Sorry for not updating last week, life was being a B. Things are a little better now, thankfully. But yes, writing isn't really happening as such. But I am pushing through. Hopefully, I'll get back to the quick updates again.

As for updates regarding my other fics, I'm hoping to update Subterfuge by Saturday. Not sure about Sleepless in Ba Sing Se, will update it when I can. Also, just to let you know, I'll be taking part in Zutara Week this year, which will be from 26th July to 1st August. Expect daily updates then.
Thank you so much for all the love and support you have given me. This story is soon coming to an end. Not much left.

As usual, read and review. Your reviews make me smile. Thanks a bunch. LOVE YOU!

Chapter 35

Katara looked at the parchment, chewing her lips as she tried to understand what she was reading. She made a note on her parchment to get back to the point that was confusing her. Sometimes talking the point over with the members of the council or Zuko helped. She moved on to the next point, reading through it when someone knocked on her door.

"Come in," she said without looking up.

The door opened and Bumi peeked in. "Mom? Can I talk to you?"

Katara put her quill down and nodded. "Sure. Come in."

Bumi walked in, slowly. He approached her and settled down next to her. "Mom, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, baby. What's up?"

"Today… today he came to talk to me," Bumi said slowly.

"You mean, Zuko?"

Bumi nodded. "Yes. He told me, that to be a warrior, all I need is a warrior's heart. I don't need to be a bender."

"He is right," Katara said. "You know, there was a boy I knew a while back, named Teo. His legs were damaged. He couldn't walk. Do you know what he used to do? He used to fly."

"Huh? He was an Air Bender?"

"No," Katara said. "His father was a mechanist. Like Uncle Sokka. And he made gliders for Teo. That he couldn't walk was never an issue for Teo. He never let that get in the way of his life."

Bumi nodded, "He said the same thing. That it doesn't matter if I'm a bender or a non-bender."

"That's true."

"Then why did dad hate me, mom? Why did he not like that I'm not a bender?"

Katara opened her mouth, feeling a sob threatening to break through. She pulled her son to her, not knowing what to say to the little boy. How could she tell him that Aang did not believe that Bumi was his son? That him not being a bender was the reason he suspected that Bumi was Zuko's son?

"Bumi," she said, trying to make sure that he didn't see her tears. "Your father was the Avatar. He was also the last Air Bender. He wanted to repopulate the Air Benders. He felt like it was his job, you know? That was all. That's what it was. Your father didn't hate you, Bumi. Never think that, okay? I love you, my baby. We all love you. Don't you doubt it, okay?"

Bumi nodded, "Mom, he… fatherlord… he's a nice man. I like him."

Katara lay a kiss on her forehead. "He is."

Bumi wiped his tears and said, "I called him dad today… didn't mean to. It just slipped out. But… I don't know if I can keep calling him that."

Knowing that Zuko had always wanted a son, Katara could only imagine how he would have felt hearing that. "Bumi, I'm sure he understands. He'll be okay if you still called him fatherlord. You don't have to call him dad if you don't want to."

"You're sure?"

"Yes," Katara said.

"You look so pretty," Katara said as she put the hairpin into Izumi's hair. "I love your hair."

"Really?" Izumi looked up at her with wide eyes. "I always thought my hair is rather straight and dull."

"And what is wrong with straight hair?" Katara asked, threading flowers on her hair. She tugged on a strand of hair, lining it along her cheek. "There, little princess."

"I'm not so little," Izumi retorted and stood up to examine herself in the mirror. "See, I look so grown up."

"That you do!" Katara said, smiling at the girl. She was dressed in a red-one shoulder top and a black skirt, with swathes of golden clothes draped on her body. With her hair done up in an elaborate style, she looked every bit the crown princess.

"Can I ask you something?" Izumi said.

"Sure."

"For Kya, my father has been dad from the beginning. Bumi too has sort of accepted him. But… I don't call you anything. Does that hurt you?"

Katara shook her head. "Can I tell you something, Izumi?"

"Yes?"

"I was six when my mother died. My grandmother was the one who brought me up after that. Even then, she was my grandmother. I never thought she was my mother. She never could be. So yes, I understand. I don't mind."

