Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender or its characters

Pointers: 'italics' means that the character is thinking

Summary: He hadn't seen her since the day he was banished, but he could still remember the way the wind had drifted her away. Zuko x OC


Book 3: Fire

The Ember Island Players & The Phoenix King Pt. 1


Jiyuu's P.O.V

A month has gone by since we had stayed in the Air Temple. Now that there were adults around, I was immediately doted on, surprisingly by the men. Katara and Sokka's father was protective as well as Haru, they were surprised yet happy that I was pregnant and didn't even seem to mind that I was having a child unmarried. Of course, they did hound Zuko questioning if he would. He would always snap at them, angry that they would insinuate otherwise but thankfully they had asked what always been on my mind. I was unsure if my child was going to be born into a complete family and now two teenagers who still considered themselves boyfriend and girlfriend. Still, it would've been born into two people who loved each other so it wasn't so bad if we didn't get married.

Things had felt calm and nice for a while than it had in a long time. Our group, although larger now, was as tight as ever. Suki and I had hit it off, she was also quite protective of me. More than Katara, who didn't like sharing that responsibility with anyone. Watching them compete on who did a better job in making me feel relaxed was… very fun to watch. I would always try to separate the two but there was no use really. So, I just sat back and relaxed, often telling Toph to come and hear their bickering. She enjoyed it far more than I did.

After a few days, Azula had appeared. I'm not sure how she was able to pinpoint our location, but my only guess is that since boiling rock was not too far from the Western Air Temple that this was a safe bet. I mean we had hid her zeppelin well, so I wasn't sure how she found us out. What was even worse was the fact Katara almost got crushed by the rocks from the ceiling. However, Zuko had saved her but she didn't like the gesture. At first I thought it was because she was being saved, but it came out that she still had some animosity and distrust for Zuko. I thought she was over it, but it appeared she wasn't.

Zuko was sulking about it for a while and kept asking me what he should do. I knew he wanted to show everyone he had changed and Aang as well as Sokka had seen it for themselves, but he had something to prove to Katara. Of course, I didn't know what it could be since Katara, despite growing into being a close friend, was a very complex person. There was some things that I didn't know about her for instance how she lost her mother to a firebender.

It was with that knowledge that Zuko decided to help her find the killer. I had no issue with it, I believed that the man should pay. Aang, as usual, was against such an act of violence. I had known why he was against it and it wasn't because he was the Avatar, but because Katara would probably feel guilty for the rest of her life by taking revenge. I had never killed someone before, I don't know it feels exactly but I can imagine that… That its horrible. The two had left leaving me with Sokka, Suki, Aang, and Toph. At the time, we were on some small, remote island which was safe for the time being.

They didn't come back for a few days and I was worried about them. I was pretty sure that Katara had actually killed them man or worse, he killed them. My worry and my hormones drove me to be an emotional wreck and I had tortured the others which my mood swings. They ended when both of them came back, but the others became a bit scared of me. It wasn't like I could control them anyway so I don't understand why they were being such scaredy cats.

Our stay on the island had ended shortly, me and Zuko realizing that we weren't far off from Ember Island. After our last trip there when we were back in the Fire Nation, we realized that it would be a good hiding place until Sozin's comet. Obviously, Ozai hadn't been there in years… Nobody could ever find us there.

End of P.O.V

"Doesn't it seem kinda weird that we're hiding from the Fire Lord in his own house?" asked Katara as she was looking around the courtyard.

Toph, Katara, and Jiyuu were sitting at steps of the courtyard while Aang and Zuko were doing their firebending training in the centre. Toph, however, was napping while Jiyuu and Katara watched both boys firebending. Zuko then took a seat next to Jiyuu, who handed him a damp, yellow towel. He began wiping his hair as he answered the waterbender, "I told you, my father hasn't come here since our family was actually happy. And that was a long time ago. This is the last place anyone would look for us."

"Exactly." Jiyuu nodded her head, "I mean what do you think he's gonna do? 'I feel like reminiscing so I'm going to go to Ember Island and take a vacation when I can take over the world. Even evil people need vacations too!'." She said in a deep voice, trying to imitate Ozai. Katara giggle as Zuko rolled his eyes with a smile, "See? That doesn't sound like him at all, trust me. I know."

"You do have a point." The blue-eyed girl replied, a smile still on her face.

