Zuko cautiously entered the house that held now distant memories. It seemed lonely and forgotten, completely different from how he remembered it.

Yet, as he walked through the house, he felt he was not alone.

"Is someone there?"

Zuko froze. He knew that voice. But, it couldn't be…

"M-mom?"

"Zuko!" A woman rushed toward him, appearing from the shadows. She looked different, but he recognized her all the same.

The hugged, telling of how much they'd missed each other. Soon, Zuko found himself confessing all the awful things he'd done. His banishment, his betrayal of Iroh, his rejection of the waterbender's offer to heal him. Everything.

Ursa held him close, silently listening to her troubled son. Once he'd finished, she pulled away from him, smiling sweetly.

Then she slapped him. Hard.

"Zuko, have you lost all your good sense since I left?" she yelled. "I can't believe you'd turn against your uncle after all everything he's done for you! And that poor girl!"

"But-"

"No excuses! I want you to apologize to that girl!"

"What?" Zuko asked in disbelief.

"You heard me! Go apologize to her for being a jackass. And give her a hug."

Nearly a week later, Zuko found himself hugging and apologizing to a bewildered waterbender, wondering why the action didn't feel as wrong as he thought it should.


Author's Notes: First and foremost, this a crack!fic and should not be taken seriously. Except maybe for the Zutara moment at the end. You can take that seriously. xD

Basically, this is a rewrite of that one scene in 'The Beach', when Zuko goes into the old beach house.

Disclaimer: I do not own 'Avatar' or any of its characters.