Disclaimer: I don't own ATLA... yada... yada... yada...

Chapter 6

Aang stood there alone, watching Zuko slowly retreat until he disappeared in to the Earth King's palace. Then turned and headed toward his house in the upper ring of Ba Sing Se. Silently berating himself with every step. Oblivious to the growing number of people gathering around him as he walked, all trying to catch a glimpse of the Avatar. The women were practically throwing themselves at him. Sulking when their efforts to capture his attention went without notice. Not wanting to go home just yet, he changed his route and found himself in front of the Jasmine Dragon. Upon entering, he inspected the crowd looking for an empty table, and was greeted by familiar voice.

"Avatar Aang! What a pleasant surprise! It is an honor to have you in my humble tea shop." Iroh said with a broad grin on his face, bowing deeply to him out of respect. "Come with me. I have the perfect table for you." He said as he straightened his posture, motioning for Aang to follow.

Iroh's boisterous greeting alerted the other patrons that 'The Avatar' was in the house. It was suddenly so quiet you could here a pin drop, and all eyes were focused on him as he made his way through the crowded tea shop. Making him feel a bit uncomfortable.

"Um... thanks." Aang replied nervously, following the man to an adjacent room that was elegantly furnished. Most likely used to entertain visiting diplomats or royalty.

"Please, have a seat." Iroh said, gesturing to the elaborately decorated table in front of him.

Aang took a seat without saying a word. Leaning forward, he placed his elbows on the table, and buried his face in his hands. A heavy sigh escaping his lips.

"I'll be right back." Iroh said, making his way to the kitchen. A few minutes later he returned with a tray carrying tea and pastries.

Iroh sat the tray on the table and poured Aang a cup ot tea, then one for himself and sat down on the opposite side of the table. He sat quietly, sipping his tea and enjoying one of the fluffy pastries.

"I've really messed things up Iroh." Aang said softly, breaking the silence.

"How so, Aang?" Iroh inquired. Taking another sip of his tea.

Aang sighed again, then spoke. "I let insecurity and jealousy cloud my judgement... and lost the one thing in the world that meant the most to me." He said solemnly.

"Katara, I presume, is what you lost?" Iroh asked.

Aang just looked up at him, and nodded somberly.

"Have you spoken to Katara about this Aang?" Iroh asked as he reached for another pastry.

"No. How can I? I mean... It's like, one night we're on the beach making - ... um... you know... we're happy... being together." Aang said, blushing and averting his eyes. "Then, the next day, I just... left. Without an explanation. She probably hates me." He added sadly.

"Hatred is a very powerful emotion, Aang." Iroh replied. "It can destroy you, if you give in to it." He added, then took a sip of his tea. "But if I know Katara, and I think I do, she would not allow it." He finished.

Aang didn't respond. He sat staring at the tea cup in front of him.

"Go to her Aang. Ask her for forgiveness. She will give it to you." Iroh said gently, then finished his tea and stood up. "Well, I must be getting back to work. Can I get you anything else? " He asked, smiling.

"No... Thanks Iroh." Aang replied.

"You're welcome Aang." Iroh said grinning widely, then disappeared in to the kitchen.

Aang sat there alone for a few minutes. Thinking about what Iroh said, and what he should do. 'Maybe he's right.' He thought. Then he stood up, and headed home to pack.

Sokka and Suki were on the deck of the ship leaning against the railing, staring at the ocean when Toph approached them. "Okay Snoozles. Sugarqueen is in her cabin, trying to get the little monster to go to sleep. Your little rugrat was out like a candle as soon as her head hit the pillow." She said.

"Good. That gives us a little time to plan our next move." Sokka replied.

"How do you even know that Aang is in the Earth Kingdom? He could be anywhere." Suki said.

"Because... Hawky brought me a message from Zuko a couple of days ago. He said he was going to a big meeting in Ba Sing Se with the Council of Four Nations." Sokka stated. "Which means?" He asked, looking at the girls expecting them to know the answer.

"The Avatar will have to be there too!" Toph exclaimed a few seconds later. A devilish grin spreading across her face.

"BINGO!" Sokka replied, looking quite proud of himself. "Oh... and Zuko and Mai are getting married." He added nonchalantly.

"WHAT!?" Both girls yelled simultaneously.

"Zuko finally asked Mai to marry him, and she said yes. Didn't say when the wedding was gonna be though." Sokka said casually.

"And when were you gonna share this with the rest of us?" Suki asked, thoroughly irritated.

"What! I just did!" Sokka exclaimed, defending himself.

"Yeah! Two days later!" Toph shouted at him.

"So... I forgot. I was too busy trying to figure out how to get my sister to the Earth Kingdom." Sokka explained. "Let's just try to stay focused here." He added.

