Blueeyeddevil06, thank you for being my beta!


Zuko sat patiently in Iroh's tent while he slept. He was glad to have found him but terrified of his uncle's reaction to him once he woke up.

Earlier that evening, Katara had pulled Zuko aside. She said, "Your uncle will have already forgiven you. He loves you."

Zuko rubbed the back of his head nervously, "I don't know. You weren't there to hear what I said to him. I was awful."

She playfully bumped him with her hip, "You betrayed me, and I'm sleeping with you."

He blushed and took her hand in his, "He's the only family that chose me, and I turned my back on him."

Katara got up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "Just be yourself and talk to him. I think you're pretty amazing."

He then chuckled nervously, "Who'd have thought my uncle was the head of a secret organization? I can't believe he's the Grand Lotus."

"I'll let you change the subject. You'll find out I'm right after all." She then squeezed his hand and let go. "Go talk to your uncle."

So now, Zuko was patiently waiting cross-legged for Iroh to wake up. He was sure Katara meant for him to wake Uncle, but he couldn't. He couldn't make himself face the disappointment that he was sure to see in his uncle's eyes. He was a ball of nerves the whole night. He was in agony.

In the early morning light, Iroh stirred, and Zuko said, "I'm so so sorry, Uncle," he began crying. "I'm so sorry and ashamed of what I did. I don't know how I can ever make it up to you."

Iroh sat up and turned to Zuko, grabbed him, and pulled him into a tight hug. Crying, Iroh said, "I was never angry with you. I was sad because I was afraid you lost your way."

"I did lose my way."

Iroh replied, "And you found it again. And you did it by yourself. And I'm so happy you found your way here."

"It wasn't that hard, Uncle. You have a pretty strong scent." Zuko chuckled, "We used one of your stinky sandals."

Iroh leaned back, held Zuko at arm's length, and smiled at him. "It's so good to see you. I missed you."

"I missed you too, Uncle. I was so afraid you'd never forgive me."

"There's nothing to forgive. You're on your path again. You have reclaimed your honor in the only way it matters."

Zuko wiped the tears from his eyes. "I missed you, Uncle."

Iroh smiled, "I missed you too. Now, tell me what you've been up to."

Zuko told him everything, well, almost everything. He, of course, left out the intimate details between him and Katara.

Uncle smiled, "I'm glad you have made friends with them. Also, Katara is a beautiful woman. Good job, Nephew!" He then elbowed Zuko and winked at him.

Zuko blushed and said, "She loves me. I'm a bit overwhelmed."

"I'm not surprised. There is a lot to love in you. I know." Uncle then said, "Tell me more about Akal. I was not expecting him."

"He claims to be from the future. He wants to change the past and save his mother. I think you'll like him."

Uncle nodded. He knew with whom his following conversation needed to be with. When Zuko left to tell Katara that she was right, Akal stepped into Uncle's tent.

"Well, I thought I'd have to go looking for you, Akal."

"I need this conversation to stay between us. I trust the Grand Lotus and even more so you. Can I have your word?"

"I don't know what I'm agreeing to yet," Uncle commented. "I need something, Akal."

"My name is really Iroh. That is part of the secret." He gave Uncle a long look.

"Yes, you have my word this will stay between us. I'm intrigued. I'm not used to being in a position where I don't have all the information."

"As I said, my name is Iroh. I was named after my great uncle Iroh. You. The man my father respects above every other man."

Uncle looked shocked and then smiled, "Well, isn't this a fun turn of events. You're my great-nephew. I know who your father is. By any chance, is Katara your mother?"

"Yes, she is, and in my time, she's dead. I've come back to stop the person who eventually kills her."

Uncle held up his hand, "Should I know all this? Is it wrong to tell me this?"

"I won't ever see you again in this form. You plan to stay here and take back Ba Sing Se. I will go with Zuko and Katara when they confront Azula. Once I change the future, I assume I'll disappear since there won't be a reason for me to come back. If you see me again, I'll have failed."

"Still, why tell me?"

"In a way, I'm like my father. I feel better just sharing my burdens with you. You will always be there for me in the future."

"And now your task weighs heavy upon your shoulders?"

"No, I'm going to miss them. My mom was killed over ten years ago. I know I will grow up not having to miss her, but I have now for so long. I don't want to say goodbye. Does that even make sense?" Iroh looked at his great uncle nervously.

"It doesn't have to make sense. Emotions rarely do. It doesn't change how you feel."

"I have to kill Azula. You're the only one who knows. Toph knows quite a bit about who I am, but not what I have to do. You need to tell them I had to do it. Please, I don't want them hating what I did."

"Why kill her?"

"After years of imprisonment, she convinces my dad she's changed. That she wants peace. He releases her, and the moment his back is turned, she attacks him. Mom, Katara, dies saving him. Dad immediately fights Azula and kills her. He never gets over mom. He loves her so much. The Fire Sages and I worked on getting me back in time, and here I am. Everyone in the Fire Nation wants her back."

"Did you ever think about telling Zuko not to release her? She doesn't have to die," Uncle commented.

Akal scoffed, "No. I know I could, but if she knows she can't be released, then she might get out some other way. Mom's not safe as long as she's alive."

"Where were you?"

That brought Akal up short, "What?"

"Where were you when your mother was killed?"

Tears ran down Akal's face. "I was there. I saw my mother die."

Uncle pulled him in for a hug and held him tightly, "I'm so sorry."

"I ran to you that night. Dad was furious and told the guards to discover if anyone else was in on the plot. He was hurting, wanting to punish people. My sister and I climbed into your bed with you and wept while you held us. I remember telling you that I was glad that dad was looking for anyone else involved. I wanted people to pay for the pain I was in."

Uncle shook his head, "Did it help?"

"No. Nothing could bring her back. Now, Azula's death will," Akal stated firmly.

"And can you live with that?"

"I don't have to. Once she dies, my whole life takes a different path."

Uncle sighed, "I don't think revenge is your answer."

"It's not. This isn't revenge. She dies in the future too. This is making sure my mother lives, or do you think Azula can change if I warn Zuko?"

"No," Uncle said sadly, "She has chosen her path. She's not going to bend. Ozai made sure that she was made in his image."

"My father is nothing like his sister." He looked at his Great-Uncle with joy in his eyes, "He's an incredible father, and he credits you a lot for that. I have two wonderful parents."

Uncle Iroh smiled and patted him on the back, "I'm so proud of Zuko. He's found his path and has so much honor."

Both Irohs exited the tent, and they all began planning for the fight ahead. Iroh explained it was his destiny to take Ba Sing Se back from the Fire Nation. Zuko deflated since he wanted his Uncle with him or fighting Ozai. It was then decided that Zuko, Katara, and Akal would take Appa to the Fire Nation to confront Azula, and Toph, Sokka, and Suki would head to help out the airship fleet.

All while the comet fast approached.