A/N: I wouldn't get used to having any of my stories posted all in one night, guys. I just didn't see the point in stretching this one out, since it's only two chapters. Enjoy your bonus chapter, though, and tell me what you think when you're done!

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Aang beat a tactful retreat from the main house, citing the need to make sure Appa was settled comfortably, to allow Ryou's family time to adjust to his presence. Ryou shot him a conspiring grin, letting him know at least one person knew why he was really leaving, but said nothing to contradict it.

"Your…sky bison? He doesn't need…food, does he?" Ryou's mother, Rhianon, spoke tentatively. Aang quickly shook his head.

"Oh no. Appa ate before we left. He'll be fine until we get back to the palace." He smiled reassuringly and made his way to the door to the outside. "I just need to make sure he's properly settled, is all. Ryou can start telling you about his time in the Fire Palace, while I'm doing that."

"OH!" Shula and Ravi simultaneously exclaimed. Both turned wide, excited eyes on their eldest sibling and started speaking at the same time.

"Did you get to see the gardens? They're supposed to be really beautiful…"

"Did you meet any of the envoys from the other nations? What about a Water Tribesman?"

Aang snickered at the way Ryou attempted to fend off his siblings long enough to get a word in edgewise while attempting to glare at Aang for putting him in this position in the first place.

Aang ducked out the back door before Ryou could silence his siblings and drag him into explanations as well.

Appa was contentedly settled in the meadow, snuffling some of the overgrown grass, but not inclined to eat any of it, at least so far. Aang knew Appa would be hungry soon, but he'd be on his way back to the palace by then, so Appa wouldn't be unduly bothered by waiting a few hours to get his next meal.

"Hey, buddy," Aang greeted softly, laughing a little at the huff of air that greeted him as Appa blew out a breath at him. The airbender patted the large animal's nose, laugh dying out a little as he looked back at the house he had just exited. If he didn't concentrate on the voices too much, he could almost convince himself it was Kuzon and his family in the cozy house, and he'd just stepped out to tend to Appa before joining back in the fun, trading taunts and jokes with Kuzon, avoiding the attempts of his younger siblings to successfully pull a prank on them, and planning their own next adventures in whispers when his parents were otherwise occupied with the younger children.

Appa nudged the boy standing next to his head gently, a worried and slightly confused huff sounding. Aang soothingly stroked the fur next to his head. "I know, buddy. I keep expecting Kuzon to come out here and drag me back in there. It's weird, isn't it?" An intelligent brown eye regarded him and Aang grinned up at his friend, still feeling nostalgic. "It's so similar, and yet it's different too. Just like Omashu was, huh?"

That had been weird, seeing Omashu for the first time since he had been freed of the iceberg. He'd kept expecting to see familiar faces every time he turned a corner, half-expected to be recognized by some outraged official who would run up to him and demand to know why he was back in the city without his teacher around to keep him out of trouble. That disorientation had been part of the reason he had taken so long to recognize his old friend in the crazy king of Omashu, even with the trade-mark grin that hadn't changed no matter how much older Bumi had gotten.

"Avatar?" Aang startled and spun, his gaze coming to rest on Ryou's father standing a polite distance away, even as his stance shifted to a defensive position that would allow him to utilize either Air or Fire quickly. "I'm sorry to disturb you."

"No, no, it's alright." Aang waved the apology away, dropping his stance. "I just didn't hear you coming, is all." He grinned a bit sheepishly. "It's kinda hard to get rid of old habits."

"I imagine not." There was a smile in Pryderi's voice, even though Aang couldn't see it with the setting sun behind Pryderi blocking his view of the older man's face. "I was wondering if I might ask you something." As he spoke, Ryou's father stepped closer to Aang and Appa, moving out of the blinding light of the sun, and allowing Aang to see his face clearly.

"Of course." Aang said, feeling slightly amused. Ryou had been nearly as formal on their first meeting.

"Why…" Pryderi hesitated, uncertainty briefly crossing his features before he drew a deep breath and continued on. "I know you were friends with my grandfather, I remember him speaking of you. But, isn't it painful for you to be here, to see how much has changed?" Pryderi smiled slightly at Aang's startled expression. "Ryou may not have picked up on exactly why you left to care for…Appa, isn't it?...and you distracted him very nicely by getting Shula and Ravi to pounce him with questions, but I've been a parent for some years now. I recognize the tricks."

