Disclaimer: Avatar is not mine.

"You know," the young lady said, "you didn't have to do this. What all of you did earlier was more than enough." She hadn't expected them to throw a party with just the five of them, for her.

"I know you're probably used to fancy dinners and stuff..."

"Sokka," she cupped his face, "don't. I loved it. Thank you."

"Well everyone deserves to have their birthday celebrated, and now you're fifteen like me." He laughed, "Now if you see a shooting star, don't forget to make a wish."

Azula layed her head on his shoulder and smiled. "I never was able to enjoy the stars like this."

"If we stay up all night, we can see the sunrise." The young man knew she loved the sunrise, and no doubt she always saw it when she joined their group, considering she was always the first to rise and waited for everyone else to get up. She must've done something to keep herself occupied while waiting for everyone to wake.

The exiled princess laughed, "You? Stay up until sunrise? Yeah right. I'd like to see that Sokka of the Water Tribe."

"You don't think I can do it?"

"No," she answered with a smile.

"I'll prove you wrong."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah," he answered as he leaned down and kissed her, and she gladly returned it with fervor.

A widow knelt down in front of her late husband's grave, she lit candles and incense and afterwards she prayed. Their daughter had been there earlier, doing the same thing. Ursa brought her head up, speaking to his remains. "I don't understand," she told him. "She is so much like you in many ways, and yet she's not. She's very prideful like you were, but she's also very giving—something you never were. She devoted herself to you in life, and even in death she devotes herself to you. Even after finding love with a wonderful man, all those years ago, she forsook it for you."

She sighed sadly, "Tell me Ozai, would you have done the same for her? Would you have given everything up, to make your favorite child; youngest child; and only daughter happy?"

The dowager cried, already knowing the answer she would have gotten from him if he could reply.

"Azula don't you think it's time for Tai Shan to attend the Fire Nation Academy?" Zuko asked his sister.

"Why are you pushing my son to attend school? He's well educated here," she stated truthfully. "He's very intelligent and he's fairing well, why change that?"

"Because he's not social," Zuko replied. "At parties he's doesn't converse with children his age--"

"Of his own choosing," the princess corrected. "It's not like he's incapable of making friends--"

"Azula," Zuko began, "we're just telling you the facts. He's a prince of the Fire Nation and he needs to learn how to be social to help him the future for court life."

Azula agreed, "But then what am I to do while he's at school?" She was not ready to let go.

Ty Lee smiled, "Aww I'm sure you'll be fine Azula. You still have us."

She looked at them as if they were ridiculous, "Ty Lee by summer's end I bet you'll be on the road again; and there's only so much more I can take of Mai and Zuko being all lovey dovey."

Ty Lee laughed. Mai looked at her sister-in-law, "Why don't you get more involved with court? You used to love that."

"Maybe," Azula considered.

"My what's everyone doing here?" Uncle Iroh greeted them as he entered. "Shouldn't most of you have things to take care of?"

"Like what?" Zuko asked.

"Like saying goodbye to the representative of the Northern Water Tribe. The Avatar and his friends have all ready said their farewells, why isn't my heir doing the same?"

Zuko looked down, "I'm sorry Uncle."

"We forgot that's all," Azula answered the old man. They all got up from their seats and followed the Fire Lord.

"So Haru," Sokka began, "when you heading out?"

"Ty Lee would like to stay awhile longer," the man answered. "How about you guys?"

"We'll be here for awhile longer as well," Aang answered for Sokka.

"Remind us again Haru. How did you and Ty Lee get together?" Toph laughed.

Katara frowned though because she was still curious on how sweet Haru fell in love with Ty Lee-- "the circus freak" girl who was a loyal follow of Princess Azula. It was all very odd to her.

"And then you built that sculpture of her and that was the beginning of you two..." Aang continued on, and they all shared more laughs and stories, catching up on old times.

Some time during their conversation, Aang's head floated back to yesterday when he spoke with Azula. He debated about telling Sokka what he knew.

