Author's Note: I am so happy that almost 200 hundred people have read this story from just last night! I can't explain how glad I am to see this. If anything, I thought no one would read it, but this has given my motivation and courage to write more. Thank you all.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Both Zuko and Katara awoke to Lie Mei at the edge of there bed, messing with their feet. Over the years, Zuko had grown several inches, but recently stopped. He guessed that it ran in the family. Zuko opened his eyes, he had his left arm over Katara's body, who was breathing softly against his pale neck. He sat up, awkwardly, and turned his head towards his feet. He smiled as he saw his daughter.

"Good morning, dear, come up here." Katara announced, knowing it was Lie Mei from how she would tap at their feet constantly until they woke. She peeled off from Zuko, and landed on her back. Katara always had the perfect look in the morning, though Zuko didn't. He always looked like death in the morning.

The married couple felt their daughter climb along the bed, and lay flat between them, making Zuko pry his arm out from underneath both Katara and Lie Mei. He and Katara turned their faces to plant a morning kiss of their daughter's face.

"Lie Mei, did you know," Zuko spoke, pulling the sheets off of him as he began to adjust himself in a more comfortable matter. He moved the pillows to the backboard, and sat up. Folding his legs together as he looked to both his wife, and child. "You have the beauty of your mother."

Zuko couldn't help but chuckle as he watched his daughter blush, along with Katara, who was now getting up. He caught Katara at her backside, noticing the old, dark scars from fights long ago. He frowned, but was brought to attention by Lie Mei. She followed her mother, and quickly clung to her, her head resting against her mid thigh, and wrapped her small, skinny arms around her leg. "My mommy is beautiful!" She would announce, making Katara turn her hip and wrap her hands under Lie Mei's armpits, pulling her up her own body. Katara rested an arm under her bottom, her hand on her back. Katara leaned in, kissing her offspring. "But, you have your daddy's eyes."

Katara remembered the first time she saw Shen, her first born, and started to cry. Shen was so gorgeous. Having his father's looks: pale skin, dark hair-only a little at the time, but her eyes. Same with Lie Mei, Katara just broke down into tears, along with Zuko.

Shen came by the door, and ran shoulder first towards his father. Who Zuko braced himself, and locked his child in a bear hug. Both the boys crashed at each other, mostly wrestling, and then ended up tickling each other. Sadly, Shen knew exactly where Zuko was ticklish at, and he brought out a roar of laughter. Zuko grabbed Shen by the legs, and flipped him on his back. Thank the Spirits' that Shen loved rough housing, and wasn't affected by the falling blow. Shen was laughing up a storm. Zuko lifted Shen's sleeping shirt, revealing his stomach and began to blow raspberries on the light skin. He mouth rumbling against his stomach.

Katara, along with her daughter, were laughing at the sight. Katara squeezed the human in her arms, kissing at her neck before she began to leave. Over the years, Zuko and his family have grown accustom to walking around in only their night attire. He nodded, and tried to speak with his wife, but failed to do so because his leg was grappled by Shen, making him crash onto the bedroom floor.

"We'll be getting ready, today's a big day!" Katara shouted over her husband's, and son's cheering. Katara placed Lie Mei to the ground, holding out her bigger hand to the infant. Which Lie Mei accepted, and wrapped her little fingers around her mother's. Katara headed towards Lie Mei's room, and smiled to the sight. Only one flame was burning still, and it was by her dresser. The vanity lit up much easier now, thankfully.

"Sit down, let mommy brush out your hair." She said, moving over to the dresser to pull out an article of clothing. It was a regular Fire Nation outfit, a top that folded across to the other hip. Pants that were met with knee-high socks, and tucked under the socks. Wrist coverings that pointed to their mid hand. Shoes were black flats. Shen had the same matching outfit.

When Lie Mei turned 11, she would start wearing dresses; just as her mother does. Zuko and Katara planned to teach their children bending, they wanted their family to be filled with culture, and practice. Zuko, obviously would teach Fire Bending to Shen, but it seems he knows the basics. Katara would teach Water Bending, wanting both of her kids to know her heritage, and will take them with her to see the Northern and Southern Water Tribes.

Laying her outfit on Lie Mei's bed, Katara walked behind her daughter, who handed her a smooth, wooden brush. With that, Katara grabbed one strand of hair, and started to brush that section down softly. Not wanting to cause any pain.

"When was the first time you met daddy, mom?" Lie Mei asked, she sounded... hesitant. It pained Katara to talk about her husband in such a manor, but she promised to tell them everything.

