A/N: I just randomly came up with this idea one night and I decided to write it. This story takes place during the show, but this first chapter takes place before the show. This story will be AU. I hope you all enjoy this story. Oh, and I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender, but I wish I did.

Ozai and Ursa stood in the garden late one night.

"You killed my father," said Ozai lowly, but his voice was filled with anger.

"You were ready to kill Zuko, I had to protect him," Ursa replied.

"Zuko wouldn't have felt a thing; I would have made sure of that," he responded.

Ursa couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Still you were ready to kill your own son. You brought this one yourself, if you had only kept your mouth shut, none of this never would have happened. I can't believe that you mocked Iroh for mourning the loss of his son; Lu Ten isn't even my child and I mourn for him like he was."

"Would you do the same thing if my father had threatened Azula, or are you just playing favorites?" Ozai demanded.

"Of course I would, why would you ask that!" Ursa exclaimed.

"You realize that I should kill you where you stand, don't you?" he questioned.

Ursa hesitated. "Yes. Ozai, you're a father, don't you understand where I'm coming from? What would you do if someone said that they were going to kill Azula?"

"Their head would be severed from their body in an instant, and I guess I would do the same thing for Zuko," Ozai said. "But it would be a kindness to kill him. How many times have we been close to losing him, and how many times did you almost miscarry him? His fire bending will be nothing more than average, at best. He's Fire Nation royalty, and he's so weak; it doesn't make sense."

"He's just a late bloomer with his fire bending, and the fact that he's gone through all those things, it makes him strong and he will be stronger in the end."

Ozai decided that he was done. "So you admit to killing my father?"

"Yes," she answered.

"And you realize that you shouldn't be alive right now and that after I kill you, I could kill Zuko and you couldn't stop me."

"Yes."

"Go pack and meet me back here," said Ozai.

Ursa went inside to her and Ozai's bedchamber and packed a few things, and grabbed a cape, and then she made her way across the palace to Zuko's bedchamber. She walked into his room and found him fast asleep. She went over to his bed and sat down. She laid a hand on his shoulder

After moment Zuko opened his eyes sleepily. "Mom?"

She hugged him close. "Zuko, my love, please listen to me. Everything I've done, I've done to protect you." She heard footsteps in the hall; she held him at arm's length. "Remember this Zuko, no matter how things seem to change, never forget who you are."

Ursa got up and walked out; raising her hood as she left, and then she made her way to Azula's bedchamber. When she walked in, Azula was curled up on her bed, fast asleep. Ursa smiled, Azula looked so sweet and angelic when she was asleep. Ursa went over and stroked her cheek; Azula stirred slightly in her sleep.

"I love you Azula, don't ever doubt my love for you." She kissed Azula's head and then left to meet Ozai in the garden.

"Are you ready?" Ozai asked.

"Yes," Ursa answered softly.

"Follow me."

Ursa and Ozai walked silently to the nearest dock. There was a sadness that hung in the air.

"This is as far as I can take you. The ship will take you to a Fire Nation settlement, and if I ever see you again, I will have no choice but have to kill you. Do you understand?"

Ursa simply nodded. "Ozai, there is something I need to tell you."

"Just go. I don't want to hear it."

"Ozai…"

"Ursa. Just go." He sounded like he was trying not to cry.

"Can I keep in contact with you?" Ursa questioned.

"No."

"All right. Good bye Ozai." Ursa walked off with tears in her eyes and she didn't look back.

The next morning

The following morning Zuko sat up in bed, he had the sense that he had the strangest dream. "Mom?" He jumped out of bed. "Mom!" He ran out of his room and down the hall where he saw Azula. "Where's Mom?"

"No one knows. Oh, and last night Grandpa passed away," said Azula. She was holding the knife that their Uncle Iroh had sent to him from Ba Sing Se.

"Not funny Azula; you're sick and I want my knife back. Now," Zuko replied. He reached to take it but Azula pulled away.

"Who's going to make me? Mom?" she teased.

Zuko snatched his knife away from her and he ran off; he made his way outside to his mother's garden and his father was standing there with his back to him. "Where is she?"

Ozai didn't move a muscle nor did he say anything. Zuko looked down at the ground, and then he knew that Azula wasn't lying.

About 6 months later

It was late at night and Ursa was fast asleep when it happened; suddenly she woke up and sat up in bed and a hand went to her stomach and she had a really strong contraction; she screamed in pain. Moments later, a neighbor that had been staying with her came running in?

"Blossom, are you all right?"

Ursa had changed her name so nobody would recognize her. "It's time."

"All right, just stay calm. Is this your first birth?"

Ursa shook her head.

After several long and painful hours the baby was finally born.

"All right, the baby is out."

Ursa was breathing heavily; her neighbor gave the baby a few swats and then it began to cry.

"Well?" Ursa asked.

"It's a beautiful baby boy."

"Let me see him." The woman laid the baby in Ursa's arms and she looked down at her newborn baby. She allowed herself a small smile. After a moment the woman took the baby and got him cleaned up. When the baby was all cleaned up he was laid in her arms. By this time he was nearly asleep.

"What am I going to name you?" The baby let out a yawn and snuggled closer to Ursa. Suddenly she came up with the perfect name. "Roku."

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this first chapter. Please leave me a review to let me know what you think. I did watch Zuko Alone for the scenes with Ursa and Zuko and with Zuko and Azula the morning following Azulon's death.

Until next time!

~Forest Princess