A/N: This is a gift for my friend DarcyBeDippy85. I hope you like it :)
The sun had sunken several hours ago when Zuko finally entered the bedroom. Another long meeting was the reason for his fatigue.
"You're working too much." A gentle voice coming from his bed said.
Zuko turned to see that his girlfriend was still awake. She always waited for him, so he wasn't surprised that even at this late hour, she wouldn't sleep without him by her side.
"The ambassador of the Earth Kingdom wanted to talk about the new developments in the economy." He explained briefly while taking off his crown and losing his topknot.
"I know." Mai stood up and helped him with his topknot, when it didn't immediately submitted to Zuko's will. They had talked about the ambassador's visit because she always helped Zuko with his political decisions. Most of the time she even came with him to his meetings. However at the moment the last thing she wanted to talk about was politics. "It's been four months since the end of the war and you have worked so hard since then. You barely even sleep."
It was true, he went to bed late and rose with the sun every morning. If he was honest with himself he was exhausted, but there was a good reason he did all this.
"I have to work so much. It was so hard to finally achieve peace and I have to do everything to make it work. I can't risk something so important because of my own feelings."
Mai gently stroke his now loose hairs and embraced him from behind.
"I know, but I'm worried about you."
It was rare for Mai to show so much emotion, but Zuko was the most important person in her life and she cared deeply for him. The young Fire Lord was touched by her concern. Mai was still hard to read at times, but with him she showed her caring side and he fell in love with her all over again each time she did. Turning around, he returned Mai's embrace.
"I appreciate your concern, but it'll be fine. I promise." He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on her lips to seal his promise. When they pulled away from the kiss, they smiled at each other before Mai got serious.
"Just don't get sick, because you overworked yourself." She poked his chest with her finger in warning.
It had been a sarcastic remark, but she didn't know that in the very same night her fears would be come true.
The next morning Mai woke up feeling slightly cold. This could only mean that her firebender had gotten up early again. It was nothing new and Mai was used to it, but when she felt an arm still around her waist her eyes fluttered open. She turned her head sightly to look behind her and to her shock Zuko lay there shivering. At that sight, she turned completely in his arms so she was facing him. She touched his cheek lightly and he was unbelievably cold. That was the moment when Mai panicked. Zuko was never cold, he was a firebender and they were always warm because of their inner flame. Even when they had visited the Water Tribe for a meeting at the North Pole, he had still emanated heat in the freezing weather.
"Zuko, wake up. Please wake up. Zuko." She shook him, desperate for an answer.
Slowly the young Fire Lord opened his eyes, exhaustion and tiredness evident in them.
"Mai." He shivered violently and his words ended up in a stutter.
"Zuko, what is happening?"
"I-I don't know. I f-feel so cold."
Hearing that, Mai was out of the bed in seconds. Barely managing to pull on her robe over her nightdress, she opened the door in a hurry.
"I'll get the physician."
"Don't leave." The firebender pleaded and looking at him again, Mai didn't have the heart to leave. He looked so vulnerable and scared that it broke her heart.
Mai was never known around the palace to shout orders, unlike Zuko, but this time her order to the servant near the door was loud and harsh. The scared servant hurried off to get the physician and Mai closed the door again.
"I'm here. I won't leave you alone." She told Zuko when she sat back down on the bed and took a hold of his hands.
Zuko nodded in understanding before another shiver ran through his body. His eyes met hers and Mai wanted nothing more than for him to be okay again. This was the man, who she loved and she couldn't bear to see him like this. Where was the physician and why was this taking so long? Maybe she should have gone to fetch him herself, but then again she would have had to leave his side.
Suddenly the doors to the bedroom swung open and an out of breath looking man entered the room.
"You called for me." The man bowed deeply.
Mai took a deep breath and tried to get her facade back on, but the concern still laced her voice when she spoke up.
"The Fire Lord isn't feeling well." That was an understatement, but she would let the physician take a look at Zuko before she judged the situation for him.
