Disclaimer: We don't own Avatar. We're not making any money from writing this.

I meant to at least imply the gang was heading off to Ba Sing Se at the end of the last chapter… but I also have fun leaving everyone in suspense… so… well, now you know!

Also, you're all free to imagine how many times Lin's brain was reset between scenes… I figured people may have fun coming up with scenarios.

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Chapter 30: Advice

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"Nephew!" Iroh spread out his arms. "Am I to understand that your journey to recover that relic for the Order was a successful one?"

Zuko hugged his uncle back, knowing the happiness would soon disappear. "It was a trick, Uncle. They wanted to overthrow me. They took Mai."

Iroh stared at his nephew in shock. "Do you know where she is?"

"Her body is over there." Zuko pointed to Lin, who was mimicking Sokka and making him complain to Katara, who just laughed. "But they brainwashed her. Now she thinks she's some sort of servant, and she's afraid of everything."

"Everything?" Iroh asked in disbelief. "But she was such a brave girl."

"I know." Zuko said, hanging his head. "Sometimes she'll wake up for a few minutes, but then it's like her brain starts to collapse, and we have to let her go again."

Iroh looked on solemnly as Lin began to chase Aang around. "On the bright side, she seems to be enjoying herself."

"Only because I'm nowhere near her." Zuko held back his fury. He'd started getting good at that again.

Iroh put a hand on Zuko's shoulder. "Would you like me to try talking to her?"

Zuko thought about this. On the positive end of the spectrum, it was possible that his uncle's endless speeches would do Lin some good. On the negative… even Iroh could make a mistake now and again. "All right. But I'll warn you, she tends to overreact, and thinks everything is dangerous."

Iroh smiled. "Oh, don't worry, Nephew, I have lots of experience with people who overreact."

Zuko groaned. "Thank you for that analysis, Uncle."

Iroh laughed, and walked over to Lin. "My dear, it's a pleasure to see you."

Lin's eyes widened, and she bowed quickly to Iroh. "It's a pleasure to meet a kind stranger. What is your name?"

Iroh had been expecting this. "My name is Iroh. But you can call me Uncle."

Lin knit her brow. "I don't think we're related… actually…" Lin's eyes widened again, "I don't know if I even have any family!"

Iroh could see that Lin was about to run into yet another identity crisis. "We are not blood relatives, but I am the uncle of your—"

Katara cut in. "General Iroh! Please don't use the 'h' word on her! She goes crazy!"

Iroh nodded lightly. "I mean your friend, of course." He gestured at Zuko.

Lin backed away. "But if you are the Fire Lord's uncle… wouldn't that mean you're royalty?" Lin's voice became shrill. "I—I'm sorry I didn't greet you more formally. Please don't kill me!" Lin threw herself to her knees.

Zuko gripped the balcony's railing. A faint creaking sound warned him not to grip quite so tightly.

"I will not hurt you." Iroh knelt next to Lin. "Why do you fear royalty?"

Lin didn't dare look up. "I think my masters did." She said quietly.

"Your masters..." Iroh repeated. His lip curled in disgust. "They had no right to tell you they were above you. You have only one master."

"And who is that?" Lin looked up expectantly, the programmed servant part of her mind preparing to receive a command.

"Fire Lord Zuko is your master. But only because you belong to him."

"All citizens of the Fire Nation belong to the Fire Lord," Lin said in monotone.

"Not in such a personal way as you do." Iroh wrapped an arm around Lin to help her stand, and was shocked when his arm touched her stomach area. His eyes flicked up to Zuko's. "Nephew… Am I going to be a grand uncle?"

Zuko nodded numbly. "I don't know how we'll explain that to her."

Iroh smiled sadly. "Now I understand that you have something of a time limit. Come inside, Mai."

"My name isn't Mai!" Lin yelled. "Why does everyone call me that?" She jerked away from Iroh, and walked past Katara, Suki, Sokka and Aang in a huff.

Sura stopped her. "Listen to him, Lin, please!" she said. "It's for your own good."

"My own good," Lin echoed. "I don't even know him!"

"Yes, you do! He's practically your uncle!" Sura glanced at the man for confirmation. "He wants to help you understand who you are!"

