After the completion of the city's foundation, we all celebrated and spent several days enjoying citywide festivities. Everything had gone smoothly, and everywhere there were benders and non-benders from all nations gathered in the same place, coexisting peacefully. Of course there had been some protestors, organisations who disagreed with what we were building here, but every time they tried to attack we dealt with them, usually taking down the entire organisation and Toph would have the pleasure of throwing them in jail. She especially liked that part of her job.

Now that I had trained other people to do my job, there was nothing left for me to do. For a while I just hung around doing nothing, occasionally going to visit my friends until I decided that I wanted to get up and go somewhere. That's when the invitation came from Iroh to join him in returning back to the Fire Nation for a visit, so I decided to join him. I mean, what the heck? It had been years since I'd been back there, so I may as well go. Besides, I wanted to see how big Kiyi had grown and Ursa had always gotten along well with me.

It would be interesting to see what had changed, so after accepting Iroh's invitation, I set about getting ready for when he'd arrive in Republic City and we'd continue travelling together. Mom and dad were completely happy here in the city, having made it their new permanent home so I knew I didn't have to worry about them. I made sure they knew where I was going and gave a rough estimate of when I'd be back before the time came to leave. When Iroh's airship landed at the docks, I ran to him and jumped into his arms as he laughed. "Careful little Kayo! I'm older now and not so sturdy as I used to be. My back has been killing me recently."

"I'm not little anymore Uncle Iroh, and you're not old at all. You just need some decent healing and a massage to make everything feel better." I said to him as we kissed one another's faces before I invited him to rest for a while before we continued the journey. My parents welcomed Iroh into their home where mom and I jointly healed Iroh's aches and pains, water to sooth and fire to warm, a technique that she'd learned from watching me heal with water. It proved just as effective for internal pains, so after a session and loosening up his joints, Iroh felt like a young man again.

He and my dad always got on well as if they were old friends, making it a very merry gathering together before we departed the next day. I was excited to get back and Iroh could tell, making him chuckle as I watched the sky fly by. "You either have a deep fascination with the clouds or you are excited to be returning home after so long, little Kayo." He said to me, making me jump slightly from where I had been so deep in thought.

"You've got me there Uncle Iroh. I'm a little nervous too. The court officials didn't all like me back then because I was mouthy and often told them that they were backwards thinking old men. They probably won't be looking forward to seeing me again."

"I wouldn't be so sure. After you left the Fire Nation, there was a time when things were difficult for my nephew as he refused to listen to anyone else's advice because it was not you giving the advice. When I stood in for him when he went searching for his mother, it quickly became clear that you did a great deal around the palace, and many people had a great deal of respect for you. Had you been born a noble and gone to a proper academy of learning, I expect you would have been top of your class."

"But women back then weren't allowed court positions. It's only recently that Zuko passed the law that allowed women to hold office." I pointed out, turning back to my cloud watching. "I didn't have a clue what I was doing at first, all I tried to do was say what I thought sounded sensible and right, then people either disagreed or put it into practice. It was only when some of the nicer ministers started showing me the kind of duties they attended to I started to pick things up. I learned on the job, and sometimes it worked, other times I had to clean up the mess until things began to fall into place."

"In any case, you are returning as a guest. If anyone is foolish enough to show you any disrespect, especially in front of my nephew, they will find themselves very quickly in a grave they have dug for themselves and unable to climb out of." Iroh said to me as he stroked my head affectionately. "Do not worry. He will be glad that you are here to surprise him." Knowing that he meant Zuko, I hoped that he was right. Neither of us had told Zuko that I was coming with his uncle, so when he came to meet us in the palace's front courtyard, his entire face dropped in shock when I stepped off the airship with Iroh.

"Kayo? What are you doing here?"

"I thought you said I was always welcome." I teased him as I alighted, Iroh politely having offered me his hand which I had taken to step off before I quickly dusted myself off then bowed. "Greetings to Fire Lord Zu-!" Before I could finish, Zuko had somehow crossed the distance between us in the blink of an eye in order to wrap me in a tight embrace which I was completely taken aback by. I froze up, not knowing how to respond until Zuko let me go and placed his hands high up on my shoulders, almost cradling my neck.

