The next two months passed like water running down the stream. Ozi had progressed in school and was now taught how to read and write as well as how to play the Erhu. His progress had brought another habit forward as well, as Ozi would study for his homework only when Ozai was present while he would keep his music practice as an activity reserved for his mother. Neither Taeyang nor Ozai minded, but she still stayed in the same room when these two would study. On Ozai's part, this kid had brought forward his paternal instincts and although he did not agree with many of the things that he was taught in school, he did his best not to anger Ozi's mother out of fear of losing the privilege of their company. A fact that he did say to her one evening as he shared his opinion on some of the changes Zuko had implemented on their educational system. Taeyang had agreed and asked him to keep his opinions to himself as she did with her own to allow Ozi to form his own opinions.

It was the middle of winter when Ozai started to see a difference in Ozi's behaviour. He was sitting next to him trying to explain basic arithmetic but the child's mind was elsewhere. He felt ignored and raised his voice saying "What's the matter, Ozai? Why aren't you paying attention?" Taeyang turned and stared at him most severely and he regretted shouting but then Ozi turned to him with tears in his eyes and stunned Ozai who started asking all sorts of questions, "Did something happen to the school? Did someone say something to you? Why are you crying?"

"I don't want to go, mama. I want to θtay here."

"My sweet, I cannot do that and you know it."

"I can θtay with Lee. I don't even have to be in the houθe," the boy cried and she was about to cry herself.

"Why do you want to stay here?"

"Grandfather Lee alwayθ θnapθ at me," he said and she hugged him.

"My boy, we do not go there for your grandfather. We go to honour your father," she said and the boy left the room seeing that he was not able to convince her.

Ozai looked utterly lost. He had of course understood that something was wrong with this Grandfather Lee but other than that he was in the dark. His expression must have betrayed his thoughts so Taeyang started explaining the situation.

"When we learned that I was pregnant, we travelled to the ancestral home of my husband Suk-Chin in the Fire Nation to inform his parents. His father was not very pleased that I was from the colonies but Yu Dao was not just any colony so he was placated, especially after he learned that my father was also a man from the Fire Nation. When we told him that we would like to give his name, if the child was a boy, to honour him, he told us that 'There are a million Lee's' and if we wanted to honour him we would give our son a better name. So he chose yours since you had been recently coronated as well. I didn't like it but it is tradition so I didn't say anything. His parents would come regularly and since Ozi was their only grandchild Lee was showering him with presents, clothes, toys. Three years passed and your daughter came by the area and drafted every able bodied man for her assault to Ba Sing Se. Suk-Chin's parents were here and I asked Grandfather Lee in confidence to speak to one of his friends and somehow keep Suk -Chin from the front lines since he was a weaponsmith. He started yelling at me, in my house. My parents were also here and when they tried to intervene he humiliated me, saying that it should be an honour for every man of the Fire Nation to die fighting for Firelord Ozai's great cause, both trying to praise his son and dishonour my brother who had left for the Earth Kingdom a year earlier. And then… and then Suk-Chin died. And Grandfather Lee lost his only son to something that suddenly didn't seem so important in his eyes. And he started hating you, and your family and your name that he had given to my son, and my son for bearing it. And from a loving and generous grandfather he turned to someone that sends a card once a year on his birthday and who will snap at my son during the memorial because he is still in pain," she said and exhaled deeply. "I need to go to my son," she said and stood but he stopped her. "Would you let me?" he said and although she seemed reluctant he started moving towards his bedroom. "Wait," she said and he regarded her curiously. "Let me," he urged her and she nodded. They both approached Ozi's bedroom door and he knocked before entering.

Ozai approached the young boy and sat beside him on the bed. His eyes were still wet and he placed his hand on his shoulder before passing him a towel. "Don't cry, my boy," he said and embraced him. "I don't wanna go…"

"I know," he said "but you have to."

"Why?"

"At times like these, the family needs to stick together."

"But Grandfather Wu θaid that they don't count uθ aθ their family anymore."

"Ozai, you need to go to support your mother. Otherwise she will be there all alone. You don't want that, do you?"

