Author's Note: Originally I thought of pairing Aang up with an air nomad/acolyte, but then I thought about what Toph would do once Katara and Aang were over. She might decide to play matchmaker before Sokka could jump in and take that job. So this is what I came up with instead! Let me know what you think.

Aang and Kaya

"Aang, I'm not doing this because you messed up, or—or because I don't love you. It's just . . . I can't do this. I can't keep living with this guilt," said Katara. She turned her back to the airbender and picked up her pack. He heard the clank of a pot muffled by the amount of clothes she had stored.

"Can't I come with you?" he asked, reaching out a hand to touch her shoulder. It was stiff under his touch. Her sinew muscles were hard now, and he found himself missing her softness more than he expected.

She shook her head, the long braid threatening to slap him. "I have to do this on my own, Aang."

"Katara, you didn't do anything wrong! We had to save the world, and it was the only way."

She turned her head and glared at him. "I killed people, Aang. That war made me a monster and I—I can't live the rest of my life feeling this pain. I have to go. I need to find a way to reclaim myself." She lowered her gaze. "I thought you would understand."

He sighed and bit the inside of his cheek, hard. "I do, I just wish you didn't have to do this alone."

Katara stepped towards him and placed her hands on his shoulders. She stretched onto her tip toes and kissed his cheek. His arms went around her waist, holding her close. He wondered how long this trip would take and if she would return to the Southern Air Temple. Something inside him didn't think she would, not for a very long time.

He watched her jog down the steps, her blue skirts flapping in the freeze and showing off her thick trousers beneath. He had offered the use of Appa, but she kindly refused. He remained at the top of the stairs, his hands stuffed in the deep pockets of his robe, watching as she left.

"Aang, honey, wake up!"

The Avatar opened his eyes and stared at the overcast sky above him. The warm water against his back startled him, but the young man soon realized where he was. The hot springs were a wonderful place to meditate this time of year.

He remembered a voice waking him, and looked to the pathway that lead from the rest of the temple. Kaya stood at the edge with a tea kettle and two cups in hand. Her fair skin was covered in dust, along with her course, black hair she always kept in a short cut. He smiled at her and motioned for her to come forward as he sat atop the water.

"Did I keep you waiting long?" he asked. Water droplets ran down his bare back, tingling as they went over his painted arrows.

Kaya stepped into the water and a rock platform met her steps mark for mark until she came closer to her husband. She stopped a foot away and sat on the platform, balancing the kettle on her knee.

"No, although you looked like you were having a nice dream," she replied as she poured the tea.

"I wasn't dreaming, just meditating."

"Didn't you say those two are very close the first time we met?"

Aang chuckled. "I might have." He took the accepted cup, recalling Zuko's uncle Iroh and his famous tea, and took a sip. "How has your morning been? I hope the acolytes haven't been much trouble."

She shook her head, her bright green eyes flickering with playfulness. "Oh those? I didn't even notice they were there!" she teased.

Aang rolled his eyes. "I tried to warn you about them before we came here. You're the one who insisted we move back."

"Only because you kept sulking all day, when you weren't busy with your 'Avatar duties'," she said with the appropriate air quotes.

Aang laughed. She reminded him a lot of Toph. Speaking of his old friend, he wondered how things were going in Republic City. He would have to take a trip there soon.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, we won't be here long. The Avatar can't stay in one place for very long."

"Even if his wife is pregnant?"

Aang smirked. "You're the one who keeps insisting you can keep up with me. I told you of Katara's offer to stay on Ember Island with them while they vacation for the summer."

Kaya rolled her eyes. "The problem with that is you wouldn't be there. I'd much rather stick by your side then play babysitter to their daughter and our son."

"Speaking of Rai, where is he?"

Kaya glanced over her shoulder and pointed to the flying bison stables. "He wanted to brush Appa, so I let Tamae take him there. She keeps getting under my foot anyway, might as well keep her busy," she chuckled.

Aang nodded. Kaya finished her tea and poured herself another cup. "What were you dreaming about before?"

The Avatar blushed. "Nothing of importance."

Kaya smirked. "You expect me to believe that? You've always been a terrible liar, Aang. Ever since Toph introduced us I could see the lie written all over your face."

"That's Toph's fault for giving away my tells!"

"Hardly!" she laughed, placing a hand over her wide belly. Aang found himself staring at Kaya and wondered if this would be the child who would carry on the airbending tradition. He hated himself for hoping as hard as he did, for any child was a blessing, but the thought of never being able to teach one of his children all he knew about airbending made him queasy.

"I just—sometimes my mind wanders to when I was younger. When I was fixing the temple and when the idea of forming Republic City came to mind."

"And when Katara left."

Aang shook his head as he smiled. "You know me too well."

Kaya leaned over and took her husband's hand. "Aang, you don't have to be afraid to tell me these things. I'm not angry that you still think of her. After all, you two went through a lot together. She was your first love."

Aang squeezed her hand. "It isn't fair to you though. You don't speak of your past affections often so-"

"So what? Mine weren't that great to begin with. At least I like Katara," she chuckled.

