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In his dream, Ozai was running across Taeyang's fields. He reached the slope Taeyang had bended to reach the beach and jumped off. He tried bending his fire to stay afloat but instead of three flames he saw only air. He could feel bending the air but the hand movement he was using was not helping him and he started falling. He screamed but instead of waking he could see the rocks coming closer and closer to him. He was expecting to feel pain but he only felt water surrounding him. For a few moments he felt relief as he let his body float on the water but then a wave came and sank him to the depths. He started choking and fought to reach the surface but as he moved his arms he realised that the water was taking him higher and higher until he was soaring above water level. He was waterbending. The fire and warmth that he usually felt when bending his flames had been replaced by a chill sensation, like holding a snake. He moved his hands around in an attempt to throw the snakes away and ended up falling again but this time he did hit the rocks. He cried out in pain and was certain that he had broken his legs. He stood and realised that he would have to swim from the rocks to the beach but even that would not help him as he needed to get to the top of the cliff. He tried firebending again but instead of fire he saw mud coming out of his hands. He felt as if he was tied again by Aang using the earth and fear overwhelmed him.

He woke up falling off the bed. He was drenched in sweat and for a brief moment he did not recognise where he was. It was too early in the morning but he didn't feel like going back to sleep so instead he decided to have a bath. He entered the bathtub. The water was lukewarm at the beginning but as time passed it became colder and colder. He was getting annoyed but then he felt it. He felt fire stir in his chest. He extended his arms and he felt the water getting warmer and warmed until he almost boiled himself alive. He readjusted the temperature but all he wanted to do was scream his excitement. He wasn't sure if it was with delight or in frustration. His firebending was back and he didn't know what to do. He didn't know if it was permanent or temporary but more importantly he didn't know if he was still on the same level as he was before. He exhaled deeply and stretched his arms on the rims of the tub. All these thoughts left his mind instantly, though as the door opened and a sleepy Taeyang stared at him wide eyed. He was a sight and she blushed furiously when he smiled at her unconsciously. She apologised and closed the door but he could see she was still flustered when he exited the bathroom, fully dressed and ready for his day.

When Taeyang left to escort Ozi to his school and pick up some things from the market, Ozai found the chance to test his abilities again and lit a candle. He was overflowing with joy and wanted to jump and scream for everyone to hear. He picked the small flame in his hand and held it with such care as he would have used to hold a newborn. He was still holding the small flame when he heard the front door opening and extinguished quickly before Taeyang had a chance to see it. He was afraid to let anyone know. He would wait first to see how long it would last. He stood and smiled at her before taking the bags off her hands.

"Is that a duck?" he asked and she nodded.

"Yes, Ozi asked for it," she said apologetically, knowing now after all these months that poultry was his least favourite meat. "I can make some fish tomorrow to compensate," she proposed but then blushed when he caressed her arm.

"You don't need to do that, I like all your dishes," he said and smiled. "Besides those noodles you make for the duck are really tasty as it is."

He was overwhelmed. He didn't know if it was because of having his fire bending back or if it was because of her.

"If you like them so much, do you want to help me make them?" she asked and he nodded pleased to stay close to her.

Ozai was very excited but had to wait the whole day to find himself alone to test his fire again. Thankfully both Taeyang and Ozi made it too easy for him and he smiled as Ozi was reading his essay on his favourite food. When he retired, he spent most of the night playing with the flame from his candle. He swirled it in his hands and was utterly tempted to bend it properly. He had to pace and control himself so he extinguished the flame and fell asleep.

The second day of his new life he went so far as to light a torch. He took his robe off and placed the torch next to the oven. He shot his fire from a distance and smiled broadly when the torch was lit. His only witness was Yon who was guaranteed not to utter a word. He felt alive and what's more, instead of the fiery rage he felt every day of his life before the day of Sozin's comet he felt only a comforting warmth inside him. After his little training was over he lounged on the garden chair and let the rays of the sun reach him.

Ozi returned from school earlier than his mother and smiled as he saw that Ozai was sunbathing. He took the top of his uniform off and jumped to the chair next to Ozai who smiled and asked him about his day. It had been a few months since Taeyang had finally allowed Ozi to stay home alone with Ozai and the latter felt as if he was betraying her trust by not telling her of his firebending but at the same time he felt afraid to let it be known.

