Chapter: Making a Necklace

Ages: L-22 T-23

"Dad? Dad, Help me." Tenzin had snuck into his parents room and was now shaking his father awake.

Aang lifted his head from his pillow and released his grip from around Katara's waist.

"Huh?" He muttered groggily.

"Dad, I need your help." Tenzin whispered desperately.

Worried, Aang maneuvered himself out of bed and followed his son into the kitchen, where there were a lot of tiny black rocks and different colored ribbons laying about.

"Uh- you working on an art project, son?" Aang raised an eyebrow at a frustrated Tenzin.

"Um, well-" Tenzin straightened his collar nervously. "Sort of."

Aang picked up one of the stones from the table and saw scribbles drawn on it, vaguely looking like a combination of swirls and lines.

"Dad." Tenzin took a deep breath. "I am working on an engagement necklace. For Lin."

Aang simply blinked at his son for a second, then his eyes began to light up, and he cheered and picked his son off the ground, twirling him around.

"Dad!" Tenzin admonished. "Mom is still sleeping!"

"Right. Right." Aang began whispering. "But, Tenzin! I'm so proud of you! I can't believe- I mean- wait. Aren't you two a little young? Not that I'm complaining! Just looking out for you two-"

"Weren't you a little young to save the world?" Tenzin shot back.

"Touché." Aang replied. "Oh! I'm so happy!"

"She hasn't said yes yet." Tenzin blushed. "Actually I may never get to propose because I can't make this darn engagement necklace!" Tenzin huffed as he picked up one of his early tries at a stone.

"Yeah, well, I remember this was pretty difficult." Aang agreed. "What are you trying to make the inscription?"

"I'm trying to inscribe a combination of the earth and air symbols, but so far I have managed just to make a bunch of scribbles."

"Hmm. Well, I would offer to help but it is considered bad luck if the necklace is inscribed by anyone but the partner of the wearer." Aang explained.

Tenzin huffed. "Great."

"Don't worry, son. I must have wasted thousands of stones trying to perfect a necklace for your mother." Aang placed a comforting hand on his son's shoulder.

"The irony of this is that Lin could bend a perfect necklace in seconds." Tenzin put his head on the table.

Aang laughed at his son's comment. Then he had an idea. "Wait here son. I may not be able to help you carve the stone, but I may have something that can help."

Aang went to retrieve a small screwdriver looking tool that instead of a screwdriver head, had a thin sharp point at its end. He came back into the kitchen to find Tenzin hard at work, yet still failing miserably.

"Here. Take this." Aang handed him the tool, and Tenzin looked at him inquisitively. "Your uncle Sokka gave it to me when I was inscribing your mother's necklace. It's an authentic water tribe engagement necklace inscriber thingamabob."

"Really? That's its name?" Tenzin joked.

Aang crosses his arms. "Do you want it or not?"

"Yes! Sorry!" Tenzin apologized quickly.

"Okay then." Aang nodded in triumph. "Your mother will start to worry if I'm not back in bed soon, so, best of luck son." Aang leaned down to kiss Tenzin's head. "I'm proud of you." He added. Then Aang snuck back down the hallway and into bed.

"Everything alright?" Katara mumbled as Aang wrapped an arm around her waist.

Aang sighed. "Just our son growing up."

"Oh?" Katara raised an eyebrow, turning to face Aang.

"He's going to propose." Aang couldn't keep the secret any longer.

Katara gasped in delight. "That's wonderful! Oh I- oh no." Her face suddenly fell.

"What?" Aang worried.

"I owe Toph a lot of money."

Aang looked at her in surprise. "You bet on our kid? Last time you caught me doing that you smacked me with a newspaper!"

"It's not my fault! Toph was being especially annoying that day. I couldn't help myself. I had to make her be quiet somehow." Katara defended herself.

"Wow. I am very disappointed in you, Katara. Tsk. Tsk." Aang joked.

"Ha ha." Katara rolled her eyes as she sat up in bed. "Do I want to know what you and Sokka were whispering about behind my back the other day?"

"Well, yes, probably. Because the money I'll get from Sokka from our bet on Lin and Tenzin's relationship may negate the money you lost to Toph." Aang smirked.

"So we both broke my rule then?"

"Looks like it."

Katara collapsed back onto her pillow, where Aang enveloped her in his arms. "We are never to speak of these bets to Lin or Tenzin."

"Agreed."