Chapter 2

The winds blew through Lin's hair as she looked over Appa's saddle. She saw that the bison was starting his descent and she knew they must be getting close. They went from sailing amongst the clouds to hovering in the blue sky just above the water.

"Ugh, Are we there yet?" Bumi asked, frustrated.

"Actually, yes, Bumi," Aang called from the front. "As you may have noticed, we are flying at a lower altitude so we can see where to land." He gestured to the vast stretch of water before them.

"But, dad, all I see is water!"

"I'm with the kid on this one, Aang," Sokka said. "From where I'm sitting, there isn't any land for us to land on!" Aang just shook his tattooed head. Sokka was always joking around and making trouble. Unfortunately, Bumi spent a little too much time with his uncle, and had picked up a few things.

"I don't know, Uncle Sokka," came Tenzin's voice. He was perched up at the front of the saddle and peering out into the air. Lin assumed her friend was comfortable standing up in the free air. But she, herself, would be terrified to be over the edge like that. "It looks like there could be an island beyond that fog ahead."

Everyone looked to where Tenzin was pointing, everyone except Tohh, of course. Tenzin was right. As they flew closer, Lin gazed upon the magnificent island that was growing bigger and bigger.

"Ember Island, full steam ahead!" Sokka shouted.

"Uncle Sokka, we aren't on a ship!" Kya corrected. Nearly everyone laughed at that. Sokka just shrugged and continued to smile. His vacation was fast approaching.

All of the kids aboard beamed in excitement as Appa circled the island to find the Fire Lord's beach house. "It feels like we haven't been here in such a long time!" Katara exclaimed clutching Aang's arm so as not to lose her balance as Appa swerved.

"A year is a long time, Sweetness," Toph said. "I can't wait to get my toes into that sand."

"Just don't get bitten by a sand toe-crab, mom," Lin laughed.

"If any toe-crab tries to bite me, kid, I'll crush it to death with a rock." Toph mimicked killing the crab with her fingers and a fist.

"You know your senses are weaker in sand, Toph," Katara pointed out. "What if you don't see it coming?"

"Don't worry, Katara, I've been improving every year. I'll see the little beasts coming… And that goes for you kids too, and yours Sokka. I'll be able to see where you all are, so no funny business and no running off."

"Don't worry, Aunt Toph. We won't," Tenzin assured.

"You're not the one I'm worried about, Junior," Toph explained as she crossed her arms around her chest. "We found the beach yet, Twinkle Toes?"

"As a matter of fact, we have!" Aang exclaimed as he lifted the reigns and Appa sailed onto a small dock on the edge of the water below.

Lin gasped as Appa descended and her stomach did a flip. She was more comfortable with flying than her mother, but sometimes it still made her a little uneasy.

"Woo! We're finally here!" cried Bumi as he jumped off the saddle and landed on the sand. Lin watched as Tenzin airbent himself off and landed gracefully.

"Wait! Hold on! HOLD ON!" Toph shouted as Sokka grabbed her and threw her off of the bison. "Ahh…Uhh!" She landed on the sand with a thud. "Sokka! I'm gonna…"

"Careful, Toph, little ears are listening!" called Sokka as he too dismounted.

"Alright, you guys are finally here!" Everyone turned to see the Fire Lord standing at the edge of the beach, arms wide waiting to greet them. To this gang, however, he wasn't the Fire Lord; he was Uncle Zuko.

"Hey, buddy!" Sokka said a he marched forward and embraced his old friend.

"Zuko!" called Aang who was helping Katara unload the packs. The kids made their way up toward the house.

"Uncle Zuko!" Lin said as she hugged the scarred firebender. Kya, Bumi and Tenzin each hugged Zuko and then stepped aside to let their parents say their 'hello's.

Lin watched as the old friends reconnected. A first it seemed as though keeping in touch would be hard and complicated. This trip was proof that their efforts to stay close were working so far. She smiled as her normally emotionally distant mother was pulled into a crushing hug.

"Welcome back to Ember Island." From behind him, Zuko's wife and daughter emerged from the wide red doors of the royal beach house.

"Sokka," Mai said as she approached the new arrivals, "Suki and your boys are already inside getting settled."

"Oh. I better go help them unpack. Thanks Miss Fire Lady." Sokka waved at his friends before hastily making his way toward the house to reunite with his family.

Meanwhile, the fire princess had begun to reconnect with Kya. "I'm so glad you're here," said Ursa after giving the young waterbender a welcoming hug.

"I'm sure you were so lonely, all by yourself in this big house until we got here," Kya chuckled.

