AN: I know, big shocker last chapter! Hopefully Zuko will have a little peace of mind now?

Encounter with Embers

MAI DIDN'T KNOW what to think as she saw her lover embrace his mother in the middle of the throne room of the Earth King of Ba Sing Se, in front of all of these people, none the less.

But, could anyone hold such a thing against a man who had thought his mother to be dead for the past eight years? Was it really such a weakness to show emotions of happiness and relief after a loved one's long absence?

No, she supposed not. And Zuko was such a loving person. Although, it was usually only with his Uncle privately or with her behind closed doors.

Ursa…she felt glad for the other women who held her lover's heart. To finally be reunited with her son after son long…Mai pressed a hand to her own stomach. Would I embrace my Suoh in such a way in front of all these people?

Yes. She would. She would love her own son as intensely as Ursa loved hers. And that was fine. Ursa could love Zuko as much as she wanted. They had eight years of smiles, hugs, and kisses to make up for, didn't they?

She sighed softly, knowing that this reunion between Zuko and Ursa would heal a wound that Zuko had harbored in his heart for nearly a decade. This was good for Zuko, and to see him revitalized by the reappearance of his mother, it made her happy.

So then why did she feel so…dejected? Would Zuko forget her for his mother? No, that was a stupid thing to worry about. One's mother and one's lover were two entirely different things. Although, one would always love their mother, lovers were expendable.

But Zuko was not like that. She knew him, and loved him. Both more with each passing day. This was not a bad thing and was, in fact, very good.

Ursa stroked her son's face, her fingers ghosting over his scar. "Oh…Zuko…"

He wiped at his mother's tears, pulling her off of her knees. "We have much to talk about." He murmured gently to her.

He turned to Aang, nodded once, and took his mother's hand. "You should reunite with Uncle Iroh. And…" he glanced at Mai, warmth in his eyes, "My fiancée, Mai."

Ursa's eyes went wide, then her face lit up with the pleasure of her son's engagement. "Yes, let's."

Zuko and Ursa left the throne room with Mai and Iroh trailing behind them.

Aang turned to Jeong Jeong and his men and bowed. "Thank you for looking out for Zuko's mother." He didn't know quite what to think of the events that had unraveled before him, but he was glad for Zuko to have regained something that he had lost.

Jeong Jeong shook his head. "I did not know that her son would come to fight alongside you, or else I would have informed you of her existence within our group the last time we had met." He replied.

Aang laughed. "I didn't know either, until he did." He scratched at the back of head. "Well, the servants will assign you bedchambers. Relax for now, and Zuko will be holding a meeting tonight. Only you need to attend, your men may rest and train." Aang instructed.

Jeong Jeong relayed the news to his men, who were relieved to have actual civilized homes to dwell in for the first time in many years.

Katara glanced at Sokka, noticing that he too had a longing look on his face. You miss our mother, don't you? She wanted to ask, but she knew the answer. Sokka grieved much more for his losses than he let on.

Aang turned to his friends. "Well, I guess our meeting is postponed until tonight. How about seven?"

Toph shrugged. "Sounds good enough to me. Now let's get to Earthbending, Twinkle Toes." She walked off to the training grounds, Aang following her closely, without argument.

Haru's eyes lit up, for he truly enjoyed watching Toph's prowess in action. "Count me in!" he followed the two Benders eagerly.

Ty Lee frowned. "Hey, I want to see too!" she grabbed Jet, dragging him by his arms.

The poor ex-Freedom Fighter protested angrily, but is protests fell onto deaf ears. He was helplessly dragged by the acrobat.

Katara and Sokka blinked, looked at one another, and shrugged.

"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." Sokka remarked as he followed his group of friends. Perhaps he'd be able to convince Ty Lee to spar with him.

IROH POURED THE tea that the servants graciously delivered to his chambers. Before the tea and desserts had arrived, there had been little said, except for Zuko and Ursa staring at one another intensely.

"So," Iroh began, "Ursa, it's a pleasure to see you again, after all these years. Time has been kind to you."

She smiled, reaching over to grasp his hands. "You too, Iroh. Thank you so much for caring for Zuko…I owe you a great debt." She sincerely meant it, her amber eyes shining with unshed tears.