"No," he said, understanding that he did have to go.

"Come on," Ozai said. "Go to your mother and then we'll gather your things."

"No arifemtic?"

"We will do that while gathering your things and it's called arithmetic. Let's go. On your feet," he said, picking him up and tossing him in the air before placing him down gently.

Ozi exited the bedroom and ran to his mother's arms. "I will come," he said and she kissed his forehead.

"Thank you," she said.

"Now I will pack my thingθ," he said and took Ozai by the hand, dragging him towards his room.

Taeyang gave him the bag and stood at the door frame, watching as Ozai was teaching him to add up to ten using his clothes while also deciding which ones he should be taking.

"How many days are you going to be there?"

"Six days," she said. "Two to go, two for the memorial and two to return," she said. "I will leave you food for the first two days but after that Jeong is going to come and help." Ozai wanted to refuse but he didn't want to burden her.

The next day, Taeyang spent most of her day in the kitchen, preparing food for the trip and Ozai. When Ozi returned from school he jumped up and down until they both sat down and he started playing the first song that he had learnt. They both clapped excitedly when he finished even though he had made several mistakes and then moved to eat lunch. The next day in the morning, after they had their breakfast, Taeyang and Ozi said their goodbyes with Ozi hugging Ozai. "Safe travels," he said as he passed him to his mother's arms.

"We will bring you fiθh when we come back," Ozi said and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you, Ozai. You are very considerate."

"Be careful," she said to him and he smiled at her. When the door closed and Ozai was left alone he felt the walls closing around him and retreated in his room to meditate. He spent a couple of hours and when he exited he saw that the guard was now inside the door. He looked at him curiously and the man straightened and said, "Now that Taeyang is away, there is no need for a front door guard and having one might cause suspicion."

"And the others?"

"They are patrolling the grounds. We will work in shifts."

Ozai nodded and moved to the kitchen, intending to eat but before he sat down he offered a stunned guard a plate of food. The guy, gracefully accepted the food, surprised that the ex-Firelord was so calm and considerate. He hadn't met him when he was the Firelord but he knew the tales. The first two days passed in relative silence for Ozai who had opted to read and meditate. On the morning of the third day this was bound to change. As he was having his morning tea, ignoring the guard that was staring at him as he ate, when another guard marched in through the garden door and delivered to him three letters and a small package. He could see that one of them was from Iroh for Taeyang so he placed it on the counter for her to find when they returned. He had also received a letter from his brother as well one from his son. While Iroh's letter was as always prompting him to do what he was already doing, Zuko's letter had come with a present, at least that's what Zuko considered it to be. Ozai read the letter and opened the package to reveal the Fire Prince's headpiece. Ozai didn't want this. This headpiece was a constant reminder of a life he was trying to forget and overcome. He placed it into his pocket and hid it in the chicken den when he completed his morning chores. Jeong arrived some time in the afternoon while Ozai was moving some logs from the stack into the house. He nodded at him and moved to clean his hands. "Taeyang has asked me to provide food and company," he said as he moved to the kitchen.

"I could have cooked something on my own," Ozai said as he rubbed a thick cream into his hands.

"You know how to cook?" Jeong asked, surprised. "I mean, you always had servants to tend to that, didn't you?"

Ozai didn't know if he was trying to insult him again and so he ignored the question. "What are you cooking then?" he asked.

"Rice."

Ozai helped him with the locations of the utensils and ingredients and soon enough the food was ready. Jeong sprinkled their plates with fire flakes and motioned for the guard to join them but he declined. Jeong was in the mood for talking and so Ozai learnt from him not only about his current work as a teacher but also about his past and why he decided to desert the Fire Nation.

"But now you're back to teaching firebending," Ozai said softly.

"To children," he said. "It is easier to shape them into properly understanding fire."

"Not like soldiers," Ozai continued.

"No, not like soldiers. How about you? I was told that you were the only one able to generate lightning with two hands," Jeong said.

"I think I will retire," Ozai said and left the room leaving him alone.

"Yotai!" Jeong exclaimed, making Ozai turn.

