A/N: Light spoilers for the comics 'The Promise' and 'The Search'. I hope you like my story :)
After Zuko had reunited with his mother, Ursa asked him to sit with her in the small garden and tell her what had happened after she had left. Ursa watched the emotions on her son's face closely while he told her everything about his banishment, his friendship with the avatar and the war.
Finally having her memories back and now hearing from Zuko what had happened to him, Azula and Ozai was a lot to take in and Ursa was sure that it would take many more conversations with her son for her to fully understand everything that she had missed in her son's life. However when he told her about the end of the war and how glad he was that the avatar and him were friends now, Ursa felt hope in her heart. During his childhood Zuko had been taught by private teachers, so there hadn't been a lot of people around him who he had been close to. Hearing now that he had found friends made her happy for him. However there was one person, who Ursa knew personally, who he was mentioning so frequently throughout their conversation. Mai.
Ursa had only known Mai as a shy little girl, who had a crush on her son, but now it seemed that Zuko and her had formed a relationship. Despite that Ursa didn't know much about Mai, she was happy for her son, that was until he told her that they had broken up. The pain that crossed her son's face when he told her about that, made Ursa's heart heavy.
Apparently the new position as Fire Lord was weighting heavily on her son's shoulders and he had been so insecure that it had costed him Mai. Ursa had missed so much of her son's life and she knew that she would never get that time with him back, but now that they had reunited she wanted to be there for him. As his mother she wanted to see him happy and hearing him talk about Mai made it obvious to her that Mai was a big part of his happiness. It was clear to her that Zuko loved Mai deeply and that he wanted her back in his life.
There was already a plan forming in her head and she was determined to set it into motion with her next words to her son.
"I want to thank Mai personally. She saved your life at the Boiling Rock after all and I wouldn't mind to see her again after so many years."
Zuko was surprised by his mother's request, but then again his mother had always had a soft spot for Mai. He couldn't deny his mother this wish, so he promised her to arrange a meeting when Ursa would visit him at the palace.
If Zuko was honest to himself, there was still not a day when he didn't think about Mai and he missed her. His thoughts about Mai must have shown through his words to his mother more than he had thought. He loved Mai and there was nothing more than he wished for than having a chance to talk to her again. Little did he know that Ursa was giving him that opportunity.
A few weeks later Suki asked Mai to come with her to palace, but the noblewoman hesitated. Hers and Zuko's break up was still fresh on her mind and it hurt her to even think about seeing him again. Her heart was still broken, even if she would never openly admit it. However that the former Fire Lady wanted to talked to her, made her consider going. Zuko's mother had always been kind to her when she was younger and she remembered clearly that Ursa had offered her dry clothes after the fountain accident and she had even told her mother that she wasn't to blame for her ruined clothes.
Sighing deeply Mai made her decision and followed Suki to the palace and into the still quite familiar office of the Fire Lord. Mai tried her best to not look at Zuko and instead bowed.
"Fire Lord Zuko, Lady Ursa."
Ursa smiled at the young woman in front of her. It had been years since she had last seen her. The once shy little girl had turned into a beautiful and elegant woman with, according to Zuko, great combat skills.
"Please call me Ursa, Mai. It's been a long time and I'm glad to see that you grew into such a lovely young woman." With that Ursa embraced Mai, who, after a moment of hesitation, returned the gesture.
Zuko watched the two most important women in his life embrace. This sight would have made him so happy a few months ago, but now it came with the realization that what he had wished for came true, but not in the way that he had wanted. He had lost Mai and it hurt to see her, especially so close with his mother. Since the end of the war he had done everything to have his mother back in his life and he had imagined her and Mai having tea in the garden, talking and sharing old stories. Now that it was a possibility that this could happen, Mai wasn't by his side any more. Not once had she even looked at him since she had arrived. Being so close to her and not being able to be emotionally close to her, made his heart hurt even more.
"I want to thank you for saving my son. He told me everything about how you came to his rescue at the Boiling Rock." Ursa's voice broke into Zuko's thoughts.
The two women had ended their embrace and now stood in front of each other.
"There is no need to thank me. I'm sure that everyone would have done that for the future Fire Lord."
