Not Stalking Zuko

by emletish

Katara keeps a journal of all the shenanigans that the Gaang run into. Chapter 49: there is much talk about the future - now that the war is over and everything is changing. Hakoda and Zuko talk. Katara decides that some things in life are worth the risk.

48. eavesdropping all over the place

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Eavesdropping all over the place

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We headed back to the villa together. We ran into Suki just outside the gate by happy accident. She had been coming to look for me. I felt very glad to see her and her calm sensibleness. While Zuko had cheered me up, I reckoned Suki would be better able to advise me about what I should do about the caveman-like attitude of my tribe. When she asked if I could come to the Kyoshi villa with her – to see the two sick warriors, I readily agreed. Zuko said he'd let everybody know that I had been found and was with Suki and headed inside.

We headed for the Kyoshi house. Before I had time to complain about sexist men, Suki started filling me in on all the details of her two warriors. A nice female guard called Ming had come to see the two of them. Ming had ensured they were well treated at prison when they fell sick and all the warriors seemed to like her well enough, even though she was firenation and all. Ming had given a very tentative diagnosis of summer fever -but she was no doctor and wasn't sure. Suki hoped that my healing abilities could do something before Dr Yang came. She'd had a quick chat with Iroh while she was looking for me – (Iroh had been looking for Zuko at the time and they had agreed to look together). Iroh said he would send Dr Yang over tomorrow, but Suki was hoping I could do something to make them more comfortable now.

The house was full of girls. Girls sitting in the comfy chairs, reading, with their feet up, girls training in the garden, girls clustered in the kitchen, gossiping and cooking. How did Suki keep track of them all? The two sick girls were called Hatsu and Aya. They were sharing the largest bedroom on the ground floor– the one that had a nice big window. I opened it to let in some fresh breeze and checked the girls over. They both had all the other classic symptoms of summer fever. First I used my waterbending healing around their temples to help ease their fever and then I made cold compressed for their heads – to cool them down when I wasn't here. I also used my bending to help the compresses stay cold. I had read about summer fever in the compendium and I racked my brain to remember what I had read. There was a simple recipe to help clear a congested chest and another to help a patient sleep through the night. I think a good night sleep and something to help them breathe easier was exactly what the girls needed.

I went to bustle around the kitchen. Amazingly there were all the ingredients in the kitchen. Suki told me that two very shy firenation girls had come by with an enormous amount of stuff to stock up their kitchen sometime in the afternoon. I told her it was probably Mina and Yomia – and they had been very shy around me too, when they first met me. I made up both medicines and took them to the girls and helped them drink them. After I was done, both Aya and Hatsu said that they felt much better and thanked me politely.

Suki asked me if I would like to stay for dinner. A warrior named Nashi was cooking and she was a brilliant chef. Much better than me Suki offered ruefully. I agreed instantly. It was nice to spend time with girls again and I still wanted to talk to Suki about the problem of my tribe and other things. We ended up in the kitchen, while Nashi cooked and bossed around another girl called Misa, who made us tea.

Then a girl came into the kitchen that I would recognise anywhere. Even though her hair was out of its trade mark braid and she wasn't wearing that ridiculous pink outfit she was so fond of – I'd know Ty Lee anywhere. I acted instantly and on pure instinct. I bended the water from the sink at her. I made small icicles and tried to pin her to the wall. She was as quick as ever and squealed in surprise and flipped out of the way and hid behind the wall. Suki rushed over and tried to stop me and said it was okay and Ty Lee was meant to be here.

What the hell?

Suki tried to calm me and said that she had wanted to tell me first, but now was as good a time as any. She had agreed to take Ty Lee on as an apprentice Kyoshi warrior. Was Suki high on cactus juice? Seriously! Ty Lee had done nothing but attack us with Azula. She couldn't be trusted! Suki said that all her warriors liked Ty Lee and her warriors were good judges of character. I made a sceptical face. Misa piped up and said that Ty Lee had done nothing in prison but try be their friend and look out for them. Nashi added that she was also teaching them how to chi block and that was something that all the warriors wanted to learn. Suki said quietly to me, in a sincere whisper, that she thought that Ty Lee was genuine in her desire to turn her life around and do good. Suki was willing to give her another chance despite everything. Suki wanted me to try and give her the benefit of the doubt too.

They were all looking at me expectantly. I guess if Suki, who ended up in prison for months on end because of Ty Lee, Azula and friggin Gloomy Hairbuns , can forgive the girl and give her the benefit of the doubt, I should too. I didn't really know Ty Lee all that well, but she had never struck me as an evil genius mastermind. All I knew about her was that she would shamelessly flirt with Sokka whilst attacking him, she could block my bending and she was fond of say wow in a dopey voice. Without the chi blocking, she seemed like such a harmless ditzy flirt.

Ty Lee tentatively poked her head around the door and started apologising for all the times she attacked me with Azula, and said she hoped I wasn't mad at her and that we could be friends. I encouraged her to come out from behind the door. It is very hard to have a conversation with someone when you can only see half their face. Also she didn't look very formidable peeking around the door like that, like a little kid who had been caught with their hand in the seal jerky jar. She was making it really hard to be mad at her. She came out and stood awkwardly in front of me and said she was sorry again.

I said I accepted her apology and her reaction was instantaneous. She squealed again, but in delight this time and threw her arms about me in a big hug. I didn't think we were quite at the hugging stage yet. I had been firing icicles at her mere moments ago, but that didn't seem to bother Ty Lee. Ty Lee decided that we were FRIENDS! (I put friends in capital letters to indicate how friendly she was now that I had forgiven her.) She babbled at me constantly for the next little while. It was not like Zuko's nervous dorky babbling. It was more hyperactive, very enthusiastic girly babbling.

She got me a chair and a big cup of tea as a peace offering and just talked at me. We'd be great friends from now on and she could teach me how to chi block too, if I wanted to learn. And wow, my aura was such a nice mix of colours, pinks and blues and twinges of yellows. And my hair loopies were awesome – how did I do that? Ty Lee was looking for a new hairstyle because she'd had the single braid forever and she felt like it was time for a change. Could I show her? I could! Wow, that was so cool. Ooh cool was funny because I was from the South Pole and it was really cold there. Did I get her joke?

I thought oh no – Ty Lee had only spent one afternoon with Suki and her lame jokes have become contagious! I could instantly see why she and Suki might get along. In fact, it was hard not to like Ty Lee, she was just so bouncy and cheerful and energetic and enthusiastic about everything. She kept talking about how she was glad to have a friend from the water tribes – because water tribe people were all really, really ridiculously good looking. I was good looking (I preened despite myself when she said that – I have always thought so myself), My brother was very sexy (Suki gave her a stern look here and Ty Lee amended that she would look, but she would never touch to mollify her) and my dad was a stunner.

Err what?

Ty Lee met him on the walk back from prison and she thought he was A SEXY BEAST. I spat my tea out everywhere and looked at her with no small amount of horror while she kept talking, oblivious to how much she was grossing me out. She said he was like the older, more manly version of Sokka. And he had such broad shoulders and such dreamy blue eyes and he seemed so strong and capable. He was a delicious looking dad...

Okay, enough about my dad!

I had to call a stop to the conversation there, because she was breaking my brain. Suki patted Ty Lee on the shoulder and said Hakoda came under the same category as Sokka – she could look but she could not touch. Ty Lee nodded. She asked me if there was anyone she could touch in the watertribes. I said she could have at any of them except my Dad, Sokka and Bato – but she wouldn't want any of them anyway, and they probably wouldn't want her either.

Ty Lee looked a little hurt and taken aback– and I realised what that would have sounded like. I told her gently that I didn't mean it like that. It was nothing against her, but the menfolk of my tribe were very sexist and would expect her to stay home and darn socks all day. Ty Lee made a disgruntled face to indicate what she thought of darning socks all day. Misa said that they had really noticed the sexism in prison and had done their best to put the menfolk in their place.

Dinner was served and we all went and sat around the dinner table. I heard all about their prison escapades, the various fights they'd fought, the witty comebacks they'd made, the points they'd proven. They were a bit sad to think that none of that had sunk in. I said that the menfolk of my tribe had a begrudging respect for them, because they were Kyoshi warriors, but they viewed me differently because I was one of them, and thus at the mercy of tribal customs. The Kyoshi warriors were most curious about me, because I was a strong, independent warrior according to Suki - how did I manage back home, surrounded by such backward thinking? I said not very well and ended up telling them all about the incident with the mending today. They all sympathised. Ty Lee was aghast and said that menfolk would never get away with that in the firenation – not if they wanted to avoid getting a bitchslap. She recommended that I bitchslap them all, in this incongruously cheerful voice. I thanked her for the suggestion, but told her that there was too many of them and my hand would get sore. The Kyoshi warriors came up with many suggestions – mostly involving some form of arse-kicking, bitchslapping or name calling or any combination of the above.

