The Beginnings of Zutara
Aang shrugged. "I don't know how long I'll be away, Katara," he said, zipping up his final suitcase. "I've told you before—the councilmen said about six months, maybe more. There's a lot to be done at Ba Sing Se."
"I wish I could go with you," Katara whispered. She wrapped her arms around his neck. During the year after the war, Aang had grown. He and Katara were about the same height now.
"I know, Katara." Aang's arms also went around Katara. "But you're needed here, at home." After traveling for the past two years, the Southern Water Tribe didn't seem like home anymore. She still wanted to move around, find some hidden corner of the world that she hadn't seen yet. "If it makes you feel any better, I really wish you could come with me, too, but—"
"I know. My grandmother's sick and I need to stay here in case it gets worse."
"And I'll visit when Sokka and Suki have their wedding." He paused. "I love you, Katara." Katara was beginning to tell him that she loved him, too, but he pressed his lips against hers. They didn't hear Sokka step into the room.
"Ugh, guys!" he called. "I thought you said your goodbyes last night! I don't like seeing my little sister—"
"Sokka, you can uncover your eyes," Katara said. She picked up one of Aang's suitcases and slung it over her shoulder. It began sliding down her arm and she tried to push it back up when she realized Aang was the one pulling it down.
"I got it," he said. He then picked up all four suitcases and took three steps before they all promptly fell to the ground. Katara giggled. She knelt down to help him pick the suitcases up. However, when she bent over, her necklace slipped off her neck. Aang caught it for her.
"The clasp is getting loose," she explained. "It keeps falling off every time I move around. I need to get it fixed." She stood up and held her hair out of the way so Aang could clip the necklace back into place. "Thanks."
Just then, Hakoda entered the room. "Are you all ready?" he asked. "Everyone's outside waiting to say goodbye. Toph is itching to get off the ice."
Katara had forgotten about Toph and soon-to-be-sister-in-law, Suki. (Sokka and Suki were planning to get married in the upcoming year, before the winter solstice, if they were lucky.) Aang was taking the two girls back to their hometowns. Toph was visiting her parents and dreading it—two weeks of dresses and tea parties with her mother's friends and their daughters. Suki was telling her friends and family the good news and make preparations and plans for her wedding. Sokka would meet up with her next week.
Everyone each took one of Aang's suitcases and headed out. Katara and Aang joined hands. The villages lined a pathway that led directly to Appa. A few people stepped out to give Aang a hug. Even now, they were still rejoicing the end of the war. Katara almost liked when the war was going on—it was definitely easier than dealing with the aftermath. She had dealt with too many stubborn citizens from the Colonies and assassination attempts, the attempts at either at her or her friends. Katara was still not used to even the positive attention that helping end the war brought her. She was expecting that a few would hate her, but people she never even met before were coming up to her and thanking her!
They loaded everything onto Appa, including some nonperishable food that would last Aang a few days if he couldn't stop at a town. Aang was relieved when he noticed that sea prunes didn't make it onto the saddle.
Katara and Sokka lingered on Appa. Sokka and Suki were whispering to each other. Katara could hear their murmurs from where she was sitting on Appa's head. "So I'll see you in a little while?" She asked. She felt the sting of tears at the back of her eyes, but she knew they wouldn't spill over.
"I'll be back before you know it," Aang replied. They stared at each other for a few moments. Suddenly, Katara kissed Aang one last time before turning and jumping off Appa. She landed heavily onto the thick ice, but managed to keep her footing.
"Yip yip!" Aang called out to Appa. Katara stood rooted to her spot long after Appa had disappeared into the clouds, long after the small crowd dispersed. Even though she felt she and Aang were gradually growing apart, she wanted to keep him close. He was her normal. And she missed him already.