Chapter Twelve

Katara cuddled Lu Zuo closer to her and smiled when he rested his head against her shoulder. The little guy was tired from their afternoon of play and rather than fussing about it like other babies in her acquaintance, he simply crawled onto her lap and settled in for a nap. It really was a wonder he was the same bloodline as Azula and Zuko...and his own sister for that matter. Maiko had put up a good fight when her nanny had come in to take her for her lesson. She'd wanted to stay with Katara and her brother, and made her wishes known. Katara was glad the princess had finally warmed to her but was not excited to be nearly blinded by the wild fireball that Maiko's temper had resulted in.

The days had begun to blend together and she hated to admit it, but she had gotten accustomed to life in the Fire Palace. She had her morning lessons with the two old hags, as she'd come to think of them, and had progressed enough to receive a 'well, you won't be beheaded if keep this up' from one of them. She still couldn't tell one from the other. Her waterbending lessons with Maiko were going well and Lu Zuo was more steady on his feet, steady enough to take short walks with her around the garden. It was all very surreal in a way, considering the company she was keeping, but she'd found a grain of satisfaction in all of it. She spent more time with the children then with adults and decided that was probably why. From the adults, all she got were more comments about how she didn't know how things in the Fire Nation worked or how blue was a color not often seen on the Fire Lady.

And above it all was Zuko.

Ever since her conversation with Azula, Katara couldn't help but start to look at him as a man, as her future husband. As a result, she'd been a little short with him because she was unsettled by the idea of it all, but luckily, he was too preoccupied with the change in leadership in Kitashi to fight back. Their nightly conversations could hardly be called that but she'd learned he was fond of ostrich-horses and wouldn't mind vacationing in a desert or at the top of a mountain if it meant he'd be left alone for at least three days straight.

Katara stood up slowly so as to not disturb the sleeping toddler in her arms and placed him gently in his crib. He stirred but didn't wake, his thumb going straight to his mouth. She pulled it out and held on to his chubby hand in case he decided to try again, but to her relief he didn't. Resting her cheek on the railing of his crib, she watched the slow rise and fall of his chest, and thought again how much like his father he looked. She also thought how sad it was for Mai to miss her son's growing up.

"You're very fond of the children," said a quiet voice at the doorway.

Turning, Katara grinned when she saw Iroh there. He'd been away on business in the Earth Kingdom and she went to him, enveloping him in a warm hug. He returned it in kind, patting her back.

"It's nice to know I was missed," he said with a smile.

"I've forgotten what it's like to talk to a person over three years old," Katara admitted, leading him to the play area and closing the bedroom door so Lu Zuo wouldn't be disturbed. "How was your trip?"

"I saw Toph. She told me to tell you that if you need backup, she'll be here faster than you can say 'Twinkle-toes'."

Katara laughed. "How is she?"

"The same. Exuberant and in complete control of her empire. I've said it before and I'll say it again, she should have been Earth Queen."

"You won't find argument here, but if she were Earth Queen, she wouldn't be able to go disappear wherever it is she goes to practice her earthbending for days at a time."

Iroh led her to the low couch and swept the toys off so they could sit down. Katara didn't realize how much she missed him and she hugged him again as if to emphasize the point.

"Now, what's this? I have been hearing nothing but good things about you. Governor Zi met his match and there are no more public spats with the Fire Lord. I believe you're sliding into your new role as Fire Lady fairly smoothly."

"Maybe," she said carefully.

"Maiko seems to have gotten over her initial suspicion and so has Zuko. Why do you sound so unsettled?"

"Iroh...Uncle...tell me what you know about Lady Mai."

Iroh raised an eyebrow at her. "What's brought this on?"

"She was the last Fire Lady and she's made an impression on the people. I realized that I know next to nothing about her. I'm fairly certain I can't ask Zuko about her and asking Azula is out of the question. I just want to know what kind of woman she was."

Iroh stroked his beard. "Lady Mai. Well. She was a strong personality but without the naked manipulation of Azula or the brashness of Zuko. She worked in the background, getting things done before you even realized they had to be done. She was a creature of the court, having grown up in it, and she knew how the machinations worked."

"Zuko must have found that very useful."

"He was barely aware of it," Iroh said with a helpless shrug. "He's worked hard to get where he is and especially in the early days, some would say he had tunnel vision. His goal was to fix the Fire Nation and that was it. It was hard to get him to stop and look around back then."

"What about the last few years?"

"He and Mai were good partners. Together, they solidified his base and snuffed out any potential trouble. It helped that Mai could get Azula to support. She was one of the few people Azula trusted implicitly."

Katara nodded. "I see. Zuko's very practical."