"What's yotai?" he asked, thinking he was trying to insult him when the guard appeared from behind him. "I'm Yotai," he said quietly, bowing.

Ozai turned on his heel and moved to his room. He was burning. He couldn't stand this man. It was as if he was teasing him on purpose. He felt his fire, trapped inside his chest swirling, raging to be released and removed his robes before lying on the floor. It was warm and it didn't help him but he breathed deeply and started meditating. It was only the third day without Ozi and Taeyang and he missed them horribly, or perhaps it was this hideous man that Taeyang had employed in her absence. He tried to relax. Zuko's letter had been clear. If everything went as Zuko expected, Ozai would be moved back to the Palace to act as his counselor. How would he do that? It had only been three days and their absence was tearing him apart.

The next day, Jeong arrived and pulled Yotai inside the kitchen. "I am making a special plate. Tell me what sauce you like," he said and regretted it immediately as Ozai said hot chilli, Yotai said sweet and sour and he liked sweet chilli. He sent them away and Ozai exited to the garden to gather some vegetables for him before he returned and sat in the living room but when the food was served he almost choked. It was sickly sweet and he wanted to toss it to the chickens. Yotai on the other hand did choke and spit the food out reaching for the water.

"Agni that's hot!" he exclaimed and Ozai looked at him curiously.

"Let me try that," Jeong said and took a bit off Yotai's plate. In the end they realised that they all had the wrong plate and Jeong started rearranging them. After they finished eating, Ozai, wanting to give this man a second try, invited him to a game of Pai Sho.

"You do play, right?" he asked him, sure about the answer.

"I do but… Your brother advised me not to play against you because you're a sore loser." It was at this point that Ozai realized that this was his brother's doing. His brother had advised Jeong what to say to Ozai but instead of Iroh's warm demeanour, Jeong's seriousness made every sentence an insult.

"Your insults are not as flavorful as my brother's. Try again tomorrow," he said and left for his room.

During this day's meditation he felt as if he was flowing, not flying, just flowing like water through a pipe. Is that the spirit world? He wondered. He saw himself as part of a tree whose vines extended to reach Iroh, Zuko, and Taeyang with Ozi. It was as if he could see what they were doing at that specific time and he smiled seeing Taeyang hugging her son gently and Iroh brewing tea. Zuko on the other hand was apparently listening to a report so he ignored his son's bored expression. He focused more and the vines extended more to find Azula, Ursa, Zhao and Aang who was sitting with a water tribe girl. He was curious. Most of them were doing normal, everyday things apart from Aang who seemed to have realised that something was off. He tried to retreat but it was as if he was tied by an invisible rope around his ankle.

"Who's here?" Aang's voice sounded from behind him. He turned to see the boy in his avatar state and tensed.

"It is I…" he said quietly and Aang seemed surprised yet relaxed visibly as his tattoos and eyes stopped glowing. "What's happening?"

"You are in the spirit world and you've found how to connect to others. That means you're about to open the sixth chakra. You've come a long way."

"How is that possible? I thought you were the only one able to enter the spirit world."

"No, everyone can do it if they try hard enough. But that's not important now. You are about to open the sixth chakra. Then only one will remain," Aang said cryptically. "But it's time for you to leave now. You need to concentrate on what you've seen here are all connected." he said and Ozai felt as if someone was tugging the invisible rope, pulling him away from the scene.

"What happens when they open?" he shouted at Aang who was still watching him but had returned to his Avatar state.

"You'll see.." came his answer before he opened his eyes.

Ozai returned to his body suddenly and coughed as if he had been free falling.

We are all connected. We are all connected. What does that mean?

He spent the rest of the day in silent contemplation trying to figure out what he had seen in the spirit world.

The next day, when Jeong arrived, Ozai had already prepared a hot pot for them and the older man sat down not knowing what to say. The table was set and for the first time Jeong saw that there was also sake. A thing that he appreciated. They ate and drank and by the time the guards came in for their lunch break Jeong had started singing. He stopped however as one of the guards yelled at him and it was Ozai who had to restrain him lest he burnt the house down. "Ugh, you young people… You don't have an ear for music," he mumbled.

