A/N:
Summary: Fire Lady Katara says goodbye to her husband, Fire Lord Zuko as he dies from four years of battling with heart problems from his Agni Kai match against his sister. Heartbroken and left to become regent for their two year old son, Katara turns to the unlikeliest of people to help her rule. She grants him freedom if he helps her navigate the ups and downs of being the leader of the Fire Nation. Ozai agrees to these terms but only if he can be her co-regent. The two agree and work closely together to run the nation. But despite constantly bumping heads and disagreeing on many topics, the two grow close and an affair ensues. What will happen when they are discovered and people begin to question the judgment of the Fire Lady, petitioning to remove her as regent?
Part 1:
The last several months had been by far the worst months they had ever endured. They knew with the kind of injury he sustained from his Agni Kai match four years ago that it would be terminal and they wouldn't have much time left together. This didn't stop them from enjoying one another to the fullest and having a child together so there would be a piece of him left behind for her when he was gone. They hated this fate but Zuko wouldn't change it for the world. He forfeited his life to save hers and he'd do it again, knowing he'd have his lifespan reduced to less than five years.
Holding his head in her lap, Katara played in Zuko's hair and sang to him. It was the only way to soothe him when he was in severe pain. She knew already, that this was it. She knew for the last week that these days would be their last together. As his personal physician and loving wife, she knew. He didn't have long as his heart grew weaker with each passing second.
"Katara." Zuko took her hand and held it to his face, "I'm sorry."
Caressing his face, Katara shook her head as she looked at him tearfully, "No need to be sorry, Zuko. You've done nothing but be a good husband and father. You were amazing."
Smiling weakly as he shut his eyes, "We'll meet again, Tara. I promise you."
A tear fell from her eyes onto his face, "I love you."
"And I love you, Katara." Zuko smiled at his loving wife and the two of them shared their last kiss.
When Katara broke away, she felt he had given his last breath to her and she burst into tears, screaming. The physicians rushed in with the Fire Sages to pronounce the Fire Lord dead. They had to have the Fire Lady taken out of the room as they began preparing the body for his funeral service. The maids led Katara away to the nursery to prepare herself for the funeral that would take place immediately. While Katara truly came to love the Fire Nation but this tradition, she hated. She wanted to hold her husband's body just a little longer, not yet ready to watch it be burned to ashes as all previous Fire Lord's bodies had been. It was their way of ascending and returning to the flames they wielded. She begged Zuko to change the tradition so she wouldn't have to bear it but he felt she was strong enough to endure it, like she was strong enough in all things she faced.
Dressed in white and gold robes, Katara held her two year old on her hip. Her tear stained face forced to remain steady and stern. The people needed to know their Fire Lady had it together. It was Zuko's will that she be regent for their very young son when he died. Zuko made this known so no one could challenge her and try to overstep. A few good trusted ministers would be at her aid to help her usher in the era he wanted so badly to be a part of. Katara remembered the dream he had for his nation and would see to it that it became a reality.
As they made their way to the pavilion where the funeral would take place, Katara felt her chest tighten but she remained strong like Zuko told her she would. Arriving at the dais that overlooked the pit where his body would be engulfed in flames, Katara swallowed hard and saw the Fire Sage place his body on the stone altar. She looked down at her husband's corpse and felt herself choke on her emotions. She couldn't do this. She couldn't-
Four Years Ago…
"It would seem Lady Katara is right." The royal physician told them. "Less than five years is all he has."
Katara burst into tears as Iroh held her to his chest. This was the worst news ever to be received just days after being proposed to. She didn't know what she was going to do. This was all her fault. He jumped in front of that lightning strike because of her. If she wasn't there or helped him fight from the beginning, he wouldn't have taken that damage. Now his heart was scheduled to give out on his way too soon.
Sitting up from the examination table, Zuko was bombarded by Katara throwing her arms around him and the two hugging one another tightly. He whispered that she didn't have to marry him now that they knew he wouldn't live much longer but Katara refused. She wanted to be his wife in this life as well as the many others they'd have together.
"Then it's settled. You two will be married right away." Iroh told them.
It was unheard of for Katara to marry so young as she was only fourteen but with Zuko's time running out, her father signed off to allow her to marry at her age. The two were married within a month of their engagement and all their friends attended. While it was meant to be a joyous day, it couldn't be helped that his friends and uncle were lamenting the reality of why the two were married so soon.
For their wedding night, Katara cried in his arms after they consummated their marriage. She hated to think she'd eventually lose him.
Wiping her tears away, "It'll be alright, Tara." Zuko kissed her face. "Once we have children, you'll still have a piece of me here."
Katara clung to him, "They won't know you. They won't know how amazing their father really is. I hate that for them."
"I know but someone has to take my place when I'm gone, Katara."
The waterbender nodded her head.
Smiling at her, "You're stronger than anyone I know. Even the Avatar. There's nothing you can't do. This will hurt at first, believe me, I don't want to leave you, but you will be fine in time."
~The Present~
She could do this. Zuko said she could and she would. Reaffirming herself, Katara stood with an emotionless face and listened as the Fire Sage presided over the funeral. She listened to the kind gentle words given by a few ministers that had come to respect her husband during his short reign. When it was time for her to take the stand, handing her son to his caregiver, Katara addressed the people of the Fire Nation and told them that these few years of peace would not die with husband but would continue through her as their regent and then with her son. She told them how important the Fire Nation was to her husband and how he meant the world to her. Tears fell from her eyes as she continued to maintain her expression.
"Please trust that I will see my husband's vision through and instill it into my son, so that the Fire Nation can continue to prosper. I will not let you down nor will I let my husband down. I thank you all for coming to celebrate the life of a man that fought hard for his people even when was unable to fight the pains of the condition he suffered during his reign. Fire Lord Zuko will forever go down in history as a Fire Lord that truly cared for his people and made sure that when he was gone, that they'd be well taken care of."
When she stepped down, Katara told the caregiver that she needed a minute and asked that she look after him until she came to his nursery. As soon as Katara got to her chambers, she yelled for her servants to leave immediately and they quickly fled. The Fire Lady looked to the bed where her husband died in her arms and she slowly walked her way to his side of the bed. She somberly looked over where she would wake to see him every morning and placed her hand on his pillow. She picked it up and pulled it to her chest, smelling that his scent still lingered on it.
Falling to her knees with the pillow pressed to her face, Katara sobbed into it and asked the gods why they had to take Zuko. Why did they have to take a good man when there were still so many wicked ones out there?
…
Three months later…
"Your grace, you must take a break. You've been at it nonstop since his majesty passed. I fear you will make yourself ill." Her head servant, Zhu-Shang, said with great concern for the Fire Lady.
Katara sat at her late husband's desk going over document after document. She didn't have time to take a break. There was so much to do. So much Zuko had still been working on when he passed. She had to see this through. See it through till her son was sixteen years of age. There was no time to fret or take leisure. She had a duty to this country that belonged to her late husband and she would not falter.
