'They know. I know they do.'

'Will you keep it down already!'

'A burning- that's what treason get's ya you know!'

'Technically, you didn't do anything, all you've done is do what you were told.'

'Yer well, what I was told's been treason un' all.'

'Notes even happened, will you pipe down.'

'They must know. Her the way she is, him down and out every time something happens...'

'Aye?'

'Haven't you seen him? Right in the main corridor, out cold.'

'What's it got to do with the kid?'

'The fire's got to come from somewhere han't it!'

'All sounds a bit voodoo to me.'

'It does rather doesn't it' A chilling voice flooded the small room.

'Master Fo Chow.'

The two men threw themselves to the floor in a mark of respect.

'I always said trusting the peasants was too much risk. Too much gossip, you know.'

The single door to the room flew open behind him, two unmarked guards strode into the room, fists clenching and roaring.

They would soon arrive at Ember Island. The hot, salty air lashed harshly at Zuko's porcelain face. He aimed another fire blast into the ships furness below him and braced himself against the helm. His tired mind had taken about all that it could today, and was not yet midday. He shook his head lightly and focused himself on guiding the vessel through the vast expanse of ocean, towards the golden slither of coast that lay ahead on the horizon.

The boat was small and rather unnoticeable. Leaving the royal navy ship behind, Zuko wanted to leave as unnoticed as he could. Behind him, towards the back wall of the cabin, Miss Kanora and Mistress Yenna sat worriedly by an unconscious Katara, who lay slumped and unaware of the journey entirely. Zuko tried to keep focused on single handedly manning the boat, but could not stop the constant flicker back towards Tara. His head was blurred and tired, his stomach tied in knots; How has so much gone so wrong?

The rebellions, the uproar of nobles,His staff and subjects apparently turning against him, Katara...Katara.

The coast was fast approaching.

'We're almost there.' he declared. He sent another blast of fire roaring into the furness, he registered the small jump and flinch of Kanora behind him.

'Are you okay?' He glanced back to her. She looked startled and nodded frantically.

'Yes, My Lord Zuko. Yes, Thank you.' She busied herself, rearranging the woven shall around Katara's shoulders. Zuko released a controlled breath.

On reaching the shores of Ember island- the silence was somewhat disturbing. The usual Royal summer house, was located just off the north beach, where Zuko intended to stay was a remote place, a short walk from the south beach, that he and Katara had built a year into there marriage, somewhere that no one would know they were, where they didn't have to be Fire Lord and Lady, if only for a short while. The plan was fairly simple; Uncle Iroh was to step in and hold the dais whilst the Royal couple stayed on Ember Island until the birth of Ursa, along with Mistress Yenna and Northern Tribe healer, Kanora. Zuko knew that it was only a matter of time until he would be missed, until something leaked out of his disappearance, but to hell with them.

Uncharacteristically for a Fire Lord, he helped the two women to unload the luggage from the boat, which Yenna seemed most appalled at, and tutted wildly whenever he offered to take the heavier of the load. He ignored her of course and continued to lug Hessian bags of clothes, bedding and food into the small stilted house on the rocks. He at last returned for Katara. He crouched in front of her and ran his hand softly against her drained face. Swallowing hard he continued to scoop her from the makeshift bed on the cabin floor. It worried Zuko, how light she felt, he stood up tall, holding her cradled in his arms, with very little effort. He padded slowly down the jetty to the beach, watching the wind dance in Katara's hair, riffling through it's curls and sweeping across her serene face. A single bead of sweat began to cascade from her forehead, running smoothly down the contours of her slender face. Zuko subconsciously tightened his hold on her and made his way up to the house.

A knock rapped harshly on the metal door.

'Enter'

A bustle of grey and red uniform pushed it's way into the room, 'Fire Lord-... Formal General Iroh?'

'Ah Master Jun, My nephew was expecting you.' Iroh smiled warmly at the confused Financier. 'I am afraid that Fire Lord Zuko will not be attending our meeting today, and as such, has asked me to step in in his place. I trust that this will suffice?'

Jun declined in a small bow.

'I am afraid that it is not good news Former General Iroh. Really, I would need to speak with My Lord Zuko himself.' Jun spoke to the floor.

'I understand.' Iroh sat solemnly for a moment. 'I understand the turbulent times that we face. I have been council to my Nephew many a time during his rule. I understand the trust you, Master Jun, have placed on him. But his trust currently lays on me. He will not be consulting on this matter today.'

Jun seemed to understand something more than what was plainly said.

'Very well.' he conceded. 'Then we should begin. From the start.'

Katara's eyes slowly fluttered open.

'It's working already' Yenna beamed from the corner of the room.

A warm hand tightened around hers, a second cupping around her worn face and lightly stroking her cheek with a thumb, as she lay on her side on a shell patterned throw bed.

'Morning.' Zuko smiled almost tearfully from her bedside. Katara tried to speak, but found her mouth so dry and parched that the words wouldn't form. As if from nowhere a sphere of bright, clear water ebbed it way to her and beckoned for her to drink. Katara took to liquid gratefully, relishing in the cool trickle that escaped and trailed silently down her throat. The young healer at her side smiled, and drew the water back to the ornate glass from where it came.

Katara smiled meekly and then fell to a perplexed expression. She quickly glanced about the room,

'Where are we?' she asked.

'Ember Island.' Zuko answered her plainly.

'Are you okay?' she asked worriedly, frantically searching Zuko's face.