When Taeyang returned home she saw them both topless, sprawled on the garden chairs and giggled softly.

"My, my… What have we here?" she said and Ozi opened one eye before giving her a toothy grin.

"The θun is good," he said and she smiled.

"If you get out of the sun," she said, "I will make you some lollies." Ozi jumped from the chair and returned inside the house. He was picking up his uniform when Ozai also followed his example and Ozi looked at him surprised.

"What? I want lollies as well," he said making the kid giggle and Taeyang smile gently. That evening, Taeyang made lollies with sugar and maltose syrup and shaped them in several shapes ranging from hearts and stars to suns and the Fire Nation emblem. She stored the excess and sat with the other two in the garden. It was not very warm but they were well dressed and enjoyed the starlit night until Ozi yawned loudly.

"Let me," Ozai volunteered and she smiled. He didn't overdo it but whenever he felt she would not oppose, he would ask to put Ozi to bed and the kid loved him for it as he would read him calmly from a book until his eyes would close.

"He's asleep," Ozai whispered as he approached Taeyang. She had cleaned their cups and plates and was making sure that the house was clean and tidy before getting ready for bed herself.

"Thank you," she said, caressing his arm.

"My son sent me another letter about his daughter. He is becoming a far better parent than I ever was," he said and smiled proudly. They ended up staying awake for more than two hours, discussing their past or Zuko and she told him about the time they had spent as neighbours in Ba Sing Se before they retired. That night, they both dreamt of one another and their desire grew even stronger.

Almost a week had passed from the day he had gotten his bending back and he was getting bolder. As soon as the other two would leave the house he would start training like his life depended on it. He started small out of fear but as the days passed he attempted more advanced techniques until he finally decided that there was only one more thing to try. This was the day that he would attempt lighting bending. It had been more than two years when he had last bended but he could feel it charging up inside him. He was alone in the garden and had made enough room for him to bend lightning to a distance without alerting the guards or neighbours. He took a deep breath, focused and moved both his hands calling forth the lightning. He had not taken into account the dog. As he moved his hand to release the energy, he spotted Yon near the target so instead he turned his body and hit a couple of the saplings that Taeyang had been preparing to plant. He ran to the plants and extinguished the fire, cleaning around the area to cover his tracks and turned the pots so that the damage would not be visible. He hoped that Taeyang would think that it was some kind of tree disease or caused by the sun but he didn't have too much time to act as Ozi's classes would be over in less than an hour and he had to put the garden to its original state.

When Ozi returned he was sitting in the living room playing music and Ozi opted to stay inside as well. Two or three days, he thought, two or three days would be enough. He would cut the burnt out leaves and water the plants and they would be none the wiser. When Taeyang returned however, he couldn't stop her from exiting to the garden no matter how much he tried. He even contemplated kissing her but that made him feel even more guilty. She moved around the plants, gathered some peppers and returned inside to start on their lunch. He was sure that she had not seen the damage. He relaxed in his chair while they were eating lunch and even more when they all retired as this signified the end of her gardening activities. Or so he thought.

When he woke up, he saw her in the garden, squatting in front of Ozi and although he could not hear what she was telling him he could see that it was not good.

"Mama, I didn't do it, I θwear," the boy was saying but the more he denied it the colder her stare became.

"Why are you lying to me? You could have told me and be done with it. Now I will ground you for a week. Not for burning the trees but for lying."

"I am not lying, mama," he said but when Ozai saw tears running down his cheeks he drew the line.

"Who else could have done it, Ozi?" she asked and tensed when she sensed Ozai approaching.

"Please don't scold him. I did that," he said pointing at the pots.

Taeyang turned and looked at him furiously. "Don't try to cover for him. How could you have done it? This is clearly fire damage," she said and he nodded.

"Like this," he said softly and pulled the fire off the lantern to his open palm. Ozi's eyes lit up but hers widened and not in a good way. Ozai put the fire out and sat on the chair looking defeated.

"Go inside," Taeyang said to her son, motioning for him to go through the window instead of the door since it was too close to Ozai.

