"And his favorite blankets are in this closet but he won't be able to fall asleep without the little silky one in his crib, and…"

"Katara."

"I left some of the fruits he likes and plenty of milk for him in the ice box but if you run out before I get back you should be able to use the bison milk the acolytes are collecting, and…"

"Katara."

"I'm going to leave one of my dresses. Some older ladies I was talking to said my scent would comfort him while I'm gone, and…"

KATARA!" Aang hadn't meant to raise his voice, but it was like his wife was in her own world, worrying herself into a tizzy. He reached out and put his free hand on her cheek, holding a squirming Bumi in the other. "We're going to be fine. I promise. You do this every day, and I know it's not easy, but I'm actually looking forward to a week away from meetings and generals and world leaders that I'll get to spend entirely with my son. And I am so proud of you for pursuing your dream."

Katara took a deep breath and leaned in for a quick, grounding kiss. He always had such a calming air about him it was almost impossible not to feel at ease in his presence. She was about to leave their home on Air Temple Island, and their son for the first time since he was born almost two years ago, to assist with the opening of a new women's hospital in the Lower Ring of Ba Sing Se-something she had started planning even before she was pregnant with Bumi. Her heart was breaking to leave him behind, but she knew she wouldn't be nearly as productive with him there, mainly because Bumi would undo anything she had done in half the time it had taken her to do it, and Aang was more than happy to take over baby duty. Ecstatic, even. He was already such an attentive father when he could be; she knew he was excited for an excuse to spend more time with his son.

"Thanks, Sweetie," she sighed. "It's so weird. Usually you're the one hopping on Appa and flying away to solve world problems."

Aang chuckled. "Well, it wasn't too long ago that we were doing that together. And hopefully we will again. We just need to get over the… hump… of destructive toddler mode."

Katara full-on laughed at that. 'Destructive toddler mode' was putting it lightly. Bumi had recently taken a keen interest in everything he shouldn't, and his boundless energy allowed him to get into trouble the instant his parents' eyes were taken off of him. Earlier that day he had emptied half the spice jars in their kitchen while Katara was packing and Aang was out saddling up Appa. But he didn't just empty them in the kitchen. He ran with them all through the house, leaving powdery substances and some strong scents in every crevice of every room. She smiled now, but she had been beyond frazzled to hear him toppling a side table amid his antics while also trying to make sure she had everything she would need for a week away.

"Well, good luck with destructive toddler mode this week. I'm going to miss both of you so, so much." Aang and Bumi leaned in for a big hug. Katara caressed Bumi's round face, "you be good for Daddy, ok? Make sure you listen?"

"Otay, Momma," Bumi said. She knew he didn't actually understand that she was leaving yet, that he wouldn't until she was actually gone, but hoped his little heart would be okay when he did. Tears pricked at the back of her eyes and she tried in vain to blink them away. Spirits this was harder than she thought it was going to be.

"Hey, it's okay. We're going to miss you, too, but we'll be fine. And you're going to be great. Proving to the world again how incredible you are. What I've always known." Aang's arm wrapped comfortingly around her and Bumi's little ones went for her neck, sensing his mother's upset. She gave a watery laugh and squeezed them both tighter.

"Is it always this hard?" she asked, glancing up at Aang.

His sad smile reminded her yet again of how strong he really was. How he always put on a joyful face and brought fun to everyone around him, even when he was breaking inside. He had always been the most resilient person she'd ever known, but stepping into his shoes made her realize just how much of a façade he put on, even for her sometimes.

Katara took yet another steadying breath, gave a final squeeze to her little family, and stepped back. "I love you both so much. I'll be back in a week. Try not to have too much fun without me, ok?"

"We love you, too, Momma," Aang said, speaking for their son who didn't quite have all the words yet to express what Aang knew Katara needed to hear. He pressed a kiss to her hair before waving her off. Bumi copied his father with a slobbery kiss to her cheek. "Go," Aang demanded. "Be amazing. We'll see you when you get back."

As she hopped on Appa and waved to her family, she wondered how Aang was able to do this so often without breaking. As she soared through the air and they disappeared from view, the tears started to flow freely, and Katara realized he probably did the same-allowing himself the space to feel when he was alone in the sky, and pulling himself back together before landing for his next public appearance. She resolved to take a page out of his book. She hoped she could be so strong.

