27 Lunch

Over lunch the conversation was light until Sokka asked, "So guys, what's the plan for this journey? Or are you just going to be willy-nilly like this one over here?" he pointed across the large round table at Aang.

Aang threw a bean at his brother-in-law and Zuko shook his head at them. "Yes," the Fire Lord said, "I've been wondering the same thing."

"Well," Ursa said with a small proud smile on her face, "We're going to take the same path you guys did, starting with the South Pole and ending in the Fire Nation."

"So, how long will you spend in each place?" Katara asked

"We don't know," Kyu answered, "a few days, maybe a few weeks. It all depends on what's going on when we get there." he glanced over to the girls, "They've been to most of those places before. I've never really traveled outside of the Fire Nation, until now."

.~.

Lunch went on. Aang and Katara sat in their usual seats, Katara at her husband's left. Next to her was the Fire Lord, followed by Toph, Sokka, Bumi, Lin, Tenzin, Kyu, Ursa and Kya at her father's right. At first the conversation was all about the upcoming journey, but then side conversations started developing. Kyu, Ursa, Kya and her parents were talking about the places they were planning to go. Zuko and Toph discussed adding earth and metal benders to the Fire Nation Palace's guards. Sokka and Bumi talked about the upcoming council meeting. Bumi had started to take an interest in politics, especially the planning of the new United Forces. Sokka was more than happy to teach his nephew everything he knew. Tenzin and Lin quietly mused about how well their plan to force Kyu to finally ask Ursa out had worked.

Tenzin happened to glance up and see his parents. His dad had placed his arm around his mom and pulled her into a kiss on the cheek. She giggled and playfully slapped her hand on his chest, mumbling something about the Cave of Two Loves.

Tenzin scowled at his father, 'Why are they always groping at each other? They make me sick. He's always pawing at her,' the boy thought, 'and she lets him. What makes them think we want to see that?"

The young man's blood began to boil and Toph felt it. Like Katara, she had seen puberty rearing its ugly head in Tenzin. He was less calm and much more short tempered than usual. Although he and Lin had become the best of friends, their relationship had deteriorated into the on again off again fights of their toddlerhood. The young man had no patience for Lin's constant silliness and that would lead to fights that would have to be broken up quickly or Katara would end up having to do a couple of healing sessions.

"Hey Meathead," Toph whispered to Sokka, "Where is Gramps looking right now?"

Sokka paused in his conversation to Bumi and they both looked at Tenzin who was visibly fuming. No one else noticed him because they were talking. Even Lin was still going on about what a good plan they had come up with.

"He's staring Aang down." Sokka whispered back.

Toph felt Tenzin put his hands on the table and ball his fingers around the edge. She sensed that he was about to say something. Doing her best to sound up beat she said, "Hey Gramps?"

"WHAT?!" Tenzin snapped, whipping his head towards Toph.

Everyone stopped and looked over to the boy. Jaws dropped. Aang expected Katara to jump down the boy's throat, but she was shocked at the outburst.

"Tenzin!" Aang said, "What's the matter with you? Why did you answer Toph that way? Apologize to her."

Tenzin crossed his arms and slumped into his seat, "I'm sorry Toph," he mumbled.

"Tenzin," Katara finally spoke, "what was that all about? What's wrong with you?"

The boy slapped his hands down on the table and jumped to his feet, unintentionally sending a gust of wind out around him. "Him," he said pointing to his father, "and you! Why are you two always all over each other? Do you think we want to see all that?! Do you think that we want to know that you two...that you," he threw his hands up in frustration, "well, we know what you do and we don't need to know about it."

The boy's parents were thoroughly embarrassed. Aang's jaw finally dropped and Katara buried her red face in her hands and considered climbing under the table. Bumi and Lin leaned against each other as they bit back laughter. The others' eyes stretched, they couldn't decide if they should stay or go or even where to look.

All an embarrassed Aang could manage to say was "Wh-who told you about..."

"Sex?" Tenzin finished his father's question in a straightforward, angry way. His brother and friend finally fell over each other in a laughing fit, "Bumi did. He told me all about what men and women do...What you two..." he flicked a pointed finger at his parents, "do."

