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The sun's going down, so there were no problems putting the girls to bed.

Still, Mel's not inside. She's squatting on the edge of the bunker, with the shared bassinet right next to her, her axe the only thing between them, staring out in the direction her brother left in.

Keeping vigils for the Sokkas probably isn't the healthiest thing to do, especially as she left him herself for her sisterly "road"trip. But this is different. She's worried.

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"As well as can be expected, I suppose. Though I find I miss speaking with my nephew, even if we were having some... difficulties." He smiles gently, "And how are you?"

"Missing people's pretty standard around here," Mel remarks, referring, naturally, to Iroh's nephew.

"My brother's gone on a roadtrip." This is less related to the previous statement than it sounds, and is accompanied by a head jerk down the road.

"Due back soon, I think."

"So you are waiting for someone in particular," Iroh nods. "I'm sure he'll be fine."

"He will be," Mel confirms, easy in her confidence. "I'll just be happier when he's back."

"That is a sentiment I can understand," he tells her. "I think we always worry about family, at least a little bit, when they're away.

Mel smiles again, and rests a hand on the side of the bassinet next to her.

"Don't know about you," she says, "but I worry about them when they're right here."

"Every parent does," Iroh says, a touch of old sadness slipping into his voice. "The ones worthy of the task, at least." He smiles over at the girls, "It's worth it."

"I know," Mel agrees.

"...actually I kinda wanted to ask you a favour."

"Oh?" Iroh straightens. "What can I do for you?"

"It's sort of a long-term thing."

Mel rubs the back of her neck awkwardly as she tries to work out how to ask it.

"But I have no idea how to deal with kids who can throw fire. I was kinda hoping you had tips."

She'd always planned for Iroh to teach them firebending anyway, back when they were born.

"You would like me to instruct your daughters?" he asks carefully, tone guarded.

Yes, please.

"Well, they're only babies, so I don't know how much instruction they need," Mel backpedals furiously. "But any advice you had for me further down the line'd be rocketship."

Iroh's face splits into a broad smile. "I would be deeply honored."

He leans forward, "And with fire one must start early. Control is something best learned young."

"Maybe explains why I never managed it," Mel remarks with a smirk.

It's hard to hide the ecstatic relief, though. She could well hug Iroh.

Iroh would not object. His body relaxes, "It will be good to teach again, I think."

"Good enough to have something to do, right?"

"Yes," he agrees. "And there is something about working with young people." Of course to Iroh everyone is young.

Mel grins.

"Something about kids, isn't there?"

She loved kids even before she became a Mom.

"There is," Iroh laughs. "It is a joy, a privilege, and a terror working with them."

Mel laughs too.

"Mostly the last one."

"Only some days," he smiles gently at the two sleeping girls.

"Somedays they just sleep right through," Mel agrees.

"Or so I hear. Mine never do that."

"I think that only happens in stories," Iroh laughs. "I've certainly never seen one."

"I'm just glad when they make it through the night," Mel says. "Which they're doing a lot, now."

"Enjoy that while it lasts," Iroh smirks. "It's your chance to rest before they start asking questions you don't know the answers to."