The next days passed by quickly for Katara. She felt a whole new range of emotions as she discovered she could still be the fierce, independent, productive woman she had always been. After taking such a long break from public work she hadn't been sure, but it hadn't taken long for her usual confidence to return.

She was used to being in "mom-mode," seeing all the potential problems before they happened, and it served her well in getting this hospital ready to open and run. She noticed a lack of children's toys in the waiting room, and knowing that many of their patients would be young mothers who may not have someone to leave their other kids with, insisted that someone rectify that immediately. She went through each exam room, checking for even minor imperfections that could cause their future patients discomfort. Some of the financial planners she had hired wanted to cut costs given the clientele, and use cheaper, lower quality supplies from a bigger vendor known for paying its workers poorly. Katara had flown into a rage at that suggestion, demanding to know why any woman deserved less than the best possible care from them, or how that could possibly help the poverty situation they were trying to treat in the Lower Ring by offering free or low-cost care.

She felt on fire, proud, and also a little guilty for how much she was enjoying this time away from her family (and all the extra sleep and silence it afforded her). But, she did still miss them terribly. Despite evenings that were filled with dinners she didn't need to cook or clean up after, and the ability to read and take long baths before bed without constant toddler-interruptions, after a couple days it started to feel lonely, and she was excited for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to be over with so that she could get everything running and get home to her boys.

Aang's days passed much slower, having to clean up near-constant disasters while simultaneously keeping his son from putting himself in mortal danger, but he was having the time of his life. He knew he probably shouldn't be letting Bumi get away with as much as he was, but he hadn't had so much unhindered time with his son since he was a newborn, and he was cherishing every bit of it.

"Want some more fruit pie, Boom?"

"Mmmmmmm," Bumi licked his lips and opened wide. Aang laughed and set another plate in front of the bouncing toddler, watching him gobble it up using his chubby little fists.

There was such a mess all over Bumi's face, seat, the table, and the floor. The purple filling was smeared around his mouth like a little goatee, and Aang wished he could capture this moment forever; just him, and his son-his son!-and the pure joy of ancient Air Nomad fruit pie.

"Wanna see something fun?" Aang asked, mischief twinkling in his stormy eyes.

"Yeeeaaaahhhhh!" Bumi's enthusiastic response only encouraged him further. Aang scooped up his son, fruit pie remains smushing into his robes, and took him out to the balcony, from which they could see several acolytes practicing their meditation on the green below. Aang bent a stream of air, bringing out the last fruit pie atop it, and set the pie down on the ledge of the balcony.

"You think the acolytes might want some fruit pie, too?"

"Mmmm fwoot pie," Bumi said, eyes lighting up and plump hands clapping together in delight. Aang set Bumi down and the toddler immediately pressed his face between the rails of the balcony, watching with anticipation as his father hovered the colorful dessert in the air over the unsuspecting acolytes. With a few quick swipes of his hand, using a move Sokka had once called "airbending slice," Aang chopped the fruit pie in mid-air into six pieces; one piece per acolyte, and allowed them to plop onto their heads. There was a moment of stunned silence, before the peal of Bumi's gleeful laughter filled the courtyard and the acolyte's shocked, pie-covered faces all swung in their direction. Aang fell to the ground in stitches, wishing not for the first time that Gyatso were here to see this.

Bumi crawled on top of his father, belly full of fruit pie, and exhausted from so much laughing. "Dada funnyyyyyy," he drawled, a few giggles still escaping.

"Come on, let's get you cleaned up for nap," Aang said, gathering him up and bringing him in for a bath. Bathtime might have become his favorite time of the day, and while he usually bathed Bumi in the evening, following Katara's schedule, the fruit pie fiasco called for an earlier cleansing. He bent the water into fun shapes as he rinsed the purple from his son, and Bumi's little laughs fluttered in his heart as he soaped him up. When the final suds were in the drain and Bumi was happily snoring in his crib, Aang looked around his house to survey the damage.

