A/N: So things are coming to a close in this story maybe three or four chapters from now. Aang and Katara were at an impasse because of a difference in opinions and past trauma/drama/decisions. There are still more bedtime stories to come and a little more drama/action to come. I have truly enjoyed writing this story because it stretched me creatively and I didn't realize so many people would actually like it. Keep in mind that there will be a resolution to all of the conflicts (sort of) and things will make sense when it's all said and done (I hope).

Disclaimer: One little, two little three little story lines. Four little, five little, six little story lines. Seven little, eight little, nine little story lines. 10 million story lines written. Fan fiction is for telling stories...

Chapter 9-Epiphanies

Aang and Katara finally made up with one another after the children had gone to bed. Katara knew that Aang was concerned because it had been a while since he saw his family and the changes were probably startling considering Katara never used crude language in front of Aang. In fact, there were a lot of things the Avatar's wife didn't do in front of or with her husband. She knew how sensitive he was to things like alcohol, lewd jokes and violence. Katara loved all these things and so did her friends.

Most times the Gaang would hang out after Aang left to go to bed so that the real fun could begin. Not only could Katara drink every individual in the room under a table, everyone else who truly knew her was also aware of her ability to cuss a sailor under a table. Of course, Katara made it clear to her husband that she didn't use that kind of language around the children, but she wasn't going to stop using it around her closest friends and family which included the Fire Lord and Lady Bei Fong.

She reminded Aang of a few other things her husband overlooked about her decisions as well. "You do realize that Izumi is also four years old and goes to school? I would never just send Kya to classes to get rid of her. You do also realize that they are learning age appropriate skills like writing characters and proper court manners, things our son benefits from learning too? Aang listened to his wife stunned. He tried to speak. "I…" Katara interrupted. "And another thing Aang: the only reason I make decisions like sending the children to school in the first place is because at the end of the day your work leaves me alone. Alone Aang. I am raising our children without you and it's too much to do by myself. If Zuko wasn't so kind as to allow us to stay here from time to time, I would be a depressed glob making poor decisions because I'm depressed. At least here I have people to talk to like Uncle Iroh or Ty Lee and Toph when we can nail her down. The children adore Izumi and love spending time with her. I can eat meat!" At that Aang raised an eyebrow disdainfully.

Katara scoffed. "Look at things from my perspective, Sweetie. When you're gone, we are truly alone at Air Temple Island. Sometimes it feels like we're just being tolerated rather than accepted there by the Air Acolytes." Aang's face fell. "I didn't know you felt that way. I don't mean to leave you alone, but you know my work as the Avatar is important. Traveling is an important part of that." He explained. Katara sighed. "I know that which is why I don't stop you, but consider this: how many of these trips could you have made with your family in tow? How often could I have been apart of the conversations you've had with other leaders? How do you think our children feel when you leave and don't return for weeks and sometimes months on end? Did you know Kya is a waterbender?" Katara asked. Aang inhaled sharply. He didn't know Kya was a waterbender! He didn't think about any of these questions Katara posed. He hung his head in shame. Toph was right. He did need to start thinking about his family and spending time with them before it was too late. He knew what he had to do.

"Katara, I want to do better by our family. You deserve better. I want us to go back home and I want to take some time off to be with just our family. I want to be more available to help you and to help raise our children. I'm sorry it took something like this to help me realize it. Can you forgive me for not being there for you?" Katara wanted to pout and revel in her annoyance a little longer, but Aang was so sincere and he was making puppy-cat eyes at her. Katara tried not to smile but her lips turned up as he intensified the cute. She huffed in laughter. "I would like that very much Aang. I want to go home too. When will we leave?" she asked. Aang was pensive. "I was thinking maybe in a few more weeks. The Fire Lord is hosting a banquet in my honor and I think we should give Tenzin more time to get a little older before we fly. What do you think?"

