A/N: No, this is not the sequel I mentioned while I was writing Letters. It's a transitional fic in between the two, because apparently no story of mine can be written without interference from the plot bunnies. *headdesk* But in all honesty, this wasn't SOLELY the plot bunnies' fault. I also wanted a chance to introduce Ryou's family without detracting from the storyline of the ACTUAL sequel, which is still being written, just more slowly than I anticipated. So...I present to my wonderful readers, A Peaceful Interlude.

*grin* If you can infer anything from the title of this transitory fic, I'll gladly entertain your guesses in your reviews! I might even tell you if you're close...

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"But Momma…that's Ryou's job! Why do I have to do it?"

"Shula, your brother is fulfilling our family's duty to the Avatar, you know that. Now quit whining and just go fetch the wood for the cooking fire."

"But…"

"If you'd just done it this morning like I asked, you wouldn't have to use your afternoon to finish all the chores. Now go, young lady."

"Fine!" Shula stomped out of her room past her mother, obviously wishing she could slam the door, but unable to do so with her mother still standing in the doorway. Snickering came from the room across from Shula's, and the girl glowered in at her little brother.

"Ravi, shut it! Or I'm gonna come in there and-"

"Shula. The firewood," her mother interjected firmly. Shula sniffed and stuck her nose high in the air as she stormed past her brother's room, acting as if the nine-year-old boy was beneath her notice. "Ravi, you shouldn't pester your sister like that. You're old enough to know better."

"But Momma, it's fun. And besides, until Ryou gets back, Shula's the only one I can tease…"

"Were you or were you not told to clean your room?"

"Uh…well, I was, but…"

"Now, young man. I do not recall giving you a choice of time to do so."

"Yes, ma'am."

Rhianon sighed as she rubbed the bridge of her nose, hearing her youngest son puttering around in his room, half-heartedly cleaning it up. Or at least, cleaning up his half of the room. He shared the space with his elder brother, her oldest child. Ryou was such a neat boy though, and he'd left his part of the room in order before he'd left for the Fire Palace with a very precious bundle.

It's hard to believe, but it's true. This awful war is finally over. We don't have to live in fear of discovery anymore. A smile curved her lips. My children won't have to grow up with the shadow of such heavy responsibility hanging over their heads. At least, no more so than Ryou already has grown up.

Her eldest child was a wonder to her. He was calm and quiet, but he had no problems trading barbs with his younger siblings or his cousins. He didn't let any of the other boys in their village push him around, or bully his brother and sister. He was also, ironically enough, a budding little politician.

I can't think of how many times he's turned people's own suspicions back on them, to keep us safe. Not even Pryderi is as skilled at that as Ryou.

Rhianon giggled a bit, remember a couple instances of grown men being completely dumbfounded by her wide-eyed and innocent looking little boy. It had been so funny.

The distant sound of Shula storming out into the meadow behind their home brought the older woman back to the present and she started moving towards the kitchen, planning what still needed to be done today and what could wait for tomorrow.

In planning, she could forget that her eldest son was overdue back home by two days and distract herself enough to keep her younger children calm. Though both Shula and Ravi were intelligent and sharp-minded, neither had looked deeper into their brother's lateness than their parents' calm explanation that Ryou likely had had to wait to see the Avatar. And who knew how long that could take? Everyone seemed to want an audience with him. It would only be a matter of time before he was back, just a little later than expected.

Rhianon felt her hands contracting on a bowl that would suit the salad she planned on serving with dinner. She shook herself, and set it down firmly.

"He's fine," she growled low under her breath. "He had to wait to see the Avatar, so it's put him back a bit…"

"Rhia…are you okay?"

The woman jumped and turned to see her husband standing there, a bag filled with plucked weeds and broken fragments of rock slung over his shoulder. Soft golden-brown eyes regarded her with worry and Rhia felt her tension lift slightly. She always felt better when Pryderi was with her.

"I'm just worried for Ryou, that's all. You know me, getting all worked up over little things."

Her husband smiled and put the bag down, coming forward to embrace her.

"He's hardly so little anymore, Rhia. He's grown a bit since he was a baby, you know."

"Oh! Oh, you…You!" Rhia stuttered and gasped, beating her fists gently on her husband's chest, trying to hide her amusement and knowing she failed. "You're impossible."

"Guilty as charged, my lady."

Rhianon sighed and embraced him tightly, before pulling back and focusing on her dinner preparations once again. "So, what state was the grave in? I hope it hasn't been too damaged since you were last able to tend it."

"It wasn't as bad as I'd feared, considering it's been two years since I could safely tend to it. I cleared the weeds away without much trouble, but there are some cracks forming that I can't fix. I'm not an earthbender."

"Well, we can't help that. Though it should be easier to tend the grave now, with the war over."

Pryderi nodded, leaning against the kitchen table and contentedly watching his wife work.

"I was thinking I could even find someone who could help with that, now that the war is over. I'd like to restore it to its proper state. She deserves that much."

