Spirit's will

by Jxjxjxjx

Airbender coming back early then they did in the show and that means Bumi and Kya have to step up to help their little brother. Tenzin has to work through some things with his brother and sister and not let his relationship fall apart. cross post with AO3

He was fading; they could all see that Bumi was home on leave, Kya was home for her travels, even Toph had made it back to the city to see the final days of her friend's life. Zuko would be here in days hoping to make it in time. Avatar Aang had survived a genocide, being frozen in ice for a hundred year and the great war, but at the age of 170 his body was failing him. Lin had quietly told her deputies yesterday and now was only on call for emergencies. Everyone, Katara, Toph, Bumi, Kya, Lin and Tenzin were just sitting around the island waiting for it to happen. There was an air for tragic acceptance to the place. It gave Lin the chills every time she passed someone, her poor Aunt, an acolyte or even her boyfriend. The aurora of the island contrasted so greatly with the weather outside. The mid spring air was warm and welcoming, everything was so alive. The only person immune to this sadness was Aang himself, he only seemed to get happier as the end neared ironically or thankfully as Lin chose to look at it. She needed that little bit or maybe naive optimism to make it through these next few hours or days. She had chosen to spend anytime she could with her uncle because of that. It felt better to remember better times to talk about better things than to sit in the sadness with everyone else. Aang was always happy to see any of them, still always having his signature smile on his face even as his strength failed him.

"Hello, Lin," he greeted her, his voice was hoarse and raspy but still warm.

"Hi uncle," Lin said, sitting down next to him in the chair next to his bed. "How do you feel?"

"Never better." He said with a smile and he wasn't lying. He had answered that way to just about everyone and Katara had asked Toph to make sure he was telling the truth and he was, his heartbeat was as steady as it had been.

"I wish I was." Lin decided on answering this time.

Aang just continued to smile. "You will be,"he told her, so sure it made her sure. "The whole world will be, Lin. I can't wait for you to see it, you have nothing to worry about, just wait." He said comfortingly. Tenzin cracked the door open and seeing them he looked like he was going to sneak away but his father caught sight of him. "Tenzin come in." He called his son over.

Tenzin obeyed slowly. Lin knew this was hard on him – harder than he had thought. "Hi Dad," Tenzin said standing next to Lin's chair.

"You must smile more son, it is a beautiful day. Life has so much to offer." Aang said, glancing out to the open window that showed a perfect spring day in complete contrast to him. Tenzin grimaced Lin knew that was the kind of wisdom was not what he wanted to hear right now. He wanted to sit and wallow in his sadness and grief. "Promise me you'll make sure he smiles more." Aang said to her.

"I'll try Uncle," Linn agreed quickly.

"You don't see it yet, but you will. It's a beautiful thing, I see it more clearly than I ever have before. New beginnings, new life, new start and balance like there has been in a long time." Aang said, smiling at them. Lin nodded with him just praying he was right.

---

Zuko arrived just in time to say his goodbyes to his old friend. Aang died in the night peacefully in his sleep. Lin didn't feel any different than he seemed like if she just walked into his room. He would say 'hello, how are you?' like he did yesterday. Tenzin seemed a little in denial too; he had barely said anything to anyone all day. He had been going off to grieve on his own this whole week and Lin had no idea what to do about that or her own grieve. Feelings were always his strong suit not her. Mostly she just sat with Katara at the kitchen table offering silent support. Kya had mostly taken over any household or island duties. Bumi, like his younger brother, had been amislistly wandering the island all morning and her mother was outside talking with Zuko.

"Lunch is ready mom" Kya said coming over to them.

"Let's eat on the deck. I can't be inside all day." Katara said with a forced smile. Kya and Lin carried some of the food out. Tenzin had come back and he helped them bring the last things out for lunch.

Bumi had just wandered back as well. "Aouch," Bumi sneezed. "Aouch." he sneezed again. "Ugh sorry allergies." He said, rubbing his nose." "ahh, ahh, Aouch" He sneezed again, this time he flew ten feet in the air. "Ahhhh!" he screamed as he fell back down from ten feet in the air landing on his face. Everyone was too shocked to move.

Zuko was the first to move. "Bumi are you okay son?" he asked walked towards him, his voice strained from the shock of what just happened. Lin really wanted to move to even blink but she could wrap her mind around what had just happened. She felt Tenzin's hand on her arm squeezing her arm, she finally glanced up at him. His mouth was hanging up completely speechless.

"No fucking way." Kya breathed.

"What just happened?" Bumi asked, equally confused. "Tenzin I swear.."

"I didn't do anything." He said quickly, holding up his hands. "It wasn't me. Can you do it again?"

"I don't know what I did!" Bumi protested.

"Some one wave pepper under his nose makes him sneeze again." Toph suggested.

"But he shouldn't be able to do that!" Kya spluttered trying to make sense of it all.

Zuko grabbed the pepper from the table and poured some onto a napkin. "Here, Bumi." He said, handing the pepper to him.

Bumi took a good sniff of it. "Aouch!" he sneezed again and once again flew into the air only five feet this time but enough to leave no doubt.

"Unbelievable." Katara half whispered. "You're actually an airbender." she said still not really believing it and Lin couldn't blame her she couldn't either. Bumi was not supposed to be an airbender.

"Um how?" Bumi asked, completely confused and looking between his mother and brother.

"I have no idea." Tenzin admitted, shaking his head. He shook his head again,"Bumi can airbend." he laughed. Lin felt a smile tug up on her face. "Who would have thought." It seemed like the first bit of good that had happened to any of them in days.

"But how?" Kya echoed.

"No clue at all. Whatsoever." Bumi said, "Tenzin?"

"I'm sorry, Bumi. I have no idea either." Tenzin told his brother. "Maybe you're a late bloomer?" he said weakly. They all knew bending was a skill that developed as a child late bloomer was five not 40. "Mom?"

Katara shook her head. "I'm sorry I'm just as lost as all of you. Bumi never showed any signs of bending until right now."

"Sit down son," Zuko said. "Why don't you tell us everything that you did today and if you felt any different the last few days." He said.

They all ate lunch questioning Bumi on his past week, if he felt any different, notice changes in his body or his energy. But he said it had been completely normal other than Dad dying and being upset over that obviously. Tenzin was still dazed at the fact his older brother was an airbender, his older brother who teased and bullied him growing up for being an airbender was an airbender. It seemed like some kind of joke, like Bumi would just say: 'gotcha, did you really think I could airbender? Hell no! Only you are that lame Tenny.' It's a sword Bumi made fun of him for having hanging over his head his entire life. This was just another one of his jokes, but he had done it again when Zuko had made him sneeze. Tenzin and everyone else in his family had seen Bumi fly ten feet in the air twice with no cause other than Bumi airbending under his own volition.

It just made no sense! How could some just devepole airbending or any kind of bend one day out of the blue. Bumi wasn't some orphan who had never developed the skill or had any traumatic experience as a child that would have blocked the ability. There was no known explanation for it. The avatar was the only person who had any kind of control over a person's bending and even his father had only ever been able to take it away from people never grant it's powers to another. And yet his eyes were not lying to him, his brother at the ripe age of 38 was a new bender.

"Could it be that airbending is such a spiritual element?" Lin asked next to him, tapping her knife lightly on the table. "Uncle Aang always said an airbender first touches his spirit then the air. And let's face it, Bumi isn't exactly what one would call spiritual."

"It's unlikely," His mother said before Tenzin had a chance to get his words out. He actually thought it wasn't a bad idea, Lin was right. His dad had made him meditate for nearly two months before actually teaching any airbending as a child. "Children are more in touch with their spirit than the rest of us. That is why even babies can display bending ability; there are no earthly things to hold them back; they see the world as it is and are truly themselves." She explained.

"And bending and the spirit is very much a part of the other elements as well." Zuko added on. "My uncle would always lecture me and anyone else who would listen that it is your spiritual connection that allows you to bend. Whether it's firebending, waterbending, earthbending or airbending. You have to be connected to your spiritual side."

"Yes, it's just that the other elements have forgotten that side of bending for the most part. But if you read any of the old stories or ancient texts it's clear that all the nation valued the spiritual side of bending and relied on it." Katara told them.

"Well that was unhelpful." Bumi muttered loudly. Tenzin narrowed his eyes at his brother, he seemed mad about this for some reason. Bumi had been quiet after he got over the surprise of bending able to bend but he had not been happy about it that was for sure. He had been sulky as he answered their question and had not contributed another theory as to why he could now bend. After hearing him complain about and ridicule him for being a bender for so many years, Tenzin wasn't all that surprised but was still annoyed by it. Airbending was a gift and part of his culture, he could show a little more pride for his own family history.

"I will ask the abbot and the temple's librarians to research any case of late onset of bending. And the accounts of the first benders, how did they unlock their gifts." Katara said. "Until then, you two should train." She gave both of her sons pointed looks. "After all there is no better test for a master than to teach his students."

Tenzin nodded absently but it took Lin nudging his foot under the table to realize his mother was not suggesting it but ordering him and Bumi to go train. "Fine." Tenzin said standing and trying not to sound hostile. "Come on, Bumi."

"After you, oh great master." Bumi muttered sarcastically, getting to follow him. Tenzin huffed, snapping his cloak around him and walking fast leaving his immature brother to catch up.

---

"I can take care of this Kya." Lin offered, coming into the kitchen where Kya was doing dishes from lunch. "Go relax, you already cooked for all of us."

"No, it's no problem." Kya shook her off. "I want something to do."

