Anything in italics is in the past.

Two more chapters to go. Hopefully I can post them by Monday.

ATLA and LOK originally by Bryke

57 The Avatar and the Healer: The Spirit World

Kya stood and looked around. It looked like she was in the South Pole, but it was different. She was outside now. The sun was bright out. She looked around slowly then she saw a glow in the horizon. She ran toward it.

As she got closer she saw a man standing, looking at two children run toward a glowing globe of ice. "Tenzin? What is this place?"

The man turned around "Kya?" Aang said catching sight of his daughter "How are you here?"

She was surprised by what she saw "Daddy? You look like you did when I got married. Wh-what is this?"

He smiled at her "Somehow you've followed me to the Spirit World." he went to her and put his arm around her "Come here, you've gotta see this."

"He's alive! We have to help!" the girl said as she snatched the mace off the boy's back.

"Katara! Get back here!" the boy yelled "We don't know what that thing is."

Kya looked at Aang open mouthed as he smiled at the scene in front of him "Dad, that's Mom and Uncle Sokka?"

"Yep." he said proudly as Katara struck one last blow and the ice broke open with a strong blast of light and Air.

Kya stood and watched things unfold in scenes as if she was watching a play. She laughed at the antics of her father and uncle, gasped at the sight of her great Gran Gran, and when the banished prince arrived she said "Zuko was kind of an ass when he was a kid, huh."

Aang laughed "Pretty much.'

She watched until she just had to ask "Dad, why do you look like that?"

He smiled "Because this is how I see myself. Just like that is how you see yourself." Aang turned her to a wall of ice.

Kya looked at her reflection and her jaw dropped. She also looked twenty years younger "I don't understand why this is happening."

"Well, they say before you die your life flashes before your eyes. Maybe you were supposed to see this too."

"Don't talk about dying Dad." she said turning to him.

"Okay." he said putting his arm around his daughter and pulling her to him "Let's just watch."

They stood together and watched things unfold. She cried as she watched young Aang discover the remains of his people and lose control. She stared in awe at the Kyoshi Warriors, laughed at King Bumi, felt pity for all the anger Zuko had, cried for Yue, cheered for Toph at Earth Rumble VI, and marveled over how much Ursa really did look like Suki. But when the young group got to Ba Sing Se she felt old fears bubble up in her.

"What? Why would I let go of Katara? I…I love her," the young avatar said to the guru.

"Well it's about time you said it out loud." Kya said looking up at her father "You really did always know."

"I did." he said as she watched his young self with his old master.

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

They watched on. As Aang and Iroh walked down into the crystal catacombs Kya felt her heart race. She knew what was coming. The healer reached out and grabbed her father's hand.

Aang looked at her. Kya's form was starting to change. She looked younger "It's okay." he said.

Aang broke through and there stood Katara with her hand on Zuko's face. Katara ran to Aang and Iroh to Zuko. The avatar and the prince had a hormonal teenaged boy exchange before Iroh sent Katara and Aang to find their friends, but they were cut off.

The battle started. Kya was in awe at the veracity they fought with at such a young age, and the fact that at fourteen Azula was just plain scary.

As she watched, she understood why they were trained like they were as children. The things their parents had had to do to survive their childhood were incredible.

She looked on. Katara was surrounded by the Dai Li , Aang was too, but with the addition of Zuko and Azula. He hunkered down, drew crystals around himself and let go. When he emerged he was in the Avatar State, but before he could do anything the lightning hit him.

Kya's form turned eight years old "Daddy!" she screamed as she tried to pull away, but Aang pulled her up into his arms.

He held her to him "Kya, look at me. That's just a vision. That was more than fifty years ago. I'm here with you."

She fought to catch her breath as she turned around, still a little girl in her father's arms. She saw Katara catch the boy's lifeless body and whisk him away while Iroh protected them from Zuko, Azula and the Dai Li. The tears flowed down her face as the younger version of her mother used spirit water to bring him back. His eyes opened for a few seconds, he smiled and then he was out again.

