A/N:

We're back! Another chapter after this!

Chapter 25:

Arnook glares at the Water Siren and clenches his fists. So Ozai had already taken Katara and Zhiar? Scoffing. It was so like the man to use the outburst as a reason to take her and his son.

"Fine! What can I do to object?! Absolutely nothing!" Arnook spat as he shoved Hama out of his way and went on to the next meeting he was supposed to attend.

Hama flicked off the Northern Chieftain before walking off as she was about to return to her master's side. She had enough of Bei Seng Sei. This place was full of more snooty snot nosed people than even the Fire Nation. At least those bastards knew how to yield to her beauty despite her being an opposing element and lower class to them. None of these bastards even batted an eye at her. Oh well, I have plenty of lovers in Omashu and the Fire Nation. I needn't get greedy.

As she made her way to some source of water that would take her back to Omashu, she was approached by the Fire Lord himself. And while she had been sleeping with him. One of the many lovers she had and by far her favorite, she still showed him respect in front of those that knew nothing about their private escapades.

Bowing her head as she smirked at him, "Your majesty."

"Lady Hama."

"Oh you flatter me so, Fire Lord Zuko. You know I'm far from a lady."

He wasn't going to argue with her on that. But with so many possible eavesdroppers, Zuko didn't want to give away their relation. He gestures for her to follow him and she does so.

Reaching an empty hall by the pillar, Zuko pulled Hama around and pinned her to the pillar.

"What is my father planning?" He asked her in a hostile tone.

Looking him up and down, Hama raised a brow. "Excuse me? Is that any way to talk to a lady?"

"Oh shut up, Hama. All the Fire Nation Capital and Omashu knows you're no lady. Now start talking."

Hama sighed and placed a hand to Zuko's face, shaking her head. Soon the Fire Lord found himself on his knees, his veins convulsing as he grinded his teeth in agony.

"Zuko, Zuko, Zuko. Do I need to remind you who I am?" She asked. "Your father is the only man who can talk to me in such a manner and live. Now, as for your father's plan, he could care less about your bastard child with his waterbender. Once its born I'm sure he'll leave it to Katara to decide but don't think you'll be able to bully her into giving it to you."

Hissing through his teeth, Zuko glared at her, "Bully her?! I'm not bullying her by wanting to have my child! It's my right as the father!"

Hama smirked as she crouched down in front of Zuko, "My son's father the same thing, taking him from me and guess what? I killed him. Your point is?"

Zuko growled.

"Look, Zuko, no one is saying you can't see your child and be active in their life. We're just saying you're not going to treat its mother like she's all to blame for everything and you know as much as we do that she is not."

Hama let go of the side of his face and they both stood up straight.

"I want her to give you the child, Zuko." Hama said to him. "I do. Believe me. I don't want Arnook brainwashing another child of your father's line. Besides, I know you'll be a great father. But how you're going about this is wrong."

….

"I wish you'd tell me when you're drinking." Hama said as she plopped down beside Ozai as he was so drunk that he was about to drop his glass. She took the glass from him and set it down. "You know you're a mess when you drink."

Leaning over, Ozai laid his head in her lap and shut his eyes. He didn't care how much of a bother he was being. Whether she wanted him to lay on her or not. He needed the comfort and he didn't trust anyone else to see him this vulnerable.

Hama sighed as she patted him. Stroking the side of his head and webbing her fingers through his hair. "When you were a boy, you would lay your head in my lap and ask me to tell you that I'd never leave you and that I'd always be there for you. Shall I do it now?"

"I'd rather listen to the sound a jackal-croc makes when eating a zebra-dear than hear you say any of that shit to me." Ozai hissed as he lifted his head from her lap and tried to stand up to walk the hell away from her. He stumbled a few times but he managed to keep his balance and started walking away.

Despite his crude comment, Hama followed behind him so that the servants wouldn't have to get stuck scraping his heavy drunken ass off the floor. There had been too many times servants had found him passed out in the main corridors for the public to see. He was fortunate that his servants adored him and the residents were equally as fond of him, otherwise everyone would be talking about how much of a drunk he was.

Getting him all the way to his chambers, Hama helped him undress for bed and shoved him into the bed, pulling the sheets over him.

Kissing his forehead, "Night night, Ozai."