-?-

After dinner, Ty Lee took the girls into the living room and they cleared away all the furniture to make a big, flat exercise space. Ty Lee wanted to run the girls through some aura sensing exercises – which mostly involved sitting in unlikely positions and breathing and visualising. Apparently aura sensing would help them with chi blocking. However, most of the Kyoshi warriors seemed to spend a great deal of time focusing on holding the unusual positions, instead of focussing on what Ty Lee described as the colourful-cosmic-swirly-wirly-wibbly-wobbly-feeling-shmeeling-energy around them.

Suki was observing the lesson and I sat with her. After a few minutes, she got up and gestured me to follow her. We went out of the balcony and sat on the big wide railings. Suki said that we could talk here and not interrupt the lesson. She advised me, gently, that even though the girls were quite enthusiastic for some arsekicking, she thought it would be better if I first tried talking to my Dad openly and honestly about my views. My dad was chief, but he was also a nice and reasonable man, and Suki was sure he would listen. And if talking didn't succeed, then we could proceed to arse-kicking and talking combined. Suki had a vested interest in the water tribes becoming more accepting of women as warriors, after all (she gave me a sly look and a slight smile when she said that). Suki said a frank talk would mean so much more coming from me, than any amount of arse-kicking, long speeches or witty comebacks from the Kyoshi warriors. They were outsiders to my tribe, and my tribe had no real reason to listen to them. I was the chief's daughter and my tribe will have to listen to me. Besides, Suki thought that violence was never the only answer for this sort of thing.

I said that she had been spending too much time with Aang (in gentle a teasing way) – to favour talking over action. She shrugged and said perhaps she had, but that didn't mean that Aang wasn't right about some things. I asked if Aang going on about forgiveness was why she had taken on Ty Lee – because I was still a little confused about that. I mean if Suki didn't have a problem with her, then I felt petty holding a grudge against her. But still, it was a weird thing to get used to.

Suki said no, she had forgiven Ty Lee for herself. Suki thought that if we hoped to have a peace between the nations, we had to let our old resentments go. General Iroh said that all the nations had much that they could learn from each other after all. And the chi blocking was an awesome skill and Suki wanted to learn it. Mostly Suki thought that Ty Lee was essentially a good person and was just a little misguided. She only wanted some one to give her a proper chance and proper choice. Suki got the impression, just from a brief conversation, that Princess Azula never really gave Ty Lee a choice in anything. I could well imagine that.

Ty Lee hadn't said much against Azula, but it was just a vibe Suki got from talking to her. Suki hadn't wanted to pry, because Ty Lee still seemed to bear a confused and sort of hopeless affection for Azula – and for Zuko too. She wanted to see them, but she was sure they would both be furious with her. Suki had wanted to see what I thought, as I knew Zuko so well and had been on of the last people to see Azula before she was... here Suki paused and eventually settled on escorted away. She wanted to check if I thought Zuko would want to see her before she got Ty Lee's hopes up.

Just at that point Ty Lee made a little squeak and interrupted us. She had evidently been eavesdropping (I know a guilty eavesdropper's face when I see one). She had set the girls up doing a relaxing visualization and had come out looking for Suki. She had overheard us talking about her. I do not think there is anyone capable of resisting eavesdropping when they hear their name in conversation – so I didn't hold her eavesdropping against her. Suki encouraged her out and she came and sat with us. She asked me directly if I thought Zuko would want to see her. Did he ever talk about her? Was he still mad about all the "trying to kill him" stuff at boiling rock? Because Ty Lee hadn't meant it.

I thought for a second. Zuko hasn't said much about Ty Lee, but he's never really expressed any great anger towards her either. If anything, whenever he tells stories about when he and Azula were young, he mentions Ty Lee with affection, if he mentions her at all. I couldn't imagine he would be angry at her. So I smiled at her and said he would probably like to see her.

Ty Lee started twisting her hands together and said that Suki had told her that I had beaten Azula, but she was alive. I concurred. Ty Lee asked hesitantly, if had hurt her at all. Ty Lee hoped I hadn't hurt her too bad. Suki was right about the confused and hopeless affection thing. Ty Lee was attached to Azula by something reason couldn't break, so I answered as honestly and as gently as I could. I said that she was mostly unhurt, but she had gone a little...strange. Ty Lee asked if she still mad at her? Well she is certainly still mad I thought, but did not say. I said that I didn't know. Who knows what Azula really feels anyway? I told her she would have to ask Dr Yang, who was treating Azula, if she thought Azula would like visitors. So far Dr Yang had told Zuko, in a firm yet sad voice, that it wasn't a good idea right now every time he asked (Dr Yang and I are in complete agreement over this). Still, I said there couldn't be any harm in Ty Lee asking. Ty Lee beamed at me in response and gave me a huge hug again (Ty Lee is exceptionally touchy feely and fond of hugs) and said Wow, you are so nice in a dippy voice and flipped away.

-?-

After that, we went back inside. Ty Lee was going start training Suki one on one tomorrow – because she was a little behind the other warriors, who had been learning in prison. Tonight, Ty Lee wanted to show Suki how well the warriors were progressing. Nashi had perfected blocking the left shoulder and she demonstrated this on Misa. However she didn't tell Misa she was doing this (Misa was exceptionally displeased to find her left arm had suddenly gone dead). I watched them for a little while and then I realised how late it was.

I said that it was time for me to be heading back and Suki offered to walk with me. She was planning on spending the night with Sokka and would be heading to Zuko's house anyway. We walked together, until we got to the garden. Then Suki broke away to go and climb in through Sokka's window. She was sneaking in to save hassle. I went in through the front door. The house was oddly quiet after all the noise and bustle of today. I could hear Lenka in the kitchen and I went in to say hi and ask her where everybody was. Most of them were at the water tribe house, apparently. Celebrating freedom and peace and firewhisky – except for Sokka, Toph and Zuko. Sokka was having an "early night" – Lenka said this and did the little airbunnies to indicate her disbelief. And Zuko and Toph were on the western veranda – if I wanted to see them.

I did.

-?-

I heard them before I saw them. Well I heard Zuko. He was reading Love Amongst the Dragons to Toph again. They were sitting in the comfy chairs. Zuko had his long legs resting on the low table and Toph had her short legs resting on top of his. I have always found it very adorable when they do this – but both of them really resent being described as adorable. They both think they are badasses and badasses aren't adorable, as a general rule. They both got a bit shy and awkward about their adorable Love Amongst the Dragons habit back at the beach house when I used to interrupt them and comment on the adorableness of it all. So I didn't do that this time.

I should have left, but I didn't. I liked the way Zuko got really into doing the voices and I liked hearing Toph's cheerful laughter. After a while they reached the end of the chapter and Zuko closed the book and said that they had a deal. Toph had agreed to go to bed if Zuko read just one more chapter. And now they were at the end of that chapter. That sentence hung in the air.

Toph suggested that they could play earth,water,air,fire again and if Toph won, then Zuko could read just one more chapter and then Toph would absolutely go to bed. Zuko said he was not falling for that again! Then he added fool me once – shame on you; fool me six or more times – shame on me. Toph asked what he meant by that. He said he knew she was cheating with her earthbendy senses. She used them to tell what he was going to do. Toph protested and said she wasn't... and anyway, she didn't even need earthbendy senses to win – because Zuko always picked fire. Zuko grumbled in response that fire was awesome.

She gave him a poke with her feet and said just one more chapter in a wheedling voice. But Zuko said no, it was late and she should go to bed. Toph said she was not even tired. Zuko said fine, but he needed to go to bed soon, otherwise I would be mad at him. Toph said something sarcastic like oh please, you're waiting up for her anyway! Zuko got a bit stroppy and protested that he was not "waiting up" for me. Toph still had her feet on his legs and she smiled widely. She said asked you do know I can tell when you're lying? in a very cheeky tone of voice. Zuko grumbled and said he was going to bed and stood up, but Toph said no, don't go quickly, in a completely different tone. An anxious tone. Zuko asked her what was wrong. She'd been weird all night – and she had... he trailed off and sat back down. Then he asked gently, if she was worried about going to sleep.

