"You can't possibly increase taxes that high on the middle class," Zuko commented, in the midst of another important council meeting for the Republic City board. The old man in the white trench coat glared at the fire lord as he made that comment.

"And, why not, Fire Lord Zuko?" The man asked as he peaked his furry, white eyebrow.

"Because, before I reformed the taxes in the Fire Nation, the taxes on the middle class were absolutely absurd with how high they were. The whole nation's economy was falling to pieces because it was all weighed on the middle class! There was hardly one left because they'd all been taxed out of it!" Zuko rebutted.

"Maybe Zuko is right, Henok," Katara said to the man in the long, white coat and he scowled to the avatar's wife as well.

"We have to pay to pave the roads somehow, with all these people moving in!" Henok argued.

"Why don't we just give an equal percentage tax to everyone?" Aang suggested and Katara and Zuko nodded along affirmatively.

"Exactly, that's what I issued for the Fire N-" Zuko began as Henok cut him off.

"That's all well and good, Fire Lord Zuko, but this isn't the Fire Nation!" Henok snapped as an interruption.

"Headmaster Henok, I know you mean well, but Zuko runs a country, and has been running a country, since he was younger than my children. I think it may be wise to listen to a thing or two he has to say about taxes," Aang retorted to Henok's interruption.

"Well, the fact of the matter is, with all due respect, Fire Lord Zuko, that this isn't your country," Henok explained, "Perhaps this meeting should be cut to just Avatar Aang and I for now."

"Aang is going to have to listen to you gab on alone?" Katara said as she quickly slapped her hand to her mouth, realizing what she'd just said aloud, as Zuko smirked and Aang snickered.

"Yes," Henok groaned curtly.

"Alright, I guess Zuko and I will just go for a walk then," Katara said with a shrug, "See you later, sweetie!" Katara called to her husband as Zuko held the door for their exit.

"Bye, Aang," Zuko waved.

"Yeah, bye, Katara, bye, Zuko," Aang griped as he enviously watched them eagerly skip out of the loathed capitol building.

Meanwhile, the teenaged children of the avatar and co. were spending the day on Air Temple Island, while their parents' meeting was held. They were all sitting by a pond, drinking iced tea with lemon, and laughing.

"Remember the time Aunt Toph snuck us all into that pro-bending match before back when our parents vehemently opposed it," Kya said with a giggle, standing by the pond with Ursa and Lin.

"How could I forget," Ursa said as she cracked a wry smile, "She signed us up for a match and everything."

"Well, if it weren't for Mom, we never would've gotten into pro-bending in the first place," Lin added.

"My dad probably would've liked that," Ursa joked. As the girls conversed and reminisced by the pond, Tenzin and Bumi were sitting on a ledge, as Bumi concocted a prank.

"How mad do you think Ursa would be if I pushed her into the pond right now?" Bumi asked his brother with a snort.

"She'd kill you," Tenzin answered brusquely.

"I'm gonna do it anyway," Bumi stated.

"Nice knowing you," Tenzin replied nonchalantly, used to his brother's shenanigans. Bumi then waited for his crush to turn so he'd be out of her view, she was still holding her glass of iced tea and laughing at a joke made by Lin and his sister. Bumi jeered as he saw this as an opportune time to strike, he then stealthily crept over next to the Fire Nation princess and gave her one graceful shove forward. Ursa gasped as she lost her balance and splashed, face-first and head-over-heels, into the pond water, sending her drink flying, and landing all over her head and hair, the glass shattering, luckily, beside her. Lin and Kya began a fit of laughter alongside Bumi.

"You need a towel, princess?" Bumi asked.

"BUMI!" Ursa screamed in fury as she stood up.

"I'm just trying to be a gentleman," Bumi laughed.

"I AM GOING TO LIGHT YOU ON FIRE, I SWEAR," Ursa shouted as she rung out her tea-drenched hair.

