"I am so sorry!" Lin muttered to the waiter who gave her a reassuring smile while he collected the broken chaina from her hands.
Tenzin and Pema had walked inside the famed teashop of the Republic city shortly after Lin started adding sugar to her Jasmine tea. All Lin wanted was a nice, calm and quiet day off work. Covered in her long overcoat, she had stepped in to her favorite teashop which offered finest tea in the city. It reminded her of Uncle Zuko's tea parties, the brighter days of her life. But Tenzin had to ruin her day by walking in the door, dragging Pema along and not to mention their cute toddler, Jinora. Evening would have been less hectic if Tenzin didn't decide to give Pema a quick kiss. Lin would have been successful hiding herself from the little perfect family and even enjoy her tea without been troubled by her surroundings. But she could not stop herself from giving a glance or two to them as she sat in her lonely corner. They seemed happy and contented. Tenzin had surely won the breakup. So to speak, he had broken up with Lin to win. He had moved on just fine. But there she was, sulking just where he left her three years ago. A sigh escaped her nostrils. Just then Tenzin leaned forward and kissed Pema chastely on the lips as Jinora laughed loudly. Toddler's laugh was closely followed by a shattering noise of chaina. And a little boy's surprised yelp. Lin had accidently dropped her tea cup. A two year-old stood up on the table keeping a tight hold to Lin's coat. She could no longer be invisible as all eyes in the teashop got focused on her lanky form, bending down and clumsily gathering the broken chaina while clumping the little boy to her side protectively.
Lin apologized yet again from the waiter, as he collected the broken teacup from her.
"It's OK, Captain Bei-Fong. There is no point of crying over spilled tea." The old man said giving her a sympathetic nod and a smile.
Lin didn't know what to say to that comment. She drew out her purse and placed few Yuans on her table. "I hope it covers the expense" She told the waiter as she took few long strides towards the exit without even a backward glance, the little boy scooped up in her arms as she left.
Tenzin stared at her departing form, his jaw good feet down from its original position. Pema was mirroring his image. Lin with a kid? Could it possibly be…?
"What did we just see?" Pema managed to stammer. "Lin has a child?"
Tenzin blinked stupidly at his wife. It has been three years since their breakup. Not once Tenzin had stopped to see how Lin was doing. No had Lin ever shown up anywhere near the Air temple island since the break up. Not even when Katara visited. Lin had retreated to Gaolin with Toph. Surely they had met during council meetings and work. But Lin had been way too polite and abrasive towards him giving him no chance to ease things up between them and mend her broken heart. Tenzin sighed and beckoned the old waiter over.
"Hyu, was that a child with Lin Bei-Fong?" Tenzin asked him in a confused voice. "Is it- is it her child?"
Hyu looked at Tenzin heavily before he said, "I would not know. She brought him here first when he was merely one year old. He surely calls her 'Momma' for all I know."