Author's Note: This first chapter is pretty much the same as the actual episode (The Phoenix King)... I even based it off of the transcripts. However, I promise that the next chapter will be MUCH more original. Just hang in there! And... ENJOY!

Disclaimer: I do not (nor will I ever, sadly) own the show or the characters. The plot, however, is all mine!

A picture really is worth a thousand words… And the one in her hands was worth far more. "I was looking for cooking pots in the attic and I found this!" Katara dropped one hand, unrolling the scroll. "Look at baby Zuko! Isn't he cute," she crooned in ridiculous baby talk.

Zuko's looked to the ground and began studying his bare toes. His brow creased and he closed his eyes. "Oh lighten up," the waterbender said, stepping a bit closer to her friend. "I was just teasing."

The prince's frowned deepened as he opened his eyes. Slowly, carefully he said, "That's not me… It's my father." He saw surprise ripple over everyone's faces as they tried to reconcile their image of the Fire Lord with this beautiful baby boy. Katara's hands quickly worked at rerolling the scroll.

"But," Suki finally said. "He looks so sweet and innocent."

Zuko's best response was to snort. "Well, that sweet little kid turned into a monster. And the worst Father in the history of Fathers." His hand twitched as if he was going to trace his scar, Katara saw it.

"But, he's still human." Aang chipped in. He quickly distracted everyone, lightening the mood with talk of gluebending. The frown slowly melted off Zuko's face, though it remained in his eyes; Katara could see it.