The physician went over to Zuko and Mai could see the shocked look on the man's face when he touched Zuko's forehead. Asking the firebender a few questions and making a few tests, Mai realized that the condition that her boyfriend was in was even more serious than she had thought.
"Lady Mai, can I talk to you outside for a moment?"
Zuko's eyes pleaded with Mai to stay, but she had to know what the physician had to say about his condition.
"I'll be back in a minute." She squeezed his hands reassuringly before she stood up and followed the physician.
When she had closed the bedroom door behind her and had sent the servants in the halls away, she turned to the physician.
"Lady Mai, I have to inform you that Fire Lord Zuko's condition is serious. His body temperature is unusual low for a firebender and I could barely feel his inner fire. I have to be honest with you, I have never seen something like this before and I don't know how to cure it."
Mai felt numb for a moment. The most experienced and well educated physician of the Fire Nation didn't know what was wrong with Zuko and couldn't help him. This couldn't be happening. The physician must have felt Mai's reaction because he bowed deeply and excused himself.
"I'll leave you to your thoughts, Lady Mai."
Mai nodded, still not fully realizing what she had just heard. For a moment she felt like breaking down. The information, that the physician had just given her, weighted heavily on her heart. What could she do to help him? Leaning on the bedroom door for support, she felt so weak. There had to be a solution. Her Zuko had to get better, she couldn't lose him. She wouldn't give up, she never would when it came to Zuko.
Suddenly a thought crossed her mind and she felt a little bit of hope rise in her. Katara. She was the best healer Mai knew so she would ask her to come to the palace to cure Zuko. With that thought in mind, she ordered a servant to get her the fasted hawk the palace had. Entering the bedroom again, Mai went to the little table in the corner and began to write a letter to Katara and Aang. She was sure that the avatar would come with Katara when he read about Zuko's condition.
In the letter Mai almost pleaded for them to hurry to the palace. Taking the hawk from the servant, who just in time knocked on the door, she secured the letter on the bird's foot and whispered the destination of the letter to it.
After Mai had watched the hawk fly off with her letter and her hope, she sat down on the bed. A few minutes later Zuko opened his eyes slowly.
"Mai, what is happening to me?" His voice was weak and he was still shivering.
"We're going to find out. I promise you that I'll help you." She stroked his cheek softly.
For a moment Zuko relaxed at her touch, but then he flinched.
"I have another meeting with the ambassador of the Earth Kingdom this afternoon. I can't miss it, it's important." He tried to sit up only to be pushed back down by Mai.
"You shouldn't move around. I'll go the meeting for you. The ambassador knows me from the last time we had a meeting with him, so he'll know that he can trust me." Mai reassured him.
"B-But." The young Fire Lord wanted to protest but was too exhausted to argue further. Closing his eyes he passed out.
Every minute Mai had to see Zuko like this hurt her heart and all she could hope for was that the hawk would reach Katara soon.
Hours passed and Mai stayed by Zuko's side. She passed the time by reading the documents concerning her meeting with the ambassador. The least she could do for Zuko was representing him as best as possible. She had already talked with Zuko about this meeting before, but she wanted to make sure that she was knowing every little detail. When the time for the meeting came, Mai gently woke up Zuko.
"I'm going to the meeting now." She felt bad for leaving him alone in his weakened state, but she had to fulfill his duties. He nodded in understanding and she leaned down and gently kissed him. "I'll be back as soon as I can." He sent her off with as much of a smile as he could muster.
In the conference room the ambassador was already awaiting her.
"Lady Mai, it's nice to see you again, but I'm a little bit surprised that you're here alone." He greeted her and bowed deeply.
Mai returned the greeting and both sat down at the big table.
"I'm sorry that it's only me today. Fire Lord Zuko isn't available, but he sends his apologizes for that. I hope that you have no reservations about trusting me as much as you trust him. Be sure that Fire Lord Zuko trusts me more than anyone."
"I'm aware of that and of course I'll shared with you all information that I would have with him."
