Iroh walked to the end of the hall of rooms Tai Min had managed to procure for the team and the Avatar's friends for the night at least. Later he would have to sit down with the others and discuss everything that had happened and make plans for what to do next but for now there was something more personnel he had to deal with. Stopping at the very last door he knocked softly but did not wait for an invitation before walking in. Even before he was through the door Ursa had thrown herself at him, unshed tears hanging in her questioning eyes.

Iroh smiled up at her as he wrapped his arms around her slender waist. "He is going to be fine."

"Oh thank the Spirits." Ursa sighed, her tension and worry breaking free as the tears in her eyes turned happy on their way down her face. "Can I go see him?"

"In a little bit, he is sleeping right now." Iroh gently wiped a tear off her cheek and replaced it with a gentle kiss. Then gently guided Ursa back into her room so that he could close the door that they were standing in the middle of. "Lady Katara has a truly amazing gift, but Zuko is going to be weak for a little while yet and needs to rest."

Ursa nodded as she let Iroh move her back into her room where she'd been pacing since the moment Iroh had arrived with their injured son and the waterbending girl. Her first glimpse of Zuko in six long years had been just the barest hint of his pale clammy face as Qin had rushed him, unconscious, into one of the rooms along the hall. If it had not been for Iroh being right there as well she would have followed immediately. As it was however, her lover had been forced to physically restrain her and drag her into her room to keep her away.

At first she had done anything she could to get to Zuko, but slowly Iroh's steady voice and strong arms had broken through her anger and panic. He had explained what had happened to their son and told her that the young woman that was with them was actually a healer from the Southern Water Tribe. While the mother in her rebelled against being told she could not help her child, the more practical side of her understood that she would have only gotten in the way. So she had agreed to wait in her room and until a definitive assessment of Zuko's condition could be made.

While in reality it had only been a few hours that had past, Ursa felt like she'd been shut up for days. Suddenly exhausted Ursa sank down on the edge of her bed when Iroh lead her there. Looking up at him she saw a similarly drained air reflected in his whiskey depths. Scooting back more on mattress, she reached out and took his hand. She gently pulled on it and he took the hint and joined her by sitting down on the edge of the bed. "This has been one heck of a first day back home."

"I know, it certainly wasn't what I was expecting, and it's not even close to being over yet." Iroh laughed at the irony as he gently pulled Ursa to him and laid back on her pillows.

Ursa curled on her side against him, with her head resting on his shoulder and her hand tracing small circles on his chest. Nothing about their position was sexual, as they made a silent agreement on the day that Ursa had agreed to be his wife that they would not be together until they were completely free to do so. While it was hard for them both, sometimes painfully so, their relationship was stronger than mere physical desire and they were content just to be in each other's arms.

Iroh smiled as he gently tucked a lock of her fire touched hair behind her ear, thinking how much he longed for this war to be over. With Zuko back he was so close to having a real family again he could taste it, but there was something in the back of his mind that turned the favor bitter. "Today's events have pretty much resolved the Order's mission for me and my team. The Avatar basically found us, so there isn't really much more for me left to do but wait for the time of attack."

"So what is bothering you?"

"I don't really know." Iroh said honestly as he hugged her closer. "Maybe I'm just being foolish. Everything is, more or less, happening better than I expected."

Ursa nodded understanding just what Iroh was talking about. She'd had the same thoughts since he'd proposed to her. "It's like a dream, and you're just waiting for reality to come in and destroy it, like it nearly did today."

Iroh nodded, kissing the top of her head. Thinking to himself how much he loved the woman in his arms. "Zuko woke up for a little bit, and we talked just before I came in here."

Ursa nodded but didn't say anything, while she waited for Iroh to continue. She could only imagine what their conversation would have been like after everything that had happened between them. She felt Iroh take a deep breath, as if to steady himself before he spoke again.

"It's strange, he is more mature than ever before and yet at the same time he is more like the boy we knew from years ago. He actually cried." Iroh felt Ursa's arm pull tighter over his chest and he absently hugged her back. "He doesn't know about us, or that you're here yet; he was worn out and I didn't want to stress him."

"I understand." Ursa said, while she wanted very much to see her son, she trusted Iroh's judgment. "So what happened?"

"He begged me to forgive him."

"And you did." Ursa said in a knowing voice and Iroh nodded.

"Then he told me that he confronted Ozai; told him what he really thought of the war, and that he was going to join the Avatar." Iroh felt himself smile with pride as he imagined such a conversation. "Then he asked me if I would allow him to call me 'Father' as I had always been more of one to him than my brother."

"Oh Iroh I'm so happy for you." Ursa turned and kissed her lover on the mouth to show him just how much she meant it. Iroh kissed her back and prayed that reality would remain at bay just a little while longer.

アエ 父の日 恋仲

Sometime later Iroh escorted Ursa to see her son. Neither of them spoke as they walked down the hall and into Zuko's room. It wasn't until they reached the still sleeping boy's bed side did Iroh make a comment. In a voice that was almost a whisper he warned, "You might not want to do that."

Ursa hand froze in mid air as she was about to reach out and touch Zuko on the shoulder to wake him. She frowned as she looked over at Iroh returning in an equally low voice, "Why not?"

"Zuko doesn't always respond well to being woken before he is ready." Iroh said in a tone that spoke from experience. He wasn't really worried that Ursa would be hurt, but there had been a few times that he narrowly missed a fist in the face. "It's better just to let him wake up on his own."

