Birth Of Fire

Small to Say the Least.

Omg. Another chapter.

Remember me?

No?

Okay...

...

The 70-year-old man walked calmly down the hidden trail, the woods shaking all around him from the heated wind. The cool breeze cut through the hot temperature and relieved the old man, drawing out a happy sigh as he fantasized of splashing water across his sweaty forehead.

Being a Firebender in the middle of summer had its pros and cons. It was their season that naturally made their power stronger, but, unfortunately, it also had that horrible side effect - that they would burn from heat from the inside most uncomfortably.

It was alright, the elderly man was more than used to it by now.

The woods were beautiful, packed full of growth and filled with the scent of oak. The sun shined through the trees, and the old man was able to see the leaves illuminate a bright forest green. It was breathtaking, and most certainly something to live for.

He then stumbled upon a familiar house, and without hesitation marched up to the door, unafraid and unaffected by the strangeness of a lonely house in the middle of these otherwise innocent woods.

He was greeted by a familiar young lady with blue eyes and long black hair.

They looked shocked to see him.

He smiled and waved.

"Uncle!" He heard his nephew Zuko's voice before he saw him, and Katara stepped to the side and let Iroh in the house, allowing him to see his happy and adoring nephew walking towards him with open arms. "It is so great to see you."

"I am not too old to travel here for a visit once in a while."

The hug he got from Zuko was familiar and warm. He was still the same 16 year old that he was, and always would be. Iroh recalled once again the first time he found out about Zuko's condition, as well as his and Aang's relationship.

It had been just a day away from Sozin's comet, and Zuko and his friends had found the camp. At the time, Iroh had no idea about what happened to Zuko. He had only heard rumors that his nephew had joined the Avatar's group. He had been so proud and happy to hear that the boy he had always loved like a son had found his way to the right path; the path that he had always tried to show Zuko he could follow - even when Zuko himself didn't believe that path was an option for him.

He had immediately noticed that something was different when he yanked Zuko into a hug that day in his tent. As he was telling him he was never angry with him for what happened in Ba Sing Se, and hugged him close, he could feel that there was no erratically beating heart beat to match his own. Despite knowing that his own breath was fanning across Zuko's hair, he could feel no breath in his ear when Zuko was speaking to him out of shock from his sudden forgiveness. The rise and fall from breathing that should have been there on his chest, wasn't there, and, immediately, Iroh knew. Something had happened to Zuko; something big.

When Zuko told him what had happened after the war ended, Iroh was shocked, and more than a little sad. To hear about some beast attacking him, and killing him, was the second hardest thing he'd ever done. He had to remind himself, with another bone crushing hug, that Zuko was still there, still a human under the skin of a monster; still the same boy he'd watched growing up until then, and the same nephew he would always love no matter what.

Then Zuko had told him all about his powers, and what the curse had done to him exactly - what he had gone through, what he was capable of, and what he had done to keep from going insane. When he heard about Zuko's dietary needs, he had briefly been concerned, and also concerned about the life that Zuko would have to live for the rest of eternity, and how lonely it sounded.

But then the most magical thing happened. Zuko explained his and Aang's bond. He explained how they came to be bonded forever - what it meant to be bonded together, what it entails, what it did for one another, and the unbreakable love they had that could never be denied or replaced.

To hear that Zuko had found someone to make him so happy, to live with him forever and never let him be lonely, Iroh couldn't be happier.

And now, 15 years later as Aang stood up from the couch to come and greet him, Iroh wanted to cry.

It didn't matter to him how, or when, or why it happened, he felt like his life was completed when he saw the pregnant belly the Avatar was sporting. He could feel the biggest smile spread across his face as the news busted into his head.

He looked next to him to Zuko, who was still taller than him with his youthful handsome face, and saw him nod and smile. Confirming what Iroh was thinking. Iroh about screeched in happiness as he lifted Aang up and spun him around, the warm glow the Airbender held as he smiled was contagious.

They sat around in the living room, where it was the coolest, and drank ice tea while they talked. Iroh, as usual insisted that his tea be hot, and Katara didn't have a problem with catering to him.

"So how far along are you, Aang?"

"A couple weeks." The boy sipped at his tea as if the information was normal.

Iroh's eyes widened as he looked at the Airbenders belly again, he looked to be 4 months along. How was that possible? He shrugged it off, it was as possible as the existence of vampires, he supposed.

"Have y'all come to any trouble living out here?" Iroh asked socially.

Katara shook her head, "Not much. Nobody in town recognises us, and Zuko and Aang haven't been seen by anyone."

"That's good." The old man sipped at his tea.

"Woah." Aang gasped, unable to hold the noise in when he felt something strange. He looked down in shock and then amazement when he figured out what it was.

The baby was kicking.

He smiled and grabbed Zuko's hand, putting it on his stomach.

Zuko's face looked as if he had accomplished all his goals in life as the baby's foot pushed against his large hand. His mouth was agape and his eyes were wide, and he couldn't stop a childish giggle from passing his lips. Zuko could hear what the baby was feeling, and knew that it wanted him to stop pushing down on his already crammed space, but Zuko couldn't find him in it to care when he felt a tiny foot against his palm.

Aang laughed when the rest of the people there had to take a turn with feeling the baby kick. Their excitement to meet the little baby could be heard with their chit chat and Katara's squealing threw out the house

"So excited to meet you little guy," Katara cooed as she pet the tiny hand that was pressing against her. Aang stared at her funny as she made silly noises and faces at his belly, he wondered if she knew how strange she looked. He could see that Toph and the other vampires were giving her similar looks, but Katara didn't seem to notice or care. Iroh was standing behind her as if he was ready to take his turn.

Soon, Aang couldn't stop himself from laughing at her, she looked too funny and he couldn't hold it back anymore. His laughter filled the room, both from how silly Katara was being and from the joy from feeling the baby kick. He was so happy to be in a room filled with people who love him and his child.

He was so grateful the universe gave him a chance to build a new family, as if it had forgiven him for leaving his people. He would never leave them - he wouldn't make that mistake ever again.

...

Wooooow this is extremely short... Like my temper.

I hope its not too boring, I promise it gets more exciting.

I GOT A NEW COMPUTER!!! Got I needed one so badly...

Thanks again to my editor, Nogitsunechey, and thank you for everyone who still reads and posts such inspiring comments.

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