Epilogue

Zuko walked out to the kitchen where his boyfriend of almost six months was baking Christmas cookies. His house smelled absolutely wonderful thanks to Aang's labors in the kitchen. He wrapped his arms around Aang, nuzzling him tenderly, and then held up mistletoe over Aang's head so he could steal a kiss. Six months of kissing Aang hadn't decreased his addiction to Aang's kisses one bit. It had only made him more addicted, if that was possible.

"Tree's all decorated. How are the cookies coming?" Their uncles had decided to celebrate Christmas together at Zuko's house. Iroh and Gyatso were currently doing some Christmas shopping. Aang rested his head on Zuko's chest.

"Almost done with this batch. Did you get all the decorations your uncle wanted hung put up?"

"Yep. When can I have one since I'm your official taste tester?"

"Since when are you my official taste tester?"

"Since I just appointed myself to the position." Aang snorted.

"Fine. You can have one cookie."

"One of each kind?"

"Nope. One." Aang had made at least five kinds of cookies. How was he supposed to choose just one kind? They all looked good. He glanced at Aang, wondering if he would notice if Zuko tried more than one cookie. "Don't even think about taking more than cookie, Zuko."

"How'd you know?"

"I know you, Zuko." He decided on trying one of the ones warm from the oven. It had a peanut butter cup hidden in the middle.

"What kind of cookies are these?"

"Surprise Cookies. They have different kinds of candy inside."

"What other kind of cookies did you make?"

"I made gingerbread men, Nice 'n' Soft Sugar Cookies, Butterscotch Brownie Pinwheels, and Poinsettia Cookies. When I'm all done with the Surprise Cookies, I'm going to make Peppermint Truffle Bars." Those all sounded good. It was a good thing Aang was planning on giving most of these cookies away to their friends, otherwise none of their clothes would fit by the time all the cookies were gone. "Now shoo, and stop distracting me or the cookies will burn." Zuko gave him one last kiss before reluctantly leaving the kitchen.

The doorbell rang, so he went to answer it. He wasn't expecting any of their friends over. "Are you expecting anyone, Aang?"

"Nope." Hopefully, whoever it was would be gone quickly. Zuko was hoping to talk Aang into taking a break from baking once he was done with the Surprise Cookies so they could make love before their uncles came back. He was stunned to see his ex-girlfriend, Mai, standing on the doorstep.

"What are you doing here?" Zuko was happier with Aang than he ever had been with Mai, but he still hadn't forgotten the fact that she'd never visited him when he was sick in the hospital, or that she'd cheated on him with Jet, leading to their breakup.

"I wanted to talk to you. Can I come in?"

"No." She took a deep breath, then blew it out.

"Please?" Zuko was taken back by the fact that she said 'please.' Mai usually just dropped the topic after being rejected. Most of the time she just couldn't find the energy. It was rather cold, and the snow was starting to pick up. He decided to let her in the house since she wasn't going to go away.

"Fine." He stepped back and let her walk past him. Should he tell Aang? Aang knew how Zuko felt about him, but he still got a little insecure at times. He didn't want to risk upsetting him. "Aang? Mai's here. She wants to talk about something."

"OK."

"Why's Aang here?" Zuko was a little surprised by her question. He and Aang hadn't been hiding their relationship. Far from it.

"He's here baking Christmas cookies."

"Jet and I broke up." He was unsure how to respond. Good for you? That's too bad?

"Why?"

"He cheated on me." Well, that was a case of poetic justice. Either that or karma. Mai had cheated on him with Jet, and then Jet had cheated on her. Zuko hesitated a moment.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Mai, but what precisely does that have to do with me?" He was starting to feel a little uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry I cheated on you, Zuko, and that I never visited you in the hospital. Is there any chance of us getting back together?"

"No. I'm with Aang now, and we're very happy together. You're going to have to find someone else."

"Zuko…I'm sorry. I really am. I treated you horribly, I know. But you don't have to settle for Aang!" Zuko could feel his temper rising. He'd been doing his best to control it, to keep from getting angry so easily, because he knew it upset Aang when he yelled. It was an unpleasant legacy from his father, one he desperately wished he could be rid of. He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to keep his cool.

"I have not 'settled' for Aang. I love him. I'm happy with him, happier then I've been in a long time, to be brutally honest with you. Our breakup was a long time coming, Mai. Your cheating with Jet was just the straw that broke the camel's back. Now get out of my uncle's house before you upset Aang." His voice was frosty. He glared at her. She looked past him, towards the kitchen. Then she clenched her jaw and stalked stiff-backed towards the door, which she slammed behind her. He smirked when he heard her squawk. Her slamming the door must have knocked some snow loose from the porch roof, which then landed on her. Zuko didn't have to look behind him to know that Aang was standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

"Did you mean all that, Zuko?" He walked over to Aang and pulled him close, kissing him gently.

