In his young life. Zuko had gone through what many would consider traumatic experiences.

This how-ever… This had to be the worst. The worst evening of Zukos life.

How could he ever have thought this was a good idea?! It was horrible! The entire team sitting at the table with Iroh. They had prepared dinner and it was a very nice meal. The issue though was that these people just kept talking.

"ZUKO IS INCREDIBLE!" Aang beamed holding up his hands. "He's teaching me how to fire bend!"

"Really?" Iroh asked amused as he used chop sticks to pick up some noodles.

"Yeah! And he's the best teacher!" Aang beamed. "Fire bending really scared me before. But the way he talks about it and showed me. Fire is something beautiful and amazing!"

Zuko just wanted to crawl down into a deep hole and die.

"He's teaching me how to fight!" Sokka grinned between bites of food "Of course. I could fight all ready but… Yeah I needed the help. And he said he would show me some moves with a sword to! Sadly we have yet to get a sword."

"Zuko is incredible skilled with the blade." Iroh smiled proudly. "You should look forward to that demonstration. It is a sight of absolute elegance and control."

Shut up, shut up! Just shut up! Zuko begged inside of his head.

"That's true!" Aang grinned. "I'm really looking forward to see it again!"

"Well I for one just think it's nice having one actual gentleman around." Katara said in a huff as she sat with a straight back and ate with dignity. "It has been so nice with someone making me tea in the morning and afternoon. It makes a lady feel appreciated."

Aang gaped. "I… I can make tea for you if you want." he offered.

Was there a way for Zuko to run and not be figured out? He wanted out of here. Desperately. Zuko was looking around for an escape route just as a little blind girl latched unto Zukos arm keeping him in place. "I had a real Prince escort at the earth palace ball!" she grinned. "We need to do that again! But do it right!"

There was no escape… Zuko was just sitting with a bowed head. His hair covered hair falling down obscuring his face.

"Zuko?" Katara blinked. "Zuko are you okay?"

There was quiet.

"Zuko?" Aang asked.

"I'mnee-fine-mherm." Came the muffled response from beneath the hair.

Everyone blinked as they looked at Zuko. And Zuko just wanted to disappear. Right here, right now while everyone kept looking.

Well all except Toph who was grinning while she was still hanging unto his arm. "I love it when he's shy."

"I'm not." Zuko pouted. This times at least his words were more coherent.

"Nephew. It really is rare to see you so lost for words." Iroh admitted. "Are you sure you're quite all right?"

"I'm fine!" Zuko snapped turning his head to the side which finally made some of his hair slip away revealing his face and it's currently bright red colour.

Katara smiled amused. "Mr. Iroh… Correct me if I'm wrong. But Zuko hasn't gotten a lot of compliments in the past has he?"

"Sadly no." Iroh sighed deeply. "Palace life is very strict. Ozai is not the type of person to praise even his best generals. And I'm afraid after Zuko got banished he erhm." he coughed into his hand. "He developed a personality that didn't quite agree with most people."

"Uncle please don't." Zuko begged.

"I see he only became like that after the banishment. Makes sense." Sokka nodded. "I mean now we know what Zuko is really like when not under the pressure of Jerk fire lord."

"Could we please… Talk about something else?" Zuko asked. "Anything else!" he begged.

"Of course nephew." Iroh assured though in the next breath he turned back to Sokka. "Yes. Zuko was such a sweet boy when he was little."

"Uncle!" Zuko shouted.

Iroh chuckled. "Forgive me Zuko. You were though."

Zuko bowed his head again making the hair cover his face and he reached for a bun. Stuffing it in his face so he had an excuse not to talk.

Katara chuckled. "So what have you been doing Mr. Iroh?" Mercifully directing the conversation away from Zuko to spare him. At least for now.

"Oh. I've contacted some old friends. Gathered information." Iroh smiled kindly. "And I think a lot of it will please you."

"Yeah?" Sokka asked.

"I've looked into the movements of the southern water tribe fleet." Iroh informed. "I can tell you where they are currently harboured."

There was stunned silence. Sokka looked up as Katara covered her mouth.

"Dad." Sokka gasped.

"I assume you want to attack the fire nation at the day of the eclipse." Iroh spoke calmly. "It would be your best chance to take down my brother. You would though need all the help you can get. All the allies you can find. I also heard word of a man who might help you. Young Avatar." he addressed Aang.

