A/N: Here's chapter three. Read on if you must..

Lin Beifong got up early hoping to catch the first ferry ride to Air Temple Island. She bought a to-go meaty meal with her and lucky for her, she just got on time. The ride was quite boring for the earthbender since she never wanted ferry rides as they sometimes make her sick. When she reached the docks she spotted her daughter and Tenzin in a bit of a deep conversation and a few moments later Aiko left a quite confused Tenzin. She approached the man and gave him her signature scowl.

"What was that about?" she asked as she got closer.

Tenzin looked up and said, "Well, Aiko said something quite intriguing."

"Oh?"

"Yes," he said. "Apparently she said that you still harbour bad feelings for Pema and me. Is that true?"

Lin sat beside him and put down the food she brought with her. "Before," she confessed. "I was really angry with you and Pema but over the time and that Equalist fiasco I've come to my senses that there was no point harbouring those feelings anymore since I've moved on and I have her."

"Is that really true?" Tenzin asked and clutched her hand.

"Yes," Lin said sincerely. "So, what do you think about our little girl?"

Tenzin chuckled and said, "Quite the talker and I've noticed she's a bit weight conscious." Lin laughed at what he said. It has been a long time since she laughed at anything he said.

"She is," Lin affirmed. "I think it was because during her childhood she was a bit chubby and one of her friends always teased her."

"Hmm," Tenzin hummed. He smiled to himself at the thought and looked sideways at Lin. This was good. This could have been a good life but it's water under the bridge. He dismissed his thoughts and said, "She said she doesn't care what kind of bender she is."

"I know," Lin replied. "I remember when I bent a portion of our yard out of anger when she got lost for the whole day and turned up only by dinner. You know what she gave me after a bit of an earthbending show? An eye roll. Imagine my frustration." Tenzin laughed at his daughter's stubbornness.

"I think she got it from you. Say, does she have any qualities that are a bit me?"

Lin shifted and looked at him, "Oh yeah she does. She loves animals. She has pets at home and she treats them like her babies. She has this dog—

"What dog? Polar bear dog? Skunkdog?"

"Just dog…

"Weird, so continue."

Lin chuckled and said, "So she has this dog that until now she lets it sit on her lap and mind you, this is a bit of a large dog. She said it's called a briard and it's already six years old and until now whenever she gets home she sits on the couch, pats her lap and Mongo, the dog's name, gets on her lap."

The two adults were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice from afar Aiko and Pema were also in a bit of a discussion, or rather, an argument. Their argument started just a few minutes after Aiko left Tenzin and met Pema on the way to the kitchen. Pema saw her husband's expression and went hysterical that Aiko might have said something to upset the man.

"What did you tell him?" she demanded.

"Nothing," Aiko denied. "Quit your yapper. Geez, what's up with you? I hope your kids aren't like-" she pointed at Pema from head to foot "-you."

Pema scowled, "Whatever it is you're planning, Tenzin and I will never—

"Excuse me?" they heard Lin's voice. "What is happening here?"

Both ladies quit talking and Tenzin joined them and asked the same question. "Well," Pema spoke first. "I was just telling Aiko that she needs to go."

"You're flailing Pema," Aiko snapped. "And I hope it's midlife crisis which means you're midway through an early death; giving me the satisfying oblivion of peeing on your grave."

"How dare you!"

"Aiko, that's enough," Lin yelled. "Please, girls, you need to behave!"

"She started it!" Aiko pointed at Pema.

"Enough," Tenzin raised his voice. She let out a deep sigh and said, "Lin, could you take Aiko to the dining hall so she can have breakfast, Pema we'll talk."

"Come on," Lin tugged Aiko from the married couple and brought her to the dining hall.

"Can you please explain what was all that?"

"Tenzin, the girl is clearly trying to break us up," Pema said, tears dangerously near to spilling.

"I won't go anywhere, Pema," he said softly and pulled her to a hug. "You know that. Listen, you just need to get to know her and I'm sure you'll be good friends."

"If you say so," Pema smiled and thought if she should make the first move for reconciliation.

"What's your deal?"

"She said I'm a home-wrecker!" Aiko said.

"She did not!"

"Yes she did!" Aiko crossed her arms and sat by the table. "I mean, it's not my fault she's an insecure leech or something."

"I'll talk to her," Lin said. "Meanwhile, you need to have some bonding time with your little siblings. Has Tenzin introduced you to them yet?" Aiko shook her head. "You can entertain them with your singing and other music stuff you know." Aiko shook her head again. "Be nice."

"As long as they are to me."

"Don't worry, they are. Now, this thing you have with Pema," Lin started again. "She's a nice woman, really. You just need to act nice around her and trust me you will just be good friends."

Aiko shrugged off her mother's words and opened the package that contains her food. She munched on them slowly and hummed to herself which made her mother smile. Her meal was quiet until three kids entered the dining hall and approached their table. "Hi," one of the kids, the boy, said. "You're on our table."

"Nice to meet you too," Aiko said. "What's your name?"

"Meelo," he said. "And that's my sister Jinora and Ikki." The girls he pointed smiled at her and one of them, Ikki, said, "Dad said you're our big sister. Is that really true?"

"Yep," Aiko affirmed.

"Hero lady," Meelo turned to Lin. "Is she your kid? I thought you don't have a kid."

"Well, I do," Lin said softly and smiled. "I think I'll leave you four to get to know each other." She turned to Aiko and kissed her softly on the lips. "I'll see you later, sweety. Bye."