The rest of the meeting went well and the ambassador was fascinated by Mai's knowledge about every detail. Then again he wasn't really surprised by it, Mai took part in every important meeting and helped the Fire Lord with his decisions. It was a well known fact how smart she was and that Zuko trusted her.
Hours later, when their meeting was almost over, a knock on the door disturbed their conversation.
"Lady Mai, the avatar and Katara of the Water Tribe just arrived." The servant, who had entered on Mai's allowance, announced.
After dismissing the servant, Mai turned to the ambassador.
"I think that we were about to end our meeting anyway, weren't we?" There was nothing that she wanted to do more than to hurry to Zuko and tell Katara about his condition, but she had to respect the ambassador.
"I agree. I hope that the Fire Lord is available for our next meeting?"
Mai knew better than to reveal Zuko's true condition. Despite that there was peace now and the Earth Kingdom was an ally, they could take advantage of his weakness.
"Of course. I hope that you found our meeting as productive as I did. I wish you a safe travel home." She bowed politely.
"Thank you for your time. Please give the Fire Lord my kind regards. You can tell him as well that he can be proud of having a great woman like you by his side. Goodbye, Lady Mai." With that the ambassador bowed and left the conference room.
The knives-thrower sighed deeply and tried to calm down. Finally Katara and Aang had arrived. This was her last hope. Leaving the room she went to the big front doors to greet them.
Katara watched Mai approach them gracefully, but somehow she seemed different. Aang and her had already been in the Fire Nation when the letter had reached them and they had immediately flown here on Appa to help Zuko. The letter had sounded so pleadingly and unlike Mai that they had been suspicious at first, but the official Fire Nation hawk was proof enough.
"Avatar Aang, Katara, I'm very grateful that you came here so fast." She bowed deeply, showing the respect she held for the couple. "I'll bring you to Zuko immediately."
On the way to the bedroom Mai explained what the physician had told her. Despite not having known Mai for long, Katara saw that the older girl was very concerned. Sure, she tried to hide it well, but the waterbender saw how desperate and worried she really was. In moments like these Katara really noticed how much Mai must love Zuko.
When they entered the bedroom Katara saw Zuko laying in the bed as pale as the sheets themselves and shivering violently.
"Please help him." The waterbender heard Mai whispered to her.
Katara nodded softly and walked over to the bed to take a look at Zuko, who finally opened his eyes.
"Katara? What are you doing here?" His voice was nothing more than a whisper.
"Mai wanted me to come here to help you."
Zuko's tired eyes turned from Katara to Mai for a moment before looking back at the waterbender. Katara could see the silent thanks and gratitude the Fire Lord felt for Mai. Every time Katara saw these two together, she was amazed at how easily they understood each other with just looks or little touches. Sure, Mai wasn't a every expressive person, but Katara saw her real emotions when she was with Zuko.
Shaking her head, the healer concentrated back on the task at hand. She lay her hands on the sheets that covered Zuko and focused. The moment she felt how cold he was her eyes widened in worry. She could barely feel his inner fire. The Fire Lord had closed his eyes and had fallen back asleep by the time Katara removed her hands.
"Let's go outside and let him sleep." Katara suggested and Mai and Aang followed her outside.
"Is there a room where we can talk in private?" The waterbender asked.
Mai nodded and lead them to Zuko's office. The knives-thrower could barely hide her emotions now. She knew a concerned look when she saw it and Katara showed it more than clearly. Sure enough when the door closed behind them Katara gave her a worried glance.
"It's not looking good. I could barely feel his inner fire and I'm worried that it's about to burn out."
Mai's eyes widened and she couldn't stop a gasp from leaving her mouth. She knew what Katara was trying to say. Without their inner fire no firebender could live.
"Can't you help him?" Mai's voice trembled and she forced herself to hold back her tears.
"I want to be honest with you." Katara lay a reassuring hand on Mai's shoulder. "I'll try everything I can, but it's not looking good. Zuko seemed to have exhausted himself so much that he has barely the strength to keep his inner fire burning. I promise that I'll try to help him to the best of my abilities. For now let him sleep and I'll start his treatment in a few hours."
