ZUKO had finally caved into Azula's wishes and kept her birthday a family affair. Kiyi had been disappointed until Zuko had promised her the second biggest slice of cake. Then she was running around bragging about that. Zuko chuckled as he walked past her in the hall, telling Uncle Iroh all about her excitement.

Iroh had returned from Ba Sing Se for a couple of weeks. He brought a present that he had first checked with Zuko to make sure his niece would enjoy. It wasn't anything much, just some makeup and a hair comb, but Zuko had been relatively sure it was a safe bet. If there was anything Azula liked, it was her makeup and her hair.

While she had no interest in coming, Ty Lee had sent a gift along. The Kyoshi Warrior was still afraid of her ex-best friend, and didn't want to upset her. But she had seen an armband that reminded her of Azula, and couldn't resist purchasing it. She had told Kiyi to give it to Azula, and pretend that it was from her. Kiyi was taking this "mission" very seriously.

Zuko kept walking until he arrived at his intended location. The red door had gorgeous painting in gold of flowers and a mountain. He knocked three times; an old habit. Ursa opened the door, smiling. "Yes, Zuko?"

"Have you seen Azula? She's not in her room."

Ursa shook her head. "I haven't. Do you want me to-"

"Nah, it's ok. I'll go find her."

"Alright. Come get me if you need me."

Zuko nodded. "Oh! Dinner is in two hours!"

"Thank you for the heads up."

"No problem." Zuko started on again, heading back down the hall. He had an idea of where to find his sister. After about five minutes of walking, he arrived at the curtained area. A servant duo quickly pulled back the curtains for him. Sure enough, there was Azula, training with the equipment. He walked over to her.

"I hate to interrupt," He interrupted. "But dinner is in two hours. You might want to start getting ready."

"What? Sweaty and exhausted not the look you want me going for?" She wiped her forehead.

"That and you coming to a formal dinner in training clothes would probably be scandalous."

The two siblings laughed. Getting along was weird to the both of them, but... not entirely unpleasant. "What if I put my robe on over them?" Azula asked, raising her brow.

"It would be less rumor-starting than you showing up in your current ensemble." His voice tilted upwards as he mocked the gossipers. "'Does Fire Princess Azula have something going on with a guard?! Find out on page sixteen!"

Both laughed.

"Never in a million years," Azula rolled her eyes. "Would I go out with a peasant."

"Of course not. But please bathe and change clothes for dinner anyway."

Azula gave him a mock bow. "Anything you wish, Fire Lord Zuzu."

He smacked her in the back of the head.

She laughed, slipping on her robes and heading back to her bed chambers.

Zuko rolled his eyes, a smile playing on his face. Azula wasn't being sent back to the institution. At least, not yet.

-•-

Dinner time came faster than Zuko expected. He took his seat at the head of the table. Azula, as the Crown Princess, sat at his right, with Uncle Iroh next to her. The rest of their family- Ursa, Kiyi, and Ikem- sat on Zuko's left.

"I see you changed." Zuko told his sister.

"I did. Can't have people thinking I'm fu- I can't pull myself together."

Zuko chuckled, having caught the stutter. Their mother would not have taken kindly to such language at the table.

Speaking of Ursa, she looked confused at the banter, not knowing of their earlier conversation. She didn't question it however, just grateful to see them talking to each other without being at each other's throats.

"When's cake and presents?!" Kiyi exclaimed.

"After dinner," Ikem scolded.

"Ah, man!"

"They're not even for you, you silly girl!"

Kiyi giggled. "I'm still excited!"

"Of course you are," Azula rolled her eyes. She looked over at her older brother. "Has she met Ty Lee?"

"In passing."

"Well, they'd get along splendidly. They might burn the palace down, though."

The corners of Zuko's mouth twitched. "I'll see if she feels like babysitting sometime." A servant set a glass of rice wine in front of him. "Thank you," He told him. He hated the stuff, but it was traditional for it be served to the adults of the Royal family on birthdays. Actually drinking it wasn't a requirement. It was more of a look thing.

It was Azula's seventeenth, which in the Fire nation meant that while she wasn't fully an adult, she could drink. Sparingly. Though, she probably wouldn't. Hopefully. Zuko quickly looked over at his sister. Judging by her face, she was as interested as he was. Relief washed over him.