Lin nodded understandingly they all grieved and dealt with things differently as someone who threw herself into her own work every time something emotionally hard came up she understood. Still Kya had been going since she learned of her father's death late last night, she needed to stop at some point. "At least let me help then."

"Okay, well I'm done here just got to let these pots soak. You can help me bring this stuff back to the temple's kitchen though." Kya told her.

Lin picked up the things Kya pointed to and followed her down the path to the temple. She briefly toyed with the idea of bring up Aang but decided against it and went with the safer topic, "I can't believe Bumi airbent."

"I know," Kya agreed. "He has some luck doesn't he? I mean always surviving those crazy stories he tells us and then unlocking airbending at nearly 40." she shook her head.

"Yeah he's probably the oldest new bender ever." Lin agreed. She stopped talking though as an acolyte approached them.

"Leah, what can we do for you?" Kya asked the acolyte as she walked up to them. Leah was Kya's age and had grown up on the island with her parents also being acolytes. She was one of the few acolytes Kya, Bumi and Lin liked because of it and she and Kya had sort of dated at one point.

"Um I know this is going to sound crazy but with Bumi maybe not. But I think I can airbend too." Leah said nervously.

Lin grimaced, news of this morning's revelations of Bumi's new abilities had spread quickly if the acolytes were already aware. The acolytes like the rest of them were mourning right now and beyond that weren't the types to gossip outside the island luckily. "What do you mean what happened?" She asked.

"I was helping in the kitchen and I tossed an apple to another acolyte except it went through the wall and another 50 feet before stopping because I airbent it or at least I think I did." Leah explained. "Unless apples can now fly."

"Uh well, why don't you join Bumi and Tenzin and see if you can do it again. We still haven't gotten Bumi to do it outside sneezing." Lin told her. Her level of confusion hitting a new all time high with the idea that Leah too could now airbend. Leah who had no relation to Aang, the only airbender in the world when Leah was born.

Kya looked at her. "What is with all of these new airbenders?" she asked. "This isn't supposed to happen, it's never happened before for any element."

"I don't know," Lin shook her head. Kya was right bending was not something randomly assigned at birth you had to have some sort of genealogical connection to that element and being an acolyte was not one. There was no known reason that Leah could be an airbender as someone of earth kingdom descent unless she was the avatar which she wasn't. That too was impossible, like Bumi developing airbending at 38 a tiny voice in her head told her.

"Was there some kind of air spiritual something or other.?" Kya asked her. Lin just held up her hands and shook her head. She had no idea. Tenzin hadn't said anything to her about that sort of thing, not that he had said anything to her about anything really. Aang had mentioned anything in the last few days and she couldn't remember either airbender mentioning something like that ever. And even if it did, other elements had spiritual and ritual festivals all the time that never yielded any new adult benders. There was no explanation to this.

---

Meditating was as boring as it was the last time he tried it when he was ten. The only good thing was that it was quiet and nobody was bothering him about whatever it was that was happening to him. Of course he was with Tenzin which sucked. Tenzin had been born with a stick up his ass. There were many many days that he and Kya would question how they were related to him. Of course they knew Tenzin was their brother as the only prodigy airbender in over 100 years in existence, until today. Bumi didn't know how the fuck he was an airbender now. It might be the now that hurts the worst. As a kid he could feel people watching him to see if he was really a non bender. As if it was impossible that he could have been any other than an airbender. The child of the world's two strongest benders could be a non bender was regrettable. Then of course was the jokes and comments about it that always stung. Tenzin had made that sting worse not only by being the prophesized airbender, but by enjoying the prophesized part so much to the chagrin of Bumi and Kya.

He heard some sounds nearby and fought the urge to open his eyes. He didn't want to deal with his family yet. But the sound of a woman clearing her throat made him open his eyes and he saw Leah, one of the acolytes standing in front of him and Tenzin.

"What is it, Leah?" Tenzin asked next to him, looking at her expectantly.

"Um, don't make fun of me." She said, ringing her hands. "And I'm not lying, but I think either apples can fly or I can now airbend."

Any other day Bumi would have laughed and made fun of her for it but this was not any other day. "Didn't you hear, pepper is pixie dust that makes that happen." Bumi said dryly.

Leah chuckled lightly, but Tenzin sent him a withering gaze. "What do you mean?" Tenzin asked her almost tiredly. Leah recounted to them how she put a hole in the wall by tossing an apple in the air and it flying 50 feet. "I have no idea how this had happened," Tenzin said, breaking news, Bumi thought. "But we must meditate, maybe the spirits will show us the answers." Bumi rolled his eyes at that and Leah seemed less than encouraged. Well at least it was Leah and not one of the other insufferable acolytes Bumi thought. He gave it one more hour before not being able to take meditation anymore.

"Okay, I'm done." He declared to Tenzin and Leah. "I can't sit here with my eyes closed pretending to commune with the spirits."

"You're not pretending." Tenzin snarked at him.

"Maybe we should try something else now," Leah suggested before the brother's arguing got out of hand.

"Yes, I'll walk you through the basic form." Tenzin agreed. Bumi and Leah learned the step easy enough but didn't really get the generating wind part. Leah got a random blast of air here and there and Bumi only got one when he tripped and almost face planted.

"Let's call it a day." Tenzin finally sighed and Bumi was relieved he was already tired of this airbending thing. He collapsed on the coach as soon as they got back to their house and didn't peel himself off of it until dinner. All he wanted was a nice quiet dinner but that wasn't the case.

"We need to go over a few things about your father's funeral." His mother told them halfway through dinner. His mom, Zuko and Toph had been speaking for most of dinner while he and Tenzin more or less sat in silence. "He left very specific instructions on how he wanted it done." Katara said.

"I'm sure dad wanted a traditional air nomad funeral." Tenzin said mostly into his food.

"Yes, that was a part of it." Katara conceded. "It will be late this week of course the acolyte and our friends will be attending, but a public funeral will take place earlier in the day." Bumi hadn't really been aware of what exactly his father's final wishes were and didn't particularly care after all he was dead now.

"Me and Uncle Zuko, will inform the council first thing tomorrow and set it all up." Lin said, squeezing Tenzin's hand lightly.

"You already talked about this, didn't you?" Tenzin accused. Bumi looked up from his food and caught a slightly quilty and pained look on his sister's face. They had probably while He and Tenzin were wasting time meditating.

"It was already decided." Katara said firmly. "I simply informed them."

"And you didn't tell me?" Tenzin said hurt.

"Us" Bumi corrects his dinner.

"You didn't miss anything. We're all still going to be stuck at the stupid thing whether we waited for you or not." Toph said nonchalantly. Lin sent her mother a glare and Tenzin's jaw tightened and Bumi understood.

"Regardless, I understand the practice for an air nomad funeral but I believe it's you who must talk with Abbot Shun about the logistics of it." Katara said, cutting through any rebuttal that might have come. "Don't worry about the rest, Aang wanted the world to move on and that is what the public funeral is for. We'll take care of that, Tenzin, you have enough to handle."

Tenzin was relieved when Lin grabbed his hand and dragged to his room as soon as they had the chance to escape. He hadn't really seen her since they had all learned of his dad's passing. Lin ducked into the bathroom and he changed quickly before entering as well. She was taking the pins out of her hair and he stopped her, covering her hands with his own before he continued for her. Her eyes flicked up in the mirror to meet his briefly as he continued putting a ponytail in her hair. When he was done she turned to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He held her close, sitting down on the edge of the tub to bring her closer to him and pressed his face into her neck.

"Are you okay?" He felt her ask rather than heard.

He shook his head against her. "Are you?" he asked back. She didn't respond and he added. "He was like a dad to you too."

She squeezed him tighter. "We'll be okay, we'll get through this." She mumbled to herself as much as to him. Logically he knew she was right one day they would move on but right now everything hurt and was too confusing for him to truly believe that. He could feel the emotions starting to bubble up– his throat started to close up and a heavy weight in his chest, and he quickly swallowed them back down, refocusing on Lin. He didn't want to deal with all of that right now.

Lin pushed back from him, looking at him carefully. "Are you sure you're alright? Do you want to talk about it?" she asked.

"We can talk about it if you want to." He said, nodding at her, hoping she didn't take him up on that offer. He was betting on the fact she hated dealing with emotion as much as anyone he had ever met. She continued to study him and he must have passed her examination because she only bit her lip and nodded. "Come on, let's go to bed." he said after a minute standing. They laid down in bed and Lin reached over tilting his face towards her one more time. "I love you, but please tell me are you really okay?" she asked him.

He tried to smile at her as he brought her down to lie half on his chest. "I'm fine, I'm- I'm fine." He told her quietly, kissing her head. "I love you too."

---

Aang's memorial service was a sullen day on the most pleasant day of the year. Lin's first thought was that it didn't match the occasion or her mode but she supposed it did match Aang's. She remembered what he had said to her the day before he died about being happy and enjoying life. Izumi was standing to her left with her mother and father having arrived yesterday for the service. With them a new unexpected guest had arrived, a palace staffer named Lee who could now airbend. It had stunned everyone naturally but not as much as it should have after Bumi, Leah, and another from Republic city had also developed the talent. She had learned from the Police Captain Raizo that they had gotten reports of at least two other new airbenders in the city. So far they had only found one. How and why there were all of these new airbenders was still a mystery to everyone. No one, not Tenzin, the acolytes or anyone else had the slightest idea where they were coming from.

The council members had just finished giving their overdone speeches on a man none of them really knew and would only miss in principle. Tenzin was the last one to give a eulogy. Lin was worried about him, they hadn't talked about his father's death at all and it was bothering her. She wanted to talk about it with someone ideally Tenzin but she didn't know if she could burrened that on him yet. He hadn't really said much about the new airbenders either, he seemed genuinely happy for Leah as they all were, but more confused than anything else and she could see the fight between him and Bumi coming. She half figured the funeral was the thing that kept both of them from actually arguing because the amount of eye rolls and faces they were making every time they talked said it all.

