Disclaimer - I do not own Avatar The Last Air Bender.

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Chapter 13 – Happy Birthday

Aang held a warm cup of tea in his hands. Iroh's suite was simple yet held much memorabilia of his travels. Zuko didn't bother touching his tea. Aang couldn't help but notice how similar he and Azula were acting.

"Aang, how long will you be in Ba Sing Se?" Iroh asked.

"Oh about three weeks and then I'll be back. Depending on how the citizens of Ba Sing Se receive Bingwen, I might have to go back here and there." Aang said absent-mindedly. He was still staring at Zuko.

"I believe you made the right choice in appointing the throne to Bingwen. He is an Earth Kingdom citizen and is from a popular royal family," Iroh complemented.

"Thanks. Um since the three of us are together, I have questions about Azula," Aang ventured.

Iroh and Zuko gave each other a look. "What kind of questions?" Zuko asked.

"Well, she's acting distant and not speaking much."

Zuko snorted, "Sounds like typical Azula to me."

Aang frowned, "She's never this quiet Zuko. She would kill me if I told you, but back at the Air Temple she almost begged to come back to the palace. She said she didn't want to go to the Earth Kingdom, she wanted to see you."

"She did?" Zuko asked surprised.

Aang nodded, "Do you have any idea what's going on?"

Zuko was quiet. When it was clear he wasn't going to say anything, Iroh decided to explain to Aang. "Aang next week is Ursa's birthday. I believe this is the first time Zuko and Azula will spend it together since Zuko was banished."

"I'm sorry, Zuko. I didn't know." Aang offered.

"It's not your fault. Aang, I'll talk to Azula," Zuko said.

"Thanks Zuko. I'm just not sure how to help her."

Zuko looked at his friend with seriousness, "You can't Aang."

Zuko sat in his private study. It had taken a lot of reassuring and then a threat of physical harm to get rid of Aang. Zuko knew his friend meant well but there were some things not even the Avatar could help Azula with. He didn't think their mother's birthday would have any effect on Azula. Before his banishment, she had never acknowledged that day as anything special.

Zuko wasn't sure what to do or say to his sister. He realized he hadn't been the best brother to her. Azula had lived in the palace for almost a year now and their relationship had improved. Yet a small part of him was still afraid of her. He wasn't the insecure teenager he had been in the past, but he knew how hard it would be to defeat her in a fight.

He shook his head. Those thoughts weren't going to help him now. He decided to visit his little sister.

Azula sat on a love seat reading a book from her private library. She always missed the palace when she was on her travels with the Avatar. It was great seeing new cities but the palace would always be her home. Here she had her room the way she liked it, her courtyard, the gardens, and the chief who remembered Azula's favorite snack, plum dumplings. Most importantly, she now had a real family. Granted, her relationship with Zuko could improve, but she had Kanbe, Mai, Uncle Iroh and Aang.

She heard a knock on the door and sighed at being interrupted. When she opened the door, Zuko didn't wait to be invited in. "Why don't you just walk right in, Fire Lord?"

Zuko rolled his eyes, "Why waste time?"

Azula gave him a fake smile, "Okay then. What do you want?"

"Aang said you haven't acted like yourself lately."

"The Avatar had a big mouth," Azula said coldly.

"Does it have anything to do with Mother's birthday?"

Azula was about to deny it but instead kept her mouth closed. She narrowed her eyes at her brother.

Zuko sighed, "Talk to me Azula."

Azula sank into the loveseat. She crossed her arms, "This is the first time I can't ignore Mother's birthday." She didn't enjoy opening up to Zuko, but he was the only person who would understand.

Zuko sat across from her, "What do you mean?"

"After she left, Father never let me honor her birthday. He always kept me so busy. When I was in the asylum I don't remember keeping track of days. This is the first time since she left that I've been able to think about her," Azula told him. She felt her emotions rising.

Zuko wasn't sure what to say. He saw Azula fighting to keep her emotions under control. He stood up and sat next to her.

"Zuko, what really happened to Mother?" Azula asked quietly.

He shook his head, "I don't know Azula. I've asked Father and he never told me. I've sent out trusted men across the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom to look for clues but it's like she disappeared into thin air."

Azula searched his golden eyes, the most prominent physical characteristic they shared. "Do you think she's still alive?"

"I hope so," Zuko choked on the words.

A sob caught in Azula's throat. Zuko took her in his arms and held her close. She let herself cry on his chest. She didn't say anything when she felt hot tears on the top of her head. The royal siblings didn't just cry for their lost mother. They cried for their lost childhood, their lost relationships. But despite all they had lost, they had finally found each other.

Azula walked quietly to her mother's garden. It was almost sunset. She pulled her coat closer to her. Soon it would be spring, but the air was still crispy cold. She could see Zuko sitting on a bench with his tsungi horn. "You can still play that thing?"

Zuko retorted, "Can you still sing?"

Azula rolled her eyes, "Better than you can play."

"Yeah right. Um, Azula, thanks for doing this with me." Zuko said.

Azula rubbed her hands together for warmth, "This stays between us, Zuko."

Zuko nodded, "Of course."

Zuko began to play his tsungi horn as Azula started to sing. It had been a long time since they used the talent their mother taught them. It was hard at first but neither one of them felt sad anymore.

It had taken three weeks, but Ba Sing Se officially had a new king. Aang was happy to have helped Bingwen but he was even happier that he was going home tomorrow night.

