I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender, or any of the names or characters of the show. I merely control them for my own twisted pleasure from this point in the story on.


Part Six

"It seems that everything is in order," Iroh said as he turned to shut the door to Hanae's cabin behind him. "Everything should be ready for departure by morning,"

The captain merely nodded, not looking up from the Pai Sho board in front of her. Iroh folded his arms in front of him and let the sleeves of his robe fall into place over his hands.

"Hanae?" he asked quietly, walking forward towards the younger woman and taking a seat on the other side of the board.

"Lord Zuko seems to be happy about his upcoming nuptials, despite the set backs," she said vaguely and reached out to take her tiles from the board, absently placing one piece down, initiating a game.

Not one to turn down a friendly game of Pai Sho, Iroh undid the bag tied at his waist and picked one tile, sitting in on the board as well. Hanae set another piece down quickly, her eyes still staring at the board as if it was moving.

"Our Fire Lord has much to be happy about," the general said after a few more moves.

He watched as Hanae nodded slightly. "I was planning on sending you along with him. Alone," he said, looking over at her once again. "I think I would be of much better use here at the palace with the Lady Katara."

She didn't respond, only placed another tile on the board. Their game was going well, he supposed; she was already falling for one of his traps. It was then that he knew she wasn't really concentrating.

She sighed before cursing when he sprung his trap. "Take them," she said angrily as she flicked the tiles he'd won over to his side of the board.

"It's just a friendly game, Admiral," Iroh said placidly, pushing the pieces back unto her side. "I wouldn't take any of your hard earned tiles away from you, even if I had won fair and square." He smiled and looked at her with understanding, "This wedding is taking its toll on all of us."

She finally looked up at him and sighed. "You know me that well, old man?" she asked and hung her head. At the moment, she was very different from the Hanae he'd watched grow up, but he did understand the reason behind her depression without even needing to ask.

"Hanae," Iroh said softly, wanting to reach out across the board and place his hand on hers. But knowing Hanae as well as he did, it would do no good. Only Hanae could make Hanae feel better. "It's been almost ten years and I still wake up at night thinking about him."

Hanae raised her head to look at him in the eyes, and Iroh knew that tears were where she looked. Her own eyes softened slightly, but she didn't cry, exactly like he'd known she wouldn't.

"Zuko's wedding is great news, for everyone. But, it's just…" she trailed off, and closed her eyes, sliding down to lay her arms across the board, "hard," she finished.

Iroh sighed and smiled sadly. "Maybe you should quit the Navy," he said, taking a tile in his hand and running his fingers over it.

"General Iroh," Hanae stated in a warning tone, but he wouldn't give up after only that.

"And maybe," he said, leaning across the table at her, "just maybe, find yourself a young man of your own."

"Iroh," she said again, her voice more severe.

"Settle down into a new life," he continued, watching her hands curl into fists on the table. "Maybe start a fami-"

"Father!" she yelled at him, slamming her palms into the table and knocking a few of her titles to the floor. She looked up at him with fiery eyes, and he just stared back in shock. "Lu Ten was the only man I'd ever consider marrying," she said, shifting her gaze down at the tiles on the floor, "and any thoughts of family died with him."

Her statement filled him with pride; Iroh was pleased that the woman he'd seen grow from a small child unto a strong woman was back. He did, however, shake his head. "You have a family, Hanae, right here," he said and did reach across the table to place a hand over hers. "My son may not have been able to marry you like he planned, but you have always been a daughter to me. As much my daughter as Zuko is my son."

She looked up at him, and placed her hand over his. "I know," she said softly, and he knew she would be all right for now. "Thank you."


Katara could barely breathe when Zuko hurried her out of the room. The back chamber had been empty when they'd arrived, but not for long. She was sure the servant that had walked in would be spreading rumors about the Fire Lord's girlish figure all over the palace by the end of the night. Zuko was very slim, Katara knew, but the armor and clothing he wore made him a lot less slim to the common eye.

He was already pulling on his top layer of armor, alternately pushing her forward and snapping pieces into place. "That was not funny," he growled as they moved down the hallway at a half-run.

"You're right, it wasn't funny," she said, barely able to suppress her giggles, "it was hilarious."

"You only find this amusing because you weren't the one who was half naked."

She had no argument for that.

Katara was full out laughing by the time they got most of the way down the hallway. She felt a little guilty after a while, but it wasn't very long until Zuko stopped pushing and fell into a good laugh of his own.

"I'm never going to forgive you for that," he said after he caught his breath.

"Why?" she said after panting in a lungful of air. "That was your idea,"

"I'm talking about the laughing part," the Fire Lord said, pulling down his ruined top knot and tying his hair back into a simple ponytail. "Your giggles are contagious."

