Ozai's dead, had to do it. I had a hard time deciding what I wanted to do with him, so I read it to my husband when I was about half way through the chapter and he said "Oh, that bitch gotta die." As for Mai, I needed somebody who would have the skills to help Ozai, and , in my mind, she was the most logical choice.

Did I mention I have a beta and she's awesome? Well I do, and she is. I like her stories too. I've read four, about to start on the last one. Her name is KrystalFruit22 .

So here we go, I'll probably post the next one tonight or tomorrow and that'll be my two for the week…or maybe I'll have time to post more later in the week…who knows.

.~.

Comfort

Although things moved quickly after Ozai's death, for a small group of people they seemed to drag by. The palace was cleared of everyone except for those who were in the garden at the time of the former Fire Lord's death, Lady Ursa and the guards. When the news reached the Lady, she ran down to the garden. She paused as she passed the body of her ex-husband then she went to her son and granddaughter. She led them away from Ozai and into the waiting arms of their friends.

Toph released Mai from the stump when the guards came to take her to a nearby jail. Kyu, his parents and Jin stood near the doorway, wanting to offer comfort, but not sure how. When the Fire Sages came to remove Ozai, Kyu stepped forward, put his hand on Ursa's shoulder and said, "Ursa, Fire Lord Zuko, I'm sorry for your loss."

For the first time in what seemed like forever Ursa let go of her father and leaned into Kyu's chest. The young man was shocked at first, but then he wrapped his arms around her, "It's gonna be okay." he said sweetly.

Aang and Sokka stepped in by Zuko and his mother. Ursa Sr was standing by her son with one hand rubbing his back. His friends each put a hand on his shoulder.

This was nothing like when Suki and Iroh died. Then he had grieved openly, now he just stood there, his eyes on his daughter, but he wasn't looking at her, he wasn't focusing on anything, his eyes were staring into nothing.

Jin took her eyes off Zuko and went to try and help Katara and Toph console the other children. Kya and Bumi were exhausted and emotional not only from seeing someone die, but also from the battle that preceded Ozai's fall. They held on to their mother as Lin and Tenzin huddled in Toph's arms. Jin helped the women usher their children back into the empty ballroom, followed by Kyu, Ursa and his parents.

.~.

The night wore on. Lady Ursa said that because it was getting late, Jin, the general and his family could stay in the guest wing. She had a guard provide them with bed clothes and rooms to sleep in.

Once the children calmed down, they gave their attention to Ursa. She had gone from her highest high to her lowest low within a couple of hours. All of her friends refused to leave her, including Kyu. After bathing and putting on fresh clothing they all gathered in her room. They cuddled up together in Ursa's gigantic bed, something they hadn't done since years earlier on Ember Island when they'd all fallen asleep on the living room floor. Kyu, fascinated with how close these five were, laid at the foot of the bed quietly.

One by one they each fell asleep until Ursa and Kyu were the only one's awake. Because he had been so quiet for so long the princess thought that the general's son had fallen asleep too. She had put on a brave face for her friends, but holding back the tears was ripping her apart inside. So now, seemingly alone in the dark, she started to cry.

Kyu, who had been laying quietly with his eyes closed, opened them when he heard a muffled cry. He sat up and saw who it was, "Ursa?"

The young woman lifted her head and looked back at him. "Kyu. I didn't mean to wake you," she said, trying to speak in as normal a voice as possible, "go back to sleep."

"You don't have to put on a brave face for me." he said quietly, "I know what you've been through." he reached out to her.

She hesitated, then she sat up and moved over, allowing him to pull her into his arms, and his lap. He wrapped himself around her and wished that he could take her pain away.

Ursa relaxed in Kyu's arms and cried all her tears out quietly. Even after she'd finished, she stayed there, listening to his steady heartbeat. She felt safe in his arms. He had rescued her when they were younger and fought beside her that night. She found herself focusing on things about him. The way he smelled, the way his long, dark hair cascaded down his back and his sideburns framed his face. Kyu's arms were so strong, but soft and caring at the same time. 'I could stay here forever', she found herself thinking before she drifted off to sleep.

.~.

Jin made a wrong turn when she left the bathroom and was trying to find her way back to her room. Her first instinct was to call out for someone, but she was sure that everyone was asleep by now. As she wondered down the hall she saw quick burst of light coming from a doorway to her right. She stopped at the door and saw Zuko punching out short angry burst of flame. With each strike he released an animalistic growl. She hesitated to say anything, but she could see that he was in pain. "Fire Lord Zuko." she said quietly.

Zuko heard something that sounded like someone saying his name, but it couldn't have been because everyone was asleep, he'd checked himself. All the children were asleep in Ursa's bed, including that boy Kyu. Strangely enough Zuko didn't let the boy's presence in his daughter's room bother him because she was snuggled between Kya and Lin.

Aang and Katara were getting some rest because he'd asked them to leave early in the morning to go pick Azula up from the convent she'd been living in since she left the mental hospital. He could hear Sokka snoring through the door, so there was no doubt about rather or not he was asleep, and Toph was not in her room, so she must have been with the warrior. Zuko did not realize that he had another house guest.

"Fire Lord Zuko." he heard it again, this time a little louder. He turned to see Jin, clad in a long red night gown and her thick black hair free from the buns they'd been in earlier.

"Ambassador Jin? You're still here?" he said, embarrassed that someone had caught him venting.

"Yes," she said, "your mother told us to stay here tonight."

"Us?"

"Yes, the general, his family and I."

"Oh." he said, "Is everything okay? Why are you up so late?"

"This is embarrassing to admit, but I'm lost. I think I made a wrong turn when I left the restroom."

Zuko smiled lightly, "Yes, you are very lost."

Jin smiled, and then her face got serious, "Fire Lord, are you okay? This has been a difficult night, I mean…he was your father."

The fire bender shrugged, "Technically yes, but my uncle raised me. Ozai didn't love us. He scarred me and tried to raise my sister to be a monster."

The Earth Kingdom woman took a step forward, "Fire Lord, stop me if I'm out of bounds, but I saw your face in the garden. You were devastated. No matter how bad a person he was, a part of you loved him. You wouldn't be in here right now if you didn't."

Zuko was taken aback. She'd seen right through him, and had no qualms about being honest with him about what she saw. He didn't respond, he just looked down at his bare feet and flexed his toes as if, suddenly, they were the most interesting thing in the world.

Jin stepped farther into the training room and picked up the clothing he had thrown down when he came in. Zuko had snatched of everything but his pants in a rage and flung them to the floor when he'd first come into the room.

"You don't have to do that, Lady."

"Just call me Jin." she interrupted, "and yes, I do. It would be a shame to ruin these nice things." he watched her carefully fold his clothes In half and lay them across a nearby bench, "Your highness, you really should take better care of your things."

He smiled at her lecturing, "Call me Zuko."

She turned and smiled back, "or maybe Lee."

"You know, my days of being Lee were some of the best I had back then. Me and Uncle in the tea shop. You being able to see past…" he touched the edge of his scar, "this. I've always wanted to tell you that I appreciated that so much. I still do."

Jin stepped forward and placed her hand on the marred part of Zuko's face. He placed his hand softly over hers and leaned into her touch, "This does not define who you are, your actions do. From what I see you're a food father, friend, son and king, and if your father couldn't see it, then that was his loss. You are not what your father tried to make you into, and from what I hear, neither is your sister."

He stepped slightly forward and pulled her into a hug, "Thank you Jin."