TRIGGER WARNING: This oneshot contains a depiction of a PTSD nightmare, and mentions of trauma and past child abuse. Those things are depicted throughout the whole oneshot.

Authors note: I just wanna say that, while I've(thankfully) not experienced any of the things mentioned in the trigger warning, I've tried to do my best at depicting it in this oneshot.

I always wondered why we never saw Ursa react to Zukos scar in "The Search" and my guess is that it's because she wanted to know about it but didn't want to overstep any boundaries since she hasnt seen Zuko for a long time. I think she wanted to take time to reconnect with Zuko and let him tell her when he is ready. I also firmly believe that while we don't see her react to his scar in "the search" or "smoke and shadow", on the inside she's probably wondering what happened to her son. And since she knows Ozai and what he's like, she probably knows its from him and feels incredibly guilty. Hope you enjoy this

Ursa was in her room at the palace reading scrolls about herbology when she heard sounds

of screaming and crying coming from her sons room. Zuko had made sure their rooms were close to each other since they had been reunited as a family which now included Ikem and Kiyi. Zuko had really warmed up to Ikem now and Ikem had taken up the role of being another fatherfigure to him, along with Iroh. Upon hearing those sounds from her sons room, Ursa panicked. She'd heard about the previous attempts on his life and she was struck by the fear that thats what might be happening now. She threw on a nightgown and just as she was about to leave the room, Ikem and Kiyi were woken up by the sounds from Zukos room.

"Mama whats happening to Zuzu?" Kiyi asked, her bright eyes filled with fear and concern for her brother. She was on the verge of crying. Ikem looked like he was ready to spring out of bed and go with her to make sure Zuko was okay.

"I don't know sweetie but I'm sure he'll be fine" Ursa answered, trying to keep her voice calm. She sent Ikem a look and said "stay with your dad and go back to sleep. I'll make sure Zuzu is okay." She thought it was incredibly sweet that Zuko let Kiyi call him that. Kiyi nodded hesitantly.

"But will you wake me up when you come back and tell me Zuzu's okay?" she asked, her eyes almost shining with tears. "Yes sweetie" She nodded. "Now go back to sleep with Ikem. I have to hurry to your brothers room." With that she left. Almost as soon as she stepped out the door she was met by two guards who both looked extremely concerned. They were the guards stationed outside Zukos room. "Whats happening to my son?" She asked, her tone sharp. If there was an assasin in Zukos room and these two werent doing their job she swore she would………

"We think he's having a nightmare Lady Ursa" one of them replied. "When we heard his screams, we opened the door immediately to see if it was an assasin. But there was no one except Firelord Zuko in the room and he was screaming and tossing and turning." Ursa nodded. "And we came to get you because we think your presence may help him due to….what it sounds like he's dreaming about," the other supplied. Ursa nodded again. "Thank you both. Now follow me to the room but stay outside and let me be alone to help my son." The guards nodded and when Ursa immediately broke into a run, they followed her.

When she entered Zukos room, she was met with one of the most heartbreaking sights she would ever see. Zuko was crying and screaming in fear, while tossing and turning so violently that the sheets had multiple creases. Just when Ursa thought things couldn't get more horryfying, Zuko began using his voice. "No! Don't hurt me! I am your loyal son. I only had the Fire Nations best interests at heart! Please don't burn me!," he yelled. Ursa gasped. Could it be?… was it really Ozai who had given Zuko?….. Yes it could very well be. Ozai was an abusive asshole and she hated him for making sure she couldn't take her kids with her when she left all those years ago.

She took quick steps towards Zukos bed. It was big and very wide so she sat down on it and began shaking Zukos shoulder gently to avoid startling him. "Zuko my love please wake up," she said in a gentle tone. "Please my darling son, wake up. Mommy's here for you okay?," she tried again. This time it worked. Zukos eyes opened. They were full of tears and full of fear from his nightmare."Mom?," he managed to get out. "Yes my love, it's me and I'm here for you," she cooed and hugged him, holding his head to her chest and she gave him a kiss on the forehead. That was how she used to comfort him when he had nightmares as a kid. It was like the gestures did something to him because suddenly he allowed himself to just lose it and let it all out through tears and sobs so violent that his body was shaking.

"Its ok my love. That part of your life is over. That man cant hurt you anymore, he's in prison and you are so strong and kind and so much better than him," she said, trying to soothe her crying son whose strong arms gripped her tightly while he buried his head into her. "I know," Zuko choked out. "But I still have memories of what he did to me."

"I know you do love. And thats completely fine," Ursa said. "Would you be ok with telling me what you were dreaming about?" Zuko nodded. "I was dreaming about how I got my scar," he said. "I know," Ursa replied. "Is there anything I can do to help? I can make a herbal drink that calms your nervous system and helps you sleep peacefully."

