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The cool breeze caressed her face as she looked out over the water. The night had stilled the water making it as smooth as glass. The night was cold and the grass was wet, but the stillness and silence created a certain kind of peace on the island. It was beautiful and serene and she was the only one to witness it. She took great pleasure in the wind tingling her scalp as her usually tied up hair danced in the air.

It had been Pema's eighteenth birthday for almost two hours now. But she took no notice. Pema had come to live on Air Temple Island when she was fourteen. Her humble earth kingdom parents had died in a factory accident at their work, and she was placed in the care of the air nomads. She could have been a troubled teen with the loss of both her parents in one day, but the people here gave so much love, and asked for little in return. She loved the simplicity of the nomads, and felt at home here.

She knew she had a long day ahead of her with training chores and meditation, but she didn't feel like sleeping. She wanted to watch the sunrise she decided. She would worry about her exhaustion later. She really hoped that no one would notice the change in her age today. Every birthday was celebrated on the island and Avatar Aang made a point to know everyone's name and birthday to celebrate their life. But Pema just wanted one thing for her birthday that no one could give her. She thought of her parents. Their faces seared in her minds eye. She wanted them here, but she knew that was impossible. She hugged her knees to her chest as the ache in her chest hardened. She rested her chin on her knees and just vaguely gazed out at the smooth surface of the water. She felt the air shift around her, but didn't take note until a hand rested on her back.

She jerked at the contact and turned to see the grey eyes of Mater Tenzin looking down at her. Shock and fear hit her at the sight of him. She didn't know if she was supposed to be out here. But her fear subsided when she saw the look of confusion on his face rather than one of anger or disappointment. She stood up and bowed respectfully at him.

"Master Tenzin. I'm so sorry-I just-I didn't." she stammered, but he cut her off

"Pema, what in spirits name are you doing out here? You could catch a cold." He placed his hand on her arm with concern. She looked down at the dewy ground.

"I just came out to think."

"Think?" he asked. She nodded.

"It's just so peaceful and-" she left the sentence unfinished. His eyes crinkled into a smile

"Well I can't out of good conscience let the birthday girl catch a cold out here alone. May I join you?" he asked indicating the ground where she was sitting. She blushed slightly and bowed with respect again.

"I'd be honored Master Tenzin." He gave her a strange smile and sat down. She sat back down to where she was sitting as well.

Pema felt very self-conscience and fidgety, but she forced herself to remain still and quiet. She had become quite taken with Master Tenzin. He was handsome, kind and friendly towards her. She felt guilty having feelings towards him since he was with Lin Bei Fong, who Pema respected, but she couldn't help it. He was sixteen years her senior, but all she could think of was how the butterflies in her stomach were restless as she sat beside Master Tenzin. She had only hoped to ever gain his friendship. She looked up at the stars and thought, 'Well if the universe can't give me my parent, they gave me the next best thing.' The air around her seemed to warm and she wasn't sure if it was from his bending, or that she was sitting less than a foot away from him.

His low voice broke the silence between them, "Do you feel any wiser now that you're of age?" his eyes crinkled again in a smile. She smiled back,

"No not really, I'm just adding another year."

He looked at her quizzically, "I thought young women got excited at the thought of their birthday?" she shrugged.

"I don't know maybe birthdays aren't as special to me any more." She had no idea why she was pouring her guts out to Master Tenzin, but she couldn't stop herself.

"Why not? Their a celebration of your life." she smiled sadly into her knees,

"Well the ones who made my life are gone." Tenzin looked sad for her. She realized what an embarrassing and deep confession she just made, "I'm sorry Master Tenzin- I shouldn't have-" he stopped her stuttering.

"Why in heavens are you sorry Pema?" She looked up at him to see his face filled with concern. "You have been through a great ordeal, and you need to share your feelings about it." He smiled reassuringly at her. She felt a tingling sensation spread through her body. When she didn't respond he continued. "My mother says I was never really good myself sharing my feelings. But I'm able to listen." She smiled as he tugged his own ears to show her, "Everyone here cares about you Pema. There are so few of us trying to rebuild the air nomads; we need to sick together."

