okay, next one will be fluffy and adorable. i give my word. just be happy i'm taking a break from Kyalin to update this story. and i also need to update 'eighteen and pregnant' SO MANY UPDATES! anyway read, review and enjoy.

Lin blew a raspberry into Rohan's stomach, smiling as he giggled in delight. "You are such a cutie." She tickled his sides, causing her little boy to laugh.

"Mum?"

Lin looked over her shoulder to see Ikki standing in the doorway of the lounge room. She rolled over onto her side, to get a better look at her daughter. "Yes Ikki?"

"Umm, I was just wanting to know if I could hang out with you."

Lin cocked an eyebrow at her, but decided to down play the situation. "Okay then. I was just about to give Rohan a bath. Does that sound like something you want to do?"

Ikki smiled up at her "Sure!"

Lin picked up Rohan off the ground, grimacing as she came to stand at her full height.

"Are you okay mum?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Getting blown up hurts a little." Lin led Ikki into the bathhouse where a baby bathtub was set up on the bench. Lin turned on the water, placing a finger under it to test the temperature. She then began to undress Rohan.

"Why isn't the water hot like when we have baths?"

"Because a baby's skin is very delicate. Hot water would burn him."

"Oh, can I give him his bath?"

"I guess that will be okay. Let me put him in the bath first." Lin lowered the six-month-old down into the water, much to his annoyance. "You are such an earthbender."

Ikki dragged a nearby stool up to the side of the bath. "Did Jinora, Meelo and I like baths?"

"You three did. Meelo treated the water as though it was his own personal water slide."

Ikki smiled at the memories of Meelo splashing during bath time. "So what do I do?"

Lin handed her a bottle of liquid soap. "You only need a little. Just rub it gently into his skin. Not above his shoulders and don't touch his feet."

Ikki began to gently massage the soap into her baby brother's skin. "Why don't you wash his feet?"

Lin shrugged. "It's an earthbender thing. My mother never washed mine or Su's feet. I guess it made sense on a certain level." Lin passed her a plastic cup. "Now rinse him off. Don't dump water on him, just let it pour."

"Like this?"

"That's it. And now you just pick him up and carry him over to the changing table."

Ikki went to pick him up but was unsure of where to place her hands. "How do I-"

Lin took over, noticing that the water was getting cold, and picked up her son. Proceeding to dress him on the changing table. "There we are. All clean." She walked into his bedroom and placed him down in his crib, kissing his forehead before walking out of his room, to find Ikki standing in the hall waiting for her. "What's going on Ikki?"

The young airbender looked away. "Nothing, I just wanted to spend some time with you."

"Do I need to point to my feet?"

Ikki let out a sigh. "I wanted to learn how to take care of Rohan."

"Why do you need to know that?"

"Because you might not always be here to do it." Ikki looked up at her mother, eyes now watering.

Lin saw the distress her daughter was in. kneeling down to her level, she placed a soothing hand on the young girl's shoulder. "Ikki, you shouldn't think about things like that. I will always be here to make sure you are okay."

"But you won't! You keep facing danger like it's no big deal. You sacrificed your bending and your life for us. You nearly got blown up last week. And I wouldn't have seen you again! Why do you have to keep sacrificing yourself for people!?"

Ikki was now shaking with tears, trying to still them and failing. Lin pulled Ikki into her chest, wrapping her arms around her securely. "Ikki, I sacrifice myself to make sure my family survives, and that family includes you. True, you got captured by Amon, but I felt more at ease knowing I had done my job as a mother, to protect you and your siblings. And I was willing to give my life to save my little sister. Every time I sacrifice myself, it's so I can keep you all safe."

Ikki sniffled as she pulled away from her mother. "But what if you don't come back one day?"

"Well, you will have aunt Su and Kya to help take care of you all. And there is always Tenzin."

"He gave Meelo chocolate before dinner last week. He thought it was eggplant."

"So, just Su and Kya." Ikki let out a small laugh at Lin's remark.

"Feel better?"

"Yeah, I do. Can I sleep in your bed tonight?"

"I don't see why not." Lin stood up and groaned at the pain it caused. "Though I wouldn't mind not getting blown up again."