Chapter 10
Katara have been working in the huge Villa for a week now. She hardly spoke to any of the maids. She would drop Min Ho off at school and go straight to the Agni's resident. After helping the head cook with breakfast and lunch. She would leave to pick Min Ho up from school. She had to sneak him into the house, trying her best to hide him from Ursa. She didn't tell her that she had a son. For some wired reason. People hardly hired a single mother because she would put the child first before her work. Ursa was very strict. Making sure they came to work early. She would come for an evening inspection. Katara would hide Min Ho in one of the cupboard, telling him that she was playing a game. She knew she couldn't keep hiding him especially now that Ursa's husband will be coming back from his trip soon.
"Put that down." She said to Min Ho as she watched him put the glass plate gently on the table. She had been washing the dishes for a while now and she still had a lot more dirty dishes to go.
"Mummy, let's go home." He said as he tugged on her apron.
"Okay. We just have to help cook dinner and we'll be back before you know it." She said as she bent down to give him a kiss on the head.
"Go play and don't leave the kitchen." She said firmly making sure that he understood that he would be punished if he disobeys her.
"Okay." He pouted and sat on the kitchen floor folding his arms. Ursa was expecting her daughter today. Everyone was preparing dinner. Katara stood by the sink washing some dishes; she overheard some maids talking about how ruthless Mrs. Agni's daughter was. They talked about how mean she was and how she had put a maid in the hospital for bringing her cold tea.
"Katara, the madam's daughter wants you to bring a cup of tea to her room." The head cook said taking over katara's position with the dishes.
"Why me, I'm new. I don't even know her room."
"Don't argue with me just do as you are told. I'll show you were her room is." The maid said as she rubbed her head. She looked tired.
"Okay."
"Mummy, can I come with you?" Min Ho said tugging on katara's apron.
"No baby, stay here. I'll be back soon." She said as she took the tray and followed the head cook out of the kitchen. Min Ho glared at his toys. He was getting tired of the kitchen. He decided to explore katara's new work place before she gets back. That way she won't know he left the kitchen in the first place.
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Ursa sat on a couch in her study. Ozai left for an important business meeting. She had nothing else to do but to keep herself busy, reading a novel. She felt a presence in her study. She dropped her book and bolted up on her couch.
"Who's there?" She said as she stood up and went behind a shelf. She gasped in shock when she saw a young boy sitting by the shelf flipping through pages of a huge book he placed between his legs.
"Hey, where did you come from?" She said calling the attention of the little boy. He quickly closed the book and tried to keep the book back in its place.
"From the kitchen." He said like it was obvious. Ursa couldn't believe her eyes. He looked just like her son. He had his eyes and hair; almost everything reminded her of Zuko.
"How old are you? How did you get into the house?" She said determined to find who his mother was and how they could bring a child into her house without her noticing.
"I'm four and a half years old. My mummy brought me in here." He said, finally realizing that Katara will punish him for disobeying her again. Ursa couldn't believe how young the boy was.
"And who is your mother." She said as she watched the look on the boy's face turn into fare.
"I can't tell you. She'll get mad at me. She said I shouldn't leave the kitchen." He said as he brushed past her and headed for the door.
"Wait, Can you stay here." She said hopping the boy could end her boring afternoon.
"I could read you a book." She said as she pulled out a book from the shelf. It was Zuko's favorite when he was little. The boy reminded her son. Min Ho stood by the door as he played with his fingers. He knew he would be in big trouble when Katara finds out that his missing and he certainly wasn't going back to the kitchen to play with spoons and pots.
"Okay." He said putting a smile on Ursa s face. The both sat on the chair. Shoulder to shoulder as she showed him some pictures on the book.
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Katara held the hug tray in her hands as she stood in front of the door. She didn't know why she was the one that was supposed to sever Mrs. Agni's daughter especially after all the rumors she heard about her in the kitchen. She took deep breaths, knocked on the door and opened it gently. She saw a young woman, brushing her hair by her facing her dresser. She walked into the huge bed room. It had everything a huge bed with so many expensive lamps and furniture.
