After a while and a few cups of tea. Zhau-Li and his mother, who Zuko learned was named Haruhi, seemed to finally have calmed a little down.

It was clearly hard though, as Haruhi reached over the table just to hold her sons hand.

"I have so much to tell you." Zhau-Li said as he swallowed. "I guess though. We should wait until dad comes home."

Haruhi nodded then looked at him again. "Oh Zhau-Li. What happened to your face?" she asked looking at his left check and the burn scar going all the way down with his throat.

"It's okay. It doesn't hurt." Zhau-Li assured. "And I'm far from the one who got it worse, believe me."

That clearly was the wrong thing to say as Haruhi gasped.

"You didn't get my letter though?" Zhau-Li asked. "I send it months ago. When the war ended."

"No I…" Haruhi breathed just as the slide door was torn open again and a man ran into the living room then wide-eyed starred at them with an almost manic look in his eyes.

"Nanba!" Haruhi gasped.

"Dad!" Zhau-Li called.

The man stood, his eyes watered. "So it's true…" he swallowed. "Zhau-Li. You're."

"I'm so sorry!" Zhau-Li exclaimed. "I wrote you a letter! I thought that…"

Nanba gasped. "I know." he said. "I have the letter."

"Then… Why?" Zhau-Li asked.

"You were dead." Nanba swallowed. "Suddenly over a year after I get a letter addressed to this house with my sons name on the back of it. I… I couldn't open it." he said. "I thought it perhaps was your last letter before your death that had gotten lost until then. And I couldn't tell your mother. She was already destroyed when we were told that… That."

"Some sort of mistake?" Haruhi asked. "How could they mess up like that? I don't understand."

"It's because… Mom. Dad." Zhau-Li swallowed. "I betrayed the army… And they would rather declare me dead than having to deal with it."

Both parents quieted stunned as they wide-eyed looked at him.

"Zhau-Li?" Haruhi asked. "What are you saying? Why would you even."

"Listen." Zuko tried to cut in. "Things on the field aren't exactly like they are telling you in the newspapers." he said. "People here in the fire nation were told that their soldiers would be facing armies. But too often they were used to target civilians. Zhau-Li is a man of true honor, who refused to follow an order that meant harming innocent civilians." he said. "As a result he was arrested and faced prison for treason. But then he managed to escape. I imagine that's when he was declared dead."

Nanba turned to Zuko. "And who are you supposed to be?" he asked.

"This is Lee." Zhau-Li presented. "He's… A friend. We fought on the field together."

Nanba blinked. "Against the earth kingdom?"

"Erhm…" Zhau-Li looked down. "Actually… I erh… I was part of the united rebellion against fire lord Ozai lead by Prince Zuko." he informed. The united rebellion being the name that had been given to the event as it had not been just one nation that had fought against fire lord Ozai at the last days of the war. But a collusion between all nations, including disillusioned representatives from the fire nation.

"He was part of all the great decisive battles." Zuko informed. "You should be proud of him. He fought bravely on the fronts and served Lord Zuko with amazing loyalty."

"I don't care." Haruhi stated. "As long as he's alive." she sniffed.

Nanba looked down then nodded. "Indeed." he said. Then finally he walked over to Zhau-Li and hugged him as Zhau-Li swallowed as they embraced. "I'm sorry I didn't open your letter. That's my fault." he gasped.

"I'm sorry you had to believe I was dead." Zhau-Li said sincerely. "I should have come as soon as I could… I'm sorry. I just… My new duties are." he swallowed.

Then he reached down into his bag and pulled out a pouch filled with money. "Mom. Dad. This is for you." he said as he put the pouch on the table.

Both parents gaped, their eyes nearly popping out of their skulls. Zuko glanced around… judging from this house and village. They probably had never ever seen that much money in one place before.

"Oh no Zhau-Li we can't." Haruhi gasped. "How did you even.." she tried.

"I… Got a new job." Zhau-Li smiled as he looked down at his hands. "It pays really well."