And as the water siren left his chambers, she ordered a servant to inform the kitchen servants to have a gallon of tonic and herbs water ready in the morning for the Phoenix King. When she was about to head to her chambers, Hama paused as she felt a presence nearby and smirked to herself.

"Stalking are we?" Hama turned around and folded her arms over her breasts, "And here I thought you wanted to be as far from us as possible."

Katara came out from where she hid behind the pillar.

Tilting her head at the sight, "Came to see the mess you've made of him? I hope you're happy with yourself." Hama said.

Hanging her head as she held her hands in front of her, "I didn't know he'd be that upset. I was just angry and I took it out on h-"

"Well you shouldn't have. Because he might be why everyone started to hate you but you're the one that validated their hate for you. Remember that." Hama said as she was about to storm off.

"Wait.."

"What?!" Hama snapped.

"Tell me how I can make things right." Katara asked, shrinking as Hama glared at her.

Scoffing, "Hell if I know! I'm not the best person to answer those kinds of questions. Go figure it out yourself!"

Katara watched in defeat as Hama disappeared into the night of the corridors. She was feeling really shitty. La, she felt so low. Everything must be true about her. There was no denying it.

Making her way back to the infirmary ward where her son was resting, Katara caressed his hair and watched over him as he slept. Not getting a moment of sleep for herself. She couldn't sleep. There was too much on her mind.

…..

In the morning, Katara still felt restless. Her body was tired but her mind had wandered in circles. She got up and allowed the physician assistants to tend to her son for the day. She needed to find something that would ease her mind. And so she did.

There was an entire library of books mostly written in Fire Nation script. Knowing she could read them, Katara cooped herself up in a cozy spot in the library with several books of interest sitting beside her. She felt she could stay in that one spot for days and be satisfied. This was definitely what she needed. A good escape to the life she was having to come to terms with.

As she lost herself in the literary arts, Katara heard a book drop nearby and her head turned in its direction.

"Your majesty...is that you?" She saw a rather tall but lean man staring at her in awe, as if she were something he couldn't believe existed.

Katara raised her brow, must be someone else I know. From the looks of him he had to be Fire Nation. The dark colored hair and gold eyes gave him away. Though, his hair was shorter than what she had seen on Fire Nation men. Well...she guessed it must be a royal thing to grow your hair out.

Closing her book, "We know each other?"

The man nodded his head as he didn't move an inch, "Yes, your majesty. We do."

"Your majesty? We must have met when I was Fire Lady." Katara deduced. "So I'm assuming we're friends too?"

Suddenly remembering that word had gotten out about the former Fire Lady losing her memory, Shin grinned to himself.

"Yes. We were but I'm sure you don't remember me." He replied.

Katara set her book down and was about to get up when Shin waved his hands around for her to stop, causing her to look at him with confusion.

"Your majesty, I think it best we keep the distance."

"Why?"

"Well, for starters, your former spouse would rather I not even be in the same country as you let alone the same room only a few feet apart." Shin told her. "He's not a fan of us being friends. One could say he's a jealous and possessive man."

You don't say. Katara sat back down but continued to eye this strange man.

"I should probably get going before he finds me here." Shin said as he gathered his book off the floor and prepared to leave.

But before he could go, "I don't have many friends anymore. I'd hate to lose another one. Would you like to have tea sometime?"

Agni, you're just testing me now. Shin really really wanted to just keep walking and pretend he didn't hear that. Agni, he was trying not to get himself killed but it seemed the gods wanted him dead because he answered…

"Yes. That would be lovely, your majesty."

As the man left, Katara went back to reading her books, once again losing herself to the stories she let absorb her.

…

"I haven't seen her." Ozai answered his daughter as she had barged her way into his office asking where her mother was.

Holding Mr. Fluff, Kya stared impassively at him. "You're mad at her, why?"

Looking up from his work, "Get out of my head and go do whatever it is you do without my knowledge."

"But why are you mad at her?"

Ozai narrowed his eyes at her as he set his quill down. Kya was fourteen, soon to be fifteen. She was a mature girl. Had been since he met her seven years after last seeing her as an infant. Out of all his children, she was the one that showed him the most affection and didn't ask much of him. But she was also the one that frightened him the most. Kya had his personality, his way of viewing things but with a completely different mindset on how to handle and approach things. She was much more controlled and disciplined than him. Even with all that in mind, he wasn't involving her in the drama that was between him and her mother. He knew his daughter loved them both and he wasn't going to have her choose between which of them to side with. Because if you asked him, he and Katara were being very ridiculous about this whole thing. He could admit that.

