Disclaimer:
© Avatar: the Last Airbender belongs to Mike and Bryan and I'm not making a profit by writing this.

The Next Morning...

"Hey big guy, do you know where your mommy is?" Sokka asked as he saw Azula's child playing around the hall outside his room with a ball in hand.

"Visiting Grandpa! She always does. I went with her but then Grandma brought me back."

"Oh thanks." He turned around and found Lady Ursa. He asked her where Azula was and if he could see her.

"Oh yes. She's at the masoleuem. I went with her earlier. I'm surprised she hasn't come back yet though."

"Do you visit him often?" he asked, forgetting himself. He was curious if the noblewoman grieved over her dead husband. Who could grieve for such an evil man?

"Not nearly as much as Azula. She visits him every morning," the woman admitted.

Apparently Azula could grieve over him.

"Such devotion. Even after his death," Ursa continued.

"Yes. It's..." Saddening...? That she loved someone so much, and yet he used her? "Do you think she'll be mad if I followed her?"

Ursa smiled, "It matters not. She's been out too long. The masoleaum is that way."

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was far away from what he had been told, so he searched for Aang to inform him he was going to borrow Appa. The young man couldn't be found in his room or in the gardens and no one has seen him since last night.

"Where could he be?" Katara asked.

"I dunno."

"Maybe Toph would know," Katara guessed, and the two Water siblings walked over to her room, knocking and entering (before Toph could tell them no) to find Aang with her.

In bed.

"What's going on here!?!" Katara shrieked, after closing the door behind her and Sokka, so no one would witness.

"Katara! It's not what it looks like! I swear, she and I--" Aang began, sweating and wishing to the Spirits he had woken up earlier.

"We were just talking and we fell asleep, that's all." Toph yawned.

"Aang! Toph! When we are in one room together, that's all right. But when we're each given individual rooms--then that's another story!" Katara chided.

"Aang was afraid of the dark, what can I say?" Toph smirked.

"Toph!"

"Katara we're fully clothed. And do we look happy happy? I mean if we did anything, don't you think we would be happy?" Toph pointed out.

"That's not the point--"

"What do you mean it's not the point? Isn't that why we're being chastised?"

"Look, what if someone saw you guys? What if this got around?"

"Let the old ladies gossip then," she waved the water mistress off.

Sokka was amused, it certainly was an interesting morning.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Lit incense filled the air, mixing in with the fresh flowers. He walked up the path to see her kneeling in front of Ozai's grave, "Hey."

"What are you doing here?" she demanded not too kindly.

"I came to see if you were all right," he answered with indifference.

Azula frowned. The reason she hadn't returned to palace yet was because she had been avoiding him. Couldn't he take a hint?

"So..."

"Sokka I don't think my father would be too pleased if you were here. I do not defile your mother or moon princess so I'd appreciate it if you did the same with my family."

"Fine," he bit out. Were all princesses such trouble? However Yue wasn't this difficult. Azula, on the other hand, was unbelievable. "I'll wait for you outside the gate."

He wasn't leaving because of Ozai, he could care less about the deceased Fire Lord, but she wanted him out of there so he complied. Still to this day, anything for her.

Azula knew that there was no use. She would eventually have to go face him. She sighed and asked for her father for forgiveness.

xzxxx

Sokka saw her walk out of the resting place of her family. It was hard to tell what the woman was really thinking about. When she passed him, he walked along side her. It was quiet for awhile, and Sokka always hated the quiet when he was with someone. It was so awkward when things were like that. It was the loudest thing he's ever heard: two people with a lot of tension between them, not talking.

"Azula," he began.

"What?" she said tersely.

"I'm surprised you didn't name your child after him."

"I doubt my father would've wanted me to."

"Why?"

Silence...

"Okay so why not your Grandfather? You know, carry on the name of Azulon."

"I thought about it."

"But?"

"Nothing."

Silence.

"So you visit him everyday, rain or shine?" Sokka asked.