"Me?" Aang asked.

"A guru not far from here. Who could help you with some spiritual training. You are going to need anything you can get." Iroh smiled. Then his smile turned sad. "Sadly I also carry other news. I suppose you know already as you defended the outer wall of this city. But… The fire nation is planning to invade Ba Sing Se."

"Yeah. I figured they wouldn't just stop after one failed attack." Zuko spoke sadly. "Especially with Azula leading this force. She wont just give up."

"Exactly." Iroh agreed. "It is true. That they managed to keep the entire fire nation army at bay for six hundred days before. How-ever… The fire nation has developed new technology. And Azula is very cunning. Also she doesn't quite… Work by the same principles of honour as other soldiers."

"You mean like you?" Sokka asked.

Iroh glanced down.

"Zuko told us." Katara admitted. "That you're the dragon of the west. You're the man who laid siege to Ba Sing Se. And you used to be for the war."

Iroh smiled sadly. "All true." he said as he looked up. "I will deny none of it."

There was a stunned quiet around the table. Now it was suddenly uncomfortable.

"I do recognise the irony." Iroh then smiled a little amused. "That I am now trying to defend the very city I ones tried to conquer. I am not proud of who I used to be, and I hope you will find it in you to forgive me my sins. But I also know that all that can be done, is try to move forward. And do the right things now."

Zuko smiled as he put a hand on Iroh's shoulder. "I understand that sentiment." he said and Iroh smiled a small smile up at Zuko.

"Ones again it shows how remarkable you are nephew." Iroh commented in a smile. "It took me decades to get where you are now."

"Please stop." Zuko asked as he turned his head away. Blushing again.

Aang smiled fondly. "I can't speak for the others." he said. "But I forgive you. You are clearly trying to do the right thing. And I would be honoured to call you a friend."

"The honour would be all mine." Iroh said as he put his hands together and formally bowed. "Thank you young Avatar."

"I second that notion!" Katara exclaimed.

"Third." Sokka said with food in his mouth.

"Can you be my uncle too?" Toph asked. "I would really want an uncle like you."

Iroh chuckled. "You all honour me." he smiled. "Thank you." he bowed his head for them.

They all smiled fondly at him and Iroh looked up, smiling as well.

"Hey Zuko!" Aang suddenly exclaimed. "You should tell Iroh about the bending techniques you invented!"

Iroh halted as he turned to Zuko.

"Oh erhm." Zuko slipped a bit of hair behind his ear.

"You invented a new technique Zuko?" Iroh asked.

"Well… Remember in the past. When you said I should try to study other benders?" Zuko asked.

"I do. To be honest I didn't think you were listening." Iroh admitted. "You just wanted to move along to the next set."

Zukos face had an impressive way of becoming different shades of red very quickly. "Well… I did listen. And erhm. Now I was travelling with Katara, Toph and Aang. I did observe!" he said. "Right now I have mainly been able to use water bending techniques." Zuko admitted.

"It's so cool!" Aang shouted as he stood up. "Zuko can re-direct fire!"

Iroh blinked as he tried to take that in.

"And not just that!" Aang gasped. "We all saw him absorb the fire from five fire benders. Into his body. And then he breathed it back out! It was amazing!"

"So that's how he did it!" Iroh gasped. "That's actually true?!"

"Sure is." Sokka smirked. "And thus the nick name Dragon Prince." he winked. "Fitting for the nephew of the Dragon of the west now that I think about it."

"You figured that out on your own?" Iroh asked and then he shone from proud. "That's something else nephew!"

"Well… erhm." Zuko swallowed. "When Katara bend. What she's really doing is just re-directing the water. So I just thought… And erhm."

"I never thought of doing it like that." Iroh smiled. "How-ever. Now you figured that out by yourself. Re-directing lightning should be easy for you."

Zuko gaped. "Re-direct… lightning?!" he asked.

"I hope you'll never have to use it." Iroh replied. "But I will teach you. Tomorrow morning if that's okay with you."

"Yes!" Zuko exclaimed. "Of course!"

Aang grinned. "Zuko is so cool in battle." he stated. "You should have seen him when he faced Azula!"

