Two weeks after the memorial, Ozai caught Taeyang in the kitchen trying to hide something on the top cupboard. He appeared behind her silently and made her yelp and raise the floor in terror before she realised what had happened. Ozai burst into uncontrollable laughter before he placed his hands on her waist and helped her down the low ladder safely.

"And what were you doing up there? Hiding something from me?"

"No, not from you, from Ozi…" she confessed. "His birthday is next Friday and I have to hide everything from him, otherwise he will not stop talking about it."

"What are you planning?" he asked her and she started telling him of the party she had organised. "I have planned a feast during lunch time for his friends and their parents in the front yard where they can run around and play and in the afternoon we will have a smaller celebration with you. I was hiding his gifts from his grandparents and your brother," she said.

"That sounds nice. What are you going to get him?" he asked and she smiled.

"He has repeatedly asked me for a pet. At some point he named all the chicken and hens and then he was heartbroken when I told him the difference between livestock and pets."

"A pet?"

"Why do you sound so surprised? You never had one?"

"We had turtleducks in the pond," he said.

"I was thinking something like a dog," she said.

"Next Friday, eh?" he said and stroked his beard. Taeyang laughed and pointed at the movement. "Please don't do that… That's something my father in law does and you aren't nearly old enough," she said and he stopped.

The day of Ozi's birthday woke him up with kisses and hugs and he giggled uncontrollably. She passed him the presents from his grandparents, uncles and a few family friends but told him that he would get hers in the afternoon. He did open the other presents that included clothes, toys and two fairy tale books. He had a special breakfast and was delighted when Ozai presented him with a handmade kite.

"Oh! That'θ θo cool! Mama can I take it to θchool to play?" he asked.

"You'll play with it after school," she said and placed the kite on his desk.

Taeyang prepared the food for the feast and by the time Ozi finished with his classes a small festival was organised in her front yard with about 15 kids running around flying the kite while the parents passed and wished to Ozi. They cut the cake and let the kids play under Taeyang's watchful eye until the sun started to set and they left to rest. Ozi was very happy with how the day had gone. He laid on the couch while his mother cleaned the front yard. Ozai joined him and started playing music for him until Ozi fell asleep. He covered him with a light blanket and went into the kitchen to brew some tea. When Taeyang returned inside he passed her a cup and they drank their tea in complete silence.

"How about you get a nap as well?" he whispered and she nodded. She moved towards the couch and pulled Ozi in her arms before falling asleep as well. Ozai covered them with the blanket and brushed a strand of hair out of her face.

"Agni save me," he whispered and sighed with a smile on his lips before moving outside to feed the puppy. They slept for less than an hour and when they woke, Ozai had lit several small lanterns making their garden look as if it had come out of a fairy tale.

"Oh, thiθ lookθ like the θpirit world!" Ozi said and he hugged the older man.

"Thank you, it looks beautiful," Taeyang whispered and he nodded."And now for your present," Taeyang said as she exited to the garden and walked towards the edge. "So I've seen how you wanted to befriend the fire ferret, but they eat chicken and it would be an unnecessary risk," she said and paused for effect, "so… I asked one of the stock breeders if they had any and got you him," she said as she presented the little black and white puppy behind her back.

Ozi jumped towards the little dog and practically started weeping with joy as she placed it on the floor and it started running around. He took his puppy in his arms and started petting him softly.

"I will be helping you, of course, but he is yours to train and care for so you can name him," Taeyang said.

"I will call him Yon!" he exclaimed and squeezed the dog lightly making the adults tense momentarily. They played games, music and surprisingly danced, dragging an awkward Ozai with them until the day came to an end and Taeyang begrudgingly allowed the dog inside Ozi's room.

"Fine but if he makes his business in there, you'll clean it," she said to her son and he nodded.

"Seven years old… It seems like yesterday when I held him for the first time yet all the incidents of the past years feel like an eternity ago. How's that even possible?" she asked while sitting next to Ozai. It was a philosophical question and he brought her hand to his lips instead of answering. "I wish you live a long and prosperous life and see your son grow and make a family as happy as you feel right now," he said and she smiled.

"Thank you," she said and blushed deeply before she retreated to her room as well.

Two calm months after that day, Taeyang's and Ozai's mornings were occupied with sowing the fallows with the new crops while their late evenings were filled with quieter work that included crafting, cooking, reading or playing the music. It was the first month of spring and although the temperatures were still low, the sun was shining brighter and Ozai was feeling better and better. His meditation was a daily activity but didn't show any more dramatic effects and he felt calmer. Ozi was now a daily part of his life too as they would train together along with Taeyang as well as study. It was a morning and they were taking their breakfast. Ozi had already left for school but Taeyang was reading her letters. The one from Zuko informed her of his imminent arrival at some point during the week as well as his wish to keep this information from Ozai in order to surprise him. She did not approve but obeyed his request.