"Every word, Aang. Are you all done baking the Surprise Cookies?"

"Yeah, why?" Zuko smiled at him, then swept him up into his arms, bridal style.

"I was thinking we could have a little fun upstairs in my room before our uncles come home." Aang smiled back at him.

"Sounds good to me."

Zuko struggled to get the hyperactive Siamese kitten he'd adopted from the local ASPCA for Aang to sit still long enough so he could tie the bow onto his collar. This was his third time tying the stupid bow. The cat had untied it playing with the ends the other two times. Aang and Gyatso would be here in a few minutes, and Zuko wanted the darn cat to be ready to give to Aang. Their uncles had decided that they would each open one gift tonight, then open the rest in the morning. Aang and Gyatso would then spend the night. In Zuko's opinion, spending the night with Aang was the best Christmas present he could receive. They had been together more times than Zuko could count over the last six months, but they hadn't been able to spend the whole night together yet. Iroh and Gyatso were conspiring to make sure that didn't happen, Zuko was convinced of it. Aang always told him he was just being paranoid, but Zuko didn't buy that.

He got the bow to look right just as the doorbell rang. Hiding the kitten behind his back, he headed downstairs. Aang looked absolutely adorable in a red sweater with little white snowflakes on it. There were snowflakes clinging to the hair he had started growing out about a week earlier. He looked up when he heard Zuko on the stairs, and smiled brightly.

"Hi, Zuko! What are you hiding?"

"Your present." The kitten started wriggling, trying to get down. Zuko tightened his grasp as much as he could without running the risk of hurting the poor thing. It had had more than enough of that before being rescued. If there was one person who understood what the kitten had been through in his young life, and who would spoil him absolutely rotten, it was Aang. Iroh knew exactly what Zuko was hiding behind his back, and quickly ushered Aang and Gyatso into the kitchen for hot cocoa.

Zuko pulled the kitten out from behind his back and gently shook his finger at him. "Behave, little one. Or I'll find something else to give to Aang, and keep you myself. You won't be nearly as spoiled here." The kitten batted at his finger instead of listening to a single word Zuko said. He hoped Aang wouldn't end up loving the kitten more than he did Zuko. The kitten was certainly cute enough to be a potential rival. Zuko sighed. He was being paranoid and insecure. Aang had more than enough love for him and the kitten, and Zuko knew it. Besides, cute as the kitten was, there were things that Zuko could do for Aang that the cat simply couldn't.

"Zuko! Get in here, your cocoa's getting cold!"

"Coming, Uncle."

"And bring Aang's gift with you." Zuko hid the kitten behind his back again as he walked out to the kitchen. Gyatso slid a small wrapped package towards him. Zuko gave Aang a quick kiss before claiming a seat on the stool next to him, and taking the package. Everyone except Aang now had a present in front of them, so he pulled the kitten out from behind his back and plopped him in front of Aang. Zuko had made sure it was all right with Gyatso before adopting the kitten, so Aang was the only one surprised by the sight of the kitten. The kitten began purring loudly as he gazed at Aang with his unusual green eyes. (A/N: Siamese usually have blue eyes, not green.)

"Aww, Zuko, he's adorable. How'd you get him to sit still long enough to put the bow on him?"

"Lots of patience."

"So Iroh did it then?" Everyone laughed, including Zuko.

"No, my nephew did it."

"What are you going to name him? I've been calling him 'cat.' I don't think he likes it very much." Aang thought for a moment.

"Momo. I shall name him Momo." Momo purred even louder and nuzzled against Aang's hand. "I guess he likes his name. Thank you, Zuko. You are the best boyfriend ever." Aang leaned over and gave him a kiss. Aang cuddled with the kitten as everyone else opened their gifts. Gyatso had gotten Zuko a beginner's guide to Pai Sho. Aang had given Iroh a new tea pot, with an assortment of organic teas. Iroh loved it, especially the fact the dragon design. Iroh had given Gyatso a hand-gliding lesson. Aang was a little worried about his eighty-seven year old great-uncle hand-gliding, but Gyatso was absolutely delighted.

Zuko gazed happily at Aang as the younger boy lay asleep, snuggled happily in his arms. Momo was curled up on his own pillow nearby. It was one of Zuko's, but he had willingly donated it to the kitten since it made Aang happy. The night before had been one of the best nights of his life, and his only regret was that it was almost time to get up. He wasn't budging, though, until either Aang woke up on his own, or one of their uncles woke him up. He wouldn't mind waking up to the sight of Aang snuggled up next to him every morning for the rest of his life.