Tenzin walked back to where she and his family were seated. His face was purposefully blank but she took that as just as worrying as if he had all of his emotion written on it. He was definitely holding it in and it wasn't good, not that she was one to talk but he should not follow her bad example. He was hurting, he just wasn't ready to hurt yet, 'are you ever?' she thought to herself. She sighed one down and the private funeral to go, she thought darkly. Lin had no idea what exactly the air nomad funeral rights looked like but was glad it was dark and mostly silent with only candle light and the occasional gong sounding in the temple. One by one they all went up to say their final goodbye to Aang.

"It's a beautiful day, uncle." she thought. "I'll try to enjoy it and make sure Tenzin and everyone enjoys it." she added, keeping her promise to him.

---

The next week was so chaotic Lin hardly knew what day it was. First more and more airbender came out of the woodwork. All had the same story of suddenly starting to airbend. They demanded Tenzin, Katara, Kya, and Bumi's attention. No one else on the planet had an experience, qualifications or idea how to teach or deal with an airbender. They still had no idea why airbenders were popping up like hot flakes, frankly there hadn't been time to look. Tenzin had his hands full trying to teach the new airbenders and Katara and Kya were helping pick up the slack of everything else. Lin hadn't been able to help them that much, tied up with work. No avatar meant every triad was pushing their luck with the metalbending force. She hadn't seen Tenzin except in passing all week. He had been staying on the island instead of their small apartment in the city.

Tonight though she was out of work early enough to make the last ferry to Air Temple Island. Lin walked up the hill towards the temple and the house. She could see so many new people she didn't recognize in the courtyard or near the dorms.

"Lin!" Bumi called, spotting her.

"Hey, Bumi." She said as he came up to her.

"I missed you so much." Bumi told her, sighing dramatically.

"It couldn't have been that bad." Lin told him; she hoped that was true at least.

"Tenzin's sure as hell missed you too. He's been impossible." Bumi lamented. From what little she had heard from Tenzin he was stressed and he and Bumi did not get along when they were both stressed. She knew Bumi for as relaxed as he could seem. He did take being able to now airbend very seriously, much like Tenzin had but She would wager that Tenzin was unaware of this and Bumi would be damned to admit it.

"Go easy on him, I'll tell him the same on all of you." Lin told him, putting her hand comfortingly on his arm. They headed into the house where Katara was.

"Hello Lin," The older woman greeted her with a smile.

"Hi, how are you doing?" Lin said gently.

"I'm well. I actually have a task for the two of you if you are willing." She said to them.

"Of course mom." Bumi said and Lin nodded.

"Great, there are some boxes in Aang's old office that need to go in the attic. Do you mind moving them?" She asked.

"No problem." Lin told her. They headed to the office, it was weird being in here knowing the office's occupant was dead. Bumi seemed to be weighted down by the air in the office too. They moved the boxes off the seats where Katara had packed them in silence. Bumi picked up the box on the desk, knocking a notebook onto the floor. A piece of paper floated out and landed on the floor. Bumi bent to pick up the notebook and paper and when he stood the color had drained from his face.

"Lin read this." He said his voice tight.

To whom ever finds this,

Many years ago I was offered a choice to return the world as it was before and to bring back the air nation by a spirit. The spirit who offered me this was called Gai. I had never heard of nor met him before. He said for this I must make a sacrifice. He instructed me to bring certain artifacts of the air nomads and blood of them to a pond located in the deepest part of the spirit world. I did as I was told, gathering the items and I, being the only remaining air nomad, cut my own arm to add the blood. The pond water was special. It was of course spirit water but unlike the pool at the north polar this water was silver and dissolved the items I was told to sacrifice. Gai told me to add my blood and I did, he said the last step was to receive the blessing of the air Lion turtle before bringing it back to him. So I left the spirit world in search of the air Lion turtle. It took me nearly two months of searching to find him. When I arrived he told me that Gai could in fact do this but it required a trade. The spiritual energy needed to revitalize a lost nation was immense and It would cost my spirit.

I was young at the time, me and Katara weren't even married yet, Republic City was just starting to take off. The world was at peace and I thought if there was a time to bring back my people even at the cost of a new Avatar then this was it. I had to, you see, it was my own fault for their deaths in the first place. I had abandoned them in their hour of need for my own cowardness and selfishness. If I had the opportunity to change that I had to take it so I did. The Lion turtle blessed the potionent and I returned to the spirit world and to Gai. Gai asked me if I was ready and sure, I said I was and I drank it. The damn thing tasted awful and it gave me the most lucid dreams but I woke up and was still alive. I returned to the real world and nothing had changed. I thought Gai and the lion turtle had lied to me. I searched throughout the spirit world but could not find Gai again. I talked with my past lives which was not very helpful, they had never known Gai, but none of them thought the Lion turtle would lie and neither did I. Spirits can be deceitful but a lion turtle is a greater being than another. They are above lying and there was no reason for the lion turtle to lie. I was stuck and confused, eventually I moved on and I forgot about it to the best of my ability for years I didn't think of it. But now as my death approaches I understand. It was not my life the lion turtle and Gai meant when they said the trade would cost my spirit, it was my literal avatar spirit. If I truly unraveled their meaning then there are new air benders for the first time in 160 years, but my spirit will not be available to the next Avatars. I think this is a fair trade because the elements are meant to be in balance with each other and they have been out of balance for so long. I can feel I still remember what it felt like when I was a child and now there is a shift, water, fire and especially earth as air opposite has too much power for a balanced world.

I do understand that as the Avatar that helped shape this new and unbalanced world it would be my advice that would be the most useful to the next avatar. If I am right the world will change and even though it will no longer be out of balance change is still change and change is always hard. I expect the adjustment to be hard for many people and I am sorry that I, the one who caused it, will not be there to help but here I have left all of the stories and all of the advice I can think of for the next Avatar and the world on how to deal with the change. Inside this book I have explained every major decision I made, success, and failure, from not killing the fire lord to forming Republic City. I hope I have at least predicted some of those questions you will have. I have also left notes and stories from my time at the air temples as a child for what I hope is a new generation of airbenders, welcome and I am very sorry to have never met you.

I wish you all the best,

Avatar Aang

Lin read through it again to make sure it really said what she thought it did. It boggled her mind what Aang was saying from the grave. But as crazy as it sounds it would explain everything that had happened since Aang's death.

"Do you believe this?" Bumi asked in a whisper.

Lin nodded trying to find her voice. "Yeah," her voice cracked. "It makes sense." she added, clearing her throat again.

"Yeah just like, good old dad, to leave a gift like this to me" Bumi said resentfully.

"You don't mean that." Lin said evenly. She understood where it was coming from which is why she also knew he did really mean it.

"Don't I? Why now? When no one cares and it doesn't matter." Bumi asked rhetorically, hurt clear in his voice.
"It matters to the world." Lin offered.

"It's always mattered to the world, just never in a good way." He said spitefully

"Fine, it matters to Tenzin in a good way and your mother and me." Lin told him stronger.

"Yeah that's great," he rolled his eyes. "No offense, you know what I mean though." He added with a sigh.

Lin nodded, she did. "Come on, let's show your mom."

Katara set her glasses down on the table slowly, Kya pressed her palms into her forehead. Tenzin had his hand covering his mouth and had been staring a hole in the table.

"I remember Aang saying something about his strange trip to the spirit world and that he was disappointed." Katara said.

"Mom," Kya waved her hand trying to find the words. "Is this- how could-"

"Your dad wasn't always the man you all knew, he had his own struggles and challenges. He always felt the air nomads' fates could have been changed if he had stayed." Katara explained.

"He could have said something." Tenzin muttered, still not looking up. "He could have told us ahead of time, prepared us."

Katara smiled sadly. "He would never get anyone hopes up for nothing." Lin thought Aang had been a lot more sure of this than he might have admitted on paper. He had seemed to know something to be that up beat on his deathbed; he must have known this.

Tenzin was still upset, Lin was more numb than upset. It wasn't that she had seen it coming but she had taken some solace in his peace before his death and even more now. But Tenzin was taking all of this hard.

"Breath Ten." Lin pushed him down to sit on the bed. Her hands on his shoulders and he grabbed her waist.

"I don't get it." Tenzin mumbled, shaking his head. Lin traced his arrow down the back of his neck gently with her fingers. "I can't Lin, not without dad." he squeezed her waist and she stepped between his legs closing the space between them

"You have me and Bumi." Lin told him gently.

"Yeah Bumi," He grumbled.

"And Kya and your mom too. You'll be great. Go easy on Bumi." She told him, hugging him to her.

He feels better with her; she relaxes him and he can let go of the stress and anxiety with her. "Can you stay tonight on the island?" was a pain for her being so far away from work,

"I love you, yes I can stay." She said against his head. Tenzin tried to focus on his breathing all the lessons his dad taught him about meditation and relaxed as he tried to fall asleep. Lin curled up in his side was the best feeling in the world to him; she could make him feel so much better emotionally. She was currently allowing him to relax enough to fall asleep. He kissed the top of her head. "I love you." he told her quietly again.

---

Kya was surprised how busy the new airbenders had kept her. She hadn't expected to still be here on air temple island for this long when she came back home to visit her parents back in April now it was June and here she was. As soon as she had seen how much her dad had regressed she knew she would stay until his death. She wouldn't waste the time she had left with him and she hadn't felt closer to her dad since she was very young than in those last few weeks. Still she had expected to have left a month after his death, not still be here trying to make sure the island didn't collapse into disarray.