"We'd rather chop them off," the young guard had said pointing to his ears and making Jeong seathe in his drunken state until Ozai started playing his pipa. Half an hour later, all three guards had found themselves near the fireplace, listening to the music while Jeong snored quietly lying on the couch.

When he woke up, Ozai had stopped playing and was sitting near the fireplace alone, reading a book. He looked around a bit lost and stood.

"That sake was very strong… Went straight to my head," he said, his speech still slurred.

"Would you like some tea?" Ozai asked as he closed the book and turned to him. They moved to the kitchen and Jeong sat after lighting the fire with his bending.

"We could make chicken on the spit tomorrow! That would be a delicacy," Jeong exclaimed and Ozai looked at him strangely.

"I am not going to kill a chicken for you. It's part of their livestock," he said.

"Right…I don't think Taeyang would mind," Jeong said.

"If you want you can go kill and clean it yourself," Ozai said.

"Aha! Feeling bad for the chicken?"

"Have you forgotten to whom you're speaking? "

"Never!" Jeong said still a bit tipsy.

"Besides, they'll be back tomorrow…"

"Don't change the subject, we were talking about the chicken..."

"Oh dear… Here we go…" he said pushing the cup in front of Jeong.

"Ugh, how can a brother of Iroh make such tasteless tea…" Jeong said and Ozai rolled his eyes.

"Well, he made tea and I made lightning," he said.

"How?" Jeong asked and Ozai exhaled deeply before realising that Jeong was actually staring at him.

"Seriously?" he asked and Jeong nodded. He took a paper and started stroking the brush. "You separate the energies and when they come back together you direct them," he said softly, almost lovingly as he sketched the circular movement of the hands on a paper, much like it would be shown on a bending scroll. "You need peace of mind and absence of emotion. Any turmoil in your heart, any doubt at all and it will explode in your face," he said, passing him the paper.

"Just that?"

"Just that," he said."How come you haven't asked my brother?"

"It never came up," Jeong said but he failed to hide his blush. Was he embarrassed?

When Jeong left Ozai returned to his meditation. He followed the now familiar path and sure enough was swept away into the spirit world. There he relaxed completely as if floating until tangled images came to him. He felt as if he was spinning and tried to locate the only person that had ever loved him, his mother Ilah but no matter how deep he dived he couldn't find her until he was fished out of the water and tossed on the hard ground. He landed with a thump but jumped up and acquired a defensive posture as soon as he registered someone's presence. Aang was there but he looked sad.

"Not everyone chooses to remain in the spirit world, some choose to continue their journeys," the voice of the boy sounded and he sat.

"What do you want?" Ozai asked but in his mind he wanted to leave this place. "Why are you here?"

"You need to relax," Aang said.

"I will when you leave," Ozai said and turned his back on Aang.

"Is it because you blame me for losing?" Aang asked and he turned towards him abruptly. He was furious with Aang but stilled when he came face to face with Roku.

"Who are y...? Avatar Roku?"

"Is it my younger face that angers you?"

"I… No…" he said and sat down feeling defeated.

"In here you will meditate until you open your sixth chakra. I will stay with you and observe," Roku said, somewhat tensely. Roku was not particularly fond of any of Sozin's kin, least of all this child before him that had followed his grandfather's footsteps with almost ardent devotion but Aang was adamant and it was his time and ultimately his decision so he stood by silently as the man before him opened his chakras one by one until he reached the fifth where he stopped.

"I don't know how you came this far without guidance," Roku said but the pained expression in Ozai's face didn't leave much room for doubt and beckoned him to close his eyes again.

"The sixth chakra is blocked by illusion. Not only the illusion of separation but also the illusion of control and you need to free yourself from those."

"Illusion?"

"Yes… Separation is an illusion. We are all connected. We are all one. It was this and only this idea that kept me from killing your grandfather because in his heart, he meant well but the way to hell is paved with good intentions. In the end I was wrong but that's not the point now. Anyway… As for the illusion of control, you've seen first hand how controlling others plays out. Had you had proper guidance instead of control, you wouldn't be here at all."

