Mai groaned deeply and annoyed as her and Zuko walked down the street just having eaten what supposedly was meant to be a private dinner with her own fiance. "Seriously. What does a person have to do to get some privacy?!" she asked annoyed.

Zuko sighed deeply, his arm wrapping itself around hers as they continued walking. "So you noticed too."

"Of course I did." Mai huffed. "That guy has been following us ever since we left the hotel." she muttered. "No sorry. I think it's a woman."

Zuko sighed yet again. "Assassin? Spy?" he asked.

"No way." Mai said. "This person is not at all subtle or graceful."

"Journalist?" Zuko then suggested.

"Potentially." Mai said. "Writing a big scoop about the fire lords date with his own fiance. Don't these people have anything better to do?" she asked in a eye roll. "Could also just be some idiot. Maybe someone has a crush on you." she stated. "Too bad! You're mine." she pouted then groaned "She sure is persistent though. Most people gets bored at this point."

Zuko sighed deeply. "We better ditch her." he then said. "I honestly had enough of this."

"You said it." Mai snorted as they both picked up speed… and as expected so did their pursuer.

Zukos eyes narrowed as they kept walking at a slightly higher speed until finally they reached a small shadowy alleyway where Zuko and Mai made a quick turn. As soon as they were both into there they quickly realized it was a blind alley but also there was a bunch of box's stacked up against the side which Zuko and Mai easily hid behind now completely hidden in the shadow just in time for their pursuer to come running. As if she was in a deep panic and then as predicted ran in after them only to face the blind alley and nothing else.

Zukos eyes narrowed as he hid with Mai sitting in complete silence in the shadow where no one could see them and the woman backed away as she looked at the wall.

She mostly had their back to them so Zuko couldn't really see her face. She seemed to be fairly mature though which surprised Zuko. Long and very thick looking soft hair falling down her back and wearing pretty decent but not overly fancy clothes. Just a long dress with loose flowing sleeves. Which was pretty common in the fire nation. It was Mais preferred dress style too.

The woman stumbled back as she gasped.

"No… No no no! Where?!" she started to look right and left. "Think! Just think." she slammed her own forehead. "Oh no I wasted it… Stupid. How could I." she swallowed.

Zuko hesitated… Maybe this woman had a very legitimate reason that she wanted to see him. But had been too nervous to approach him? It made Zuko reconsider. Maybe he should just go talk to her.

"Think-Think-Think." The woman lectured herself and finally turned around to reveal her misty tear filled eyes and… A face.

Zuko froze on the spot… Just froze as his heart seemed to stop and his mouth hung open.

Mais eyes as well widened as the woman hopelessly looked around and even tried to pull in one of the locked doors around them as she cried. Tears now falling down her face.

"Zu-Zuko." Mai gasped. "Is that just me or does that woman look like…"

Zukos mouth was wide open, his eyes firmly on the woman who now had to give up on the quite clearly locked door and then covered her eyes instead.

"Zuko?" Mai asked and then she realized.. Zuko was shaking. Then he covered his own mouth with his hand.

The woman sniffed as she turned around now covering her face with her hands. And with her back to them it was obvious that her shoulders were shaking "Zuko…" she whispered in a voice that somehow sounded so familiar and Zuko swallowed as slowly. Slowly he stood up from the shadow making himself visible and then slowly… Slowly he approached the crying woman.

Mai stood up too. But didn't move as Zuko moved closer, his entire body shaking….Slowly he reached out a shaking hand… Almost he touched her shoulder. And then he halted. "Erhm…" he finally said. "Excuse me."

"ARGH!" The woman screamed and then twirled around wide-eyed looking up at Zuko who turned out to be taller than her.

The woman gasped. Zukos eyes were wide open and they were just wide-eyed looking at each other in pure shock.

"Zu… Zuko!" The woman the woman shouted. "You… You… You." she gaped up at him.

"So-Sorry!" Zuko replied in an equal stammer. "It's just… You see… You really look like… erhm."

"We-We-Well. You see! You're." The woman gasped but was lost for words her hands constantly going back and forth as if he she wanted to do something with them but constantly changed her mind.

And Zuko was stiff as a board, his eyes remaining wide open.

Mai couldn't help but look from one to the other… Did both of these people just forget how to speak?

"I know this has to sound like a weird question." Zuko tried. "But are you… erhm potentially… What I mean is."

"Look I know this is a lot to take in." The woman tried. "But-But… I'm your mother!"

There was silence. Stunned silence. Zukos eyes widened even more. The woman looked like a nervous wreck and then she held up her hands while forcing a smile.

"Surprise!"

"…."