Lin bit her lip. "I'd rather not. I don't think I'd like it. I'd rather just work."

Sura shook her head.

"I can help you with that, too!" said Iroh, and he came over to Lin. "I own this tea shop here, and I would be honored if you would help me serve tea to my customers."

Lin brightened. "I would be honored, too!"

"Then it's time to work, Lin!" Iroh said.

Lin bowed her head.

"Not that again!" The gang shouted.

"What happened?" Iroh asked.

"That was the reset trigger on her brainwashing," Sokka explained.

"So she's back where she started?"

Everyone nodded.

Iroh sighed. "They were clever to think of such a common phrase."

Lin looked up. "What is everyone talking about?"

"Your new job at my tea shop."

Lin smiled. "Let's go!" she said, and practically danced into the tea shop.

Iroh shot Zuko a pitying look before following Lin into the shop. "Do you want to work with us? She may have forgotten that you're the Fire Lord."

There was something he could not argue with. Zuko grinned. "Just try stopping me."

To Zuko's disappointment, Lin hadn't forgotten. She was shocked to see Zuko donning an apron and beginning to serve customers.

Lin accepted the job of waitress gratefully. She was glad to have some work to do.

"Lin, take this to table three," said Iroh when all but a few customers had left.

Lin skipped happily to table three. "Here's your tea!" she said joyously. "Are you going to want anything else?"

"No, thank you," said the girl. She had short brown braids and large eyes. "Hey, don't I know you?" She tilted her head, a catlike smile on her face.

Lin looked more carefully at the girl. "No… I don't think so…" In her mind, Lin saw an icicle, a fountain, hanging and floating lanterns, fish, and finally a kiss… one that had been long awaited. Lin still smiled, holding the expression over her confusion. What was this girl's connection to all of those images?

"I really think I know you…" the girl jumped up and smacked her hand down on the table. "You're Lee's knife throwing friend from the circus!"

"Lee?" Lin knew no Lee…

Zuko caught sight of Jin. Too late, he saw that she was talking to Lin. He shot a look at his uncle.

Iroh met his nephew's eyes with no small surprise. He only understood when he searched for Lin in the room and found her speaking with his most regular customer.

When had Lin worked in a circus? She couldn't remember such a thing! "I'm sure you must…"

"I saw you kissing Lee!" Jin accused.

Lin stared. "Kissing? I must have amnesia!" She pressed her palm to her forehead, as if she could feel her memories there, and perhaps catch them before they ran away again.

"Are you mocking me?" Jin asked.

Zuko ran over before Lin could say something else. "Hello, Jin!"

When Jin saw Zuko, she blushed. "Hello, Lee!"

Zuko cringed. Had he known what was coming he might have asked his uncle to step in for him.

Lin looked at Zuko in shock. "Were you lying to me?" she cried, backing away. "Your name is Lee? You aren't the Fire Lord?"

Zuko wanted to scream in utter frustration. How many times must he explain himself or define reality? "Lee was my disguised name!"

"You lied to me, then!" Jin said.

"I lied to the entire Earth Kingdom, Jin, I was in disguise!"

"And you're the Fire Lord?" Jin asked shrilly.

"Yes, I am Fire Lord Zuko." Zuko strained to keep his voice even. He turned his attention to Lin. "Calm down. If I were lying, it would only be to keep you safe!"

"Is she your girlfriend?" Jin asked, pointing at Lin.

"No!" Lin shouted.

"Actually," Zuko got close to Jin so he could whisper, "She's my wife."

"Lucky you. How did you get her down the aisle? Or did she go crazy afterwards?"

Zuko grimaced. "It's more complicated than that! You can't possibly understand what it's like to be in charge of a large group of people who don't want to follow you. In trying to appease them... This happened."

Finally, Jin's features softened. "I'm sorry. For a year I've hoped to see you again. I had hoped you'd come around… But now I see that it would never have worked. You were right… it was too complicated." She turned her eyes to Lin, who had shrank slowly away until she was safely out of ear shot. "I have no desire to be Fire Lady."

Zuko sighed as Lin ran back to the kitchen. "It isn't the best job, anyway." He slouched down into a chair.

"I'm sure it'll turn out all right." Jin said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "She knew it wouldn't be easy."