Sokka and Suki came walking over, a look of disbelief on the boy's face. "You guys are not going to believe this. There's a play about us." He said.

"We were just in town and found this poster." Suki explained as Sokka unveils the poster, unrolling it. Everyone had looked at the oddly drawn versions of them.

Jiyuu squinted her eyes, pointing at Zuko's person. "Zuko's scar is on the wrong side."

"What?" Zuko tried to look as Sokka had it infront of Aang and Zuko, "It is on the wrong side!"

The female airbender nodded, "Told you."

"What?" Katara meanwhile was still flabbergasted, "How is that possible?"

Her brother flipped the poster back, "Listen to this: "The Boy in the Iceberg is a new production from acclaimed playwright Pu On Tim who scoured the globe gathering information on the Avatar from the icy South Pole to the heart of Ba Sing Se. His sources including singing nomads, pirates, prisoners of war and a surprisingly knowledgeable merchant of cabbage."

"A merchant of cabbage?" Jiyuu repeated incredulously, "Who is this merchant of cabbage?"

Sokka, Katara, and Aang sighed heavily. "Some crazy man who is obsessed with cabbages." Aang tried to explained, "But I mean… We did kind of ruined his cabbage carts… A lot of times."

Suki was leaning in to read the last line that her boyfriend ha d missed, "Brought to you buy the critically acclaimed Ember Island Players."

Jiyuu gagged while Zuko scoffed, "Ugh! My mother used to take us to see them. They butchered "Love Amongst The Dragons" every year."

"Yes!" Jiyuu agreed, slapping her hands on her place. "They are so horrible! I bet this play isn't even accurate to the core."

The waterbender looked at Jiyuu and Zuko's disgusted faces before looking at her sibling, "Sokka, do you really think it's a good idea for us to attend a play about ourselves?"

"Come on, a day at the theatre?" He unrolls the scroll towards his sister, "This is kind of wacky time wasting nonsense I've been missing."

The airbenders looked at each other, Jiyuu's expression more fierce. "Why would we waste our time on nonsense? All of the shenanigans happen and end with you anyway."

Everyone, except Sokka, began to laugh as he pouted. "Come on, we can make fun of it the whole time!"

"If that's what everyone wants to do…" Jiyuu sighed as she reached her hand out, wanting to be helped up. She was getting a bit heavier, she was in her third month. She had three more weeks until she was actually four months in which things would start getting a little troublesome. Sokka grabbed her hand, Suki pushing him away to be her escort.

"Let me help!" She grinned as the airbender beside her blinked a few times, looking at a hurt Sokka.


Once they arrived and bought their tickets, they had walked into a private viewing box on the second floor facing the state. Toph and Katara took their seats, and quickly following. Zuko, who was wearing a hooded cloak, sat with Jiyuu beside Sokka and Suki.

"Why are we sitting in the nose bleed section? My feet can't see a thing from up here." Toph asked, obviously annoyed.

The lights were dimming to signal the play was about to again, "Don't worry, I'll tell your feet what's happening." Katara reassured the blind eartherbender.

Meanwhile, Jiyuu was munching down some spicy fireflakes. Zuko had reached his hand for it, but it was immediately slapped away. "Ow!" He hissed, "What was that for?"

His girlfriend cut him a glare, "I told you to get your own."

"But that's more than enough for the both of us. Its an extra large!" He pointed at the bag, but she wasn't having it.

"I'm feeding for three people! Me and the two little, greedy children you've given me! Now back off!" She snarled, Zuko's eyes widening as he held his hands up in defeat.

"Fine, fine!" He sighed as he looked back at the stage. The scene was somewhere in the waters of the South Pole, icebegs, mountains, and pieces of ice all in water. It wasn't as beautiful as the actual place, the drawings of the set was quite dysfunctional. Katara was still excited as well as her brother, who points to her and back at himself in a rapid moment as he made crazy noises.

"…Whoa." Jiyuu commented now that they had a clear view of Katara's actress. The woman was much… heavier, bustier, and her clothes a little on the sleazy side. Not just that, the blush on her cheeks were too much.

Katara's actress took a dramatic sigh, "Sokka, my only brother. We constantly roam these icy South Poke seas and yet never do we find anything fulfilling.

"Damn…" Jiyuu placed her hand over her mouth, Sokka's actor was bucktoothed and as thin as a toothpick. His coiffure, which was supposed to be a wolf-tail, was an extreme ponytail bun.