"Leave it on the table." The woman said as she kept on brushed her hair. She had a dark beautiful hair but sadly Katara couldn't see her face. She gently kept the tray on the table. When she turned around, she was suddenly embraced by the young woman. Katara gashed in shock. Was the crazy lady trying to kill her? She held still while the woman gave her a tight squeeze. She didn't know if she should scream for help or return the hug.
"I missed you so much." The woman said as she gave Katara a tight squeeze.
"Azula." Katara said when she recognized who it was. She could never forget that voice. She finally broke the hug to see if she was truly Azula.
"You... You're the evil Lady?" Katara said in shock. She knew Azula as a kind, loving best friend a girl could ever have. Azula was always there for her when she was in trouble.
"So that's what those maids call me now? I like it. I saw you in the kitchen when i came in, you were busy. I just had to call you in here to make sure it was you. It's so good to see you." She said as she pulled Katara to her bed and sat beside her.
"Where have you been? Why did you leave when I needed you the most?" Katara said feeling her heart go heavy. She was heartbroken when she found out that Azula was gone as well as Zuko.
"I had no choice. I know you won't believe me. Katara you were right. If only I had just listened to you. I wouldn't have left ba sin sei."
"What are you talking about?"
"Chan tried to rape me. He drugged me. I went over to his house like i told you i would. He gave me this drink because he felt like i needed more courage to go through with it. I didn't know he slipped something in my drink and I drank it. I started feeling dizzy. All I remember was hitting him on the head with a bottle and running out into the rain. I fainted and the next thing i knew, i was in the hospital. They said i over dosed but i didn't, nobody believed me. I tried reaching you."
"You won't believe the things i went through these past few years. I got myself into so much trouble." Katara said as Stared at her fingers.
"What trouble? Why are you even working here aren't you supposed to be in medical school or something." Azula said as she rubbed her friends shoulder trying to draw back her attention.
"I'm going to nursing school." She said giving Azula a smile.
"Nursing school? Since when did you want to be a nurse? What happened to medical school?"
"I can't afford it."
"Please, your Dad can afford it."
"But I can't."
"What do you mean?" Azula said. She was confused. She knew there was something Katara wasn't telling her.
"Well... The thing is-" Katara said before she was interrupted by a maid who walked into the room with fear written all over her face.
"I'm so sorry madam... Mrs. Agni asked all the cooking staffs to report to her study." She said as she stared at her feet.
"Is that why you barged into my room? I told you people that I do not want to be disturbed." Azula said as she glared at the maid.
"I'm so sorry madam." The maid said as she shudders in fear. Katara watched as Azula scolded the maid for barging into her room. She didn't know if she should intervene or just keep shut.
"Get out; you're lucky I'm in a good mood today." Azula said as she watched the maid leave her room.
"It's not her fault Azula. I have to go." Katara said as she stood up from the bed and took the tray in her hands.
"Why." She said with disappointment in her voice. She just met Katara again and now she wanted to leave. It hadn't even been five minutes yet. "I'm a maid too and your mum is very strict."
"She's not usually like that. She just misses my dad. I'm coming with you. "She said as she grabbed her robe and quickly put it on.
"No you're not. What will your mum say when she finds out that I'm your suicidal friend?" Katara said as she headed for the door. She knew there was no way they could accept her. She was just a maid. Zuko had made sure she knew the trouble he would get into if his parents found of about them, back when they were dating.
"You're not the boss of me. I didn't ask for your permission. I'm coming with you." She said as she brushed pass Katara and stood by the hallway.
"You still haven't changed." Katara said finally giving up. She knew Azula won this round. The both walked side by side as they went up to Ursa's study. No maid has ever walked beside Azula and lived to tell the story. It was a big shock to the maids that saw them laughing and talking. They finally arrived at the huge entrance to Ursa's study.