From the corner of her eyes Ursa saw her son flinch at Mai's words and she knew why. Mai was referring to the situation as if she was just a loyal member of the Fire Nation, who only did her duty as such in saving the future Fire Lord. That gave no indication of any feelings she might have had or still had for her son. However despite her words and overall controlled facade, Ursa could feel the pain the young woman was going through. Not once had she looked at her son since coming into the room and her eyes were trying so desperately to hide what her heart was feeling that Ursa wanted to embrace Mai again.
"Still, it's very honorable of you, especially considering that Zuko was declared a traitor at that time rather than the future Fire Lord." Mai's posture stiffened even more at her words, but Ursa knew that this wasn't the time to call Mai out on her explanation. "I'm staying for a few days. Maybe we can share tea together. I would like to hear more about what has happened while I was gone and I would also like to hear about Ty Lee."
"I would like that, but I have to get back home for now. If you'll excuse me." Being in the same room as Zuko while still keeping her composure was getting too much and Mai just wanted to go home. Ursa and her alone she could handle, but not with Zuko so close to her. She gave Ursa a gentle nod and still without really looking at Zuko, she bowed lightly before him. "Fire Lord."
"I'll walk with you." Suki, who had stood silently by the door during the meeting, offered and the two women left the office.
"Mai is such a lovely woman and it seems to me that you really hurt her. How could you do that?" Ursa lightly hit her son on the shoulder as soon as the door closed behind Mai and Suki.
"I didn't mean to, okay. It was so stupid." Zuko almost shouted and the candles in the room flamed up. The stress of the situation and his emotions of seeing Mai again after their break up were all welling up inside him. He was angry, not at his mother and never at Mai, but at himself. His mother was right, but hearing her disappointment and knowing that he was at fault was too much. "I don't know why I even kept the meetings with father a secret from her."
Ursa watched her son pace restlessly in his office for another minute before Zuko's anger suddenly turned into another emotion. His temper vanished and Ursa could clearly see the sadness and desperation in his eyes.
"Seeing her and knowing that I lost her hurts so much." His voice broke and his next words came out in a whisper. "I can't stop loving her and I miss her so much, mom."
Suddenly it was as if no time had passed. Ursa embraced her son and Zuko finally let his emotions get the best of him. Back when he had been younger Ursa had often comforted him and now all these years later she was doing it again.
"It's never too late to correct your mistakes. I don't know a lot about the relationship you two built while I was gone, but I can see how much you two care about each other. Don't give up on what you and her have." Ursa whispered softly and hold Zuko a little tighter.
At the same time Suki was walking an equally heartbroken Mai out of the palace.
"How was it to see him again?" Suki gently asked Mai when they walked along the halls of the palace.
"I didn't come here for him." Mai tried her best to sound uninterested.
Suki sighed at her answer. When they had first met they had been enemies, but with Zuko and the rest of the gang becoming friends, her and Mai had developed a friendship. Mai had even trusted her enough to ask her to be Zuko's personal bodyguard and Suki had felt honored.
Even if someone would hardly describe Mai as happy, Suki had seen the noblewoman be happy when she had been with Zuko and the warrior knew how much they had loved each other. It had been evident in every moment she had spend with them and more often than not she had had to break a moment between them because a politician had arrived to see the Fire Lord.
Seeing them now together was a picture of heartbreak. Mai hadn't even looked once at Zuko while he had desperately tried to catch her eye. Both still cared deeply for each other and Suki knew that Zuko still loved her. He barely slept and while that could be because of his busy schedule, Suki knew better. She often found him asleep in his office, but instead of half finished papers being in his hands, there was a painting of him and Mai in his hand. That sight always broke Suki's heart and from Ty Lee she knew that Mai wasn't better of. Suki still felt guilty for being the one to tell Mai about Zuko visiting Ozai, but back then she had thought that Mai knew and had just wanted to share her thoughts about it with Mai.
The kyoshi warrior looked at her friend with concern.
"We both know that you're avoiding the question." Laying a hand on Mai's shoulder, both stopped in front of the palace doors. "He misses you, Mai."
Suki saw the crack that her words left on her friend's composed facade. Only for a moment, but Suki saw a deep sadness in Mai's eyes that broke her heart. She had heard it from Ty Lee, but seeing the strong woman, who Mai was, like this was devastating. How could two people who clearly loved each other so much, deny themselves happiness.
