The Royal Engagment
First day as Fire Lord wasn't the best day for Shang. He went from pile to pile of paper work. If it weren't for Mai's help, Shang would've lost his mind by lunch.
"Mom, you have no clue how big a help you've been."
"Oh, yes, I do. I did the same thing plus some to help your father. The best part though was the fact that both you and him admitted to needing help. That brings me to something I think we need to talk about. There's no way your dad would've made it as Fire Lord with out me. I've been thinking about allowing Ming to move into the palace. That way if you ever need a break from being Fire Lord, you have something to get away to."
"But then how would I keep up with deadlines? And what if I still can't get my mind off of paper work and meetings?"
"I can keep up with deadlines and Ming can figure out what to do with you."
"What did you do to get Dad's mind off paper work?"
"Let's just say it was the plus some." Mai said and Shang giggled. "What is funny?"
"Now, I don't want to know what you did. I think I'll go tell Ming the news and get back to work."
He left on that note. He went to Mng's house and knocked on her door. Ming answered the door in surprise to see the new Fire Lord.
"What are you doing here?" Ming asked.
"I thought that you would want to know that you can feel free to move into the palace."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I talked to my mom and she said it might be a good idea." Shang said that and she embraced him.
"Thank Agni, I think my mom was thinking about kicking me out after the incident the other day." Ming said into his chest. "I'll go start packing." she said leaving the embrace and heading into the house. When she came back, her arms were filled with stuff and her mother was right behind her.
"Where do you think you're going?" Ming's mother yelled.
"To the palace with my boyfriend." Ming yelled back going out the door which was where her mother stopped when she saw Shang.
"Why are you taking her to the palace?"
"Quite frankly, I'm taking advice from my mother. My mother is the smartest person I know. If she tells me I should do something, I do it. She has never told me to do something wrong and I don't imagine she would start now."
"I trust your judgment but I better be going to a wedding before celebrating becoming a grandparent."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure that don't happen. You have my word."
"All I'm saying is that I remember your mother when she was younger and she's never the same person around your father that she was around her friends. She was quiet around her friends and an open book around your dad."
"She has seemed a bit quieter than usual. Even I didn't know that. Who are you?"
"I don't know why Mai didn't recognise me. I'm an old friend, Ty Lee."
"I remember Mom talking about you. You ran off to join the circus, went with my aunt to find my dad, and then joined Kyoshi Warriors."
"Is that true, Mom?" Ming couldn't help but ask.
"One-hundred percent. I remember when Azula made Zuko and Mai fall ontop of eachother into the fountain in the palace gardens."
"I think you should come with us. My mom might want to talk to you, if not talk just see an old friend."
"I'd be honored."
"What?" Mai was shocked to say the least to find out where Ty Lee actually was for years now.
"With all do respect, Lady Mai, I had no clue." Ming confessed.
"You never sent a letter or anything."
"I figured you and Zuko were busy."
"Ty Lee, I am never too busy for you. Zuko never would've been, either. It don't matter. What matters now are our kids and by the looks of things, we're going to be inlaws before long." As Mai said that they heard sombody yell "Yes!" from the hallway. They ran into the hall to find Shang on one knee, holding a little velvet box where Ming could see the box's contents. "Told you."
Ming was jumping up and down with a big smile on her face. Shang barely had time to get up off the ground when Ming embraced him, this time taking him in, from his musky yet sweet cologne to the deep red color of his robes. "I thought you'd never ask." She laughed into his chest before leaving to find her mother. "Mom, I'm gettin' married."
"So I heard. You are a lucky girl, Ming, to personally know the Fire Lord at all, let alone be marrying him." Ty Lee said.
"I know, Mom."
Ty Lee turned to Shang.
"And you are off to a good start."
"How do you figure? I've got pile after pile of paperwork on my desk plus meetings to attend for the next few weeks just to notify me on the economy, peace treaties, and I don't know what else."
"You're getting married to a beautiful, intelligent girl. But most importantly, you kept your word."
"I did, didn't I?"
"Yes. So when do we start planning?"
"Well, like Dad always said, why wait?"
