Hey There,

Welcome! Sorry that it's been a minute since my last entry. But this will be my first for 2024 and when I began this tale. I only had one other chaptered story I was still working on. Now I'm currently juggling 4 for three completely differing fandoms, and I'm trying to give each one that necessary attention, as well as time to grow. It's not easy, but thank you so much for hanging in there with me. I love this story, I love where it's going, none of that has changed since day one and I hope that I can keep your interest all the way to the end with these nutty erratic posts. Thank you ANYONE reading these words right now. I will try my best to make the next posts quicker. And less gaps between to the end, that is a promise. But enough of my nutty narrative, back to the story!

Special thanks to the few of you who have favorited this story or placed it on your Story Alert page. Also a special thanks to the few of you who have favorited me as an authoress or placed me on your Author's Alert list. That is high praise, I hope you're still reading, and enjoying

Special thanks to my reviewer: [and friend] Rose-Aki (Yes Girl! I HAD to post on that day! It's our YEAR mark for this tale! Winkwink! Thank you also for saying that you liked where the perspectives were. You know how I'm always in the middle of a tug of war, over who's got the best view to go with, or the best way of telling about what's happening. Yes, they can't be apart for so long, they need to be together and I'm having way too much helping them make up for all of that lost time before Azula gets here. Which you know is gonna be a hoot and a half as well! Can you picture it now? Azula plus Kavin in the palace? That energy mixed with Ursa's, Ikem's and Kiyi's too... AND Zuko plus Mai... You know, Iroh will be there too! Whoo! It's gonna be fun. But today's post is before all of that utter chaos, it's Valentine's Day. And after reading some of your V-day posts girl... I hope I can bring a fraction of that love and dedication to these characters. Zuko is always trying to take care of Mai and she's always trying to give him downtime to relax. I thought it would be pretty neat if Mai could establish this idea before their even officially married. That whenever he misses anything big, no matter what the calendar says. That Mai can always wait for him, and all of these little things [or she thinks their little] are gonna come back ten fold in this story at some point. As all my bigger stories like to do... and I'm thrilled to death that you liked it. I hope that this V-day entry lives up to the hype and that this reaching you with nothing but the best! Take Care and Much Love!).

Standard Disclaimers Apply - I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender, Nickeloden, MTV, or any of the other trademarked things mentioned. I am merely borrowing all of these things for my own twisted plots. Most will be returned unharmed.

Dedicated to that friend who would be helping me turn out craft after craft to help Mai be ready this later v-day spectacular. You know who you are! This one's for you!

"They Forgot"

Chapter 26 - Make-up Valentines

((Zuko's Perspective))

When I woke up alone today, I really didn't expect to find myself home at all. I was still expecting the ruins of a once great village and Kiyoshi warriors scattered every place. Working day and night to help all of the devastated survivors, then whatever strength I had left was meant for the endless traitors I'd been interrogating for months. I'd forgotten about getting home, being with Mai for the last few days and our plans for today. So I did plan to complain about this hole in my fiancee's clever plot when I saw her.

If she had only stuck around to let me wake up with her still with me. My morning could have gone so much better. But no, she had other plans... good ones, I won't lie. But I just really wish I could have still seen her first thing instead of having to live through all of the anxiety of looking for her. And feeling the whole time like any minute now, I'm gonna wake up and find it all was a dream before I could even find her.

Yesterday there were Christmas lanterns lit, showing me the way, to where she had Christmas still all set up for whenever my family arrived next week. And even though I knew all of that couldn't have been removed that quickly, it's still all up there somewhere. But today, the lanterns were Pink, Red or Purple. With little teeny hearts cut out of them so the lights they cast were also throwing heart shapes all over the floors, walls and ceilings. All leading me to another part of the palace where Mai had set up our make-up Valentine's Day. Even though I didn't think we'd really missed that holiday so much. We've always given each other our mushiest letters of the entire year on this day. That was our tradition, and while I had promised to celebrate all of these other holidays when we were together again. I had taken great pains to make sure this holiday had been covered.

