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It was just a little after midnight. Katara lay in bed, eyes wide open looking at the sheet of ice above her.
Aang observed her as he changed into his sleepwear, got into the bed and wrapped an arm around her waist.
“Katara.” He lay on his side, facing her. She remained still. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes, it’s just-” she sighed, turning on her side to face him, finally meeting his gaze. “It gets harder every time I come back here, watching the village move on without her, especially on days like today.”
“Your mom?” She nodded.
“Hmm,” he moved his hand from her waist to her back and rubbed up and down. “Why don’t we take Bumi to see her grave tomorrow for her birthday?”
“Tomorrow?” she asked, pulling away.
He shrugged. "Yeah, why not?”
“I just- don’t you think he’s a little too young for that still? I was barely twice his age when I had to grapple with death for the first time....” Tears filled her eyes as her voice trailed off.
Aang kissed her forehead. “I understand. But for what it's worth, I think it would help you and Bumi a lot. You’d be surprised at the kind of questions he’s started asking already. I’ve had to explain to him on three separate occasions that ‘No, Gan-Gan is Mommy’s grandma, not yours’ but I fear I’m just not getting through.”
Katara chuckled. “Okay okay, I see your point.” She nuzzled into his neck, satisfied and ready to sleep. “We can take him at dawn before the village wakes up.”
The next morning, Katara found herself awake before Aang, an unusual occurrence most days but typical when something was weighing heavy on her mind.
She got out of bed and went over to Bumi’s cot and gazed at the back of his head lovingly for a few seconds.
'Where has the time gone?' she wondered. The realization that her little baby was not so little anymore and was asking big questions was something Katara thought she would be ready for when the time came. Instead, she still felt like that little girl who wasn’t ready to accept that her mom was really gone, clinging to memories of her late mother all by her lonesome.
A hand on her shoulder brought her out of her wallowing as Aang reached past her to rub Bumi’s back.
“C’mon, Bumi. It’s time to wake up!”
The three-year-old tossed and turned in protest, until finally turning over, fully awake.
“Mama!” He exclaimed, stretching out his hands.
“Mommy’s got you, sweetie, don’t worry.” She picked him up, smirking at Aang.
“Traitor,” Aang mumbled as she walked past him.
“Bumi,” she cooed. “Today, we’re heading out a little early to come back, okay?” He nodded in her arms. “Now, what do you wanna eat for breakfast?”
Once they got dressed and Bumi was layered enough to Katara’s liking, the family headed out their designated lodgings in Wolf Cove at dawn. Katara marched with a resolute heaviness as they left the village, carrying Bumi the whole way with Aang following a few steps behind.
As they reached the gravesite, Katara set Bumi down between her knees.
“Where’s this, Mommy?”
Katara’s breath hitched. Aang quickly filled the pause, saving her. “Remember I told you that your grandma and Mommy’s grandma are different?”
Bumi nodded enthusiastically.
“Well today, we are meeting your grandma, Mommy’s mommy.”
The young one’s eyes widened. “My mommy has a mommy too?”
“Uh huh. Her name is Kya and she’s right here.” Aang outstretched his hand towards the plot in front of them, untouched by the snow with a big stone at the head.
“But why can’t I see Mommy’s mommy?” Bumi asked, with his head tilted to the side.
“Because… she went away, and she can’t come back.” Aang replied gently, lowering himself to look at the toddler in his eyes. “But, even though you can’t see her, she can hear you. So, you can still wish her a happy birthday.” He pulled a panda lily out from the pocket of his parka and offered it to the young toddler.
The toddler’s eyes widened as he turned to his mother. “It’s your mommy’s bir-day?” he asked incredulously. She nodded silently before he turned back to study the flower in his father’s hand before taking it into his tiny gloved fingers and waddling over to the other side.
“Happy bir-day, Gan-Gan Kya,” he greeted as he laid the flower to rest amidst the snowflowers at the head of the plot. He stood there for a while before turning to Katara, who remained crouched to the ground observing him. Twice for the morning, she found herself staring at the back of his head, wondering what questions must be swirling around inside it.
Suddenly, Bumi turned to meet his mother’s gaze and made his way over to her. As soon as he got close enough, the toddler leapt into Katara’s arms, tiny arms circling her neck. The tears she had been holding back since they arrived burst like a dam, as she hugged him back fiercely.
“I love you, Bumi,” Katara sobbed.
“I love you too, Mommy,” he chirped.
She stood up still clutching him, when she felt a familiar pair of arms at her waist circling them both. She leaned on Aang with her eyes screwed shut, letting more tears fall for just a little while longer.
Finally, she let out a deep sigh and ran a hand up and down Bumi’s thigh as she pulled away from Aang’s embrace.
“Come on, let’s go,” she breathed out. She marched alongside what remained of their footsteps the way they came, holding Bumi tightly in her arms and Aang following closely behind. This time, Aang watched as Bumi’s eyes remained fixed at the plot fading in the distance behind them, knowing there were more questions to come.