"Kya?" She heard Leah call.

"In here." She called stepping out of the office and into the hall. She saw Leah helping a young man, one of the new air benders she assumed down the hall. "What happened?" she asked.

"Dawn nearly knocked himself out trying the air gate." Leah explained. They hurried down the hall to the infirmary. They laid him down on the bed and Kya bent water over his head as he groaned.

"TenTen really thought it would be a good idea for the newbies to go through the air gates?" Kya asked expastered and shaking her head.

Leah shrugged. "Yeah it's a lot harder than it looks." She admitted. "Do you have any healing creams? A lot of us have bumps and bruises."

Kya sighed. "Dawn, stay here and sleep it off for the day. You'll be fine in the morning, don't try those gates for a week." she ordered. Dawn gave her a thumbs up and took the ice pack Leah offered him. "I'll bring some creams up to you guys." she told Leah and grabbed a stack of creams from the cabinet.

"How are you doing since you know…?" Leah asked as they walked.

Kya ran a hand through her hair. "Uh, okay I guess. I think you know with everything I'm still processing you know but I think this has also given me something to do and to focus on." She told her.

"I know I told you this already but I am really sad to see him gone." Leah said.

"Thanks," Kya said but pushed her emotions to the side. "But you're an airbender now, how's it been?" she asked, much more upbeat. She was thrilled that Leah was an airbender. There was no one better who deserved such a gift.

"It's been," It was her turn to run her hand through her hair. "Well crazy. I never thought about being a bender to be honest. It's an adjustment but a good one. It's like I just learned how to read and a new world is now open to me." Leah explained.

Kya nodded in agreement. "Bending great and you got it pretty easy since you already know alot about airbending."

"Yeah that's been helpful." She paused. "Are brothers alright?" she asked tentatively.

Kya groaned. "What did they do?"

"Well, they seem like they hate each other." Leah told her. "I know they've gotten like this before but we were kids then and now it's kinda obvious and it's getting in the way."

"They're idiots." Leah nodded in agreement. "Neither of them have gotten over dad's death yet I think and all of this," Kya gestured around them. "Hasn't helped, Bumi's always had problems about not being a bender and Tenzin's stressed and he's normally a high strung person."

They reached the top of the hill where the air gates were. The 15 airbenders were sitting around some talking under the trees, others lined up to try to get through the gates. "Hey Tenz," Kya called waving him over.

"Kya, is Dawn alright?" he asked, walking over.

"Yeah, he can't get hit in the head for a week and is sleeping it off." Kya told him. "I brought some creams for the other's bumps and bruises."

"That's a good idea, thanks" Tenzin told her distactially watching the airbenders.

"Yeah clearly you don't remember that Bumi knocked himself out trying this as a kid and Lin's the only one that is good at those things." Kya gestured disdainfully at the gates. She had gotten her fair share of bruises from them too.

"They're–"

"An ancient airbending tool, yaddy yaddy ya." Kya interrupted him. "I know, doesn't mean there not dangerous."

"Well we're just finishing for the day." Tenzin sighed, walking away from them. Classic cut and run.

Bumi walked up to them. "Oh dear sister of mine, would you mind working your magic?" he asked, gesturing to his shoulder.

"Well at least it's not your head. You don't have any brain cells to spare." Kya teased him as she started to heal him.

"Haha, very funny." Bumi said dryly. "What have you been doing?"

"Other than healing idiots? Organizing the offices." Kya shrugged.

"Great, I'll help." Bumi volunteered. "I can't stay captain stick in the mud anymore."

Kya shrugged and let him come back to the temple with her. They began organizing the old councilman's office. When Tenzin's had taken over for the old councilman he had started using dad's office when he needed to. "How's air bending going?" She asked, breaking the silence.

Bumi sat down heavily. "Well I can regularly bend air now so…" he trailed off and Kya waited for him to continue "Tenzin impossible. He hates that I'm an air bender now." he finally said, spitting out what was bothering him.

Kya didn't believe that. Tenzin might have a problem with Bumi but not with him air bending. She knew that from Lin but she also wasn't at liberty to tell Bumi about that conversation. "He doesn't Bumi. You and he just drive each other up the wall."

"Well he's being impossible and I'm not the only one that thinks that ask Leah if you don't believe me. He's getting on every single bender's nerves." He said defensively.

Kya had no doubts Tenzin could be dense. "That sounds like our Tenny."

"Spirit I think Abbot Shun is less boring than he's been." He grumbled.

She snorted. "That's bad?"

"Yes, he's trying the bland version of dad with an emphasis on everything that dad did badly." Bumi threw his hands in the air.

"It'll get better" Kya didn't even sound convincing to herself though, airbending had always been boring even when Dad was the one teaching them about it.

"Well he's dilousinal if he thinks I'm changing my entire life just cause I blow some air." Bumi ranted. "I'm not giving up meat, I don't want to wake up at the ass crack of dawn to sleep sitting up when I could be sleeping laying down like a normal person and I'm not a pacifist. I'm a captain in the united forces for crying out loud."

That sounded more significant to him than the rest of his complaints. "What are you going to do about that?" Kya asked him. She knew he had filed for extended leave when he had begun airbending but she knew that he couldn't stay in the United Forces and train with Tenzin. "You must have to make a decision soon."

"They said they'll release me and to 'take all the time I need'." He looked away shaking his head slightly.

"And?" She prompts carefully.

"I don't know. I liked my job, like, I like my job." he corrected himself.

He hadn't sounded that unsure and disgruntled to her in a long time. Bumi was always sure of himself, always full of energy and excitement in whatever he did. He was always willing just to go for it and throw the consequences to the wind. "You know we'll support you no matter what"

"Yeah right." He scoffs. "You, maybe."

"No all of us Bumi. Me, mom, Tenzin and Lin." Kya corrected him gently.

"Mom and Lin maybe but not Tenzin. I'd be disgracing dad in his eyes." He shook his head again.

"That's not how dad would see it." She told him firmly.

"It doesn't matter what I do to him. It never did." He said disdainfully.

"Bumi…"

"Ironically, Tenzin's right. Dear old dad would care now that I can airbend." He snapped, getting irritated and angry again.

"Bumi, you know I agree that Tenzin was the favorite but he did love us too you know." Kya tried. It was the truth how much a gap that had been between the siblings was debatable.

He scoffs at her. "Easy for you to say he was a water bender too."

"Bumi…"

"It's fine Kya." He sighs resignedly and walks away. Kya didn't know what else to say to convince him otherwise. Maybe that said more than anything either of them knew for certain.

Leah walked in. "Hey, I brought the creams back... Is everything alright?" she asked, concerned, seeing Kya's long face.

"My brothers are idiots." Kya sighed, throwing a stack of papers into a box.

"What else is new, do you want to talk about it?" Leah offered.

"Not really. Do you want to get a drink? I could use a night away from those idiots." Kya asked. She needs a distraction, she needs to get off this damn island and all of it's problems that she couldn't solve. Most importantly she needs to have some really fun for the first time in a month.

"Sure thing." Leah agreed, smiling. "Only if you buy the first round."

He had been stressed. Bumi was annoying, the air benders were overwhelming and it was much harder to be a teacher than he thought. He went out to a clearing away from everyone before going back to the house wanting to be alone and a normal person again. He didn't feel like a normal person anymore; he could feel everyone's eyes following him when he went to city hall. He could feel the acolytes and airbender looking at him expectantly. He could feel his mother watching him with sadness– being constantly reminded of her newly dead husband. Ironically his aggravating siblings looked at him the most normal and they had always looked at him like he was everything that was wrong with their family. Even Lin who he always counted on not to judge him and to be someone he could let his walls down with and safe space was watching him carefully like he was made out of glass, like he was one wrong word away from breaking down. Her judgment was the harshest and the most painful but he hadn't seen a lot of her as she was working nearly 24/7 trying to rein in a triad war. He felt relieved that he could avoid her and her piercing gaze that saw right through any fronts he put up and that made him feel incredibly guilty and even worse. He could dimly see that this was some sort of sick feedback loop he was stuck in but he minus well be a hamster on a wheel that he couldn't get off for all the good that did him.

When he entered the clearing he was not alone as he wanted though. He hesitated unsure whether or not to just sneak away unnoticed. "Uh Hello," He said gently, trying not to be awkward.

The woman, an acolyte, jumped. "Oh, uh sorry I didn't see you." She said, surprised, turning around to him and a letter in her hands. "I'll uh leave." She said timidly and unsure.

Tenzin had seen her around the temple before but not much. She was young, one of the new airbenders. "No, it's fine, don't leave on my account." Tenzin told her, coming to stand next to the rock she sat on. "I'm Tenzin, what's your name?"

"Pema," Pema said, smiling up at him and shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you."

Tenzin had them going through basic forms which so far was the best part of the day because the lecture he had decided to bless them with had been so so gripping about guru Amlama-whoever starving himself so enlightenment. Personally, Bumi thought the only enlightenment he had found was hunger induced craziness or possibly drug induced but Tenzin hated when Bumi suggested that a few of those old airbending masters might have been smoking the 'forbidden leaves'. Of course Tenzin told them to meditate more to connect to your spiritual self. Bumi thought the only way he'd connect to his spiritual self was having a few pints with his old men from the United Forces and raising hell.

"More meditation whoopity doo." Bumi grumbled as they stood to leave when Tenzin dismissed them.

Leah shrugged. "Come on, help me with some office work and hide in there." she offered.