I knew my life partner was VERY upset for me being gone so long. I wanted this at least to be perfect for her. Even if I still couldn't be there.

I made sure, that my Valentine's day letter reached her at exactly the right time and that whenever her letter arrived on that day. No matter what I was doing, it was placed in my hand immediately. And her's had just arrived after a particularly horrible criminal bust. Where I'd had to put a man away for life, for not sharing any of the intel he knew on my father's plans, goals or intentions. If he could have shared anything I could have spared him, but he clearly feared betraying my father more than me.

Her letter had been the only thing that kept me going for the entire end of my time there. It carried me through till we finally left, I still had it in my pocket today. Like I'd carried it with me everywhere since I'd gotten it. I didn't know how to thank her for it. I doubt my letter carried even a tenth of that power. But by having it all happen on the right day and at the right time I thought this holiday was still maintained... until yesterday, when Mai had hinted today would be making up for Valentine's Day.

When I stepped into the smaller private library. Where all of the lanterns had led me. I could see that my smart and clever match wasn't even close to finished with her celebrations for a holiday based on love. Particularly if it was about the love between us.

Candles were lit everywhere, crate paper shaped into endless hearts all attached to each other crisscrossed in the deep ceilings... red and pink hearts were stuck to each other for one strand. Purple with black hearts all attached was the other strand. And Mai was sitting at a table where breakfast was waiting for us. Dressed in the loveliest nightgown I've ever seen on anyone. It was purple with a belt of tiny little black hearts hugging her around her tiny waist. She said, "Good morning. Happy Valentine's Day."

I let her know, "Yep, It's official, you're totally in charge of all holiday decorating and events in the palace." I'd let her know before I could reach her for a good morning kiss.

As she stepped back and I tried to draw out the contact. She'd smoothed my shirt as she hugged me asking, "Can you really appoint me with such distinction before I'm even your real Fire Lady?"

"When you outshine me in every way, yes!" I had to smile. She never notices her own talents and abilities unless it's survival. Any of the artsy and deep ones she always underplayes. Because her parents have done their best to stomp them all out over the years. Thank the spirits that they were unsuccessful.

When I pointed out how I loved the black hearts that I saw everywhere. Mai shrugged, "Of course you do, it's as black as my heart. I thought it was only fair to represent both my heart and yours."

"Oh yeah?" I asked, while I still had my arms around her. "So if the black ones are you, which ones are me?"

"The red ones, of course," She answered without pause. "I'd know your heart anywhere and it's red."

"So why are our hearts on different strands? Why aren't the black ones with the red ones?" I asked, I pay attention to detail.

She explained, "these were all the papermakers wanted to make this year."

"Hmm," I heard, and I think she could tell I was already planning on changing that theory the next time I spoke with them. They should be making more heart shaped cratepapers. Two of their rulers had announced weddings lately. And I know my sister would not like all of those pink accents added to her wedding because the cratepaper makers try to cram them down her throat. That wouldn't be ending well for anyone involved. Even if my sister was marrying her best therapist.

I had to agree, "Maybe you're right about that," but then I also had to correct her, "But your heart isn't black... it's dark and quite solid, but it's not black... Nope, not at all."

She pointed out, "You know Azula and I have always said our hearts are black. Who would know my heart better than me."

I corrected her again, "I would, and I do, and I can tell you with certainty that it's not black... it's gold. Because the only way that you could still love me after all this time, after all of my mistakes, and all of the times I've hurt you... It has to be something special and something stronger than a black heart ever could be." I took her hand and hitched her gift to her wrist. It was a simple braclet of golden chain with two hearts hanging from it. A red one with a 'Z' etched in the face of the ruby stone, pressed against a solid golden heart with an 'M' etched on it. And I let her know, "This gift is so you never forget it. Even when I'm not around to correct you."

It had taken a lot of practice to plan this seemingly sneaky move right. Ty-Lee had to help me practice it over and over till I had it down perfect. And Mai was so surprised, it was exactly the reaction I'd wanted. She'd hugged me so tightly and kissed me even better. If this had been the whole v-day thing. I would have been thrilled but Mai of course hadn't even gotten started.

