A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed! I hope everyone had a great weekend like I did, and everyone still in school is enjoying their spring break (luckies!) Here's the next chapter, maybe not what you expected, but let me have my fun, ). And as always, please read and review!

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar.

Chapter 7

Zuko had woken at dawn the next day as was his custom and started practicing with his swords until breakfast was ready. Thankfully the Avatar and his friends remained silent about Zuko's plan, though Liz, Jade and The Duke knew something was going on and were doing everything in their power to pry information out of the others.

After breakfast, Katara grabbed Zuko and hauled him off to her room to measure him and make sure she was creating his robe correctly.

"It looks great," he told the waterbender, trying to leave.

"Are you sure?" Katara asked, looking over the red and black material. "I don't know what fire nation royal robes look like. I only know earth kingdom and water tribe styles."

"It will be fine, Katara. Don't worry; I'm just grateful that you're helping me. I can't sew for the life of me."

Katara turned and smiled at him and then Zuko saw her turn her gaze to something over his shoulder. Zuko turned and saw Aang standing in the doorway with his staff.

"Hey," Aang said, smiling at them. "Can we train today?"

"Sure," Zuko replied before turning back to Katara.

Katara was smiling weakly at Aang. "I can't train you today, Aang; I have to finish this, but tomorrow."

Aang nodded and left as Katara turned her gaze back to Zuko.

"Have fun," she told the firebender, "but go easy on him. He is starting to enjoy firebending, even though it is dangerous."

"Every element has its' own danger," Zuko said before turning to go.

"Yeah, they do," Katara said with a bit of sorrow in her tone before turning back to the robe.

Zuko almost asked her what was wrong, but Aang came back and started dragging Zuko away. The two headed out and Zuko caught sight of Suki and Sokka dueling each other in the courtyard with an occasional kiss thrown in. He almost wished he could stop and watch Suki's unique style, but Aang was excited and kept dragging Zuko out. Aang slowed as soon as they were in the streets and they made their way out to the field where they had trained the day before.

"So what are we going to do today?" Aang asked, grinning.

Zuko looked around and felt a smile tug at the corner of his mouth as he saw the scorch marks from where their lighting had struck. Luckily everything was still really green and no fires had started. He turned and looked at Aang.

"I'm going to attack, and I want you to defend yourself and try to defeat me," Zuko told the Avatar. "It will be great practice, for later."

Aang's smile faltered at the mention of the invasion and facing the fire lord, but his face quickly brightened again as he dropped into a fighting stance.

"Whenever you're ready," Aang said, smirking.

Zuko smirked back and started firing at the Avatar. Aang dodged the first couple of fireballs and then whipped his staff out, causing the rest to be redirected with blasts of air. Zuko dodged a blast of air and then a boulder, but fired as another boulder came at him, causing it to burst into dust before him.

Zuko then went onto the offensive again, firing at Aang, drawing closer and closer to the Avatar as Aang blocked and dodged the blasts. With a wry grin, Zuko swept his foot out along the ground, sending a wave of flames along the ground towards Aang. The flames set the grass on fire as they moved towards Aang.

The Avatar saw and with a wide turn, pulled the water out of the grass surrounding him and pounded it onto the flames coming towards him. Aang turned again and sent the remainder of the water he had pulled out of the plants straight at Zuko. Zuko twisted out of the way, sending more fireballs at the Avatar. He heard the water coming back towards him and jumped up, spinning into a kick and thus sending a column of flames at Aang.

Zuko saw the water go under him as he turned to face Aang once more, but was surprised by a mound of earth coming straight up at him. He twisted quickly and touched the mound just enough to jump off of it again. Zuko fired again at Aang as he started falling to the earth.

"You need to use fire too," Zuko called as he landed.

"I plan too," Aang said, grinning.

With a turn, Aang pulled more water out of the plants surrounding him and sent it at Zuko along with two columns of earth. Zuko jumped up, jumping off of the columns and over the water and was surprised as a wave of flames came towards him. He quickly created a shield of flames around himself and was thrown back by the impact and resultant explosion. As soon as he landed, he was swallowed to his neck in the earth.

"I win," Aang said as he advanced on Zuko, his staff pointed at the firebender.

"Yes, you win," Zuko replied, smiling slightly. "Again?"

"Sure," Aang replied as he moved his arms, causing Zuko to pop out of the ground.

They dueled twice more, Aang incorporating firebending into his attacks more and more as they fought, and always winning. Zuko saw an opening once at the end where he could have beaten the Avatar if he had used lighting, but refused to use the attack on the younger boy. He did point it out to Aang as they walked back into the city.

"Why didn't you use it?" Aang asked. "That would have been real training, and you know Ozai would have used it."

"Yes," Zuko replied, frowning. "But I'm not my father, and I don't want to test you that way. I'm sorry Aang, but I just can't risk it. Lightning is just too dangerous."

Aang nodded, humbled for the moment. They stopped as a large coach came out of the Bei Fong manor, drawn by two ostrich horses, and passed in front of them. Aang stared after it and then looked at Zuko. Zuko was staring at the wall, as if he tried hard enough, he could see through it to the person he wanted to be with at that moment.

