Pema's radiant smile greeted Tenzin the moment Oogi landed on Air Temple Island. Tenzin smiled back at her, but felt it was rather forced. He hoped Pema didn't notice. "How was your trip?" she asked, planting a chaste kiss on his cheek.

"It was fine," he replied.

"You got me worried last night," Pema quipped. "You didn't even send us a line."

Tenzin hurriedly put an arm around Pema's shoulder. "The weather took a bad turn, is all – I can't fly Oogi through sleet," and he added, just for good measure, "I'm sorry."

Pema laughed softly – something Tenzin hasn't grown accustomed to quite yet – "Oh, lighten up, will you? I was just teasing. There's nothing to be sorry about. Why don't you come inside for lunch? I made you some sweet buns, your favorite."

"I love you," he whispered as they walked into the house. "I really do."

"I love you too, Tenzin."

A plate of steamed sweet buns sat on his nightstand, untouched. Pema brought them from the kitchen into his room when Tenzin excused himself from lunch.

Now, he just lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Like his first night at the Beifong Mansion, last night wasn't any better; Tenzin's head was throbbing badly from lack of sleep, and any attempt at meditation only made him painfully aware of the blood rushing through his head – and the memory of last night.

He opened his eyes, squinting at the unfamiliar surroundings that suddenly greeted him. He barely made out the time from the old clock which was illuminated by the moonlight. It was three-thirty in the morning. Tenzin turned to the right and found himself facing an unruly mass of raven-colored locks and alabaster skin peeking from underneath the silk sheets.

Lin was sleeping on her side, her back towards Tenzin. Her soft, deep breaths told him she was fast asleep, perhaps dreaming of her babies. Tenzin let his eyes wander over Lin's silhouette, drinking in the sight of her curves which were further accentuated by her pregnancy. This is wrong, he thought. This is wrong and you know it, Tenzin.

Indeed it was - and yet Tenzin found himself liking it more than he could admit. There was something so exciting - so exhilarating - about spending the night in your pregnant ex-girlfriend's bed while your fiancée – and reality - was waiting for you back home. Somehow he was willing to suspend reality – even for a few more days – to spend more time with Lin.

"Tenzin…" she murmured, stirring from her sleep.

He reached out his arm, clasping her by the waist. It's been so long since they have lain like this, and he admitted to himself that he missed it. He missed her. "Still here," he said, letting his palm rest over her warm skin. "Still here, beloved."

Beloved.

The way he just uttered that word made him draw back from Lin a bit. He has always referred to Pema as "dear" or "darling", but never "beloved". Somehow, the word took on a life of its own and Tenzin couldn't ever say it without Lin's face popping up in his mind.

Deep in his heart, he felt all those years of disappointment and resentment towards Lin and what became of their relationship slowly dissipate. He had wanted a family of his own for so long, and now here it was, just within his reach. Gently, he kissed her cheek.

"I wish the morning won't come."

Tenzin must have fallen asleep, because it was already dark when he came to. The steamed buns on his nightstand were gone – perhaps his mother had taken them while he was asleep. He felt his stomach growling, and found that it was well over midnight when he glanced at the alarm clock.

Ignoring his stomach, he showered and got a fresh change of clothes before making his way to the kitchen to find something for him to eat. To his surprise, the kitchen lights were on. He peeked around the kitchen for a moment, and found his father nursing a steaming mug of coffee, a strong and bitter drink from the Fire Nation. Aang seemed to be lost in his thoughts.

"Hey Dad," he said, finally entering the room and pointing at the mug. "That's a pretty strong drink."

Aang nodded. "Your Mom set aside some dumplings for you - I think they're still in the steamer."

Tenzin heated some water and found himself a packet of tea. He opened the lid of the steamer and found the dumplings inside, still quite warm. "Thanks."

"How are you feeling? You've been knocked out the whole day."

Tenzin dumped the contents of the packet into a cup. "I was tired."

"I want to apologize, son."

"For what?"

"I know you heard your Mom and I talking – you know, about Lin. I know it's been a rough year for both of you. I guess it's even harder for her. She still loves you, son," Aang explained.

"Mom was right," Tenzin said, pouring out the hot water into his cup. He let silence hand between him and his father as he watched the color of tea seeping into the water. "Lin is pregnant, and I'm the last one to know."

Aang looked at him with concern.

"I was with her last night. And she – er – she told me everything. Sort of," Tenzin added.

"Sort of?"

"Yeah."

"You mean she didn't want to tell you anything," Aang clarified, looking morosely at his son. "Lin is like a daughter to me – I know her well. What do you plan on doing now?"

Tenzin shrugged as he hungrily gobbled down the dumplings and his tea. "Lin said she doesn't need my help. She said she wanted to raise the twins on her own, Just Like her mother raised her," Tenzin noticed the surprised look on his father's face, but continued talking. "She told me that even though she's pregnant with my kids, it won't change the fact that I am already committed to someone else."

"Are you really committed, son?" Aang asked.

Tenzin looked down at his now-empty teacup, blankly staring at the tea leaves settled at the bottom; Aang walked over to the cupboards and retrieved a bottle from one of them. He set it in front of Tenzin, along with two small glasses. "Fermented cactus juice," he said, unscrewing the cork and pouring out the greenish, sweet-smelling liquid into the glasses. "This was your Uncle Sokka's own brew – he said it has twice the kick of cactus juice. He also told me I should keep it just in case."

"Dad – I thought you don't drink this kind of stuff!" Tenzin exclaimed.

"It won't hurt to do so once in a while – you should have seen Sokka! He couldn't handle this drink as well as Zuko and Toph do," Aang chuckled, recalling his youth. "I'd like to think that this drink here frees your mind by removing all your inhibitions."

Tenzin was familiar with this brew – he had shared many a bottle with Lin on occasion, but he was pleasantly surprised to learn that his father, the usually uptight Avatar, drinks it too. "Drunk words often come from sober hearts – that's what Lin used to say," he said bitterly, grabbing the glass and downing it all in one go. He relished the sharp, burning sensation that he felt as the fermented cactus juice passed down his throat.

Aang stared at his son as he drank his share of the juice. "Perhaps I'll leave you to your thoughts for now."

Tenzin nodded, pouring another shot as his father left the kitchen. "I wish I didn't have to choose," he said.

Aang just smiled sadly and left.