A very small but an important chapter. The next chapter onwards, things will get more serious as some more people start learning about Katara's past.
Not much to say here, except that this little chapter is perhaps one of my favorites. With this, I have fulfilled my promise of updating all three fics this week.

As usual, R&R.

Chapter 34

Two days before the end-of-war anniversary, Katara found herself working harder than she had done in a long time. Coupled with the irrigation project, for which she would have to head out to the countryside after the festival, Azula's recovery, and the kids, Katara's plate was full. To her, it felt like she was busy from the moment she woke up, till the time she went to bed, often having her meals in the study. Zuko, however, insisted that they had at least one meal with the family.

Soon after Sokka's apology, her family left for the South Pole. Toph and Ty Lee planned to return after the End of War Anniversary celebrations. Even though the farewell had been a tad bit distant, but Katara had allowed Sokka to give her a hug. To her surprise, she did not flinch at the contact, something that had thrilled Zuko to no end. She did feel a sliver of fear, but it was more like a discomfort in her stomach than anything else. Something she could live with.

That morning she was having her breakfast with Zuko and the children. Bumi was excitedly informing them that Izumi had come to see him train. He had shown a keen interest in swords. Master Piandao, while alive, was now bed ridden and unable to teach. Hence Zuko had arranged for another tutor, Master Yao, to train Bumi. Whenever he could, Zuko also attended the training sessions. Izumi who was truly her mother's daughter and was getting better and better at Shuriken-jutsu. She had dropped in on the training twice and was interested in trying swords. Yet she was not fully convinced.

"Why not?" Katara asked. "Go for it."

"But… swords? Do girls even fight with swords?"

"What does you being a girl have to do with swords?" Bumi asked.

"Precisely. Give it a try at least," Zuko pressed. "If it's not for you, it's not for you. But the only way you will know for sure is if you give it a try."

"Kya, stop tearing the bun and eat," Katara chided the little girl before moving her attention to Izumi. "Give it a try. Just once. What say?"

Izumi curled her lips in thought. She was about to open her mouth when Kya knocked over a glass. Four heads turned to see that instead of splashing on the table, the water rose up and fell on the floor.

"Was that you, mom?" Bumi asked with wide eyes.

"Not me," Katara said, pulling the little girl on her lap and grinned widely. "Kya! My darling! You're a Water Bender."

Just as Izumi whooped in joy, Zuko stood up and walked around to kneel next to Kya. He kissed the child on her head and said, "I'm so proud, sweetheart."

"I'm a Water Bender?" Kya asked, confused.

"Yes, my dear," Katara said hugging her. "I'll teach you everything I know!"

Kya giggled and snuggled into Katara. She pecked the little head and cuddled the girl to herself. It was only when Zuko nudged her that she saw Bumi walk out of the room.

"What happened to him?" Izumi's confusion was evident in her voice.

"I don't know. I'll go and see," Katara said and began to pry Kya off when Zuko lay a hand on her shoulder.

"Allow me. I have a good idea what's going on."

Zuko found Bumi sitting in the library, pretending to read a scroll. But judging from the stoop of his shoulders and the lowered head, Zuko was certain that the boy had not taken a word in. He cleared his throat, letting the boy know that he was approaching, giving him time to wipe any tears he might have. Sure enough, Bumi wiped his face.

"Hey buddy. Can I sit down?"

He gave a noncommittal shrug that Zuko took as consent and perched on a chair next to him. He ran a hand through Bumi's silky hair and said, "It stinks, doesn't it?"

"What? My hair?" he said with a half-hearted grin.

"You have your Uncle's sense of humor," Zuko replied.

Bumi groaned. "I'm doomed for life then."

"You still may have hope," Zuko said. "With your mother and I guiding you."

"Ummm. I'll pass," Bumi said, now smiling a little wider. "Izumi says you crack terrible jokes. And mom is so bad at jokes."

Zuko chuckled, then he patted his back, "You know, when I was a child, I used to hate it."

"What?"

"My sister was by far the better bender. I would work on getting something right for months and she would get it by the second or third try. Sometimes even in the first try. I felt like I could do nothing right. You know what I mean?" Bumi's face fell and Zuko knew he was right. "Kya showing her bending hurt you, didn't it?"

Bumi's face crumpled and he broke into sobs. Zuko reached over and pulled the boy into his arms, who complied without resistance. "My dad…," Bumi said slowly, through sobs. "He… He wanted me to be a bender. So badly… I… I remember thinking… he would love me more if I was a bender… I once tried to hold fire…"

Zuko's hands instinctively tightened around him as he felt his anger towards Aang intensifying. Fuck man! What the hell happened to you? How did you become that man?

Unaware of Zuko's anger, Bumi continued, "Mom had cried so much that night… Dad… he told me that holding fire doesn't make a bender."

"Bumi," Zuko said trying to keep the edge off his voice. Bumi sat back in the chair, listening with rapt attention, "Listen to me. Don't ever think that being a bender makes you any better than the anyone. The worst person I know, the one who gave me the scar, was a bender. Some of the best people I know are non-benders."

"Like who?" Bumi asked, wiping his eyes.

"Your Uncle Sokka, Aunt Suki, Grandpa Hakoda, Gran Gran. Are you telling me they are not good enough because they're not benders?"

Bumi's lips were pursed in deep thought and he didn't respond. At his silence, Zuko continued, "Izumi's mom, Mai, she was a non-bender. But trust me, I was terrified of her."

Bumi snorted.

"Seriously. She was deadly. You have met Ty Lee, right? I don't know any bender who can take her down."

"Not even Auntie Toph?"

Zuko pondered, "Toph, maybe. But I won't bet on it. I'd say the scales are evenly balanced there."

"She's that much of a badass?" Bumi said, his eyes widening. "But she looks so…," he waved his hands around to signify what he thought of Ty Lee.

Zuko laughed, "Yes, she is all that. But she is also a deadly fighter you don't want to meet in battle."

"So… you're saying…"

"I'm saying that if you want to be a warrior, you have to have the heart of one," Zuko said, pointing at Bumi's chest. "If you have that, then whether you're a bender or not is inconsequential."

Bumi looked as though someone had lifted a heavy weight off his shoulders. With a soft sob, he threw his arms around Zuko's neck. "Thanks Dad."

For Zuko, no words had been as joyful as those two simple ones. He pulled the boy up close and kissed his head. "Any time, my son. Any time."