Zhu-Shang sighed and shook her head, "Your grace, you haven't seen your son since the funeral."
Unraveling the next scroll to read over, "I'm busy making sure he'll have a smooth transition to power. When he is four, he will begin his lessons in firebending. When he turns six, he will begin his formal education at the royal academy. Then at twelve, he will return to begin sitting in on meetings with ministers and the council. I will, at that time, be his educator in what kind of ruler he will become. Until then, I have much work to do." Katara expressed as she continued working hard at the goal her husband wanted her to reach.
Zhu-Shang knew there was no amount of convincing that would make the woman stop what she was doing. It concerned her immensely. The council was beginning to worry and Zhu-Shang didn't want to give the Fire Lady more to deal with.
As she left the Fire Lady to work, Zhu-Shang was approached by the late Fire Lord's uncle. He had just reached the Fire Nation and wanted to pay his respects to his nephew. He spent hours in the royal tomb talking to his nephew's ashes that were stored in the crypt labeled with his name and painting. Now, he had returned to the palace with a somber smile on his face.
"How is she?" Iroh asked.
Zhu-Shang shook her head, "She is not well. She just buries herself in her work and forgets to take time to herself. She hasn't even gone to the prince's nursery since the day of the funeral."
Iroh sighed, "Let me speak with her. Maybe I can get her to take a break."
Zhu-Shang thanked him.
Iroh entered the Fire Lord's office where his niece-in-law was working and saw right away that the woman was working hard towards Zuko's dream. He sympathized with her. He told his nephew that he was putting too much pressure on Katara by making her regent. There were plenty of capable people that could handle the task but Zuko insisted that he trusted no one else to see his dream through but Katara. Iroh accepted this as he knew Zuko and Katara had always been on the same page about things. The two were literally yin and yang. They functioned well together and complemented the other. It was a shame they didn't get to spend more time together as they would have really ushered in a whole new era. But here Katara was, striving for it on her own. He wished he could give his aid but he was even less experienced in the world of ruling than she was.
"Uncle." She looked up from her work finally and saw Iroh, her eyes watered.
Tearing up, Iroh held his arms open and she got up to run into his arms. "My niece, I'm so so sorry."
Katara wept in his arms as he patted her back. "I miss him so much!"
"I know. I know." Iroh patted her back. "Your brother wrote to me and said he and your father will be here in a few weeks. They had an issue to take care of back home. But I'm here to support you till they get here."
"Thank you, Uncle." Katara said as she pulled away, wiping her eyes.
Iroh beamed at her, "I'm told you've been working hard. Endlessly really."
Sniffling, Katara nodded as she made her way back to her desk, "Yes, well there's much to be done and it helps me not think about Zuko so much."
Iroh understood.
"I just wish that he was here to share this burden with me."
"I wish I could help but I was always more involved in the military. I don't quite grasp politics too well." Iroh told her. "Only person I know that would have any insight into this would be -"
Katara scowled at the mention, "Ozai. Yes, he's reached out already."
"About aiding you?" Iroh was surprised.
"No." She said flatly. "About seeing his son's crypt. I refused him."
"Katara, that is his son."
"Yes and he hated him!" Katara spatted in frustration. She didn't think Iroh would side with him like everyone else around here did. They all remarked that the former Fire Lord was still the father of her late husband and her father-in-law. Even though her husband was gone, it was tradition that the widow still acknowledged her in-laws from her late husband's family. But she would not acknowledge the man. This was all his fault.
Iroh sighed as he understood this but he knew his brother, Ozai, still deserved to see his son's crypt.
"I will escort him." Iroh told her. "Please, allow this."
Katara sighed and rubbed her brows, "Then he's your responsibility from the moment he leaves his cell till the moment he returns." she said sternly.
Iroh nodded with a chuckle, "Thank you, my beautiful niece. Get some rest soon. You're only eighteen and already have bags under your eyes."
As Iroh left the office, Katara pulled out her hand held mirror and saw he was right. Oh my La!
…..
Iroh stood in the crypt with several guards as his brother said his goodbye to his son. He placed his hand on the stone of the crypt and pressed his forehead to it.
"This isn't how it was supposed to end for you, my son." Ozai hissed through his teeth as he clenched his eyes tight.
Sighing as he told the guards to wait outside the crypt and as they left, Iroh approached his brother who was shackled up in chains. "Tell me, brother, how was it supposed to end?"
Ozai turned to scowl at his older brother, "He was supposed to live on the be the greatest Fire Lord there ever was! If he was going to defeat me and his sister, I expected him to rule like no other before him! That would be the only way I'd know I was wrong!"
Iroh looked away from his brother, "Then maybe your grandson will see to that."
"A half-blood?" Ozai scoffed. "How do we not know he's of water like his mother?"
Iroh smiled a little, "He breath out fire when he was born."
Ozai's eyes widened at this.
"He's a strong, healthy boy for his age. His mother's heritage will not hold him back but advance him. She is a strong woman with every intention of seeing your son's dream for the Fire Nation come true." Iroh explained. "You have a grandson with great potential and a daughter-in-law that is devoted to this nation. It would be nice if you could be useful to them."
Ozai lifted a brow at his brother. "What are you talking about, Iroh?"
"As strong a woman as Katara is, she needs someone to help her along the way, someone that already knows the duties of a Fire Lord." Iroh explained.
"And you want me to help her?"
Iroh nodded.
Ozai burst out into laughter.
"You might find it funny, brother, but you could be reducing your life sentence." Iroh pointed out.
His laughter stopped.
Smirking at his brother, "Let me take you to meet her. Maybe you will decide whether to help her or not."
Katara was finishing up a days worth of work just before dinner when she saw Iroh had returned and with him, a tall man with long hair that was past his waist. She raised a brow at the shackles on the man and started putting together who this was.
"Katara, this is-"
"Ozai." She cut him off.
"Your father-in-law." Ozai pointed out. "And as your father-in-law, you should show more respect."
Katara narrowed her eyes and walked up to stand a foot from him, "I am your Fire Lady, it should be you showing some respect."
Ozai glared back at her as he took a step to her, towering over the short female, ignoring the reprimanding look his oldest brother was giving him. "Look here, girlie, I might not have my bending but I'm no less dangerous. Watch how you talk to me."
Katara slapped him across his face as she scowled at him. "Who the hell do you think you're talking to?! I'm not taking any shit from anyone, least of all you!"
"You little b-"
"Brother!"
"Why did you bring him here, Iroh?" Katara looked at the older of the two men.
Iroh glanced at his brother and then to Katara, "I had thought my brother would be respectful enough to make a good first impression on you. He is afterall your father-in-law and this is the first time you two are meeting."
"But why?"
