Zuko's stomach felt pleasantly full as he finished the bowl of noodles and fish his mom had called to be brought to him after his stomach announced its need for sustenance. While he ate the simple meal he'd alternated between chewing, asking his mom questions about her life the last six year, and answering the ones she posed to him. He knew she had left out some things about her life, things he assumed she was either ashamed of or thought he would be. Truthfully he could never be ashamed of anything she did or said. At the same time, however, he did not press her because there was plenty of his own past that he could not bring himself to tell her.

Zuko placed his empty dishes on the small bedside table. "So you were in Feng Huang this entire time? I traveled the world and been within a day or two's ride of that place what seems like a hundred times and I never went there. If I had known."

"That would have defeated the point." Ursa smiled but her son knew it was not because she was happy. "When I left I went to Feng Huang because I knew I could disappear there. While most of the world thought I was dead, Ozai knew better. I knew if he ever came looking for me he would never think to find me singing in a tavern in a place like that."

"That makes sense. I still wish I'd known; I at least wish I knew you were still alive." Zuko said laying his hand over the ones she had folded in her lap. "I was heartbroken when I found you gone; I mourned for you, and had nightmares about that night for years afterwards."

"I'm sorry for that, I really am." Ursa met her son's rich golden eyes. "I never wanted to hurt you, but I had no choice so I had to decide what would have been more painful for you. Believing I was dead or knowing I wasn't, but either way still out of your life."

"You know now the reasons I had to go, and even why I had to leave you behind. Then you were just too young to understand any of it. Even if you hadn't been could you honestly say you would have been content to let me go?"

Zuko smiled, only slightly amazed at how well his mom knew him even after so long. It made a kind of sense; after all he was a part of her so it only stood to reason they'd share some of the same personality traits. 'Of course if that was the case shouldn't that mean I'd have more in common with Ozai?' That thought left a bad taste in his mouth as Zuko felt his gut contract as if it would try to reject the food he just eaten.

Pushing away thoughts of the Fire Lord, Zuko focused on his mom's gaze and the conversation at hand. "You're right, I wouldn't have understood, and if I had learned you where alive even a week earlier than I did, I would have gone to the ends of the earth just to find you."

"Seriously he would, he does that kind of thing you know." Sokka's voice interrupted the moment between mother and son like a thunder clap on a sunny day. When Zuko turned his head to glare at the teen that stood in his doorway the boy just gave him a lopsided grin.

Stepping further into the room Sokka gave a deep, if somewhat sloppy, bow to Ursa before speaking again. "Sorry to barge in like this Princess Ursa, but I was asked to check on Zuko."

"I'm fine Sokka, couldn't you have waited?" Zuko growled irritated by Sokka's general existence at the moment. 'How come Mom is Princess Ursa and I'm just Zuko?'

Ursa frowned at her son's rude tone, before turning her attention back to the ocean eyed boy. Returning the young man's bow with a courtly incline of her head her voice was like soothing balm over Zuko's rough reply. "That is quite alright my dear boy, but who sent you?"

Sokka sent Zuko a smug look before turning his full attention to the older woman. "Actually General Iroh asked me to come up."

"Dad?" Zuko said Sokka had his full attention now. "Why?"

Sokka sent a questioning look at the other boy, clearly confused how Iroh had gone from being 'Uncle' to 'Dad' in one day. Glancing at Zuko's mom he noticed she wasn't concerned about the shift in title and it only served to confuse Sokka more. However he pushed that all to the side as he focused on what he had come in here for.

"We were all having a meeting down stairs, and some stuff came up that Aang and the General thought you should be involved in." Sokka turned to Ursa again. "General Iroh said to tell you he was sorry about this and he'd find a way to make it up to you later."

Ursa nodded as she stood up and moved slightly away from Zuko's bed. "Iroh knows what is best, besides I think I would like to sit in on this meeting as well. If you don't think he would mind?"

The last was directed to Zuko who gave her a bright smile, as he swung his legs off the edge of the bed. "Dad won't mind, besides whatever they're discussing is probably going to affect you too so you should be there."