But seeing as Kya wasn't going to leave without some sort of explanation, Ozai gave her one. One that he hoped would satisfy her curiosity and get her to leave him be.

"Your mother needs her space. I'm honoring that." He told her.

Kya tilted her head as she walked up to the front if his desk and placed Mr. Fluff on it. "Here. Mr. Fluff will keep you company."

"I don't need company, Kya."

"But you need a friend." She eyed him.

"And so do you." He told her.

Kya glared at him, "I have a friend."

"A real one." He said flatly as he rested the side of his face in the palm of his hand.

Pulling Mr. Fluff back to her, Kya stuck her tongue out at her father and turned to leave. She shoved Hama aside as the woman seemed to be entering. Hama glared at her and wanted so badly to slap the girl but reminded herself that she enjoyed living and didn't want to die anytime soon.

As she entered the office, closing the door behind the little brat, Hama looked up to see Ozai was still staring at the door as if Kya were still there.

"Have a falling out with yet another child?" Hama asked as she swayed her way over to his desk.

Shaking his head as he refocused himself on the work he was supposed to be doing, "I wonder about that girl." He said.

Scoffing, "I would too. I thought Azula was nuts but that one is worse."

Sighing to himself, he wouldn't actually compare Kya to any of his other children. She was different. He actually didn't mind different. Now her brother on the other hand, he was a combination of his older siblings. But recently, he was starting to get along with the boy. So he wouldn't complain for now.

"I'm assuming you have something you wanted to tell me." Ozai huffed as he read over more paperwork.

Smirking as she went to sit on the edge of his desk, "Actually, I do."

"And that would be?"

"After Katara makes her decision. Whether she stays here or runs back to Arnook. I want to leave. Go back to the South Pole."

Ozai didn't even looked up at her as he continued with his work, "You can leave whenever you like. I'm not forcing anyone to stay."

"Then you won't be lonely?" She asked him teasingly.

Rolling his eyes, "You act like I wouldn't enjoy some peace and quiet."

Hama reached for a lock of his hair and pulled it to her lips, "Don't try to be cool about it. If you want to cry and beg me to not leave you, then by all means do so. I won't judge you."

Ozai looked up and eyed her for a minute.

Several minutes later, Hama was tossed out of the office and the door slammed into the back of her head. She hissed and rubbed it. Cursing under her breath about how much of an unlovable asshole he was. She stood up and banged on the door shouting that that was why his waterbender wasn't going to pick him.

Seemed the timing was bad and Katara happened to be walking by with a few books in her hands.

Hama turned around and saw the waterbender had stopped upon hearing that. They stared at each other for a moment. Hama trying to play off what she just said and Katara trying to figure out what was going on. But it seemed Katara was trying to live in lala land and avoid anything that might upset her again. So she shrugged her shoulders and continued on about her business.

…..

Going to be with her son, Katara brought Kya with her as she hadn't really been spending enough time with her the last few days. Listening to her daughter talk about what she and Mr. Fluff have been up to, Katara sponge bathed Zhiar. Seemed her daughter had left the palace quite a bit on her own the whole time in Bei Seng Sei. Katara realized that her daughter spent a lot of time on her own. Not letting her father or Hama know where she was.

"You shouldn't go off on your own, Kya. It can be dangerous." Katara told her daughter as she checked Zhiar's bandages to see if it was about time to change them.

Kya sighed as she squeezed Mr. Fluff to her chest, "Dad says I'm dangerous. So he's more worried about the people that might try to pick a fight with me."

Chuckling, "I'm sure but could you at least let me know when and where you're going? I'd feel a lot better if I knew where you were."

"I can do that." Kya said. "As long as you don't tell dad about it."

Unwrapping Zhiar's bandages, Katara winced as she saw her son's wounds weren't getting any better. La, she wished she could heal those burns. Usually she could with them being this fresh but for some reason her healing wouldn't work on him. She had tried and nothing happened.

"Why can't I tell your father?" Katara asked as she placed some medicine on the areas of Zhiar that were burnt.

Swaying herself back and forth as she hugged Mr. Fluff, "Because I'm trying to plan his birthday."

"What? Really?!" Katara smiled as she wrapped Zhiar back up. "When is it?"