We sat close and enjoyed our breakfast together. While we'd been chatting, Mai had let me know. "I think this could be my favorite room in all of the palace."

I had guessed one of the smaller private libraries would be her favorite. I had even strongly expected this room to be it, when I'd told her she needed to figure out which was her fav. But having all of those guesses confirmed... Was Awesome! Knowing Mai and loving her as long as I have, you would think that she couldn't surprise me... but she somehow always does.

Even today, I was expecting mush and chocolate. But Mai had other ideas, when breakfast was finished she told me to dress for some sparring and meet her in the Kiyoshi warrior training gym. I asked, "What in the world are we gonna do for Valentine's Day there?"

And all she told me is, "Yooooooou'll see."

Then she'd kissed me and walked off in that nightgown waving at me. "See you there."

I called after her, "Are you going to be still wearing that nightgown?"

She glanced back over her shoulder and told me, "Even if I did, you aren't gonna win." Before she disappeared...

But I think I even audibly said, "No, I think I'm gonna win no matter what the score says."

Then I ran to do as she asked and dressed for fight training. Then headed down to the training grounds for the greatest protectors in the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom. Those Dai Li agents can take notes. Even though there were uniformed protectors all outside of their gym. There were none in sight where Mai was meditating waiting for me. Sitting barefoot with her shoes neatly sitting beside her. She sat with her legs crossed underneath her, breathing evenly. Dressed also in her fight training clothes. When her eyes opened I asked, "Are you planning on fighting me here?"

"No, but I learned something this Valentine's Day when I attended the festivals in the city with my brother. Incognito of course, and what I learned just... I didn't expect. And I know you won't either."

I told her, "Well quit leaving me in suspense and tell me what we're doing here? Dressed like this."

As she stood up, stepped back into her shoes and took my hand. She said, "Every famous Fire Nation pairing has a traditional booth in the capital city's festival. When you've lived here for any length of time. You come to expect the tradition for each pairing. For Avatar Roku and his lady, it's the clumsy love moon bounce. Where no one can walk across that place without falling down. For Ursa and Ikem there's a duet singing event. Where you're paired off at random and both wearing traditional theater masks when you perform. For your father, there was a maze of mirrors... It goes on and on."

I couldn't help but laugh, wishing the 'maze of mirrors' really was dedicated to my father's reign. But I knew she was kidding, and I knew that she was just leading up to her main point.

"Imagine my surprise as a regular Fire Nation spectator when I stumbled across the tents dedicated to Azula's relationship with Kavin, Others dedicated to the pairings in Team Avatar and last but not least one dedicated to us."

"You're kidding?" I had say.

"Nope, I was shocked." Mai shared.

I pointed out, "But to have a tent in the love festivals, they have to have at least one game that is relevant, or one legend to impart that can make the attraction make sense. And by their standards ours and Azula's relationships are far too new to be legendary. So are all of the others in Team Avatar... except for maybe Aang, he is over a hundred years old... so I guess that one sticks."

"Are you gonna let me explain or do you want to question it some more?" She asked.

"Oh no. Go on." I told her easily. But I still asked, "For real, there were tents? Dedicated to us, Azula and Kavin AND Team Avatars other matches?"

"Yep. I was surprised too." She grinned. "And since you weren't there that day to share in the experience and neither were the rest of our friends. I worked with some very kind palace personnel that helped me recreate that day and the tents that were at the festival."

"No way, Really? For real! This isn't just what should have been the tents? If they HAD existed because these are people we actually know...This was a real thing?" I had to ask again.

"Yep. The question is are you ready to hear all of these crazy retellings today?" Mai asked me.

"Are you kidding? This I've gotta hear." I assured her before asking her to, "Please lead the way."