"I'm really glad you came, Kayo. Welcome back." Stuttering as my mind drew a total blank, I barely managed to answer him before he let go and greeted his uncle, embracing Iroh a little more lightly before inviting us to come inside and rest. We went into the gardens where a table with tea had already been prepared, and I could see Ursa by the pond with Kiyi, who was now almost fifteen years old, if I remember correctly. She was feeding the turtle-ducks, however when Ursa saw us coming she nudged her daughter gently who then turned around to see.

"Uncle Iroh! And is that Kayo? Wow! I didn't know you were coming too, isn't that great Zuko?" She gushed excitedly, rushing over to hug Iroh who chuckled and commented on how tall and pretty she was becoming.

"I only saw you a few months ago and now you're this much taller already? What a shame, my present might not fit you anymore." I tittered with a shake of my head as Kiyi's face instantly brightened at me hopefully.

"Present?" Lifting my hand I gestured for a servant to come forwards who had offered to hold the gift for me before and he quickly came over to us. Kiyi carefully pulled the ribbon off before lifting the lid to reveal a brand new pair of crimson and gold embroidered court shoes as well as a new dress neatly folded underneath, all hand made and embroidered by me.

"It's beautiful Kayo, you're so thoughtful. You shouldn't have worked so hard with such a gift." Ursa said to me softly as she too saw the presents. "Kiyi, what do you say to Kayo?"

"Did you really make all this? Your embroidery has always been pretty, but this is something else." She admired, lifting up one of the shoes to inspect it closely before she giggled, kicked off her shoes then put the new ones on. "They're a little stiff, but they should shape to my feet soon if I wear them enough, right?"

"That's right. A little I trick I learned when I had to wear shoes like that all the time, was to steam dry rice then put them into a bag and stuff the shoes with them to sit overnight. It'll make the material more pliable and more comfortable to wear the next day and they'll naturally reshape to your feet." Eager to test out my trick, Kiyi quickly asked her mother if she could try it. Ursa agreed, saying that she did something similar when she was younger and unused to such formal shoes.

"Thank you so much Kayo, they're beautiful. I'm going to wear it all tomorrow after we try your rice trick for the shoes." She informed me before giving me a big hug then pulled me down so that she could kiss my cheek.

"You're worth every stitch and thread, Kiyi." I told her as Zuko and Iroh looked on with silent appreciation for the heart warming scene. Putting the new shoes back, Kiyi then told me all about going to school and her recent visit to Ember Island. "Oh I've been there. A lot of sand. Terrible actors." I recalled, making her laugh.

"Yeah, their show about the Avatar wasn't very good and a lot of it was different from what you and big brother Zuko told me, but some of it was funny. I liked the Sokka character the best." Then she carried on talking, asking me questions about Republic City and wanting to hear her favourite stories about our adventures as kids all over again, even though she'd heard them hundreds of times. All the while we drank tea, Iroh and I played a game of Pai Sho whilst we all just enjoyed one another's company until it was time for dinner.

Noren joined us then, and we all ate like we were one family which was nice to be a part of. Kiyi went to bed first despite wanting to stay up late with the rest of us but Ursa was stern, making her say goodnight so I promised her that in the morning, I would spend time with her doing whatever she wanted. With that promise, Kiyi happily skipped off to bed, already planning all the things she wanted to do.

"My sister likes you a lot." Zuko noted as he and I sat together, Iroh having already fallen asleep in his chair and was snoring away with a cup of tea still sat next to him.

"That's because I know how to get on kids' good side. Presents." I answered simply with a wink before smiling. "Besides, Kiyi and I became close when we first met and I lived with the family for about a week before…well. Before you guys showed up with Azula." Looking across to Iroh for a moment to make sure he was still sleeping I then lowered my voice. "Has there been anything new on her location?"

"None. We searched for her after she first disappeared but we couldn't find her in the valley and it became too dangerous to keep on sending men searching for her. Even June couldn't get her shirshu to go in, and every time after that I tried they couldn't pick up a scent. She's either still in there or she's figured out a way to keep herself hidden."

