Ursa fought to hold back her tears as she gently played a song on pipa about a love destroyed by war. While her employer would surly comment on her music selection, he hated it when she played sad songs, she didn't care. After all no one was actually listening to her play in the smoky cave like bar. The only things the patrons of the Jade Lion were interested in after a long day working in the iron mines was booze and women. Still out of curiosity Ursa looked over at her boss and saw him frown. 'No he is not happy, but then,' she thought mildly, 'when is he ever?'

Ursa added her voice to the soft melody of her instrument and the customers nearest the stage turned to listen. A tear slip down her check even as she smiled to the crowd. Six years ago she had learned that life outside the walls of the Fire Nation Palace was hard. Without friends or means she had to find her way alone in the world; unlike many others in her place, her voice was the only thing she would sell.

"Autumn leaves fall fast on mountains far; the path is hidden to where you are. My skin grows cold as I wait for you; oh love of mine let me die too." Ursa finished her song and her audience threw a few coins on to the stage at her feet.

Smiling politely she gathered her earnings from the wooden floor and left the stage. The crowd's momentary displeasure of her leaving was quickly elevated at two young women in danced proactively on to the stage. Ursa shook her head at the vulgar catcalls that could be heard emanating from the bar's main room.

Counting down from seven Ursa waited for her employer to arrive. She was not disappointed as the large bald man that looked like he could wrestle a platypus bear and win stormed up to her. "What is your problem?"

Ursa sighed as she fought the urge to roll her eyes. She'd heard this speech a million times and it never changed. "You hired me to play music Gar, I played music."

"I hired you to keep my customers happy, not to upset them; happy customers drink."

"Your customers drink because they can." Ursa scoffed, "It has nothing to do with what I play."

"If that's so, maybe you could tell me why I shouldn't fire you right now." Gar crossed his tree trunk arms over his massive chest causing the stitches of his dingy shirt to strain around his shoulders.

"Because no one else will put up with you as long as I have." Ursa's voice was matter of fact as she looked through the coins she gotten off the stage. Finding what she was looking for she held out two silver pieces to the man. "That and I still make you the most money. Your cut."

Gar sneered as he took the coins from her. It was true, it didn't matter what she played on a night; people still came in just to see her. She was beautiful; with features like a porcelain doll, and a body like a love goddess. "You know, there is a way you could make more money. Lots more money."

Ursa frowned at the man's suggestion, this too was nightly occurrence. She sighed as she tucked her remaining coins into the purse in her belt. "I don't think so Gar, if you'll excuse me."

Stepping past the mountain of a man she walked into the main hall to perform her only other duties at the Jade Lion. Picking up a small round tray Ursa went to her first table to clear empty glasses and take new orders. So in grossed in her work she didn't notice as six new people in pale gray traveling cloaks walked in.

アエ 父の日 恋仲

Iroh scanned the interior of the Jade Lion with the eyes of a seasoned warrior. The main room of the bar was smelly and dark, just like its patrons. "Let's find somewhere to sit down."

"Somewhere clean preferably." Tai Min's dramatic shudder earned her laughs from her compatriots as they moved off way from the stage where two girls twirled and gyrated to the sound of steamy music.

Jiro found a table near one wall that was big enough for all of them to sit around it comfortably. Iroh sat down so that he could watch the room while the twin hunters flanked him; in order, according to Ichiro, to make sure he was safe. Evidently his team had deemed Iroh a precious commodity, and decided he should be protected at all times. Iroh wasn't sure how he felt about having personnel body guards again but then again how could he really stop them.

"I'm not comfortable with this Sir, how can you be sure the Princess is here?" Qin asked as he looked at each patron critically. Iroh had filled him and the rest of the team in on just who exactly they were looking for shortly after their first conversation aboard the ship.

"Yeah, this place is a dump." Kazuya said as he jerked his foot back from nearly being thrown up on as two men helped their very inebriated friend to the door. "I think I'm going to be sick."

Iroh shook his head at the youth, as he once more turned his eyes to the room. "You didn't all have to come with me you know."

"What and miss the fun?" Jiro laughed poking the now green Kazuya in the ribs teasingly.

"Yeah besides, what else are we going to do in this hole?" Ichiro said as he waved to get the attention of the waitress.

Iroh watch Qin cringe at the undisciplined behavior of his teammates. Shaking his head again he addressed everyone. "As I said on the ship I know this isn't the mission you all sighed on for, but it is just as important. Maybe not to the world, but to me and to the Fire Nation after this war is over. If Princess Ursa is here, as I believe she is, then we can finally get the truth about what happen six years ago, and that information might be key in rebuilding our home."

"You can get your throne back, too." Kazuya said cheerily and the others around him nodded making comments of approval to the idea.

'So that is the reason for their sudden interest in my personnel safety.' Iroh thought, it certainly explained the reason for his twin guards.

They expected him to take the crown after Ozai was beaten. Iroh closed his eyes; bowing his head he pinched the bridge of his nose to hold back a headache that threatened. He didn't want the throne; all he wanted was for the balance to be restored to the world and his family to him.

He was about to say as much when the soft tones of the waitress made his heart stop. "How may I help you?"

アエ 父の日 恋仲

Zuko was sitting cross legged on the floor of a seclude platform of the Western Air Temple. He must have been meditating because he wasn't moving and he was taking very deep controlled breaths. "Hello Toph."