"Well it's definitely gonna be a lot more fun now that you're all here." Fire Princess Ursa was a generally nice girl. She mostly got along with Kya as the teenagers were around the same age. Ursa was amiable with Lin also, but she wasn't one to share secrets with or write letters to throughout the year. Nevertheless, Lin received a 'welcome hug 'as well.

Lin watched as Ursa said hello's to Bumi and Tenzin, and then retreated back to stand beside her parents. As a member of the Fire Nation Royal Family, Ursa always appeared to be in good, polite conduct. Lin supposed her parents had bestowed those values upon her. She was in line to become Fire Lord and so she probably strived to be worthy of this impending responsibility.

This, Lin understood all too well. Lin desired to one day take over for her mother, who was always supportive of her. However, as she looked upon Ursa's family, hers seemed somewhat different.

Ursa was destined to follow in her father's footsteps. He stood there on her right side as he always did and always will. He has instructed Ursa in the ways of firebending and will eventually instruct her in ruling a nation. On her left was her mother, who not always showed it, but was so proud of her daughter and was there by her side whenever she needed her.

Lin knew her mother loved her, but their family was unsymmetrical compared to Ursa's. Toph had always told Lin that her father was out of the picture. No more. She refused to elaborate. Lin didn't know if this meant he was dead, or neglectful, or unaware of her existence. But she did know it meant she would grow up without a father. Lin did not like to admit it, because she was perfectly happy living alone with her mother, but she wondered what it would be like to have another parent around. She once shared this secret with Tenzin.

"It's not that I think mom's a bad parent, it's just like it seems as though she could use an extra hand."

"Well, she does work a lot. And I'm sure she's doing the best she can."

"But that's what I'm saying, Tenzin. If I had a dad, then maybe I wouldn't need to come here all the time." Lin and Tenzin were talking underneath the shade of a large tree on Air Temple Island. Because Toph worked in the afternoons, she often asked Katara to take Lin after school. Of course, Katara obliged, and Lin had grown accustomed to going home with Kya, Bumi, and Tenzin, when her mother was working late.

"Do you not like coming to the island?" Tenzin asked tentatively. He leaned forward and placed a hand one of his knees which were folded in a sitting position.

Across from him, sitting in the same position, Lin raised an arm to lightly punch him in the shoulder. "Of course not! I love coming here. Why would you even say that?" Tenzin winced from Lin's punch, but he shrugged it off as it was merely playful. He had endured much more hurtful blows from his friend in the past. "I love your family."

"My family loves having you here."

Lin sighed. "Well, that's why I'm feeling this way, I guess. I mean, I see you with your dad, and your mom, and brother and sister. And you all just seem to get along, and…I don't know…enjoy being a family."

"Well, you know that my family isn't perfect," Tenzin responded. "We have our problems just like anyone else."

"Yeah, but your parents work so well together. They share the housework. When your dad's working, your mom stays with us. Or the other way around. They take turns cooking dinner and stuff…I don't know, sometimes I wish I had two parents who could do that."

Tenzin thought for a second. Normally, he was very wise. Too wise for a young kid. But sometimes, when he talked with Lin, he was at a loss for words. She could always talk to him about anything. And he could always talk to her about anything. Tenzin liked that about their relationship. However, it was customary to offer advice or comforting words. This time, Tenzin didn't know what to say. Because no matter what eloquent phrase he turned, he couldn't give Lin a father.

"I mean your family is just so different from mine. You have a brother and a sister. "

"Bumi and Kya aren't all that great. Believe me," was all he could think to say.

"Seriously, I know they drive you nuts, but I think you're lucky to have a nice normal family like that."

Tenzin stretched out his hand, telling her to stop. Now he knew what he wanted to say. "Ok, first of all, my family is anything but normal. I mean, come on, Lin. " He managed to get her to laugh. "Families come in all shapes and sizes, Lin. You and your mom make a pretty great family too…And besides, I actually consider you part of our family."

"Oh, come on Tenzin. Not really." She scoffed at him and rolled her eyes.

"Yes, really," he insisted. "I mean it. Our parents are such good friends, and they have been forever. We've pretty much grown up together. We already established that you love my family and my family loves you. You're already are a part of it. You and your mom."

Lin smiled although she wasn't quite sure why. She shook her head and she glanced up at the sky through the green branches of the tree. "Really, Tenzin? Me and my mom…we're all just one big family. I don't know."

But perhaps her friend was right.

This island vacation seemed like one big family reunion. Lin looked at the people around her. These people were her family. Their relationships were confusing. Oh, yes, this group was definitely abnormal. But she loved this family.

To be continued…