Author Note: I know, I know there are dozens of stories like these out there for the fandom, but I couldn't help myself okay! I love Katara and I love the idea that she goes off on her own and discovers the true badass that she is and becomes a powerful leader in her own right. Hopefully, this one will be different enough! I've tried to write this as realistically as possible and stay true to their characters. :) Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its characters! This is merely a story of my own wishes of how things had gone after the series ended. This is also a blanket disclaimer for all future chapters as well, y'all know the drill!

The sun had just started to peek over the horizon when the remnants of Katara's dream coaxed her gently awake. Aang was beside her, sound asleep and from the looks of it deep within a good dream. In the back of Katara's mind, she was tempted to lay back down beside him and curl back into the fog of sleep that clung to the edge of her vision, but her tangled emotions prompted her out of bed.

It was unusual for her to be up so early, she was not like Zuko who rose with the sun religiously, so clearly there was a reason her mind had yet to reveal.

The routine of making herself tea came like second nature, though she tried to be a little quieter, so she didn't disturb the sleeping man in the other room. Aang's features had matured, and he had grown to be quite a bit taller than most of their friends, some days Katara looked at him and wondered where the twelve-year-old boy had gone.

Yet, the day she found Aang in the iceberg six years ago seemed so far away now. Another life that was unattainable in many ways. Of course, their journey to help Aang learn the four elements and defeat Fire Lord Ozai will forever be seared into the fabric of history, but Katara knew she had been a different person back then. Young, filled with boundless energy and hope, with no image of what her life would look like after they won.

As she looked into the fountain she favored whenever she craved some time alone with her thoughts; she saw a young woman looking back, her face lined with the demands of her role as a War Hero and the obligations to her people. Nothing like the fourteen-year-old girl whose only worry was making sure Sokka didn't get himself hurt whenever he went fishing.

The water rippled, reacting to the emotions that swelled up inside her. It wasn't easy to admit, but she's felt unsettled the last several months of her journey with Aang. Unsettled and if she was truly honest with herself - unhappy as well.

It had been five years of traveling, five years of movement that was nothing like her element. No, Katara felt as though she and Aang traveled like they were jet streams, barreling through villages and cities in the blink of an eye, never stopping long enough to catch up with their friends and family.

And Katara had begun to admit that enough was enough.

Aang would never stop though, she knew that. He was an Air Nomad first and foremost which meant travel was ingrained into the very fabric of his being. Katara couldn't bear to ask Aang to stop, even for a little while, because she knew he would if she did utter those words to him. Just like five years ago she had said yes to hopping onto Appa's back and seeing the world rush beneath her in a blur when she truly wanted to spend more time with her friends and family to rebuild the world into something that washed away the stain that was the last hundred years.

Just like Zuko and her father were doing. (She supposed she could count Sokka as well since one day he will take over their father's position as Chief.)

"Katara?"

She barely contained the flinch that wanted escape her skin when Aang's voice interrupted her thoughts. Even now, Katara couldn't help the instinct to defend herself at any sudden noise or movement. And she had begun to doubt that would ever truly go away. Children forged in war could never let go of their vigilance, even years after.

So, Katara centered herself and turned to look at Aang who appeared as though he wanted to be asleep. She can't help the smile that stretched across her face at the sight.

"Hey, sorry if I woke you," she said as he sat beside her.

He waved her off, even though he yawned widely. "It's alright," he replied after he finished his stretches. "Is everything okay?"

No.

Something inside Katara realized that now was the moment to tell Aang her feelings, her true, unfiltered emotions. Aang seemed to sense a shift within her at the same time and straightened. The sleepy, dazed expression on his face was replaced with something more somber.

Finally, "I'm not happy anymore, Aang."

It was best to start there she figured. Ultimately everything she felt boiled down to that one sentence, even if it was much more complicated than that.

There was a hesitation from Aang, it was nearly palpable in the air around them, and it made Katara shift uncomfortably before he broke the silence. "Okay," he said slowly as if he was trying not to spook her, "Is it something I said? Or did?"

"No!" the word fell from her mouth before Katara could put real thought into his question.

