Yo yo, it's been a while, eh? Well, I made sure I didn't give you another nine month break and what do ya know, I didn't.

And so here's the beginning of Part Five, it's starts off a little ways from where Part Four left off. But, Maiko shippers, I know you've been starved of some Maiko lately but this chapter has some lovely Maiko-ness that I'm sure you'll all love.

But before we get started…major housekeeping time:

First of all, for those of you who didn't catch it over the break, I actually did update the prologue and bonus chapter I promised you guys. It's all in a new story called "Fire War Renaissance: Bonus!" It's got a four chapters already, and since the Kataang is scarce in this chapter, those die-hard Kataang fans can still get some Kataang if you read those chapters as well. They're all very kataangy. So rock on…

Also, I've finally got the hang of my tablet and photoshop and have posted a little bit of art based off the story (just stuff on Azula). Also, I've started a lovely project called "Kataang: the Manga". The title pretty much says it all, the plot line and whatnot are still changing, and I hope to have the comic up and starting by the end of this year, but I've posted a few promos of it on my DeviantArt, so check them out. The link is on my profile.

And lastly, I've finally gotten the whole rest of this story planned out. And currently the running total number of chapters for FWR is 65. Of course, this is subject to change into more or less, but rest assured it'll be something near that number. So we're currently on chapter 44….sniffle…seems like this story is wrapping up quite nicely.

But it's not over yet! So, enough of my blabbering, onwards to Part Five!

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter Forty-Four: You, Me, and Her, Part One

It always felt like Zuko was away from the palace for so long every time he left. He felt a little guilty for leaving his mother with all of his work while he was away but she claimed that it was good for her since she was so out of practice.

Zuko and Mai didn't stay at the Jasmine Dragon too much longer after Azula arrived, and even though Azula hadn't been around the rest of the group for quite some time she claimed that she wanted to go with Zuko back to that palace when he left a few days later.

The first few minutes back at the Palace were anything but pleasant, though. Zuko and Azula were happy to see their mother again, but she came up to them both with a sad smile, saying that their father was dead.

The funeral for the Former Fire Lord Ozai turned out to be a lot more populated than either Zuko or Mai thought it would be. Most of the people who had followed Ozai were a little more than willing to go along with the switch in leadership after he was defeated and jailed. But who were available whether it was citizens or workers in the palace showed up to pay their respects. It made Zuko smile that even after all Ozai had done, he still had such a successful funeral. It did make him a little sad though, knowing that his father was really gone. He had only seen him that one time he asked where his mother was a few days after his defeat, but he found it odd that he wished he had gone to see his father one last time before he passed.

But, to be honest, he was more worried about his mother and sister.

Ursa had claimed that she was there the night Ozai had died and that it was a bit traumatizing for her to wake up after their last night together but that by then she was fine. Azula, though, was a different story. She dressed in black that whole week after they arrived and sat in her room for most of the time, just as she had been after the defeat of the Black Jade.

"How is she doing?" Zuko asked Ursa once she came out of Azula's room.

"She's just s little shocked, I think, you forget that out of all of us she was the only one who stayed with Ozai the whole time." Ursa explained. Zuko frowned at himself for forgetting. Ursa had been banished and away from Ozai for years, and Zuko had been away on his quest to capture the Avatar for quite some time as well, but all the while, Azula had stayed in the palace up until she went to capture Zuko, but it was still more time with Ozai than the two of them had had recently.

"Should I go talk to her?" Zuko asked.

"It couldn't hurt…she just needs to be reminded of all the family she still has, I think." Ursa smiled and patted Zuko on the back. "And Zuko…" Ursa said before Zuko was about to knock n the door.

"Yeah?"

"I think it's really nice how close you two seem to be now…I always knew you were a good big brother."

"It's really nice to actually be a big brother, to be honest." Zuko said with a cheeky smile before knocking on the door.

"Azula," Zuko called. "Azula its Zuko can I come in?"

There was a long moment of silence before he heard the bed creek and footsteps towards the door. The door opened slowly and half of Azula's face came into the shadows of the door.

"Yes?" She whispered lightly, her voice sounding so sadly small and it made Zuko's eyes water. He pushed the door open slowly and Azula allowed him to step inside. She was still in her sleeping robe and her slightly longer hair tumbled down a little past her shoulders.

