Shorts

Back to School

Soon enough, it was time for Tenzin and Bumi to go back to school and Bumi made sure to make a show of it. Instead of taking the ferry like they always had, he decided that they would take Pong, after all, the school wasn't far from the stables. He also insisted that they both dress in Air Nomad colors, which was fine with Tenzin.

When they made it to the city, Bumi was sure to have Pong fly over the campus. The boys then got the bison settled and walked down to the school where Lin was waiting. She smiled when she saw them,

"You guys sure know how to make an entrance."

"Don't we though?" Bumi chirped back. He was more put together than Lin had seen him in years. Not since Ursa's sixteenth birthday had his hair been so neat. Instead of the usual wolf's tail surrounded by wildness his hair was pulled into a neat ponytail. He was bathed in yellows, oranges and reds trimmed in Dark blue Lin always thought that Bumi dressed nicely, but today he looked especially good.

Then there was Tenzin. His clothes were simpler than his brother's but Lin thought they made him look so handsome, especially since his shirt was sleeveless and she liked to see the way his tattoos wrapped around his arms. And the way that the light blue arrow on his head stopped in just the right place to draw attention to his beautiful blue eyes made her day. "Why don't you join us?" he offered with a smile.

"Don't mind if I do." she laughed as she skipped in between the two brothers.

As the three stepped into the courtyard, the brothers put stern looks on their faces. Lin continued to carry her smirk. The three knew full well that all eyes would be on the boys; it was very rare to be suspended on the second week of school and the altercation had been the talk of the school since it happened. On top of all of that, no one outside of their little family knew that Tenzin had gotten his tattoos.

Bumi fought the urge to chuckle at all the pointing and whispering. They were on a mission, and he was determined to see that it was carried out before he went to his friends. He, his brother and their friend made a bee line for Adra, Kuji and Cam.

Kuji spotted them first. She ran over to the group, "Hi Ten…I mean Tenzin. It is Tenzin, right?"

"Yes, it is." the boy answered, his mind still on what he had to do.

"Well Tenzin," she said, "Your tattoos are nice. I thought you were hot before, but you really look good now."

Lin cut her eyes and Bumi fought back the comment that was lingering in his mouth. He had to remember to question Tenzin about the pretty golden eyed girl later. They stopped when they got to the Earth Kingdom cousins. "Okay," Bumi said, "Tenzin, do what Dad told you to do so I can get out of here."

Tenzin tried not to notice the crowd forming behind them. He placed his fist in his palm and made a small bow towards Cam, "I am sorry I lost my temper with you Cam. That was not the way I was taught to handle things."

Cam was taken aback. He couldn't very well let 'the air bender kid' come out of this smelling like a rose while he looked like a complete tool. He bowed back to Tenzin, then to Bumi, "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have provoked you two by speaking ill of your family."

"It's cool kid." Bumi said, "Sorry I popped you one in the mouth." he shook Cam's hand and turned to his brother, "See you later Tenzy."

Tenzin extended a hand to Cam and the shorter boy took his hand to shake. Tenzin pulled Cam close to him and whispered through gritted teeth into his ear, "If you ever again, in your life so much as utter anything about my mother there will be no one in this city that could stop me from ripping you a new asshole. Am I understood?"

Tenzin stepped back and smiled at Cam. His eyes were wide open and so was his mouth. He realized that the young air bender was not the pacifist that his father was. Cam snapped his mouth shut and nodded his head in agreement. "Good," Tenzin said happily, "let's go to class."

.~.~.~.~.

Conversation

Ursa sat on the pier of Aang's new island. It was the grand opening of the Avatar Museum, but the Crown Princess was in no mood to celebrate. Her grandfather's words were haunting her

… the truth is that your precious mother was passed from the Water Tribe savage to my son..

He'd called her mother a concubine, a whore and a slut. He'd never called her by her name, instead her referred to her as Bastard. She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice Sokka sitting down beside her.

"The party's inside." she said to her with a huge smile on his face. It never failed to amaze him how much she looked like Suki.

Ursa gave him a weak smile, "Oh. Hi Sokka. I don't think I'm up for a party today."