"Because-"
"I'm not helping this little bitch. She's lucky I don't strangle her with my chains." Ozai bit out as he glared at the girl his late son married.
Katara scoffed and folded her arms, "I'd bloodbend you into the ceiling before you even got your hands on me."
"Bloodbend?" Ozai raised a brow at her.
Katara smirked and demonstrated what she meant, sending him to his knees and making his bow his head. "That's bloodbending and it's the proper way to greet your Fire Lady."
Ozai was lost for words as he was released and fell on the floor, feeling the pain of his muscles being tightened like that. He lifted his head at the girl staring him down and realized that maybe his son wasn't a fool afterall for marrying this water wench. Getting to his feet with the help of his brother, Ozai looked the girl up and down to size her up some more. Little water wench was quite attractive and she had hands on a very useful power, not to mention, she looked fearless. Not many women had all these traits in one.
Looking to his brother, "I will help her." Ozai told him.
"Help me?!" Katara raised a brow. "Why would I need your help?!"
Ozai returned his attention to the girl, "Look, sweetheart, you might have a handle on things now but if my tracking of the days and months are correct, there's a quarterly coming up and your progress as regent will need to be assessed."
Katara realized he was right.
Smirking, "And from the look of your desk, you've got far more than you can handle by yourself. I'm willing to be of assistance."
Katara looked to Iroh, "How's he supposed to help me from his prison cell?"
"Well,-"
Cutting his brother off, "You can put me up in one of the many chambers we have in this palace. I just ask that you send a few pretty concubines my way every evening and make sure that my meals are not sparing. I hate that they feed me like I don't need food. What, they want me to maintain low energy or something?"
And as her father-in-law rambled off about what he wanted in exchange for his help, Katara went behind her desk to take a seat. She returned to her work.
Noticing this, "Hey, are you listening?"
Lifting her head back up from the stockpile of work she had to do for the week, "Oh no, I stopped listening at the part where you mentioned living outside of your cell."
Ozai narrowed his eyes, "Well, that's what I want if I'm going to be of assistance."
"Oh, I don't need your help." Katara told him. "Who said I needed your help?"
The two looked at Iroh.
Chuckling a little, "My niece, you are stretching yourself thin. You've had no time for yourself or to be a mother. My brother was once Fire Lord and oversaw the duties required. He knows enough to aid you through this period of transition."
Katara looked at Iroh and tilted her head, "You do know what was going on while he was Fire Lord, right?"
"Yes, I saw the accounts from Zuko."
"Not just that but there was an entire war happening too."
Ozai shrugged, "It was a war I didn't even start. I just sought to finish it. It dragged on too long and even our troops were growing tired of it. Wonder why no one opposed Zuko ending the war? We were all sick of it."
Katara looked at her father-in-law. "You ordered my husband's death on several occasions, you own son. How can I work with you knowing that?"
Ozai sighed and shook his head, "I never ordered Zuko's death."
"Liar!"
Scoffing, "I don't have to prove myself to you, girl. I know what my orders were and I never ordered for my son's death. His sister was deranged, I admit, she wanted Zuko dead."
"Oh, so pin this on Azula?" Katara leaned back in her seat.
"That little bitch is why he's dead!" Ozai lost it. "She was a monster that not even I could control! She acted on her own in many things, against my wishes! She knew if Zuko was dead, she'd be next in line, but my intentions were always to have him learn what it meant to be the heir to the Fire Lord, teach him respect, so when I passed on, he'd know what he was doing! I never wanted my son dead! Never! Just wanted to toughen him up!" The man sniffled and looked away. "I never wanted him dead. He was my only son."
Katara looked away too and sighed, "Well, even so, I don't trust you. You still hurt him and you did shady things during your reign that I have seen in the records. I can't use your help." she said in a slightly softer tone.
Ozai turned around, "Fine but when you're ready to admit you can't do this by yourself, I'll be willing to negotiate terms."
"I doubt there will ever come a day but if it does, you'll be the last person I ask for help from."
Sucking his teeth, "Iroh, take me to my cell, I've had enough of this water wench."
Katara rolled her eyes and returned to her work.
…
~One Year Later~
There were so many things going wrong and Katara didn't know what to do. How did it get this bad? She allowed a minister that she thought she could trust to manage the treasury but it backfired. The man stole money from the crown and the people of the Fire Nation. She had him arrested but there was outcry from the people for him to be executed. She felt that was harsh a sentence for the man as he still had a family and a household to oversee. However, this made her look as if she hadn't the guts to punish a man that was well deserving of the punishment as it was later discovered that he had a hand in the sex slave trafficking that had recently been plaguing the Fire Nation with the end of the war. Katara felt lost.
Not only that but there were issues she didn't know how to deal with. She felt like there was no one she could trust or go to for help since Iroh had returned to the Earth Kingdom for his teashop and she was here, by herself, governing a nation of people that already didn't have faith in her capabilities. If she didn't do something quick, she would likely see a mob at the palace steps and they'd appoint another as regent, someone that wouldn't believe in Zuko's dream.
It was then that she realized she had only one option.
Laughter erupted in the cell as Katara stood on the opposite side of the bars. She was not sure what he found so amusing, her father-in-law. The fact that she was failing so tremendously or the fact she had to suck up her pride and come to him.
"Look, I'll walk right out that door and never come back. So, give me your terms so we can fix this mess."
Ozai wiped a tear from his eyes as looked to the nineteen year old girl, "A mess you created. Should have taken my help when I first offered it. You wouldn't be in this mess now."
"Damn it! I know that already! Just help me!" Katara was losing her cool.
"Fine, I'll help you but the terms have changed."
"Okay, what do you want? I'll try to make it happen."
"You will make it happen or you'll get no help from me, girl, got it?"
Katara folded her arms, "Fine, name your terms."
"First, I want to be exonerated of all my war crimes."
"Okay, I will speak to the council right away."
"Not done, precious, I also want to live in the palace and be allowed the same luxuries as I had before. That means, the best clothes, best chambers, best ladies to serve me, and food fit for a king. Nothing less."
Katara figured that wouldn't be too hard. "Okay, anything else?"
"And I want to be your co-regent."
"Hell no!"
"Oh, so you don't want my help?" Ozai lifted a brow.
"You're clearly trying to take advantage of my current state!"
"I'm trying to help you, dollface." Ozai told her as started looking at his overgrown nails. "Now, you can agree to this and let me show you how it's done or I can leave you to suffer the wrath of the people for being a failure."
"Damn you!"
"So, do we have a deal?" He smirked at her.
Katara called for the guards and ordered them to release him. They looked at her for a moment before she ordered them again and they obeyed. When Ozai was let out of his cell and unchained, he walked up to the Fire Lady, opening his arms to her.
"Be a good girl and give your father-in-law a hug, will you?"
Katara looked him up and down like he was crazy, "Like hell."
Ozai grabbed her for a hug and squeezed her tight, "That's a good girl. We're going to get along fine. I promise you."
