"I'm so proud of you, Sweetie".

Azula allowed her mother to remove a strand of hair from her face. She knew instantly that this was all a dream, of course. Yet, she did not want to wake a moment sooner. She was as content as she never dreamed in her mother's welcoming arms. She felt safe and, for once, whole.

"He's a good man," added Ursa from above.

Azula shifted unto her back with her head in her mother's lap. She recognized her tiny feet and hands, yet her memories were intact, despite being a little girl again. "He is. I love him very much, Mother".

"That is wonderful, Sweetheart. I am sure he feels the same," she answered with a smile.

"We are getting married soon. I wish you could be there. I do not know the ways of a proper wife or mother," confessed the girl. "I'm…scared".

Ursa stroked her daughter's cheek with a hurtful smile. "You only fear things you cannot control. Being a wife and mother has its challenges, believe me and you can't control everything, My Dear. I am always here when you need me most. There is nothing to worry about".

Azula nodded. "So, I can visit you again?" She asked. Ursa nodded. "How?"

"Just as you did now. Your body calls to me when you are feeling vulnerable. Think of it as a mother's instinct. I know when my children need me most".

"I missed you, Mother," Azula confessed, truthfully. "So did Fath-Ozai. He would often call me your name when…" She paused, shame washing the words away.

Ursa's mood darkened at this. "If only I could have done the task, myself. I was never as brave as you".

Azula was surprised at the statement. Her mother was the bravest person she knew.

"You gave your life for my son…for me. You did it even when I hated you".

"I did as a mother should, Azula. That is to be expected. You'll understand one day".

Azula shook her head in denial. "No, I would not give myself up for slaughter for anyone". She announced, adamantly.

Ursa chuckled. "That scar on your abdomen says otherwise," she pointed out.

"Well…that was different…I love…" Azula's voice trailed when her hand met her stomach.

A light, familiar flutter made her remove quickly. She scrambled to a sitting position, facing her mother with her legs crossed, gasping. Ursa smiled knowingly.

"I—I'm, no…I can't be".

Her mother's hand gently touched the girl's pouting belly. "A girl," she proclaimed.

Azula's eyes misted. Quickly she shook her nine-year-old head. "Katara said I could not birth more children after she healed me. Aang and I aren't married, yet. How do I know he will even want to? What if he leaves? I can't have this child too".

The smile on Ursa's face vanished. "Azula, you cannot allow fear to hinder your relationship. Life has strange ways of making you face these fears. Face them, Azula. I know you can".

Azula screamed from her sleep, swatting away a drooling Momo. Blood trinkled down her forearm angering her as she grasped the small animal by its neck and shook him vigorously.

"Did you just BITE ME!" She hissed, shaking the froth out of the animal's mouth.

To her further surprise, Momo growled angrily back. Appa growled awakened from dreamland also as they awaited Aang's return with Zaheer just outside of the gates of Hira'a. Azula threw the flying lemur against a nearby tree when he snapped at her again. Appa blew a gust a of air in the creature's direction when Momo sprang back towards them, eyes wild, lips drenched in white liquid. The two animals faced off with Appa standing between Momo and the princess.

Confused at the entire tirade, Azula's mind focused on the pain in her arm. Smoke formed from her fingers, yet she could not summon her bending. Momo managed to fly past the bison, battling against the gusts of air from its tail as he sped towards Azula once more in rage. In a swift attempt to grasp the princess's neck with his mouth, Momo swooped like a bullet towards her. Azula caught him by the neck once again and instinctively jerked her hands when she grasped his head.

Aang's beloved pet murmured as life left his small body instantly. Azula dropped him in shock.

"What did I do? Aang's going to be pissed!" She whispered to herself.

Appa groaned in obvious sadness at the horrific death of his friend. Azula fell against the soft animal's head, tiredness in her limbs.

"I'm sorry. I had no other choice," she said to the beast, rubbing his fur, softly.

Her stomach fluttered, reminding her of her dream and her newfound knowledge. Appa lapped at the gash on her arm to stop the bleeding.

"Thank you," she said to him.

She was unsure why Momo attacked her so suddenly. She also was unsure of how to tell her betrothed about their new child and her hand in murdering his pet.

"We have to get rid of him," she told Appa.

The beast groaned which Azula took as affirmation. Using a strong tree branch and jagged rocks, she set to work, digging a shallow grave for the animal. She had just finished and was about to place Momo in his eternal home when a sweet baby's giggles made her meet baby, brown, wide eyes.

"Azula? What happened?"