"If you want to talk about it, I'm a good listener." He stuck one finger behind each ear, "These ears aren't this big for nothing."

The young woman chuckled a little, "I'll be okay, I was just thinking."

Sokka looked out at the water, "You know, your mom use to say that when she had something serious on her mind. It always helps to talk things like that out."

Ursa noticed the pained look that crossed Sokka's face, "You knew my mother pretty well, didn't you."

He smiled, "Yeah, she was one of us. Part of Team Avatar. You know that."

The fire bender looked out over the water again, "But she was more than that to you, wasn't she?"

The councilman inhaled deeply and exhaled. He was hoping that he'd never have to explain him and Suki to any of the kids, especially not Ursa. They all had purposely keep some parts of their adventures out of the history books, and Sokka and Suki's relationship was one of those things, but there were people out there who knew. "Why would you ask that?"

"My grandfather said that she was passed from you to Dad."

Sokka exhaled again, "Damn Ozai." he muttered. He looked at the young woman and saw a single tear run down her face. "Look, Suki and I were together for a while, but it was nothing like Ozai said. We had been apart for quite some time before she and Zuko got together."

"Did it really happen like that or are you just saying that to try and make me feel better."

"I didn't believe it at first." he said honestly, "I didn't want to believe it. I was cruel to both of them. Even though Toph told me again and again that they were telling the truth, I wouldn't listen." she looked at him "I believed that they were seeing each other while the Kyoshies were guarding him, but that wasn't what happened. I lost so much time with them because I was hurt and stubborn."

"I don't know if I would be understanding either."

"Yeah, I have the benefit of age and hindsight now, but back then I thought Suki would be the only one for me.

"Like Aang and Katara."

"Yeah, that's what I thought then, but time has taught me different."

She looked back over the water, "What if …Kyu and I aren't meant to be together."

"Is that what you're worried about? Look, some people are lucky and find the love of their life the first time around like Aang and Katara. Some people, like your parents, grow into loving each other. Then, there are dummies like me who have the love of their life in their face for years but it takes a while for their hearts to catch up." he put his hand on her shoulder, "I've seen you and Kyu together, you too are the lucky ones."

She smiled, leaned over and hugged him, "Thank you Sokka. I knew you were my favorite for a reason." she looked up at him, "But don't tell the others."

.~.~.~.~.

Greetings

Zuko and Aang were standing near the Avatar Roku exhibit and talking when Tenzin approached them with a girl by his side. The Fire Lord saw them first and nudged the Avatar.

"Father, Zuko, this is my friend Kuji. She wanted to meet you two."

As the girl bowed to the two men she said, "Fire Lord Zuko, Avatar Aang , I bring you greetings from Ran and Shaw."

They looked at each other, besides Katara, Suki, Sokka and Toph they had never told anyone about the dragons. "You're a Sun Warrior?" Aang asked the girl quietly.

She smiled, "My mother is, my father is from the Foggy Swamp. My PawPaw Huu said to tell you 'Howdy.'

"You can't be Ku." Aang said, looking at the girl, "Huu made it sound like you were a little girl." he saw his wife walking by, "Katara, Tenzin's friend is Ku."

Katara stopped and looked at the girl, "Huu's granddaughter?"

"Yes Master Katara," she giggled, "but PawPaw is the only one who calls me Ku. My name is Kujichagulia, but everyone just calls me Kuji."

Katara smiled and looked at her son. "Ahhh, this is Kuji." she looked back at the girl. "I've heard so much about you."

Tenzin groaned as he ran his hand down his blushing face. He let out a long suffering "Mother. Please."

"Katara." Zuko said in a warning voice, feeling sorry for the embarrassed boy.

"What? I didn't say anything." she said as Aang pulled her to him.

"Nice to meet you Miss Kuji." Aang bowed as he ushered his wife away.

.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Tradition

A ruckus in the lower half of the Beifong house brought Ty Lee downstairs. "Mom! I don't want to do this! Why are you making me?!" Lin yelled as she stomped by the staircase.

