AN: Yes, things are getting crazy. Oh, for those of you who don't understand who Sen Su is, you'll have to look back to the episode 'Zuko Alone'. Sen Su is the eldest son of the family he assists, the one who is captured by the Fire Nation. Zuko interacted with his younger brother Lee, teaching him how to use the broadswords. Just clearing that up for people.

Encounter with Embers

EVERYONE IN THE medical bunker sighed with relief when the news that the city of Ba Sing Se was safe from Azula's clutches and the Earth King lived was passed down to them.

Mai rested on her cot, but was unable to sleep. She was wrought with anxiety over Zuko's fate. She wished he had come with her when she fell from exhaustion, but he continued to fight instead. As he should have. But sometimes Mai wished that they could ignore certain responsibilities and just…be. Just exist. Just live.

She chewed on her fingernail nervously. Oh spirits, if Zuko dies…I'll never have gotten to say goodbye…our baby will never know his father's smile…

"Mai, you should lay back. Don't think of things that you don't even know the outcome of." Song suggested softly, as she noticed Mai's apprehension when she was making her rounds.

Mai smiled wryly. "I just don't want to lose him."

Song tucked Mai's sheets in a little tighter. "I understand, but the battle was won. Any significant deaths would have been reported by now." Song reminded her.

Mai nodded. "You're right…"

Song smiled softly. "Rest now."

Mai tried, she really did, but she knew she would not rest until she could have Zuko right there in front of her as proof he was alive. Or dead. Either way, she would not rest.

EVERYTHING MOVED SO quickly once the healers had taken Katara out of his grasp. She was whisked away to be taken care of, and he had to address the Earth King, the Council of Five. And whatever Royal Earthbender Guards remained alive from Azula's siege.

Ty Lee followed Zuko wherever he went, remaining silent. She found Aang a safe place to rest, tired from having cradled the unconscious Avatar in her arms for so long.

Zuko sat calmly before the Earth King and his Council of Five and explained to them the events of the past one hundred years, skimming over the major points, then becoming detailed about the most recent events. Zuko explained his position in the war, his goals, and the makings of the Omashu army.

Aang's presence, although he was unconscious in another room, solidified his story.

"My comrades and I have assembled this army to defeat my father, the Fire Lord Ozai. We have come to Ba Sing Se to defend it from my sister Azula's army. Now that Ba Sing Se is safe, for the time being, I need to ask for your support in this war. We need soldiers desperately. We want to attack the Fire Nation full force when it is at its weakest: the solar eclipse. The Day of Darkness."

"Specify, please." A general commanded, his name was How.

"On the solar eclipse the Firebenders lose their abilities. They will be defenseless, unless they are trained in hand to hand combat. Our Waterbenders will be extremely powerful during this eclipse and the multitudes of Earthbenders will solidify our victory." Zuko explained.

The Generals looked among one another and discussed it quietly among themselves. Zuko waited in silence, patiently, for them to make their decision.

General Sung quieted his colleagues and addressed Zuko: "Your army's intentions are something we agree whole heartedly with, and we will lend you our supplies, troops, and whatever else is necessary to defeat the Fire Nation on the Day of Darkness."

Zuko could barely contain his smile and bowed his head to the Generals. "Thank you. Now I will combine our forces. My soldiers will need room and board. And rest. They've fought a long and weary battle today and have done well. I must go inform my comrades of this military union."

The Generals granted him leave and he rushed to check on Katara, Ty Lee flanking him.

"Zuko, you were great in there!" Ty Lee exclaimed.

Zuko blushed slightly at the girl's enthusiasm. "It was nothing more than what you would have done." He entered the room Katara resided in. She was unconscious but seemed to be stabilized. Ty Lee quieted herself, not wishing to disturb the recovering warrior.

Katara stirred, having heard Zuko and Ty Lee's conversation echo down the halls. "Zuko…?" she opened her eyes, her gaze falling upon Ty Lee and Zuko.

Zuko, relieved that she was alright, touched her hand gently. "Hey…you scared us there for a while."

Katara laughed weakly. "I'm sorry."

"You're alive. That's all that matters." He replied.

Ty Lee nodded in agreement.

Katara glanced around. "Where's Aang?"

Ty Lee smiled. "He's resting. Poor kid tuckered himself out."

Katara sighed in relief. "Where are the others?"

