The day started out like any other, with Bumi hauling himself out of bed and giving himself a good stretch before pulling on some clothes. He scratched at the fabric, desperately missing his old United Forces duds. But, of course, if Tenzin saw him out of his airbender costume he'd get an earful.

"Well," he said, running his fingers through his incurably messy hair, "this day ain't gonna start itself." Before leaving his room his eyes glanced over at the picture sitting on his end table which featured a nice shot of Lin Beifong posing in full armor. Bumi beamed, fully awake. As he continued for the door he blew the picture a kiss and said, "I'll see you later, m'dear."

As he made his way to the dining room, Bumi overheard a commotion. Not one to miss out he picked up the pace and walked in on his little brother having an argument with his wife over breakfast.

"I just can't believe she's coming here now!"

"Well I wasn't expecting it either, but you could at least act a little more excited."

"Excited? After what she did the last time she visited?"

Pema sighed as she bounced Rohan up and down. "Will you get over that?"

Tenzin crossed his arms over his chest and gave a firm, "No."

"What did she do, Daddy?" Ikki asked in between bites. Tenzin blushed and said, "Nothing! Eat your rice!"

"What's going on?" Bumi asked as he walked in. He took a place next to Meelo and looked at his sister, "What's got him worked up?"

"Two words," Kya said with a smirk, "Vanessa's back."

Bumi's stomach dropped and his eyes stretched wide at the sound of the name. "You're kidding."

"Nope," Tenzin said, having overheard them. "She's sailing in today, which is why as soon as I finish breakfast I'm going to lock myself in the tower and meditate until she leaves." Pema rolled her eyes at her husband's nonsense, and Bumi broke into a wide smile.

"Gee, I haven't seen Ness in years! This is great!"

"Who is Vanessa?" Jinora asked, looking up from her book.

"Your mother's Cousin," Kya explained to her niece. "She's related through her Aunt. Is that right?" She looked to Pema who nodded as she attempted to feed Rohan a spoonful of mushy rice.

"Yes, Vanessa's more of a sister than anything really," Pema continued as she tried to feed her second son. "Aunty Amara was a Nurse in the United Republic's army, and met Uncle Tzu who was a corporal in the fire nation division."

"So, she's half fire nation?" Jinora asked inquisitively.

"Eeyup." Bumi cut in. "And probably the most live spitfire you'll ever meet!" Bumi laughed as he took a seat between the kids, grinning wider at Tenzin who frowned at his brother.

"Not that your father ever got along with her," Bumi snickered.

"So she lived in Republic City?" Jinora was interested enough that she actually set her book down to listen.

Bumi nodded. "Yep. V worked in the city doing odd jobs, usually secretary work for her dad. She's also a firebender; but she doesn't use it too often. Only for simple things. Not that she doesn't know how to defend herself - believe you and me, I know firsthand."

"Yes, didn't she flip you over her shoulder and pin you to the ground by your neck with her knee when you first met?" Kya remarked with a chuckle as Bumi blushed at that reminder. Meelo and Ikki "Ooooh" -ed in surprise.

'Yes...well..." Bumi coughed into his hand. "I was a young pup then, and should've known better than to put my hand on the shoulder of a woman walking down the sidewalk at night alone in the city."

"I should say, you were 36 years old!" Pema scolds with a shake of her head before smiling at the kids. "Though your Aunt V and Bumi actually became fast friends after that, she agreed to go to dinner with him. And that led from one thing and another..."

Bumi cuts off Pema. "Yes, well, the kids don't need to know EVERYthing about Vanessa and Me..."

Pema blinked, confused at Bumi's sudden shy behavior, until Kya spoke up with an amused grin.

"Yes, the kids don't need to know that Bumi was totally smitten with Vanessa who was his first and ONLY long-term, serious girlfriend. Before Lin that is..." Kya finished with a mischievous smile.

Bumi let out a shocked sputter at Kya as the kids spoke up in amazement.

"Ooooh! Uncle Bumi, was she your first love? First Kiss? First Everything!?" Ikki tittered out in excitement.

"That's crazy Uncle Bumi, you can't date your sister's sister!" Meelo shouted out in mortification.

"Meelo, Uncle Bumi is not my 'brother-Brother' he's just my brother-in-law," Penma sighed, trying to explain the connection and family binds to him. "I married your father, so Bumi is my brother "by law"; by MARRIAGE. Bumi and Vanessa dated before I married your father and a few years afterwards."