The princess's shoulders shook. Finally, after several moments, she managed to speak to the avatar. He stood mere feet from her with their son happily rubbing his bald head atop his shoulders. If circumstances were different, she would have cried at the sight, but they weren't and instead she found her eyes watering at the hurt on Aang's face.

"I did not do it on purpose," she professed. "He was attacking me. I had to protect myself," she explained.

Appa groaned in response.

"See! Ask your bison!" Declared Azula, feeling overwhelming shame for her dependence on a non-verbal, shaggy beast for a witness.

"Momo," whispered Aang. "Azula, I know you didn't like him, but to…kill him? He was an innocent animal. What's wrong with you?"

What is wrong with that child?"

Her lip trembled. "He bit me! Look!" She announced, revealing the scar on her arm.

Aang gently placed Zaheer atop Appa's saddle. With his back turned to the princess, he asked lowly. "What did you do to make him?"

Laughter, only laughter could ripple in Azula's throat. "Are you fucking kidding me, Aang? You're this worked up over a dead animal? What about our son? He's alive and well! We even have another child to replace that vile creature!"

Aang's head jerked in her direction, confusion and anger shown in his eyes before they softened. "A-Another?" He questioned the princess.

Azula placed her hand on her belly. To her surprise, Aang did not react as expected.

"You are bringing life into this world, yet you take life so…willingly," he said in disgust. "I-I can't marry someone like…you".

The whimper from somewhere inside the princess made her body shake violently. Immobile as Aang kissed their cooing son, gently. Words would not summon from her, frozen like her chi.

"Aang-" She finally managed to choke out, unable to stop the flood weighing down her eyelids. "You don't mean that. Please, don't do this to me".

I need you. She wanted to say, afraid at what was to come, she kept her words hidden.

"You're a killer, Azula," said Aang, coldly. "I thought…I thought our love would be enough. I thought Zaheer would be enough".

This can't be real. Thought Azula as Aang wrenched the knife further into her heart.

"We can't continue this way. I don't like what I'm becoming with you. This isn't love, Azula. Love changes people, I guess it is like you said, it was always just…fucking".

The word sounded strange from the avatar. Azula's chest burned more than her throbbing, half-healed scar. She touched the pendant about her neck when she attempted to still her pounding heart. Snatching it away, she hurled it with full force at the tattooed man's head. Aang did not flinch at the impact. Instead he turned, his face red and Azula gasped at his bloodshot eyes. He made to hurry, grasping the cracking princess, now breathing hard on one knee. A flare of blue fire emitted from red, painted lips.

The flame was immense and incredibly darker, catching Aang's sash, melting it on impact to expose his upper body completely.

"Azula, calm down," he begged reaching for her.

The princess growled in pain as two more flares emitted from her nostrils. Aang blew them away before they could burn their vulnerable son.

"Azula! Stop, please!" He yelled, using his earth bending to trap the woman's body up to her neck.

Her head fell forward as she cried out. Her hair, wet from her tears, she snapped at him through her dark sea of black, golden eyes full of hurt.

"Not one more step!" She panted. "Who do you think you are? You can't just fuck me and leave me FUCKED! I am NOT your waterbender! You WILL stay with me!"

Zaheer whimpered as if he understood what was happening between his powerful parents.

"You took off the necklace!" Aang pointed out. "You never wanted this anyway. Why do you want to keep up this charade? Deep down we both know this cannot work!"

"I'm having another child for you!" Azula hissed back.

"Is that the only reason you want me to stay?" He asked. "Is that all?"

Because I NEED you. She wanted to say, but instead saying, "I thought that was reason enough. You obviously don't think so, you greedy asshole!" She sniffled.

Aang released the earth bounds, catching the princess before her body could hit the ground. He half-cradled the beautiful woman gently removing her wet hair from her face.

"You have to trust me, Aang. If this is going to work, we have to trust each other," said Azula, her voice hoarse.

She was rendered helpless when her cheeks burned from a light kiss on her forehead. "I want this, Aang. Don't leave me, please. I-I am begging you. Is that not good enough for you?"

Aang gave a small, painful smile that Azula returned. Instantly their lips captured the others', followed by Azula finding a fading bruise from their anniversary tryst. "Stay with me, Aang," she whimpered, suckling his neck, basking in the gasp that she elicited. "I love you".

Aang's hands gently held her head as he placed her on the ground and placed his large palms on either side of her. She pushed against his reaction swelling his trousers longingly.

"I love you," she repeated, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, latching onto his toned back muscles with her nails. "Stay with me".