Toph couldn't help but be surprised at Zuko suddenly speaking to her. He hadn't changed his position, or breathing rate, since she'd walked up and unlike her, Toph knew he couldn't see using the earth. "How'd you know it was me?"

Zuko turned to the little blind girl with a sad smile on his face. "Process of elimination. I've been here almost two weeks and only you or Aang ever come looking for me. Aang would have flown."

"Oh." Toph said, Zuko's loneliness added weight to his words and to his movements as he got to his feet. He did not advance toward her, though she could tell a part of him wanted to, but just stood there waiting for her to make the first move.

Since joining their band of misfits he always kept his distance from everyone. He acted like a dog that had been kicked one too many times; still wanting attention but afraid of what form it would take. Then again no one, not even her or Aang, had really tried to make him feel welcome, so Toph sapposed she shouldn't be surprised.

For some reason Toph felt like she should apologize for that but she wasn't sure how. After all dealing with people on an emotional level wasn't really her thing; it was more something Katara was good at. Then again when anything came to do with the Fire Prince, Katara was the last person to go to. Her attitude toward the firebender teen bordered on being just plan cruel. "What happened between you two anyway?"

"What?"

Toph didn't realize she spoken out load until Zuko said something. She really didn't want to go into this with him, but at the same time she knew she couldn't let it drop. "I was wondering what happened between you and Katara. I mean I know what everyone says about you, but."

Zuko felt a very familiar knot growing in his stomach. He was endlessly telling himself not to care about what other people thought of him, but it wasn't that simple. "What do they say about me?"

Toph gritted her teeth; she really wasn't comfortable talking about this. Then again judging from the change in Zuko's heart rate and breathing neither was he. "Mostly that you are a jerk and you can't really be trusted. That you're going to change sides again whenever it becomes convenient for you."

"Everyone is saying that?" Zuko asked his voice no more than a rough whisper, Toph wondered if he might even be crying. He wasn't, but just barely.

"Well it is mostly Katara, but the others pretty much agreed on the jerk part."

"I see." Zuko turned away from the little girl, even if she was blind, he didn't want her eyes on him.

He looked up at the three airbender statues that shared the balcony with them. This place was both his favorite and least favorite place to come in the Air Temple. It was here that he felt most connected to his uncle, as it was the place where they'd first stood together on his search for the Avatar. Well he'd found the Avatar, but in the process lost the last person who'd ever truly loved him. Zuko laughed bitterly as he thought how pathetically dim he had been to believe he was alone back then.

"I wish I could tell you that they were incorrect about me being a jerk, but I can't. I was jerk and so much worse for a very long time. I've hurt a lot of people in the past, even people I cared, care about. I will tell you though Katara is wrong; you can trust me, I'm not going to betray anyone."

'Not again.' Zuko added to himself as he turned back to look at the girl with the milky green eyes.

In a move that surprised both of them, Toph closed the distance between them and took his hand. Turning her face up to where she thought his might be she smiled. "I believe you."

Even though he knew she couldn't see he smiled back at her. "That means a lot, thank you Toph."

'Maybe I'm better at this comfort thing then I thought.' Toph nodded then tugged on the older boy's hand. "Alright enough mushy stuff, dinner is ready and I'm starving."

Zuko laughed a real laugh that amazed both him and his little companion. Suddenly in a very playful mood Zuko stepped back and made a very courtly bow to the girl. "In that case Lady Bei Fong, would you please do me the honor of allowing me to be your escort tonight?"

Toph laughed too, Zuko's mood shift seemed to be infectious, as she bowed as well. She could really get to like the firebender. "Oh Prince Zuko, that would be positively lovely."

Zuko took her small hand and settled it over his before turning toward the main temple. As they walked away from the platform Zuko couldn't help thinking that if his uncle was here now he would never believe his eyes. 'Wherever you are tonight I hope you are safe and with friends. I love you Uncle; you'll never know how much I miss you.'

"I'm sure he is alright." Zuko looked down at the girl at his side, could she read minds as well as see without her eyes? "Don't freak out on me Sparky, I just felt your heartbeat change; it always does when you're thinking about your uncle."

"I see." Was all Zuko said as he turned back to watch where he was going.

The rest of the trip to the main campsite was made in comfortable silence. Just before they came into view of the fire however, Zuko dropped their joined hands, opting instead to walk a little removed from the tiny earthbender. They may have come to an understanding, but he still had a long way to go with the others.

Toph allowed Zuko to move away from her as they drew closer to the camp but when he would have taken his meal and gone off to eat alone in his room she stopped him. "Hey Sparky, what kind of escort leaves a girl to eat alone?"

Zuko and the others looked at Toph like she'd gone slightly mad. Then with a small smile on his lips Zuko sat down next to her with as much formality of courtly manners he could achieve while sitting on the ground. In a low voice, meant only for the girl, he apologized. "Forgive my rudeness, my Lady. It will not happen again."

"Make sure it doesn't." Toph said with a curt nod, then began to eat her fish and rice with gusto.

She knew the other's in the camp where stunned by her behavior, but she didn't care. She wasn't doing it for them; she was doing it for Zuko and in a way Iroh. She knew better than anyone how much the old man cared about his nephew. 'I'll keep an eye, kind of, on him until you come back. He won't be alone General Iroh, I promise.'