"All I want is a full feeling in my stomach, I'm starving!" His actor said as Jiyuu felt the corner of her eyes tear up. This was hilariousto her.

The audience, besides the group, had laughed in a hearty manner. The watertribe siblings, however, looked at each other in disbelief and disgust.

"Is food the only thing on your mind?" The actress asked.

The man playing her brother replied, "Well, I'm trying to get it out of my mind," he then points to his mouth, "and into my mouth. I'm starving!"

The same people in the audience laughs once again, but this time Toph joined right in as Sokka complained. "This is pathetic. My," his thumb is now pointed at his person, "jokes are way funnier than his!" The boy said as he throws his arm towards the stage.

The earthbender was still laughing, the siblings looking at her. "I think he's got you pegged."

On stage, actress Katara stands up while actor Sokka continues paddling. "Everyday, the World awaits a beacon to guide us, yet none appears. Still, we cannot give up hope." She places her hand to her chest in a melodramatic way, "For hope, " She fakes a few sniffles, " is all we have," her voice begins to be choked with… tears, "and we must never relinquish it. Even..." Sniffling, "even to our dying breath. "

The heavy-set actress pretends to cry as Katara was clearly unamused. However, Suki as well as Sokka and Jiyuu were laughing. "Well, that's just silly. I don't sound like that."

Toph, who was next to her, is giggling and clutching her stomach. "Oh man, this writer's a genius. "

The actress had cried for a few minutes until a what was supposed to be an ethereal –blue light illuminated behind her, she looked up in what was supposed to be a dainty manner. "It appears to be someone frozen in ice. Perhaps for a hundred years."

A cut out of the Avatar swayed side to side on a sick inside of an iceberg. "Who the hell guesses something like that? Did you immediately guess that Katara?" Jiyuu asked after swallowing down her snacks.

Katara turned to look at her with a deadpanned expression, "You really had to ask me that?"

"I wasn't around at this time. I didn't know." She shrugged as her friend continued to sulk.

"But who? Who is the boy in the iceberg?" Sokka's Actor asked, being serious for once despite his goofy appearance.

Aang obviously excited, grabbing the rail in anticipation. Zuko had a bored expression, most of the time looking at the Fire Flakes bag and then at Jiyuu, who had made no notion in taking a break from eating.

Katara's actress was now on top of the iceberg prop, the other actor still climbing up. "Waterbend, hai-ya!" She had done a karate chop and once she made contact, the Aang cut out was pulled down. A crack appeared on the ice berg and it opens with the inside of it smoking. The actors looking at each other, mocking surprise and disbelief. The smoke soon clears.

The actor playing Aang jumps out, winks and poses. It was a woman. "Is that a woman?" Jiyuu asked Zuko in disbelief, "That's a woman." She answered herself, her mouth still open in shock.

Aang, however, was horrified. "Who are you, frozen boy?" Actress Katara asked, feigning amazement.

Actress Aang giggled and balanced on one leg, "I'm the Avatar, silly. Here to spread," She does a ballet pirouette on her balancing leg, "joy and fun."

"Wait, is that a woman playing me? " Aang said now soaking it in. A white Chinese lion prop dances out from the remnants of the iceberg and moves from side to side.

The Appa lion circles round the iceberg and makes a gruff animal noise. The 3 dancers controlling the lion costume have worn shaggy pants to show that Appa has six legs. Katara's actress then gasps, "My heart is so full of hope that it's," she drops to her knees, "making me…" She grabbed actress Aang's leg and cries, "tearbend."

Jiyuu bursted into a fit of laughter, nearly falling out of her seat. "Tearbend! Oh my Agni, this is gold!" Once the scene ended, there was now a Fire Nation ship. Jiyuu's eyes lit up as Zuko's actor enters the stage and goes near the front of the ship, looking through a telescope. "Oh my Agni…"

A more accurate actor had played Iroh's part, "Prince Zuko, you must try this cake." He held up a whole cake on a plate, one slice missing.

"I don't have time to stuff my face." Actor Zuko replies, his voice is rougher and deeper than Zuko's. He lowers the telescope and faces the audience, "I must capture the Avatar to regain my honor!"

"Well, while you do that, maybe I'll capture another slice." Actor Iroh proceeds to bring the plate of cake to his mouth and makes loud, masticating noises.