"Yeah. It's the least I could do for failing him," she replied nonchanlantly.

"Azula you didn't---"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"You know I don't know how you could see yourself as failing your father. I mean were the perfect machine for him." He bit out bitterly.

"What?" she glared at him. Machine?!

"You threw away everything for him---you're his perfect child. You can't feel or anything," he explained rather harshly.

"Look if this was about what happened years ago, remember you're the one who left!"

"You act like this is my fault! You're the one who used us," he yelled back at her.

"Like you wouldn't have done the same thing. Can you honestly tell me you haven't decieved someone to defeat the Fire Nation?" she hissed, seeing through his soul. He opened his mouth to argue with her, and tell her she was wrong--that he had never done such a thing, but a memory from long ago struck him before he could finish his sentence.

"Mortals are so predictable...And such terrible liars...You betrayed my trust. From the beginning you intended to misuse this knowledge for evil purposes."

He remembered calling out to the Spirit that guarded the library, "You don't understand. If anyone's evil, it's the Fire Nation. You saw what they did to you library. They're destructive and dangerous. We need this information."

"Fine," he bit. "But toying with someone's emotions--"

"You should've known better Sokka. How could you not expect it when you knew I was Fire Nation?"

"If anyone's evil, it's the Fire Nation...They're destuctive and dangerous."

"I thought you were different."

"No you didn't," she laughed cruelly. "You hated me. But then somewhere along the way you thought I could change."

"Yeah. Maybe I did," he told her with as much resentment. I fell in love, and I thought you felt the same way.

"I'm the embodiment of the perfect Fire Nation soldier, and yet you thought that? You really are foolish," she laughed.

"It takes one to know one," he retorted wtih a cruel smirk. "You'd be lying to yourself if you said you hadn't felt the same. I've never seen you hesitate when we fought, except for that one time."

"What can I say? I'm a great actress."

"Yeah you are a great liar," he told her. "Like right now."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Years ago, Azula had decided to take the Avatar from the inside. In doing so, she had to be part of his team and therefore fabricated a story about how her father had disowned her and such. After all she couldn't trust anyone else to do it. The Avatar and his friends, though, didn't buy it for one second at all. How could they when she was the villaness of their story? Of course in Azula's story, she and her nation were the heroes and the Avatar and his friends were the villains. However when they saw that her face was on Wanted Posters all over the place, they finally let her in.

She had been climbing a tree to retrieve some fruits-- the normal way to not attract attention to herself, when she noticed the Boomerang Boy walk around. He had been very reluctant to trust her, and stayed as far away from her as possible--while looking out for any wrong move she made so he could have something against her. She needed his trust, for her plan to be full proofed. He didn't seem like the type to trust someone suddenly--smart--but it was bad for her, so she decided she would have to ease him in.

She feigned having slipped from a branch and landed on him. She brought her head to meet his eyes and apologized. She looked away, "I'm sorry...being acrobatic was never really my thing..."

"Uh..." he said dumbfoundedly. "It's all right."

They both realized how close they were to each other and slowly moved away. "Sorry," he mumbled to her.

"No. Thanks for catching me," she returned quietly. Though she would never admit it, that day was the day she got a really good look at the lad and realized why Ty Lee called him, cutie.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Fire Nation princess was infuriated at the Boomerang Boy--though she guessed he would be Boomerang Man now---for coming into her life and ruining everything. She was doing just fine without him, she was as happy as she could get--content with her and her son, but then he just had to come with the Avatar and tear it all up. She hated her family for inviting the Avatar--she hated Sokka for being friends with the Avatar--she hated how he could come back and act like he still knew her!

She wasn't the same Azula, Princess of the Fire Nation; she wasn't the same Azula he left behind; and who the hell did he think he was, for believing he knew her still? How dare he think that he could still read her like an open book, when he couldn't possibly know what was going on in her mind! If she could have, she could would've strangled him.

