"Lin? Lin!" She heard a voice and looked up. It was her Uncle Aang, of course, on his glider. She should have known better than to hide on the roof. "Lin, we've been looking all over for you! Your mother is frantic! Where have you been?"
She blinked. "Here."
"Oh. Right. But…Lin, you can't just disappear like that. When you're mom can't even find you, she worries."
"Why is she so worried? She hates me." She hugged her knees tighter, turning away.
Aang looked taken aback for a moment. Then he smiled gently. "Lin, sweetie, your mother does not hate you."
"Yeah she does!" Lin would not cry. She refused to cry. "The way she was yelling at me today…she hates me. I know it."
"Lin…" he scooted closer, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Sometimes…sometimes parents get mad at their kids. I get mad at my kids."
"But you never yell."
"Not a lot, no. But your Aunt Katara does."
"Well I know that."
He laughed. "Yes, of course. But just because we get mad at our kids, it doesn't mean we hate them. Ever."
She finally looked up at him. "Really?"
"Of course really! No matter what they do, or how much trouble they get in, I'll always love my kids. Just like your mom will always love you. I know it."
"But…" this was a lot for an eight-year-old to process. Love was a very complex thing, and the thought that nothing could end it was daunting.
"Now." Aang interrupted her thoughts. "Why don't we go find your mom and let her know you're okay."
"And…" she didn't want to see her mom at the moment, really. "And you're sure she doesn't hate me?"
"I swear it!" He smiled, broad and a little goofy, "Avatar's honor!"
"Well, if it's the Avatar's honor, then it has to be right." She said innocently, and Aang laughed again.
"Come on." He took her hand to lead her down the roof.
"Aw, can't we take the glider?"
Aang gave her a serious look. "You promise to hold on tight?"
"Of course!"
He let out a mock exasperated sigh, "Then we'll take the glider."
"Yay!"