"You sicken me." Actor Zuko responds as he looks through the telescope again.

Zuko, however, was not enthused with any of this. "They make me totally stiff and humorless."

"But you are totally stiff and humorless." Jiyuu replied, her boyfriend cutting her a hard stare. "What? Its not like I'm lying."

"How could you say that?!" He replied, not agreeing with her in the slightest.

Back on stage, actor Iroh appeared behind actor Zuko. "Let's forget about the Avatar and get massages."

Zuko's actor had turned back to his actor uncle, outraged. "How could you say that?!"

"And your point is?" Jiyuu grinned mischievously while she watched her boyfriend slouch in his seat.


There was soon a break after a few more scenes and everyone was sitting on the steps of a balcony. "So far, this intermission is the best part of the play." Zuko sighed as Jiyuu rested her head on his shoulder.

"Apparently, the playright thinks I'm an idiot," He sits down and reaches into a small bag of beef jerky, "who tells bad jokes about meat all the time."

"Yeah, you tell jokes," Suki answers as Sokka bites a part of the strip and chews, "about plenty of other topics."

Sokka swallows down the chewed down food, "I know!" He takes another bite angrily.

"At least this Sokka actor kinda looks like you. That woman playing the Avatar doesn't resemble me at all." Aang chimed in.

Toph, who was standing in front him, had her arms crossed. "I don't know, you are more in touch with your feminine side than most guys." She said which infuriated Aang as he quickly stood and makes an annoyed sound.

"Relax, Aang." Katara said as he turns around to Katara, who was sitting at the top of the steps. "They're not accurate portrayals. It's not like I'm," She places hand on chest, "a preachy crybaby who can't resist giving overemotional speeches about hope all the time." Everyone gives her a skeptical look, "What?"

"Yeah…" Aang sits down, "That's not you at all."

"Listen, friends. It's obvious that the playwright did his research. I know it must hurt but what you're seeing up there on that stage is the truth." Toph said.

"I have to agree." Jiyuu nodded her head.

Zuko rolled his eyes, "That's because you haven't even showed up yet." He replied as she nodded her head agreeing, "I bet you won't be saying that when they mess you up."

"I bet I'll be perfect! I mean I was once loved after all." Jiyuu said arrogantly, her hand on her face. "I was one of the most beautiful women in the Fire Nation."

Back in the play, the actors and actresses were now in the Earth Kingdom. In this scene, Aang is searching for his Earthbending teacher, who would come out to be Toph. "I flew all over town but I couldn't find a single earthbending master." Said actress Aang as both actress Katara and actor Sokka made themselves appear to be horrified and disappointed.

Toph had clenched her fists in anticipating, a huge grin on her face as she was shaking with excitement. "Here it comes!"

Aang's actress pointed at the actor who played Toph, "Who are you?"

"My name is Toph because it sounds like tough." He flexed his muscles, "And that's just what I am." The real Toph turned her head to the side, straining to hear the words.

"Wait a minute." The earthbender used her pinky to clear her ear, "I sound like," she gasped, "a guy! A really buff guy." She soon smiled.

"Well Toph, what you hear up there is the truth. It hurts, doesn't it?" Katara tried to poke fun.

It didn't work because the young girl had a grin that went from ear to ear, "Are you kidding me?!" The waterbender's face became sour, "I wouldn't have cat it any other way. At least it's not a flying, bald lady."

Aang snarled, irritated by the comment. It was clear that Toph was the only one who loved her character while everyone else, except Jiyuu, was annoyed with theirs. Jiyuu thought the casting was perfect. "That's who Toph is really on the inside." She said as Toph turned her head towards the female's direction.

"You know me so well, Ballerina!" She said with a smile as everyone else rolled their eyes.

After a few more horrific scenes later, they were now at the catacombs. Jiyuu smiled brightly, wondering if she would show up soon but when the scene began all she saw was Katara and Zuko. She nodded her head, remembering the two were indeed kidnapped together. "I have to admit, prince Zuko. I really find you attractive." Actress Katara said.

A mental record scratched in Jiyuu's head, "Wait, what?" Was her response.

"You don't have to make fun of me!" Actor Zuko replied.