"I gave the order for them to advance. They'll be arriving soon." Zuko assured her.

Katara nodded. "Haru…" she murmured, wondering if he was alright.

"We haven't heard any disparaging news about anyone yet. They're all fine." Ty Lee informed her.

"Sokka too?" she asked belatedly.

Ty Lee looked thoughtful. "Well, I'm sure he's still cute…" Ty Lee trailed off.

Katara twitched. "Keep your paws off of my brother."

Zuko could only laugh at the two girls' antics.

SOKKA AWOKE SUDDENLY with a sneeze. He sniffled and looked around, noticing that the make-shift medical bunker was in a flurry. People rushed around, packing and gathering things, and any of those who seemed well enough to move were leaving. Those who were heavily injured were being assisted.

He pulled himself into a sitting position, wincing at his injury's protest. He blinked when he heard a soft moan, and looked to his side to see Toph sleeping haphazardly on her chair beside his bed.

An odd feeling washed over him at the knowledge that Toph had sat vigil by his side the entire time he slept. He slipped out of his bed and took the girl in his arms. He placed her gently into his cot and pulled the thin sheets over her petite frame.

Rest, Toph. You've earned it. I saved your life…and you turned around and saved mine. He brushed the girl's ebony hair from her face. Funny, she was really cute when she didn't have her hair falling in her face and she kept her mouth shut.

The realization slipped away as quickly as it had come and Sokka concerned himself with other issues: like helping to move everyone and everything into the innermost walls of Ba Sing Se. He forgot the discomfort of his injury as he helped transport supplies.

In his travels, he came across Haru, Sen Su, Jet, and Mai. They all seemed to be in varying degrees of health, but nowhere close to dying. Good. He looked to the looming walls ahead of him, sincerely hoping Katara, Zuko, Aang and Ty Lee were alright.

In the commotion, he came across Karida. Her face was tear streaked, her warrior's makeup ruined.

Alarm rose within him quickly. "What happened?" Sokka asked, pulling the girl aside from the rushing people around them.

Her breath hitched and she threw her arms around him, breaking down into harsh sobs. "Oh, Sokka!" she cried.

He rested his hands on the girl's back, patting it gently. "Karida?"

She cried for several minutes in his arm before pulling herself away. "We've lost Batu…" she finally managed to say.

Sokka's breath was stolen out of his chest. Batu…the loyal warrior who had stood by Suki in all her endeavors…who had stood by Sokka when he had burnt Suki's body at the pyre…who had followed Karida and Sokka proudly into the battle of Ba Sing Se…

She was dead. Dead and gone, just like Suki.

"Karida…I'm so sorry." Sokka croaked. He had to be strong for Karida. She had lost so much already…

Karida sniffled, wiping at her tears, further smearing her makeup. "I searched for the other Kyoshi Warriors that we had left behind at the ferry of Ba sing Se…" she began hesitantly.

Sokka was almost afraid to ask, so he said nothing.

"They came to Ba Sing Se's walls, to try and protect it from Azula's siege…I've found their bodies." Karida finished, her voice wavering.

Sokka pulled the girl close again, his embrace the only comfort he could offer this warrior-woman. "Their memories will live in on you." He finally said.

Karida nodded mutely, pulling away from him once more. "I am the last of the Kyoshi Warriors." She commented, as if she almost did not believe it.

Sokka rubbed his arm, uncomfortable with the thought that Suki's fighting style would perish if Karida did not survive this war. The Kyoshi Warriors were what helped preserve the memory of Suki. "Go back to Kyoshi Island. You must preserve the Kyoshi Warriors. Start anew…teach the younger ones the ways…what it means to be a warrior…" he trailed off.

"I cannot abandon you in this war, Sokka. You…" Karida began in protest. She fought to find the words to describe how she felt about the man-child from the Southern Water Tribe.

"Suki would want you to preserve the Kyoshi Warriors." Sokka retorted. He winced at the mere mention of his lover's name. Spirits, it hurt so much…

"But…I can't leave you. Suki would want me to make sure you'd be safe…and, well…" Karida blushed slightly. "You reminded me of her, she lives in on you as well as me…and I admire you for making Suki the happiest she'd ever been…"

Sokka blushed slightly as well. "Karida…I'll be safe. I'll live on. And if I don't…then I get to be with Suki." Somehow, the idea didn't seem so bad.