"In seven months. I'm planning early so it can be perfect."

"Awe. Well, can I help?" Katara said as she pulled the sheets off Zhiar and tossed them in a pile on the floor and placed fresher blankets on him.

Kya nodded.

"So what is it he likes? If we make a list of those things, we can be sure it'll be perfect." Katara said after she finished tending to Zhiar and pressed at kiss to his forehead.

Trying to think, Kya couldn't say she actually knew what her father liked. He never talked about himself or his childhood. She could take a guess that his childhood was probably bad and didn't like talking about it. And he probably didn't even really know what he liked seeing as he was always busy with other things and other people. If she had to go based off of what she observed then she'd have to say that he liked beautiful whores, alcohol, sleeping, and yelling at Hama. Other than that, it was a mystery.

Katara held Kya's hand as they left the infirmary to go to her chambers. When they got there, her daughter looked around and commented that her father must have just had these rooms decorated.

Plopping down on her mother's round bed, Kya looked up at how the curtains draped around it and spread her arms out. "Why are you and dad mad at each other?"

Having just sat down on the sofa by the firepit, Katara rubbed her belly. "We're not mad at each other. It's just been stressful for us both and we need time to de-escalate."

"Could you make some more sweets but give them to dad?" Kya asked as she sat up.

Looking over to her daughter, "You want me to make him sweets?"

"Yeah," Kya kicked her feet back and forth as she hugged Mr. Fluff. "He liked them and he doesn't really eat much. So for him to actually eat them is a good sign."

Katara thought on this.

"It might cheer him up."

It's the least I can do, right?

….

It was just another long night for Ozai. He didn't expect it to not be. His advisors and council would not return from Bei Seng Sei for the next week. So he had a lot to deal with on his own.

Rubbing his temple as he was about to call it a day, Ozai heard a knock on the door of his office and shifted his eyes to it.

"Come in." He grumbled in annoyance. He was really starting to wonder what it was that made him so annoyed with things all the time.

Seeing the waterbender enter with a tray in her hands, the Phoenix King raised his brow at her as he continued to watch her hold her head down as she walked up to his desk and set the tray down. She then proceeded to bow.

"I'm sorry...about how I acted towards you." Katara said. "I want to make it up to you."

Ozai picked up one of the pastries she had made and brought it to his mouth all while eyeing her. "What did I say about bowing?"

Standing upright, "Sorry!" She shrieked.

"You want to make it up to me? It'll take a lot more than your sweets to win me over, waterbender. You really pissed me off last we spoke." Ozai said before taking a bite of the pastries.

Sighing as her posture fell out of whack, "I know but I needed a peace offering as a gesture. Well this was Kya's idea. Anyways, whatever you want, I'll just go with it."

Ozai's brow raised.

"As long as it doesn't involve me compromising my marriage." She added.

Then you shouldn't have said whatever I want. Ozai scoffed in his head.

"So how do I begin atoning?" Katara asked as she sported a wide smile, hoping to come across friendly and willing.

Continuing to eat the treats she made for him, "How about you start by keeping me company during the afternoons? We have a lot of catching up to do."

That's not too bad. Katara thought to herself. She could do that.

Katara nodded her head, "Sure."

"And bring more of these." He told her.

Nodding her head again. "If that's what you want."

The next day, Katara once again was in the kitchen making sweets for the Phoenix King before she would go to spend the afternoon with him. She had Kya help her, seeing as she wanted to teach her daughter how to make them. As Kya went to take the finished batch to the oven-pit, Katara went to clean the dishes and kitchen utensils off. While waiting for the pastries to finish cooking, Kya ran off to go play with Mr. Fluff, leaving her mother to finish cleaning the space they were using.

When the sweets were ready, Katara placed them neatly on a platter and then carried them to the Phoenix King's office. Once there, she placed them in front of him and then went to go sit on the sofa.

"Kya helped you?" Ozai said after biting into a pastry.

Wondering how he knew that, "Yes, actually. I wanted to teach her." Katara eyed him oddly. "How did you k-"

"Our daughter doesn't seem it but she's a jokester." He says he put the half bitten pastry down. "She used cinnamon. She knows I hate cinnamon."

Katara suddenly remembered Kya offering to put cinnamon in the sweets she made. She got up from where she stood and quickly pointed out all the pastries Kya made, taking them to eat for herself.

