Their family caused quite the scene once they found the two of them kissing. Azula was amused by the shock on their faces, and especially by the mix of embarrassment and open defiance in Zuko's eyes. He kept one arm around her, holding her close to himself while their mother and uncle were losing their minds, and Ikem, Lu Ten and Kiyi were not so discretely trying to look for an escape route. The people around were whispering to each other, some looking disgusted and appalled, but others - most of the people who actually knew them personally - seemed indifferent. In fact, they seemed to be surprised that their family didn't know about their incestuous affair.

Eventually, Iroh's friend, the host, not so politely asked them to leave. Zuko stayed practically glued to her side, and Azula caught him giving a few people some very threatening looks. He became a bit more sheepish when it was just their little group again. Before Iroh and Ursa had the chance to yell at them again, she decided to give them the good news.

"By the way, we're engaged" she said bluntly, showing off the ring on her finger.

Kiyi seemed happy for them, and so was Lu Ten, though he was much more shocked. Iroh, Ursa and Ikem looked like they were all seconds away from having a stroke and dying. It made all the screaming stop, but it led to an incredibly tense and awkward silence as they went back to their winter home. Azula wasn't allowed to be on the same car as her brother.

Sure, that will fix everything, she wanted to say, but decided against it. They had already exposed the open secret that was their relationship, which was something she had not been expecting to happen anytime soon, and it left in enough of a good mood to just let them process the information at least a little. Of course, her happiness because of the engagement played a big part too.

As soon as they were at the house again, a new round of screaming and accusations of irresponsibility begun, but this time Ursa and Iroh seemed more interested in blaming each other, and even Ikem and Lu Ten. Azula was sure that the next morning those two would be sure that they were the ones who caused the situation - and that they could 'fix' it and had an obligation to do so.

She went to Zuko's room, and for a brief moment she regretted not waiting a little longer to tell everyone. Kiyi was very stressed out because of all of that drama and asked to stay with them. The seemingly never-ending fight downstairs didn't exactly help.

Somehow, Kiyi eventually managed to sleep despite of that, and Azula took the chance to offer her brother some comfort. He had been the one reassuring their little sister the whole time that things would be alright, but it was clear that he needed someone to do the same for him.

The two of them lied down next to their little sister, holding each other tight, both for support to be able to fit on the bed. Azula repeatedly kissed Zuko's cheek while he played with her hair.

"Guess it went better than we expected, huh?" she whispered.

"Nobody died or killed anyone yet, so yes" he joked, making them both chuckle.

"You were really brave tonight. It meant more to me than you can imagine"

"I wasn't that brave. We were terrible at hiding our relationship anyway"

"Can't you take a compliment? Ever?"

He chuckled "Sorry"

"It's okay" she yawned and held him tighter "Once this is all dealt with, we should celebrate properly. You can ask anything, and I'll do it"

He smirked "I like that idea"

"Of course you do, pervert"

Breakfast was unbelievably tense, and their mother barely ate anything, trying and fainling to pretend she wasn't fighting back the urge of screaming and berating them until she lost her voice, announced that they had decided Zuko should stay with Iroh and Lu Ten for a while. Azula had to control herself not to laugh.

It's a little too late for an intervention, mother.

"Please let both of them stay!" their sister begged, and Azula felt a little bad for the kid. Even if their mom changed her mind, both of them would be moving out very soon anyway.

"Sweety, this is for the best. Now go to your room, we have to talk to your siblings."

"Talk or yell?" she asked before Azula could, annoying Ursa;

"Just go, honey" Ikem said, and this time Kiyi actually obeyed. However, the conversation didn't start for a while. None of them seemed to really know what to say. Ikem decided to break the ice with the question Azula was sure their family wanted to know the most "When did this start?"

"Why don't you try and guess?" Azula said, amused at the discomfort evident in their faces. They were obviously terrified of the answer, especially Iroh and Ursa. Those two always got uncomfortable whenever they were forced to acknowledged that they often only saw what they wanted to see.

Lu Ten sighed "They've been together for five years"

"Almost six, really" Zuko added, sounding far less bold than he had the night before.

Iroh's eyes widened "That long?"

"How did this even happen?" Ursa asked

"You see, when two siblings who are going through puberty love each other very much..."

"Azula!" they all yelled at the same time, her mother looked like she wanted to slap her for being so disrespectful, Iroh looked like he'd have a heart attack at any second, Ikem and Lu Ten seemed to just be waiting for the moment they'd have to break up a fight, and Zuko looked like he was about to die of embarrassment - he always looked so cute when he had type of reaction.

"Is this all a joke to you?" Ursa asked, her eye twitching "Can't you take anything seriously?"

It was Azula's turn to be mad. She had forgiven her mother for that exact same question less than 24 hours before due to how obviously shocked she was, but she was not going to let her try to pretend that the most important part of her life was just some kind of rebellious, reckless phase that she would eventually get over, regret deeply and wish had never happened.

"I know this is serious, I understand it better than you could ever hope to imagine. But I also know that this isn't the tragedy you're all trying to make it up to be. We're in love and we want to be together. It's that simple. Happens to pretty much everyone"

"It doesn't happen to everyone. Not like this, not with family" Iroh argued, and Azula was amazed the man could still speak. He had spent nearly an entire day yelling at his son for helping them hide their relationship "This is absurd, shouldn't have ever started and it has to end now"

She smirked "Sure, enjoy the three months Zuko and I will spend separated, then please buy us some very expensive wedding gifts. We'll need stuff for our new home"

Ikem gave her the closest he could get to a stern, angry glare. She tried to ignore it, but when she looked next to her and saw Zuko clearly upset and afraid of the consequences of this conversation, she felt immensely guilty.

"Look" she started over, using a softer tone "I know you guys are only thinking of what's best for us, and that this is a lot to take in in such a short amount time" she grabbed her brother's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze "But we're happy. That's why we chose to tell you. And this has been going on for a long time, so it's not that everything is suddenly changing, not really. It might be unusual, but this is what has always worked for us"

Zuko offered her a timid, but still sweet and proud smile. The others stayed quiet the whole time.

"Kids, just please go get your things. We'll discuss it some other day" their mother still sounded disgusted and a little angry, but her request seemed to have come purely due to her exhaustion. Like she wanted an excuse to distance herself, and every one of them, from the situation, even if just for a little while.

Her brother turned to her, silently asking her permission, and Azula simply nodded. They'd make him leave anyway, it was best to just go with it to avoid unnecessary drama. Zuko kissed her cheek, then went to his room. While their step-dad was sitting in the living room, comforting their mother. who looked like she had just heard somebody died, and Iroh and Lu Ten were getting ready to leave and take her brother to their home, Azula took the chance to say a proper goodbye to her fiancé. She threw herself in his arms, and he gave her a tender kiss.

"I'll call you every night" he promised.

"You better" she retorted, making him chuckle. She buried her face in the curve of his neck, and for a little while, the two of them didn't say anything, just holding onto that moment a little longer.

Eventually, she got her things as well, and they all got ready to leave... and then, with everyone watching, she ran to her brother, practically squished both sides of his face with her hands and kissed her dum-dum, just to make them all a little more furious and exasperated.

They wouldn't be able to take her Zuzu away from her, but that didn't mean she wouldn't punish them for trying.