"But mama-"

"Now Ozi," she said coldly and he entered the house. When Ozi was in his room he turned to Ozai and saw him sitting with his head in his hands.

"I will have to inform the Firelord," she said and he nodded. "How long has this been going on for?"

"About a week," he said. "I didn't say anything because I wanted to be sure that it was all there first, plus I was afraid this would happen."

"I think it would be best if I called Jeong to stay here for a few days," she said and he wanted to cry out in despair.

"I would never hurt you, or Ozai… Call him if you want but don't take away your company, or your son's. Please…" he said. He had approached her and was about to caress her arm but she pulled away and he saw in her eyes that no matter what he said she was already gone.

"I think it would be best if you returned to your room," she said and left him standing there alone.

Taeyang sent Ozi to fetch Jeong and the latter arrived almost running to her door as the kid told him what had happened. However, contrary to Taeyang, Jeong quickly assessed that Ozai was now more in control of his fire than ever before. He stayed for two days to ease Taeyang's mind and calm Ozai's heart by reminding him that the last time Taeyang saw him wielding fire was at the actual battle between him and Aang. The second day, they ate all together again and despite her initial fear, Taeyang's heart beat faster when he sat next to her. Jeong left a few hours after dinner but not before he had taken all three around the table and proposed that Ozai could help Ozi with his training at home as an exercise for all of them. Taeyang begrudgingly accepted, seeing that Ozi wanted nothing else more than that. She still wouldn't leave them alone though, prompting a "I am under supervision again," comment from Ozai.

The three days after the incident, Ozi returned home excited. He jumped in Ozai's arms, almost giving Taeyang a panic attack. She wanted to cry at how difficult this whole thing was for her. She could not deny her feelings for him and yet seeing him bending fire sent a chill down her spine that made her feel sick. Ozai felt and saw her discomfort and put Ozi down looking at her sadly making her heart break. Don't look at me like that… she thought as she sat down to observe their training. They both removed their upper robes and passed them to her but then Ozai did something she had not expected but had actually hoped.

"Try to hit me," he said to her son and they bowed before Ozi tried repeatedly to hit him but his flames came out short every time. Ozi was getting frustrated but then Ozai lifted him up and placed him in his mother's lap before he demonstrated.

"Fire comes from here," he said pointing towards the middle of his torso. He widened his stance and started bending while kicking and punching in the air, performing several forms while explaining them with as much detail as possible. He would stop and point at where the muscles would be pulling each time making Ozi look enthralled and Taeyang flustered. By the end of the session he was drenched in sweat and Ozi went to fill the tub while Taeyang offered him a towel.

"I am sorry," she said and he frowned.

"Don't apologise for being a good mother. It was only natural," he said and she nodded blushing. "I am sorry I hid it from you. Perhaps if I had come to you the first night, you might have felt better," he said and moved a strand of hair off her face. She felt awful and it must have shown because he hugged her gently and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead before moving towards the bathroom.

It took an enormous effort from both of them to relax again and no matter how hard they tried Taeyang was still a bit giddy around him. Ozi on the other hand, couldn't have been happier. He now had a Firebender in his own house to play and train with and Ozai indulged him as much as he could. Taeyang did not mind, as long as he was observing them but she did from time to time send her son to play with his friends instead.

"I really don't mind," Ozai told her one of those days.

"I know, I don't either but he still needs to spend time with people of his own age group…" she said. He picked an apple and cleaned it on his robe making her shake her head. He had seen her several times stopping Ozi from eating something without washing it but she couldn't stop him and he looked at her smuggly before taking a bite. Regret flooded him as he saw that there was a worm- or rather half of it- in his apple and he started spitting and gagging.

"How graceful…" she said and he glared at her before bursting out in laughter.

"Well, what did you expect me to do? Swallow it?"

"I expected you to wash the apple and inspect it before biting it," she said and he blushed. He took his 'revenge' the next day when she sprung backwards from a pile of logs and screamed bloody murder for seeing a mouse. It wasn't even alive, he had found it and killed it earlier that morning but he knew that she didn't like them and instead of disposing of it he had placed it on her path. He laughed loudly as she swatted his arm and he closed her in a tight embrace. He could feel her heart beating fast and apologised before releasing her.

