If I were to title this chapter, I'd call it Zuko's musings. Our Zuk boy has a lot to think on here. Enjoy!


Chapter 27

Zuko frowned over the numbers as his treasurer, Fazin briefed him on the budgeting, with his political advisor, Wei, pitching in every now and then with his inputs. The three men were engaged in a deep conversation, each with a quill in their hands, making notations as needed.

"We could increase the rentals of the stalls by the canals," Fazin said, "Since they attract the most traffic, they could easily shell out one additional gold coin per stall, per day, without making much of a dent in their earnings."

Zuko nodded, putting his symbol on the sheet, "Approved. Next."

"I propose to reduce the price of the tickets by five copper coins," Wei said. "We would be able to attract more customers."

Zuko frowned and shook his head, "Make that fifteen. Five is too nominal a difference to make any significant change."

"But Milord, at fifteen, would it not be too drastic a drop?"

"But with that change, a lot more people would be able to afford the tickets," Zuko pressed on, itching a spot on his chin, "That would increase the footfalls. And that would cover up the reduced prices."

Wei and Fazin exchanged a look and nodded. Fazin made a note.

"Next."

Fazin pulled another parchment and laid it in front of Zuko, "We would need to set aside at least three hundred gold pieces for the cleanup afterwards."

"You have the funds, I believe," Zuko said, studying the document.

"Yes, Milord. We have that amount in the –"

Before Fazin could complete his sentence, the door to Zuko's chamber was thrown open with a loud bang, making the three men look up. He heard Mizu's voice, trying to stop whoever was storming in, but failing spectacularly. Zuko stood up, clicking in irritation at the disruption. Then, much to his surprise and anger, Katara marched into his vision, followed by a flustered Mizu.

Fazin was the first to gain his composure and bowed low, "Milady."

Snapped out of the shock, Wei copied the action. Zuko felt a vein throb in his temple and his jaw clenched. Unaware of the glare he was shooting at her, Katara straightened her spine and said, "Treasurer Fazin and Advisor Wei, could you please resume this later. I need to speak with my husband urgently."

Zuko's eyes narrowed a fraction but he refrained from saying anything. Unable to refuse a direct order from the Fire Lady, the two men bowed and left. Mizu lingered for a moment, uncertain of what to do, but then bowed and left, closing the door after them. Once assured that they were alone, Zuko let his anger show.

"Katara," he said in a cold voice. "No one. I repeat, NO ONE barges into my room like this and demands my time like this. You maybe my wife but even you don't have the right to simply dismiss my meetings like this."

"Zuko, this is important."

"More important than budgeting for a festival that would provide for hundreds of families?" Zuko shot back.

Katara's eyes flashed dangerously and she said, "I'm not going to ask you to prioritize your tasks. I know you have the burden of the entire nation on your shoulders but –"

"But what, Katara?" he snapped. "What could possibly be more important than this? Didn't Mizu tell you what was happening in this room?"

"He did."

"And you still thought it was important enough to barge right in and dismiss my men?"

"Yes."

Zuko shook his head, fumes curling from his nose with every breath. He ground his words through gritted teeth, "What could be more important than this?"

Katara folded her arms across her chest and said, "Zuko, what day is it today?"

"You stormed into my budget meeting to ask me what day it is?" Zuko screamed.

"Answer the damn question!" Katara shouted in return.

Gold met blue in a furious stand-off for a moment before Zuko bit out, "Sixteenth day of the Third moon of South Dragon."

"And? What's day after tomorrow?"

"Seriously Katara –"

"Answer. The. Question."

"First day of Fourth moon…" Zuko's words trailed off as realization sank in. "Agni! It's Mai's birthday."

"You forgot. Izumi noticed," Katara said softly.

Zuko slapped a hand on his face as his heart twisted painfully, his anger blowing away into smithereens. "Shit! Shit! Shit!"

Katara lay a hand on his shoulder and said, "She is feeling neglected, Zuko. She told me she is the cast away."

Zuko's head whipped, "What?"

"Go to her, Zuko. Now. She needs you."

"Thanks, Katara."