Silence fell over them again as Katara tried to come up with the words to explain to Aang why she felt unhappy. After a while, she realized there would never be enough words to express to him the depth of her feelings properly. "I just - Aang can you tell me you're truly happy?"

Aang looked away from her then, an answer in of itself. But Katara waited patiently for Aang to answer. It was only fair, even though she wanted to shake the man beside her and shout at him to just say it.

"Honestly? No…I don't think I have been either." He looked as upset as she felt and despite the sting his words left upon her heart she knew her earlier words had done the same.

Somehow though, Katara felt like these pains they felt weren't that of heartbreak, just the kind of sadness one feels when something comes to an inevitable end. The kind of end that everyone involved saw coming. Like the end of their travels together as one unit, one family.

Tears formed in her eyes and fell down her cheeks. She desperately wished that she could love Aang the way he once wanted her to and wished he could love her the way she wanted to be loved. There was so much history between them, and everything they had been through had formed a deep bond between them that Katara knew could never be shattered.

Aang looked up after a few moments and when he noticed her tears, his own began to form. But true to his nature, he brushed away hers and completely disregarded his own. "You want to leave don't you?" he finally brought himself to say.

More tears fell as Katara nodded her head. "Yes."

They sat there for a while, in complete silence. Katara knew Aang had started to process her words, had begun to analyze his feelings as well. And she got the impression that it wasn't the first time he's allowed himself to do these things. Just like it wasn't for her.

"Alright," he said finally, "Alright. Let's get your stuff together for your trip back home."

Katara brought Aang into a tight embrace and hoped it would convey the depth of her gratitude. This could have gone much worse she realized, so much worse. And perhaps it would have gone worse if she had tried to end things even just a year ago. Neither of them had been quite ready to back then to admit to themselves the life they built was only temporary.

"Thank you, Aang," she whispered against his shoulder.

It was definitely awkward; Katara had to admit at least that. Aang was gracious enough to give her some food and supplies for her travels back to the Southern Water Tribe, resources she knew he used mostly for the acolytes and the recruitment of more who wished to live like the Air Nomads did over a century ago.

But neither of them really knew what to say to each other after they had finished their talk. Things felt different, yet Katara knew it wasn't. The only difference was that Aang slept in another room in the Southern Air Temple, which was a stark reminder to them both that their relationship was over.

She stretched her hand across the side of the bed Aang usually occupied and her heart tugged painfully. Five years of sleeping next to someone made it difficult to be suddenly faced with an empty bed.

It wasn't as if this was the first time she and Aang slept apart. Sometimes there were trips that Katara just couldn't tag along with, trips he had to do on his own. But this was different because this time Katara knew they'd never sleep in the same bed again and Aang was still here just not with her.

The next morning Katara rose at her regular time, hours past dawn and Aang was ready for her as she lugged her bags from her room. "We should head out soon if we want to catch the trade ship," was all he said.

Katara could tell he wanted to say more and she did as well, but they both stayed silent.

Appa seemed to sense the shift in their relationship, whether through his own intuition or through his bond with Aang. Regardless, the flying bison moved through the air slowly as if to prolong Katara's departure. Momo chirped in her ear as tears stung her eyes.

As they reached the Earth Kingdom port, Katara had moved towards Appa's head where Aang sat and her hand reached out to grab one of his. "I know," he whispered as he squeezed her fingers.

The depth of her gratitude only grew, because Aang would always know that she loved him. He would always hold a special place in her heart that could never be taken away from either of them. They had been through far too much to let their failed romantic relationship ruin everything else they had gained over the years.

Appa landed with a loud groan of protest, and Katara let herself sink into his fur as she hugged him goodbye. Aang had begun to bring her bags onto the ship instinctively knowing she needed a few moments alone with the bison.

"You take care of Aang, you hear me?" she whispered as she pulled away. Her gaze sought out one of Appa's large, brown eyes. "And you let him take care of you too."

Momo was quiet for once, his tail curled around her neck with his face pressed into her hair. "Don't worry Momo; this isn't goodbye forever."

It couldn't be. And she hoped Appa and Momo understood that.

The ship's crew began to shout at each other on deck as they went through their departure checklist. Katara was torn between relief and despair at leaving, and that conflict inside her heart only grew when she turned to see Aang. He stood at the end of the dock, hands behind his back looking every bit like the Avatar she always knew he'd become.