Karida frowned. "Don't talk like that. We must have long, fulfilling lives. We mustn't do injustice to Suki."

Sokka turned away from Karida, not wanting to bear a long life without Suki by his side. "I don't know if I have the strength." He finally admitted.

"No, you do. I know you do. You had the strength to love her, now you have the strength to carry on. Batu…my dearest friend, she'd want me to live…" Karida began to cry again, unable to continue speaking.

Sokka glanced at the broken warrior. "Please don't cry…I…Karida…" and he began to cry himself. He cried for Suki, for Batu, for the other warriors. For the concept of a dying race of warriors known by the name of Kyoshi. What had this world become?

They held one another and cried out their grief, anguish, and sorrows.

AND SO, THE walls of Ba Sing Se were repaired by the least injured of the Earthbenders. The injured members of the Omashu Army were relocated to the inner most walls of the aforementioned city and the dead were burned at the pyre at nightfall. Funeral rites were held, people mourned, and the injured were tended to.

The reunions between friends, lovers, and family of 'Team Avatar' were tearful and relieving. They had not expected all of them to make it out of this conflict alive. Sometimes a surprise like this shouldn't be questioned.

Zuko called the so-called generals of the Omashu Army together after the funeral rites, relieved to see that everyone was alive, even if barely so. He looked among the faces of the people he had come to love.

"We now have the support of the entire Earth Kingdom." He began, raking his fingers through his unruly hair.

Everyone cut him off unexpectedly with whoops and hollering. He grinned and made a signal for everyone to quiet.

"You've all done well today, and have been recognized by the Earth King for your efforts."

Essentially, they were war heroes, even before the war had come to an end.

Mai spoke up, tentatively. "Does that imply that Iroh, myself, and you are no longer outlaws in the Earth Kingdom?"

Zuko nodded. "We're now citizens of the Earth Kingdom."

She sighed in relief. A pseudo-home to call their own was better than nothing at all.

Aang stood suddenly. "But…Zuko, won't you take the throne of the Fire Nation…?" he had rested for such a long time, and he still felt so weary. But he couldn't let his questions go by, unasked. So many swirled in his head, the most important, and probably ridiculous, was 'When can I be a normal kid?'

Zuko bit his lip. "If I have the opportunity to take it, then probably. If not, then…" What? The Earth Kingdom would be his home? Well, that's pretty much what he'd expected when he settled down with Uncle Iroh and had started the Jasmine Dragon. But now that the chance for his throne back was knocking at his door…could he so easily go back to the like of a simple peasant?

"I see." Aang replied.

Everyone else seemed tired, and no one seemed to have the energy to ask any questions. Perhaps they didn't want to know what the next action would be. The idea of resting for the next few days was becoming very appealing.

"In any case, we've attained some of our goals in today's battle. Our next course of action will be to plan for the Day of Darkness." Zuko announced.

The small council room was filled with groans and cheers.

"We'll meet tomorrow, meeting adjourned." Zuko finished. Everyone dispersed quickly, eager to catch up on some well earned rest.

Mai came to his side, studying him. "You've changed…" she murmured softly.

He blinked, looking down at his lover. "You have as well." He replied.

She hugged him abruptly, burying her face into his chest. "You're becoming a Fire Lord." She informed him, her voice half remorseful, half proud.

"Is that…?" he wasn't sure what such a thing would mean to Mai. He knew she loved him whether he be an Earth Kingdom peasant or the Fire Lord of the Fire Nation.

"It's a good thing." Mai answered his thoughts, bringing her hand up to stroke his cheek. "Just…remember to be both the Fire Lord and Zuko."

He touched Mai's cheek as well. "I know." He looked into her amber eyes, taking in her changed self too. "You're…"

"I'm stronger now." She interrupted his thoughts. Her eyes softened at the thought.

"Stronger?" Zuko queried.

She nodded, looking lost in thought. "As I laid in the medical bunker…I didn't know if you'd come back to me…alive or dead…and I thought about it long and hard…I came to the realization that no matter what happens to you, I must carry on. For our son. Our Suoh." Her thoughts flowed from her tongue like a garbled river.

Zuko processed her words, and nodded. "I know you could. You've never been weak." He affirmed.

"Physically? No. Emotionally? Yes, sometimes." Mai admitted. She looked deep into her lover's amber eyes.

