A/N: Hey guys, I just have a quick side note. I know some of you probably think that I'm making Mai seem stupid but in truth that is not my intention. She clearly knows but is in denial (reread the first two segments of Chapter 12).

My best friend was cheated on by her boyfriend and it was very obvious to everyone but she was in denial for the longest time about it. I'm sure she probably realized it but she kept telling herself that this other girl was just a really close friend and nothing was really going on. We even pointed out how mean he was suddenly being to her, his history of cheating, and how he seemed to be spending way too much time alone with this other girl but she came up with every possible justification for his behavior. And even after all that she pretended nothing was wrong until he finally left her for the other girl. So, I'm not making her stupid exactly. I've just never been cheated on so the best mindset I can write for her is my friend's because that is something that I have witnessed. I hate to say deal with it…but yeah, you're going to have to. I'm sorry if that offends/upsets you.

C'est mon histoire. :P

Chapter 13

"You're far too stressed Zuko." Mai murmured as she rubbed his shoulders.

"I'm fine Mai." Zuko' monotone response caused Mai's fingers to falter for a second.

She bit the inside of her cheek willing herself to be calm. He was putting a wall between them and she wanted to ask him, point-blank, why he was shutting her out. She was far too afraid of the answer to do it, though. She closed her eyes and pushed away her thoughts of fear and jealousy.

'Zuko loves me. I am his wife. There is nothing to fear.' She thought to herself. She had come up with this mantra during her last visit to the temple. She had prayed to be relieved of her anxiety over Katara's presence so that she could focus on her health. All this stress was not good for her baby. Her eyes opened. It was still too soon to know if she was pregnant but she hoped she was. She hoped she was well on her way to providing an heir for her nation.

Zuko was preparing to make an excuse to get away from Mai and therefore his guilty conscience when there was a soft knock on the main door. Giving Mai and apologetic smile, he slipped from beneath her hands and stood, gathering up his robe.

"Let them enter." He called to the guards in the sitting room.

After straightening his robes, Zuko strode out of his bedroom and into the Mai chamber where his mother waited with an impish grin.

"Well this is quite a surprise mother. Is something wrong?" Zuko asked, after hugging her.

"No, does something have to be wrong for me to visit?" Ursa laughed.

"No, I am just used to receiving your invitations to tea, rather than seeing you here." Zuko shrugged.

"I have a surprise for you." Ursa said, taking his arm. "You're not busy right now, are you?"

"No, I am free to entertain you for as long as you like, mother." Zuko smiled.

Ursa gave him a secretive smile and patted his hand as they strolled leisurely through the halls towards the tea room.

"How have you been Zuko?" Ursa inquired keeping her voice light.

"I've been well enough. Why do you ask?" Zuko frowned.

"I've heard you've been having trouble sleeping." Ursa shrugged, eyeing her son from beneath the hood of her lashes.

"I've been sleeping fine. Who has told you otherwise?" Zuko said sternly, his posture suddenly rigid.

Ursa cast her eyes to the ground. Zuko was lying. The dark circles around his eyes were proof enough that the gossip was true at least in respect to her son's lack of sleep. Whether or not he was having trouble sleeping or was kept up entertaining his new councilor, was yet to be determined.

"It is only gossip Zuko. You know most rumors start with a grain of truth." Ursa murmured, coming to a halt outside of the tea room doors and looking up at her son meaningfully. "Are you sure you've been sleeping well, Zuko?"

"I'm fine mother." Zuko replied, with a tight smile.

"Very well." Ursa nodded reluctantly. "Your surprise is inside. I will leave you now."

She curtsied beautifully and then backed away as was protocol. Zuko watched his mother go before turning to the door feeling apprehensive.

Taking a deep breath, he placed his palm against the warm wood of the palace and pushed open the intricately carved doors of the tea room.

"Hello Zuko." Iroh's warm voice greeted.

Zuko's face instantly brightened. Forgetting himself, Zuko rushed to his uncle and hugged the old man.

"Uncle, I have missed you so much." Zuko cried. He felt foolish as tears collected in his eyes. He was elated to see his uncle again after so long. He had missed the man and was in desperate need of his council. "How long can you stay?"

"Oh, I am afraid I am only here for the day, Zuko. A tea shop can't run itself." Iroh said, with a hearty laugh as he flipped a pai sho piece between his fingers. "But come, let us enjoy some tea and catch up."

--

Mai leaned back against a tree, enjoying the warmth of the sun as it warmed the massive front lawn of the palace. With her writing table against her lap, she wrote to Ty Lee hoping to receive details on her friend's wedding plans. With her restored health, Mai was quite looking forward to attending.

Around her, ladies of the court lay sprawled about the grass entertaining themselves by reading or writing as well. The court fools were milling about making jokes and causing mischief to liven the afternoon. Some young men had brought instruments and were making up verses to woo the ladies from their books over to play. The young women giggled and returned the flirtations with coy smiles and the occasion request for certain tunes.

Mai breathed in the fresh air and released a sigh of relief. It was good to be out of her room. Out here it was almost like the old days. That was perhaps, in part due to the fact that Katara was nowhere to be seen at present but Mai didn't want to dwell on that thought.