"Bumi!" Katara yelled, finally snapping out of her embarrassed silence, "That was not your place!"

"Hey, I was trying to save you guys the trouble. I didn't know he would flip out in front of people."

During his rant, Tenzin had forgotten that they had a table full of company. Suddenly he realized that there were ten pair of eyes on him and he felt self-conscious. Even Toph seemed to be staring at him. In a huff he turned and stormed out the back door.

.~.

They went in search of the boy. First to the bison caves to make sure that he hadn't taken Oogi and left the island. His siblings and friends pretended not to know where he was, but they knew exactly where to find him. They waited until Aang said to split up and they pretended to go in different directions. They met on the beach near the entrance to their secret meeting place.

"Okay," Kya said, "Bumi and I will go get him, you guys keep pretending to look."

"Why do I have to go?" Bumi complained.

"Because your big all mouth started this whole thing." Lin said with a smile crossing her lips.

Bumi shook his fist as his sister pulled back the false rock.

When Bumi and Kya entered the cave they found their younger brother in a meditative posture. He tried to pretend he didn't hear them, but Kya saw when he clinched his jaw. She played along. "Boy, did you see the look on Mom and Dad's face when Ten called them out?" she said falling across a pile of pillows.

Bumi played along, "Yeah, he got that vein in Dad's head to pop up. I thought I was the only one who could do that."

"I know right, and Tenzin wasn't even trying. Now that's real talent."

Tenzin let out an irritated sigh, but did not move or open his eyes, "It's not funny. Mother is going to kill me."

"Oh, and Toph." Bumi added, "Don't forget, you yelled at Toph. I'm surprised she didn't bury you."

The boy opened his eyes, "I didn't mean to yell at Toph, I was just irritated. Why did you have to tell me about that anyway?"

"I was trying to help you out. Would you have rather heard it from me or Dad?" Bumi stood up and started an impersonation of their father, "Well son, when a man and a woman love each other very much."

Kya rolled with laughter, "Oh Bumi, stop it. That's dead on."

"Yes, well I guess I should thank you for saving me from that." the boy thought a second and asked, "Why would people do something like that? That's just disgusting. I'm never doing that."

Bumi laughed, "Yeah, that's what I said at first. You'll change your mind." Kya shook her head in agreement.

Tenzin looked at his siblings, "So, you've done...it?"

"No." they said in unison.

The siblings sat in silence for a minute, then Bumi spoke, "I do think about it...a lot."

Kya made a disgusted face at her little brother, but Tenzin was curious, "Why?"

"Come on Tenzy. Girls. Have you ever looked at a girl? I mean really looked at a girl. Not Kya, but a real girl."

"What's that supposed to mean?" their sister asked.

"You're our sister, you don't count." he turned back to Tenzin, "Girls, they just...they have…" he mimed large breast, "and" then he mimed a large round butt, "and they're so soft."

"Hold on," Kya said to her not quite fourteen year old brother, "how do you know girls are soft?"

The boy blushed, "I just do, okay." he turned back to Tenzin, "And the way they bounce and move, ooh, you can't help but think about it."

"Oh great, my brother's a pervert."

"Shut it Kya. Uncle Sokka said I'm just a healthy young man and I'm supposed to feel like this."

"Do you think about it too Kya?" Tenzin asked.

The young woman blushed, "Yeah, sometimes. It's only natural. And, the fact is, it may be disgusting, but Mom and Dad are adults and they're married. That's one of the ways they show that they love each other, and as much as we may hate it, that's how we got here. Its best to just act like it doesn't apply to them, because if you think about it you'll just gross yourself out."

.~.

Aang and Katara stood outside the supposedly secret cave and smiled at each other, "They handled that well," the man said quietly, "the kids are growing up."

They stepped away. "Yeah," she said as she wrapped her arms around him, ready to take off on the glider, "But you do know we still have to punish Ten for that outburst."

"Yeah, I do." he said as they took off, "Maybe we should tell him that we've used their little hideout as a love nest a few times."

Yes, Tenzin had a little spaz out and big sis and bro had to come to the rescue. I really got to write more for Bumi and Lin, I've been neglecting those two. I think they could cause a lot of trouble together, as of Bumi doesn't get in enough trouble by himself.