I stayed to listen because I am a nosy eavesdropper and I can't help myself. Eventually Toph said that if she told him something - he had to promise not to get weird and be all comforting and stuff. And he had to swear himself to secrecy. Zuko agreed. She said, in a quiet mumbling voice that she'd been having bad dreams. About what? Zuko asked. There was a long pause and then Zuko said that Toph didn't have to tell him and it was rude question. Toph took a deep breath and said about your dad okay.

Zuko started saying, in a comforting sounding voice, that he had heard what happened and he was sorry his dad had... but Toph interrupted and said that he promised he wouldn't get weird and comforting and if she wanted someone to hold her hand and say there there silly muffin – she would have told me. I didn't know if I should be offended by this or not. Toph said she had told him because she had wanted practical advice from him.

Ozai was his dad after all. Surely he would have some advice about how not to be scared of him. Zuko seemed a bit taken aback, but Toph continued on, regardless. Toph asked what it was like having Ozai as a dad. Zuko sighed and said less fun than being shot by lightning. He said his dad was locked far away and so Toph had no reason to be scared of him now. She said softly that Sokka said that, and she told herself that, but it didn't work and she still had nightmares and she didn't know what to do. She told Zuko that she never really had nightmares before – but it had been so scary when he had grabbed her. He seemed so big and bad and powerful.

Zuko inhaled sharply and then he said quite forcefully that Ozai was certainly bad, but he wasn't big or powerful. He was small and pathetic. Ozai had gone for her because he thought she would be easy to subdue – but Zuko had heard about how Toph had been able to beat him all on her own. Toph said she hadn't done it on her own. Zuko disagreed and said Sokka had told him everything. All it took was for Toph to jab him in the eye - and then he'd dropped her and she'd completely taken him by surprise with her awesomeness. Toph seemed a bit cheered and said, quite boastfully, my awesomeness is pretty impressive.

Zuko added that Ozai always picked on people he thought were weak and easy targets – but Toph sure showed him and Zuko would have paid good money just to see Ozai's face when Toph metal bended that bit of airship at him. Toph said that she hadn't been able to see his face, but Sokka had told her it was very entertaining. Zuko hopped down in front of her and said that Toph had saved herself and she'd never have anything to fear from Ozai. Even if he did come at her again, if he ever dared, he would have to be scared of her! He might be a bad guy, but she was a badass. She'd be able to beat the crap out of him, all on her own, in two seconds flat. Toph said you really think so? Zuko held her feet so she'd know he was telling the truth and he said I know so with much sincerity.

I think they hugged, but I am not sure because I took this moment to quietly sneak down the hall. I didn't want them to think I had been eavesdropping on what had turned into a very quiet and personal conversation. When I was at the end of the hall I started stomping back noisily – to give them fair warning of my arrival. I made a big fuss upon 'finding them' and stifled all urges to give them both huge snuggly cuddles. Then I said in a gently scolding tone (that I did not have to fake) that it was very late and they should both be in bed. They agreed.

-?-

Both Zuko, Toph and Aang slept late the next morning. Sokka and Suki also "slept late" but I know what that means- coming from them. I needed to give Zuko another healing session and change his bandages this morning and so I waited, not quite patiently, for him to get up. I went to his room and I sat next to him and tried to wake him up with my thoughts. When that didn't work, I took to reading. I was reading a book on anatomy when he woke up. He was looking much, much better this morning actually. It's amazing, how well he's recovered, with both Dr Yang and myself treating him. I said morning and then he said morning and then we just stared at each other dorkily for a second and I forgot why I had come. Eventually I said something about healing sessions and he nodded in comprehension.

I helped him take off the bandages and climbed up on the bed with him and started running my hands around the new scar. His body is still so beautiful and really quite...distracting even with the scar and I found this healing session taking a bit longer on account of my distraction. I extended the healing session out and healed for longer than I should have, just so we could get more time together. Just the two of us. Everyone was here now. It was going to be harder for us to have time to ourselves, unless I took running away...I mean storming off on a regular basis. I knew for a fact that as soon as my dad got properly settled, he was going to be all nosy and in-my-business. Dad always likes to know what is going on with us. He wouldn't like the idea of me spending time alone with a boy (even though he would actively encourage Sokka to spend much alone time with Suki). He would have much to say about the matter – in awkward dad fashion.

Zuko asked my how my night was with the Kyoshi Warriors and we started chatting while I healed. I told him all about it, about Ty Lee and how she wanted to see him. Zuko was a bit perturbed that she would choose to be a Kyoshi warrior. Apparently she has six identical sisters (six Ty Lees! The mind boggles) and as a kid, she always wanted to stand out from them and be different from them. She hated being seen as "part of a matched set" according to Zuko. But the Kyoshi warriors all dressed alike and looked alike and to Zuko it seemed like she was trading one matched set for the other. But he shrugged and said as long as she was happy, that was the most important thing. I said she wanted to see him, but she was worried he was cross at her. Zuko said he'd like to see her too. He wasn't cross at her. He couldn't be cross at Ty Lee, even if he tried. It would be like being cross at snugly, cuddly baby rabbiroo.

I then told him about how Suki thought I should try talking to my dad first, because he was chief and because he would listen. Zuko thought this was a good idea. He asked what I was planning on saying and I told him, over breakfast. We were on the comfy chairs on the veranda again – I think this is Zuko's favourite spot – eating these little firenation pastries that Lenka had made and drinking tea. I practised what I planned to say. Zuko was most impressed with my ability to come up with speeches on the spot. Well I have a lot to say about this.

I got quite into my speech. I gestured wildly with my hands and pastry crumbs went everywhere. Women are equally capable and should not be seen as somehow lesser or inferior to men etc. Women deserved to be consulted on decision that would affect them blah blah blah. Women should not be given all the boring jobs under the guise of said jobs being a 'woman's work' and I was completely sick of doing the mending!

I bowed to signify the end of my speech. Zuko clapped and there was a second clapping that came from upstairs. Suki. She had been sneaking back out again. She jumped down and landed gracefully on the grass. She came over to us, grabbed a pastry. Then she said good speech and gave me a thumbs up and walked off towards to gates, completely unabashed.

-?-

Sokka came down and joined us not long afterwards and tucked into the pastries with gusto. He had evidently heard my speech as well, because he asked if I was planning on seeing Dad right now. I was. The sooner the better, in my opinion. Sokka said we should give it a little more time, because he reckoned everyone at the water tribe house would be really hungover today.

By the time Sokka left to meet up with Suki, the party was in full swing. Everyone was at the big sing-along part of the proceedings. Your uncle was teaching everyone the hedgehog song Sokka said with a cheeky glance over at Zuko. Zuko swore and got up. He said that he had to go wake his uncle up – if he got to the hedgehog song point last night, he was going to be a sad sorry panda today, and that was bad because Uncle had a big day planned.

Zuko took upon himself the thankless task of waking both Toph and his Uncle immediately. Toph was easier to wake. A few minutes later – he walked back out with Toph behind him. She trailed after him blearily, her hair sticking up everywhere. He sat her in a chair and gave her a pastry and went off to rouse his uncle. Sometime later Iroh emerged, wearing what suspiciously looked like my father's eclipse glasses. Zuko went about making him some tea and was muttering things like every single time or can't leave you alone for five minutes etc under his breath. Iroh sculled his tea and then held the cup out for another and Zuko poured it for him. Iroh wanted to stay in the comfy chair all day and Toph concurred with this idea. Zuko got a bit stroppy with them and said that they had both wanted to do the interviews today and their first interview was Ming and she was uncle's friend and surely Uncle did not want to keep her waiting. Uncle said that Ming was a lovely girl and she would understand and forgive him.

Zuko crossed his arms grumpily and said that Uncle had gone on (and on and on) about how these interviews were important last night and gave Zuko an enormous guilt trip about attending them. And now Zuko was ready and if he was ready, then his Uncle should be too...there was a long pause. Iroh made no move to get up.

Zuko eventually said that if his Uncle didn't shift himself in the next two minutes, Zuko was going to take Uncle's packet of exclusive white dragon bush tea and pour it into the large canister of cheap nasty low valley tea. And then he would shake that canister up real good. Iroh was aghast. Apparently you can't do that to white dragon bush tea. It is a very delicate flavour and would be completely overpowered by the cheap, nasty low valley tea. Zuko said I know in a warning voice. Iroh said you wouldn't! Zuko said I would too!

There was a small battle of wills and they stared each other down. Then Iroh got up, while muttering how can a member of my own family be so unreasonable? Sokka and I both gave Iroh confused looks at this. We had both met the other members of his family after all. Uncle made a great show of stretching and groaning and sighing at Zuko's unreasonableness. Zuko remained unmoved by the display.