Then she proceeded to lead me through mock tents and challenges that had actually been at the 'Love Festival' in Capital City this year. But I couldn't believe it, just like I couldn't believe that play Team Avatar and I had attended on 'Ember Island' right before Aang finally faced off with my father. It was close to the truth but still far off enough to be funny. For Aang and Katara, I knew that their's had been a love-at-first-sight kind of thing. I know that because they told me so themselves, and I met them shortly after that too. I have eyes, ya know? Villian or not.

But somehow I knew that recreating the way they'd met wouldn't be a good idea. Even if everyone knew the story, even in the Fire Nation. Thankfully the stand creators had thought a little more outta the box and came up with something a little less dangerous. You know, then sticking someone inside of an iceberg and letting the girls find them in a boat. Instead of recreating the Kataang meet cute, they recreated their first kiss. Which happened in a secret tunnel, where only true love shows you the way after a kiss in the dark.

So Mai had pulled me into the pitch-black tent tunnel that impersonated the secret tunnel. Waited for all the candles to go out and I had to kiss her to be shown the way out. The kiss may have been a little longer than Katarra and Aangs. But this was when they were still babies! So young and inexperienced. I was kissing my fiancee, the person I knew I was gonna marry even when I had been that young. And I was still recovering from MONTHS of not being able to do that.

But there was a trail of glow-in-the-dark objects leading the way. And it was a blast, I had to admit.

For Sokka and Suki, I should have known that I would be forced to dress in drag. But I wasn't the only man in Kiyoish robes, corsets and face paint. A bunch of men around the palace had agreed to the honor of donning these clothes with their Fire Lord and it was empowering. I can't ever pretend it wasn't. And Mai was majorly impressed (possibly even turned on). When I was such a great sport about that experience. The challenge was to do as Sokka had done. Don the clothes, face paints and fighting styles. With and without the fans, and the lesson was an important one too, even though I work alongside these women daily now. I found myself probably as impressed as Sokka had been at the end of his learning experiences. And how when we were all standing together dressed the same, it didn't matter who was the men or woman. We were all warriors and we were all the same... I was so glad I'd done it. And Mai had been holding my hand when we walked off to share lunch together afterward. (No, I changed before we ate. I did not still sit there with her dressed as a woman. Even though she would have probably loved that... what is it with girls liking that?)

I found out that my 'girl voice' never fails to make Mai laugh. Really laugh! I kept using it when she least expected it and I haven't seen her laugh or smile that much. Not since she told me 'yes' when I'd asked her to marry me on her last birthday. And I also found out that I don't make too ugly a girl either. That like Sokka, some of the guys even thought I was pretty cute. I don't even know why that was an ego boost, but it was.

And after a picnic lunch in one of our old dating spots. We were back to exploring these crazy tents and backstories. Ty-Lee may not have settled on any one admirer yet, but even she had a tent dedicated to her that was being run by some of her biological sisters and nieces. They all really did look, talk and dress just like her, but her older sisters all acted like they had sticks up their butts because they were so jealous of Ty-Lee. As a nearly lifelong friend of Ty-Lee, knowing how badly all of those older sisters had treated her... I gotta say it was really fun watching her enjoy their jealousy and bitterness. I can't remember what the story or activity had been for that tent. Because I had been too busy laughing with Suki and Mai throughout that whole thing.

Toph too was acknowledged in a tent where everyone had to wear blindfolds. After what felt like ages of bumping into everyone and not getting it. I removed my blindfold to read the ceiling inside of her tent. That was all about "self-care being important as well as self-love. It needs to be the first step of any journey. And your short comings only define you if you let them. You decide who you are, what you are, who you love, and what you bring to the world. No one gets to choose for you." And I needed to remember to tell Toph how cool she is the next time I see her.

The next tent was dedicated to Uncle Iroh's true love... TEA. But I will admit, he will love the teas in that tent when he gets here next week. And I don't think there is a truer love for him in this world.

