Beginning Anew

It had been four months since he and Lin had broken up. Four months since she'd broken his nose. Four months of actively trying to avoid each other and awkward encounters. It had been hard, but it was how things had to be. And now, after four months, Tenzin had decided to move forward.

Over the previous two months his interactions with Pema had gone from awkward hellos in the hall when he went to visit his father or uncle to short conversations and blushing smiles. At first he tried to fight it, but eventually he found himself enamored with this young woman. He wanted to know more about her so he made up his mind to ask her out to dinner.

Tenzin was nervous, more so than he'd been in years. It had been well over ten years since he'd been on a first date, and even then it was with Lin, who hw had known all his life. This was different, entirely new and he had no idea how to handle it. He finally decided to just come right out with it.

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

Pema was walking down the steps of City Hall with a bundle of files in one arm and a full tote bag hanging from the other. She smiled when she saw who was coming up the steps "Hello Tenzin." she blushed as he started up the stairs.

He smiled "Hello Pema. Nice say isn't it." he groaned inwardly 'Damn it. Don't do the inane small talk' he chided to himself.

"It's beautiful." she answered "Councilman Sokka just went inside. If you run you can catch him."

"I'm not here to see my uncle." he said 'offer to help her you ass.' his inner self yelled at him. "That looks heavy, let me help you."

"Oh, I'm fine. I'm stronger than I look, plus I'm headed out. I haven't seen your dad today, but I think he's in his office."

"Actually my father's on his way to the North Pole." he said as he took the tote from her arm "I came here to talk to you."

"Me?" she asked as she started down the sidewalk "What is it?"

"Well," he hesitated 'just say it damn it' "well I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner…tomorrow…with me…if you don't have plans that is."

Tenzin glanced at Pema, her eyes were stretched wide, then she looked at him "I would like that."

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

After dropping the files off at the Hall of Records Pema went back outside to where Tenzin was waiting with the tote "I think I can take that from here." she said reaching for the tote.

"I can walk with you a while longer, that's is if you don't mind."

She smiled and blushed again "I'd like that."

They walked a bit more and Tenzin said "I could come pick you up at seven if that's fine with you."

"That sounds fine."

He smiled a bit more "Good, and I don't think it would be a problem to get a reservation since it's the middle of the week."

She looked a him "Reservations, oh no, that's too much."

He smiled "Well, I have to admit, there's a new restaurant I want to try. I figured you could be good company."

Pema smiled at him "I think that would be nice."

He smiled back "Wonderful."

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

"Zarra I am not wearing that." Pema said as she threw a slinky too tight too short dress on the bed "I'll look like a whore."

Zarra folded her arms "So you're saying I look like a hooker when I wear it."

"No, I'm saying that I'm taller than you and a little bigger so that dress would cling to my…well, everything."

"And that's bad because?"

"Because I want to look nice, not easy."

"Easy couldn't hurt."

Pema picked the dress up and threw it at Zarra "Be serious. This is important."

"Okay, don't have a heart attack." she pulled a long dress from her packed closet "How about this. I haven't worn it yet because it a little too big. It should fit you perfectly."

Pema took the dress "This is so pretty, and its brand new. Are you sure you want to let me wear it?"

Zarra shrugged "You can have it if you want. My mom'll be sending me more clothes soon anyway."

"Zarra, its too much."

"Hey, how often do you get asked out by the hot older guy you've had a crush on. This is a special occasion. Consider it an early birthday present."

Pema hugged Zarra tightly and she laughed "Thank you Zarra. You're the best."

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

Tenzin was right on time. When Zarra opened the door she was surprised to see the professor not in his usual robes, but a nice jacket, a pair of pants and boots. She showed him in and offered him a seat on the couch which he politely took.

Tenzin looked around. This was an exceptionally nice apartment considering the inhabitants were a college student and a city hall page. The furniture was obviously new and the walls were covered with art and other nice décor. Just as he was starting to wonder how the two young ladies could possibly afford to live so lavishly, Pema stepped out of the room.

He felt like his breath had been pulled from his body. He'd only ever seen her in her City Hall page uniform with her hair pulled into a low ponytail under a silly little hat, but tonight she wore a form fitting floor length dress with shining silver buttons and short sleeves. He stood up "Pema," his eyes wondered over her body "you look-" he caught a quick glimpse of Zarra stepping out of the bedroom behind Pema "very nice."

Pema fought the urge to pout "Um thanks. You look very nice too." she said clutching her right hand to her left arm.

Zarra popped her hand then nudged her forward "Well, you guys have a nice night." she placed a hand on Tenzin's shoulder "I expect you to have her back at a decent time," she wagged a finger at him "and no hanky panky young man. I expect you to be a gentleman."

Tenzin laughed a little "Yes ma'am" and opened the door for Pema.

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

They walked quietly down the street about a foot apart for a few blocks before Tenzin said "I was able to get the reservations. I hope you're not afraid of heights."

She looked at him "Heights? No, I'm not afraid of heights. Why do you ask?"

"Well, because we'll be going on my bison. The restaurant's in Yu Dao. It'll take about forty minutes to get there. I hope that's okay."

Pema gave him a weary smile, "That's fine.