Sokka grabbed a robe from a hook on the wall and walked over handing it to Zuko. Zuko pulled the robe on over the loose clothes he'd been sleeping in, before pushing himself up into a standing position. His legs shook a little under the strain of his weight, and he might have sat back down if not for Sokka taking his arm to help steady him. "Thanks."

Sokka didn't say anything but nodded his head as he helped Zuko move slowly away from his bed. Katara had told everyone just how close to death the Fire Prince had come that afternoon, but seeing Zuko like this really drove the point home. Whatever had been on the blade Zuko got cut with had been potent and fast, and took him down hard. While it was scary to think of their enemies using such a thing against them, it was scarier to think they'd nearly lost one of their own, again.

Zuko could see Sokka's expression out of the corner of his eye and knew what the other boy was thinking. He felt more like he'd been seriously ill for weeks not the half day it had been. It was painfully clear to him that if not for Katara and her amazing healing abilities he wouldn't be standing here, with or without anyone's help, now. "Reminded me to thank your sister later, will you Sokka?"

Sokka stopped as he waited for Princess Ursa to open the door for them and looked over at Zuko his normal smile finding its way back onto his face even as his eyes remind serious. "You think you're likely to forget?"

"Not really." Zuko said with a smile as his mother traded places with the Water Tribesmen so he could lead them where they needed to go.

アエ 父の日 恋仲

Once they reached the room where everyone was Zuko was instantly mobbed by his friends and Ursa had to step back so as not to be caught in the middle of it. Going over to where Iroh stood she took his hand, then watched with him as the light of surprise and happiness washed over their son's face. As a small boy Zuko had never really had any close friends, except for Lu Ten, so to see the true affection that pasted between him and the other children made her endlessly happy. Looking over at Iroh she could tell he felt the same way.

アエ 父の日 恋仲

Iroh looked up at the sound of the door opening and stood when the Water Tribesmen entered followed by Ursa and Zuko. He started to move forward but stopped as the children in the room sprang to their feet and rushed to their one time enemy. Ursa broke away from the group and came up to take his hand. He squeezed his lover's hand gently to let her know he was glad she was there but he found he could not look way from the display in front of him. Iroh was infinitely proud of the boy, after so many years lost among the world Zuko had found a place to belong.

アエ 父の日 恋仲

Zuko felt his mother let go of his arm at the same instant two very small but sturdy arms hugged his waist. He wrapped his arms around Toph's shoulders in return as she hugged him tightly, sharing smiles and soft words with his other friends. Zuko cared for each and every one of them, but Toph was different. She had been the first of the group to truly except him, faults and all, and for that alone she had a special place in his affections. When the others started to drift back to their seats he held Toph by the door a moment longer.

Her voice was barely a whisper and held the unmistakable hint of tears as she kept her face buried in the stomach of Zuko's robe. "You scared me today Sparky."

Zuko smiled down at the girl even though he knew she couldn't see it, as he gave her a quick reassuring squeeze. "Forgive me my Lady, I promise to let you kick my butt for it later if it will make you feel better?"

Toph shorted, looking up at him blindly with a smile of her own. "Yeah like you could stop me."

Zuko chuckled and like that his tough little friend was back to normal. Toph gave him a one last small hug before finally letting go of the older boy's waist and positioned herself under his hand so that she could act like a crutch for him. With Toph's sturdy assistance Zuko made it to the place at Iroh's right hand that had been left open for him. Still he was physically exhausted from standing and the walk from his room, and sank heavily into the chair.

Toph tilted her head as she 'looked' at the older boy but it was Iroh would spoke. Laying a hand on Zuko's arm he studied his son closely. Zuko looked paler then normal and there was a fine layer of moister on his brow. "Are you sure you are up to this?"

Zuko looked between his father and friend knowing that lying to either one of them would be pointless so he gave them a half smile and told the truth. "I'm tired, but I'll be alright."

Iroh turned to Toph who nodded, excepting Zuko's statement, before going to her own seat. Once everyone was in their places Iroh addressed the room, "Let's try to keep this as brief as possible shall we. To make it easier Zuko, allow me to introduce my team."

