Authors Note: I wrote this instead of sleeping lol. Enjoy this chapter! It also contains flashbacks.
Katara understood loss. She understood pain. After her husband had passed, she returned to the southern water-tribe. The new avatar was a water-bender, and she must be there to train them to master the element wherever they may be. Aang had even asked her if she would protect the water-tribe avatar with the white lotus and their parents. She was devastated at the loss of her best friend/ husband. She clenched onto the betrothal necklace he had given to her many years ago. She sighed as she stood at the heart of the tribe where she was reminded about the day Aang had given it to her. She remembered her father, brother and her Gran-Gran there. All of them were gone, and she had herself left in the world along with her now adult kids, her friend Toph and Firelord Zuko, but she hadn't contacted them in a while.
She felt alone at such an old age. She had incorporated her life with Aang, that she didn't quite know how to continue on by herself now. As she stood at the heart of the tribe, she was greeted by a woman.
"Master Katara, it is so good to see you. I'm sorry about your husband," she said resting her hand on Kataras shoulder. Katara nodded her head in appreciation and was then left alone. Her snow home still stood where it had always been when she would visit. This was her home. This is where she was going to stay for the rest of her life. Her fighting days were over, and now it was time for her to retire her time on saving the world. It was up to the younger generation that she believed in so much.
She then began to train the other few water-benders on healing like she had used to. It was distracting her from her feelings, and she loved being able to focus and put as much wisdom as she could to the young water-benders.
Katara kept the small box of her mothers necklace and would bring it with her everywhere she went. She was inside her snow home sitting on her mattress pad looking at her mothers necklace. She was stuck in a trance as memories of her past began to flood and she felt warm inside remembering about the happy memories.
"Mom?" She heard a familiar voice coming into the tent. Katara closed the small box and put it aside. She turned around and saw her daughter, Kya. She hadn't seen her for quite some time. Before Aang had passed, Kya traveled around the world and healed others thanks to her mom teaching her how to heal. Katara stood up and Kya ran towards her mother and embraced her tightly.
"I'm sorry about dad." Katara rested her hand on her daughters back and patted it. She thanked her daughter for coming all the way back to the southern water tribe. As they pulled apart, Katara had realized that her daughter had many things packed near the entrance of the tent.
"You're staying here?" She asked. Kya nodded her head.
"I wouldn't want you to be by yourself here," she said softly smiling. Kya was the only one of her children that she had seen since the passing of Aang. Tenzin sent her a letter and so did Bumi. The two were very busy doing their professions, so Katara understood, but she had wished she would've seen them like how Kya had arrived very quickly. Kya was about to start unpacking when Katara stopped her.
"I think you should rest, Kya." She said. Her daughter nodded and Katara suggested that she should show her daughter around the tribe.
"This is where your father proposed to me," Katara said standing at the heart of the tribe. Katara pointed to where the crowd of the people stood many years ago on that night. Her daughter tried to imagine how the night must've looked as she visualized the scenery as her mother began explaining details on how the setting was decorated. Katara mentioned her Gran-Gran.
"I wish she was able to have met you. I loved her so much," Katara said reminiscing on her grandmother.
"She sounds like a wonderful person, mom," Kya responded and rested her hand on her shoulder. They had spent the whole day introducing the young water-bending students to Kya, and Katara allowed her daughter help her train other water-benders on how to heal and to master it. Kya loved working with her mom and it brought her back memories on when they would spend time together, where her mother would teach her how to water-bend. She loved having those moments with her mom because they had their own small adventure.
Although her father passed, she had some sort of anger built up towards him. She didn't want to be angry, but she was affected a lot for how she was treated in her later years. Her and Aang had a strong relationship from the start until Tenzin was showing signs that he was an air bender. It all changed. Her dad wasn't home much and would take Tenzin on journeys that would last for weeks. Kya had Bumi, and together they created a strong friendship. She was always there for him, and he was there for her too.
"Do you think dad ever cared about us?" Bumi had said to her one time when they were sitting on the ground near a pond. At times, they would explore their surroundings and would rest for a while near a body of water if they could find one. Bumi ripped off the grass and let it sprinkle on his legs. Kya didn't know how to respond to that. She had hoped he did care, but for right now in the moment, she wasn't so sure, but she wanted to make sure Bumi never thought that way again.
"I'd like to think he does," she whispered back at him watching a small animal drink from the pond. She stared off into the distance and thought about her memories with her dad. They were all when she was little, but the few of them that she had in her adulthood, were the ones where they made small conversations and it was time for him to leave with Tenzin and teach him the ways of air nomad culture. She frowned at the thought, but wouldn't let Bumi see her like that.
At times when she wouldn't be able to sleep, he would be there and talk to her at night until she would fall asleep. He was also the first one she had come out to, and he was nothing but supportive for her. She wished he was here to comfort her now, but she knew he had a profession— at least I have my mom she thought.