"Aw, come on now, don't be like that!" Bumi teased, "Royalty," Bumi sarcastically whispered to Lin in Ursa's earshot.

"I may be a princess, but you're the one who's a royal pain!" Ursa shouted as her quick temper began to wither and she sprouted a blue flame from her hand.

"Aw, come on, Ursa! It-it was just a joke, no need for crazy firebending magic!" Bumi said defensively as Ursa flung fire just from aim and he sighed in relief.

"Next time it won't be above your head," Ursa threatened.

"Here," Kya said behind a giggle as she waterbent her friend dry.

"Thanks, Kya," Ursa said as she walked over to Bumi and shoved him on the ground before folding her arms over her chest and sitting down on the ledge next to Tenzin. Bumi then glanced up to his sister and secret-crush, Lin with a smirk and they giggled with him at his trick.

Katara and Zuko were walking the bustling streets of the metropolis known as Republic City together as Katara's stomach began to grumble.

"You hungry?" Zuko asked with a smile.

"I guess so," Katara admitted with a laugh.

"Why don't we go somewhere and grab a bite to eat for breakfast, I didn't eat anything since the meeting was so early. Mai would have my head knowing I keep skipping breakfast," Zuko suggested.

"That sounds good to me!" Katara said, "And you shouldn't skip breakfast, Zuko, it is the most important meal of the day."

"Thanks for the health tip, Katara. You and Mai can start a club," Zuko joked.

"Maybe we will!" Katara declared and Zuko snickered.

"Come on," Zuko said with a laugh as he put a friendly hand on her back, as they entered a restaurant. The little restaurant was actually quite busy. It had a good reputation in Republic City for serving the best pancakes in town, and it had loyal customers who came for their tea or coffee every morning before heading off to work. There was even currently a line for a table since it was so busy.

"This place is always so crowded. I remember taking the kids here with Aang when they were little and it was still crowded even then," Katara said as she began to remove her coat.

"Really? It seems like a nice place," Zuko added as all-of-a-sudden he felt a sharp pang of pain in his upper abdomen and groaned while clutching at it.

"Zuko?" Katara said in concern as she saw her friend wince.

"I'm fine," Zuko dismissed and Katara furrowed her brows in concern, not buying it.

"You're not, what's wrong?" Katara demanded.

"It's nothing, it's been happening a lot lately. It's just from stress or something, don't worry about it," Zuko reassured.

"Well, it's not good. You need to relax more often if you're getting this kind of pain all from work," Katara stated.

"Katara, I think I can handle it, it has been twenty-five years of this," Zuko said with a half-grin.

"Oh, don't say that, it's making me feel old," Katara replied.

"At least you haven't hit your forties yet," Zuko joked.

"Next month," Katara replied with a laugh.

"My daughter will be eighteen next month," Zuko said, shaking his head in disbelief.

"They've grown up so fast. I can't believe my Kya is nineteen and Bumi is already eighteen himself…and Tenzin is sixteen, he's still a baby," Katara said with a laugh.

"Ah, Master Katara! I haven't seen you in awhile! Oh, and you brought along your friend, Fire Lord Zuko! It's an honor to be waiting on you, your highness!" The attendee said.

"Thank you, but there's no need for special treatment or anything, you can just give us a normal table whenever there's one available," Zuko stated, blushing.

"That would be rude to do to the Fire Lord and the avatar's wife! I won't have it!" He said as he clapped for a waiter to tend to them, "Please seat Fire Lord Zuko and Master Katara immediately!"

"Why of course," The waiter answered promptly, "Right this way, please," the waiter said as he led Zuko and Katara to a booth and handed them their menus. "I will be back to take your orders in a moment, please, take your time," The waiter said as he walked off.

"I told him no special treatment," Zuko said as he sighed.

"They never listen," Katara replied. "Anyways, I'm going to get a stack of pancakes and a cup of Jasmine tea, what're you going to get, Zuko?"