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

When Kya finally regained her composure, she returned to an adult. They watched on. They hid out in the Fire Nation, They lost the Battle on the Day of Black Sun, Zuko joined the group and taught Aang fire bending, The Ember Island players were awful, Ozai was frightening, and Iroh was awesome. The Harmony Restoration fell apart, Zuko and Azula found their mother, Azula decide it would be best for her to go live with the nuns, Aang and Katara had a misunderstanding that lead to an eight month break up followed by a reconciliation and their engagement.

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

The air felt thick in the room. After Katara told everyone about Aang's failing health the room went into mourning. Heng held his three older children close to him as Ama and Keahi cried softly into their brother's shoulders. Pema stood next to a sitting Tenzin rubbing the back of his head as she pressed his face in the sided of her hip. Bumi sat silently beside his mother with is head down, on the other side Zuko did the same.

Sokka stood in a corner, leaning on his cane with one hand, the other wrapped around Toph who had her face rested on his chest. "I knew his heart didn't feel right lately," she said quietly "but I never thought-" the words stuck in her throat.

Sokka pressed a kiss on the top of her head "I know."

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

Keahi quietly stepped away and went to check on her baby sisters. She smiled at the two little girls cuddled together, sleeping in their parent's bed. She quietly closed the door and went to see if her grandfather was resting.

The young fire bender walked into the room bathed in blue light and noticed that the tattoos on her grandfather's hands were glowing. Her mother sat perfectly still, leaning over Aang. Keahi walked closer cautiously "Mom, is Grandpa okay…Mom?"

The young woman gasped when she made it to the head of the bed. Kya sat there, her fingers pressed gently to Aang's cheek, her eyes glowing.

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

Toph's head jerked up. She thought she heard Keahi call for Katara. "Gran Gran." she heard Keahi say again in a panicked voice. Before she could say anything everyone heard the young woman scream "Gran Gran!"

Everyone jumped up, but they let Katara go down the hall first. When she got there she saw her oldest grandchild standing beside the bed with her hands over her mouth and her eyes stretched wide. Katara went to the girl and held her she looked at her husband and daughter.

"Gran Gran" Keahi said "What does it mean?"

"Aang has pulled her into the Spirit world with him somehow. They'll be alright. We just have to wait until they snap out of it."

"Has he ever pulled you in?" Heng asked "I mean have you ever been to the Spirit World?"

"No," she answered, "But Sokka and Zuko have been."

Everyone looked at the two men. Zuko said "She's fine. As long as she's with Aang everything will be okay."

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

Kya and Aang looked on as Aang tried to reason with King Kuei as Zuko looked on.

"Avatar Aang. I don't see why you're so upset about this." Kuei said "I've done it. It will solidify your legacy."

Aang was obviously livid "Our situations are hardly the same." he said as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"You're right." Kuei snipped "I'm not the last of my race."

"I have a wife!" Aang bit back "I love her. How dare you suggest I take on concubines!"

Kya looked at Aang. He had the same look of disgust on his face that his younger self did.

"It's no big deal" Kuei went on "There's someone I love, but I need to guarantee that I have heirs. This is the best way."

Aang rubbed his hand across his head and growled "Kuei. Why don't you get it? It's not the same. I mean no disrespect to you, but you can't compare your relationship with your male partner to mine with my wife. I'm sure if it were possible for the two of you to have children together concubines would not be an option for you either."

"I mean no disrespect Aang, but you and Katara have been married for four years now and I assume the two f you were having sex before then. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but your marriage isn't exactly a fruitful one.

"He didn't." Kya said, outraged.

"He did." Aang answered.

Aang stepped forward and Zuko jumped up and stood in front of him "King Kuei, I think this would be a good time to take a break. I believe the Avatar could use some fresh air."

The Earth King looked to see a look on the Avatar's face that he had never seen. It was absolutely murderous. "Yes, I think a break would be in order."

Aang and Zuko stepped out of the meeting room and the air bender stormed down the hall. Katara passed baby Ursa to Suki and hurried off behind him.