"You can't spend all your time locked up in here." Zuko told her softly. "I start my duties in a few days, but we should hang out a little before then." He said and walked up to his sister. She was just staring at her feet and sniffling a little, he placed a warm hand on her shoulder. "But you can't do that if you're in here."

"I guess so…."

"I know you and dad were close, Azula." Zuko admitted. "So I know how hard this is for you. But, I hope you know that you still have me and mom and Mai and even Aang and Katara and everyone else. They all love you and I'm sure they all want you to be happy, so you don't have to feel like you're alone."

Azula looked up at Zuko as if he had grown a second head, her face a little wet from crying and her whole attire wrinkled from staying under the covers for so long.

"H-how did you know that I felt alone?"

"Just a hunch," Zuko said with a wink. "Now, go get cleaned up, you missed breakfast but lunch should be soon, then we can go visit Dad's grave if you want."

"…Okay," Azula said and gave Zuko the best smile she could.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Azula, Zuko, and Ursa decided to make it to Ozai's grave after lunch. It was in the distant field outside the palace. Sometimes Zuko thought it was a little too nice to give Ozai such a nice burial but he let his anger fade. Horrible or not, Ozai was still his father, and he was still dead.

Gone forever.

It was bitter sweet for all of them to really know that Ozai was underneath the tombstone and spent the last of his days starving himself a feeling worthless. Zuko was sure that his sympathy would've run deeper if him and his father had a better history, but when he looked over at both Ursa and Azula trying to compose themselves he sighed, putting his arms around both his them and hugging them close.

It never seems to end, does it? Azula heard her old self comment.

What do you mean? Azula asked as well.

Father abandoned me too…

Azula felt a pang of sadness within her for her former self. This was the third tombstone they had been to in such little time span. First Suzu Ni's, then Tin Ri's, and now their own father's.

"Take care dad," Azula whispered aloud, letting her old self seep through for those final words to her father. Azula had only memories of her father, but she didn't feel like she really knew him. Plus, she was biased against her opinion towards him because of who she was with, but the old Azula saw Ozai in a way no one else did. He was her father, someone who cared and loved her and pushed her because he believed in her. Azula depression wasn't even hers, it was the old Azula's sadness making its way through her.

After a few moments Ursa decided it was best to leave Zuko and Azula alone, feeling this was a moment best spent between brother and sister.

"Are…are you ready to go?" Zuko asked after quite a long time of Azula sitting near Ozai's grave.

"I guess so…" Azula sighed. She had already been there for almost an hour, and staring at Ozai's grave wasn't going to make him speak to her.

"It's alright If you're not ready, we can stay as long as you want." Zuko added in a hurry, not wanting to upset her further.

"No, it's alright." Azula said, standing, Zuko confusingly following suit. "I think it's time I move on…" She looked over a Zuko with an honest smile. "I think I'll take you up on that 'hanging out together' you mentioned earlier." She added as well.

Zuko smiled, "That's more like it…"

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

It was needless to say that after that day Zuko and Azula seemed to be joined at the hip twenty-four/seven. They went almost everywhere together and even though Zuko's Fire Lord duties got in the way a little, in the evenings if he wasn't too busy he made sure he gave his sister some time to spend with him.

It was all very touching, but everyone was starting to think it was rather odd to see the two of them getting along so well.

There were local carnivals that Zuko took Azula to, special "brother-sister" lunches, he even braided her hair (of course this particular activity was at Azula's request, which Zuko agreed to with a groan. He knew virtually nothing about braiding but he seemed to manage, and Azula proudly wore Zuko's messed up braids in her hair with pride, smiling and telling everyone her big brother had done her hair).

But, due to Zuko's busy schedule, he was realizing how much time he was spending with his wife…which, to his misfortune, was very little.

He entered their room that night just as late as he had been the past few weeks. Mai was already sleeping as always, but she woke up as soon as she heard Zuko come in, her face the picture of disappointment.

"You're late," She told him, her arms crossed over her chest. "Again."

"I know," Zuko said, he walked in the bathroom very quickly and came out within a few minutes, dressed sloppily in his night robes, yawning and placing himself in the bed next to his wife. "I'm sorry," He told her lazily and flopped his arms over her shoulders, kissing her neck.