"Thank you, Katara." There was so much emotion in Mai's eyes and Katara was sure that Mai wouldn't want them to see her vulnerable, so she excused herself and Aang. They had a lot to talk about now anyway.
Mai was thankful when the door closed behind the two benders. It wasn't because she didn't appreciate their help, but because she didn't want to seem weak in front of them. However she had a feeling that Katara had noticed and because of that had given her privacy. Somehow the knives-thrower was relieved that Katara had read her feelings this time. Now with no one around Mai thought about Katara's words. She had no doubt that Katara was an experienced healer and she surely had uncovered what was wrong with Zuko, but she didn't want to believe it. Zuko had been exhausted the last few weeks, but that his inner fire was burning out was the worst thing that could have happened. She felt a lone tear slip out off her eyes and role down her cheek. All three times that she had cried now involved Zuko. The first time had been when she had seen Zuko's Agni Kai and had heard about his banishment. She had seen the fight and it had broken her heart to see Zuko pleading with his father before he had gotten burned. The second time a tear had made it's way down her cheeks had been when she had read Zuko's goodbye letter to her. That was also the second time her heart had been broken.
Now that Zuko's life was in danger she cried for the third time because of him. He seemed to be the only one who was so important to her that she shed a tear. Wiping the tear away angrily she cursed herself for being so emotional. She had to be strong to help Zuko. He needed her now more than ever. She took another moment to calm herself down before she left the office and went back to the bedroom. Zuko was still sleeping on the bed, so she gently sat down next to him and took one of his hands into her own. He was still shivering violently and she could feel how cold he was to the touch.
"Please make it through this, Zuko. Please do it for me." She whispered to him.
An hour later Katara found Mai in the same spot when she entered the room after knocking. Mai snapped her head up. She had been too focused on her thoughts to even hear the knock.
"We should start with his first treatment now. Can you wake him for me?" The waterbender asked gently.
"Zuko, wake up please." Mai shook Zuko softly.
Katara almost smiled when she heard how lovingly Mai talked to Zuko. It was a side of Mai that Katara imagined only Zuko normally saw of her when they were alone. Slowly the Fire Lord opened his eyes to see his black-haired beauty looking at him, but something wasn't right and he immediately got concerned.
"Mai, what's wrong with you?" He asked weakly and reached up to touch her cheek. Mai smiled slightly and cupped his hand over her cheek. He was the only one who was able to see the deep emotions she was hiding with just one look.
"You worry too much about everyone else. You should worry more about yourself."
"I'll always worry about you in the first place because I care so much about you."
"And I worry about you." Mai squeezed his hand. "Katara is here to treat you."
Only now Zuko realized that there was another person in the room besides his girlfriend. If he hadn't been so exhausted, he would have blushed at the thought of Katara seeing the tender moment between him and Mai.
The waterbender smiled at the two, not bothered at all by their affection. These two were made for each other and she was sure that they had found true love with one another.
"I'll leave you two alone for the treatment." Mai excused herself and was about to leave the room.
"Mai, wait." Katara stopped her before she could reach the door. "Aang is waiting for you in the office. He wants to talk to you."
Mai nodded in understanding and left. As soon as the door was closed Zuko spoke up.
"Katara, is something wrong with Mai?"
The waterbender shook her head smiling slightly. Mai was right, Zuko really worried about everyone else first before he worried about himself.
"She is alright, but very worried about you. You need to get better soon if you want to make her feel better." She knew that if something could motivate Zuko to get his inner fire back to full strength, it was Mai. He had made that clear so often that everyone knew that Mai was the most important person in his life, so he would do anything to make her happy.
"So what are we waiting for? Let's begin that treatment."