That week was the last week before the big local festival and Ozi was getting too excited. His mother had helped him make four different clay masks that he had painted and he was now trying to decide which one he would keep for himself and which would be given to the others including his friend Lee.

"I think mama θhould take the fox maθk because it'θ the moθt girly," he said one afternoon to Ozai who was stretching to prepare his muscles for their upcoming training. Ozai turned and looked at the boy that had scattered the masks all over the garden table.

"What are you going to give your friend then?" he asked him and he looked troubled.

"The θmiley one, and I will get the fiery one…"

"Does that leave me with the grumpy one? Am I grumpy?" he asked, smiling devilishly and lunged towards Ozi who took the hint and tried to evade him. The young boy started running around screaming in excitement, entering inside the house and moving towards his mother for 'protection' but then turned and pretended to fire bend on Ozai who in turn pretended to fall down wounded before he picked Ozi up and tossed him in the air. Taeyang was watching them from the side of the room and it would have been a very sweet sight if not for the awkwardness of Zuko standing there as well, speechless.

"Erm… We have a visitor," she announced and Ozi jumped up shouting "Zuko!" making Ozai smile and stand as well. He smoothed his robes and welcomed his son in a manner Zuko had never seen before and they embraced for the first time in years.

"How are you my son?" he asked but the new Firelord was distracted by Ozi who jumped up and down.

"Zuko, are you going to θtay? Are you coming to the feθtival tomorrow?" Ozi asked him and Zuko moved towards the door motioning for a guard to bring him his baggage inside.

"I am going to stay for a few days but I'm not coming to the festival," he said to the child and then turned to his father. "Azula is dead."

The shock and pain in Ozai's face was not the worst part of the moment that unfolded before them. As Ozai's knees buckled and he sat on the chair, Taeyang ran to him, placing an encouraging hand on his shoulder asking Zuko "Are you insane? Is that the way to tell someone that their child is dead?" While Ozi, not realising exactly what had happened, was pulling Zuko's sleeve asking "Who is Azula? Iθ that your θiθter? Waθ that the girl with the white face and red eyeθ?"

"Ozi, can you bring me some water?" Taeyang said, trying to support Ozai who had fallen into shock. He drank the water but it tasted bitter and he retired into his room feigning illness.

"Zuko…" Taeyang said as soon as the door had closed.

"I was certain that all these months he was just pretending…"

"Your uncle had the same idea and sent Jeong along," she said and he nodded.

"I know and after that he changed his mind. I guess I needed some more time to come to terms with it but seeing him playing like this…"

"Playing was what changed your mind? He almost fainted! You could have lost him as well..."

"Hm… I… may have underestimated the effects of the news," he said and picked up Ozi who was looking more upset as time passed. Futile were the efforts of both Taeyang and Zuko to take the news off the other two's minds and yet for Ozai it was expected since he was Azula's father but Taeyang could not fathom what had upset Ozi so much. When dinner time arrived Ozai refused to eat with them. His eyes were hollow and Taeyang's heart ached to see him so hurt.

"Should I call Zuko?" she had asked him when he had refused to eat in his room as well.

"No."

"As you wish, but if at any point you need anything, just tell me," she said and closed the door softly.

As Teayang and Zuko talked about Azula and Ozai, Ozi took Yon and retired to his room. Yon started to bark as always when Ozi went to bed and Taeyang took Zuko for a walk around the garden that his father had been maintaining for a good six months now. Meanwhile, Ozi left his room, locking Yon inside and ran silently to Ozai's door. He knocked and waited but when he didn't hear a response he knocked again and opened the door slowly.

"Miθter Ozai? Are you alright?" he said as he entered his bedroom and Ozai turned and looked at him. He smiled sadly at the young boy and Ozi sat on the bed. He passed him an amulet with a talisman hanging from the side and waited for Ozai to inspect it before he spoke.

"Why are you giving me this?" he asked, seeing that it was a remembrance amulet.

"When papa died, I couldn't… I mean, I am θtill θad that papa is gone," he said. His voice was breaking and Ozai understood that this was a difficult discussion for him but he had chosen to have it with him. "θo, mama made thiθ for when I got θad...θo I am giving it to you now becauθe I don't want you to be θad."

"Come here," Ozai said and hugged him. "Thank you, Ozai," he said as he placed a soft kiss on his head and exhaled deeply. "Are you sure you want to give me this?" he asked genuinely but Ozi nodded.

"Mama θayθ that when you love θomeone and remember them, they are alwayθ with you."

"Come on, let's go," Ozai said, placing the talisman on his nightstand and lifted Ozi, letting him sit on his shoulders. They exited to the kitchen but it was empty and Ozi shouted to get his mother's attention. Taeyang entered the house as Ozai was putting Ozi down. She offered him some tea and snacks and took her son away both to make him rest and leave Ozai alone with his own son.