Besides the mirror maze dedicated to my father and the theater tent dedicated to Ikem and my Mother's love story. Only two tents remained, The one dedicated to Azula's and Kavin's Love and the other dedicated to Mai's and mine. Even though I was a little afraid to know what was in my sister's story. I braved it to save Mai's tent with me for last. But I was completely amazed at what the public knew about my sister and Kavin's story. In this tent, projectors would shine to make one person in every pair appear to be on fire. And as you walked through listening to the public version of their story. You had to keep putting each other out. At the end both people were covered in burns and scars and it was told that my sister's love with Kavin had already survived all of this and more. It would easily stand the test of time, and i couldn't help but feel like they would. A little more now then I did before. Because as I kept imagining mai on fire or covered in marks and scars the way Azula is now. I knew it would never change how I love her... and I found myself praying that that really is the love Azula has found with her husband.

Then it was the moment of truth, the tent set up for Mai and me.

At the entryway, you were given a choice of what weapon you wished to carry. Where people got to choose between swords, knives, arrows, or flame throwers. And I was already intrigued. But when the greeters saw me, they offered me my own double swords I usually wore on my back. Knowing my preference before I was even asked. Mai too was already armed with knives and as she pulled me in with her. I let her know, "What story of our past has us this heavily armed, not that I mind?"

She shushed me and said pointed to a tiny scene being shown. Where four kids acted out the whole story of how Mai and me were pushed in the fountain together. One of Ty-lee's little nieces even played her. The elder went on to explain after the little play. That Azula had known both Mai and me liked each other. Even back when we were that young. But the event planned for us was something I didn't even realize people knew about Mai and me. Which was one STRANGE Valentine's Day when we weren't together. We'd gotten stuck at a party together, and at this stuffy debutant function. Mai had been left in charge of one of the love games and the only rule they gave her was heart shapes needed to be used. So of course, Mai had built her game for all of the people attending the party who weren't in a pair, who weren't happy with their love lives, or any life they were leading. She'd set up a game of target practice where the object of the game was to break as many hearts as you could. And her choices had been between the ones offered at the entry way. Swords, knives, arrows, flamethrowers for the non-benders and Firebending for the Firebenders.

When I started laughing, remembering that day well. For other reasons I wanted to talk about with Mai a little later.

Mai told me, "I'm not making this up, this is what our booth really was. I couldn't believe it! Someone remembered I'd done that and brought it back." And for the few hours. Mai and I took aim, breaking as many hearts as we could. Just as we had that day at the terrible party… that still turned out fun. Just because I was with her.

But like all of the other tents. The ending message carried the lesson you were supposed to take with from every pairing. Our message was: "Fire Lord Zuko isn't just historically one of the most peaceful and beneviolent Fire Lords we've had. He is also the first for several centuries to select his Fire Lady without help from the Fire Elders Council. The lady he has chosen (Mai) may be different from any other Fire Lady we've ever had. But throughout the history of this great Fire Nation. No lady has tried to be like the other, they have all stood on their own two feet and in that respect. Mai is perfect for Fire Lord Zuko, she's brave, loyal, wise, and like this game. At first glance, she seems unorthodox. But it was played more than any other game at that party that day. It's the most popular tent at the festival. Because Mai somehow knew more people needed a game like this at that party then another mushy thing to make single, lonely, sad, or brokenhearted people feel worse. It's her out-of-the-box thinking like that will help our nation grow and prosper alongside our Fire Lord. Let's wish for their union to be the best one yet."

I gave Mai a squeeze after reading that and told her, "It's true, you know. More and more of our people are seeing that too."

She made a face at me and asked me, "Do you remember that day though? That specific party? What it was like?"

"Are you kidding?" How could I forget? I had been so close to giving up before that party happened. We were both so awkward and bitter, but being stuck with each other the whole day… We started talking, even teasing… and I realized how much I'd missed her. How much just being around her, no matter how terrible things seem. They're always a little better just because she's there.

Mai was doing that thing where she wouldn't look at me, as she said, "I was so rude to you. So condescending."

I had to laugh, "You were, but I deserved it."

"No you didn't, you just thought you were doing what was best for me." She understood that now. "I'm almost grateful you did it when I hear what you were like during that time."

