Sam
It was the next morning and Chang's new family would be coming soon to collect Chang. Zuko and I had discussed how we want to handle it. We finally decided that we weren't going to - we would let them do that. We did want to get her packed so she would be ready to leave when they arrived so I was helping her while Zuko took care of a few last minute things before the adoption.
"Why am I packing, Sam?" Chang asked, confused.
"Well, today is a big day for you, kiddo. You're finally going to have a home to go to."
"I thought this was my home." she said, sadly.
"Oh, well, I know it probably feels that way. You've been here a while, but I don't think you need to worry. You will be happy in your new home." Chang had become accustomed to living here. Having Zuko and I here for her day in and day out. Taking care of her as parents should. But we weren't her parents. And we weren't meant to be either.
"But…I'll miss you and Zuko and Izumi." she said, starting to get upset. I stopped packing and knelt in front of the child.
"Chang, do you trust me?"
"Yeah."
"Do you trust Zuko?"
"Yes."
"Then trust us when we say, you will be happier where you're going."
"But I'll miss you." she said, throwing her arms around me. I led her over to the bed and I picked her up and held her. At that moment, Zuko walked in and saw us.
"Hey, why the long face, Chang? You should be excited!" Zuko said. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
"But…you and Sam have been a really good mommy and daddy to me. I'm scared." she said. Zuko came over and sat down next to me. He reached over and stroked her cheek.
"It's been wonderful having you here, Chang. But there is a new family who is very excited to take you home with them. And you will be much happier there. I promise you."
"But, what if I end up back with my mommy and daddy? I'm scared!" she said. Zuko slid off the bed and knelt on the floor. He turned her so she was facing him. He took her small hands into his and spoke.
"Chang, Sam and I personally made sure your mother and father cannot get anywhere near you. You never have to see them again. They will never come near you again. They aren't even in this city anymore. Ok?" he explained to her, gently. Sometimes Zuko didn't think he was a good father but it was times like these that he demonstrated why he is a GREAT father.
"Ok." she said dubiously.
"Hey, have we ever let you down?"
"No."
"Then don't worry." Zuko said when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in!" he said. One of the servants popped her head in.
"Fire Lord, it's time." she said.
"Alright, Chang how about you sit here for a couple of minutes and Sam and I will be right back." Zuko said. I looked at him perplexed but followed his lead.
"We need to talk to Izumi." Shit! He's right! She needs to understand too. We both went over to her room. We knocked on the door and walked in.
"Izumi, we need to talk to you. Please put your toys down for a moment." I said. She looked concerned at me. "Don't worry, you're not in trouble." Zuko and I both grabbed chairs so we could sit down in front of Izumi and talk to her. She came over and stood in front of us, waiting for us to speak.
"Izumi, we need to talk to you about Chang." I said.
"Ok?" she said, unsure.
"Zoom, starting today, Chang will be moving to her new home." I said. Izumi looked at me, tears in her eyes.
"But I don't want Chang to go!" she said, starting to cry.
"Hey, don't worry. You will still see her in school. But she is going to finally get a family of her own. A family that loves her and will take care of her like she should."
"But, we are her fa-family." she cried.
"I know you love her, Izumi, but we have to do what's best for Chang. She needs someone who will take good care of her. Sam and I will miss Chang too. We love her. But we can't be selfish. She needs to have a home too. A home she can call home forever." Zuko explained.
"No, I can't be selfish either." Izumi said and tried to smile.
"Do you want to come with us to send her to her new home?" I offered.
"Yeah, I do." she said. She was sad. In her young mind, she thought she was losing her friend forever. Zuko stood up, reached his hand down to Izumi which she took. We walked out of the bedroom and I took hold of her other hand.
"Come on Chang. It's time!" I said, knocking on her door. She came out with her bags in her hand.
"Don't worry about all of your things. We will have them sent to your home, ok?" Sam explained and Chang nodded. She had hold of her turtleduck and dragon toys. She still didn't trust anyone with them. We had decided that we would do this in our office. We wanted it to be private so everyone could see her off properly. We all sat down on the couch in the office and Zuko popped his head out. "Please send them back. Have them knock before entering." he said. He came back into the room, and sat down next to me. Izumi went over to her father and climbed onto his lap seeking comfort. Chang climbed on my lap, nervous of the changes coming.
After a few short minutes, a knock came at the door. Zuko lifted Izumi off of his lap and sat her down next to me. I put my arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to me. Zuko went over to the door and placed his hand on the knob.
"Chang, you ready to meet you new family?" he said. Chang nodded, nervously. Zuko opened the door and in stepped Azula. Chang's mouth dropped open and Izumi gasped in shock.
"This is my new family?" she asked, unbelieving. Azula smiled at her. She walked over to Chang and knelt down before her.
"Yes, Chang, it's me. I talked to Zuko and Sam and told them that…I love you. You are a wonderful little girl. A brave little girl. A strong little girl. And as soon as met you I instantly was in love. And I couldn't stop thinking about you and worrying about you. I want to give you a wonderful home. A home you deserve. I am here to take you home with me. That is, if you want to go." Azula said. Chang's eyes went wide and she climbed off my lap, ran over to Azula and threw her arms around her.
"I can't believe it! You want to be my new mommy! I'm…so…s-so happy!" Chang said, starting to cry. Azula wiped her tears away.
"Chang, you are one of the best, most special little girls I have ever met. You coming to live with me will be a gift to me. To have you in my home. Forever." Azula said. Then she looked at Izumi. "Do you know what that means, squirt?" Izumi shook her head. "That means, you and Chang will be cousins!" The two girls looked at each other and their faces beamed. They ran to each other and threw their arms around each other, laughing.
"Yay! We will be cousins!" Izumi shouted, excitedly.
"Yeah! Cousins!" Chang said, unbelieving.
"Which means, you two will be FAMILY." Azula said. The girls were so excited they held each other and jumped up and down until they fell over laughing. I stood up and walked over to Zuko. I wrapped my arm around his waist and he placed his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close.
"Now, what do you say we go home? I have a room already set up for you." Azula said.
"Yeah! Let's go!" Chang said, hugging Azula again. Azula stood up and took Chang's hand.
"Thank you, my brother and sister for this opportunity. I won't let you down. And more importantly, I won't let her down." she said.
"I know, you've grown a lot, little sister. I'm proud of the person you've become." Zuko said, hugging her.
"That means a lot coming from you, big brother. After I get her settled in, will you come and visit us?" she asked. I looked at Zuko and smiled.
"We wouldn't miss it for the world."
