Happiness Recommended

Chapter One

Author's note: I would just like to thank user 6699 for their wonderful Beta job! I'm posting all Revisions that 6699 has done for me, since I FINALLY got my computer back!

Golden eyes stared blankly in boredom out the window at charcoal clouds as they rode down the coast. He knew that this was going to be the last drive leaving from that place. He let out a sigh and glanced over at the driver of the vehicle. He was an older man with graying hair, who stood almost 5'6". He was a robust, yet fair and gentle man. He knew the man was only doing this for him. His reasoning was simple―to protect him.

He had fucked up. Again.

"Zuko, this is not a punishment, you know. This arrangement is not permanent. Once things have calmed down, I am sure you can return home," the man said, as if reading his mind.

"Do you really believe he'll take me back, Uncle?" Zuko asked quietly, as if he were afraid to voice the question.

"I am positive that once things blow over, my brother will let you come home. You know how hotheaded he can be."

Zuko merely grunted his response as he gently rubbed the scar that covered the left side of his face, then fingered the bruise on his right cheek. There was a twinge of pain that shot through his face, causing him to grimace. He stared out the window again and it finally dawned on him―they were driving down the coast.

"Uncle, how come we're driving down the coast? I thought you lived in the same city as my father," he asked, slightly confused.

"Ah, yes. You are right, I did live in the city, but last year I bought some property in the next city over, in the southern town, and opened up a tea shop. I thought that a change of scenery would help you relax some. This way you won't have to continually be looking over your shoulder. You can be yourself here."

Zuko leaned over to the other side of the car and rested his temple against the glass. "…Thank you," was his delayed, murmured response.

Iroh smiled to himself. He could only hope Zuko could find happiness.

X x X

Sokka pushed the door to the kitchen open and handed his sister a pad of paper and a green apron.

"Katara, can you cover table eight for me? I need to start the next pot of tea. I can't believe Iroh would just up and leave with no notice, just a damn phone call. 'Ah, young Sokka. I am sorry to have to tell you that you will have to run the shop by yourself for a few days. Some business came up that I must attend to.'" Sokka grumbled as he filled the pot with water.

Katara slipped through the door that separated the kitchen and the seating area, sighing as she made her way over to table 8. The place was packed. She knew this was going to be a long day.

Aang and Toph sat at the table sipping at their cups of tea. Aang watched as Katara and Sokka went from table to kitchen and back again. It would be time to close in a little over an hour and that's when Aang could help. He was too young to deal with the customers, but he could clean up in a jiffy. Toph, she wouldn't be much help with either activity, but she could sure as hell give moral support.

Sokka made a quick stop at their table to fill up their cups and leave them a snack before he was off again to fill more orders.

"Seems like Snoozles is really busy today again. Why is it that he's only busy when Iroh's not here to help?" Toph mused as she felt for her cup. "I mean, we all know he would rather be sitting there whittling away at that thing he's always making."

Aang laughed lightly as he passed her the cup and her plate that held the cake. "He's been making a boomerang for Suki. You know how she just [i]loves[/i] when he makes her stuff."

At Aang's mention of Suki, Sokka's current girlfriend, Toph frowned. "I don't know what Snoozles sees in her anyway. From what you've all told me, she sounds like she could be a man stuck in a woman's body."

"Well that's saying something for you, Toph," Katara said as she sat down at the table. "Suki's a nice girl. At least she cares for my brother."

"No one asked your opinion, Sugar Queen," Toph muttered under her breath.

Aang just sighed. Here came another fight between the two girls. Before either could utter a response, however, Sokka came up to the table and pulled Katara to her feet.

"This is no time for breaks!" he said as he dragged her to the kitchen.

"Sokka! Let go of my arm!" Katara said as she pulled from her brother's grasp.

"But Katara, I need you to make more of that soup! Table twelve wants four orders!" He pushed the slip into her hands and walked away.

Katara sighed and went to take care of table 12's order.

X x X

Sokka wiped his brow as he switched off the open sign and locked the door. Aang was standing in a second and washing down tables before Sokka even made it back to the kitchen. He glanced at his sister who was putting the dishes into the sink. That reminded him―he'd have to get his employer to throw Katara and Aang some money for their help. It seemed it was only when Iroh was away that the shop got this busy.

He sighed again. "Thanks, Katara. I'll take over the kitchen from here. Could you go help Aang mop the floor in the dining area?"

Katara nodded and headed to the door, throwing a [i]you're welcome[/i] over her slender shoulder.

Sokka collected the extra pots and put them in the warm water to soak. He yawned and stretched, sighing in relief as his joints popped and his muscles stretched out and sighing contentedly. [i]That felt niiiccceeee.[/i]

He had just begun to wash the dishes when Katara, Aang, and Toph entered the room.

"They're all done out there, Snoozles, so we're gonna get going. [i]I[/i] happen to have a curfew."

Sokka turned to them and smiled. "Thanks for your help today, guys."

"Yeah, well, we couldn't just watch you flounder," Toph said jokingly.

"Thanks, Toph, that means a―hey!"

The others just laughed.

"Alright. All joking aside, I'm serious. Thank you."

With that said, the others left and Sokka resumed his dish washing, the bell over the door letting the boy know that they had left. As he cleaned, Sokka began to hum to himself a melody whose words he had long forgotten.

Smiling at a job completed, Sokka removed his apron and was getting ready to hang it on the hook when he heard the bell go off again. Thinking nothing of it, he called out, "Katara, is that you?" as he opened the kitchen door.

To Sokka's surprise, it was Iroh who walked in the door, followed closely behind by a boy who appeared to be around Sokka's age.

"Oh, Iroh. It's just you. Welcome back," Sokka said as he rushed back into the kitchen to prepare a pot of tea. Once done, he brought the pot out to the table where the other two sat and served them.

"Ah, Sokka boy. It's nice of you to make us some tea. I hope you didn't have any problems."

Sokka smiled as he poured himself a glass and sat down. "Not really, but while you were gone it got really busy, so I had to ask Katara and Aang to give me a hand."

"Ah, remind me to pay them for their help."

Sokka nodded. "And how was your trip?"

"It was good. Oh, before I forget, Sokka, this is my nephew, Zuko. Zuko, this is my one and only employee, Sokka."

"Hi," Sokka said.

Zuko only remained quiet as he stared into his teacup.

"Don't take it personally, Sokka. My nephew is just having a rough day."

Sokka nodded at the older man, then glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's no problem, really. I do have to go, though. Gran Gran's gonna wonder where I am."

"Understandable. Have a good evening, Sokka, and I'll see you tomorrow."

Sokka waved over his shoulder as he left. The only thing on his mind was whether or not tomorrow would be as busy.