The next morning found Katara watching the kids go penguin sledding from a window in the compound, a million thoughts dancing through her head. Had it really been that long since she first went penguin sledding with him? Oftentimes, she felt like she had just cracked open the iceberg yesterday, yet his death had come a lifetime ago.
Earlier that morning, Tenzin had asked her how she was doing. For a brief moment, it was Aang asking, and she truly considered the question, but before she could give an answer, it was Tenzin in front of her once again. She was well. Of course she was well, and even if she wasn't, she wouldn't burden her son with that knowledge. Alone in her room, she repeated the question to herself. How was she doing? Life in the Southern Water Tribe was normal. With Korra gone, she had fallen into the routine monotony that she had always associated with the South Pole. With the time before she had met Aang.
It was a life she had once sworn she could never return to, but here she was. She had returned to the South Pole to mentor Korra, but Korra lived in Republic City now. And she was still here.
She had never been one who was content with standing on the sidelines. Recounting old stories and hearing the new Avatar's stories had reminded her of that. But she had also never faced the rest of the world without Aang at her side. The South Pole was safe. There was little surprise, and therefore little heartache.
She wasn't unhappy by any means, but she knew she wasn't happy either.
She had meant to present her idea to Tenzin alone, but Pema's presence didn't bother her. She proposed that she move to Air Temple Island with them. She wouldn't get in the way and they wouldn't have to take care of her, but she could help Pema with the kids, and maybe teach waterbending in the city.
Tenzin agreed. She had known that he wouldn't say no, but Pema's enthusiasm at the offer encouraged her feeling that it was a good decision. That she wouldn't be more trouble than she was worth. She knew the Air Nomad culture well; she had happily lived it for a good part of her life. Tenzin also mentioned that she had a lot more experience with teenaged girls. It came off as a joke, but Katara heard a sigh of relief behind his words. Korra could be a handful and he had very little idea about how to handle Asami's situation.
Republic City needed its Avatar once more, and maybe it could use her again, too. It wouldn't be like it was before. It was now an established city with its own issues that had nothing to do with the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation, but it was still growing, still building and rebuilding, and she was good at that.
She knew she didn't have many years left, but at least she could spend the time she did have with family and friends.
AN: Shorter than normal, but I wanted to get something out. I actually have some idea as to how I want the next chapter to go, so hopefully the wait won't be as long.
This was largely inspired by the song "Back to Before" from Ragtime: The Musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. For those of you who don't know me, I'm kind of a musical theatre freak. (Huge understatement…) It's a beautiful song. Go listen to it. Seriously.
