"Three women and a man just crossed into the Fire Nation, one woman was wearing a cloak, her face hidden."

The cup Zuko had been holding shattered.

If the Fire Lord gave an indication of embarrassment at the spilled tea he did not show it. A cloaked woman, that could only mean they had found and rescued Azula. His homicidal little sister would be there within half an hour, at most. Less if June spurred that creature faster. He had thought he was ready, he had been so sure that this would be the time when they got along. There were no crazed fathers, no plots, not a thing to tear them apart. But Zuko realized that would not matter to Azula.

She was furious, furious and prideful and nothing if not vengeful. No his sister wanted nothing more than to see him rot, preferably he imagined under the sole of her shoe. For what had happened he was not sure he deserved such a good death. Even with their opposing sides, he would not have killed her. Big brothers were supposed to care for little sisters, even the worst of them. He had failed her. Her, his mother--if he was being fair, his father as well though he thought of that with more pride than disappointment--his own shortcomings were unfortunate but the fact they hurt so many he loved was much worse.

He opened the door and stepped into the hall to find the passage alight with movement despite the hour.

"Secure all entrances and exits. Snipers on the corners. She so much as sparks and I want her neutralized," Mai said, her voice not revealing anything past a desire to get back to bed.

"I do no want her harmed," Zuko said walking over to her. Mai's eyes narrowed, "I mean it Mai, no more damage."

"The guards are equipped with stunning materials," Mai said, "nothing a good nights sleep and a gallon of water won't fix," she added, "and you! That pit better be full of men."

"Fire Lord," he turned his head, "would you like me to rouse the others?"

"No," Zuko said, "that is unnecessary. Prepare a detail to escort my sister to the infirmary--"

"I want the infirmary covered in men. Under beds, posing as patients--" Mai began to give out orders.

"See that the others remain inside for their safety."

The man bowed and hurried off. Zuko and Mai walked to the entrance where they would arrive. It could have been minuets that they stood there, it could have been seconds. Each dull echo of Zuko's heart seemed to take an impossibly long time to reach his ears. The night breeze felt sticky on the back of his neck as he looked around, his features serene only because of years of practice. He wanted nothing more than to twist his hands or bite his lip or blow something up. But he did not, he stood there and waited with Mai by his side. Finally finally the massive creature came to them, bearing the figures he knew to be Sokka, June, Ty Lee and Azula. The dismounted, though he knew only pride kept the cloaked figure from falling down. Finally they turned and walked forward.

"Well that was interesting," Ty Lee said peppily, though she made no move to go into the palace. Sokka was quiet, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword while June walked forward.

"As asked, one Fire Nation Princess," she said holding out her hand.

Azula shed the cloak, knowing it was respectful to do so in front of the monarch. Zuko stared. All traces of girlhood were gone from Azula. Her warrior's form had been changed, the lack of grueling workouts visible in every line. But the planes of her face spoke of their mother, same aristocratic features. Her dark hair was short now, barely brushing her shoulders though Zuko remembered easily the days when it took three servants an hour to comb it. Still when their eyes locked he saw the same gold spark in hers, the same anger and hatred she had thrown at the rest of the world. it was still there and from the way her fingers flexed either the drug had not impeded her ability or it was only a matter of time before she regained it fully. Zuko stepped forward, despite Mai's silent demand that he remain in the shelter of the archers.

For a moment nothing happened and the world seemed to hold its breath. Either Azula was about to blast them all to high heaven and be killed by the archers or she was going to acknowledge Zuko as being the Fire Lord. But the latter seemed impossible. Still she pressed her hands to her thighs and gave a slight bow, barely one at all thanks to the drugs and, most likely, the desire to kill him.

"Fire Lord Zuko," she said, the words seeming to further infuriate her.

"Welcome home, Princess Azula," he replied, inclining his head as he would have to another woman of her rank, "escort the Princess to the infirmary."

"Yes, Fire Lord," two men said stepping forward.

"Mai, go with them."

Mai looked at Zuko and then at Azula, wondering if his mind wasn't finally gone. For a moment no-one moved.

"I'm tired, lets get this over with, come on Princess," Sokka said.

WIthout so much as a glance at Mai Azula fell in line behind Sokka. An odd mix of emotions seemed to fight for dominance inside her. She wanted nothing more than to blast them all to hell, something she would have done without so much as a thought back when her father was the Fire Lord. But something else was there as well, a bone aching weariness that seemed to have replaced everything inside her. The mere idea of generating so much as a spark seemed to be as impossible as if she tried to Water Bend. Her feet were strait but it was only because of pride. Each step felt like she wanted to pass out, like ash was taking her over. She felt dry and terrible and burning.

God she hated being sick.

"You don't look so good," Sokka said looking at her.

Azula glared at him, a thousand curses on the tip of her overly large tongue. Why were there so many people around here? The ground seemed to be lurching and she was going to faint. As if disgrace wasn't bad enough, now she was going to swoon like some over-privilaged fool. Embarrassment and something that felt dangerously like bile seemed to creep up the back of her throat. A cool hand grabbed her burning wrist and tugged her down the corridor. Her feet seemed to be weighed down but Sokka managed to keep them moving. Not used to being led, Azula battled stubbornness and the desire to pass out before he threw open a door and maneuvered her inside.