Her heart was a lump in her throat as she noted his watery eyes and for the first time, she asked herself if she was doing the right thing.

"Write when you get settled somewhere," he said after a few moments had passed between them.

Katara swallowed past the lump and nodded her head. "Of course I will," she said.

He was the first to step forward and pulled her into a tight embrace. As they pull apart, he leaned down and gave her one last kiss. It was innocent, just like the ones he had given her all those years ago in the midst of war. She smiled against his lips, and when he pulled away, she kissed his cheek. "Take care of yourself Aang," she whispered.

Aang smiled, and Katara let her tears fall down her cheeks.

"I will."

There were no I love yous exchanged between them as Katara grabbed her last bag and boarded the ship. There were no longing glances thrown each other's way as the ship set sail and Aang climbed atop Appa. There was only sadness sprinkled with excitement for their unknown futures as Aang flew away and her ship slipped beyond the bend of the river that carried her home.

Katara fell into a nice routine on the ship. She had known it wouldn't be a quick trip back home, but she knew if she had flown back to the Southern Water Tribe with Aang she would have begun to doubt her feelings. Not because they would have been any less true, but because the comfortable rhythm they had while they traveled would have been hard to walk away from.

So as her journey back home came to an end, she made sure to say goodbye to the crew members who had been so gracious to allow her to join them.

While they stayed on the docks to unload their merchandise, Katara looked towards the young city that stretched out before her. It was strange to see the ragtag village she grew up in turned into a prominent, multi-cultural city that drew visitors from all over the world. Including the Fire Nation.

As she wandered through the market, she couldn't help at marvel at how many merchants filled the stores and stalls. There had been so few of them the last time she visited.

It wasn't long before she ran into someone from her family, though she hadn't expected it to be Pakku. The man looked nearly the same as before, though Katara noticed there were a few more wrinkles around his eyes that hadn't been there just a year ago when she last was home.

"Well, isn't this a surprise," he drawled, though Katara saw the smile in his eyes.

She rolled her eyes as she hugged her step-grandfather. "Can't you just say you're happy to see me?" she teased.

Pakku pulled away but held onto Katara's shoulders as he looked down at her. "No. I can't have you going around ruining my character after all," he said.

Katara threw her head back and laughed, she couldn't help it, but it was so refreshing that despite the significant change in her life that there were some constants that remained. Pakku being one of them. "Pretty sure I did that when I managed to get you to teach me waterbending," she replied.

The older man just shook his head and grabbed a couple of Katara's bags. As they wound their way through the market streets, he pointed out to her all the new features added by the waterbenders who had followed him down to the Southern Water Tribe, and as they neared the palace, Pakku surprised her with a bending school that had been built a few months prior.

"With the rise in births since the war ended, there are so many children who possess the ability to waterbend that we could no longer justify not having one." There was a pause before Pakku continued, "You are no longer the only native bender to the South."

His words hit her like Toph had thrown a boulder at her chest. It was surreal to realize that her home, the place that had once been just as beautiful as the North had begun to heal and that one day Katara would walk these streets full with waterbenders who called this place home as well. "That's wonderful," she finally managed.

Pakku nudged Katara into the bending school because he somehow knew without her having to say the words that she wanted to see inside. The ceilings seemed endless above her which gave students ample room to create towers of water and ice as they saw fit, the sparring area slick with ice and vast in its own way.

Water circled lazily around the sparring circle as if it belonged there naturally. Katara's fingers itched to call the water to her, but she refrained as her eyes sought out the rooms that stretched beyond. It didn't take long for Katara to realize they were meant for healing instruction, the dummies in the middle of each room grew more detailed than the last. For a fleeting moment Katara believed that these rooms were meant for little girls who were forced into restrictive roles, but as she saw names carved into the walls of the students who belonged to each skill level, she was happy to see a mixture of boys and girls.

Beyond the healing rooms, Katara found a small oasis, a homage to the one Yue had sacrificed her life in, and she couldn't help the watery smile that pulled at her lips.

"Sokka designed this whole school, but his favorite room is this one." Pakku interrupted.

Katara's smile widened. "I can see why," she said.