"Thank you."

"Ready for the festival?" Katara asked.

"Let's go."

As the two went along the corridor, they found Zuko, Bumi, and Kya waiting for them.

"Kya!" Katara sighed. "What have you done to your hair? I spent half an hour putting that together."

"Look, mommy," Kya said holding up a wooden rattle. "Grandpa Iroh gave this. He said it was his son's. He gave Bumi a horse."

Katara's jaw dropped and she shared a quick glance with Zuko. If that rattle belonged to Lu Ten, then…

"Oh hello, I see I'm late," Iroh's voice interrupted Katara's thoughts. She turned to find the old man walking towards them. "Are we all set?"

"Yes, let's go," Zuko said, leading the way.

As they filed out of the corridor, Katara hung back for a moment and moved next to Iroh. "Uncle, thank you for giving Kya the rattle. I can only imagine what it must mean for you."

Iroh smiled, "Having these children here, it's been very enjoyable. I have loved every moment of it. This was just a little thing. A small gift for today. I have something for you too. Remind me to give it to you later today."

"Oh, Uncle, you don't have to."

Iroh waved off her objection. "If you're going to call me Uncle, I'm going to pamper you. You'll just have to deal with it."

Katara could only laugh.

Something was not right. Truth be told, Iroh had suspected something was off from the moment Sokka had stepped into the courthouse, begging for Zuko's help. Knowing that Katara had been charged with adultery, with Zuko no less, had only reinforced his belief. While Zuko was headed to the North Pole, Iroh had taken hours upon hours to pour over the scrolls of Water Tribe history that they had in the library. Upon receiving the news that Zuko had married Katara in the North Pole, Iroh's joy had known no bounds.

Zuko would never admit it because his honor got in the way, but a part of him had always loved Katara. Iroh had not missed the look of longing he had seen on his nephew's face when they had come to Ba Sing Se before Sozin's comet. A look he had spotted on Katara's face as well when Zuko had not been looking. But Zuko, being the honorable young man that he was, would never make a move on Katara because she was meant to be with Avatar Aang. Somehow, he had convinced himself that his feelings were nothing more than an infatuation. That is not to say that he did not love Mai, he did. Which is why he had been perfectly content accepting Mai as his wife. Yet, his feelings for Katara had never quite died. He had just buried them deep down because even the thought of it would have been dishonorable. Thus, when he had married Katara, Iroh had prayed to Agni that Zuko would finally understand and accept that he loved that woman.

But when Katara had walked into the Palace, Iroh was left aghast. Her appearance had been downright nightmarish. She was skittish and wary. In fact, if he were to hazard a guess, he would have said that she was terrified of something. Zuko's question about Aang's untimely death had sparked a nasty thought in Iroh's mind. Something he loathed to even think, but the parallels between Avatar Aang and Avatar Mayung had been too stark to ignore.

Slowly, with patience and steady support, Iroh had watched his nephew chip through her defenses and brought the real Katara out, and he could not be prouder of Zuko. Seeing Katara recovering, Iroh had decided to bury his troubling thoughts. But then, Sokka had said something that awoke the questions anew. Katara was not wearing Aang's necklace. The things Zuko screamed at Sokka only reinforced Iroh's doubts.

Doubts which were now getting reconfirmed. They were seated at the podium, watching the End of War Anniversary festival. In front of them, artists were reenacting the war. This was a reenactment Iroh had seen many times and had enjoyed it every year. But this time, his eyes were fixed on Katara. The woman was watching the proceedings, getting paler and paler with every passing minute. Her breath was coming out in short, irregular gasps. As Iroh watched, Zuko grabbed her hand, running his thumb over her knuckles. Beads of sweat lined her upper lip and her eyes were wide, glimmering with unshed tears.

Sokka may have been dead wrong about Katara and Zuko having an affair, but he was right about one thing. Katara was hiding something, and Iroh had a shrewd suspicion what.

Somehow, for some reason, somewhere down the line, Avatar Aang had followed the footsteps of Avatar Mayung.