"We can see her if you want," Aang said.

"No," Zuko replied as he turned away from the house. "I'll see her tonight."

"It will make her feel better right now," Aang said as he caught up with Zuko.

Zuko frowned. He did want to see Toph at that moment, but if they were caught, it would jeopardize everything he had done to that moment. Also she might pry enough to make him tell her what he was going to do.

"I want tonight to be a surprise," Zuko told Aang quietly, trying to smile at the Avatar.

He hurried back to the house with Aang on his tail. He knew he only had a few hours to prepare and wanted to get a nice hot bath and maybe a cup of tea before he really got ready. Zuko smiled wryly at the thought of having a cup of tea to relax him. His uncles' ways had really gotten to him during the three years of his banishment. Before he could draw up a bath, Katara grabbed him and pulled him into her room again.

Zuko blushed a little when he saw Suki and Liz there giggling as Katara tried to have him try on the robe.

"But I haven't cleaned up yet," Zuko protested and trying to get out of the fitting at the moment.

"I just want to make sure I got the length right," Katara replied, holding up the robe to Zuko.

He sighed and gave up, looking forlorn as Suki and Liz continued to giggle. Katara held the red robe up to him at several different angles before finally pronouncing that it was perfect.

"Thanks," Zuko said and hurried out of the room and to the men's bath.

He shut the door to the boy's room behind him, grateful to be alone and away from the girls for once. Zuko went and drew a bath, heating it with firebending and relaxing in its' warmth. Not long after he was truly relaxed, Sokka started knocking on the door, asking if he was done yet. Zuko reluctantly left the tub as Sokka's knocking intensified and dressed simply.

He frowned at Sokka when he opened the door and Sokka jumped back, away from him, and looking guilty.

"Sorry," Sokka muttered. "Suki wants to go out tonight and demands that I bathe."

Zuko felt a smile tugging at his mouth as he let the warrior pass him into the second room. He was glad Sokka and Suki were finally together again. They could do their own 'funny stuff' and leave everyone else alone. Zuko went to his bed, grabbing his pack and poured out his few belongings onto his bed and looked through them, trying to decide if he needed anything that night.

He carefully repacked his black ninja suit and the mask in it's' bag. Then his traveling utensils and his uncles' favorite teacup that he had brought with him from Ba Sing Sae, along with his fire nation clothes. Zuko picked up the relic, the head piece that his uncle had given him, and studied it. It meant a lot to him, and it was part of who he was; it named him the crown prince.

"Hey Zuko," Aang said, interrupting Zuko out of his thoughts, "Whoa, is that Roku's headpiece?"

"Roku's?" Zuko asked, looking from the small relic in his hand to the Avatar. "I guess you could say that."

"How did you get it?" Aang asked, curious.

"My uncle gave it to me," Zuko stated as he rose, tucking the relic into a pocket. "When I learned about my great grandfathers."

"Oh," Aang replied, standing in the doorway.

Zuko studied the Avatar. He obviously was there for a reason, but after getting distracted, maybe he had forgotten.

"Was there something you wanted me for?" Zuko finally asked Aang.

"Oh, yeah," Aang said, looking up and blushing. "Sorry, Katara says she's done. Here you go."

Aang handed Zuko a neatly folded robe and when Zuko let it out, it looked almost exactly like the robes he had left at home.

"Thanks," Zuko told Aang. "And tell Katara thank you too."

"You can tell her yourself," Aang said with a grin before leaving.

Zuko sighed and almost shook his head, but Sokka came out at that moment. The prince excused himself after quickly folding the robe again and left Sokka to dress. Zuko started heading to the dining room, but found The Duke and Liz playing a Pai Cho game with Aang. He heard Jade and Suki talking in the kitchen, so he hurried on to the front room. There, Katara was playing with the little girl, Jasmine. Katara looked up when he entered and smiled at him, gesturing with her hand to sit before picking up the little girl again.

Zuko sighed and sat in the corner, away from the girls. He watched Jasmine trying to play with Momo, but the lemur kept jumping away from the girl whenever she got close. After watching the escapades for twenty minutes, Jade came out and picked up her daughter, declaring it nap time.

"But I don' wanna," Jasmine said, stifling a yawn.

"I know" Jade told her daughter as she carried her out of the room, "but if you want to grow big and strong, you need your rest."

Katara waited until the two were further down the hall before looking at Zuko.

"Will it be all right?"

"Yes, it looks great. Thank you."

"You're welcome," Katara replied, smiling. "When will you go?"

Zuko studied her. The waterbender was trying to curb her curiosity, but sometimes it got the best of her.

"Lord Dier will come and meet me here in an hour. I guess I should get ready."

Zuko rose and started heading back to his room.

"Can Aang and I come too?" Katara asked before he left the room. Zuko looked back at her.

"No. I know you're worried too, but one threat to Lao should be more than enough tonight."

Katara nodded, looking humbled, and making Zuko feel guilty.

"If you want," he said carefully, "you guys can meet me outside afterwards. I should be done after dinner, unless things go really well."

