Kunai was awakened by about thirty pounds of little girl dropped onto her stomach. She looked up, gasping for breath, and saw tear-filled eyes staring up at her, Kameko perched upon her abdomen.

"I had a bad dream." she said.

Kunai sat up, pulling the little girl into her chest. "My poor baby…" she whispered, stroking her daughter's hair back. Kameko looked up at her, sniffing and pawing at the wet trails on her cheeks.

"I don't wanna go back to sleep cuz there's monsters."

Kunai's eyes widened her heart dropping.

"How you holding up kid?" Crico asked as he walked into Kunai's tent where she stared blankly at the ceiling.

"I'm tired." Neither her face nor her position changed as he sat next to her.

"Then sleep. You know we need you taken care of." He ran a finger down her cheek and she blink.

"When I sleep, I see Gorou's face. I see him looking at me when they cut his throat."

Crico nodded, looking her up and down. "We all know what it's like to not wanna sleep when there are monsters."

Kunai's hands trembled as she tried to force herself back to reality. This was not Crico, this was her scared innocent daughter. Crico wasn't here to hurt her.

"You're okay. There's no monsters." She spoke more to herself than anyone but she didn't have the energy to care.

She held the little girl until morning's light came and Kameko was soothed. Her terrors forgotten Kameko began to worry about other more pressing things.

"Mama, I'm hungry."

Kunai smiled. "Well lets see what we can find for you." She fished around in the communal food bag, retrieving a ripe peach. "Why don't you eat this while we wait for everyone else to wake up?"

Kameko retrieved the fruit, rolling it around in her hands before frowning deeply. "Lala can't share my peach. Lala needs her own peach."

"Who's Lala?"

Kameko crawled off her mother's lap and opened up a small bag with her toys. She pulled out a rag doll dressed in red, with short black hair made of strings.

"This is Lala! You gave her to me and she's a firebender and she needs her own peach."

A smile crossed Kunai's face. She nodded happily, handing her another peach. Kameko smiled, holding one between her knees while she propped up her doll and setting the other in her lap. She pointed a chubby finger at the doll.

"Eat your peach Lala!" she commanded before taking a bite, juices squirting all over her face. Kameko giggled and Kunai shook her head with a smile, swiping away the mess with the back of her hand.

"You are going to be so sticky."

Kameko nodded and took another messy bite.

"Good morning."

Kunai looked up, Zuko just a few feet from them, shaking away the last traces of sleep.

"Morning." Kunai replied softly. Zuko smiled and cupped her cheek, placing a chaste kiss on her lips.

"How long have you been up?"

"A few hours. Kameko had a nightmare." She motioned to the toddler singing nonsense to herself. Zuko nodded and reached for the unclaimed peach. Kameko let out a blood-curdling shriek that woke the rest of the group, batting his hand away. Zuko jumped back.

"What happened?" Sokka mumbled from the far side of the saddle, waving his boomerang around.

"Nothing guys. Kameko, stop all that screaming." Kunai scolded. Kameko poked out her lip and crossed her arms.

"He was gonna take Lala's peach!"

"What's Lala?" he asked. Kameko groaned in exasperation and held up the rag doll, holding it out at him.

"This is Lala and she likes peaches and she's a firebender and you can't have her peach and now you have to apo-wa-dize!"

Zuko looked at Kunai who was looking at him with a sympathetic smile.

"Umm…I'm sorry Lala?" he said. Kameko beamed and moved the doll towards him. She took the doll by the arm and made it pat him on the head. She pressed the doll's face to his cheek and made a smacking noise.

"Lala's happy now."

Zuko couldn't hold back the small smile that tugged his lips, an unfamiliar warmth growing in his chest. Kameko put the doll to her ear and made incoherent whispering noises, nodding thoughtfully. She turned to Zuko to deliver the doll's message.

"Lala wants to know what your name is."

"I'm Zuko."

Kameko smiled and nodded, distracted by the peach in her lap. Zuko smiled and scooted next to Kunai.

"She's a sweet kid."

Kunai looked at him with soft meaningful smile.

"Yeah… yeah she is."

Kunai sighed deeply, and pressed her lips against Kameko's forehead. Her skin seared to the point she couldn't hold her lips there for more than a second. The toddler was wrapped in a thick fur coat and wrapped in blankets to fight off the declining temperatures as they approached the South Pole yet she still moaned from cold, writhing in semi-consciousness. The sun was just rising over the water, rousing Zuko.

"You sleep at all?" he asked, wiping sleep from his eyes. Kunai shook her head and sighed deeply.

"Kameko's really sick and I… I don't know what to do." Her voice broke, her entire body trembling. Zuko crawled over to her and put the back of his hand against her forehead.

"Firebenders get high fevers to fend off viruses. This will pass shortly but until then, she'll be pretty lethargic."

