Chapter 17

Four years later

Cleaning up after a large family meal Katara noticed the faraway look of her teenage daughter. She smiled to herself remembering when she, too, wore this look. She put down the plate she was cleaning and put an arm around Kya.

"Well who is he?" she asked smiling.

Kya was rather taken aback. "Oh well, um…I don't think you know him- he's a waterbender- currently in the northern water tribe. He's doing very important work there, due to their increased numbers they have to expand and he's overseeing the planning."

She looked rather proud and Katara couldn't help but smile knowingly.

"And when were you planning on telling us you mean to go there with him?"

The surprise on Kya's face was ill-hidden, but a reassuring smile from her mother told her that all was well.

"Well- I wanted to wait until all of this blew over with Yakone. I don't want to leave you all here if you need me," she said.

"Ha! Your father and I have managed before and we'll manage again…somehow," Katara said smiling, "you're a young woman now, it's time for you to go have your own adventures, Aang will complain- but he'll get over it."

Kya sat on a nearby barrel and sighed, "but how do I know this is right? It feels right…and I do love him…but what if- well…what if things change on his end."

Katara thought about this for a minute and sat down her rag, she mused as she looked at the floor, "Well you can't know- and that's half the fun of it…but after a while, and with lots and lots of practice, you won't worry anymore. You see at first love is very easy, because it's new and new is so exciting, and that's a very special part of love. But eventually the newness goes away. This part of love is even more exciting, but not at first. At first it's horrible, you get mad and you don't know why, you challenge one another and maybe forget that love, but if you work through it you'll find that old love is even better than new love. Old love doesn't need to be talked about, but you remind each other of it anyway. Those that have old love hold it close to their hearts. They can call upon any memory, of new love, growing love, old love, and create new ones. Sometimes, when you're tired you forget about old love, but old love doesn't mind. Old love knows that you'll remember it again, it allows you to rest. Acceptance and assuredness make hearts grow uncontrolled. But I promise you, love never forgets the first part. The stolen glances, the way your pulse quickens when you think about it. The good and the bad…first kiss, the first time you realized he is just as human as you are…and then how the thought comforts you, changes your perspective. His face on your wedding day, how it transforms that love again…because now you're not just some girl, you're his, and he is yours, such hope lies within those first small pieces of new love," Katara stopped and looked at her young daughter, who was staring at her with wide eyes, she laughed and added, "you did want a full dissertation on it right?"

Kya wanted to laugh with her- but she was too in awe of her words.

"I hope," she began, "I hope that whatever we have is half as wonderful as what you and father have. I trust him…I guess that's all I can do."

"Exactly," Katara said, pulling her little girl into a hug, "well- let's go find your father and tell him. I'm sure he'll want to meet this mystery man- and judging by the necklace sticking out of your pocket I'd think that he'll want to hear exactly when you want a wedding."

Kya blushed scarlet and pulled the necklace out of her pocket, tying it around her neck.

"I really was going to tell you all this evening," she said, a little embarrassed, "it was just last night…" The faraway look returned to her eyes and Katara smiled knowingly.

Suddenly a worried faraway voice reached them. An acolyte- eyes wide with fear reached them.

"There's been an attack!" he bellowed, "an attack at the trial of Yakone. A few in the crowd managed to escape to tell you, Lady Katara, you must come at once."

Katara laid a hand on her daughters shoulder to steady herself.

"…Aang is?"

"I don't know ma'am. Everyone was thrown about. He's- a bloodbender."

Katara's eyes widen with fear and then set in determination. She ran towards the exit full speed, grabbing her water sling as she went.

Kya ran after her, "I'm coming."

"No!" Katara shouted, not even bothering to look behind her, "stay here and look after your brothers- in case he comes here first."

Kya stopped short at once, "be safe!"

Nine year old Tenzin was playing on Appa when he saw his mother racing towards him. He quickly ducked down and hid amongst the various sleeping bags and other travelling equipment that his family kept there. He peeked up and saw his mother jump in with him, grab the reins and hurriedly yell "yip, yip!"

Something wasn't right. Mother never left them without making sure that they were all accounted for. He was right to hide- there must be danger somewhere.

They flew swiftly over the waters that separated them from the city, Tenzin could see the looming buildings up ahead, and he poked his head up to get a better look. It was rare these days that they were allowed into the city. Both of his parents felt that with Yakone and his cronies running loose there was too much risk involved in sending the children there. Kya had been going off on her own though, sneaking around when mother and father weren't watching. He scowled slightly, he greatly disapproved of sneaking, although he had learned early not to tattle on his siblings- lest he be water whipped by Kya or dangled from a tree by Bumi. Finally they landed in a great expanse outside the courthouse where his Uncle, Sokka spent much of his time. Katara jumped off, creating an expanse of ice to run over to the door where she had seen her brother come out. Tenzin stuck his head out over the side of Appa's saddle to see what was happening, causing Appa to grunt at him.

"Hush, Appa, I'll be in trouble if I'm caught," he said eyeing him seriously, "plus I want to hear!"

Katara raced towards Sokka and caught him as he stumbled down the stairs towards her,

"I came as soon as I heard, where's Aang?" she asked full of trepidation, "are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Yakone, he bloodbent us all and took off towards the streets. He threw Aang against the steps- he must have gone into the avatar state though because he was able to get away. He followed him I suppose- I just woke up. Toph was injured as well."

Katara started for the door but Sokka stopped her, "no, not badly. We need to go after Aang."

