Chapter 3 Uncle Zuko
Later the next day
Katara headed down the upstairs corridor toward Liam and Trini's room to retrieve one of Trinis's favorite dolls. As she slowly meandered passed her and Aang's quarters the door suddenly flung opened and Aang's eager arms grabbed hold of her dragging her inside.
"Aang," she giggled, "what are you up to?" He raised an eyebrow at her in pure mischief and wrapped his arms tightly around her petite waist.
"Nothing," he replied with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. He pulled her closer to him and kissed her longingly at the nape of her neck. Katara grinned.
"Come on Aang," she giggled, "I told Trini that I would bring her Miss Rosy doll to her!" She turned from him quickly reached for the doorknob and attempted to pull it open. Aang instantly grabbed her sides and pulled her back to him. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her behind her ear sending shivers down her spine.
"Miss Rosy isn't going to the tea party today," he whispered in her ear.
"Oh really," Katara sighed turning to face him and placing her arms upon his shoulders. He smiled fiercely at her and nodded.
"And just what is Lady Violet supposed to do with all the extra tea and cakes that she made," Katara questioned in amusement. Aang chuckled.
"She'll just have to think of something," he grinned, "because Miss Rosy is in disposed."
"Well," Katara sighed. Aang grinned drawing her forward and kissing her passionately upon the lips.
Downstairs in the Study
Zuko and Liam sat at the Pi-Cho board in a battle of wits. Zuko gazed at Liam in amusement as the boy stared at the board in complete and utter concentration. It was surprising how fast Liam had taken to the game, for only having learned it the day before. He glanced for a moment over in Trini's direction. She was happily immersed in some imaginary tea party with one of her little dolls. Zuko smirked, if only Uncle Iroh were still here, he would have entertained the girl with tea parties all day long. Zuko turned his attention back to the game of Pi-Cho. Liam knelt on the chair across from him still clutching a tile in his little hand. He stared at the board seemingly unsure of the exact spot that he wanted to place it. Zuko leaned forward upon his fist and gazed at the boy. He couldn't help but see himself sitting in the very chair that Liam now occupied, playing this same game with his own uncle. Zuko leaned back in his chair and smiled slightly at the distant memory. How he missed his uncle. It was strange for Zuko sitting there across from the young boy. It was almost as if things had come full circle and he found himself feeling content for the first time in years.
Liam placed his tile and glanced up at Zuko awaiting his reaction. Zuko smirked at the boy.
"Strategic," Zuko said raising an eyebrow in the boy's direction. Liam grinned in satisfaction. Zuko gazed at the board contemplating his next move.
"Very strategic," he repeated.
"Hey Uncle Zuko," Trini tugged on his sleeve suddenly. Zuko turned from the board and gazed down upon the girl.
"Yes Trinity," he answered.
"Where's Momma and Daddy?"
"Well uh…," Zuko cleared his throat suddenly, "they're busy right now Trini."
"Oh," she sighed, "how come?" Liam rolled his eyes at his sister.
"Well Trini," Zuko said, "they just had some grown-up stuff to do, but don't worry they'll be back soon."
"Okay," she replied. Zuko sighed in relief hoping that her questions were satisfied.
"Uncle Zuko."
"Yes Trinity," Zuko sighed.
"Can you play tea party with me?"
"No, Trinity," Liam yelled.
"Why not," Trini yelled back crossing her arms and glaring at her brother.
"Because, Uncle Zuko is playing with me, that's why!" Zuko shook his head as the two siblings argued; he found the whole thing completely amusing.
"But I want to play tea party," Trini whined.
"Then play with your stupid doll," Liam replied impatiently.
"No I want to play with Uncle Zuko."
"Too bad," Liam fumed.
"Alright," Zuko yelled suddenly. Instantly both Liam and Trini froze wide eyed and turned to face Zuko.
"No more fighting," he said. He glanced back and forth between the two siblings. They just stared up at him unsure of what to expect.
"I have an idea of what we can all do together," Zuko grinned. Trini and Liam gazed at each other and then back at Zuko in curiosity.
"Come on," Zuko said standing up from the table, "follow me."
Upstairs
Aang stood before the wash basin bending the water to his face. With his eyes closed he reached for a towel and gently patted his face dry. He casually gazed over at Katara. She was standing before the mirror gracefully braiding her hair while humming to herself. Aang smiled lovingly at her. He never got tired of watching her. She grinned suddenly in the mirror.
"You're staring at me again," she sighed, her voice full of sarcasm. Aang chuckled. He slowly came up behind her and wrapped his arms warmly around her waist. He gently rested his chin upon her shoulder and eyed her mischievously in the mirror.
"You don't plan on finishing that braid do you," he asked.
"Aang," she exclaimed flashing him a smile. He pulled her back from the mirror and rolled her to the bed.
"Aang," she laughed.