Katara helped her daughter feel at home with her own tent and helped her unpack her things. It was a nice day for the two, and Kya helped her mom prepare a meal for the two and had spent all night chatting. Kya filled her mom in with her travels and the people she had met. Kya always felt good helping others and loved learning about different cultures of the world. It was something she had hoped her father would do. Although she wasn't an airbender, she wished he included her on the ways of the air-nomad culture, but she couldn't do anything about it anymore.
On her mattress pad, Kya kept tossing and turning. She couldn't fall asleep and all she kept hearing was her own thoughts. She hated how her mind couldn't be quiet at night when she was tired. Her mind went to the thought of her dad. The loss was still very new to her, and it was still hurting deep inside, but she didn't want to show it.
"Kya, are you ready?" Aang asked his then five year old daughter. It was just her with her father and Bumi. Their mother had stayed home to take care of Tenzin. The three of them took an adventure to the southern air temple where Aang spent most of his short childhood. She was in awe of how tall the temple stood. Although it was deserted Kya thought it was beautiful. There were few Air Acolytes that were there helping to rebuild the temple as it should be.
Kya nodded her head at her father as they stood where what used to be a sparring place where her dad would practice his air bending with other airbenders. She was excited for what was to come, and Aang picked her up from the ground. He put her over his head and gently put her legs around his neck. She was now sitting on his shoulders, and she held onto him by wrapping her arms around his neck. Her father then air-bended the ball scooter as he sat criss-crossed on top of the air-ball.
"Hey! What about me?" Bumi shouted towards his dad and little sister. Aang sped around the area and grabbed the standing Bumi and placed him between his legs, and wrapped his arms around his sons stomach.
"Hold on!" Their father said, and the children embraced as Aang went faster and went along the walls. Kya was screaming of joy and Bumi was yelling from fear, but he was enjoying it. Kya was having so much fun as they rode around the temple passing by the frightened acolytes from the speeding air-ball.
Kya warmly smiled at the memory. A single tear escaped from her eye as she shut them closed, and she wiped it away. She had few memories that she was able to remember, for they were so long ago that it happened, that she wished she had made more with him in the recent years.
"Good bye, Kya," Aang had said to his now teen-aged daughter. He approached her and gave her a peck on her forehead. He had already bid his farewell to her mother and Bumi. Tenzin then followed him from behind. She couldn't believe it. It was too soon for them to leave, and they had just returned from another journey they had.
"Youre leaving?" She shouted behind her father and Tenzin. Aang stopped walking and turned around to see his daughter. She didn't know if he felt any guilt or even knew what he was doing to her, but she saw his face change. He approached her slowly, and calmly as ever, he gave her a hug.
"Im sorry, Kya. One day you will understand." He whispered to her and ended the embrace. Her heart dropped when he apologized, but she grew angry when he told her 'one day you will understand.' Didn't understand? She did understand. What she didn't understand was why desert her and Bumi? Why not include them? She missed her father. She missed the talks they used to have or when he would say an anecdote about the war or even about the monks. She missed him, but it seemed as if he wasn't the one to understand. But before she was able to say anything back, her father and Tenzin had already left.
She was frustrated. One moment she was able to love her father and remember the happy memories, but then the next, she was angry at him for deserting her. She quietly sobbed to herself in bed. She had remembered one time her father said if she ever felt the need to cry from grief or pain, she is allowed to let it all out and then let it go. She wiped her tears as they were no more and got up from her mattress. She wondered if her mother was awake, and she decided to pay her a late night visit.
"Mom?" She asked as she stepped foot in her mothers snow home. A candle was lit near where her mother was laying on the bed. Katara was facing away from the entrance, and she turned her body to her side to see her daughter. Kya walked towards her mother and kneeled on the ground to meet eye to eye with her mother.
"Kya? What is it?" Her mother questioned as her daughter reached out to hold onto her hands. Kya looked up at her mom and her lips began to tremble, and her mother knew already. Kya had tears welling up in her eyes trying to fight them back from her mother seeing her, but she couldn't help it. Kya didn't need an explanation on why she was crying. Katara just knew. Katara then pulled her daughter in for a hug and allowed her daughter to sob against her chest.
"I understand why he had to go," she said while in tears, "but why am I angry? Why wasn't he home much for me and Bumi, mom? Why didn't—" Kya choked up on her own words. It was too much pain she was feeling, and she felt as if she was in a conflict with herself. Katara then rested both of her hands on her daughters shoulder and slowly pushed her away from her. Katara then put both of her hands on both sides of her daughters face and cupped her cheekbones with her thumb. She started to wipe her daughters tears away and began to quietly shush her.
"Its okay, Kya. I understand." She whispered at her daughter. It hurt her to see her daughter hurting over a relationship that wasn't rekindled, but she knew Aang and his heart better than anyone. Kya stopped crying and began to slow her breathing to calm herself down. Katara clenched onto her betrothal necklace and closed her eyes and wondered how would Aang think or feel. "Your father loved the three of you just as equally. He probably knows how you are feeling and is hoping in some way you can forgive." Kya nodded her head at her mothers words as she sniffled.
