Katara was deep in thought in the large room, the stone walls of the air bender library built centuries ago curved gracefully into high archways around the space. Filling the room were rows upon rows of scrolls from every era and every nation. The scroll she was reading was long and strewn out in front of her, ornately decorated. On it were movements of ancient water bending forms. Her eyes creased as she studied the movements, mentally plotting how to implement them into her own regimen. Her hands began forming the movements absently at her side as she became more in tune with her practice she looked up from her scrolls, that was when she saw him.
He looked so tranquil and calm as he meditated under the open expanse of one of the graceful archways of the air temple. The moonlight played with shadows on his back, highlighting the muscles, tattoos and scars that defined the patient and kind young man that Katara now saw before her. It had been six years since Aang had defeated the firelord, seven years of growth and maturity between the two of them. A small smile played at the corners of her mouth as she reminisced about their time together and all the confusion that now had passed.
She noticed him stir slightly and quickly busied herself with her reading so as not to embarrass him with her scrutiny. Aang stood up and turned to face her, noticing her hurried attempt to busy herself.
"How is it going with the new moves, anything new to teach me?" he asked, a smirk growing on his face.
Katara blushed as she took in how his grey eyes smiled at her, in this light the creases of his face were put into high relief, she could make out each line, hard-won from near constant laughter, and worry, always worry. She sighed softly to herself. Such a burden he had on his shoulders, not that he would ever show the extent of it to her. The six years of since the fall of Ozai had been hard on all of them. Especially Aang, she rarely strayed from his side as he went to endless meetings with the rulers of each tribe, the importance of his work was not lost on her, of course, and she never complained.
"I'm flattered that you think there is anything I could still teach you," she said playfully, "these water tribe scrolls are so interesting. I'm glad we found them."
"Me too, sweetie," he said as pulled her close and planted a small kiss on her forehead.
He knew all too well how she wanted to absorb any and all information about her people, and he knew that he was part of the reason she was away from them so often. The thought pained him and he quickly trained his thoughts on his surprise for her. The fact was, he and Katara were still not married. There was no time for that with all the work they had been doing, reuniting the land, warding off near constant threat to the new leadership in the firenation, fixing over 100 years of prejudice wasn't an easy task. He had come to realize after all these years that this work wouldn't easily go away, and there was no point in putting his own life on hold to fix it. Life would go on with or without him. He had in mind a special trip to the southern water tribe and a special question to ask this most deserving and beautiful woman. He expected that the world would continue to turn without him for a week or so.
He held her at arm's length to get a good look at her eyes, blue, and mysterious as the sea itself. She had changed and matured so beautifully. Her feminine curves both excited and terrified the young monk. He absentmindedly tucked a lock of her dark wavy hair behind her ear and contemplated how he, too, had changed. He now stood tall above her, and something in his build seemed more defined. He felt stronger. No longer like a little boy rather, a man, capable and deserving of his title. He was a fully realized avatar with all of the perks and consequences of the position. Nothing had changed about the way he viewed Katara, however. She was still the most beautiful creature he had ever beheld.
"Katara?" He said as he pulled her in close again, "Katara, how would you like to go visit your father tomorrow? Things have calmed down enough to take a little bre-"
"Really?" She exclaimed squeezing him excitedly, "oh you have no idea how much I've been wanting just that!"
"Sure," he said, glowing at her excitement, "pack your things and we can take Appa out first th-"
A loud bang and heavy footsteps startled them both.
"Oogies!", exclaimed Sokka, Katara's older brother, covering his eyes as he burst into the library.
It was almost comical how fast Aang and Katara split and how the redness radiated from their cheeks.
"Seriously Sokka, you have got to learn to knock", said Katara angrily while Aang just chuckled quietly to himself.
"What? This is a library, how was I supposed to know? Seriously. Besides I heard you say you were going to the water tribe. When are we leaving? I'll tell Suki and Toph."
"We can leave as early as tomorrow morning if you can be ready", said Aang calmly resting a hand on Katara`s shoulder.
"Alright I'll rally the troops", proclaimed Sokka as he dashed back out of the room.
Katara smiled at Aang and kissed him softly before following her brother to pack.
Aang watched her go and when he was sure she was out of sight he pulled the intricately woven betrothal necklace out of his robes and examined it nervously. What if she said no? What if she laughed in his face, he shook the notion from his head realizing his fear was no different than any other man that had ever been in his position. He sighed and put his gift to Katara back in his robe. I guess I'll just have to worry one more night. Somehow the thought comforted him and he made his way to his room across the hall from Katara`s, happy in the knowledge that this would be one of his last nights alone