"You do?"

Kaya shrugged. "Well, Toph likes her, and Toph is a good judge of character. She seemed to know we'd work go together pretty well."

Aang chuckled. "True." He released his hand from her grip and placed it over her stomach. A strong kick met his hand, causing him to smile. "She's strong," he murmured.

"All airbenders are," Kaya pointed out.

The Avatar glanced at his wife. She just smiled. "Remember how bad you are at lying?"

He blushed. "I haven't been lying about wanting a healthy child."

"But we both know you're hoping for a bender."

"Rai is a bender."

Kaya smirked. "I know. He's got his mother's sturdy feet to prove that."

Aang nodded. "Kaya-"

She pecked his lips before he could finish. "Another one of your flaws is apologizing too much."

Aang chuckled and, with one fluid movement of his hands, Kaya was lifted off the bolder and onto his lap. She didn't squawk in surprise like she used to when they were just starting to date, but he still felt her muscles tighten. It took about a minute for them to relax.

"Do you remember," he asked with his head resting on her shoulder, "what Toph said when she first brought you here?"

Kaya nodded, covering her husband's hands with hers as they rested overtop her belly. "I believe the introduction went along the lines of Twinkle Toes, this is Kaya," she chuckled. "I'm still upset you never let me call you that," she pouted.

Aang shook his head. "That's not what I meant," he chuckled. "She told you how I needed help fixing this temple, and that I couldn't pay you, but she would."

"And I refused the money, I know, I know. I thought it would be a 'great honour' to help the Avatar," she smirked.

Aang chuckled. "Well, it was an honour, at least for me. After all, we wouldn't have gotten to know each other as well as we did if you hadn't been around so much."

"Oh yes, we got to know each other very well," she teased.

Aang raised an eyebrow. "What are you getting at?"

"Don't you remember that time I caught you naked in these springs? The acolytes threw a fit, saying I shouldn't have been bothering you during your bath."

Aang's cheeks were on fire as he smothered a chortle. "I wondered what all that screaming was about," he said as he kissed her cheek.

"It was a mistake, honest! But you were pretty cute back then, and I mean, you are the Avatar. Not many people can say they've seen such a sight."

"Not even Katara," he chuckled.

Kaya's eyes widened. "Really? I mean you never even thought . . . ?"

Aang shrugged. "I was only seventeen when she left the temple. By all accounts, I was still a kid. We weren't ready."

Kaya grinned. "Well, I certainly feel accomplished now."

Aang chuckled. "You would, wouldn't you?"

"Hey, it's one of the only things I have against her now."

He rolled his eyes. "Kay, how many times do I have to tell you I'm not still in love with her?"

"I know you aren't, I just like teasing you. Because if you were, and you did leave, you and I both know Toph would send her metal benders off to hunt you down, Avatar or not."

Aang chuckled. "Fair enough. Although I think I would be more worried about Zuko's temper than anything else."

"Combine that with Toph and you would be in trouble. Have you heard word from either of them, by the way?"

"Zuko? I received a letter when their daughter was born, and they did invite me to a ceremony in honour of her, but we were busy in Ba Sing Se at the time, weren't we?"

Kaya nodded. "Right, and I think the last time we saw Toph was-"

"At the funeral. Do you think she's doing alright?"

Kaya shrugged. "I've written her a handful of times, but she hasn't sent anything back. She's probably just keeping busy with work. It can't be easy raising Lin on her own."

Aang agreed. "Perhaps we should pay them a visit. It's about time Zuko and I check up on Republic City. It's been at least six months since we last went there."

"And that was cut short, because of that letter I sent you. I told you, you didn't have to come home!" Kaya chastised.

"You just told me you were pregnant, of course I was going to come home!" Aang chuckled as she tugged on his short beard.

Kaya just smirked as she reclined further against him. Aang's arms tightened around her waist and he placed a light kiss on her neck. "You know I don't care what kind of child we have, right?" asked Aang quietly.

His wife nodded while drawing her knees up so she was cocooned by her husband. "I know, and I don't either. But I am positive she's an airbender. Mothers just know these things."

Aang closed his eyes as he nodded. The small ripples from the spring rocked the two, reminding Aang of when Rai was just a babe. He used to scream just like his mother, but rocking him with the wind worked wonders.

Suddenly, there was a scream. Aang and Kaya looked around, wondering what was going on, only to see Rai atop Appa as the bison flew past them. Tamae ran past them down the steps, shouting for the two and a half year old to come down this instant. The boy just laughed while Appa kept taking him for a ride.

Aang sighed. "So much for resting."

Kaya chuckled. "He certainly takes to those bison. Maybe he is an airbender after all."

"We'll just have to see." He placed his wife back on the platform and grabbed his glider staff then jumped off the edge of the spring. "I'll be back in time for dinner!" he called to Kaya.

She waved goodbye as she laughed. "Just come home in one piece!"

"I promise!"

Aang set his sights on the bison and took off. Perhaps this next baby wouldn't have quite so much energy.