Aang calls the family to gather at Air Temple Island

A/N: It's my birthday, so I thought I would gift you all with Chapter 14, 12 hours early

One Week Later; Winter 147 AG

"Master Katara, there are two dragons approaching."

Katara looked up from where she was working at her desk. She saw one of the acolytes in the doorway and frowned at the news in confusion. "Zuko? I wasn't expecting him." She got up, slipped into her coat, and followed the acolyte outside. "Thank you Lian. Would you mind putting the kettle on? I have a feeling whatever this is, it is something important if both Zuko and Izumi are arriving by dragon."

Low and behold as she stepped out, she glanced up into the sky and saw two dragons, one red and one blue; they were approaching the ground quickly. Katara stayed back near the bottom of the steps, leaving plenty of room for them to land.

Once they did, she found herself looking at Zuko, Mai, Suki, Ty Lee, Izumi, and young Iroh. They greeted each other with hugs before Katara stepped back from Zuko, who she had hugged last.

"Not that I am not happy to see you all, but what are you doing here? I'm sorry if you sent a message, I didn't receive it."

Zuko frowned, "Aang called and asked us to meet him here. Said he was returning from the North and needed to see us immediately upon his return."

Katara had a look of confusion on her face, but before she could respond, a loud rumbling noise came from behind her. She turned to see Toph bending a platform of earth up before stepping off with Sokka and a few of her high ranking metalbending officers. With a flick of her wrist the platform went back down to rest back in its usual space at the bottom of all the hundreds of stairs.

"I see Twinkle Toes hasn't graced you with his presence yet. Must be important if his Fire Lordliness is here."

"Nice to see you too Toph." Zuko quipped, before going over and drawing the shorter woman into a hug.

"Yeah, yeah." Toph said, patting his back slightly, before pulling away.

Katara was about to ask what was going on, when she was interrupted again. This time by Tenzin who was landing Oogi beside Druk and Izumi's dragon, Seiryū. Tenzin stood and lept onto Oogi's saddle, before helping the eldest Beifong, Poppy, off the Air Bison. Suyin stood with a young man wearing glasses and she bent a column of earth up for them to step on before lowering it back down.

"Tenzin, what… Will someone please tell me what is going on?" Katara asked, frustrated at not being in the loop.

"Dad called yesterday and asked that I go pick up Suyin and Aunt Poppy to bring them here this afternoon. He said he wanted the whole family together for something important." Tenzin responded with a small shrug. He stood out amongst everyone else as he was the only one not bundled up against the cold. One of the perks of being able to bend the air around him.

"I was told to bring my most trusted officers." Toph said with a shrug. "Something about some prisoners."

"Would have sure been nice for my husband to let me know about this all." Katara quipped, fire in her eyes.

Again she was interrupted, by acolyte Lian once more. "Master Katara, Master Aang is on the radio and would like to speak with you."

Katara huffed and walked towards her office again. "Lian, more tea will be needed, if you wouldn't mind setting up another large kettle please."

When she reached her office she grabbed the receiver. "Hello Aang."

"Ah, hi sweetie. I just wanted to let you know we should be home soon and that you should expect-"

"Expect our extended family to arrive?" She responded dryly.

"Oh… I take it they beat me to notifying you."

"Yes, they are all here except Kya and Bumi. It would have been nice to know we were to have company Aang."

"I'm sorry love. I didn't mean to keep it from you, but I also know how much you like to get your answers. This is a situation where discussing in person is the best way to go about it. Also, Kya and Bumi are with me. All will be explained soon. We are expected to arrive in the next 30 minutes or so. I love you."

Katara huffed, but responded. "Better be a very good reason for this Mr. Avatar." She paused before adding, "I love you too."

They disconnected shortly after he confirmed they would be arriving soon.

Katara went back out to join everyone in the hallway, where they had moved to get in from the cold. "Aang said he will be arriving with Kya and Bumi in about 30 minutes." She went over to Poppy and greeted the elder, apologizing that she didn't do so when they had arrived. She then turned to Suyin. "Hi sweetie, it is nice to see you again."

"Hi Auntie." Su greeted, as she hugged her aunt back tightly. When they separated, Su pointed to the young man beside her. "Everyone, I would like you to meet Baatar. He's been helping us with some renovations in Gaoling. I hope you don't mind that he came along for the ride, he has never been to Republic City before."

Katara smiled at him, "not at all. Welcome Baatar. I apologize for not greeting you promptly earlier."

"It is an honour to meet you Master Katara." Baatar said, bowing quickly. In his nervousness, his glasses almost slipped off his face, he caught them in time, pushing them back up as he straightened up.

"Katara is just fine. Su will introduce you to everyone else, just remember we are all just people no matter our roles in the war." She said, patting his arm.