"Jasmine tea…my uncle's favorite," Zuko noted with a nostalgic smile. Katara smiled sympathetically as Zuko sighed and looked back to the menu, "I think I'll just try the pancakes, if they're as good as everyone seems to think…and I'll have a cup of Jasmine too."

"You miss him," Katara stated sadly and Zuko sighed.

"Every day," Zuko replied and Katara put a comforting hand over his, "Ursa misses him terribly, they were so close."

"I know, we all loved him, he lived a good life though, Zuko. He loved you and Ursa-a lot," Katara assured and Zuko smiled.

"I know, it's just…." Zuko began.

"It hurts, I know," Katara finished as she absentmindedly grabbed at her mother's betrothal necklace around her neck. The waiter then came back, took Katara and Zuko's orders and promptly returned with their meals.

"This is actually…really good," Zuko commented as he ate the stack of pancakes coated with maple syrup.

"See, I told you!" Katara replied as she sipped at her cup of tea. Suddenly, Zuko moaned in pain again. "Zuko."

"Katara, it's nothing," Zuko said as he continued to grip at his upper chest.

"It's not nothing, Zuko!" Katara insisted, "This is the second time this morning alone!"

"I told you, it's just some side effects from stress, I only sleep three hours a night," Zuko brushed it off.

"Three hours!" Katara exclaimed, and Zuko rolled his eyes, why'd he tell her that? Katara was always so nagging and motherly towards her friends, ever since they became friends. She doted on Zuko, Toph, Suki, and even her brother, like they were her children, Zuko only imagined what Aang went through as her husband. "You never told anyone that!"

"It's only been the last couple of years, I keep getting nervous," Zuko explained, shooing his hand at her.

"Nervous? What's going on?" Katara fretted.

"Nothing, I'm just…pranoid," Zuko said, sipping at his tea.

"Zuko, are assassins at you again?" Katara asked, "They haven't been for years, you promised you'd tell Aang if they were!"

"No, no, no, they're not, I'm just all paranoid of them, and after finishing all of the things I need to do, when I finally do lie down, I jump at every sound," Zuko stated.

"Zuko, that's horrible. You, Mai, and Ursa need to get out, you need a vacation," Katara suggested.

"I'd love a vacation!" Zuko said, "But the country isn't going to run itself! And….ever since uncle passed away…th-there's no one to look over it so I can take my family out…" Zuko sighed, "I feel like I've been neglecting them."

"Zuko, Aang and I could take care of things for a week or two if you want to get away with your family, you know that. Or even Sokka or Toph, you know they'd be more than happy to," Katara offered.

"I don't want to burden you guys with that," Zuko replied, "It's too stressful to throw on any of you," Zuko said as leaned his head back into his hands in pain.

"That's it!" Katara exclaimed, "Something is wrong with you, Zuko! What's going on?"

"My chest gets these pains, Katara, it's no big deal, come on, we better go meet back up with Aang now," Zuko said and Katara crossed her arms over her chest as they both threw a tip down along with a check for the bill, on the table and made their way back to the capitol hall. When they arrived back at the council hall, Aang was already waiting outside with a glum demeanor.

"Everything go okay, sweetie?" Katara asked as she ran up to her husband and pecked him on the lips as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Aang sighed and leaned his head onto his wife's.

"Yeah, we made a compromise, for now, nothing is official-still," Aang said.

"Nothing ever will be with that guy, he's stubborn as hell," Zuko added.

"Sounds like someone else," Katara said as she squinted at him.

"What'd Zuko do now?" Aang teased.

"Zuko is having pains in his chest and panic attacks and only sleeps three hours a night, but won't discuss it," Katara said.

"I regret letting it out," Zuko stated flatly.

"Zuko, you alright?" Aang said as he snaked his arm around Katara's shoulders.

"Yes, I'm fine for the nine-hundredth time," Zuko said, "This is just like when we were kids, Katara, you've gotten no better!"

"What do you mean?" Katara replied behind a smirk.