"Well, sweetie.. I first met your father when he was raiding the Southern Water Tribe." In honesty, it shattered her heart to talk of past times. She remembered feeling the hatred for that man, how he bribed her, lied to her, betrayed her. Sokka was hard on Zuko at first, but came to be friends with him before the final battle with Fire Lord Ozai. And actually, Zuko told Sokka he wished to marry Katara, and all Sokka did was welcome him. Talking to Hakoda was a little tricky, but they hit it off quickly after that.

"Why did daddy raid the Southern water Tribe, mommy?" Lie Mei asked. Katara caught her daughter's reaction in the mirror, she was gazing off into space. Trying to comprehend everything. She didn't want her daughter to hate Zuko, that would just.. be a cataclysm.

Katara sighed, "You should ask your father about his side of the story. I have no room to speak of what him and his father did when Zuko was a boy." Lie Mei looked in the mirror to her mother, then smiled. It faded away shortly. Katara felt like crying.

"Know this, Zuko's father, your grandfather, was a horrible man. You're young to know this, but we feel we should tell you both. You and Shen, about the 100 Year War, how I found Aang, how your father saved me..." Her lips curved upwards, and she bent down to kiss Lie Mei's cheek. Katara grabbed another section of her hair, and began brushing down the nappy, brown strands.

"Daddy is my hero." Lie Mei smiled, she giggled.

"He's mine too."

"Come, son, we have to get you ready for the portrait." Zuko picked himself up from the ground, pulling Shen along with him. Shen was a muscular boy, that's for sure. He probably left a bruise on Zuko's pectoral muscle, but he shrugged it away. Leaving his bedroom, Zuko walked around with smalls on. Wrappings that stopped to his upper thigh. The definition of his muscles have grown stronger, and his veins were easily seen on his arms. Something he hated about himself was his finger toes. They were outrageously long, barely passing his big toe.

"Hey dad, how old were you when you married mom?" Shen looked up, staring to his father. He had to walk quickly from Zuko's long strides. Shen was wearing a Water Tribe top, with matching bottoms. A gift from grandfather Hakoda.

"I was 19 years old." Zuko stated, making a sharp left to enter Shen's room. The Palace was huge. Shen and Lie Mei wanted to choose their own rooms, so of course they picked the ones farthest away from their parents room. Shen's room was on the left wing of the Palace, while Lie Mei's was near the middle, where people enter the Palace.

"When did you fall in love with her?" Shen asked, running towards his closet door, ripping it open. Shen pulled out his matching outfit with Lie Mei. A basic formal uniform. Zuko wanted his children to be more than children, he wanted them to be best friends with him, and Katara. He didn't want them to be so uptight, and formal. There for, they call them 'mom' and 'dad'.

Zuko had cut Shen's hair short, so he didn't have to wear the crown ornament. Zuko remembered how annoying that piece of metal could get. Shen stripped from his shirt, and slipped into the top. Wrapping the right side of his top over to his left hip, tying the strings in a bow before tucking it underneath the cloth, hiding the bow from sight.

"I fell in love with Katara when we were in the Crystal Catacombs. I've seen her before, when I was searching for Aang. I never really knew her true beauty until I saw her in the catacombs. I saw her cry-yeah I know that's weird, but, I wanted to hold her. Let her cry into my shoulder, and I wanted to kiss her tears away." Zuko spoke honesty, making Shen turn his head over his shoulder to look at his confessing father. Stepping into his pants at the same time, too.

"..Why didn't you tell her?" His child asked, so young, and naive. Zuko chuckled, walking over to his son as he sat him on the bed, grabbing both socks. He sat on his knees in front of Shen, pushing one sock around the boy's left foot, then the right. Shen pulled them up to his knees, while Zuko tucked the pants under the sock.

"I was afraid she wouldn't feel the same way. Wait. No. No, that's not true. We couldn't be together. She's water, and I'm fire. They don't mix." Zuko explained, standing up to leave Shen's room.

"But you two are married now! You have children: me and Lie Mei!" Shen shouted, moving off the bed to look for his shoes.

"Yeah, it surprised me too, but we manage. And I love Katara." That was the last thing Shen heard before Zuko left, shutting the door.

After an hour, Zuko returned to his room. He was out practicing his Fire Bending, and sweat gathered mostly around his cheeks, and his lower chest. There was a white towel draped around Zuko's neck. Entering, he saw Katara, who was sitting at her vanity, plain faced.

"Katara?" He asked, "What's the matter?"

"I had to tell Lie Mei how we first met, and it broke my heart." Katara stood, turning towards Zuko, "'Oh, your father and I met when he was raiding my village.'" She mocked her own voice, covered her face with her hands.

Zuko was at her side within a second, dropping the white cloth onto the floor. Zuko placed both of his hands on her cheeks, forcing her to look up at him. She was tearing up, and Zuko finally, got to kiss away her tears. Katara enclosed her arms around Zuko's neck, hiding her face into his neck. Zuko comforted her by picking her up from the ground, standing straight. She was about four or five inches of the ground.

