Note: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. If I did I wouldn't have time to write slash about it (I would be making episode slash).

I've written my little summary thing enough times. You get it already. If not, now is the time to contemplate your own existence.

Welcome Home

Aurora

Zuko felt a shiver run up his spine when he caught sight of the palace. Whether it was from fear or excitement, he couldn't tell. The guard was kind enough to give him a few minutes to take in his surroundings before tugging on his cuffs. Zuko was snapped from his indulgement immediately, and followed the guard off the ship and to a small cart being attached to a rhinolizard.

"We will be traveling by cart so that no one will notice you and give us any trouble." The guard explained to him, then brought him to the back of the cart. He helped Zuko inside, then shut all of the curtains around it so that he was hidden, then mounted the rhinolizard. Zuko took a moment to consider his situation and what was to befall him.

"Where are we going first?" He asked the guard. The guard snapped the reins so that the rhinolizard began to move. "I am to deliver you to your father, Firelord Ozai." He replied. Zuko had another chill up his spine. He was silent for a few more minutes before speaking again. "What is my father going to do with me?" He asked, worried about his own life and the other two he carried with him. The guard kept his eyes on the road.

"I'm really not sure Prince Zuko." He replied, only telling the teen the truth. Zuko sighed and nodded his head, not realizing that the guard couldn't see this action through the curtains. "As long as it's not immediate execution, I'll be fine with it." He replied, making the guard chuckle a little. Zuko decided to ask no more questions for the rest of the ride, and instead lay down on the cart and tried to catch up on his missed sleep.

/Inside Ozai's palace/

Dr. Yoshida looked up at the flaming throne, more afraid of the man seated upon it than the fire surrounding him. "Why have you ask for an audience with me?" Ozai hissed out. The doctor gulped, then lowered his gaze to the floor. "My Firelord, I have some bad news about your son..." He began, squeaking out the words like a mouse. Though Yoshida couldn't tell, Ozai raised an eyebrow.

"And what would that be?" He asked, malice filling his tone. Yoshida gathered all the courage he had in him and raised his head to look at the Firelord. "My Firelord, your son is very ill. I am positive that he has a cancer of the intestines, and his tumor is quite visible by his weight gain. I would only give him a few weeks, less than a month in fact, to survive." He lied. Chills ran up his spine with each word he spoke.

Ozai raised a hand and scratched his beard. "Less than a month? And you are sure of this?" He asked. Dr. Yoshida nodded. "Yes, my Firelord, I am sure. Your son is dying slowly, and there is nothing that can be done about it." He lied for his last time, taking in a deep breath after his speech. Ozai smiled. "Thank your for this information, you are excused now." And with a wave of his hand, Yoshida was up on his feet and hurrying out of the throne room.

When he got outside of the door he let his deep breath out and sighed. He had just lied to the most powerful and ruthless man in the entire world, and it would mean immediate execution for him if this was ever discovered. But in his mind it was worth it. "At least it will give the prince some time to escape..." He told himself as he staggered down the hallways.

Inside his throne room, Firelord Ozai was thinking about what luck he had. He had already promised his throne to his daughter Azula upon his passing, and he had been having a great dilemma as for what to do with Zuko. He wanted to just execute him, get it over and move on to other things, but he was a little worried of how his subjects might see that. After all, it doesn't look good for a father to kill his own son, even if he had good grounds for doing so.

He had considered just locking Zuko away and leaving him in a cell to rot, but then he would be seen as weak by the other subjects he ruled over. But now, with Zuko dying from a painful disease, all his problems were fixed. It was very simple, you see. He could pretend that he was having compassion for his suffering son, and instead of executing him, lock him up as he had previously considered and just wait for him to die on his own.

This would be looked upon with favor by most of his subjects. They would consider that there was no way he could help the boy, and he was sparing his life so that he could enjoy the world for a few more weeks. The other subjects would see this as powerful, allowing his son to live out the long suffering the disease would bring upon his body, and not just ending his pain quickly as he so easily could.

Zuko's disease and death was the perfect solution to his conflicting problem. Ozai laughed a little as he thought about how easy his plan would work out. "And he'll live past the day that Sozin's comet arrives, so he'll get to hear of the ending of the Avatar and my weak older brother." He added to it, actually finding the situation humorous. He truly had no sorrow for what he thought was to be the ending of his only son.

/Aboard a firenation ship headed back home/

Jet was standing at the end of the deck looking out over the ocean. He was reminded of that day when he and Zuko had been looking over at the ocean and confessing their deepest, darkest secrets to each other. It had also been the day that the baby had first kicked, and that had made it all real. He took in a deep breath and let it out, feeling energy leave his body as he did so.