"After the agni kai was over, you asked me at least a hundred times if I was okay, and after that, Aang, Sokka, and Suki wouldn't stop asking either-come to think of it, I think even Toph asked a couple of times," Zuko said as Aang laughed.

"The agni kai…" Katara pondered, "Zuko, where did you say your chest hurt?"

"Where are you going with this, you don't honestly think that Zuko's scar from the agni kai is related to whatever pains he's having now?" Aang asked.

"It's possible," Katara said, "Where does it hurt, Zuko?"

"Here, it is the same spot as where Azula hit me, yeah," Zuko admitted.

"That's weird, Katara healed you twenty-five years ago," Aang said, "My scar on my back from when Azula hit me never hurt afterwards."

"Does it hurt anywhere else, Zuko?" Katara asked.

"You guys are fussing way too much over this. But yeah, sometimes it hurts here too," Zuko said as he rubbed the area of his chest above his heart.

"Zuko, that's where your heart is!" Katara said worriedly, "Come on, let's go back to our place, I'll take a look there."

"Katara, come on, it's just stress, stuff like this has been happening since I was a kid, this is ridiculous-"

"No, Zuko, Katara's right, I don't like this either, let her check it out, alright, Sifu Hotman?" Aang said with a joke as he gave his friend's shoulder a squeeze in reassurance and Zuko sighed.

"Fine," He reluctantly agreed bluntly.

Back at Air Temple Island, Ursa was still angry with Bumi, and sitting on the cement ledge next to Tenzin.

"You're brother's a pain, Tenzin, in case you haven't noticed," Ursa complained.

"You've known him longer than me, but I have the pleasure of living with him," Tenzin joked and Ursa giggled. Bumi watched Ursa giggle with his younger brother and even though he knew for a fact that Tenzin had a thing for Lin, and Tenzin and Ursa were nothing more than close friends, he couldn't held but feel a tinge of jealousy. He glared at his brother subconsciously and left his conversation with his sister and Lin to interrupt Ursa and his little brother.

"Hey, Tenzin, Princess, what cha up to?" Bumi asked coyly as he leaned his arm on the wall and beamed a smile. Ursa rolled her eyes.

"Ugh, go away, Bumi, why don't you go shove someone in the pond," Ursa grumbled.

"It was just a joke, and my sis dried you off, don't get your knickers in a twist," Bumi stated.

"Excuse me!" Ursa said, sticking her nose to him.

"I've been pulling tricks since we were in diapers, what is your problem!" Bumi shouted; as he mentally slapped himself, fight with her, real smooth.

"Maybe it's the fact that in less than a month I will be an official adult!" Ursa snapped, "And, you already are!"

"We're still kids, slow down," Bumi said as he waved his hand.

"Your father had saved the world by the time he was thirteen!" Ursa rebutted.

"It doesn't mean he never fooled around," Bumi said, "He was-is a total goofball."

"Whatever, Bumi, just let me be, okay!" Ursa grumbled as she stormed off and Bumi scrunched his nose in confusion.

"What is her problem? She's never like this!" Bumi exclaimed as the girls and Tenzin just shrugged, equally confounded by their friend's overreaction. Bumi then sighed, kicked the dirt and made his way inside where he downtroddenly plopped himself down at the table beside his uncle.

"Hey, buddy, you alright?" Sokka asked his downcast nephew while placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Not really, Uncle Sokka," Bumi replied with a sigh, blowing the bangs from his face.

"What's the problem, bud? Uncle Sokka is here to help!" Sokka explained.

"It's Ursa!" Bumi growled in frustration.

"Ah, yes, Ursa, Fire Lord Zuko's daughter, the belle of the Fire Nation, princess, and heir to the throne," Sokka said with a smirk.

"You say that like she's a stranger and like you weren't one of the people who fed her her bottle when she was a baby," Bumi grumbled and Sokka couldn't help but laugh at the similarity between himself and his young nephew.

"I was just listing some of her qualities," Sokka stated.

