Relief
On the balcony of her room in the Fire Nation palace, she waited, silently. The night was slowly cooling around her, but there was still a thickness to it, waiting, remaining, almost like dread that never goes away. She kept rhythm with her heart beat and listened to it race, then slow, race, then slow.
Her fears were justified. The revolts in the old Fire Nation colonies had exponentially gotten out of hand. It was dangerous.
Could it be he wouldn't return? Is it possible it is all a lie, that he had actually died, and he would not be coming home this night? Was it possible? Her heart started to race. No, it couldn't be. He had written a letter. He had promised, in his own writing. He would be here, she just needed patience.
This peaceful mindset evaporated when her brother, Sokka, barged into her room and sprinted out to the balcony, followed by frazzled looking servants.
"Katara, you've got to come with me, now!"
Katara's eyes widened. Her fears, were they true? Oh, Agni, please let them be a lie!
"Fire Lady Katara, I suggest that you do not panic, I don't think—" one of the servants started.
"Move aside, dingbat, we have to go!" Sokka said, pushing the servant aside and pulling Katara from the room.
"Sokka, what—?"
"Shh, Katara! We have to hurry, there's no time to talk."
This did little to silence what was inside her—anxiety raged like a storm in her stomach.
Sokka and Katara arrived at the royal boat dock to see a large black vessel lower its plank.
With eager eyes, Sokka looked desperately as shadows of people descended.
"Sokka," Katara whispered.
He ignored her and continued to gaze at the approaching shadows.
Katara nearly stopped breathing when the shadows came to a halt in front of her and Sokka. She needed to see whose faces were before her!
"Well, Sokka, I see you've given her quite a scare. Come on, son, the joke's up," a familiar voice said amicably. Could it be?
Sokka turned to Katara with a large smirk, and as he did Hadoka stepped into view, followed in suit by Gran-Gran, Avatar Aang, Toph, Suki, and Fire Lord Zuko.
Katara gasped, "Dad! Gran-Gran! Aang! Toph! Suki!" and gave them each strong hugs. "What a surprise! I've missed you!"
"And you…" She said in a pretend-angry voice, turning to Zuko to jab a finger to his chest.
Zuko smiled mischievously. "What?" Her heart melted, relief flooded her senses—she was ecstatic!
She smiled and threw her arms around his neck, "I'm so relieved you're back." She sighed, kissing his cheek profusely. Zuko returned a few affectionate pecks as she giggled, laying her eyes on Sokka.
"But YOU," she said menacingly, walking over to Sokka, "Don't you EVER do that again. Understood?"
Sokka rolled his eyes and waved an uncaring hand toward Katara. "Yeah, I get it." He turned to Hadoka, and started laughing, "But it sure was fun! After all, she's so easy to scare. When Zuko told me to make sure she was alright when he was gone, and keep her 'calm' the entire time, that left room for some pranking."
Katara folded her arms across her chest and raised an eyebrow, "Sokka…"
Sokka turned to her, laughing with his hands on his knees, and pointed, saying, "You should have seen your face! Afterwards, you looked so relieved, but before—It was great! I swear, I really need to get myself into comed—"
Thwack!
Everyone laughed as Katara flung away the water she'd used to deliver a sharp water whip to Sokka.
Soaked to the skin and resembling a child, Sokka pouted. Aang bended air at Sokka to dry him, but his hair just stood on end. Everyone chuckled, turning to walk up the dock to the Fire Palace, "Not fair, Katara. I wasn't expecting that."
She smirked, glancing to make sure no one was listening, "Then I guess we're even."