I had gone to sleep hopelessly early, so I ended up waking up hopelessly early. Strange how that works, isn't it?

It was just a bit before sun-up and I could see the gray haze of the sky outside. I hated this time of day, mostly because I don't do mornings and a tad bit because it makes the world outside look like some sort of really dramatic book cover. It was like the day just kind of began with this thing like it wants to say "I'm Batman," cause it's dramatic like that.

You know, like Zuko.

I smirked to myself for my witty comment that no one would ever hear. Pity. Not that they would understand anyways.

Feeling useless, I decided to make breakfast for myself; one that consisted of nothing but some tea and toast. I refuse to eat much this early in the day.

I looked out the kitchen window to watch the sunrise. It was sort of weird. I was able to watch a sunset and a sunrise all within a twelve hour period. I don't think that's ever happened before.

I'd love to tell you that I spent this time thinking about the important things in life, being philosophic about what life's true meanings were or maybe how I could better myself, but that would be a lie.

Nope, I just sat and watched as the pretty rays of light began to make everything all golden and stuff.

Aren't I a professional?

It wasn't until the sun was completely up that I heard the door open. My senses heightened as the foot was slowly opened quietly. I grabbed the first thing next to me (which just happened to be a tea cup) and walked out into the living room. I'll tell you what, I was so ready to pummel a thief with a tea cup (I sound so British right now), that it took me an extra few seconds to realize that it was just Zuko and Iroh.

I was about to beat a fifty-some-odd year old man with a tea cup! And I probably would have still lost.

Still not noticing my presence a drowsy Zuko and Uncle had a conversation.

"You did the right thing, letting the Avatar's bison go," Uncle told him with a smile. Sorry, what? What did I miss last night?

Zuko stepped forward slightly, holding his hand to his head looking about ready to faint. "I don't feel right."

I could tell that the room was spinning for him, and began to move forward, the tea cup completely forgotten on the floor.

His eyes rolled in the back of his head as he collasped, taking out a vase with him. As tempted as I was to complain about the broken vase, I decided it would be a waste to tell that to an unconscious man, so instead I came up by his side, wondering what on earth those two got themselves into while I was asleep.

I felt his forehead and noticed he was burning up, so before anything happened, I moved to the bathroom to wet a washcloth and placed it on his forehead.

"What on Earth did you two get yourselves into last night?!" Uncle just gave me sheepish smile and I frowned. These two were going to be in so much trouble once I figure out what on Earth they did.

Uncle and I moved to get him onto the couch; however, with Uncle being older and out of shape and myself being Ms. Noodle-arms, it didn't exactly work out. So, instead, I was left to make sure his rising fever didn't kill him while Uncle set up some sort of makeshift bed for us to drag him onto (which turned out to be much easier).

I stared at the unconscious form of my brother for a good while as Uncle Iroh prepared drinking water and. . . did I smell tea?

Not wishing to move too far away from Zuko's burning form,  I stood in order to see Uncle walk back in with three hit cups of tea and a bucket of water.

I took the cup gratefully with a questioning look. "You're strange. He's already too hot and now your going to give him a warm drink when he wakes up?"

He shrugged with a smile that made me think he knew more than he was letting on.

Knowing he wouldn't answer me, I changed the subject. "So, what did he do to get himself in this mess?"

"He did the right thing."

That was it. That was his all-encompassing response. What was that supposed to mean? Doing something right for once in his life caused him to go into near-death mode?

He pursed his lips quietly, shaking his head. "It is not for me to tell. I believe it is an experience he should share with you himself."

We took turns watching over Zuko's unconscious form to make sure his fever didn't overwhelm him. The kid kept tossing in a painful sort of slumber. I wished there was more I could do to help, but alas I was stuck watching him be tormented by whatever sickness had overcome him.

It wasn't until evening had approached that he had finally awoken under my watch. His eyes had fluttered open and I had strangely feared that I'd never actually see his stupid golden eyes again. I think I may have actually smiled when I saw him look at me.

Looking almost confused, he asked in a weak voice, "Eden?" The name shocked me. It has been so long since that name had been used. I had almost forgotten of its existence.

"So. . . thirsty," he managed, attempting to sit up.

"Hold up there, bro. You've got quite a fever. Not sure you should be doing that." I used the ladle as a cup for him to drink from, but he quickly took it from me, gulping the whole thing. Then, as though it were useless he tossed it aside and moved straight for the bucket with all of the water and dumped on his face in an attempt to drink it all in one go. He furiously wiped his mouth, tossed the bucket aside and sank back into the mattress.

