So it took me a while to decide how I wanted to handle the issue of a Fire Lady, and I finally decided to just go with my original idea. This started as part of chapter 13, but it was getting too long, so I split it up. Here's chapter 14, or as I call it 13.1.

I'm grateful for all the feedback. Thank you.

As always, characters by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, Story by Me.

.~.

Late on the third night Zuko sat on the front steps alone. He rested his head against the railing and looked up at the stars. "I wish you were still here," he said to the brightest star, "Ursa is growing up so fast. She looks like you and has your spirit. She's fearless like you too. But I guess you know that. She's getting to that age where she needs a woman to talk to. Yes, she has Mom, Katara and Toph, but no one can take your place.", he paused for a minute to dry his tear soaked face with the tail of his shirt, "I miss you."

'We all miss her." Sokka said, leaning against the door.

"How long have you been standing there?", Zuko asked, still staring into the sky.

"Long enough.", the warrior said as he moved to sit on then stair above the Fire Lord.

The two sat in silence. The only movement was the wind blowing through their hair. They were thinking about the same thing…Suki.

.~.

She and some of the other Kyoshi warriors had been called to the Fire Nation to protect Zuko. There was a point during the disintegration of the Harmony Restoration Movement where Suki was the only one that the young Fire Lord trusted. She had gotten so into her job that she didn't see room for anything, or anyone else.

"Sokka," Suki said after pulling him away from the others, "I can't do this anymore."

Sokka was shocked by the statement, "What do you mean by that?"

"I can't pretend that we have a relationship anymore. You're busy helping Aang, your sister, Toph and your dad, and keeping assassins away from Zuko is a full time job.", she looked down at her feet, "It's over Sokka, there is no more us."

"Suki," he said, doing a bad job of hiding his hurt, "don't say that. It's just a hard time right now. Things will get better."

"No Sokka. It won't.", she said and walked away. Sokka's heart was shattered.

.~.

As time passed Zuko began to confide in Suki more and more. He talked to her in great detail about his mother; the way she looked, smelled and spoke. He even told her about how she and Iroh were the only ones who ever really loved him and how his mother would be ashamed if she knew what he'd become.

"Your mother would be proud of you.", Suki insisted, "You're cleaning up a mess that it took one hundred years and three other Fire Lords to create. Yes, you lost your way for a while, but you found your true path. You've become a great man."

Zuko fought the urge to smile at that thought and her kindness," I'll be going to see Azula tomorrow, then I'm be going to find my mother."

"What time are we leaving?"

"I'm going alone."

Suki glared at him, "No, it's not a good idea. I should go with you."

"No, you aren't. You're the only one who knows I'm leaving. I need you to make it look like I'm still here for as long as possible." Suki held her head down and he put his hands on her shoulders, "I needs you to do this for me Suki. Tell them I'm sick and resting, that should buy me at least a few days.", he lifted her head with one hand, "Please, you're the only one I can trust, I'm not even telling Uncle that I'm leaving."

Her Kyoshi makeup hid her blush, "I will do that for you.", she relented

He hugged her, "Thank you. You don't know what this means to me."

.~.

Although they were reluctant to speak the words to anyone, each of them were developing feelings for the other. Zuko felt like a trader because Sokka was his best friend and the warrior was still hurting over the breakup. Suki also felt ashamed of her feelings for Zuko because of his friendship with Sokka and the fact that it was unprofessional to fall for someone she was guarding.

When Zuko returned with his mother all of the Fire Nation celebrated for a month. Zuko was happier than anyone had ever seen him. Aang and Katara talked about how childlike he seemed in the presence of his mother, and Sokka teased him about it whenever he got close. Zuko just smiled.

.~.

After all of the celebrations were over and the Fire Lord had become accustomed to having his mother around he decided that it was time for him to tell Suki the truth. He hoped that she felt the same way, after all, the other Kyoshi Warriors had long since left and she'd volunteered to stay behind.

"You know she loves you too son.", his mother spoke quietly in his ear one night as they walked down a hall in the palace.

"What are you talking about?"

"I know you Zuko, You love her.", she caught his hand to stop him, "She loves you too."

"Are you sure?", he asked, looking down at his mother.

"A mother knows.", she smiled and turned to continue down the hall to her room.

Zuko continued on and found Suki in the library. It was late, so she'd taken off her makeup and uniform. She was dressed in a simple shirt and pair of pants much like the ones she wore on the Boiling Rock, except these were nice and made of green silk. She looked beautiful.

"Zuko," she said, startled to see him when she turned around, "I thought everyone went to bed."

"I need to talk to you about something,", he said in a serious tone.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. Could you sit down please," he spoke in a business like way so he wouldn't lose his nerve.

Suki sat down, "What is it Zuko?", she asked as she brushed her hair over her shoulder.

