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

Authors note: I fell on the ice and broke a rib, recently. So I'll have to take it easy for awhile. Which means... I'll have plenty of time to work on my story. :-)

Chapter 14

Sokka, Suki, Kya and Toph came through the front door, and saw Katara and Tenzin laying down in the living room floor, laughing. Katara stopped laughing abruptly when she saw them enter, a scowl forming on her face. The trio plastered 'shit-eating-grins' on their faces simultaneously, when they saw Katara look at them angrily. Then walked briskly toward their bedrooms, to avoid a confrontation with her.

" Hold it right there, you guys." Katara said to them sternly, as she sat up. The group stopped dead in their tracks. Knowing they were done for. And slowly turned around with innocent smiles on their faces, as if they had done nothing wrong. " Have a seat. I think we need to have a little talk." She said to them, gesturing toward the couch. " Tenzin... Why don't you take your cousin in to the kitchen, so I can talk to the grown ups for a bit." She said to her son. Tenzin walked over and took Kya from Suki's arms. Barely able to carry her, due to his size. Then quietly walked in to the kitchen. " So... Who would like to go first?" She asked, as she stared down the trio on the couch. The three of them just looked at each other. None of them wanted to speak.

" Go first about what?" Toph asked, innocently. Finally breaking the silence.

" Don't play stupid with me, Toph. That's Sokka's job." Katara said, annoyed.

" Hey!" Sokka interjected, feeling insulted. Katara just shot him a dirty look, and he quickly shut his mouth and looked away.

" Oh... I guess you're referring to Twinkletoes' impromptu visit last night." Toph said. Insinuating that they had nothing to do with it.

" Don't even try it, Toph. I know very well you guys were involved. Aang told me so." Katara said to her, angrily.

" Okay guys... The jig is up. We might as well fess up." Toph said to her co-conspirators.

Then, all three of them tried to talk at the same time. Explaining their involment in the scheme. But, Katara couldn't understand a thing as they all tried to talk over each other.

" Hold it! Hold it!" Katara shouted. Putting her hands up toward them, to get them to stop talking. All three of them shut up, immediately. And looked at her. " Why don't you go first, Sokka. Since I'm sure you were the mastermind behind this." She said to her brother, glaring.

" Well... I had a feeling that Aang might be in Ba Sing Se." Sokka started. " So, I thought I would drop in and say 'hi' to him, while we were in town." He continued. Smiling weakly at his sister. " And... You just happened to come up in our conversation. So... I told him you were in town too, and that he should drop by and say 'hi'." He explained, then smiled innocently. Suki and Toph both nodding their heads vigorously in agreement.

" So... You had no idea that Aang would be in Ba Sing Se when you suggested this little vacation then?" Katara asked skeptically. Raising an eyebrow. All three of the accused shook their heads back and forth simultaneously. Not saying a word. " And... You expect me to believe that?" She asked them. The trio just nodded their heads vigorously, staying silent. " Yeah, right!" She shouted at them. And they all hung their heads low, dejected.

" Okay... Maybe I did get a message from Zuko, saying that he had a council meeting in Ba Sing Se." Sokka confessed quietly.

" I see... And you knew that Aang would have to go to the meeting too. Didn't you?" Katara asked, angrily.

" Hey... She figured that out a lot quicker than you guys did." Sokka said, smirking at his allies. Then quickly shut his mouth and looked down, when he realized that he implicated them as well.

" So you two knew about this the whole time, too!" Katara exclaimed furiously. Both girls just nodded slightly, then hung their heads low. " I can't believe you guys! Why can't you just mind your own business, and let me do things when I'm ready?" She shouted at them, enraged.

" Because, if we left it up to you, Aang would never know about his son!" Sokka shouted back at her, angrily. Then, realizing how loudly he said that, he looked back to the kitchen doorway to make sure Tenzin wasn't within hearing distance.

" We were only trying to help, Katara." Suki said softly. And Toph nodded in agreement, staying silent.

Katara didn't reply. She was furious, and needed to calm down. She knew deep down, that they only had her best interests at heart. And Tenzin's. And Sokka was probably right. As much as she hated to admit it. She probably still would be back on Kyoshi Island procrastinating, if they hadn't intervened. She let out a heavy sigh. " I know you guys meant well." She said quietly. " But it really makes me mad that you manipulated me this way. And Aang, too" She added.