Katara widened her eyes in shock. He wanted to know what she thought? He really was trying. "Uh, I think that sounds great, Aang! I think we should tell the children tomorrow. You know Izumi and Kya are practically inseparable. They will need time to get used to the idea." Aang's brows furrowed in annoyance. "Why are we worried about what Izumi thinks? She has her father here and she'll just have to get used to it. It's not like they are siblings." Well, actually… Oh, this complicates things. Katara knew now that she was going to have to tell Aang the truth. It would have to be today. Katara stood. "Hey, I need to go check on Tenzin and a few other things. Will you be available for lunch today? She asked. Aang smiled, "Of course, Katara. Did you want to uh, make it private?" he asked hopefully. Katara smiled. "Sure, it will just be us and Toph and Zuko." Aang blinked. "Oh. Ok that's…fine, I guess." Katara giggled and kissed the top of Aang's nose. He rolled his eyes and pecked her lips softly. Katara waved to Aang shyly on her way out of the bedroom. Aang gave a goofy smile and waved back. As Katara closed the door, both she and her husband sighed deeply to themselves but for entirely different reasons.

Katara went to find the Fire Lord. She approached Zuko's study as her custom was and poked her head in. The regret was instant. She found Toph straddled across Zuko's lap with only her open tunic and a smile. At least Zuko had on his robe…kind of. The sounds emanating from the two made it clear that someone forgot to lock the door. "Oh Fuck, Agni! I can't un-see this!" Katara groaned closing the door as quickly as she opened it. She knew now there would be a permanent image burned in her mind of Zuko having chair sex with Toph. "I probably should have sent a note…" she lamented as she went to go scrub her eyes.

Lunchtime was tense. Katara and Aang were sitting on one side of the small dining table set up in Aang and Katara's receiving room while Zuko and Toph sat on the other. Katara managed to get a note to Zuko about what they needed to do a few hours before. Zuko was on board and Toph was just there to see how it was all going to go down. She secretly hoped someone got punched. Katara spoke first. "So…I asked for us to have this lunch together because, um, there is something that Zuko and I needed to tell you, Aang. It should have been done a long time ago, but at the time, I was just afraid of how you would have reacted. Aang looked at Katara nervously. He wasn't sure what bag his wife was about to come out of, but he hoped it didn't involve sex with Zuko during their marriage. He didn't think his mind could take it if it did. Katara took in a deep breath through her nose. "Well, um it has to do with Kya and Izumi." Aang looked at his wife sideways. "What about Kya and Izumi?" he asked. Katara looked to Zuko nervously. Zuko spoke up. "Well, when you and Katara were not together for that time not long after Bumi was born, Katara and I were together for over a year. I wanted…I wanted to marry her, but the council was against it completely. Then you came back."

Zuko ran his hands through his hair which lost its topknot earlier that morning. He sighed. "When you and Katara reconciled we didn't know…" Zuko pressed his lips together and looked off in the distance. Aang's face pinched in distress. "Didn't know what? Didn't know what, Katara? Zuko?" His voice rose a few octaves. Katara finished. "We didn't know that I was pregnant with Zuko's child. I found out about a week after our wedding. I planned to tell you right away, but then you got called away to the rebellion in Omashu. I didn't think this was something I could tell you in a letter." No, this was worse. Aang thought. He took a shuddering breath. Katara pressed her lips together nervously. She continued softly. "So, I waited for you to come home. And... I waited. You were gone for over six months—Six months Aang! I questioned if I had made a mistake in marrying you. I thought perhaps you really didn't want to work things out. I wanted to marry you to legitimize Bumi and be a real family…" Katara looked at Aang to gauge his response. His face was unreadable. She looked away and continued. "You were so excited about the baby when you came back, but it seemed like every time I wanted to tell you there was a new call keeping you away for days and weeks at a time. You were gone so much, I was afraid you wouldn't even be there for the birth. I finally sent Zuko a message to come because I wasn't sure you would be there. You weren't there and he did come. Zuko stayed until Kya was born. " Katara wrung her hands together and took a deep breath to steady herself before she continued.

"Izumi was a surprise. I didn't know I was having twins and that they'd be so... different. Izumi is Zuko's spirit and image. I suppose Kya is mine. I begged Zuko to take Izumi back to the Fire Nation. I felt I couldn't tell you anymore and I knew I couldn't keep her . We created a story of how she came to be so that Zuko could justify her presence and went with it. He declared Izumi his heir. The only other person who knew about Izumi was the midwife, and she took the secret to her grave when she passed away a few years ago. It should never have been a secret in the first place! We never intended to keep this from you and we knew we couldn't keep this from you anymore." The energy in the room was intense. Toph scanned everyone's heartrate. Aang's heartbeat was deceptively normal. It was the calm before the cyclone. Zuko's heart felt as if it would burst out of his chest at this rate and Katara's heart was steady: She told her truth. Toph felt it best to monitor and keep her mouth shut until the shit hit the fan.