"I know her qualities, Uncle Sokka, I'm pretty sure I'm in love with her, you've kind of been teasing me about it for years," Bumi moaned.

"Tricky situation, falling for one of your childhood best friends," Sokka said contemplatively.

"What would you know about it, Aunt Suki was your girlfriend from the start," Bumi mumbled.

"True, but Bumi, did you ever, I don't know, tell Ursa that you like her?" Sokka asked.

"I can't! What if she doesn't and then I ruin our friendship! Though, I think I already did, she's super pissed at me," Bumi cried.

"What, she just being a girl?" Sokka asked.

"Yes! I pushed her in the pond, but Kya dried her off, and she won't stop griping about it! Then she ran off in a snit about how we're adults now or something and how my dad saved the world when he was like ten or whatever!" Bumi explained.

"Sounds like it's time to go in for the kill!" Sokka advised.

"It sounds like a terrible time for that!" Bumi moaned.

"She's looking for attention, trust me, Suki used to do the same thing," Sokka whispered, to be sure his wife wouldn't overhear him from the other room where she was having tea with Toph.

"Really? Aunt Suki?" Bumi inquired.

"Yup," Sokka affirmed, "Just go for it, plus, she's into you too, trust me."

"How do you know?" Bumi asked skeptically.

"I have eyes and ears that's how," Sokka answered sarcastically.

"Thanks, Uncle Sokka," Bumi said with a confident smile as he stood up and dashed out the door. Sokka smiled, feeling quite pleased with himself.

"You done good, Uncle Sokka, you done good," Sokka mused aloud as his wife and best friend came in right as he kicked his feet up on the table, sipping a bottle of cactus juice.

"Sokka, what on earth did you just put into my nephew's head?" Suki asked.

"Girl advice, damn good girl advice!" Sokka answered.

"Bumi's doomed, he's dying alone, it's official," Toph said and Suki slapped her arm, "It ain't his fault, it's that bonehead's! Whatever he told him is going to wind up making him single forever."

"Well, I'm not," Sokka rebutted with a pouty face.

"Not. A. Word." Suki said, stopping Toph from making a comment she knew was sure to come as Toph snickered. Suddenly, a pounding at the door interrupted their conversation.

"Hello, all," Katara said brightly as she entered her own home to the welcoming sight of her brother, sister-in-law, and friend.

"How'd the meeting go over, Katara?" Sokka questioned his sister.

"Aang says we're still in a stalemate," Katara answered, "But I've got to check Zuko out now, as soon as he and Aang get in."

"Why, what's Sparky's problem?" Toph asked.

"He's having pain in his chest, where that old scar is, and his heart aches, I wanted to take a look to be sure," Katara replied.

"The scar from when he saved you?" Sokka asked and Katara hesitated.

"…Y-yeah…" Katara answered, a pang of guilt sitting in the pit of her stomach, "From when he…saved me."

"Eh, you saved me back," Zuko dismissed as he and Aang entered the house.

"Zuko, you jumped in front of a fatal bolt of lightning aimed at my wife," Aang said, "Don't try to discredit yourself for that one," Aang said, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"So what's this I hear about you and your heart attacks, Zuko?" Sokka asked nonchalantly.

"Sokka! Don't say that! That would be horrible!" Suki snapped and Zuko laughed.

"That's how they're all acting, I'll tell you that, Sokka," Zuko said.

"Better safe than sorry, now come on, let me have a look at that old scar upstairs," Katara ordered.

"Fine, but no need to tell Mai about this, or Ursa," Zuko said as he reluctantly followed Katara up the stairs.

"I have to tell Mai, I'd feel awful if Aang was having health problems and I didn't know," Katara cried.

"She worries too much about me already," Zuko complained.

"She deserves to know, now sit down," Katara said and Zuko rolled his eyes with compliance.

"Yes, Dr. Katara," Zuko joked.

"Zuko, you're gonna have to take off your shirt for a second," Katara said awkwardly as she blushed.

