Aang sat at his desk, the incandescent light burning low, casting an amber hue over the papers in front of him. He knew his time was near, that soon his mortal form would pass, and that Ravaa would pass on to the next avatar. He sighed, laying back into the chair, hearing the old, weathered wood creak and groan against his weight. He looked out into the hallway. The house was quiet and still, only the echoed shuffling of Katara permeated the silence. A tear rolled down his face as he thought of her, of his children. He didn't want to leave them, but reminded himself that he would always be with them in spirit and through the next Avatar. He sat forward and, grabbing pen and paper, began to draft a letter.
Dear kids
No, no that's stupid, he thought as he crossed it out, and crumpled the paper.
Tenzin, Bumi, and Kya
He breathed with anguish as he crumpled the paper, tossing it half-hazardly towards the wastebasket.
He sighed again, and began to write.
My dearest children,
My time has come, the time that we all knew would, but that none of us wanted to think about for too long. I soon, will go the way that all men and woman do, but I am afraid of doing so without writing these words. I am sorry. I am sorry that I was not the father that you wanted me to be. Many, including your mother, will give an excuse that being the Avatar means that I have a special responsibility to the world. That excuse is not good enough. The moment that you, all three of you, were born, you became my world, and I neglected you. Kya and Bumi, I love you with all my heart, I want you to know that. You are my pride and joy. I am so happy to have you both in my life, and I am honored to be your father. Bumi, though you are a non-bender, you are equal, nay, better than most benders I know. You are bright, charismatic, and caring, and a son that every father should be proud to have. I only wish that I had spent more time with you, and got to know you, my son better, and for that I am sorry. I want you to know that I love you with all my heart, and that I always will. Kya, you are a spitting image of your mother. How you've grown to be healer and waterbender just as she had. You are the best daughter a man could ask for, and I love you, no matter what. When you came to me and told me of your orientation, I was so happy for you, that you felt comfortable to tell me and that you had found someone who made you as happy as your mother makes me. You are my daughter, and my love for you will never fade. I will always be with you, to guide you, to protect you, and to love you. Tenzin, my final child. I am so proud of you, but I am also of guilty of taking away your childhood. Being the last of the airbenders, I was so happy that you were one as well, but I fear that I pressured you into a destiny not of your choosing. If, after I am gone, you feel that the path that I put you on is not your own, please, pursue your own dreams. I shall love you no matter what. Finally, my children, please take care of your mother for me, and know that I shall always exist within your hearts, and will be waiting with open arms for when we meet again.
Love,
Dad
Aang placed the pen down and wiped a tear from his cheek. He blew on the page, drying the ink, before folding the sheet and placing it in the envelope. He pressed his hands against the table, forcing his aging body up, hearing his joints crack and his muscles ache. He took the letter from the desk and walked out of the study, taking one final look before shutting off the light and closing the door. He walked into the main atrium of the house and saw Katara, sitting on the sofa, eating a late night snack. He smiled, remembering all the good times they had together. Coming up behind her, he places his hands upon her shoulders, bends down, and kisses her head, holding back tears. He feels her soft hand as she places atop his; how he wishes he could forever exist in her arms. Coming around the sofa, he sits down next to her, and, taking her hand, kisses it.
"What's wrong sweetie?" asks Katara, looking confused and a little worried.
Aang does not answer, but simply smiles, looking into her beautiful blue eyes.
Katara smiles back
"Did I make you happy?" asks Aang
"What's going on honey?" asks Katara, now more worried from her husband
"Did I make you happy?" he asks again
"Of course you did!" says Katara, placing her had against Aang's cheek
"Did I love you enough?" he asks as tears well up in his eyes
"Sweetie what's wrong? Your scaring me" says Katara
Aang sighs, and takes Katara's hand from his cheek, holding both on his knees.
"Katara, my love, I fear my time is nearing, when I must leave this world. I fear that I have not done enough to show you my love for you or the children. I only wanted to do my best to make you happy, to give you all the love that you deserved" says Aang, his head hung low and his eyes shut, keeping the tears back like damns.