Kunai nodded, gritting her teeth and pulling the little girl closer. She drew water out of her pouch and tilted Kameko's head up.

"Come on baby, you gotta drink this."

Kameko quieted and buried her face in her mother's chest. "Mama I don't feel good." She sobbed. Kunai sucked in her bottom lip, dabbing away the sweat of the little girl's brow. Tears welled in her eyes and she spoke past the lump in her throat.

"I know baby, I know…" She placed small kisses on Kameko's forehead, humming and rocking her back and forth.

"Guys wake up! We're here!" Aang yelled, rousing the rest of the gang. They all gazed at the small village as they approached. Appa landed in the snow, gaining the attention of many villagers. Among these was a small, bright eyed old woman.

"Gran-gran!" Sokka squealed, hopping off Appa and running into her embrace. Kanna chuckled and held her grandson out at arm's length.

"My my, how you've grown. And where's my granddaughter?"

Sokka bit his lip and sighed, speaking in a solemn tone. "She got taken. That's part of why we're here. See, the princess of the Fire Nation took her and she's got a naval fleet on their way. We figured it was best to beat her here." While Sokka explained the rest of the situation to Kanna, Kunai fought to pry the restless three-year old off her coat.

"Baby, I gotta put you down for a second."

Kameko groaned, gripping Kunai's coat even tighter.

"Kameko, I've got to get your bags-"

"No Mama!" she shrieked, her voice wavering on the edge of a tantrum. Kunai let out a sigh and knelt down, trying to pick up her bags with one free hand. As one of the smaller packs tumbled out of her arms she groaned and turned to pick up another, only to find it gone. She looked up to see Zuko offering her a small, almost shy smile as he through the bag over his shoulder before scooping up the others and hopping off Appa. Kunai watched him, her expression softening.

Kunai climbed off Appa, rubbing Kameko's back soothingly and whispering into her ear. Kana led them to a large building of ice with several rooms, a product of the last group of Northerners. There were three rooms with two beds each. Cramped but it would do.

"So who's with who?" Toph asked as they walked in.

"Well maybe me and S-"

"Sokka you can stay with Aang. Girls-" Kana said, looking at Toph and Suki. "You can have the room on the end of the hall."

Sokka began to open his mouth but one look at Kana and he heaved a sigh. "Yes Gran Gran."

Zuko awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. "So am I staying with you?"

Before Kunai could respond Kameko looked up at him with koala-doe eyes and nodded, making a noise of approval. Kunai chuckled and looked up at Zuko, giving a silent nod. With a relieved sigh Kunai fell back on the bed, cradling Kameko in her lap. She smiled, brushing her finger against the soft skin of her cheek that poked out underneath her parka.

"Hey baby girl. Sleepy?"

Kameko nodded. "Mmhmm. Cold…"

Kunai grabbed a blanket off the bed, swaddling the little girl like an infant and rocking her as she hummed a lullaby. Kameko cooed in contentment and drifted off to sleep. Zuko watched from the other side of the room, arms crossed as he examined the situation, his heart fluttering as he thought of his own mother, her lullabies, her care, all reflected in the wistful gaze Kunai cast upon the bundle in her lap as if nothing else existed.

Zuko walked over and sat next to her, pressing their thighs together. She closed her eyes, the smile falling from her face.

"Hey," he said in a whisper. She looked up at him.

"Hey."

Silence once again filled the room, thick like fog. Zuko broke it with a quiet reassurance. "You're… you're really good with her." he murmured. Kunai smirked, the awkward words and the innocent expression welling for a moment in her heart, a hint of familiarity.

"Thanks…" She lifted Kameko from her lap, placing her on her side on the pillow and draping yet another blanket over her. Still facing away from him she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and sighed.

"Why are you with me?" she said, her voice, just a breath.

"What?" Zuko asked. Kunai sighed and tilted her head back, clenching her fists.

"Why are you with me?!" she said, turning around, desperation painted all over her face. Zuko sat open- mouthed, searching for words.

"I…what do-"

"What's in it for you, Zuko? Some kid that's not yours? A girlfriend who's scared to touch you?" Her voice wavered with emotion, her eyes glazing over. She stood up and went over to the window, her breaths ragged and broken. "I just don't understand it and… and that's scary."

Zuko gaped at her for a moment before standing up and going up behind her. He began to reach out and wrap his arms around her waist but decided against it.

"Kunai… I'm with you because…you're you." He gulped, swallowing his nervousness and gathering his words.

"I told you, I love you. Just trust me, okay?"

Kunai bit her lip. "You didn't answer my question."

Zuko sighed, not having to ask. The answer came without a shadow of a doubt. "You."

Kunai turned around, looking up at him yet she saw the sincerity all over his face. He opened his arms.

"Can I?"