Aside from the fruit pie and lunch mess in the kitchen-which had somehow managed to reach the walls, too-there was also a sea of small toys, a pillow fort, some spilled milk on the rug that was starting to sour, and some unknown substance smeared on the windows that even Momo wouldn't touch. Aang sighed and bent some water from a nearby basin, hoping he could actually make the place look presentable before Bumi woke up again, or an angry acolyte showed up at his door.

As he cleaned he became aware that he might not have all the ingredients he needed to make the dinner he had planned, so halfway through rinsing the curdling milk from the rug he took a detour to the kitchen to check. He thought of the many things Katara was able to keep in her brain about their son and running their house on a daily basis, in addition to continuing her healing training on her own, teaching a few younger kids waterbending when she could, offering him advice on council affairs, teaching and loving their son, and actually keeping Bumi from injuring himself.

Aang felt deeply humbled and beyond thankful for his wife-his partner in all things. He was having so much fun, but by the end of each day he was exhausted, often falling asleep himself while trying to convince Bumi to do the same, and leaving the afternoon's mess to hopefully be cleaned up in the morning. Even though he often helped with shopping or cooking or cleaning and spent lots of time with Bumi when Katara was home, being completely immersed in it like this-and cut off from most outside interaction with other adults-was more isolating and draining than he ever could have imagined. He was amazed that Katara frequently had the energy to stay up with him while he looked over treaties or tried to document the swaths of Air Nomad history that no one else would be able to do, and then for other activities once the lights went out. She was more amazing than he had ever even understood.

He checked the cupboards and sure enough was out of the ingredients to make his favorite vegetable dumplings, so rather than take Bumi to the market after nap, which would be fun but result in a very late dinner and an even later bedtime (something Aang did not think he could handle), he scrambled around to see if he had some tofu and fruit and rice. Finding all the necessary ingredients and still having some time before he needed to start cooking, he took a rag and tried to return to cleaning, wondering what Katara was getting up to.

Katara was sprinting through the hospital, putting last minute touches in all the rooms, finalizing her notes for her opening speech, and making sure everything was perfect for the opening ceremony. It wasn't often that she had to be on the planning side of events like these, but as the Avatar's wife and as a war hero in her own right, she had been to enough big parties to know what worked and what didn't. Taking a deep breath, she opened the large double doors and exited the building to thunderous applause. Local residents and reporters alike had gathered outside for the grand opening. She smiled proudly and approached the podium.

"Thank you, everyone, for coming here today to help us open the new Ba Sing Se Women's Hospital! So much work has been put into this by my dear friends here, and I know it is going to do a lot of good for this deserving, yet underserved community.

"When I first started planning this hospital, I was young and idealistic and maybe even a little naive. I had studied healing and of course done my fair share of it during the war, but I didn't quite have a handle on the practical applications of treating women-mothers, especially. How mothers don't always have the support systems they need to watch their children or to make sure they're sleeping well or eating right. How a woman's health in general is often treated as an afterthought when it comes to pregnancy and babies. We always ask how the baby is doing, right? Who is checking in on the mothers. On their physical and mental and emotional well-being?

"That is what my dream for this hospital is, now. To provide care for women as they enter all the new stages of life, not only physically, but to be an emotional support for them as well. We have so many qualified and exemplary healers on staff, but we also have hired some people who will solely focus on the mental and emotional well-being of our patients, and who will work in conjunction with the healers to be that support system where it may be lacking. If an appointment cannot be completed with a child in the room-I know my son would topple all the medical equipment in the time it took me to lay back on the examination table-there are staff available who will help care for the child for the duration of the visit. And of course, none of this would be possible without the generous grants from Earth King Kuei, who has agreed to provide funding for these services where patients may not be able to pay themselves." Katara paused briefly for the polite applause that erupted at the mention of their King.

