Rating: G

Word Count: 927


Katara laid a hand on her swollen belly as she sat on the ground, keeping an eye on Bumi and Kya as they did … whatever they were doing. Some kind of game, by the looks of it.

Seeing her kids so content brought a swell of warmth within Katara. Bumi and Kya have already brought so much joy to her and Aang; Bumi with his goofy nature that he had most certainly inherited from his father, and Kya with her free spirit that was certainly Air Nomad-like.

Katara reflected back to a time that felt like so long ago, when her father had told her that she and Sokka were his entire world. Back then, she had been aching far too much to listen and understand, her heart carved hollow from how her father had just left them to go fight in the war, a hollowness that only just began to close when she embraced her father there on the Fire Nation ship deck.

Now, though, with two kids of her own, Katara began to understand what her father meant. The love of a parent to a child was a thousand times more powerful than that of a child towards a parent. Bumi and Kya were everything, to both her and Aang. If she had to leave them and fight in a war, she wouldn't hesitate if it meant that they would grow up in a world of peace and prosperity; if she had to die for them so that they could live, then she would be willing to let herself die.

(She thought she understood, now, why her mother lied to protect her. Why her father left to join the war effort)

And now, there was another to join their family. Another for them to shower their love upon.

The sound of a door opening startled her from her thoughts, and a minute later, Aang appeared at the entrance of the living room, gray eyes twinkling.

Kya leaped up to her feet, elation written all over her face. "Daddy's home!" she exclaimed, running towards him and throwing her tiny arms around Aang's leg. Bumi followed after her, throwing his arms around Aang's waist.

Aang laughed, the sound flowing melodically through the air like wind chimes. He semi-crouched down so their kids could hug him properly. He ruffled Bumi's hair affectionately and laid a hand against Kya's back. "Hey, sport. Hi, sweetie," he cooed. "How was your day?"

"It was boring," Bumi whined. "All we did were boring games and puzzles and stuff."

"Yeah," echoed Kya — Katara amusedly thought she was only repeating what Bumi said, simply because it was her older brother saying it. "Not fun."

"Aww, I'm sorry to hear that. Here." Aang stooped down to their eye levels. "How about after dinner, we play a game together?"

Bumi perked up. "With all of us?"

"Well, almost all of us." Aang's eyes locked onto Katara's. "Your mother should probably take it easy." He gave her a significant look.

Katara only made a face at him in response.

"Anyways, why don't you go outside and play for a little bit?" Aang suggested, turning back to their kids and looking as though he were trying to hold back his laughs. "I think Appa and Momo could use some company."

"Ooh! Appa!" Their children dashed off, voices raised excitedly as the door shut behind them.

Aang made his way over to Katara and kissed her on her forehead in greeting. "Hey, sweetie." His voice was warm. "Tiring day?"

Katara sighed. "Like you wouldn't believe." She rested her hand on her belly. "The baby was kicking all day."

Aang smiled sympathetically. He got down on his hands and knees in front of her and stretched forward, planting a kiss on her abdomen. "Hang in there," Aang cooed to their baby. "It'll only be a few more weeks until you can join us."

Katara could only smile, the obvious love he had for their unborn child already so palpable. However, her smile melted away, replaced by a vague sense of unease. Seeing her husband, already so filled with adoration for their child … it only reminded Katara of a burden that still hung heavily over him — both him and her.

As the last airbender, Aang was expected to repopulate the Air Nation, and with two kids that weren't airbenders, the council was cracking down on Aang more than ever before. Aang was resisting their … unsavory suggestions as best as he could, but even he can only go so far, when literally the entire world was putting pressure on him.

What would happen if this child wasn't an airbender?

Aang must've seen the look on her face, because the next thing she knew, his gray eyes eclipsed everything else in her sight. "Is there something wrong?" he asked gently.

Katara shook her head and forced a smile. "Oh, nothing. It's just…" She absentmindedly traced the arrow tattoo on the back of Aang's hand. Before she knew it, the question that was now swirling in her head shot out of her mouth: "What if the baby isn't an airbender?" She looked up to see Aang gazing at her bemusedly. "I know the council has been pressuring you to conceive an airbender," she hastened to add, "and, well…"

She trailed off, not knowing what to say. Aang's eyes softened. He turned back to her abdomen and pressed a kiss to her midsection again.

"Then our child will be born in our family," he murmured, "and will know only love."


A/N You can't tell me Aang loved Tenzin more than Bumi II and Kya. You just can't.

Love vs. responsibility. I know for a fact that Aang loved his children equally, but he had a responsibility to the entire world... and, by extension, his near-extinct culture. If you're really gonna judge Aang, then first consider his circumstances.