Neeson Counseling Services
1457 N Madison Ave
He had seen her crack a bit of a smile when he walked into the room. There was no formal or grand greeting, no prolonged hug to celebrate their reunion. He didn't even care though, he was just happy to see her. Her hair was pulled back, just a bit of makeup on her face, clothes simple. She was beautiful to him of course. She always would be.
"Thank you for coming." Her therapist was a kindly woman with eyes that reminded Zuko of fresh cut grass. "Did Alma explain to you why you were asked to come here?"
He shook his head, "No. She just asked that I be here."
"Well, Suki and I have been working together for the past few weeks and she's already made great progress." He looked over at her, feeling pride swell up inside him at knowing that she was getting better. "But her and I, as well as Ed and Alma, feel that she will benefit from an in-patient treatment center."
"A what?"
"It's like rehab." Suki breathed from next to him. He felt his heart jump at the sound of her voice. It had been so long after all since he'd heard her talk. "We… I… think that it would be very helpful."
"How long?"
She sighed a bit from next to him, "At least three months."
Zuko nodded, "If you think it's needed… then I think you should."
"I do think it's needed." She flashed him another soft smile, "And I wanted to tell you myself that I was doing this."
He felt his heart flutter a bit at the statement. Knowing that even after all this time she was still thinking about him made him blush.
"I'm glad that you found something that's going to work for you."
Suki reached out and took his hand into hers, squeezing his fingers.
"Can I talk to Zuko alone for a second?"
Alma smiled, reaching out and rubbing her daughter on the shoulder. "Sure honey."
Alma, Ed and the Therapist left Zuko and Suki alone in the room, closing the door behind them.
"Thanks for coming." She had mumbled, reaching out for him. They embraced one another tightly, Suki burying her face into his neck.
His hands climbed up her back, lips pressing to the side of her head. "God, I've missed you."
"I've missed you too." Fingers were clawing at his back through his shirt, face falling to his shoulder. "I wanted you to be here cause I wanted to talk to you and tell you what was going on."
"Thanks, I appreciate it." He pulled away from her, a hand going to the side of her face as he looked her over. "I've missed your face."
Suki giggled, tears popping out of the bottoms of her eyes. "I've missed your face too." Her hands went to his chest, rubbing him livingly, "And I'm sorry that this all had to happen but I just wanted you to be here so I could tell you and I didn't have to do this over the phone." He was running a hand over her hair, trying to encourage her to talk. "I just wanna feel better. I wanna be okay with myself, you know? I was always known as your girlfriend or Sokka's and I always just wanted to be… me!"
"I know, Suki."
"No, you don't!" She snapped, pulling away from him, "I was always just yours! ALWAYS! I could never just be me! I lived for you and when you came home I had to take care of you and then I was yours and waiting for you like some kind of fucking dog and I hated it!"
He frowned, swallowing hard as she was yelling at him, crying.
"But I thought that I needed to do it cause that was what you did when you're in love! And I was in love... I am, but I don't know how to do it, but I love you and I don't know what to do." her hands went to her face, holding it as she was crying. Her knees gave out from beneath her and she sat on the chair behind her. He sat next to her, watching as she was crying, talking more about the things that she'd been keeping inside for god only knows how long.
"I don't know how to just be me! You know? When I was with Sokka all I could think about was when we would move in together and get married and have kids and things would be good. Then it was about you and all I wanted to do was have our place and taking care of you and having a baby and it's all I think about!" She panted a bit, arms resting on his knees, "And for once, for ONCE I want to be and think about myself for just one fucking second…"
"I…"
"And it's not your fault! All you did was just be yourself and do what you needed to. It's my problem, it's me fucking up, not you. But I just kinda take it out on you and I know that's fucked up, and I'm sorry, and please know that I love you, and I know it's not your fault..."
He reached out and rubbed her back comfortingly, his lips worrying into a line.
"And I hate it that I have to do this because I do love you so much, but I have to take time for myself. And I might not have room for you when I'm better and that scares the shit out of me."
"What… What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that I'm going to go away and get better. And when I get back... it may be that I can't be around you."
Zuko pulled his hand away from her, letting it rest on his knee in front of him.
"And I'm so sorry Zuko because I love you... but I need to love myself, too."
"It's fine." He mumbled, "I mean…" His voice cracked, face reddening, "I want you to be better, for you to be healthy. If you don't…. feel…." He hung his head, at a loss for words.
Suki reached over, wrapping her hands around his strong upper arm. Her lips were pressed to his shoulder, violet eyes looking at the side of his face that had been violated by his scar. The same scar that actually made her fall in love with him so long ago.
"I'm sorry, Zuko."
"I-I know." tears were rolling down his cheeks now. "And I… I want you to know that I still love you."
They looked at one another, foreheads leaning in and pressing together. "I love you too." She took his hand into hers, pressing something small and round into his palm. Zuko's breath hitched at the action, eyes closing as tears dropped from them.
Suki pulled away, bringing his hand to her lips and pressing a kiss on his knuckles. He wanted to say something to her, but he was left stunned and speechless as he looked into her lovely violet eyes. Suki let his hand fall to the side, standing from the sofa and walking from the room without saying anything else, or even looking back.
Zuko sat alone in the room, his fingers relaxing to reveal the platinum and diamond ring that she'd just given him.
