Beauty in the Beast (Zutara)

Chapter Thirty-Three

I love you. I love you so much, Zuko. Never forget that.

Zuko reached out towards the hooded silhouette of his mother before leaping out of bed after her, into the darkness that she had always went into when she left.

"Mother! Don't leave!" Zuko heard his current voice echoing over his childish cry for her. For once, she stopped and turned back to him, her face absent much to his horror. Zuko could only see the back of the hood, before her body collapsed leaving nothing but the cloak behind as if she had never been in the cloak. He chased the slumped piece of fabric to the floor endless darkness surrounding him, the absence of sound becoming ever prevalent as he leaned his head back to cry out in agony, only for nothing to be released.

Zuko shot out of bed catching his breath focusing on his bedsheets. With a few deep breaths, Zuko willed himself out of bed, enjoying the peacefulness of night, the night sky twinkling without a care. As he made his way over to the kitchen to get himself water, he noticed a figure in the middle of the courtyard, gazing up at the night sky. Rubbing his eyes as he got closer, he noticed her beautiful long brown hair and the kind smile he only saw in his dreams.

"Mother?" Her head shot to him, her own eyes widened before getting up.

"Zuko." Her voice rang with sweetness as she made her way through the small path to get to him. Zuko eagerly met her halfway not giving her enough time to open her arms to him before embracing her. Warm tears landed on his shoulder as she wrapped her arms around him, her hand cradling the back of his head as she struggled to keep her sobs in. Zuko's hands shook as he clung to the back of her night robe, fearful of letting her go, unable to bear her not being real.

"Please..." He croaked desperately, "...don't let this be a dream." Ursa said nothing and kissed his temple, as she stroked his head lovingly. "I need you...I need you to be real, Mother." A soft sob broke from her as she struggled to smile against him.

"I've come home." She answered pulling back from him a little, holding his shoulders as she looked over her little boy. "You've grown up." She chuckled sadly before wiping his tears from his eyes. Her hand stopped short of his scar watching as her son's face fell from elation to shame as he turned his scarred side from her. She gently grabbed his face forcing him to look her head on. She placed her hand on his scar, sorrow ruling her face.

"My beautiful baby boy." Her thumb carefully stroked the roughened skin. She gave her son a small smile and kissed his forehead on the marred side of him. "Still so handsome." All weight left him as he held his mother close silently sobbing against her, desperately clinging to her. Just as happily, Ursa holds her son, something she never thought she could do for so many years. She choked out a laugh, elation rolling down her cheeks.

"I missed you so much."
~~

Ursa smiled fondly as she left her son's room late at night, thinking about how they've caught up on each other's lives ever since she had returned. Despite the grief Ozai was already inflicted onto her and the many arguments the two of them had regarding territory and the funding for his group, Zuko had easily become a relief for her. She enjoyed seeing her son had never lost his compassion like his father sought to rid him of. She chuckled softly seeing his nearly childlike mannerisms come back as he spoke excitedly about his girlfriend to her, the gentle blush that rose to his cheeks as he continued to tell her about Katara. Her name danced on Ursa's lips, a strange familiarity buzzing in the back of her head. Before she could dive too deeply, she bumped into another as she walked looking over at the person who kept moving on.

"Azula." The girl froze before turning her head towards her mother, a soft scowl threatening to show at her lips.

"Oh yes, I heard you finally decided to return to us." Cold cordial words stabbed at Ursa. "Welcome back, Mother." Her tone was seeped with venom. I knew she'd be angry with me. We didn't even have half the relationship Zuko and I had. She relented to herself. Pushing forward, she followed her daughter grabbing her hand gently.