"Isn't that exactly where Tenzin would be?" Bumi questioned.

"No, he's doing an introductory lecture about airbending culture and such today for the new airbenders, but that doesn't apply to you and me." Leah told him.

"What the hell?" Bumi gives in with a shrug of his shoulders. "What else am I going to do."

"Hi Pema, you can keep going on what we were doing yesterday." Leah said when Bumi looked up From the box of files he was pretending to go through. he saw a younger woman walking through the door.

"Hi," She said somewhat shyly, giving him a half wave.

"Hi." Bumi replied.

"Bumi, this is Pema. She's a new airbender." Leah made introductions without looking up from her work. "Pema, this is Bumi."

"Why aren't you stuck listening to Tenzin drone on?" Bumi asked.

"Oh uh I was already an acolyte so I don't need it. Leah thought I'd be better here. What about you?" She asked.

Bumi rolled his eyes and snorted looking up at the ceiling shaking his head. Of course, he thought bitterly.

"What did I say something?" Pema asked innocently concerned about offending him.

Leah sighed. "Bumi is Tenzin's older brother. He was a non bender before, well, the whole spirit thing happened and airbenders returned." She explained gently.

"Oh I didn't know that. I'm sorry." Pema was sincere about her sorrow and empathy and that was the worst part to Bumi. So damn young and innocent and naive about her lack of knowledge, purposeful lack of knowledge even if it wasn't purposeful on her part. No it was the acolytes that would never say a word about their precious Avatar Aang's eldest two children.

"Yeah well I got a sister too, who's a waterbender. Probably should know that too." Bumi tried hard to keep the bitterness out of his voice. It really wasn't the girl's fault.

"Kya helps out around the temple with the airbenders some." Leah told her. "But don't worry about it's not your fault you didn't know that." She reassured the girl.

"Do you know where she disappeared to today?" Bumi asked Leah.

"Her interview at the city clinic is today." Leah told him throwing a folder of papers at him. "Sort that please."

Bumi blew out a breath and began to do what she asked. "That's today I thought it was later this week."

"She wants to start later this week." Leah corrected him.

"Well at least she's not abandoning us with Tenny." Bumi sighed.

"Cheer up Bumi, you know he's not that bad." Leah rolled her eyes at him.

"Ah" he snarks. "Yeah fun loving engaging Tenny is great." he said sarcastically. Leah gave him a look. "A tome stone would be a more enjoyable teacher." he deadpanned. Pema had kept her head down ignoring the older two.

"Once he relaxes he will get better, Bumi." Leah's eyes seemed to implore him to see that and let his doubts about Bumi's new found bending abilities belatedly thought he didn't want Pema to hear that conversation, never mind Leah or Tenzin.

"Easy for you to say. You're not the one he has it out for you." Bumi grumbled as he let it drop.

Tenzin felt exhausted as he walked through the temple's halls. He had just gotten back from a council meeting that had run a little late. He really hadn't had time for the council meeting today or any day since the new airbenders had arrived. He knew he should hand off those responsibilities to someone else like his mother had suggested but he liked the council work; it was rewarding and he knew what he was doing with it. He did not know what he was doing when it came to teaching airbending. Sure his dad had taught him but the way he had taught him had been very informal and was not what he could do with the twenty new airbenders that had arrived. He walked into the office to find Pema and Leah there.

"Hey, Tenzin." Leah said.

"Hey," He said. "What's left for today?"

"Uh not much just gotta finish that paperwork Pema's working on and you need to review that stack of paper most of its budget stuff. Abbot Shun already signed off on it. I'm going to head out." Leah told him.

"Okay, have a good time on your 'date'." Tenzin ehaphized, she hit him on the shoulder on the way as he held back a sicker. He looked around the room and all the energy left him and he sat down heavily in her chair.

"You look tired." Pema said break the silence.

Tenzin laughed. "I am. The council meeting went long and it was more boring than it was long."

"What's it like working on the council?"

"Most of the time it's great. I get to work on all kinds of projects that help the city." Tenzin told her.

"Sounds nice." She said,

"How are you liking the island? You said you were at the eastern air temple before right?"

"Yes I was. I like it. I've settled in the acolytes and I get along well enough and Leah's been great help getting me used to the island. I'd love to go into the city sometime but I haven't had the chance yet."

"The city's great. I expect you'll find much different than the rural fire nation." Tenzin said.

"Yeah much more exciting I hope." Pema agreed. "Even the island's more exciting so many people with different backgrounds here."

"Yes the city's always been a melting pot and by extension so is the island. How are you doing with airbending so far? You seem to be doing pretty well in class."

"Oh I love airbending. It's strange yet gratifying to be airbending after learning so much about every other aspect of air nomad culture the last few years." Pema said happily.

Tenzin nodded, enjoying finally hearing someone be happy about airbending. Instead of Daw complaining about getting up early, Ty complaining about the food, and Bumi complaining about everything. They continued chatting about airbending and how it connected to the culture. It was so refreshing, the most refreshing conversation Tenzin had had in a long while.

"I wish all the airbenders saw it that way." Tenzin sighed resigned.

"They will. They just have to learn more about the air nation. It's a big adjustment even for me and I think you're doing great. Just keep doing what you are doing." Pema encouraged him.

"Thanks Pema, I appreciated the vote of confidence." Tenzin smiled at her.

Kya came into the house to find her mother reading in the living room.

"How was your interview, dear?" her mom asked, putting her book down.

"Good, it was just a formality. I got the job start later this week. It'll be nice to finally have something good to do." Kya told her with a smile.

"I'm glad dear." Katara smiled but there was something more in her eyes. "Is everything else okay?"

Kya didn't know where this was coming from. "uh yeah I'm fine mom." Kya told her, giving her a strange look.

She looked like she was going to say more but the door creaked and she decided against it. "Okay Kya, but it's okay if it's not you know." Katara sighed letting it go as Tenzin came in.

"Hi Mom, Kya." he said.

"Hi Tenzin, where's your brother?" Katara asked him.

Tenzin bristled at the mention of Bumi. "no clue. why?" he asked.

"He got a letter is all." Katara brushed him off.

"Maybe he's still asleep from Ten's lecture this morning." Kya joked.

"haha. I'll have you know every cultured person I know likes it." Tenzin pouted.

"Children." Their mother warned. "You should be better to each other." her eyes cutting between brother and sister.

Kya rolled her eyes. "It's fine mom Tenny and I know it's just in good fun." She said nonchalantly before heading to her room.

"Hey,"

The voice startled him and he looked up to see Lin leaning against the doorframe to his office in City Hall. He smiled. "Hey, I wasn't expecting you." He hadn't seen her in nearly a week since his last council meeting when they had grabbed lunch.

Lin walked in taking a seat in front of his desk. "Had paperwork that had to be dropped off figured I'd do it myself, see you." she said nonchalantly. "How was your day?"

"Good, actually really good. We finally completed the design for the new community center in the Colonial heights neighborhood. We'll break ground in two weeks." Tenzin told her proudly. He was really happy the project was finally off the ground that airbenders had taken some time away from the project that he had been working community members on for the last few months. In many ways he felt like it was a much more rewarding project than the airbenders or at least he was much more successful at it.

"That's great Ten, congratulations." Lin smiled. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah, let's grab food on the way." Tenzin offered and they set out home. They stopped at a food stand, grabbed sandwiches and ate while they walked the long way home. Tenzin enjoyed finally being able to relax with Lin and do normal things like before his life seemed to be turned upside down.

When they got home to their apartment they just went to bed both too tired to stay up any later. Lin dropped onto his chest with a dramatic sigh. He held in a laugh unsuccessfully which she grumbled at. He brings his hand up to start massaging the back of her neck.

"Mmm I missed you."

"I missed you too." He kissed her temple. He felt all the tension and irritation leave him as she curled into him. She had this uncanny ability to calm him down and make him feel better just by being with him. She wasn't great with words or emotions but she would just hug him and cuddle with him and it had nearly the same effect or calming him down and making him feel so much better. "Hold on." He pushed her up so he could reach over and turn off the light before he resumed massaging her neck.

"Do you have to leave early tomorrow?"

"I should."

"You shouldn't. Stay. Sleep in and morning sex." She muttered

Tenzin did laugh this time. "Well how can I say no to that."

When Tenzin arrived back on the island he found Kya, Bumi, Leah with several other airbender including Pema. Bumi was being Bumi. From the sounds of it he was regaling them with one of his far fetched fairy tales. "And so, we bring the net down on the head pirate, and he looks around real sad and says, 'I knew I should have followed my dreams and become a dentist.'" Trying his best to impersonate the pirate. He got a laugh out of his crowd.

Yung, one of the new airbenders, laughed. "How come you grow up to be so cool, while Tenzin became such a stick-in-the-mud?" he asked.

"Ha, isn't that the question we all want to know." Kya muttered.

"Well, I guess cool is just something you're born with." Bumi told him cockily.

Tenzin decided he had enough eavesdropping and came around the corner he had hidden behind. "Hi Master Tenzin," Leah said pointedly as soon as she saw him. It always felt weird when Leah called him that even though officially that was what she was supposed to call him.

"Hello everyone. Do you mind if I speak to my brother and sister for a minute please?" Tenzin said as normally as possible. The airbenders all got up and left, Pema tried to catch his eye as she left but he ignored it. Leah didn't move. "Leah." He prompted.

She stood slowly, eyes cutting to each of them. "Play nice, yeah?" She said as she left.

"Do you two really have to undercut me at every turn?" Tenzin asked them accusingly.

"We didn't, we were just talking." Kya shot back immediately.

