Ursa was nothing like her own mother, and Mai had known this for years. Her mother was not the type to sit by the pond and play with the turtleducks, ruffle her childrens' hair, speak so casually with them.
It wasn't that Mai didn't love her mother, of course. Her relationship with her family was more than it used to be, but they'd never be as close as Zuko and Ursa had been and still were.
Ursa...Ursa was like no one she'd ever met, elegant and proper yet firey and casual and she could see why Zuko had become so somber and gloomy after her banishment all those years ago. Zuko always talked about how wonderful his mother was, and the more he did the more desire she felt to know this woman, she who was the most important woman in her boyfriend's life before he fell in love with Mai.
"So I guess this is where you tell me no woman is good enough for your little boy?" Mai asked wryly as the two sat in the courtyard, sipping tea. Ursa's laugh was soft, playful as she set down her cup.
"Mai, dear. You're strong, smart, clever and gave everything but your life to save my son," she said. "If anything, Zuko should be worried he's not good enough for you!" It was a comment made in jest, but Mai remembered how Ursa hadn't been exactly proud to hear a certain part of the story Zuko told her about his life between her banishment and the end of the war.
"Thank you, Princess Ursa, but Zuko knows what will happen if he ever does that again," Mai laughed.
"Dear, I've told you a thousand times. Please, just call me Ursa."
"R...right, sorry." Mai blushed. "So if Zuko asked me to marry him tomorrow..."
"You always had my blessing," Ursa said.
Mai closed her eyes.
"I...I wish I could talk this easily with my own mother," she sighed. "As much as I love Zuko, marrying him would make you and I family, and..." She trailed off. "I'm sorry, that must sound-"
"It's okay," Ursa said. "To tell you the truth, even if you and Zuko had never become close I would still want to know you." She placed her hand atop Mai's. "You're a wonderful girl, and I know your mother feels that way even if she doesn't show it so often."
Mai smiled, warmth spreading throughout her chest and her eyes misting over with contentment.
"Thank you, Ursa."