"I have my weaknesses too." He pulled her close, smelling her hair, savoring the feel of her lithe body against his.

"Nobody's perfect." She remarked offhandedly.

Zuko laughed. "You are to me." He kissed her, once, gently. And he led her to their newly assigned bedchambers. He undressed her and himself, and tucked them into bed. Fatigue won over him though, and he did not make love to his warrior-woman. He simply held her in his arms, reveling in her nude body against his. Tomorrow would be a new day, as the sun had set on today's victory. They both had lived to tell the Tale of The Siege of Ba Sing Se. Now, if only they could tell their son, Suoh. But that would have to wait.

HARU SOUGHT KATARA the moment the meeting ended. Their reunion had been interrupted by Zuko's calling for a meeting, and now he wanted to resume where they had left off.

Katara guided Haru to her new bedroom, hugging him tightly the moment they closed the door behind them. "Thank you." She choked out, fighting tears.

Haru blinked in confusion, what had he done to earn such a reward? "For?"

She held his face in her hands and kissed him deeply on the mouth. "You sent Sen Su to protect me because you knew you couldn't." she was in awe of his love for her. How much he cared. And Sen Su's loyalty to Haru's request…that was also touching. She'd have to find Sen Su and thank him for guarding her so devotedly.

"Katara…how could I not make sure you were safe?" Haru asked, burying his fingers into her long unbound hair.

"I just…I didn't know you'd do such a thing for me…" she mumbled, blushing slightly. She leaned up and kissed him again. She wanted to kiss him forever… "Zuko protected me once Sen Su no longer could." She informed him.

Haru stammered in surprised. "Zuko?"

Katara nodded wordlessly.

Haru owed Zuko an enormous 'thank you'. But, first… "I'm just glad you're here, safe. This was your second brush with death…"

She laughed, fiddling with Haru's sash that held his tunic closed. "Aren't you exaggerating a bit?" she inquired.

Haru frowned. "No, I'm not. This second time especially. The healers told me how bad you were…Azula struck you…"

She shuddered at the memory, then untied Haru's sash thoughtlessly, her fingers exploring the expanse of his broad chest and stomach.

Haru shuddered as well, but not because of unpleasant memories. "Katara…"

"What?" she asked absently, removing Haru's robe-like tunic altogether. She dropped the green cloth carelessly on the floor, leaving Haru dressed only in his pants and shoes. She stood on tiptoe, her lips brushing his ear and neck.

He shivered once again, resisting the urge to pin Katara to the wall and ravage her. He had to be the responsible one. His actions, once delivered, could not be taken back. And he didn't want to be in Zuko and Mai's position, or Sokka's position for that matter. "What are you-"

She brought a finger to his lips to silence him. "We nearly lost one another on this day. And I've wanted to do this to you for the longest time. If we don't have tomorrow…at least I'll know we have right now." She argued.

And oh, was her argument convincing, Haru thought. But still, he didn't want to be impulsive. "But…"

Katara scowled. "But what? Don't you desire me? Don't you-"

It was Haru's turn to silence Katara, and he did so with a kiss. He stroked her cheek with the pad of his thumb. "I just don't want to do anything you'll regret…and if I got you…"

Pregnant. A word, a definition that froze both of their actions momentarily. A two syllable word that held so much meaning, happiness, sorrow, anxiety…

Katara shook her head. "Haru, I don't care about tomorrow. Just about…right now, right here." She ran her fingers through his hair, her nails scraping teasingly at the nape of his neck.

He was convinced. "I lov-"

She interrupted him with a kiss, throwing herself into his arms. He picked her up, carrying her to her bed, laying her gently upon it. Their breaths quickened and melded into one. Their hands clumsily explored one another, hungrily searching to give the other pleasure. Time was forgotten. The exhaustion of the day was forgotten. The ache of their acquired injuries was forgotten.

All that mattered was here, now. Katara had been right; there may not be a tomorrow. She laced her fingers with his, crying out in pleasure as they joined together as one for the first time. He moaned her name, reveling in the feel of her. She sobbed his name, he whispered his feelings. They strove against one another, whether for minutes or hours they did not know.

And finally, they collapsed together, their bodies humming with pleasure, soaked in sweat, shaking in the aftermath of all that they had just created and made together. They held one another, and their eyes closed just as dawn danced through their window.