Suddenly there was a loud gonging sound. Ten gongs precisely. Zuko told Sokka, Toph and I that the firesages were back to work, thanks to his Uncle. Today was their first day back in their temple. They sounded gongs to mark the time at various points in the day, so we'd hear it a couple of times today. Then he turned to his Uncle and put his hands on his hips and said now it was ten gongs! and they really would be late! Iroh moved much more quickly after that (it turns out that he really didn't want to keep Ming waiting after all). Toph was also galvanised by Uncle's encouragement. He told her that she should get up- because she would be extraordinarily useful today. Zuko ushered them into the house, like they were naughty turtle ducks and he was a mother hen. He turned at the door and said good luck with your dad and then they were gone.

-?-

It was just Sokka and I on the comfy chairs and we had a bit of a chat. He asked me if I meant everything I said in the speech I was practising with Zuko. I said I did. He said he was sorry about yesterday and that he should have stuck up for me more – but he'd been so caught up in being one of the warriors. He assured me that he would talk to the warriors if I wanted him too. But only if I wanted him too, because Suki had given him an earbashing about how annoying it was when men presumed to speak for women. I said that would be nice. Mostly Sokka wanted me to know that he'd back me up, for what it was worth. He knew it didn't count for much, him being on my side – but all the same he wanted me to know. I told him he was being daft. Of course it counted! It meant very much to me, knowing that Sokka was on my side. And we had a big snugly hug.

-?-

Sokka and I headed over to the water tribe house, which was a bit of a mess after the shenanigans of last night. The menfolk were all along the various stages of the hungover spectrum. My dad was blearily wandering around the garden looking for Bato. Apparently Bato had left at some point last night and he still hadn't come back and my dad, even in his hungover state, was worried. My dad always worries.

I instantly went into nurturing mode – it is just a habit with me. I sat Dad down at the big table in the garden – it still had that blasted mending on it from yesterday, but I cleared that off pretty quickly. I set about making him a nice tea that would help his headache and I quickly scooted back to Zuko's house and stole some of the pastries so my Dad could get something in his the two cups of tea and many pastries, he felt a little better. It had been a long time since he had such a fun night. He smiled a little ruefully and said that Iroh is a wily, wicked man with a great deal of affection. My Dad then sent Sokka off to go 'see to Aang' who was a little 'under the weather.' I realised later that he did this so he could talk to me in private.

My dad was worried about me (as per usual) and wanted to talk to me about how I had run off yesterday. He was so sincere in his concern for me. He told me that he'd been getting ready to do a city-wide search for me yesterday, before Zuko had come over and told him I was with the Kyoshi warriors – so he wouldn't worry. I thought now would be a good time to segue into my speech, and I started saying why I had run off and spent the night with the warriors. My dad listened, but he didn't seem to be taking in what I was saying. I thought it was on account of his hangover. What I didn't realise, was that Dad was also working up the courage to launch into an awkward speech of his own at me. That speech was preoccupying his thoughts at the present moment.

I did not get very far into my speech, before Dad said, somewhat soppily, Listen Katara, you know you'll always be my little girl... this was not a good beginning, especially in light of my previous comments and I said as much. But my dad was determined to pursue his point and he waved off my protestations. I was his little girl and dads worry about their little girls. It was just what dads did. I nodded along. I said that I worried about him too and it was just what I did. He smiled at me and then he seemed to gather up his courage. He took a deep breath and then said that all dads worried about their little girls and what they would get up to with boys. Oh no. I could see where this was going. He asked me, very bluntly, what exactly was going on between me and Zuko.

Oh bloody hell. The conversation quickly went awry and took an alarming turn. I didn't even know the answer to this question myself and I certainly didn't want to talk to my dad about it. I said we were just friends and Dad made a skeptical face at me. I said that nothing was going on between us at all! Dad asked if I wanted something to be going on between us and I paused just a little too long before vehemently denying it.

The conversation was going downhill very fast. My Dad said in an effort at sounding "cool" that he totally understood. He knew firenation people could be...alluring – in fact he had met a girl on the walk back from prison who... Oh stop right there dad! I do not want to hear where that story was going. Anyway my Dad said that before I was allured by anyone, he wanted to talk to them. Man to Man.

Oh noes!

Why me!

Zuko did not deserve the fate of having a man to man conversation with my dad. Zuko might not survive the fate of having a man to man conversation with my dad, because he would die of embarrassment. I had to nip this idea of my dad's in the bud. I started protesting that I didn't find Zuko at all alluring (lies!) and did not fancy him in the slightest (more lies!). I went a bit overboard and said Zuko, pfft, who'd want to kiss him-certainly not me! etc (All lies). I was blushing furiously, but my Dad bought it. He sighed deeply and said he was a little relieved I felt that way. Really relieved actually he added. I made the mistake of asking why.

Dad shrugged and said he'd been really concerned when my friend Toph had said...nevermind, that didn't matter. It was just that Zuko was not an appropriate lad for me and so Dad was glad that I did not feel that way about him. I was a bit taken aback and asked what's not appropriate about him? too quickly. My dad raised an eyebrow at me and then said Zuko's a real nice lad, but he's firenation. As if that explained everything.

I made a fatal error in tactical arguing. Now would have been the time to say yes, he's firenation and not my type and I'll never fancy him. Then my dad would lose all interest in man-to-man talks with Zuko. But I didn't. Because I am an idiot. Instead I had a little self righteous moment and said that my Dad shouldn't dismiss him just because he's firenation and that was a little unfair. He was a really great guy etc. I might have been a little too...err forceful, in my defence of Zuko, because my Dad started to look exceptionally worried again.

Our awkward conversation was back on – this time with extra added awkwardness. Boo. My Dad said he never said Zuko wasn't a nice lad (a bit defensively), in fact the first thing he said was that Zuko was a nice lad. But he was still from the firenation. I pointed out that my dad didn't have a problem with Iroh or Chit Sang being from the firenation. He was still friends with them. Dad said that Iroh and Chit Sang were not young and dashing and... he trailed off because he had just described Zuko as "dashing" and there's really no place to go after that. This was too awkward even for my dad.

Dad collected himself and then he sighed deeply and said that he thought we were getting a little off track. He said that being friends with people from the firenation was fine, but that did not mean we should be more than friendly with them. I protested at this. Dad pointed out that I said didn't fancy Zuko anyway, so what did it matter, in the end. Oh Dad logic! He had me there.

I wanted to be anywhere else! I wanted someone to come along and save me from this terrible conversation and make it go away. I thought Oh Yue – can you spare a little moon magic – for me? Perhaps Yue did answer my prayer, because right at that second Bato sneaked into the garden, as quietly as he could. Both me and my dad saw him and our conversation abruptly closed. Bato was trying to look inconspicuous. But he also looked like a mess. His hair was all mussied up and his clothes weren't done up properly and he had the dopiest smile on his face. He slunk towards the house, but my Dad called out to him and he looked up in surprise and alarm at being sprung sneaking back in.

He wandered over and greeted us and appeared to be trying to act "casual." My dad asked him where he had been all night and Bato was very cagey in his response. He then tucked into the pastries with gusto and used eating as an excuse not to elaborate further. My Dad was not deterred and waited for Bato to finish chewing, but he got no more definitive answers from him.

-?-

I took the opportunity of my Dad's distraction with Bato's mysterious whereabouts (I have a pretty good guess as to where Bato was, but I will keep that to myself) and beat a hasty retreat back to Zuko's house. I resolved to try talking to my dad about sexism later, when he is a) not hungover b) not being ridiculously embarrassing.

When I got back to the house I noticed that there were heaps more servants running about the place. Lenka was in the kitchen and she told me that more servants had been given their old jobs back, after they had been vetted by Iroh, Zuko and Toph. They had hired heaps of people over the morning and it was glorious. Now she could have a day off! She was most excited about the prospect of a day off. I told her I was happy for her and her day off. She introduced me around to the new servants and told them all that they were to do anything I said and were to treat me with respect.

Sokka was in the kitchen, munching steadily on the baked goods Lenka was making. He told me he had found Aang, who was just a hungover mess. Aang had taken refuge in his room and had all the curtains closed and was curled up in the foetal position. Sokka had tried to help, but he really struggled going up and down the stairs and had spilled the tea he made for Aang all over his small sleeping self, and had since been ejected from the room.