He listened to the crashing of the waves up against the side of the boat, and easily noticed the sound of foot steps behind him that disturbed his peace. "How much longer until we reach the firenation?" He asked the person, knowing who it was. "Iroh says that if we stay on the boat, it'll be another two or so days, but once we get there, he knows exactly where to go." Aang replied, walking up beside Jet.

Jet didn't look at him, but his attention was upon him. "It would have only been a few days and not a week if we had used Appa to get to the firenation." He said, complaining. Aang sighed, he had heard this before. "Yes, but it would have been to dangerous to try to get in. Appa could be easily spotted, and we can't risk being caught." Jet frowned. "We were supposed to use him in the beginning of the plan." He replied, reminding Aang of their previous ideas.

"Yes, but when we were in the port we found out that they increasing security all around the firenation and in the patrols around it because of the arrival of Sozin's comet. We had to take this ship." He responded, getting a little annoyed. Jet nodded his head, but he still wasn't happy about their situation. Aang knew this, and felt guilty for it. "I'm sure Zuko is fine, Ozai wouldn't kill him before the arrival of the comet, we have plenty of time to locate and rescue him." Aang added, trying to comfort Jet.

Jet shut his eyes, not feeling much better. "But if he tortures him, or if something goes wrong, he'll go into labor and he and the baby will die. In fact, it could have already happened!" He responded, the thought that his mate and child could have already been ended making him nocuous. Aang sighed, knowing that Jet had a good point. "He'll be fine..." He said, unsure of his own words. "If we know one thing about Zuko, it's that he never gives up. He'll survive." Jet smiled when he said this, knowing that it really was the truth. "Thanks." He added, then opened his eyes and stared back out over the ocean.

/In Ozai's palace/

Drops of sweat formed at the top of Zuko's head as he was lead by two unknown palace guards down the different hallways towards his father's throne room. His own guard had been excused upon delivering him, and Zuko had actually missed the man's company. At least he was gentle with him, unlike these other two who both held grips so tight around his arms that it would probably leave bruises.

Every single second seemed to last an eternity. Zuko thought about his mother, uncle, Jet, and the baby as his life seemed to flash before his eyes. Though he knew it was unlikely that his father just have him executed on the spot, he still feared the worst. Who knows what that man is capable of anyway?

Zuko felt sadness run through him as he passed his old sleeping quarters and then his mothers. He missed her so much, and even if her life had already ended, it would be a comfort to at least know what happened to her. He also felt guilt as he walked past Lu Ten's old room. He missed him so much to, he and his cousin had been very close. He had considered him his best friend, and life had been lonely since his passing.

He felt the worst though, when he passed Iroh's old quarters. Azula's words still haunted his mind. "You made his death worthless..." Had he truly insulted Iroh's pain by making his son's death mean nothing? Zuko could never imagine doing something that cruel to anyone, let alone his beloved uncle. Yet he still felt responsible, and it tortured him as he continued on to his father's throne room.

When they reached the large metal door one guard let go of Zuko's arm to open it. When he did, then other guard shoved Zuko inside and slammed the door behind him. Zuko was left all alone to face the wrath of his father, and he stayed close to the door, praying that it would open again.

"Prince Zuko, take your seat before me." A loud, cruel voice hissed at him, and Zuko easily recognized it as that of his father's. "Y...yes...my lord..." Zuko replied in a shaky tone, slowly walking up to the place on the floor in front of the throne. He kept his eyes to the ground as he slowly slide into a sitting position, and bowed before his father. Ozai glared down at him, angry at all the disappointment and embarrassment the boy had caused him in his lifetime.

"Rise your head up, young prince, look me in the eyes." Ozai commanded, causing Zuko to wince. Zuko did as he was told, and raised up his head to look at his father. Those piercing near red eyes left Zuko speechless, yet he couldn't help but feel a slight love for the man who was his sire. Ozai knew this, and it made him hate Zuko all the more. Love was a sign of weakness, and no matter what he did to the boy, he could never burn it out of him.

"Do you know what you have done to your country, to me?" Ozai asked him, wanting to replace Zuko's love with fear, as it should be. Zuko was quiet for a minute, trying to process the question without giving the wrong answer. "Yes fa...Firelord Ozai, I know what I have done." He said, saving himself at the last moment. Ozai frowned. "And what is it that you have done?" He asked, knowing Zuko's answer would strike him with guilt.

Zuko tried to keep his eyes on his father as he spoke. "I...I betrayed you, my lord. I betrayed my country...I made the deaths of our soldiers worthless...I...I did everything wrong..." Zuko whimpered out the last part, forcing himself not to cry. He felt so worthless at the moment, something that his father was good at making him feel. Ozai nodded. "Yes, prince Zuko, you did." He agreed, a bit pleased at how much emotional stress he was causing his child.

