(A/n: Hi people! I started the 2nd chap. And working on the 3rd chap. I'll submit the 3rd chap IF I get at LEAST 10-20 REVIEWS! So if you wan to read the 3rd chap I suggest you R&R!)

Forbidden Love, Revealed

Ch.2: Behind the Mask

Zuko was shocked in…well a lot of things. He was amazed because it strangely made sense to him; he was in anger for the years that this secret was kept; he was filled with joy that he did have someone who was close of being his father, but Zuko had no clue of the things Iroh was about to reveal.

"So, if you and my mother loved each other, couldn't Fire Lord Azulan rearrange the marriage?" Zuko questioned with curiosity.

"I tried." Iroh said in a dead voice. This was hard for him. He had tried to forget all of this many years ago, but the love he had for Ursa was too beautiful, too strong, and the only thing that kept him going. Well, at least for some years he did.

Iroh's Memories

Ursa was shocked. She had heard of Ozai and of his cruelty. (Yeah, even then he was evil) It had been 3 months, 2 weeks, and a day since Iroh told her of her marriage to Ozai.

"But father-"came a depressed voice. Ursa turned around and saw Iroh and Fire Lord Azulan. Even in the garden, her favorite place and the most beautiful place in the palace, made her feel empty and stone cold in the presence of the Fire Lord.

"The marriage has been set in stone, my boy. Nothing can be done." The Fire Lord said. But his voice could be mistaken for a demon.

"But you're the Fire Lord! Can't you do something?" Iroh had spoken against his father for the first time.

"The decision has been made," Azulan shot in a cold, harsh voice, "give up. You'll understand one day how weak the mask of love truly is."

Iroh stood there in pain as the tyrant he called father walked away. Tears of perpetuate sorrow ran down his face.

Ursa retreated to her room and wept from misery. Then a booming knock came at the door. It was Ozai, who had a weird, evil smile on his face.

"I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me to the library."

Well, Ursa thought if I'm going to marry him I should get to know him.

As they walked to the hallway, Ozai started to talk about his plans for the Fire Nation.

"It sounds…well thought out," Ursa lied, "but shouldn't Iroh be the one doing this?" He was the second son, that's why she assumed she would marry Iroh, but to hear Ozai's plans made her spine prickle. He didn't care about the people of the Fire Nation; the only thing he cared about was gaining more power and land.

"Iroh has been…disturbed lately, and he doesn't care much for political areas. So, I took the liberty of…planning things." Ozai replied in an evil voice. The man terrified her. It was like confronting the devil himself! And his grip, you couldn't escape it.

When Ursa got back to her room, she was breathing deeply in relief that she was away from Ozai. For about 6 months, Ursa avoided Iroh and Ozai and the world. Some times she would sleep in the garden and stay there for the rest of the night and the next day. During those hours she read and ate the berries on the bushes and the fruits on the trees.

Iroh's despair and misery swallowed him completely. The darkness in his room surrounded him, he felt like a rock in the middle of the ocean; as the days went by, a little more of him was washed away.

One day as Ursa gave her daily amount of tears to the pond, she saw a reflection next to her that looked fierce and cruel. It was Fire Lord Azulan.

"My child what's wrong?" he asked in a fake sincere way.

"My dear Fire Lord, may I speak freely with you?" Ursa asked as she was wiping the tears off her face.

"Of course."

"Don't you think it is wiser or more fitting if the oldest is married first?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'll be honest; I thought I was betrothed to Prince Iroh. And when I found out-"

"So, you're the reason he wants to have the marriage rearranged!" Fire Lord Azulan said in a threatening voice.

"Yes, your majesty." Ursa managed to squeak. (Azulan + Mad RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!)

"Is there something wrong with Ozai?" Now Azulan chose favorites, at times it was Iroh and most of the time it was Ozai. This was an "I prefer Ozai" time.

"No, it's just, well…here's the truth, I'm in love with your son, Iroh." All Azulan did was give out a frightening laugh.

"What does love have to do with this?" Azulan now spoke in a booming voice. "Your marriage has been made and in 6 years, you will marry my son Ozai." Azulan arose and fled as quickly as he appeared. Ursa was left alone for what seemed to be about 5 minutes. Then she felt as if someone was watching her, it was Iroh.

"What do you want from me?" Ursa mumbled

"Nothing, I wanted to talk to you." An awkward silence fell upon them. "Ursa, I love you. I always will, I can't stop thinking about you, and when your not with me," Iroh knelt down beside her and cupped his hand around her face as if she was a precious belonging that was lost but found, "I feel…" a passionate kiss forbid him from finishing that sentence.

Back on the Ship

"So, I don't understand, what does this have to do with me?" Zuko questioned impatiently. He wasn't' much of a fan of romance. (Well at least at this moment.)

"Maybe, I should go right to the bottom of this," Iroh said in a shaky voice. This was the moment that would change everything, forever.

6 years later, Iroh's memories

It was the night of Ursa's wedding, and she was in rapture. She wore a simple white dress that made her look like an angel. She wore a cloak similar to the one she wore on her arrival. (In other words, she was draped in black) It was almost midnight, and Ursa was praising the Avatars of the past that Ozai was away. She ran with great haste, but as silent as a mouse. She finally arrived to a church ruin that was as old as the war. She was resplendent to see a priest she trusted with her life (well, she had to in this case) and her fiancé, Iroh.

They were married, they were together, they were happy. But Iroh feared that they wouldn't be safe, at least not for long. Ursa and Iroh made a romantic sacrifice for their love. Iroh joined the military. She wouldn't see him in 6 months. He promised to write everyday. They're last day together, was too beautiful for words. (And if there are words for it, I can't think of it right now) Iroh's first day: all most unbearable, his first month" miserable. But that letter that he got from Ursa made him get through the remaining 5 months. She was pregnant.

"What?!" Zuko bellowed. He never thought that his mother was capable of doing this. She had always seemed true to Ozai, until now. "So, your son, was the son of you and my mother?" Iroh gave a shameful look that could make your heart melt. "So, I have…a brother? Really! Well, in this case, half-brother,-"

"No, Mako, my son was your true, blood related brother."

"So, if he was my brother, the son of MY MOTHER and you, which means…" Zuko knew perfectly well what it meant. Iroh was his father.

To be continued… 