I pushed aside my crankiness at Aang and went to visit him. I made him a soda water, and a plate of pastries and took them up. As far as I know, this is the first time Aang has ever been drunk and hungover and everyone needs a little kindness for that first dreadful morning. I got a bit cranky on Aang's behalf actually. I mean I was cranky at Aang, but I was even crankier at whatever imbecile had given a hyperactive twelve year old whiskey.

He mumbled incomprehensibly when I opened the door. I think he was saying something like go away Sokka. So I said that it was only me and he seemed to brighten a little bit. He started rambling apologises at me, but I waved him off. I sat on the bed next to him and made him drink the soda water and eat some pastries. He did so and then flopped on me and hugged me affectionately round the waist. Then he said he didn't feel so well. By some miracle, I got him to the window before he threw up all over me. I soothed his back and said all the caring things you're supposed to say when someone is feeling ill, even if their illness is entirely self-inflicted.

I settled him back into bed and then I got more water and had him drink it slowly. Then I tucked him back in, and smoothed his forehead gently for a while. Aang said various emotional apologies to me the whole time. Sorry for getting drunk and sorry for running away and sorry for everything, just everything. He really wanted me to not be mad at him anymore. He hated it when I was mad at him. I was lovely, and wonderful and smart and should never, ever be mad. He was getting a bit excited in his enthusiasm for his apologies and right now he just needed to sleep it off. He did not need me to have another go at him, right at that point. Aang and I have to have a proper conversation about things, but we will have this much later when he is feeling better. So I told him I wasn't angry at him, to settle him back down. He snuggled back into bed and I told him to get some sleep. He smiled widely and mumbled that he was glad we were friends again and nodded off.

-?-

Dr Yang came by not much longer after that. She had gotten held up with Azula. She barged into the interview room without a by-your-leave, startling the girl who was being interviewed and demanded to see Zuko. He complied. (One normally does when Dr Yang demands it in that tone of voice). They went to Zuko's room. I went with them, even though I hadn't been specifically asked for, but neither of them kicked me out. In fact Zuko waved me over and I sat next to them.

Dr Yang did lots of tests with her gadgets and got Zuko to cough and stretch and all that stuff. She then pronounced herself satisfied. He was really recovering well and didn't need to drink the vile concoction anymore. Zuko was ecstatically happy with this news. But Dr Yang rained on his parade and said she was prescribing him another concoction. He made a sad face. She said it was a less vile concoction and he only had to have it once a day. Zuko seemed okay with that. She said that he still had to take it easy, and he'd probably still feel tired a fair bit, but at this rate, he'd be a great deal better and would have his old energy levels back in ten days to two weeks. Her stern face cleared for a second and she smiled at him and said you really are one of the lucky ones.

Zuko asked her about Azula and her smile dropped. She said that she knew what he was going to ask, and now wasn't the best time. Zuko got a bit disgruntled and said it would never be a good time with Azula, but he still wanted to see her all the same. Dr Yang said that Azula didn't react well to surprises in her current environment (the dungeons) and seeing Zuko would be a big surprise for her. She added, cautiously, that she thought Azula would be better able to receive visitors after she had gotten more settled at the convalescent home. Perhaps, after she had gotten settled in there, it would be a better time, Dr Yang offered in a placating voice.

There was a slight awkward silence, which Dr Yang broke by saying she was very busy and important and Iroh had also instructed her to look over my brother and two Kyoshi warriors and so she best be off. She bowed at Zuko and took her leave.

-?-

Zuko looked a little sad, which was surprising because he'd just been given such great news. I poked him in the side and pointed out that he shouldn't look so sad. He didn't have to drink the vile concoction anymore. That was cause for celebration. Zuko poked me back and said now I wouldn't have anything to boss him about drinking, in teasing retaliation. I said I would find other things to be bossy over and gave him a big smile. He smiled back at me, but his smile didn't quite reach his eyes.

I asked him what was wrong gently and he just said Azula simply. He said that Suki and I felt like Ty Lee suffered from confused and hopeless affection for her. But so did Zuko. He just wanted to see her and know she was okay...well as okay as she could be. But Dr Yang always very sternly discouraged him from visiting her, because she wasn't ready, whatever that meant. Zuko knew Dr Yang meant well and was probably right, but it still frustrated him.

I said that it sounded like he'd be able to see her soon, with false positivity. What was all that about her getting settled at a new place about? Zuko had said that Dr Yang and Iroh had been talking and Dr Yang was firmly of the opinion that Azula needed to be moved from the dungeons to a place that was secure, but where she could see the sunlight, as sunlight is very important for firebenders. Dr Yang also thought that Azula would respond better to female guards. So his Uncle had the old royal convalescent home set up and made secure.

They had interviewed a really nice lady today called Ming. She was a friend of his Uncle's. She was a good female prison guard. She was brave enough to take on that thankless task of guarding Azula. His Uncle had told him that she was firm but fair and that she was very sweet when it came down to it. Zuko had wanted people who were kind, but competent to be in charge of Azula's welfare - and that had been surprisingly hard to come by. Ming was able to choose who she wanted to work with and she should have a team assembled by the end of the week. Then Azula could be settled there. I said, in a daring impersonation of Dr Yang's brisk tone, that by the time Zuko had "his old energy levels back" – Azula would be settled in and he could see her then, in a effort a cheering him up.

-?-

Zuko went back to see Toph and Uncle after that - because they still had heaps of interviews to get through and his Uncle was a bit hungover and should not be left unsupervised for too long, and I went into the kitchen. Dr Yang was still here. She was trying to see to Sokka's leg, but was facing various difficulties from both Sokka and my Dad. Sokka sat in the chair at the table, right next to the pastries, with his foot up on another chair. He was steadily munching on pastry after pastry and was getting the crumbs all in Dr Yang's hair as she knelt down to fuss about with his leg. She was most disgruntled by this and very sternly discouraged him from pastry eating while she was holding his broken leg. Every now and then Sokka would try and surreptitiously eat another pastry, but at the first crunch, Dr Yang would say something like – if you are eating a pastry again young man, you are going to meet the business end of my stethoscope. Sokka would put the pastry down pretty quickly and claim innocence.

Dr Yang was trying to make a new cast for Sokka's leg, but her second miscellaneous difficulty came in the form of my dad, who hovered and suggested and strong suggested and generally got on Dr Yang's nerves. She repeatedly and very forcefully told dad of all her training and various university degrees, the medical medals she'd won, the Academic journals she had been published in etc. until my Dad finally acquiesced that she might have some superior knowledge when it came to the matter of broken leg fixing.

She reset a cast that was less cumbersome and easier for movement than the previous cast and told Sokka he had to kept it still for approximately one hour, so it could set properly. Then she took Sokka's measurements, so she could bring him a better set of crutches tomorrow. She showed me how to make the less vile concoction. Then she took her leave in high dudgeon. She still had to see to the two Kyoshi warriors after all. Judging from the annoyed way that Dr Yang stomped off, I think this is the second time in two nights that the Kyoshi house will hear rather forceful complaints about the menfolk of the southern watertribe.

-?-

My Dad and I opted to sit with Sokka while his cast set. My Dad kept giving me sly glances and tried, on one occasion, to restart our awkward conversation from this morning – I decided right at that moment that I would 'check on Aang' to escape this terrible, terrible conversation. I actually did end up checking on Aang – so this wasn't a complete lie. He was still sleeping it off, but I woke him and made him drink some more water – to help with his headache. Then I went back to the kitchen, armed with conversation armor. Conversation armor is a topic so distracting that it deflects any unwanted queries almost instantly. Whenever my dad looked like he was going to start being awkward about Zuko again, I started haranguing him about the fact that Aang had gotten drunk under his supervision and I outlined the various ways that this was unacceptable and inappropriate. And thus the conversation would be neatly and succinctly deflected away from the topic of Zuko and I.

-?-

When the interviews were over for the day, Zuko, Iroh and Toph came and sat with us. Zuko flopped next to me, exhausted. Toph sat next to him looking perturbed. I asked how the interviews had gone and Zuko said terrible, Toph said weird and Iroh said wonderful.

Iroh was rather pleased that they were able to give most of the banished servants back their old jobs, except for a few who were harboring ill will towards himself and Zuko and thanks to the brilliance of miss Bei Fong (Toph beamed in pride) they had been able to discover this ill-will early before anyone got assassinate-y.

Also there were a few others who were unsuccessful in reapplying because ….here Iroh trailed off and seemed to look for an appropriate phrase. Because they were dirty perverts! Toph finished for him. Iroh said that he wouldn't say that exactly. Toph was still quite aghast that someone would say something that blatant in a job interview and mean it! It was just nasty. Iroh did not seem to find it as nasty and said that the twins were really quite charming and had served under the royal family for a long time. Toph made a comment about how they were more than willing to serve under one member of the royal family in particular.

