Happy

A/N: I don't know why I'm writing this while I'm about as far from smiling as a a monkey is from growing gills, but anyway, I thought this up and liked the idea.

It had been a long time since Aang had seen Zuko this happy.

Firelord Zuko hadn't been the most happy person anyway. The day he'd confessed to the Gaang about his past, the Avatar had realised that the prince was much more joyous than many, many, many others would have been in his situation. Even after the end of the war, they all only saw their friend sporting a tired frown, or a tensed jaw, or a moody glare.

Even with Mai. Though admittedly, he did tend to blush a lot in her presence.

The final blow came when they found his mother...or her grave. She'd been found in some nameless Earth Kingdom village, had died from some nameless Earth Kingdom disease, and had been buried through some nameless Earth Kingdom rituals.

Zuko had wanted the body exhumed and moved to the Fire Nation, but Mai had managed to pacify him about that, convincing him that he should let Ursa rest in peace.

Aang sighed. No-one had ever seen him more depressed than that ever before. He simply fell apart. In front of everyone, he'd put on a brave face, but with his friends, he'd break down. The Firelord stopped talking, laughing...he barely even ate. Privately, he'd told Aang that he blamed himself. If only he'd found Ursa sooner...

However, the Avatar successfully dismissed the memories. Today was a day of celebration. Not just for Zuko and his friends, but for the entire Fire Nation (and if his peace-making had actually worked, the whole world).

Firelady Mai held an infant girl in her hands.

Katara and Suki ooh-ed and aah-ed over the baby's tiny hands. Sokka joked that the child already resembled her mother—and thank the Spirits for that. Toph decided that she would tell the Fireprincess all her father's secrets, as soon as she was old enough...

Zuko laughed a lot. He hugged his friends. He accepted the congratulations. He beamed. Aang grinned, happy.

"Hey, Sifu Hotman," he called to the Firelord. Zuko looked up.

"Aang! What are you doing, sitting all the way there? Come over here."

The Avatar came over and pulled his friend into one more tight embrace. "So, are you ready to be Papa Zuko?" he joked.

Zuko rolled his eyes, and grinned. "Hopefully."

It was as though the past had never happened, as though everything had always been perfect. The last Airbender looked around, gazing at everyone. They celebrated. He stared at the baby girl in Mai's arms. Emotion overcame him, and for the fourth time, he went over to see her.

"May I hold her?" he asked politely, to which her mother smiled, and handed the baby to Aang.

The Avatar gazed into the infant's wide, amber eyes. And softly, he whispered, "Thank you for making your daddy happy again."

A/N: There aren't enough Aang-Zuko friendship stories out there. I know this is utterly sappy rubbish, but anyway, thanks for reading. Please review. I hope you liked it.