"Oh…ugh…okay," Zuko mumbled as he also began to flush red as he threw his shirt off to the side. Katara then sat on the bed beside him and took a look at the old scar, the same one she'd healed twenty-five years prior on a flaming battlefield. The scar was inflamed, red, and irritated. Katara noticed this and pressed a cool pool of water on it as Zuko grimaced and grunted in slight discomfort.

"Zuko, something's definitely wrong," Katara explained as she continued trying to re-heal the wound.

"What do you mean, how could something be wrong with it, it's a dead piece of skin tissue," Zuko rationalized.

"I-I don't know…" Katara confessed, "I'm a healer, not a doctor."

"It's probably just…a rash or something," Zuko said as he grabbed his shirt and began putting it back on, Katara sighed with worry.

"Zuko, please see a doctor when you get home," Katara asked.

"Okay, okay," Zuko agreed, as to just end all of the fussing over his petty chest pains. Katara took her friend by the shoulder.

"Zuko, please, I mean it, it's probably nothing, but just in case, okay?" Katara asked and Zuko sighed.

"Alright, Katara, I'll ask the doctor back at the palace about it," Zuko agreed and Katara smiled.

"Good, then enough of that, let's go see what the others are up to," Katara replied as Zuko and Katara made their way downstairs.

Ursa was leaning up against a faded, old, oak tree that was half barren and half painted with autumn colors. Bumi approached her as he trekked up the hill. He pulled a weed from around the tree's roots up and held it behind his back as he tapped Ursa on the shoulder lightly. She shot around and glared when she saw Bumi.

"What do you want?" Ursa snapped.

"I wanted to say sorry, and I brought sorry flowers," Bumi said as he stuck the weeds in her face. Ursa glanced down at them, unimpressed, but hiding her giggles.

"Those are a bundle of weeds that are also right beneath your feet," Ursa stated.

"Oh," Bumi said as he tossed them to the ground and stepped on them as he flashed a quirky grin and Ursa couldn't help but begin to laugh at his idiosyncrasies, "See, you haven't laughed in awhile, what's gotten into you lately?"

"I don't know, life at the palace, my dad keeping me caged in like a bird," Ursa said behind her laugh.

"So you don't hate me?" Bumi asked.

"Bumi, you're one of my best friends on earth, I grew up with you, I love you," Ursa said as she kicked at the tree, staring at her feet, and Bumi's face turned beat-red.

"Well…I mean…I love you too, Ursa…but I-ugh…not just the way I love Kya…or-or my mom…or Lin even…I think I ugh…I think I love you like…umm…the way…that ugh…a guy and a girl…um…you know…like our parents….erm-not that I'm proposing, oh man….not yet, I mean! That would be too fast to even suggest that we'd, not that I wouldn't love for you to be my bride someday, it's just this would be too sudden, and I just mean that-" Bumi went on rambling his lovesick confession, scratching the back of his head awkwardly and blushing, when Ursa interrupted him by grabbing him by the shirt collar and pulling him into a deep kiss. Bumi was taken off guard and his eyes bolted wide open as Ursa fell deeper into the kiss, wracking her hands through his scruffy, brunette hair, Bumi then indulged himself into the kiss and his eyelids fluttered shut and he pressed up against her and tasted her cherry lipstick. He wrapped his callous hands around her waist, snaking them around her hips, as she pushed him up against the oak tree and her hands moved along his defined chest and his combed through her smooth, silken black locks and they stayed for minutes endorsed in each other, releasing all of their feelings held bottled up for all those years.

"Bumi, I love you too, like you said," Ursa finally replied as she gasped for breath alongside Bumi as he smiled.

"Really?" He asked as he laughed in relief, leaning his sweaty forehead up against hers.

"Yeah," Ursa laughed back, "And, I think the word you were looking for was romantically."

"Yeah, that, definitely that," Bumi said.

