Chapter 2 - Return to the Fire Nation

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"Are we almost there?" Toph asked, "Everyone else can see how much farther we have except me."

"We'll be there in about fifteen minutes." Aang said. Katara sat on the edge of the saddle, brushing Toph's hair. Sokka and Suki were playing cards. Aang was steering.

"Ouch, Katara that hurts!" Toph complained, as Katara tried to brush out a particularly stubborn snarl. "OW! You're lucky I can't bend up here!"

"I'm almost done." Said Katara, "And it doesn't hurt that bad."

"How do you know?" Toph challenged, "Let me yank at you're skull and see how much it hurts!"

"You've got anger issues." Katara laughed, "Has anyone told you that?"

"Shut up!" Toph growled.

"Maybe if you brushed your hair more then once a year, it wouldn't hurt so bad." Katara said.

"You just wait Katara, as soon as I can bend you're going down."

"Girls and their hair braiding." Sokka said, rolling his eyes. "I hope our daughter won't be like that. My little Kyoshi Warrior." He put his hand gently over Suki's stomach, they recently found out that she was pregnant with Sokka's child.

"What if it's a boy?" Suki asked teasingly.

"In that case he'll be a Southern Water Warrior instead of a Kyoshi Warrior." Suki laughed and kissed Sokka on the cheek.

"There it is!" Aang shouted pointing to the ground, Katara looked over the saddle and saw the Fire Palace looming below. Appa flew lower and lower until he could touch the ground.

Zuko was standing in the shadow of the Palace, waiting for them. Katara jumped off the bison then helped Toph down.

"Aw, land." she said relieved. Then a second later the ground shifted below Katara sending her to the ground hard.

"OUCH!" Katara complained.

"I warned you!" Toph said.

Aang landed next to Katara, then Suki and Sokka.

"Be nice to my fiance." Aang said.

"You guys haven't changed a bit." Zuko's voice said, Katara looked around, the young fire lord was leaning again a wall smiling smugly.

"Zuko." Katara said, hugging her friend. "I've missed you."

"I missed you, too," Zuko said smiling, "Sokka, Aang." He bowed to each man then hugged Suki and Toph. "Come in, there is someone I want you all to meet."

"Did you find her?" Aang demanded suddenly excited. Zuko smiled but didn't answer.

He lead the group down a hall to a large room, sitting around a table was Iroh, Mai, and a third woman that Katara didn't recognize, she was older, but not as old as Iroh, maybe in her early 40s. She bared resemblance to Zuko and Azula. She looked tired, but happy.

She stood up when the group filed in.

"Everybody," Zuko said, "This is Ursa, my mother." The woman bowed.

"I am honored to finally meet the Avatar and his friends," She said in an rough but calming voice.

"It's an honor to meet you, too." Katara replied, bowing. She noticed Zuko watching her warmly, she knew why, he was afraid it would hit a sore spot that he got his mother back and she didn't, but Katara was truly happy for her friend and gave him a genuine smile, "I'm so happy you reunited with you're mother, Zuko."

"Thank you." He said smiling.

"Come on." said Ursa, "Lets show your friends to there rooms."

Author's note: Sorry for the wait, please review