Zaheer knew he wanted to be an airbender the moment he met his big brother for the first time. At six years of age, he was enlightened enough to note his mother's sudden mood change when Tenzin's mother entered their home for the yearly summit, hosted by the Fire Nation this year. Uncle Zuzu, forever the gracious host, greeted the avatar and his "other" family immediately in attempt to break the tension in the throne room.

Zaheer grasped his mother's lengthy, red, ballroom gown, staring wide eyed at the big kid with tattoos to match his dad's. The boy lacked his hair like Dad too. Zaheer was intrigued and curious as he continued staring, hoping Mother would not notice and reprimand him for his rude behavior. Thankfully, Mother was too busy staring at the pretty waterbending lady Uncle Zuzu always talked about, so Zaheer figured he would get a pass, this time.

After the awkward greeting and quick eyerolls from both women in the room, Daddy gave Zaheer a warm smile and beckoned to be greeted with a hug as usual during his visits. Letting go of his mother's dress, Zaheer took one step, but was halted by two sharp fingers inside the collar of his tunic.

"Azula," groaned Daddy, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration, but Mother refused to let go.

"I'll leave you two be," said the water lady in a mean tone, turning up her nose at the princess. "We'll be in the guest room," she announced, leading her three children away from the scene.

"Zaheer, go with Katara," suggested Daddy, his face reddening at the looks of death from both women. "I…I mean, if it's not much trouble. He needs to meet his siblings".

Zaheer gave pleading eyes to his frowning mother, hoping it would work like it normally did. As he was beginning to doubt the success of the technique this time, the woman shot quick glances between him and his father, before wetting her ruby lips.

"That sounds divine," she finally agreed after the intense moment.

The pretty waterbender was obviously unhappy about the matter until Uncle Zu Zu gave a nervous chuckle and clearing of his throat.

"Hey, um, if you don't mind, I could use some advice. Think you have a moment?" Asked the fire lord.

Zaheer thought nothing more on the matter, however, as he hurriedly joined his new brothers and sister, eager to greet them in his innocent manner. Growing up as a fire prince was often lonely, despite having his cousin around. Before Izumi hit puberty and decided that playing with him was beneath her, the two were almost as inseparable as siblings, themselves.

Zaheer longed for companionship again even with the tension between his father, mother and step-mother.

"Hi, I'm Zaheer! Looks like we'll be one big, happy family," he announced to the three older kids, pleasantly. "Want to see a trick I learned from my aunt?"

"No," answered Tenzin almost as sternly as an adult, waving the younger child away.

Disheartened, Zaheer's head lowered. "Oh, stop, Tenzin," he heard, making him look up to the girl who looked at lot like their mom, though her face was much warmer and welcoming than the water lady's was.

"Go ahead, Hotman," teased the eldest of the three, Zaheer learned to call Bumi.

As Zaheer began to show off his new moves that he'd learned from Aunt Ty Lee, the children's waterbending mother, who had agreed to leave the room at the fire lord's urging, stopped him in his tracks with a disgusted look that he could not miss. Zaheer wondered what she was thinking as she looked over his shoulder to the avatar and the princess.

The woman called to them. "But, don't make me wait long, Aang". Without another word, she sighed, placing a motherly arm around Zaheer. "Come on, I guess it's been a long time coming".

Unsure of her meaning, Zaheer flashed his pearly white teeth and hurried to keep up with his new family towards the guest room, almost forgetting to wave good bye to his parents. At the door frame to exit the throne room, the boy turned back to apologize for his poor manners, surprised to see his mother's fingers tracing Daddy's lips. The man's eyes were closed tight as if fighting a great battle.

"So," he heard her say, thinking they were entirely alone. "Still looking to make more airbenders?"