A/N:

One more chapter this week

Part 3:

~Six Years Later~

"My lord, I don't know if he's-"

"Look at me, Katara." Ozai cupped her face. "He's ready. Have more faith in him. He's been firebending since the day he could walk. Don't hold him back."

Reluctantly, Katara nodded. She agreed to let her son take up firebending instructions from a master firebender. His father. Not like she had much of a choice. Ozai would have his way. No matter what. She had to relearn that over and over again as her feelings for him often blinded her to the person he truly was. He was more than her lover and master, he was the Fire Lord, the Phoenix King.

In the years following the birth of her son, Ozai proclaimed himself Phoenix King and the entire world was his empire, except for the Northern Water Tribe. A place that was safe from his rule, solely because she was his most favored consort and he didn't want to upset her. However, he did many things to upset her over the years but nothing she didn't forgive him in the end. She always forgave him. He couldn't insult her badly enough or hit her hard enough to make her not forgive him. Even now with the burn marks to her wrists and ankles, Katara couldn't hate him. He was her master and she so humbly served him. No matter what.

Smiling that strained smile he used with her in public that restrained some of his frustrations, the Fire Lord let go of her face and she thanked Tui and La that he resisted the need to humiliate her. He was good at not letting it be known that he was sometimes cruel to her.

Looking at his son practice the basic firebending stance he showed him earlier before his mother interrupted them, "You haven't a clue how powerful our son is, Katara. You need to leave his education and training to me. I know what's best. I am his father."

Bowing her head, "Yes, my lord."

"You have raised him to this point and you've done well. Taught him all the basics of literacy as I have taught you. It's time you let go. He's a prince and there are certain expectations for him, expectations you wouldn't understand. You're just a water peasant, your small mind will only allow you to comprehend so much."

Hating to hear him talk down to her, Katara held her head down and sniffled as tears formed in her eyes. She excused herself and allowed herself to return to the harem, where she was greeted by her brother. He saw her tears immediately and followed her into her chambers.

"What's he done now?" Sokka asked her.

Katara sat down in the arctic polar bear fur chair that Ozai gifted her with this year for her twenty-fourth birthday. "He wants to train Zhiar in firebending." She choked on her whisper. "What if he hurts him?"

Seeing his sister's frantic worry, Sokka went over to her and rubbed her shoulders. "It'll be okay, sis. It's best he learn from a firebender like his father. That way he can use it against him later."

Katara shrugged her brother's hands off of her, "He will do no such thing, Sokka." She bit out through her tears.

"Sis, you can't possibly think we're just going to live the rest of our days here in the harem like this. You saw what he did to Fumi. That'll be you in ten, twenty years. He's already so rough with you and talks to you like you're subhuman. He might care for, even love you, but that doesn't mean much coming from the likes of him." Sokka told her. "You need to prepare the boy for taking on his father, so we can finish what we started."

Katara stared at her brother with tears in her eyes, "The boy, Sokka? He's your nephew. My son. He's Zhiar."

Sokka looked away from his sister, "He's that monster's son."

"You still won't acknowledge him." Katara sniffled and shook her head. "I need to be alone right now, Sokka."

Sokka sighed and left his sister to her lonesome. He just hoped she would consider what he said.

…..

The drums played and Katara rolled her hips to the beat of it as she twirled around with her long flowy sleeves. Her dance was hypnotic as always and she easily enticed any that watched her. The Fire Lord wanted to entertain his generals. Especially one in particular. Fumi's brother, Rohan. A fierce general that oversaw half the Fire Nation army. He had not been pleased as of late due to discovering his sister died last winter from exposure to the wintery elements. Or at least that was the story everyone was told. Of course, her body had been dumped in the garden only to be discovered after the three day snow storm ended. The physicians falsified the autopsy for fears of being executed and were all sworn to secrecy. The truth was, the Fire Lord killed her, strangled her to death. Not that Katara could blame him. The woman attempted to kill her son with poison. If it hadn't been for her healing ability, she would have surely lost Zhiar to Fumi's wickedness. However, this was not good enough reason for the Fire Lord to get away with murder as it wasn't a public execution. So, her true cause of death had been hidden. However, the Fire Lord knew her family, who had to bury her body themselves, would notice the obvious signs of strangulation around her pale neck. Thus, he sought to sway the general, Fumi's brother, into remaining loyal to his sovereign.

"How are you enjoying the entertainment?" Ozai asked General Rohan.

Rohan watched the woman said to be the Fire Lord's favorite Consort, the only lady of the harem to have been privileged to have a child by the current Fire Lord. "I'm enjoying it more than I had hoped. Your water consort is a beauty unlike any I've ever seen."

Ozai nodded and sipped his wine, "That she is."

"I must say I'm envious."

Side eyeing his general, "Is that so?"

As the party continued on, Katara helped keep the glasses of the men filled and did so with a gleeful smile like she was expected to have. Swaying her hips to the Fire Lord as she carried the large basin, the consort saw him eyeing her with a smirk and returned his smirk. He no doubt wanted to see her tonight like he typically did after parties like these. She wanted to see him too. He had been so incredibly busy being Fire Lord and Phoenix King that he rarely visited the harem in the evenings.

Coming up to him, Katara poured his glass as well as General Rohan's. He told her to put the basin down after she filled their glasses and pulled her into his lap. She giggled as he nuzzled his face to her neck and kissed her.

"Sapphire, this is Rohan. Fumi's younger brother." Ozai informed her.

Katara looked at the general with a courteous smile, "It is an honor." She told him.

Looking the consort over, "I see she's assimilated well."

"Your sister's doing." Ozai told the general. "Only a strong Fire Nation woman like Fumi could tame the barbaric ways of a water wench."

Feeling something break in her at the comment, Katara continued to uphold her demeanor as she didn't want to disappoint her master.

"Hard to believe something so pretty could be barbaric." Rohan said as he licked his lips.

"Trust me," Ozai continued on. "She has her moments. It takes a lot to tame a woman like her. Even I struggled."

"Then she must need reminding of who she belongs to." Rohan grinned. "You're Fire Nation property, woman. Don't ever forget that."

Katara nodded.

Ozai kissed Katara on the cheek and told her to go on. As she left, Ozai saw his general watching his water consort's lushious backside and could tell the man wanted her. While he'd normally kill a man for looking at his favorite consort like that, he knew the importance of keeping a man like Rohan around. Until Zhiar was old enough to maintain global control on his behalf, Ozai had to appease his number one general. At all cost.

"How'd you like to enjoy a night with my beautiful consort?" Ozai asked the general.

Looking at the Fire Lord in shock, "Consort Sapphire?"

"Yes." Ozai smirked. "I permit you to have her for one night and one night alone. My gift to you for being so loyal to the crown."

Rohan looked back to Consort Sapphire and licked his lips before turning his gaze back to the Fire Lord. "Let me and few of my men take turns with her and I'll make sure the army is always loyal to the crown."

Grinning, "Very well."

Katara was in her chambers preparing for the Fire Lord to see her. She dressed in the lingerie he always liked her to wear and wore her hair completely down as she climbed into her bed to await him. However, the panel doors of her chambers slid open and in walked the general from the party that Ozai introduced her to along with several other men. It caused her to stand to her feet as no other men but the Fire Lord, Fire Prince, and eunuchs were allowed in the harem.

"Excuse me, you can't-"

The consort watched one of her maids be slapped and shoved to the ground as the men entered.

"The Fire Lord gave us full reign of this domain. Says we can fuck any one of you and we choose you, Consort Sapphire."

Katara's eyes widened. No, that couldn't be. The Fire Lord would never allow something like this to happen. Not again. He wouldn't, he promised. Backing up slowly, Katara was about to scream for help when the general ordered his men to grab her. She was snatched up and taken to her bed where they tore her clothes off. They held her down as their leader began undressing as he approached her.

"You're gonna be a good little water slut while me and my men have our way with you." Rohan told her.

Katara shook her head as she cried, "PLEASE! DON'T! HAVE MERCY!"

"Should have thought better before you stole my sister's spot as the favorite. Now, I'll make sure you're so ruined, the Fire Lord won't dare sleep with you again."

The night was filled with the consort's screaming and crying for the Fire Lord. He stood outside her domain as his general and men had their way with her. He'd beg for her forgiveness in the morning but for now, she had to bear through this. Rohan's loyalty was more important than her suffering and he knew the man wanted to do more than just fuck Katara. He wanted her to pay for Fumi's fall from being the favorite. He'd make sure to bring the physicians in the morning to treat her.

"You must drink all of this, my lady. You can't let the seed of anyone but the Fire Lord grow in you." Her maid told her as the nurses treated her injuries and the Physician handed her the contraceptive liquid.

Katara drank all of it and gasped a cry as she finished it before crying some more. She knew the Fire Lord had entered her chambers when everyone stopped what they were doing to bow to him and then returned to treating her. When she was all bandaged up and had taken one more dose of the contraceptive to be sure, the Fire Lord dismissed them all in order to speak privately with his consort.

"Ka-"

"My lord, tell me, please, tell me you didn't send those men to me last night. Tell me they are being hung outside the palace walls and are castrated!" Katara cried angrily.

Ozai averted his gaze and it told her everything.

Katara cried out in a slight scream as she shook her head, "No, my lord. Tell me, you wouldn't! NO! You promised me! You swore never again!"

"Securing the loyalty of General Rohan was necessary. At any cost. Including you. It will never happen again but it had to last night so tha-"

"My lord, do you kn-know…what they did to me?" Her voice cracked as she cried. "They tied me to the bed posts, brutally raped me, all of them, and they used a candle stick to shove in me. Fucked me repeatedly with it until I bled and they resumed raping me! I-I I can feel their hands all over my body even now, my lord. They're still touching me! All of them! I-I begged them to stop but they shut me up by-"

"Enough!" Ozai shouted at her. "I've heard enough!"

Katara flinched at the sound of his voice.

The Fire Lord left without another word and Katara dropped to the floor in tears as she couldn't believe he did this to her.

In his office, Ozai assessed a few documents when General Rohan entered his office to let him know he was sorry about roughing up his consort, claiming to have gotten carried away. He forced a chuckle and expressed understanding exactly what he meant about getting carried away. Rohan laughed with the Fire Lord as the man stood to his feet, continuing to laugh with him. However, Rohan didn't see it coming when the Fire Lord struck in with lightning, sending him crippling to his knees.

Walking around his desk to look down at the general on his knees and scowled at him, "You couldn't possibly think I'd let you just brutalize the woman I love and get away with it."

"But you said-"

Smirking, "I know what I said and now the army is loyal to me after your public address to them. I don't need you anymore. Your men are already hung outside the palace walls, castrated, and crisped. You'll soon join them."

"But your majes- AH!"

Ozai watched impassively as the man was engulfed with a blue flame and screamed till his dying breath. Going back to his desk, the Fire lord kicked his feet up on it and watched his blue flames eat at the sick bastard that tortured his consort. Winning over with necessary but keeping him alive was not. If one was to be powerful, they needed to appease no one, submit to no one, relinquish nothing to no one. He couldn't let someone like Rohan maintain his control over the army. No, the army was for his direct control and his direct control only.

…

Kissing all over his water consort, Ozai managed to win his woman over again, she never stayed mad at him for long. Always the forgiving type. Agni, he loved her, truly. She was unlike any woman he ever knew and ever would know. It took him a month to regain her affection but it was worth the wait. He wanted her so badly, he could barely contain himself.

"I love you, my little water minx."

Giggling as she had to hold him off from forcing her down on the floor cushions and having her. "My lord, please, our son is just in the next room. We must be restrained."

"Restrained?" Ozai looked at her. "But why? This is how we created him. Our precious son. He was conceived from the very act I want so badly to do to you. Please, my beautiful water princess, let me sheathe myself in your warmth."

The Water Consort was about to give in when a knock came at her panel door and the maid went to answer it.

"Prince Zhiar, what are you doing up so late?" The maid asked in shock.

Seeing their six year old son enter with his maid, "Mama, papa, is everything okay?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.

Pulling away from the boy's mother, Ozai gave his son a stern look, "Zhiar, you should be in bed. Your mother and I are fine."

"But-"

"Hush hush. Return to your chambers and rest. You have a busy day of training tomorrow."

Looking gloomily from his father to his mother, "But my hands hurt from training." the little boy whined. "I don't want to train anymore. Mama, please, tell papa I don't want to be a firebender. I want to be a waterbender like you, mama."

Ozai furrowed his brows at this and Katara saw he was about to get upset.

"Zhiar," She quickly said as she clung to Ozai's arm to prevent him from going to the boy. "Training is always tough. No matter what element you wield. You have to work hard at it but it is most rewarding in the end. Please, my son, go lay down in bed and be ready to train tomorrow."

Zhiar sighed, "Okay, mama." He dropped his head and walked out with his maid.

When their son was gone, Ozai pulled away from her and scoffed. "That boy, I don't know what to do with him. He's got the makings of a prodigy firebender. Flames stronger than any child his age should be wielding. He even has good control of it. But he's got no fight in him. No rage. No passion. No drive. I know it can't be from you. You're a master waterbender and I can't imagine you becoming that without pushing yourself. Something is wrong with him." Ozai said.

Katara sighed, "My lord, maybe he needs a break."

"A break? How can he become great if I let him rest now? Not even Zuko had a break when he was his age and he was nowhere near as talented as Zhiar." Ozai told her as he looked at her. "Besides, I expect even more from him than I'm seeing."

"He's just a child, my lord. You have to be patient with him."

"Patient? Katara, I'm being patient." He scoffed.

Katara sighed, "Then I will try speaking with him. I'm his mother. I should have better prepared him to not disappoint you."

Ozai looked to his water consort, "This doesn't fall on you, my little pond. You've done all you can. It's up to me to mold and shape him. But how?"

The following day during training, Katara decided to attend in order to make sure that her son stayed on task with his training. She watched Ozai show their son the stances one by one and their son mimicked it back exactly as his father did. It wasn't until Ozai showed him a combo move that Zhiar fell flat on his bottom and continued to do so with the same move.

"Come on! You're a firebender! Show some aggression and passion, son!"

"I'm trying!" Zhiar cried as he felt he was failing his father. "But I just don't feel it! I'm sorry!"

Ozai scoffed as Katara got up to go to her son and hug him, telling him it was alright. However, she was yanked away from him and yelled at by her son's father.

"This is why he has no fight in him! You're babying him!" Ozai yelled in her face. "You've made him into a passive weakling! Just like you did that boy Avatar I had to put down! I won't let you make a weakling of my son, Katara!"

Zhiar watched as his father insulted and yelled at his mother. It made him upset. Why was his father like this sometimes? Why did he go from being loving to harsh to his mother? His mother was kind and loving and she did nothing wrong. However, his father could be mean and say hurtful things to them both. Why was he like this? Did his father not care about them?

"My lord, please, he's a chil-"

Slapping his consort across the face, "Don't you back talk me, woman!" Ozai shouted at her.

Zhiar's eyes widened as his mother was slapped down to the ground. His fists clenched and he growled under his breath.

Katara held her cheek as she sat in the grass, looking up at her master in hurt at his assault on her. However, it was short lived as she looked down and saw the grass was freezing over. What? Katara knew it couldn't be her. She had a chi-blocking brace on and it wasn't a full moon for her to overpower it. Where was this- her eyes widened as she looked at her son.

"Zhiar?" She whispered his name as she saw his eyes glow that glow she was all too familiar with.

Ozai couldn't contain his thrill at how his son gave him the assurance he needed in knowing that he was truly the Avatar.

The Fire Prince lifted from the ground as air began circulating under his feet and flames shot out from his hands. A ribbon of water pulled from the nearby pond to rotate around him with some rocks. "Leave my mother alone!" Zhiar said in a voice that Katara practically cried at the sound of.

"Aang?!" She climbed to her feet and was about to go to her son but Ozai grabbed her and pulled her to him.

"Leave her alone? But son, I love your mother." Ozai said to his son as he beamed up at him. "I love her with all my heart. You know this."

"Then why hurt her?!" Zhiar's sphere of elements grew larger as he rose higher in the air.

Seeing things were getting worse, Katara broke away from Ozai and stepped towards Zhiar. "Zhiar, it's okay. Everything is okay. I'm fine." She reached her hand out to him like she had for Aang whenever he was angered by something happening to her.

"But dad, he hit you." Zhiar said as his expression looked sad.

"That's because I was being a silly woman. I shouldn't have caused discourse with your father. It was my fault." Katara reasoned with him as she took his hand. "You don't have to be mad, Zhiar. I'm fine. Look at me." She smiled at him. "I just want you to be okay. Come down, please."

Zhiar came down like his mother said and the elements all dropped around him as he fell into his mother's arms, immediately going unconscious. As she held him tight to her chest, running her hand into his hair, Katara barely noticed Ozai approaching her from behind until he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"From now on, Katara, I want you to train him in waterbending." Ozai looked down at his son in her arms. "I'll have your brace permanently removed for this purpose."

Katara looked over her shoulders in tears, "My lord…did you….did you know?"

Ozai smirked and walked around her, "I've known since the day he was born, Katara. His unusual eyes and the fact that his mother was the last waterbender of the South Pole was enough to convince me. Today was just confirmation of what I always knew. My son is the Avatar. An Avatar born of fire and water."

Katara's eyes were wide at him. "Then y-you used me…this whole time….you've been-"

Grabbing her cheeks, "Look at me, Katara. I love you. Love you more than I've loved anyone. My original plan included killing you as soon as he was born but it was love that I kept you alive all these years. Understand me? If I just wanted this child from you, you'd have been dead six years ago. Got it?"

Swallowing hard as she shut her eyes and nodded.

Letting go of her face, "Good. Now get him to his chambers and ensure that he is well. I need to have a word with the Fire Sages."

Carrying her son back to her domain in her arms, Katara was approached by her ladies, who all seemed concerned for the Fire Prince. She asked them to give her space as she needed to get him in his bed and tend to him. They all backed away to give her space as she carried the prince to his rooms.

Laying him in his bed, Katara looked over her son with teary eyes as he lips trembled and caressed his hair. "This- this can't be." She sniffled. "The Avatar died in the Avatar state along with all our hopes and dreams."

"So, you finally figured it out."

Katara turned to see her brother enter, "Sokka? Wha-what? You knew too?"

Nodding, "Zuko told me on the day he was born how his father had his eyes on you long before the war ended. Your purpose was always to give birth to the next Avatar in the cycle. However, Zuko also mentioned, his father's feelings for you are real as you'd be dead otherwise."

Sniffling as she stood up from her knelt position by her son's bed and walked up to Sokka, slapping him dead in his face. "And you tell me this now?!"

Holding his cheek, "Ow! Yes! Zuko said he tried to tell you at that celebration years ago but you weren't ready to hear the truth. He told me not to say anything unless you got curious or you found out the truth of what the boy was. The world's hope. The Avatar."

"He's not the boy, Sokka! He's not the world's hope or even the Avatar! He's my son! And I won't let anyone, not you and Zuko, not his father, or anyone use him like some tool for what they want! He's my son! My precious son!" Katara cried angrily. "I won't let you all drive him into an early grave because want him to be of use to your cause! To hell with you all!"

"Kat-"

"Get out, Sokka!" Katara turned to look at her son in bed. "Get out!"

As soon as her brother was gone, Katara went back to her son's bedside and looked him over. She caressed his hair and cried over him. Asking Tui and La why. Why did her son have to be the Avatar?

…

Ozai watched his Consort teach their son to bend water back and forth between them, forming a stream as it traveled and then forming a ball as they caught it. Sure, he told her to teach him to basics but they had been doing this for a month. He needed to learn combat moves. When was she going to get to teaching him that? Was water just a useless element in fighting situations? Perhaps it was useless in a fight. The Southern Water Tribe fell easily to the Fire Nation raids. That or maybe he needed to assess the actual skills of this waterbender. She trained the previous Avatar and he fell just as easily.

"Little Pond, I think that's enough water ribbons. Perhaps, you can demonstrate how to use water in a fight." Ozai suggested.

"He's not ready for sparring, my lord. He's just a chil-"

"A child. Yes, I'm aware. That's why you will be sparring me." Ozai told her.

Katara looked to him cautiously, "My lord…I-I haven't bended in years. I'm nowhere near ready for a sparring match."

"Nonsense. I'll go easy on you." Ozai chuckled. "Now, come, show our son some water fighting styles you used during the war."

Katara swallowed hard, "My lord, I couldn't win even at my peak against you."

"I won't attack. Just dodge and evade." Ozai assured her. "Now, demonstrate."

Katara wasn't sure about this but what could she do except breath in and out before getting into a stance against her master. "Some of these moves require you to make moves against me, my lord."

"Very well, I'll-"

"I'll do it."

The two turned to see Zuko step out into the private outdoor dojo they were using to train Zhiar. Ozai looked from his son to Katara, who looked all too unenthused about this whole ordeal and decided his son could spar with her to show Zhiar. He figured the two had sparred plenty in their travels before his son turned coat.

Zuko walked up to Katara and gave her a look before bowing to her as was customary in a friendly spar. As she bowed, Zuko kicked a flame in her face and watched her quickly block it with an ice wall. The two heard Zhiar 'awe' at his mother's quick reflex.

Smirking at his water friend, "Been a while, Kat. Let's see if you're still just barely on my level."

Furrowing her brows, "Barely? Zuko, I always won our fights."

"Not always." Zuko smirked as he came at her with several fire punches and she erected a wall for each blast that came at her and then slung a water whip at him that he burned as soon as it closed in on him.

The two went back and forth, both trying to get the upper-head on the other. They trash talked each other and nearly overpower the other but there was always a comeback. Eventually, Katara knew she had to resort to a sneaky trick though she wished she didn't have to but she had to prove she was worthy of being her son's water instructor.

"Sorry, Zuko, but I have to win this match." Katara said as she took all the water from around her and swirled it around Zuko before turning it into ice blades, slashing him up.

Zuko dropped to his knees and whispered that he forgave her as she knocked him out with a water whip to the face.

"Whoa!" Zhiar said as he jumped up clapping his hands.

Ozai smirked as he sat up and walked over to his waterbender. "Now that's what I want you to teach, Zhiar." he cupped her face and kissed her lips. "I want him to use water just as you've demonstrated."

Katara sighed and nodded.

"Mama, that was so cool!" Zhiar jumped up and down. "You kicked big brother Zuko's butt!"

Glancing over at Zuko as he lay unconscious on the ground, Katara tried not to feel so guilty as she needed to eventually speak with him.

It just so happened that due to the compatibility in their fighting styles, Ozai allowed his oldest son to be a part of his training of Zhiar as his son was also an instructor to the previous Avatar. This allowed Katara to be able to have some contact with Zuko but they were always being watched by his father. It was until Ozai had an important meeting to attend that they were able to speak. Zhiar was taking a break to have his meal while Zuko pulled Katara off to the side to speak with her.

"Sokka told me you know now and that you're not happy about any of it." Zuko folded his arms. "I don't blame you but you've got to accept that he's the Avatar and has a duty to fulfill. You can't hold him back because you're his mother and you love him."

Glaring at Zuko, "Aang died, Zuko! Your father killed him! You think I'm just going to let that happen again but with my son this time?! You're out of your mind! He's my child! Not a fucking tool!"

"What do you think my father plans to use him for, Kat?! At least if you work with me, we can make this world a better place for all people or did you forget about everyone else while you lay in silk sheets and wear the finest clothes?!"

Katara scowled at Zuko, "Don't talk to me about a life of luxury, Fire Prince! Born into luxury and lazes about with no responsibilities! You think I get to lay in silk sheets and wear the finest clothes for free?! No! I pay a price and I have paid that price for six years, Zuko! Six fucking years I've been in servitude to your father's desires and I've never been allowed to refuse him! You act like I don't know the kind of man he is! You haven't an idea what I've put up with just to survive!"

Zuko sighed and looked at Katara with a seldom expression, "Why just survive, Katara? Why not live a little more happily? You're the one that changed how I saw the war and life. I hate seeing how jaded you've become but I understand, Zhiar is your son. You love him but leaving things as they are, Zhiar will be used to advance my father's plans. One way or another, Zhiar's identity as the Avatar will be put to use, only you get to decide whether that's for good or evil."

Katara looked away from Zuko and shook her head, "You act like I can defy your father. He slaps or burns me for just speaking out sometimes. Imagine what he'll do to me if I go against him. I'm as good as dead."

"You're his favorite. He wouldn't kill you."

Furrowing her brows as she balled her fists, "I watched him strangle Fumi. He made me watch. I think he meant to tell me not to ever go against him like she did or I'd suffer the same fate."

"I know a way out of the palace and to the docks. I have an old friend that could get us out of the country. Get us somewhere safe."

"Safe?! You think that such a place exists?! Zuko, your father rules the world! There is nowhere!"

"The North Pole. He doesn't have control over the North Pole. We can go th-"

"This is insane! You're asking me to not only defy your father but to runaway! He'll eventually find us! We can't run from him!"

"So let things remain as they are?! Let him have another chance to whore you out to another group of men! Let him burn and slap you! Let-"

"Let him do whatever he wants because I don't want to die, Zuko! I don't want to leave my son! I have to survive!" Katara hissed. "I've heard enough of this! Never mention this again to me!"

"Fine but whenever you're ready to face the truth, Kat, I'll be waiting." Zuko told her. "I'll make sure we get out of this alive and secure the outcome that Aang died for."

As Ozai returned to oversee the training of his son, he saw Katara teaching him a few moves that would counter his eldest son's attacks. Zhiar practiced it a few times and did so with ease. He might have been born of fire and water but he was the Water Avatar, so it was safe to say he picked up naturally though fire was the first element he manifested. Ozai couldn't wait to see more from his son. He was sure the boy would surprise him.

After his water instruction, Ozai took over with his fire instruction and showed a few more moves like before, combos that would make him more proficient. Zhiar was able to get the basics with ease but the combo were too much for him and his flames licked his fingertips causing him to cry out. Katara stood to go help her son but Zuko got to him first, crouching down in front of him.

"Let me see." Zuko told him as he looked over his hand. "Looks like you scorched your fingertips pretty badly. It's alright. I used to do that a lot as a kid."

Katara watched Zuko pull out a small jar of ointment and apply some of it to Zhiar's fingers.

"There, it should get better soon." Zuko smiled at him and rustled his hair.

Zhiar watched his older brother return to standing aside as their father resumed teaching him. Katara had to remain silent so as to not anger the Fire Lord but she wanted so badly to tell him to go easier on their son, to not yell so much, to be gentler. But she feared he'd get angry with her and in return, their son would become angry with him.

Frustrated and annoyed with his youngest son's missteps and lack of passion in firebending, Ozai called it a day before going to his son's mother. He grabbed her arm and yanked her away with him to speak out of sight from their son. Zuko could see his little brother staring off to where his father took his mother, knowing his failures today would be taken out on her.

Looking down at the grass somberly, Zhiar felt his big brother's hand fall on his shoulder and turned his head up at him.

"Father's not a good person, is he?" Zhiar whispered.

Zuko shook his head, "No, he's not." He whispered back.

"Then why is mom with him?"

"Your mother doesn't have a choice. It's his way or no way."

Zhiar looked back to where he saw his father returning, "Will it always be that way?"

"Nothing's forever, Zhiar. Nothing."

…

"And you're sure about this, your majesty?" The Fire Sage asked his sovereign.

Sitting at his patio low table, Ozai was poured his tea by his water consort and addressed the head Fire Sage. "I saw with my own eyes. The boy went into the Avatar state. He is the next Avatar."

The Fire Sage struggled to believe this. Sure, Consort Sapphire was the last waterbender of the South Pole which meant she could mother the next Avatar no doubt but the previous Avatar died in the Avatar state. Which meant the cycle was over. How could the Fire Prince be the next Avatar?

Ozai had his son summoned in order to prove that his son was indeed the Avatar. The Fire Sage looked the boy over and could see he had a strange set of eyes. One blue like a waterbender and one gold like a firebender. Interracial relations could in very rare cases produce a dual-bender and that might be what the Fire Prince was, a dual-bender.

"Zhiar, show the Fire Sage what you can do." Ozai told his son. "Just basic moves."

Zhiar nodded and did the basic routine of both his parents' elements. The Fire Sage was impressed and could concur that he had a rare gift but this did not mean he was the Avatar. So he picked up a rock and held it out to the Fire Prince.

"Can you move this rock, your highness?" The Sage asked.

Zhiar tilted his head and looked to his parents, his father encouraging him to try as his mother nodded her head at him. Looking back at the rock, Zhiar tried to concentrate but couldn't seem to get the rock to move.

The Sage looked to the Fire Lord, "Your majesty, your son is gifted. Dual-benders are so rare that there is very little information on them in any text around the world. He-"

"My son is the Avatar, Fire Sage Wong. I'll prove it to you." Ozai turned his head to look at his consort and then his son before shoving Katara to the ground off of the patio into the grass.

Zhiar saw this and looked at his father in confusion.

Katara picked herself up from the grass but before she could sit up, flames licked at her. She cried out in pain and fell back into the grass as her dress caught fire.

"Mama!" Zhiar tried rushing to her but a wall of blue flames came up and the boy looked to his father. "Papa, ple-"

"Do what you did before, Zhiar, if you want to save your mother." Ozai said with a smirk.

Zhiar saw the flames managed to stay at bay, likely his father's doing, but he knew eventually his father would let them travel up the rest of her body if he didn't do something quick. His mother's screams tore at his heart and little by little the air shifted around them, slowly lifting him off the ground as his eyes glowed. Using a gust of wind to blow out his father's flames, Zhiar grounded himself and ran to his mother as he fell out of the state.

"Mama!" Zhiar watched her fall unconscious after the flames were blown out.

Ozai looked back to the Fire Sage and saw the sage look wide-eyed at the boy.

"Your majesty, he truly is the Avatar." The Fire Sage said in amazement.

Grinning, "The Avatar is now the prince of the Fire Nation. Quite the strange turn of events, don't you think? My grandfather, Sozin, was friends with the Avatar, and my son ran off to teach the following Avatar. Now, I have the new Avatar as my son." Ozai looked back to where his son was holding his mother to him.

"Papa, please, mama needs help." Zhiar cried.

Ozai sighed and ordered for one of his guards to take his water consort to the palace infirmary. He watched his son follow the guard carrying his mother off.

"The issue with that boy is there's no fire in him. Only way I can light a fire under him is by mishandling his mother, which doesn't sit well with me as I don't enjoy hurting her." Ozai expressed to the Fire Sage. "I fear the spirit of his past lives might be holding him back. That he might not live up to my expectations on purpose because his former life wanted to stop me from achieving my goal and the life before that one, turned on my grandfather. Is there a way to separate him from his previous lives?"

The Fire Sage swallowed hard.

Zuko was surprised when he saw his little brother come to him in a hurry about his mother. He was even more surprised when he learned what his father did to his mother right in front of him just to make him prove to the Fire Sage that he was the Avatar. Zuko made his way to infirmary to see Katara and found she was awake, except her legs were burnt terribly. The skin had come up and it was as red as his scarred left side.

"Give us the room." Zuko ordered the physician and his attendants.

When the room was cleared, Zuko went to Katara's bedside and furrowed his brows at her. "Is this surviving, Katara?"

Katara refused to look at him as she stared at her burnt legs, "I'm alive, aren't I?"

"Barely! Zhiar told me what he did! You can't keep living like this, Katara! You're going to die!" Zuko hissed at her.

Somberly, Katara looked at Zuko, "Zuko…I'm pregnant."

Zuko's eyes widened at her. "Ka-"

"He doesn't know yet but I'll have to tell him soon enough." Katara sighed. "I can't be on the run while I'm pregnant. I'd only slow us down. You'll have to wait sometime. Look after Zhiar until we can leave this place. It'll give us time to form a solid plan and make sure we get out alive, we can't afford to fail this time, Zuko."

Furrowing his brows at her, Zuko nodded and took her hand, squeezing it for reassurance. "We won't fail again, Kat. I'll see to it that my father is stopped and this world is made better."

Giving a hopeful smile to Zuko, "In the meantime, help Zhiar as much as he can to appease your father. I don't want him to-" her eyes went to Zuko's scarred face.

Zuko touched it and nodded, "I'll make sure he won't. Just rest and heal."

Three weeks later Katara was back on her feet. She figured it would be a good time to tell the Fire Lord about her pregnancy. However, she was afraid he'd make her get rid of it. It was never discussed further whether they should have another child together but now knowing the whole reason she even had a son with the Fire Lord, Katara wasn't sure if he'd be okay with her having another child as they'd be useless to him. So she decided to keep it to herself and let it be discovered naturally, to which she'd play along.

One day while enjoying a performance by traveling dancers with her master and a few ministers, Katara felt a bit nauseous at the smell of meat near her. She tried to ignore it but she ended up vomiting on a minister that sat beside her when he asked if she was okay.

Shortly after, the Fire Lord stood staring down at his water consort after the physician confirmed she was pregnant. The physician was dismissed and Katara sat there unsure what to say, so she said nothing at all.

"I wonder all these years when you'd get pregnant again." The Fire Lord stroked his beard. "I never did put you back on contraceptive herbs. I guess Zhiar will have to pick up with his waterbending training after you have the baby. Hopefully, it'll be another son."

"And if it isn't?" Katara asked him.

Ozai eyed her, "A daughter is fine. Just not a waterbender. That would be very unfortunate."

Katara wondered what would happen if she had a child that was a waterbender like her, what would he do? She dare not ask. She didn't want to think about it. Zuko told her long ago when they had befriended each other after looking for her mother's murderer, that his father had tried to have him cast off into the woods to be left for dead because he feared he wasn't a firebender. It affirmed to her even more that she needed to escape this place. Both her children's lives were at stake.

….

Things were a little different with this pregnancy. The Fire Lord showed very little interest which confirmed all everything Zuko told her about him. Zhiar was the Avatar and that's all the Fire Lord wanted from her. It was why his treatment of her became less gentle despite her being the obvious favorite. He lusted for her, sure, and she served him well every time but there was a difference. He was less kind and sometimes he didn't care at all about her pleasure, brutalizing her only to tell her she'd get used to it. She never did. If anything, she feared him more now than she did when she first became his concubine and consort. However, his lack of interest in her and their unborn child gave her some breathing room from him.

"How are you doing Consort Sapphire?" Lady Jade asked her.

Rubbing her temple, Katara told her she was just not feeling too well, and needed to lay down. She was currently having breakfast with her ladies and they all looked at her in concern. Lately, they all tried their best to comfort her and avoid the attention of the Fire Lord in order to keep him out of the Tiangong domain. They watched carefully how the Fire Lord treated the consort over the years and feared him more than they had beforehand. They saw the true affection of the Fire Lord and didn't want to endure it. Of course, none of them could refuse him if he came upon them but they did their best not to draw attention to themselves. The concubines of the Tiangong domain were always quiet and didn't actively seek the attention of the Fire Lord, to which many of the other concubine and consort saw this as them being arrogant. But they were just all really afraid.

Lady Himiko helped Consort Sapphire up to go lay in her bed when they saw the older Fire Prince show up with his little brother. They all bowed upon greeting him and Himiko saw the older Fire Prince look to the Consort with concern.

"How are you feeling today, Consort Sapphire?" Zuko addressed her formally.

"Tired." Katara sighed. "I'm going to go rest."

Zhiar left his brother's side to go to his mother and hugged her, "I'll take care of mama." He said.

Zuko and Katara smiled at him.

"If you need anything, let me know. I can have a physician come see you."

Katara nodded as Lady Himiko took her off to her chambers, Zhiar following closely behind them while Zuko furrowed his brows. Zuko made his way to his father's office and saw the man speaking with some ministers. The guards saw him approaching and cut him off, a precaution that was taken after he was taken off house arrest after the end of the war. His father turned to see him and waved off the minister as approached him, the guards stepping aside.

"What can I do for you, Zuko?" Ozai asked his eldest son.

"Consort Sapphire is not well. She needs a physician. I'd like permission to send one to her." Zuko stated.

Ozai eyed his son and tilted his head, "Looking out for your old war buddy, how noble. I'll allow it. I hear this pregnancy has been difficult on her."

"I'm sure if you went to see her, it would help."

"I don't have time for her or any of my concubines. There is rebellion sparking up in Ba Seng Sei again. I have to go squash it before it spreads further." Ozai scoffed in annoyance as he rubbed his temple. "Apparently, the North Pole is aiding them in this uprising. You'd know this if you attend the council meetings."

Zuko wore a seldom expression, "I would if you extended more trust to me."

"How can I do so when you've betrayed me, your father, twice!" Ozai hissed as he reached for Zuko's scarred cheek. "You think I gave you this scar and banished you because I hate you, well I didn't. I wanted to teach you a lesson, a lesson I thought you learned, but I was wrong. If you are ever to succeed me, I need to know you will put this country first and continue our nation's supremacy. But I can see that you still view the other nations as equal to us."

"All the elements have their advantages, father." Zuko told him. "No one element is more supreme than the next. For what one lacks, the other makes up for. Look at water, it heals what we burn, restores what we destroy, and cools what we heat. It's our opposite but it's no more or less than our element."

Ozai furrowed his brows in disappointment at his son, "You shame our family name, Zuko."

"How? My brother is half-Water Tribe. Do you look down on him?" Zuko asked. "And his mother, has she not proven you wrong about the other elements?"

Balling his fist, "Your brother is the Avatar. Far more useful than a pathetic waterbender. As for Katara, she knows her place and doesn't challenge me. How can she prove anything to me when she can't speak up?"

"Because she's not permitted to speak up. You'll just-"

Narrowing his eyes, "I'll just what, Zuko?"

Swallowing hard, Zuko averted his gaze from his father. "Even before I switched sides, father, I acknowledged the kind of bender Katara was and she proved me wrong about a lot of things. She showed me what I refused to see and I learned how wrong I was about many things. In truth, she's why I defected, why I finally listened to Uncle because she was proof that everything we were taught was a lie."

Ozai sucked his teeth and rolled his eyes, "You let a water savage turn you against me? Pathetic."

"I let the truth show me the way." Zuko defended.

"Well, look what good that did you or her." Ozai spat. "She's abandoned this 'truth' you speak of and given into what's real. You should do the same."

With that, his father turned around and his guards formed around him, following him as he strutted off.

Returning to the Tiangong domain with the physician, Zuko saw Katara was sweating terribly as the other concubines tried to fan her off. The physician checked her vitals and found that the child she carried was strong within her and that they were most certainly a firebender that would be quite powerful. Zuko wondered if this child would be like how his sister and father were. It concerned him.

Chilling a wet rag and placing it over her forehead, Katara asked the physician if there was anything else she could do to help her through the heatwave she was experiencing with this child. The physician reluctantly informed her that she'd have to bear through it until the child was born. This caused Katara to weep as she was still so early into the pregnancy, just barely showing, and there was little that could be done to help her through this.

When the physician left, Zuko knelt down to the floor futon that Katara laid on as her bed was far too warm for her. He took her hand and held it, "You can get through this, Kat."

Katara shook her head, "Your father doesn't even want this child, Zuko. He doesn't want it. If I die, my children are doomed."

Zuko felt her squeeze his hand, "If I die, Zuk-"

"You won't die. I'll sure of it." Zuko assured her. "Just rest, I'll get Zhiar to make some ice for you as a part of his practice and keep your temperature down."

"Thank you, Zuko." Katara gave a weak smile to him.

For the next few months, Zuko took it upon himself to look after Katara along with his little brother. He was attentive while his father was busy with squashing a rebellion. His father was so busy that he didn't care that Zuko showed up in the harem everyday to see his favorite consort. Apparently, his father preferred his son looking after Consort Sapphire in his place as he couldn't be bothered and she needed the attention.

When it came time for the consort to go into labor, his father decided not to be present for the birth of his fourth child, leading many to believe the consort was no longer favored. Not that the consort seemed to care, she never wanted to be favored or have the interest of the Fire Lord. As she gave birth to another son, one that was clearly a firebender, Katara fell unconscious and the physicians did their best to revive her. It was only then that the Fire Lord showed up.

"If she dies, I'll kill you all!" Ozai hissed at the physicians that scrambled to bring her back.

Zuko stood rocking his new baby brother in his arms as the child would not let anyone else hold him as he cried for his mother. He saw his father's gaze turn to him and walked over to him.

"Let me see this boy." His father said in an eerie tone.

Unsure if he should hand his baby brother over to his father, Zuko backed away. "He'll cry."

Furrowing his brows, "I don't give a damn, hand that little brat over to me, now!" Ozai raised his voice.

"You're going to hurt him."

"I'm going to do more than that to you if you don't hand him over!"

Zuko could see the look in his father's eyes and remembered the man had the same callousness in them the day he gave him his scar. He couldn't hand the child over to him. He wouldn't.

Ozai's brows set and his hand lit with a flame, "Fine. I'll kill you both!"

Everyone watched in horror as the Fire Lord was about to execute his eldest and newborn sons. However, just in the nick of time, Consort Sapphire woke to see this. She threw off the covers and her motherly instincts took over as she rushed to save her child. Grabbing the Fire Lord's fist that was engulfed in a blue flame, Katara ignored the pain and used her bending to chill the flame.

"MY LORD! PLEASE!" Katara begged.

The Fire Lord looked down at the water consort and scowled at her, "You get your hands off me now before I burn you instead." He bit out viciously.

"Then burn me, my lord! Burn me! But not my son! Please! I'll do anything!" Katara cried.

Pushing her off of him, Ozai growled, "I want you back to training Zhiar in the morning."

"Your majesty, the Consort must hea-"

Katara swallowed her pain and cut them off, "I'll do it, my lord. I'll do it. Anything you want, I'll do it."

Ozai sucked his teeth and looked back to Zuko, "You see, your 'truth' knows how to surrender and submit. You should let her show you that way."

The Fire Lord stormed out as Katara hurried to Zuko to take her child in her arms. She held her newborn son to her breasts and cried over him, falling on her knees. Zuko crouched down to her in order to comfort her.

"We have to leave, Zuko." Katara whispered through her cries. "We have to leave soon."

Zuko nodded. "Give me a few weeks. Hang on until then."

Katara nodded.

Cupping her face, "Prepare yourself to leave when it is time."

….

Just like she agreed, Katara returned to training her oldest son the very next morning, ignoring all her aches and pains as she was being watched by the Fire Lord. When it was time for Zhiar to transition from his water instructions to fire, the Fire Lord came upon her and kissed her forehead as he looked her over.

"I'm sorry I had to be cruel yesterday." He told her in that sweet tone he'd use with her when he felt remorse. "I just want to ensure Zhiar's training comes along well and you've been out of commission for several months. I need you to aid me in training our son so he can advance the goals of this empire. You understand that, don't you?"

Katara nodded.

"I thought as much." Ozai caressed her cheek, "This is why you're my favorite. We were once enemies but you get it now that this way, my way, is the only way."

Swallowing hard, "And you have given me two sons that I love dearly, my lord, I am forever grateful."

Smirking, Ozai ran his thumb over her bottom lip. "I've missed your company, little pond. Expect me to visit this evening."

Katara swallowed hard and nodded her head.

It had been a tough few weeks. Katara didn't think she'd make it but she did and she did so for the sake of her children.

Watching Zhiar play with his baby brother's hand, Katara gazed lovingly at them both before a hand fell on her shoulder and she turned to see it was Zuko. She looked at him and wordlessly asked with her eyes if it was time to leave. His head nod caused her to let out a sigh of relief as she wanted so badly to cry tears of joy but she maintained herself.

"Father has gone on an airship to squash the rebellion in Ba Seng Sei. We need to leave tonight." He told her.

"We'll be ready."

Later that night, Katara had Sokka help her gather some supplies for their voyage. Strapping a cloth harness to her chest, the water consort placed her infant son into it and got Zhiar up from his bed, whispering for him to get dressed and quick. He didn't ask her why or said a word, just did as she instructed him to do. When he was ready, Katara took his hand and saw Sokka sliding the panel door open, waving for them to come on.

Very carefully, Sokka navigated his sister and her children through the halls he memorized, making it all the way to the palace garden where Zuko told him to come. There they saw Zuko standing under the tree he always hung around in.

"I was worried you all had gotten caught." Zuko said as he looked them over. "Come this way. There's an underground passage that'll lead us to the outskirts of the capital."

"But I thought we'd leave from the docks." Katara was a bit confused.

"It's too dangerous." Zuko told her. "The military has been instructed to heavily guard the capital with my father's absence. We'll have to leave through the port town north of here."

Zuko led them to the passageway and they all hurried inside as they heard the patrol guards making their rounds. The passageway was dark and damp but Zuko lit a flame in his hand to show them the way. By the time they reached the end of the passageway and made it outside, it was day time. Katara felt panic as she knew the servant would have discovered by now that they were all missing and a search would be made for them. Fortunately, Zuko knew to have a carriage ready for them and quickly loaded everyone into the back of it while he pulled the reins to drive the carriage to their next destination.

It was a bumpy trip but Katara endured while trying to keep her youngest son from crying. He managed to sleep through the ride as she was able to feed him from her breast most of the time.

Sokka kept Zhiar entertained for the most part but the boy looked as wary as his mother. They didn't tell him once what was going on but he went along with it, and didn't ask questions. He must know they were running away from his father and was okay with it.

"Is he going to find us?" Zhiar asked his uncle.

"Is who going to find us?" Sokka asked as he glanced over at his nephew.

"My father." Zhiar said.

Sokka shook his head and looked out the flap of the carriage to see the grassland scenery. "Not where we're going."

"I hope not." Zhiar said. "He's not nice to mommy and I don't want him to hurt her again."

Sokka reached over and ran his hand over the boy's head, "Look, Zhiar, everything's going to be fine."

Reaching the port town that they'd be leaving from, Zuko could see the sun was setting again and that they made it just in time. All they had to do was reach the docks and they'd be free from his father.

Pulling the curtain back a little, Katara saw that they reached a village and whispered to Zuko, "How much longer?"

"We're just about there." Zuko told her.

It was just as he said. They reached the docks and Zuko got down from the front of the carriage to go greet the man that would be giving them a small boat to voyage away from the Fire Nation.

"Ah, the prince really meant to abandon his palace of luxury and fortitude. What you like rolling around in the mud?" The crooked man said before spitting off to the side.

Zuko pulled out two bags of gold and tossed at the man, "All you peasants think the palace is so nice. Try living in it, you'll see how filthy it really is."

Katara peeked her head out the carriage and Zuko waved for her to come on out.

"Is it time?" She asked while holding his infant brother to her chest and climbing out. Sokka followed behind her with Zhiar holding his hand.

The crooked man eyed the others and looked back to Zuko, "These Water Tribe folk and a Fire Nation boy with mixed colored eyes. They better not be the Fire Lord's water consort and son."

Zuko sighed, "I'm just trying to get them to safety. My father will hurt them if we go back."

"Not my problem, your highness! I don't deal in charity cases like you! I have my own neck to save!"

"Please!" Zuko begged. "You can tell my father where we've gone and collect a big reward for it! He'd pay anything to get them back! You'd be rich!"

The crooked man looked the Fire Prince over. "Fine. But you've gotta cough up more money than this."

Zuko pulled out another bag of coins to hand to the man, "Here."

Feeling up the bag, "Got anymore?"

"All I have left is enough to get supplies when we reach our destination." Zuko told the man.

"Not my problem, your highness."

Katara furrowed her brow at the man as Zuko pulled out the only bag of coins they had left and went to snatch the bag from Zuko.

"Not happening, we need this." Katara hissed at the man.

Scowling at her, "You're as good as dead if you don't hand that bag over."

Katara manifested an ice blade in one hand while cradling her son's head in the other hand and held it up to the man's neck, "I'll gut you right here, damn it! You let us have the boat!"

The man looked at the dagger and then to the blue-eyed woman, "You're definitely her. That wretch water consort. Too pretty not to be."

"Give us the boat!" Katara's voice cracked in desperation as she inched it closer to the man.

"Take it. It's all yours." The man said.

Zuko thanked the man and grabbed Katara's wrists, telling her to back down now. She let out a sigh and turned to Sokka, waving for him to hurry with Zhiar onto the boat. Zuko pulled her along behind them and ignored the old man cursing them.

"I'll be sure to let the Fire Lord know where you're headed, you damn prince!" The man shouted as Zuko got everyone on the boat and Katara used her bending to move the waves to speed them away from the docks.

Sighing as they were far enough, Zuko looked over at Katara as she stood above deck as they sailed away from the Fire Nation. She bounced with her infant son strapped to her chest and stared tearfully as they grew farther and farther away from land. He placed a hand on her shoulder and gave a reassuring smile.

Refusing to smile back, "We're most certainly doomed to die horrible deaths if we fail again."

Zuko's smile went away, "Where's your sense of hope? You used to have so much of it."

Katara cast her gaze low, "Your father did away with it. I've lived every waking moment for six years afraid it would be my last. I know I need to survive for the sake of my sons but hope, well that's just a luxury I can no longer afford."

Squeezing her shoulder, "Well, don't worry, Kat. I'll help you get it back."

Katara shrugged off his hand, "Anything happens to my boys and I'll blame you, Zuko." She said before turning to go below deck.

Zuko sighed and shook his head. They got this far but there was an entire journey ahead of them. They weren't in the clear yet. Most of the world was under his father's control and it wouldn't take much for them to stand out with Zhiar's unique eyes. It just took a little bit of attention and they'd be found out. They needed to be careful. He had to think up a way to help conceal their identities.

The court had never seen the Fire Lord so furious ever but how could blame him. While he was gone from the palace to squash a rebellion, his son stole off with his consort and their sons. The ladies of Tiangong all gave the same story, that Consort Sapphire had been forcefully taken by the Fire Prince but they knew not where. The entire country was placed on shutdown. No one could leave the country until they were all found. Any ships that grew close to the navy would be boarded and searched. The Fire Lord offered up a bountiful reward for anyone who had the slightest bit of information and even more for someone who had their location or destination.

Many came offering up information but none of it was feasible. Not until an old man came forward stating he knew the destination of the Fire Prince. The man managed to describe the water consort in perfect order which made the council and Fire Lord believe he had the information they were looking for.

"Your majesty." The old man bowed.

Ozai scowled at the old man, "You say you know where my eldest son is headed with my consort and our sons. Tell me, where's he taking them?"

Lifting his head up, "There's a port town directly across the way from my village in the Earth Kingdom. I told him to go in that direction if he wanted to make an easy voyage."

"And you saw my consort and sons with him?"

Nodding his head, "Yes, your majesty. I saw the mixed eye boy and the little baby strapped to that beautiful consort of yours. Quite the feisty one you've got there."

Ozai raised a brow, "feisty?"

"Ah, yes, your majesty. Your consort all but threatened to kill me if I didn't give them the boat. I tried to tell them to return before things got worse for them but she wouldn't see reason. Your son tried to pay me off but it was her threatening to take my life that caused me to give in."

Furrowing his brows at this, Ozai was under the impression that Katara was taken but from this old peasants statement, she was an active participant. His fists balled at this realization. The Fire Lord signaled for his minister to reward the old man before sending the peasant on his way and looked to the Fire Sage that stood to the right of him.

"It would seem Consort Sapphire was not taken against her will but rather she left of her own choosing." The Sage accessed. "This makes her an accessory to the kidnapping of Prince Zhiar, a treasonous act punishable by death, your majesty."

Ozai growled, "You all will keep this information to yourselves. When we capture them, I want to ask her myself if she aided in the kidnapping of our son."

"But your majes-"

"I will ask her myself!" The flames of the throne flared up. "If I confirm she was aiding my eldest son in any way, I will kill her with my bare hands!"

….

It had been a week at sea and still no sign of land, Sokka was starting to worry that they'd get caught again at sea. A Fire Nation naval ship stopped them on their third day out at sea and boarded it to search their small boat. As soon as the three soldiers went below deck both Zuko and Katara attacked them, swiftly taking them out before throwing them overboard. Katara used her bending to quickly get them out of the sight of the naval ship but it exhausted her to the point she passed out. When she came to, she offered to hurry them along again but Zuko refused to let her. She needed to save her strength and energy on the journey ahead. They'd no doubt have to take off running as soon as they reached land since his father discovered quickly that they were gone and had the military on their asses.

Glancing over at where his sister was nursing her infant son, he saw Zuko walk over and sit beside her, breaking off a piece of dried meat for her to eat. He didn't know why but it always felt like the two of them had something going on and he never could figure out what it was.

"Here, you need to eat." Zuko told her.

Katara glanced up at him and took the jerky, biting into it immediately as she continued nursing her son.

"Have you named him yet?" Zuko asked.

Chewing the dried meat, Katara shook her head. "Your father was supposed to name him but never got around to it. Couldn't be bothered, I guess."

Zuko looked down at his baby brother, "He looks like a Zenitsu." he told her.

Tilting her head to the side at her second son, "I think that fits. Zenitsu, I like it." She cracked a small smile.

Seeing her smile for the first time in a long while, Zuko couldn't help but smile back.

Sokka narrowed his eyes at them and scoffed as he looked away.

Night fell and Katara was already in bed with the boys below deck while Zuko and Sokka hung out above deck. They were busy formulating a plan to reach the North Pole without getting caught by the Fire Nation. They knew they had to ditch the boat they were on but was it better to travel there directly from their current position.

Looking over the map with Sokka, Zuko shook his head at Sokka's plan to travel to the North Pole by sneaking past the naval blockade to the border of the Northern seas. "There's three layers of fleets all along the border of the Northern seas, Sokka. We could get past one, maybe two if we're lucky but we won't get past the third. Besides, I overheard my father speaking to some generals and apparently the Northern Water Tribe boosted their defenses. There's nothing but stormy seas and blizzards before you're turned back around. We'd just be sent back to the blockade."

Sokka sighed, "Then what do you suggest since you have all the inside information on where your father's army is located?"

Zuko drew on the map the route they needed to move along. There were parts of the Earth Kingdom that were still not completely under the control of the Fire Nation. Most of them being able to hold out due to the fact that their cities sat on mountain tops and required airships to invade, which there wasn't many of after the inventor that had been forced to make them offed himself at the end of the war and the ones replicated by the engineers of the Fire Nation couldn't seem to stay in the air long enough to invade a large city. They'd be wise to travel along areas that were not yet taken over by the Fire Nation.

"What about being captured on the road? How do we stop that from happening?" Sokka asked.

"Katara and I will pose as a married couple with our two sons." Zuko said. "That way no matter who we run into, we can play sides until we get to safety."

"What about me?"

"You'd still be you. Katara's brother."

Brother folded his arms and eyed Zuko funny. "What's up with you and my sister?"

Confused by the question, "What do you mean? She and I have been friends since the war, Sokka. We all have."

"Yeah but you two acted weird then and you're both acting weird now." Sokka scoffed.

Zuko sighed, "I'm just trying to look out for her. She's had it rough with my father and -"

"That's not your problem. Why are you so concerned about my sister?" Sokka narrowed his eyes.

Five minutes later, Katara came from below deck to see Zuko and Sokka wrestling on the floor of the deck. She quickly grabbed Sokka and yanked him back as she turned to look at Zuko in confusion.

"What's going on here?!" Katara demanded to know.

Sokka shoved his sister's hand off of him, "Why didn't you tell me you were sleeping with Zuko before the war ended?!"

Katara's eyes widened as she looked back to Zuko, "You told him?! Why?!"

Wiping the blood off his lip as he glared at Sokka, "He-he was asking a bunch of questions. Thought we were involved or something, so I just tried to clear the air."

"And clearing the air meant you had to tell him about what we did six, seven years ago?!"

"I was just letting him know that even though that happened, it didn't mean anything! We were just fooling around because we didn't know what the future had in store for us and it has no reflection on us now!" Zuko said defensively.

Katara palmed herself and sighed, "I'm seriously not trying to deal with this right now. You two need to stop. The boys are asleep and don't need to be woken up by two idiot man children."

Sokka watched his sister turn to leave back below deck and scoffed, "My sister's been through enough with your sick father! Don't think I'll let you 'fool around' with her again!"

"I'm not even thinking like that, Sokka. I'm just trying to help my friend and two brothers. That's it."

Not believing him for a second, "I mean it, Zuko. You better not try anything with my sister again."

"Sure, buddy." Zuko rolled his eyes.

The following morning, they spotted land and against Zuko's wishes, Katara sped them to it, taking just an hour to reach it. Tired but not exhausted, Katara strapped Zenitsu to her chest with the help of Zuko and took Zhiar's hand. She let her son know that it would be a dangerous road ahead but she would protect him the whole way.

"Hey, Zhiar, come here for a second." Zuko said to his little brother.

Zhiar let go of his mother's hand and walked up to his brother, who crouched down to him.

"Here, we need to cover up one of your eyes." Zuko said. "There'll be people looking for little boys with different colored eyes like yours. We need to hide one of them."

Zhiar nodded, "Can you cover up my gold eye?"

"Is that what you want?" Zuko asked him.

Nodding again, "From now on, I just want people to think I'm a waterbender, like mommy." Zhiar turned to look back at his mother.

"Okay, Zhiar." Zuko gave him a soft smile before pulling some cloth out of his back pocket and began wrapping, Zhiar's left eye.

When he was done, Zhiar touched his face and looked up at his oldest brother. "Thank you, Zuko."

Rustling his hair, "No problem."

Looking up from Zhiar, Zuko saw Katara offer a small smile at him and he returned it.

"Okay, now that that's done. Can we get a move on?" Sokka asked.

The group got to moving and set up camp just outside a village they saw. Sokka stayed with his sister and nephews while Zuko went to get some more supplies. When the Fire Prince returned he had brought with him an entire wagon with two ostrich-horses pulling it. All the supplies were in the back but Zuko made it clear that they were low on money, so they'd have to use everything sparingly until they could acquire more money. Katara suggested that they try gathering and hunting like they did during the war as she could make just about anything edible.

"I forget sometimes that we used to camp out under the stars like this." Sokka chuckled.

Running her fingers through Zhiar's hair as he slept in her lap, "Those were good times."

"The good days aren't far behind us." Zuko told them as he gazed up at the stars with his arms folded behind his head.

Glancing over at the firebender, "You sound so sure." Katara remarked.

Zuko sighed with a smile, "I have to be sure. Otherwise, I wouldn't have brought you all out here."

Katara looked down at Zhiar, "We have to be smarter about this than we were. Zhiar is just about to turn seven. He's nowhere near ready to face your father yet, Zuko. I say we wait a couple of years."

Sokka stared into the flames of their camp fire. "A few more years and it could be too late."

Katara turned her gaze to her brother, "We're not letting Zhiar fight the Fire Lord anytime soon, Sokka!"

"What choice do we have, Katara?!" Sokka scoffed. "We need to end this once and for all! We can't wait any longer!"

"I'm so sick of you refusing to see that my son is not a damn tool, Sokka! He's a child! A small defenseless child! I'm not letting anyone send my son to fight the Fire Lord like a lamb to a slaughter!"

"He's not just your son, Katara! He's the fucking avatar!"

"HE'S MY SON!"

Zuko sat up and looked between the two water siblings. "Hey! Guys! Calm down!"

"Calm down? She's trying to keep the world's last hope away from his duties and responsibilities."

"You want to treat him like he isn't even human!" Katara cried. "Was Aang not human to you, Sokka?"

Rolling his eyes, "Aang was our friend, of course, he was human. I just-"

"You just what?" Katara whispered. "You don't think my son is?"

Sokka averted his eyes, "He's that bastard's son…how can he be human?"

Hurt by this, Katara refused to look at her brother and tears fell on her sleeping son's head.

"Am I not human, Sokka?" Zuko asked with a sting of hurt. "He's my father too."

"Yeah but you're not some almighty entity that could destroy the world if your father used you for his plans." Sokka tried justifying his comment.

The three all went to bed with a lot on their minds and by morning, none of them were well rested. Sokka decided to be the one to stir the wagon as his sister couldn't bring herself to look at him. Zuko sat in the back with Katara and his brothers, currently showing Zhiar how to tie the thread of a fishing net. He told his little brother that they'd catch some fish together for dinner if they spotted a pond which they did. Katara stood by the wagon rocking Zenitsu in his hoister against her chest as she watched Zhiar and Zuko playfully catch their dinner for the night.

"About last nig-"

"Save it, Sokka. I don't much care what excuse you have for why you said any of those cruel things about my son. You're still my brother so in time I will forgive you but right now, I need you to know that I'm a mother now and there is nothing I won't do for my children. I'm sorry you can never experience the same but you have to know that as a parent, it is your duty to protect your children at all cost. Think of mom…she gave her life to save mine. I'll do the same if it calls for it. Avatar or not, Zhiar is my son, not just his. Okay?"

Sokka nodded. "Okay, sis."

The next few days were uneventful. They just traveled, hunted for their next meal, and camped. However, today, things were different. Zuko was the one stirring the wagon when suddenly he saw there was a checkpoint they were approaching. It was too late to turn back as they were spotted but Zuko had it covered. He let his friends know that they were about to be checked by the soldiers at the checkpoint.

"Stop right there." A soldier stepped in front of the wagon and Zuko pulled the reins for the ostrich-horses to yield. "What you got in the back?"

Zuko cleared his throat and fixed his posture. "I'm traveling with my family to the next village. They're all back there enjoying the ride."

Two other soldiers made their way to the back and Zuko climbed down off the front of the wagon. They told him to pull the flap back and Zuko did this without a problem, revealing what or rather who had in his wagon. Katara had Zhiar hugged to her with Zenitsu still nursing at her breast while Sokka sat with his arms folded, unphased by the Fire Nation soldiers.

The soldiers eyed them all funny before looking back at Zuko.

"It's a Water Tribe woman and man, sir?" One soldier asked as his hand went to the hilt of his sword.

Nodding his head, "Yes, my wife and her brother are Water Tribe refugees that've been living in the Earth Kingdom since they were children. We actually met at one of the colonies. She was selling vegetables from her small garden trying to make a few coins." Zuko had a story already for this sort of thing.

The soldiers looked at the two children and saw they were definitely mixed children.

"We'll need to see some papers." The soldier said. "Can't be traveling during these times without proper identification."

Zuko asked Sokka to pass him the gray satchel by his fit and the man kicked it over to him. Opening the satchel, Zuko pulled out four identification booklets for the soldiers to review. It had their ailes in there. Katara was Koni, Sokka was Shang, Zhiar was Sota, and Zuko went by his old name, Lee.

Seeing that their booklets checked out, the soldier handed them back and Zuko put them back into his satchel.

"Sorry about that, Lee. The entire military is on high alert for a Water Tribe woman and two small children. Apparently, this woman is a consort of the Fire Lord and her kids are his." The soldier scoffed. "Didn't realize that even the Fire Lord could get bewitched by one of those water wenches but from the look of your wife, I guess I might understand a little."

Zuko chuckled as he rubbed his neck, "Yeah, I can't blame the Fire Lord for taking interest in a Water Tribe woman." He said as he closed the flap back.

When the wagon began moving again, Katara felt so much relief as they were free. She didn't realize Zuko had everything planned out so well. He had a back story and identification for them. She didn't even realize they'd need such a thing but he had it planned and she was eternally grateful to that.

Finding a spot just outside another village, the group was happy to have found there was a stream nearby where they all washed up by. After dinner, they all went to bed to be ready to leave out early in the morning. However, Katara could not rest. It was a night of the full moon and rest always eluded her. She got up from where her sons laid in the sleeping bag and made her way down to the stream near camp.

Splashing around in the water to sooth her anxious heart, Katara heard a twig crack under the weight of something and turned her head in that direction. "Who's there?" she submerged herself a little as she didn't want to be seen naked.

"Sorry, it's me." Zuko said as he had his hands raised, appearing out of the dark treelining.

Katara let out a sigh of relief, "You scared me there, Zuko."

"I didn't mean to. Just wanted to see if you were okay. I saw your sleeping bag was empty and that the moon was full." Zuko said as he took a seat in the grass by the stream. "I want to make sure you're alright."

Smiling at him, Katara pulled her wet hair behind her ear. "Thanks, Zuko. For everything. Getting out of the palace and out of harm's way earlier. Not to mention how you looked out for me and the boys, even going against your father for us. I knew you were brave but I didn't think you were this crazy." She chuckled.

Smirking as he crossed his legs and rubbed his neck, "Yeah, well, I get it from my father, I guess."

"No, you're nothing like him." Katara assured him. "Wherever you get your personality from, it's not him. After being with him as his consort for practically seven years, it's hard to believe that man even fathered you."

Zuko sulked a little bit, "How- was he cruel to you all this time? I mean, I know he was in the end but early on you seemed like you-"

"Loved him?" Katara turned her back to Zuko. "You could say I did fall in love with him." Dropping her head to look at her reflection in the water. "He was my master, lover, and a man that showered me in affection every chance he got. How does a girl not fall for that?"

Swallowing hard, "Do you sti-"

"My fear of him, even early on, always overpowered any feelings of affection I had for him. It got worse after Zhiar was born and that fear grew the older he got. My feelings of fear and affection went hand in hand. I had convinced myself love and fear were the same thing. That the urge I got to run and escape just meant that I had butterflies from being around him. That fear of him coming to see me in the evening was just anticipation. I lied to myself so much that I began to believe that my tears were just overwhelming joy." She sighed. "But eventually I couldn't lie to myself anymore. Not while watching my son develop the same fear in him for his father that I had. Not while I watched your father almost kill you and Zenitsu."

"You've endured a lot, Kat. I'm just glad I could get you away from him."

"I might not have a lot of hope in me right now about the future but I believe in your vision, Zuko." Katara said as she looked over her shoulder.

"Thanks, Kat." Zuko smiled at her.

….

A/N:

More to the story next week