Zuko sighed in frustration and said with some resignation that everybody should just stop talking about it so he could forget it ever happened. Unfortunately for him, this only increased Sokka's curiosity and he asked what had happened. Toph told us that two old twins had come in and flirted shamelessly with Iroh, much to the disgust of both Zuko and Toph. And then they started reminiscing about the time when the three of them… at this point Zuko interrupted her and said nobody wanted to hear the details. Iroh chuckled, a little embarrassed and said that had just been innocent nostalgic chitchat.

Zuko gave his Uncle a Look and said his Uncle wasn't fooling anybody. Neither he or Toph were born yesterday, and Uncle and Li and Lo thought that they were so wily, but Zuko knew what they were really talking about. Uncle feigned incomprehension and said that they had merely being talking about geography, and he was at a loss as to why Zuko and Toph had reacted the way they did. Zuko said with some sarcasm and frustration that there were very few geographical interpretations of we want your big dragon in our southern valleys again.

Oh ew!

Zuko said that just as Sokka was drinking and Sokka spat his tea out all over us in surprise and disgust. I bended the tea off us quickly. Iroh tried to change the topic and asked where Suki and Aang were – because they were most delightful young people. Sokka quickly said that Suki was with the Kyoshi warriors and I said that Aang was really really ridiculously hungover, and gave Iroh a hard look – which he was unperturbed by. Being hungover is, according to Iroh, one of life's crucial lessons. Everybody learns it the hard way. He asked if my dad wanted to stay for dinner, because Lenka was making roast duck and dad agreed. Nobody can ever say no to roast duck after all.

-?-

Piandao and Jeong Jeong arrived in the middle of dinner. They'd ridden the long way over the earth kingdom on a giant eel hound called Morris – and it had taken them several days. They were both dirty and tired from travelling, but happy to have arrived. Sokka was overjoyed to see Piandao again and he got up and gave him a big hug, before he allowed Piandao to sit down and join us. Piandao and Zuko saluted each other over the table in the firenation style, but they didn't get up and do the hugging thing.

My dad was most interested in Piandao – probably because Sokka looked up to him so much, and asked him many questions. After my dad was done with his interrogation, Piandao and Jeong Jeong regaled us with the story of their journey and tucked into the roast duck with gusto. They had come to brief Iroh on what was happening in the earth kingdom, but Iroh said that could wait for tomorrow, because it was getting too late in the evening and besides, you should never talk politics at the dinner table and so conversation moved onto other things.

-?-

I went up to see Aang later. To check on him. He was looking bleary eyed and worse for wear. I coaxed him into eating some soup. Soup would be easy for him to keep down and would rehydrate him, and so it was the best for this situation.

-?-

The next morning Jeong Jeong took it upon himself to restart Aang's firebending lessons. It had come up over dinner last night that Aang hadn't mastered fire and hadn't had a lesson since he had disappeared with the Lionturtle, and both Zuko and Iroh were too busy to give him lessons right now. Jeong Jeong was dismayed and resolved to remedy this lapse in Aang's education as soon as possible.

And so it came to pass that Jeong Jeong gave Aang the fright of his life when he stood at Aang's doorway this morning and started very noisily banging two saucepans together. He was attempting to wake Aang dramatically. He succeeded in this (and also in waking the rest of us up too). He felt the need to shout in an exceptionally dramatic voice Arise Avatar! It is time for you to learn proper firebending! And the first rule of firebending is waking with the sun!

Aang was most startled to be woken in this fashion by Jeong Jeong – who he had not seen since for many months. Not since he burned me that day by the river. After an initial shrieked gaaah! from Aang, it became apparent that Aang was under the impression that he was dreaming Jeong Jeong. The sounds of Aang's bafflement could be heard for some time. How are you here? Why are you here? It's so early, do I really have to do firebending now? Jeong Jeong said no questions, just learning! And took Aang with him into the courtyard.

-?-

After that rather dramatic awakening, I found it pretty impossible to go back to sleep. I got up and went downstairs. Zuko and Iroh were already awake and had just set up and game of Pai Sho. This was apparently Uncle's idea. I sat with them and watched for a while. I was joined by Piandao first and then Toph, who both had gamely tried sleeping through the firebending lesson – to no avail.

Iroh was very sincerely trying to teach Zuko to be better at Pai Sho. Uncle suggested that they could play every morning and eventually Zuko would understand the complexity and awesomeness that was Pai Sho. This is good in theory, but in practice, Zuko was just crap at it. He got a bit frustrated and said that if three years at sea with almost nothing to do except play Pai Sho hadn't helped, then he really doubted playing every morning was going to improve things. As he got more frustrated and lost interest in the game, Toph slowly got more interested. She put her hand on the board and picked up each tile and felt the raised edges and asked Iroh many questions about the rules. Iroh was glad that at least someone was interesting in learning how to play.

Toph wanted to be on Zuko's "team" – by which she meant take over playing from him. He let her do so happily. He scooted over to give her prime position in front of the board and came and sat by me. Toph and Iroh got quite into their game. Iroh had to repeatedly tell her what tiles were where and explain their properties to her many times, but Toph seemed to pick it up quickly. Toph loudly and happily declared at one point, after she had just made a particularly good move, that Pai Sho was easy! And she couldn't understand why Zuko struggled with it so much. Zuko gave her a Look.

Piandao chuckled said that he was glad that Toph thought so, after Iroh had spent so much commissioning that large… at that point Iroh tried to shush him but it was too late. Toph, like any kid who has been given a hint that a big extravagant present is heading their way, was most insistent on knowing what had been commissioned for her, and wheedled and asked and cajoled until eventually Iroh told her, because Piandao had ruined the surprise anyway.

Iroh had, through messenger hawk and Piandao while he was in Ba Sing Se, ordered a large stone Pai Sho set made up for Toph, from a nice geologist at the University of Ba Sing Se. It would be carved and raised and have different semi-precious stones for all the inlayed decorations – so Toph could better 'see' the game. Toph was exceptionally touched at the thought behind such a gift. Piandao – the surprise ruiner – said that Iroh had commissioned so many gifts for people, but he thought the Pai Sho set was the best. Iroh shushed him again.

Zuko raised an eyebrow and said Uncle….slowly. Uncle shrugged good naturedly and explained that he had a little spending/commissioning spree. But they had just won the war and everyone needed to do something life affirming- like shopping- in the immediate postwar aftermath. Besides Iroh had wanted to make sure that all of the war heroes got a very nice memento/thank you gift– that was only good manners. Wait did that mean one of the gifts was for me too? Iroh nodded. I got most curious and started enquiring about my own present, but Iroh was tight lipped – because enough surprises had been ruined already.

Zuko didn't want to know what he was getting. He wanted to know how much Uncle had spent on this commissioning/spending spree. Iroh wouldn't say. He did say that when Zuko got his presents, he would completely forget about the cost. Zuko very much doubted this and said he didn't need/want a present anyway. Iroh protested and said that he had wanted to get Zuko something fabulous for this birthday.

My interest was sparked. I hadn't really thought about Zuko's birthday. I should get him something really good. Something he'd really want, but would never get for himself. Something he'd use all the time. And maybe whenever he used it, he'd think of me. He'd got me such wonderful things for my present, he got me exactly what I needed. I wanted to do the same for him.

I asked when his birthday was excitedly and Iroh said very soon! I felt a bit worried and I think it must have shown on my face. Zuko got a bit embarrassed and told me it was ages away, in midwinter. But he didn't want his Uncle to get carried away and he really didn't want a fuss. Iroh made a very undignified pfft noise when Zuko said he didn't want a fuss. His birthday would be the new national holiday after all and so there was going to be tremendous fuss!

Zuko got a bit confused and said what? Are you making a new holiday after me? That then he started saying that he really didn't want that and it wasn't necessary. Now it was Iroh's turn to look confused. He said that he wouldn't be making a new holiday. The firelord's birthday had been celebrated in the firenation for hundreds of years, after all. Zuko said that his Uncle would be the next firelord, so the Firelord's birthday holiday would be in high summer, as usual. They both seemed confused by what the other was saying. Then something clicked for Iroh and he said excuse us, I have to have a little chat with Zuko. They got up and walked some distance away into the gardens, but we could all still hear them. Piandao started shuffling the Pai sho tiles, but he also stayed with us and listened. I was gratified to see that Piandao was another unabashed eavesdropper.