Finishing her letter, Mai paused before adding her name. Should she write to Ty Lee about her worries? A part of her felt that would make it too real. She didn't want to be making a big deal out of nothing. Just because Zuko found the waterbender attractive didn't necessarily mean anything, did it? Most of the men at court were drooling over her. That just seemed to be the response to her presence. She tapped her fingers thoughtfully.

"Is something the matter your grace?" Suzuki asked, noticing Mai's pensive face.

Mai blinked, coming out of her reverie and turning her eyes onto Suzuki's heart shaped face.

"No, noting at all Su. You worry about me far too much?" Mai smiled, patting her friend's hand.

Suzuki smiled and nodded. Turning her eyes back to her book of poems, she gazed at the pages without reading them. Her mind was too busy for that. She had heard laundry maids whispering this morning that the Fire Lord had been far too familiar with the water tribe girl in the library only a few days before.

'Laundry girls!' Suzuki thought with a huff. News was traveling the palace fast and it would only be a matter of time before some fool slipped up and said something with her lady present. Suzuki stole at glance at the Fire Lady from above her book. 'She has recovered so much but she is still so frail. This affair will be the death of her if it reaches her ears.'

Already councilors were changing their alliances. She'd heard whispers of noble men hoping to secure Katara for their son's so that they might have some leverage with the Fire Lord. Others were seeking her out for false friendship hoping to obtain more power if they were seen being friendly with her. Still others sought her out, hoping to keep taps on her rise and fall so that they might offer up their own daughters to the Fire Lord when he tired of her. Thinking about it all made Suzuki terribly angry.

A gentle hand touched her arm causing her to look up. Emi's face was crinkled into a worried frown. Suzuki's trained her expression into a soft smile and shook her head at the other girl. Now was not the time to discuss what was on her mind.

--

Iroh blew gently on the surface of his tea though by now it was no longer hot. He was being careful with his timing. Lady Ursa's letter requesting his return to offer council to Zuko had piqued his interest. He couldn't imagine what was wrong. Zuko had a level head and had spent the war years coming to terms with who he was and how the world around him truly was. He had been shocked, when he heard the gossip. Not even a full hour after he'd arrived, Iroh had figured out most people's opinions on the relationship between Zuko, Mai, and a young water tribe woman who he could only assume was Katara.

Iroh wasn't entirely sure what he was going to say to his nephew but he knew he couldn't really begin until he had the truth. Now the question was how to get the truth without setting of Zuko's temper.

Iroh blew on his tea again before setting down the cup and leveling his nephew with a smiling stare. When Zuko caught on to the look, he too set down his cup and watched his uncle expectantly.

"Zuko I believe we have discussed everything there is to know about the Fire Nation but… you have not told me about Mai? Is she well?" Iroh asked cautiously.

"She is. She's doing quite well. Her health has improved significantly since the last time you saw her." Zuko said with a nod.

"Mhmm…and I've heard, Katara is visiting. I trust she is in good health as well?" Iroh murmured, arching an eyebrow as he drew his tea cup back up to his lips.

"She is…" Zuko replied slowly, trailing off as he watched his uncle carefully

"There are some people…" Iroh paused to choose his words carefully. "Some people that are concerned about your marriage, Zuko. Are things not well between you and Mai?"

"Things are fine." Zuko replied tightly.

"I know that losing a child can cause a … a strain, on one's marriage Zuko…but you must remember you love your wife." Iroh advised.

"I do love Mai." Zuko snapped defensively.

"Where there is love, there is no darkness. A life with love is happy, Zuko, a life for love…is foolish it will make you weep." Iroh spoke gazing into space.

Zuko frowned, not sure he was understanding what his uncle was saying.

"One who loves the vase must also love what is inside." Iroh murmured before falling silent again.

Zuko felt himself growing irritated by the riddles. "I love Mai, Uncle."

"I do not doubt your love for Mai but you must be more careful with your actions. Certain things can never be forgiven or forgotten." Iroh warned, looking directly into the eyes of his nephew to be sure he understood.

"I have not dishonored Mai. She is my wife. I have not forgotten that." Zuko growled, fist clenching against the table top.

"I trust you Zuko. We will speak of it no further." Iroh sighed, setting down his tea cup.

"Good. I'm sorry your stay could not be longer and that I cannot be around to entertain you further but I have work to do Uncle. I hope the rest of your visit is restful." Zuko said tightly.

With that, he excused himself and stalked back to his study. There he paced angrily, feeling like a thoroughly scolded child. His mother had called his uncle to come lecture him about Katara. He couldn't believe them. He had some self control, not much…especially not when Katara was actually present but enough that he didn't feel his mother needed to send for his uncle.

He gave an irritated growl, pivoting sharply and stalking back across the room. It was bad enough that the whole court was whispering. How much worse did things look now that his Uncle had come back for a day? A single day had clear meaning. He was trusting turning to begin the next round of his furious pacing when soft tap sounded at his door.

"Enter." He shouted.

A serving girl entered and then dropped into a low curtsey.

"My lady wonders if it would please you to join her in the afternoon sun." The girl said without raising her head.

Zuko had an excuse to avoid the offer on the tip of his tongue when he paused.

"Tell her, I will join her momentarily." Zuko said with a soft smile, feeling rather clever.

His Uncle and mother were expecting him to be avoiding Mai. He would show them. He could be a good and doting husband, from here on out he was going to stay away from Katara and focus on his family.

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