Aang's voice was barely a whisper. "Do they know?" Katara looked confused for until she realized he meant the twins and Bumi. Katara spoke softly. "We suspect they do." She sighed. Aang scoffed. Zuko worked his jaw slowly. He was a ball of emotion and knew that saying anything would probably be the catalyst to set off the time bomb that was this situation. Aang stood up. He scowled deeply at Zuko. "We leave tomorrow after the banquet." He looked at Katara with disgust. "You won't be returning to this place. Consider Izumi your gift and contribution to the ongoing peace of the Fire Nation." Zuko stood up. Oh, fuck. Our fan moment has arrived Toph thought. Bad call Aang. Bad call… Katara sat stunned processing what her husband had the gall to dictate to her. Her voice was now as still as a deep running river. "You don't get to dictate to me my life. Whatever mistakes I made I own them and am willing to live with them, but Kya and Izumi are not one of those mistakes. I told you this information as a courtesy. It is your right to know. I told you this because it was the right thing to do! If you think I'm about to spend the rest of my life in penance as your little pet because your ego is wounded…"

Aang scoffed openly now. "My ego? My ego, right. It was the right thing to do? Hah, that's funny." he chuffed. "The right thing to do was to not sleep around with my best friend with the world watching!" His voice echoed off the walls from his wind enhancement. A strong breeze ripped through the room as he continued. "The right thing to do would have been to keep your legs closed!" Katara stood stunned at Aang's words. Tears pooled in her eyes as she looked at the man she thought she knew. He wasn't finished. He was just getting started. "I knew you were here with Zuko after you left. I knew and I didn't say anything because I also knew your "little affair" wouldn't last. I knew the two of you would never work out because the world isn't ready for it. You weren't even ready for it! You left Zuko as soon as I returned for you. I chose to come back to you Katara for Bumi's sake. I didn't want people saying the awful things about him I heard. Do you know what people called you behind my back while we weren't together? What people whispered at functions and events thinking I couldn't hear them? What people snickered and tittered when I walked past them?" He spat. "They called you Aang's Folly and the Fire Lord's Exotic Concubine. Those with less respect called you the Slut of the Four Nations and the Seductress of the South. Creative, right?" He ground out. "Stop it, Aang." Toph cautioned. She felt Zuko's heartrate speed and his breathing deepen. He was gearing up for that ass kicking he promised. Aang ignored her. He would say his peace.

"And this one…This one is my personal favorite: They called you the Avatar's rejected whor—" Aang didn't see the fist coming when Zuko jumped the table. He dragged Aang up against a wall with no effort rapidly hitting him in the face several times with a force rivaled only by Toph in her rock suit. Katara screamed as Aang slumped to the floor. Zuko's voice was hoarse with fury. "You will never say those words again! You will not speak ill of Katara. You don't have to love her, but you will treat her with respect! I will kill you before I let you disrespect her again." Zuko's chest heaved with the effort to breath at a normal rate. He turned on his heel and stormed out of the room opening the door so hard it bounced against the wall a few times. Godsdammit Zuko, you hothead! Toph thought as she rolled her eyes. She sighed deeply. "I'm going to go check on the Fire Lord. You may want to see to your husband; he's still breathing. Zuko will be fine once he cools off. If I'm not back in an hour or two, I've probably encased him in stone or he's… giving me his next heir. Either one…" Katara choked back a sob at Toph's words as she pulled water from a nearby pitcher. "This is all my fault," she whispered over and over. Toph put her hand on Katara's shoulder. "Not by yourself it isn't. You all had a part to play in this. I better go before the wrong person gets in Zuko's way."

