Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. It's still a shame.

Once they made the decision to go to Ember Island they decided to leave the next morning. The logistics of adding two more people to the saddle on Appa's back turned out to be only slightly troublesome. Aang, of course, would sit on Appa's head, but the rest of them had to squeeze onto the seemingly shrinking saddle he wore.

The poor sky bison moaned a bit when Iroh clambered up into the saddle, Aang patted him and he licked the Avatar, coating him in slobber while the boy laughed delightedly. Even the bison seemed happy they were leaving, and Momo chattered cheerfully as he decided to find his perch on Iroh's shoulder.

By the time the rest of them were situated, they were more than ready to be off on their next journey. Even Toph, who naturally hated to fly, was eager to climb on so they could leave.

Zuko found himself highly uncomfortable due to the close quarters of Appa's saddle. Somehow, Toph ended up between his father and himself, so, despite the fact that he still felt a tad bit hesitant around Sokka because of his previous and recent hatred of them, he had no choice but to sit quite close to him.

His father seemed fine, although that might have been due to the fact that Katara sat next to him and she turned out to be a good conversationalist.

Toph was simply clearly displeased about her lack of ability to 'see' with her feet, and though that was certainly understandable, Zuko was quite pleased that Iroh was there to keep a conversation going. He glanced out of the corner of his eye at Sokka and caught the boy staring at him in a contemplative way.

Rather than allow the unknown to fester, he quickly turned to Sokka.

"Something on your mind?" he asked with a hint of nervous energy in his voice, and inwardly grimaced.

Embarrassed to be caught staring, Sokka attempted to resist a flush and failed.

"Ah..er, well…" he stammered. "I uh, I was wondering how you got your scar."

Zuko had dreaded that question since they had joined the Avatar and his friends. He was well aware that the severity of the scar was quite diminished from what it had been, and he had perfect sight and hearing on that side as well since he had been healed. He had often wondered why he still had his scar, as he had not had a choice in it.

More than once he wondered if Umi had chosen to leave it since she couldn't ask him. He still didn't really know what had happened, but he was very grateful for the consideration he felt was shown to him. That scar had been a symbol of his shame and failure as the heir to the firelord throne and title and the Firelord himself; but now, he saw it as a reminder.

It was a reminder for him to never become like Ozai. It was his proof, a visible token that meant to him; "you are not your father, you never have been, and you never will be."

Yes, he was truly grateful it was still there.

Suddenly realizing he hadn't replied yet, Zuko cleared his throat and answered.

"Ah…well, when I was 13 years old I begged…Ozai…to allow me to join in one of his war councils. Iroh warned me to stay silent, but when I heard them planning to sacrifice an entire division of new recruits as a diversionary tactic of war, I…" he hesitated and glanced Iroh's way and caught his father's compassionate gaze. He knew he had everyone's attention, and was attempting to ignore it.

Finally he continued. "I disobeyed and spoke up." He finished his sentence quickly. "I disagreed with the general's plan, and told them so, saying that to sacrifice those soldiers like that was a betrayal of their patriotism."

"And you were right." Iroh interjected. "It was a despicable tactic."

"Yes, but I should not have spoken. I disobeyed you, and I paid a very hefty price." Zuko replied.

"What do you mean?" Asked Katara, despite knowing that the answer would not be pleasant, she couldn't help but ask.

"My words were viewed as a serious insult. He demanded that I pay for it by rite of Agni Kai."

Aang had crawled up to sit just behind the saddle and was listening intently, but he finally spoke up. "What's Agni Kai?" he asked curiously.

"It's a traditional duel between firebenders." Zuko answered. "I foolishly believed it would be the general I was fighting, and I readily agreed." He shook his head. "But when I arrived at the time and place determined, I was horrified to find it was the Firelord himself, my father of birth, whom I had insulted and would be fighting ."

"Wait, you were forced to fight your dad?" Sokka interrupted.

"Yes." He replied. "I…begged for his forgiveness. I had no desire to fight my..birth father. But he would not hear it. Even more incensed by my refusal to fight, he decided he was going to teach me a lesson."

Zuko pointed to the scar. "He gave me this." He finished simply.

"He burned your face? On purpose?" Katara asked, horrified.

"Yes. It was very deliberate."

"Wow…" Sokka breathed. "I can't imagine what I would have done if our dad had done something like that to me." He looked Zuko in the eyes.

"I'm sorry I asked about it man, I guess that's something you don't like to talk about."

"It's ok. "Zuko replied. "Everyone always looks and tries not to and wonders. I'm glad you asked."

"Well I think his scar looks just fine." Commented Toph drolly. Everyone turned to look at her and then laughed at her obvious joke. It was good to laugh, and the amusement dissipated any remaining tension in the air.