"I-I was so afraid that you…wouldn't like me back…or if I said something, I don't know, we wouldn't be friends anymore," Ursa confessed as she blushed and leaned her head up against his chest, burying it into his shoulder to hide her embarrassed laughter.

"That's exactly how I felt!" Bumi exclaimed in relief as he embraced her and the two of them just started laughing in relief and joy of their newfound, yet familiar, company.

Bumi and Ursa were still out, as the hours grew on, and the sun set. Lin, Kya, and Tenzin were all back with their parents, having dinner at Katara and Aang's place.

"This is delicious, Katara!" Sokka exclaimed enthusiastically as he bit into the meat.

"You're just excited about any kind of meat," Suki mumbled and Sokka pouted at her as the rest of them laughed. Zuko was just poking at his food when he let out a sigh.

"Where do you think those two are?" Zuko said desperately, "I'm getting worried."

"I don't know, Bumi said Ursa was real mad at him," Sokka explained with his mouth full.

"You're leaving out several details, Sokka," Suki added and Zuko raised his eyebrow.

"Bumi has the hots for your daughter, Sparky," Toph said bluntly and Zuko's expression grew stern.

"Toph!" Aang yelled as Kya, Tenzin, and Lin were hysterically laughing.

"Well, it's true, everyone's known it since they were like twelve!" Toph stated and Katara covered her mouth were the palm of her hand to hide her smirking.

"Alright, so I gave the guy some tips," Sokka said.

"You what?" Zuko shouted.

"Calm down, Zuko, it's Bumi," Sokka said.

"I cannot believe you…you gave your nephew…tips about my little girl!" Zuko yelled.

"Well, Zuko, buddy, let's face it, she's not so little anymore, and it's not like the feelings aren't mutual. You want her to die an old maid? You and Mai were dating when you were like fifteen," Sokka excused.

"I don't care!" Zuko snapped.

"I wouldn't worry, Zuko, Bumi wouldn't have let anything happen to her," Aang stated with a grin and Zuko pouted and muttered beneath his breath. Just then, Bumi and Ursa burst open the door, giggling, hand-in-hand, everyone's eyes on them as their giggling ceased in its tracks.

"We do something wrong?" Bumi asked.

"You just went off for hours without telling anyone!" Zuko yelled.

"Daddy, I was just with Bumi," Ursa explained.

"Yeah, I know," Zuko grumbled.

"I know it's late, but we lost track of time, sorry, Uncle Zuko!" Bumi said and Zuko sighed and sadly looked over Bumi and his daughter. Neither of them were children anymore, Bumi wasn't the little boy who asked for sword lessons anymore and Ursa wasn't the little baby girl who he gave piggyback rides too on a daily basis anymore. Bumi was a young man and his daughter was a beautiful young woman.

"It's alright," Zuko said sadly.

"So, what were you two doing," Lin asked as she made kissy faces and they both blushed and Zuko tried his best not to lose his temper.

"Knock it off, Lin!" Bumi grumbled as everyone laughed, aside from Zuko, who was still pouting.

"Lighten up, Zuko," Aang said as he gave him a playful shove and Zuko half-smiled, but then winced in pain, grabbing at his heart this time and putting his head down.

"Daddy?" Ursa said in concern as she saw her father in pain.

"I'm fine, honey," Zuko said, but his daughter didn't seem convinced.

"You okay, Uncle Zuko?" Bumi asked.

"Yeah, I'm alright, son," Zuko replied.

"What's wrong, Uncle Zuko?" Kya asked.

"This is what I was talking about," Katara said, "Zuko, do you need a glass of water or something?" Katara asked as she stood up.

"No, no, I'm fine, Katara, honestly," Zuko assured, but no one at the table looked convinced.

"Ursa, make sure your mom knows about your dad's pains, alright?" Aang said to Ursa and she nodded.

"And, tell her to make him see a doctor!" Sokka said.

"Sparky's too stubborn for his own good, Mai's the only one who will make him go," Toph commented.

