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

Chapter 16

Aang did feel better after he finished meditating. He told Katara that he would give her time to think, and that she could contact him when she was ready to talk. But that didn't mean he couldn't contact Sokka or Toph. Maybe he could get together with one of them, or both. 'Maybe I'll send a messenger hawk tomorrow, and invite them over.' He thought. Then went to the kitchen to get a bit to eat, before turning in for the night.

After her talk with Sokka, Katara went to her room to get Tenzin. He was sitting on the floor playing with the building blocks they had bought in the city. She smiled as she watched him. Imagining how cute it must have been when he and Aang were playing together at Iroh's tea shop. " You should get washed up for dinner soon, Tenzin." She said to her son.

" Oh, hi momma. Okay, I will in a minute." Tenzin answered.

" Take your time. I'm just going to get started on dinner." Katara replied, then walked out of the room toward the kitchen. Entering the kitchen, she found her brother sitting at the table eating sliced moon peaches and bread with honey. " Don't eat too much Sokka, I'm going to start fixing dinner." She told him.

" Don't worry, this is just a snack. To hold me over til dinner." Sokka replied. Then stuffed his mouth with another honey drenched piece of bread.

Katara laughed at her brother, and his bottomless pit for a stomach. Then began preparing their evening meal.

After dinner the group split up and headed toward their rooms to get ready for bed. Katara went to the bathroom and prepared a bath for Tenzin. Then helped him undress and lifted him in to the tub. Putting some of his favorite bath toys in with him. She quietly watched him play in the bath water. Occasionally making waves or small swirling eddy's in the water, to make things more fun for him. Which he thoroughly enjoyed. Then, when she thought he had played enough, she started washing him with a lathered cloth. " Tenzin..." She said.

" Yeah, momma?" Tenzin answered.

" Tomorrow... When Aang comes over for dinner... I'd like for you to let me do most of the talking." Katara replied.

" Okay, momma. How come?" Tenzin asked her curiously.

" Because... Aang doesn't know I have a son. It might be quite a surprise for him when he finds out." Katara said. " And I'd like to be the one to tell him. When the time is right." She added.

" Oh... Okay." Tenzin replied.

" I'd like for you to try not to call me momma, okay? Until after I tell him." Katara said. " It would probably be best if you didn't say much." She added. " Do you understand?" She asked.

" I guess so." Tenzin replied, shrugging his shoulders.

" Thanks, Sweetie." Katara said as she rinsed him off, then pulled him out of the tub and wrapped him in a towel.

" You're welcome, momma." Tenzin replied, smiling.

Then mother and son went to their bedroom and got dressed for bed. Then settled in for a good nights sleep.

The next morning, Katara woke up refreshed. Feeling a bit relieved that she was finally going to tell Aang about Tenzin. She decided that she would send a messenger to Aang's house, inviting him for dinner. And ask the messenger to wait for Aang's reply. To be sure that he would be coming. Sitting down at her desk, she pulled out a piece of parchment and smoothed it out against the desk. Then began composing the invitation. When she was finished, she rolled up the parchment and wrapped a tie around it to secure it. Then got dressed, woke up Tenzin, and headed to the kitchen to start breakfast. She would ask Suki to watch Tenzin this morning so she could go in to town and get what she needed for dinner, then send the message to Aang.

After breakfast, she kissed Tenzin goodbye and thanked Suki for keeping an eye on him while she was gone. Then left the house and headed in to the city to shop, and find a messenger to deliver the invitation to Aang.

Aang was up early, and had already eaten breakfast before the kitchen staff realized it. He enjoyed the peace and quiet of the kitchen, without the servants waiting on him hand and foot. Which rarely happened. He often wondered if they ever slept, since they always seemed to be ready for his every move. He sat quietly in the living floor playing with Momo and thinking about his friends. When his thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a knock on the front door. " I'll get it!" He shouted to the servants as he got up from the floor. Then went to the door and opened it. Much to the annoyance of his butler.

" Hello. I have a message for Aang." The man at the door told him.

" I'm Aang." He replied, eagerly taking the scroll from the man's hand. Then opened it and read it's contents.

- Aang,

I am writing to invite you over to our house for dinner tonight. I was hoping that we could talk after dinner, so I can explain things. There will be one other dinner guest, I hope you don't mind. It will all make sense after we talk.

I've asked the messenger to wait for your reply.

Sincerely,

Katara. -

Aang looked up at the man still standing in the doorway. Obviously waiting for his reply. " Wait right here." He told him, then ran to find a piece of parchment to pen his reply. Once finished, he rolled up the parchment and secured it with a tie. Then returned to the man at the door. " Please, take this to the young lady that sent you." He said. Then handed the man the scroll containing his reply, and several gold pieces.

" Of course, Sir. Thank you, Sir!" The man said with excitement. Eyeing the gold pieces in his hand. Then quickly rushed off to deliver the message.

Aang stood there smiling, watching the messenger disappear in to the city. " Yes!" He shouted, after he shut the door. " I'm going to have dinner with Katara tonight, Momo!" He told the lemur with excitement. Grinning from ear to ear. The lemur chattered and chirped in response. As if he were congratulating Aang. " I've got to figure out what I'm going to wear!" He told the lemur, then ran to his room. With Momo following close behind him.

Katara was putting away the food and supplies that she had purchased in the city when she heard someone knocking on the front door. Noticing that no one else was around to answer the door, she stopped what she was doing and went to the door and opened it. The messenger that she had sent to Aang's house earlier, was standing there with a scroll in his hand.

" I have the reply to your message, Miss." The man said to her.

" Thank you." Katara replied, taking the scroll. " Wait right here." She added, then walked out of the room. Returning a few seconds later, she placed two gold coins in his hand.

" Thank you, Miss!" The man said, smiling brightly. Then turned and walked away.

Katara shut the door, and walked over and sat down on the couch. Then anxiously opened the scroll and read what was inside.

- Katara,

It would be my pleasure to have dinner with you tonight. Thank you for your invitation.

I will arrive just after sundown.

Until then,

your's always,

Aang. -

Katara could barely contain her excitement. She smiled, and went back to the kitchen to finish putting things away. Then went to her room to find the perfect outfit for tonight.