"But I mean it." said Katara's actress as she proceeds to sit down beside actor Zuko, "I had eyes for you," Katara and Zuko looked at each other awkwardly, "since the day you first captured me." Both Jiyuu and Aang frowned, their expression harsh and serious.

"Wait." Actor Zuko stands up, "I thought you were the Avatar's girl."

Both Aang and Jiyuu nod, "The Avatar?" Katara's actress laughed as she stood up and walked towards actor Zuko, "Why, he's like a little brother to me." She laughed some more, "I certainly don't think of him in a romantic way. Besides, how could he ever find out about this."

The actors hold each others' hands in an embrace. Jiyuu growled, her hands crushing the soda cup next to her but then someone came from the other side. "How dare you!" said the unknown voice, Jiyuu's eyes revealing her curiosity.

"J-Jiyuu!" Actor Zuko said in shock as a female came onto the state. She just as bad as Katara, but she was more prettier than her actress. She wore a sleazy Earth Kingdom attire, bustier than the actual Jiyuu, and her hair was down instead of the usual ponytail. Most of the men whistled as she took the stage.

"Even I have more honor than you!" She pointed at him accusingly.

"More honor than me? You were the one who used me to get close to my father!" The Gang had shocked expression before turning to Jiyuu, who looked horrified.

Actress Jiyuu turned, her arms folded. "Its not my fault your father is more devilishly handsome and powerful than you are."

"I… I think I'm going to be sick." Jiyuu placed her hand over her mouth, her other hand on her stomach.

Zuko placed his hand on her shoulder, "I told you this was going to be stupid. Look, just calm down and don't-" Every single fireflake she ate was now on the floor, "throw up." He sighed as her face looked a pale green.


After more of the play continued, there was another intermission. Everyone was back on the second floor, Jiyuu's head on Zuko's lap as she still remained sick. "Does anyone know where Aang is?" Katara asked, noticing he was the only person no there.

"He left to get me fire gummies like, 10 minutes ago." Sokka answered his sister as he leans against the wall and folds his arms impatiently, "And I'm still waiting."

"I'm going to check outside. " Katara replied, knowing very well Aang did not go to buy fire gummies.

Toph, Jiyuu, and Zuko were now stuck together since Sokka and Suki walked off somewhere and Katara continued to search for Aang. "Jeez. Everyone's getting so upset about their characters. Even you seem more down than usual and that's saying something.

The Prince looked at her, "You don't get it. It's different for you. You get a muscly version of yourself taking down 10 bad guys at once and making sassy remarks. "

Yeah, that's pretty great." She commented.

"But for me, it takes all the mistakes I've made in my life and shove them back in my face. My Uncle. He's always been on my side even when things were bad. He was there for me. He taught me so much and how do I repay him? With a knife in his back. It's my greatest regret, "He lowered his head, his expression regretful, "and I may never get to redeem myself. "

"You have redeemed yourself to your Uncle. You don't realize it but you already have." Toph replied as she sat next to him and a sick Jiyuu, who anime-esque swirly eyes a half green face.

"How do you know?" asked Zuko.

"Because I once had a long conversation with the guy and all he would talk about was you." She explained as Zuko lowers his hood and smiles.

"Really?" The boy inquired.

"Yeah, and it was kind of annoying." The earthbender bluntly put it.

"Oh, sorry."

"But it was also very sweet." There was a now smiling and happy Zuko, "All your Uncle wanted was for you to find your own path and see the light. Now you're here with us. He'd be proud." Toph proceeds to give him a punch on the shoulder.

"Ow!" Zuko winced as he rubbed his arms, "What was that for?"

Toph smiled, "That's how I show affection. Now Ballerina, is she all right?"

"I don't know. After watching the scene where her character is in love with my dad, I'm not sure. Where did they even get that idea anyway?"

Toph shrugged, "I don't have a clue, but I guess she's the only one who deserves to be upset. Although, her actress did sound rather… sultry."

"You got that right." The Prince replied which got him a sharp pain on his thigh, "Ow!"

"Are you trying to say she's sexier than me?!" Jiyuu, now back to her normal self, pointed an accusing finger at him. "Just because I'm pregnant, that doesn't make me less sexy."

Toph listened to the bickering couple, folding her arms behind her head. "What are you talking about, I didn't say she was!"

"You don't have to say it!" She sniffled, her eyes watering. "I can feel it."