" We're sorry Katara. But we couldn't stand to see you so miserable anymore." Sokka said softly to his sister. Suki and Toph gently nodding in agreement. " We know you still love Aang." He said. " And he loves you too." He added. " Now... You should let Tenzin have a chance to love him." He finished. Then smiled softly at his sister.

" I know." She said, barely above a whisper. Then hung her head in defeat.

" I'd better put Kya down for a nap." Suki said quietly. Then got up and walked to the kitchen to retrieve her daughter. Then went to their bedroom and shut the door.

" I told The Duke I'd meet him in town." Toph said quickly, then got up and left.

" Katara?" Sokka asked.

" What?" Katara replied sharply.

" I'd like to take Tenzin in to town for a while, if it's okay with you?" Sokka asked. " For a little man time." He added. Wanting to give his sister some time to herself.

" I don't know... Are you going to bring him back? Or stay out all night again?" Katara asked, sarcastically.

" I'll bring him back by supper time." Sokka said, reassuringly.

" Okay, then." Katara replied, sighing. Then rubbed her temples, beginning to get a headache.

Sokka quietly got up and went to the kitchen to get Tenzin. Then the two men left, heading in to town.

Aang had been in his room sulking for most of the day. Bored out of his mind and going stir crazy, he decided to take off for a while. Grabbing his glider, he stepped out on to his balcony and threw it toward the sky. Then gracefully dove after it, grabbing on to the handles and securing his feet easily as he ascended toward the clouds. The air whipping through his robes. It felt good to be in the sky, soaring above the city. Forgetting about his worries for awhile. He sailed over the city, looking down at the crowds of people below. They were stopping to stare, pointing up at him as he flew over. He smiled and dove closer to the ground. Startling some of the spectators near him, causing them to scatter. Chuckling, he leveled out, then ascended a bit and flew toward the center of town. Enjoying the scenery of the magnificent city below. Suddenly, he spotted a familiar figure in the crowd. It was Sokka, and he was leading a small child by the hand through the crowded streets below. He found a clearing on the street, then descended and landed softly. Snapping his glider closed, he made his way through the crowd to where he had seen Sokka and the child.

" Hey, Sokka!" Aang said, as he walked up behind his friend. Causing Sokka to quickly jerk and turn around to face him, startled.

" Damn it, Aang! You scared the shit out of me!" Sokka shouted at him. Then quickly put his hand over his mouth and looked at Tenzin. " I mean... Doggonit Aang. You scared me to death." He said quickly, trying to amend the curse words he had just used in front of his nephew.

Aang laughed at his friend's attempt to correct his use of foul language in front of the child. Even if it was too late. It sure was funny. Then he glanced at the boy holding Sokka's hand, and smiled. Surprised to see who it was. " Well, hello again, Tenzin." He said to the boy, with a bright smile on his face.

" Hi Aang!" Tenzin shouted gleefully. Happy to see the airbender.

" You two know each other?" Sokka asked, confused. Looking at Tenzin, then back at Aang.

" Yeah... We met this morning when I went by the Jasmine Dragon." Aang explained. " I see Iroh has you helping him watch Tenzin." He said, chuckling.

" Aang helped me fix my castle!" Tenzin exclaimed, grinning widely.

" Um... Yeah... That's nice." Sokka said, a bit uncomfortable. Afraid Tenzin might say something that would give away his identity. He knew that Katara hadn't told Aang about him yet, and he didn't want to be the one to spill the beans.

" So... What are you guys up to?" Aang asked curiously.

" Oh... Well... We were just heading back. Tenzin needs to get home." Sokka replied, nervously. " But -" Tenzin started to interject, but Sokka put his hand up to him. Gesturing for him to stop. Tenzin just frowned at him, and kicked the dirt with his foot.

" Oh, that's too bad. I was hoping maybe we could hang out for awhile." Aang said, disappointed.

Tenzin started to speak, but Sokka squeezed his hand hard, before he could utter a word. Still smiling at Aang.

" Ow!" Tenzin squealed. Then looked at his uncle, scowling.

Aang just looked at the two of them, confused. Not witnessing the silent display between them.

" Well, we'd better get going. Don't want to be late." Sokka said. " See ya later, Aang." He added, smiling. Then turned, and quickly walked away from his friend. Dragging his nephew along with him.

" See ya." Aang said as they walked away, still confused. Hoping that his friend wasn't brushing him off because of what happend between him and Katara.

Tenzin turned around to look at Aang as they walked away. Frowning, he waved goodbye to his new friend. Then turned back around and disappeared into the crowd with his uncle.