So her plan was working. She could see that Zuko was still exhausted and tired, but his eyes had gotten some of that determination back that was normally in them. Maybe there was a chance that he would be the first firebender who could rekindle his own inner flame. If someone could do it, it would be him, after all he had the best motivation. Mai's love. Katara hoped with all her heart that he would pull through this, for his sake and for Mai's.
Meanwhile Mai entered Zuko's office. She bowed politely when she saw Aang waiting for her.
"I want to thank you avatar Aang for coming this fast with Katara to help Zuko."
"Please call me Aang." The avatar smiled gently at her.
It was strange for Mai to be alone with the avatar and call him by his name instead of his title. Sure, she had met him and Katara a lot in the months after the war, but this was different. Zuko had told her so much about his friends and because of that she felt like she almost knew them. Still, when it came to personal contact, Mai was more in the background and let her boyfriend talk to them. Now that the situation was like it was, she wanted to take the chance to learn more about his friends.
When Aang spoke up, Mai was pulled out of her thoughts.
"Mai, I want you to know that Katara and I will do everything we can to help Zuko. He is a friend of us and you're our friend as well."
"I appreciate it and I'm grateful that you consider me a friend, Aang." She had almost used his title again instead of his real name, but she had caught herself in time. It would be a while until it would feel normal to call him by his name. Mai mused that it would also be a while until she would get used to having more friends. Ty Lee was her only friend and having a group of friends by her side would be different, but she was willing to try.
"I'll stay here until Zuko feels better and I'll help you with the politics if you want my help." Aang offered kindly.
Katara had told him that Mai was a very independent woman and probably wanted to do everything by herself, so he would let her decide. Having talked with his girlfriend about the older couple had opened Aang's eyes in some aspects. Mai's personality and Zuko's unconditional love for her had been some of them.
"I know that you can handle it alone. I just want to help my friend." He added on second thought. All Aang could hope now was that he had found the right words.
"A little help with all the ambassadors would be great. They're already getting on my nerves." Despite the light sarcastic remark Aang knew what a huge step it was for Mai to accept help from others.
"I'm sure that we'll do your best together." Aang smiled at her.
"Iroh might join us soon too. I wrote him about Zuko's condition."
"He can help us with the politics, he was after all almost a Fire Lord himself." Aang agreed and smiled at her. "Until we start I'll go and look after Appa."
Mai nodded in understanding and watched with a fond smile how Aang left through the door. When Iroh would arrive Zuko had all the people who he was closest to with him. Mai knew that Zuko saw Iroh as a father figure so having him here would help Zuko greatly. With the tea shop that Iroh was running he hadn't visited them in the last few months so Zuko would be overjoyed to see him again. Pulling herself out of her thoughts Mai went to the bedroom. It had been a while since she had left Katara with Zuko and she hoped that he was making progress. She knocked softly and Katara's voice let her know that she could enter.
"I can go if you need more time." The knives-thrower offered after she had closed the door behind her.
"No, stay with me." Zuko's weak voice greeted her.
"We're done for today. Make sure to sleep now. I'll come for another treatment in the morning." Katara said kindly to Zuko and when she passed Mai, she told her in a whisper. "If anyone can overcome this, it's him. He needs you now more than ever." Mai nodded in thanks and Katara left.
Seeing that Zuko had fallen asleep, Mai took her time to get ready in the adjoined bathroom before joining Zuko. When she lay down she felt Zuko move his arm around her waist and pull her to his chest with his last strength.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping? If I recall it right Katara told you to rest as much as you could." She scolded him lightly.
"I can only sleep properly when you're by my side."
"You're such a dork." Despite her words they both knew that it was more a term of affection. As if to prove it, she kissed him on the cheek and didn't move off of his chest.
"How did the meeting with the ambassador go?" Zuko broke the comfortable silence between them.
"It was boring, but you know me, everything without you bores me." She shrugged. "He hopes to see you for the next meeting and he also wanted me to tell you that you chose wisely because you're with me."
"That might be the first time that an ambassador is completely right. Though I don't need him to tell me what I already know." In that moment Mai had to admit that despite that he always claimed to be bad with words, he was really sweet and charming when he wanted to be. "Is it really alright for you to take on my duties for now?"
