Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews once again! Katsumara, agreed not enough Maiko around these parts. The Kataang will probably be fit into one of the last chapters since that was where I could fit it in :) And again thanks again soo so much to LeafyPinapple, timeisarose, and Kimjuni!

This was one idea I came up with when I was kind of struggling with ideas for things Zuko would change and this is where it fit! So...let's see how it goes! :D

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Changed item 4: Meals

"Uncle!" Zuko rushed to greet his uncle. "I'm so glad that you're here! It's been such a long time!"

"Nephew!" Iroh smiled as he enveloped his nephew in a hug and patted him a few times on the back. "It's been a while."

"Hello, General Iroh." Mai gave a bow to the retired general. "It is a pleasure to welcome you home."

"Please! Mai! You may call me Uncle with the news Zuko has given me! He says you two wish to marry soon?" Iroh raised his eyebrows.

"Er…yes. He's been meaning to coordinate with the advisors about a date. They've said next summer would be suitable for it…they are the ones who basically control our lives." Mai rolled her eyes.

"I told you, you should go talk to them! I established I want to marry you, you can discuss the date with them!" Zuko snapped. Mai's face contorted as if she were about to give a retort. Iroh stepped between the two.

"Come now…don't fight! I've only just arrived…let's have something to eat. My stomach has been missing the wonderful Fire Nation Palatial food." Iroh grinned. Zuko and Mai groaned inwardly, not wanting to entertain an entire feast. Iroh sensed the lack of enthusiasm to eat. "Is something wrong?"

"No, no!" Zuko smiled politely to his uncle.

"Well…you see all we've been doing lately is large meals with most of the palace in attendance." Mai explained.

"Well, I'm not saying that we have to have a feast with the entire palace!" Iroh shrugged. "Let's have a small dinner, just the three of us. And I'll cook!" Iroh offered.

"No, really that's okay." Zuko shook his head.

"You don't want me to cook? We've done some dishes at the tea shop and they aren't half bad." Iroh tried to explain.

"I'm sure that's not what he's saying…" Mai sighed. She rubbed her temples, exasperatedly. "He's just suggesting that…don't you want that grand Palace food? We'll have the servants cook up a small meal for us." Mai played mediator between uncle and nephew.

"All right…" Iroh agreed, slightly crestfallen. "However, allow me to prepare tea for the meal."

"Okay, okay, Uncle. You can do tea." Zuko agreed. "That is your specialty after all."

"TEA FOR EVERYONE!" Uncle exclaimed, excitedly as he hurried off to prepare the tea. Zuko sighed.

"Way to overexcited…" Zuko shook his head.

"He'll go back to Ba Sing Se in a week." Mai patted him on the shoulder.

"It's not that I don't want him here, it's just—!"

"You were saying a little while ago how much you wanted him here." Mai muttered with a smirk.

x

After they sat down to dinner, Zuko cleared his throat. Uncle looked up, sensing his nephew wanted his attention.

"Uh, Uncle…I was wondering if I could get your advice about something…" Zuko started. Before he could say anything else, Iroh interjected.

"Is Mai already pregnant?" Iroh asked with a serious face.

"What the hell, Uncle? No!" Zuko rolled his eyes. "It's about being Fire Lord not being a father."

"Though he probably needs advice in both categories," Mai said under her breath.

"Mai! We'll discuss that when we come to it!" Zuko snapped. "I was wondering if you could give me advice about—"

"I'm sorry, Zuko. I don't do politics anymore." Iroh sighed. "You'll have to figure it out on your own. It's better that way. You have Mai…can't she help you?" Iroh asked. "Women have brilliant minds when it comes to politics." Zuko glanced at Mai who raised her eyebrows at him. "She's the daughter of a governor and I'm sure she has a sharp mind to match those sharp knives of hers. I mean…that's why you asked her to marry you right?" Iroh asked.

"Er…not just because she's smart! It's…everything else…because she's smart and erm…pretty…ugh, never mind, Uncle." Zuko blushed. "Oh! Look, food!" Zuko pointed to the servants who were bringing them food, and suddenly changing the subject.

x

They finished their meal rather uneventfully. Iroh was content with the meal and everyone enjoyed Iroh's tea that he made everyone. They said their goodnights as Iroh was shown to his room that he was staying in for the week. Zuko and Mai headed for their own room.

"I liked not having to entertain an entire dinner party." Mai smiled.

"Yeah…well it was just Uncle. That was enough trying to entertain him." Zuko shrugged, rolling his eyes.

"Can we have more dinners with just you and I?" she asked as her dainty fingers lightly rested in his hand. Zuko closed his hand around hers.

"I think I can arrange that." Zuko smirked as he placed a kiss on her forehead.

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So I figured Fire Nation usually puts on some shmancy fancy events in that palace and dinner every night probably turns into an event, which Zuko and Mai probably aren't thrilled about, but want to do their best to please their nation. And so after this they figure changing this whole 'event' process to dinner by themselves every once in a while wouldn't be so bad. That was the inspiration (I guess?) there.

Hope things weren't too OOC (I think I always worry about that). I loveee Uncle. I'm definitely going to find more places in the chapters that aren't strictly ZukoxMai. Which I think the next couple are...yeah...they are...hrm. I'm gonna have to decide if I want to increase rating or not. It's not like it's that bad or descriptive...but it implies things. Do people look at ratings anymore?