Awake

"Gran Gran!" they heard Keahi yell again and ran into the room. When they got there she was kneeling across her grandfather hugging her mother. Then she laid in her grandfather's arms to hug him "Grandpa, I was afraid that…that you weren't coming back."

"I know Kay. I'm sorry I scared you." he said, patting her back. He sat up and smiled at Kya before the onslaught of hugs came at them. After everyone had made sure everything was alright Katara ushered them out so Aang could rest. Everyone stepped out except for Hakoda who leaned against the door.

"They're gone son." the old man said as he closed the door.

"Good," Aang said as he threw the covers off of him and got up "Katara's been babying me for months. It's going to be ten times worse now that everyone knows."

Hakoda sat on the bed, "I told you to tell them months ago. It would've given them time to get used to it."

"I know. I just didn't want to-"

"Make them feel like they do now." the chief finished

"Exactly. They all look so…mournful."

"Well what did you expect? They just found out you are dying."

Aang held his head down "I know." he moved and sat down next to his father-in-law "You know, I always wanted to tell you thank you."

"What for?"

"After the war and everything else calmed down everyone would go visit family, but I didn't have anywhere to go. You, Gran Gran and Bato, you gave me a home and treated me like family. It meant a lot. It still does."

Hakoda smiled "Well, Momma use to say 'He may be the all mighty Avatar, but he's still just a lost kid who needs somebody to love him."

Aang smiled "She was right."

Hakoda patted Aang on the back then grunted as he got up "Well, I'm going to lay these old bones down. While you and Kya were gallivanting around the spirit world it's gotten late."

"Goodnight Hakoda."

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

Aang quietly opened the door to Emiko and Itsuko's room. His older grandchildren lay strewn on pallets about the floor as the younger ones slept quietly in their beds. He smiled as a light snoring filled the room.

"They are beautiful, aren't they Pop." Heng said from behind him.

"They are." he said "So why are you up so late?"

"I always check on the babies at night. So you must be feeling okay to be up prowling around the house so late."

"Yes. I just wanted to see that they were resting. Apparently I scared everyone today."

"Yeah, well we didn't tell the little ones anything yet. We closed the door and told them that you, Kya and Keahi went out. They were asleep most of the time."

"That's good." he said looking back at the children "You know Heng, you're a good man. Kya couldn't have found anyone better than you. I'm glad you're together."

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

"You're up too, huh buddy." Aang said as he patted Oogi on the nose. Oogi let out a sad moan. "Oh, so Tenzin's been talking to you, has he?" Oogi moaned again "Come on, let's go for a walk." The bison lowered his head for Aang to get on. "Okay, I get it. You're babying me too."

Aang bent a little air under him and sat on Oogi's head. Instead of taking to the air the sky bison walked farther out into the village. Aang saw his youngest son sitting on a mat by the edge of the water. He tried to direct Oogi that way, but the bison had other plans. He kept straight. When Aang turned his head, he saw Pema sitting in front of one of the old tents.

She was so focused on Tenzin that she didn't notice Aang sit by her until he nudged her with his shoulder. She jumped "Oh, Aang. You scared me. What are you doing up this late?"

He shrugged "Couldn't sleep. Why are you two out in the cold this time of night?"

"I followed Tenzin out here. I don't even think he knows I followed him." she pulled her hood down farther over her head and pulled the quilt tighter around herself "He's taking things very hard. He won't talk to anyone. He just keeps-"

"Running away."

"Yes."

"Sorry 'bout that. It's an Air Nomad thing. He doesn't do it often, but when things get to be too much he tends to escape a little bit."

"I'm worried about him," she looked at him "and you too."

"Don't worry about me." he said with a smile "Look, go take some wood out of the tent, go over there, set up a pit and talk to your husband."

"But I don't want to disturb him while he's meditating."

Aang laughed "He's not meditating. He does that when he wants to brood, has since he was a little boy. He's pretty good at it too, so stay on him."

"I don't have any flint."

"I'm a fire bender."

Pema smiled, went into the tent and gathered an arm full of wood from the pile. The woman exited the tent and started out toward her new husband. "Pema." Aang called out after she'd taken a few steps.

"Yes?" she asked.

"You're exactly what he needed. My son is lucky to have you."

She stepped back and kissed him on the forehead "I'm the lucky one."

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

Over the next couple of days things changed rapidly. Lin, Ursa, Kya and Kimi came to the South Pole after getting the news. Aang was getting weaker by the moment and everyone noticed that Appa's health was declining too.

Aang sat in the bed as Tenzin shaved his head for him. The entire time the two were silent, just enjoying being around each other. They knew that any moment could be their last together.

Tenzin drew the razor across the last bit of stubble "Okay Father, you're nice and clean."

"Thank you Ten." he said quietly.

"Father, what's wrong?" Tenzin asked seeing the sad look on his father's face.

Aang didn't speak for a moment, then he held his head down and said "I'm sorry Tenzin."

A concerned look crossed the son's face and he moved to sit in front of his father "What are you sorry about?"

A tear fell from the older man's eye. "I never wanted you to know what it was like. I never wanted you to be the last air bender."

"Father, don't think about that. I'll be fine."

"I know you will," he said looking up at Tenzin "But I know what it feels like to have people look at you like you're some…living relic. To have people try and pressure you to do things you would never consider for the sake of repopulation. I never want you to let anyone put pressure on you…not even you."

"Father, you shouldn't worry about such things."

"You're my son. I worry about you. I worry about all of you."

"I know father." Tenzin said thoughtfully.

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

When Aang woke up that afternoon Bumi was sitting in a chair by his bed looking uncharacteristically serious. "Bumi?" he said through his waking grogginess.