"What," he replied innocently. He leapt onto the bed beside her and moved his arm to the side of her waist pulling her closer to him.
"You know," she sighed, "Zuko is probably on the brink of insanity right now." Aang just smiled.
"Zuko is fine with the twins," Aang insisted, "I swear."
Back Downstairs
Zuko led the kids out of the study and down a long corridor.
"Where are we going Uncle Zuko," Liam asked in intrigue.
"You'll see," Zuko smiled. The three walked down the long hallway to the very last door in that wing of the palace. Zuko reached for the doorknob and turned back to the children.
"This is it," he said. The two kids gazed eagerly at the door. Zuko turned the knob and flung open the door.
"Go ahead," he ushered them in. Liam and Trinity slowly entered, staring up at the walls in awe. The room was filled with Zuko's old things left over from the war. There were fire nation helmets, uniforms, and weapons among other things. Liam's eyes gleamed at the sight of all the interesting items. Zuko smirked at the boy.
"Wow, Uncle Zuko, this is all your old army stuff huh?" Zuko nodded,
"Can I try on a helmet," Liam asked excitedly.
"Sure," Zuko smiled, "here." He dropped the helmet on Liam's head and it fell passed the boy's nose. Zuko chuckled at the sight. Liam lifted it slightly and gazed around the room.
"Hey what's this," he asked excitedly dropping the helmet to the floor and running toward the far wall. He pointed up to a blue mask that hung upon the wall. Trini just stared up at the grinning face, unsure about what to make of it.
"That," Zuko replied, "is a mask that belonged to the blue spirit."
"The blue spirit," Liam exclaimed excitedly. Zuko nodded taking the mask down from the wall and handing it to Liam.
"I know about him," Trini said, "he saved Daddy once." Zuko smiled at the little girl.
"Yeah," Liam said, "Daddy tells us that story sometimes before bed."
"Is that right," Zuko smirked.
"Is this really his mask uncle Zuko?" Zuko nodded.
"It sure is," he replied.
"Wow," Liam sighed gazing intently at the mask. Zuko grinned; he then turned his attention to Trinity.
"Hey Trini, I have something here you might like as well." He knelt down beside a large chest. Trini came up beside him and gazed at the old box in curiosity. Zuko glanced at her from the corner of his eye and smiled slightly. He brushed the dust from the top of the chest, unhooked the latch and slowly opened the lid. Inside there were dainty little dolls, golden tiaras, masses of shiny necklaces and bracelets, all kinds of things fit for a little girl. Trini's eyes gleamed as she peered into the chest.
"Wow," she cried, "where did you get all that pretty stuff?"
"It belonged to my mother," Zuko replied.
"Are you sure she won't mind if I play with her jewelry," Trini asked, crossing her little arms," my Mommy gets mad when I play with hers." Zuko chuckled.
"I'm sure she won't mind Trini; knock yourself out." Zuko turned his attention back to Liam. The boy was busy inspecting all the scorch marks left in his old armor. Zuko came up beside him.
"Wow Uncle Zuko, you must have been in a whole lot of battles!" Zuko nodded.
"That I was Liam," he sighed.
"I bet you won every one of them," Liam exclaimed. Zuko smirked at the boy.
"Not exactly Liam."
A few hours later
Katara headed back down the long corridor on her way back to the study when she nearly ran into Aang who was coming around the corner of the opposite hallway.
"Oh there you are," she sighed, "any luck in the gardens?" Aang nodded.
"Nope, no sign of them out there," he replied. Katara sighed heavily and crossed her arms. Aang could see that she was beginning to worry. He gently placed an arm around her shoulder.
"They're fine Katara;" Aang said reassuringly, "Zuko wouldn't let anything happen to them…they probably just went for a walk or something." Katara nodded slightly.
"Come on," he smiled, "I'm sure they'll be back soon." The two headed back to the study. As they entered Aang paused for a moment at the Pi-Cho board.
"What is it Aang," Katara questioned gazing at the board in intrigue.
"I'm not sure," he chuckled, "but I think Liam was about to kick Zuko's butt."
"How do you know that those tiles are Liam's," Katara questioned, "what if Zuko was sitting in that chair?"
"Katara," Aang grinned, "Zuko never sits in that chair…he always sits on the right side of the board."
"Oh…is Liam really doing that good," she asked excitedly. Aang nodded.
"Look he actually has his tiles arranged so that no matter where Zuko places his next piece, he can wipe him out in the next move," Aang chuckled slightly, "Liam's got Zuko backed into a corner!"
Suddenly the two were distracted by a sound coming from just outside the study door. They glanced at each other for a moment and then back over at the door. Just underneath the door Aang caught a glimpse of a faint shadow moving on the other side of it. He motioned for Katara to stay quiet and then headed over to the door as quietly as he could. He stood against the wall by the door and reached for the doorknob. He glanced back at Katara, smiled slightly and winked in her direction. She just smiled and shook her head. Suddenly there was another scuffle outside the door. Aang paused a moment and then he slowly turned the knob and flung the door open.
