Author's Note: Thank quentyl for an inspiration post about Lin and Aang. This idea had been lingering in my head, but that post pushed me to write and publish it.

Tiredness strapped lead weights to her ankles as Lin trudged towards the family quarters. Pale predawn lent enough light to guide her, yet kept the world in shades of shadow.

"Sora?"

Elbows on her knees, Sora sat on the steps. Fluffy slippers clad her feet; a yellow dressing gown shielded her from the morning's dewy chill.

"What are you doing out here?" Lin asked, halting and crouching.

"Waiting," replied Sora. She questioned softly, "Was it a bad night?"

"Not as bad as it could have been but bad enough." Lin eased herself to a seat beside her daughter.

"I'm sorry."

Lin stroked Sora's hair. "Nothing to do with you. Does your father know you're out here?"

Sora nodded. "He's starting breakfast."

"Good. I could use it." Lin sighed and stared straight ahead. In the distance, gold crept over the mountains, spilling across the sky and the city. One-armed, she drew Sora against her side. "Smart man, your father."

She glanced at Sora. "Don't tell him I said that."

"I won't," Sora promised with a smile.

Both returned to watching the sunrise.

After a while, Sora said quietly, "I think I like sunrises better than sunsets."

"Hm?"

"They're both pretty but sunsets are the ends of something; sunrises are the beginnings."

"Wake up, Lin, it's time to get up."

Lin groaned and rolled over, tangling herself in the blankets.

"It's still dark," she whined.

Aang grinned. "That's the point, kit. Come on. Up you get."

Scowling, Lin kicked and pushed the blankets away. Aang nudged her slippers nearer with his own be-slippered feet.

He directed, "Put these on and wrap up warm. I'm going to see how far along Tenzin's got."

"Baldy Stupid Airhead," muttered Lin as she donned the slippers and her robe. Following Aang out, she emerged into the corridor as the two Airbenders did. To her disgust, Tenzin actually looked awake.

"You're mad," she informed the pair with all the seriousness a six-year-old could possess. Tenzin opened his mouth to retort; Aang laughed.

"You wouldn't be the first to think so," replied Aang before Tenzin could speak. He offered her a hand. "Come on. I promise it'll be worth it."

"Better be." Yawning, Lin took the hand. Aang led them into the main part of the Temple and began climbing the stairs of the tower.

After two and a third flights, Lin grimaced. She'd been doggedly taking the stairs, despite having the shortest legs - short enough to make every stair a challenge.

Aang scooped her up. Lin wrapped her arms around his neck. To Tenzin, he said, "Use an air-ball if you get tired, all right?"

"All right." He made it another flight before resorting to the trick.

"Here we are," announced Aang as they reached the parapet. He lowered Lin to the floor.

"I've seen this already. Can't I go back to bed?"

"You haven't seen this!" Aang gestured at the sunrise. Sunlight streaked the sky, brilliant against the dark of the mountains beyond the city. Clouds edged in orange and yellow floated and reflected the light.

"The sun rises every day," Lin said. "What's the big deal?"

"Ah...see...here's the 'big deal', kit. The sun never rises the same way twice." Aang turned his face to the sun, gold suffusing him. "Never. It's always new. A new day, a chance to begin again."

"Mom?"

Lin smiled. "You're right, sunrises are better."