Summary: Zuki family one-shots; or in other words, Dad!Zuko (and Mom!Suki) to heal the soul. Fits nicely after my Masks series, but can be read as stand-alone pieces.

Disclaimer: Avatar The Last Airbender and all characters and other Avatar world details are © Michael Dante DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko, Viacom. No money is made by writing and publishing this fanfiction.

Bedtime

"Five books, Daddy?" a muffled voice asked.

Zuko gave the little nightgown another tug, watching as Izumi's head popped out the top. "I don't know…five's a lot, kiddo," he told her. "How about three?"

Three year-old Izumi seemed to consider his offer for a long moment, holding her chin in one little fist as she furrowed her brows. Zuko stared at her, suddenly wondering if she'd learned that from him.

Finally, she held up a few fingers in each hand. "Seven?"

"Um…that's not how this works—"

"Eight?!" she asked excitedly.

Zuko scratched the top of his head as he stood. "You know what? Five sounds good."

Half an hour later, he set down the tenth book and gave the little conniver in his lap a squeeze. "Okay, time for sleep," he told her, moving off the small bed and tugging back the covers.

"I'm thirsty," she said suddenly, clinging to his tunic as he tried to deposit her in the sheets. "Can I have some juice?"

"Well," he started slowly, before remembering a conversation he'd had with his wife not the day before.

"Zuko, I know you're trying to be a loving father," Suki had told him gently, even as her lips curled up at the corners. "But I really don't think that's the problem—I'm much more concerned you're going to spoil her rotten."

Taking a deep breath, he carefully unhooked Izumi's fists from his shirt. "Mimi, we already brushed teeth," he said, trying to be firm. "You can have some juice in the morn—"

"B-but I'm so thirsty," she said, lower lip quivering as her eyes grew wet.

Zuko bit his lip, face contorting. "Oh—okay! Okay. J-just don't cry," he said anxiously, holding his hands up in surrender. "One cup of water, and then you have to go to sleep."

Distress forgotten, she grinned from ear to ear as he picked her back up and headed towards the kitchens. I can't let her go thirsty. What kind of a parent does that? he thought, trying to convince himself he hadn't just been played.

"Oh my, someone's up late," the cook said, smiling warmly at Izumi, who curled closer against Zuko's shoulder as they entered the half-lit kitchens.

Zuko reddened. "If—if the Fire Lady asks…she was in bed twenty minutes ago," he ordered, glancing back at the door before sitting against the long counter and setting Izumi on his knee.

"Of course, m'lord," the woman said, hiding a smirk as she turned to grab a couple cups.

"Just water," Zuko added quickly. If his kid wasn't getting a proper night's sleep, the least he could do was make sure she had good dental hygiene.

One cup of mango juice, some ice cream, and a second round of teeth-brushing later, and the Fire Lord dragged the two of them back into Izumi's room.

"All right, no more excuses. It's bedtime," he said tiredly, tucking her back into the soft sheets.

"Sing me a song, Daddy?" she asked sweetly as he leaned down to give her a kiss goodnight.

"Mmm," Zuko hummed, scrunching his brows as he pulled back and sat on the edge of the mattress. "Daddy doesn't really sing—"

"Please?" she pouted, clinging to his sleeve. "Mommy always sings to me."

Zuko sighed. "Okay, one song. But you have to close your eyes and try to sleep."

Izumi smiled happily, squeezing her eyes shut as she pulled the covers up to her chin. Zuko glanced sheepishly towards the door, but didn't hear anyone nearby. Clearing his throat roughly, he started into a rather awful rendition of Soldier Boy. He'd barely made it one line in, however, when Izumi's eyes popped open.

"Grandpa sings me that song!"

Zuko smiled. "Grandpa Iroh taught Daddy that one," he explained. Izumi looked amazed. "Now, close your eyes, okay?" he said nervously, realizing just how late it was getting as the room grew dark with the setting summer sun. Izumi nodded quickly as she obeyed.

