Nothing to say, a short bit of fluffiness, thanks for reading.
As always, characters by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, Story by Me.
Ember Island
After her tenth birthday Kya and Bumi got together to convince their parents to let them go to school in Republic City. Aang and Katara had always been hesitant to allow them to go to the academy, but Ursa was doing so well at the Fire Nation Academy that they decided to let them go.
The decision turned out to be a good one. Aang's fears about them being treated differently because they were his and Katara's children was quickly put to rest when he found out that most of the staff whole-heartedly believed in treating all of the children at the school equally. The other children just thought that Kya and Bumi's dad had a "cool job". As always the children made friends quickly and, as expected, Bumi's crazy shenanigans landed him in the Headmistress's office more than anyone liked to admit.
Back on the island Katara was adjusting to days of just her and Tenzin being around the house. It was so quiet that she almost felt as if she were home alone.
Tenzin wasn't rambunctious or talkative like Bumi and Kya. He was the quietest, most serious three year old anyone had ever seen. The little boy was content with spending most of the day on the kitchen floor surrounded by blocks, books, paper and the coloring sticks that Sokka made for them out of wax. His mother never had to call him for lessons like she had done with the other children because he was always waiting for her when it was time. He was already starting to read, counting and writing his name. his demeanor lead Toph to bestowing him with the name "Gramps".
The only time he showed any signs of being a toddler was when he and Lin would play together. The thought little girl brought the child out in him. They'd run, laugh and play together until they would get into a spat that usually ended in one pushing the other down, then Ty Lee, Katara or Toph would make them hug and make up and they'd be right back to playing.
In the fall, for the first time since Lin was born, Team Avatar were all able to meet on Ember island for a reunion. Zuko had renovated his old family vacation home/team hideout to it's original glory. He did, however, instruct the construction crew to leave a few of the scorch marks from the time when he'd chased Aang three days before Sozin's Comet. He secretly loved to see the look on his friend's face when he walked dowm the hall touching the burns and remembering.
The first day was rather typical, everyone arrived, Ursa and Kya had their customary elaborate greeting, then everyone got settled into their rooms. They'd have an enormous dinner and the children fell asleep, tired from the trip and over filled bellies. The adults sat around and talk into the wee hours of the morning.
The second day was spent lounging on the beach. The adults watched as the children played. Despite their agreement to keep their relationship their business, Toph and Sokka cuddled openly because of the seclusion of Zuko's beach house. Aang and Katara, a always, giggled bumped each other, and wrestled around like a couple of teenagers. Zuko concentrated on not letting it be obvious how much he missed his wife at times like these.
The children ran and played on the beach. Kya had filled a small hole with water so that her baby brother and little friend would have their own little kiddie pool. Bumi did acrobatics as the girls laughed and whispered to each other and about halfway through the day Lin and Tenzin got into one of their toddler squabbles.
The two reached for a little red plastic shovel at the same time. Although Ursa tried to get one of them to take the green one, they both gripped the red shovel with all the strength they had in their tiny little fingers. "Mine!", Lin insisted.
"No! It's mine!", Tenzin retorted.
"No! Mine!", Lin said as she stomped and a circle of sand jumped up around the two.
Toph felt the sand move and sat up, "Sokka, what was that?", she asked, pointing in the babied direction.
He looked up, "It's just Lin and Tenzin fighting again.", he said sleepily.
"No, I just felt the sand move.", Sokka sat up and paid attention.
"Mine!", The little girl yelled and stomped again. The sand rose higher.
"Lin did that!", Sokka exclaimed, "Guys, look!, the rest of the adults turned their attention to Lin and Tenzin.
"No…its…mine!", Tenzin said and pushed Lin's shoulder. Normally she would just have an unsteady fall to her bottom, but this time a gust of wind knocked her back about a foot in the sand.
Their jaws dropped, "Did Gramps just…", Toph started, but before she could finish Lin jumped to her little feet and stumped again. This time a small stump of earth popped up under the little boys feet and he fell.
"They're bending," Katara said, "both of them."
In an instant Toph and Aang were on their feet running towards their little ones; mostly out of pride, but partially because the two were on the verge of hurting each other. Aang grabbed his baby boy under his arms and lifted him into the air, "Tenzin! Do you know what you just did?"
Thinking he was in trouble he said, "It's mine Daddy."
Aang hugged his son and dropped to his knees, "Not that Tenzin. You just air bended.", he held the little boy tightly and tears started to flow. He felt his wife's hands on his shoulders and she rested her forehead against the side of his, "I'm not the last one anymore Katara, you were right. He's an air bender."
A few feet away Toph was having a similar celebration with her daughter. She hugged the girl, "You're an earth bender. Not just any earth bender, you bent sand.", she turned in Sokka and Zuko's direction, "She bent sand guys! Sand! Do you know how hard that is! My daughter is awesome!"
Yeah she is.", Sokka said as he and Zuko walked towards the scene. They congratulated Toph first, then they all turned to where Aang was.
Tenzin was struggling to get free, "Let me go Daddy.", he got loose and ran to where his brother and sister were. What he had just done was lost on him, but the adults understood what a monumental moment it was.
When Tenzin ran away, his mother took his place in his father's arms. Toph let Lin go and she, Zuko and Sokka gathered around Aang and Katara to embrace them.
"Did you see guys?", the proud father said, "Did you see him?, he was so overwhelmed that he started to ramble, "And did you see Lin. She bent sand, and they were sparing, did you see? Do you think they knew? I have to start getting Tenzin ready to train in the gates. Kya can work with him when I'm not at home. What do you think he will look like with his tattoos? How old do you think he'll be? I can't wait to see what move he makes up."
"Honey, calm down," Katara laughed, "he has a long way to go before we get to that."