"He'll be okay," Mai said. "You don't have to worry so much about him."

Iroh smiled sadly.

"The more you say it, the more I wonder if you're trying to convince me or yourself." He poured two mugs of steaming ginseng tea. "Come, sit down. Let's talk about something else for a while."

Mai shrugged and sat down opposite him.

"Like what?"

"About your family, for starters. Do you ever feel homesick?" Iroh prompted. Mai bristled.

"No. I don't miss them or that stifling, boring place I used to call home," she said stiffly. "Why would you even have to ask?"

"Mm, no reason." Iroh sipped his tea. "Other than the crumpled pieces of paper I find from time to time, with 'dear mother and father' written at the top, that is..."

Mai bit into her lip, glaring deeply into the cup before her.

"You can't prove those were mine."

"Who else's would they be? Prince Zuko's mother hasn't lived in the Fire Nation Palace since he was young, and his father would not take kindly to any letters of his that weren't progress reports..." Iroh smiled. "Mai, dear, lying was never one of your strong suits."

The girl's eyes seemed to burn into him with anger before falling closed in defeat, tears leaking from the corners.

"If I admit I miss them, I'll be admitting I miss home as well," she muttered. "And I don't. The isolation, always doing what everyone else wanted, parents who cared more about appearances than about their own daughter, constant boredom...who wants to think about that? Who would miss it?" She took a scalding gulp of tea, ignoring the burning feeling as she swallowed. "You think they've even noticed I'm gone?"

Iroh reached across the small table to gently brush away her tears.

"Now Mai, it's possible to miss them without missing your home. They are your parents, after all...and it would seem that in spite of everything, you do love them," he said. Mai sniffled, her shoulders shaking a little.

"It's just so embarrassing, General Iroh...the day I decided to leave home and help Zuko was the proudest day of my life. I felt so grown up, like a real woman and not some little girl," she said. "I can't feel guilty about it either even if they are worried about me. What kind of person does that make me?"

"A human being." Iroh smiled. "Mai, feeling a little homesick now and then is perfectly fine, but it will only get worse if you continue to repress it." He shook his finger at her. "And how many times have I told you not to call me General Iroh? It's been three years!"

"Sorry, Iroh."

"Mai, are you happy you chose to come with us?"

She sipped her tea, more slowly this time.

"I am. I like spending the time with Zuko, and getting to know you," she said.

"Then write that letter to your parents and tell them. Even if they don't support you, I'm sure they'll at least understand," Iroh said. The tiniest of smiles flickered at the corners of the girl's mouth.

"I will." Her smile grew, slowly. "Thank you, Iroh...I know you're Zuko and Azula's uncle, but you're starting to feel like my own as well."

Iroh stroked her damp cheek.

"I'm glad. Any important person to Prince Zuko is important to me as well."