He shook his head as if to clear the memories from his mind and turned and walked down the steps. He wanted to check on his nephew. Every night, like clockwork, he would slip from his bed and go to the prince's chambers. He would peek in the door and make sure that he was sleeping comfortably.
The old man peered through the slightly open door. Zuko was sleeping soundly, his breathing even and deep. His eyelashes fluttered a little in some dream that would likely not even be remembered when he awoke. Iroh watched him in silence for a few moments before his thought turned to memories once more.
He paced the floor anxiously waiting to hear the news. What was taking so long in there? Was she alright? Was the child a boy or a girl? At last the midwife emerged from the chambers of the Fire Lord and his Queen. "It's a boy! The mother is doing fine and your brother couldn't be happier," she said with a smile. "You may go in now," she said as she held the door open for him.
The battle had begun well but somewhere along the way it had gone horribly wrong! The ground was strewn with the bodies of the dead and dying. He searched frantically for Jin! He'd gone with the others to attack the great wall surrounding the great city. The only problem was that the surrender had been given but Jin had not returned! Where was he? He could be anywhere… wounded… dead for all his father knew! He rushed frantically about searching for the young prince!
"Father," he'd heard a weak voice call out to him. He looked around and saw no one. Then he looked down at his feet. There was Jin, lying in a pool of mud and blood. His handsome face was contorted in agony as he gazed up at his father. Iroh knelt beside him and took the boy's hand in his, it was quivering. "Don't be frightened, my boy. Everything's going to be fine," he whispered softly as he gave his son's hand a little squeeze.
"Father," he'd whispered, his voice hoarse and weak. "I think I'm dying."
"Nonsense, you'll be fine," Iroh had told him though he could see the boy's heaving chest slowing down.
"Father… don't worry… I'm not afraid," he whispered, his voice barely audible now.
"Jin… I… please," he'd whispered through his tears.
"It's alright father. Please… don't weep for me… I… I'll always be with you. Don't… don't you remember what you once told me… you said… you said that mother was dead but not really. You said that she lived… in our hearts…well….that's where I'll be," he whispered as his eyes finally blinked closed for the last time.
He'd walked into the Fire Lord's chambers and hugged his brother merrily! "Congratulations," he told him and then hugged Pyra. She was holding a crying infant in her arms. The boy had a tiny shock of raven hair and bright golden eyes. Iroh smiled down at the little baby. "He's a handsome baby," he told Pyra with a proud grin.
"You can hold him if you'd like," she said quietly and held the crying child out to his uncle. Iroh carefully took hold of the infant who gazed up at him and almost instantly stopped crying. Iroh laughed slightly and kissed the little child's forehead. "What are you calling him?" he'd asked.
"His name is Zuko."
He walked silently over to where the young prince lay sleeping and bent over him gently kissing him on the forehead. Zuko stirred in his sleep and his eyelashes fluttered open. "What is it, Uncle?" he asked sleepily. Iroh had so many things that he wanted to say to the young man! He wanted to tell him how much he meant to him, how much he loved him! He wanted to tell him how he'd lost one son but gained another!
"Is everything alright, Uncle?" Zuko asked again as his eyes began to flutter closed once again.
"It's nothing, Prince Zuko. Go back to sleep."