"I know, I do too." Mai's voice broke for a moment, before the years of training her facade came back to her. "But it doesn't matter. I'll leave his protection to you."
With that Mai walked away from her friend and the palace. Suki watched her go, back straight and elegant like the noblewoman she was, no one would guess the emotions that were clearly raging inside of her, but Suki knew now. This suffering had to end, she had to do something.
Later that day around noon, when Suki was on her break, she walked around the garden, still deep in her thoughts about Zuko and Mai.
"Suki, would you do me the honor of joining me for tea?" The soft voice of the former Fire Lady pulled her out of her thoughts when she passed a small table in the garden.
"Of course." Suki sat down at the table and let Ursa pour her a cup of tea.
"I heard that Ty Lee is now a part of the kyoshi warriors. The last time I saw her, she was still a child, so please tell me, is she happy with her life?"
"I believe so." Suki smiled.
"I'm glad to hear that." Then Ursa's smile vanished. "Can you tell me what really happened at the Boiling Rock? Zuko only told me that Mai saved him and I feel like Mai's words don't hold the whole truth."
Suki hesitated for a moment. The last time she had interfered with Zuko's personal life, him and Mai had broken up. However her thoughts about getting them back together and the possibility to have a partner in crime in Ursa won about her doubts.
"I was there and I was saved by Mai as well. I didn't hear it myself, but Ty Lee told me what Mai said to Azula. 'You miscalculated. I love Zuko more than I fear you.' Apparently without Ty Lee's intervention Mai would have lost her life then. She loved him deeply and I can see that she still does."
"He loves her too. Even back then before I left they had crushes on each other and no matter how much they tried to hide it today a mother knows when her child is in love. I might not be Mai's mother, but I could see it with her as well. Zuko told me that the break up was his fault, because he kept it a secret from her that he was visiting his father. Is that true?"
"I'm at fault, too. I saw him visit Ozai and I asked Mai to talk to him about it. As it turned out Zuko never told Mai about his visits and she felt betrayed." Suki averted her eyes to her cup of tea.
"Don't blame yourself." Ursa lay a reassuring hand over one of Suki's clenched ones. "Mai is a clever young woman, who cares deeply for my son, she would have found out anyway. Their break up isn't your fault."
"You really think so?" There was hope in Suki's voice.
"Yes, I'm sure of it. More important is that we get both of them to talk to each other. Mai has every right to be hurt. My son is still new to the throne and he is still insecure, but he trusts Mai. He just didn't know how to handle his complicated relationship with his father, so he kept it all to himself. Zuko never had the intention to hurt Mai with that and I'm sure that he would react differently now, but he needs a chance to prove that to Mai."
"Maybe we could arrange a meeting between them, but I doubt Mai would come to him on her own."
"Could you tell Mai that I want to meet her in Zuko's office around noon tomorrow? I'll make sure that Zuko is there. It would give him the opportunity to finally talk to her."
"I'll tell Mai, but I hope Zuko uses his chance. He is really bad at apologizing."
"So that hasn't changed." Ursa smiled fondly. "Hopefully with Mai, he can find the right words. It surely won't be easy."
Suki could only nod in agreement. Mai might still love Zuko, but he had hurt her deeply.
The next day Ursa visited Zuko in his office. Soon Suki would surprise him with Mai, but Ursa wanted her son to have something before that happened. After taking the tea, that her son had offered her, Ursa smiled gently at him.
"I brought something with me." Carefully she pulled out a beautiful golden necklace with a ruby. "This is my engagement necklace. It isn't the one Ozai gave me, so it isn't the traditional one of the generations of Fire Lords. Instead it's the one my mother gave me. It's a necklace of loving relationships instead of forced traditional ones and I want you to have it."
Zuko looked at the offered jewelry and Ursa saw hope in his eyes before it vanished.
"I'm sorry mom, but I can't accept this. I won't be able to give it to the person I love. She won't accept it." The sad look was back in his eyes.
"I told you to fight for her, Zuko. You're my son after all and a mother knows what her children are capable of." Softly she took a hold of his hand and placed the necklace in it. Before he could protest she stood up. Mai would surely be here soon. "I'll see you for dinner. Don't work too hard."