The conversation moved past his scar on to other, more important things, like if the house at Ember Island had a beach, and Zuko relaxed. The easy camaraderie was something he wasn't used to, but it felt good. He could almost imagine that this was what a real family felt like. He glanced over at his father and caught his eye. Iroh understood and smiled gently. Zuko smiled back. Yeah, it felt really good.

0o0o0o0o0o0

"Tiron!" Umi gasped as she walked into the living room, surprised to see him looking so well. "I'm so glad you're awake!"

He smiled a lopsided smile and set down the glass he was holding. "Thanks to you, I am." He answered.

"Oh, not me, I just brought you home. It was that girl who saved us both." She deferred.

"That's right, I vaguely remember hearing a voice. I never saw her." Tiron spoke again. "Did you get a good look at her? I would like to thank her too."

"I did. I would know her if I saw her again." Umi replied confidently. "I will go back into the city and ask…"

"Oh no, it's way too dangerous to do that, what if those soldiers came back? You shouldn't go alone." He was quick to add.

"Thank you for being so considerate. I can go into town with Kalek and Saral." Replied Umi.

"Of course you may." Saral said kindly. "We will do our best to find who helped you."

Tiron's parents stood and shook their hands and thanked them profusely for their assistance and hospitality. "We must leave now in order to reach home before the wee hours of the morning." His father stated.

"Absolutely." Kalek nodded.

Saral glanced at Umi. "Umi, could you please collect the children?"

"Right away." She replied and ducked back out of the house, glad to be able to see the children at play one last time.

Interrupting their play, she gently informed them that their brother was waiting to see them and they quickly abandoned their new feline friends in favor of seeing their big brother. Umi smiled at their eagerness, and then wistfully at their backs as they ran towards the house.

Would she ever know the joys and sorrows of motherhood? She shook her head as if to shake off the thoughts that brought her down, and walked swiftly back to the house. She was just in time to see Tiron step out of the house practically into the arms of his siblings. They clung to him and he bent to put an arm around each of them and chuckled smilingly at their affection.

She stopped in her tracks and hung back, loathe to interrupt their touching reunion. Soon enough he was untangling himself from them and sending them inside to their parents. He walked down the steps, limping somewhat and she met him near the landing.

"Thank you Umi." He said simply.

She shook her head. "No, it is I who thank you. From the bottom of my heart. You did everything you could to save me from a horrible fate. If you hadn't stopped them, and sacrificed yourself for me, this night would have had a very different outcome." She answered emphatically.

"I will do, safely, what I can to find that girl as well. Without her, both our lives might have been in danger." Umi promised.

Tiron nodded. "Thank you again." .

"And thank you for the lovely evening." She replied "I truly had a wonderful time."

He smiled bashfully and turned quickly as everyone else crowded out the front door interrupting their conversation.

Goodbyes, thank you's, and handshakes were exchanged and the family piled into their wagon and departed for home.

Umi followed the people she'd come to see as her adopted parents back into the house that had begun to feel like home to her with a contented sigh. All was well; she would find the girl who saved Tiron and herself and thank her personally.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Zuko directed Aang , who, in turn, steered Appa to the Firelord's Ember Island home on the prestigious vacation island for Fire Nation nobility. It was harder to do in the air, but he managed it, and they reached the house by mid-afternoon, the sun at its hottest.

Aang directed Appa to land near the house on the beach. Everyone piled off, poor Iroh working a little harder to gracefully descend after a knee-stiffening, hours-long, ride on the sky bison. The Avatar quickly worked to get Appa some well needed fresh water as the rest of them went to check out the house.

Only Toph remained behind, practically kissing the blessed earth beneath her bare feet. Katara rolled her eyes at the earthbender's antics she walked into the house behind the firebenders and her brother.

It was a beautiful home and she said as much, Zuko nodded, only half-listening, his mind deep in the memories of his childhood times spent within those walls. It was the same for Iroh. He glanced at Zuko, knowing his son would be remembering those times spent there, both good and bad. He appeared pensive but not unhappy, and Iroh smiled to himself as they gave the two siblings the tour.

Katara positively exploded with excitement upon seeing the fully-functional bathroom complete with bathtub. Iroh, chuckling, assured her that she would have the first use of its facilities as soon as they settled in.

Sokka, with his ever-needy stomach, reminded them that there was no food in the house, and that they too, had little food and it might be a good idea to go to the market and purchase some before it got too late.

Iroh recommended that they look in the house to see if there might be some stored fire nation clothing they could use in order to better blend in; and everyone set to searching the house for any stored goods.

After assuring himself that Appa had been well cared for, Aang, too, appeared in the house, hollering to find out where everyone was. He was quickly conscripted to join the hunt for fire nation clothing and with a sigh he agreed, meandering down a hallway and going into the next door he found.