"OH!" Meelo's eyes opened in realization. "So, any kids they had weren't hillbobbies?"

"That's 'HillBillies', Dear." Kya corrects her nephew.

"And no. Besides, Bumi and Vanessa didn't have any kids," Pema pointed out.

"No, no, sadly no." Bumi sighed in a mock dramatic manner. "They've would've been gorgeous though. I'm telling you, with my looks, debonair nature, intelligence, and her sass, open mind, clever cunning and weird spirit-witch like senses, they would've been perfect!"

Tenzin let out a very loud and un-Air Nomad-like snort at Bumi declaration, causing Bumi's grin to drop and turn to look at his brother.

"Something the matter, brother-Dear?" Bumi rested his elbow on the table, if only to rankle Tenzin further.

"FIRST: Vanessa did not have 'spirit-witch powers'," Tenzin tells off his older brother. "Just because she had strange colored eyes, heard things that weren't there and anyone who offended her, or did her some wrong suffered a horrible, or embarrassing accident does not make her a witch! It just made her crazy, which she was completely."

Pema slapped Tenzin harshly across his arm, earning a startled yelp and confused stare from Tenzin to Pema, who narrowed her eyes angrily at her husband.

"Well, I saw the spirits when no one else could," Jinora piped up. "That didn't make me crazy."

"No, no it did not." Pema agreed with her daughter, eyes still fixed on her husband as she slowly turned away from him. "No one could explain why her eyes suddenly turned violet one day, and I never once doubted her, since so many weird things happened without explanation."

"She has violet eyes?" Jinora says in slight awe.

"Oh yes, their two dazzling gems," Bumi sighs with a nostalgic tone. "It weirded people out, and she liked it. And your Father's only HALF-right, she was crazy. CRAZY FUN!"

Bumi started cackling, slapping his hand on his leg at some memory coming back to him.

"I remember, shortly after she learned that Tenzin had dumped Lin for Pema..." Tenzin winced at this, though Pema seemed to smile at this mention. "She stole some of your father's underclothes and dipped them in some special...'Veggie-paste.' And then, after they 'looked clean' but smelled like veggies, she snuck them back to him, so when he put them on the Sky Bison's bit him on the butt!"

Jinora gaped in surprise, while Meelo, Ikki and Kya started chuckling and Pema laughed too with Bumi. Though Tenzin seemed to be red in the face.

"Oh, that was some of her best work," Kya gave Tenzin a sly look. "But it wasn't her last, or best. Right, baby bro?"

"I love how you're all taking such glee in the fact Vanessa tormented me in retribution for, as she called it, "Pulling my Sis-Cos into a wretched cage of lies and deception on that poor Lin girl." Which never made sense as the two never even met!" Tenzin exclaimed throwing up his hands.

"No, but she didn't appreciate the fact that you kept seeing me while you were still with Lin." Pema pointed out sharply. "And she didn't care for anyone to be subjected to any kind of wrong doing."

"Yeah...she sure was something, it's kinda sad it's been almost 10 years since I saw her last," Bumi rested his chin in his hand to stare out into space.

"Well, you'll get to see her today, Uncle Bumi." Jinora helpfully reminds him, thou gives a wary glance to her father. "Though, you'll probably have to spend ALL your time with her...just to make sure she doesn't torment dad."

"Then what will we do for fun?" Bumi pouts.

"Well, you can always introduce her to Lin." Pema said. "I mean, Lin deserves to know SOMEONE thought well enough of her and her predicament to take revenge for her. And Lin IS your current girlfriend."

Bumi gasped.

"You're right! I totally forgot! I can't introduce her to my ex-girlfriend/former roommate/friend with benefits!" Bumi exclaimed horrified.

"What kind of benefits?" Meelo inquired, thou Pema's "We'll explain it when you're older," was drowned out by Tenzin's choking croak at his brother using that term.

"Bumi, I doubt Lin's gonna be all hostile against a woman who once stuck two fire-ferrets down Tenzin's robe upon learning he was stringing her along," Kya advised him. Tenzin finally just grabbed his breakfast and hurried out of the room to Kya's amusement.

"Besides, that was years ago. And I'm certain my Cousin will adore Lin." Pema points out. "It's better than hiding her from Lin. We all know how well she responds to THAT sort of thing."

Pema picked up the letter and said, "It says here that she'll be in town for a day or two before leaving for Gaoling. And she's bringing the girls too!"