"I would have done so, regardless, my Lady." He patted her hands gently, handing her a cup of tea. "Enjoy, it's a special blend I've ordered from Ba Sing Se's best grocer."

She gingerly took a sip and smiled. "Delicious."

Zuko, who chose to sit between his mother and Mai, took Mai's hands, squeezing them. She had been tense since Ursa had appeared, and he wanted her to relax. "Mother…"

Ursa looked up at her son. "Yes, Zuko?"

"You remember Mai…?" he began tentatively.

She nodded. "Yes, you're Azula's old friend."

Mai bowed her head. "Lady Ursa-"

"Oh, Mai, don't call me that. I'm not the Fire Lady any longer. Just Ursa is fine." Ursa protested.

Mai nodded feebly. "Ursa, I've actually…I was an accomplice to your daughter, Azula. I betrayed her to fight beside Zuko. He was fighting for what I believed in. and I believed in him."

Ursa frowned darkly. "And you feel guilty for having betrayed my daughter?" she inquired.

Mai nodded tersely.

Ursa shook her head, placing her tea cup on the small table encompassed by her, Zuko, Mai, and Iroh. "Mai, who hasn't Azula betrayed? Has she truly been as loyal to you as you had been to her?"

Mai blushed slightly. "You mean to say that I should not have been loyal to your daughter for as long as I was?"

Ursa sighed softly. "Mai, you did the right thing to fight beside Zuko. To choose him over Azula was a wise choice indeed."

Iroh nodded in agreement.

Ursa smiled. "So, you are to marry my son?" she questioned coyly. The idea of the impending nuptials made her feel young and giddy again.

Mai couldn't help but smile. "Yes, and…actually…" she looked at Zuko, asking for his approval.

He squeezed her hand gently. "What Mai is trying to say is that…she's carrying my child." he blushed slightly, both from pride and from embarrassment. For this was the obvious result of his pre-martial relations with Mai. He wasn't sure what his mother would think…

Ursa's face lit up and she clapped her hands together. "Oh…how wonderful! To find my son once again and find out I have a grandchild as well?!" She reached over, pulling both Mai and Zuko into a hug.

They laughed at Ursa's response and returned the hug.

Iroh smiled, stroking his beard. This had become a very favorable day indeed. He relished this time of reunion with his loved ones. In the back of his mind, he knew that the may not last.

AT THE MEETING that evening, Zuko found that he was distracted. The reunion with his mother had made him cry with joy, and he found that he couldn't even be embarrassed about the embrace they had shared in front of everyone. This was his mother. The only one who had loved him for who he was. The only one who had believed in him.

He spared a glance at Iroh and Mai. Iroh had been the second, and Mai had been the third. He gave Mai a small smile. Their unborn child would be the fourth.

"Now that the Omashu army had expanded to encompass Ba Sing Se's army and the rebels of the Fire Nation, I feel that we will be unconquerable on the Day of Darkness."

Everyone began to cheer, and Zuko allowed them for a short while before raising a hand to silence them. "Now, all that is required of us is to strike on the Day of Darkness."

They remained silent this time, each contemplating that one day of battle. It would be long and weary. And Azula still had her Dai Li and Yu Yan Archers that would need to be dealt with on this day. But Katara's Waterbending army would be extremely strong, due to the solar eclipse.

This battle was theirs. They were all certain of it.

Aang raised a questioning hand.

Zuko nodded at the young Avatar.

"What if Azula attacks once more with her army?"

"I don't doubt that she will." Zuko replied.

"So…we'll just fight?" Ty Lee jumped to Aang's defense.

"Seems like a good enough plan, don't you think?" Zuko responded tartly.

The group agreed as a whole, no longer truly afraid of what Azula was capable of.

"So, in conclusion, we have two and a half weeks before we attack on August ninth. I suggest you all spend this time with your various loved ones, and say what needs to be said to one another. Our victory of this upcoming battle may be assured, but individual lives cannot be accounted for." Zuko said calmly.

Everyone nodded in agreement and left to do as Zuko bid them: enjoy one another's company.

THAT EVENING, ZUKO reflected on all that had happened that day. His heart, for the first time in eight years, felt light and free entirely. He ran his fingers over his fiancée's sleeping cheek. She had been so patient with him today. For, upon reflection, he felt he had ignored her for the better part of the day after his mother had reappeared.