He was glad when Katara looked up at him, smiling, and then hurried to his room. If things went really well, he would be leaving with Toph, but he didn't see that happening. If things went terribly, he'd be out of the manor right after he walked in, but he was determined to make Lao see sense, and to hold in his temper as long as he could. One outburst and everything could be ruined, and Zuko knew that. He had to control his temper that night. He only hoped Lao would control his.

Zuko walked back and found Sokka in his blue water tribe pants, looking at clothes. The warrior would stand in front of the mirror, holding up one shirt and sighing before holding up another.

"Go with the black pants and the green shirt from Omashu," Zuko said as he went to pick up his robe.

"What?" Sokka asked, noticing the firebender for the first time.

"The black pants," Zuko stated again, pointing to a set of black pants in fire nation style lying on the floor, "and the green shirt."

Zuko then pointed to one of the shirts Sokka was holding, a dark hunter green that was similar to the clothes Zuko had worn himself while working in his uncles' teashop in Ba Sing Sae.

"You think that'll work?"

"Yes," Zuko stated, hurrying into the second room with the red robe.

Zuko closed the door behind him and changed, feeling a little odd to be wearing royal robes again, but he needed to be a prince again that night, not just a firebender or the Avatar's teacher. The robe actually fit him better than he thought it would and Zuko waited until he heard the other door close to step out into the bedroom, looking into the mirror.

Katara had let more of the black show, and Zuko thought it looked good. He carefully brought his hair together into a topknot, making sure every hair was in and that they were all aligned before taking the relic out of his clothes and putting in around the topknot. He thought he looked just as he did when he was home, and the relic added some prestige to his appearance. He frowned as he touched his scar gently, but a smile tugged at his mouth as he remembered when Toph had 'looked' at it. She didn't see it and she didn't care.

"Zuko," Katara called in, knocking gently on the door. "Lord Dier is here."

Zuko looked into the mirror once more and sighed. "Guess it's now or never," he said to himself before calling out to Katara. "I'm coming."

He opened the door and found Katara standing there. As soon as she caught sight of him, she stared, but after a few seconds, caught herself and gave him a wry grin.

"At least you clean up halfway nice. He's in the front room."

Zuko bowed his head in thanks and hurried to meet Lord Dier. He found the mayor talking with Shawn and Lord Dier looked surprised when Zuko entered.

"I didn't think you would bring a royal robe from your home," Lord Dier stated.

"I didn't. Katara was kind enough to improvise one for me."

The mayor nodded before handing Zuko a green cloak. The prince looked at it oddly and the mayor smiled.

"If I look like I'm showing around a fire nation dignitary, the people will not be happy. You can remove it as soon as we're on the Bei Fong estate."

Zuko nodded and pulled the cloak on, careful to not let it brush the relic. He knew the relic could stand the pressure, but he didn't want to tempt fate. Once the cloak was covering the robe entirely, the mayor led the way out, thanking Shawn again. Zuko looked back and saw Aang and Katara give him encouraging smiles as he walked into the late afternoon light. Lord Dier moved through the streets with ease, stopping occasionally to greet a man or woman he knew.

When asked about his guest, he stated that Zuko was the nephew of an old friend who had asked for his help in guiding the young man around, without actually stating Zuko's name. Zuko and the mayor got some friendly nods and pointers on where to go as they walked through the streets and entered the market place. Lord Dier was greeting a merchant when something on the merchant's table caught Zuko's eye.

Zuko went to it, picking it up gently and examining it. It was a rose carved from marble, perfect in every detail, from the texture of the petals to the leaves. Even the thorns were there, though not as sharp as real thorns. It made him think of Toph.

"How much for this?" Zuko asked the merchant.

The man studied the prince, seeming to weigh how much he should charge the young man.

"Five gold pieces," the merchant said.

"Len Ying, that is too much…" Lord Dier began, but Zuko cut him off.

"Done," Zuko said, pulling out the gold from an inner pocket.

"Dear boy, that is extortion," the mayor stated.

Zuko looked at the mayor. "No, it's a gift, and is worth far more."

Lord Dier sighed before leading Zuko on towards the Bei Fong manor. Zuko pocketed the marble rose as they made their way onwards and was glad the mayor wasn't greeted much more. He wanted to get this over with, but he also wanted to see Toph. They were greeted in the entry courtyard by Shen, the servant who had greeted Zuko when he was there with Toph for the first time, and Zuko knew the servant recognized him.

"I don't want the young man announced until we are inside," Lord Dier told Shen as the servant took their cloaks.

"Yes, my lord," Shen replied, bowing. "This way please."

Shen handed the cloaks to another servant as they made their way to the meeting room and Zuko knew by the looks he was getting that he was recognized from when he had come before. He ignored them and followed behind Lord Dier, bowing to the Bei Fongs as Shen announced them.

"May I present to you, Lord Deir and his guest…"

"Zuko," Lao growled.

A/N: It's going to be a crazy week for me, lots of work. But the more reviews I get, the faster the next chapter gets up. Personally I'm hoping for twenty, but more would be great. Thank you!