Zuko was most confused, he said that his Uncle was going to be the next firelord. He was already doing all the firelord stuff right now. And he really didn't appreciate his Uncle's little joke about national holidays. Iroh sighed and said he wasn't joking. Zuko said he must be. Iroh said that surely this shouldn't come as a surprise to Zuko. He had agreed to be firelord back at camp old people after all. Zuko said that he had thought his Uncle was wrong then, but thought they would have an opportunity to talk about it later. But they never talked about it, because Uncle just strode in and started fixing everything after Zuko got shot and couldn't Uncle see that was the way it was meant to be. He was meant to be firelord now, not Zuko.

Uncle said that he had only done all that because Zuko was injured. He never thought that Zuko would think that Iroh was trying to take over what was rightfully his position. Zuko said that it was rightfully Iroh's position and even if it wasn't he would want Iroh to take over, because Zuko sure as hell wasn't ready to be firelord.

Uncle said that ready or not, Zuko had to do this. If there was to be any hope of peace, Zuko would have to do this. The various provinces in the earth kingdom had made it abundantly clear that they would never consider making peace with Iroh. Iroh was called the dragon of the west for a reason. He had successfully run campaign after campaign in the earth kingdom. Much blood had been spilled because of Iroh and he would never be free of that legacy. It haunted all his actions and every act of diplomacy would be affected by it. But Zuko was young, he was untainted by all that. The various provinces would not be opposed to making peace with him.

Zuko vehemently disagreed. He said that Uncle might have done…all that when he was younger, but he was different now and he could make people see that. They shouldn't decided who would be firelord, soley based on what the other nations thought. What about the firenation? The firenation needed someone like Iroh in charge. The firenation needed someone who knew what they were doing.

The firenation needed a strong leader, and Zuko was still recovering and wasn't feeling too strong these days. He started saying that he was stupid at politics and would be even more useless at diplomacy and worthless at negotiations and his Uncle was being ridiculous. I hated hearing him talk about himself like that. Stupid, useless, worthless. I realized with a start that Zuko was using the words that Ozai had used to describe him, when we took him out of the airship. I don't know if he was doing this unconsciously or not, but it broke my heart to hear it all the same.

It seemed to have a similar affect on Iroh, hearing Zuko talk like that. He reached forward and grabbed Zuko by the shoulders and seemed torn between shaking him and hugging him. He settled for saying very intently you listen to me good Zuko! You are not stupid! You are not useless! And you are not worthless! And you are going to be a wonderful firelord! This was evidently not what Zuko wanted to hear because he shook his Uncle off and said he couldn't talk to him right now, because Uncle wasn't even listening to him. And he stormed off in high dudgeon.

I instantly got up to go after him, but Piandao reached out and put his arm in front of me and stopped me. He said that he knew that Zuko probably just needed a little bit of time now. I disagreed in my head, but I felt that it would be churlish to say this to Piandao and so I sat back down with some disgruntlement.

-?-

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Lovely wonderful readers! If you have read this enormous chapter then huge thanks to you! If you plan on leaving a review for this one, then giant enormous thanks with a cherry on top for you. Four cherries for you glen coco, you go glen coco!

So the primary purpose of this chapter was to fill in a few more holes and establish a few things and naturally YMMV on anything and everything. One of the things I wanted to address was Ty Lee and the Kyoshi warriors. So Suki forgives Ty Lee enough to take her under her wing and let her into the warriors? Hhhmmm. At first this surprised me, but then on thinking about it, I came up with some fanwank. Suki has come to the realization that she cannot hold on to these grudges, maintain her dislike for the firenation, if there is to be lasting peace. Also, how can you maintain a dislike for someone so…pink and cuddly. anyway I do think that this shift in attitude would be crucial if the peace between the nations is going to last.

However the decision to make Ty Lee a Kyoshi warrior surprised me on another front as well. I firmly believe that Ty Lee is an untrained airbender, for a start. She looks very ethnically similar to Aang (similar face, same colour/shaped eyes). She also can do things that I think only someone with at least airbending potential could do eg. jumping atop that giant statue in the crossroads of destiny. I thought that a reveal that she was an untrained airbender, or had airbender heritage would have been in the final. Benefits are many - Aang wouldn't be the OMG last airbender and that in itself is a more hopeful ending, because it implies that there could be more people like Ty Lee out there, who have airbending potential, but don't know it. Also I think it would make sense for Ty, story-telling wise.

Ty Lee is a bit of a nomad who wants to stand out and being one of only two airbenders would definitely achieve that for her. One of the key things that drives Ty Lee is her desire to stand out and be noticed and get attention. She wants to differentiate herself from her sisters. However the Kyoshi warriors all dress alike and do their make-up alike and try to look as homogenous as possible. They are very much like a matched set. It just surprised me that Ty Lee would choose that for herself, because that was the one thing she was very intent on escaping. So my theory is that this is not a permament binding decision. Ty Lee will go through a time of searching, now that she no longer has Azula to follow. she will try out a few other things.

At first she might look for another equally strong personality to give her guidance – like Suki. I think Suki would be a good role model for Ty Lee and would help her turn her life around. I do think Ty Lee is mostly a good person, she is just very easily led/bowed by Azula's fierceness. Anyway I think after some time with the warriors and some time spent finding her feet and finding out who she is without Azula will be good for Ty Lee. However, ultimately she will choose something different for herself (and I have a good idea what that will be – but you will have to wait).

I also think that despite everything, Ty Lee would still care for Azula, in a confused and hopeless way. They have been friends a very long time. I think Mai would be much more stern and unforgiving of Azula initially, but Ty Lee has a more forgiving heart and just oozes sunshine and rainbows anyway and I just can't see her holding a grudge. Azula had been absent for these last few chapters, but both Zuko and Ty Lee are thinking about her and do want to see her. Also Ming has been given a big "promotion" if you want to call it that. Iroh would have offered her the job of being in charge of guarding Azula, with lots of perks and a big salary increase. However it will be hard for Ming to leave this job/take time away from the firenation and this will factor into her and Bato's new burgeoning relationship. Anyway we will see how Ming and Azula interact and how Azula will react to both Zuko and Ty Lee in later chapters.

So Katara gets to vent about the menfolk in her tribe to like-minded girls and this would have been very therapeutic for her. Suki suggests she talk to Hakoda about all this because Hakoda is chief after all. Suki hypothesizes that because Katara is one of them (the chief's daughter in fact) her words will have more sway than Kyoshi arsekicking. I think the ingrained patriarchal attitudes in the water-tribes would need to be addressed on a few different fronts, so just arse kicking will not be sufficient. I also think it would be nice for Katara to know that Sokka backs her up completely in this matter. I think Sokka has grown over the series and has come to see it totally Katara's way. However he has also experienced feeling invisible and inferior in comparison to her. So I thought it would be a nice moment for them, because Katara gets to reaffirm his importance to her and how much his opinion matters.

Also Katara has a talent for speech making and especially making speeches off the cuff. She practices a speech for Zuko that she just pulls out of thin air and he is most impressed by this ability. Now that everybody is back and every house is just full of people, it is going to be much harder for Katara and Zuko to get time together, just the two of them. And this is something that they will both be conscious of. However they will both find sneaky ways/excuses for being with the other.

Hakoda is a bit uncertain what is going on with them. He did want to ask Katara first, after he got conflicting messages from Toph and Suki. However, after talking to her, he is just as confused as ever. He's a worried dad, and there is a lot of she is his little girl and he's not ready for her to be doing all these grown up things involved in his worry. But more than that, as his daughter she has a position in the tribe and he would have a more realistic grasp of how the tribe will react to Katara being romantically involved with an outsider, especially someone from the firenation. The water tribes are very insular after all, and the firenation has been their enemy for over a century. It would not go over well.

Also I think Hakoda would harbor some resentment to the firenation as a whole, for the loss of his wife/all the raids/loss of prestige of the southern water tribe (at one point it was a city to rival the northern water tribe after all). He likes individuals from the firenation, but is a little wary about the firenation, on the whole. I mean he likes Zuko and Iroh and Chit Sang well enough. His attitude is nothing against them as people. He really gets along with Iroh and has great appreciation for Zuko and worked together with Chit Sang for months. But all the same, he would still not be eager for Katara to have a romantic attachment to anyone from the firenation. I also think he would be much more particular about who Katara got involved with romantically, as opposed to Sokka's choice of partner.