Both parents blinked as they looked at him.

Zhau-Li cleared his throat. "So… I fought on the side of Prince Zuko. On the ground." he tried to explain. "And erhm. Lord Zuko was rather pleased with me so… I'm his bodyguard and first personal servant."

There was stunned quiet.

Haruhi blinked vividly. "Lord Zuko?" she asked. "Fire Lord Zuko?"

"Zhau-Li." Nanba tried. "Are you sure that."

"It's true! I work right next to him!" Zhau-Li said. "That's why I was able to come now! He's on a tour to the larger cities and small settlements! He'll be at Lu the day after tomorrow and I am supposed to meet up with him there before we sail for the next island."

"Me.. Meet up with him?" Haruhi stammered. "In.. In person?"

Zhau-Li blinked. "How else am I supposed to serve him."

"You… Talked to him?" Haruhi almost looked like she was going to faint again.

Zuko was just making sure that his hair was doing its job of covering the scar… It would be kind of bad if he accidentally killed Zhau-Li's parents by heart attack right now. They both seemed freaked out.

And Zhau-Li was side glancing at him.

"Mom it's okay!" Zhau-Li finally tried. "Lord Zuko is a very kind kid… man! He's a kind man!"

At that Zukos head snapped and he looked at Zhau-Li.

"Technically he's not off age yet." Zhau-Li hissed with a low voice as if trying to shield it from his parents.

"He's faced more soldiers than you have." Zuko replied back in a low whisper. "And he's the fire lord."

"And I'm the one making sure he goes to bed on time." Zhau-Li whispered back.

Zuko glared at him.

"Do you… Also serve the fire lord." Haruhi carefully asked Zuko.

"Oh.. erhm. Yeah!" Zuko said. "I erhh… I… Make his tea?"

Zhau-Li looked at him.

"Your only job is to make the fire lord tea?" Nanba asked a little stunned.

"That way we'll know it's not poisoned?" Zuko tried again.

"Poisoned tea?" Haruhi gasped. "Does that happen often."

"Yes." come the response both from Zuko and Zhau-Li simultaneously.

Truth was at this point Zuko only took the tea his uncle had made for him or he would make his own tea. Which suited him fine. Making tea did serve as a form of meditation he often desperately needed.

"So as you can see. I got plenty of money now." Zhau-Li said as he finally pushed the pouch back to his mom. "You don't need to worry about me."

Haruhi looked up at him as she swallowed, then looked down again. "All right then." she said. Her eyes squinted as tears emerged.

"Mom?" Zhau-Li asked.

"Zhau-Li I…" Haruhi tried. "Maybe it's just because I'm your mom. And you're my only child… I just." she swallowed. "I always knew… You were meant for great things. And what-ever great things you were going to do. It was going to be good." she sniffed. "I'm so proud of you."

And Zhau-Li gasped.

"I am too." Nanba nodded. "Please don't doubt that."

And Zhau-Li smiled. Tears forming in his eyes yet again. Like they had done all day.

As afternoon arrived Zuko was on his way out the door, he was just about to say good bye to Zhau-Li as Haruhi stopped them. "Lee. Are you sure you don't want to stay the night?" she asked. "I assure you. It's no problem."

"Thank you mam." Zuko nodded. "But I need to meet with Lord Zuko at Lu before he meets the citizens. Now that Zhau-Li is going to spend the Lords Lu visit here."

"I hope he wont get mad." Haruhi swallowed.

"Trust me." Zuko smirked. "The fire lord insisted he should see you."

"That's good." Haruhi breathed. "Well. Please take this at least. For the travel." she offered him wrappings that turned out to be filled with home made cookies.

"Most kind. Thank you." Zuko smiled and Haruhi beamed as she finally dashed off.

Zhau-Li shook his head. "It probably was a good idea we didn't tell them who you were for now." he commented.

"I'm sure they'll figure it out eventually." Zuko commented as he picked up a cookie and took a bite. "Oh these are good." he smiled.