"Don't worry. It's not like I'll have a fun time, but I'll be alright. Aang will help me and make sure that I don't scare people away with my sarcasm."
Zuko wanted to ask her why she suddenly referred to Aang by his name and not by his title, but he felt his eyelids drop. He was exhausted, so that question had to wait until the morning. Mai felt Zuko's body relax completely and she knew that he had fallen asleep. He was still unusual cold, but Mai stayed still close to him.
Sleep didn't come easy to her. Just last night everything had been alright and so much had changed in just a day. It took hours, but Mai finally fell asleep with Zuko's loving arms around her waist and the hope that tomorrow he would feel better. They would make it through this, together.
The next days were a blur of meetings and conferences for Mai. At least she knew that Zuko was getting his treatments from Katara and having Aang by her side while she talked to politicians made it a lot easier for Mai to tolerate them. It was still tiring and Mai could understand that after months of this Zuko had gotten this exhausted.
When Iroh arrived a few days later, concern written all over his face, Mai knew that she had to talk to him about this situation. It wasn't like she didn't want him to keep his tea shop, but Zuko was too young to bear the weight of a whole nation. Iroh should be more in the palace and even if it was only for a week each month, Zuko needed support to take time for just himself. However this talk with Iroh had to wait because for now he wanted to see Zuko and Mai more than gladly lead him to the Fire Lord.
Thanks to Katara, Zuko's condition had become better with each day and so he was sitting out in the garden soaking up the sun instead of laying in bed. The reunion between Zuko and Iroh was emotional and Mai left them to their conversation.
It took Zuko almost an hour to calm Iroh down because he had been so worried about him. The man who had always been more of a father to him than his own promised him to at least visit once a month to support him, so he could take time off. The former general felt almost guilty when he had heard of Zuko's condition and he knew that it had been wrong to leave his nephew alone with such a huge burden. Then again if it hadn't been for Mai, Iroh was sure that Zuko would be worse off.
"Mai is really an amazing woman." Iroh mused after their third cup pf tea. "I even heard a few ambassadors talk highly of her."
"She is and hopefully soon she will be the official Fire Lady. I still can't believe how lucky I'm to have her." Zuko smiled fondly.
"You should propose soon. A woman like her is hard to find."
"I know. Without her I wouldn't be able to pull through this. Katara told me in my first treatment that I should focus on what makes my inner fire burn. It's Mai. She is the one who fills my heart with warmth and make me happy."
Iroh watched his nephew while he talked about Mai and he could see that Zuko had really found the one. Never before had a Fire Lord married out of love, but Iroh was glad that his nephew planned to be the first one.
A few days later when Mai wanted to talk to Iroh about him visiting more often she was surprised to hear that he had already made that decision for himself. His thoughtfulness warmed Mai's heart and let her smile. Zuko wouldn't be alone in this. He had not only her and his friends but Iroh as well.
It had been two months since his return to his duties and Zuko was content with the position he was in. Iroh had kept his word and visited once a month for a week. It gave Zuko the time that he needed for himself and especially for Mai. It wasn't like they didn't spend the whole day together anyway, but just being able to be just Zuko and not the Fire Lord was relaxing. Looking at the amazing woman, who was sitting next to him in the secluded area of their garden, made Zuko's heart beat faster. He had wanted to propose to her for a while but with everything that had been going on he hadn't. Now was the perfect time and taking a deep breath Zuko faced her and pulled out his mother's engagement necklace.
"Mai, I want to thank you for staying by my side through this. You're more than I deserve and not only do I need you but this nation does as well. Would you do me the honor of becoming my Fire Lady?"
It was rare that Mai was speechless but this was a moment she was. The man she had loved almost all her life was proposing to her and she couldn't be happier. With one of her rare smiles and a passionate kiss she gave a clear answer to his question. They would take on the challenges that came with Zuko's position, together.
A/N: Please review and tell me what you think :)