At that Iroh almost spat out the noodles he had just put in his mouth. "You did what?" he asked.

"Erhm… When we defended the wall against the drill." Zuko smiled awkwardly.

Iroh sighed deeply. "Zuko. How many times do I need to tell you." he asked.

"It was different this time." Zuko then said. "I… I stopped relying on my anger when fire bending and… It's different." he said. "When I faced Azula I… I didn't try to win. All I tried to do was buying Aang time. And… It made it different. I didn't even fire bend." he admitted. "I just… dodged. It made her really angry that I wouldn't use fire bending against her." he looked at his hands. "It's weird. It's not that my fire has become stronger it's more like… It has become more fluent. Consistent… Adaptable." he said. "I can feel it. How those flames are alive… Living. And using them as crudely as I did. It locks off all the possibilities. Fire is not just big explosions and raw power. It's… Alive." he gasped as he looked up. Then met Irohs soft eyes.

"Only a true fire bending master understand this Zuko." Iroh smiled gently making Zuko gasp for breath.

"Are you saying that I'm…" Zuko halted. "But I'm not as strong as Azula."

"How many times do I need to tell you?" Iroh asked amused. "Fire bending. It's not about the muscle." he stated. "There's someone I know I think you should meet. You're ready now."

Zuko halted. "Who?" he asked.

"Two true fire bending masters." Iroh smiled fondly. "The only two left in this world. Sadly they are in the fire nation. At sun warrior island. We do not have the time right now." he said. "How-ever. When you do have the time." he encouraged. "Go meet them. They should be able to teach you something quite amazing."

"I… I will." Zuko nodded. "When we have the time. And erh. Can actually get to sun warrior island."

"Well. Sounds like there's a lot of things we could choose to do with this new information." Sokka commented. "Dad… That guru dude. Sun warrior island." he commented. "Though we still need to figure what we want to do with Ba Sing Se."

"If I may." Iroh said. "I think that is a discussion we should have in the morning. When we are well rested." he said. "It is also important to enjoy precious moments like this. Things wont go faster just because we insist on making a decision tonight."

"Sounds good to me." Katara said. "Let's sleep on it at least."

And indeed they kept chatting and eating, now more at ease and just having an all around amazing evening until at last Iroh stood up and bowed.

"I think it is time I took my leave. I think I have embarrassed my nephew enough for one evening."

"What are you talking about?" Zuko asked.

"Don't worry. I have a room in the lower ring. I don't wish to intrude." Iroh smiled.

"Have you seen this house?" Zuko asked. "We got plenty of room! Of course you're staying here! Right?" he turned to the others.

"Of course he is!" Katara huffed.

"What else would we use all this room for?!" Aang asked. "It'll also just be a lot easier wont it?"

"In that case. I thank you." Iroh bowed for them again.

"Let me show you to a room you can use." Katara smiled kindly as she stood up. "You must be tired. It has been a long day."

"Yes it has." Iroh admitted. "And yes I fear I am rather tired. Sadly I'm not as young as I used to be."

"It's okay." Katara smiled as she took Iroh away. "We're just glad you're here."

Zuko smiled as he looked at the two leave and Toph leaned up against him as her eyes were dripping to almost falling shut. "I want an uncle like that." she muttered.

"I'm okay with sharing." Zuko replied amused. "I think you need to go to bed too."

Toph yawned deeply. "Can't I just sleep here?"

Zuko shook his head. "That would mean I had to sleep here too. Sitting up. So that's a no." he said as he stood up making Toph drop down and Zuko sighed as he picked up dirty dishes from the table to put them in the kitchen soon helped by Sokka who knew that Katara would have his head if he didn't help out.

"He's a cool dude your uncle." Sokka commented as he put down the plates.

"Yeah." Zuko smiled. "I'm glad you're okay with having him here."

"Hey!" Sokka said holding up his hand. "One. He seems to have been the only good thing in your life for three years. Two. He's found out where my dad is and is happy to tell me. Three. He seems pretty onboard with the fire nation not taking over the world and wants to help fight against douch lord. So as far as I am concerned. We owe him big times all ready."

Zuko smiled amused. "Good points." he said and Sokka grinned.

"This is definitely going to be a big help!" Sokka stated in a grin. "Like I said. You're Uncle is a pretty cool dude."