Sam

The next morning I got up and got the children ready for school. I got Izumi up and helped her get dressed. Nan helped Chang which was an immense help. It was a lot of work getting both girls up and dressed. The girls were ready and Chang came out of the bedroom with her toy.

"Chang, I think you should leave that here, sweetie." I said. Chang clutched her toy tightly.

"But I want him to see what school is like! He has a lot to learn!" she said which I chuckled at but I stood my ground.

"I think he has learned everything a turtleduck needs to know. How about we let him take a nap on your bed while you're gone?" I suggested.

"No! I want him to come with me!" she said. I was tempted to let her take the toy with her but we didn't let Izumi take her toys to school and I didn't think that it would be fair to allow Chang to.

"Yes, Chang. I promise, he will be here when you get back. You can't take him." With that she started to cry. Ugh, I hated it when the kids did this. I felt like a horrible person. "I know it's hard, hunny but we don't want him to get all dirty do we?" I said. Then I tilted my head and brought my ear down to the toy's mouth. "Oh? Is that so? Are you sure? Alright, I'll tell her." I said and stood back up. "Chang, he says that he was up all night watching over you that he is very tired and wants to sleep. How about we let him sleep while you're at school?" I suggested. Chang deliberated for a moment and reluctantly handed me the toy. "Come with me, Chang." I said. I lead her into her bedroom and I laid the toy under the blankets and tucked it in like Zuko did with Chang. Then I leaned down and kissed the turtleduck over and over again. Chang giggled. "Alright, now he is sleeping. Let's get you to school now, ok?" I said holding my hand out to Chang. She took my hand and I led her out of the room. I held my other hand out to Izumi and she was pouting too. "Izumi? What's wrong?"

"Nothing." she said, curtly. I looked at her disapprovingly and she tried again, "I'm ok, Mommy. Let's just go." I knew it wasn't true but we couldn't discuss it now. I took the girls to the steps and Geshna met us and took the girls to school. After I sent them off I headed to our office. Part way there a guard came rushing towards me.

"Your majesty!" he called out. I stopped and greeted him. "Good day, Fire Lady. Your friends have arrived." Finally! I thought.

"Alright, I will get Zuko and we will head out to the courtyard." I said. That is where they always landed when flying in on Appa. I hurried to our office and burst the door open making Zuko jump. "I'm sorry, hunny! Our friends just arrived." I said. Zuko put the documents he was reviewing aside and stood.

"Alright. Let me slow my heartbeat down and I'll be right with you." he joked.

"Sorry, love." I said. He smiled and stood up offering me his arm. I accepted it and we walked to the courtyard. When we arrived we saw it was Aang and his family, Sokka, Toph and…Chief Hakoda? Odd. Why was he here? If this was the council of nations meeting then Xinche would be here. We walked out and greeted them. The children ran up to us embracing us.

"Fire Lord and Fire Lady! We missed you! Where is Izumi?" Bumi asked.

"I'm afraid she's at school. She'll be done soon." I said. He looked disappointed but said no more.

"Sifu Hotman!" Aang greeted Zuko. I heard him grumbling under his breath and I laughed. He shot me a look but I just grinned.

"Hi Aang." he said simply and hugged his friend. Katara descended the bison and came to greet us as well followed by Sokka, Hakoda and Toph.

"Come. I'm sure you're all tired from your trip. We will show you to your rooms." I said. I had the servants show me ahead of time which room was whose for when they arrived. I lead them each to their respective rooms. Bumi headed to the room next to Izumi's - Chang's room.

"No, Bumi, you won't be staying in here." I said.

"Why not? I always do."

"We…have a guest who is using this room. Your room is down the hall. Next to your parents actually." I said.

"Who is staying here?" Katara asked.

"Her name is Chang. She is a schoolmate of Izumi's. She will be staying with us for the time being. We will explain more when we all meet." Zuko explained. Katara nodded.

"Alright, Bumi. It's a little different than last time. It'll be ok. You will still be able to play with Izumi." Aang explained.

We showed everyone to their rooms and let them get settled in. Zuko and I headed down to the meeting chamber that we used for our councilmen. Today we would be meeting with our friends. As macabre as this topic was, I was eager to find out what they had to say.