Her legs spread for him, welcoming him eagerly. Azula moaned when his hand moved along her bedrobe, peeling it open to reveal her pale body, heating from anticipation. "Yes," she gasped when his hand neared her center, lightly stroking her inner thigh. Unable to stop herself, Azula's hands tugged at Aang's trousers, releasing his member to the open air. Aang groaned when soft hands stroked him, biting his lower lip, he moved with growing passion.

Azula licked her lips as she aligned him. The moment they united brought forth a silent scream from the princess and a pleasurable moan from the avatar. Aang hurriedly spread her further as he slowly rolled his hips until wet heat engulfed him whole.

"Spirits!" He uttered, completely taken by the beauty under him.

She moaned back at his movements. They moved as if time did not exist. Azula pulled him until nothing was left, her legs only allowing their hips freedom to wind in a militaristic pattern, left twice, then right, so nice, so agonizingly slow. The slowest rollercoaster ride with their gasps echoing the pattern.

Aang's mind clouded with Azula only. He felt the earth quake lightly as his chi shook the grassy patches around them.

"Yes…" groaned Azula, squeezing his back tightly.

Blue fire from her nostrils melded with Aang's orange flames from his. Steam rose from an encircle of water that trapped them. Both masterbenders were only aware of one another as Aang's tattoos and eyes shone white light. Azula flipped her lover unto his back and rocked above him. She increased the tempo, grasping her rear to open more for him as she rode him up and down, clenching at key intervals.

Aang came apart beneath her. She watched his lips spread as a beastly growl emerged. She silently praised her skills, bending over to take his lips. If there was anything she knew how to do perfectly, it was fuck the avatar out of his mind.

#

"You seem to have gained some…thing by coming in here alone," Azula commented, coldly, kicking herself in her mind for her lack of a strong, condescending remark at the avatar opening her door solo and unannounced. "Haven't my babysitters been released from their posts by this time?"

Aang nodded, closing the door behind him. "I just wanted to talk to you. Ya' know before we head out for Hira'a tomorrow".

Azula raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Well, speak, Avatar. I'm all ears".

"Well, you first, Zuko said you got the information from Ozai".

Azula nodded from her cross-legged position on the bed. She grasped a cigar and lit it with her forefinger. "He was quite forthcoming. It's not like I did not work for the favor. It was due," she revealed, taking a long inhale, releasing a cloud of smoke slowly.

"And?" Aang urged.

Azula's eyes narrowed. "You came to talk to me, Avatar. There's nothing left to discuss? Then run along so that I may catch my beauty rest before our scheduled early rise in the morning". She paused, with the cigarette half-way to her lips. Glancing down, a smirk crossed her lips as she looked the man up and down, noticing his reaction to seeing her in nothing, but a silk night robe.

Taking a final intake, she snubbed her cigar, bringing a knuckle to her chin. "Unless…you want to do more than talk?"

Aang's eyes widened at her bluntness and Azula was surprised at her own open flirtation with her enemy.

"Sorry, guess it's the stubble on your chin. It is quite…arousing, I guess is the correct word," she stated, waving him away.

Aang unknowingly flexed his bicep, rubbing his neck with a light blush. "You like it?" He asked. "I was going to cut it before it grew unmanageable".

Azula rolled her eyes at his lack of style. "Don't you know bald is soooo not in these days. You should allow it to grow. It would suit you better".

"Really? Guess I could," said Aang, blushing until he resembled a ripe tomato. "Um, thanks?"

Azula smirked at this. "You're still here," she noted. "I'm sure your waterbender could find a use for that," she teased, pointing at the tent in Aang's trousers.

She rose from bed at this. With quick steps, she trapped him against the door, pressing against his form.

"Legs are the only things open at this hour, Avatar. Is that why you're still here, hmm? I'm a pretty good liar, remember? She won't suspect a thing, should you…"

"No," Aang spoke breathlessly. "I need to leave".

Azula's smirk widened. Without permission, she eased a manicured hand into the avatar's orange trousers and stroked him. Aang reacted immediately, wetting her hand with his arousal.

"Mmm, no need to go away blue. You are the avatar, after all," said Azula guiding him by his member to her crimson bed.

She was quite hot and bothered, herself, from the teasing and the sexy being before her. She had never thought of the avatar as more than a pesky, war terrorist that she needed squashed as quickly and efficiently as possible. She had only been introduced recently to sex from Ozai and Ty Lee. Her father had taken her without choice, but with the acrobat, she had found power in the act. Could she control such a man as she had her best friend and in some twisted way, her father? She was anxious to find out, pulling the avatar to the edge of her bed. She watched his eyes roll to the back of his head. Sitting on the edge, she released him and opened wide.

"Well?" She asked with a lifted eyebrow.

