Fire Nation Palace
Zuko and Katara walked up and down the garden while Azula ran ahead, chasing the turtle ducks. Katara's eyes were fixed on their little girl, whose path zigzagged through the topiaries and flower beds, but Zuko only had eyes for the water bender. Something about the blue silk robe that she wore and the hazy evening light made her glow. Her hair looked so soft, all Zuko wanted was to run his fingers through it, but he didn't dare. A happy scream from Azula made him look up as she ran back toward her parents.
"Turtle duck! Turtle duck!" She squealed, clutching one of the ducklings in her arms, an angry momma quacking behind her. Katara ran forward and scooped her daughter into her arms.
"Zuko! Get-" She barely finished before Zuko caught the angry turtle duck in his hands. She quacked and squirmed, trying to bite him, but his hands were out of reach.
Katara peeled the ducking out of Azula's hands and put it on the ground. It waddled off and the momma hurried after it once Zuko let it down, quacking all the way. Azula's bottom lip trembled.
"Turtle duck!" She wailed before bursting into tears. "I want the turtle duck!" She slammed her fists down on her mother's shoulder. "You took it away!"
"I know, but that mamma duck was really angry with you. I didn't want you to get hurt." Katara explained, hugging her daughter close. Zuko reached over and ruffled his daughter's hair.
"Mammas are like that. If you hurt their kids, they bite!" He made a chomp noise. Azula giggled. Then she squirmed out of her mother's arms and ran down the path where her admittedly favorite aunt stood.
"Aunt Ty Lee!" She screamed in delight and Ty Lee caught the small girl. Azula wrapped her arms tight around Ty Lee's neck. "I missed you!"
"I missed you too!" She smiled over the little girl at Katara and Zuko, who had walked at a more leisurely pace to her. Zuko smiled.
"Glad to see you back, Ty." He hugged her, making Azula giggle.
"Daddy sandwich!" She said and Ty Lee laughed.
"Were you successful?" Zuko asked, concern making his brows draw together.
"Yes," She turned and Raki stepped into the garden. Ty Lee practically glowed with joy, her eyes lit up when she saw him and she grinned from ear to ear.
"Hey," He said, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Good to see you again Zuko."
"Good to see you too," Zuko nodded. Little Azula noticed the attention of her aunt and father were no longer on her, so she tapped her aunt's nose.
"Auntie, where'd you go?" She asked. Ty Lee smiled down at her.
"I went to get my boyfriend back, he was trapped on an island with an-uh- well, a crazy person." Azula's golden eyes grew wide.
"A crazy person?" She echoed in wonder. Then, blinking that feeling away, she turned to Raki.
"You're Auntie's boyfriend?" The little girl narrowed her eyes.
"Yeah," Raki smiled. "I'm her boyfriend." He shifted uncomfortably again. "Who's this?" He asked Zuko. Azula answered, her hands on her hips.
"I am Princess Azula, heir to the Fire Nation throne." She said, using her aunt's hands to stand up. "And there's nothing you can do about it." She smirked. Raki seemed to reel back, his hand flying to his heart.
"Zuko? You named your daughter after your sister?"
"Yes, the name deserves a second chance, one that my sister never got." Azula felt her aunt's happy attitude fade when her actual aunt was named. She sat down again in Ty Lee's arms and nestled her head on Ty Lee's shoulder. Raki, however, looked like he was going to be sick. Katara stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you alright?" She asked. Raki shook his head.
"No, I just need rest. Tiring journey, you know." He shook off her hand and backed away. "I'm just going to go." He left without saying a proper good-bye. Zuko and Katara followed him in, giving Ty Lee a look that definitely said, 'watch her'. Azula sat up and put her hands on Ty Lee's shoulders.
"He's lying." She said. "Daddy says I'm never supposed to lie."
"You're right," Ty Lee said. "But I don't think Raki was lying. Like he said, he is tired from the trip. He's been through a lot since he was here last."
"Maybe he was tired, but he was obviously afraid. Besides, if he was just tired, he would have said good-bye and kissed you or something. Daddy does that to momma and Uncle Sokka does that to Aunt Suki, but Raki didn't. Are you sure he's in love with you?" Azula lectured, cocking her head to the side. Ty Lee brushed the question off and laughed at her niece.
"You are too smart for your age, you know that, right? How old are you now?"
"I am one year and three quarters." She stated matter of factly. "Daddy says it's cause I take after my grandfather, the one who's in jail. He also says that I'm like my Aunt Azula."
"You are like your Aunt Azula," Ty Lee smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I just hope you turn out better than she did."
"I'll try." Azula said. Ty Lee let her down and took her hand.
"Come on, let's go get some lunch. I'm starving!" They walked into the palace to find some food. As they walked down the hall, Azula tugged on her aunt's hand.
"Aunt Azula was really bad, wasn't she?" The question made Ty Lee stop in her tracks. She looked down and saw Azula gazing up at her, those round golden eyes filled with innocent curiosity and grief.
"Yes, she was. But most of it wasn't really her fault. She didn't have a lot of love growing up and it made her bitter. I think if she had lived long enough to meet you, she would have changed for the better." Ty Lee crouched down to look at little Azula in the eye. "Listen, just because you are named after her, doesn't mean you are her. Even if you take after her, you are still you. In fact, you're lucky, Azula. You get to learn from her mistakes and be better than she ever was." Little Azula nodded and took a deep breath.
"I'll be good for her then." A hopeful smile settled on the little girl's face. "I'm her second chance!"
"Come on then, let's get something to eat." Ty Lee stood and discreetly wiped away the tear that had started to fall. No need to let the little one know. No need for anyone to know how much she missed her old friend.