They all rested until lunch time. We ate and them convened in the meeting chamber. Zuko sat at the head of the table and me to his right. Hakoda sat at the other end of the table and everyone else gathered around. The children, however, were not present. They were told to wait in their rooms for our meeting to be over. They didn't like it but they also had no choice. Once everyone was settled, Zuko spoke.

"Thank you, everyone for coming and meeting about this…disturbing topic." he said, pausing to decide how to say it. "Sam and I would like to share with you what we have learned and hopefully between us all, we can piece this whole thing together. We have found out some more disturbing details but we have made great strides in helping the victims." I nudged him at that last part. He glanced at me and continued. Too modest for his own good. He was the one who started the shelter. Not "we."

"What have you been doing for them?" Katara asked. I stepped in.

"We have opened a shelter for the victims. It really was Zuko though. It's his baby. We have also started a program to help the girls get jobs and integrate into society. If they choose to stay in the Fire Nation they are immediately given a citizenship. Some of them still stay at the shelter but once they get on their feet, most of them leave the shelter to move into an apartment in the city. We were also able to apprehend some of the assailants." I explained.

"That's great, Zuko!" Aang praised eliciting a blush from Zuko. "Were you able to find out anything from those apprehended?"

"Yes, we have. We found out that one of Izumi's classmate's parents were involved in the trafficking. That is who is staying with us. Izumi's classmate. Her name is Chang. We brought her here when her parents were arrested. We haven't sought out any family for her to go to as we don't know who all is involved."

"Do you know their roles?"

"The husband, Buzi, we know was acting as a john and also selling the girls to the pimp." I said. "We don't know the extent his wife is involved in, if at all, but we suspect she was working with Buzi to take the girls and groom them."

"Sam was able to interview one of the girls who said that she knew information. She is the one who named Buzi. Sam, would you please elaborate?" Zuko said, opening the floor to me.

"Yes, thank you, Zuko. She said that when they are taken they are brought to Republic City where they meet the ringleader of this whole operation. He approves or denies the women. Then they are sent to wherever he wants them to go. She wasn't able to name him but she did say she would recognize him if she saw him. That actually leads me to a project I would like to work with Sokka on." I segued.

"Oh, yeah? What's that?" Sokka asked.

"Where I come from there is something called a two-way mirror. On one side, it looks like a regular old mirror but on the other side you can see through. It would be a great and safe way for the girls to identify those involved. I have a basic understanding of how they work but I wanted to work with you to see if we can perfect it. I figured if anyone can do it, we can."

"Sure! I love a mystery!" Sokka said. "When do we start?"

"I think tomorrow if that suits. The children will be getting home soon. Although Chang has been living here the past couple of days, we don't completely trust her with Izumi. She was the one bullying Izumi terribly. Somehow they made a friendship. She needs one. We don't know a whole lot about her family life but we do know that she was beaten by her father." I explained. Everyone reacted in disgust.

"Do you think I could talk to some of the girls?" Toph asked. "Since I'm chief of police in Republic City maybe I can figure out who they're talking about. Are any of them willing to testify?"

"Not yet. They are terrified of these people. They are powerful and the girls don't want to cross them. That's why Sam wants to accomplish the mirror. So they can identify these people and testify against them without them knowing their identities." Zuko explained. "What have you all found out?"

"Well, it's mostly Toph." Sokka explained.

"What you both told us corroborates what I suspected. It's the elite in Republic City. That doesn't leave room for many people. A dozen or so. It really narrows it down. The sooner we get this mirror perfected the better. I have my suspicion but I need concrete evidence."

"Who do you suspect?" Zuko asked. Toph was reluctant to answer. "Please, Toph."

"I…suspect Xinche." she said. Everyone gasped.

"Xinche?! Are you sure?" I asked.

"No, I'm not. That's why it's called suspecting." Toph said in her own curt way. Zuko glared at her. I thought he probably forgot that she couldn't see it.

"Right, of course. Sorry." I said. Zuko shot me a "don't you dare apologize" look to which I just shrugged. "Well, I think this was enough meeting for the day. It's getting time to get the girls." I said, looking over at Zuko.