Kunai sucked in her bottom lip, squeezing her eyes shut as she nodded and melted into him. She wound her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest. Zuko held her tight, nuzzling her cheek. He wondered how many times this would happen, how many times he'd have to convince her.

Kunai looked up at him, the smallest smile on her lips. She ran her hands through Zuko's hair, her fingers feather light on his scalp. She pulled him down as she rocked up on her toes, closing the distance between them. As he kissed back she pressed into him and pulled him closer, letting out a quiet sigh. His hands around her waist, his subtle smoky scent, the taste of his lips-this is what she wanted. This, she could do. Kunai pulled away from his lips with a small smack, pressing her forehead against his.

"I like this. I really do. Can we just… take this slow?"

Zuko nodded, squeezing her just a bit tighter. "Of course."

Kunai kissed him once more, smiling against his lips.

"I hope I'm not interrupting."

Kunai and Zuko both jumped back, turning to the doorway where Kanna stood smiling. Zuko turned away, scratching the back of his neck and blushing. Kunai cleared her throat.

"N-no. Not at all."

"I noticed the little one is ill. Come with me, I'll fix you up a little ale that will make her feel much better."

Kunai nodded, beginning to follow after her. As she reached the doorway she turned around, biting her lip. "Hey Zuko. Could you-"

"I'll keep an eye on her."

Kunai's eyes lit up as she slipped out of the room. Zuko sat on the bed and looked at the sleeping little girl. A bead of sweat dribbled down cheek. He reached out, brushing it away with his knuckle. Easily awoken, Kameko opened up her eyes, blinking into consciousness. She eyed him for a second before sitting up and crawling into his lap. He reared back, staring incredulously at the little girl.

"I'm cold Mr. Zuko." she mumbled, looking up at him. Zuko bit his lip and put an arm around her, holding her body against his torso. To his surprise, she relaxed into his touch, taking handfuls of his parka.

"Where's Mama?" she mumbled, rocking on the edge of consciousness.

Zuko smiled down at her. "She's gonna get you some medicine."

Kameko hummed in quiet acknowledgment and fell back to sleep. He'd never held a child. In fact, his experience with children was limited to Azula, her friends and a handful of visiting nobles. Zuko's stiffness faded when he realized there was something fulfilling about this ball of warmth curled in his lap. He gently brushed a strand of soft black hair back into her parka, behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her skin.

A flash of movement in the corner of his eye caused him to look up to see Kunai leaning against the doorway, wearing an odd smile. Zuko flushed and pulled his hand away from Kameko's cheek, clearing his throat. Kunai sauntered in front of him, meeting his eye as she pulled the little girl from his arms and pressed a cup to her lips. Kameko mumbled as she awoke, drinking the sweetened ale. Kunai smiled and pecked the child on the forehead as she sat back down on the bed.

"She's getting to like you."

Zuko smiled draping an arm around her shoulder. "She's a good kid."

Kunai smiled and laid her head on her shoulder. "Well I'm gl-" She was cut off by a loud crash, the distinct cracking of ice. Zuko shot up, Kunai not far behind him as she set Kameko down and skidded into the doorway of the compound where the others were already gathering, her heart pounding. Zuko looked back at her, worry reflected in his eyes. He looked back out to the ocean and she followed his gaze. The first ship was breaking its way through the ice, approaching the village. Azula stood on the deck, eyeing the village. Sokka began to delegate but Kunai heard none of it. She ran back to the room and grabbed Kameko, shaking her awake as she lifted her from the bed and placed her on the floor. Kameko whimpered and cried. Kunai gripped her by the shoulders.

"Listen to me, baby. You gotta wake up okay?" she said, trying and failing to make her voice calm. Kameko sniffed and rubbed her eyes.

"I need you to hide under the bed for me okay? And I don't want you to come out no matter what happens, all right?"

Kameko grumbled but obeyed, crawling under the bed and curling her knees to her chest. Her eyes were wide in confusion and the beginnings of fear. "Mama what's going on?"

Kunai bit her lip for a second, taking a deep sigh. "Everything's gonna be fine. I love you, baby." Her voice tapered to a whisper and it took all her strength to tear herself away from the bed. She ran outside. Suki was leading Toph to the ships while Aang, Sokka and Zuko stood strong and unmovable. Kunai went up beside Zuko, meeting Azula's eye as she approached.

"Well well well, if it isn't the Dragon. This is a rematch I've been waiting for."

Kunai grit her teeth and tipped her head up indignantly.

"I've got your back." Zuko said.

Kunai shook her head. "I've got her. Focus on holding back the rest of the troops."

Before Zuko could reiterate, Azula leapt off the ship and Kunai snarled. "I'll take her."

Azula came down with a wide arc of blue fire. Kunai stood her ground, breaking through it with a dismissive flip of her arm.

"Give it up, Azula. What do you want out of this?"

The two woman paced around each other, each looking for a weakness, an opening.