This made Katara laugh, and she pulled back. Staring her at her husband's face, giving him a sweet little kiss. He compromised, and returned the kiss. Returning her back to earth.

"I want our children to know about the past, but I don't want them growing up to hate either of us. It's.. difficult." She spoke, moving to her own wardrobe to pull out her Fire Lady dress. Pulling off her own ensembles, she stepped into the dress, pulling it up to motion her arms through the arm loops. Moving her hands behind her back, she tied the wrappings together, placing another layer of clothing on, which was the final piece to the top. A long, shaw of a sort. It complimented her body very well.

"I know that, baby. Neither of our kids will grow up hating on of us. I just told Shen when I first fell in love with you. In the Crystal Catacombs? That... That just broke me. I didn't tell him everything, but I told him.. my feelings." Zuko placed the fabric on first, slipping into his robes. Adding the long, pointed belt second before having Katara help him with the shoulder piece. He pulled his hair up, placing the crown in his black hair, as Katara did the same.

Zuko and Katara left their room hand in hand, finding their children talking quietly until they started playing, acting out the fight between Aang and Ozai. Lie Mei was Aang, and Shen was Ozai. Lie Mei busted a gust of wind out of her hands, followed by 'swooshing' noises from her mouth. Shen fell to his knees, and splattered across the floor, making dying sounds.

Zuko laughed with Katara, "Children, let's go out into the field." Zuko announced, watching as their children run off to enter the outside world. Katara had done some changes, since she wanted to have a ravishing front yard. There were flowers, after flowers. Trees of all kinds, and a small garden that Katara had recently started developing. Zuko placed his fisted hand to his hip, allowing Katara's arm to slip through the hole, and hold on to him. They walked slowly down the steps while their children were already at the bottom, impatiently waiting.

Katara and her family arrived in front of the pond, where a waiting artist stood. He bowed before the Fire Lord, and Lady. Greeting the Prince and Princess with a bow of his head to them. It was an older fellow, and Zuko made sure to pay him more than needed. Katara had worked on him about being generous, and now he acts more generous than needed to.

The entire time there would be about an hour. The painter showed off his work of art, followed by Shen and Lie Mei running up, amazed by the sight. Katara turned her head, kissing Zuko's cheek.

"I would like to ask for a portrait of just the Fire Lord and Fire Lady." The man said, a passionate smile spread along his wrinkled face. Katara nodded, and looked behind her. Pulling Zuko with her to sit on the bench, Katara sat first, then Zuko. The painter moved his easel closer to the two, he complimented the couple. Before the painter began to work his magic, Zuko slipped his fingers into Katara's. Resting their tangled hands between them.

Another hour would pass, and he asked for just the children. Lie Mei sat where Katara sat, and Shen sat where Zuko sat on the bench. It was a white stone bench, and was very smooth. Shen wrapped his arm around Lie Mei, making both his mother and father smile in approval.

Another hour would pass and Zuko paid the man 300 gold. 100 for every hour. The man was very pleased, he bowed and went his separate ways. It was getting into midday, and the children wanted to stay outside.

"Mommy! Daddy! Tell us when you fought something together!" Their princes shouted, skipping around the pond they stood in front of. Shen jumped in with the shouted. "Yeah! Dad tell us when you and mom kicked butt!"

Chortles espcaed the two adults, who stood by each other. Zuko had his arms folded, and Katara placed both of her arms in her robes. "Well, it was a long, long time ago..." Katara began.

I was struck by the confusion of what would happen. Would I survive? Would I die? I couldn't remember much at that moment. We were running, we ran for an eternity. Hiding, escaping, panting. It was happening way to fast. I couldn't breathe at times, but he helped me. He wanted to fight her alone, but I wouldn't allow it. I came with him.

He shouted at her, the Agni Kai was resulted. He told me that she was off, and there was something wrong about her. She didn't... She didn't look right, she was lost. As if she was in another dimension. I stood behind him, watching the flickers of flames escape their fingertips. Blue and red. A contrast was form, the color purple was in the middle of the collision. It burned my skin slightly, but I didn't do anything. I stood. I watched. I was scared. For him.

"That's all you got?" He cried. I was praying he wouldn't tempt her anymore. But, he continued.

"You're off, Azula!" With that, Zuko thrusted, pivoted, and released the biggest fire I've ever seen. Knocking her off her feet, and sending her flying back. At that moment, her eyes caught mine. That's when I saw my mother. Her waiting arms, open and ready to catch me. I stepped back as the thought of my mother vanished. The only thing in my view was his back, and he was strucked by the sharpest lightning bolt. It shined, and glistened in my eyes. I felt like crying. I ran towards Zuko, but was soon on my feet as she hurled fire bolts my way. I ran to the closest building.

