#99.5

"How long do we have to sit like this?" Toph complains, fidgeting. "These clothes are itchy."

"Until the painter is done," Ozai says for the third or fourth time, glaring at her from the corner of his eye.

"Be nice, Ozai." Tian lectures, trying to inconspicuously adjust the sleeve of her gown.

Toph snickers. "Yeah, Loser-Lord. Be nice."

Zuko can't help but laugh. "Can you guys behave for two seconds?"

"This was a horrible idea," Ozai says, and Tian nudges him with an elbow.

"Honey, smile!"

The Royal portrait artist has grown exhausted of asking them all to hold still.

#100

Iroh finds Zuko and Toph in the gallery.

"Sorry to interrupt," he says.

"No problem," Toph answers as Iroh comes to join them before the newest portrait.

"What a beautiful family."

It's true, somehow, in a strange, broken way. Of all the paintings of all the Firelords and Firelords' families here, this is the only one that exudes any amount of warmth.

"I never even knew it could be like this." Zuko takes Toph's hand. "I didn't think this was possible here."

"This," Iroh gathers them both into his arms, "Is the Royal Family the Fire Nation has always needed."

...

Author's Note: FIN! It's done! Over! Wow! I gotta say, in the beginning I did NOT plan for it to end this way. At all. So I hope most of you are pleased with how everything worked out, and I hope you'll forgive the dose of cheesiness in the final line of dialogue. I mean, it's Uncle. We can forgive cheesiness from him, right? Anyways, as promised, the first chapter of the full length fic will become available like TWO MINUTES after I post this. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. I hope I haven't hyped it up so much that it doesn't live up to your expectations now. D: Anyways, you should all head on over and check it out. It'll be called "Weather." :) Are you ready to learn more about Ozai's past? Are you ready to find out what happened between Katara and Zuko? And about where he went that night during the storm? Oooooh, so exciting!

Thanks SO MUCH for sticking around for so long!

So much love,
-FireLordFrowny