"Come now, I think you should just stay covered and sweat it out. I'm certain that's the best way to go about it."

He lay still, but he didn't quite yet close his eyes. Instead, he just stared at me like I was a stranger. Without another word between us, he slowly fell back into his unpleasant sleep.

With a sigh and a yawn, I turned to trade places with Uncle. He was to have the first shift in the night, so that he would be able to sleep while I stayed up after.

In the kitchen, I spotted him making some tea. "Are you ever going to fix something else?"

He smiled jovially at me sipped some of his prepared tea as he took a seat at the table alongside myself. "Why should I? To drink tea is liking breathing air."

I just shook my head and took a second cup from him, before frowning slightly. "Zuko's going to be alright, right?"

Uncle furrowed his brow at my question. "Of course he will. Why wouldn't he be?"

I shrugged slightly. "With how differently things work here, I just thought maybe this wasn't your typical germ-related flu. Maybe it was something deadlier. . . Or something. I don't know, things just seem a little fuzzy right now. . ."

Uncle frowned. "Perhaps you should get some rest. Worrying for your brother this much is not healthy. Remember what happened last time."

I sighed, knowing he was right and was sent off to my room with no arguments, as I knew better than that. I'd be able to worry about all of this when I woke for my shift at midnight.

As I sat down on the bed, the drawing that I made last night caught my eye. Picking it up, I inspected the ink stokes upon the page. The image was of Zuko and I sitting by a pond. Him without his scar and the both of us smiling. Uncle and a woman that I hardly recognized stood on each side of us. However, judging by her similarity to the two of us, she had to be Mother. How I had managed to draw her, I had no clue. Probably had to do with the fact that I was from another world, if I had to take a guess.

This was it. This was my idea of a perfect family. It was a true shame that it would be impossible. Mother was gone, despite my slight inkling that she could still be alive that I have chucked aside as wishful thinking for the sake of my brother. And his lack of scar.

A sudden anger took hold of me. The man that I should have considered father at one point, was the very man who caused a disfigurement to my brother that could not be undone. His face is marred by a reminder to himself that he is 'unworthy'. Despite the fact that I thought it made him look unique, he would always see it as his mark of shame.

And, I think that's what angered me the most.

☆¤☆¤☆

The stars were brightly shining and the moon was peaked in the sky before I was awoken from a sleep that I hadn't even realized that I had fallen into by an exhausted Uncle. He looked like he could fall asleep on the spot from being up all night.

With a smile, I allowed him to go to bed and I made my way to watch over Brother O'mine.

I watched over him for an hour, as he tossed and turned in his sleep before he had jumped out of bed in a state of panic. "Woah, woah. Easy there. You're fine."

He didn't even acknowledge me as he looked around before touching his scar gently. I wasn't quite sure why, but the way he did it as though he were unsure if he had been relieved or upset by this revelation that it was there made my heart clench unpleasantly. "Are you okay, Zuko?"

As though it was the first time he noticed me, he quickly wrapped me in a tight embrace whilst mumbling to himself, "You're okay. You're okay."

Unsure of how to respond, I just sat there awkwardly, allowing myself to be hugged (very unlike me, I know).  After a short moment, he quickly pulled back, regaining his composure. A quick mumbled apology can from him before he lied back down into the sheets. "You alright there?"

"Yes," he responded gruffly, before being thrown back into a coughing fit.

Not wanting to pry, I simply sat there, going back to calmly patting his forehead with the rag.

Ten minutes had passed and I was certain he had fallen back asleep before he spoke again. "You ever have a dream that's so real that you're certain it's trying to tell you something?"

I didn't even have to hesitate for an answer. The dream that I kept having prior to learning of my true heritage was enough. "Yeah. Prior to me knowing that I was. . . you know, your sister, I kept having this dream about you guys and, I wasn't sure what it really meant. Well, I guess I do now."

He coughed tiredly, and groaned as a headache seemed to hit him. "Come on, Zuko. You need to sleep. Rest up. We can talk in the morning."

"N--no. What about--?" He began to drowsily protest, but I stopped him once more.

"In. The. Morning. You need your rest because you are sick." I gave him a stern look and he closed his eyes, albeit reluctantly.

I swear his stubborness was going to be the death of him. I smiled as I watched him fall back asleep, this time a little more peaceful.