Oh Katara felt like she made a huge mistake.
Before leaving the prison, Katara saw to it that Ozai was groomed and dressed appropriately when she brought him to the council meeting. She hoped this would not upset them knowing that she was planning to make her father-in-law her co-regent. When he was groomed and dressed, her father-in-law walked out of the room with a totally different air about himself. She barely recognized him.
"I look good, don't I?"
Katara rolled her eyes.
Adjusting the collar of his shirt he wore under his open robes, "This is where you say, 'yes, daddy, you look handsome.' I'll wait."
Katara scoffed and walked off, "Then you'll wait forever."
Ozai lip twisted a little, "I fear we're going to bump heads."
"Already doing that."
The two made their way to the palace in the royal carriage and Katara ignored the man that wanted to talk her head off. She didn't realize he talked so much. Maybe it was four years of imprisonment that caused him to be this way. Whatever it was? She only caught bits and pieces of what he was telling her. Something about what he wanted to eat after the meetings and how the prison staff starved him.
Reaching the palace, Katara thanked Tui and La for the trip to be over. She was so sick of her chatterbox father-in-law that she suspected was intentionally trying to annoy her as it was very clear she hadn't been listening to him and he hadn't bothered to shut up. As soon as they entered the palace, the two received shocked expressions and Katara wished he didn't make it worse by greeting his former subjects.
"What in Agni's hell is this?" A councilman said as he saw the queen regent enter with the former Fire Lord.
Taking her seat on the throne, Katara sighed as her father-in-law took to her side. "I know this looks bad but I have to admit to myself and everyone here that I'm lacking the experience and guidance needed to make this a smooth transition for the people and my son."
The council all stared at their former Fire Lord.
"Ozai-"
"Your father-in-law." Ozai corrected.
Katara glared at him to the side, "My father-in-law has the experience and knowledge of ruling this country. I have turned to him to help me make this a smooth transition and I hope you all will come to accept him as my co-regent."
The room was quiet for a second as she braced herself to hear their criticism.
"Your grace, this is wonderful."
"Wait, what?"
Chuckling, the head of the council spoke up. "Your grace, we are thrilled that you came to this conclusion of your own accord. We all we talking to other day about how it might be helpful for you to seek help from someone that knew the position you are in. We gladly welcome the former Fire Lord as your co-regent."
The room all bowed to them.
Ozai smirked as he leaned over her to whisper in her ear, "See, you need me."
Katara scoffed, "Keep talking and I will throw your ass back into prison when I'm done with you."
"I see why my son married you." Ozai stood back up straight. "There's fire in you."
…
Only a month into having her father-in-law help her and already things were going more smoothly. Katara was able to get so much accomplished and fixed just by having him around to do the work she couldn't do. He was far more diligent than she thought he'd be and he had a lot of insight to give her. Surprisingly enough, he wasn't too bad and Katara felt bad for being so quick to judge him cause she didn't know the first thing about him.
One day while the two were in a meeting with the ministers, there was a heated debate on what should be done about the minister that stole money from the crown along with the sex trafficking charges. Everyone wanted the queen regent to put the man to put the man to death but she refused. Eventually, some called Katara out for being too soft and this somehow offended her father-in-law.
"Maybe you all should be put to death! We can start over with the newer younger group of council members!" Ozai shouted at them. "We are bringing in a new era! How can we do that if we conform to the old ways of doing things?!"
Katara and the council was taken aback by this.
"Now, I do think the best course of punishment is to remove the noble status of him and his household. That and have everything worth anything in his assets given back to the people he stole from. What do you think, dear?" He looked to his daughter-in-law
Stunned, Katara nodded. "Y-yes, that would be a great idea."
"Then it's settled." Ozai turned back to the council. "Carry out this order, Minister Lu-Teng is lose his noble status along with the members of his household and take all his assets to distribute to the people."
The council all bowed to this command and when they returned to the office to get their paperwork done, Katara thanked him. Sincerely and genuinely.
Chuckling, "No need to thank me. I'm just helping as per our agreement. Besides, I know my son wouldn't want to put even the worst of crimes to death. I mean, look at me, he refused to let me face the punishment of a war criminal."
Katara sighed, "You were his father. Perhaps, someone else, he would have saw to it they were executed."
Ozai shook his head, "No, he was too much like his mother." He said somberly.
The two went quiet for a moment as they both thought about Zuko.
"I just wish I wasn't such a hard ass on him." Ozai lamented. "I bet he died thinking I hated him."
Katara averted her eyes.
"I should have told him more about how proud he made me. Even when he stood up to me, told me he'd join the Avatar. I was so angry at the time because I thought I finally had my son back but…I should have been proud that he found his own way. Didn't need me to teach him. His uncle had done enough of that." Ozai sighed as his shoulders slumped.
The Fire Lady wiped the tears from her eyes that formed in the beds of them. Sniffling, "Zuko, h-he told me he had forgiven you. You and Azula. His heart would let him hold onto any bitterness towards you all. Said you all were still family."
Ozai shut his eyes and shook his head, "He really was his mother's child. Till the very end."
As the two returned to their work in silence, Ozai glanced over at his daughter-in-law that looked absorbed in the work in front of her and wanted to ask her more about his son in his final days but he stopped himself. She clearly loved his son. She worked so hard to make his dream a reality. He didn't want to upset her with the memories. Besides, the anniversary of his son's death was coming up and he knew she was probably dealing with that on her mind along with everything else.
It started getting late and the servants brought them their dinner. Until things were all squared away, the two worked nonstop, resting for only a few hours before dawn just to do it all over again. Ozai had suggested they take turns with morning and night shifts to allow them to get more rest but Katara insisted she didn't much trust herself to get this work done on her own.
While setting aside a few minutes to eat, Ozai grumbled about not being able to spend any time with beautiful women because there was so much work to be done. Katara chuckled and told him that he would be able to enjoy beautiful women once they finished their work.
"Well, when we're done fixing the mess you caused, I say you spend some time with your son. I'm told you still haven't seen him since the funeral." Ozai side eyed her.
Katara sighed and eyed her food as she ate, "It's hard looking at him right now."
"How so?"
Sighing, "He looks so much like Zuko. Only thing he got from me were my eyes."
"The boy lost his father, doesn't need to lose his mother too, go see him tomorrow. I'll fill in for you at tomorrow's meeting."
Katara nodded, "You're right."
"Of course I am." Ozai scoffed. "You should listen to me more. I've lived far longer than you and I know how these things go. He might look like his father but he'll act like you, no doubt."
Snickering, "Let's hope not. I was a problem child."
"Oh, I believe you." Ozai snorted. "Look at all this shit you've caused for being stubborn."
"Yes, yes, you love reminding me. Sheesh, you say sons take after their mother's but you and Zuko nag the same."
"Nag?! See, you and I are really going to butt heads. That's no way to speak to your father-in-law."