He loved that she was letting her hair grow, "I have to tell you something that's not very easy for me to say."

"What's the matter?"

He sat down across from her, "I appreciate all that you've done for me, but I don't need you to guard me anymore."

"Are you firing me?", she asked.

Zuko thought, "I guess I am, in a way. I don't think it would be appropriate for you to continue to work for me."

Suki got angry and slapped her hands down on the table, "And what exactly do you mean by that?"

He put his hands over hers, "I care for you Suki. I don't know how we're going to handle this, but I had to tell you."

She exhaled in relief, "I care for you too Zuko," she blushed, "but this is so complicated."

He smiled, "Yes, it will be."

So the Fire Lord and the Kyoshi Warrior began to date, quietly at first, but they soon realized that they couldn't hide away forever, so they informed their friends. Sokka went into a rage. He had stopped talking to Suki over a year before, but now he disowned Zuko. He accused them of being together all along and told them both that he never wanted to see them again.

Sokka's word hurt them to the core, but they continued with their relationship. After two years of dating Suki became the first foreign Fire Lady. A while later Ursa was born, but sadly tragedy struck.

Shortly after her daughter's first birthday Suki fell ill. The Fire Nation's best physicians were stomped. They couldn't figure out what was making the Fire Lady so sick. She could barely breath and had terrible coughing fits. Zuko grew tired of being told by doctors that they could not help his wife, so he sent for Katara.

.~.

They arrived from Ba Sing Se in record time. Katara leaped off of Appa and ran to Suki's side while Aang came behind her with Kya in his arms.

"Katara?", Suki said breathlessly as she opened her eyes, "What are you doing here? You just had a baby."

"She's two months old now Suki,", Katara said, forcing a smile, "I had to come see you. Why didn't I find out earlier that you were sick? I would of come right away."

"Has it been that long already?", she asked while Katara drew water over her hands and moved it over her body, "I want to see her, where is she?"

"She's here," Aang said as he stepped quietly into the room. He sat in the chair next to the bed and held his new daughter so that Suki could see her.

"She's beautiful." Suki said, a little stronger, starting to feel some of the pressure release from her chest. She looked up at Aang and smiled, "You do good work Mr. Avatar."

Aang smiled back, "Don't I.", he said, trying to hide his unease.

"Do you feel any better?", Katara asked as she released the water from her hand back into the bowl where she got it.

"Yes Katara, I feel much better, thank you."

Katara gave a weak smile. Her husband could see the worry all over her face and so did Zuko when he walked into the room.

"You guys made it in early.", he said, trying not to sound worried. He hugged Katara and whispered in her ear, "Don't say anything yet. Tell me in the hall.", he went over to the proud daddy, "Hello little Kya. She's as beautiful as Uncle said she was.", next he sat on the bed and held his wife's hand, "You look like you're feeling better.", he kissed her lips softly.

"I am.", she smiled, "Katara is wonderful."

"Yes, she is. I think I'll go with them to get their things and see Appa. You get some rest." Zuko kissed her forehead and lead friends out of the room and down the hall. "Katara, tell me, what's wrong with her?"

The healer hesitated to speak. But she finally did. "She has a blockage in her lungs." she cast her eyes to the floor, "I can release the pressure, but me moving it would do more harm than good. Here's nothing I can do."

Zuko stopped in his tracks, "Are you sure?"

She chocked back a tear, "I'm sure, It's too large for me to move , and its too dangerous for me to break it up. If I tamper with it too much I would just shorten her time."

There was silence, then Zuko dropped to his knees in tears. "It'll be okay, we're here to help you buddy.", a familiar voice said . Then Zuko looked up he saw Sokka kneeling in front of him."

"Sokka?"

"Yeah, I was in Ba Sing Se when the message came. I had to come."

"I thought you hated us?

"I was angry for a long time, but if Team Avatar can't be there for each other who else is going to be."

"Is Toph here too?, Zuko asked, looking around

"She's on her way.", Aang said with his hand on the fire bender's shoulder.

"Thank you all."

.~.

The Fire Lord's friends were there when Suki passed away month after their arrival. They stayed with Zuko on and off for two years. They took turns staying in the Fire Nation for months at a time to help him make through his first years of being a widower.

.~.

Almost a decade later Zuko would still talk to his beloved wife, especially on nights like this one when he missed her so much.

"You know," he said to Sokka, "You and Toph let me down. I don't have anyone to make fun of Aang and Katara with anymore. You've turned into the,."

"Hey," Sokka said protested, "We're not bad. They act like a couple horny teenagers. You'd think they'd be tired of each other. You think they'd be tired of each other by now and act like normal married couples,"

"I know. After all this time they should of cooled off."

"Yeah, maybe we should throw some cold water on them."

The two men laughed as they got up to go inside. Before walking into the door, Zuko looked back at the star, "Goodnight Suki. I love you."