Aang was snapped out of his thoughts by King Aarn, "Sorry could you repeat that?"

"I said it's too bad Princess Azula couldn't be here," Aarn repeated.

"It's going to be a while before Ba Sing Se is ready for a visit from Azula," Aang replied.

Aarn smiled, "It will be sooner than you think. Will you be returning to the Fire Nation tomorrow or the Northern Air Temple?"

"The Fire Nation. I have a lot of work to catch up on," Aang answered while trying to hide a yawn.

Aarn gave him a mischievous smile, "You know Avatar Aang, it has been a long three weeks. Bingwen and I are very grateful for all the work you have done."

Aang nodded, "It's been my pleasure."

"Yes, well I don't think anyone would notice with all the festivities going on if a guest were to leave early. Besides it's such a lovely night, a walk around the stables would be a great way to clear one's mind," Aarn hinted.

Aang smiled, "Thank you. Please give my best to Bingwen."

"Of course, Avatar." Aarn replied.

Aang decided to take that walk around the stables and say goodnight to Appa. He was surprised to find Appa well rested and packed. "What's going on boy?"

Appa grunted and moved his head to the left. Aang noticed a note tired on Appa's horn. He quickly untied it and read.

Avatar Aang, I hope you don't find it forward of me to have your things packed and your flying bison ready for the journey back to the Fire Nation. But to be honest my friend you have been so distracted these last two days I figured the sooner you are with your Princess the better. Please say hello to Azula on my behalf.

- Aarn

Aang chuckled, "Appa, yip yip!"

Azula and Mai stood in Azula's living room with dozens of fabrics laid out before them. The dinning room table held what looked like a hundred different flower arrangements. "None of these are right."

"You said that about the last fifty fabrics," Mai said with boredom.

"That's because they were all wrong. Why is it so difficult to mix red, orange and yellow?" Azula sighed.

"Don't look to me for help. My wedding was planned by my mother," Mai stated.

Azula shot Mari a dirty look, "Maybe I'll have Uncle do this. He's always enjoyed this sort of thing." She looked down when she felt Kanbe tug at her pants. She scooped him in her arms and turned back to look at the maids, "Pack these away."

As the maids buzzed around the room taking everything away, Aang opened the door. His eyes met Azula's and he quickly walked towards her. "Avatar, you're back."

Aang smiled at them, "What's all this?"

"Azula wanted to get started on the wedding planning, but it seems we are in over our heads, "Mai explained as she took Kanbe from Azula.

Aang frowned, "I'm not going to have to help, am I?"

Azula rolled her eyes, "No. I think Uncle will probably end up planning this. I have no patience for it."

Mai didn't miss how her friends' intense gazes. "It's time for Kanbe's nap. I'll see you two at dinner," she said before walking out.

Aang took Azula's hand and led her to their bedroom. He wanted nothing more than to tear off her clothes but he knew they needed to talk first. "Azula, are you feeling better?"

Azula snorted, "Yes, thank you for sending Zuko to check on me."

Aang sighed, "I was worried about you. I thought Zuko might be the only one who would be able to help you."

Azula put her arms around him, "You were right to send Zuko."

"Is that all am I going to get out of you?" Aang asked with a smile.

"No," Azula said as she kissed his neck. Aang let out a low moan as he worked to remove her clothes.

"Nothing like a nice cup of tea after dinner," Iroh sighed happily.

"We had tea during the dinner Uncle", Azula reminded him.

"Yes but this is after dinner jasmine tea," Iroh explained.

"It's still just leaf juice," Zuko remarked.

"I hope Kanbe inherits you're wonderful personality Zuzu," Azula said sarcastically.

"Better mine than yours," he shot back.

"Both of you stop it right now. Acting like children at your age," Iroh scolded.

"Sorry," the siblings said at the same time.

Aang and Mai exchanged knowing looks. "Hey Azula, why don't you tell your Uncle what you and Mai were trying to do this morning."

Azula gave Aang a dirty look, "It was nothing."

"They were trying to start planning the wedding but it seems it was over their heads," Aang explained.

Zuko laughed, "But you two are girls. This should be fun for you."

Iroh and Aang gave each other "uh oh" looks. Mai turned to face her husband, "Excuse me? This should be fun because we are girls?"

"Well yeah. Wedding planning is all shopping, flowers, and "Oh you look beautiful! No you look beautiful!'" Zuko stupidly said.

"Um Zuko, stop while you're ahead," Aang suggested.

"Ignore him ladies. What was the problem with the wedding planning?" Iroh asked.

"Azula wants to combine Air Nation and Fire Nation colors, food, and the such but was wasn't sure how to do it," Mai offered.

Aang looked at Azula, "You do?"

Azula nodded, "Yes but it's harder than I anticipated. Mai was supposed to help but she wasn't very good."

Mai shrugged, "I told you, my mother handled all the details for our wedding."

"You know, I helped plan your parents' wedding. If you need help Azula, I'd be happy to," Iroh offered cheerfully. His mind was going a mile a minute, ideas forming into plans.

"Thank you, Uncle. I would greatly appreciate that." Azula said gratefully. She wanted to breathe a sigh of relief. Knowing her uncle, she would probably just have to show up.

Later that night, Aang held Azula in his arms. She was quietly sleeping but sleep was eluding him. The past few nights had been the same. He couldn't explain why, but he felt uneasy. It didn't make sense. The world was at peace; even his personal life was at peace. He took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. He would just have to wait and see what happened.