"Yeah just cause everyone thinks you're lame doesn't mean we told them that. Believe it or not it's a very common independently acquired opinion." Bumi chimed in.

"

"Hello guys, is everything okay?" Katara asked. Bumi and Kya brushed past her. "Perfect mom, just gotta get to work." Kya answered shortly.

"Tenzin?"

"Fine Mom, really."

"Okay, are you sure you don't need any more help with the airbenders or anything else?" His mother asked. "I'm sure your-"

"The last thing I need is my siblings making my life any more of a mess mom." Tenzin said tiredly as he walked away. He didn't get far when he was stopped again.

"Hey, is everything alright Master Tenzin?" Pema asked him.

Tenzin paused to speak to her. "Yeah, everything's fine."

"You shouldn't listen to your siblings or Yung." Pema told him. "They don't speak for everyone. You really are doing great."

"Thanks, Pema. I appreciated it."

End on a chapter something wrong with bison siblings leave to take care of it. Lin and Katara talk.

Lin came into the house exhausted. It had been a very very tough week. She had almost not come over and just sleep at the apartement in the city instead but she hadn't seen Tenzin in three days and she wanted to see him and eat Katara's food.

"Hey, sit." Tenizn stood greeting her softly with a kiss and moved to get her a plate. At the table Bumi and Kya were arguing. She listened to them go back and forth passively not really caring as Tenzin slid a plate in front of her which she was grateful for. Tenzin joined the argument which Lin could care less for right now. Her and Katara just ate their dinner in silence.

"Oh well sorry." Kya said mockingly to Bumi.

"Guys…" Lin groaned, tired of hearing petty arguments at work and really not wanting to hear another at home. There was a knock on the kitchen door that interrupted all of them.

"Sorry to bother you but Blue the Bison is sick. He doesn't look good." The acolyte said.

"Okay, we'll come take a look. Kya can you come?" Tenizn asked, standing. Bumi stood as well heading out the door. Lin considered going too, but Tenzin's hand was on her shoulder. "Stay, eat." he told her, kissing the top of her head as he left. Lin was too tired from work to argue with him and sighed digging into her dinner.

"Lin?" Katara asked. "Would you like a drink?"

Lin sighs, "yes aunty that sounds wonderful." Katara wasn't one to drink but she might have taken pity on Lin's exhaustion.

"Good because I have something to ask of you…"

Lin had been nervous all day and now there were only mere minutes until it was time. She sighed this was supposed to be a weekend off but she was stressed more right now than she would be at work. But she didn't doubt this had to happen and she was more than willing to do it. It needed to happen, it was far over due to be honest. She figured she was maybe the only one to do it. She should have already done it to be honest with herself. She had seen the signs in all of them and knew them more than well enough to read between the lines to see the parts they hadn't told her. She shook her head. It would do her no good to blame herself. She needs to stay completely composed about it and not get emotionally drawn into their issues.

"Kya's back." Bumi said, sticking his head into the living room. "What is this about?" He asked. She had told him and Tenzin that the four of them were going out when Kya returned from her shift at work this morning.

"You'll see. Come on, let's get Kya and Ten." She said pushing herself off the coach. They all took the ferry back to the city, Tenzin had offered to saddle Oogi but Lin had told him not to. They walked away from the city center towards the house where Lin had grown up. She had thought about doing this back at the apartment she and Tenzin shared but had decided it was unfair to give him a home field advantage of sorts. The Beifong residence was neutral ground for them.

"Why are we here?" Tenzin asked her. They all had the same confused look as to why they were at her childhood home. Even though Toph hadn't lived here in years at this point they still owned the home and Lin paid a cleaner to keep the place up.

"We are going to talk." She said, plainly, sitting down on the low stone bench in the courtyard. It was a quiet neighborhood and the large house would make sure no one overheard.

"Talk about what?" Kya asked suspiciously.

"Why? you three are acting like you hate each other." She said bluntly.

"We don't hate each other." Tenzin said defensively.

Lin shrugged."Well you could have fooled me. And Leah and your Mom." She added. "So work it out. Whatever this problem is between you guys. Whether it's your dad or airbending or some left over childhood trauma. End it today." She gave them her altamadum.

"This is ridiculous. We don't have any problems." Kya shook her head indignantly.

"Ha," Lin laughed. "Don't lie to me. That's why I'm the one doing this. I know all about your problems with each other. At some point all of you have confided in me about those." She reminded them.

"Maybe when we were little. Come on Lin were all grown adults here. We moved past that a long time ago." Tenzin argued. He had completely closed off like his siblings. It was funny that they all stood now guard up with their arms crossed scowling at her like their own mother scowled at Toph.

Bumi was the first one to break the bravado and nonchalant they had been playing at. "Moved on? Is that what you call it Tenny?" He asked sarcastically. "You've never let anything go."

Lin raised her eyebrow towards Kya and Tenzin, challengingly and saw she was not going to get a real response from either of them. "See that's what you're going to work through, because spirits help me. It's painful to me and your Mom especially to watch you secretly hate each other." She told them.

"We're fine, Lin." Tenzin said stubbornly.
"No you're not." She looked at each one of them individually. "Ever since your dad died you three have most certainly not been fine. Maybe you weren't before then too and we never dealt with it but it's too big to ignore anymore. So suck it up and talk it out." She ordered them, her voice as cold and calculating as if she was dressing down recruits that had performed badly in the academy.

And that did it. "Why do you even care?" Kya burst out. "It's not your family problem to deal with."

Lin didn't even dignify that with a response instead saying, "Your dad. As in your dad, your dad and your dad." She pointed at each of them in turn. "Would have wanted you three to get along and stop acting like idiots. Your family, grow up and act like it." She growled at them.

"Yeah our dad, not yours." Kya muttered.

"It's not like you have any room to talk." Tenzin scoffs.

"Yeah when you make up with your sister, come preach to us." Bumi shot back at her.

Lin knew exactly what she was doing but so did Bumi when he lashed out at her. She shoved Bumi back violently. "Don't you dare," She growled at him. "Be grateful. I didn't have a dad. My dad was a deadbeat. Your dad would have moved mountains for you literally and figuratively. So what? He wasn't perfect or the best, neither are you or me or anyone else!"

She knew Bumi would lash out at her and Tenzin probably too and she in the back of her mind she regretted losing her temper on them but she didn't care she was so tired of this cut and run game they had been playing. If they wanted to be thick headed then she would just have to beat it into their brains to make them understand.

"And you," She wheeled on Tenzin. "I just arrested a kid for murder. You want to know why?" She seethed. "Because his dad nearly beat his mom to death. His mom who had to flee home, his mom who's a junkie living in a carbord fucking box with her kid. And when his dad showed his face again. The kid killed him. And you're complaining about what? Having a job, having a family that loves you?"

"That's different–"

"What because it's not legacy? Really Tenzin? What the fuck have I been doing my entire life too? What has Kya and Bumi been doing? We all got fucked over by who our parents are. The least we can do is be on the same side because of that. United in the fact its us against the fucking world because they're going to judge us regardless. You think complying to whatever the hell they think is right is going to change that?"

"No! I get to be fucking mad about my dad. You know why? it is not just my dad. Its the whole fucking world that looks down on non benders like me. But the least I can expect is if my family doesn't right? my dad not looking down at me for not being some bending savoir is the least he could have done." Bumi snarled at her right back stepping closer to Lin who crossed her arms unimpressed.

"Back up." Tenzin said it so coldly, closing the space Lin had created between them all. Not liking how close and how mad he was to and at Lin.

"He didn't Bumi!" Kya butted in. "He did love you and he didn't care that you weren't a bender. He just favored Tenzin. Was it unfair? Did it suck? Did Tenzin make it worse? Yes, yes and Yes. Be happy you aren't some great bending savoir. You really want to be him with every choice in his life already predetermined because he's an endangered species? I got told I'm not half as good as mom and so did Tenzin. Be happy you were ignored." She scoffs.

"What did I do huh?" Tenzin snapped at Kya. "I didn't ask for this. You think I want to be suddenly responsible for all the airbenders? To lead a nation, I don't. My life would be a hell of a lot easier if I wasn't the last airbender. Sorry for spending time with the only person in the world who could at least try to prepare me for that."

"I'm leaving." Lin said coolly. "When the three of you are done being selfish ungrateful idiots. You can come back to air temple island. Until then you aren't allowed there or at my apartment."

"What?!" All three say.

"You heard me." Lin threw over her shoulder as she walked home. "Your mom tried talking to you and you brushed her off. She asked me to make you get your pompous heads out of your asses. So until you do, don't come home."

Tenzin was walking with no real purpose. It hadn't taken long after Lin left for them to split up and leave the old Beifong house. He was angry at Kya and Bumi and Lin; at the whole world and everyone in it. He sighed, it was getting dark. He should find somewhere to eat soon and then figure out what he was going to do. It wasn't that he was unaware that his sibling alway felt that his dad had favored him but he couldn't change that it was his fault or his problem. A street sign for dumplings caught his eye and he stopped and ordered. Bumi and Kya had alway taken that out on him though instead of dealing with it through their parents and that annoyed him. It did more than annoy him really. He finished his dumplings. He was right, they were fine. At least he was fine.

He started walking again. He knew Lin had been mad and knew her more than well enough to believe that she would in fact kick him out if he went back to their apartment. He didn't blame her, he knew bringing up her own well known family drama was a low blow and would hurt her. He shouldn't have said that to her. He had been mad and taken it out on her. Tenzin just wished Lin had talked to him alone if she really was worried about whatever problem she thought they had. She was his girlfriend, the word really did a poor job of encompassing their relationship. She had ambushed him with his sibling and set them all up and called them out and he was mad about that. Out of nowhere he was shoved hard from behind.