"Is-is he okay?" Ursa asked as she put her hands on her father's shoulders.

"I don't think it's anything, I took a look, but it would be good to just make sure," Katara said to Ursa while putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Alright, Aunt Katara," Ursa smiled back to her.

"The fuss made over my stupid chest pain today is ridiculous," Zuko complained as he stood up, "I really need to be going now, though."

"So soon, Zuko?" Aang asked.

"Yeah, Fire Lord fun awaits me at home," Zuko said sarcastically, putting his hand on his daughter's shoulder.

"Alright, well, go to bed at a decent hour this time!" Aang said and everyone started throwing their two cents in about Zuko's bedtime.

"I will, I will," Zuko assured.

"I'll make sure of it!" Ursa stated as she looked to her father and Zuko shook his head.

"See you later, guys," Zuko said as Katara, Suki, Kya, Lin, and Toph all gave him a hug farewell.

"Take care of yourself," Katara said as Aang, Sokka, Bumi, and Tenzin all shook Zuko's hand and said their goodbyes as well, also all giving an embrace to Ursa and bidding her farewell as well. After exchanging temporary goodbyes, Ursa and Zuko got into the hot air balloon they came in, and took off for home.

They finally arrived home, late and the guards all rushed out to escort them in as they did routinely. Ursa yawned and went straight to bed, ignoring her mother waiting for her and her father by the door. Zuko then walked inside and was stopped and startled by his wife as she wrapped her arms around his arm and leaned her head into it.

"Mai," Zuko said in surprise.

"Hey, Zuko, how'd it go?" Mai asked and Zuko shrugged.

"I think our daughter has a boyfriend…" Zuko grumbled in distress and Mai smirked.

"Bumi," She stated knowingly and Zuko nodded grumpily and she smiled, "It's about time."

"How can you be happy about this?" Zuko cried.

"She's nearly eighteen, Zuko, she can have a boyfriend, and I'm not worried about him breaking her heart, I can tell the boy has loved her a long time," Mai replied, "Don't worry."

"I guess…I mean…if she has to have a boyfriend, I am glad it's Bumi…" Zuko confessed, "I have to go sign some more documents now, Mai."

"Zuko, can't you come to bed, it's two in the morning now, if you start them now you won't get any rest," Mai said as she cupped her hand around his cheek.

"Mai, you know I wish I could," Zuko said.

"You already worked all day today, Zuko, you never sleep, it's been getting worse these last couple of months, it's always been bad, but it's getting ridiculous," Mai argued.

"Mai, I'm so tired, but I have to finish them, the more I put it off, the more there is the next day, and I would love to go to bed, I'm exhausted as hell, but you know I can't," Zuko explained, as Ursa then crept out of her room, in her pajamas, to make a comment.

"Daddy, you promised everyone that you'd go to sleep!" Ursa shouted and Mai raised her eyebrow in curiosity.

"They don't know all the work I have to do," Zuko grumbled.

"You said you would, and you said you'd see the doctor too!" Ursa snapped.

"Doctor?" Mai said as she turned her husband's face to face her, a serious look on her face, "Zuko, what's the matter?"

"Nothing, Mai," Zuko said.

"Mom, his chest hurts, and his heart, that's what Aunt Katara told me," Ursa explained.

"Okay, I get these pains, but they're nothing, it's just stress related," Zuko blew off.

"I don't care! You are coming to bed now, Zuko! And, you are going to see Dr. Kurei first thing you wake up! One night's rest will do you good, the papers can wait!" Mai ordered and Zuko sighed in defeat.

"Alright, alright, anything to get you all off my case," Zuko grumbled and Ursa smiled.

"Goodnight, Daddy!" Ursa said as she crept back into her bedroom.

"Come on, Fire Lord, time to go to sleep!" Mai ordered as Zuko couldn't help but smirk and yield to his wife's demands, and not-as-reluctantly-as-he-pretended, crawl into bed for a night's rest at long last.