Chapter 15: Homecoming.

[unedited]

The safety was slowly leaving. Ty-Lee felt the bitter cold of the outside, as she was taken from the security of the GlowLight. Right in front of her stood Mitsuki. "Welcome back," She says with a cheery smile. "Did you-defeat him?" Ty-Lee asks. Mitsuki nodded still smiling. "Now lets get you home." She said and led the way upstairs. In the living room the old woman stood talking to-Temeharo? Why was he here? Both girls wondered the same thing. "What're you doing here?" Mitsuki was the first to ask. He did that half smile and Mitsuki's stomach flopped for some reason. Why did it do that whenever he smiled that way? "I came to see my grandmother," He explained. Mitsuki nodded. "I didn't know she was your grandmother!" Ty-Lee said. Mitsuki was the only one to notice Ty-Lee's voice had returned to its normal cheerfulness. She smiled. Glad to have everything back to normal. Temeharo led the girls outside after waving goodbye to his grandmother. "I'll walk you ladies to the Arch," He said once they'd stepped outside. "Thanks," Mitsuki whispered shyly. The feeling she got when around him was the strangest thing ever. She'd never felt it before, and wondered what it could be.

On the long journey back to the Arch Mitsuki kept questioning why she felt this way. It killed her not to know what this feeling was. She stopped short as she had a realization. Noticing the small group walking on ahead she quickly hopped over and walked behind Temeharo. Ty-Lee was having a lively conversation with her guide, so Mitsuki took this opportunity to speak with Haro alone. She stepped forward and walked beside him. He just smiled and remained silent. Mitsuki didn't speak either until they'd taken a few more steps. "I wanted to say, I'm sorry I forgot you," She starts off with that, letting the conversation slowly steer to her point. "Forgot me?" Haro doesn't seem to know what she means. "You know, since I had to fall," She said shyly. He nodded with a frown. "It's ok," He said. He sounded almost hurt which made Mitsuki feel bad for bringing it up. "There's something that's bugging me though," She says finally getting to her point. Haro looks at her with surprise. "Oh?" He says indicating for her to enlighten him. "Yea, how did we meet?" She asks. "Well," Haro smiles at the recollection. "You are a star spirit correct?" He begins. "Mmhmm," Mitsuki answered. "I am a-this might sound like the weirdest thing-" Mitsuki laughed. A thing she hadn't done in ages. "Tell me!" She says with a bright smile. Haro laughs awkwardly. "Well, I'm a-a"

"A??" Mitsuki can't wait any longer for the answer. He smiles down at her and she turns away, hiding that feeling. "I'm the rain spirit," He says at last. Mitsuki smiled. "You're right that is weird!" She said teasingly. Haro smiles and then gets a look of severe pain in his eyes. "Are you ok?" Mitsuki asked. Haro nodded. "You used to tease like that all the time, I guess I just wish you could remember-" Mitsuki's smile turns to a frown. She wished she could remember too. But she didn't. "I'm sorry," Haro took both her hands in his as they walked along. "Don't be," He says. The hurting look still hadn't left his eyes. He smiles reassuring her. "Anyways, you asked how we met," Mitsuki smiles as well and he tells the story. "You were on a mission to protect a little girl who'd lost her parents until she could meet up with a nice couple who'd take her in," This story is so interesting, mostly because its about her. "But you couldn't let the child know you were protecting her," He says with a devilish grin. "Well, the simple job of the unseen body guard soon turned into an all out war between spirits, a couple of spirits wanted to kill this child, so I was sent to help you," Mitsuki smiled as she listened. "One of the spirits was attacking you, and would've killed you but luckily I came to your rescue," He was doing that smile again. Mitsuki giggled. "I swept you off your feet and we soon became friends," He bent down. Mitsuki wasn't sure what he was doing, so she pulled back. He bent over and kissed her cheek. Her jaw dropped. A million things passed through her mind. She looked at him. He looked like he regretted doing what he just did. Mitsuki gasped. "I'm sorry," Temeharo said a little angry at himself for kissing her on the cheek. "Are you-are you the one Altoru told me about?" Mitsuki asked. "The one he said I fell in love with?" At her words Temeharo stared into space. "Y-yes," He stammered a bit unsure. Mitsuki stopped walking. Ty-Lee stopped as well as everyone else. "Is-everything ok?" Ty-Lee asked as she had not herd their whole conversation. "They told me not to tell you," Haro said timidly. "They said it might scare you, the thought of loving someone you don't even know," Mitsuki just looked at him. His eyes, so full of pain and sadness. "There's a feeling-a feeling I get when I'm around you," Mitsuki started off. "At first I didn't know what it was but now-now I know it's love, I've fallen in love with you again," She said. Ty-Lee watched intently as they both talked. "I-I've always love you Mitsi," Haro said. Mitsuki smiled."is that what you used to call me," Haro smiled too. "Yes," He said slyly. Mitsuki laughed. He was so charming. No wonder she'd fallen in love with him the last time. He held her face in both his hands. Brushing her hair aside he said, "I loved you once, I love you still, I always have and I always will," Temeharo leaned closer. He pressed his lips against hers in a deep passionate kiss. Ty-Lee gasped and 3 giggled. "Too bad she'll have to fall again," Ty-Lee looked at 3 quizzically. "Oh that's right, you don't know what that is, you'll find out," Ty-Lee didn't want to 'find out' she wanted to know now. "What does that mean?" She asked. 3 shook her little head. "Not telling," Ty-Lee crossed her arms. "No fair," She mumbled. 3 smiled. She really liked Ty-Lee. When Mitsuki and Temeharo finally parted they quickly continued walking to the Arch.