"It's ok… It was actually quite funny," she admitted and smiled up at him.

He looked at her face, smiling up at him and he finally admitted to himself that he had fallen in love with her.

"I…" he started saying when the door opened and Ozi flew to them, jumpin in his mother's arms.

"I will be at the end of the year feθtival," he said excitedly and she smiled.

"Well done!" They both said and Ozi pulled them in a group hug.

"I need to learn to roar. That will be a θurpriθe," he said making Taeyang tense and Ozai smile.

"It will be a small roar," Ozai said, making the kid frown. "It really depends on the size of your lungs." He said and took Ozi's small hand in his own, showing him the difference before closing him in a massive embrace.

"Mama, I want rose paθtieθ…" the boy said, making her laugh and softly swat Ozai's arm again.

"What? It's not my fault that I smell good," he said suggestively. Taeyang blushed and he gave her a knee weakening smile before she sent them off to gather the rose petals in an attempt to control her racing heart and increasing blood pressure.

The next few days were filled with Ozi's insistence to learn how to roar. Taeyang thought that it was too dangerous but Ozai was confident that it would not harm Ozi and so she allowed the training to go through. It was Saturday morning when Ozi finally roared for the first time and he couldn't control his excitement.

"You call this a roar?" Ozai said teasingly as he tickled the boy who squealed before he roared himself producing enough heat to raise the temperature around them significantly.

"I am doing it! Mama, I am…," he said as he turned and saw his mother standing on the doorframe but she was not alone. "Aang! Zuko! I am doing it!" he said and produced a small roar that excited Aang who approached and started talking with him. Ozai felt as if the air had left his lungs. His distress was evident and Taeyang extended her hand towards him. He took it and she led him in the kitchen. She prepared snacks and tea but failed to hide her sadness when Zuko announced that he would be returning with them to the palace. Ozai lowered his head, he knew that this would not be the worst that would happen to him today. Aang was here and this could mean only one thing. His heart ached and he did not hear what Zuko was saying to them. Instead he watched with dread as Aang returned inside the house with Ozi and asked to speak with him privately.

Ozai led Aang in his room. It had been his sanctuary when he had needed it but now it felt like a cage. Aang smiled at the portraits that adorned the walls and sat on the only chair making Ozai sit on his bed.

"How are you feeling?" he asked smiling and Ozai thought that the Avatar had a very cruel streak in his character to be asking things so casually when he was about to deprive him of his bending again.

"Let's get this over with," he said and closed his eyes, waiting for Aang to place his hands in his torso and forehead and tear him apart again.

"Erm… What are you doing?" Aang asked him, feeling a bit uncomfortable and Ozai looked him in the eye.

"Why are you here?" he asked and Aang told him that he had come to assist Zuko just in case something happened during the journey as it had happened when they were moving Ursa and her family back to the palace. "So you're not going to… take my bending again?" he said and chastised himself for feeling hopeful but when Aang shook his head Ozai offered him a genuine smile.

"However, I would still like to meditate with you," the Avatar said and Ozai exhaled deeply. His relief was short lived though, when Ozi burst into the room with tears rolling from his eyes and hugged him.

"Pleaθe, don't leave now… Aθk Zuko to θtay at leaθt a few more dayθ. You don't have to θtay until the feθtival if you don't want to but don't leave tonight," he was saying while sobbing loudly and stunned both the men in the room as well as Zuko who was standing outside. Ozai was just now realising that when Zuko said that he will be returning to the palace, he meant immediately and hugged the boy tightly. He fought but failed to control his own tears. Taeyang rushed into the room thinking that Aang had hurt Ozai the way her son was crying but when she realised what the issue was she exhaled deeply.

"Get out," she said and moved a stunned Aang out of the room before she shut the door. Aang and Zuko stood on the hallway motionless while she sat next to Ozai and embraced both him and her son. She kissed Ozi on the forehead, wiping his tears away and then placed a soft kiss on Ozai's forehead as well.

"What are you two crying for?" she asked gently. Ozai looked in her eyes and saw her own pain but understood that she was trying to show strength for her son's sake.

"They're going to take him away, mama," Ozi sobbed and hugged Ozai tightly.