Katara didn't respond as she continued to focus on Aang. Toph walked out in the direction Zuko left. It took over an hour for Toph to make it through the maze of tunnels, paths and turns Zuko took to get outside of the palace. She realized quickly this wasn't his first time needing to make an escape. When she found him Zuko was sitting on the shore of small inlet that was hidden from view by the mountains. His hair was back in his topknot with his crown firmly secured. He stared out at the water for a awhile then closed his eyes against the breeze and bright sun directly in his face. The irony wasn't lost on him. Toph at first said nothing as she sat by his side. She then spoke loudly breaking the silence and tranquility of the moment. "I thought we said we wouldn't create any international incidents." Toph smirked. Zuko huffed. "No, those were Katara's words and I recall that your exact words were 'no promises' Lady Bei Fong." He said softly. Toph chuckled lightly. "Oh Gods, are we using titles now?" she joked. Then in a serious tone. "How's your hand?" Zuko snorted and held up his bruised and bloodied knuckled hand. "Not as bad as Aang's face was I'm sure." Toph nodded. "Hmmn. Well, Katara was working on him when I left so he'll more than likely have a few cuts here and there, but the bruising will be gone probably." Zuko nodded. He sighed deeply settling back into his silent contemplation and pensive mood.

Toph didn't press the issue and chose to sit in the peace and enjoy it with Zuko feeling the earth beneath her expand and continue out under the water. "This place must be really beautiful for you to come all the way out here." She said. Zuko cleared his throat gently. "Lu Ten, my cousin, you know, Uncle Iroh's son, used to bring me out here whenever I was having a bad day." He rasped. Toph raised an eyebrow. "You've spent a lot of time on this shore haven't you?" She teased. Zuko chuckled. "Yes, more than I care to admit." He realized. His shoulders slumped. "On a scale of one to ten how bad is the fuck up?" Zuko asked sincerely. Toph sighed tiredly. "I would give all three of you a seven or eight. It's not "reversing all the good you did for the world" fucked up but it is pretty fucked up right now. You each had a part to play in this drama." Zuko stared ahead watching the waves gently caress the shore but he was listening. His heartrate increased as Toph was speaking. She continued. "Aang was wrong for pushing the envelope with you. He was angry and feigning innocence from and ignorance of the situation. He tries to come off so clean sometimes. It's easier for him to blame others for his failings instead of looking at himself. He will have to face his issues one day soon. Your problem was that you should have accepted that when Katara took Aang back, he was who she really wanted. You should have let her go then, and now you have no choice. You must let her go." Zuko swallowed hard. "Yeah." He whispered.

Zuko realized now almost too little too late that he was ready to let Katara go. He had Izumi and all the joy that comes from being her father. Katara gave him the greatest gift he could ever ask for with his daughter. He wouldn't trade that for the world. He wanted to have a relationship with Kya too but after today… Before Zuko could sink into self-pity, Toph smiled kindly and grabbed Zuko's hand. Zuko turned and without intending to he admired Toph's profile. He was stricken by her petite jaw line and pixie eyes that though sightless were a beautiful pale green. Her lips, thinner and less full than Katara's, were still shapely and quite kissable. The sunlight played on the dark silken strands of hair that fell free from her bun. Toph truly was a beautiful woman. "You should paint a picture; it would last longer." Toph said with a slight smirk. She picked up on Zuko's heart rate elevating slightly. She realized with surprise he was looking at her. Zuko hummed. "I just might." He said and placed his free hand on his knee to stand up. "I think it's time for me to go be an adult. I have apologies to issue and little hearts to break. Coming with me?" He asked Toph not really expecting her to follow. Toph reached for his hand. "Let's go Hothead." She said as he helped her stand.

Zuko's lip curled up in a sneer. "A new nickname…Nice." Toph sighed. "This nickname will remain until you stop punching Avatars." Zuko pressed his lips together in thought. With a pop of his lips he said, "No promises." At that Toph howled with laughter and Zuko joined in. Toph punched Zuko in the arm. Zuko grabbed his arm. "Ow! What the hell, Toph! What was that for?" Zuko asked in annoyance. She looked unapologetic as she said, "That was for messing up my day having to deal with mega emotional shit when I could have been getting laid in different locations around the palace." Zuko rubbed his arm gingerly knowing it was going to bruise. "Fair enough…"