"And what do you think your punishment should be for such crimes?" Ozai asked, a hint of satisfaction to his voice. Zuko cringed. He knew the answer his father expected, and he knew that he would give the man nothing less. "Death." He replied, not being able to keep his eyes open any longer. Ozai smiled down at the boy again, now completely satisfied with his results. "Yes, prince Zuko, you deserve to die."

"And so you shall, but not by my hands." Ozai continued, making Zuko open his eyes again and look at him. "What?" He asked, forgetting to add the 'my lord' part to it. Ozai ignored this though. "No, you will die by the will of Agni. He has struck you sick with cancer, and so you shall die by it." Zuko felt some of the fear that he had had leave him as he realized what his father believed. He went along with it though.

"My lord, I am not sick." He said, telling the truth. Ozai laughed down at him. "Earlier today a doctor from aboard your sister's tank came here and told me that you have a fatal cancer, and you are going to die withing weeks. I can tell that he was not lying, your weight gain is most definitely proof." Zuko looked down at the floor, pretending to be shocked. Instead, he was incredibly relieved.

"Do you have nothing to say about any of this, prince Zuko?" Ozai asked, wanted his son to show his pain. Zuko only shook his head in response, acting as if he was speechless. Ozai shrugged it off, and decided to get ride of the boy. "You will spend your last days inside a cell down in my dungeon with the other criminals who live there. We will not see each other again, at least not until after Sozin's comet. You would like to hear of my victory, would you not?" Ozai asked, taunting his son.

Zuko was secretly smiling, but because his hair was down and covering his face, Ozai could not tell. "No father, I would love to hear of your victory." He responded, whispering it out so Ozai thought he was still in pain. It satisfied the Firelord, and he waved his hand in dismissal. "Your are excused, prince Zuko. The guards will take you to your cell." He said, and Zuko bowed to him. He then stood up, and left his father, knowing that everything was going to turn out ok after all.

/Two days later, aboard the firenation ship/

The boat had finally reached it's destination, and everyone on board was able to get a good look at the firenation capital. Especially Aang and the gang. "Have you ever seen anything like it?" Katara asked Aang as she stared at the giant building and beautiful tropical like surroundings. "Of course, I've been here before!" He responded, a little awe struck himself after not seeing the magnificent city in years.

"It's kinda like Ba Sing Sa...only more clean...and pretty...and over-all better..." Sokka said, actually admiring the place where his enemies lived. "Yeah, to bad we have to bring down it's ruler and destroy it's social order, huh?" Toph replied sarcastically, getting glared from everyone in the gang except for Iroh and Jet, who were to busy wondering where Zuko was being kept.

Ling smiled as she viewed the many people, who looked like ants from her distance, walking through the streets, unafraid and completely careless. "It's so peaceful here, they don't suspect anything..." She whispered, feeling kind of bad about the mission she had been dragged on. Iroh overheard her, and nodded his head. "Who would be stupid enough to attack the firenation?" He asked, making a joke of his own.

"We would." Jet replied, turning away from the others to walk towards the stairs leading to the dock. "So, are you guys coming?" He asked once he reached it. Everyone turned to look at him, then nodded and picked up their own baggage. Aang had to lead Appa by a leash since it would be to suspicious if he were just to fly around. He was also covered in different blankets and such, hiding distinguishing marks and making him look like any other exotic animal.

"We should probably hide Appa first, then we can worry about everything else." Aang said, not wanting to say 'worry about Zuko' and insult Jet or Iroh. Neither were men whom he wanted to mess with. "I'll take you to go do that, Katara, Ling, and Toph should probably go find us a hotel room. No one will suspect three young girls of anything, no offense, and Jet and Sokka can stock up again on supplies. That boat trip left our collection rather depleted." Iroh said, walking next to Aang.

"Wait just a minute! You can't just leave us all alone in the firenation!" Sokka said. Iroh turned to look at him. "Not that I'm afraid or anything! It's just, well, it's not safe." He finished, trying to act manly. Iroh just smiled at him. "Oh, don't worry about that. The firenation is like any other nation. We have our peasants, middle class, and nobles, just like everyone else, except that we have a very strict law code. Just don't break any laws, and you'll be fine." He reassured Sokka, who was still not convinced.

Once they were in the middle of the dock, everyone grouped together. "Where should we meet?" Ling asked Iroh, being the only one to remember that. He thought for a moment. "There is a well known tea shop not far from here called 'Liquid Fire.' Everyone knows where it is. If you just ask someone, they'll tell you." Iroh replied. Everyone rolled their eyes when they heard the word 'tea,' but no one said anything.

"Then it's decided, we'll meet up there once we're all done." Jet said, wanting to hurry and get the supplies so he could spend some time looking for Zuko. Everyone nodded, and they all went their separate ways.