"Never mind that. Go to her. Now."

Without a word, Zuko turned and ran.

"Izumi?" Zuko called out in the dark. "Princess, are you there?"

No sound but Zuko knew she was there. Since she was two, whenever she was angry or hurt, Izumi would take refuge in the dark. He had tried the turtle duck pond, but she was not there. The next place would have been Mai's former rooms, where Katara was now housed. There was no way Izumi would be there. So the only other place she would be, was her own chamber.

Zuko lit a small flame in his palm and walked over to her bed. Sure enough, a small quivering bundle lay under the sheets. He walked over and put a hand on her shoulder. "Princess? You're angry at dad, aren't you?"

"Go away," she said, her voice quivering.

"No, not when my baby is crying."

With a sound that was a mix between a growl and a sob, she slithered away from him.

"I forgot mom's birthday," Zuko said, slowly. "You have every right to be angry at me. It was not okay."

Izumi sat up and Zuko sent a spark at a lamp by the bedside. "How could you, dad? How could you forget this day?"

"I'm sorry, baby," he said. "So much happened and… but that's not an excuse. I should not have forgotten. It is not acceptable."

Izumi wiped her tears and snot with the back of her hand. "She told you?"

Zuko shook his head, "More like scolded me."

Despite herself, Izumi's lips turned into ghost of a smile, "Good. You deserved it."

Zuko bowed his head, "I definitely did."

Her face took on a pinched look, "How could you forget, dad? Have they become so important that you forgot your family?"

Zuko snapped back, as though she had slapped him. "Izumi! I thought you were getting along with Bumi and Kya."

"I was trying to," she said as tears flowed down her face. "Because Auntie told me that I should at least try before I reject them outright. But… you are more focused on them than you are on me. You forgot mom's birthday. Tomorrow you will forget me."

Zuko scooped the little girl in his arms and said, "No. No. Don't think that. Ever. You mean the world to me, Izumi. I can never ever forget you. You heard me? You are a part of me. My baby girl. I have never loved anything or anyone like I love you. Never forget that, okay?"

"But… you forgot mom's birthday…" she said, albeit with much less hostility.

"I did. It was a mistake. But it wasn't because of Katara," Zuko said firmly. "I forgot because I got busy with budgeting for the end-of-war anniversary celebrations."

"Budgeting? But aren't you done with that by now?"

Zuko felt a surge of pride at the little girl's knowledge, "Normally, yes. But because I took the vacation, things got postponed. But then, like the wonderful daughter that you are, you found a way to remind me."

"Not really. She found me entirely by accident."

"Well, as Grandpa Iroh says, the spirits work in mysterious ways. Katara finding you there by accident was so that you could correct my mistake through her. It's all you. But Izumi, the next time I make a mistake, you come and tell me. You know you can talk to me, right?"

Izumi nodded, wrapping her arms around his neck. "We will do the usual things, right? On her birthday?"

"Absolutely."

"Dad, will you… will you stay here tonight?"

Zuko nodded. A part of him wondered if he should send Katara a message but he decided against it. Given Izumi's current mood, he didn't think it would go down well with the child. Besides, Katara would understand. She was a parent too. He lay the child down, who curled into a fetal position in his arms and soon fell asleep.

Zuko looked at the little girl sleeping next to him, clutching his shirt in her hand. Even though she was tall for her age, she was still thin. A spitting image of her mother, the only nod she had to him as a parent were her golden eyes. Right now, holding her in his arms, Zuko thought back to the moment he had first held her. A tiny, frail little bundle who had stolen his heart with a yawn. She was born earlier than expected and was at risk. The healer had suggested that they would need to give her body heat to ensure that she made through the tricky first month of her life. Zuko had spent hours upon hours keeping the tiny being on his chest, carefully regulating his body temperature. It had been a nerve-wracking time of his life when he gave it his everything to save his little girl.