Katara rolled her eyes, "I'll start thinking of you as my father-in-law in due time. Right now, you're sort of just a criminal I've negotiated with."
Ozai scoffed and mumbled something under his breath about her being a disrespectful daughter-in-law.
…..
The workload had died down and many of the issues Katara was facing had been resolved all thanks to the hard work of the two co-regents. However, this wasn't the end of Katara's troubles. Just when things had seemed to turn around for the in-laws, the two were suddenly at odds and all due to a lack of trust.
Katara had finally gone to see her son and spend time with him in her freetime. However, she refused to allow her father-in-law to meet the boy though he asked on several occasions. She made it clear that with his track record that she worried how he would treat her son. He wasn't very good of a father to either of his children and he still held some prejudices towards her for being Water Tribe as he on many occasions made backhanded remarks about her heritage having something to do with why she struggled so much with her work. Not mention, she overheard him speaking to a nobleman he was having a meeting with, stating she should have been a concubine if his son wanted to fuck a water wench. Ozai had tried apologizing to her but she still treated him with great distrust and disrespect. She didn't care that it was the responsibility of the daughter-in-law to serve her father-in-law like he was her own father. He told her this on several occasions but she told him Iroh was more a father to Zuko than he was.
The animosity between the two co-regents was becoming more and more apparent to everyone around them and there was not a soul in the palace that wanted to get in the middle of it. The two were people that weren't easy to deal with. The Fire Lady was headstrong, stubborn, and a bloodbender that frightened many of the subjects already. It was why no one challenged her despite her being from the Water Tribe. They feared her which happened to be the sort of thing that gains respect around here. And Ozai, well, he had a reputation of being murder-happy if need be. No other Fire Lord executed as many people under their reign in such a short span of time as him. And he typically did the executions himself. He was a notorious tyrant and even more frightening than his forefathers. No one dared speak up to him, no one but the Fire Lady, which made them both chilling to approach with any matter.
Eventually, the co-regents lost it with one another and it turned physical. The guards had to pull the former Fire Lord off his daughter-in-law as she had slapped him when he called her a bitch and he tackled her. Due to his much larger build, he managed to break the woman's arm and she screamed for him to be locked up. However, with him being her co-regents, she didn't have more or less authority over him, so he was merely escorted to his chambers.
Getting her arm bandaged up, Katara scowled to the side as her servant, Zhu-Shang, fed her medicine that would regulate her chi while her limb was healing.
"Your grace, what happened?" Zhu-Shang asked in concern.
Hissing as the physician fixed her arm into a sling, "That bastard! He called me a bitch!"
"Why would he say such a thing?"
"Because I won't let him see my son." Katara winced as the physician readjusted her arm. "I don't trust that man. He hurt Zuko and drove his daughter insane. I won't let my son endure those hardships."
Zhu-Shang tilted her head, "But he is co-regent. When Prince Lu-Shin comes of age, the two of you will be his teachers in showing him how to govern the nation."
Sighing, Katara pinched her brows together with her good hand and sighed. "I don't know if I will allow him to be regent up to then. He clearly doesn't like me and doesn't want to prove himself to be a decent man. If he can't be more respectful to me and show he is worthy of being considered my father-in-law, then I don't know how I feel about him remaining regent."
Zhu-Shang sighed, "Your grace,-"
"I don't want to talk about him a moment more, Zhu-Shang." Katara said in a stern tone. "I have more important things to do and he's the least of my concerns right now."
"Yes, your grace."
Ozai was drinking glass after glass of fire whiskey, trying to drink himself to sleep as he was so angry, he felt he could go back and strangle that girl. Who did she think she was? Denying him access to his grandson. Lu-Shin was all he left of his son and that water bitch wanted to tell him he couldn't see him, then have the gall to slap him. He should her strangled her right there. He didn't care that she was his daughter-in-law. His son married a stupid bitch and he wasn't going to pretend that wasn't the case. Everyone else around here might fear and respect her but he sure as hell wasn't going to kiss her ass.
Hearing a knock at the door, Ozai went to answer it and saw it was a servant holding a tray with a note on it. He picked up the note and shut the door. Taking a seat back in his sitting area, Ozai opened the note and read over it.
As Fire Lady and a mother, I have a duty to my son, his father's heir. I must protect him even with my own life and I will do just that. You may be his grandfather but you were no good a father and I don't want my son to be brought up the way his father was.
Zuko might have forgiven you in his last days. I acknowledge that and respect his decision to let go of his bitterness towards you and his sister. But I have not forgiven either of you. You cause Zuko a lot of pain that he struggled through and I watched him cry over the things he told me you did to him. I remember him asking why his father didn't love him and contemplating if he was capable of being a good father since you were so horrible.
I know you've expressed that you did love you son and you have regrets about how things went. However, I can't take a chance on my son, my prince, the future of this nation. As soon as he is over age to begin learning firsthand how to run this nation, I will release you as my co-regent. You will be supplied a fully furnished manor, a selection of women of your choosing, monthly allowances from the crown, and your full freedom. But you will not destroy another child's life, not my son's, over my cold dead body.
Sincerely, your Fire Lady.
Ozai crushed the letter and threw it at the firepit, "You fucking bitch!" He got up and grabbed his robes, quickly leaving his chambers to storm his way to the office. He found she wasn't there and started looking around for her. Eventually, he found her in the gardens with a few servants and guards around her as she sat in the grass playing blocks with a small child. His eyes narrowed.
"Katara!" He shouted as he marched his way over.
The guards posted quickly formed a wall as Katara was helped up by her servants to her feet. She gave the order for the caregivers and a guard hurry to relocate the prince. As they did, The Fire Lady say her father-in-law grow more angry than before. He disregarded the guards and tried to go after where he saw the caregivers rush off with his grandson but he stopped in his tracks and was forcibly pulled backwards.
"You witch!" Ozai screamed.
Katara forced Ozai to his knees with her bloodbending and walked around him to look down at him in the eyes, she scowled. "Did you not receive my letter?"
"Oh I did and I must say, you're one cold bitch! I don't give a fuck about your feelings! I don't need your forgiveness! Or what you plan to give me when you remove me as your co-regent! I just want to see my grandson!" Ozai shouted at her.
"The only way I'd ever let him see you is if you prove to me that I am wrong about you. That you aren't a threat." Katara explained to him.
"How can I prove it?! You won't even let me near him!"
"That's not my problem." Katara said as she turned to strut away.
"You foul bitch! You won't get away with this!" Ozai shouted at her.
….
"Your grace, former Fire Lord Ozai has been very helpful in restoring order to the troubles we've been face with after the death of Fire Lord Zuko. As your co-regent, he should be allowed to meet with the prince." A councilmember spoke up during a meeting with the council and the ministers.