"Ah, damn it." He muttered as he fell against the brick side of a building. He looks over to see a scraggly man with his fist raised and flame daggers standing over him. "Give me your money." He snarled at him.

Tenzin thought about fighting but decided it wasn't worth it. He was in a rough neighborhood and the man looked like he could use the few copper pieces he had on him anyway. "Fine here." He said reaching into pocket and handing over the coins.

The man took it. "What are you waiting for, where's the rest!" The man yelled in his face.

His breath stank and Tenzin winced at the smell. "That's all I have," he explained.

"Rich man like you?" The man shook his head. "You lie." he slashed at him with the fire dagger and Tenzin figured it was time to get out of there. Ducking under his arm and running as weak fireballs were thrown at him.

Kya strolled along the port idly watching the water and weighing whether Lin had been serious about Mom not letting them back on the island if they hadn't buried the ax. She didn't know why Lin had to draw her into her brother's feud. Yeah she had resentment towards both her parents but recently it had been all Bumi and Tenzin beefing. She kicked at a rock as she walked. She remembered what Lin had said about trying to talk to them. That was true, her and Lin had talked about her Dad's passing some and the new airbenders. She knew Lin would have had to have talked to Tenzin about those things too and Lin and Bumi were always friends. Her mom too had tried to talk to her, that had been less than successful Kya would admit. The conversation had started with them discussing her new job and then Kya had shut her down when she had tried to broach the subject of their family. It wasn't that Kya didn't want to talk about it, it was that she didn't know how to with her mother. They had always been compared because they were both waterbenders but Kya took after her father in almost every other way that she could never measure up to her mother.

Three kids were giggling and running towards her. She was too caught up in her own thoughts to realize what was happening and only caught the cloth bag that they threw to her and blasted past her and disappeared into the maze of alleyways to her left. She realized the man chasing them was after them and now after her because of the bag of jewels she now held. "Oh, I didn't-"

Her protests were cut off by the man yelling. "Thief! you'll pay for that!"

She didn't want to try her luck, so she just dropped the bag of jewels and ran into the alleyways after the kids.

Bumi was on his way to his favorite bar. It was a little bit of a hike from the Beifong house but he really needed a stiff drink. It was near the United Forces station in the City and Bumi needed the rowdy atmosphere and lax nature of off duty soldiers throwing back shot after shot. He was almost there when someone ran into his back and someone else tackled them both.

"Ah! Ouch!" Bumi groaned, looking over at the two bodies on the ground in front of him and saw that it was his little brother and sister that ran into him. "What's the big idea here?" He said grumply.

"Ugh, sorry Bumi." Tenzin groaned standing and pulling him and Kya up too. "A drunk was chasing me."

"Some idiot kids tried to frame me for stealing jewels." Kya explained dusting herself off. "Look I know it's something any of us want to do, but can we just talk about whatever we need to talk about so we can go home?" she asked.

"There's nothing to talk about."Tenzin said stiffly. "I don't have a problem with either of you."

"Really? Could have fooled me." Kya muttered.

"Fine. You want to talk, I'll talk. I'm tired of getting lectured from you." Bumi pointed at Tenzin. "Think you know everything. And I'm tired of your pity." Pointing at Kya. "I don't need you to pity me for struggling now that I finally having bending." Bumi said dramatically.

"I don't pity you." Kya protested at the same time Tenzin said, "I'm trying to teach you!"

"Yeah well you suck at teaching." Bumi said spitfully.

"The others like my teaching Bumi. you're the only one who has a problem with it." Tenzin said, exasperated.

"Who? Cause I don't know anyone who likes it." Bumi threw his hands up.

"Pema an-"

"Oh of course 'cause your little fan girl said you were doing good? Please, she's just trying to get in your pants." Bumi said hotly.

"What?! That's not true!" Tenzin said, angry and defensive.

"Keep telling yourself that Tenzin. She is just another one of your air groupies." Kya sniffed while studying her nails.

"They're not 'air groupies'. They care far more for half of your heritage than you two do!" Tenzin shot back.

"Oh yeah? Cause I never got the chance to see if I liked my heritage. By the time Dad had stabilized the world enough to be home you two were born and he spent all his time teaching you waterbending and you airbending." Bumi argued. Aang had been away a lot when they were all really little. There had been the rebuilding of the world after the war, the start of Republic City and an attempted coup in the earth kingdom that had taken a lot of his time when they were little. Even Tenzin remembered his early years of asking his mother constantly, when daddy was coming home.

"I know, Bumi." Tenzin gritted his teeth. "I missed him too. But don't blame me because you wanted to fight with him over it. He was the Avatar. He missed all of our birthdays."

"We know Tenzin, but stop making excuses for him. He might have been the Avatar but he could have made it up to us, all of us. He wasn't perfect, stop acting like he was some perfect being." Kya told him tiredly.

"You don't think I know that!" Tenzin yelled back. "He left me a note saying, 'by the way you might have a dozen new airbender to teach and lead. Have fun with that.'" he said sarcastically. "You don't think I wished he did more to prepare me to teach me how to do any of this!"

"Here here." Bumi agreed darkly.

They were all silent for a long minute both Tenzin and Bumi visibly dejected and still upset. Kya tired and ready to be done with all of this. "You are Tenzin and you too Bumi. Both of you know how to lead and explain things to people." She told them. "The United Forces and the Council have taught you a lot. Besides, I don't know if you're doing it wrong, do you really think the new airbender will know?" She asked them, trying to lift their spirits a little.

"Still I'm struggling, I can't connect to them." Tenzin sighed.

"That's because you are trying to connect with them over the wrong thing." Bumi told not looking at either of them instead keeping his eye intensely focused on his hands. "You identify yourselves as benders, probably the first thing you'd say right. Well we all identified as non benders whether we realized it or not. We lost a huge part of our identity, not gained a huge part like you two think. At least not yet." he explained to them.

Tenzin stared at him. "Huh," he said. "I guess you're right. That, that makes a lot of sense when you put it like that. If I just started bending fire instead of air, well I couldn't imagine." he laughed.

"Yeah well neither can I." Bumi grumbled.

"That's not a bad thing Bumi. That means you're stronger to be able to handle that transition like you have." Tenzin told him sincerely.

"Tenzin right Bumi. we're proud of what you've already accomplished. Remember how many times we soaked you and blew air in your face before we could control our bending." Kya reminded him gently.

"Maybe you're right." Bumi sighed. "Still I'm not happy about it. I feel like I'm in basic training all over again." He grumbled.

"Me too." Tenzin laughed out. "Except I'm supposed to be a master already."

"So are we good?" Kya asked.

"Yes, I get it's a hard transition Bumi." Tenzin said to him. "And we all didn't really give ourselves enough time to grieve Dad and reconcile with who he was and what he left behind for us."

"I was thinking about that after we split up." Bumi told them. "I think I'm going to go to that mountain retreat Dad always liked this weekend. Say my peace or whatever there."

"Do you might if we join you?" Kya asked after sharing a look with Tenzin.

"Ah hell, why not." Bumi shrugged, giving them a crooked smile.

"Let's go home." Tenzin said, clapping Bumi on the shoulder and giving Kya a smile.

Lin sat down heavily at the table when she got back to Air temple island.

"How'd it go?" Katara asked, handing her a plate of food and a drink.

Lin snorted. "About as well as can be expected. Not well." taking a long sip.

Katara sighed. "Well they had their chance when they talked to me."

Lin nodded. They did, Katara had talked to them, she had talked to them and Leah had talked to Kya. If the three of them continued to have their head so far stuck up their ass, then maybe they need this reality check. They were hurting. Lin knew that maybe she had been too naive to think that it would just pass and one day they would be back to normal. It hadn't and if anything it had gotten worse as the siblings frustration with each other got worse. Lin didn't know what they felt but she had done the mature thing and talked to Katara and had tried to talk to Tenzin about it. They couldn't get over themselves to help each other with a literal miracle that led to Bumi getting airbending. They deserved to sleep on the street for the night. She didn't want to admit it but it had bothered her what they all had said. Aang, her mother and her sister were all sore spots for her. It hurt her seeing just how much they were hurting and lost and willing to lash out at each other. What she had told them about her week at work had not helped either. That case had been up there with one of the worst she's ever worked. It was however work that kept things in perspective for her. She knew how lucky the four of them were on the basic things and the not so basic things but work reminded her of that at least once a week. She sighed hopefully by morning they'd gotten their heads on straight and they could actually move forward for the first time in months with their lives.

It's 4 in the morning by the time Tenzin, Kya and Bumi make it back to the island. Tenzin's exhausted and also feels like he can't sleep at the same time. He walks into his room to find Lin curled up asleep. He hadn't been sure he'd find her here or if she would have gone back to the apartment they had in the city. He did know though, she would have gone back to report back to their mother and wouldn't have left her alone that night. He felt more guilt hit him, they really had been self absorbed asses lately. All three of them could find excuses but it didn't really matter. He gently lowered himself onto the bed, trying careful not to wake her. He stared up at the ceiling still upset with himself and with everyone else. He was still struggling to let go of the last childish resentment, grudges and anger he held for his family. He guessed he probably always would need to work on that. Looking back on it was painfully easy to see when his Mom, Lin and even Leah had tried to talk to him in their own ways to try to elevate some of the burden and yet he had been blind to all of them or chose to ignore it. He rolled on to his side and reached for her, wanting to feel better. Lin always made him feel better. Just sitting next to him at his dad's funeral was the only reason he had stayed calm and composed and didn't just run off.