The corners of his mouth quirked when he recalled how he had made it up to her…

After dinner, Mai had claimed she felt tired and was going to bed. Poor thing, she was still suffering from morning sickness every now and again. Zuko felt slightly guilty and turned to his mother. "I should turn in too…and make sure she's okay." Zuko politely told her.

Ursa shook her head. "Go right ahead, take good care of her." She winked.

And Zuko blushed furiously. Was his mother asking him to go make love with his fiancée? He mumbled out a quick reply before kissing her on the cheek and fleeing.

He tried not to think that his mother knew he was sleeping with Mai…but it was so obvious that they shared a bed…especially since Ursa had been informed of her unborn grandchild.

He found Mai dressing into her nightclothes in their room. And the expanses of revealed skin sent his blood burning. When was the last time they had made love? Nearly a week…they had resisted when traveling to Ba Sing Se, and once they arrived here, they had a battle on their hands, and were exhausted the night before because of it.

She, alert as always, turned to glance once he entered the room. And noticed the hungry look in his eyes. "Zuko…" she breathed his name, overwhelmed by the emotion in his eyes.

He strode over to her quickly, burying his fingers into her sable hair as he kissed her deeply. She threw her arms around his shoulders and reciprocated. "I've missed this." She whispered against his lips.

"Me too." He picked her up, carrying her to their shared bed. And, as he intended, he ravished her until she begged for him. Their joining broke a dam within him, and he found his tears wetting her neck. Lying in her arms, in the aftermath of it all, he found peace.

"It's going to be alright." Mai soothed, stroking his damp hair from his eyes.

"I know." He whispered, pressing kisses to her neck.

She shivered. "It's all going to be over soon." She commented vaguely. It amazed her that all this work, all these adventures had happened in a matter of nearly two months. And would be over in two and a half weeks.

"I know."

She kissed his forehead, looking into his eyes. "What do you want?" she queried, her eyes penetrating his soul.

"You. Our child." the answer was simple. There was no thought required.

"And?" she pressed further.

"Uncle Iroh, my mother. A family: the five of us." He added.

"And?" she wanted to know where they'd live, what they'd be…what he wanted for them to have.

"Nothing else matters. Minor details." He replied, kissing her deeply. He ran his fingers over her features. "Now sleep, you're tired."

She nodded, remembering how heavy her eyelids felt. She kissed him once more before resting and falling with ease into slumber.

Yes, he had certainly made it up to her. He rose from bed, donning a simple robe. Zuko walked over to his window, looking out upon the beautiful buildings of the innermost wall of Ba Sing Se. The people in those beautiful buildings all slept soundly, depending on him, his friends, their army, to save them from the ruthlessness of the Fire Nation. And the Avatar. They depended on him too.

In retrospect, Zuko found that he had sympathized with Aang. And had essentially taken over Aang's role of savior. He wasn't sure if he had done it because he'd always wanted to be a leader, or if he felt sorry that the young boy had to grow up so quickly and meet the demands of the entire world. The truth was probably somewhere in the middle.

But he did sympathize with Aang. His duties to save the world were a bit much for a twelve year old to handle. Zuko felt that all he had to deal with at the age of fourteen was too much.

He reflected upon his banishment, his burn, his father and sister's betrayal, his three year hunt for the Avatar. That's right; he had turned seventeen in all of this craziness. He'd nearly forgotten his own miserable birthday. But that mattered not.

Funny, his burn, his banishment, his public humiliation…it all haunted him today. Why today? Because his mother had risen from the ashes and stood before him in all of her beauty and wisdom. She had joined his army, joined his cause.

Her support meant the world to him. And she gave it to him tenfold. Today's conversation had blown him away…

After small talk and the news of the baby, Iroh felt it was necessary for Ursa and Zuko to speak alone and catch up on their own person. He quietly whispered this to Mai, and she nodded in agreement. She, more than anyone, understood Zuko's love for his mother. They had much to talk about.

"We'll leave you two to catch up. Iroh and I must train the Avatar." Mai interrupted the mother and son duo.