There it was. Strait ahead. The Arch. The way out. Mitsuki took a deep breath. "I'm gonna miss you, all of you," She said. "It's too bad I have to forget," Temeharo got a momentary look of panic in his eye. "What? Forget?" He demanded harshly. Mitsuki nodded sadly. "I have to fall one last time," She said. Haro took her in his arms and held on tight. "No, I don't wanna say goodbye again," He breathed. "Please don't Mitsi," He whispered as a tear dropped down his face and onto her shoulder. The tear turned to a blue light then vanished. "Don't worry, it's my last time Temie," Temeharo pulled back and looked her in the eye. "How did you remember your nickname for me? I never told you," He said. Mitsuki shrugged. "I don't know, I just, knew," She says. Temeharo wondered if she might be remembering, but that was impossible."I don't wanna lose you Mitsi," A tear rolled down Mitsuki's face. She didn't want to fall again. "Ok, what's this 'falling' business?" Ty-Lee interrupted. Haro then explained the whole thing. Ty-Lee gasped. "You'll forget you saved my life, and my baby's life?" She asked shocked. Mitsuki nodded slowly. "Yes, and I'll forget Temeharo, and everyone else," She said. Haro turned away, and Ty-Lee knew he was crying silently. He turned back. "I-I wish I could forget, forget all this, losing you is too hard," Mitsuki shook her head as tears stained her cheeks. "No, I don't want you to forget me," She said. "Remember me," She took both his hands, kissing the backs of them. "Remember me, find me, whichever star I become next, find me, and remind me," She said. "It'll be my last mission, I'll be able to keep my memories forever, I'll be able to keep you forever, remind me," She said with hope in her eyes. Temeharo nodded determined to find her, wherever she may be. "Goodbye," She whispered. "No!" Haro called as Mitsuki began to disappear. "Goodbye," She repeated and crossed her arms over her chest, she leaned backwards and fell, disappearing through the ground. Ty-Lee watched as Temeharo knelt to the ground, his hands forming fists. "It's not fair," He whispered. "Not, fair," 3 floated down and sat on his shoulder. "Time for us to take Ty-Lee home," She said gently. Haro nodded and stood up. "I'm sorry," He apologized wiping at the tears. "It's just hard, to let go of someone you love," Ty-Lee put her hand on his shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile. "It's ok, I understand," He smiled through the tears. "Lets go home," He said. Ty-Lee stepped through the Arch and a bright light surrounded her. "Where is she? I need to find her," She heard Shang's voice. "We need to be patient and wait," Aang was speaking. Ty-Lee's face lit up with excitement. Haro stood behind her with 3 at his side. "Goodbye Ty-Lee, something very exciting is waiting for you when you get home," They both waved. Ty-Lee wave back. "Bye!" She called and stepped forward.

"But it's been so long, if half of what you told me is true, she's in grave danger," Shang was becoming angry. Aang just took a deep breath and tried to calm him down. "I'm sure she's fine, Mitsuki is capable of taking care of her," He says. "I'd feel better if I knew her," Shang mumbled. The door opened. In stepped Ty-Lee her face radiant as she looked at her husband. "I'm home," She whispered. Shang was up immediately and scooped her off her feet. He kissed her harshly and then pulled away. "I've missed you, are you alright? Are you hurt?" Ty-Lee shook her head. "Perfectly fine, Mitsuki took good care of me I-oh!" She clutched her stomach. Maybe this is what Temeharo meant by 'something exciting'.

"Are you alright?" Shang asked alarmed. "The baby's coming," She breathed worriedly. Katara was at her side in an instant. "Come, bring her to the couch," She instructed. The kids came running from the next room. "Auntie Ty-Lee's back!" Tenzin shouted. "Aang take the kids out," Katara called. Aang grabbed Tenzin. "Lets go buddy," He said and led him and the others to the back yard.

A few hours later, Shang was holding a little baby girl in his arms. He was smiling brightly at his baby girl. "Can I hold her?" Ty-Lee asked from the couch where she lay. Shang bent down handing her the little tiny girl. She wailed and threw her hands up but quickly settled into her mommy's arms. "Hi," Ty-Lee whispered. Then Tenzin ran inside followed by Kya, Bumi, and Aang. "Aww!" Kya squealed in delight. Tenzin sat on the edge of the couch. He looked at the baby with a puzzled face. "Wanna hold her?" Ty-Lee asked. Tenzin got a dirty look. "It looks squishy," The ten year old said. Ty-Lee laughed. "Yea I'll hold her," He said at last. Ty-Lee sat up and handed the baby to Tenzin, but kept her hands around his arms in case he let go. "She is kinda cute," He said with a smile. The little girl giggled and reached for his face. Tenzin stuck his tongue out at her and she squealed. He laughed as she yawned and fell asleep. "What are you going to name her auntie Ty-Lee?" Kya asked, her eyes gleaming. Ty-Lee thought a moment. "I'm not sure yet-" She thought a second. Then smiling said, "I'll name her Pema,"

Bumi wasn't at all interested. He just walked away to play with his toys. "That's a sweet name," Kya says, that dreamy look still in her eyes. Shang walked over and kissed Ty-Lee's cheek. "I love you so much," He whispered. Ty-Lee smiled. "I love you too," She said and leaned up kissing his cheek.

Katara walked in with a long slender box and handed it to Ty-Lee. Shang took Pema from Tenzin and played with her. "What's this?" Ty-Lee asked. "I don't know, it was left on our doorstep with your name on it," She said with a shrug. Ty-Lee took a note off the top and read it.

'From an old friend,'

Was all it said. She gently lifted the lid looking inside. She quickly set down the lid and pulled out-a White Rose.

THE END.

Is this the end? Or is it...