Ozai felt his body go numb as the sixth chakra opened and he exited the spirit world but then it stretched to the point that he felt he could see everyone again. Zuko was well, finally coming to his own. Azula had healed but was still struggling with her emotions. His brother felt as warm as the sun and Ozi felt as bright. His mind turned to Taeyang, steady as a rock but with a smoldering fire in her heart, threatening to burst and turn everything to embers in an instant. He missed them. He missed them all but most of all Taeyang and Ozi. They had become a lifeline for him when no one else would. He exhaled deeply, leaving a loud sigh escape him but then he felt a sharp, poking sensation to the face. Something he had never felt before. It was repetitive and he was forced to open his eyes. He came face to face with Jeong who had moved much too close for his liking and was asking the guard on the door. "Is he dead?"

"I am still alive," he said loudly and Jeong jumped away as if he had shocked him.

"Well, don't blame me, I came for lunch, killed the chicken and all and the guards told me that you didn't even offer them breakfast," Jeong said.

"You killed their chicken?"

"Get up, let's eat."

"I don't want to eat. Take the chicken and eat it with the others. Just be sure you're gone before they return."

"I made enough for them as well…" Jeong said.

"Just how many of their chickens did you kill?"

"None, I brought them from the village," he said and pointed to the garden where the two chickens were now resting on the spit.

"Eat and go," he said, imperiously and turned towards his room. He started cleaning the house as soon as Jeong left and took a bath when he was done. He entered the kitchen. There was a whole chicken left from Jeong's feast and so he started steaming some rice. It was already past lunchtime and he was getting really hungry so he indulged in some dried nuts from the garden, tossing the shells into the fire. He heard the door open but before he had the chance to approach, Ozi ran up to him and jumped in his arms.

"Welcome back, Ozai," he said softly, placing a kiss on his forehead.

"Thank you! We brought you θome fiθh but mama θaid it iθ for tomorrow," he said and Ozai smiled at him before turning towards the door. Taeyang was carrying all of their stuff and he put Ozi down before helping her inside.

"Welcome back," he said and closed her into his arms in a small embrace as she said.

"Home, sweet home. How are you?" she asked him as she started unpacking.

"I missed you both very much," he said as Ozi came up to him and offered him some fire flakes.

"There is food ready, if you're hungry."

"Ozi! Stop eating fire flakes and go set the table until I unpack," she said to her son who ran to the kitchen. She unpacked their clothes before approaching Ozai who was helping in the kitchen and offered him a package.

"This is for you, from the capital," she said, smiling and he accepted the gift.

"For me?" he asked, surprised and she nodded.

"And this is from Ozi," she said as she passed him a second, smaller box.

Ozai felt a bit overwhelmed and hugged her tightly making her yelp before Ozi also joined them.

"Thank you," he said, picking the boy up. "But your return would have been enough for me."

"We missed you as well," she said."Go on, open them!" she prompted and he opened Ozi's gift first that contained a cream for his hands. It smelled of roses and as soon as he saw the box he realised that this would have been a very expensive gift. This was a product he regularly used as a Firelord and he looked at them questioningly before opening the second box. Inside he found two armbands, one leather for the wrist and one gold!? Exactly how wealthy were they that they could afford getting him gifts like that? This was one of the questions that came in his mind but then Taeyang spoke and he forgot all about asking. "Ozi was itching to tell his relatives about you but we couldn't risk it so we would spend a few minutes every day before bed talking about you in private," she said as she started serving the food. She saw the grilled chicken and looked at him with a questioning expression.

"Jeong brought them from the village," he smiled.

"Why? We have chickens in the den…" she said but he waved her off.

They ate and Taeyang helped Ozi shower before she cleaned herself. They gathered near the fireplace to dry their hair and Ozi was telling Ozai about the things that he had liked in the capital.

"The θizzel criθpθ were the beθt, I aθked mama if we could bring some here but θhe θaid no becauθe they would θpoil," he said and Ozai picked him in his arms, squeezing him lightly.