"Now, wipe those tears away. Unless you are so lost in your feelings that you cannot prove to your old master you still deserve to be called one yourself?" he said.

Katara knew he was goading her on, but it had been so long since she truly sparred with anyone. Aang normally preferred to use his airbending and since the war ended only kept up with the other elements on a surface level. Whenever they did spar, Katara was reminded of how easily waterbending came to Aang that she would end the match frustrated.

But with Pakku? She would be forced to conjure up out of the box moves to stay on top.

As her bags dropped to the floor, Katara bowed to her old master. "I wouldn't get too cocky Master Pakku."

He smirked as he removed the outer layer of his parka and discarded it to the side. As fluid as the element he controlled, he slid into a stance prepared to dish out an attack or defend himself from hers. Katara mirrored Pakku, and her parka fell beside his. "You may have youth on your side Master Katara, but I have years of experience behind me," he said.

The second after the last word left his lips, Pakku unleashed a flurry of attacks.

Katara struggled to keep up. Clearly, he had learned some new techniques since he had been her teacher, but then she remembered so had she. After Pakku had tripped her up with a series of water whips embedded with spikes of ice, she breathed heavily as the icy floor stabbed a chill deep into her skin. With closed eyes, she drew up memories of her friends bending, of Toph's solid and strong movements, of Aang's light footwork combined with gentle but powerful movements and of Zuko's quick, passionate strikes that left his enemies breathless.

So as she pushed herself to her feet, she drew upon those memories, changed her stance and slid into the style that seemed the most natural to her.

Zuko would be proud of the way she moved the water as though it was the blue flames Azula had once unleashed upon him.

Pakku hadn't expected the sudden change in style, and it wasn't long after she began to move like a firebender that she had Pakku trapped within the same icy spikes he had once beaten her with. The smile that crossed his face though was one of pride. "I dare say you are the best waterbender in the North and South combined, Katara," he said once he had been released.

Before she could respond to the praise, there was a sudden blur of movement out of the corner of her eye and before she was able to react, arms wrapped around her and crushed her into a fierce hug. "Katara!"

Sokka's voice brought relief to Katara, and she laughed as she wrapped her arms around her ridiculous brother. After Sokka had decided it was time to release her, Katara landed on her feet gracefully and looked up to see her brother's brow pinched in anger. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

Again, before she could answer, he grabbed her wrist and started to drag her outside. Katara threw an apologetic glance back to Pakku who waved her off with amusement in his eyes. Sokka babbled on about how it was rude of her to just drop by unexpectedly, after all her room wasn't ready for her to stay in yet, and how dare she wait a whole year before coming back home to see him, didn't she realize that he had so much laundry that needed to be done? Katara let him prattle on, and before she knew it, Sokka had dragged her all the way to the town square where her father stood among some of the benders who had come down with Pakku.

"Dad look who decided to drop by," Sokka said smugly as if he had discovered some grand secret. Katara couldn't help but roll her eyes.

Hakoda turned and looked as though he was only going to give his son half of his attention, but the moment he registered Katara who stood beside Sokka, wrist still gripped in his hand, he practically beamed. "Katara!"

Well, at least she wasn't going to forget her name anytime soon.

Her dad then proceeded to sweep her up into a hug that beat Sokka's ten times over. Katara returned it just as fiercely, always happy to see her dad. Ever since he left to help the Earth Kingdom in the war all those years ago, Katara's felt as though they only see each other for sporadic moments filled with the underlying understanding that one of them will eventually leave.

This time though, Katara had no idea when she would leave. If she even would. And the relief her heart felt told her she had made the right choice coming back here.

Naturally, Sokka had to go and ruin the moment. "Hey! I thought we agreed to put the new residential area to the west of the market?" he grumbled as he stepped back towards the map their father had been looking at just a few moments ago.

Katara and Hakoda roll their eyes at each other before they turned to Sokka. "We did, but Bato had the idea of putting the new homes to the south so that they can look down on the city the higher up the slope they are. It'd be a beautiful view you can't deny that," Hakoda began.

Sokka huffed and crossed his arms as he looked back at the map.

