So guys, Have I told you how awesome my beta is, well it bears reapeating, you know why, because I sent her five chapter over the weekend and she sent me all of them back last night.

So the next few chapters are a little fluffy and then back to the drama. I may post once a day for a while since I'm kind of caught up. I'm trying to wrap this thing up.

45 Letters

It had been over a year since the repopulation or the air temples had begun and Tenzin had been away from home the entire time. While the rest of the family was back and forth between home and the air temples, Tenzin traveled from temple to temple. He went where he was needed most at any given time, but his favorite by far was the Southern Air Temple.

He wasn't sure if it was because this was where his father had lived during his childhood, but there was something about the place that called to the young man. He claimed his father's old bedroom as his and spent any and all downtime there.

As Tenzin looked out of his window and watched the Air Acolytes mill about he wondered if this was what it was like when his father was a boy. Granted there were far less people, only a few dozen, and now the Air Temple was populated by both men and women, but it was nice to see what it must have looked like.

Tenzin left the window and went to his desk. He pulled out a small, hidden drawer and retrieved a stack of letters Lin had sent to him with one family member or another. The first letter, delivered by Katara read:

Tenzin

I'm sorry for what I said. I shouldn't have come at you like that. I wish you would come back home, if only to visit. I'd love to see you, maybe we can talk things out.

I miss you,

Lin

The next letter, brought by Aang went:

Tenzin,

I haven't heard from you, so I guess that means you're giving me the silent treatment. I suppose you're still angry. I hope you can forgive me one day.

Lin

A few more came, following the same suite, but after a year Lin had grown tired of being nice.

Tenzin,

Or should I say you big jackass. I don't know how long you think I'm going to sit here and wait for you, but I want you to know it ends now. I don't know how else to say I'm sorry, and I'm tired of saying it. I'm done with this melodramatic crap. You, Tenzin of Air Temple Island, are not the only man in this world.

Bite me,

Lin Beifong

Tenzin laughed and thought about the letter he'd finally sent back to her.

Dear Lin,

I never asked you to wait for me. I am also well aware that I am not the only man in this world.

I do, however, want you to know that I forgive you, I did so quite a few months back. Sadly I was not ready to let go. I admit that I was still hurt and angry for a long time and anything I would've written or said to you would of been quite nasty.

I do miss you. Even when I was angry I missed you every day. I just wanted to let you know that.

I wish you happiness in whatever you decide to do

Tenzin

As he placed the letters back in the drawer he wondered if he would get a letter that day. His parents were bringing a herd of bison to settle the temple and they were due at any moment.

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

It was another three hours before Aang and Katara arrived with a dozen bison. After getting the animals settled at the caves and getting their things from Appa, Katara gave Tenzin the box she'd brought for him. He went to his room, placed the box on his bed, folded down and started pulling out the contents.

On the top were two sets of clothing, a new cloak and a weeks' worth of underwear, obviously packed by his mother. Under that was a new pair of boots and a few books, and in the very bottom were his letters.

There was a stack of drawings from Keahi, Adama and Ama, a letter from Kimi as well as a picture of the newly one year old Hondo. Even more letters lined the bottom, a few from his friends, one each from Sokka, Bumi and Zuko, but none from the person he was looking to hear from.

He checked the things that had come in the box. There was nothing tangled in the clothes or inside the shoes, and none of the letters had stuck together. He was just thinking that he had waited too long to write her back when he heard his father's laugh coming from the window behind him.

Tenzin sighed "Father, how long have you been sitting there?"

"Long enough to see you consider taking that box apart to look for this." Aang said as he held a piece of paper between his thumb and forefinger. He flexed his knuckles making it wave slightly back and forth. "Must be mighty important. I think it's my job as the Avatar to go over something this important."

Tenzin let his head roll back limply, then looked at his dad. "Father, may I please have my letter." he lifted his open palm.

Aang floated down to his feet in front of his son "I don't know. This looks official. Sealed and everything."

Tenzin looked at his father with a smirk. "So that means that it's only for the eyes of the addressee."

"Hmmmm, well played." Aang said, placing the letter in his son's hand "Well, I'll leave you to your reading." he said with a smile and left.

Tenzin sat down on his bed and broke the seal.

Tenzin

I'm glad to hear from you. I was starting to think you either weren't getting my letters or weren't reading them. Sorry about the last one, I was a little frustrated when I wrote it.

Hondo is the most perfect little boy there ever was. He has hazel eyes, dark skin, the nicest wavy hair I've ever seen and I'm totally in love with him. I make sure I go see him every day.

I got asked out today, by Cam's little brother Saikhan. That kid is a little pervert if there ever was one. I wouldn't be surprised if the little degenerate grew up to be a pimp.

Work is going good. I came up with a new cable system and Sokka helped me with the mechanics of it. The first one was a disaster, but it's been perfected now and Mom is considering making it standard issue.

Okay, I think I've danced around this long enough. I love you, I miss you and I want to make things work. I wish you would come home.

Lin

Tenzin got up and went to his desk to respond.

Dear Lin

I know that Cam's brother had a crush on you. Cam told me in his last letter, but the fact that you would fall in love with my own cousin, well that hurts me to the core. And because I've been told in person that I have a very dry sense of humor I suppose it would not translate on a letter. Just to let you know, that was a joke.

As much as I miss you, I won't be coming home right now. There is still much to be done that only an air bender can do. After all these years the acolytes have found chambers at two of the air temples that only my father or I can open. I'll be headed to the Western Air Temple tomorrow. There's no telling what's in there, so I don't know how long I will be there.

I will return home when my work is done.

Tenzin