The Baby

Chapter 5

Unconditional

My apologies for the late update, I've been busy as usual. I always remember my mother telling me when I was little that her love for me was unconditional. No matter what I did, she would always love me. We all make mistakes, nobody's perfect, but our parents will still love us just the same. This is a one-shot of Bumi encouraging Tenzin to skip school with him. When they are caught, Katara teaches them this lesson so they can learn from the mistake they made. Hope you enjoy!

Once again, feel free to send me any requests!

For as long as he could remember, Tenzin had looked up to his older siblings, particularly Bumi. He always admired Bumi's courage and determination and how he never stopped until he achieved his goals. Bumi was also a fun playmate. Although a year older than him, the two had a lot in common. They both loved to explore, play games, and wrestle with each other.

The two hoped the good times would last forever. One day, while on the way to school Bumi told Tenzin that they were taking a shortcut. Tenzin trusted his brother and followed him down an alleyway, which led to the west district side of Republic City.

"What do you think we're going to do at school today?" Tenzin asked.

"We're not going to school today," Bumi said with a wide smirk on his face.

"What? But we have too. We'll get in big trouble if we don't."

"Don't worry about that, Tenzin. I'll make sure no one finds out. Today, we're going to focus on fun."

As much as he wanted to skip school to play with his brother, Tenzin couldn't help but worry about the consequences for their actions. If mom and dad find out, we're dead, he thought to himself. Their parents had always stressed the importance of a good education. By skipping school, they wouldn't get the knowledge they need. Shaking off the thought, Tenzin chased after his brother who was now sitting on top of a cart lying in the street.

"Where are we going?" Tenzin asked.

"Do you see that bakery over there?" Bumi asked pointing to a shop across the street.

"Yeah, what about it?"

"They just made a fresh batch of muffins and their sitting on that window ledge over there."

Tenzin looked over to see a tray of freshly baked blueberry muffins sitting on a plate near the ledge. They looked delicious.

"But we don't have any money," Tenzin said.

"It doesn't matter. We'll still get to eat them."

"How?" Tenzin asked interested in seeing where this was going.

"Just take the plate when no one is looking," Bumi said matter-of-factly.

"But that's stealing!" Tenzin cried unable to believe what he was hearing.

"Tenzin, it's a bakery, they have plenty of ingredients to make another batch. Just walk up to the window and grab the plate and run away. No big deal."

"Still, it feels wrong," Tenzin mused.

"Don't you like muffins?"

Yeah, but…

"Then go get them!"

Tenzin obeyed his brother and crept up to the windowsill. He peered inside to make sure nobody was watching as he slipped his hands around the plate. Once he had the plate of muffins, he ran back to Bumi who quickly ushered him into an alleyway. There, the two began to scarf down the muffins.

They were delicious, no question about it. Tenzin was thankful that his brother had convinced him to skip school to enjoy delectable pastries.

When there was only one muffin left, Bumi gave Tenzin a pat on the back.

"I got to hand it to you, Tenzin; you sure know how to have fun."

"Thanks Bumi, do you want the last muffin?"

"No thanks, you have it. You earned it."

Tenzin picked up the remaining muffin and took a large bite out of the center.

"I wonder if mom can bake muffins this good," he said.

"Yes. I wonder," said a voice from behind them.

Tenzin and Bumi slowly turned around only to see their mother standing in the street. She didn't look pleased.

"Mom, what are you doing here?" Bumi asked, trying to hide the worry in his voice.

"I could ask you two the same question," Katara said walking towards them. "I was in the marketplace buying groceries when I overheard the baker talking to some pedestrians about a robbery this morning. One of the pedestrians said she saw a boy with a bald head and orange robes run away with a tray of muffins. I didn't want to believe it, but the description sounded an awful lot like Tenzin. I asked the pedestrian which way you two went and she pointed down an alleyway, and there I found you."

Tenzin and Bumi hung their heads in shame. They had been caught red handed. Katara gently pulled her sons by their collars and led them out onto the street.

"I can't believe you two," she said angrily. "Skipping school and stealing? You know better than that."

"We're sorry, mom," Bumi whimpered.

"Sorry doesn't cut it, young man," Katara snapped. "Wait until your father hears about this."

Tenzin gulped. It was bad enough that their mother had caught them, but if Aang found out, they wouldn't see the light of day for months. When they finally reached home, Katara led the boys upstairs to their room, telling them she was going to have a private talk with each of them.

Bumi was the first to have a discussion with Katara, while Tenzin waited quietly in his room. He could hear his mother raise her voice as she scolded his brother for what he did. Even though he was ten years old, Tenzin still feared his mother when she was angry. It wasn't a pleasant sight. Finally, it became quiet and Tenzin heard the door to Bumi's room open. Katara then stepped into his room, the frown still on her face.

"Come sit down, Tenzin," she said softly. Tenzin got up off the floor and sat on the bed next to his mother. He gulped again as he met her eye to eye.

"Tenzin, you know that I love you very much, right?"

"Of course," Tenzin said.

"And that I would do anything for you," she continued.

"Yes."

"But there are some things that I can't get you out of."

"If the police caught you and Bumi this afternoon, there would have been nothing I could have done. You knew better than the steal those muffins and yet you did it anyway. Why did you do it?"

"Because Bumi told me too," Tenzin answered honestly.

"If Bumi told you to jump off a bridge would you do it?" Katara asked, trying to make her point.

"No."

"That's right. So if you knew it was wrong, why did you do it?"

"I guess I just wanted to please Bumi," Tenzin said.

"Look Tenzin, Bumi is your older brother and it's his duty to set a good example for you. The same goes for Kya as well. I know you enjoy spending time with him, but if he encourages you to do something you're not supposed to be doing, tell me or your father.

"Yes, ma'am," Tenzin said.

Katara pulled her son close and gently kissed him on the head. "I love you, Tenzin, so very much. We all make mistakes, nobody's perfect. But I hope you learned something from all of this."

Tenzin nodded. Yes, ma'am. I will never steal anything again."

"Or skip school," Katara added.

Tenzin nodded again before giving Katara a hug. "I love you, mom," he said.

"I love you too, sweetie."

"So does this mean I'm not in trouble?"

"Don't be so sure about that," Katara said sternly.

"I should tell your father what you did, but I'm not going too."

"You're not?"

"Nope. On one condition however."

"What?"

"You and Bumi have to go back to the bakery and apologize for what you did and help the baker bake a new batch of muffins."

Tenzin agreed to his mother's wishes. He and his brother were in the wrong and they had to set things right. Shortly after their talk, Katara walked Bumi and Tenzin down to the bakery so they could make their apologies. They baker was very understanding, knowing exactly how kids can be. He took the boys to the back of the shop where they all spent the next hour baking muffins

By the time Aang had returned home, Kya, Bumi and Tenzin were helping Katara set the table. Upon seeing him, the three raced over to give him a big hug.

"Hey you three how was school today?" he asked.

"It was great!" Kya said, knowing she was the only one who could answer the question honestly.

"What about you boys?" Did you have a fun day?"

Bumi and Tenzin both exchanged looks before answering their father. "Yeah it was good. We learned a lot," Tenzin said.

"Glad to hear it. Now what's for dinner?"

Later that evening after everyone had gone to bed; Katara went into each of her children's bedrooms and gave them all a kiss. She couldn't stay mad at them. They were far too precious. Life was full of lessons and making mistakes only made them better people. No matter what her children did, Katara would always love them. They were her flesh and blood, and her pride and joy as well.

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