"AH-HA," Aang jumped out from behind the wall only to find the corridor empty. He stood in the door way scratching his head in confusion. He peered out of the door looking back and forth both ways but there was no one to be found. Aang turned back to Katara and shrugged. Suddenly he could hear the faint sound of giggles coming from somewhere in the room. Aang grinned as he quietly tiptoed back into the study. Katara gazed at him in intrigue.
"Are they in here," she whispered. Aang quickly motioned for her to stay quiet and then nodded in response to her question. She covered her mouth and tried desperately to keep from laughing. Aang crept over to the Pi-Cho table and quickly knelt down to peer underneath of it, nothing there. He made his way over to the large vase and gazed inside it, nothing there either. He walked over to the windows and turned back to Katara.
"Gee," he said in a sarcastic tone, "I guess they really aren't in here." Katara furrowed her eyebrows as she gazed at her husband inquisitively.
"What is he up to now," she thought to herself. Suddenly Aang blew the curtains up using air bending revealing a small masked figure crouched down by the floor. He jumped out at Aang immediately and attempted to tackle him but Aang got the best of him flipping him upside down and flinging him over his shoulder.
"Alright," Aang smirked, "who are you and what have you done with Zuko and the kids?"
"The Blue Spirit," came a muffled little voice. Aang and Katara glanced at one another in amusement.
"The Blue Spirit," Aang questioned, "I seem to remember the Blue Spirit being….taller." Katara marched up to Aang and the masked stranger.
"Alright Mr. Blue Spirit," she smirked, "where is Trini and Uncle Zuko?"
"They're playing tea party in the war room," the boy sighed as he struggled in Aang's hold.
"What," Aang chuckled glancing at the boy from the corner of his eye, "this I gotta see." He gently placed the boy back down upon the ground.
"Alright Liam," Aang said, "Lead the way."
"Hey," the boy sighed lifting the mask to reveal his face, "how did you know it was me?" Aang chuckled at the boy's reaction.
"Lucky guess," he grinned. Liam smiled back at his father. He quickly grasped his hand and yanked him toward the door.
"Come on Daddy," he urged, "let's go."
Back in the War room
Zuko just gazed at Trini as she sat humming to herself, pretending to prepare a pot of tea. She was wearing one of his mother's tiaras, about a dozen or more necklaces, and double that in bracelets. He wondered how she was still able to lift her arms. He sighed heavily and smiled, who knew finding Uncle Iroh's old tea set would result in this. She lifted the lid to the china tea pot and stirred the imaginary liquid. She leaned down and sniffed at it and then nodded to herself.
"That smells good," she mumbled. She reached for a cup and saucer and placed it carefully in front of her little water tribe doll. She then took another cup and held it out to Zuko with a smile.
"Here Uncle Zuko," she grinned, "the tea is ready." Zuko nodded and took the cup from her. She stood with the pot and carefully poured the imaginary liquid into Zuko's cup. He bowed his head to her and smiled.
"Why thank you Lady Trinity," he said.
"You're welcome Fire Lord Zuko," Trinity replied in a dainty tone. She continued to pour tea into the cup that was in front of her water tribe doll. She smiled suddenly and giggled.
"Alright," she said suddenly as she gazed at her doll, "I'll ask him for you." Zuko just raised an eyebrow at the girl in curiosity. Suddenly she turned to him and smiled covering her mouth to conceal a giggle. Zuko shook his head in amusement.
"Uncle…I mean Fire Lord Zuko…"
"Yes Lady Trinity," Zuko chuckled.
"Lady Violet wants to know if you have a girlfriend."
"Oh does she now," Zuko replied smiling slightly at the girl before him. Trinity nodded giggling once again.
"Well," Zuko sighed, "you tell Lady Violet that I am still looking for Miss Right."
"Well, well, well," Aang's voice suddenly interrupted the little tea party, "The rumors are true…I can honestly say that I never imagined seeing you of all people, Zuko, playing tea party!" Zuko rolled his eyes and turned to face his friend.
"Daddy," Trini exclaimed, "Will you play with me and Uncle Zuko too!" Aang smiled at his daughter and nodded.
"Why certainly Lady Trinity," he replied. He sat down cross legged next to his friend. Zuko smirked in his direction. Trini handed him a tea cup and once again pretended to pour.
"Thank you Trini," he smiled. Zuko shook his head in amusement, trying desperately not to laugh at his and Aang's predicament.
"Who could have predicted this Aang," Zuko grinned, "You and me in the same room together…playing tea party." Aang chuckled at Zuko's statement.
"I wouldn't have it any other way Zuko," Aang replied.
To be continued….