"Father, I apologise… I didn't think this through," he said and Ozai nodded.

"Yes, it showed. It might be best if you start thinking things through, anytime now," Ozai said softly but there was no malice in his voice. They sat down and discussed while Taeyang scolded her son for annoying Ozai.

"Ozi that was rude. Mister Ozai was sad and needed time and I have told you not to seek him out when he is alone."

"But he was θad… I wanted to help," Ozi whined.

"My sweet, he needs time to mourn. Please don't disturb him again until he comes out of his room on his own," she said and tucked him in.

The next day, Ozai had regressed to his silent self. Ozi could not approach him as his mother was as vigilant as a three headed dog and held him back every time he tried to sneak past her. Taeyang took an unwilling Ozi to the festival that night leaving Zuko with his father again. They didn't discuss that day, instead they sat side by side in the garden admiring the fireworks that lit up the sky. The day after the festival and while both Ozi and Zuko had retired for the night, Taeyang approached Ozai and passed him a cup of hot tea. He took it and allowed its warmth to be absorbed by his hands. She sat next to him on the couch but didn't speak, instead she hugged him and he sighed as she rubbed his back. Taeyang was very motherly to him. He didn't particularly like it. It made his feelings for her seem cheap but in that instant he realised that no one had held him like that since his mother had died and relaxed in her arms.

"I don't know what to do," he admitted with his face buried in her hair.

"I don't think there is anyone in the world that knows how to deal with that," she said and he inhaled deeply as she moved away.

"I didn't think I would live to see that. I mean, I had hoped I wouldn't…" he said and she nodded.

"No parent should bury their children," she said and rubbed his arm. They spoke for what seemed like hours and when he finally stood he was feeling lighter. He pulled her in a tight embrace and thanked her before retiring.

Meanwhile, four of the highest members of the New Ozai society were gathered in a secret meeting.

"We have managed to break Princess Azula along with a few others off the asylum and news of her death have reached the Palace, Lord Ukano."

"Good and what have you done to locate our Firelord?" the older man asked.

"I don't understand why you are here," one of them said. "Your own daughter carries the child of the Usurper," he accused him.

"My daughter will do as she is told. This pregnancy is irrelevant but it can still play to our advantage," Ukano said turning to the younger man that was giving him a report.

"We've enlisted a bounty hunter," he said.

"I hope you were careful not to reveal any of the members' identities," Ukano said. "This is not the time for unnecessary risks."

"She does not know who we are but we've arranged to pay her handsomely when she delivers the bounty. She will send a message to the inn as soon as she locates him."

"Fine, have someone stay at the inn at all times to apprehend any communications," Ukano said and stood. "We're getting closer now. I am going to pay a visit to the Princess."

Zuko extended his stay for a week and that led to an invaluable bonding experience with his father. One day before his departure, there was shouting from the front door and a whip armed woman entered the house while they were eating dinner. Taeyang and Zuko covered the other two despite Ozi's attempt to jump forward and firebend the intruder as his childish ignorance of danger kicked in. June, the most accomplished bounty hunter, marched in the house and greeted Zuko by calling him 'Firelord angry boy' making Taeyang snort but not alter her defensive stance.

"You know her?"

"You can say that…" Zuko said but relaxed when June holstered her whip and asked "How's your uncle?"

"He's fine. What are you doing here?"

"I was asked to capture a certain someone… Damn, is that your dad? I clearly picked the wrong brother!" she said, making Zuko gag in disgust.

"Who? Yeech… Who were you asked to capture? Him or me?"

His father pushed him lightly whispering, "control yourself," although he didn't particularly like being the center of attention.

"Him… but seeing that you are here, perhaps we can work on something different," she said and moved closer to them.

"What do you want?"

"The point is not what I want, the point is what you are going to give me that will be enough to cover for my bad reputation for not coming through with this bounty. Your enemies are giving me enough gold to live like a king for two years, I am sure you can do better."

"You're sure?"

"If I wasn't, we wouldn't be speaking right now. I would have taken him already," she said, placing a single finger on Ozai's chest and letting it slide downwards with a suggestive smile on her face.

"Enough with the sex talk!" Zuko said and Ozi started pulling his mother's sleeve.

"Mama, what is-" Ozi asked, making Taeyang look at him wide eyed. She took him in her arms asking him to be quiet.

"I can do better than money," Zuko said and Ozai tensed next to him.

"My son," he started saying but a raised hand stopped him.

"Taeyang, may I use your office?" Zuko asked and she nodded. Zuko took June in the office where they stayed for almost an hour before returning to the kitchen. The other three had finished with their food already and were now sitting on the couch waiting to see what would happen.