"How--" she began as her eyes tried to focus on the familiar objects of her room.

"Benders were meeting," he said, "I got bored. Ty Lee?"

The acrobat swung through the window just as Azula managed to make to the bed, her last shred of dignity fleeing as the silk rose up to meet her cheek. Sokka glanced behind him at the Fire Nation Princess and then back at the acrobat.

"Healers," he said, "I can carry her if they need me too."

She bobbed her head and swung up as Sokka turned to the Princess, surprised at how he felt when he looked at her.

He had assumed that even with what he knew about Azula he would find it easy to hate her. In fact, some part of him still shouted that he should take his sword and cut her down there and then. But he couldn't. What had happened to the proud Bender who was so willing to murder them in cold blood? What happened to the warrior who, he knew, could have seriously injured all of them without so much as a spark? The creature who was quaking on the bed like a leaf, that couldn't be Azula. He walked over to the Princess who seemed too lost in her own misery to realize that his hand was still locked around the pommel of his blade.

"Do it."

Or not.

His eyes widened as he looked at his hand and then at her.

"No," he said dropping his hand and looking at the Princess, "I won't hurt you," her fingers tightened into fists, "not now anyway."

"Your nobility is pathetic," she spat, venom still easy on her tongue.

"Nobility?" he felt his lips twitch, "I'm just a filthy Water Tribe peasant," he said, remembering what she said to Katara. He saw her lips twitch as well but thankfully neither of them smiled, that would just be incredibly odd.

There was a knock on the door. The barest sigh escaped Azula's lips. Sokka looked at the miserable creature and then at the door. He walked over and opened it to see an old man clothed in ruby standing there holding a case. Behind him were a group of assistants all dressed gaudily. Sokka looked at the white knuckled grip the man had on his case, the way the others shifted their weight slightly. Part of him shouted that he should let them in, let them see the pathetic creature the Princess had become.

She deserved a hell of a lot worse then to be seen like this.

"Sorry, the Princess's asleep," he said easily, "you just missed her."

"Then we will wake her. The Princess must be examined and taken care of," the old man said haughtily.

"Oh--ah--" Sokka fought to figure something out, "she's gonna be. By my sister."

"By the water tribe girl?"

"You think you're a better healer than a Bending master?" he asked raising an eyebrow, "I mean don't you think that given those herbs in her food for the past years that more herbs might be a bad idea?"

The man had the grace to flush before his features smoothed and he drew himself up, opening his mouth to protest.

"Get out of the way boy."

"That is enough."

The healers all turned as Mai walked forward, dark eyes promising lots and lots of pain for anyone stupid enough to challenge her. She had set up for Azula to do something stupid--for someone to do something stupid and nothing had happened. Though relieved she was itching for a fight and if this old dolt was willing to give it to her then so be it. He was an old healer but she was a high ranking Fire Nation citizen and far more an everyday presence in the Fire Lord's life. They were all aware that future Fire Lady or no, Mai had the Fire Lord's ear far more than they could ever hope to attain. The healer swallowed as he looked at her, debating whether or not this was a fight he wished to engage in.

"This is a peace summit. You would dare to risk offending our esteemed guests with your attempts at re-'healing' Her Highness?" the healers looked ashamed, "return to your rooms at once. Your services in this matter are no longer required."

"But--"

"I do not like repeating myself," Mai cut him off, eyes flashing like the blades she wielded so well.

A moment later with murmurs of consent the men withdrew leaving Sokka and Mai just outside the door of a woman who would probably have liked nothing more than to ensure Mai never threw another sharp pointy thing again. If she was curious about the condition of the Princess, Mai certainly did not show it. Her eyes remained on Sokka as she crossed her hands in the confines of her sleeves, a gesture Sokka would have mistaken for ease if he wasn't sure there were enough needles on her wrists to kill him without so much as a sound. She stood there, seemingly content to be silent until her eyes narrowed at his hand. Realizing the signal he stepped out and closed the door fully behind him.

"The Princess's safety is severely compromised," Mai said, "the fact is that most of the men under my command would like nothing more than to see her destroyed."

"Aren't they loyal Fire Nation Citizens?" he asked.

"Yes. And the Princess is a representation of our darkest hour and greatest shame," Mai told him, "it is their loyalty that would have them kill her, despite knowing the consequences. Therefore I need to know if--"

"We'll guard her."

Mai turned at the same time Sokka did to see Iroh lumbering down the corridor, June in tow. The pair stopped outside with the two warriors as Mai's eyes swept their forms. Neither appeared armed though Mai knew for June that wasn't the case and it was not as though Iroh needed a physical weapon to destroy her. The old man shook his head at the suspicious look in Mai's eyes and walked over to the door.

"An Uncle can make sure his Niece makes it through her first night back home after so long," he said opening the door and walking inside.