With that she left the room and Zuko alone with his thoughts. He had heard of the traditional engagement necklaces before, but he had only thought more about it since he had fallen for Mai. Since he had realized his love for her, he had wanted to marry her one day and he had planned to find the traditional necklace after the war had ended. However the one his mother had given him was better than any royal necklace. A symbol of love rather than obligation. He wanted that with Mai, love, happiness and trust. If only she would give him a chance to let him prove himself. Little did he know that a few minutes later he would get his chance.
Without knocking the door was pushed open and Mai entered the office. Her eyes widened in surprise for a moment when she saw him and the door to the office was quickly closed by someone. However it took only a moment for Mai to catch the emotion on her face before her defense was back.
"Now you're using your mom to get me here? That's low, Zuko." She turned around to leave, only to realize that the door was locked. "And you even thought about trapping me in here. The tactic of a true Fire Lord, I see."
"I don't know what you mean or why you are even here."
"So you didn't ask your mom to tell me that she wanted to see me?"
"No." Was all Zuko could say while he processed who was behind Mai's appearance in his office.
"Oh."
There was silence between them and other than the one that they had often shared before when they had been together, this one was uncomfortable. However Zuko couldn't concentrate on that. His mother had given him a chance to talk to Mai and he wanted to take it.
"I didn't arrange this meeting, but I'm glad that you're here. I'm sorry for keeping an important secret from you and especially for ordering you to come back. I shouldn't have said that and I should have talked to you."
Zuko wanted to say more, but Mai was finally looking at him and he was left speechless by the emotions that flickered in her eyes.
"I thought we were better than this. I thought that you trusted me and then I had to hear that you're visiting your father and talking to him again. Such an important part of your life and you weren't willing to share it with me. I thought you loved me." Her eyes stung, but she refused to let her tears fall. The next words left her lips before she could stop them. "I loved you Zuko."
"Loved? So you don't anymore." Zuko's heart hurt so much that the pain showed on his face. "I can understand why, but that doesn't change that I still love you."
Mai's heart beat faster at his words, but with the hope came heartbreak as well.
"Sometimes love isn't enough, if the trust isn't there."
"I made a mistake because I didn't know how to deal with my relationship with my father, I know, but I'll always trust you. I can promise you that I'll never keep a secret from you again, but I understand if you don't love me anymore."
His eyes left hers for the first time since they had found themselves together in the room. He had meant every word that he had said and his feelings lay bare in front of the woman he loved.
Mai looked at the man in front of her. In that moment he wasn't the Fire Lord, but just Zuko, the honest man she had fallen in love with. She could see that he had spoken from his heart and her heart yearned to give him a chance.
"I need you to prove to me that I can trust you again, but I'm willing to try." Mai's words were a rough whisper, but Zuko had never heard something more beautiful.
"I'm going to see my father one last time and I would like to have you by my side, when I close that chapter of my life. Are you willing to go that step with me and begin a new future together?" Gently he took a hold of her hands and was relieved when she didn't pull away.
"I'll go with you and I'll give you a chance to prove yourself to me."
Zuko smiled at her and squeezed her hands before letting go and taking a hold of the engagement necklace in his pocket. It wasn't the right time to ask her to marry him, but he would try everything to show her the trust and love he felt for her and one day, if she was willing, he would ask her to be his Fire Lady.
Little did the couple know that Ursa and Suki were watching them through a painting on the wall from a secret room. It was an emergency exit for the Fire Lord and Suki had been told about it when she had become Zuko's bodyguard, but at the moment this wasn't exactly what she and Zuko's mother were using it for.
"I think that means that they are giving their relationship a chance." Suki smiled, glad to see that both of her friends could finally smile again.
"I agree." Ursa mirrored Suki's expression while she looked at her son and Mai.
It might have been years ago that she had been here, but despite what her son thought about himself, he hadn't changed all that much from when she had last seen him. He was still gentle and had a heart of gold and of course was he still terrible with talking to girls. However with Mai by his side Ursa was sure that he could finally have the happy life that he deserved. Maybe some day soon she could finally help Mai be the Fire Lady who she could never be.
A/N: Please review and tell me what you think :)