When they got to the stables he asked her "Are you sure you're okay with flying. If you're not we can do something in the city."

She looked at him with confusion "I'm fine with flying." she said and she walked ahead of him into the stable.

Tenzin stood amazed as the young woman walked strait to Oogi and gave him a nuzzling hug. She said something quietly to him and he let out a happy groan in return. She turned to Tenzin "I'm ready whenever you are."

With a small flourish of his hands he bent her into Oogi's saddle then he settled himself on the bison's head "Lets go my friend." he said and Oogi walked out of the stable. "When they were outside he said "Okay Oogi, to Yu Dao, yip yip."

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

After ten minutes in the air Pema called from the saddle "Air Temple Island looks so beautiful across the bay. It must have been great to grow up there."

Tenzin smiled and turned around "Yes it was. Where sis you grow up?"

She looked at him with confusion again "Well, I was born in Republic City, but we moved to the Fire Nation when I was five because my grandmother was really sick. When I was six she was doing better, but my parents decided they would stay to look after her. After that, well, you know."

Tenzin looked back again "I know what?"

She furrowed her brow at him "I knew it. See Oogi, I told you."

The sky bison growled and Tenzin turned around "You told him what?"

"Oh, I just told him that I thought you didn't remember me, but I knew he did." Tenzin just looked at her and Pema rolled her eyes "Tenzin, I found Yangchen's Oasis."

He scoffed "No you didn't. A little girl found that. Her name is Pi-" Pema shook her head at him smugly "Pim…Pema."

She laughed "Has anyone ever told you that you're a little thick?"

He blushed a little "Just my father." 'Oh spirits, this is that little girl. Damn she's so young. What the hell have I gotten myself into?' "So what brought you back to Republic City?"

"I wanted to see what it was like to be on my own. When Zarra told me that her aunt had given her an apartment and she wanted me to come live with her I took her up on her offer."

He smiled "Oh, well that was nice of her." 'Pema is little Pim. Oh spirits. Has it been that long since I've seen her. Okay, get that out of your head, ask something else.' "How sis you decide to work at City Hall."

"Actually it was your dad. My uncle kept going on and on about how he didn't want me in the city all by myself so Avatar Aang told him he would give me a job so he could keep and eye on me. I thanked him everyday for a month for getting Uncle Lee off my back."

Tenzin chuckled "That's Father for you."

They rode on and talked more, all the while Tenzin was fighting back thoughts of Pema's age. When they landed at their destination Oogi settled at the bottom of the hill where the restaurant sat. The two walked up the small hill and into the restaurant.

The hostess sat the couple in a rather large but very private booth in the back. Tenzin and Pema sat and talked some more. The more they talked the more comfortable they became with each other. By the time their food came they were less than a foot apart.

"Thank you." Tenzin said as the waiter placed the dishes on the table. The man bowed slightly, which they both returned, and walked away.

Tenzin reached for his chopsticks and Pema reached over and grabbed his right hand in both of hers. Her hands were so soft and she touched him so gently that he instinctively brushed his thumb across one of her hands. Her face flushed "Um, I didn't know you had a dent in your arrow."

He looked at her "Nobody's ever noticed it before, well one person, but you wouldn't believe it if I told you."

"Try me." she said.

As they picked at their food he told her about Jampa and Yangchen's life together and how the giant noticed his tattoo, but he left out what his message was. When he finished she said "I believe you."

"You do?"

"Yes" she pushed a dumpling around on her plate "I would sneak down there to play all the time when I was little. For old times sake I went down there a few days before I left and that's when I saw Jampa."

"You saw him?" Tenzin asked, obviously wanting to know more.

"Yeah, but it's a little embarrassing."

Tenzin smiled "oh, now you have to tell me."

She cupped one hand around the other in her lap, looked down and blushed brightly "Well, there was this guy, at the Western Temple. I was ready to be on my own, but I wasn't sure if I was ready to leave him. When I saw Jampa that day he told me 'Your destiny is not here, it is across the ocean. Your true love will be there waiting for you to be ready." At that last sentence Tenzin choked a little on the rice he'd been eating and Pema quickly patted him on his back "Are you alright?"

He cleared his throat "I'm fine." He took a sip of water "So, that's what Jampa told you?" he asked trying to regain his composure.

"Yes. I don't entirely understand what it meant, but I'm glad I left. That guy turned out to be a class A jerk."

"Well the it's a good thing you came here." Tenzin said as he placed a hand on top of the one she had rested on the table.

She turned to him and gave him a small smile, "I think so too."

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

As they went back down the hill Pema noticed how different Tenzin was in her presence. This was not the serious looking man she was used to seeing. He was relaxed with a pleasant smile on his face and a small bounce in his step. He had even gone so far as to have one hand rested in his pockets. If she thought he was handsome before, this more relaxed Tenzin was absolutely gorgeous.

Tenzin was fascinated with this young woman. There was so much more to her than it appeared. Besides being beautiful, she was extremely intelligent. She'd told him she had finished her schooling a full two years early and it showed. He didn't have to dumb down the conversation for her and she even surprised him by bringing up things that even some of his colleagues didn't know anything about. As they reached Oogi he wondered is this was the 'soul mate' the spirit told him about.