Toph laughed as Zuko sighed, knowing very well Jiyuu was unlike herself because of this pregnancy. As the days went by, she became more paranoid and insecure.


"So, you have mastered the four elements." Actor Ozai said to Actress Aang.

The female Aang points her staff towards the man who played Ozai, "Yeah and now," she points her free hand down to the stage floor, "you're going down."

"No, it is you who are going down. You see, you are too late." Actress Aang acts shocked, "The comet is already here and I'm unstoppable. "

After getting over her trauma, Jiyuu had watched this scene intensely along with the others. How could they make up something like that? It was the Fire Nation after all and they thought they were superior than all their enemies. Of course, they would win and come out victor. Aang, Zuko, herself, and others all dying in the flames of their enemies. She wasn't bothered by it, but she wondered if this had caused more stress to Aang.

"The world is mine!" Actor Ozai shouted as Jiyuu's hazel pupils were on Aang's slouched form. It had to be eating him up inside, he was just a twelve-year-old kid and he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. If there was something she could do to help him... Jiyuu pressed her hand on her stomach, afraid if the Fire Nation did win, what world they would have to live through or worse… the lives they wouldn't be able to have or her never seeing them. She looked at Zuko, too speechless about the play. Was she the only one thinking about this?

Since it was over, the actors and actresses bowing as they received a standing ovation and countless of flowers being thrown on the stage. So many people had liked it and yet her and her friends were horrified, angry, and nearly speechless about it. Jiyuu had felt her boyfriend's hand atop of hers, looking at her with a sense of worry. So he had felt it to..

She looked down, unsure, before standing up and they had made their departure. Everyone was quiet as they were leaving the theatre, their faces all revealing their unhappiness. Zuko was the first to speak, "That…. Wasn't a good play." He said as he and Jiyuu held hands.

Aang had spoken about it as well, "I'll say."

"No kidding." Katara commented.

"Horrible." Suki added.

"You said it." Said Toph.

"But the effects were," he waved his arms in a matter-of-factly manner, "decent."

Jiyuu furrowed her brows, "Is that all that matters to you? We just watched all of us die while Ozai remained supreme causing chaos and destruction to the whole world!"

The warrior stiffened at her words and then hanged his head dejectedly, "He was just trying to lighten the mood, Jiyuu." Suki defended her boyfriend.

"Lighten the mood?!" The female airbender stopped walking, everyone pausing as Zuko stood beside her. "What the hell Suki!" She moved her free hand in a 'no way' motion, "That's no way to be thinking after that. Am I the only one bothered by it, by the fact that they are saying all our lives will come to an end?!"

"There's no way I'm going to let that happen, Jiyuu. I won't allow you and everyone else to die." Aang said, trying to calm her down but the girl refused.

"Aang, that play scared you didn't it? You were terrified…" She replied, the boy looking down at his feet as he was unable to object. "Maybe it's because I'm a mother now, but I can't… I can't imagine how you must feel Aang and what about my children, our future children if we escape death and still lost? What kind of world is before us if we don't win?"

Zuko placed both his hands on her shoulders, shaking her slightly to calm her down. "You can't be thinking like that Jiyuu. Its not helping you, the twins, Aang, or the rest of us. You can't think we lost before we even started."

"We have already started and we already lost half the battle, Zuko!" Her eyes were tearing up and she wasn't sure if it was the conversation or her hormones getting the best of her. "I'm just so scared… I-I don't want none of this to happen and I feel like I'm the only who is afraid of the future." She felt her shoulders tremble as she moved forward and buried her face in Zuko's shoulder to cry.

Everyone looked at each other and then at Aang. It was a sad atmosphere on the way back to the mansion.


The sun was peeking over the horizon and Jiyuu was staring blankly at the ceiling. She had slept in spurts, still horrified by the ending of the play. All she kept imaging was losing Zuko, raising her children alone because the Fire Nation had gotten her family as well. The world just looked like a sad wasteland, people crying and suffering as the days went by, and her children living in such harsh poverty in the Earth Kingdom. It was hard for her to go back to sleep after that and she didn't know if she wanted to tell Zuko such things.

He was awake and she had known, he had rubbed her stomach as his head rested atop of it. He wanted to feel the twins moving, wondering if they would do something special just for him. It was endearing and she had very much enjoyed watching and feeling him bond with their children. He was quiet most of the time, but she could tell that something was weighing heavily on his mind. Jiyuu wanted to ask but she was sure that he would tell her when he wanted to.