When Ozai picked up one Katara made, he ate it with no qualms about the flavor.

Sitting back down, Katara sigh and ate one of Kya's sweets, immediately cringing at the taste. What the h-

"My point exactly." Ozai smirked as he saw the look on his ex-wife's face.

Katara looked at him, "Why would she do this on purpose?"

Ozai shrugged. He could think of a few reasons but Katara didn't need to know that he and Kya were tit for tat for getting back at each other. It was just how they operated. Their father daughter relationship. He do something and she do something back. She was like her mother in that regard. Katara and him used to go at it the same way. It wasn't the healthiest way for them to vent their frustrations at one another but it was how they were. Simple as that.

Forcing herself to continue eating them, Katara asked the Phoenix King what he wanted to catch up on seeing as she didn't have much to say seeing as she didn't remember shit and was asleep for the last seven years.

"Since you don't remember, I want to fill you in on a few things that I believe are important for you to know." Ozai told her as he looked her way from behind his desk, eating the pastries she made for him.

"Like?"

And so he began. Telling her what happened during their marriage. From the day they met to the day he was executed. He told her there wasn't much he could tell her about what she had to deal with after. All he knew was that she was supposed to marry Arnook a year after the war ended and freaked out, collapsing a building on top of everyone attending the ceremony, only to flee with Zuko back to the Fire Nation. Hence why she was exiled. She then had a drinking problem that Ozai heard from Zuko about. She had to receive treatment at the asylum because of it. When she discovered he was still alive, he was a fugitive and had been under constant torture and experimentation for seven years.

"So is that why you don't eat much?"

Eating the pastries, "Yes." He answered simply.

"Do you still eat people?"

Ozai eyeing her caused her to swallow hard.

"Would that bother you?" He asked her.

Shrugging, "I don't know. It depends."

"Only criminals. Criminals of the violent nature." Ozai confessed. "And only rarely."

Katara sighed, "I guess that's not too awful. But have you tried not to? Tried to eat something other than-"

"I get sick from eating any other forms of meat. I've tried. I have."

"Maybe if I prepare it then you could possibly eat it with no problems." Katara offered.

Ozai eyed her. When did she start cooking? The pastries came as a surprise to him but he didn't know she could cook in general. But then again, given her background. She was just a peasant when I met her. He continued eating the treats she made for him as he pondered on this. Maybe he should let her give it a try. It wouldn't hurt. Besides, if she cooked a regular meal like she cooked these sweets, he wouldn't have any room to complain.

"Fine. You can make something tonight."

Smiling, "Anything in particular that you might like?"

"I don't have a favorite dish. Just make whatever."

Katara smiled even more as she rubbed her belly. She tried thinking up what he might eat. She needed to take in consideration that he was Fire Nation and from what she remembered from living their when she and the gaang were looking for a firebending teacher for Aang, they liked spicy food. But she didn't know how to cook Fire Nation cuisines or how to add the spices.

Maybe she could try her luck with a dish from the Water Tribe. Seafood? She glanced over at him as he was eating and looking through his work. Fish isn't really considered meat...so maybe.

"Can I borrow a notebook?" She asked him. She wanted to take notes for Kya since her daughter was planning her father's birthday.

"Do as you like. There's spares in the drawer over there." Gesture his hand to the left of him.

Katara got up to walk over to the bookcase that was by the balcony of his office. She looked down to where the drawer was and pulled it open. When she reached into grab one of the notebooks, her sapphire eyes fell on a stack of letters with a black ribbon tied to it. It somehow peaked her curious side.

Looking over her shoulder to the Phoenix King and saw he had his focus on his work, Katara looked back to the scrolls and picked one up. She quickly slid one into her town's pocket and then proceeded to grab the notebook.

Going back to the sofa, Katara went to take notes on her dish ideas while asking a few things about things he absolutely didn't like, which seemed to come naturally for him to discuss. He didn't like cinnamon, honey, mangos, peaches, carrots, or potatoes. And pretty much anything that grew in the ground.

No vegetables. She noted.

Bananas made him gag at the mere thought of how mushy they were. He hated, with a passion (he added), anything with nuts. If it had nuts and he saw it, he didn't even want it in the same room with him.

Definitely doesn't like other men. Katara made a side note of that.

Then there were none food related things he didn't like. He was not an outdoors person. Hated it. His skin itched if he was outside for too long. Only time it was acceptable was if it was a controlled environment like the courtyard or gardens. He didn't like tall women. Or women that were too short.

