Like any father, Zuko hoped that his children would recognize him first, with the immortalizing first word. But, to Zuko’s greatest disappointments, neither Takao nor Keita said ‘papa’ as their first word. For Keita it was ‘mama’, for Takao it was ‘fire’ though it sounded more like ‘iwee’ then ‘fire’ but both Katara and Zuko knew it to be fire, because he helped them out by pointing to the fire in Zuko’s palm.
Now, all of Zuko’s hopes and dreams, well maybe not his dreams but certainly his hopes, rested on Aatari. True she and Keita were twins, but Aatari didn’t even talk when Keita started to. Aatari just sat there quiet like usual, blinking her large blue eyes up at him and making small whimpers and moans and soft sighs, which seemed to be her way of speaking. It was as if she was afraid to talk.
“Say, papa,” Zuko cooed, inches from Aatari’s face. Aatari just shied away with a soft whimper. Sighing, Zuko back downed and looked at his daughter. “Come here sweetheart,” he whispered. Smiling brightly, Aatari crawled to her father and cuddled him. “I wish you would say that one word for me,” Zuko said softly, stroking her hair. “Just say papa,” Zuko looked at her. Aatari looked up and blinked her big blue eyes.
“Uh!” she pointed to the window.
“Window,” Zuko said.
Aatari shook her head. “Uh!” she repeated.
“Sweetie, I don’t understand,” Zuko sighed. Aatari frowned.
“Uh!” she pointed again to the outside, she was frustrated and continued to point at the outside.
“Okay, okay,” Zuko stood up. “We’ll go outside,” Zuko sighed walking towards the gardens.



                                                              ***



Under the direction of Aatari, they soon came to the turtle-duck ponds. “Uh!” she pointed to the pond.
“I don’t have any bread,” he said sadly.
“Mmuh!” She smacked her lips together.
“Mama?” Zuko asked arching his eyebrow. Aatari’s eyes widened, but quickly narrowed them and buried her head into Zuko’s chest, her grip on his robes tightening to a vice like grip. “Okay, okay,” Zuko chuckled and shouted for a servant to bring him some day-old bread. “Don’t worry, sweet-pea,” Zuko lifted his daughter’s chin. “We’ll feed the turtle ducks.” Aatari gave Zuko a dazzling smile that just made his heart melt, and he returned her smile. Her smiles were like Katara’s smiles, contagious. “Yeah, you’ll get to feed the turtle-ducks with Papa,” he placed her on her lap. “Just you and me?” he nuzzled her, he was secretly glad that he didn’t have anything to do today.
A servant came by and Zuko assumed it was for the bread but the man walked up to Zuko and whispered something into Zuko’s ear. Zuko’s right eye widened and he swore under his breath. He set Aatari down and got up. Aatari cocked her head. “Mmuh?” she asked.
“No, sweetie Papa has to go be the Fire Lord now,” he gave her a sad smile. “Sorry,” he patted her head and left at a brisk walk.
“UH!” she cried, pulling herself onto her wobbly legs. “UH!” she screamed. She wouldn’t be ignored. She wanted her father and her father she’ll get. “UH!” she cried again. Still her father didn’t hear her. “UH!” she cried, until she pouted and sat down on her butt with a thump. “TUTU!” she cried. Zuko stopped and looked at her. Aatari grinned. “Tutu!” she chirped happily, clapping her hands at her father’s bewildered look.
“I think she’s attempting to say Zuzu,” Katara giggled. “Zuzu,” Katara walked up to her moonstruck husband and kissed him lightly on the lips. “And why are you running away from our daughter?”
“I’m not running away!” Zuko protested. “I have duties to attend to!” Zuko gestured towards the palace.
“You also have a daughter that just called you, tutu,” Katara giggled and Zuko blushed from embarrassment.
“Shut up,” he said through gritted teeth. Katara giggled.
“Oh? Is Tutu’s pride hurt?” she pinched his cheek and wiggling it playfully. Zuko pulled away. “Here’s the bread,” she handed him the bread. “Now, go play dress up, Tutu,” Katara teased.
“You are going to be very cold tonight,” Zuko growled. Katara tossed her head back and laughed.



                                                            ***


Needless to say, when Satoru was starting to speak, Zuko had given up all hope about Satoru saying ‘papa’ as his first word.