"What was the meeting about?" Katara asked as she hurried to keep up with him.

"Kuei is so infuriating!" Aang said as he burst through a pair of doors that led to the palace's garden "I can't believe he came at me like that."

"Aang, I need to tell you something." Katara said with a sweet smile on her face.

He was so angry that he didn't hear her "I mean the fact that her would think for one second that I would do that to you."

"Aang will you listen to me?"

He caught her by the arms "Katara, I don't care what Kuei or anyone else says, you're the only one I'll ever be with, the nerve of him to suggest I have a harem."

"Wait, what?" Katara said.

"Exactly. He's crazy." Aang went on throwing his hands into the air "You know what I should do? I should let Toph at him. She's been wanting to kick his ass for years now."

"Dad you curse?" Kya asked shocked

"Not usually. I was extremely angry that day."

"Aang, I really need to tell you something." Katara ventured again.

"If Zuko wasn't there I probably would've done it myself." Then he felt the sting of her water whip on his behind. He jumped and grabbed his cheeks "Katara! What was that for?"

"Monk! Will you listen to me for one minute!"

"I'm sorry." he said, still rubbing the sting on his butt "What did you need to tell me?"

She stepped to him and grabbed his hands "Aang, I'm pregnant." he just stared at her "Aang, did you hear me?"

He threw his head back and yelled "Whooooooohoooo!" then he pulled Katara into his arms.

Kya laughed "So that's where Bumi gets it."

Aang dropped to his knees ad placed his hands on Katara's hips "Hey Buddy. I'm waiting for you. I'm so excited." He stood back up and kissed his wife deeply "I love you. I love you. I love you." he said as he kissed her all across her face.

She giggled "I love you too Daddy."

"Daddy," he grinned "that's the best word in the world.' he turned to see the Fire Lord standing a few feet behind them smiling "Zuko! I'm going to be a daddy!"

Zuko adjusted his own child in his arms "I heard. That's great Buddy."

"Yeah it is. And you can tell Kuei the I'm taking my pregnant wife home and if he doesn't like it her can eat a dick."

Kya gave Aang a disapproving look "Dad, really? Eat a dick?"

"Hey, I heard Sokka say it and it seemed like the best insult ever."

Kya laughed "Yeah, that was kind of a good one."

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

They stood in the darkened bedroom of Aang and Katara's Ba Sing Se house. Katara rolled her pregnant body out of bed and went to the bathroom. Aang laid in bed, shuddering.

"Dad? Were you crying?" Kya asked.

"Yeah."

Katara came out of the bathroom and Aang stiffened. He inadvertently let out a stuttered breath. Katara's face softened and she rested her hands on her belly as she headed back to the bed. The water bender crawled on the bed, sat behind her husband and leaned over him "Aang." she said as she brushed the tears from his cheeks "It's okay. I'm here. You wanna talk about it."

"The baby will be here soon, you need your rest." he said rubbing his hand across the other cheek.

"All I do is rest." she retorted with a small smile. You and Iroh won't let me do anything." she rubbed his back "Are you feeling lonely again?" he balled into himself more and nodded his head "Sweetie, talk to me, you'll feel better."

Aang turned on his back and looked at her with puffy red eyes "Everyone's gone and it's all my fault. I could've stayed and fought-"

"And died. I hate to say it like that Aang, but it was meant for you to be frozen in that iceberg. If you hadn't Ozai would still be Fire Lord, the Earth Kingdom would have been burned to a crisp, we would have been next, Zuko…I hate to even think of where Zuko would be." she took his hand and put it on her stomach "and this little one wouldn't be here."

The corner of Aang's mouth tugged a bit "I guess. I just…being the last Air Nomad…my heart gets heavy sometimes." the baby seemed to do flips "What's wrong? Why's the baby doing that?"

"I think he does that when he's agitated. Maybe he doesn't like what you just said."

"What do you mean?" he asked leaning up on his elbows.

"I mean you're not the last Air Nomad anymore. Maybe the baby feels like I do, that you shouldn't feel alone anymore." he sat up "He's here, the acolytes are here," she put her hand on his cheek "I'm here."