Zuko listened as his father gave a quick introduction for the five White Lotus members and couldn't help but think of the last meeting he'd attended. Once more he was greeted by everyone in attendance, and again he sat in a place of honor as matters of war were discussed, however that was as far as the similarities went. Here he was not forced to pretend to be someone he was not, he was not expected to bite his tongue and agree with whatever was said.

In this simple back room of a simple inn, Zuko's opinion was not only welcomed it was solicited. "The White Lotus is prepared to back the Avatar in his offensive against the Fire Lord. We have organized our people around the world to attack various strategic Fire Nation military outposts and colonies at the exact same time the day before Sozin's Comet arrives."

"There is a problem though." Ichiro, or at least Zuko thought that was the name of the twin that interrupted the man that had been introduced as Qin, spoke up. "We don't have enough real warriors to pull off a frontal assault on the capital itself."

Zuko heard a small grunt and looked over at where Sokka sat, then at each of his friends in turn. It was clear from the looks on their faces they were all thinking of the failed invasion. Though they had never spoken of it Zuko knew that the events of that day weighed heavily on each of them. "The capital, like the Fire Palace, is practically impenetrable. After the eclipse and so close to the comet's arrival it will only get worse; Fire Lord Ozai won't be taking any chances."

Sokka looked over at Zuko his face carefully blank of any emotions. "Yeah we kind of figured that as well. Which leaves us with two options, try to get a larger force for a full on attack, or we go in under the wire with a sneak attack."

"They are talking about having small elite group attempt to break into the palace and take the Fire Lord by surprise." Toph said sarcasm lacing her voice as she sent an evil look in the general direction of the adults across the room. "Which according to them; is too dangerous for bunch of little kids."

"What?" Zuko looked at his father in disbelief, surely the little earthbender misunderstood.

Iroh looked at his son with an empty expression. He knew too well how his son would take his next words; still they had to be said. "The White Lotus has highly skilled and experienced fighters that can get into the palace using a series of secret passages that not even the Fire Lord knows exist. There is no need to risk all of your lives in an attack, only the Avatar needs to come with us."

"You expect us to do what exactly while Aang, our friend and a twelve year old boy, risks everything to save the world?" Zuko sat up straighter as his disbelief was burned away by anger. How could his father of all people honestly suggest such a thing?

Iroh didn't get a chance to answer Zuko's angry question as Aang spoke up; his young voice carrying a tone of authority that didn't match his small body. "It's what I have to do Zuko. You said it yourself; I have to stop hiding behind people and face my destiny."

"This is not what I meant." Zuko said as he mentally kicked himself for saying anything. "I was only trying to make a point about your training, not telling you to go off alone to get yourself killed."

"He wouldn't be alone your Highness." The youngest of the White Lotus members chimed in. "The Order would provide the Avatar with a team of the best warriors and benders in the world."

"No offence to your Order, you've all helped a lot today, but Aang already has the best." Katara statement was added to by Sokka and Toph's mumbled 'that's right' and 'you tell them'.

Iroh raised brow as he regarded Aang for a moment then his son. Zuko met his whiskey gaze with a look that Iroh knew very well. Pure golden eyes blazed with a determination that even the Spirit's would not dissuade. But as a father Iroh could not give up so easily. "Only top members of the White Lotus know about the secret passageways in the palace."

"You're a Grand Master, you know them all. You can lead us." Zuko said flatly then slowly turned to look at each of his new friends. Stopping on Aang he addressed the room, at the same time he spoke only to the younger boy. "But we are a team, a family, and where Aang goes so do we."

Aang smiled at Zuko as the others chimed in their agreement with the boy's statement. The fact that it was the first time Zuko used his name instead of his title meant a lot to the young airbender. Without breaking eye contact with his friend, spoke. "I appreciate any help the Order is willing to give General Iroh, but I go with my friends."

"I'm glad to hear it." Iroh laughed surprising both boys and had them turning in unison to look at the man as if he had gone crazy. "I would not have had it any other way; I will be honored to lead you through the secret passages."

"Great!" Sokka exclaimed but his expression was not as excited as his voice. Staring at the floor in deep thought Sokka pulled the mood down. "I'm just not sure it's going to be enough either."