Three years later. Mako is seven, and Bolin, five.

"But, Momma! I'm not tired!" The little Bolin squealed, even as a yawn escaped his puckering lips. "Daddy said he'd tell us a story!"

The little boy scrambled to crawl up into his mother's arms and not be tucked in. Mailin chuckled and ruffled her younger son's dark curls. Even at five-years-old, Bolin couldn't keep his button nose out of picture books, and would probably beg their father to tell him stories all night if he could. He was so rambunctious, like a monkey-rat. Mako was much more calm and quiet, like herself.

"I'm sorry, my turtle-duck, but it's bedtime now." She cooed,"Daddy already told you two stories; about the Moon Spirit and "The Boy in the Iceberg."

Bolin began to pout, green eyes glistening,"But-but...but, Mommy! Why was he in the icicle? Was he not part Fire Nation? Wasn't he cold? I would be cold! But I'm not right now 'cause you keep me warm!" he smiled, "And you always say that family keeps each other's hearts warm, and-and- and..."

More chuckles came from Mailin and she smiled affectionately at her son, "Shhhh...Shhh, darling. How are you so hyper? Didn't you drink your milk?"

"Uh huh!" Bolin beamed, "And Daddy gave me and Mako candy!" Mailin frowned, "But he told me not to tell you that 'cause he said you'd get mad...Opps..."

"He did, did he?" Mailin raised an eyebrow, "I'll have to have a talk with your daddy."

Bolin fired more questions, "But why was the boy in the icicle? Did he turn into a popsicle? Can I have a popsicle?"

Ruffling bed sheets caused the mother and the little boy to turn to the bed beside them, "It was an "iceberg", Bo. " The older boy with sleepy amber eyes mumbled, "And it's 'cause he was the Avatar, right, Momma?"

"That's right, Mako. Avatar Aang was trapped in the Iceberg for one-hundred years. And-" she replayed before a curious Bolin could pipe in, "The end of the story can wait for another night. It's time for night-night for my babies."

"Aweeeee...Mommaaa..." Bolin whined.

"I'm not a baby..." Mako grumbled, "I'm seven!"

Mailin held up her hands in surrender, "Okay, okay, my apologies! It bedtime for my brave little men."

Both boy's smiles reached their ears.

"But you'll always be my babies, forever and ever!" Thier mother gave huge, wet kisses to both their cheeks, making them squirm and giggle.

She began to tuck them both in their little beds, heavy eyelids against fluffy pillows.

"Daddy and I love you so much, my darlings. Goodnight..." And with a breath of air, the candle died and surrounded the little room in darkness.

"Night-night, Mommy..." Mako mumbled, already half in dream land.

"I love you, too, Mommy!" Bolin whispered.

Then the door shut behind them and their mother was gone.

Mako hadn't shut he eyes for over a minute before he heard little whispers that gradually got annoyingly louder:

"Mako...? Psssttt...Mako! Big brother?"

Mako made a grumble that he hoped would silence his brother, thinking Bolin just wasn't tired and wanted to play with him more-which was most nights when it was really dark out. They had gotten in trouble once because they had gone downstairs and stolen cookies from the jar. Mako wondered how Bolin had more energy than a plattipus-bear.

Just when Mako had thought he was starting to have a nice dream, out of the quiet darkness, came a quiet pipe: "Mako...I'm scareded!"

Amber eyes flew open and he turned his head to face Bolin's watering eyes in the opposite side of the room, his head nearly burried under his blankets.

"Why are you scared?" Mako asked.

"'Cause I-I had the scary dream again last night! The one were Mommy and Daddy got hurt really bad and-and-and we couldn't find them! Y-you came to me and said they were gone. And I was real scareded!" Bolin was trembling now, lips puckering, holding onto Nanu for the life of him.

Mako sighed. Bolin had been having this dream a lot lately, and when he had told Mommy and Daddy, they had gotten really worried, but said it was just a dream.

Mako knew that big people knew everything, especially their Mommy and Daddy. Plus, he had promised to be the best big brother ever; so for not the first time in the last three years that Bolin was old enough to sleep in a bed, Mako pulled up the covers of his bed, inviting Bolin to crawl inside. He even let him have Nanu this time, even thought he really was his platipus-bear.

"What if something happens to Mamma and Poppa, Mako?" Bolin's breath was hot against his ear as he snuggled close to his brother.

"Bolin, nothings gonna happen to them. 'Sides, even if it did, I'd take care of you," Mako replayed, ruffling his hair,"'cause I'm older and a big boy."

"But..."Bolin's voice was quiet, face red, "But you don't know how to be a Momma or Poppa."

Bolin was crying now, fat tears falling from his big green eyes that showed everything through them.

"Hey..." Mako used his thumb to wipe away the tears just like Mommy and Daddy always did, "No crying, it's okay. It was just a bad dream. Momma and Daddy are gonna be here forever. And no matter what, I'm gonna protect you. 'Cause that's what brothers do!"

"They do?" Bolin asked.

"Uh huh! 'Course they do! That's what Mommy says, and Mommy's always right." Mako looked right at his younger brother, "I take care of ya anyway, don't I?" He hoped Bolin would say 'yes'. "Aren't I a good brother?" Mako didn't know what he'd do if Bolin said he wasn't a good one.

But Bolin's eyes instantly went wide and he blurted out, "The bestest! I told my teacher about you and she said you should always hug your brother eevvvvveerryy day! So here!"

And the younger boy suddenly squished his face against his older brother's, his arms wrapped around him tightly. Mako instantly returned the hug.

"Were gonna be brothers forever, right, Mako?" Bolin whispered against Mako's ear.

Mako felt his heart swell up: the day Bolin was born bringing images to his memory.

"You're a big brother now, Mako. You gotta take care of Bolin, now, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy!"

He had been little then, and hadn't known what his mother meant or what being a big brother really was.

Now he did, and it felt like the best thing in the world, almost like he was a superhero.

Mako closed his eyes as he felt them start to get wet, and buried his face in Bolin's web of curls. "Right, Bo. Forever. I love you, little brother."

"I love you back, big brother!"

When their parents found them the next morning, they were tangled in each other arms, the blanket drapped upon them; Bolin's fingers gripping Mako's hand, Mako's arm around him as if in protective shield. Kuzaan and Mailin knew that their boys had a bond that would be strong beyond words.


Been thinkning: Should I continue this after thier parents died, and write how they both handled it, and keep going every chapter to a point in thier lives about every two years? I've thinking about graudally making the writing more angsty and safisticated with every chapter as they get older?

What do you think? I'm making it simple now because they are little babies...hmmmm... :O

Open to opinions! Thank you! 3