A/N: More AU, I really like AU's okay? A little bittersweet, but with a potential happy (if open) ending. Less Zukaang than I'd like to admit, but it's there. This is something more in the world and character building side of things with romance as a side plot. Also, there might be a little, tiny bit of ship bashing... I couldn't help myself, LOL.

Warning/s: AU, OOC-ness, a little ship bashing

Day Five: Separation

Zuko bit his lip as the carriage made its way towards the palace. Peering through the window, he could see the citizens of the Fire Nation were busy in their own right, excited for the proclaimed "wedding of the year". Decorations were hung up and food was being prepared for the occasion. An occasion that Zuko had no say in. An occasion which he would rather avoid at all costs.

"Zuko, please stop biting your lip. I don't want you injuring yourself."

The young prince turned away from the carriage's window and looked at his mother, eyes apologetic. "Sorry Mother," he said, fiddling with his fingers. "I'm just nervous."

Ursa reached over to still her son's fidgeting hands, but she gripped them tight to show her empathy. "I understand Zuko," she said, eyes showing the truth of her statement. "My marriage towards your father wasn't easy and I was practically a wreck on my wedding day. But remember this; you're doing this for your country, for your kingdom, and it is your duty as the prince to go through with it."

Zuko grimaced at the reminder. "But Mother..." he took a shuddering breath. "What if I don't want to go through with this? It's... I don't want to marry! I'm still young! I still have things I want to do! And why do I have to marry Mai? I barely know her!"

The Fire Lady frowned at her son's outburst. Those statements were true, she saw that, but Zuko was hiding something else. There was another reason why he didn't want to go through with this.

"I know this is hard Zuko..." she started, but was stopped by Zuko.

"No, I don't think you do Mother," Zuko exclaimed, looking almost hysterical now that he took the chance to get everything he was holding close off of his chest. "You told me about your betrothal to Father, but at least you grew up knowing what you were getting into! You and Father had years to know each other, cold as your relationship was. Me? I had been away from the Fire Nation for years, I have seen way too much, and now that I'm back I'm suddenly getting roped into a last minute wedding?!" Zuko laughed and Ursa's heart broke a how defeated it sounded. "I hardly even remember Mai! She was more Azula's little lackey than my acquaintance! I still just see her as that shy little girl with the buns in her hair and my most prominent memory of her was her falling into the fountain when you and I walked by that one time." Again, Zuko took a deep breath, this one more steady. "I just don't understand why this is happening; this wedding, this war, this everything! I just..."

Not having survived a marriage to a Fire Lord for nothing, Ursa latched onto the small statement that silently screamed a thousand words. "Zuko... what do you mean 'this war'? What are you hiding?"

Zuko gulped and looked up at his mother, eyes pleading and haggard and so, so tired that Ursa had to fight to keep her tears from falling. This is not how she wanted to see her son, after so many years of waiting for him to come back. Silently, she cursed Ozai and his ancestors.

"I've seen so many things Mother," Zuko said hoarsely. "I've seen how the war took it's toll on the other nations. The oppression, the deaths, families being separated. It's not... it's not right Mother. Everybody fears and hates us. I don't like it. It's just wrong Mother."

If Ursa's heart sank when she saw her son looking so defeated, it now lifted in joy a her son's words. Letting out a cry of delight, she wrapped her arms around Zuko, pulling him into a rare embrace. Vaguely she felt herself mourning for the happy little boy her son once was but she was also proud of how he grew up into a strong, handsome man. And now that she heard his words about the war, she can finally, finally, confess some things to him. She had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.

"Mother?" Zuko asked tentatively, his hands awkwardly patting her back.

"Oh Zuko!" Ursa exclaimed, pulling back and holding her son's scarred face. "Zuko, oh, my son. You have no idea how proud you've made me!" At Zuko's look of confusion, Ursa shook her head. "I'll tell you later, we have some time before we get to the palace." Thank goodness no one was able to hear or see them in their carriage, not even their driver. It would have made a huge mess of things. "But first, tell me the real reason why you don't want this wedding to take place." At that, Zuko's face flushed red and, with a mother's intuition, Ursa knew exactly the reason why. "Is it a girl, Zuko?"