/Later that night, in a hotel in the firenation/

Jet looked out of the third storey window in the five storey hotel and sighed at the beautiful city of lights that he saw. If the firenation was magnificent during the day time, it was undescribable at night time. All of the buildings had candles, and lamps that were lite up with magnificent flames, and many of the lamps were different colors, so the entire city looked like a collection of rainbow colored fireflies. Not to mention the street performers that lined almost every corner with their variety of firebending acts.

Yet none of this impressed, or even mattered to Jet. He was too worried about Zuko and the baby to care about anything else. He had hoped to search for them earlier that day, but was hindered because of some problem that the store he and Sokka had gone into. Apparently, while they were shopping someone else had tried to rob the place, and everyone in there had to be frisked against their will. It was a very uncomfortable situation.

"Where are you?" Jet asked the wind, wishing Zuko's voice would call back to him. There was no response. Jet flinched a little when he saw a figure walk up next to him and lean up against the window also. "He's in the palace dungeon, that's where my brother would keep him." Iroh said, actually answering Jet's question. Jet turned and looked at him. "How can we get to him?" He asked.

Iroh kept his gaze out over the city. "There are two ways we can do it. The first, being the one that would take the longest and risk the most is breaking into the palace, finding a guard with a key, getting his key, and patrolling the dungeon until we find him." Iroh replied. "How big is the dungeon?" Jet asked, wondering if that would work. Iroh turned to look at him. "VERY big." He replied. Jet frowned.

"Ok, so what's the other plan?" He asked. Iroh smiled. "The second is more practical. First, break into the palace. Then allow yourself to get caught..." "What?!" Jet asked, not so loud as to wake the other people sleeping in the room. "Just listen." Iroh continued. "Now, there is not doubt in my mind that the guards will be talking about my nephew. There isn't much to do when your just standing around, so gossip is a very common thing in their world. All the captor would have to do is listen to their conversation and wait until they give him some clue as to where Zuko is being kept, then he can make his move.

He'll need to be a good pick-pocket to get the guards keys from him and hide them when he is put in his cell. Then it will be as simple as breaking out of the cell and finding Zuko. Of course, the savior will have to fight off any guards and create a distraction so that Zuko will have time to escape in case they are discovered." Iroh finished, hinting to Jet that he wanted him to do it.

Jet smiled. "Sounds like a good plan, but when should we do it?" He asked. Iroh turned and looked back out at the city. "In exactly four nights from now the entire city will be asleep and preparing for battle. Sozin's comet will be arriving at day break early the next morning, so everyone will be going to sleep earlier than usual. Not to mention that it would be the perfect time for the Avatar and his friends to sneak into the palace and get ready to battle Ozai and Azula. We will do it then." He replied.

Jet nodded his head. "But do you think Zuko will be alright until then?" He asked, a little worried. Iroh chuckled. "Oh yes, believe me, Zuko prefers to be alone!" He replied, remembering his nephews previous temperament. Jet couldn't help but smile when he heard that. "And who'll be waiting for Zuko once he escapes?" He asked, putting all the pieces together. "Me and the others. We'll make sure he's safe with Ling before we go to battle." Iroh concluded, feeling joy at the thought of see his nephew again.

"And we'll tell everyone this in the morning?" Jet asked, knowing it was his last question. "Yes," Iroh replied, "let them sleep tonight." Jet nodded his head one last time before turning his attention back to the city of lights.

/In the dungeon/

Zuko sat in the corner of his small cell, looking at the wall adjacent from his body. Sky sat atop his shoulders, not sleeping but just resting. He gently stroked her head as he considered the time he had already spent in the dungeon, and the time he would have before his baby was due. "She'll be coming in around five days." He told Sky as he placed his other hand on his stomach. "I'm going to have a baby, I'm going to be a dad in less than five days..." He whispered mostly to himself.

Sky squeaked at him in response, and he couldn't help but smile. "My uncle will love being a grandfather, and I know that Jet already wants the baby." He said thinking about the happiness everyone would share upon her arrival. "I just hope Uncle let's me hold her before she's old enough to go to school." He joked, thinking about how much his uncle already loved babies.

Zuko then looked up at the ceiling of the cell, and wished that he could see the stars instead. "I'd even settle for the ocean." He told Sky, getting tired of metal and brick surroundings. He then put his head down and thought about how much he needed his family. "Where are you?" He asked, unaware that somewhere else in the city, Jet was simultaneously asking the same question.

And so ends chapter 25! And I updated in just one day! Woot woot!

Anyway, within the next two or three chapters Zuko should be having his baby, and the epic ending battle shall also take place. So will end this story, and probably make way for a sequel.

In the next chapter, Zuko get's attacked by an old enemy, Jet sets out to save him, and the rest of the gang all get ready to battle the Firelord.