She shifted against him and he froze, unsure if he woke her up or not. "It worked out." He murmured regardless. "We're okay now."

"Good." She muttered back.

He kissed her temple. "I'm sorry for saying those things and for everything else. Are you okay?"

"I know Ten." She squeezed his hand on her stomach. "I'm fine." He didn't believe her. He knew her better than that. What they had said had bothered her. "I am Ten." She said stronger.

He rolls his eyes and holds back a sigh. 4 am was not the time for that fight. "I love you." He says instead, letting it go.

Lin smiles. "That's why I'm fine." She says before going back to sleep.

That means alot to Tenzin and does a lot for him given the metal place that he's in. She always values and holds him and who he is in such high regard. He feels worth more with her. He feels useful and happy. He's always happy when she is around. She could have whatever she wanted and whomever she wanted but she had chosen him and loved him and let him love her and he's proud of that.

"Lin, where are you going? I thought you didn't have work today." He asked as he kissed her on the cheek.

"You forgot I'm working nights this weekend, why I didn't have to go in this morning." Lin told him.

He pulls a face and Leah snickers. "Lin, this is Pema, she is one of the new airbenders here." He introduced them, realizing that they didn't know each other.

"Nice to meet you." Pema says quietly. Lin nods and replicates the greeting.

"We became friends. She is very good at scheduling and has been helping me alot." Tenzin explained.

"I'm glad." Lin said. "I'll be back Monday afternoon. I'll call you later." she told him.

"Yeah of course." Tenzin nodded, giving her a quick kiss before going back to work with Leah and Pema.

After they were done he and Leah walked back alone. "You know Pema has a crush on you right?" Leah said, giving Tenzin a weird look.

"What? No." Tenzin said, completely surprised and giving Leah his own weird look at the thought of it.

"Yeah, she does. Very shy about it but it's definitely there." Leah told him.

"Really? No way she like a decade younger than me. It's weird." Tenzin shook his head dismissing the thought completely.

Leah shrugged. "Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow." she said heading back to her room and leaving Tenzin's to continue on the house.

Tenzin tugged the last box out of the sideboard. It was full of old papers, his dad really didn't throw anything out, he thought as he flipped through old lease agreements and official letters. Then he came across a manila folder on the front of it, said Kya, Bumi and Tenzin. He flipped through papers yellowed by age now. Each one was the same thing. A list of five things with their name on it. His father had this thing of making him and his sibling write a list of goals they had every 5 year years. He looks down at their childhood goals. His being the best airbender ever. Bumi of vanquishing evil enemies. Kya's of falling in love with the knight in shining armor. They had wanted to live a fairytale between them beating an evil enemy, finding someone they couldn't live without and then marrying the person they fell in love with to live happily ever after. But that was a fairytale and this was the real world where the knight's armor was rusty, the evil enemy wasn't so evil and was once your friend who turned on you and the princess you were supposed to love was in on the whole thing.

"Hey Ten, you almost done in here? Mom said dinner was going to be 5 minutes." Bumi said, sticking his head into the office.

"Yeah. Bumi?" Tenzin called him back when he turned to go. They had spent some time together at the mountain retreat yesterday and Tenzin felt better about Dad but they had mostly grieved on their own. He felt like he still had something to say to his brother and well a perfect moment would never come.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry." Tenzin said he felt nervous, his heartbeat speeding up. "I'm sorry your dad died. I don't think I told you that since.."

"He's your dad too, Tenzin."

"Yeah but I've been an ass to you since he passed, to everyone really." Tenzin shrugged trying to let go of all the emotion that had been following him since his dad died.

"Yeah well I'm sorry too. I know I've been angry and difficult too." Bumi told him, clapping him on the shoulder. "Water under the bridge Tenzin like I said after we talked it out."

"One more thing," Tenzin said. "Did you make a decision?" holding up the envelope from the United Forces.

Bumi stared at it for a long moment. "Yeah, I'm not yet, I have to by the end of the month, when my leave runs out." He sighed.

"You won't be doing it for Dad you know. You'd be doing it for me, to help me and Kya and Mom." Tenzin told him. "Because you want to lead and make a difference because I'm not ready to lead a nation by myself. I want help. If anything, do it to prove Dad wrong." He needed to convince him to stay because it was true he needed the help and Bumi was much more of a natural leader than he was.

"Ah I guess you got a point there. And certainly easier to get chicks here." Bumi joked to which Tenzin rolled his eyes and made a face that Bumi laughed at. He paused looking down at what Tenzin was holding. "What's that?" he asked.

"The goal list Dad made us do every 5 years." Tenizn said, smiling slightly.

"Man, I forgot about some of these." Bumi chuckled. "Remember when Kya wanted to be a pirate."

Tenzin laughed. "We were so naive back then."

"Nah little brother, fairytales always had darkness in them. It's happily ever after right? You just have to get to the after." Bumi told him, giving him a cheeky smile.

"You know that's actually pretty wise, Bumi." Tenzin told him, completely serious. He was right there was an after.

"Well I don't know why you're so surprised. Anyway, I'll let you get back to whatever boring thing you were doing before dinner." Bumi said, walking towards the door.

"Bumi, wait there is one more thing…"

"What are you doing here Bumi?" Lin asked as he sauntered up to her.

"Oh I was out running errands and Tenzin asked me to pick you up. He got something he wants to show us tonight." Bumi told her, looking around the metalbending academy.

Lin sighed "Ok I'm done here anyways. Thanks Gigi." She said turning towards the instructor next to her.

"Always a pleasure Chief." Instructor Gigi said, smiling at her before heading down to the training yard.

Bumi starred after her before jogging to catch up with Lin. "Hey Lin, your academy instructor is really hot."

Lin rolled her eyes. "She's out of your league Bumi." she scoffed.

"So she's single?" Bumi persisted.

"If you make a fool of yourself I'm letting her arrest you." Lin warned.

"Maybe that's a kink- Ouch! that hurt." Bumi raised his hands to cover his head.

"Get on the damn bison." Lin shoved him forward.

Dinner wasn't anything special. Katara had made a simple rice and fish dish. Leah joining them was the only unusual thing about it. They chatted about normal things, such as Lin's day at work, how the airbenders were doing, and Kya's new job at the hospital. After dinner Tenzin insisted they all stay seated and brought out from his room a pile of old paper.

"I found all of these, I guess dad kept them over the years." Tenzin explained as he passed out the lists of goals from their childhood.

Kya laughed. "I forgot you wanted to race dragons." She showed Bumi.

"You wanted to be a dancer?" Leah asked, looking over Kya's shoulder at her.

"I was 10." Kya protested.

"I thought we should do it one last time, all of us. Seeing as it's a new chapter with the airbenders and all." Tenzin told them.

"I think that's a great idea. Your dad would like it." Katara smiled at the idea. Leah and Lin looked skeptical but Bumi was excited about it and Kya shrugged. They talked about it, bouncing ideas off each other, some crazy others not.

"What about you?" Kya asked Tenzin who had been quiet during the whole thing and who hadn't written a single thing down yet. He still held his old list.

"I think I've done everything. I found what I love to do. I've helped the air nation. I've fallen in love. Mastered air bending. Now I know I've made my family proud. There is one last one…" he puts the paper in front of Lin and kneels down. Crossed out is falling in love written next to it is a simple question, will you marry me?

"You know I've had a betrothal necklace made for almost two years now." Tenzin said after pausing for a while figuring out what to say.

"What? what are you waiting for?" Bumi asked, surprised and confused.

"I was waiting until the right moment and I wanted to ask Toph, to do it all proper, but then Dad got sick and Lin and her mom fought again. And here we are." Tenzin explained with a sigh.

"So are you going to do it soon?" He asked.

"Yes I need your help with that on Monday. Can you pick up Lin from work and make sure she comes home on time? I know she's supposed to be at the academy that day." he asked, playing with his fingers.

"Yes, of course. How are you going to do it?" Bumi asked him.

"You'll see." Tenzin smiled.

Lin just reached for him. She didn't say anything she wanted to touch him, to hide her face in his shoulder. He hugged her tightly to him. He pressed a kiss just in front of her ear. "I love you."

"I love you too." He felt rather than heard her say against him. He smiled.

"About damn time you two." Kya whistled.

"You know I didn't expect you to do it this way. But congratulations lil brother, Lin!" Bumi drawled.

"You knew?" Katara asked, surprised.

"Well kinda I knew it was tonight but that's it. My job was just to make sure Lin wasn't late." Bumi explained.

"I would have made whatever you wanted if you had told me." Katara lamented.

"No, this was fine." Both Tenzin and Lin protested. Lin still had her arm wrapped around Tenzin's waist and he had both his arms around her not ready to let go yet. He had fastened the necklace, a black medallion with a Biefong green gray ribbon around her neck.

"That explains why you were acting weird before you started ogling my head drill instructor." Lin said to Bumi.

"I was not! I'll have you know I'm an expert in espionage" he protested loudly.

"You were too, this week but I put it down to you finishing dealing with all of that." Lin waved her hand to encompass the last year.

"No I wasn't." Tenzin protested, slightly offended.

"I am a dectiveive, you were." Lin shook her head.

"Well I've actually had the necklace for the better part of the last two years." Tenzin said proudly.

"What?" Lin asked, craning her head to look at him.

"Uh yeah." He said sheepishly.

"Ooh oh Tenzin…" Kya tsk at him smirking.

"You know I haven't said yes yet." Lin challenged.

"Well it's too late, it's already around your neck and I'm not letting go of you." He kissed her temple as she shook her head and he held her tighter.