Another minister spoke up on Ozai behalf and Katara saw her co-regent smirking to himself. Did he really think this would sway her? Why was he so hellbent on seeing Lu-Shin? Having heard enough, Katara silenced them all with why she was truly concerned.
"I don't trust he won't harm my son in order to gain the throne for himself. I don't trust he won't do whatever it takes to regain his seat on the throne. I don't trust him period." Katara venomously spoke. "My son is the only heir we have and without him, there are only two other candidates for the role as Fire Lord. Iroh will refuse it as he doesn't wish to be Fire Lord at all. Leaving former Fire Lord Ozai as the only possible person since Princess Azula is mentally ill-fit for the task. I'll will not allow my late husband's nation be thrown into chaos due to a mistake like allowing my son's grandfather, who has a cruel history as a father, to compromise his safety. My duty is to this nation and my son is this nation's future."
Ozai scoffed aloud as he rolled his eyes, "You missed out on one big detail there, sweetheart. As Fire Lord, one has to be a firebender, I am no longer a firebender, therefore I can't be Fire Lord. In other words, your concerns are baseless."
Katara side-eyed Ozai, "Doesn't make my concerns invalid."
Snorting, "As invalid as your servant right your signature for you on those recent documents."
"What else am I to do?! Someone felt like tackling someone two times smaller than them and broke my arm!"
"Wouldn't have broken if you landed right. You clearly weren't taught defensive strategies. You should maybe work on that, in case someone decides they want to assassinate you." Ozai narrowed his eyes.
Narrowing her eyes, "Is that a threat?!"
"You tell me, dear."
The two had to be separated.
Working together was no longer an option so Katara decided to divide their work up based on their strengths. She would take on public issues related to the people of the nation like healthcare, education, and workforce. That and foreign politics. Ozai would overlook the issues that related to the court and council as well as matters related to treasury, laws, and other issues related to the domestic affairs of the country that she struggled with. This allowed them to work separately, Katara using the Fire Lord's office while Ozai used his old office from the time he was a prince. Katara also saw to it that his chambers were moved into a private domain away from the inner palace where she stayed as she wanted to see as little as possible of him. And she wanted him far away from her son. She restricted him from using the royal gardens during times when she would be there with her son and denied him entire access to the branch of the palace that housed her and Prince Lu-Shin.
These changes did not sit well with those that sided more with the former Fire Lord. They felt he was better suited to run the nation and create a smooth transition for the prince when it was his time to take the throne. Many were not in favor of the Fire Lady at all but it was the previous Fire Lord's wishes that under no circumstances was she to have her position removed. They felt she was better doing what all queen mother's did, living in the domain designed for them to retire from a life of politics and lap in luxury until she finally kicked the bucket. Ozai expressed the same notions and even politically stated that this should have been her fate but his son was blinded by love, recounting her mistakes over the first year of her being regent.
Katara paced her chambers late at night, flustered and irritated. She had heard the things people were saying about her. Calling her a Water Tribe peasant and a thoughtless girl. She was too young and too inexperienced to be regent. She wasn't even qualified to be Fire Lady. Her father-in-law referred to her as concubine material, remarking that she was pretty enough to be the Fire Lord's pet but too stupid to be his wife. He even claimed she must have used her evil waterbending, bloodbending, on his son to scare him into making her his wife. Now, people were calling her power hungry and cunning. It left her utterly speechless and embarrassed to show her face. But she showed up nonetheless and did what she was supposed to for the sake of her late husband's dream and her son's future.
"Your grace, please, don't listen to those foul words." Zhu-Shang told her. "He has always been known to be cruel to those that oppose him but you are the Fire Lady, the previous Fire Lord chose you to be the prince's regent. He trusted only you to carry this burden. The only reason former Fire Lord Ozai is even in this position now is because you allowed it."
Sighing, Katara shook her head. "He was my best option. He knows what he's doing and he does it well. Sometimes I feel he's right about me. What if I'm not cut out for being regent? What if Zuko was wrong about me?" She paused in her step and looked to her bed, staring at the side he slept on. "I need to go visit him."
Zhu-Shand nodded, "I'll have the carriage readied, your grace."
"Thank you, Zhu-Shang."
…
Arriving at the tomb, Katara went inside alone and traveled down the catacombs with a lantern. When she reached where Zuko's crypt was, she noticed there was someone else down here and paused to listen to the other person speak.
"Why'd you marry that idiot?" Ozai scoffed. "Your uncle should have told you there was no place for a Water Tribe girl at the side of the Fire Lord. She'd barely sit well as a concubine but your Fire Lady?!" He scoffed. "You could have done better."
Furrowing her brows, Katara approached her late husband's crypt and glared at her father-in-law. "He married me because we loved each other! Not everything has to be so strategic!"
Drinking from his flask, Ozai scowled at her. "Love?! Who gives a fuck about love?! He was the Agni damn Fire Lord! His duty was to put the nation first and marrying you was a disregard for the nation's best interest!"
Clenching her fists as she averted her eyes and shook, "I KNOW THAT ALREADY!"
Ozai lifted a brow at the girl screaming at him.
"I knew, he knew, we knew that there were better candidates to become Fire Lady." Katara softened her tone as she placed her hand on the outside of Zuko's grave and stared somberly at it before shutting her eyes tight. "We debated getting married. We both had our reservations. He didn't want me to become a young widow. We had just gotten the news and he gave me the option to walk away but I told him I didn't care. I tried to tell him I wouldn't be good at being Fire Lady, let alone regent but Zuko, he begged to differ. He said I had the heart to do what was right by the country, no matter the sacrifice." Sniffling as tears rolled down her cheeks. "In the end, we figured getting married was our one chance in this life to be together and to ensure that one day, we'd be buried right next to each other." Katara pointed at the crypt beside Zuko's. "You say I'm ill-fit to be in my current position and I agree wholeheartedly. But I loved your son, I still do, more than you'll ever know. So that's why I accepted the mantle of regent and sucked up my pride to gain your help because I couldn't let him down. I can't. Love? Who cares about it? Well, we did and it's what drives me everyday to give my all. Even when you've made a fool of me to everyone."
Looking from the crypt to his daughter-in-law, who was running her hand along the characters of his son's name, Ozai sighed. "I just want to see my grandson."
"And I just want to protect him." Katara looked at him tearfully. "I'm his mother. Why am I wrong for not wanting to expose my son to the man that brought so much heartache to his father?"
"Because I want to right my wrongs." Ozai told her as he stepped towards her, placing his hand on Zuko's crypt. "That boy is all that's left of my son. I don't get the chance to do right by Zuko. He's already gone. But his son, my grandson, I can be the father I should have been to Zuko."
Katara glared at him, "Lu-Shin already has a father."
"But the boy will never know him." Ozai tried to explain to her. "He needs a man in his life to show him how to be a man. How to carry himself with dignity and honor. A man to be an example to him, a role model."
"I don't trust you, Ozai. I'm sorry." She said.