He put his hand on hers and leaned into it "I know sweetie." he said with a smile, then he leaned down to her stomach 'I'm sorry buddy. I didn't mean to discount you," he looked up "or your mommy." then he kissed her.

"Aw, Dad, that's so sweet." Kya said leaning on her father's shoulder.

"Yeah." he said with a big smile on his face "Whoever's running this thing needs to move on cause you won't think it's so sweet in a minute."

She looked at him "Why'd you say that?" she looked back at the scene "Dad. That kiss is lingering a little too long. Dad, did you just put your hand…DAD!" she covered her eyes and turned into his chest. "Dad, really."

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

A baby's cry snapped Kya back to attention. She turned to see a woman handing a wrapped bundle to her now lightly bearded father.

"Avatar Aang, here is your son."

Aang nuzzled his face to the baby "Hello my boy." he smiled "Katara, we have a son." the he saw her looking weak and pale.

She forced a smile "I know Aang."

He looked to the woman "What's wrong? Why does she look so weak?"" then he paid attention to the fact that he was slowly being ushered towards the door.

"We'll take good care of her Avatar Aang, but we need you to take the baby and step out for a while."

He tried to see Katara, but she was soon surrounded by healers. The door closed and he was left standing there, confused, with his newborn son in his arms. The baby fussed "It's okay little one. Mommy's going to be just fine." Aang rocked him for a moment "let's go find your big sister. She's been waiting for you."

They turned to head down the hall when a man ran up to him "Avatar Aang. King Bumi sent me to find you. He's not doing very well and he has been asking for you."

Aang looked down at the bundle in his arms "Come on, we have a friend to go visit first." he said with a forced smile.

The messenger looked at the baby "Congratulations on the new baby Avatar Aang." the man said "I'm sorry I interrupted you at such an important moment."

Aang gave the man a tired smile "If you're not busy, could you do me a favor?"

"It would be my pleasure."

"Could you stay here and let the healers know where I've gone."

"Yes Avatar Aang."

Aang took his newborn son and walked across the courtyard to the palace and down to his oldest friend's room. He stuck his head into the door "Hey Bumi, I've got a surprise for you."

The eccentric old king held his head up "Aang, hasn't anyone ever told you it's not good to surprise sick old people."

Aang chuckled "You'll like it. I promise." he said as he stepped inside "I have a son."

The old man weakly clapped his hands together "Wonderful my boy, wonderful. Why didn't you send someone to tell me when he was born?"

"Because he was just born." he looked at the baby as he crossed over to the chair beside the bed "He's not a half hour old yet."

"And you're here? Katara can't be pleased with that."

Aang hugged the baby to him "There's something wrong. The healers put us out so they could work on her. I don't know what's going on."

Bumi put his hand on Aang's arm "Everything is going to be fine. You'll see." Aang smiled at him.

There was a knock on the door, then it opened. It was the elder healer "Good afternoon your highness." she said bowing to King Bumi "Avatar Aang, you can see your wife now."

He turned to Bumi "Go Aang, be with Katara. I'll be here when you come back."

Aang nodded and went to the healer. Once they were outside the villa door she stopped him "Avatar Aang, I must tell you something before you go in."

Aang stopped "What is it?"

The woman hesitated "Your wife is doing well, but the birth was hard on her. I'm afraid this baby will be her last."

He looked at her with sad eyes "Are you sure?"

"Yes, we are."

"And she is fine?"

"She is."

"Then that's all that matters." he said as her went in to see Katara.

Aang sat on the bed bedside a resting Katara. She opened her eyes slowly and turned her head toward him "Hi Sweetie." she said with a weak smile.

"Hi." he said quietly "There's somebody here who's been waiting to meet you."

He placed the baby in her arms. "Hello little Bumi." she said lightly.

He looked at her "Bumi?"

"Yes. You named Kya, I name this baby. He feels like a Bumi."

"King Bumi will be thrilled."