"θee?" he said, turning to his mother. "You can θqueez, without pinθhing."

"How did it go with your grandfather?" Ozai asked with a kind expression on his face but Taeyang's sad smile was enough of an answer. Ozi's face contorted and Ozai placed an encouraging hand on his shoulder. The young boy buried his face on his chest and said quietly.

"He θaid that Aang iθ not a good avatar becauθe he let you go and Zuko iθ not a good Firelord becauθe he iθ juθt a kid."

"And what do you think?" Ozai asked, surprising Taeyang who had also asked this question of her son.

"I like both of them," Ozi said and relaxed in Ozai's arms until he fell asleep. Taeyang finished brushing her hair that glistened under the light of the dancing flames as she talked with Ozai quietly. "The journey was uneventful, thankfully. At this point both the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation have stakes on this land so they try extra hard to be seen as the good guys."

"Zuko must be decisive, otherwise he will lose the colony," Ozai said with a pondering expression on his face.

"We, the people that is, have already petitioned for a joint administration," she said softly and he smiled.

"That would mean both the taxes for you," he said.

"Yes, but if both establishments agreed in halving the taxes in the colonies then we wouldn't have any intention of moving away and we would help both of them."

"It is true that the areas where all nations gather together are showing great prosperity," he agreed.

"Of course they are, we are all trying for the best without being limited by the norms of each nation."

"Some would say that it is those norms that define them," he said. A valid statement on his part concerning his past, yet Taeyang knew from his inflection that he did not include himself in this group.

"Only by drawing wisdom from the other nations, will we be able to move forward. Otherwise we become rigid," she said softly as he hummed in stochastic contemplation. Ozi turned in his arms and he instinctively tightened around the boy who rubbed his face on his robe and mumbled "Papa," drowsily. Taeyang tensed and stood.

"I am sorry. Let me take him," she said but he waved her away.

"It's alright," he said as he stood with the child still in his arms who cooed. "Too young…" Ozai said softly. "He is too young to be missing a parent." They moved to Ozi's bedroom and Ozai placed him gently into his bed. "Didn't you lose your mother at his age?" Taeyang asked but he shook his head.

"I was nine."

"Yes, of course… A full grown adult," she said sarcastically and he scoffed.

"It wasn't easy but then again losing a parent never is," he said as he covered Ozi with the blankets. "I've never done that before," he admitted and she looked at him curiously. "I was not allowed…" Taeyang nodded as she led him out of the room. "I wish I could turn back time…" he said.

"That would be an excellent power… Time bending…" she said, smiling but her mind had already imagined being able to turn back time. She would have thought that reaching a point when Suk-Chin was alive would have been enough but after seeing the difference between Firelord Ozai and Ozai as he was now she wanted to turn back time even more and prevent all this destruction. She shook herself away from her reverie and turned to him.

"I never thanked you for the gifts," he said.

"Think nothing of it," she said as she stood to retire.

"How could I do that? You are a farmer. These gifts are far more expensive than you should be able to afford."

"Is that what you think? That I am a farmer?" she said and he stilled. Agni! Was she a spy? Was she someone that they had planted next to him and told him that was a mere farmer to see how he would react?

"Who are you?" he asked icily.

"I am the land owner," she said. "This island, the whole island, is my property," she said and he gaped at her.

"Then why did you pretend to be a farmer?"

"I enjoy working with plants more than I do with people. The plants are easy, you water them and take care of them and they will give you back their fruit. People are… messy," she could see that the revelation was not helping him and she prompted him to rest.

"You could work less," he said.

"I could but I won't. I know what I like from my life," she said. "Do you?"

"I didn't when I first came here, but I do now," he said softly and moved closer to her.

"And what is it?" she asked but then tensed. "Sorry, that's personal," she said, stepping away from him. "I should really go to sleep. I've had a very long day…"

The next day, both Taeyang and Ozi slept for more than what was normal for them. Ozai prepared the breakfast and boiled the water for tea but ended up pacing up and down in the kitchen until the other two woke up. He used some of the cream they had brought him and the smell of roses filled the room. Ozi exited his room first and ran up to him, smiling.