"He shouldn't be doing this…" Ozai said.

"What did you expect him to do, give you to her or attack her? Clearly he deems her skills considerable for not choosing the latter."

"He could take me to the palace instead," Ozai said and she nodded.

"He could…" she said and tightened her arms around Ozi who had a constant questioning look on his little face.

"You don't sound so agreeable to that."

"I am not sure if it would be safer for you there. I mean the members of this society seem to be wealthy enough to have access to the palace," she said and he hummed in agreement. She was right, Iroh had told him that they were suspecting people in the higher class so that was utterly possible.

The other two exited the office and approached them.

"A pleasure to do business with you Firelord," June said and bowed.

"The pleasure is all mine, Lady June," Zuko said.

"Wait, you gave her a title?" Ozai asked wide eyed.

"Yes. Taeyang, I will depart tomorrow with June so if you don't mind…" he said and she nodded.

She led them to the kitchen and served the food while Ozai sat across them. She was about to go and prepare the bedroom when Zuko stopped her. "Could you sit? I want you to know what's going on as well," he said. "Lady June is now the head of one of the villages in the Hu Xin Provinces. There she will have the opportunity to train a special tasks force that will be used as bodyguards as well as bounty hunters for the Fire Nation. That being said, she now has enough money, estates and status to retire if she so chooses and my father can remain hidden here for a while longer."

When night came, Taeyang let her guests bathe and retire as she tucked Ozi in. He had, naturally, a million questions which Taeyang answered to the best of her ability. She was concerned that a bounty hunter was sleeping in her house and more concerned that Ozi might seek Ozai and find her instead so she sat there until her son's questions were all answered and then said.

"This woman is very dangerous. I was thinking, my son, if you don't mind, to come and sleep here tonight."

"I am not afraid mama," Ozi said but then she stunned him

"I am…"

"Oh, oh okay. You can θleep here. I will protect you," Ozi said, releasing a lick of flame from his hand and giggling when she tickled him.

"I will go and clean everything, have a quick shower and come here as fast as I can but you can go ahead and sleep," she said and he nodded.

Taeyang was having a bath when June tiptoed from her room to Ozaι's door. She knocked lightly and he jumped off his bed opening the door swiftly fearing Ozi was on the other side. He came face to face with a scantily clad June who smiled at him suggestively and placed a warm hand on his arm.

"I thought my actual bounty might like to show his appreciation for remaining free," she whispered and licked her lips.

"With how things turned out today, it is you who should be showing appreciation," he answered in kind making her wicked smile wider. June moved closer, her lips mere centimeters away from his.

"Not to me," he said, making her laugh.

"I think I have made my choice," she said with a raised brow.

"You might regret it."

"I might not," she said leaning towards him and he lowered his arm to allow her entrance in his room.

Taeyang exited the bathroom quietly. The whole household was asleep, or so she thought. She entered the kitchen for a glass of water before bed but as she brought it to her lips she heard June moaning loudly Ozai's name and her heart sank. She couldn't understand that feeling and she felt utterly confused. She drank quickly and ran to Ozi's room away from these sounds that pierced her heart. The moment the door closed she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and settled herself on a chair instead of the bed. She was trying to understand what she was feeling and for a furtive moment she allowed herself to daydream about his hands around her. Stop it. She commanded her mind and shook the images away as she moved to the bed. It's just because you've been living with him for all these months, she thought and fell asleep holding her son in her arms. Yet she wasn't able to prevent a stray tear from rolling on her cheek.

The next morning came too early for Taeyang who slept only for a few hours. She left Ozi's room silently and lit the fire. She gathered the ingredients and started working leisurely on breakfast. Ozai was the second to wake up. In reality, he had gotten up to get a glass of water but when he saw that the fire was lit, he pulled on his robes and decided to start his day early, leaving June alone in his room. Taeyang returned from the chicken den carrying a few eggs and greeted him, passing him a glass of tea.

A couple of hours later, Ozi woke up and left for school as Zuko was eating breakfast. It was at this point when June decided to arrive at the kitchen. She took one of the pastries, thanked Taeyang for the hospitality and an uncomfortable Ozai for the night, leaving Zuko speechless and departed on her shirshu. Zuko departed after a heartfelt conversation with his father and for a few minutes the house got really quiet as Ozai was writing a letter to his brother while Taeyang was planning the dates of the upcoming farming activities. Half an hour before Ozi's due time of arrival, Ozai did try to explain why June had thanked him but Taeyang just smiled and waved him off.

A fortnight after Zuko's visit passed before life returned back to its normal rhythms. Well, almost normal. From that night when Taeyang comforted Ozai, he finally started opening up to her a bit more and every now and then, he would wait for her to put Ozi to bed before they shared a cup of tea and conversation.