"They are not taking him to a prison, they are taking him to his home…" she said and caressed his head. "And he will be able to walk about without fearing that someone might hurt him," she said and although Ozi was looking at her, Ozai had lowered his head and was not speaking.

"But he could let him θtay for a week…" he said but his mother looked at him. "Two more dayθ?" He tried lowering the number. "Tomorrow? Mama, tomorrow?"

"My sweet," she said caressing his hair. "You don't have to ask me, I have no problem with letting any of them stay," she said and smiled. "But you have to understand that Zuko wants to have his father with him."

"Can I ask?" he asked and she nodded, making him turn to Ozai. He placed his hands on Ozai's face and said "I will do my beθt, for you." Ozi jumped and ran outside the room calling for Zuko.

"He will not agree," Ozai said without making eye contact.

"I know…" she said.

"I never thought freedom would feel like that," he said cryptically.

"I brought you your headpiece," she said and presented him with the little box. He exhaled deeply and she hugged him. "Everything is going to be alright," she whispered. He thought she was trying to encourage him but in reality she was trying to keep herself from breaking. She tightened her arms around him unwilling to let him go and he reciprocated.

"Erm… Could I burden you?" he said pointing at the headpiece and she smiled. She handled his hair with such care that he wanted to weep. She finished with the topknot, swiftly as she was used to making her own hair this way and adjusted the headpiece before looking into his eyes.

"All done," she whispered and he sighed. She left him to gather his things and tried to calm Ozi who was all upset again. Taeyang took Ozi to the garden to have a conversation. It was difficult for both of them but even more so for her that she had to answer questions like "Why is miθter Ozai leaving? He doeθn't like it here?" or endure pleading like "Pleaθe mama, I will never aθk for anything elθe."

"My sweet, this is not something that I can control," she said and wiped a tear off her cheek.

"Did I do θomething wrong? Iθ it becauθe I aθked him to train me?"

"No my sweet, it's because he's ready to go back to his home."

"It's becauθe you told on him!" he accused her and ran to his room leaving her speechless.

She was very upset because she felt responsible but then Aang's head appeared through the door and he called her in.

"We have to get a move on if we're to get to the Capital anytime soon."

"I understand," she said and entered the kitchen. She packed them several snacks and passed them to Aang. Zuko was holding his father's lute while Ozai carried a bag with his clothes.

She called for her son. He came out of his room but seemed angry at them.

"You're leaving then?" he asked, looking betrayed.

"Ozi that's rude," Taeyang said.

"It'θ all your fault," he accused her again and pushed her away when she tried to hug him.

"Let me," Ozai said and placed his bag near the door. He walked towards Ozi's room and stayed there for ten minutes as the other's packed his things. They talked again and again but in the end Ozai had to resort to a white lie to get the child to relax.

"It wasn't your mother's fault. She did send a message to Zuko but I had already sent him one as well," Ozai said.

"Why?"

"Because I didn't want to tell my son lies," he said. "It's time for me to go now." Ozai opened his arms and took Ozi in a tight embrace.

"I will miθθ you," he said and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"I will miss you as well. I will write to you as much as I can." Ozi didn't want to let him go but then Ozai promised to invite him to the Capital and he was placated. He left the boy in his room and got ready to depart. Taeyang met him at her door.

"Taeyang," he said and brought his hands together. She smiled.

"That's the first time you called me by my name," she said and he realised, regretfully that she was right.

He smiled at her and nodded. "So this is it…" he said softly.

"This is what you wanted, right? To be free…" she said and he nodded.

"Yes," he said, it was not a lie and yet he felt as if it was.

"We shall not see each other again," she said and he nodded. From the moment he would enter the palace he would be impossible to meet.

"No, but we could write," he said and she smiled.

"I would like that."

Ozai opened his arms and she stepped in. "Have a fantastic life!" she said and his arms tightened around her.

"Taeyang," he whispered and she shuddered as he released her.

He leaned in and almost kissed her. "I will miss you," he admitted and exited the house.

"Farewell," she said as he departed.

She waited until Appa had taken off and saw that her son was also watching the bison disappearing into the distance. She closed the door and sat on the armchair that he used to sit in, inhaling the soft rose scent that always surrounded him. Her life was now back to normal.