50 What the Avatar Heard and What the Water Bender Said

Since her conversation on the balcony with Zarra, Pema had paid attention and noticed that Lin and Tenzin's relationship seemed more like an old habit than love. She tried to tell herself that even though they may not have been on the best of terms it was not her place to do anything to come between them even though holding her feelings in was eating her up inside.

She decided the she would swallow it. She would stuff it down and keep it to herself and surely the feelings she had for this man would go away, but they didn't. They only grew more and were made more intense a few months earlier when he asked whether he had done something to offend her.

She assured him that he had been nothing but kind to her and if she'd ever made it appear otherwise, then she was sorry. Tenzin let her know that she had nothing to apologize for and insisted that she just called him 'Tenzin'.

On one particular day the young page walked down the hall with single minded determination. She couldn't keep it to herself any longer, she had to tell him how she felt.

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

Aang was hiding out in his office. The only light that was on was a small lamp near the door that he usually left on. He was trying to have some peace and quiet before the next council meeting, and he was also trying to avoid hearing stories about Tenzin and Lin's latest argument. Those two were tiring.

When he saw his door start to open and heard his son say "What is it that you need? Is anything wrong?" he ducked down and sat under his desk.

"No, there isn't anything wrong." he heard Pema say. He was surprised to hear that she was talking to Tenzin. There was a pause then he heard her say "I know you're in a …situation, but I can't keep this to myself any longer." Aang couldn't believe what he was hearing "I…I care for you and I had to let you know it." There was more silence.

Aang pressed his hand to the floor to 'see' what was going on. They were just standing in front of each other, both of their hearts racing but obviously for different reasons. Then Pema said "Th…that's all I wanted to say."

The Avatar felt the young woman turn to walk away, but then his son reached out and caught her arm to stop her "Pema, I'm flattered," he said "but my life is just…complicated right now."

All she said was "I understand." and she walked out.

Tenzin closed the door and fell back against it with a huff. He tapped his head against the door a couple of times before he was startled by the sound of his father's voice saying "I told you so."

He looked around "Father? Where are you?" he asked exasperated. Aang climbed out from under his desk and sat in his chair "Why are you under the desk?"

"I thought it was somebody coming in here for me to sign more papers or something about that blasted meeting. How was I to know it was you getting a secret love confession?"

Tenzin rolled his eyes "Monkeyfeathers." he huffed again "Father, what am I supposed to do about this?"

"Well son, I don't know, but what I do know is what I felt, and it felt to me like you were interested."

"Father…I don't know. There's Lin, and if there wasn't, Pema's so young."

"Pema is an adult who obviously knows what she wants, but as for Lin…what is going on with you and Lin?"

"I don't know. We're in a rut. I've honestly been thinking about ending it for good, but now this. Father, I don't want it to seem like I'm leaving Lin because Pema's interested in me."

"That would be the assumption, but Tenzin, you know I've always told you that you can't live your life by what others think, you have to do what's best for you and those around you. What you have to so now is figure out if it's best for you and Lin to stay together or break up. After that you can decide what you want to do as far as Pema is concerned."

"I guess you're right."

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

Katara sat with her two younger granddaughters while her oldest granddaughter and the twins spared laughingly with Aang.

"Gran Gran, is Keahi trying to burn Grandpa?" three year old Itsuko asked as Emiko unbraided their grandmother's hair.

"No, they're just playing."

"Yeah Koko." the five year old said "They couldn't hurt Grandpa anyway. He's the Avatar you know."

"I know that Miko. Keahi's just mean."

Katara laughed, "She's not mean, she just takes her training seriously, like her Sifu."

"Yeah, Fire Lord Zuko's tough. He's going to train me too." Emiko said proudly.

"You don't fire bends." the younger girl said, "We don't bend at all."

"So. I can learn the swords and he and Kimi said they would teach me." she said sticking her tongue out.

"Okay, that's enough." Katara said sensing a fight coming on.

"Gran Gran, where's Uncle Ten?" Itsuko asked.

"He's off meditating."

"He's always meditating, or at work." Emiko chimed in "Doesn't he want to play with us?"

"Your uncle has a lot on his mind." Katara answered "He has grown-up things to work out."

"Oh." both girls said as they started combing their grandmother's hair.

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

"Good evening Mother." Tenzin said as he heard someone enter the meditation pavilion.

"And how did you know it was me? It could have been Ama."

"The girls don't step as lightly as you do." he answered.

Katara smiled and sat beside him "You've been at this for a week. Have you found your answer?"

"At times I think I have, but at other times I have so much doubt."

She looked at him "Tenzin, how do you decide where to sit when you come to meditate?"

He looked at his mother with confusion all over his face "I don't know. I just sit down."

Katara smiled "No, it's more than that. You always sit in that exact spot because that's what feels natural to you."

"I never realized I sit in the same spot. I guess it does feel natural."

"Well I think, maybe that's how you should approach your love life. You need to do what feels natural to you. You can't force love Honey." she said as she stood up.

"Yes Mother. I believe you may be right."

She patted him on his head and started to leave, then she turned back "Oh, and another thing. That spot you're so drawn to all the time, it feels natural to you because that's the spot where you were born. You've instinctively gone to that spot since you could crawl." she giggled "Just a little fun fact."

Tenzin smiled his first genuine smile in a week "Yes Mother."

He thought about what she said and the truth was his relationship with Lin had been a bit forced for years now. The only thing that came naturally to them was the physical part and even those moments were few and far between. Things had deteriorated even farther since their night at the theater. Tenzin finally felt as if he knew exactly what he had to do.

Nothing much to say...

Emiko is a Japanese name that means graced with beauty, smiling child

Itsuko is a Japanese name that means fifth child

Bryke made atla and lok