Suki just rolled her eyes at her husband. "Okay. We got Katara this far. Now, how are we gonna get them together, when we get to Ba Sing Se?" She asked.

"I haven't figured that part out yet. We're going to Gaoling first anyway. But we can't stay there too long, because I don't know how long Aang's gonna be in Ba Sing Se." Sokka replied.

"Then maybe we should just head straight to Ba Sing Se, so we don't miss him." Toph suggested. "You guys can see my place some other time." She added.

"No. If we change the itinerary all of the sudden... Katara might get suspicious, and think we're up to something." Sokka stated.

"We are up to something, Captain Boomerang." Toph retorted.

"Anyway..." Sokka replied. Trying to ignore his friends' sarcastic remarks. "We'll go to Gaoling as planned, stay the night, then head for Ba Sing Se the next morning." He added. " I'll figure out the rest along the way " He finished.

"We'd better get some sleep. We should reach the Earth Kingdom by morning." Suki said, yawning.

"Come on Sweetie... It's bedtime." Katara said to her son, as she removed his clothes and put on his pajamas.

"I don't wanna go to sleep, Momma!" Tenzin protested.

"Look, Tenzin... Kya's already asleep." Katara said, motioning to the sleeping child in the bed next to her.

"But I'm not sleepy." Tenzin whined.

"Tenzin... Don't argue with me. You're going to bed and that's final." Katara said sternly.

"NO!" Tenzin shouted, thrusting his hands out in front of him intending to push his mother away.

Katara didn't have time to react as a blast of air blew her across the room and slammed her against the wall.

"MOMMA!" Tenzin shouted, running to his mother. Katara was still dazed, when he reached her. "Momma! Momma! I'm sorry!" He wailed, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Ssssshhhh... It's alright... Momma's okay sweetie." Katara cooed softly to her son, pulling him on to her lap. Cradling him, she began to rock him back and forth. Katara silently rocked the child until his sobs finally subsided.

"Momma?" Tenzin asked.

"What Sweetie?" Katara replied.

"How did I do that?" Tenzin asked.

Katara didn't respond right away, she wasn't sure how to explain it to him. "Well... Do you remember how momma can make water do special things?" She asked. Tenzin nodded in reply. "And how Aunt Toph can do things with the sand? And Uncle Zuko can make fire appear?" She continued. Again, Tenzin nodded. "Well... We all have a special gift that allows us to do that. And you have that gift too, only you control the air around you." She finished.

Tenzin sat quietly, trying to understand what his mother was saying.

"Not everyone has this gift, Tenzin. And some day you'll learn to conrol it." Katara told him. "Remember how I used to tell you stories about my home in the Southern Water Tribe?" She asked.

"Yeah." Tenzin answered.

"Well... Some people from the Water Tribes can bend the water and command it, like momma does. And others can't." Katara explained.

"Can Unca Sokka? Or Papaw? Or Great Gran Gran Kanna?" Tenzin asked curiously.

"No. They can't." Katara answered. "But there are people, living in the other nations, that can bend the other elements." She added.

"Momma, what are em... ewm... emelents?" Tezin asked.

"They're elements. There are four. Water, earth, fire and air." Katara replied, smiling. "I'm from one of the Water Tribes, so I can bend water. Uncle Zuko is from the Fire Nation, so he can bend fire. And Aunt Toph is from the Earth Kingdom, so she can bend the sand and earth. And even metal, because it has earth in it. You see how it works?" She asked her son.

Tenzin scrunched his nose, thinking about what his mother said. "Then... Where am I from, Momma?" He asked, slightly confused.

Katara froze. 'How am I going to explain that one?' She thought.

"How come I don't bend water, like you?" Tenzin asked.

"Um... That's a good question, Tenzin. It's because... um... you see... your daddy is... um... an Air Nomad. He can bend the air... like you can." Katara answered nervously.

"Where is my daddy, Momma?" Tenzin asked.

"Oh... well... he, um... he's... away. Doing important... things. To make the world a better place for us." Katara replied. Obviously flustered by his line of questioning.

"What kind of things? Why isn't he with us? Doesn't he love us?" Tenzin asked, frowning.

'I'm sure he would, if he knew you existed.' Katara silently scolded herself. "Alright. That's enough questions for tonight. It's late and you need to go to bed mister, or you're going to be tired in the morning and miss all of the fun." She said, changing the subject. Then, got to her feet and carried him over to his bed and placed him in it. Tucked him in, then kissed him goodnight. "Love you Sweetie." She said affectionately.

"Love you too, Momma." Tenzin replied sleepily, then rolled on to his side and closed his eyes.