Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar.
I have not posted for awhile on this one. I plan to end it at chapter fifteen. Thanks for reading and please review.
"When I approach a child, he inspires in me two sentiments; tenderness for what he is, and respect for what he may become." –Louis Pasteur
"Get him!" A small child of golden skin commanded. The boy's grey eyes were enticed with laughter and a flushed face as he chased the running man before him. Out of nowhere, a petite girl with golden eyes latched herself onto the running man. The man fell over to his knees to be tackled by three more small figures, including the grey-eyed boy.
Aang roared with laughter as he rolled about with the children in the grass. A distance away three adult figures reclined and watched the scene before them. Appa lazed behind them, content in the sun. "Aang seems to be enjoying himself," Katara noted dryly.
Beside her, Zuko chuckled. "He's a favorite with the kids."
Mai let out a long sigh. Her golden eyes barely hid her humor. "He still acts like a kid himself."
Katara snorted and let her eyes float back onto her husband. His grey eyes, flashing with excitement and love, met hers. He smiled. Aang let himself be tackled again by the four different children with Hakoda taking the lead. It was the times like this, he mused while running, that he loved. The love of his life was here with one of his best friends. His kids and Zuko's were here together. Albeit that there were several people missing that he would have loved to be there. He could not recall any other time in his life that he had filled with pure content and joy. Was it possible that one could lead such a happy life? He preferred not to question it.
Hakoda now sat on top of his chest and Aang smiled at his first child. "We all got you, dad!" the six year old declared. He then stuck out his tongue at Aang. The only thing Aang could do was laugh. He could not have been the same way when he was that age, he thought amused. Hakoda was the leader and prankster out of the four children before him. Two belonged to Zuko. The second, his other son, was a pudgy toddler of two years. Blue orbs were solemn as the child plopped down next to his head.
Aang looked at Zuko's daughter and son, seeing Zuko and Mai in them. Yet he also saw the children themselves, things that were entirely their own, not their parents. It was strange to see himself and Katara in their children or to Zuko in his. Like weird miniature replications sometimes. Aang looked up at his son and was filled with silent wonder. These children, every child, was the future and he wondered what they would make of it.