She went over and greeted Toph and Sokka. Before long, she had everyone in the dining room, sipping fresh tea and eating some snacks that Lian had put together for them. They were all catching up on life as it had been since the anniversary of Lin's death in the spring that they had all been together like this. Of course they all talked, and saw each other at different times separately.

Soon enough, 40 minutes after Katara spoke with Aang, they were told that a United Forces ship was docking on the Island and they all descended - with Toph's help - to the dock's off the beach.

The first off the ship were Bumi and a few of his men. In their grips were two men in handcuffs. Katara couldn't shake the feeling like she had met the younger of the two before.

"Chief Beifong, I present Yakone and his nephew Tulok." Bumi said, motioning to the two men.

Everyone stopped and stared in shock.

"Did you just say Yakone? But he doesn't look like him." Sokka said in disbelief.

"Apparently he had some work done before going to the Northern Water Tribe. His nephew is being charged with bloodbending, as well as abduction, imprisonment, and spousal abuse. Don't worry, his bending has been taken away to prevent further bloodbending."

"She's mine! The stupid bitch knows her place. They are mine." Tulok said, struggling in the hold the naval officers had on him.

Suddenly Tulok was silenced by a piece of metal covering his mouth - one of Toph's officers had silenced him at her command. "Stop your yammering. Save it for your trial." Toph said brusquely. She hated this tool already. "Bao, take these two back to the special holding area. Only allow the officers here, myself, or Aang near their cell."

"Yes Chief." Her second in command, Bao, said. He led the naval officers with the prisoners off towards the police issued boat that was docked further down.

Before anyone could greet Bumi, movement at the top of the ramp made everyone look up. There at the top was Kya, surrounded by three children. The youngest on her hip, with two older girls walking beside her holding hands.

The oldest girl caught Poppy's attention as she had some very familiar features, especially the striking green eyes. Her breath caught in her throat, but she shook away the brief thoughts that came to why the girl would look familiar. It was impossible.

When they reached the bottom the youngest girl looked up at Katara. "Are you Kya's mama?"

Katara smiled at the blue eyed little girl. "Yes, dear one, I am Katara." She squatted down to be on an equal level with the girl. "What's your name?"

"I'm Tayen. This is Nuna, and that is Tarlo. Mama and Amaruq are still on the big boat with the Avatar." She said the last part with wide eyes.

Katara smiled at the little girl's wonder. "Well it is nice to meet you all. Did you enjoy being on the big boat?"

Tayen nodded her head quickly with a big toothy grin. "Lutent-ant Come-man-er Bumi showed us how to steer the boat with the big wheel."

"It's Lieutenant Commander, Tayen." Nuna corrected softly.

"I think Lutent-ant Come-man-er has a good ring to it. Right Boom?" Sokka said, nudging his nephew with his elbow, a wide smile on his face. Bumi grinned back, and sent a wink to Tayen so that she knew he wasn't upset.

Another group of people came down the ramp. Aang had his arms supporting an obviously pregnant woman down the ramp, while another little boy was holding onto her other hand. An older woman in her 40s and a teenage boy were preceding them down the ramp.

Katara took a moment to analyze the way Aang was supporting the woman in his arms. The way his eyes softened everytime he looked down at her beside him. Katara knew her husband the best of anyone, and she knew that while he was kind to almost everyone, being the pacifying airbender he was,

Kya introduced Istas and Tarrlok to the group. "They didn't know about Yakone. We have offered them sanctuary with the rest of the family."

"The dock is getting a little crowded, perhaps we could head up to the house?" Aang said as he arrived near the bottom of the ramp.

Everyone moved towards the stone terrace that was at the bottom of all the stairs. Eventually all who were left on the wooden dock were Aang, the pregnant woman, and the boy holding her hand. No one had gotten a clear look at the woman, her head was bowed the whole time.

But as soon as they stepped onto the slight snow covered stone, Toph felt a heartbeat she hadn't in 10 years. She stumbled slightly, causing Sokka and Zuko to grasp her arms to steady her.

"Please tell me this isn't some sick joke." Toph managed to get out.

"Toph?" Katara questioned, not used to her friend acting like this. She glanced from Toph to Aang, who was whispering in the young woman's ear.

It was then that the woman looked up and locked her eyes on Toph. The woman had bruises covering her neck and a dark one on her cheek; mottled purples marred the pale skin, with yellowing around the edges as they were healing. But it was the eyes that gave Katara pause. She felt her heart constrict at the possibility of this being… It couldn't be, could it?

The young woman soon had tears streaming down her face as she stepped forward slightly. "Mama?" came a soft voice filled with emotion.

Toph herself let out a half sob, before tearing herself from her friend's grips and making quick work of the distance between her and the woman.

"Lin!"

A/N: One of the moments we've all been excited for! Next weeks chapter will be ~*emotional*~

Also Baatar just awkwardly meeting the family for the first time right now, just tickled my funny bone and had to include it.