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

Chapter 18

Katara wrapped her arms tightly around Aangs neck then started sobbing in to his chest. Not tears of sorrow, but tears of joy. Aang stroked her hair as he held her, and started swaying back and forth. " Sssssshhhhhh... It's okay. It's okay." He whispered to her, trying to comfort her.

Reminding her of a day over four years ago. When she was held by another man that was trying to comfort her. Telling her that Aang would be alright. That he would win the battle against Ozai. As her sobs faded, she smiled softly. Knowing that Aang was the man holding her, and whispering softly to her this time. Katara slowly pulled back and looked up at Aang. Then gazed in to his eyes. Those gorgeous glacier grey eyes. She was captivated by them. Unable to look away. " I love you too, Aang." She said to him softly.

Aang slowly leaned down and captured Katara's lips with his own. Kissing her with passion, and hunger as he deepened the kiss. Then gently pulled back and rested his forehead against hers, closing his eyes. His heart so filled with joy that he thought it might explode in his chest.

" Aang?" Katara said softly.

" Umhm." Aang answered. Still touching his forehead to hers, his eyes still closed.

" What are we going to tell Tenzin?" Katara asked, as she pulled back to look at him.

" We'll tell him the truth." Aang said, as he looked at her. Smiling softly.

" I think we should tell him together." Katara said.

" I agree." Aang replied. " Let's go and get him. And tell him right now." He added, with a serious look on his face.

" Now?" Katara asked nervously. Not quite sure she was ready.

" Yes... Now." Aang replied firmly. " I want him to know who his father is, Katara." He added. " I want to get to know him. And spend as much time with him as I can." He finished. Gently stroking her cheek with his thumb.

Katara stood silently absorbing Aang's words. Knowing that he was right, but too afraid to act. He deserved the right to know his son. And Tenzin deserved the right to know his father. But, everything was happening so fast. And it frightened her.

" Don't be afraid, Katara. I'll be there with you." Aang told her. As if he could read her thoughts. " I'll never leave you again." He added softly. Then placed his finger under her chin, and lifted her face to look up at him. " I want us to be a family." He finished, searching her eyes.

" I want us to be a family, too." Katara replied softly. Then cupped his cheek with her hand, and tenderly kissed his lips.

Just then, Tenzin walked in to the room and witnessed the tender kiss his mother gave Aang. " Ugh... Get a room." He said to them, disgusted.

Katara and Aang pulled apart quickly and looked at Tenzin with disbelief.

" Where did you hear something like that?" Katara asked her son. Shocked by his comment.

" I heard you say that to Unca Sokka and Aunt Suki once." Tenzin replied, matter-of-factly. Causing Katara and Aang to laugh uncontrollably. Then a few minutes later, He interrupted their laughter. " Can we finish eating now, momma? I'm hungry." He whined.

" Yes. Of course, we can." Katara said softly, smiling at her son. Aang smiled at him, too.

Then Aang and Tenzin took their seats at the table, while Katara served the main course, then sat down with them to eat. And the three of them chatted casually throughout dinner.

After dinner, Katara cleaned the table and started washing the dishes. As Aang and Tenzin played with the building blocks on the kitchen floor. Building a castle together, and talking quietly. She stopped for a minute to watch them play. Her heart overflowing with love for the two most important men in her life. Then, she finished the dishes and dried her hands. Placing the towel on the counter. Then walked over to her 'family' and sat down with them on the floor. " That's quite a castle, you two." She said, admiring their handiwork.

" Thanks, momma!" Tenzin replied, smiling brightly at her. " Aang helped me, alot." He added. Then he smiled at Aang. Aang smiled back at him, warmly.

" Tenzin... There's something that Aang and I want to tell you." Katara said, nervously.

" What is it, momma?" Tenzin asked curiously. Scrunching his nose.

Aang reached over and squeezed Katara's hand lightly. Encouraging her to continue and reassuring her that he was there.

" Do you remember when I told you that your daddy was away... Doing important things, to make the world better for us?" Katara asked him.

" Yeah." Tenzin replied, nodding.

" Well... He's come back, Tenzin. And he's here with us... right now." Katara told him. Then looked at Aang, smiling.

" Huh? What do you mean, momma?" Tenzin asked her, confused.

" What your momma's trying to tell you, Tenzin... Is that... I'm your daddy." Aang told him. Looking in to his son's eyes.

" You're... My daddy?" Tenzin asked Aang incredulously. Still looking a bit confused.

" Yes, Tenzin. I went away, before you were born. And now I've come back." Aang explained, smiling softly.

" You're Avatar Aang? My daddy?" Tenzin said, more than asked. Suddenly realizing who Aang was. Staring at him with awe.

" Yes. I am." Aang replied softly.

" How did you know that The Avatar was your daddy, Tenzin?" Katara asked him, curiously. " I never told you that." She added, surprised.

" Aunt Toph told me." Tenzin replied casually. " It was supposed to be a secret." He added quietly. Then smiled at his mother.

" Oh... I see." Katara replied, then rolled her eyes. Not a bit surprised that Toph told him, behind her back.

Aang looked at Katara and chuckled lightly. Knowing exactly what was going through her mind. Then he slowly turned to look back at his son, trying to gauge his reaction to the news.

Tenzin sat quietly thinking about everything they told him. He was happy to finally meet his daddy, but sad because he left them before he was born. " Why did you leave us?" He asked Aang curiously. " Didn't you love us?" He added, frowning. Patiently waiting for Aang to reply.

" It's difficult to explain, Tenzin." Aang replied nervously. His voice dry and raspy, so he cleared his throat. " I would have been with you, if I could have. Loving both you and your mother." He explained. " But... the situation wouldn't allow it." He added, sadly. Hoping his son would understand. " Can you forgive me?" He asked, as he looked deep in to Tenzin's eyes.

" I guess so." Tenzin said, shrugging his shoulders. Then he jumped up quickly and dove on to Aang's lap, and hugged him fiercly.

Aang squeezed Tenzin tightly, then laughed happily. Glad that his son could so easily forgive him. Then tears welled up in his eyes, and streamed down his face as he held his son closely in his arms.