"Ugh, Zuko, once in a while is okay, but you've been coming in late every night."

"Well, what else am I supposed to do? I've been away from the palace for a while, first with the Black Jade thing and then going to Ba Sing Si unexpectedly again." He sat up straight to make his point. "Plus, there's been a lot of natural disasters going on around the coasts and a lot of the earth kingdom, and we're trying to get rescue teams out there, which isn't as easy as it sounds."

"And that takes all day, Zuko?"

"Well sometimes…and then you know I've been mending fences with Azula lately."

"And where do I come in?" Mai asked bitterly. "Do I come in? You know, I am your wife just in case you've forgotten."

"I know, I know, and I'm sorry," Zuko hurriedly apologized. "I guess I haven't been making a huge effort to see you." He regained his original position over her shoulders. "Do you forgive me?" He whimpered tauntingly against her neck.

"You are so full of it," Mai groaned and pushed him off.

"I know I've been a bad boy….punish me," Zuko smirked, obviously not taking into consideration that he had already been pushed once.

"Zuko, can you be serious? This isn't about sex."

"Well how else can I make it up to you?" Zuko asked.

"Maybe try being here next time I make an important decision." Mai explained, turning her head away from him in a childish fit.

"What are you talking about?"

"Ugh…are you actually going to listen to me this time, because the last time I tried to talk to you when you walked in you fell asleep on me."

"I'm wide awake, I promise." Zuko told her, but his yawn directly afterword told Mai the complete opposite. She raised a brow to him. "I'll stay awake, I promise." He grabbed Mai's hands and rubbed the backs with his thumbs.

"Well, I've had a lot of time to think, and I think I want to have a baby with you." Mai told him calmly, a little too calmly. Zuko was taken aback, literally, and somehow lost his balance and tumbled back on the bed, legs up and breathing heavy. He looked at Mai once he was able to regain himself, his face flushed and eyes wide.

"W-what!" He exclaimed. "You wanna have a what with me?"

"A baby, Zuko…why is that such a shock to you?"

"Why is it not more of a shock to you?" Zuko still exclaimed. "Mai this is a pretty big choice to just make on a whim."

"I told you I've had a lot of time to think while I've been in here alone most nights, and I think it's a good time, we've been married for over six months now, don't you think children should be up for discussion?"

"Where's the discussion? It seems like your minds made up this."

"I told you what I've been thinking because I wanted to know if you wanted to go along with it as well, if you don't want to then we can wait, but I'm just letting you know that I'm ready."

Zuko was silent after that, looking down stubbornly when Mai grabbed his hands and rubbed the backs of his hands with her thumbs just as he had done to her. He chewed his lower lip and hummed a few times in thought.

"I don't have to have an answer right now, you know, stop worrying so much and take a few days to think it over." Mai told him, still as calmly as ever, but she offered a rare purely elated smile, the kind that were reserved just for Zuko. He marveled at it and smiled at her a few seconds later, cupping her face within his hands and kissing her soundly, which Mai readily accepted.

"So, this was about sex after all, huh?" Zuko smirked once he pulled away, still up for teasing. Mai's smiled disappeared and her eyebrow twitched in discomfort, she smack him across the face then and turned over to regain her sleep. "Okay, okay, that was stupid, I know," Zuko apologized again, and also laid down, placing his chest to her back and pulling her closer. "But….I actually like the idea…of you and me having kids…it sounds nice." He could feel Mai smiling against his arms which were wrapped tightly around her.

"Really?" Mai asked, suddenly sounding a little sheepish and small, as if she wasn't expecting to deal with an answer just then.

"Yeah, really."

"Are you sure you don't want a few more days to think it over, or something?"

"Mai," Zuko sighed and let go of her only to turn her over so she was facing him. He realized that her cheeks were tinted in a light pink, and it made him smile, Mai rarely blushed. "You're my wife and I love you…it doesn't take me too long to realize that I want you to have my children."

"I love you too…" Mai whispered and then looked up with a slightly naughty smile. "And, maybe we could get started now?" She tugged at his shirt but realized that Zuko had, once again, fallen asleep.

Mai groaned in disgust and all over the palace that night could everyone there here Fire Lady Mai's harsh slaps and even harsher words.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The next few days were nothing different from the ones before it for Zuko, He went to many meetings and tried to get rescue teams to quell and help the natural disasters. But, a bright spot in his days were when he came to his room after a long day, and met his wife in their room to try and make a child.