Zhau-Li smiled warmly. "Thank you for coming." he said sincerely.

"Thank you for allowing me to come I… I did want to see this." Zuko said. "I'm glad that… At least some people get to reunite with their family."

"Oh." Zhau-Li realized. "No word of your mother?"

"That's hardly unexpected is it?" Zuko asked in an attempted smile, but it was clearly forced.

"And no word of Princess Azula…" Zhau-Li concluded.

"No.." Zuko hung his head. "It scares me." he admitted.

"You think she's plotting?" Zhau-Li asked.

"At this point I'm kind of hoping for it." Zuko smirked bitterly then swallowed. "When we fought… Doing the eclipse. She wanted me to kill her… She wanted it." he said. "And when she interfered in my Agni Kai against Ozai. Clearly she didn't care about her own safety at all… I don't think arresting her would have helped her recover but… It would have kept her safe at least."

"You don't think she's…" Zhau-Li couldn't even complete the sentence.

"I don't know." Zuko sighed deeply. "That's what sucks… I just wish I knew." he sighed. "Like with mother. If I just knew then… maybe I could move on."

Zhau-Li nodded. "We'll find this out." he assured. "When the tour is done. We'll find out what happened to them."

And Zuko looked up as he smiled lightly. "Thank you." he said. "At least though. I really am happy that you got to see your mother." he said. "That… I think that's the real reason I wanted to come. Also the last time I let someone go re-unite with their parents alone... it ended pretty badly."

"Oh.. yeah.." Zhau-Li remembered Ba Sing Se and the disaster with Toph going to meet her parents.

Zuko smiled apologetically. "Heh… Sorry about that."

"It's all right. Like I said. I'm glad you came." Zhau-Li smiled. "And I hope we'll find your mother. I mean you never know. My parents thought I was dead and I wasn't. She could be alive… And your sister too. Until we know something else for sure. Let's just assume they are alive and doing well."

"Heh… yeah." Zuko smiled. "Thanks."

Ursa obviously didn't think anyone could see her… They were on their tour and she was sitting inside of their tents on a chair, her back to the opening of the tent but her shoulders wer shaking.

And even from this odd ankle as Azula was looking in through the opening… Azula could see the newspaper in her mothers hands.

Azula hissed as she turned her head away. She hated how her heart was squirming like this… She hated feeling guilt! And over this! It was so stupid.

Then finally Azula inhaled a deep breath and stepped inside. "Mom." she said.

"Oh!" Ursa sat up straight and immediately folded the newspaper in her hands as she turned to Azula with a smile on her face. Obviously though that couldn't hide her red rimmed eyes or the tears still trailing her cheeks. "How are you darling? People were praising your play again today. Did you hear?"

Azula frowned. "Yes. I heard. They told me directly."

"Oh… Right." Ursa lowered her head and Azula sighed deeply.

"Mom. Just go see him!"

Ursas eyes widened as her head lifted.

"That's what it's about." Azula said. "He's not at the capital anymore. He's on a tour. And soon enough he will come to this island. We are going to be on the same island. You want to see him. Go see him!"

"Azula I…" Ursa swallowed. Then slowly she stood up. "I'm sorry I…"

Azula swallowed. "If the roles were reversed. If Zuko was the one here with you now and I was the one traveling. You would still really want to go see me… Right?"

"Of course darling." Ursa gasped.

"Then… Things are okay." Azula said wiping away a renegade tear. "You should go see Zuko."

Ursa let go of a breath and then she rushed forward to tightly embrace Azula again.

"Thank you… Azula." Ursa whispered. "Thank you."

"Just… Don't take to long." Azula hissed. "Zuzu has a way of twisting peoples heart you know."

"I can't be gone for too long regardless." Ursa reminded Azula slightly amused. "I'm the lead of our play you know." she gently slipped a hand through Azulas hair. "And I can't wait till I see your future shows."

Azula exhaled deeply as she shook her head. "Mom." and Ursa chuckled.