Hakoda's attitude will change with time, but right now he has a very understandable wariness of the firenation. I think this attitude will be quite common and would probably be the mildest reaction to the coming peace. I think there will be many, like Jet, who will want revenge as well as peace. Everybody in the other nations wants peace, but I think few people would be willing to outright trust the firenation/Zuko and Iroh straight out. There has been 100 years of war after all and that will leave many people feeling a bit resentful and a bit wary of a once-aggressor declaring that the war is over, simply because they have decided to stop attacking at this point.

So Hakoda feels a lot of wariness towards any fire/water coupling at this point. He doesn't yet know about Bato and Ming – Bato is keeping schtum on that point and Katara will keep his secret for him too (though they will have a conversation about it later). In the firenation however, I think there would be a lot of fascination with Watertribe people. They are very exotic and good looking and so different! I think that would be eroticized and fetishised up to a point and I used Ty Lee's rather superficial desire for anyone from the water tribes to demonstrate this.

There is a big party at the water tribe house, this chapter – which we don't get to see much of because Katara doesn't attend. I actually think it would have been a bit of a boys only party anyway, and that is also part of the reason why Toph doesn't go. I think it would have been a spur of the moment thing. Iroh and Hakoda would have checked out the cellar at the villa and been impressed with the vast array of booze. They would have procured a few bottles and things would have gone from there. I think Iroh is a bit of a party animal actually and can make a party wherever he goes. He is a wily, wicked man. Anyway this night would have been full of drunken shenanigans and revelry and much fun would have been had by all. it is the water tribe warriors first night of freedom after months of imprisonment, and so they want to do some celebrating.

Aang also gets drunk for the first time in this chapter. He would have gone with the menfolk, who are all fascinated by him because of his avatar status and would have been giving him lots of positive re-enforcement. He would have been bemoaning his problems with Katara. I think that in the water tribe, booze of some description would have been used as a cure for women trouble. So Aang would have told them all about his problems with Katara (Aang isn't shy about his feelings – remember how he told all the prisoners his tale of lady-woe in the Avatar day episode.) One of the warriors would have said something like I know what will make you feel better and would have offered Aang some whiskey. And Aang is willing to try anything once and would have exceptionally low alcohol tolerance to begin with. And so the poor little guy spends most of this chapter disgusting hungover. Katara would feel sorry for him, in his sad hungover panda state and she tends to him. She still wants to have a serious talk with him, but Aang thinks that everything is instantly better, because Katara is mothering him again.

There is a little moment with Toph and Zuko in this chapter. I think that Toph would still be disturbed by being held hostage by Ozai and would be having a few nightmares about it. She never likes to admit weakness and would have been very private about this. She would have told Sokka at one point, in private, and he would have hugged her and told her that Ozai can't get her now, because he is locked away. Toph also tells herself this, but it doesn't help. It implies that Ozai cannot get her because he is locked away – and that is not confronting the fear, but containing it. Also Sokka would have fussed a bit and tried to be all comforting and Toph wouldn't want that sort of fuss and so she would have dropped the subject with him.

She has been trying to work up to telling Zuko all night. She doesn't really want to go to sleep and has cajoled him into reading love amongst the dragons to her. She wants to hang out with him anyway, and she reckons that he would be better able to understand what it is like to be scared of Ozai. Zuko originally goes the Sokka route and says that Ozai is locked up, so she doesn't need to be scared. But then he gives her some much better advice. He points out her own skill and abilities and how she beat him all on her own, even when she was scared. This is a much more empowering message for Toph. He is reassuring her of her own prowess, rather than Ozai's imprisonment. The imprisonment is something that Toph has no control over, but her own prowess is always in her own hands. If she ever encounters Ozai again, she has the ability to beat the crap out of him, and that is why she shouldn't be scared of him- not because he is locked up. Toph needed to hear something like this, more than she needed well-meaning, comforting platitudes.

I also think that Zuko himself needs to hear something like this himself, but saying it to Toph would have helped him too. I think that Zuko has been quite traumatized by Ozai and would have nightmares about him too. When Toph was saying how he seemed so big and bad and powerful, that would have been exactly how little Zuko would have felt in the Agni Kai arena and that would have touched a nerve for him. Toph was able to overcome her monster straight away, but Zuko wasn't.

I think that Zuko is trying to put Ozai and his childhood behind him. But he has still internalized a lot of what he heard and what happened to him as a kid. I think Ozai's lasting legacy for Zuko will be his negative self image. In many ways Zuko acts so proud and so full of bluster to better hide how insecure he feels. I think that Zuko would have been called stupid, useless, worthless a fair bit as a kid. In the avatar state, he confesses to Iroh that he only really wants his father not to see him as worthless – that phrase didn't come the Agni Kai, it came from years of being put down in such a fashion. When Iroh tells him he will have to be firelord, he immediately brings up all the different ways his father told him he was incapable, and it breaks Iroh's heart to hear it. However, I think it also shows how much Trust Zuko has in his Uncle, to be able to say such things so openly and honestly to him.

They have an argument here over who should be firelord. This whole time Zuko has thought that Iroh would be firelord, because he is essentially acting firelord at the moment, while Iroh has thought that he was simply holding down the fort/easing Zuko's way. That was why Uncle was so insistent that Zuko attend the interviews and get to know his future staff. Uncle was starting to try and ease Zuko into the responsibilities of firelord. Zuko would have agreed to go along eventually, so that he could help in the selection process for Azula's guards. I think that Zuko would definitely want her watched properly, but he would also want her to be taken care of by kind people. He would not have guessed at Uncle's ulterior motive and Uncle would not even know that this would be considered an ulterior motive.

Then of course, Uncle had a bit too much fun the night before and Zuko has to take over the bulk of the interviews anyway. I think Zuko would have a big sense of responsibility, and after he has agreed to do something, he fully intends to do it, and he would want to do it properly. Toph is there to make sure that people are honestly answering the questions and do not intend to harm Zuko or Iroh. She likes her unique skill set being acknowledged and being so useful to them.

Except in the case of Li and Lo. Both Toph and Zuko wish they could have some sort of ear bleach after that interview. Li and Lo would have flirted with Iroh in a shameless fashion and there would have been one cheeky double entendre too many for Toph and Zuko. I think Iroh had a lot of fun with the twins in his younger days – but the young'uns don't want to hear about it now. Li and Lo didn't get their old jobs back because Zuko doesn't really have much need of them, not because they were perverts. They were Azula's advisors, and were much more involved with her, than anything else. There isn't really a position for them now, because Zuko would not want them to announce it dramatically every time he enters a room – which appeared to be one of their chief responsibilities for Azula. But they have served the royal family loyally for years and so he would have offered them a very generous retirement package. And now they can retire to Ember Island and have all their aches smoothed away etc. They would have been the first people that Zuko would have had to 'fire' so to speak. He would have been nervous, but they would have taken it very well. I think they were probably a bit shaken by all the shenanigans when Azula was firelord, and would be more than happy to take a generous retirement package and a life of peace and no royal hassles.

Anyway, I actually do not think Zuko is emotionally ready at the end of season three to be firelord – but he's going to get pushed into it anyway. I firmly think that Iroh has to stay with him and help him out – because Zuko does not know how to drive this thing yet, but his desire to make tea and play Pai Sho all day will come up.

Iroh has also spent a small fortune on buy/commissioning presents for everyone. Iroh is a shopper who now has access to the riches of the firenation again. so some shopping sprees were always going to happen after all. I think Iroh is a very gracious man, and is deeply indebted to the Gaang for all that they did in ending the war – so everyone is going to get a lavish gift, as a sigh of Iroh's thanks. Toph is getting a personalized stone pai sho set. She would have expressed some interest in the game, back at camp old people, but said it would have been hard for her to play because she couldn't 'see' the game very well. Iroh, who is determined to spread the pai sho love to everyone he meets, would have set about remedying this.

He has also ordered an extravagant amount of presents for Zuko's birthday. Zuko's first birthday as firelord is going to be an EVENT, no matter what Zuko says about the matter. I actually think that Zuko would hate the fuss and attention of a big birthday parties. He feels self conscious with a lot of attention anyway. He, in direct opposition to his Uncle, hates parties and is very socially awkward at them. His Uncle on the other hand, will want the whole shebang – he'll want the best of everything for Zuko and they will have many adorable arguments about this. I think Iroh and Zuko are hilarious together – with Zuko being the straight man to Iroh's more out there personality. All their bickering in this chapter is filled with love. Zuko actually wouldn't mix the white dragon bush tea with the cheap and nasty stuff – but he knows that this will get his Uncle moving. However, their argument over who will be firelord is much more serious than any shenanigans involving tea and it will continue on into the next chapter.

Til then lovely readers….