Katara lifts his head and strokes his cheek.
"I knew this time would come, and I am happy that I got to be your wife. I have always been happy, and I always knew of your love for me and the children. You are the love of my life, and I shall never stop loving you. Even when you are gone, your spirit will live on in the next Avatar, and your love will live on in all our hearts: mine, Tenzin, Bumi, and Kaya's, as well as our friends, Toph and Zuko. I wish that I could go with you, and join you in the spirit world, but know that I must stay here, to take care of the children. I love you my forever boy".
Aang embraces his wife, holding her close, smelling her smell from perhaps the last time, and feeling her soft skin against his.
Katara stands and walks to the phone. He picks up the receiver and calls her children, telling them to come to the house at once. The next day, all three arrive, and greet their father and mother with hugs. As Kaya lets go she can feel her father's spirit drifting away, but chooses not to say anything. As she returns to her siblings, she meets the gaze of Tenzin, who too senses the end is near. Bumi, bright as ever, can tell that something is amiss, and asks
"Dad, is everything alright?"
Kaya and Tenzin look at him with shock and anger, but then quickly turn to Aang to see his response.
Aang smiles.
"I called you only because I missed my children and wished to see them"
All three smile, but exchange glances, knowing that that is not the full truth.
All sit down at the table and share a meal, talking about their lives, telling stories, commenting on current affairs, and telling about their spouses and love interests. After a night of stories, food, drink, and deserts, the children went to their old rooms, leaving Katara and Aang alone at the table. Aang leans forward, kissing his wife on the cheek, before retreating to his chair. From his robe he takes the letter and places it on the table.
"What's this?" asks Katara , taking the note from the table
"It's a letter for the kids, for after I'm gone"
"May I read it?" asks Katara
Aang nods his head.
Katara fingers the flap, flipping it up, and pulls the parchment out. She unfolds it and beings to read. After a few minutes a tear rolls down her cheek, as she closes the letter and places it down on the table.
"What's wrong honey?" asks Aang, placing his hand on her shoulder.
"You're children love you sweetie. Do you not think that they do!?" asks Katara, tears continuing to cry
"No, not at all! I know they love me, I want to make sure that I was the best father that I could be, and to let them know that I have always loved them, and always will" says Aang, raising Katara's head with his finger.
She smiles, and buries her face in Aang's chest, and he wraps his arms around her. The two then trod off to bed.
The next morning the house is still and quiet. The birds do not chirp, the wind does not blow. Tenzin, Bumi, and Kaya emerge from their rooms, and wonder at the silence of the world.
"Where's mom?" asks Tenzin
Kaya wonders over to their parents' bedroom, and knocks on the door.
"Come in" says Katara between sobs
Kaya opens the door and sees her mother sitting on the bed, Aang's head in her lap, as she stokes his head.
"Dad!" calls Kaya as she runs to his side
Tenzin and Bumi rush in and surround their father, holding back tears. Aang slowly opens his eyes, and glances at each of his children. He smiles. He then looks to Kaya, who is holding his hand and crying. He places his hand on hers.
"Do not worry my child, everything will be alright"
Kaya looks up at her father, his clear gray eyes wash over her, calming her.
He turns away, placing his head back into Katara's lap and closes his eyes.
"I love you, all of you, and will be with you forever".
With that his breathing stops, as his chest settles. After a few seconds, the spirit of Ravaa shimmers out of Aang, and drifts silently up and through the ceiling. The room is now all quite, as Kaya still clutches her father's hand, Katara holding her husband's head, and Tenzin and Bumi holding each other. With a shaking hand, Katara removes the letter and hands it to Tenzin.
"Your father wrote this for you"
Tenzin wipes the tears from his eyes and takes the letter. His siblings gather around him, as he reads it aloud. The three cry as they tell their father they love him, wetting the letter with their tears.
Aang awakes, and sees Roku, holding out his arms.
"It's good to see you Aang"
Aang embraces him, and looking behind him, sees all the past avatars. He turns, standing in front of them, and watches as a mother of the Southern Watertribe gives birth to a healthy baby girl named Korra.