The cold winds of the South Pole hadn't seemed to dim in all the time he'd been gone, not that he would notice if they had either way, as his airbending keeps him warm. It's an old technique, something that he does subconsciously at this point. It's as simple as, well, breathing.

He looked out over the head of his bison, where he'd been perched the last few days, steadily piloting Appa closer and closer to the Southern Water Tribe, the place where he first laid eyes on the most beautiful woman in the world, who would later help him end a century old war and end up becoming his wife. And speaking of said wife…

He glanced back in to the saddle, where Katara was relaxing comfortably and couldn't help the grin that spread over his face at the sight of her, Bumi and Kya sprawled around her, thankfully fast asleep at the moment, the pregnant bulge of her belly prominent despite the various children slumped atop and around her, a sure sign of his ever growing family.

And who knows, he thought to himself. This one could be the one. He or she could be an airbender, someone I could train to carry on the legacy of my people, someone I could teach about our culture, our heritage, someone who can make sure my people aren't forgotten when I'm gone, and when the time comes…someone who can train the next Avatar.

He gave himself a shake of the head. That was all something to think of for the future, but there was so much to focus on in the here and now.

"How ya doin' back there sweetie," he called back to his wife.

Katara looked up at the sound of his voice, and when her blues met his grays, they both broke in to wide, toothy smiles.

"I'm doing fine Aang," she assured him.

"Great!" He checked forward briefly, the thin line that marked the ice of the southern continent getting closer and closer on the horizon with each passing moment. "'Cause we're almost there! Not too much longer now!"

"Good," Katara called back. "Because I have to pee!"

Aang chuckled nervously, turning back to the front. "Welp, you heard her buddy." He rubbed Appa's head. "Think we could pick up the pace a bit?" Appa groaned and Aang chuckled. "Yeah I know. I promise to get you a whole bushel of moon peaches as soon as we get back to Republic City, but for now I have a pregnant wife that needs to use the bathroom. Yip, yip." He flicked the reins, feeling the increase in wind pressure as Appa sped up accordingly.

With the bison's increased speed, it wasn't long before they found themselves over the vast, barren, icy expanse of the South Pole, touching down with a bellow from Appa, just outside the village.

As usual, a screaming crowd of excited children immediately surrounded Appa, bouncing and cheering in excitement, while the adults followed behind at a slower pace, most of them hanging back by the village wall and watching with smiles on their faces. Aang waved to them, a wide toothy smile on his face, before spiraling up in to the saddle to assist his wife.

Katara was ahead of him however as she had removed herself from her children, who were waking up, and rubbing the sleep out of their eyes, and had formed an ice ramp, which she promptly slid down and melted behind her. She weaved her way through the crowd, walking quickly, and briefly greeted her father, the aging Chief Hakoda with a kiss on the cheek.

"Hi Dad," she greeted, speaking swiftly. "Love to stay and chat, but have to pee." She moved forward again, making her way through the crowd. "Pregnant lady coming through! Have to pee! Look out! Sorry! 'Scuse me!"

Aang chuckled, shaking his head fondly at her antics, and reached out to help his children, but Kya had copied her mother, forming a ramp of her own and sliding down it with all the grace of the budding waterbender she was. Bumi, however, took the more direct approach, leaping off Appa's saddle with a loud, triumphant cry…and landing face first in a snow bank, his little legs sticking up and wriggling comically.

For a moment, the Avatar was torn between parental concern and the urge to laugh. However, once Bumi popped up, no worse for wear, Aang settled on the latter, laughing lightly, and shaking his head in amusement. That kid sure takes after his uncle, he mused.

Even as he watched, Bumi hopped to his feet, waving his arms like a madman and ran off to join a group of kids, who sprinted off towards the village. Kya followed at a more leisurely pace, walking with a group of young girls and clearly enjoying herself, if all the giggling was anything to go by.

Aang couldn't help but smile, not worried one bit for his children's safety here. With the war over for many years now, the expanding Southern Water Tribe was probably one of the safest places on Earth for them, other than Air Temple Island itself. They were amongst family and friends here just as surely as they would be with the rest of Team Avatar in Republic City.

He leapt from the saddle, cushioning his fall with an expertly applied bit of airbending, his crimson robes flapping in the breeze. The swirl of snow around his feet settled quickly, and he stepped forward to meet his father-in-law, the man smiling widely, his graying hair belying the toned strength remaining in his warriors' body.

They clasped forearms in the manner of the Water Tribes, a short firm grip and then a release. "Chief Hakoda," Aang greeted warmly. "It's great to see you again. You're looking well."

"You too Avatar," the Chief teases. "Now then, can we drop the formalities and let me hug my son-in-law?" His smile is wide and toothy, full of welcome and cheer. It reminded Aang so much of Katara.

Aang smiled in return, laughing easily. "Sure Dad," he said happily, shifting in to less formal territory.

It wasn't long before Katara joined them, walking much more calmly now and looking generally more relaxed, a smile on her face. She sidled up to Aang, wrapping her arm around his waist and planting a kiss on his cheek.

He smiled down at her. "Feeling better sweetie?"