Looking at her in defeat, "So, you're never going to let me see him, are you?"
Katara shook her head.
"Then what example will he have of being a man?"
Katara looked away, "Maybe one day…some day, not any time soon, I'll meet someone and-"
"You were the Fire Lord's wife, you can never remarry." Ozai pointed out to her. "You can't even look at another man or these people will eat you alive. You know that, right?"
Swallowing hard, Katara nodded. "Zuko warned me of that but there's no law against it. I may find comfort in someone someday…and they could be the role model he needs."
"Nonsense! No one would be foolish enough to look at a Fire Lord's widow!"
Katara turned away to leave, "I don't know but I need to go."
"Don't bother, I was just leaving." Ozai walked past her, brushing shoulders with her broken arm.
Wincing, Katara looked over her shoulder and went back to looking at Zuko's crypt. Her eyes flooded with tears and she began sobbing. "I wish you didn't take that lightning strike for me! It was supposed to be me, Zuko!"
Ozai heard the girl on his way out and sighed to himself as he exited the tomb.
As the weeks went on, the disdain for the Fire Lady grew and people were doing little to hide their loath of her. She had to be relocated to her branch of the palace after a nobleman shouted that she was a dirty Water Tribe whore and threw a brick at her. She was hit in the back of the head with it and whisked away. It was not made publicly that the Fire Lady sustained a concussion from the blunt force of the brick. Her inner circle feared she'd be made more vulnerable to those that opposed her.
Having heard what happened, Ozai felt somewhat guilty for stirring the shitpot and turning people against her. He just wanted to see his grandson. He had no idea that things would escalate as they did. The girl wasn't much taller than 5'3 and was rather petite. Yet she had a broken arm and a concussion from what his inside sources told him. He wasn't trying to get the girl killed or little her even. He just wanted her to give in and let him see his grandson.
One day while gathering some scrolls from the archives, Ozai saw his daughter-in-law with her servant leaving with a few scrolls themselves. He didn't make eye contact with her as she avoided his gaze, the two passing each other by without a single glance. He was just about to down another aisle of shelves when he heard one of the women scream followed by a man's shouting. Ozai dropped his scrolls and turned around to see his daughter-in-law holding a dagger of ice plunged into a man's chest as her servant had a slashed arm.
Yanking the dagger out, Katara kicked the man to the ground and looked around to see if there were others coming. When she assessed it was just him, she called for her guards and went to tend to her servant.
"Are you okay, Zhu-Shang?" Katara asked with deep concern.
"I'm fine, your grace."
Ozai made his way over to check on them but as soon as he approached, Katara took a guarded stance. "Hey, I'm just making sure you're alright."
Katara narrowed her eyes, "I can't be too sure. This bastard just tried to stab me. If it wasn't for Zhu-Shang's quick response, he would have been successful."
Looking from his daughter-in-law to the attacker, lying dead on the ground. "Killing him wasn't wise," he told her. "You could have gotten him to talk. He could be working for someone."
"Someone indeed." Katara glared at him suspiciously.
Narrowing his eyes, "You think he was here because of me?!"
Narrowing her eyes back at him, "I just think the timing is suspicious."
"I can see how that might be the case but I assure you, I don't have ill-intentions towards your wellbeing."
"You've literally tackled me and broken my arm in the process." Katara stared deadpan at him.
Growling at her, "If I wanted to kill you, trust and believe I'm doing it myself."
"That's about the only thing I trust you to do." Katara spat before turning her attention to the guards that showed up to explain the incident.
The days that followed put the palace on high alert as two more assassination attempts took place. The first happened while in her office and the second took place in her bed chambers. She was nearly killed as she was vulnerable and woken from her sleep. If it wasn't for her servant springing into action to strangle the man with the sash of her gown, the Fire Lady would have had no time to escape. These attacks caused Katara to tear into her ministers and council, letting them know she was investigating the two assassins to find out their motives and who they were working with. Katara let it be known that anyone involved would be executed and their families would lose their noble statuses. This managed to discourage anymore assassination attempts which led her to believe that it was someone amongst the ministers or council.
….
"Katara!" Suki said as she hugged her sister-in-law tight in a hug.
Hugging her back, "Suki, it's good to see you."
Suki looked at her sister-in-law and sighed, "I'm sorry about Zuko." She sniffled a little with watery eyes. "I meant to come here with Sokka and your father after the funeral but I was so far along in my pregnancy."
Katara told her it was fine and gave a soft smile before looking to her brother, "You're finally growing out a beard, looks good." She chuckled.
"Yeah, look like dad, don't I?" He smirked and stroked her chin.
Chuckling as she nodded, "Yes, you do."
Sokka patted his sister's head, "How you been holding up? Heard you've been having troubles running things on your own, so much so that you had to get help from 'the tyrant'."
Katara sighed and shook her head, "As helpful as he was in fixing my mistakes, he's been a pain in the ass but truly, he's harmless. Like his claws have been clipped."
Sokka raised a brow, "Then what's with the broken arm?"
Chuckling nervously, "I've been dealing with assassination attempts." She said like it was no big thing.
Both Sokka and Suki gaped at her.
"Yeah, apparently I'm a crap regent and my father-in-law is better suited to run things on his own." Katara continued as if it was such a little matter.
"Katara!" Sokka looked at his sister like she wasn't taking any of this seriously enough. "What is wrong with you?! Why did you tell us sooner?!"
"Yeah, sis," Suki chimed in. "Did this start after Zuko died?"
Katara shook her head, "Only recently."
Sokka eyed her funny, "This have anything to do with your father-in-law."
Katara shook her head, "Not at all. Like I said, he's harmless, totally declawed."
"Harmless? Declawed? If that's the case, why do you treat me like a villain all the time?"
Everyone turned to see the man in question approach them and Sokka pushed his wife behind him. Katara stepped up to him and smiled awkwardly, "Old habits die hard." She chuckled strangely. "Sorry, father. I don't mean to offend you."
Ozai raised a brow at her, "What the hell's with the sudden respect? Thought you didn't have manners or something."
"Yes, well," Katara glanced over her shoulder at her guards family members and looked back at her father-in-law. "I've been a little tense lately and have taken it out on you. I don't mean to be rude."
Staring at her like she had lost it, Ozai looked from her to her family and back to her. She gave him a wink of the eye and realized she was putting on for her family. He sighed and decided it wouldn't kill him to play along. Clearly, she didn't want her family knowing they were at odds.
"All is forgiven." Ozai replied.
Katara turned to her family awkwardly. "So, let me show you to your rooms?"
As she settled her sister-in-law and brother in their chambers, Katara sighed and left them to unwind from their travel. She noticed her father-in-law was making his way towards her. She tried to strut away but he caught her arm, stopping her in her tracks.
"Why are you playing nice so suddenly now that your family is here?" Ozai asked her.
