Chapter One: Pick Your Element

There was a motion in bed that not even an air bender could conceal. The Avatar, Aang, stood from our bed and walked over to a finely carved crib. He lifted a tiny baby boy with olive skin and thick black hair. He whined and squired, then quieted as the Avatar tucked him into his chest.
"He was just wanting attention, go back to sleep Katara."
I rolled the other direction, pulling the covers up to my chin. I could hear Aang humming and cooing at the little boy, our son, named Ven. My stomach turned and knotted with guilt. Even if he passed as mine, I wonder if I'd be able to hide that he wasn't Aangs as he got older.

7 years later…

Two boys moved elementally in the grassy courtyard of the Firelord's palace. The taller one, with naturally spiky black hair moved sharply and offensively sparring with a younger boy who moved defensively, almost liquid. The younger boy moved, his shoulder length brown hair tame and shifting with his movements, his eyes were light blue and he moved his hands swift, but without severe harm. The elder boy moved with harsh, sharp movement, he stepped into the smaller boy whoo didn't block fast enough and took him down, his gold eyes glinting with the pride of victory.
"Ven! Easy now, you know Kord is younger than you."
Ven looked up at his mother, Katara, and helped his younger brother, Kord, to his feet. Kord dusted himself off and ran over to his mother, tucking himself into her side. The elder brother followed behind his mother and sibling away from the courtyard into a room with high ceilings. The Avatar sat beside the Firelord speaking lightly and laughing with him. There were younger children, his sister and the Firelords daughter playing on the floor. Katara chastised her daughter for playing too rough, Mei stepping to separate the two girls and keep them from biting eachother in revenge.

Aang stood, beckoning the two boys over to him. He was excited to see what elements his children would bend, considering that he was the Avatar. The firelord came to Aangs side and spoke softly "I watched them sparring in the courtyard. It wouldn't surprise me if Kord was an airbender. He moves softly."
Aang sat down a basin of water in front of the boys, nodding "Yes, but water is a soft element too."
He held Kord's hands out in front of his body, showing him a lifting and dropping motion using fluidity and connection from his fingers to his shoulders. He practiced for a second, focusing, and slowly began to lift the water. The boy smiled, his whole face lighting up as he continued to lift the water higher and higher.
"See, I told you! A water bender!" Katara smiled, snatching the little boy off the ground so she could hug him tightly, water dropping and splashing all over the floor. Aang laughed, and motioned Ven over.
"Look my son, watch the motions I showed your brother."
Ven lifted his arms, his face scrunching in frustration. He kept trying but nothing moved. He was nervous now, but Aang didn't hesitate, "It's okay, Ven, let's try Earth."
The Avatar spread his hands out, concentrating hard and lifted rocks from the courtyard, and guided them into the room.
Ven came into his stance, crouching low to the ground and putting his fists out, trying hard to lift the rock with all his strength.
But nothing moved.
He was irritated now, his patience thinner than his younger siblings, his temper like fire. "Dad! I can't do this!" He yelled, angry.
"Stay calm Ven." Aang chided, ruffling the boys thick hair.
"Here, let me try." Zuko spoke up from behind the Avatar, coming up to ven and pushing him into a stance. "Let your frustrations out. Think fire."
Ven made a low growling noise with his throat, moving in steps, and then punching with his right hand into the air a ball of hot red fire. He froze, looked at his hand, then step into a punch with his left, a more powerful flame disappearing into the air. He brought his feet together, looking down at his hands. "I'm a firebender?"
Katara looked at Aang, who seemed a little disappointed, then spoke to Ven. "Oh honey, don't be sad. Your father is the Avatar after all. I'm sure your sister will be an airbender."
Ven nodded, taking off back into the courtyard behind his brother. Katara glanced over at Zuko, who looked at her sternly. Did he know? Was he aware?
Aang had already moved on, lifting his little girl into the air with bursts of wind, Mei had taken their daughter in to take a nap. But Katara just stood there, with Zuko staring at her.
Guilty. Guilty. Guilty.