Oh my god, that was beautiful. Not going to lie I did get a little mad when I saw that you played with the canon facts (such as Katara passing when Jinora is still 12 when she's cleary around in Book 4 when Jinora would have been 14/15). But I was able to look past it and see this story for what it is. This makes me wish there were Gran Gran Katara stories. This story also made me feel for Aang, it's not that he only focused on Tenzin it's just that with him being the Avatar
he was just spread way too thin and Tenzin was the only airbender. I didn't even think about the fact that if Tenzin wasn't taught properly then it would have messed up Korra's and everyone elses story also makes me wish Bumi and Kya had canon kids, like they could have spouses too and adopted or something.

Awesome fan fiction.

This was beautiful! I was (mostly) fine until the line about penguin-sledding (something was really irritating my eyes)! Because back then was when they were the happiest and most free, despite it being a time of war. And I can just imagine that the Gaang would spend their time in the Spirit world reliving the times when they were still allowed to be kids. When Zuko didn't need to rule a nation, when Sokka wasn't a public figure, when Toph wasn't responsible for so many, and when Aang wasn't officially bound to his duties as the only Avatar, and when Katara didn't have to be so understanding about the fact that Aang would always have to put the world before their family. And I know she would've understood, and I know that Kya and Bumi understood - and though it would've hurt, they wouldn't have complained much because Aang did the absolute best he could under the circumstances. He had to somehow divide his time between being the Avatar to the whole world, ensuring the Air Nomad's teachings and legacy would be secured (especially since he was the only Airbender in existence before Tenzin) and still being with his family simultaneously. Add in the fact that the only way Aang could possibly no longer have the responsibility of Avatar would be to die, you end up with an extremely unfortunate situation. I believe he did his absolute best, and it hurts to know that the Aang that we all came to love during the original series was only bound by more responsibility as time went on. It's not the usual story where the hero defeats the bad guy and can then make the choice about how much of that title and responsibility they want to take on later in their life, or at least pass on to someone else. Aang was literally unable to not leave behind his Avatar duties without dying first, thus, leaving all of his family and loved ones behind. And it's because of all this that makes the original series so precious (and untainted in a way) in comparison, it's also what makes the line in this fic about them returning to that time more poignant. He loved all of his children equally, he just wasn't always able to show it.

(Sorry for the really long rant, but I've been rewatching A:TLA and LOK and I'm trying to reconcile the Aang from the original series to the one described in LOK. I personally believe the writers could have done a bit more in delving into their family issues, the perspectives all seem quite one-sided to me. And I find it extremely hard to believe that Aang favoured one child in such an obvious way - he would have taken the time for everyone.)

Thanks for this fic! :)
It invoked a lot of emotions!

very good.

This was so beautiful 3
My one thing is I wish they'd stayed in their thirties in 'heaven' or whatever you want to call it because I love when Aang and Katara are actually together in a 'real' relationship. But at the same time the penguin sledding line got me.

The feels are strong with this one

Shi*t, something got into my eyes. Oh yeah, tears.

gosh darn it let me cry now thank you very much *sobs*

This is amazing. The FEEEELLLZZZZZZZ .

Oh my gosh, I'm crying. That ending...I can't even. Such a beautiful fic!

Awww So sad and sweet, I love it!

Actually, I can imagine Aang like that. The Aang we saw in the first series was a pure Aang; a young boy barely making sense of the world around him while being true to himself. Now lets look at Aang years later. He is a grown man, a little wiser, more experienced and a more beaten down. A mature adult with different ideals and different responsibilities. His priorities are different too. I could imagine him trying to juggle his duties as an avatar and a father. It must have been extemely challenging. It also didn't help that his one son was an air bender. Recall how he was technically an only child for a good part of his childhood. Having that one on one interaction with his father figure was normal in the culture he was born into. So when it came to raising his children, he must have not twice when providing that "mentorship" relation with Tenzin. In the end, I'm pretty sure the writers of Korra knew what they were doing. Aang did not neglect his kids on purpose, it just seems that way because we still have that crisp image of the happy, loving, innocent boy we saw in the iceberg.

Oh wow...
This is beautiful. I love the idea of Bumi (and Kya too, really) of having a family, and just like everyone else, I was severely disappointed in how Aang was portrayed as a "bad" father.

I love how this played out... Just...the family dynamics of it and everything. I know Aang must've had it hard as a father. :( Poor Katara... But she's strong, and even now, I'm still very proud of her.

Your story was beautiful. Great job, and keep it up!

First of all, well written.

Second, I completely buy that Aang could have been not the best father. Not everyone is meant to be a parent, and that does extend to good people as well. It doesn't make them any less of a good person; it just means they have different gifts. Unfortunately, Aang was in the position where even if he didn't want children, he had to have them anyway for the sake of the world. Though not TV cannon, it makes sense that the movie would say the Avatar cannot have a family because the responsibility of the role is much too great, similar to how the Pope cannot have a family. However, that edict went out the window once airbenders became an endangered species.

So many people view marriage and children as the pinnacle of life's accomplishments, and if you don't have them, you are somehow a failure, or not as good of a person, or not as happy or fulfilled. People view being a good parent as the best way to show you are a good person. So yes, I can subscribe to the view that to be the best Avatar he could be, Aang's children would suffer the consequences, because he might be one of those good people who, if circumstances were different, would be made to serve the world rather than a family.

Even good characters can have flaws. Aang's is that he isn't the best at parenting, which happens.

Very sweet and touching, perfect for Father's Day!