She smiled at him and took his face in her hands. A thought occurred to her and she hoped it didn't sound too cliché. "Yeah, well, you're quite contagious yourself," she said and kissed him lightly on the mouth. When he pulled her closer, she was no longer worried about anything but his mouth.

"I hate you," he murmured against her lips and she grinned at him. The sound of a door closing down the hallway had Zuko cursing as he pulled them into an empty room.

"Okay," he huffed, closing the door quietly behind him, "I have got to get away from you or I'll never get everything ready in time," he said as he kissed her again.

She smiled and laughed cheerfully. "Where should I go?" she asked, and Zuko took a step back.

"There are guest rooms in the northern wing," Zuko said after thinking it over for a minute. "The Avatar has his own apartment directly across the courtyard from them; all of the ambassadors do when they come to visit. You'll get your own until we're married, and then you'll, of course, live with me in the Royal Suites."

"So, for now I have my own set of rooms?" she asked, just to make sure. She didn't want to think about becoming royalty just yet; she'd avoided the subject the whole way here and she wasn't going to let the thought scare her now.

"Yes." He drew her in for another kiss, "I'll be leaving early tomorrow morning, and I promise you I won't be gone for long. If it means riding that infernal beast to the North Pole and back-" he grumbled, looking down at the ground and then back up at her, "-then so be it."

Katara smiled at Zuko's nickname for Appa. Aang had told her of it many times, and she knew that the Fire Lord did not like flying at all.

"Thank you," she said and hugged him close. "I know that this is hard for you."

He straightened up and smiled a small smile at her. "But it will still be worth it in the end."

She blushed and he put a hand on her cheek. "I have to go see to some important matters," he said seriously. "I only had a few minutes to spare as it was. I'll see you at dinner around dark." He took her hand in his own and smiled at her, "I'll be sure to send the Avatar or Hanae or Uncle out to find you. Don't worry about getting lost; as long as you don't leave the palace, someone will be always be able to tell you where to go."

She nodded as he opened the door and took a step out into the hallway, "I'll see you in a couple of hours, my lady," he said and kissed her palm.

She blushed again and whispered goodbye as he walked down the hallway and out of her sight. Sighing contently, she stepped out into the hallway and closed the door behind her, leaning her head against it.

She decided she'd better find her rooms and made her way out of the hallway and into a small garden just outside of a couple of large brass doors. Walking out into the sun light, Katara felt happy about her choice to come here. The palace was beautiful, even if it had once belong to and enemy.

"Katara!" called a very familiar voice from above her and she looked up just in time to see a shadow fall across her field of vision.

Taken up in a swish of air before she could react, Katara found herself in the arms of the powerful airbending Avatar. She giggled and hugged Aang tightly around the neck without a second thought; she hadn't seen or heard from him since he visited the South Pole a little over six months ago.

"I missed you!" she said as she let him go, looking up into the eyes of the much taller teenager. He'd grown a lot in the last four years, sprouting to an inch above her height and still growing. "I'm so sorry I didn't come visit you right when we got here. We'd barely gotten off the ship and were pulled into an emergency meeting in the war room."

Aang laughed and shook his head. "It's okay," he said and then some of the light in his eyes died. "Sokka explained things to me before he left."

His normal smile wasn't on his face and Katara felt nervousness fill her stomach. There was no doubt he'd knew what the meeting had been about, and she waited anxiously for him to ask her if it was true. She knew he'd ask, and when he released her from his hug, she set herself up for the worst.

But he didn't say anything, he just looked at her with sad eyes, and she swallowed hard.

They seemed to stare at each other for a long time before she tilted her head. "Ah, where's Toph?" she asked looking around and half expecting the earthbender to appear out of no where. She and Aang had been spending most of their free time together traveling the world and helping rebuilt what was left after the war.

"She is still in Omashu," he said sadly, rubbing his nose, "helping re-establish things in the Earth Kingdom. Bumi and his followers have managed to get most of the smaller villages in order, but Toph was still asked to stay behind."

"Aang," she started and he sighed before turning away.

"I have to go," he said coldly, and snapped open his staff when she tried to speak. "It was nice seeing you, even if you're not here to see me."

She made a quick sound but before she could respond, he was gone, up into the air and out of her voice's reach. She watched him fly away and felt such guilt that it hurt her to breathe.

"Aang," she said sadly and hung her head.


Here is where my authors notes go. Enjoy!

There! Finally, back-story!

If anyone is confused, feel free to ask a question! I do not mind answering serious questions.

I hope you like it!

Reveiw? Please?!

-smile-