It was with some small amount of hesitation Zuko had ventured into his old room. He did have many good memories here, and it was so strange to step into this place, not with his birth family, but with an adopted family. He was no longer a child, and the room seemed so much smaller than it had when he was young.

He walked over to the dresser and pulled out one of the drawers. With a twinge of nostalgia he reached in and picked up the toy that was inside; holding it almost reverently, as if it might break, as had the happy family of his childhood.

Right then and there he vowed that if he ever married and had children, his children would know more happiness than he ever had. They would know peace and prosperity and he would never allow what happened to him to happen to his own children. Zuko would die before allowing that to happen.

"Oh, hey Zuko, didn't know you were in here. I'll go look in another room." Aang chirped, spinning around, about to pop back out the door.

"Wait."

Aang turned back around curiously. "What's up Zuko?"

"I want you to promise me something." The firebender answered, the solemn timbre of his voice causing Aang to frown slightly.

"What's wrong?" the boy asked.

"Nothing's wrong" Zuko answered "I just…I wanted to ask a favor."

"Sure!" Aang smiled "what is it?"

Zuko looked out the window, his countenance serious and his hands clasped behind his back.

"My adopted father Iroh has chosen that I shall sit on the throne of the Firelord once my birth father has been defeated. I don't…I can't…" he stammered, trying to gather his thoughts and began again, this time looking directly at Aang's now concerned face.

"I don't want to be the same kind of Firelord Ozai is. I don't want to be like him, I don't want to do those terrible things or act that way; but if something ever changes, I want you to promise me Aang, promise me that you will end it."

Aang took a step back and stared at Zuko. "Wha..what do you mean, end it?"

"I mean, if I ever end up like Ozai I want you to kill me. You are the Avatar and the only person I could trust to do something like this." Zuko replied solemnly.

Aang's eyes widened and his face revealed his horror at the thought. "I couldn't do that!" He shook his head and backed up a step further. "I was raised by monks of the air temple, I won't be, I mean I can't..I wasn't taught to kill anyone!" He stammered. "It's against my beliefs; the monks taught me that peaceful ways are best and I believe it."

Zuko's shoulder's dropped a little and he sighed. "I'm sorry Aang, I guess it was a selfish request. Forget I said anything."

"It's ok, I'm sure you won't be like Firelord Ozai." The Avatar replied before darting out of the room, nearly headlong into Iroh, who was standing outside the door in the hallway with a very concerned and slightly horrified look on his face.

He slowly walked into the room and closed the door behind him. Zuko, who had walked over to the window as Aang had darted out the door, was staring intently out at the ocean and seeing nothing at all. His thoughts were directed inward.

"I know you won't be like my brother." Iroh stated solemnly.

Zuko whirled around from the window and suddenly had a hard time looking his father in the eyes.

"How do you know that?" he almost demanded.

"I know because not only did you show mercy and compassion at a very young age, but now as well, by the very desire you have of not becoming like Ozai you have already surpassed him and will never be able to become the kind of evil that he embraces." Iroh stated. "Your will and desire for honor have already ensured that."

Zuko turned back to the window, attempting to hide his distress. "How can you be so sure?" He rasped, his shoulders hunched and voice thick with emotion.

The strain of joining the Avatar, sharing personal secrets and dredging up old memories, learning his mother and sister were still alive, fearing that he would end up like Ozai, all the stress that he had been through recently seemed to somehow suddenly come to a head. It all seemed like too much.

"You're my son."

Somehow Iroh had known just what to say at just the right time. Zuko ducked his head and his shoulders relaxed as a small stream of tears made their way down his face. No matter what happened, he knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he could trust his father.

A small hiccup made its way out of his mouth and he rubbed his arm over his eyes. His father was right, it was his choice to make, and he'd already made the right one.

Wiping his sleeve over his face again he turned towards Iroh with a small, lopsided smile.

"Thank you father. You're right, I'm your son and I won't do anything that would disappoint you, or myself. I've already chosen that I'll be better than Ozai ever could have been and that when I'm Firelord, there will be peace."

"Spoken like a true leader. You will make a wonderful Firelord my son." Iroh said with moisture gathering in his smiling eyes. He quickly turned and rubbed the sleeve of his robe over his eyes as he reached for the door handle.

"Now, I shall continue my search for fire nation clothing, I suggest you do the same! Onward!" he declared, as he quickly exited the room, leaving the door open behind him.

Zuko smiled again and walked over to his closet to see what kind of clothes he might find, his heart far more peaceful and his mind no longer in turmoil.

A/N: Mostly just a bit of fluff for y'all since I got a little busy and missed my posting day! My apologies! Until next time!