Zuko and I step into the quiet interior of the little tea shop. It's filled with people- the best tea in the city, indeed. When Zuko told me how he'd found his uncle, I was skeptical. But now I see how packed the place is, and I'm sure it's just as good as they say.

Across the room, an old man pours tea for a couple, smiling. Zuko's hand tightens around mine as we walk forward. We stop in front of the old man.

I don't know what I expected the Dragon of the West to look like, but it isn't this fat, jolly-looking teamaker.

Zuko lays a coin on the counter. "I'd like a cup of tea, please."

The old man freezes, and then his gaze rises, slowly. He sees Zuko, and tears form in his eyes. Then suddenly he lunges forward and wraps Zuko in a hug.

"Nephew!"

"Hello, Uncle."

I smile as they pull apart, and Iroh's eyes go to me. His eyes are amber, just like Zuko's, but they are more shadowed, more sad. They go wide when he sees me, and his mouth opens as if to say something.

Zuko cuts in.

"Uncle, this is Kara. She's a friend of mine. She's been traveling with me- she's going to live with us."

A friend of mine.

Yeah- that's one way to put it.

I smile at Iroh again. He blinks, then smiles back. "It is an honor to meet you, Kara."

"It's an honor to meet you, Mooshi. Lee has told me so much about you!"

Iroh's gaze cuts to Zuko, confused. I know Zuko will explain it to him later, when we're not surrounded by people.

"We'll talk later. Don't let us stop you from serving the best tea in the city." He smiles at me.

"Thank you, Kara."

He pours Zuko and I each a cup, then moves on to another table. I take a sip and exclaim in pleasure.

"This really is the best tea in the city!"

He laughs from behind me.

"The secret ingredient is love." Beside me, Zuko chokes. I elbow him, and he shakes his head at me, giving me the half-smile. I lean against the counter, watching happy people drink good tea.

Everything is okay.

Finally.

**__**

Zuko watched Uncle serve tea, and smiled. Of course Uncle would be serving tea. Zuko should've thought of that before.

His gaze went to Kara, leaning beside him. His hand found hers again- he didn't know why, but he felt better whenever he was touching her. Whenever he was connected to her.

She smiled at him, and Zuko's heart beat faster. This moment was definitely going down in history as a perfect moment. He had Uncle, Kara, the smell of good jasmine tea, and a new life ahead of him.

It was perfect.

Until, a second later, it wasn't.

The door slammed open, and Jet stood framed in the light from the paper lanterns. He didn't seem to notice Zuko. His eyes went straight to... Uncle? Jet's voice echoed around the room as he pointed a finger at Iroh.

"That old man is a firebender!"

Jet drew his hooked swords, crossing and uncrossing them as he got into a stance. Everyone in the room stared.

Kara gasped, and Zuko didn't have to see her to know that her face had gone white. Jet continued.

"I know he's a firebender! I saw the old man heating his tea!"

The patrons looked at each other, then back at Jet. One of them spoke up.

"He works in a tea shop."

"He's a firebender, I'm telling you!"

The patron put down his tea and faced Jet. "Drop your swords, boy. Nice and easy."

Jet ignored him and advanced on Uncle. "You'll have to defend yourself. Then everyone will know. Go ahead, show them what you can do!"

The patron moved to draw his sword, but Zuko was faster. He drew his Dao swords without thought and moved between Uncle and Jet. The Freedom Fighter's eyes widened when he saw Zuko.

"You want a show? I'll give you a show!"

Jet stepped back. "You!"

Everything Jet didn't say echoed in that word. The anger he still felt that Zuko had turned down his offer of becoming a Freedom Fighter. The shock at seeing him there, defending a firebender.

Zuko smiled. "Me."

Zuko kicked a table at Jet, but Jet moved out of the way. He used those hooked swords like they were a part of him. Just like the Dao swords were a part of Zuko.

The leapt and cut at each other, but Zuko was faster than Jet. Jet's swords gave him an advantage, though, so it was even.

Zuko dodged and leapt onto a table, then off it again. He lunged at Jet, but the Freedom Fighter blocked it. They were pretty evenly matched. That had never happened to Zuko before.

Jet flung Zuko out of the tea shop through the window. Zuko rolled and came up, barely avoiding Jet's next swing. They locked weapons, and Jet grinned maliciously.

"You must be getting tired of using those swords. Why don't you ask your friend to firebend at me?"

Uncle's voice cut into their fighting. "Please, son, you're confused! You don't know what you're doing!"

Jet ignored him. So did Zuko. If Jet wanted a fight, he would get one. He lunged at Jet and the other boy leaned back. Zuko's blade passed inches from Jet's face.

Jet leapt up onto a dais. "You see that? The Fire Nation is trying to silence me! It'll never happen!" He leapt at Zuko again, and Zuko dodged back.

And it began again. Dodging, twirling, meeting, clashing.

Then, another voice cut through the ringing of steel on steel.

"Drop your weapons." Zuko looked back to see two men in robes with the Earth Kingdom crest on them. They looked just like the shady characters that he'd seen lurking around the city. They must be some sort of police, he thought.

Jet separated from Zuko and shouted, "Arrest them! The old man's a firebender, and this one's helping him!"

Uncle was quick to intercede. "This poor boy is confused. We're just simple refugees."

The owner of the tea shop spoke up. "This young man wrecked my tea shop and assaulted my employee!"

The patron from before spoke up next. "It's true, sir. We saw the whole thing. This crazy kid attacked the finest teamaker in the city."

Uncle blushed. "Oh, that's very sweet."

The two men in robes stepped forward. "Come with us, son." Jet tried to fight back, but he was no match for them. In moments he was being led away, shouting all the while.

"You don't understand! They're Fire Nation! You have to believe me!"

But luckily for Zuko, Uncle, and Kara, no one did.

Sorry, Jet. Maybe next time.

________________

Sooo. What think you thus far? I've had some of you lovely commentors asking about when she'll get her memory back, and when she'll see Aang and her family again. Well don't worry, it'll happen. I'm writing chapter 54 right now and I will tell you that Katara has just had a very big surprise.... though she hasn't gotten body licked yet, unfortunetly. Apparently she's not wearing enough honey these days...

;) ;) ;) ;)

Enjoy! COMMENT and vote, if'n it please you, me hearties! :D

-Eon