Katara smiled back. "Much. Thank you."

Aang leant down, kissing the top of her head, remembering the days when they were young, and she was just that much taller than him. How the times had changed. "I'm glad. You're father and I were just discussing trade routes. Apparently there's been some dissent in the Earth Kingdom over…" he trailed off, his eyes staring away from both of them, fixed on something in the distance.

Confused, Katara frowned up at him, her brows furrowed, watching his eyes grow wide and his mouth open in shock and delight. "Aang," she prompted gently. "What is-"

"PENGUIIINNNN!" Aang's shout interrupted her, making her jump in shock and let go of her husband's waist.

Without warning, Aang shot off after the small, black creature Katara could now see standing off in the distance, using his airbending to propel himself at great speed towards his target, and kicking up a great wave of snow, which fell over Katara and her father.

Bewildered, the master waterbender simply stood, staring off after her husband, blinking owlishly for several long, silent moments, before turning to her father. They exchanged glances as if saying, "Did you just see what I just saw?" Chief Hakoda, wearing the same, surprised, bewildered look of disbelief as his only daughter.

The pair then burst in to laughter, clutching their sides and leaning on each other to prevent collapse. It took them several long minutes to relax, the aftershocks of their laughter still rocking their bodies afterwards, little chuckles escaping every so often.

"He never changes does he?" Hakoda looked fondly at his daughter when he was able to speak without wheezing.

Katara shook her head, a fond smile on her face. "No, he really doesn't," she agreed easily. "He might be the powerful Avatar that defeated Fire Lord Ozai, and brought an end to the war, but he's also still that same goofy kid that I found in the iceberg all those years ago. It's comforting really, that after all he's been through, all the challenges he's faced, and overcome, all the pain and death and loss he's experienced, that he can still be so happy and carefree…and to be even a small part of the cause for that is just…it's everything to me Dad." She looked up at her father earnestly, hoping that he could understand the depths of her emotions for the man she loved, Aang, the Avatar, The Last Airbender.

Hakoda gave her a very warm, understanding, and loving smile, hugging her close, his strong arms wrapped around her frame. "I know sweetheart," he told her quietly. "He's very lucky to have you."

Katara smiled, sighing happily in the familiar embrace of her father's arms. "I've always felt like I'm lucky to have him."

The Water Tribe Chief chuckled, holding his daughter closer, until they were both startled by a shout, heralding Aang's return.

"Katara look! I'm Lord of the Otter Penguins!"

Katara blinks, dumbfounded at what she sees before her, even though, at the same time, she knows she shouldn't be, given Aang's propensity for seeking out and performing stunts with, and all around ingratiating himself with, the local wildlife. Under each arm, the Avatar had snagged an otter penguin, the little animals wiggling in his grasp, but that wasn't what made her stifle a giggle, a hand going up to cover her mouth and muffle her snort of amusement. On the Avatar's head, like a parody of a crown, was another otter penguin, the flightless bird stretched across her husband's bald head on its stomach, squawking at the indignity of it all.

The master waterbender couldn't hold in her laughter this time as the animals in her husbands grasp asserted their independence, the one on his head wiggling forward and managing to displace itself from its perch. She could see the brief moment of panic on Aang's face as the bird fell towards the ground, and he kicked out a foot, creating a pocket of air that cushioned the animal's fall. It scrambled to its feet, shook itself off, squawked angrily at Aang and waddled off on its way back to its fellows. The two under his arms took similar action, the one under his left, biting the Avatar's hand, causing him to cry out in shock and loosen his hold, falling to his rear in the snow.

The one under his right arm seized this opportunity to wriggle free, plopping down similarly to its brethren. Both animals scurried to their feet and headed off after the other, leaving Katara laughing at the bewildered Avatar, sitting in the snow, cradling his slightly bleeding hand, smiling sheepishly at his wife.

Chuckling, Hakoda turned to his daughter, meeting her amused smile with his own. "You know, I've heard of diplomatic immunity, but never diplomatic immaturity."

Katara chuckled. "Yeah, but that's my Aang for you." She smiled at her father before turning to her husband. "Hey, Lord of the Otter Penguins! Come over here so I can heal your hand already!"

Aang leapt to his feet with a bit of airbending, scratching the back of his head, a big, goofy grin on his face. He waved at the pair of Water Tribe Natives. "On my way!"

He jogged over to Katara who directed him to sit, and he did so, holding out his hand. She pulled snow from the ground, liquefying it and knelt by his side, forming the water around his minor injury. It began to glow with healing light, even as she smiled at him fondly. "You're an idiot do you know that?"

He chuckled at her, his pale skin darkening with a blush even as he planted a kiss to her cheek. "Yeah, but I'm your idiot," he countered.

"Yes," she agreed happily, leaning in and kissing him eagerly, which he gladly returned. "You are."

A/N: Been a while since I've updated this one. Can you believe I've never written any of these guys before? I have much more experience writing for Legend of Korra then I do Last Airbender. Either way, let me hear your thoughts, as this was fun to do! As always, reviews, favorites and follows are all appreciated and encouraged. Enjoy!