For now, they sat in comforting silence as the shadows of the darkness was soon moving far back because of the sun that slipped through the open blinds. From their view, there was just nothing but the ocean and the sun. They were on the second floor with a balcony. Two rooms down was Aang, who Jiyuu was worrying about as well. Maybe she should've kept her feelings to herself yesterday, she was sure she had stressed him.

"Sometimes…" Zuko's voice broke through the silence, the airbender's eyes closing as she listened to his words intently. "How they'll turn out." He finished his sentence, his hand warmly caressing the side of her stomach. "What if one is like you and the other like me? Or what if one turns out like Azula or the other like my Father?" That must have been troubling him for a while or so she thought. He seemed so worried about it as if it had been heavy on his mind.

"Well, we can't say for sure. They'll develop their own personalities and might have traits like any one of our family members. I would like to think that we'll raise them better from turning into Ozai or Azula, but who knows. Azula was definitely born crazy." Jiyuu replied, "But you forgot two other people." He lifted his head and looked at her, curious. "They might be like Ursa or Iroh, the two most influential people in our lives. Who love and give constantly."

The ends of his mouth slowly inched upward, a small smile appearing on his face. "I would've hoped my mother would see my first child, well firstborns." He said in a rather somber tone, in which she had placed her hand atop of his head in a means of comfort.

"I know." She cooed, gingerly running her fingers through his hair as he pressed his ear against her stomach once more and closed his eyes. In a way, she wished they could be like this forever. No care in the world, just the four of them, and feeling nothing but love. But that was a short-lived dream, no need to keep thinking it would last forever. "You should get prepared. Aang should be waking up soon and you have training to do."

The Prince nodded and slowly sat up, but he took hold of her hand and she looked at him inquisitively. "Don't worry, I'll protect all three of you with my life. If…If I don't make it, Jiyuu. Promise me you'll raise them to be strong."

Her hazel eyes felt like they were going to become glassy with tears, but she tried to remain strong. She smiled at him, knowing very well that she would fall apart if Zuko was struck down and never able to be with her and the twins ever again. "I promise." She said half-heartedly.

He knew she didn't mean it or didn't want to for that matter. He leaned forward and pressed his lips against her forehead, rubbing the tear out of the right corner of her eye that was about to slide down. He knew her too well…


Zuko and Aang had been training all morning, he had left her in their room and all she had done was lay around and think about the things she were afraid of. The pessimism wouldn't do anyone any good and so she decided that she wasn't going to be around the others until she got herself together. She couldn't upset them like she had last night, she felt all too guilty about it. However, staying in this room all day wouldn't be doing her any justice. She had to get out and get some fresh air or do something, but it felt like she got heavier and heavier as the days went by and she didn't feel much for anything anymore.

Her steps were slow and her eyes remained forward, the hallways were so quiet which could only mean that nobody was inside. Her body stopped when she looked up, coming across one picture. It was a picture of three shadows looking at the ocean and she could feel her eyes swell up with tears. It was her, Zuko, and Ursa looking at the sunset.

Flashback

"Mom, can we watch the sunset with you every year we go to Ember Island?" Zuko asked her, his golden eyes looking at the woman with curiosity.

Jiyuu was sitting on the other side of her, looking up at her as well. She just smiled and continued to look off at the setting sun, the skies a different array of colors of orange and yellow. "Of course we can. Next time, let's invite everyone else."

"No." Jiyuu said dully, "Let it just be us. Let's have this to ourselves." It was selfish, but she didn't want the moment ruined by Azula. At that time, she was fine with Ozai. He didn't say much to her and she didn't say much to him accept the occasional greetings and other things she had to say. There were times where he surprisingly played with her, allowed her to hold his robe and hide behind him when she was afraid. He did accept her as his daughter, she could see it but he would never say it.

Ursa had looked at the airbender, surprised by her words. She looked at Zuko who nodded his head, agreeing. "Well, if that's the case then yes. This will be our little secret." She smiled as she held both of them closer to her, her warmth comforting them as the ocean air drew a cool breeze.

End Flashback

"Jiyuu!" Katara had broken the girl out of thought, the airbender shaking her head and then looking at Katara with question.

The waterbender had a concerned look on her face, carrying a small watermelon with a straw in it. "Want some watermelon juice? Its nice and cold."