After fudging his way through a couple verses, Zuko trailed off. The moment he did, his daughter's eyes flew open once again. "Another song?"

"Sorry…Daddy only knows one," he admitted, squeezing her hand before starting to stand.

She held his fingers tightly, not letting him leave. "Sing it again?"

Zuko cringed, not sure he could endure his own voice another time through. "Mmm, how about…" Suddenly, sparks went off in his mind. "Hang on—I have a surprise," he whispered, standing quickly and moving towards the door. "Be right back," he promised, turning back to her briefly. "Just—just stay there for one minute, okay?"

Not waiting for her reply, Zuko sprinted out the door and down the hall, knowing he probably had less than thirty seconds before Izumi started to cry for him to come back. A couple doors down, and he found himself at his old bedroom. He threw the door open, bounding inside and tearing open the closet to reveal several neat stacks of boxes. He held out a flame as he tore the lid off the first and dug through its contents.

"Lord Zuko?"

Zuko turned back, one of the servants framing the open doorway, staring wide-eyed at the mess he'd made at his feet. "Is…is everything all right, my lord?"

"Ah—yes, no problem," Zuko said in haste, his prize in hand as he stepped around the piles and past the servant. He paused momentarily. "I'll, uh, clean that up later," he explained awkwardly, racing back towards Izumi's room just as she started to call out for him.

She had just reached the door when he made it back. Her worry turned to curiosity as she stared at the object in his hands. "What's that?" she asked, cocking her head at him.

"Only little girls who stay in bed can find out," he teased, watching as she sprinted across the room and dove under the covers.

Chuckling, Zuko moved over slowly and sat beside her. "This is a tsungi horn," he explained. "Sounds much nicer than Daddy's voice. Want to hear it?"

She nodded eagerly, eyes wide and alight.

"But," he said, holding up a finger. "You have to promise to go to sleep right after, okay?"

"Okay," she agreed excitedly, squirming around for a minute as she nestled into the sheets.

As soon as she had, Zuko licked his lips and sucked in a deep breath as he tried to recall the notes he'd been forced to learn as a young prince years ago. They came roughly at first, but soon the small room was filled with the deep, rich melodies that slowly returned to his mind. In truth, he'd always hated the instrument as child, being forced to endure the old instructor as she nitpicked his every technique. Like he didn't get enough of that from his firebending teacher, or his father—

Zuko frowned, letting the last note hang in the air as he lowered the instrument into his lap, an old ache filling his chest. He let his shoulders sag, listening absently to the evening wind against the shutters and the distant rumble of the city as he tried to push the painful, persistent memories away.

He looked over at his daughter, her chest rising and falling quietly as she slept. Her cheek was pressed against the pillow, lips puckered out and forming a little 'o.' Suddenly, his heart felt a little lighter.

"Love you, sweet girl," he whispered, reaching over to pull a few locks of hair out of her eyes before planting a kiss on her cheek.

Her eyes fluttered open, pupils glazed over with sleep. "Daddy…don't leave," she breathed tiredly. "I'll be lonely."

Letting the smile return to his face, he gave in and slipped under the blanket beside her. She gathered up two little fistfuls of his tunic in her hands as he pulled her close.

Don't worry, he thought. I'll never leave you alone.

When Suki went in to check on them, she had to bite her lip to stop a laugh. A dozen books were scattered on the floor; a brass horn turned over on its end and a pair of black house slippers, apparently kicked off by their wearer, were resting near the footboard. Two large, pale feet stuck off the end of the mattress, Zuko's heavy breathing filling the empty space from where he was squeezed onto the small bed. Izumi was curled up beside him, nestled against his chest as they both slept soundly.

Suki knew she better get him up soon if she didn't want him waking with a backache the next morning. But she let herself watch them for a long moment, leaning against the doorframe and trying to plant a permanent image of the scene in her mind that she would never forget.

[end]

A/N: Marking this as complete, simply because each ficlet stands alone. More to come :)