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

Keahi refused to leave her mother and grandfather. She sat in a chair next to the bed and watched them glow. It was amazing and unsettling at the same time.

"You really shouldn't worry about her. Aang will take good care of her." Zuko said from the door.

"I know he will." she said "It's just, I want to be here when they come back." she looked at him "Gran Gran said you've been to the Spirit World before.

"I have."

Were you there for a long time?" she asked looking at him wide eyed.

"Time if different there. For Aang and I weeks passed, but here it was only an hour or so."

"But Sifu, its already been hours. What if they don't come back?"

"They will. They're either covering a great deal of time or they're doing something important. Either way they will be back."

She looked back at her mother. "I hope so."

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

"Hello Avatar Aang. It's good to have you on my ship." the United Forces drill sergeant said as her bowed to Aang.

Aang bowed back "It's good to be here."

"When they said you were coming to see the ship I was surprised. We're use to drop ins form Councilman Sokka on the ships, but to have you here, well, it's an honor." the man went on.

"Oh, no, the honor is mine." Aang said "So how are your new recruits looking?"

"They're looking good. We've got a few knuckle heads, but that's to be expected." Aang smiled and a thought crossed the sergeant's mind "But this one kid, he's talented, got all the promise in the world, but he's nuttier than a pheasant-squirrel."

The Avatar laughed out loud "Sounds like you have your hands full."

"Yes I do. And get this, the kid has the same name as your son. There are at least fifteen Bumis that joined up this year. Look, I grew up in Omashu. I was at King Bumi's funeral and I know that your son was born a week before the king died. After you announced that you named your son after him every Lee, Shu and Chang who had a son over the next few months named their kid after the king."

"I heard about that." Aang said as they arrived at the group of young recruits cleaning the deck.

"Yes, we've got three of them. I call them by their port to keep them straight. That Bumi Republic, well I know King Bumi was a good friend of your, and I mean no disrespect, but I think that kid is crazier than the old king was." he turned to hid recruits "AT-TEN-TION!" The young adults scurried into a line with serious looks on their face except for one. "All right you cabbage slugs. The Avatar has come to pay us a visit and you will at least pretend like you've learned something."

"Sir, yes sir!" the trainees answered, one still beaming in the sergeant's direction.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and held his head down "You see what I mean Avatar Aang?" he mumbled "The kid has no discipline. Excuse me." He stepped closer to the young man "You seem especially enthused today slug." the sergeant snarled.

"Sir, yes Sir!" the young man answered, still smiling.

"May I ask why?"

"Excited to see the Avatar Sir!"

"Oh, you're excited to see the Avatar." the man mocked "I did not realize I had fangirls on my ship! Do you have something to say to the Avatar, Fangirl?"

"Sir, yes sir!"

"Let's hear it then." The man said folding his arms. The young man stepped forward grinning even wider "Well, what is it?"

"Hey Dad!" Bumi said happily.

The sergeant swung around to see the Avatar with the same huge smile on his face "Hey Boom." he said back "I've heard about you."

"The other recruits could barely contain their laughter "Yeah, well, you know me." Bumi shrugged. He turned to the sergeant "Permission to hug my father sir."

The embarrassed man waved his hand "Granted."

Kya laughed "Why did you let that poor man go on like that."

Aang smiled and looked at her "like King Bumi used to say, it's fun to mess with people."

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

Katara watched as her brother moved around the house with his cane. She hated that thing. It was another reminder that they were all getting old. That leg had always bothered him on and off since he'd fallen from that airship, but now it was weak and he needed a cane to get around.

She looked at Zuko and Toph. Age was telling on all of them. Her hair was gray with white streaks, but Toph's hair had gone completely white prematurely. It was actually kind of beautiful. She and Sokka had both stepped down from their positions six months earlier so they could enjoy the rest of their lives.

Zuko was aging too. His deep brown hair had streaks of silver and his face was wrinkling. Only his scar was left unchanged by time. He was talking about retiring too, saying Ursa was far too old to still be a Crown Princess. It was time she took her place on the throne so he could rest.

Katara did not like all this aging.