"I'm taking the outside," June announcing sitting down and crossing first her legs, then her arms.

Inside the room Iroh looked at the creature on the bed and felt much older than he had any right to. He did not feel sympathy for his niece, she didn't deserve his sympathy and he knew pity would be a far greater insult. He did not know if there was a name for the emotion he felt except weariness. The poor girl on the bed, she had no idea what she was getting herself into when she chose his brother over the rest of the world. But, had any of them? Back in those days they had been so sure they deserved to rule the world. It was their right, the Great Fire Nation. What fools they had been, Azula had been a fool along with the rest of them. She had been a more dangerous one though--dangerous and powerful and just as she had risen higher than she had any right to so she had come tumbling down. Her eyes were half open as she looked past her hand to the wall, every fractional movement of her body spoke of sorrow and the same weariness Iroh felt.

"You need to stay warm, my niece," Iroh said as he picked the blanket from a spare chest near the foot of her bed.

"What would you know?" came the retort, voice only a fraction as venomous as it should have been.

"Much more than you, it seems," Iroh said, "but as I am older, it makes sense that I should know more," He saw her jaw clench as a tremor worked its way up her frame, "and I have spent a fair amount of time coming off of strange substances that have no place being in the body."

"I don't need your help!" she cried when he came to her side, adrenaline and anger lending her strength as she shoved herself up, clouded gold eyes flashing, "get out!"

"I'm afraid I cannot do that," Iroh said.

Azula's fists clenched when he didn't elaborate, her pale clammy features flushing rose with hatred. Iroh stood there holding the blanket and looking at her calmly. He had dealt with enough wild animals to know that the period before they let you close was often the hardest. That was what she looked like. A crazed, wild animal. Only her cage was a massive silk-covered four poster bed, not an iron enclosure--though he was sure she would have looked far more at home in such a place. Her arm trembled as her chest heaved before she doubled over, coughing almost violently into her palm. Iroh did not move to help her, he knew she'd probably bite his finger off, but he was careful to look for blood in her fingers. Fortunately there was none.

"You should rest," Iroh said.

"If I wanted to listen to the idiotically obvious ramblings of an old fool I'd go down to the prisons and speak to father!" she spat.

Iroh raised an eyebrow, surprised that the Fire Lord had sunken so low in her opinion given their obvious closeness. Though, when he thought about it, her breakdown had come after the realization tat her father would never return her love, not like she wanted him too--not like she needed him too. Her arm trembled with the effort of holding her upright and he saw the trouble her eyes were having focusing but she held herself there. Despite himself Iroh was oddly impressed with that. Iroh walked forward, making sure she had her distance and placed the blanket within an arms reach before stepping back. Azula lasted a few heartbeats longer before her fingers snatched the blanket and she practically collapsed laying down, barely managing to drag the material up her frame.

"It was nice of that Water Tribe boy to help rescue you," Iroh said sitting down.

"Shut up!" Azula hissed furiously, not in the mood to hear about niceties from the Water Tribe nor experience them from her own family.

Iroh waited a few minuets before Azula's raspy breathing evened out to stand up and get another blanket out of the chest, covering her with it. Asleep she made no biting remarks about his actions. Still he was not foolish enough to linger over her. Instead he walked to the door and opened it to permit Zuko to enter, attuned enough with his nephew to know he was there without being told.

Zuko walked into the room, his gold eyes tortured as he looked at the form of Azula and then at his Uncle.

"Mai sent the healers away--I didn't think they'd be here so soon--how is she?" he questioned looking at Iroh.

"Sleeping," Iroh replied, "she's going through withdrawl," he added, "perhaps the Avatar or Master Katara would be kind enough to stop in to heal her once she awakens?"

"I--yes of course--" Zuko's words were halted with worry as his eyes continued to look at the girl on the bed, "she looks so small," he said finally, his voice a whisper, "like its not her," he looked at Iroh, "I didn't think--Uncle I don't know what to do."

Iroh looked at Zuko. He looked so young standing there, more like the child who asked why his father didn't love him than the adult who realized that there was nothing he could have done. Iroh had always offered wisdom where he could but this was not an area at which he was particularly adept. He had fought most of his life with his brother. Even when Ozai had lost his bending and his sanity began to fray he had been unapologetic to Iroh. But Zuko--Iroh knew Zuko cared about his sister, probably more than Iroh could have foreseen. Would Azula exploit that? Probably. But Zuko wouldn't allow her to be sent anywhere else, Iroh could see that plainly on the Fire Lord's face. No, Azula was going to stay in the palace and they were all going to have to learn to deal with it.

"Why don't you help me guard her?" Iroh offered, "I do not think either of us will be getting much sleep tonight."

After a moment Zuko nodded and the two set about the long night, making sure Princess Azula of the Fire Nation lived to see another day.

Ahh sibling love, nothing quite like it huh? I'm on the Zuko side though I'm a big sister. Thankfully my little sister is not homicidal like Azula--not most days anyway.

Well I'm sorry about the delay! I had no idea people were reading this!

Please review and I'll update faster!