Aang and Katara Avary
29047 North Madison
"Who's a pretty girl?" His eyes were wide, a large smile on his face.
Kya giggled, clapping her small little hands. "I am!"
"That's right." He lifted her up off the floor and into the air, "You're getting so big." She giggled, reaching out and wrapping her arms around her uncle's neck. "I'm surprised you're not bending water at me yet."
Katara laughed from the kitchen, draining the pasta that she had just boiled, "Hopefully, not yet."
"She likes to see me in pain." Sokka laughed, kissing the side of her little head.
"It's how he likes his women, pain-inducing." Azula laughed for the table.
"It's a bit weird, really." Aang sighed, turning his attention back to Azula, "So she didn't even make any demands?"
"None." Azula was explaining to him the situation with Lily, the Avatar giving a careful listen to the story that he was being told. Aang had only met Kenton and Lu Ten a few times, but knew that they were both devoted parents to their little girl. He saw himself and Katara in them, in a way.
"I'm sorry that that's happening to them." He frowned, "I didn't think that someone could just have their child taken away like that."
"I know, that's the crazy thing about it. Just how easily they lost her."
"And there is nothing you can do to prevent it, it feels like. I mean, they did nothing wrong."
Azula sighed, "I know." She raised her hand to her stomach, something she'd been doing on instinct since she found out about the baby. "It scares me."
Aang raised an eyebrow, looking at her action, "Does it, now?"
She snatched her hand away from her stomach, "W-well yeah…"
His lips curled into a lopsided grin, teeth flashing. "It's okay. Katara's pregnant too."
Katara rapped a wooden spoon on the side of a large pot, "AANG!"
Sokka was standing at the edge of the table, Kya in hands as he looked at his wife and sister.
Katara threw the spoon at Aang, "We weren't gonna tell anyone!"
Aang laughed, "Eh… What's a secret between friends?"
Katara crossed her arms over her chest and walked to the table next to Azula and Aang. "It's not what we talked about! We agreed to-" it was then that it hit her what the conversation between Aang and Azula really had been. Her arms fell to her sides, looking down at her sister-in-law with a soft frown. "You're pregnant?"
Blood rose up in Azula's face, getting prepared to get an insult from Katara. But what really happened was Katara raising her hands over her head, squealing loudly in celebration. She flung herself at Azula, wrapping her arms around her former nemesis. Azula looked at Sokka, wide eyed and red faced. He was still holding Kya, a big smile on his face as he watched them both.
Katara pulled away with a smile and a giggle, "We're gonna be mom's together! I can help you decorate the nursery and put on a baby shower!"
"Ugh…"
"The babies are gonna be the prettiest things ever, and will play with Kya, and I can help baby sit, and it's gonna be so perfect I CAN'T EVEN...!"
"Well…." Azula looked from Katara to Sokka, then Aang. "It should be… Fun?"
"YEAH!" Katara cried, wrapping her arms around Azula again. Azula just swallowed hard, looked helplessly at Sokka. He was still giving her the same loving smile, Kya lovingly tugging on his beard.
Luigi's
981 East Pamela
Ma Ling reached her wine glass out towards her date, her full cheeks smiling.
"To you, my dear."
She giggled in content and flattery as their glasses clinked together, both of them taking a sip after.
"Thank you for coming to dinner with me."
She smiled and shrugged a bit at him, "It's my pleasure."
"I'm sorry we've not gone out sooner, life has just been…"
"No need to apologize, I understand." She sat the glass on the table, looking out across at him, "I have to confess that I'm becoming quite fond of your family."
The old tea maker chuckled, "Oh?"
"I have. Your boys are wonderful, as are Azula and Sokka. Even Kenton's family is a joy."
"They are... interesting."
"Watching Amli is like watching a french soap opera in real time."
Iroh laughed again, "Amli is a trip, no doubt."
She blushed, "And I have to confess that I feel ten years younger when I'm around them."
"And what about when you're with me?" Iroh smirked.
"Oh, I feel twenty years younger when I'm with you." Iroh jumped, feeling Ma Ling's foot dragging up his leg from under the table.
He chuckled, his full cheeks turning pink, "Here I was thinking you only liked me because of my family."
"Well…" She cooed, "I do love your family, but I'm not going home with them tonight."
Iroh's eyebrow twitched into an arch, "Good to know."
Zuko Kasai 7:32 p.m.
Are you sure it's ok?
Mai Omura 7:32 p.m.
I've told you yes three times now. Just come over.
Zuko Kasai 7:32 p.m.
You didn't have plans or anything, did you?
Mai Omura 7:33 p.m.
I'm getting high and working on pictures.
Zuko Kasai 7:33 p.m.
Oh. So it's ok if I join you?
Mai Omura 7:33 p.m.
FFS Zuko just get over here.
Mai Omura
14056 65th Ave W
Floor 5
He was actually sitting in the visitor's parking section on the top floor of the parking garage. He kept looking at his phone and the texts on the screen, reflecting on what he was seeing. He'd actually been talking to his ex via texting for the better part of the month. It had really picked up after Suki had hit him though. He wasn't even really sure why he had been doing it. Something to keep his mind off things. Figured this would work.
He missed Suki. Horribly.
The ring in his center console was giving off a deadly and painful aura that he just needed to get away from, even if he found solace with Mai. It was just something to get away.
He placed his phone into the same console as the ring, getting out of the car, locking it behind him, and walking into the building.