"Yes, we can't miss it with Chang being here. She really isn't ready for it yet. Her parents have her pretty messed up." Zuko explained. He stood up and held his hand out to me. I accepted it and let him helped me to my feet. Everyone else stood up and headed their own way. Zuko and I made our way to the entrance. The girls and Geshna rounded the corner and Izumi rushed towards us.

"Mommy! Daddy!" she shouted.

"Zoom! How was school?" I asked.

"It was great, Mommy! We all read a whole book!" she said.

"Oh, Izumi that's wonderful! I'm so proud of you. Both of you!" I said. Chang looked please we were proud of her. Izumi pouted and yanked her hand out of mine.

"Izumi, what's the matter, sweetie?"

"Nothing! Stop asking me that!" she shouted at me. Zuko stepped in and scolded her.

"Izumi! You know you're not allowed to shout. Apologize to your mother." He said. She stood, crossed her arms and pouted again. I thought it was uncanny how much she looked like her father when he was angry. "Now, Izumi!" She glared at him then she screamed.

"NOOOOOO!" and started to cry. Zuko's eyes widened and he stooped down to look at her face.

"To your room." he said, point into the palace. She stood still glaring, "Now, young lady." Zuko said. She still stood not moving. This wasn't like her. She wasn't so defiant. Zuko's lips pressed into a hard line. "I'm going to give you to the count of three. If you are not walking to your room I will be taking you to your room." She glared at him. "One…Two…Th-" She stomped her foot and stormed off. He looked at me. "What was that about?"

I looked down at Chang, "how about you go to your room and spend time with your turtleduck?" Her face beamed and she ran off. "No running in the palace!" I called after her. I looked at Geshna, "did something happen?"

"No, nothing." she said.

"Ok, I have my suspicion on what it's about. You are relieved for the day, Geshna. I'll see you in the morning." I said.

"Yes, your majesty. Have a nice evening." she said.

"You too." I said. After she walked away I turned to Zuko, "I think she is jealous of Chang. Let's go talk to her. And wipe that angry look off your face. If she sees it she is going to clam up." he closed his eyes and tried to calm himself down. He took disrespect towards me very seriously. We walked to Izumi's room, knocked on the door and walked in. She was sitting on her bed, crying. I walked over to her and sat on the edge of her bed. Zuko remained standing with his arms folded across his chest.

"Hey, Zoom. What's going on?" She glared at me again, "and no more outbursts. We expect you to talk to us like a mature little girl." I said, quelling her desire to yell again.

"I dunno." she said.

"Come on, Izumi. Talk to us." I said. She looked up at us. Tears started to well in her eyes again.

"Do you…and Daddy still love me?" she asked. Yup, this is exactly what I suspected was going on. I looked up at Zuko and his face immediately softened at her question into concern.

"Of course we still love you. Why would you think we don't?"

"Because, you used to tuck me in and kiss me good night. Just me. But now you do it to Chang. And you do a lot of what you always did with me with her too." she said. Zuko spoke.

"Turtleduck, Chang is having a very hard time right now. She can't see her parents and her whole life is changing. She really needs to be shown some love and friendship. We will always love you, Izumi. No one will EVER take your place. Not in a million years. Chang just needs a family. And until we can give her one, she will be part of ours- however long that is." he explained. Zuko always said that I was the good one at explaining but he didn't give himself enough credit. He was great with the girls.

"So, you don't love Chang more than me?" she asked.

"Sweetheart, come here." I said opening my arms. She crawled over and climbed into my embrace. "We could never love ANYONE more than we love you. You are our little girl. You have been such a good friend to Chang and we couldn't be prouder of you. You never have to doubt our love for you. Do you understand?" I asked gently. She deliberated for a second and then threw her arms around my neck.

"Yes, Mommy. I love you too." she said. Zuko knelt down next to us and hugged us both.

"You two are my girls. Nothing will ever change that." It was her father's turn for a hug. He pulled back and kissed her cheek. "You know, we have some visitors."

"Really? Who?" she asked, her eyes dancing.

"Tenzin, Kya and Bumi."

"Really?! Where are they?! I want to play!"

"Woah! Slow down, Turtleduck. You can play after dinner."

"Daddy?"

"Hmm?" Zuko murmured.

"Can Chang play with us?"