Disclaimer - Avatar: The Last Airbender and all related characters and settings belong to people who aren't me and I'm not making any money from this.

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"We've been here for three months."

"I know."

"Three months, Aang."

"He knows, Sokka." Katara sighs as she lazily bends balls of water into the air for Momo to catch and drink.

"Three months!" Sokka shouts, throwing his arms dramatically in the air.

"After everything you guys have been through I thought you'd enjoy a long rest."

Some of Sokka's frustration drains away when he turns to find Suki, her arms buried elbow deep in Appa's fur, scratching the bison's back.

"It's not that. It's just . . . I feel like we should be doing something besides loafing around the Fire Nation's Royal City."

"Like what?" Aang asks, finally breaking from his meditative pose.

"I don't know. Helping rebuild the Southern Tribe?"

"Maybe you're just homesick," Toph chimes in, "But you're right," she continues before Sokka can protest, "There are other places where we could help more."

"I disagree," comes a voice from the doorway of the stable specially reserved for Appa.

Zuko looks stressed and haggard as he steps into the shade. Even Toph can tell how tired he is by the drag of his footsteps.

"The Fire Nation has been subjected to a hundred years of xenophobic propaganda," he says, "I could use all the help I can get to reverse it."

"Okay, you've got a good point." Sokka concedes.

"If you really want to leave I won't keep you, but - I'm waiting for something. I'd like it if you waited with me." the pleading note in his voice is unmistakable.

"We'd be happy to," Aang agrees with real feeling.

"Of course we would," Katara adds.

"I haven't got anything better to do," Toph shrugs.

"What are you waiting for? OW!" Sokka turns to look at the crag of rock that'd hit him rather hard in the shin.

"It would probably be a good idea to give Aang some weapons training. No one would expect him to attack with something other than bending," Suki ruminates by way of agreement.

"Thank you," Zuko says before turning his attention solely to Aang.

"I have some free time this afternoon. Perhaps you'd like to train with me?"

"Of course," Aang says and the two young men bow to each other before the Fire Lord departs.

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Less than three weeks later there is a knock on the doors of the Fire Lord's audience chamber. The messenger barges in without further notice, as per instructions, interrupting the Fire Lord in the middle of a meeting with the nations Minister of Education.

"Fire Lord," the young boy gasps, "He's arrived."

The Fire Lord responds by immediately dismissing the minister with promises of a rescheduled meeting before turning his attention to the boy standing just inside the doors waiting for orders.

"You're sure?"

"Positive, my lord."

"Ready the palanquin," Zuko orders, "And bring him straight to my private quarters."

"Yes, my lord." the boy responds, backing out of the room respectfully before relaying orders to the Fire Lord's servants.

For half an hour Zuko paced his private sitting room nervously. He'd spent months thinking, agonizing, over what he'd say when the man he'd been waiting for was finally brought before him and now, with the prospect dwelling immediately on the horizon, he's forgotten it all. He fiddles with the ornate china tea set laid out on his sitting room table instead of over thinking and second-guessing his possible reactions.

The second the old man has entered the room the Fire Lord is prostrate before him.

"I'm sorry." Zuko says to the floor, unable to look at the man in front of him. He is immediately wrapped in a fierce and, regretfully, unfamiliar hug.

Long minutes pass before Zuko is able to speak through his tears.

"I'm sorry," he reiterates.

Hours they spend inside the Fire Lord's chambers talking when Zuko finally brings up the subject he has been dreading.

"I can't do this, Uncle. Not yet."

"What can't you do?"

"This," Zuko throws his arms wide to indicate the entire room, "I can't be Fire Lord."

"You can do anything you put your mind to." Iroh tells him, serious and supporting.

"Not this time," Zuko sighs, "I've thousands of prisoners of war to release, an entire education system to reform, an army in the millions to scale back, dozens of war based industries that are no longer needed, generations of belief to be abolished, and there have already been three assassination attempts on me.

"I'm lost in the storm."

"You underestimate yourself, Zuko. You've always found your way back out again."

"And how much damage have I caused in the process? How many people have been hurt?" Zuko demands.

After so many years of determination, Iroh is unable to respond to his suddenly doubtful nephews questions.

"The world can't wait while I try to find my way. Change has to come now."

"What would you have me do, Zuko? Advise you?"

"I have five highly trusted advisors. I don't need any more," Zuko says, thinking of the Avatar, of his friends, "What I need is for someone to be Fire Lord until I'm older. Wiser."

"I'm old," Iroh sighs, "Too old to begin ruling a country."

"Then act as my regent," Zuko pleads, "Just until I'm ready."

Several more hours pass as they argue and plead with each other. By the time morning dawns in the Fire Nation there is a regent ruler.

"What are you going to do now?" Aang asks when the news is revealed.

"I was thinking that the Avatar could use some more training in Fire Bending." Zuko replies, smiling almost nervously.

"Wait. We were waiting for your uncle?" Sokka asks.

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Author's Note: I'm going to tell you up front that I'm pretty lazy and the time between chapters will probably be great. This story has been rattling around in my head since 'The Western Air Temple' which should tell you something about how long it takes my thoughts to transfer to paper. It doesn't help that my muse depends primarily on alcohol and nicotine so she's an expensive b*tch to feed.

Really hope you like it.

-Voodoo