"We know this is really just a bandage. That the wound of poverty is real and needs to be addressed thoroughly or the infection will continue to spread. But if we can be a help to one mother, one woman who is struggling to make ends meet and has been forgoing her own care, who doesn't feel like she can do this alone, we will be serving our purpose. I am endlessly thankful for my own support systems at home; for Avatar Aang, who is the best partner and father and everything anyone could ask for, and who is at this moment home with our spirited and rambunctious toddler so that I could be here today. For my brother Sokka, and his wife, Suki, for our friends Toph Beifong and Ty Lee and Firelord Zuko and Firelady Mai, who so frequently provide that necessary emotional support. For the Air Acolytes who often offer to provide childcare so that I can attend to my own duties. I know that I am incredibly lucky. But I am hopeful that we can provide some sort of support system here for the women of Ba Sing Se's Lower Ring. So with that, I thank you all for coming, and invite you in for a tour and some light refreshments!"

She took the oversized scissors from Mizu, who had been her assistant for the week, and snipped the red ribbon that was tied across the stairway. People were already starting to approach from the ramp she had insisted on just to the side, thinking of Teo and others who had been injured in the war or were born with accessibility barriers. Her heart was still pounding-it had been so long since she had given a public speech like that-but she really did feel so much pride in what they were accomplishing here. Talking about support systems had made her heart ache for Aang and Bumi, though, and she was counting down the minutes to their reunion. One reception and a couple days of working out the kinks of the hospital's daily operations and she would be back with them. Thank the Spirits.

Bumi was really struggling to sleep. After almost a week without his mother, the newness and fun of Dada being around all the time had worn off, and he just wanted Momma. The dress she had left had worked to comfort him for a few days, and Aang had pulled out every trick he knew, but it seemed nothing short of her actual presence would soothe him. Katara was due home the next day, so when Bumi woke for a fourth time before midnight that night in search of her, Aang pulled him into his arms and cuddled into the chair in their room to tell him a story.

"You miss your momma a lot, don't you Boom," he asked as he gently stroked Bumi's wild hair. Aang sometimes couldn't believe just how appropriate his name was; he reminded him so much of his late friend.

Tears gathered in Bumi's pale blue eyes and he nodded, lip trembling slightly. Aang hugged him tighter. "Me too, buddy. We both love your momma so much, huh? It's just not the same without her around. She really holds us all together and keeps everything going. She's amazing, isn't she?"

"Mommaaaaa," Bumi whimpered. He clutched at Aang, looking for robes to grasp and finding only skin in the middle of the summer night. Bumi's displeasure rose, and Aang turned his son in his lap so he could see the full moon out the window, hoping Yue's light would help, somehow.

"Hey. Want to hear a story?" Aang waited until Bumi gave him a slight nod, curling his little body into Aang's warm one. The poor baby was so sleepy, but the changes to his routine this week were obviously affecting him, and Aang's heart broke a little for his son. He thought of Katara again; of all the sleepless nights she had endured when Bumi was an infant, waking frequently to nurse him and comfort him back to sleep. It reminded him of the similarly sleepless nights they'd spent together after the war, where Aang would wake from nightmares and Katara would have to remind him where he was, rubbing his back calmly and holding his tearful face to her. He missed her presence so much, and he was an adult with complete comprehension of the situation-he understood why Bumi was so distraught.

"So," he began, "Once there was a young boy. And he was told he would have to go away from everyone he ever loved to learn some new things, and that scared him, so he ran away. But when he ran away, he got stuck in a block of ice for a hundred years! Do you know who saved him?"

Bumi sluggishly shook his head, his face fully focused on Aang.

"Your momma saved him."

"Momma?"

"Yup, that's right. She cracked open that iceberg and she saved him! They went penguin sledding together, and she told him there was a big scary war going on. Some soldiers attacked the village, and they took the boy away. Your momma was so brave. She and Uncle Sokka went after the boy, and they saved him again! They traveled with him all over the world, and your momma helped so many people on the way. She freed some people who had been put in jail for earthbending. And she learned how to heal, so when the boy got shot by lightning, she saved him again. The boy felt so lost and alone without his people sometimes, but when your momma was with him, he only felt comfort, and peace. She saved him so many times, in so many ways. She helped a whole village of sick people get better with her healing, and even convinced the boy to help her blow up the factory that was making them sick." Aang chuckled at the memory, and how he had told her how pretty she was, even before he knew it was Katara dressed as the Painted Lady. Looking back he realized that the only person he had ever been attracted to was Katara, in all her forms.