"I see..." Ursa replied thoughtfully. She glanced from Mai to Iroh and nodded. "Very well, we'll see you at dinner."

Zuko gave a feeble farewell before turning to his mother. "I've missed you so much. I thought of you everyday..." Zuko confessed.

"Zuko, I hated to leave you. I thought of you everyday as well…and when I had heard of your misfortunes..." she trailed off, fighting the strong emotions welling up within her.

He brought a hand up to gingerly touch his scar. To remind himself that it was still there. Her hand rose to touch it as well. He felt very naked, suddenly, before his mother's scrutiny.

"When I left, I didn't know that your father would…" Ursa trailed off, unable to speak. Burning, banishing, hating…

"Neither did I. But he was only waiting for me to mess up. To give him the opportunity to challenge me to an Agni Kai…" Zuko lamented. His hand fell from his cheek, clenching into a fist. "And I foolishly thought that if I captured the Avatar I could honestly win his love back." And how foolish he had been.

His mother's golden eyes, filled with love for him and hate for his father, were steady. "Zuko, love is not something you can win back or automatically lose. Either you love someone or you don't. And as your father, he should have loved you unconditionally." She told him.

"I try to tell myself I was worthy." Zuko could no longer allow himself to believe that he could win his father's love through the Avatar or by any other miraculous feats. He could no longer believe that he was unworthy, a failure, or anything of the sort.

"You are." She assured him. Her son…who had been wounded so badly, body and soul.

"What went wrong?" his voice was soft, weak. Almost as if he didn't want to truly know what had happened to their once happy family.

"Your father has forsaken his love and his family for greed, power, and ambition." She replied simply. She smoothed her tunic as an excuse to distract herself from the painful truth. "He was bitterly jealous of Iroh, wanted the throne for himself, and ceased to value the truly important things in life."

Zuko bit his lip. He had already half known this. "Iroh would have given him the throne, if only he asked instead of took."

"Ozai has never asked nicely for anything." Ursa murmured.

"Did he ever love me? Or you?" Zuko suddenly felt angry, and full of questions he wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answer to.

"He loved you when you grew within me. He loved you when you were young. But Azula…once she proved her prowess in Firebending, his focus turned to her. As for me, he loved me when we were engaged. When we were first married. But I lost his love when I began to oppose him and his ambitions. I tried to keep him from fighting in the war, taking the throne, killing his father-"

"So he did kill Grandfather." It wasn't a question, but a sick realization.

Ursa bowed her head. "He didn't want anyone to know he had been denied the throne. He had to act quickly, and felt that killing his father would be the best route to take." She trembled with emotion, looking into her son's eyes. "Oh, Zuko, if only I had taken you with me…you would have been safe."

"I wouldn't have understood. I was young..." Zuko tried to reassure his mother. He touched her shoulder. "You did the best you could with what time you had."

Several tears trickled down her face. "Everything has gone so wrong. And it wasn't just with our family. A hundred years ago this mess started." She cried softly.

He took his mother's chin, lifting it. "I'm going to fix it, Mom. I promise."

Her eyes pierced through his, and relief flooded through her features. "I believe you." She studied her son for a few quiet moments that he allowed her.

"What?" he questioned, unsure of what she was trying to find in his face. What answers was she looking for?

"Nothing really, it's just…you've become a man. You've eased a great burden from the Avatar's shoulder onto your own, you've joined the supposed 'enemies' of the Fire Nation for the greater cause, and you've fallen in love with a woman…now you're going to be a father…" she seemed most amazed by the latest of the three.

Zuko felt himself blush hotly. "We weren't really intending to have a baby so soon…" he trailed off, then inwardly cursed himself. He had pretty much informed his mother that he engaged in reckless sex.

Ursa only smiled. "But now you do. And you've stepped up and accepted responsibility. Some men would have cast Mai aside-"

"I love her." He interrupted, his voice strong, and tinged with ferocity. "I would never leave her alone, frightened and pregnant."

Ursa touched his cheek. "I know, Zuko." She pulled her son into a hug. "I know you wouldn't do such a thing. You are exactly who I wanted you to become."

A surge of delirious happiness: "Really?"

"Yes. You have a heart. A conscience. Feelings and regard for others."

He could only return the hug she had bestowed upon him.