I hid behind pillar after pillar, and found myself dashing for a plinth. My heart was beating so fast, I thought I was going to die. Adrenaline filled my bones, and courage overtook me.

She's right there. She's after me. She has me.

I pull my hands up, my fingers flowing around the fluid, and freeze everything around us. I stare at her, she's frozen. Frozen with hatred stuck on her face like a mask. I couldn't breathe.

I let a bubble around my head, starting to get air in my lungs, I found a chain beneath me and began tying it around her arms, knotting it each chance I got, slipping it through her legs too. I wanted her to stop. I broke the ice.

She was on the ground, writhing, and screaming at me. Her hair was soaked, along with her skin. I rushed towards the man who saved me. He gave me another chance at life. And all this time... I thought about how mean, cruel, and undeserving he was. I was wrong. I was so wrong. I fell to my knees, placed my hand over his chest, and pulled the burning, pulled the hurt, and pulled the sadness away from him. Within a moment, he opened his eyes. Tears formed, and I saw the greatest sight ever. I saw Zuko.

"..You saved daddy?" Shen asked, his hands pulling on her clothes, which Katara nodded. A faint smile crept up on her, and she looked at Zuko, who was already looking back.

"I was so mean to him. I was rude, and cold. Now, I stand here as his wife, best friend, a mother to his children," With that, she touched the face of each of their children, stroking their cheek with her thumbs. "and I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Daddy? Will you tell me about your scar?" Lie Mei asked, she deserved to know. She needed to know about her grandfather. What he did, why he did it, what he got out of it. Katara placed a hand of her head, toying with the strands of hair that hung from her scalp. They knew about their father's scar, but they didn't have the full story.

"It's a touchy thought, but I will tell you." Zuko and his family started to gather on the ground, he was sitting back, his hands holding himself up. Katara sat next to him. Lie Mei was in her mother's lap, and Shen faced the three others.

"It was a horrible day at the Palace..."

I was sitting next to my father. He was discussing plans about sacrificing novice troops to gain a victory. I spoke out, and this angered him. Azula always told me to shut up, and agree. Never say my thoughts, or opinions. She was right, for once. If Azula knew anything, she knew war, death, and battle. That's why my father favored her more. Loved her more than me, his first born. He demanded an Agni Kai with me, and I fell to my knees.

I asked him to forgive me, and asked if I could state my other idea. He laughed at me, and told me I was a coward. That's when I saw his finger, pointing directly at me. He was aiming at me, he would kill me! His own son! I tried to get out of the way, but I was too slow. Too annoying. Too cowardice. He burned me. The left side of my face completely gone, and torn to pieces. The only person that would help me was Uncle. That man... I found myself annoyed by him in the beginning, but I learned. I learned he was my father at times, and helped me grow up. I loved Uncle. I loved him.

Father banished me, and told me to come back if I had the Avatar. I went searching, a 13 year old searching for the Avatar that disappeared. I spent the next three years finding the Avatar, catching him in my grasp, raiding Tribes, and villages. During one raid, I met her. A pretty girl, a pretty Water Tribe girl. I was hateful to her, and her brother. I was hate. I knew the meaning of hate, and I showed everyone what it meant.

I had the Avatar in my hands, I was happy. I could finally be at my father's side, talking about the Fire Nation's ruling. I would be Fire Lord. I would have my birthright.

That bald headed boy escaped my grasps, and I was furious. I took it out on Uncle. He just let me sit there, and yell at him. I feel the pain now.

I searched four Air Temples, starting with the Western Air Temple.

I was bitter. A complex work of flesh.

It wasn't until many years later, that I'd find myself looking back on the time I searched for the Avatar. Who is now my best friend, and the girl of my dreams as my wife.

"You always loved mommy, didn't you dad?" Lie Mei asked, and got a nod, with a straight smile.

By the time they finished each story, it was bracing night time, and every worker returned home, except for the guards. Zuko stood, and brushed off grass on his legs, and his back. As did Katara, and the children ran off up the stairs. They were racing, just as any kid. Zuko smirked.

"Did you really love me all those years, Zuko?" Katara asked, slipping her arm around his, attaching herself to him. She was cold. Zuko was warm. It mixes perfectly.

"I knew you'd be a great wife from the time I actually looked you in the eyes. When you hugged me, I never wanted to let go." With that, Katara wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her wet lips to his. Closing her eyes, she tilts her head to the right, as Zuko does the same. He wraps his arms around her waist, his hands folding on the small of her back. Zuko prods her lips, his pink muscle breaking through the barrier. Katara eagerly lets him in, Zuko swirls his tongue around, exploring one again. Katara allows, and the two would kiss for what seems like forever.