"They've tried to kill her—I don't know how many times. That's beyond difficult."

"How many times have they tried killing you?"

Zuko released a harsh laugh. "Too many to count."

"She knew that," Jin said thoughtfully. "But I remember the night at the fountain."

Zuko stiffened.

"I saw that she loved you. I ran after you and watched."

Wrong night at the fountain. Zuko was relieved.

"I think the love she had… or has… for you, outweighed her fear. Maybe she didn't even have any fear at all."

Zuko raised his head. "You really think so?"

Jin nodded. "Maybe her love can overpower this… thing… that's been done to her."

Zuko sighed. "I hope so. I'll never give up, but I'm so worried about her. I'm actually afraid."

"Not to mention how timid she is. Does she let you near her?"

"Only if she's asleep, doesn't notice me, or has nowhere to run," Zuko mumbled bitterly. He stared towards the kitchen, hoping to see Lin emerge.

"Ah. You miss her in more ways than one."

Zuko nodded. "She's not only timid, she's got terrible mood swings. They're so hard to keep up with. Her opinion on a thing is really difficult to keep track of."

"Oh, I'm sure that'll only last about a week." Jin said reassuringly.

"You don't understand. This isn't a one-week sort of thing. I can deal with that. She's pregnant."

Jin gasped. "Congratulations!" her face fell. "It… could get pretty bad then… if she's afraid of her child's father…"

Zuko grimaced. He began to fear that his face might stay that way. "Normally, I'd be glad to hear you call me that. Unfortunately… it's a complication."

Jin sighed. "Sorry. But you have to realize that she can't know she's pregnant when she's like this… she'll suspect… unpleasant things about you."

Zuko stood, then lowered himself again. "She'll start getting… big… soon. That's going to be hard to explain."

Jin nodded. "You'll have to fix that brain problem of hers before that."

Zuko slammed his forehead against the tabletop.

"Pardon me," Lin said timidly, making Jin and Zuko jump. "Your uncle wishes to speak with you, my lord."

Zuko looked up at her. "All right, Lin." Zuko stood up. Moving quickly, he hugged Lin before waving farewell to Jin and running off.

Jin gave Lin some money. "I enjoyed the tea, as usual. Good luck with your recovery." She hesitated, looking at Lin with her large brown eyes glistening, and finally decided to gave Lin a quick hug, too. As quickly as she had done so, she ducked out of the shop.

Lin stood there stiffly. "Recovering?" she asked herself. Was she sick? Her stomach growled. Why did she suddenly crave fish with pigeon quail? She hated both, from what she could remember. Her stomach growled again. Apparently, she'd have to find some fish and pigeon quail. She headed back to the kitchen.

Katara was showing Sura how to make a small water whip with some of Iroh's tea water. When she saw Lin walk into the kitchen, the whip shivered and dissolved. "Hi, Lin!" she said.

Zuko's head whipped around to look at her.

Iroh cleared his throat.

Zuko regretfully turned to look at Iroh again.

"Will either of you go shopping with me?" Lin asked Katara and Sura.

"Shopping?" Katara asked.

"Yes. I want fish and pigeon quail." Lin said.

Sura and Katara made faces.

"Are you sure about that?" Katara asked.

Lin's stomach growled loudly. "Yes."

Katara looked at Zuko. "Um… Zuko? Are we allowed to take her to the market?"

Zuko turned, his eyes baleful. "Go ahead. Just… please don't lose sight of her!"

"Of course not," Katara said gently as she took Lin's arm.

Sura stood along with Katara, and shot Zuko an eye roll before following Katara out.

Zuko frowned after the girls. "I don't like the way Sura looks at me," he mused aloud.

"It would appear that she has something against you," Iroh agreed.

"I think it has something to do with the invasion of the Northern Water Tribe. Maybe she thinks I could have stopped the looters… and the future members of the Order."

Iroh sighed. "We were declared traitors that day. There was nothing we could have done."

"She doesn't believe me." Zuko said.

"Perhaps it would help for me to speak with her?" Iroh suggested. "A second opinion may sway her."

"Or Water Tribe girls are just moody," Zuko shrugged.

Iroh laughed at his nephew's understatement.