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

Chapter 21

Later that evening Katara and Suki were in the kitchen fixing dinner, while the rest of the gaang sat in the living room talking and catching up. Tenzin was playing with his building blocks on the floor trying to show his cousin Kya how to build a castle. Using some of his new airbending skills that he learned that afternoon.

Aang excused himself, then went in to the kitchen and walked over to where Katara was kneeding dough on the counter. " Katara, I need to go home." He said softly.

A look of sheer terror appeared on her face. Wondering why he wanted to leave them again so soon. Her heart was breaking. " Why?" She asked softly, frowning.

" Hey... Calm down. Just to clean up and get some things." Aang said, smiling. Seeing the look on her face, and trying to reassure her. Then taking her sticky, dough-hand and kissing the back of it.

" Oh... Okay." Katara replied, relieved.

" We will have to discuss living arrangements sometime, though." Aang said.

" Yeah. I suppose we will." Katara replied.

" I'll be back by dinner time." Aang told her. Then kissed her tenderly on the lips, and left.

" Okay, Katara. You've got to tell me what happened last night." Suki said excitedly, when Aang was out of earshot.

" Nothing really." Katara said, blushing. Continuing to kneed the dough on the counter.

" Do you really think I'm gonna buy that? After that little display in the kitchen this morning? " Suki queried. Raising an eyebrow. " I almost died when Aang walked in barely dressed!" She added, giggling.

" Well... Dinner didn't go very well. As you probably had already guessed, by what Aang told you this morning." Katara told her. " Tenzin did airbend, then called me 'momma' after I scolded him for it." She added. " At first... Aang was shocked. But then he was furious." She finished.

" Really?" Suki asked curiously. " What did he say?" She added.

" First of all... He chewed me out for keeping it from him all of these years." Katara replied. " And he wasn't too happy when he found out all of our friends and my family knew and didn't tell him, either." She added. " Then I told him that there was no way I could have known how he would react... since he took off with no explanation." She finished.

" Yeah... Yeah... Get to the part where he stayed all night. And why he was half naked when he came in the kitchen this morning, already." Suki said impatiently.

" Geez... Alright, already." Katara answered, rolling her eyes. " Well... It's not what it looked like... exactly." She said.

" What do you mean, exactly?" Suki asked.

" Well, things did get pretty hot, at first." Katara explained. " But Tenzin, kind of, interrupted us." She added.

" No way... Seriously?" Suki asked incredulously. " Where was Tenzin?" She added.

" On a pallet on the floor, next to the bed." Katara said, blushing.

" How far did you guys... you know... where you doing it?" Suki asked curiously. " How did Tenzin interupt?" She added. Eager to know all of the details.

" No! We weren't doing it... yet." Katara explained, blushing deeper. " Tenzin woke up, and everything, kind of, stopped after that." She added, frowning.

" Man... What a bummer!" Suki exclaimed. " So all of that in the kitchen this morning?" She asked.

" Was really for Sokka's benifit. To get under his skin." Katara said laughing.

" Well it worked." Suki replied. Then laughed with her. " I'll bet Aang was pretty frustrated after Tenzin interupted you guys." She added.

" Oh... You have no idea how frustrated he was." Katara replied, giggling.

" What do you mean by that?" Suki asked curiously. Raising an eyebrow.

" I can't tell you." Katara said, laughing.

" Oh, come on. Why not?" Suki said. Pleading with her.

" Because... He would die if he found out I told you." Katara explained, laughing harder.

" Come on, Katara! The suspense is killing me!" Suki said, desperately pleading with her.

" Well... He, um... He stayed in the bathroom... for a long time after that." Katara said, blushing. Then started laughing hysterically.

" Huh? Ohhhhhhhhhh." Suki replied, blushing. Then started laughing hysterically with Katara.

" What's so funny?" Sokka asked when he walked in to the kitchen, carrying Kya. With Toph and Tenzin following close behind.

" Nothing!" Both women exclaimed simultaneously. Then looked at each other, and started laughing uproariously again.

" WhatEVER." Sokka replied, rolling his eyes. " Is dinner ready yet? I'm starving." He added.

" When aren't you starving, Sokka?" Toph said sarcastically.

" Almost." Suki said, smiling. " We have to wait for Aang, anyway." She added.

" Why? Where's Aang?" Sokka asked curiously.

" He went to his place to clean up and get some stuff." Suki explained.

" Oh. But why do we have to wait for him?" Sokka whined.

" Geez, Sokka." Katara said, disgusted. Then rolled her eyes.

Suki didn't say a word. She just frowned at him.

" Okay... We'll wait." He said flippantly. Then sat down at the table and sighed.

Aang practically ran back to his house. He didn't want to be gone any longer than necessary. He felt like precious minutes with his 'family' were ticking away while he was gone. When he got to the house, he explained to the staff where he would be, temporarily. Informing them that they could reach him there, if the need should arise. Then he went to his room, then into his bathroom. And started his bath running while he packed a few things. Grabbing his glider and putting it on the pile. Not wanting to forget it. He wished he could take Appa, to show Tenzin, but that would have to wait. Since there really wasn't anywhere to keep him over there. Then he got undressed and stepped in the bathtub. And washed up thoroughly, but quickly. Then got out of the tub and airbended himself dry, then put on fresh clothes. He walked back to the stable to check on Appa before he left. Feeling a bit guilty for leaving his companion behind. Then grabbed his things and headed back to Katara's. Taking his glider and significantly cutting down on time.

Dinner was ready when Aang arrived back at the house. Much to Sokka's relief, they wouldn't have to wait for him. And everyone sat down for dinner. Suki couldn't help giggling when she looked at Aang. And Katara shot her dirty looks, more than once during the meal. Aang noticed the behavior of the two women, curious to what their 'deal' was. But, was pretty sure it would be best if he didn't know.

After dinner, Aang, Katara and Tenzin took a walk through the upper ring of Ba Sing Se. Drawing a lot of attention from curious citizens. Who where pointing and whispering as the trio walked by. Aang just ignored them and smiled proudly, as he walked with his lover and son. Not ashamed if anyone knew that he had a child. " Katara... about our living arrangements." He said softly.

" What about them?" Katara asked curiously. Not sure if she wanted to hear his reply.

" Well... We can't stay here forever." Aang said.

Katara was a bit nervous. Afraid that he might suggest that they should go back to Kyoshi to live without him.

" I thought maybe we could live in the Southern Water Tribe, or at the Southern Air Temple." Aang suggested. " If it's all right with you, of course." He added, smiling.

" That would be great!" Katara exclaimed, smiling brightly. Then hugged him ferociously, taking Aang by surprise.

The people around them were all smiling and snickering at the display. Causing Aang to blush lightly. " Great! Which one?" He asked, slightly confused. When they broke apart.

" I don't care. Where ever you decide is okay with me." Katara answered cheerily.

Aang bent down and scooped Tenzin up. And propped him on his hip as he walked, grabbing Katara's hand and grinning. " What about you, Tenzin?" He asked. " Where would you like to live?" He added. " The Southern Water Tribe? Or the Southern Air Temple?" He finished. Smiling at his son.

" I don't care, daddy." Tenzin replied, shrugging his shoulders. " I've never been to either of them." He added. Katara and Aang both laughed softly at his reply.

" I guess you haven't." Aang replied, smiling softly. Then, the three of them walked back to the house to get ready for bed.