"…I was hoping to distract all of you, not just Ryou," Aang admitted after a long moment. He sighed and looked back to the house, not exactly avoiding Pryderi's gaze, but not seeking it out either. "It is hard. It was only a little over a year ago I was here last. Or," Aang snorted with amusement, "at least, last I was at Kuzon's family's home. I can still remember exactly what everything looked like. How his mom lectured his brother over proper manners when he started complaining about 'vegetarian food' and how he didn't like it." Aang smiled the slightest bit. "He claimed it would make him turn into a deer-rabbit, or something similar."

Appa nudged his rider again, causing Aang to sway forwards with the motion, long used to such encouragements from the sky bison. Pryderi kept quiet, waiting in silence for the other to continue.

"But…I suppose, even after meeting Ryou…even having Bumi tell me Kuzon had died several years before Katara and Sokka freed me from that iceberg…I had to see the changes for myself." Aang turned to look at Pryderi now, gray eyes serious and calm. "Everything's changed so much from what I remember."

"That must be hard," Pryderi murmured quietly. "I can't imagine what it felt like for you."

"Like someone had punched me in the gut," the airbender muttered, ruefully, startling a small laugh out of Pryderi, who then hesitated, going red, unsure if his reaction had been appropriate. Aang shrugged, not offended at all.

"Don't misunderstand, I didn't offer to give Ryou a ride home just to see how much had changed, I wanted to spend more time with him too. And I doubt he had as much money left as he said he did."

"He didn't," Pryderi said wryly. "I suspect he was trying to stop you from worrying. He'd have reached home alright, but he wouldn't have been able to stay in very good inns along the way."

Aang grinned. "I don't think I'll tell Katara that, then. She'd come all the way here just to lecture Ryou about asking for help when he needs it."

Silence fell again, and Aang subtly observed Ryou's father out of the corner of his eye. The man was about as tall as Aang remembered Kuzon's father being, and he had kind eyes caught somewhere between gold and brown. His hair was black and his expression was thoughtful as he regarded his home, head cocked to catch the sounds of his family inside.

"I know my grandfather once told you, 'friends are always welcome here'," Pryderi announced quietly. Aang blinked, and turned to face the older man openly. "I don't know if you would even care to, but…I'll extend that same sentiment now." Pryderi turned his own gaze to that of the young Avatar at his side. "Ryou counts you as a friend, as I know my grandfather once did," he expanded at the slightly incredulous look on the Airbender's face. "I do not see why your welcome in my family's home should change, Avatar, just because the world has."

Aang studied Kuzon's grandson for several long moments, and the other shifted only slightly under his gaze, firm in his conviction. Finally, Aang smiled and bowed in the style of the Fire Nation. "I'm glad for that, and I accept thankfully."

"There is no need for thanks, Avatar."

"Though I have one condition." Aang's eyes sparkled with mirth at Pryderi's startled look. "Quit calling me Avatar. It's Aang. I get enough formality from the envoys at the palace, I don't need it among friends as well."

Pryderi was quiet for a moment, staring at the young man, and then he grinned. "Alright then. Aang it is."

They smiled at one another, pleased with the mutual agreement.

Appa chose this moment to express his own approval, bestowing the dubious honor of a welcoming lick on Pryderi, who seemed not to know if he should be horrified or pleased as he was quite thoroughly coated in sky bison saliva.

Aang had to grip Appa's fur to keep himself upright, so hard was he laughing at the look on Pryderi's face. After a few moments, the older man joined in, remarking with rueful amusement.

"I know my grandfather always said sky bisons could be affectionate creatures, but I don't think I paid enough attention. If I had, I might have been more prepared for that!"

This only made Aang laugh harder. He managed to pull himself together enough to sweep his arms and hands through a flowing motion that pulled the moisture off Pryderi and into a small ball floating between Aang's hands. With a swift motion, Aang sent it sailing into the grass, where they heard it impact with a wet splash.

For some reason, this only made the duo laugh even harder.

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A/N2: Yes, it's short, compared to my usual chapters. But I really liked this separated off into its own chapter, and the chapter titles were too fun not to use. *shrug* So, two chapters.