"Lin, I didn't want to do it either, but it's a Beifong tradition. I'm their only child, you're mine. It would make them happy."

"We don't even live in Gaoling. Why do I need to be introduced into Gaoling society?"

Toph growled, "Ty Lee, please talk to her." she said throwing her hands up and walking away.

Lin huffed and sat on the bottom step. Ty Lee sat on the step above her, "You know Linny Pinny, you really shouldn't give your mom such a hard time."

"I don't want to do this Ty Lee."

"Okay, so do it for your Grammy Poppy. You know that's the only reason Toph even wants you to do it, that's why she did it."

"You were there?" the girl asked.

"Yeah. Your mom was beautiful, and your grandparents were so happy. Can't you just do it for them?"

"I guess so." the girl relented.

"Okay." Ty Lee said hopping up, "Now let's go borrow Sokka's boat and go to the island so you can ask Tenzin to be your escort."

Lin pretended to be taken aback, "Who said I want him to be my escort?"

"Your red cheeks. Lets go."

.~.~.~.~.~.

Goodbye

Aang was meditating, taking a journey into the spirit world. He had just gotten the last answer to something he had been looking into for years. He was headed back to his body when Momo landed on his shoulder, "Hey Momo." he said as he reached his hand up to pet the lemur's head. Then it hit him. He looked up, "Momo? What are you doing here?" he knew, but he didn't want to admit it. When the lemur jumped down in front of him he said, "Oh Momo. I'm sorry buddy, I didn't know."

Then, for the first time since he'd had hallucinated from lack of sleep, Momo spoke to him, "That's quite alright Aang, I came to tell you goodbye."

Aang's eyes stretched. Right before him Momo's form changed into that of Monk Gyatso. He was so overwhelmed that his spirit world form turned into that of his twelve year old self, "Gyatso!" he exclaimed as he ran into his father figure's arms.

"Hello my boy." Gyatso laughed as he hugged Aang back.

Aang stepped back and returned to his adult form, "You've been with me all along."

"Yes, I could not leave you. Not until now."

"Why now?" the Avatar asked in a mournful tone.

"You don't need me anymore. You have not needed me for a long time."

"I will always need you Gyatso."

"No Aang, you are not a boy anymore, you are a man. You have a wife and children who love you very much. I was just…there. Lingering around for my own selfish reasons."

"They love you too you know." Aang said as if he were pleading with Gyatso to come back with him.

"Yes, and I love them, but I couldn't stay in that form forever. I was very old Aang. I lived so much longer than most lemurs."

"I know." he admitted, "I just wish I knew sooner that you were Momo."

"And I wish I could've told you. You all took very good care of me. Especially Bumi."

"Bumi?"

Gyatso smiled, "He would sneak me snacks at night."

"That's Bumi for you." Aang laughed.

Gyatso stepped forward and placed a hand on Aang's shoulder, "I will miss you young one."

"I will miss you, Gyatso."

Aang came back to his body and opened his eyes. Momo's body lay in front of him, curled up in a ball as if he was sleeping. "Oh Momo." he said again, tears falling from his eyes. The air bender scooped the lemur up and cradled his little body in his arms. He started the trek to the house to tell Katara and the children about the loss of their friend.

~.~.~.~.~.

Another set of small ideas I had.

Tenzin has Katara's attitude, doesn't he.

I've been having the Ursa/Sokka conversation idea for a while now, I thought this was the best spot to put it.

When I decided to give Tenzin and Lin some more friends, Kuji's back-story was in my head.

The Toph/Lin/Ty Lee thing is a set up for what's coming.

And as much as it pained me to kill Momo, I just had to get that out of my system. Ever since the first time I saw him I thought he was Gyatso's reincarnation. Then I read that that was Bryke's original idea for him. I wish they had went with it, but what are you going to do.

Anyway, enjoy. I'm fighting a bit of a writer's block right now. I might have to do a couple of big time skips, because all the ideas I have are for years ahead of where they are now, so you might see a 5 or te10 year jump soon…hey Desperate housewives did it, why cant I.

Thanks for reading.

I own nothing but my crazy ideas, I just like harassing Bryke's characters.