Aiko turned to the kids and smiled at them. "You three are so cute. Did someone ever tell you that?"

"No," Ikki said.

The three children sat across her and made a gagging face as they saw the remnants of her meal which Aiko found amusing. She always loved children and back in Napa she always babysits for their neighbours and sometimes volunteer at the orphanage. Seeing her younger siblings made her smile and reach out to Meelo and pinch his cheek.

"Ow," Meelo said as he rubbed his cheek. "What was that for?"

"Nothing," Aiko said. Ikki raised an eyebrow and looked at her as if she's studying her face.

"You look really like Aunt Lin," Ikki finally said. "Hmm…and a bit like Gran-gran."

"Whose Gran-gran?" Aiko asked.

"Our grandmother that lives in the South Pole," Jinora spoke at last. "She's a bit old."

As Lin Beifong saw the United Nations ship when she got from the ferry, she knew she will be in major trouble. The ship meant that Bumi is home and Bumi is part of the Round. What if he'll know about Aiko? What will she do?

At the moment of their discussion, a hairy man, judging from his beard, entered the dining hall and a squeal exited Ikki's mouth. "Uncle Bumi!"

"Hiya kids!" the man greeted and immediately set his eyes on Aiko. "Who are you?"

"Aiko Beifong," she said. 'Men in this side of the world are too damn hairy,' she thought to herself.

"Commander Bumi," the man said and offered his hand for her to shake which she took. "I've never seen you before."

"Ditto."

The man sat next to her and she couldn't help but scoot a bit from Bumi. This family is a bit new to her and the feeling of awkwardness still hasn't left the air. A few moments later, two air acolytes came to their table, set down some food and took Aiko's leftovers which she was quite sure that they will dispose. "She's Aunt Lin's daughter Uncle Bumi," Jinora said. Bumi looked quite surprised.

"I never knew Lin had a daughter, wait, you're Tenzin's kid, too aren't ya?" Bumi waited for her to affirm but he spoke before Aiko did. "I knew it!"

"Congratulations on your great discovery," Aiko lazily said.

"A bit of sarcasm is what makes a Beifong," the man pointed out. "And that right there is one great sarcastic remark. Nice. So, have you met the whole party?" Aiko shook her head. "Never? Not even our dear old mother?" Aiko shook her head again. "What about our dear sister Kya?" Still giving the signature shaking of the head. "Boy you shake your head a lot." Aiko shrugged her shoulders.

"Tell us about yourself Aiko," Jinora asked her. "Please?"

"Hmm, okay," Aiko agreed. All three children, including Bumi gave their full attention to her. "Well, let's see. I grew up in Napa with the Roberts family along with their kids James, Riza and Mike, who are one musical family which made me learn how to play the trombone, guitar and piano. My sport is taekwondo which is also a form of martial art and I have a dog named Mongo."

"A polarbear dog?" Ikki asked excitedly.

"Like Naga?" Meelo joined in.

"Nope, just a dog," Aiko said.

Bumi nodded his head and said, "Napa. I see. California?"

"How did you know?" Aiko asked nervously. Uh-oh she is in trouble. Bumi asked her to join him in one of the private rooms in the temple and her heart hammered in her chest. What if her mother will be in trouble? Or worse, what if she'll be punished for it? Finally finding her voice she asked Bumi, "Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing at the moment," he spat. Is he angry?

As they reached their destination, Bumi locked the door after slamming it hard which caused Aiko to wince and flinch. "So," he began. "We didn't know about you."

"But you do now," Aiko said in a shaky voice. "I mean, I haven't met your mother and—

"I didn't mean my family," he interrupted. "I meant the Round."

"What's the Round?"

"Let's cut the part where you pretend you're not from the Parallel," Bumi raised his voice. Aiko looked surprised. "I know about that, Beifong. After all, I am a part of the Round. My father, Avatar Aang, gave me the key before he died. Unless you don't want to be punished for crossing the Gates without our permission, I suggest you spill the beans."

"Look, I really don't know what you're talking about," she said, her voice shaking. "Please, just…I don't know about the things you're saying."

Bumi paced around her. He was part of the Round of Secret Keepers after all and the presence of Aiko in the Four Nations will likely bring the world out of balance. The Parallel have reached the peak of technology that the Four Nations never dreamed off. If the non-benders will know about the Gates then a new and more frightening non-bender revolution will likely to ensue. The Round aims for the secrecy of the Gates and Bumi, being one of its leaders is concerned about this. "Your mother never had the right to bring you there, you know, nor does she have the right to cross over without our knowledge. The Round will surely have her head! Do you know what this means?" Aiko shook her head. "It can cost you your lives!"

"You're really scaring the shit out of me, mister."

Bumi stroked his beard and peered at Aiko who was clearly avoiding eye contact. "Listen Aiko, never tell anyone about where you come from, not even Tenzin. Understood?"

"Yes sir," she said nervously.

"And never, and I mean never ever bring anyone from the Parallel," he warned. "Or else I will be forced to tell the Round of this event and they will hold your mother responsible and have both of you face punishment you can't even imagine. Are we clear?"

"Crystal," she spat.

"You may go."

Aiko headed for the door but turned midway through. "You seem to really care about my mother, Commander Bumi."

"She's a good friend," he said softly.

"I hope you only see her that way," she said. "Because if you see her more than that, it will take a whole lot of convincing on your part. Good day."

A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. Reviews are so much welcome.

Until the next chapter,
-Peachy :D