"Oh, no I didn't mean it like that." She finally spoke. "I do love it here, and everyone here is like a family to me. I just- miss my parents so much. I just wish they were here." She sighed. Tears had started to form in her eyes at her words. Tenzin looked at her with sadness. He hesitantly wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She took note of the warmth spreading through her body at his touch.

"I'm glad you think of us like family. Everyone does care for you. Infact, my father has become quite taken with you. He has been telling me all week today was your birthday." She chuckled, "I'm serious every morning I'd get reminded that Pema's eighteenth birthday was in four days, 'Guess what's in two days Ten.'" He imitated his father's child like giddiness which made her laugh harder. "My mother is getting jealous and worried about his loyalties." He looked at her as she tried to laugh silently into her hand.

His antics cheered her spirits, and she felt less lonely and strangely warmer now that he was sharing the night with her. They talked about anything that came to their mind, favorite meditation spots, favorite foods, books really anything. Then finally the conversation came to bending.

"So you're not a bender, is that right?" she nodded, "From what I've seen of you in training, you still can fight." She blushed a deep scarlet. All the non-benders took part in self-defense training. She wouldn't say she was the best, but she wouldn't deny that she was able to handle herself. She shrugged indifferently,

"I still wonder what it feels like to bend and control something out side your body." she said this in wonder and her eyes flicked briefly to the arrows visible on Master Tenzin's body.

He was looking at her with a weird expression. She looked away instantly,

"Sorry." She mumbled. His eyes crinkled in a smile,

"Stop saying your sorry Pema. You have nothing to be sorry for. And stop with this 'Master Tenzin' stuff. Outside of class to you it's just Tenzin." She blushed deeper and the butterflies in her stomach that had been restless since he sat down gave another excited flutter. The silence stretched for a while until an idea sparked in Tenzin's head,

"Give me your hands." she looked at him questioningly. After a second she held her hands towards him. He formed their hands into a cup with his hands holding hers. Her insides squirmed with delight. She looked down at the touching hands willing her to believe the sight. Tenzin, the man she had been madly mooning over was sitting within inches of her holding her hands. Through his hands Tenzin created a small ball of whizzing air. It was about the size of a marble and it sat spinning in her cupped hands. She looked at him and saw his smile. He removed his hands and continued bending the little air ball. It danced on her fingers and traveled around her hands and wrists. She giggled believing that she was controlling the air, and that she was a bender.

She had fun playing with the ball for a few minutes, spinning it on her finger and bouncing it on the ground. The ball vanished and she realized how foolish she looked to the great airbender. She blushed slightly as Tenzin addressed her

"Well Ms. Pema it looks like you're a master airbender yourself. I'll go prepare the tattoo ink." He smiled as she giggled at his behavior. A soft glow spread over the grass as the sun rose. Pema snapped her head towards the canal leading Yue bay out into the ocean. Over the water the glow of the sun spread. Hues of pink, orange and yellow danced over the ground and sky as the sun flew into the sky.

After the morning broke the pair stood and walked towards breakfast in the temple.

"I-I'm sorry I kept you up all night." Pema apologized to Tenzin.

"Not at all Pema. Has anyone told you you're very good company?" Pema blushed.

"Actually Avatar Aang said that once to me." Tenzin shook his head and his shoulders shook with laughter,

"Oh spirits." He exasperated. They reached the temple, and they headed their separate ways. From that moment on Pema couldn't fool herself any longer. It wasn't just the silly schoolgirl crush on a teacher that she had been trying to pass it off as. It wasn't a fancy on an older man that would lead nowhere. She wasn't shallowly attracted to him. No Pema was in love with Master Tenzin. His smile, laugh, humor and heart. He mentally slapped herself

'He's with Lin. Has been for ages. Besides,' she reasoned, 'you're sixteen years younger than him and not even a bender.' But she couldn't deny that they were now friends. They shared friendship and that's better than nothing.

Author's note: Hope you liked it. this is my first fanfiction EVAH.