Ursa's eye widened as the full implications of his words sunk in. Pulling her hand back she looked down at her son. He was laying half curled on his left side, head resting on his arm, breathing softly through his slightly opened mouth. The general appearance was very similar to the one he had the last night she'd seen him in the palace. Time had not stood still for Zuko however, as it had for him in her memory.

Six years had added height to his limbs and strong defined muscle to his frame. His once adorably round cheek had slimed down to the reveal high cheekbones and a strong angular jaw line. He was still a little too pretty, the down fall of taking after her, to be really called handsome. When he turned in his sleep to expose the red and shinning scar that he'd been given for speaking his mind against a tyrant, his beauty became tragic.

Zuko's face was one that called to you even as it broke your heart, and Ursa could help but smile. Iroh watched Ursa as she looked down at Zuko. Saw the way her eyes softened with memories of him as a boy, and then harden as he turned and she got the first glance at the scar that Ozai had given him, only to soften once more. "I always knew he would grow up to be a gorgeous young man."

Iroh chuckled, "I think Zuko would prefer the term handsome or stunning even. Something a little more masculine certainly then gorgeous."

Ursa shook her head as she sat down on the side of the bed, careful to follow Iroh's advice and not wake Zuko. "It's too bad because gorgeous is what he is."

Iroh's brow rose as he regarded his son and shrugged as he had to admit Ursa was right. Still he knew better then to divulge that particular detail out loud where the boy might actually hear him. He had no doubt Zuko would let Ursa get away with calling him anything she liked, he on the other hand was unlikely to get the same consideration. Walking up to the woman in question he ran his hand down her hair as he kissed the top of her head.

"I really should go deal with my team and speak to the Avatar. Will you be alright if I leave you two alone?"

"Iroh, he is a sleeping boy not some rabid wolf-bat."

Iroh smirked as a mischievous glint came into his eyes. "A boy he maybe, but you might be surprised to find how close that comparison can be sometimes."

Ursa's mouth dropped open in astonishment. "That is a terrible thing to say about your son."

Iroh shrugged again, his smile growing as this time he kissed her cheek. "It's still true my love."

Stepping quickly out of her reach Iroh missed being hit by her playful slap as he laughed softly thinking that Zuko didn't just get his looks from his mother. "If you need me for anything, I'll be just down the hall. You only have to shout and I'll be here."

Ursa nodded, before turning her attention back to the young man at her side. Iroh stood watching the two people he loved most in this world for a few moments more, then turned and quietly slipped out of the room. He'd have liked to have stayed but he really did need to talk to the others. That and after six years apart Ursa and Zuko deserved to have some time alone.

アエ 父の日 恋仲

Zuko wasn't sure how long he'd been asleep but if he went by the way his stomach felt it had been weeks. 'And now I sound like Sokka, that's wonderful.' He chuckled softly to himself as he rolled over in bed and opened his eyes. What he saw when he did however, made him wonder if he was actually awake or not.

Frowning Zuko blinked up at the female version on his own face. Pure golden eyes smiled warmly as a voice like a song filled the room. "You're awake."

Zuko carefully moved into a sitting position so as not cause himself pain, or to disturb the woman beside him less she was a dream and her image would scatter like smoke. The look on his face was almost comical in its confusion as he spoke. "I'm not so sure about that. Are you really here?"

Ursa laughed softly as tears of joy filled her eyes and she nodded. "Yes Zuko, it's me. I'm back, my love."

Zuko's shock held him frozen for a minute as he just starred at his mother. Her hair was a little longer and wasn't in a topknot, and she had a few fine wrinkles around her eyes and mouth that he didn't remember. She was wearing a claret colored gown made of simple material, but there was no doubt who she was.

Zuko moved with surprising speed as he pulled his mother into his arms, tears choking his voice. "Mother! Spirits, I've missed you so much. I never thought I would see you again."

"Zuko, my beautiful boy." Ursa wrapped her arms around Zuko returning his hug with one of her own. Her tears breaking free, "I've missed you every day, my love. I'm so sorry I hurt you."

Zuko pulled back from his mother to look at her in confusion. Gently taking her face in his hands he studied her. "What are you talking about? You've never hurt me."

Ursa shook her head as she reached up to touch the scar that marked his face. "I left you with him; this never would have happened if I hadn't. I should have taken you with me. I just thought you would be safe. I thought you being the Crown Prince would be enough to keep you safe from Ozai; I should have known better."

There was a time when he would have turned away from his mother's touch and the look of pity and sorrow in her eyes as she felt the slick skin below his left eye; that time however was over. He'd stopped thinking of his scar as a mark of shame and weakness, and now thought of it as a mark of strength and honor. He had done the right thing in speaking out in the war council, and in refusing to fight the Agni Kai. He refused to regret those actions any longer or the scar he'd been given for them.

"Mom, this isn't your fault." Zuko placed a hand over his mother's more delicate one on his face. "You saved my life that night; we both know you had no choice to leave me behind. Ozai never would have allowed you to take me, not back then. You have nothing to apologize for; not to me, not to anyone."

Ursa blinked at her son in surprise then smiled. "How did you get so smart?"

"A lot of mistakes and a lot of time." Zuko laughed, as he hugged his mother again. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, my darling Zuko." Ursa said as pride mixed with sadness as it was made clear how much her son had grown up without her. "I'll never leave like that again, I promise."

"You'll never have to; I'll make sure of it." Zuko said his resolve to end this war growing that much stronger.