Katara turned around looked up at him, "Because, unlike you, I don't want to stir up drama for you. My brother is very protective of me and he's not fond of the idea that we're working together. I'm trying to have some peace and quiet for once. Our workload has increased again with the quarterly coming back up. Neither of us needs extra things to worry about."
"How thoughtful of you." Ozai said sarcastically. "Now, if only you'd let me see my grandson, I'd think you were the perfect daughter-in-law."
Rolling her eyes, "Let's just keep the peace until they leave, okay? We can go back to being at each other's throats when they're gone."
Narrowing his eyes at you, "You think I want to fight with my son's widow all damn day every day? Every time I think you have some sense, you prove to me that you don't."
"What am I supposed to think when you've turned the whole court against me?!"
"Again, I only want to see my grandson."
Katara clenched her fists, "Play nice with me and I'll consider."
"I don't want you to consider. Make it happen."
"Why can't you just cooperate?!"
"Why can't you be sensible?!"
"Damn it! Fine! I'll let you see him but only with my supervision."
Ozai grinned immediately at this. "Finally, we're getting somewhere."
"But you have to fix the shit image you've placed on me. I'm tired of having people look at me like I don't work hard and try hard for this country." Katara told him. "I'm not perfect but that's why I brought you along, I acknowledge you knew far more than me and would be of use in this transition period."
"I can do that." Ozai agreed.
"Thank you."
…..
With Katara's family present in the palace, Ozai played nice with her and even spoke in favor of her publicly. Stating his assessment of her was incorrect. She was dutiful, devoted, and diligent. She spare no time for herself, taking her role as regent most seriously, and had the best interest of the nation at heart. He was convinced she was ill-suited but that was merely because she never verbalized all she was doing as she felt actions spoke louder than words. It took him seeing her in action for him to recognize her good merits and that he was blinded by his prejudice and desire to see his grandson. This confession of being wrong in his judgment of the Fire Lady changed many of those that had turned against her as they had never seen the Fire Lady cower from the criticism thrown her way as she continued to do her job. It would seem more of a personal dispute between the two rather than one that should concern the court. Some made formal apologies to the Fire Lady as they felt terrible for their treatment of her.
As agreed upon, Katara allowed Ozai to meet his grandson, Prince Lu-Shin. She had never seen the man so excited and never expected him to be. He told her to give him a day before meeting the boy and when the day passed, she saw he had gifts for her son. It couldn't be helped that she felt guilty having denied this man the chance to see his grandson.
Escorting him to the branch where she and her son lived, Katara let him know that her brother and sister-in-law would be present. Ozai didn't care, he just wanted to see Lu-Shin, holding onto the gifts he brought for the boy.
"How old is he now?" Ozai asked.
"He's almost four." Katara told him. "But he's already talking a lot for his age."
Ozai snickered at this, "The boy is advanced, is he? Breathing fire on his day of birth and talking like a champ, I'm already so proud of that boy."
Katara could see the glee on her father-in-law's face as they grew closer and she hated that she made this man wait like this. Maybe her concerns were baseless. He looked to joyful for someone about to hurt a child.
As they entered the courtyard where her son was chasing a butterfly with his caregiver chasing it with him, all giggling with laughter, Katara paused and turned to Ozai.
"There he is." Katara told him with a soft smile. "Go introduce yourself."
Ozai looked out to the courtyard and felt his heart tighten in his chest as he saw the boy.
Katara watched the man gradually make his way to her son and noticed her son spotted him. She teared up a little when she saw Lu-Shin smile at his grandfather and stopped chasing the butterfly to approach him.
"Daddy!" He shouted and ran to his grandfather, hugging his leg. "Daddy! Daddy!"
It was emotional for everyone that witnessed it. Even her brother and Suki. He thought his grandfather was his father and it was heartbreaking that he was wanting to meet his father. Ozai dropped to one knee in front of the boy after tossing the gifts aside and smiled somberly a little before pulling the boy into a hug, receiving a hug in return.
Katara approached the two and looked to her son, "Lu-Shin, this is your grandpa." She tried to explain to the little boy.
Not quite understanding, Lu-Shin pulled apart and tilted his head at his grandfather. "Grandpa?"
Ozai nodded with a smile, "Yeah, that's me."
"Grandpa!" Lu-Shin laughed as he went for another hug.
Ozai pulled the boy into his arms again and hugged him tight.
"I love you, grandpa." Lu-Shin said, causing his caregivers to awe as his family watched with teary smiles.
Sniffling as she turned to wipe her tears, Katara got herself together but she started crying more. "Umm, Lu-Shin, your grandpa has gifts for you."
"Gifts?"
Ozai nodded to the boy, "Open it." He picked up one of the gifts he dropped and handed it to the boy.
Lu-Shin took it and opened his present, his eyes widening as he saw into the box. "A sword!" He pulled it out of the box and revealed a sheathed dagger.
"One day when you're old enough, I'll show you how to use that properly, so you can protect yourself." Ozai told him.
Katara had the caregiver help the boy place the dagger back in its box and ordered it be taken to his rooms while her son opened more of his gifts. Her father-in-law had gotten her son toy soldiers to play with and toy swords to play with. He told her son he'd play with her after his firebending lessons when he turned four. His last gift was a red mask that looked like Zuko's blue spirit mask and he placed it on the boy's face, hearing him laugh as he wore it.
"Now you can be a vigilante like your father." Ozai beamed at the boy as he ran off to chase his caregivers and his uncle and aunt.
Standing back to his feet, Ozai glanced down at his daughter-in-law and sighed. "I think I'm done playing nice."
"Huh?" Katara looked at him, caught off guard by his comment.
"I want us to get along, Katara." Ozai said while clasping his hands behind his back and watching his grandson chase people around with his mask. "Can we do that?"
Katara sighed and nodded, "We can. For the nation's sake and his."
Smiling sadly as he looked at the boy, "You were right about him looking like Zuko. He's his spitting image."
Nodding her head with tears, "And he seems to already love you." Katara looked up at her father-in-law. "I'm sorry I deny you the chance to meet him sooner. I realize now that I was in the wrong."
Sighing, Ozai patted her head. "You're a young mother doing this by yourself. I don't fault you. At least I know you take his safety very seriously. But you don't have to do it alone, Katara. I'm right here with you. As your co-regent and father-in-law. I won't let anything happen to him or you, understood?"
Katara smiled a little, "Understood."
"Good." He sighed and rolled his neck. "Cause being at odds with you has put a crook in my neck and tensed up the muscles in my back. Send some pretty woman to my domain this evening. I need a massage."
Chuckling, Katara nodded. "Of course, father."
Smirking as it seemed she finally acknowledged him as her father-in-law, Ozai felt a lot better with how things were going. He got to see his grandson and squash the beef between him and his son's widow. He felt accomplished. Moving forward he hoped things continued down this path.
…
A/N: