"So, have you chosen a place to stay?" Aang asked Zuko as they rode the taxi carriage.
Bumi was next to Aang, looking out the carriage window, while Zuko sat across from them. They were heading back to Sokka's and Suki's home.
"Um...I haven't really chosen a place to stay as of yet. I just...uh, came here by airship...rather impulsively," Zuko admitted in embarrassment, "I might just get a cheap hotel room or something, nothing too fancy."
Aang looked at him strangely, but smiled at him and said, "Well, hey, if you can't find a good place to stay, you can always stay with Sokka and Suki! Heck, maybe even me and Katara!"
Zuko looked up at Aang in shock, "Wha-What?"
Bumi, overhearing their conversation, sat back in his place from looking out the window and said, "Oh! That would be really awesome! Uncle Zuko could stay with us!"
"I...well, I mean, I don't want to impose," Zuko tried to refuse kindly.
"Nonsense!" Aang assured, "In fact, great idea, Bumi! Zuko could stay with us for a while!" he smiled big, "We can all catch up, you, me, and Katara!"
Zuko froze in his seat, "I...I mean..." he cleared his throat nervously, "I mean, well, I-I forgot to bring my suitcase with me, so..."
"Oh, well, hey, you can borrow my clothes! We're basically the same size! I mean...kind of. You're a little broader than me," Aang said with a sheepish smile.
"I, uh, no, it's okay. My mother, Iroh, and Azula will bring my stuff to me. I...um, I would feel a little weird if I wore your clothes," Zuko told him a little awkwardly.
"Oh, well...okay, if you say so," Aang shrugged, "But yeah, come on, Zuko, you can stay with us! We could spar like old times! Katara might even need another sparring partner as well!"
Zuko slightly gulped and rubbed the back of his head. "I, uh..."
"Please, Uncle Zuko?" Bumi said, putting his hands together in a pleading way, "I want to hear stuff back from the Fire Nation! And I want to spar with you, too! I want to be good as momma someday!"
The Fire Lord looked at the younger boy, and couldn't help but smile tenderly at him, "...Okay then. I'll stay with you guys."
Bumi grinned and cheered, "Yaaay! Alright!"
Aang chuckled, "Great! I'm sure Katara will be happy too! It's been a while since you two talked."
That made Zuko's heart skip a beat, now remembering his dilemma.
...Yeah...
"...Yeah," Zuko said with an almost strained smile.
Thankfully, Aang and even Bumi didn't notice, as they smiled back at him.
The airbender then went on to ask, "Sooo...how are your mother, Iroh, and Azula?"
Thankful for the change of subject, Zuko answered, "Oh, they're doing great! Mother is doing really well, and Uncle is also doing good. He's been helping me out with Fire Lord problems, he's kind of like my personal advisor. Lastly, Azula has been perfectly well for five years now! She's like the girl I used to know when we were kids!"
"Oh, great! Uh...when you and Azula were...little kids, right?" Aang tried to say it as delicately as he could.
Zuko chuckled, "Yes, Aang, when we were very little kids."
"That's great Uncle Zuko!" Bumi chimed, "I was really hoping and praying for your sister to be alright! Mama and I pray for her every night when she tucks me into bed!"
Surprised by this, Zuko's eyes widened, "Really?"
"Uh, I-uh, I pray for Azula too!" Aang said, letting his friend know that he cares as well. He turned his head at Bumi with a smile and said, "But that's really sweet, Bumi."
"...Yes. It certainly is," Zuko said with a warm smile at Bumi, "I really appreciate that, Bumi. I would think your prayers helped."
Bumi smiled big at Zuko.
The ride to Sokka and Suki's place was quite eventful, Bumi telling Aang and Zuko about his school activities and grades, and having his sparring sessions with Hako without his bending.
As soon as the taxi carriage stopped in front of Sokka and Suki's home, Aang told Zuko, "Hey, would you like to see Hako and Kana? Kana is getting all primped up for you, and Hako wants to see you as well!"
"Oh, well, sure," Zuko said with a smile.
"And you can also meet up with Momma and Auntie Suki!" Bumi said to Zuko.
Zuko looked down at Bumi, giving him a sweet smile, "Yes...I definitely would want...t-to meet up with them."
Katara...
As all three got out of the taxi carriage, Aang told the driver, "Hold on just a moment. We'll be back!"
"Oh sure, go on! I'll be waiting here, Avatar Aang! We all should be thanking you and Chief Toph for your service for getting that maniac!" the taxi driver said.
Chuckling at that in embarrassment, Aang said, "Well, it was mostly Toph, so she deserves all the praise."
"Oh! Aang! Bumi!" said the voice of Katara.
Zuko turned to Katara...and held his breath.
She came up to them, her flowing and wavy long hair swaying, her hair loops in front of her face also swaying as she rushed up to the three...which she stopped when she saw Zuko.
Katara's eyes widened as she stared at Zuko, "Oh! Z-...Zuko."
Also staring at the waterbender woman, Zuko looked at her in awe.
Her thin, but curvy frame, with her hips flaring, as her long wavy hair framed her figure, her bust still modest, but big enough for his hands...
He gazed at her face...still beautiful...still...gorgeous...
Just like he last saw her...just like when they...met up...together...
Shaking his head to clear away any thoughts (and memories), Zuko spoke up, "K-Katara...uh, h-hey."
"Uh...hey..." Katara said softly, the corners of her mouth reaching into a smile.
"Hey Mom!" Bumi greeted as he came up to his mother, "Uncle Zuko will be staying at our house for a while!"
Katara snapped out of her semi-trance and turned to look at her son, "H-He will?"
Zuko jolted up in his stance, wincing as he hurriedly said, "U-Uh, Bumi suggested it!"
"Yeah, and we think it's a great idea!" Aang said happily as he approached them, "I mean, just until Zuko's mother, sister, and Iroh will arrive!"
"Oh...um, o-okay..." Katara glanced at Zuko, which Zuko glanced at Katara. She gazed at the Fire Lord, feeling like there were words to say, but she couldn't get them out.
"Yeah!" Aang said cheerfully, "That way, we can catch up! It's been two years since you spoke with Zuko, right, Honey?"
"Uh...y-yeah! It, uh, it has!" Katara stammered.
"Uh, yeah...it, uh, it's been too long," Zuko said, a little sheepishly.
"I know, right?" Aang said with a smile, oblivious to the tension, "We need to be together more often!"
Bumi turned to Zuko with a smile, "Yeah! I want to try my waterbending off with Zuko! And maybe you can spar with Mom and I can watch!"
Zuko and Katara tried very hard not to blush, but the former recovered and said, "Um, I don't know if I can properly fight y-your mother. I would think she wiped the floor with me. She got all those years of experience under her belt."
Katara smiled, almost teasingly at Zuko, "Oh come on, Zuko, I bet you practiced your firebending a lot lately to keep up with your Fire Lord status."
Zuko looked a little embarrassed, "Well, if you...uh, want to spar sometime to see how we fare against each other, then, uh...we can?"
Grinning at that, Katara answered, "That would be really nice, Zuko."
Zuko couldn't help but smile back at the beautiful woman before him.
Bumi cheered, "Alright! Hey, Zuko, when we get back home, do you want to see my waterbending forms?"
Looking down at the boy, Zuko smiled at him as he nodded, "Sure, Bumi!"
"Oh, well, what do we have here?" said the voice of Suki, who was carrying little Kana, and Hako was following right behind her.
"Oh, hey, Suki! Hey Kana and Hako!" Zuko greeted them with a welcoming smile.
"Hey, Uncle Zuko!" Hako came up to him, "You're really early!"
Chuckling, Zuko said, "That I am. I couldn't wait to see all of you."
"Hey Uncle Zuko!" Kana said with a wave as she looked cute, her hair having a Kyoshi fan hairpin on the side of her hair.
"Well, don't you look lovely today, Kana?" Zuko said to her with a smile.
Kana giggled and hid her face away on her mother's shoulder.
Aang then spoke up, "Hey, I'm sorry to break this up, but I think we need to head on out. The taxi carriage can only wait for so long, heh. But we'll get together again real soon! Zuko will be staying with us for a while until his mother, Azula, and Iroh arrive in the city."
"Oh? Zuko is staying with you and Katara?" Suki asked, turning her head to Katara.
"For a while," Katara answered, "I would think he came here a little impulsively, right Zuko?"
"Uh, heh, yeah," Zuko scratched the side of his face, "Didn't bring anything. I mean, I'll let either Iroh or Azula get my stuff."
"Oh, okay..." Suki turned back to Katara, giving her a 'Are you sure?' look.
Looking a little nervous from the gaze Suki was expressing, Katara said, "W-Well, we should probably get going then! Aang's right, the taxi carriage could charge us more if we keep him waiting."
"Aw, I don't think he will. He was actually grateful to me and Toph's inclusion of stopping that Yakone guy."
"Well, we don't want to risk it, Sweetheart," Katara told him.
Aang chuckled, "Right, right. Well, I guess we have to go now! It's nice to be back home with family! We'll see ya, Suki! Bye Hako and Kana!"
"Uh, yeah, we'll see ya later, Suki! I'll see you both later as well, Hako and Kana!" Zuko told them.
"Aww, but you just got here!" Hako whined.
"Now, now, Hako, we'll see them again tomorrow, okay?" Suki told her son.
Pouting, Hako said, "Okay..."
Kana smiled brightly and waved, saying, "Bye Uncle Zuko! Bye Uncle Aang! Bye Auntie Katara! Bye Bumi!"
"Bye! I'll see you all later!" Bumi bid them farewell by giving Suki, Hako, and Kana a hug. He approached Aang and held his hand, dragging him to the taxi carriage, while Aang just laughed.
"Hold on there, Sport! I'm coming!" the airbender assured him.
Zuko looked at that interaction a little bit...he turned around and said to Suki and the kids, "Well, uh…bye," he then walked to the taxi carriage.
Katara looked at how Zuko walked, almost in a daze, but...feeling crestfallen.
"Katara?"
She turned around to face Suki.
The Kyoshi Warrior Captain put down Kana and told her and Hako, "Go on inside, kids. I'll be there in a moment. I need to ask your Auntie Katara something."
"Okay!" Kana said, her innocence showing as she turned to Hako and said, "Race ya to the house, Hako!"
"Okay then, you're on!" Hako said with a smirk. They got ready and dashed into the house. Believe it or not, Kana was the winner.
As they left, Suki turned to Katara and asked her a question.
"You're okay with this?"
Katara knew what she meant...
"...Yes. I am. I mean, it wasn't my decision, it was Bumi's..."
"But you're okay with it?"
"..." Katara sighed and looked back at the taxi carriage and back at her. "Look, I know this will be a little...different, but...I mean, don't worry, I got this...we got this..."
"...'We' as in...?"
"...Suki, don't worry. It won't come to that."
"Well, you said Toph already knows. Which, by the way, does she know about Zuko staying at yours and Aang's place?"
"Um, no, she left before that."
"...Okay..." Suki sighed, "Just...don't do anything that you'll regret, okay?"
Katara's face turned serious, "I know, Suki. The only people who know about...either way, Toph already knew after Bumi was born, and I told you four years ago when Bumi was three, so...we're going to make this work. And Zuko...I think he's fine."
Suki raised an eyebrow.
"Look, I got to go, um...thank you for letting us stay at your home for a while, Suki. You know I love you like a sister, right?
"...I know. And I love you like a sister as well...just...as your sister-in-law, don't...give off any signs, is all I'm asking."
Katara nodded, "I know. I won't."
She then hugged Suki, and Suki hugged Katara back.
"I'll see ya later, okay?" Katara told her.
"Sure thing," Suki said with a smile.
Nodding and smiling at her sister-in-law, Katara turned around to go into the taxi carriage...
...Bumi was sitting next to Aang, who was on the far right, while Zuko was on the other side to the far left...he was sitting all alone...
...The taxi carriage was small, so…
...Oh Spirits, help me...
She then decided to sit next to Zuko...
Zuko, eyes widened just a bit, felt a little nervous as he glanced to the other side, pretending to look out the window.
Katara was also a little nervous...
Aang and Bumi, however, were completely oblivious.
"Okay! We're ready to go!" Aang told the taxi carriage driver.
"Sure thing, Avatar Aang!" said the driver. And they took off to Aang and Katara's residence.
During the ride back home, Bumi asked Aang how the air acolytes were doing with their airbending. Aang happily went over to him everything that happened so far, While they talked, Zuko and Katara just sat there silently as they listened...trying not to have certain thoughts and past feelings come up in their minds as they sat next to each other...
...This is fine… Katara thought.
...This...This is fine... Zuko thought.
As soon as they arrive at Aang and Katara's home, Bumi runs out of the taxi carriage, with Aang following close behind him, scooping him up from behind, and swinging him around as Bumi laughs as well as Aang. Katara got out of the taxi carriage next, looking at her husband and son...
"They look really happy, don't they?" said Zuko's voice.
Katara turned to Zuko, who was getting out of the taxi carriage as well. Closing the door behind him, he paid the taxi carriage driver, which he thanked him, and rode off.
Turning back to Katara with a smile, Zuko said, "Aang is a great father."
"..." Katara was silent, until she softly said, "I'm so sorry."
Blinking at that, Zuko asked, "For what?"
"...For two things. One, for saying that he...looks like...his father..."
"..." Zuko looked awkward about that as he rubbed the back of his head, "I mean...I should be apologizing. I acted like...well, I acted like I didn't want...that...I mean, I know you were trying to...you know, cheer me up."
Katara glanced at Aang and Bumi as they were still goofing off in their front yard.
"...I-I was..." she turned back to Zuko, "You don't have to apologize though."
Zuko sighed, "How about we just both say sorry for what we said?"
Katara looked up at Zuko with a smile, him being a little taller than her, "Okay. Sure..."
Nodding to that, Zuko smiled back, "So...what's the other thing you're sorry for?"
"...For..." lowering her head to look at the ground. "...For just...I mean, you deserve-"
"Katara? Zuko?" said Aang, as he approached them, giving Bumi a piggyback ride. "What're you all doing standing there?" he asked with a smile.
"Oh," Katara began to say, "We were, um, just, you know, reminiscing, is all."
Zuko decided to play along, "Uh, yeah. Haven't seen the gang in two years while we were at the Air Temples and we only saw each other during Bumi's sixth birthday, so...yeah, just, um, catching up and whatnot."
Aang chuckled, "It has been a while," turning his head back to look at Bumi on his back, he said, "And I missed this little guy!"
"I missed you too, Dad!" Bumi said jovially.
Zuko frowned a little bit but suppressed the expression, while Katara also frowned, glancing at the Fire Lord beside her.
"And also, we'll all be here for your seventh birthday, Bumi, so you can look forward to that! I'm just glad Zuko and I are here already! And I'm certain Iroh, Ursa, and Azula will give ya something great for your birthday as well!"
"Alright! I'll get more presents!" Bumi exclaimed with happiness.
Aang and Bumi laughed at all the excitement, while Zuko could only smile at the mention of his mother, sister, and uncle.
Katara then spoke out, "Okay, we should go inside now. It might look like it's going to rain."
"Sure thing, Honey!" Aang said and then told Bumi, "Let's go, Champ!"
Aang dashed inside their home, with Bumi cheering the whole way.
Katara smiled slightly, but turned to Zuko and said, "I'm...um, let's just follow them on inside, okay?"
Zuko turned his head to look at Katara, and just smiled and nodded, "Right."
So they walked inside of the Avatar and his wife's home...
As soon as they were inside, Katara showed Zuko where his guest room was, right next to Bumi's room. Wanting a glimpse of what Bumi's room looks like now, he wandered into his room.
His room was full of Southern Water Tribe decor, souvenirs, and toys, along with a little bit of Air Nomad toys and souvenirs as well. His bed was a little messy like he left it when he went to Sokka and Suki's, but there were some notable things in his room that made Zuko catch his breath.
On his bed, was the plush turtle duck that he had given him on his third birthday.
He remembered the time when Bumi was born...Aang was away because he heard word of the airbenders surviving the genocide and the people from the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation spotted some nearby in the wilderness. Some were even descendants of Air Nomads as they lived in Earth Kingdom families and Fire Nation families, Ty Lee included. It was a wondrous and monumental discovery...one that Aang needed to be there to believe. So he went out into the world for three years, finding all these surviving Air Nomads...what he didn't know was that Katara would be pregnant at that time...
Aang and Katara had tried to have a child once, right after they were married...but nothing came.
They tried...they tried one more time before he went on his journey...
...And that's when Zuko came in to visit Katara, Sokka, Suki, and Toph...
Zuko one day visited Katara to catch up...he heard about her struggles in trying to get a child...
…Words were said...
...Secrets were revealed...
...Emotions were stirred...
...And feelings arose that day...
After that...that was when Katara finally became pregnant.
Did they regret it?
...They don't know.
All that mattered was that Bumi was born...
...and they confessed to each other that day.
Zuko and Katara knew that they couldn't let Aang know the truth. Not even Bumi, which hurts Zuko more on the inside...
The truth being that...Zuko was the father...not Aang...
He loved Aang like a brother, and Zuko didn't want to damage that in any way. It would be scandalous too, and he wouldn't let Katara and Aang ever go into that...
But sometimes he wonders...if he would've just...confessed that day when Katara was going to marry Aang...no...he would've confessed before that...all those missed opportunities...all because he didn't want to hurt their relationship...or hurt Aang's trust...
Now they're in this daunting situation where any wrong words about who Bumi really belongs to could be revealed...
Only Toph and Suki know, from what Katara said...he even told his mother, Azula, and his uncle...they deserve to know, for what he and Katara did...
He feels like he should blame himself...while the night with him and Katara was special, this wasn't the outcome they wanted...
At least he saw Bumi be born...like what a real father would do...
He doesn't blame Aang...he needed to go on this journey...but still...
It was hard...it was hard to not be too emotional when Bumi would go to Aang and not...him...
However, whenever he sees Bumi's gifts from him be in his room, it still...gives him a little hope...
It gives him a sense of peace that Bumi does love him...like a father...
"He always sleeps with it," Katara's voice said behind him.
Zuko turned around to see Katara, who gave him a sweet smile.
"He calls it Quacky."
"..." Zuko smiled warmly back, "...You don't have to be sorry."
Katara blinked, "What?"
"I mean...y-you know...it's...better...this way...right?"
"Oh...um...y-yeah..."
...They stood there for a moment...
"...Thank you, Katara," Zuko says to her.
Katara looks up at Zuko, "For...For giving you a place to stay for a while?"
Zuko chuckled and said, "I meant...just 'thank you'...thank you for...thank you for your son."
"..." Katara frowned, "He..." she glanced down at the floor and looked up at him again, "He's your-"
"Momma!? Uncle Zuko!?" called out Bumi's voice.
They both turned to look at the boy, who was coming up to them.
"Daddy wanted to know what you and Uncle Zuko would want for dinner?" Bumi asked them with a smile.
Katara smiled back, "Just tell him some steamed sea prunes for me," she looked back at Zuko, "What...would you want, Zuko?"
Zuko glanced at Katara and Bumi, the latter smiling.
"..." Zuko smiled, "Well, I don't think Aang can make anything with hog-chicken, can he?"
Katara giggled, "I don't think he can still."
"Hmm..." Zuko thought about what to do, "...Maybe I can get some hog-chicken at the market and cook me up something? Aang doesn't have to make it, and I can eat something that I'm craving."
"What, not a vegetarian?" Katara said with a sly look.
"Hey, that sounds good too!" Bumi said, his eyes lighting up, "I want to eat that instead of the usual veggies!" he made a face and went 'eyuck!'.
Both Zuko and Katara chuckled at that, the former telling the latter, "I don't doubt Aang's cooking skills, but I do think I need to check with him if it's okay that I get something for myself?"
"Oh, if you know Aang, he won't be offended," Katara gave him a smile and a dismissive wave, "You go on to the market and come back here while Aang is getting things ready, I'll tell him you're getting your food. Just come back before it rains."
"Sure thing, Katara," Zuko nodded with a soft smile.
Before he could leave, Bumi stopped him by grabbing his pant leg and whispered to him, "Give me the kids-sized meal!"
Zuko laughed, "Sure thing, Bumi."
Katara looked at that interaction with a warm smile...
Zuko...he's your son as well...
Zuko walked into the market in time before it closed, and ordered a hog-chicken for him to cook. As he exited the market, he stopped by the sidewalk to get a taxi. Aang wanted him to ride Appa, but Zuko felt like that would cause a lot of attention. Plus, he's fine with a taxi.
As soon as he waits for one, he looks around the area he's in.
The city of Republic City was very much growing from what it once was, just a population of five thousand when Aang and Katara's wedding happened, to now ten thousand people...
Time surely flies...
People from different cultures living together in this city...what a step forward...
He glanced to the right to see a taxi carriage far off coming his way. He waved his hand to flag it...
...Until Zuko paused...
...His eyes went wide.
As the taxi carriage was coming, he saw something...no...someone else...
In the distance...where people are just casually walking...
...There stood someone...
They stood still, looking ahead of them...right at Zuko...
This...person...was wearing royal Fire Nation robes...
Robes fit for a Fire Lord...
...Zuko had to blink twice to see if he was seeing things.
What he's seeing...
...was someone that had died ten years ago...
"...F-...Father?" Zuko asked in shock.
What Zuko was seeing...was Ozai...his father...
'Ozai' looked at his son from afar...stoic and deadpan as he could be.
People were passing him...not noticing that a Royal Member of the Fire Nation family was right there...
'Ozai' just kept staring...
Zuko looked at this...person? Anomaly? ...Spirit? He didn't know...
"Oh hey! You're the Fire Lord aren't ya?"
"Wh-What!?" Zuko turned to whoever said that. It was the taxi carriage driver who was next to Zuko.
"Yeah, you're him!" said the driver with a grin, "Well, greetings from Republic City! It's an honor to give you a ride! Where to, good sir?" the driver asked.
Zuko quickly looked at where Ozai was...
...and he was gone...
Blinking a this occurrence, Zuko stammered, "U-Uh, um...q-quick question: Did you see anyone over there just...standing in Fire Nation robes?"
"Huh?" the driver looked back at where Zuko was pointing, "...Uh, no?"
"...O-...Okay..." Shaking his head, Zuko then decided to climb into the carriage, "Sorry, um, to Avatar Aang's house."
"Oh, the Avatar? Wow, what's the occasion?"
"I'm-I'm staying there for the night," Zuko said as he climbed in.
"Oh wow! Well, sure thing, Mr. Fire Lord! We'll get you over there in a jiff!" said the driver as he commanded the ostrich horse to the destination.
As they rode back to Aang and Katara's home, Zuko looked shaken up...
That...That can't be...I-I must be...maybe hungry? Tired? ...That can't be who I thought it was...he died...he died ten years ago. He committed suicide...he couldn't...I mean...he can't be alive...was that...his spirit?
Questions were forming in Zuko's head...
...That...couldn't have been father...right?
Ooooh...he-he-he-he-heeee...somebody's got DADDY ISSUES. He-he-he-he-he-heeeee!
I wanted to test that out on the Fire Lord...
Ho-ho-hoooooo...I LOVE the smell of even the tiniest bit of fear in my food.
I'll remember using his daddy later...until then...let's wait until tomorrow...
Or...maybe I'll get a snack soon?
Hm-hm–hm-hm-hm-hmmm...ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaaaaaa!
...My word.
Yes...he used...Ozai's soul...
But how? It doesn't feel like his soul entered the living world...
...Maybe he replicated it?
...That is...impossible?
Is it? Spirits can do certain things to fool humans...
But yet...this isn't a Spirit...
Well then...should we warn the Avatar?
...We have to. But we need him to sleep until then.
We all tell him in his dreams?
Yes...this will not go unnoticed anymore.
...What could this thing be? It's physical, yet...spiritual...unlike any other Spirit that resides in the Spirit World and sometimes in the living.
I don't think it matters now over what it is...if it can display this kind of power in the living world...then we must warn the Avatar and the others...
...Do you think it senses our presence as well as others in the Spirit World?
...I can only hope not. If it can, then it's doing a very good job of not speaking to either of us...all in all, whatever this thing is, we need it to be dealt with...soon...or maybe even now.
There! I told ya I was going to update this! :D But yeah, I hope everything is looking good right now with this story!
And yes, there will be some future drama on the relationship side of things…'tis what happens. XP
But yeah, tell me how this is! I love to hear your reviews! :D Also, I updated some of the chapters a bit, so if things don't sound right, I basically edited the past chapters! :) But yeah, leave me a fave, follow, and review! I love them all! X)
Thank you all for reading and keep on rocking everybody! :)
-TSP