But that would take time, and his people expected him back. And those people included Mai.

"So the Fire Lord has returned."

"Mai!" Zuko turned to see the serious girl in his throne room. "The mob outside Yu Dao is gone. For now, at least, the Fire Nation citizens there are safe."

"You left without saying anything to me! You said Ba Sing Se for a week, but here we are weeks later and you're talking about Yu Dao. I had to figure out where you were from official edicts your soldiers posted around the capital!" She didn't sound or look angry. Instead, it was worried.

And Zuko felt... bad.

"You're doing it again, Zuko. If you're having problems, you're supposed to talk to me. I'm your girlfriend." She showed genuine concern for him, making his heart hurt. He did love her, in his own way. It made it even harder to leave her.

"You're right... I'm sorry." He closed his tired eyes. "It won't happen again."

"You've been having trouble sleeping."

"How--"

"Have you looked in the mirror lately?" She asked, placing her hands on his face. He had to admit, it felt good. He was exhausted and he missed the touch of another human. "Your bodyguards are obviously a bunch of incompetent idiots. You're the Fire Lord. You need real security. So I asked some friends to come help."

And as he looked over, there stood the Kiyoshi Warriors. Just in time for him to go to bed.

It was not long until he was asleep. The rest, however, was not restful. He dreamed of you; crying.

"Zu, the baby! You takin' ma baby!" You screamed, holding your stomach.

"No! No, YN!" He held up his hands. "I found a way so you can come with us! Listen to me!"

"Ma baby! Ma baby!"  You curled up, "Yous gonna get 'em killed!"

"It's ours!" He cried back. "I'll die first!"

He woke up in a panic and went out to his doorway to Ty Lee and Suki.

"Do you hear anything?" He asked.

"No, Zuko, it's been quiet all night." Suki answered.

"Honest to goodness! There hasn't been a peep!" Ty Lee declared.

"I'm sorry. It's not that I don't trust you. I know the Kyoshi Warriors are the best guardsmen in the world."

"Guardswomen, you mean!" Ty Lee corrected him.

"Go back to sleep." Suki encouraged him. "You have to at least try."

"No." he put his face in his hands. "I'm going to get a drink of water."

"Do you need someone to escort you?" She asked.

"I'll be fine. The walk will do me some good." But he wasn't going to get water. He was going to get advice. From his father.

Meanwhile, you too, were having a nightmare. But yours was of a different kind.

"Bring me more water. I think Rena and I are thirsty." Mai commanded as she held your baby.

You couldn't talk though. You couldn't protest. It felt like your tongue was swallowed.

And Rena just... wasn't the name you wanted.

You tried desperately to scream, but instead, you just grabbed water.

When you woke up, you were gripping Slim like your life depended on him and he was squirming.

"Sorry, Slim. Bad dream." You mumbled. "Or... bad future. Ain't matter."