"That's a lovely idea, Pryderi." Rhianon beamed at him over her shoulder. "I wonder…" she trailed off. "Do you think we could get King Bumi to come and help you fix it? He was the one who initially made the cairn."

"I don't know, but we can ask." Pryderi shrugged. "I keep thinking I should have gone with Ryou to the Fire Palace, but…"

"The letters became his responsibility when he became old enough to understand their significance. You know better than I why caring for both the grave and the letters was always split between father and son."

"Because both would be too much burden for one man, I know. I just wish…" Pryderi shrugged. "I should have gone with him anyway. He's grown a lot in the past year, Rhia, I admit. Ryou's more than capable of doing his duty…"

"But he's still our little boy," Rhia said softly, understanding in her eyes. "But you had to tend the grave, and the letters had to be delivered. There wasn't another way."

"I know," Pryderi sighed. A banging sound announced Shula's reentrance into the house, bearing an armful of firewood, which she promptly, and very precisely, stacked next to the hearth-fire. Tossing her hair back, Shula huffed and headed out again. She completely ignored both of her parents.

A small grin tugged at the corners of Pryderi's mouth. "I see she didn't heed my advice this morning."

"No, she tried to tell me it was Ryou's job to get the firewood."

Pryderi's grin got wider. But before he could speak, a THUMP shook the house slightly. The couple exchanged curious glances and stayed cautiously where they were, listening intently for any sound to give them a clue as to what had caused the shaking.

The sound of pattering feet preceded Ravi's skidding arrival in the kitchen. His eyes were wide and full of excitement.

"Momma, Dad, you're never gonna believe who I saw out my window-"

"MOMMA! RYOU'S BACK! AND HE BROUGHT THE AVATAR WITH HIM!"

Ravi pouted in the direction of his sister's voice, screeching back. "NO FAIR, SHULA! I WAS GONNA-"

"GET OVER IT, RAVI!"

There was silence for a second as Ravi contemplated his reply with narrowed eyes and Rhianon and Pryderi stared at each other in shock.

The Avatar? Here? It couldn't be possible, it just couldn't. Why would he come here? After all, that had been why Ryou had taken the letters to him, so he wouldn't have to come to them. Though he hadn't known the letters existed, of course…

Footsteps and two laughing voices could be heard a few moments later. Another, distinctly put-out, sounded as well.

"I've had to do all your chores since you left, Ryou! It's been a nightmare!"

"I wasn't gone that long, Shula. Just a few days. You survived, anyway."

"NOT the point, big brother." A snicker sounded and then an unfamiliar voice joined the conversation.

"You guys sound like Katara and Sokka."

"Who?"

"No, we don't!"

"Yes, you do, Ryou. Katara and Sokka are two of my friends, Shula. They're brother and sister too, from the Southern Water Tribe."

"Oh…you mean…but…I thought…they're famous!"

"So's Aang, Shula."

"Shut up, Ryou."

Giggling erupted from Ryou and the unfamiliar voice, which the three frozen people in the kitchen knew had to belong to the Avatar. Ravi seemed to have completely forgotten whatever cutting retort he'd come up with for his sister as he stared intently at the door, waiting for their unexpected guest to appear. He seemed to have decided meeting the Avatar trumped winning a verbal sparring match with his sister.

It was one thing, after all, to know an ancestor had been friends with the Avatar, quite another to have that same Avatar waltz into your home unexpectedly over a hundred years later. The voices continued, unmindful of the reactions of the three people in the kitchen.

"It's not funny!"

"Yes it is. Just like your face was when Appa tried to lick you…"

"That gigantic thing almost swallowed me! That's not a friendly greeting!"

"Appa was just saying hello, Shula. He wouldn't have swallowed you. But you would have been wet…"

A fresh bout of snickers and laughter chased Shula into the same room as the rest of her family. She was attempting to scowl, but awe and disbelief kept breaking through. She stared at her parents and younger brother for a moment, opened her mouth to say something, and then Ryou and the Avatar walked into the room.

"Hi, Momma, Dad, Ravi. I'm back." Ryou grinned impishly at his family, who just blinked in astonishment at him. Ravi, for the first time in his short life, could think of no smart comeback for the remark and his parents were gaping like children during their first trip to the big city. Aang waved jauntily at them, seeming to be containing a grin of his own.

"Hi! It's nice to meet you."

Silence reigned for a moment, before Pryderi recovered enough to return the greeting, bowing politely to the young man. Rhianon was grateful he had recovered from the shock so quickly. Her head was still whirling with a mixture of shock at the Avatar's presence in her home, and relief that her eldest child was back safely.

"It's an honor to have you in my home, Avatar."

The Air Nomad opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off by Shula, who suddenly looked very hopeful.

"Hey, now that Ryou's back, does that mean I don't have to go get the firewood anymore?"

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A/N2: If you're unsure as to what grave Pryderi's talking about, it's Amihan's. The full story is related in my fic, May The Wind Be Always Gentle For You, for anyone who wants to know what happened to Amihan immediately following the attacks on the Air Temples.