11 year Nolan had just gotten home from school. He was walking through the courtyard of the palace, heading towards the living quarters section of the palace when one of the guards approached him.

"Prince Nolan, your father wants to talk to you. It's about a notice he received from your school. He is in the throne room."

"Ok."

Nolan knew what this was probably about. He had gotten in some trouble at school the other day and the teacher said that she would be contacting his parents.

Nolan turned and headed towards the section of the palace in which business was conducted. He entered his father's throne room "You wanted to talk to me," he said as he hopped up on to the throne platform, sitting down next to his father.

Zuko turned to face him. He was glad that, even being in trouble, his son still felt safe sitting so close to him. He was also glad that there was nothing formal about their relationship. He was glad that his son felt so welcome to hop up on the throne platform, rather than stay on the floor below, and could do so without bowing when he approached. Of course his son didn't know the difference. Zuko made sure of that. His children were never made to bow or kneel before him. They were never made to sit on the floor while Zuko himself, sat up on his throne. They were never made to address him in any formal way.

"I got a letter from your school today. It says you were throwing a ball inside the building and it ended up breaking a window. The school is asking for payment for the damages. What were you thinking throwing a ball inside?"

"Well I didn't think it was going to go through the window! I was just tossing it to my friend." He didn't mention that he was tossing it from the other side of the room.

"Even if it didn't go through the window, it could have hit and broke something else." Zuko pointed out.

"I know." Nolan sighed.

"Look I will pay for the damages, but you're going to have to work to make up for it. I'm not going to let you off home free. For the next few days when you get home from school you'll come straight here. You're going to be my assistant. And when you're not helping me, you can work on your homework."

"Don't you already have assistants to help you with stuff?"

"Yes, but for the next few days you'll be my assistant."

"Ok." Nolan said, knowing he is not getting out of this situation.

"Now firsrt thing, I need you to address this envelop to the treasure and then go stick it in the mailbox. I need to set up a meeting with him."

Nolan took the envelope and grabbed a pen out of his back pack to adress it with. After taking it to the mail box and coming back into the throne room, his dad then had him deliver a message to the royal carriage driver about a ride for tomorow. After that he headed back to the throne room again.

"Ok. He said the carriage will be waiting for you tomorow at 11:00."

"Thank you. Now massage my shoulders."

"What!?" Nolan exclaimed.

"You heard me. My shoulders hurt massage them."

"Are you serious?"

"Very serious."

"Ughhhh." Nolan groaned as he sat down behind his dad, proceededing to massage his shoulders. Though on the way, Zuko gently rubbed his hand across his son's hair, purposefully messing it up.

After a bit of massaging his father, Nolan grew tired of it and so he stopped. He wrapped his arms around his father, resting his chin on his father's shoulders.

Zuko felt his son's small arms (well small compared to his) wrapping around his body. He took this as a sign that Nolan had grown tired of massaging him and Zuko supposed he had annoyed his son enough for the time being. Zuko turned slightly to face Nolan.

"Come here," he said softly, pulling his son around so that he was directly by his side, underneath his arm.

"I love you." Zuko said

"I love you to Dad." Nolan replied, resting his head on his dad's chest.

At that moment, a man came in barring a tray of snacks.

"Here you go Fire Lord Zuko," the man said, placing the tray in front of Zuko, and then exiting the room.

"You hungry?" Zuko asked Nolan, who nodded. "Here help yourself," he said, pulling the tray closer to him and his son.

Nolan began picking fruit, cheese slices, and crackers off the tray, mindlessly getting crumbs everywhere, including on Zuko's robes. Zuko looked down at him, thinking about how much he did love his son and about how Nolan is only two years younger than he was when he was banished. He couldn't imagine banishing him, especially at such a young age. Leaving him no home to go to, no parents to turn to for help, and how much it would break his heart-not being able to talk to his dad anymore. He wouldn't want to do that to him. He wouldn't do that to him.

Nolan caught his dad looking at him. "What?" He asked, looking up at him.

"Nothing," Zuko replied. "You're getting crumbs on my robes."

"Oh. Sorry," he said.

"It's ok." Zuko smiled at him, brushing the crumbs off his robes.