clung to the fabric of the blanket around him as his cries became soft whimpers.

"Do you have…any names? Maybe we should have figured out if it was a boy or girl. I mean, surprises are fun but I don't know where to start." She began rambling and he silenced her by placing his finger over her lips.

"Do you like Iroh Jr.?" He asked and she shook her head in disapproval without second thought. He chuckled. "See? We've already gone through one name…how about Lu Ten?" He asked and she looked down to the newborn.

"Lu Ten…" She whispered as she stroked his wispy hair. "I like it." She smiled.

Second Chance.

"Iroh! Look, look!" Lian called from the kitchen as her husband read his book and drank his tea. Curiously, Iroh glanced over, a grin appearing on his face. Quietly, he crept up behind their two-year-old soon and scooped him in his arms as he took his first steps. Lian clapped excitedly, like a schoolgirl, and smothered her son's face with kisses.

"Momma." Lu Ten smiled and closed his eyes as he was kissed. He opened them and threw his arms out, causing both of his parents to laugh. He enjoyed making them laugh, especially Lian. She seemed a lot harder than Iroh to amuse, but she was happier when he was around.

"Yes, that is your mother." Iroh pecked his cheek and pulled his wife into the embrace with his son. "Now, mind showing me how you walk again?" He set Lu Ten on the ground and the small child blinked up innocently.

"He's getting so big…" She whispered and Iroh smiled to her, a knowing smile that said 'I'm just as surprised'. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder. "I have class tonight."

"Very well, we can survive on macaroni and cheese for dinner." He winked and she nudged him, watching Lu Ten waddle around the kitchen like the confused baby he was. "I am kidding; I'll make sure you come home to a nice home-cooked meal, my Lian."

"And make sure Lu Ten is settled, my Iroh." She teased and he played with the messy bun her hair was tied in.

"Momma, tea!" Lu Ten reached for the kettle and Iroh grinned, going to catch his son before he caused damage. Lian smiled, watching them. She couldn't be more proud to have these men, out of all the men in the world, in her life.

Fingerprints.

"Why's it so special, mom?" Lian looked to her six-year-old son as the question was asked. She cocked her head; usually Lu Ten was smiling, especially at family events such as the dinner they were sharing with Iroh's brother, sister-in-law and father.

"What?" She whispered back, knowing it must be seriously bothering him.

"Lu Ten, pass the meat." Azulon called from across the table before going into a coughing fit. Iroh frowned and stroked his back, only to be brushed off. Despite everyone insisting to hold this off until he was well again, he said the dinner they shared together once every month would be held on its proper date. He was never one to accept pity, even if they only called it help. Lian took on the task of passing the plate to Iroh who in turn gave it to his father. "I didn't ask you…" The elder muttered under his breath and Lian frowned, pretending she didn't hear it. Neither of his daughter-in-laws seemed to grow on him.

She could understand with herself, she had been a party-girl. She was a drinker, an attention-seeker. She was flashy and rambunctious. Lian had always been one to show too much skin or drink one too many shots; but Ursa wasn't. Ursa was quiet and to herself. She was very polite and seemed easily hurt by Azulon's words, though she made no verbal indication. Truthfully, Lian though Ozai was lucky to come across such a woman, and she truly loved him, too.

"Why's it so special Auntie Ursa's having a baby?" Lu Ten mumbled, pushing the food on his plate around with his fork.

"It was just as special as when I was about to have you…" Both occasions seemed to only be special to Iroh. Azulon only approved of Lu Ten because he had to and they were married. Ozai, on the other hand, was only engaged to Ursa. That was his excuse to hate the unborn grandchild. She wondered how excited her brother-in-law really was.

"Why's dad always talk about it?"

"Because your dad's going to be an uncle for the first time…" She started, hearing him sigh. "But you'll always be his favorite little boy…and my precious son…" She pulled him to her and playfully kissed the side of his face, tickling his ribs. He laughed and squirmed, trying to push her away out of embarrassment.

"Momm." He drawled and she smiled, blowing a raspberry on his neck.

"Pardon, we're eating." Azulon spat bitterly. Lian blushed and pulled away, shifting in her seat as she went back to her meal. Ursa was sneaking her a smile and Iroh chuckled a little. She glanced to her other side.

Lu Ten was beaming with his own smile now, too.