"May I speak with you?" Aang asked the princess. What was the woman supposed to say? No? The Avatar may be peaceful and kind, but since Toph became his teacher and friend, he learned how to stand up for himself; and when and if he wanted something, he made sure he got it. Blast the earthbender, for if it weren't for her, she could've probably said no to the bald headed monk and he would've been on his way.

Her eyes drifted to the table and chair, silently telling him to sit down. "Do I have a choice?" it was hardly a question. She sat down as he did. "Tea?"

"No thank you," he told her politely.

"It's not poison," she retorted with a grin. The young man smiled and shook his head, conveying that he didn't think it was poisoned. "All right Avatar Aang make this quick. Right to the point."

"That was my intention," he told her bluntly. "I know it's been a long time since we've really spoken. And you're quite good at hiding." After all, no one really knew that the Princess Azula of the Fire Nation had a son; and she was barely active in politics that didn't involve the Fire Nation. For these past years, she was in the shadows. "And you're still quite a great liar," the Avatar continued.

"Excuse me?" she glared at him. They were all still holding grudges at what she did to them.

"But we've improved at telling lies and half-truths apart," he said.

"'We'?"

"Katara, Toph, and I. Sokka would see it too, if he weren't so blinded by you."

"And how is he blinded by me?" she resisted the urge to growl at the younger man.

"Your relationship with Sokka, was more than your relationship with me and the girls." Aang stared at her right in the eye, "You're low Azula, but even someone like you must have morals."

Azula laughed, "I don't have morals? Have you forgotten that I tore your best friend's heart apart without mercy? Have you forgotten that I am Ozai's daughter?"

"And you're also Princess Ursa's daughter," Aang reminded her. He looked behind her, where a photo of Tai Shan stood. "Sokka may not be the father; but Hahn's not the father either."

Azula became furious, "Leave Avatar Aang."

"No," Aang told her. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me. If you've forgotten Azula you were wanted by the Earth King for threatening to kill him and overthrew him and for conspiring with a criminal. The only reason you're not dead is because of me."

This wasn't like Aang at all. "Toph's gotten to you, hasn't she?" the princess asked, since this was more her technique than Aang's. "So you're saying that if I don't tell you what you want to hear, you're going to have me killed?"

"No. But you owe me."

"Who are you?" some snotty nosed brat demanded.

"This is Prince Tai Shan," the girl informed the others. "He's Princess Azula's son."

The boy arched his left brow, "Oh is that so? Her Highness doesn't have a son."

"She does too!" Tai Shan told the boy. Who did he think he was? He was a prince of the Fire Nation and yet they spoke to him as if he was nothing.

"Liar," the boy taunted. "Who's your daddy then?"

Tai Shan blinked, "Huh...?"

"Her Highness isn't married, she couldn't have had a son. You're an impostor."

"Stop it," the girl told the boys. She spoke to her cousin, "Don't speak to His Highness like that!" then she whispered to him, "He could have you killed if he wished; and you forget, Princess Azula wouldn't dare hesitate to bring you down, if she thinks you're being mean to her son! I mean come on, she brought Ba Sing Se down, something the Fire Lord couldn't even do!"

Realization hit and he looked at the prince, bowing. "I'm sorry."

From then on, the boy was somewhat afraid of him. He began to compliment Tai Shan on the most oddest things, and the prince was placed on a pedestal. It soon became lonely, and the boy knew they didn't really accept him, as a friend. It was all fake, and he didn't want to be a part of that. They were mean, and his family told him to never be mean.

He never did question about his father because, frankly at that age he didn't care. His mother was enough for him.

He walked over to his mother's chamber, but when he arrived he saw her wistfully looking out the window. For the first time in his life, that he could remember, he saw his beautiful and strong mother, crying.

He never wanted to see that again, and so he did everything to please her.

A/N: As for Azula's age, if I haven't said it yet she is between Sokka and Katara's age because the creators said that Azula was around Sokka's age, but then her profile says she's fourteen so I made her fourteen but a bit closer to Sokka's age. There's also another reason I made her a bit older, which will be revealed in the next chapter. The last part with Tai Shan was supposed to show why he is the way he is...but I don't think I did very well on explaining why he's not social and so on.