The hazel-eyed girl looked at it and took it in her hand, "Oh… Thanks." She smiled and then sucked through the straw, her eyes smiling as the cool drink had tingled against her tastebuds.

"Are you alright?" Katara finally asked what had been on her mind since she saw the girl staring at the portrait.

"Yeah, I was just remembering when Zuko and I were young and we came here. This portrait is of me, Zuko, and his mother." She pointed at it, a warm smile on her face. "We made a promise to watch the sunset every time we're here together."

The girl in front of her frowned, knowing how both Zuko and Jiyuu must've felt being here with so many memories. "I'm sorry."

"You shouldn't' be." Jiyuu said with a smile, "One day I'll be able to bring my children here and we'll do the same thing with Zuko as a family." Both girls had smiled at each other, "I'm sure you'll make a family tradition when you have children."

"I don't know what that'll be." Katara said as she sipped the straw out of her own watermelon, "I mean the idea sounds lovely but I can't think of anything."

The brunette beside her shook her head, "You probably won't know until you have a child yourself. Knowing them, they'll have something real special because of you and A-" Jiyuu stopped herself, not wanting to pressure Katara around being with Aang. She wasn't sure about the nature of their relationship beyond friend, she knew how Aang felt but not Katara.

"Me and?" Katara asked, wondering what she was about to say.

"You and a lucky guy." Jiyuu laughed nervously, "I mean do you have someone in mind anyway?"

The waterbender sighed, "Well… No. I haven't thought about any sort of relationship because we're in the middle of war, you know? My main focus was and is to help Aang but then I see everyone around me… All happy. I mean, Aang likes me but I'm not sure how I feel."

"You just need some time. At least you had your priorities right." Jiyuu laughed, patting her stomach in which caused Katara to laugh, "You're a smart girl, Katara. A very strong one and that's what admire about you. You go with whatever your heart feels and your heart isn't ready for that yet, you want to fall in love with a new world first. And so, I suggest you keep that train of thought but don't count out Aang."

Katara smiled at the girl's words, "I know. He really has changed since I met him."

Jiyuu had then caught someone brooding, leaning against the wall. Who else could it be? "Zuko?" Jiyuu called him as he turned to look at her, his eyes on her and then glaring at Katara.

Jiyuu looked at Katara who looked nervous and then walked back, "I gotta go. See ya!" She said as she ran, leaving the two in the hallway.

"What's wrong?" The airbender looked back at Zuko as he closed his eyes.

"Aang keeps slacking off." He answered her as she placed her hand on his shoulder, concerned. "Its like he keeps trying to avoid getting stronger."

Jiyuu had nestled her head on his shoulder, feeling his warm arms wraps around her as she had done the same. She had been clingy lately, wanting to be held and inhale the scent that radiated off of him. He always complied though, never complaining about it. Maybe it was because she was feeling afraid about things that she wanted to hold on Zuko as much as she could, to feel like he wouldn't just disappear. "He's afraid Zuko. He's fighting the Fire Lord, number one in the bad guy department."

Her way of explaining things had never ceased to amuse him. He had to stomach himself from laughing, "I know but…"

"In order to shape him up, you have to be tougher. Show him how Ozai would treat him if they were in battle, make him wise up." She said as she removed herself from him, giving him a grin.

Zuko was certainly surprised, she was a little more on the gentle side of things during her pregnancy. But now he saw that spark in her eyes, which he had loved and somewhat missed. He just hope her defiance and tantrums wouldn't come back either, but if she was like this then that would be fine. "You think that would work? And who was the one tell me that he has a lot on his shoulders, go easy on him?"

She let go of him and crossed her arms over her chest, "That wasn't me! That was everybody else. I never complained about how you went about training him. That's your job, not mine. "

He chuckled as she gave him a smile, "Fine. But if I get in trouble, its all on you." He removed his back from the wall and walked down the hall.

"Always getting me in trouble…" Jiyuu mumbled before turning back, deciding she was going to go look at the painting once more.


Jiyuu: The Japanese name meaning "Freedom"

Sorry I'm so slow on updating this but I have been doing a lot of thinking about how I want to go about things. Since I didn't give you a wedding in my last fanfic, there will be one this time. And of course, we'll get a glimpse of the babies lives. That's all I'm telling you, I have other things up my sleeves.