"No one was more shocked than I was just how practical," Iroh said fondly. "You remember how he was during his exile. Even his attacks weren't practical, but he learned with time. It's one of his gifts, that he can learn from his mistakes. That's not something every Fire Lord possesses and the Fire Nation is luckier for it."

"That's true."

Iroh's eyebrows winged higher. "So my therapy exercise has worked better than expected, I take it."

"We went to Kitashi together."

"I heard."

"Who hasn't? Anyway, I have spent enough time with Zuko to know that I know nothing about him. I mean, I know some things, but I feel like I'm not getting the complete picture. Lady Mai was a big part of his life and she gave him the children he loves. I need to know him, Uncle."

Iroh's look was inquisitive. "I see."

"Don't say it like that, like I've got some kind of romantic motive because I don't," Katara said defensively. "He is the man I'm going to be married to and it's only fair that I want to know things about him that he wouldn't tell me himself. He keeps surprising me with the things he says and does, and I don't want to be surprised anymore. I've gotten used to all the fire and gold and shiny things and this is just one more thing I need to get used to. It's just that I'm sure I'd hear a more interesting story about Zuko than the giant chandelier in the dining room."

Before Iroh could respond to that, they heard a mewling cry from the bedroom and Katara was on her feet before there could be a second one. She found Lu Zuo hanging over the guard rail of his crib and his arms immediately went up at the sight of her. She picked him up, murmuring endearments, and brought him back to the play area. He perked up at the sight of Iroh but stayed resolutely in Katara's arms, a fact not lost on the old general.

"You might think he's changed from the boy you knew, but he really hasn't, Katara," Iroh explained. "Zuko has always been a warm-hearted person but being raised by his father pushed that person deep down inside of him until he didn't even know it was there. He thought that being ruthless and violent was the way of the Fire Nation, but when he got control, his true nature emerged. He's a fair man and a kind one."

"Then, why don't the people believe in him?" Katara wondered, more to herself than to Iroh.

"They don't know what to do with him. At times, even his own wife didn't understand why he was so lenient or why he took the time to listen to his people, but he's changing the way things work here. He's willing to make the changes as you can see by the fact that he's taken this chance by bringing you here. He believes strongly in what he's doing. And I think, now, so do you."

Katara looked down at the little boy she held and didn't have any doubt that she wanted to protect him and his sister from the things she'd seen and done. She was sure Zuko felt the same way, which was why he was fighting so hard to keep his kingdom together and to change it for the better. Under Iroh's watchful eye, she pressed a kiss to the top of Lu Zuo's dark head.

"Yes, I do believe in it now," she said quietly. "Our alliance will help many people, I think. I'm beginning to understand his reasons even though sometimes he still confuses me. He's like a see-saw, Uncle. I never know how he's going to react unless he's tired, then I know he's going to try to bite my head off"

"He does need to work on his delivery," Iroh said wryly. "But then he wouldn't be Zuko if he suddenly turned into a silver-tongued prince...or rather, Fire Lord. You weren't so different the first few days you'd been here. For two people who've been through so much, you don't react very well to pressure. You're more alike than you think."

Katara chuckled. "Somewhere, my father is choking on his fish and Sokka has nailed his hand to a board, but I have to admit that it's true. If you'll indulge me, I just have one more question. About Lady Mai."

"I'll try to answer to the best of my knowledge."

"Did he love her?"

Iroh pressed a finger to his lips, his expression turning thoughtful.

"That you'll have to ask Zuko himself," he answered. "Why do you want to know?"

As Katara considered that, the nursery doors opened and there stood Zuko himself, saving her.

"Uncle," he said, his voice jolting Lu Zuo from half-slumber. "How nice of you to see Katara before reporting in with me."

"You were busy," Iroh said easily.

Zuko strode in, his robes flapping around him. "You know you can interrupt me after you've returned from one of your trips."

Lu Zuo squirmed in Katara arms as he struggled to go to his father. Zuko glanced at him and with a small smile, picked him up from her grip.

"Isn't it naptime?" he asked, glancing at Katara.

"He woke up," Katara said. "I can put him down while you two talk."

Zuko tried to pat down Lu Zuo's hair which had decided to stand straight up in one direction for once. His smile widened to a grin when Lu Zuo tried to slap his hand away.

"Yeah, I didn't like it when people did that to me either," he said. "If you don't mind, Katara."

She took Lu Zuo back, watching Zuko's eyes track his son until he was tucked safe in Katara's arms.

"Come on, Uncle," Zuko said, satisfied that Lu Zuo was in good hands. "We have much to discuss. Thanks, Katara."

"No problem."

Iroh patted Lu Zuo's back and gave Katara a look she couldn't read, then he and his nephew took their leave. Katara sat back down on the couch, lost in her thoughts as Lu Zuo played with her necklace.