The man looked at his father "Dad, I'm sorry I let you down. I let everybody down."

The man looked at his son "You have never let me down."

"Yes, I did. I heard what you said to Ten earlier, about people pressuring him and Kya told us about your Spirit World journey. I know what King Kuei wanted you to do. I know I'm not a bender, but maybe…maybe if I had a few kids then Tenzin wouldn't be the last air bender."

Aang struggled to sit up and Bumi was quickly by his side to help him "Boom, have you met a woman that you want to settle down with?"

"No Dad, but-"

"So do you think just having babies with random women would be the best thing for you or the children?"

"No Dad, but-"

"So let me get this straight, you'd be willing to sacrifice the right thing to satisfy the world? I told Ten I don't want him to take on that pressure and I'm telling you I don't want you to take it on either."

"Yes Dad."

"Look, you don't worry about this. You just keep following your path and just be Bumi. You've succeeded at everything so far, why would you want to change that now?"

"I know Dad, it's just…what if they approach Tenzin like they did you. I could save him from that."

"Bumi-"

"No Dad, listen. I don't have anybody like Tenzin does. I probably never will."

"Bumi, you are young. You can't say that. Sometimes love comes later in life. As for them coming to Ten about a harem, I've made arrangements and part of them was that my children or any of my descendants will never be approached for that again."

Bumi smiled "You're always one step ahead of us, aren't you Dad?"

"That's my job, my boy."

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

He was awake, but he kept his eyes closed and listened to the pi sho tiles slide across the board as someone played.

"I don't like the way he's sleeping so much." Sokka said as he pushed his tile.

"My mother slept a lot, you know, before." Zuko said flatly.

"This is all too crazy. I always thought I would go first, he's like my little brother."

"Mine too, but we always forget how old he really is." Zuko said "it's a gift that he's been with us that long."

"That's what I keep telling people." Aang said startling them both.

Sokka put his hand on his heart, "Don't do that! We thought you were sleeping."

Aang smiled "Yeah, I know. Did I scare you too Hotman?"

Zuko smiled "Yes you did. I almost lost bladder control." Sokka made a disgusted face and Zuko shrugged.

"Flamey-O." Aang said happily.

"See, it makes him happy." Zuko said looking at Sokka.

"Hey guys." Aang said in a serious tone.

"Yeah?" Sokka said back.

"I love you guys too."

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

Aang sat in the bed coloring with all of his grandchildren and little Iroh. The young adults of the group held it together as they tried to put on a brave face on for the little ones. Lin, Ursa and Kimi sat off to the side.

Toph listened as Aang laugh that old childish laugh of his. Lin looked at him sitting up against a pile of pillows looking thin from the fact that he was barely eating. It broke her heart to see him like that. She would've never thought that she would see him so weak.

Kimi smiled as she watched him with the children. This is how she wanted to remember Aang, happy and having fun. Suddenly she noticed Ama's lip start to tremble. She got up and went to the bed "Come on little ones, let's go see what Katara is doing."

"But we're drawing." Emiko said.

Aang looked at Kimi who shot a quick glance over at Ama "Well, you know what, I would like a little bit of egg custard and it would be great if Gran Gran had six little hands to help her."

"I'll help." Itsuko said raising her hand.

"That's two." Aang said jovially.

"I will." Iroh said with a bounce.

"Four."

"Six." Emiko added.

"And that's six. Now come and give me a hug and go get to work.

They all glomped onto him and Keahi jumped to pull them off. Aang held up his hand to stop her and she sat down. He squeezed the three children as hard as he could and kissed each one on the head "I want you all to remember that I love you very much, okay."

"Okay." the three said, then they ran off with Kimi.

Aang held his arms out to Ama and she went and leaned on him "I'm sorry Grandpa." she cried "I just don't want you to...to-"

He patted her on the back "I know. If I could, I would stay with you forever, but you know that's not how life works."

"I know Grandpa." she said drawing her hand across her face.

He looked at Adama and Keahi who were holding their heads down "I'm lucky though. I get to spend my last days with the people who love me. Most Avatars are not so fortunate, neither were their families." He reached out to the other two and they went to his bed "I love you, you remember that and I'll always be with you."

"Yes Grandpa." they said sadly.

Lin felt herself about to break down. She got up and said "Come on kids. Let's let Aang get some rest." as she guided them up off the bed.

Aang grabbed her hand "You know that goes the same for you."

She smiled as a tear fell "I know Aang."

When they walked out Toph moved and sat on the corner of the bed "Nice going making everyone cry Twinkletoes." she said choking back emotion.

"Yeah, well, you know me."

Toph nudged him with her fist and sat down beside him. She laid her head on his shoulder, he rested his head on hers. They didn't need to say anything.

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

It was as if he had woken up that morning just to tell her goodbye. He hadn't said a lot, there was nothing he had kept from her. He just had a few things to say one last time. Then, surrounded by his wife and children, those last words left his lips "I love you."

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

In an instant he stood in a small house decorated with Water tribe decor. A baby's cry pierced the air. He smiled at the new life, but tears ran down his face at the thoughts of the one he'd left behind.

"She is beautiful, isn't she Aang." a voice said from behind him as he watched the baby be passed to her mother.

"She is, Kyoshi." he said turning to a dozen or so of his past lives. He realized he was now a part of this baby girl's past lives.

"She's going to be a strong one." Roku said.

"And stubborn." Yangchen added with a chuckle.

"Shhhh." Kyoshi said "Listen, here it is."

"Have you made up your mind on what you want Senna?" the child's father asked as he gently brushed his hand across the baby's fine, dark hair.

"Yes Tonraq." The new mother said as she cuddled the baby closer to her cheek "her name is Korra."