"Let me think about that? Personal satisfaction from annihilating these savages?"

Azula sent a series of blue fireballs in quick succession. Kunai made a wall of snow in front of her and pushed it forward. The princess melted through it with a chuckle.

"Or maybe just love of confrontation?" Another wall of fire. Kunai evaded it, stepping in closer and closer to Azula. She knew how to fight a firebender, stay far enough to have room to move, just close enough to block long range attacks. Azula played into her tactic.

The two girls fought close, hand to hand until they reached an impasse. Azula's fist grew hotter and hotter in Kunai's hand.

"Or maybe I'm picking off your little rag tag team one at a time."

A moment of shock preceded a growl and Kunai flipped the younger girl to the ground, freezing her arms and legs and placing her foot just against the princess's neck. "And how the hell are you gonna do that, Princess?"

Azula smirked and looked past Kunai. "Look up and tell me, Kunai. What do you see?"

Kunai narrowed her eyes and turned. There was a war balloon hovering in the air, manned by four soldiers. But she saw nothing but her daughter bound and gagged writhing in soldier's arms. The gag fell loose and a shriek tore from her throat, a cry for her mother.

The world went blank.

There was no Azula, no Water Tribe, no friends to protect. There was simply Kameko and whoever stood in her way. Kunai leapt into the air, catapulted by both a gust of air and a moving pillar of ice. Just as the soldiers aimed at her she flicked her wrist, sending as ice blade through one's heart. She came up behind the next and snapped his neck before he was even fully aware of what was going off. One sweeping kick sent the remaining two soldiers off the careening war balloon. All opposing forces neutralized, Kunai jumped to Kameko, scooping her up in her arms and holding her to her chest as she leapt off the balloon. When she hit the ground, vertigo hit her and she crumpled to the ground. She collapsed onto her back, arms still grasping the little girl.

"Mama! Mama there's blood!" Kameko shrieked through terrified sobs. Kunai sat up, looking the little girl over for injuries. Her arm brushed against her rib cage and she groaned as pain shot through her torso. She looked down at a deep gash across her ribs. However the pain was outweighed by the relief that the injury was her own.

"You're okay…" Kunai breathed, falling onto her back, the world beginning to fade. Kameko shrieked and grabbed her mother's cheeks, shaking her head back and forth.

"Mama! Wake up Mama!" she begged. Kunai offered a weak smile, her hand rising to stroke her cheek.

"Baby… you're okay…" She slipped away with a sigh. Kameko squealed and begged for Kunai to wake pounding her small fists on her mother's chest. In desperation, Kameko took off through the battle, looking for anyone to help her.

Meanwhile, Azula's air ship was coming into the horizon, just as planned. The princess took off, propelling herself with powerful blasts of blue fire towards her air ship, her mission complete. As she ran, Sokka cried out in desperation, "Someone needs to take her down now!"

Zuko reacted first, cocking his fist back and forming a fireball with all intent to throw it. Yet just as it began to leave his body he realized she couldn't see him. This would hit her square in the back with enough force to knock her out of the air and quite possibly, end it all now. He hesitated.

At the same time, Aang reacted, a thoughtless, wild display of fire balls tearing through the air at the Princess. Fire struck her. A cry, bloodcurdling and strangled, tore through the night sky and Azula fell, hitting the ground with a wet, sickening thud. Everything seemed to dissolve into silence. The soldiers shouting for retreat, the clamor of armor and warriors around- all were silent in Zuko's ears as he walked to where his sister lay, face-down in the snow. The burn on her back was bloody and charred, smoke pouring off of it. Around her was a halo of red, bright and vivid against the snow. She was dead.

Azula was dead.

Zuko stared, unaware of the tiny hands slamming into his legs, growing hotter and hotter with uncontrollable fire.

"Mr. Zuko! You gotta help Mama! Please!" The tiny voice slowly maneuvered its way into his conscious mind. He looked down at the blood-covered child, the charred remains of her mittens hanging off her fingers eaten by sparks. Zuko looked over the horizon and caught sight of where Kunai laid, bleeding and motionless. He ran to her without thought, collapsing onto his knees next to her and pulling her into his arms. He would not lose her.

He leaned down to her mouth, hearing the tiny breath escaping from her lips. He lifted her up, looking around for help. Trodding through the snow, he carried her to the center of the village, crying out for someone, anyone to help.

Three older women ushered him into a hut, gathering the young woman with the promise she'd be fine, she merely needed to be healed. They ushered him out so they could get to work and he collapsed with his back against the hut, cradling his head in his hands.

"Mr. Zuko…"

He looked up to see two bright lilac eyes, tear glazed and terrified, gazing at him. "Is Mama gonna be okay?"

Zuko sighed and took her into his arms, lifting her up and taking her back to the house. He clutched her like a vice, letting her cry into his chest. "Yeah Kameko… she'll be okay."