"She has kids?" At the thought of more people her own age coming to visit, Ikki instantly perked up.

"Yes," Pema said, "twin girls."

Bumi raised an eyebrow at the idea of Vanessa having kids, and chuckled a bit. For a moment he let his mind drift back to the many days (and many, many nights) they'd spent together and a little smile came to his face. He was pulled from his thoughts when Pema waved a small envelope in his face.

"This was inside," she said, "and it's got your name on it. She must've heard you were staying here."

"Well, let's just see what the little lady has to say." Bumi took the letter and opened it. As he started reading he didn't notice Kya sneaking up behind him.

"DEAR PAPA BEAR," she read loudly. The others laughed at the pet name and Bumi blushed and pushed his sister away before excusing himself, going to read the letter outside on the steps.

Dear Papa Bear,

It's been a while since we last chatted. In fact, a lot has changed; though I know we parted on good terms. Though, technically we've not really been broken up. In which case, I apologize if my dating anyone has seemed like cheating. But if you cheated by dating someone, then it's all on par. Also, I'm coming to meet you to officially break up. No offense, but it HAS been 10 years...which brings me to the REAL reason I'm coming to see you, Bumi.

As you've no doubt heard I have two girls, Amber and Lilly. I never got the chance to tell you, because your career sped up. And any attempts to try to get in contact with you by claiming to be your girlfriend would have me labeled as crazy stalker...

Bumi snorted but smiled at the crack V made at herself.

...As it happens, I will be in Republic City for a little longer than I mentioned to Lil Sis. I'm coming for two days, and heading to a fashion meet up in Gaoling. But after I'm done there I'll come back to stay for a week or so. Or however long you want me to stay. I'm not looking to restart a relationship; and I heard you're with someone through Sis, so it's just as well. But while I'm away for 5 days in Gaoling, and I apologize now, but I'll need you to look after my girls. And the reason I apologize (and make REALLY sure you're alone and reading this to yourself) is because...they're also YOUR girls.

Bumi paused and blinked in confusion.

"Bumi, before you left for your year-long trip at sea, and basically we both lost track of each other in our own careers, I discovered you'd left something at my place after our three-day love-fest...A child. Two in fact. Lilly and Amber are your daughters. I know this is sudden and a shock, but security in the army made it almost impossible to get in contact. And I WANTED to meet you in person to explain and talk about this...I suppose I could've written a letter to Pema to give to you, but I didn't want to risk this getting read by someone else. And again, you were gone for long periods.

I will be in Republic City soon. And we can talk more and I'll explain...and I hope, you'll agree to watch the girls. Pema and Tenzin could do it, and I relish the idea of Tenzin being IRKED immensely by my girls being there, but I know you, and I know you'll want to get to know them...I hope.

Till then, still holding a tender spot for you, Papa Bear.

Hoping to still be your Friend and Confidant,

Vanessa

P.S. Ask Tenzin if he's done anything 'Special' for Pema lately. XD With all those kids, I suppose he didn't let my little prank deter him from having more children.

P.S.S. What's this I hear about you 'bursting wind?' I guess I'll find out. See ya.

Once Bumi finished the letter he read it again, holding it closer to make sure it wasn't his eyes trying to fool him. Then he sat there for a minute just re-reading a few particular lines.

They're also YOUR girls.

A child. Two in fact.

I know you'll want to get to know them...

He read the words in her voice, each one bouncing around and echoing in his mind.

YOUR girls...Amber and Lilly...I know this is sudden...

Lilly and Amber are your daughters...

The wild man pressed his lips together and breathed in through his nose. In, out, in, out... Shaking, he stood up, the letter hanging loosely in his grip, eyes focused on the distance. He was so dazed, he barely noticed when Tenzin appeared next to him

"I don't understand why everyone is so excited. Honestly, Vanessa is a worse house-guest than you - and that's saying something!" When Bumi didn't respond in kind, Tenzin looked it his brother carefully. Noticing his apparent distress, the master softened his tone and asked, "Are you alright?"

Without looking at him, Bumi wordlessly held the letter out for Tenzin to take. The second his brother accepted, the Commander passed out cold.

"Bumi!" Tenzin knelt to inspect his brother and called for Kya to come help. While he was waiting Tenzin glanced over the note and by the time Kya arrived was kneeling over his brother, slack-jawed.

"What happened?" Kya cried, kneeling next to her siblings.