"I'm 5'1, your majesty. I believe that I'm an entire foot and 4 inches shorter than you." Katara simply had to address that.

"It was something I had to come to terms with. One of your flaws I had to ignore." He told her with a smirk. "It turns out you being so small works to my advantage. It's like picking up a child."

Sighing as she shook her head and wrote: Takes pleasure in his asshole remarks.

"Are you writing this all down?" He asked her, noting she was using the notebook the entire time.

Nodding as she pulled her hair behind her ear, "Yes. I think your explanation of our past together makes it clear that even after all that time, we really don't know each other well." Katara said as looked back at her notebook. "Circumstances might have caused that. We didn't really trust each other, did we?"

Ozai couldn't say she was wrong. He was realizing the same thing.

"I don't think we did." He replied to her.

Looking up to smile at him, "Well, that's the past and this is the present. You and I have a connection obviously but that's all we have. I think we should explore all aspects of that connection to better our relationship."

And somehow with her saying something like that, which was meant to be purely taken in an innocent context, his mind thought of a few ways they could explore their connection and they were by no means innocent.

"So I'm writing this down so I can hopefully know you a little better than I did before." Katara explained. "This way we establish trust because we know what to expect for each other to avoid misunderstandings."

Smirking at her, "Can I say I think I might like you more this way?"

Giggling as she rolled her eyes, "You can say whatever you like, your majesty. I'm simply going to ignore it."

"Of course, that part of you hasn't changed."

…...

As Ozai finished up his work for the day, allowing Katara to leave early to go cook whatever it was she was going to make for him to eat, he went to check on Zhiar. He hadn't gone to see the boy since they arrived here. To be very honest, looking at what Zuko did to him really made the Phoenix King wonder why he didn't kill his oldest. His relationship with Zhiar aside, Ozai still loved the boy. He didn't want to see harm come to him. And despite Zhiar proving he had inherited his phoenix gene after Kya attacked him, it didn't look like he was recovering quickly from his injuries.

Sitting at the edge of the bed, Ozai moved some of the hair that wasn't wrapped under the badge away from his good side.

"I figured out what is wrong with him." He heard Hama's voice behind him.

Still gazing at his son, "What?"

"You know how Zuko being around you makes you sick? Even if you've been able to suppress the sickness you feel, you still feel it."

"Dragons are like poison to a Phoenix." ozai remembered.

Hama sighed as she walked up to the side of him and looked at her great-grandson. "Zhiar isn't affected by Zuko's scent. It doesn't bother him like it does you. But Zuko's flames might be what's causing him to not heal fast. He might be able to actually kill the boy...permanently."

Ozai furrowed his brows. I'll need to keep them apart. If this was true, then Zuko might have in him to kill Zhiar if he knew this.

"So how are things with you and our forgetful Katara?" Hama asked.

"Things are fine. They may even turn out to be a lot better than before. She's temperamental but she's open to correcting it." He told her.

Hama grinned, "Its that siren sleep. It makes us better than we were. She's a better version of herself. Maybe that's why she was made to forget everything. So you two could start over and do things the right way."

"You think?" He asked.

Folding her arms as she sighed and nodded, "Katara's prayer the night before your Agni Kai match was for you to find her in her next life. I think this is it."

Ozai remembered that night. He forced her to be with him so he could convince her to stay and not fight him. It failed but before she ran from his room in the middle of the night, she asked a question.

"If we had met as different people living different lives, what would you be?"

Of course, she knew he wouldn't be anything less than Fire Lord and here he was more than that. She wanted to travel and heal people because that's the kind of person she was. She was. Before he took her away from all she knew and forced her to conform to his rules and ways of living. She was…- she wanted to travel, heal people, be a free spirit and he stopped her from that. Constricted her. Forced her into a position, a role, a mindset that made her believe that desire of hers was just a dream.

He criticized Arnook for trying to turn her into something she wasn't and he, himself, had done no different.

But that night, Katara said it herself that she couldn't see him any differently than he already was. She just wanted him to be better. A better person. A better father. A better husband. She told him that she would love him into her next life and she wanted him to find her.

Here they were. Her memories gone. Like a blank slate. A new life. A second chance.

Ozai looked back at his son and furrowed his brows, "I think the woman I knew before is dead. She died in her sleep. And this one. One that looks like her, she's a different person and I don't know which I like more."