It was no wonder that Zuko was too stunned for words. He just looked at the woman… Ursa. There was no doubt in Mais mind now that she really saw the woman. Both her children looked so much like her! Their delicate faces and smooth skin! And of course those eyes! It really was her!

And then it also helped a lot that what Mai had just seen very much looked like someone talking to their own mirror image.

"Zu-Zuko?" Ursa asked as he looked at her in stunned silence. "I… I'm sorry. I didn't mean." she swallowed. "I just… I just… I wanted to see you." she said as tears welled up in her eyes. "And… And I understand it if you don't want to see me! That's okay! I should never never have left you with that man." her eyes watered more and her voice broke. "I should have fought harder! Thought of something. Done something!" she said. "I'm so… So sorry." she sniffed. "I don't know how you can ever forgive me. You've been through so much and I just… And I just…"

"Mom?" Zuko finally asked.

Ursa gasped then she nodded. "Yes… It's me." she cried. "Zuko I…" and she didn't get another word in as Zuko just grabbed her and pulled her into a tight hug.

"MOTHER!" Zuko cried and Mai held up her hands covering her mouth. Even she couldn't resist the tears forming in her own eyes. "I… Where have you been?! How are you here? I don't…" he chocked.

"Zuko.." Ursa swallowed and then she cried as she embraced him back. "ZUKOOO! I'm so sorry! I really really am!" she cried. "Can you ever forgive me! I.."

Zukos voice broke as well as he held her. "It… It's okay." he sniffed. "I know what you did."

"What?" Ursa asked shocked as she let go standing back.

"You saved my life." Zuko cried now standing there alone as he swallowed. "I know… You saved my life that night. Ozai was going to kill me and… And you saved me."

"You… You're not angry?" Ursa asked as she gasped.

"Why would I be angry?" Zuko asked. "You didn't have a choice."

And Ursa sniffed and then broke together again as she cried.

"Mo-Mom!" Zuko yelped startled. "It… It's okay!" he tried to step closer and then awkwardly wrapped his arms around her again. "There there! I mean… I… erhm."

And Ursa just cried even harder as she pulled Zuko even closer. Practically squishing all air out of him and Zuko gasped for breath. "Can't… Can't breath." he squawked.

"Oh my Agni I am so sorry!" Ursa let go of Zuko again now covering her mouth.

And again they were just kind of awkwardly left there looking oddly at each other, tears in both their eyes but clearly neither knew what to say and Mai finally took that as her cue to step in.

Though even she had to dry away a few tears first with her sleeve… Dammit. Then she cleared her throat. "Ahem."

"Mai." Zuko gasped as he looked up.

"Normally I hate it when date night gets ruined." Mai smiled weakly, trying to hide the tears in her own eyes. "But I'll let this one slide."

"Mai." Ursa gasped as she turned to her. "I… I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to… I just."

"It's nice to see you again. Lady Ursa." Mai said. "And I really mean that. So don't worry about it. You could just have talked to us earlier though. Instead of stalking us for two hours."

"I'm sorry." Ursa looked down holding her hands. "I… I didn't know what to say… Or how to say it." she said. "I mean… It's been so long and… Zuko has been through so much." tears welled up in her eyes again. "I am so sorry!" she cried. "Your face! Banishment?! ZUKO I'M SO SORRY!" she grabbed the front of his tunic.

"Woah!" Zuko stumbled backwards. "It… It's okay! Things turned out for the better by the end. I'm glad I got banished!"

"What?!" Ursa gasped.

"I… I mean it was hard." Zuko said. "But because I was banished I learned so much! And became a much better person! And I met all my friends! And I wouldn't be where I am now without it. And I am really happy where I am now! And… And…"

Ursa sniffed. "Zukoooo." she cried into his chest again.

"Ahem." Mai tried again. "May I suggest we take this… Somewhere more private?" she asked. "Where maybe Lady Ursa can sit down? She seems like she could need it. And you can make her some of your tea Zuko."

"Oh… yeah. That's a good idea." Zuko nodded. "Erhm… Back to the hotel?" he suggested.

"Sounds like a plan to me." Mai said. "Something tells me this could be a really long night."

"Yeah." Zuko nodded then managed to wrap an arm around Ursa to guide her in the right direction. "Erhm this way…. Mom." he tried.

And of course that made Ursa burst out in tears again.

Hopelessly Zuko looked at Mai. Wordlessly begging for help.

"This is your five step plan." Mai informed in a matter of fact voice. "We go to the hotel. We sit Lady Ursa down. You make her your tea. We all drink the tea to calm ourselves down. And then we talk."

Zuko exhaled deeply finally relaxing a little bit. "I love you." he said.

"Of course you do. I don't over complicate things." Mai said. "Come on then." she gestured for Zuko to follow her with Ursa and Zuko nodded as slowly they started to walk.