"I loved him too," Kya whispered fighting back tears, but she didn't allow them to slip down her face this time. Kya was being true to her words. Despite their deserted relationship, she still loved her dad dearly, and she always thought about him on her journey traveling the world as a healer. She admired his spiritual connections just like the acolytes, and hoped she too one day can be just as connected and patient as he could be. Katara then held onto her daughters hand and rubbed her thumb in a circle against her daughters palm.
"Kya, before your dad passed away, he was lying on the bed. He knew his time was coming because his breathing was rapid and he kept going in and out, but you should know this. He talked about you, Bumi, and Tenzin." Kya let out a gasp, and looked at her mother away from watching her mothers thumb rub on her palm. Her heart stunned. She wondered what he had said about her.
"He did? What did he say?" Leaning in towards Katara.
"He talked highly about each of you. He was very proud of the people you became."
"Aang? How are you feeling?" Katara asked sitting beside her husband on their bed. His breathing was rapid and at times, there would be periods where he wouldn't inhale. He opened his eyes and saw his beloved wife. He smiled subtly when he saw her. Her face grew in concern and tears began to well up in her eyes.
"Dont— Dont cry, Katara." He said having his eyes slightly opened. Katara knew what was coming. She was mentally preparing herself, but she didn't think it would end this way. He was too young to go, and she always thought the two would die very elderly together. She reached out her hand to meet his and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Lets. . . " he paused for a moment as he closed his eyes, "lets talk about our kids." Katara nodded her head. Aang licked his lips and brought Kataras hand and laid it on his chest and continued to hold on to her. "Bumi. . . I am very proud of him. He reminds me so much of Sokka. He is— he is very skilled and such a great person to be in the united forces. He always brought laughter and is highly spirited." Katara nodded as tears welled in her eyes. She smiled as Aang continued to talk about their children. "Kya. . . my little water-bender—"
"Shes not so little anymore," Katara reminded him smiling fighting back tears. Aang softly laughed at his wife's commentary.
"That is true, but she will always be my little girl. She is a strong one just like you. I am very. . . very glad she has found herself traveling the world and learning different cultures. She was always wild and never let herself to shy away from new experiences." He closed his eyes for a bit as his body was slowly giving up on him. He opened them back up to see Katara still sitting beside him. "And Tenzin. I am proud of what he has achieved, and he is ready to teach the way of the air-nomads. I couldn't have asked for a better student. He's ready."
Katara gently squeezed her hand on his and he returned the act to her too. They smiled warmly at each other, and for a moment, all the memories of them together were brought up in their minds and began flooding through it like a time-lapse. Tears welled in their eyes.
"We did good, Katara. We did good." He said to her.
"Thank you, Aang. For everything."
Kya was stunned. Her father was proud of her? He thought of her? She thought they were distant, and he didn't know much about her anymore, but she was glad he knew of what she was doing. She smiled as her mother recounted on their conversation before he had passed. Kya shed a tear and smiled from hearing her mothers words. She softly smiled at her and hugged her mom.
Kya felt as if she finally had closure about her father. The thoughts eating her up inside if her dad was ever proud of them was finally laid to rest. Kya thanked her mom for providing her on that information and for comforting her in a time of need. They sat in her mothers bed and continued to chat the night.
After a moment, Katara brought out the small box where she had kept her mothers betrothal necklace. She opened it and presented the water-tribe necklace to her daughter.
"You had two necklaces?" Kya asked confused. She had never seen the one her mother was holding and a million questions flooded her mind.
"This was my mothers and my Gran-Grans," Katara said laying the necklace on the palm of her hand.
"Its beautiful, mom. Why did you stop wearing it?" Kya said leaning towards her mothers hand and watching carefully of the carving on the blue stone.
"Well, I decided it was time to not wear it anymore, and wear your fathers necklace." Katara then unclipped her betrothal necklace from Aang and handed it to Kya. "I've decided that you might want it more than I do." Her daughter let out a confused look at her mother. She never thought her mom would take off the betrothal necklace of her fathers.
"What? Why?" Kya asked clenching onto the necklace.
"Because. . . I think you might want something in remembrance of your father. Something personal than a statue of his that you can see in the city," Katara joked. "Besides, I have many things of your father that I have kept, and this one. . . I wouldn't mind giving it away. I know its in good hands." Katara reached her hand out to Kyas hand that is clenching onto the necklace, and opened her daughters grasp of the necklace. She put her daughters pony-tail away from the neck, and grabbed the necklace. She clipped it around her daughters neck and positioned it correctly, so people can see the stone. Kya then helped her mother put on her mothers/Kannas betrothal necklace around her neck. Katara let out a sigh of amusement when she looked down and saw the stone.
Kya looked down and saw her fathers stone that he had carved and she smiled. He was always crafty, and she was able to tell how much he took his time in making the stone perfect for him and Katara. She held onto the stone and rubbed her thumb against the carving and closed her eyes. She smiled softly knowing it was made from her dad, and she now knew he talked highly of her even when she didn't know he had thought of her at all. It felt good to have something of her mother and father. The two people she loved the most unconditionally. Just the two of them.