She nodded and they started down the street.

Tenzin's eyes followed them as they went, eyes full of fear, dad's in trouble, he thought, I have to go help him.

"Appa, stay here! I'm going to go after them," he sent a gust of air behind himself and landed gracefully on the ground. He was very agile- even for an airbender.

Just then he heard a bang and saw a cloud of dust form in the air above the buildings to his left…mother and Uncle Sokka had gone the wrong way!

He headed quickly to his left using the air around him to propel himself forward faster and faster until he came upon his father, and who he assumed was Yakone.

Father was yelling something- and then suddenly without warning he was levitated into the air, he looked…he looked like he was in pain!

Tenzin sprang forward ready to attack Yakone from behind when suddenly his father's whole countenance changed. His eyes and airbending tattoos glowed and his face changed to pure anger. It was…scary. In one swift motion he restrained Yakone and placed each hand on his forehead and chest. Air billowed around him making his robes fly in all different directions.

"I'm taking away your bending, Yakone. For good," he said. And with that a bright light radiated from them and Tenzin saw Yakone go limp. Father stumbled backwards, exhausted from the excursion and the near break of his bones from the blood bending. He saw his mother and Sokka race up to help him and then his father's eyes focused on him.

"Tenzin?" he said uncertainly, his face lined with concern.

"What?" cried Katara as her head whipped around, then seeing him her eyes widened and narrowed, almost at the same time, "Tenzin! Come here!"

Tenzin slowly crossed the street, head down. Katara's eyes blazed as she looked at him.

"Sokka. Take Yakone to the prison," she said, "Toph will deal with him there."

Sokka nodded, and took Yakone's now limp body over to a nearby police carriage, pausing to give one meaningful look to his sister and rumple his nephew's hair.

"Tenzin," Katara began loudly, "what on earth were you-"

But a hand placed on her shoulder by Aang was enough to quiet her.

"Katara, I'll talk with him. We still have the rest of Yakone's cronies to round up. I'm sure Toph will need your help. Look- he's been punished enough," he said smiling at her.

"Tenzin, I'm not mad," she added, "but you scared me. I don't want anything to happen to you," she pulled him into a hug which he readily accepted. She kissed his cheek, eliciting an annoyed, "mother" from her young son. She chuckled and turned to Aang, "are you okay?" she asked, helping him up.

"Dandy," he said with a smile, "see you at home."

She kissed him and went on her way to the courthouse to meet up with Toph and Sokka.

"Now…" Aang started, smiling warmly down at his young son, "I believe you're the first to see me in the avatar state. I wish you hadn't have tagged along…that's not something I wanted you to see."

"But, father," replied Tenzin, "I just wanted to help…I was worried that, well I just thought that man was going to hurt you." Tears welled in the little airbenders eyes, and Aang was reminded how young 9 really is.

He knelt down and put his hands on Tenzin's shoulders, "you are very brave Tenzin, just like your brother and sister. And I'm sure that if I had needed you, you would have held your own. You've done excellent in your training and made great improvements lately. You know- you're well on your way to becoming a master airbender," he said proudly, "but Tenzin, sometimes a parent, even though they know their child is strong, just doesn't want him near the fight. Especially," he emphasized, "their mothers." Now with a smile he led Tenzin back to Appa.

Tenzin looked up at his father with awe. He wasn't being yelled at, rather spoken to calmly. He hoped that he learned to be as level headed as his father was being right now, someday.

"Dad," he said.

"Hmm?" said Aang peering down at him as they walked.

"You're really strong."

"I suppose so," said Aang amusement lingering in his voice.

"You could take on anyone?"

Aang smiled and tried to hide his laugh from his son, "hm, well not on my own. I need lots of help. I always have."

"Like Uncle Sokka," said Tenzin.

"Absolutely, but especially from your mother, and you of course, and your brother and sister."

Tenzin smiled at this as they continued to walk, his mind wandering to all that he had seen.

After a few minutes he added, "Dad? You could have killed Yakone. Then he wouldn't be a threat anymore. I've read that other avatars have killed their enemies."

They reached Appa finally and Aang patted his nose, he popped Tenzin up on his back and settled down next to him. He sat silent for a while, trying to best decide how to respond to this. None of his children had really ever asked why he didn't kill Ozai before; he had tried to instill his belief that all life is precious in all of them…however…

"Tenzin, you're an airbender like myself, and as such we have a very special bond. It is important to me that you especially understand what the monks believed. I was taught that all life has value, even as the avatar I don't feel that I have the power to take life away, I've hurt people before, and I hate myself for it."

He stopped to check the expression on Tenzin's face. He was unfazed and stared at his father intently.

"You must always keep this in mind, that all life is important. Even those lives we'd rather not exist."

"All life is important," repeated Tenzin.

"Exactly. Now. We need to get home- and when your mother arrives I want you to ask her forgiveness."

Tenzin nodded, eager to please his father after his indiscretion.

"And Tenzin, I don't want you to scare me like that again either."

Awed that his father could ever be scared of anything Tenzin, bowed his head and apologized on the spot.

Aang sensing his son's remorse pulled him into a hug and rubbed the top of his hair in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"You know, if you're going to get your tattoos soon we're going to have to shave this all off," he said with a half smile.

"Great- now I can be called the bald monkey by Bumi instead of just monkey…" said Tenzin with a pout.

Aang laughed loudly and said, "Aw, Bumi just wishes he was as cool as us monks!"