Aang's forehead was sweating profusely as he gripped his member with one hand, grasped her kneecap with the other, eyes staring at the drenched woman.

"I'm getting married soon, Azula," he told her.

Azula's hand found her center on its own making Aang's mouth water as she moved her finger in small circles. His hand matched her finger, eliciting erotic, passionate moans. Azula had to admit, she was impressed at his resistance. Unable to take rejection, she stopped her movements, flipping onto all fours and replaced his moving hand with her lips.

"Monkey-feathers!" Gasped Aang, his head falling backwards. "Monkey…f-f-feathers".

His hand took her hair between his fingers. He could not resist further. He banished Katara from his mind as Azula's attention filled his mind and he found her center with two fingers to give her pleasure also. Their relationship began from innocent fondling and both agreed to a truce and a promise to forget the tryst.

When Azula emerged fully clothed from her home with her simple luggage, the first face that greeted her was none other than the stubble-bearded man she had semi-fucked.

"Good morning, Azula, nice day for a trip, huh?" He greeted, sweetly with a wave and smile.

Azula swallowed the thought of the previous night. It meant nothing. She reminded herself. Besides, I could never have such a man. I'm already…taken. With that she touched her growing belly.

#

Princess Azula opened her eyes expecting Aang's presence to be nonexistent. Sure enough, she was alone, Zaheer tucked neatly beneath the blanket with her in Appa's saddle. Azula lifted herself unto a shaky palm, tears burning her retinas. She blinked them away. He left. Just like everyone did. Who was she to believe another child was enough to keep him? The water peasant had opened her womb thrice for the man and he still left her. What was she thinking falling for him? How did she make such a mistake? She came to him a wayward woman and he treated her as such. Why allow her heart to break with such misery again?

Azula had told herself that she was in love. She allowed herself to be owned again by a man who held her with tender hands and made love to her instead of pillaging her insides like her father did in her youth. She used sex in defense with her father, anything to be treated better than Zuko. Anything to stop him from thinking of the woman who birthed her which always led to blind rage for their strong resemblance.

"You screamed like your mother last night". Ozai had remarked once, after dinner. "She loved this as will you one day. A whore can only hope to bear weaklings for sons and sluts for daughters".

She had become the demeaning names her father came up with for her. Zaheer sneezed lightly, momentarily gaining her attention.

"My son," she whimpered. "He…He left us".

Wondering what names Aang referred to her as while he chummed it up with his boomerang loving friend, she picked up her son, hoping she could find milk in the city of Hira'a. She did not see the bag of gold that she and Aang had carried from the Fire Nation and assumed he had taken it with him. Though Appa's presence baffled her.

As much of animal lover he is, why wouldn't he take his flying bison?

Instead of dwelling on the matter, Azula slid from Appa's tail with her son in her arm. The bison was sleeping peacefully.

I'd better not leave him. He could be our ticket out of here. She thought, strategically.

Clutching her son to her chest with Aang's unborn thrashing her ribcage, Azula wiped the last of her tears as she hesitantly moved towards the small town in search of Kiyi.

#

A rope squeezed the air out of Aang's neck, dragging him from his sleeping fiancée and their child. Appa snored from a tranquilizer to his body as several Dai Li agents emerged from the surrounding forest.

"Don't kill him," hissed a voice the avatar recognized.

He coughed when he was released. Ready to summon his bending.

"Uh, uh, uh, I wouldn't do that if I were you. Your beloved is lying beautifully with earth around her".

Aang's heart dropped. "Azula," he gasped. "Please, don't hurt her," he pleaded. "I'll do whatever you want".

Kei Lo gave a light chuckle though the man next to him narrowed his eyes in mistrust. Aang's jaw burned from his clenched teeth. How Kei Lo had managed to find former advisor to King Keui, Long Feng, was beyond him.

"Oh, I have a score to settle with the princess, Avatar. Trust me, I want her alive as well. She's just too delicious to kill".

Anger boiled in Aang's chest. "Listen, whatever you plan to do, please understand that she's pregnant and-"

Kei Lo let out a hearty laugh. "Whew! Already? Boy, you two work fast huh? Another heir to the throne? Why isn't that touching? How is Mai and Zuko's bastard anyway?"

Recalling the events from yesterday, Aang clenched his fingers. "You? You two are part of the Red Lotus!" He accused.

Long Feng shrugged. "We are just men with a grudge to settle. Now, we wouldn't want you awakening the sweet princess, would we? Especially with her condition?"

Aang dropped his fists. "What do you want?" He asked.

Long Feng smirked. "Come, let's discuss this in a better place. You remember Lake Laogi, don't you, Avatar?"