Yenna and Kanora glanced at each other silently and then proceeded to swiftly exit the room, leaving the couple for a few personal moments.

Zuko pressed her captured hand to his lips, ' I am okay.' He smiled 'Tara I'm fine. And you will be fine. I am going to look after you. I promise.' he stroked the back of her hand comfortingly as he spoke.

Katara's eye's suddenly lit up and her face fell blank, a flush a fear and panic washed over her. She remembered that night in the Royal Bed Chamber. Her blue eye's flooded with tears and her face crumbled. She fell forwards into Zuko's arms, who embraced her tightly against his chest. Katara sobbed into his robe, her shoulders jutting violently with every laboured breath.

'Oh Yue... Zuko... I-...'

'It's ok... it's ok...' Zuko bit back his own tears, resting his chin lightly atop of Katara's head. He felt her hands rummage around her night dress, frantically searching for their spot around her bump. She flinched as she ran her hand over the blazing scar beneath.

'Tara...' Zuko almost whispered. 'It's okay. She's safe... You're safe.'

The two stayed that way for sometime. Holding each other together, just breathing into one another.

'I'm so happy that you're awake.' Zuko stirred. 'I was so scared.' He absent mindedly toyed with the soft brown curls of her hair.

'I'm sorry.' she breathed simply, her face was streaked with tears, her eyes red and heavy.

'You are going to get stronger Tara. I promise.'

Katara sighed a gently smile. 'I can feel it.' she mused.

'What?' Zuko tilted his head awkwardly to look down to her. Katara shuffled to sit up more on the bed to see him.

'The push and pull. The ocean.' she smiled. Zuko followed her gazed towards the open, sliding door across the room. The scene outside was beautiful, it led out onto a small secluded beach, completely closed in by the surrounding cliffs. At most the tide would lap a good few meters away from the steps to the house, but for now it danced lazily half way in, roaring gently in the heat.

'Kanora's idea' He smiled,' She said that exposing you to a greater source of water might strike a better balance.'

'It's beautiful.' Katara smiled, more happily and genuinely than Zuko had seen her smile in the past few days.

'Get a grip.' Kanora hissed to herself as she shakily unpacked her supplies of brightly coloured bottles and specimens, containing a variety of herbal remedies and medicines. She stopped her trembling hand mid way to reaching for another glass bottle. She sighed heavily, screwing her eyes tight.

Yenna meanwhile, busied herself about the house. There were only a few rooms, compared with other royal households, but room enough and more for the four of them. Three bed rooms, with living areas, a communal seating area, a study (Largely used by Zuko) A dinning room and kitchen and a balcony to the back, which led out onto the beach. Yenna went about unpacking the supplies in the kitchen and fussing over the pots and pans that stayed in the house. Her cautious eyes kept flicking over to the trembling water healer.

'Are you okay my dear?' She asked politely.

After a big intake of breath Kanora smiled, 'Yes, thank you Mistress Yenna, I was just contemplating on where to unpack.'

'There are two guest rooms down the hall and to the left, take whichever you like.'

'Thank you, you are most kind.' Kanora bowed gently before scooping up all of her belongings and padding lightly down the hall. Yenna stared after her in amusement, puzzled.

Iroh sat calmly across the low table, facing Master Jun. The two men were not strangers to each other, they had met many times when Iroh had sat as council for Zuko, and Jun's Father acting as financier to the royal family before him, Iroh new well the protocol.

'Tell me Master Jun. Tell me what is imperative for Fire Lord Zuko to hear.' Iroh spoke very clearly and plainly, steadying himself for what was to come. Jun seemed to consider him a short while.

'Very well. The problem starts with the nations war debts. A fair amount of damages have been paid from the existing treasury, However, the damages to Ba Sing Se, Omashu and the Air Temples are not so easily forgotten, and we still are to pay a substantial amount.'

Iroh nodded.

'I understand. But surely no one expects that we can pay a hundred years of war off over night, it will unfortunately take time Master Jun.'

'I realise Former General Iroh, however, the citizens are our nation grow restless. Years of paying taxes they can hardly afford are wearing thin. The poor become poorer, tempers are flaring and rumours are spreading.'

'Rumours?'

' Some of the people are beginning to question My Lord Zuko's competence, or the need for a Fire Lord at all. There have been uprisings and riots, luckily so far, all of these occurrences have been outside of the crater, but now My Lord Zuko has set to increase the taxes of the noble families, I fear that this animosity has leaked.'

'My nephew is attempting to spread the load, to fairly handle to payment, to stop the poorest of our nations from losing everything- surely this can be recognised.'

'Please bare in mind Sir, that not all families are as loyal to My Lord Zuko as myself. Many families in the crater are still loyal to the old ruling, albeit quietly, but their alliances still lie against the dais.' Master faltered and fell silent. The room was so still between the two men, the even the fall of a gentle orange blossom in the court yards disturbed the silence of the moment.

'Continue' Iroh breathed.

'There are rumours of a rebellion Sir. But a rebellion from the noble families of the fire nation. I do not know their strength, nor quite their intentions. But the threat is real.' Jun's head dropped as he addressed the wooden carved table top.

'I see.' Iroh stared blankly for a moment before resting his eyes slowly closed.

'But there is more.' Jun's face grew gravely serious and sullen, and his eyes flicked upwards to meet the elder mans gaze firmly.

'There have been claims made amongst the courts, that the nation will not bow to a child of water heritage. Should the future heir be born with no element of fire, there will be action taken to overthrow the dais.'