"I'm sure you'll figure that out soon."

….

At dinner time, Katara had made a few dishes that she felt would be editable to the Phoenix King. She had the servants help her set the table in the dining room of his chambers. She figured he was still in the office.

The waterbender felt that while she waited for him to return that she could read the scroll she found in his office drawer. Going to the sitting room, Katara sat down by the fire pit and opened the letter to read. First thing she noticed was that it was made out to her. As she began to read it, her hand went over her mouth as her eyes widened.

Dear, Katara:

I know I shouldn't be writing you. Not about this. And you may never get this letter but I feel it needs to be written. The things I'm about to say.

I didn't enjoy seeing you marry Arnook. I wish I never told you to do it. I thought I was doing the right thing and I regretted it almost immediately. Even when trying to be a better man, I'm still the villain and I play it well.

Anyway, our son, Zhiar, he's learned a lot about what I've done in my past. The impact I've had on others. He's told me more times than I would like to count that he's ashamed of me and I can't exactly blame him. I've done horrible things and some of those things to this day shock me to know I have done. His hate is warranted, but…. I've tried to make it right and I sought reconciliation from not only him but from your family. I went south hoping it would show Zhiar that I've changed but the boy struck me down. I died right before his eyes and our daughter's eyes.

Dying isn't as bad as I thought. I've died a few times prior. The first time being when Hama showed up and awakened this inhumanity in me. The second when I demonstrated to you my immortality. And then almost every day for seven years following my execution. Dying so many times, I didn't think it would bother me. But it did.

So I've been-

Katara was forced to stop reading as she heard footsteps that sounded heavy and knew it was Ozai's. She hurried and put the scroll back into her pocket. She waved her hand to fan her face. Sniffling and trying to dry her tears. What she read...what did she read?

"I saw the dining room." Ozai showed up in the threshold of the room and crossed his arms over his chest. "You don't expect me to eat that all by myself."

Having gotten herself together for the most part, Katara forced a smile and giggled as she shook her head. "No. Me and Kya will help."

Grinning at her before he turned to head back to the dining room, "I don't enjoy sad waterbenders. Your crying could flood a room. Go fix yourself up." He told her.

Katara figured she must have been obvious to him. But of course she would be. She pulled out her notebook and noted, couldn't fool him if I wanted to. Then when placing her notebook into her pocket, she went onto to join him in the dining room.

Turns out Ozai didn't like seafood. Literally couldn't keep it down for a second. Katara took note this as well. She felt bad at his immediate reaction to eating it. It wasn't the taste but the fact that his body rejected it as it didn't register as food.

Kya held her father's hair back as Katara rubbed his back.

"I think he's allergic to fish." Kya says.

Katara was starting to think the same thing when she saw the skin on his hands revealing a rash. Oh my la. With the male servants' help, they were able to get him in bed.

Once in bed, Katara looked over his skin and saw that it was indeed an allergic reaction.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know." She told him.

Ozai could honestly laugh. He thought this whole ordeal was hilarious. All she was trying to do was help but unintentionally caused something worse to happen.

"You meant well." He chuckled at her. "Make me something else tomorrow. We'll try again."

And so they tried again. This time it was meat from a reptile. An Earth Kingdom dish the servants showed her. Ozai was even more sick than before. Fell face forward into his plate. Kya checked his pulse. Dead. Katara was going to stick to the sweets with him. Everything else she made was killing him. Literally.

…..

As days went on, Katara spending time with both her ex-husband and her daughter, Zhiar finally woke.

The first one to his side when the servants made them aware of him gaining consciousness was Katara. She wouldn't stop kissing him. Tui and La, she was so happy to see that he was awake. Kya showed up with her father and the two stood there watching as Katara showed more than enough affection towards Zhiar.

"Mom, stop. You're kissing me too much." Zhiar said as he tried to get her to stop.

Katara pouted as she stopped, "I'm sorry. I just missed you so much!" She hugged him, squeezing tight.

"The boy is probably stiff from lying in bed for so long. Give him some space." Ozai told her as he came up to her side.

Looking up at him, Zhiar saw his father staring down at him. He knew before Zuko struck and put him out for La knows how long, Zhiar had been trying to fix things with his dad. Hoping that his father would see that rekindling his relationship with his mom was not necessary to them having a good relationship.

