Aang frowned as he watched Sokka and the albino looking man cover the small hole. Azula had purposely waited until Zuko was there to see. He frowned and looked over at Iroh.

"I thought I killed Zhao.." Sokka looked up from his pile and whipped the sweat from his forehead.

"Did anyone even find his body?" Iroh looked over at the young water tribe boy who continued the avatar's question. He shook his head.

"It was not found. It was possible that he survived. Though I had hoped."Iroh answered looking over at the the two young lovers as they tried to pick up the pieces. Katara held Zuko's hands as he shook. He couldn't believe that he had just witnessed one of the most cruel and heartless murders possible. She purposely killed his child, knowing that both he and Katara would be weak and spent of energy. Zuko pulled his hands away from Katara and ground his palms into his eyes. If it hadn't been for Katara having to heal him, she could have saved the child. If he hadn't been so weak his son wouldn't have been in danger in the first place. He felt the void in his chest grow colder as Katara touched his shoulder. He looked up at here with tears stinging his eyes. He grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her tight. If he hadn't yelled at her, if he hadn't upset her she wouldn't have stormed off. She could have been there to help fight off Azula. If he hadn't lost his temper he wouldn't have lost his son. If he would have been a responsible father he would have kept the child out of danger, and fought to the death to protect him. He looked over at where Sokka and the other man buried his son. He had wrapped him back in the blanket and set him in the hole.

He turned and looked back at Katara his mind made up, as the realization of what he had to do in mind. He stood up pulling her to her feet. He walked into the forest just a little way, Katara following him. He stopped and turned around abruptly. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her into a kiss. Katara stared at him with wide eyes as she kissed him back. He pulled back as the tears started streaming down his face. His head fell forward as he clung to her shoulders. Katara felt the fear start to rise in her chest.

"Katara, you know I love you." Katara felt the sting of tears in her eyes as he choked on his words. She nodded and managed a forced 'yes'. He looked up at her his yellow eyes standing out from the red rim and blood shot surroundings.

"Then I hope you will understand." Katara grabbed his shoulders as he straightened himself.

"Zuko..?" He looked at her.

"I have to leave you for a while." Katara shook her head but he continued. "I have to right what was done here. Someone must pay for the murder of my child, and they will." Katara wrapped her arms around Zuko burying her head in his shoulder.

"Zuko don't do this." She pleaded. Zuko wrapped his arms around her resting his cheek on her head.

"I have to Katara. If you were given the chance to get back what was taken from you, you would. I have to take back the blood stolen from me." His voice faltered. He pulled away from Katara and brought her hands up kissing her knuckles lightly.

"I love you, Katara. Please remember that." He said taking steps back, until he dropped her hands. She stared after him as he turned and disappeared into the forest. He was gone. Didn't he understand that he wasn't the only one hurting? Didn't he know how much she was torn inside? Could he not realize that they needed each other now more then ever before? She fell to her knees as the tears overwhelmed her and she began to tremble. She felt the stream of fire flow down her face as she stared off in the direction he disappeared.

"Fire Lord Ozai, Princess Azula wishes to see you." The young fire nation guard announced. Ozai nodded his head, giving the guard the permission to bring her in. Azula was beaming as she strode regally to her father's throne. She bowed and smiled wider.

"I have a present for you, Father." Ozai blinked down at her as she turned to the servant that had followed her. She took the bundle from the servant and held it up for her father to see. The baby squealed and he woke up. Ozai's eyebrows rose as he looked over the black haired baby. He stood and stepped down from his throne. He held his hands out, taking the child from his daughter. He curled his arms around the baby as he rested it in the bend of one of his arm. He ran finger gently over the small boy's cheek.

"Well done, Azula." Azula snarled her nose as she watched her father show affection to the bastard child.

"Zuko had named him Riyo." Ozai looked up at her, then back down to the child.

"A noble name, but no longer will it be his." Ozai stated as he walked back to take his seat on the throne with his son's bastard child in hand. "Nzan will be your name now." He said looking at the tiny boy. He smiled as a wicked look took over his face. "You will be the son I should have had. And you will help me rid the world of your father where Azula failed." Ozai said looking over to his daughter. Azula's eyes grew wide as her father's words sunk in.

"Fire Lord, I did not fail." Ozia's face grew hard.

"I had ask you to bring me your brother, you could not accomplish that. I ask you to bring me his infant boy and you succeeded. Perhaps the infantile missions should be the ones you are assigned to." Azula frowned.

"But Father.."

"No buts Azula. You failed. Accept that with what dignity you have." Ozai said dismissing her. He looked down at the boy with a curling smile. He had his heir, be it bastard or crown, the child would be raised by his hand and follow in his footsteps, carrying on the majesty that was the Fire Nation.

Thank you all for reading and sticking with me to the end of this story. I was tired of writing happy endings so I decided to write something a little less happy. Please let me know what you think...OH and Lord Melkor, I know. Rushed. ;)