Chapter 18:

Hey all! Life has been nuts sorry about the length of time between posts. Please allow me just a teensy fluff chapter before we get into some more plot. I just felt like I wanted this chapter to catch us up on things. Just so we're all clear on the time frame here the current ages are as follows: Katara: 45 Aang: 43 Kya: 24 Bumi: 21 and Tenzin: 12- Teensy time jump J

A time of peace was spread across the nation. Aang felt that he could finally relax. He sat under a tree that he himself had planted on the island. It was one of his favorite spots to come and meditate. Directly overlooking the water, he had watched it grow from sapling to a mighty tree over the past 23 years. He watched the waves crash in and out and let the fall wind caress his body, breathing in the scent of the changing seasons. Much had happened under this tree. He had seen the marriage of his eldest daughter to a fine young man (she was even pregnant with his first grandchild). He kissed her forehead as he said his final goodbye to her before she left with her husband. Kya- much like the wind- was never meant to stay in Republic City. He supposed it was the air nomad in his children that made them want to venture out. Bumi had left recently too. Zuko had promised him a very respectable ranking position among his fleets. There was, of course, no need for them now, but Aang was proud to say that his son trained new troops in with patience and wisdom- and even prouder to say with a humor that rivaled even his own. His youngest son now of the same age that he was when he began his now infamous journey to defeat the firelord. Amazing, he thought, as he smiled outward at the city, how times change. Although Tenzin was a highly skilled bender he could never imagine him having to face the same trials he did. In fact he was proud to say that he didn't have to. It wasn't too much longer after he began to meditate that he heard soft footsteps behind him. He opened one eye to see a blue dress approaching and smiled to himself.

Arms gently encircled his shoulders from behind and soft lips planted a kiss directly in the center of the blue arrow on his head.

"Katara," he sighed reverently, and allowed himself to lean back into her. He opened his eyes and looked up into her blue ones, "so beautiful."

The most attractive pink tinge lined her cheeks as she kissed him.

"I was hoping I'd find you here. Lost in your thoughts?" she asked.

"You could say that," he said sliding over to sit next to her, "seems like just yesterday we were only just coming here. Now our children are grown, or almost grown."

"Mhm, it's just us again," she smiled, "at least it feels like it is, especially with Tenzin spending all of his spare time with Lin lately."

"Who?" Aang asked incredulously.

"…Lin? Toph's daughter?"

"No, no," he said laughing, "I know who it is, I just didn't know that's who he'd been off with…interesting."

Katara laughed heartily at this, "to say the least!"

Aang put his arm around her and they sat and watched the water a little longer before Katara pulled herself up and reached out for Aang.

He rose with some effort and sent a thankful smile her way.

'Hm, it's amazing how stiff you get sitting in one attitude for so long," he said.

Katara smiled at him and nodded, but deep down she was worried again. Men at Aang's age- especially in the good shape he was in- should not have problems like that. He'd never experienced that stiffness from just a short meditation before. She grabbed his hand extra tight as they walked back towards their house.

Aang was completely oblivious to this as he wondered happily at all of the new air acolytes and their children who were running around the island. He was happy that there would always be someone to carry on for him. He was especially happy to see his son, indeed with Lin, showing off the newest forms that he had been working on. He held Katara back and nodded pointedly at Tenzin.

They watched as he spun around the practicing compound, dodging the earthen obstacles that Lin threw up against him with ease. Their faces both full of concentration.

"Watch this," Aang said with a sly smile at Katara.

And without warning he threw up two large blocks of earth startling both of the children.

Tenzin recovered quickly doing a backflip of the ledge and immediately assumed a defensive stance. Lin was not quite as quick but managed to fling herself over to be back to back with Tenzin.

Both looked utterly terrified until they heard Aang howl with laughter. Katara put her forehead in her hand but smiled to herself.

Tenzin scowled deeply but Lin began laughing along with Aang.

"Father," Tenzin began still scowling, his scowling turned to surprise, however when he saw his father fly up on yet another earthen pedestal.

Aang was completely shocked, but like Tenzin managed to flip off and land twenty feet to the left of them…right in front of Toph.

She was scowling playfully and punched him in the arm, "sneak attacks Twinkletoes? Please, you've forgotten how to listen to the earth yourself I see."

He smiled sheepishly at her and rubbed the back of his neck.

"You too Lin," she added, "you have to listen to the earth at all times."

Lin nodded and ran up to hug her mother, who happily returned it.

Katara smiled, "it's so sweet to see you as a mother, Toph. It suits you."

Toph smiled, she and Katara had had their moments- but it was true that they had bonded over feminine things together.

"How are things, Toph?" Aang asked, leading her towards the seating area near them.

"Actually good for once," she said rather astonished, "as much as I hate to admit it, I'm barely even needed. The streets are peaceful; the outer colonies are more or less following suit. Lin is picking up metal bending with surprising ease. I wouldn't be surprised if she was able to join my force in a few years," she added with a proud look in her daughter's direction, "you've done a good job Twinkletoes. The world is at peace."

Aang smiled at this, and visibly relaxed in his chair.

"You're all well aware I could have never done it by myself," he said smiling at his wife, "I wonder then, Toph, if I couldn't take some time away from the council- to train Tenzin I mean," he said gesturing towards his young son, "He needs to become a master as soon as possible and we're at a very critical time."

"If he's anything like you I'm not worried," Toph said lightly, "but I would think so- I'd vote for it. There's nothing to worry about anymore in the city- hopefully they agree that the next most important order of business is continuing the preservation of airbending skills."

"Exactly," said Aang, "it's time for me to take time for just my family- it wasn't as important for me to be around at all times when Kya and Bumi were at the main training ages, simply because they were not airbenders. Tenzin has the core ideas but the more advanced training is what I'm worried about. It can get pretty intensive."

Katara looked lovingly at her young son who had seated himself opposite Lin at his father's feet. Little Tenzin, always so serious and dedicated was the ideal airbender. He tried so hard to emulate exactly what he perceived to be correct in his father's eyes that Katara sometimes wondered rather or not it was his true personality. She was pulled out of her daydreams when she heard him look up at Aang and speak,

"Please, father, I don't want to pull you away from any duties that you have to the city- or the world for that matter- I assure you that I will train extra hard to master these advanced moves."

Aang smiled warmly at his son and put a hand on his shoulder, "I know you will- if anything comes up that requires my immediate attention I will return. I don't think I'm needed, however, in the simple dealings of the republic."

Tenzin nodded, got up and took Lin's hand, leading her towards the house. Katara smiled at their retreating figures and said,

"I can't believe that's happening," she laughed.

Toph shook her head and smiled, "it's an interesting pairing to be sure- I can guarantee you that she will test that monks patience."

Katara laughed, "It wouldn't be a child of yours unless she did."

Aang stood and put a hand on her shoulder, "that's nothing compared to what is coming for him in training."

"No way is it harder than training with Kya, waterbending takes much more...finesse," Katara said playfully.

Aang smiled at his wife and put his hand around her waist pulling her closer, "You forget, sweetie, that I am the avatar, and as such I am fully able to decide which is more difficult," he added a kiss, "and airbending is far more difficult."

"I guess I did forget that," Katara said, breathlessly.

"UGHHHHH, gross!" Toph said, "I'd rather go off and follow the hormonal preteens than have to watch you two for another minute."

"That's fine, we were just heading in," Aang replied without taking his eyes off of Katara.