The young prince shook his head slightly, eyes downcast and expression of open nervousness. Ursa was glad that her son was less adept at hiding his emotions than Azula was.

"Not a girl," Zuko said quietly, peeking up through his eyelashes nervously, "but a boy..."

Ursa's mouth fell open, then morphed into an "o" of surprise and understanding. "Oh..." she drew out, sitting back in her seat. "Well... that is a predicament."

"That's not all."

"Oh?"

"His name is Aang... and he's the Avatar..."

It was only due to years as being a princess and Fire Lady that prevented Ursa from slumping over in shock. She was not expecting that at all! Her mother's intuition must be more than a bit rusty after all these years of not seeing her son.

"Well then," Ursa started, her mind reeling. "That's certainly unexpected Zuko. Not that I'm against it, just surprised."

A tentative light of hope shone in Zuko's golden eyes and it made Ursa's heart soar in joy.

"You mean you're not mad?" Zuko asked.

"Of you being in love with a boy? And the Avatar at that?" At Zuko's nod, Ursa smiled, a little giddy at seeing her son so insecure, almost just like when he was a child. "Zuko, you are my son and I will accept you no matter who you love or what you do. Granted that doesn't mean I won't call you out on your wrongdoings, but you get my point."

Zuko laughed and it was like a balm on Ursa's soul. "Yeah, I get it. Thank you Mother, for understanding."

Ursa smiled wider and patted her son's cheek. They fell into a comfortable silence as the carriage rocked and slowed to a stop. Curious, Zuko opened the window and peeked out to see what was the delay. Just a few feet down the road he saw that a couple of fruit carts had been tipped over, the fruit scattering across the ground and barring the way to the palace. The driver was yelling at the merchants for their incompetence, which Zuko quickly put to a stop. He ordered the driver to help the merchants gather up the fruits before pulling his head back into the carriage with a sigh.

"Looks like we'll be here for a little while Mother," he said, crossing his arms and legs as he sat back.

"That's good," Ursa replied. "It gives me more time to confess the things that I have been hiding from not only you, but your father as well."

Zuko turned to blink at his mother, a little surprised at the turn of events. Still, he guessed that he should have seen this coming, considering how his mother reacted to his confession of being in love with the Avatar. Whatever his mother had to say to him, he knew that he can trust her.

"There's also the wedding," Ursa stated worriedly, her lips pulling down into a frown. "What are you going to do about that Zuko?"

At the reminder of the daunting event on the horizon, Zuko sighed and turned to look out of the carriage window once more. "I don't know," he confessed, feeling sad and defeated. His eyes roamed the citizens dawdling outside, his lips twisting as just how much they were ignorant of the events happening outside of the country. Well, they do say that ignorance is bliss and...

A figure caught Zuko's eyes, which narrowed in suspicion. The figure was half hidden between two buildings and he – considering the muscular build – was cloaked with the hood pulled up to hide his face in shadow. Zuko leaned closer to the window, trying to identify the figure in any way, but he gasped when the figure tilted his head up, revealing all too familiar silver eyes that shone with love and determination when they met Zuko's golden ones.

Zuko suddenly knew why those fruit carts had tipped over.

"Zuko? Is something the matter?" Ursa's voice rang out.

As Zuko shook his head in answer to his mother's question, he watched Aang gave him a reassuring smile and nod before the Avatar ducked into the alley, hiding away from sight once again. Hope filled Zuko's chest, stronger than ever before, and so many possibilities rushed through his mind. He wasn't feeling so trapped any more and it was such a weight off of his shoulders.

"Actually Mother," he said slowly, turning to look at Ursa as a smile grew on his face. "I think everything's going to turn out all right."

Everything is definitely going to turn out all right.