"You're welcome, Your Highness," The servant bowed politely.

"What's that?" Kiyi questioned.

"Nothing you'd like," Ursa answered, taking a sip from her own glass. "It's really only for adults."

Kiyi frowned. "That didn't answer my question. And how do you know that?! And 'really' implies I could anyway."

Azula chuckled, sliding her glass across the table. "Here. Take a sip."

Ursa gave her a glare. Kiyi looked to her mother, looking for an ok. Ursa huffed. "One. Sip."

Kiyi took a skeptical sip, then promptly spit it out on the table. She looked at the glass in disgust. "THAT'S GROSS!"

Azula cracked up. Ursa looked unsurprised, quickly wiping the mess with a napkin. "What did I tell you?" She asked.

Kiyi looked down at the table. "That I wouldn't like it," She muttered.

Zuko looked over to scold Azula, who was still laughing. Instead, they met eyes and he started laughing as hard as she was.

Kiyi glared at them. "That's not nice!" She cried, crossing her arms. This only made her siblings laugh harder.

"No it's not," Ikem said. "You should stop." He gave them a quick wink.

"Alright, alright," Azula raised her hands in mock surrender. "You guys are no fun. No sibling torment?"

"No." Ursa stated.

She sighed. "Not even a little?"

"No."

"A tiny bit?"

"No."

"A smidgeon?"

"No."

"Well, what am I supposed to do for entertainment?!" She threw her hands in the air, making Kiyi laugh.

"Be nice," Ursa suggested.

Azula laughed. "Ok, that WAS an entertaining answer. And now, it's my turn to say no. No, that doesn't sound like fun. I'll pass. Thanks for the suggestion."

"Agni help me," Ursa muttered inaudibly.

Dinner continued rather peacefully, other than Azula and Zuko bickering over who was the better fire bender.

"I can redirect lightning!"

"So can I! AND I can bend it! Are YOU a lightning bender, Zuzu?"

"No, but I beat you in our Agni Kai!"

"That was over two years ago! AND you and I both know I was not in my right mind at the time. It doesn't count! Besides, technically Katara beat me, not you. Actually, from what little I do recall, I DID beat YOU."

Zuko went quiet for a moment before muttering, "shut up."

Azula laughed, knowing full well she had won the the argument. "And I didn't even have to bring up the blue fire."

Zuko stuck his tongue out at her. She returned the gesture.

"Mind your manners, you two!" Ursa reprimanded. "I shouldn't have to say that to the Fire Lord and Crown Princess. Act your class, please."

Both teenagers sighed.

Kiyi noticed the table being cleared. She gasped. "CAKE AND PRESENTS?!"

Ursa laughed. "Yes. Cake and presents."

Kiyi looked like she might pass out from pure joy as a servant set the items down on the table. Zuko cut the cake, handing out slices. It took all of five seconds for the youngest sibling to have it all over herself. "Presents?"

"Agni, Kiyi," Azula said, exasperated. "Chill."

"But I don't wanna!"

"Too bad!"

Kiyi, seeing Azula growing visibly angry, shout her mouth. "Ok."

Azula rolled her eyes, slinking back into her seat, suddenly moody.

Well, so much for that unusually cheery Azula. Presents were opened. Kiyi excitedly handed Azula the present from "her". Zuko hadn't actually seen it yet, and was curious. Azula ripped opened the paper, revealing a gold dragon armband. Her lips turned up a little at this one. "This one's nice. Thank you, Kiki."

"Kiki?"

"You thought you'd get away with no nickname?"

"Kiki," Zuko said. "I like it."

Kiyi frowned slightly, not sure how she felt about it. "Fine, but I'm calling you Zulie now."

"Why?"

Kiyi grinned devilishly. "'You thought you'd get away without a nickname?'"

A smile crossed Azula's face. "That's so mean! I'm so proud."

Ursa made a mental note to never leave her daughters together unsupervised. But, as long as they were getting along, she'd cut them some slack. Hopefully, Azula would learn to have a relationship that didn't involve toxic manipulation.