"I think it would help if you just listen and let me tell you what happened," Zuko replied.

Ursa took his face in her hands and looked at him while stroking his scarred cheek tenderly, something she was very moved that Zuko would let her do. "Zuko. I want to know what happened," she told him. "But you don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Zuko nodded. "I do want to." Then Ursa pulled him to her in a hug again. "Then please go ahead and tell me, my dear son." Zuko took a deep breath and pulled away from her so he could look her in the eyes. "It happened when I was 13. I wanted to sit in on a war meeting. I wasnt allowed to until Iroh stepped in. So in I went. Iroh had told me not to speak because the generals could be a bit…you know." Ursa nodded.

"So anyway," Zuko continued, trying to keep his voice steady. "One of the generals suggested sending a group of new recruits as bait to a strong Earth Kingdom battalion. In other words he wanted to send young Fire Nation soldiers to be slaughtered. I couldn't believe it. I was outraged that he would even suggest such a thing so I spoke out against it. Which was seen as disrespectful. Because of that I was challenged to an Agni Kai." Ursa gasped and clamped her hands over her mouth. A 13 year old challenged to an Agni Kai? Outrageous. She nodded for Zuko to continue.

"I accepted, thinking I was going to face the general who suggested the plan and do my best to beat his ass despite him being a better firebender. But the war room was Ozais. So by speaking out against the generals plan in that room, they thought I had disrespected the former Fire Lord himself." Zuko buried his head in her shoulder and she hugged him immediately.

"So in the arena when I turned around to face my opponent, it wasnt the general. It was Ozai. I had to duel my own father. But I couldn't. I was too scared of him. So I got on my knees and begged for mercy. I even said to him that I was sorry for speaking out of turn, which I wasn't of course. But it didn't help. He-he told me to rise and fight but I couldnt. And me refusing to fight was seen by him as a weakness. So he told me that I was going to learn respect and suffering would be my teacher. He walked towards me and put his hand on my face. A-and t-then he……..he………burned me," he finished. "I woke up in the infirmary hours later, thanks to Iroh who sat by my bed and held my hand. Ozai just showed up to tell me that I was stripped of my honor and my birthright and that I was to be 'sent on a quest to capture the worlds last hope for peace' when in reality he just banished me to get rid of me."

Ursa was crying now too. Her poor son. "Oh Zuko. I am SO SO incredibly sorry that happened to you," she sobbed. Zuko pulled from her, dried his tears with his sleeve. He looked her in the eyes. "Don't be," he said. "Banishing me was the best thing that man did because it put me on the right path. I now have amazing friends and an amazing waterbending girlfriend. And I helped Aang defeat Ozai by teaching the kid firebending. And I'm not ashamed of my scar. I got it because I spoke out against violence which means that I got it by doing something right."

"Im glad you see it that way Zuko," Ursa replied. "And I am honored that you felt ready to share this with me. I love you SO SO much." "I know," Zuko replied. "You tell me that a 100 times a day." He chuckled through the remaining tears before drying them with his sleeves again. "Oh and by the way Kiyi was very worried about you when she heard you. Would you be with it if I told the guards to fetch her and Ikem? I think seeing you might make her feel better," Ursa asked. Zuko nodded. "That would be great." He loved every second he could spend with them both. Especially Kiyi. Ursa nodded, kissed his forehead again and went to give the guards the order.

4 minutes later, Zuko was attacked by a very enthusiastic 4 year old who launched into his chest, nearly knocking all the air out of his lungs while yelling "ZUZU!" loud enough to wake the entire palace. "I was worried about you. Are you okay?" she asked while clutching his clothes as he held her. "Well," he replied. "I'm still a bit shaken because I had a nightmare but mom helped me and now I feel better." Kiyi nodded and patted his shoulder gently. "There, there," she said. "Are you feeling even better now?" Zuko smiled and looked at her lovingly. "Yes now because of you, I am feeling even better. Im sorry for waking you and Ikem though," he answered.

Kiyi was about to say something again but Ikem beat her to it. "Its okay Zuko. We're all glad youre feeling better," he said and hugged both his daughter and his surrogate son at the same time. Ursa joined in. Zuko beamed. This was exactly the kind of family hug he'd always wanted to experience. Even if he was struggling to breathe at the force of it. He just wished Azula was there but it was comforting to know that she was wlth a guru who was helping her. He also missed Katara who, as his Ambassador for the Southern Water Tribe was currently on a visit there to see how the building plans were coming along. Ursa, Ikem and Kiyi ended up sleeping in his bed that night. Zuko had a dreamless sleep the rest of the night.