"Don't make a scene." Katara said to Azula as she took a deep breath and opened the door. She saw Ursa surrounded by the cooking staffs. She walked closer with Azula behind her. Azula watched katara's expression go from shock to pure anger. She followed Katara gaze and she couldn't believe her eyes. Why was there a younger version of her brother sitting beside her mother?
"Who does he belong to?" Ursa said as she dropped the book she was reading to Min Ho.
"He's mine madam, I'm so sorry." Katara said as she stepped out from the crowd.
"The rest of you go back to work." She said as she watched them leave her room. "You brought a child into my house. Why didn't you tell me you had a son? I'm not a cold cruel person. I don't enjoy people lying to me." She said as she stared at Min Ho. He looked worried.
"I know. I didn't tell you I have a son. I'll understand if you want to fire me." Katara said. She was going to quit the job now that she found out that this was Zuko's family house.
"No, I'm not going to fire you." Ursa said as she gave Min Ho a smile. She promised him that she wouldn't fire Katara. Ursa finally turned her attention to Azula and found her staring at the boy.
"Azula are you alright?" Ursa said with worry in her eyes."
"I'm fine mum." She said as she gave Ursa a forced smile and walked out of the room.
"Thank you." Katara said as she held Min Ho's hand and went out of the room. Katara sighed when she closed the door behind her. She always felt uneasy anytime Ursa was in the same room with her.
"You're in so much trouble when we get home." She said firmly to Min Ho. She scoped him up in her arms and walked all the way to Azula's room. Azula was very smart. Katara knew that she already knew who Min Ho's father was. She opened the door to Azula's room and found her drinking tea on the couch.
"Can I come in?" Katara said with a smile on her face. She knew Azula wasn't happy with this.
"He belongs to Zuko. Isn't it." She said as she glared at her tea cup.
"This is you nephew." She said as she dropped Min Ho on the couch beside Azula.
"I knew that bastard was hiding something from me." Azula said with a scowl on her face. She couldn't believe that Zuko could do something so heartless.
"Language." Katara said as she covered Min Ho's ears, giving him a smile. He smiled back thinking she was playing a new game with him.
"Sorry. How did this happen. Does Zuko know about this?" She said as she took Min Ho's hands in hers.
"He does. He knew since the very beginning. I don't want to talk about Zuko right now. He's not in our lives and he never will be. I have to start making dinner."
"No you can't just leave."
"I work here remember."
"Well I order you to stay with me."
"It doesn't work that way. I'll come over to your room when I'm done. In the meantime. You can get to know your nephew." Katara said as she stood up. Min Ho grabbed her dress and looked up to her with pleading eye's begging her not to leave him here. "If you need me, I'll be in the kitchen." She said as she gave him a kiss on the cheeks and went out of the room.
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Katara was done for the day and she wasn't planning on coming back here ever again. Azula had pleaded with her to keep on working in the house. That was something she rarely does. She agreed to think about it. They were both walking out of the mansion; Min Ho had his hand in hers.
"Mummy, I had the best time ever. Aunt Azula let me play with her old toys and we drank tea together and we she doesn't like dollies." Min ho went on and on about his fun afternoon with Azula.
"Really?"
"Yes mummy, she said she'll rule the world but the court room first. I want to be a lawyer too. Can I mummy?"
"Sure you can. You can be anything you want to be. But first, your punishment, No TV for the rest of the week end."
"But it's Friday. I want to watch cartoons." He said as he pouted.
"Well you should have thought about that before disobeying mummy. Now come." She said as she lifted him up into her arms. He naturally wrapped his arms around her neck. She carried him all the way outside the huge gate and waited for a taxi. A familiar black Audi parked right in front of her. The car door was opened and she was greeted with a familiar face.
"Katara, I hope you won't turn me down again."
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Another one, I'm so sorry guys. I have a lot of things going on. Like school and stuff. I'll update as soon as I can. Thank you all so much for the reviews and for supporting this fic.
* Next chapter will be Zuko and Katara finally reaching an agreement. You get to know why Hakoda is not in the picture.
*Till next time. Please review. I always appreciate them. Though matter how small they are.
* Phoenix lrv.