The Baby

After debating on it for awhile, I have decided to write my own one-shot series. This will be a small series about Katara's relationship with her youngest child Tenzin. Being the youngest, I thought the two would have a special relationship and would have shared some memorable moments together. Hope you enjoy the first chapter

Chapter 1

Determination

From the moment he was born, Katara loved Tenzin with every beat of her heart. Like all her children he was her pride and joy. But something about Tenzin was special. It wasn't the fact that he was the first airbender born in a hundred years. It was because he was the youngest child, her baby.

Due to her motherly instincts, Katara was very protective of him. When he was a toddler, she never let him out of her sight. Kya and Bumi were a handful as it was, and the last thing she wanted was for Tenzin to get mixed up in their shenanigans.

By the time he was five years old, Tenzin had begun learning airbending from his father. He seemed to be a natural at it, mastering the air wave in a few days time. As much as she loved to see her son learning more about his heritage, she couldn't help but worry for him.

Airbending was a fun element, but it could be a dangerous one if not handled properly. She trusted Aang with his teaching. He was her husband and the father of her children. Moreover, he was the Avatar. Keeping people safe was in his blood. But Tenzin did inherit his father's energy. Therefore, he was likely to try something risky.

One morning shortly after her waterbending lesson with Kya, Katara took her and Bumi up to the open field on Air Temple Island to watch Tenzin train. When they reached the field, Kya and Bumi were excited to see their brother. They quickly raced to the field calling out his name as they approached.

"Kya, Bumi, don't disturb Tenzin while he's training," Katara called out. "Come sit on the side with me."

Kya and Bumi obeyed their mother and joined her on the side to watch Tenzin.

In the center of the field, Aang stood giving Tenzin a tip before he performed the move himself.

"Remember, airbending is all about flexibility," he lectured. "The key is finding and following the path of least resistance. Airbenders build up massive momentum and release it as massive power. The move I'm about to demonstrate is known as the air shield. Since airbenders rarely attack directly, this move is useful for using an enemy's own attack against him. Use your hands to twirl the air between your body like a huge swirl. Keep up the pace with the air otherwise you'll lose control."

Aang took a fighting stance and twirled his hands in a circular motion. Within seconds, a gust of wind formed between his hands.

"This attack rarely stops enemies directly, more often it pushes the attack away, conserving energy and allowing us to turn the movement into an attack at the same moment" he said.

Aang twirled the shield in place long enough to build up enough momentum to shoot a blast of air out the tip of his fingers. The blast shot towards the edge of the island before quickly dissolving back into the air.

Aang turned and smiled at his son. "Its sort of a surprise attack," he said. "With the air as your guide you can do anything."

"Can I try?" Tenzin asked with excitement.

"Of course."

Tenzin took his stance in the center of the field. Taking a deep breath, he concentrated his energy on the air around him. "Air is the element of freedom," he muttered to himself. "Let the air be my guide."

Tenzin spun his hands in a circular motion in front of his face. The wind began to pick up and swirl of air began to spin out of control. Before he could regain control, the blast shot out of his hands and sped straight towards his mother and siblings.

"Look out!" he cried.

Katara quickly grabbed Bumi and Kya in her arms and pulled them to the ground. The blast passed over their heads and slammed hard into a rock behind them.

"Nice going Airhead," Bumi said.

"Sorry," Tenzin apologized. "I guess I let it get out of control."

"You almost blew our heads off!" Kya cried.

Aang laughed and patted his son on the head. "It's ok Tenzin. You're not going to master every move on the first try. Even I wasn't that good."

Katara giggled. "Yet you managed to master the element at twelve years old."

"Hey I had a good teacher. Two great teachers as a matter of fact."

"Oh and who would the second one be?" Katara asked curiously.

"You of course," Aang said with a bright smile.

Katara blushed as she turned to Kya. "Your father was a very interesting student."

"He always made teaching fun for me."

"Did he ever have trouble with any moves?" Kya asked.

"Of course. Like he said, not everyone gets it on the first try. That's why it's important to have patience."

"You had plenty of that that's for sure," Aang muttered.

"Overall, not bad for your first try little guy," Aang said. "You just need to learn to let the air guide you and not try to force it as much. Once you master that part, the rest will come natural."

"Well said," Katara said picking up Bumi and setting him in her lap. "Now that you're finished training for the day, how about some lunch?"

"I'm starving," Bumi said licking his lips.

Katara giggled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Well, let's go see if I can whip up something to eat."

Bumi quickly jumped off his mother's lap and ran towards the house. Kya followed suit and sped towards her brother who was now waiting on the porch.

Tenzin meanwhile stayed behind and walked with his mother and father. Even though his father assured him that there was no need to be disappointed, Tenzin couldn't help but feel so. He hung his head low as he walked toward the house. Katara noticed Tenzin's frustration and quickly grew concerned. Taking Aang's hand, she leaned over and whispered something in his ear. Aang nodded to her before taking off after his children.

Katara leaned down and wrapped an arm around her son's shoulder. Tenzin turned his head away, unable to face his mother after he failed in front of her.

"Tenzin, what's wrong sweetie?" she asked.

"I failed you mommy. I'm the son of the Avatar and I can't even make a simple air shield."

Katara sat on the ground beside him and pulled him close to her chest. He whimpered softly as she rubbed his back with her hand. Whenever one of her children was upset, she could feel the pain herself. It hurt to see Tenzin frustrated with himself. He was so determined to master airbending that he had completely lost sight at what really mattered in learning the art of bending.

"Tenzin, you didn't fail me," She said. "Practice makes perfect, you know that." "When I was learning waterbending, I didn't master a move in a day. Not even your father was that good. Don't let one mistake get you down. Just pick yourself back up and try harder. You'll get it eventually, I know you will. You're confident, and that's the key to bending."

Tenzin lifted his head from Katara's shirt. Tears were now streaming down the young airbender's face. He wanted dearly to please his family with his bending. He saw how talented of a waterbender his sister was and she was only two years older than him.

He wished he could match her in bending. So that maybe they could duel each other. But at his rate, he was far from becoming an airbending master.

"Mommy, what if I don't become a master?"

Katara laughed. Tenzin reminded her of herself as a kid. He was so full of determination to master his element. "Tenzin, I know you'll become a master," she said earnestly. "You have the Avatar for your teacher."

"If there's anyone who can make a master out of you, it's your father."

"Plus, you've got the spirit of an airbender. And that's what makes a true bender.

Tenzin wiped the tears from his eyes. His mother's words cut deep into his heart. She was right. He could do anything he set his mind too. Through hard work and determination he could accomplish anything.

"Thanks mommy," he said. "I love you."

Katara smiled and picked Tenzin up to give him a kiss on the nose. "I love you too my little airbender."

"Come on, let's go get some lunch."

Like the wind, Tenzin sprinted ahead towards the house leaving a trail of dust behind him.

When he arrived on the porch, he turned around to call to Katara.

"Hey mommy," he called.

"Yes baby,"

"You can't always call me your baby. I won't be little forever."

Katara laughed before giving her son a bright smile. "I don't care if you're eighty, you'll always be my baby."

"Really?" Tenzin asked.

"Always."

I already have an idea for the next chapter and should upload it soon. If you have any requests for this series, feel free to PM me. I'll see what I can do. Hope you enjoyed the first chapter!

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