Mai was told by the palace nurse that the next few days would be the perfect time to start "making" a child in Mai's ovulation period, and they were sure to jump on the chance. Zuko made sure made it to his room as a reasonable enough hour so that him and his wife weren't too tired and so they could savor their conceiving.

"Do you think we've got it?" Zuko asked once both of them had caught their breaths and were spooning casually. "Or should we try one more time."

"It's the last day of my ovulation, Zuko, I think if we've 'got it' it would've happened by now." Mai reasoned.

"But I thought you said we won't know for a while." Zuko mentioned.

"Yeah, but no sense overly trying…besides you've got an early morning meeting tomorrow, don't you?"

"I know, but I feel like we should have one more go…." Zuko tried to make it seem like it was a strictly conceiving decision, but Mai saw right past that. He just wanted to make love again, and honestly she didn't mind.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down over here and leaned upwards to give Zuko the starting kiss she knew they both wanted. He smiled into, readily mounting his wife and proceeding with his intentions.

And that's when Azula walked in.

The combination of Mai's cries of her brother's name and Zuko's matching groans with the rustling of the sheets and the fact that they had decided to make love with the room still lit by candles was enough to scar Azula for life….

She stood in the doorway, mouth agape and trying to figure why Zuko had told her that he couldn't hang out and have dinner with her that night because he was too tired. Because he obviously was awake enough to do what he was doing.

Her eyebrow twitched.

And as soon as Zuko realized there was an unfamiliar shadow coming into their room he turned his head slightly only to find that his little sister was in the doorway, and not looking too pleased.

"Azula!" He exclaimed, and immediately pulled out and away from Mai, she groaned in disappointment and reached out for him until she realized why he had pulled away and immediately reached for a blanket to cover herself.

"Azula," She echoed as well, "wh-what are you doing in the doorway?"

"So, this is why you blew off having dinner with me? To go...do this with Mai?"

"W-what?" Zuko babbled.

"You said you were tired, but I don't think that's case, now is it?"

Zuko was expecting her to be disgusted at the most, but he never thought she'd be mad at him.

"Azula, are you serious?" Zuko asked, half joking and half serious. "You know I can't spend every second with you, right?"

"Why not?" Azula asked stubbornly, "you're my brother."

"Yeah, and I'm his wife," Mai spat, already becoming thoroughly annoyed. Zuko placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her and then sat up some more—keeping in mind to keep himself covered.

"Look, Azula, me and Mai really need this time together, because…because, well, we're planning to have a baby."

"A baby?" Azula expressed in confusion. "Are you two serious?" She asked, though it was more of a snotty question than anything else.

"Yes…we're serious." Mai sighed. "So that makes night time Zuko and Mai time…got it?"

Azula and Mai squinted their eyes and glared at each other until Zuko had to break it up before the air between the two of them cracked in half.

"Um, okay ladies, maybe we can discuss this tomorrow at breakfast?" Zuko said. "It's too late for all of this tension."

"Fine," Mai groaned.

"Fine," Azula groaned as well, both girls crossing their arms over their chests and Azula turned slowly to leave the room, giving one last glare before closing the door behind her.

"That girl keeps getting weirder and weirder," Mai sighed and leaned down into the pillows, Zuko following suit, but wearing a worried face. "And you're concerned?"

"Well, yeah. She's still so unstable, I don't want to do anything to mess her up even more, you know?"

"Yeah, I know your hearts in the right place, but you can't baby her, Zuko. She's almost 16 years old, she needs to be treated like one, and if you keep babying her then all you're going to get is a big 16-year-old baby."

"Well what do you suggest I do…it's not like she goes out anywhere unless it's with me, she's so scared of making any new friends around town."

"Well, if you can't get her to do it willingly, you've gotta force it." Mai told him dryly.

"Geez, that sounds so heartless." Zuko cringed.

"I know, but I'm telling you, Azula's possessiveness of you is only gonna get worse if you don't nip it in the bud now. You remember the problem she caused between Aang and Katara that I told you about?"

"Yeah."

"Point and case."

Zuko sighed. "I guess you're right."