"Do you think she's asked for a new face from the Mother of Faces?" I asked him, playing a game of Pai Sho with him now, both of us contemplating.

"If she has, then I won't know what she looks like. Part of me has considered going back and trying to see if I can ask the spirit what happened to my sister, but then I can't help but feel that if Azula wanted to be found, she'd have come after me by now. With a new face, I won't know who she is until it's too late, but maybe she asked to have her memories removed as well." Zuko said, possibly hoping that that's the case. "That way, she could start a new life for herself and she wouldn't be troubled with the voice she kept on hearing."

"I hope that's true, otherwise you and your mom will be looking over your shoulders for the rest of your lives. Still, if Azula was still Azula and also still out of her mind, she would have tried something by now. I think we're safe, and wherever she is I hope she's happy." Placing down a tile, I drew back as I won the game. "Your loss. Again."

"Do I ever win?" He reasoned lightly so I shook my head. Just then Iroh snorted and woke up, blinking before he yawned then naturally reached for his tea, heating it up with steam from his nose.

"Ah…I think I too shall retire for the night. Getting older makes you even sleepier than usual. Goodnight nephew, goodnight little Kayo, sweet dreams and restful sleep." He said to us as he finished his cup before gripping Zuko's shoulder as he passed in gesture then kissed me on the top of my head so I smiled, the both of us wishing him goodnight too before just we remained.

"Aren't you tired? Normally you'd be the first person to go to sleep." Zuko said to me as he stood up, putting away the Pai Sho board and tiles for another time.

"I slept a lot on the way over. Flying on the air balloon reminded me of flying on Appa." Shrugging I also got up, thinking that a walk might tire me out so Zuko came with me. We walked around the palace which both of us knew like the back of our hands before eventually moving towards the gardens. We talked about a great many things and then would fall into a comfortable silence, almost as if there had never been a time when I couldn't stand the sight of him.

We passed many nights in the same manner, finding ways to spend our time after the others had all gone to sleep, growing closer and closer together. On the evening of the full moon, Zuko brought me down to the seafront so that I could see it better because he knew I liked to see it when it was full, since it was a strong part of my sense of self. With the ocean before me and the moon above, I felt the euphoric rush of energy and life coursing through my veins as I breathed in deeply. Each breath drew in the tide before I released it with an exhale, the water naturally responding to me as Zuko watched me quietly.

The serenity of the moonlight and the feeling of understanding exactly who I was in that moment, I turned around to look at him. His eyes wandered about my face, my hair touched by moonlight as I smiled to him. It was then that I knew exactly what I wanted, who I wanted, and when I walked towards Zuko, his gaze never once left mine. I reached for him, placing one hand on his waist and the other on his arm as I felt his own hands curl around my hips and slowly followed the shape of my body, rising up my back before he then placed his brow against mine, breathing each other in. Not wanting for any uncertainty to remain, I reached up in order to kiss him, feeling his masculine lips against mine and inwardly marvelling at how different they felt compared to when we were younger.

All the regrets and memory of pain and hurt vanished, as if washed away by the moon and tide as Zuko held me in his arms securely, like he were now completely unwilling to let me go as a tear began to appear at his eye so I brushed it away, seeing that his face was completely overcome with emotion. "I've always loved you Kayo. Even when I pushed you away, deep down I knew how I felt, I just didn't allow myself to acknowledge it."

"You flame brained idiot." I murmured affectionately, nuzzling his face with mine as he continued to hold onto me.

"Please, stay with me. Stay with me as much as you want, and go when you want, but please always come back to me. I don't want to repeat the same mistakes again, so this time, promise that you'll always come back." As he spoke Zuko let go in order to cradle my face in his hands, both of us now overcome with tearful emotion as I smiled, totally filled with this feeling of warm joy that spread all the way through me.

"I'm not going anywhere this time. You're stuck with me, you stubborn jerk, and for the record, I love you too. Even when I hated you, I loved you. So don't you dare even think about telling me to wait any longer to be with you. It's now or never, that's the deal." Giving him a fair warning, Zuko laughed softly as he lowered his head back down to me in order to kiss me once more, murmuring as he did so.

"Deal. Definitely, deal."