"Hi, dad." Zhiar said as he lifted his hand weakly to wave slightly at his father.

"Feeling alright? You left us for a few days." Ozai responded.

Rubbing the side of his face that was still bandaged, Zhiar nodded. "It hurts but I'm fine. I'm just hungry. Really hungry."

Ozai placed his hand on Katara's shoulder, "Maybe your mother can cook you something. I'm only just finding out how good her cooking is."

"Really?" Zhiar asked.

"It was so good that dad died-" Ozai grabbed Kya and put his hand over her mouth.

"I died to have more. It was that good."

Zhiar eyed his father and Kya before looking to his mom, "Can you cook me something, mom?"

Katara nodded her head, "Yes! I'll go make something now!"

As Katara kissed Zhiar's forehead and climbed out the bed to go waddle to the kitchen to cook for her son, Ozai told Kya to follow her. Kya eyed Zhiar for a moment before she went to go follow her mother.

When it was just Ozai and Zhiar, the younger of the two averted their eyes.

"We're in Omashu?"

"I brought you and your mother here before the end of the summits. Your mother fought Zuko after he put you down." Ozai informed him.

Zhiar remembered his brother's eyes before knocking him unconscious. Zuko looked like he was going to kill him. But he didn't care. Zuko was a bitch. He knew that. His father knew that. Everyone knew that.

Ozai pretended to not hear what Zhiar was thinking. Though he cocked a smirk to suppress the laughter, he was in no way in agreement with Zhiar. The boy shouldn't have provoked his brother like that. Ozai knew Zuko had been wanting to get his hands on Zhiar. Jealous of his ungrateful younger sibling. It couldn't be helped but Zhiar should do well to remember that Zuko was not to be trifled with. He was the angriest of them both.

Deciding to take a seat at the edge of the bed, Ozai looked at his son sternly. "You defended your mother. I won't reprimand you. You did right. But be careful of Zuko."

"Fuck Zuko! As soon as I see him, I'll-"

"He will kill you before you even get your hands on him." Ozai cut him off. "Unlike you, your brother didn't have too many opportunities to oppose me. One wrong move and the servants would have to scrape him off the floor. He's jealous of you. He will take his anger out on you."

Zhiar looked at his father with furrowed brows, "I'm not scared of Zuko."

"I know and that's why I'm telling you this. Bravery can often time lead to foolishness. Don't be a fool. Your brother has the ability to kill you if he wanted. And there is no getting back up." Ozai told him.

Placing his hand on his face, Zhiar could feel his injury was burning a little at the thought. Zuko wants to kill me?

Zhiar snapped out of his grim thoughts when his father placed his hand on his shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze.

"I won't let him touch you. I promise he will die first." Ozai swore to his son.

…

Zhiar went back to sleep after eating his mother's cooking. He seemed to enjoy it far more than his father did. Katara kissed him goodnight and went off to her chambers for the night.

When she was settled into her chambers, rubbing her belly as she felt a few kicks, Katara remembered the scroll she had been reading a few days ago. She went to the pocket of the dress she had been wearing that day and found it. Waddling to the sofa in her bedroom, the waterbender sat down and reopened it. She searched for where he left off. Somewhere around where he says that Zhiar killed him and how he had died plenty before that.

So I've been trying to discover what made this time different. Why did it hurt more to die with a bolt of lightning to the back? In the process of discovering the answer to that question, I've taken my own life in various ways. I won't name them. Knowing you, you'd think I've lost my mind again and keep the children from me.

I wouldn't blame you. I think I've found the answer to the question. Zhiar striking me down is just proof that I've failed as a father. I've failed at everything but my occupation. I'm only good at what I do and have done. But being a father. A good one at that. I've failed tremendously.

If it weren't for wanting to see you again and me being immortal, I'd have ended this shit of a life already. I'm not happy. I think you've known that since we met. I'm just some miserable man writing this long winded letter to my ex-wife. I'd ask you to not judge me if you're ever to read this but somehow I doubt that I'll ever give this to you. I'm not that pathetic.

Sincerely,

Asshole.

Katara rolled the scroll back up and stood up. She was disturbed. Deeply, disturbed. She needed to confront him about this.

…

A/N:

Katara and Ozai are getting all buddy. Trying to reset their relationship. On a platonic note if you ask Katara. Of course our Phoenix King has other things in mind.