And now, that very girl, the one for whom he had, without a complain, stayed up for nights at a stretch, was feeling neglected. Zuko shook his head, pulling her closer to him. How had he allowed this to happen? How had he allowed this doubt to creep into his daughter's mind? He had seen her talk politely with Bumi and Kya, acknowledge Katara, and he had assumed she was fine. He had not checked up on her. He had not asked her how she was feeling. He had not tried to find out how she was doing. How could he just assume that she would be fine? After all she was just like Mai. She would bottle up her feelings, bury them deep inside. But then, when she reached the tipping point, the part that was him would burst forth and she would explode in a burst of anger. Just like she had done at Katara.

He lay a gentle peck on her hair and cuddled her closer. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. This won't happen again. I promise."

When he woke up with the sun a few hours later, she was still sleeping. He gave her a small kiss on her forehead and pulled his arm from under her head. As she was wont to do, she had managed to tangle her sheet between her legs. Smiling slightly, he pulled the sheet from under her and draped it on her legs, knowing full well that it was a futile action. The sheet would end up tangled between her legs again within minutes. But he couldn't help himself. He ran a hand through her raven hair and said, "Sleep well, Princess."

He walked out of the room and made his way to his own chamber. Once inside, he walked over to the door that led to Katara's chamber and lay a hand on the doorknob. He debated if he should go in. If she was in the chamber, he would be next to her in a heartbeat. He would not be able to resist it. The need to hold her, touch her, breathe the same air as her, to drink in her presence – the ache was almost physical. No. He couldn't go in there, not when he had so many things to do. Besides, he owed her an apology for last night. He had lost his temper at her when she was trying to remind him of his most important duty.

Zuko lay his forehead against the wood panel. He felt a tug behind his navel, something he had felt just once before. During her coronation. He had needed her then, albeit for political reasons, and his body had let him know when she was near. And now, again, he needed her, and his body was telling him that she was there. Right behind that door. Zuko closed his eyes and his lips turned up into a tiny smile.

"Might as well admit it to yourself at least, Zuko," he whispered. "You've fallen for her. Hard."

He sighed and pushed away from the door. He would not go in. Not now. It took every bit of his strength to walk away.

Where in the name of everything that was holy was she? She had not come into the sparring arena. She had not been in the dining area, and she had not come to the throne room. Granted, he had been the one who had told her that her presence would not be needed today, given that they would be discussing the end-of-war celebrations. And she could opt out if she wanted to, but spirits above, he needed to see her! Just one look. At that moment, sitting behind the wall of flame, he regretted not opening the door earlier. Closing his eyes, Zuko inhaled deeply.

Get a hold of yourself, man!

The Sun was setting in the horizon when he walked into his chamber. He rolled his shoulders, trying to get rid of the niggle between his shoulders. He had, maybe an hour, before he needed to get to dining room and then to Izumi's room. He still hadn't seen Katara. It had been almost one whole day since he had seen her and longer still since he had held her. He needed her. Now.

Zuko buried his face in his hands, "Agni! What do I do?"

At that, he felt the now familiar tug behind his navel and whirled around. There she was, standing at the doorway connecting their chambers, with a smile on her face. Without thinking about how desperate he seemed or how she would see his actions, Zuko crossed the room and scooped her in his arms, kissing her with a bruising intensity. He held her against him, letting her essence drown him. Envelop him. Cocoon him.

Finally, when that aching need within him had eased, he pulled back to find her looking at him with a beautiful blush coloring her cheeks. He cupped her face and kissed her eyes, trailed his lips along her nose and brushed his lips against hers.

"Wow. And to what to I owe this beautiful greeting?" She asked with a smile as she draped her arms across his neck.

"I mi… I owed you an apology."

"Huh? Whatever for?"

"I got angry at you last night. Unfairly. You were trying to help me and I –"

She cut him off with a kiss on his lips. "No apology required. Certainly not after that greeting."

He pulled her closer, burying his head in the crook of her neck. "I'm going to stay with Izumi tonight as well."

"I know," she replied, her hand drawing small circles on his back. "I would have it no other way."

"And tomorrow, I will be with her to celebrate Mai's birthday."

"Yes, I know. You need to be there."

Zuko tightened his hold on Katara. "I… Thank you, Katara."