"Almost," I repeated, before finishing her thought for her. "Except you didn't need my help, I was the one who needed yours. How different things could have been if I'd just kept you with me. But when things got scary, I panicked and tried to keep you away. So you wouldn't be a target."

"And I can take care of myself." She reminded. Looking stronger than even in her sparing clothes.

"I know you can," I had to say. "But I am still sorry how things got handled back then. I'd promised you that I wouldn't break up with you again. Then I'd done it again, and broken your heart. Like some of them that we took aim at today… I think you even pointed this out to me at the original party too."

When I dared a glance at her face thought, she was smiling in that gentle way that always makes my heart melt and she said. "But I never told you what I found out about the afterlife of my game idea, because I didn't know it myself till this festival. But apparently a bunch of old lady crafters collected the broken and shatterred clay hearts we used and made it into a puzzle game. Pieceing the hearts back together. Then the next year, right before the love festival, they would decorate some trees at the beginning and end of the path where the festival was happening."

I asked, "They used the hearts like we just broke?"

"Yep and they reconstructed them into something really beautiful. I asked for that young tree by the foot path to be dressed that way and look at it.

All of the clay hearts shimmered because the glue used to piece them back together was metalic gold. And it really was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Mai said, "It just goes to show that sometimes a heart needs to break a few a times, so it can come back as something stronger and even more beautiful."

And I found myself running with her over to the tree she'd pointed out and looking at all fo the hearts hanging in it. We were joined by several other palace staff, kiyoish warriors and protectors as well.

Standing there with her, I couldn't help it. I had to say, "Thank you for doing all of this. For sharing it with me, I didn't know how much I needed all of this. Thank you for planning to share it with my family when they come too."

She reassured, "It's like I told you, these things can always wait till you're home. And I'll always wait for you too. So jsut keep being the best ruler you can be and I'll help you as much as I can with everything I can do to help you-"

I finished for her, "That's what being partners is."

"It is." She nodded.

But I turned her and kissed her. Ignoring all the 'whoo's and 'aww's around us.

As the sky was starting to darken, I asked her. "So what's the big plan for dinner? More group activities or are we ending this day like we started it with a private meal?"

"Zuko, this isn't Christmas or Thanksgiving. This is Valentine's Day." She spelled out for me.

"So I finally get some more alone time with you?" I asked hopefully.

She asked, "That was the plan, is that okay?"

"So okay." I said as I could barely keep my hands to myself the whole walk back to the changing areas. She told me, "Even if I want this to feel kinda like a date. I also don't want ot to be too fancy, because you and me are always expected to be that way for everyone else. I want you to dress comfortable when you come back out."

"So plain clothes relaxed, or like sleepwear relaxed?" I asked her.

She really shouldn't have put it like this, but what she said was "Surprise me."

So I picked pajamas with my button down shirt left open, knowing that would be a surprise.

It wasn't till I arrived back at the same private library as this morning though. And I'd stepped in through that heavy wooden doorway that I realized Mai's real game here. She'd gotten me so wrapped up in thinking about how to 'surprise her.' That I was completely unprepared for her surprise for me. She was wearing one of my shirts, so all of my witty little things I thought I could say. Were all gone outta my mind and I can't remember the meal or anything besides not being able to stop staring at her the whole time we were there.

I had been worried about, "How she'd gotten here dressed that way?"

Because selfishly I wanted this for my view and mine ALONE!

But Mai had shared where she was hiding her robe, and that was how we would travel back to my room too. At the end of this awesome night, we spent the rest of the night cuddled up reading together till we fell asleep. And I'll never again think any celebratuon with this girl is EVER unnecessary.

That's all folks!

Well for this chapter, but don't fret, more will be up soon! Please review if you can I would love to hear from you. Though I will warn, with the spoiling spree winding down. We're gonna be getting abc to the heavy soon. So I really hope these blissful chapters have been a nice little break for everyone. Hope you're having a GREAT day! Take care and Much Love!

~DarcyBeDippy85