"So this is what a party is like for you now" Azula said, still looking a bit mesmirised by everytihng around her - the music, the fire works, the decoration, and, above all, the happy people.

Zuko couldn't blame her, he still wasn't fully used to actually having fun at parties either. Each and every big event used to be 'celebrated' in a very rigid way when they were younger. It was simply the snobbiest, richest people of their nation coming over to the palace, praising the Fire Lord for simply existing, and having dull conversations to try and prove their superiority to everyone else. The one normal party Zuko and Azula had ever gone to together had been a disaster... and gave them a bit of a reputation once people found out that the prince and the princess had destroyed the place after not having a good time. To that day, he still met people who were shocked to realise he wasn't going to break and burn everytihng in sight with little to no provocation.

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself" Zuko responded. He couldn't remember the last he had seen his sister looking that happy.

But he knew it wasn't all due to the party itself. Since she came back from the hospital, Azula had been spending almost as much time with their mother as she had with Zuko. He saw how excited Azula was when mother offered to help her prepare for the party, and she had been radiant after their 'girl's afternoon'. He couldn't imagine how much that meant to her.

Zuko's thoughts were interrupted as he felt something collide againts him, making him end up on the ground. He heard Azula laughing, but the sound was soon drowned out by a very familiar voice.

"You just looove taking down Fire Lords, don't ya?" a clearly drunk Sokka asked, a little too loudly, as he stumbled his way towards them, with Toph by his side.

Aang simply got up and offered Zuko a hand "Sorry about that. I was trying out a new trick" he explained. He might be a much more responsible man now, but Aang would always be a kid at heart.

"It's okay. I'm starting to get used to it" Zuko answered as he accepted his friend's help - but he couldn't have avoided the somewhat annoyed tone if his life had depended on it.

"You've gotta be more careful, Twinkle Toes. Giving Zuko painful affection is my thing. And his sister's."

"Thanks for taking me into consideration" Azula said to Toph before turning to her brother and helping him fix his appearance. When he saw her mouthing 'Twinkle Toes?', his only answer was a shrug.

"Good thing we found you again, though" Sokka spoke up again, a hiccup interrupting him for a second "the others were looking for you."

Zuko could barely believe the scene playing out before his eyes. Azula was actually getting along with his friends. He had expected her to like Toph - and he knew the blind jokes would be what would make her warm up to his friend - but he had not expected her to genuinly try to engage with the others. He could still remember how only three years ago she had cruelly mocked his hope that she would ever stop seeing them as enemies, and told him to never come see her again.

And now here she was. Sitting among them, and next to Mai and Ty Lee. Drinking and telling jokes with them. Listening to their stories... even the stories he wished his friends would forget about.

"You fought a waterbender in the snow?" Azula asked him, incredulous.

"At night, during a full moon" uncle Iroh added. He would never let go of just how stupid that particular attempt of capturing Aang had been.

"How is it even possible that we're related?" his sister asked, burying her face on her hands.

"I know the feeling" Katara said.

"Hey, you leave me out of this! We're making fun of Zuko!"

He sighed. He should have known this would backfire eventually.