Little did she know, Sokka was having difficulties of his own. He was angry for going with his family into the Fire Nation; he was angry that he thought that he could handle it; he was angry at Azula for making it seem like it was his fault when he did nothing wrong; and he was angry that she had a child--that she had moved on with her life, while he was still pining for her. It wasn't fair!

If he only knew the man who bedded her and gave her a child, he would've hunted him down and castrated him--if he knew all the men who bedded her, he would've castrated them all. Who did they think they were to touch her?! In addition, what in blazes did Azula think she was doing taking in random lovers?!

He was so angry with her!

Beautiful vixen, after all these years she still had it.

Sokka's thoughts were interrupted when he heard a knock at his door. He walked over to the gigantic door and opened it to see Ty Lee.

"Oh...uh...hello," he said awkardly to the woman who used to call him 'cutie' and say weird things like how they fought, seemed liked they were dancing together. Sokka wondered if Haru knew about that.

"Hey," she said with a smile.

"May I help you?" Sokka asked awkwardly.

"I was wondering if you'd seen Azula--I heard that you were the last person with her."

"I haven't seen her for a couple of hours now," he answered. "Is everything all right?"

"Ty Lee," Mai called.

The acrobat turned her head, "She's not with him!"

Sokka looked at her, "Is Azula missing?"

"Yeah," Ty Lee sighed. "She stopped doing this years ago, but it seemed old habits are hard to break."

"How about the kid?"

"Oh he's not here."

"What?" Sokka asked incrediously.

"Oh don't worry. He's probably with his mother," Ty Lee answered.

"Probably?" Sokka questioned, weren't they worried for the boy?

"Don't worry. Azula would never leave her son like that---I mean there was no note or anything. So I'm guessing she's with him."

"What if they were kidnapped?!" Sokka yelled.

Ty Lee laughed, "You're so funny."

"No seriously," Sokka said.

"Without a ransom note?" Mai interjected, finally joining them.

"Hey Azula's made some enemies--and it wasn't because she's the Fire Nation Princess--because they could've kidnapped you for that."

"Now why would they kidnap her when Lady Ursa and Mai's here? They're much easier targets," Ty Lee looked at Mai, "Sorry."

"All right, someone's mad at her for her past actions. I mean she did do a lot of damage--"

"She still can," Mai told him. "I honestly doubt she's in trouble. We just wanted to speak with her." Mai turned to leave, and Ty Lee followed bidding Sokka goodbye.

"Don't worry about her," she called back.

xxxxxxxxxx

"Open up," Aang laughed, holding out his chopsticks getting Toph to eat.

"I'm not a child Aang," Toph growled.

"But you're not eating," he groaned. "That's not good."

"I'm not hungry!" she yelled. .

"...Is...it ...that time...?" Aang asked nervously, only to be hit instantly.

"How can you be so crude to ask that!? Besides does every girl need that excuse to be pissed off!?! And did you know most girls are prissy the week before they're going through their cycle--and half during and some after! Some cases are all! So maybe you should think before asking cuz it may or may not be--"

"Okay! I'm sorry!" Aang told her, trying to calm her down. He didn't want the guards to come, wondering if the Avatar was being attacked or if there was a battle going on. They fought often, but lately it was constant.

"Don't take your advice from Sokka next time," Toph told him, walking away from him.

"Toph seriously what's wrong...?" he called after her.

She didn't answer.

xxxxxxxxxxx

"We've been looking all over for you. You could have left a note or something," he told her.

"Why? It's not like it matters."

"It does! You are Heiress Presumptive and you can't just go in and out of places like this," he reminded her.

"Leave me be, brother, I am tired. Tai-shan needed to have anyways. So I came here," she told him.

"Here of all places. You're becoming predictable. Ember Island, this should be the first place we look next time you go and do this."

"What do you care?"

"I don't care. I care for my nephew," he replied.

She laughed, "Why don't you and Mai make a child of your own Zuzu? After all, if you have a child--I will no longer be Heir Presumptive."

