A/N Takes place just after Zuko was banished, so they're still on the ship. This is going to get OOC! (Again…) I wrote the story, and then my good friend ell25 beta read and fixed things up for me! Here's your story!

"Aaa!" A scream was heard from the Prince's room.

Again…

"Uncle!!" It was night aboard the small fire nation vessel carrying the newly banished Prince, Zuko, his Uncle and an assortment of crew members.

"General, the Prince is having another nightmare," a sleepy foot soldier informed Iroh.

"Alright, thank you."

The older man got up from his bed, pulled on his robes and headed toward the Prince's room.

The small room was filled with at least four crew members, and as Iroh entered he could hear not only them bellowing orders at each other but the cries of his beloved nephew.

"Keep him still!" ordered one guard, as two others attempted to hold down the terrified 14 year old. Who, though injured, still managed to put up a fight against the crew. The Prince was tossing and turning blindly, trying to fight off some imaginary adversary.

"No!" he screamed, his visible eye shutting tightly, his other was unseen, covered in slightly red stained bandages.

Iroh walked into the room quietly. Avoiding the chaos he sat next to the bed and laid his worn hand on his nephew's.

"Zuko," he said calmly to his still twisting charge. "Wake up." Zuko upon apparently hearing his uncle moaned slightly ceasing the majority of his thrashings.

"Nephew, come now," Iroh said slightly louder.

Iroh turned to a guard. "You may return to your previous duties." He looked around at the crew whose faces had distorted into a look of awe of Iroh's apparently magic touch. "All of you," he said forcefully and turned back to his nephew. The guards and foot soldiers left, leaving the Prince and his uncle alone.

"Nephew, wake up."

Zuko's brow furrowed; his right eye opening.

"Uncle?" Iroh looked down to his beloved nephew, the poor boy had been through so much and he was only 14. Still too young for this as far as he was concerned.

"Oh, Zuko…" Iroh carefully lifted Zuko into an embrace. The boy was still shaking and breathing heavily.

"Calm down, nephew. Do you need something to drink?"

Zuko nodded and leaned against his uncle, whilst Iroh reached for the cup set upon the bedside table.

The Prince looked down at his shaking hands and then back at Iroh, who, wordlessly lifted the cup to Zuko's lips, allowing him to drink. Zuko sipped slowly, savoring the coolness when it touched his throat. When he was done he leaned back against his uncle.

"Uncle," Zuko whispered.

"Yes, nephew?"

"Did you see? He was so mad…" Zuko sniffled.

Realizing what the young boy was talking about Iroh gathered enough courage to tell Zuko what he had done.

"No, Zuko, I did not…I looked away, nephew…I couldn't bear to see you in pain." Iroh held Zuko tighter, pulling him close.

"Oh." Zuko closed his eye. "You wouldn't have wanted to see."

Iroh could feel Zuko begin to shake, sobs wracking him once again. The front of Iroh's robe became wet with tears.

"Shh, come now." Iroh rocked gently back and forth, he could feel Zuko holding onto him tightly.

"Leaves from the vine

Falling so slow

Like fragile, tiny shells

Drifting in the foam

Little soldier boy

Comes marching home

Brave soldier boy

Comes marching home"

Zuko's grip on his uncle's robe had lessened, and now he was just cuddled in Iroh's lap.

Iroh looked down at the teen again; the bandages on his eye would need to be changed soon. A job neither were looking forward to.

"Prince Zuko, let's try and get back to sleep now."

Iroh yawned and started to get up, only to be stopped by a hand grabbing onto his robe. He looked to Zuko again.

"Uncle, don't leave." Zuko looked utterly helpless, not the child Iroh used to see playing with the turtle-ducks.

"Alright, nephew." Iroh replaced himself on the bed again and gathered Zuko into his arms once more.

"Let's both get some sleep."

Iroh laid down, Zuko next to him, still holding on tightly.