"Momma do that?" Bumi asked, enthralled.

"Your momma has always been amazing, Boom. Without her, the war would probably still be going on. She stopped one of the most dangerous firebenders and helped Uncle Zuko take the throne so the Fire Nation is a friendly place again. And now the only reason she's not here with us is because she's helping other mommas who might not have the time or money or ability to take care of themselves, because they're busy trying to be amazing mommas too! She never turns her back on people who need her. And she's going to be home so soon, I promise."

Bumi's eyelids started to droop, finally, on that last sentence, but Aang continued on, having learned never to trust that sleep was imminent, though it wasn't clear who he was speaking to, anymore. "We are so lucky to have your momma in our lives. I thank the Spirits every day that she found me, and loved me back, and that we got to have you, because you and your momma are the best things to ever happen to me, Boom. You make my life so much better than I ever imagined it could be, back when the monks told me I was the Avatar. I didn't think I'd ever find love, or have a family, and instead I am the luckiest man in the world to have you two. I love you both so, so much."

Bumi's breathing finally started to even out, and Aang gently bent himself to his feet to set him back in his crib. He rubbed his hands over his face, exhausted, but when he opened his eyes again he saw Katara leaning against the doorframe, eyes glistening, and all his energy returned.

He flew to her, and her hands immediately cupped his face and pulled him down for a hungry kiss. They were no strangers to separation, but with their roles reversed this time it gave them both a greater appreciation, and need, for one another. One of his hands threaded into her windswept hair, and the other pulled her impossibly closer, like he might die without her now that she was finally here again. She moved her hands from his face and traced down the arrows on his arms, grasping his hands and pulling away slightly, positively beaming.

"I thought you wouldn't be back until tomorrow," Aang exclaimed quietly, joy and relief oozing out of his very being. He suddenly seemed to remember what he'd been saying to Bumi before he saw her, and his hand went to the back of his neck. "How long were you standing there…?"

Her sapphire eyes danced with delight as she drank him in. He looked elated to see her, but she didn't miss the dark circles under his eyes or the couple days' worth of stubble on his head. "I was here long enough to hear everything you said to Bumi," she replied. "I decided to leave right after we finished today-I couldn't wait to get home. I almost came in when he whined for me, but you seemed to have it under control. That was quite a story." She pressed a tender kiss to his cheek. "You are such a wonderful daddy. And… I'm glad I got to hear all that. I really am so lucky to have both of you, too, you know. I missed you and Bumi so much."

"You're so amazing, Sweetie. I don't know how you do everything you do. You do it all so well that you make it look easy when it really, really isn't. I meant every word I said to Bumi: we have been blessed by the Spirits to have you in our lives." He ran his hands up and down her bare arms, eyes suddenly wet. His heart was bursting with love for this woman who gave so much, to him, to their family, to the world.

"Oh, Aang," she smiled, tears spilling out with her emotions. "I feel the same way about you. It was so hard to fly away from you two last week, and I know it isn't any easier for you. You've had to put your duty to the world before yourself so many times, and you always do it with a smile on your face and hide your own pain. I want you to know that Bumi and I love you no matter what. You're the strongest person I've ever known, but you don't have to be strong for us. We will always be here for you."

"I know, Sweetie. I'm here for you, too. Neither of us have to do any of this alone. We'll always have each other."

"Always," Katara repeated. Leaning up on her tiptoes to kiss him once more before moving to get changed for bed. "Oh, hey Aang?"

"Yeah?"

"Is there a reason the acolytes seemed so thankful to have me home? They practically stormed me in the stables when I was taking care of Appa after we got back telling me never to leave again. Something about fruit pie?"

"Oh, heh. Yeah. That's… a long story. Suffice it to say Gyatso would've been proud, and the acolytes might need to get more in touch with the Air Nomad spirit of fun." He shot Katara a sheepish look as he pulled the covers back for her. She rolled her eyes playfully and slid in beside him. As they nestled closer, fitting themselves together like perfect pieces to a puzzle, they both finally felt at home again. The supreme content they felt in each other was enough to lull them both to sleep. At least until Bumi woke up with a wail and it all began again.