"You want to leave the Fire Nation?" If she is no longer Heiress Presumptive, she would no longer have a reason to stay in the Fire Nation--her child and her would be free from that chain. However Azula is not the type to do such a thing.

"What if I do?"

"I wouldn't allow it."

"Why?"

"You're planning to overthrow me, aren't you?" he said jokingly.

"I could have done that a long time ago, my dear," she replied back, laughing.

"You have to return back to the palace. You have to be there. You remember that representatives from the Northern Water Tribe--"

"I know."

Several days later...

"Whore," some would say to a woman who gave birth to a child without a husband. Unfortunately the child would be punished as well by being called awful names. Admittedly, Azula was once one of them. However when she gave birth to Tai-shan that all changed. She continued to hold her head up high because no one would degrade her for a choice she decided to make. To this day, she did not regret what she did—she didn't regret having her son. She understood now, there were circumstances that couldn't be avoided.

She wouldn't allow anyone to demean her son as well, because no one should be punished in any way (verbally or physically) for the choice of their parents. If they had a problem with Tai-shan being an 'illegitimate' child, then they would have to take it up with her.

"Don't you dare slump, my child. You will carry yourself proudly—because you are a child of Agni. You have royal blood in you, don't forget that." Azula told the little boy, as she prepared him for tonight.

"Yes Mama," he replied respectfully. When she was finished, he bowed to her. It wasn't the first time she told him this, and it certainly would not be the last. He needed to know---it needed to be embedded in his mind and heart that he was special; that whatever those imbeciles thought were nothing.

"I have to wonder why you seem especially nervous tonight Azula," Ursa said entering her daughter's chamber. Azula only glared at her and told her son to leave and go to his Aunt Ty Lee or Aunt Mai---or even Uncle Zuko (as long as it was one of them). Iroh couldn't be bothered tonight, even though the Fire Lord would drop everything he had for the child.

"What of it Mother?" she asked, walking to her mirror and tying her hair up to it's usual topknot.

"Is there a reason?"

"Nonsense, why would I be nervous?" she answered truthfully. She despised that her mother would think that she knew her so well. Lady Ursa did not have a daughter, she only had a son after all.

"Daughter why is your heart so distant toward me?"

"Why is your heart so cold toward me?" the junior princess bit out harshly.

Ursa was startled by her daughter's comment and reached over to touch her hand, only to have Azula pull away her hand. The senior princess couldn't help but wonder if Azula was acting like this due to her hormonal mood swings from pregnancy, or if she was truly angry. "I don't understand Azula. All I've ever done is try to help you--"

"Since you got back," she corrected her mother. "You cared nothing for me before you left."

Ursa looked at her second born—her youngest child with sad eyes. "I apologize that you saw it that way. I never meant--"

"It doesn't matter. What's done is done." Azula got up, holding her bulging stomach and left her mother to tea.

Azula wasn't too forgiving.

"Presenting Her Highness, Dowager Princess Ursa; Presenting Her Highness, Azula, Princess of the Fire Nation and her son, Tai-shan, Prince of the Fire Nation."

"What?"

"She has a child?"

"So rumors are true."

"Who could be the father?"

"Her a mother? Oh the poor child, what a nightmare it must be."

Azula wanted to shut them up, all these whispered comments bombarded her and she wanted nothing more but to shut them out. The audacity they had to speak of her this way! She had to hold the urge to burn them to a crisp, slowly.

"Hahn...?"

"Azula...?"

"Princess Azula," she corrected him. "It's been so long."

"Yes it has been," he grinned at her.

A/N: There wasn't suppose to be so much focus on Azula and having a child out of wedlock, but a friend of mine said something while we were watching a movie, and I was sorta offended by it so I guess this was my way of taking it out. Please don't think I have anything against single mothers or people who have children out of wedlock, because I don't. I doubt she does either, but it's how it was said and how I received it.

I got the nightmare comment from Grey DeLisle (va for Azula) in the magazine.