"Good morning miθter Ozai," he said and sat next to him. "Did you make roθe paθtieθ?" he asked, astounded but frowned when Ozai shook his head.

"It's your gift," he said as he leaned in and Ozi sniffed him.

"Ooh, mama!" he said loudly when Taeyang entered the kitchen and she approached him. "The cream we brought miθter Ozai θmellθ like roθe paθtieθ, can you make θome?"

"Rose pasties, eh?" she said as she approached and sniffed the air around him. "I think you're right…I can make some for dessert," Taeyang said smiling.

"Can I go to θee Lee now?"

"Not yet," she said.

"I promiθed Lee to help him with hiθ maθk," Ozi said and she laughed.

"The festival is more than 2 months," she said but he waved her off. "Besides, Lee's probably still at school. You can go in the evening," she said.

"What am I θuppoθed to do all day?"

"You can come with me to the fields if you want, I need to check some of the crops."

"Mama, I am tired," Ozi complained and Ozai took the opportunity and volunteered.

"Oh, if he's tired, we should leave him rest. I will come with you," he said, making Ozi glare because he now wanted to join them.

About an hour past their breakfast, Taeyang took a small basket and some tools and they left the house for the fields. Their walk took about three hours but at some point they started talking.

"What kind of festival is it, the one that Ozai wishes to go to?"

"The local spring festival," she said. "And there was never a question of whether he would go, rather when he would start preparing for it," she smiled and entered the next field, inspecting the crops. The soil was wet and she wouldn't have to carry any from the nearby stream. They reached one of the fields that had been left fallow for the soil to rest and she moved inside taking note of the work that would have to be done in order to prepare it for the next season.

"Don't worry," she said as she saw his expression, "I'll be the one preparing this one," she smiled.

"I don't mind helping," he said.

"Only if you're in need of exercise," she countered. "Using my bending will be faster for me."

They stopped and gathered some potatoes, taro and pears before they took the way home.

When they returned home, Ozi was waiting for them in the kitchen. Taeyang kissed him and passed him a pear as soon as she washed it. Taeyang set to prepare the food while the other two talked. She cooked the rose pasties first and had to chase Ozi away lest he ate dessert before lunch. The second time Ozi attempted to steal one of the pasties, it was Ozai who apprehended him. He snatched him and lifted him in the air making him giggle and scream in excitement. After they ate, Ozi was still very much awake and Taeyang took him in his room to make him rest. When she closed the door, however, Ozi's demeanour changed dramatically as he took her by the hand.

"Mama, there iθ θomething you muθt θee," he whispered.

"And what that might be?"

"I found θomething in the cθhicken den," he said and presented her with the Fire Prince's headpiece. Taeyang froze as she took it in her hands.

"Did miθter Ozai put it there?" Ozi asked.

"Probably. I don't see how anyone else could be in possession of this," she said.

She placed it in its box that was luckily not dirty and tried to put Ozi to sleep.

"Why?"

"Perhaps he wanted to hide it so no one would find it," she said.

"But why?"

"Because it's very important for him," she said.

"But why in the chicken den?"

"Probably because he was the one tending to it until today? Anyway, I'll take it and hide it properly," she said before tucking her son in. She was about to confront Ozai but he had retreated in his room and after she placed the box in the office, she retired as well.

In his room, Ozi waited until he heard his mother enter her room. He waited for a bit longer and then he exited his room and tiptoed softly towards Ozai's room and knocked on his door. Ozai opened the door wearing a simple dark red robe. He seemed surprised to see Ozi and knelt down.

"Ozai? Something happened? Is everything alright?"

"θhhh...Not θo loud!" the kid said and he nodded. "I know what you did in the cθicken den," he said and ran away, leaving Ozai gaping at him. The same afternoon, Taeyang showed him where in her office she had hidden his headpiece and finally everything clicked together. "You know… The chicken den was not a bad idea but I imagine Zuko would like you to wear it at some point, and what a sensation it would be if it smelled like the chicken den" she said laughing and he blushed.