"I know I'm right," Mai smirked and kissed her husband good night before laying down fully to rest while Zuko snuffed out the candles.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The few phones located in the palace still baffled Zuko. But he knew he had to use them if he wanted to contact Aang at the teashop.

And he wanted any excuse to leave the breakfast table. The breakfast to 'talk things out' didn't seem to go as he had planned, it mostly consisted of the sound of chopsticks against plates and angered chewing between Mai and Azula. The heat was a little too much to bear so when a messenger came in saying the council would like the Fire Lord to contact the Avatar.

The rescue team was needed to help the frequent natural disasters that were going on around the world, and Aang's help was needed in the effort. He would have to make his way to the palace as soon as possible, and a messenger hawk getting to him weeks from then wasn't going to be sufficient. Not since Zuko could just pick up a phone and call him. Besides, Iroh had a working phone in the Jasmine Dragon, someone was bound to pick it up.

Zuko tried to remember how to use it, staring at the contraption for a few moments before looking at the number sheet next to the phone with frequently used numbers—the Jasmine Dragon being one of them—and dialed it carefully. He turned the handle on the side and heard his call going through. It baffled Zuko how he could honestly make a call overseas, but the Gan Mo had assured him that there were methods that he had created to make sure calls could be successfully made over the waters.

"Hello?" He heard over the phone and realized it was none other than Aang's voice. "…Hello?" Aang said again, when Zuko didn't answer, but the Fire Lord was just too amazed to take in that he was actually talking to Aang from across the ocean all the way in Ba Sing Si.

"Oh…Hi Aang, it's me, Zuko."

"I figured." Aang said teasingly. "Who else would be using a telephone?" There was a slight pause before Aang continued speaking. "So is this a recreational call?'

"I'm afraid not…you're needed here at the palace for a meeting."

"Can't we just do it over the telephone?" Aang laughed, but Zuko silenced him.

"This is serious Aang, you're really needed here as soon as possible, so I'd suggest you leave Ba Sing Si in the next day or two."

Aang was silent against before speaking.

"Alright, I'll start leaving tomorrow. Me, Katara, and Sokka can probably get there in a few weeks."

"No need, I'm going to send an airship for you. Less time."

"No need," Aang echoed Zuko. "I figured I'd ride on Appa this time."

"Aang….you need to get here quickly."

"I know, and I'll make sure me, Appa, Katara, and Sokka get there as quickly as possible. But, I haven't rode Appa a far distance in a while, I think he'd enjoy the trip."

Zuko sighed, he knew it was impossible to talk Aang out of anything when it came to Appa.

"Fine, but hurry up, I mean it."

"Will do."

"Okay…uh…well, I guess that's it."

"Okay…" Another pause on Aang's part. "So…is the call over?"

"Yeah."

"Okay…well then you should probably hang up the telephone." Aang suggested.

"Why don't you hang up the telephone?" Zuko suggested instead.

"Because you're the one who called me first so you should hang up first." Aang countered.

"And I'm asking you to do it…so you hang up first…"

"No you!"

"You!"

"You!"

Needless to say that no one had to hang up first…the call simply went on too long and phones hung up themselves. While Gan Mo's design certainly was fascinating, the calls had to be short lived, and any conversation longer than five minutes ran the risk of being dropped.

Aang and Zuko quickly learned that lesson.

Haha…the idea of Aang and Zuko's first phone conversation ending with the classic "no, you hang up," scenario was too much to pass up. Anyways….so Zuko and Mai are trying to conceive, Azula's playing the possessive card again, and Aang and Katara are on their way to the palace. And what's up with all these natural disasters?

I guess we're going to find out.

Oh, and just a heads up to those who didn't already know (though I'm sure most of you already do) I've heard some news that makes me want to get up dance, and that news is that Bryke is making a graphic novel series about the gaang that takes place AFTER SEASON THREE! And I'm not kidding, this is honest to spirit world truth….it's coming early 2012 with previews within this year. Are you excited? Cause I know I am.

Since, it's been a while since my last update, I'm not doing review responses, but I would like to thank Kuriaka, rcmgamer218, Kataanger476, Kimjuni2, ConGie, Katsumara, GakuenAliceGRL, Winnow, Destiny321, and madier1095 …for reviewing chapter 43! Reviews are always much appreciated.

Next Chapter: You, Me, and Her, Part Two