Dazed, Tenzin mumbled, "Where do I start?"

Thirty minutes later, Bumi slowly sat up, breathing heavily. He rubbed his head and looked around to find Tenzin and Kya standing over him.

"Bumi, what are you doing?"

Bumi looked at his sister in confusion. "What?"

"You're supposed to be down at the dock; the kids are here!"

"WHAT?"

Before he could ask any questions the two hauled him to his feet and dragged him down the stairs. At the bottom stood a tired woman with black hair, dressed head to toe in rags. Bumi blinked at her in shock. "Vanessa?"

"Hello Bumi," the woman coughed, trying to smile. "It's so good to see you..."

"Ness, what happened to you?"

"Oh, you mean this?" She gestured toward her attire. "Because you weren't there I had to sell all of my clothes to support the children. Speaking of which, there they are."

Bumi followed her point to see two rail thin kids with messy hair and sunken eyes standing off to the side. They were so small they looked like the wind could easily pick them up and blow them away. "Hi Daddy," one of them whispered in a rusty voice, while the other coughed into her hands. Bumi looked at them in horror, his heart breaking at the sight.

"You see what happens when you shirk your responsibilities?" Tenzin asked fiercely. "People suffer!"

"I can't believe you just neglected your kids this way for so long!" Kya got in her brother's face and cried, "What's wrong with you?!"

"How could you do this to my family?" Pema asked, tearfully going to hug her cousin.

"I-I-I..." Bumi stammered looking around at all the accusing glares, and kept going back to the pair of broken waifs. He stepped over to them and knelt. He tried to reach out to them but they flinched away from him. "But," he whispered. "But...I didn't know, I..."

"Bumi."

At the sound of the commanding voice, he turned his head to see Lin standing over him, frowning.

"Linny?" Bumi couldn't hide his relief at the sight of her.

She glared at him, and her green eyes cut into his heart. "I can't believe that you did this Bumi. How could you be so foolish?"

"But Lin..." he reached out to her but he was too late; she shook her head and turned, walking out of his life.

"No," he murmured as darkness started to creep in. He looked around to that Vanessa, Pema and his siblings had vanished. Even the dock itself was gone. "No..."

He turned back and saw that the children were still there, and had been joined by a man in airbender's clothes who was resting a hand on the shoulders of each girl. Bumi stared up at the man in shock.

"Dad?"

Avatar Aang stared down at his oldest son and slowly shook his head. Before Bumi could say a word, Aang wrapped his cloak around the two children and all three disappeared, leaving Bumi kneeling on the floor, alone.

"But..." he shuddered and pressed his hands to his face. "I didn't know..."

"AAAAAHHHHHHH!"

Bumi sat up straight panting, sweat pouring down his forehead. He was lying on a bed in the medical ward, his siblings and Pema standing nearby looking concerned. He looked at them and before they could ask he panted, "I can't do it! I can't be a father, I can't!"

"It's a little late to be saying that," Kya pointed out as she leaned over to put the wet cloth back on his forehead.

"Seriously," Tenzin said, holding up the letter, "what did you expect after a three day- wait a minute, a THREE day love fest?"

"Tenzin," Pema, groaned, "that's not important now! We need to be supporting Bumi."

She turned to her brother-in-law and said gently, "I know this is a lot to take in - we're all a little surprised. But if you work at it, I'm sure you can be a great father to the girls."

"Yeah," Kya agreed, putting a hand on her brother's shoulder, "who better to take care of kids than someone who thinks like one?"

Bumi calmed a bit and managed to grin at his sister's teasing. He looked around and said, "I just...I don't know how to...I don't KNOW."

"Who does?" Bumi turned to see his brother looking at him with understanding in his eyes. "Everyone feels that way at the beginning. I feel it every time a new baby comes along. But you learn as you go along; and as Pema said, we'll be here to help you."

Tenzin, putting a hand on Bumi's shoulder, asked his brother, "So...what are you going to do?"

Bumi hesitated, looking around at his family. Then, with a nervous smile he said, "I'm gonna try."

After a pause he added, "First thing's first though: I'm not gonna wear an airbending costume the first time I meet my kids. Say what you want Tenz, but yellow is not my color." Bumi hauled himself off the bed and, as he left to don his naval clothes with Kya following behind to talk to him, Pema looked over at Tenzin who seemed distracted. "Are you okay Honey?"

"Yeah, it's just...THREE DAYS?"

Pema sighed. This was going to be a long week.