New residential area. Katara could hardly believe it. Of course, she knew many from their sister tribe had decided to follow Pakku to help rebuild the South, but even five years later they continued to travel down to stay. To leave the only home they had known to start a whole new life.

"Katara what do you think?" her father asked, pulling her from her thoughts.

She had to shake her head and force herself to focus on the debate at hand. Both Sokka and her father had valid points and as Katara turned her eyes towards the west and then the south, she smiled. "I agree with dad. You could build balconies on each home that face west so they can watch the sunset, but not be woken in the morning by the rising sun. Plus, it'll force the benders and builders to get creative the higher they go."

Before Sokka could grumble some more, some of Pakku's students grinned at the realization they would have the chance to create homes that were different than what currently made up both the Northern and Southern Water Tribes.

"It's settled then, we'll build to the south," her father said.

Sokka threw up his arms and practically pouted as their dad pulled both his children close to his sides and poured over the map before them. After a while though, Sokka saw the merit of Bato's suggestion and excitedly started to sketch some home ideas for higher on the slope.

Eventually, the sun began to sink lower into the sky, and Sokka began to fidget even more than normal, which Katara knew meant he was ready to stuff his face full of food. Her father seemed pleased with the progress they had made and Katara was once again hit by the fact her home would never be the same. Before she could take it all in, Sokka nudged her and their father towards the palace clearly out of patience to wait for dinner any longer.

Dinner was as it always had been with her family, Sokka ate far too fast for his own good while Katara and Hakoda watched on in amusement and disbelief that the young man didn't choke on his own food. She settled into the comfortable routine of it all, despite the fact both her dad and brother had noticed Aang was not with her.

They kept it to themselves though, which Katara was grateful for. She hadn't had an authentic Water Tribe meal in ages and she just wanted to enjoy it.

However, as she settled into her room, which was thankfully prepared by her grandmother and Pakku, Katara knew she wouldn't be able to get through the whole day without one of them asking her what happened.

So when Sokka knocked on her door and poked his head inside after a moment, she wasn't surprised. Instead, she waved her brother over and patted the end of her bed. "It's okay. You can ask," she said as he sat.

For once her brother was uncharacteristically quiet as he studied her face, no doubt looking for any tears that would give him a reason to go beat up Aang. When he was satisfied with what he saw, he relaxed slightly and leaned back on his hands. "Did you and Aang break up?"

And once more Katara was grateful that she hadn't let Aang take her home. The long trip back home had given her time to come to terms with the end of their relationship and with it being the right choice for both her and Aang allowing her to sit before Sokka with no tears in her eyes.

"Yeah, we did," she answered.

Sokka nodded, but stayed silent for a few moments before he asked, "What happened?"

She could only shrug because really there was no big moment or even a series of moments that Katara could pinpoint that were the beginning of the end for her and Aang. "We just grew up I guess. We both want different things for our futures. I wasn't happy traveling anymore, and Aang knew he wouldn't be happy if I asked him to settle down somewhere for a little while. I knew that too, so I never asked. Instead, we realized we were better off just...not being together anymore."

It wasn't easy to talk about it, Katara realized. While in her heart she had accepted what happened, the grief still festered within her soul, and she had a feeling that would take much longer than a month to go away. "We still love each other," she continued, "but we aren't in love anymore. And I doubt we ever really were."

Again, Katara was hit by the fact that Sokka was mature underneath all the puns and jokes that he threw at anyone who listened (and sometimes even when they didn't) because he just nodded his head and reached out to squeeze her hand. "I think you did the right thing," he finally said. "You and Aang never seemed to really fall out of you being the mother hen and him worshiping the ground you walked on."

His honesty shocked Katara, but as he spoke Katara couldn't help but agree. Aang did put her up on a pedestal and some of their worst arguments over the last five years were whenever Katara stepped off and shattered his image of her.

"I know you love him, but I never really thought you'd be happy in the long run if you decided to stay with him and have his babies and all that other stuff," he finished with a shrug.

Katara pulled Sokka into a hug, which he returned happily. "Thanks, Sokka."

As he pulled away, he left his hands on her shoulders. "I'm glad you came home, I think it would do you some good to stay here longer than a couple of weeks. Dad would love to have your help with the city, and I'm sure Pakku would be a little relieved to take a backseat from teaching classes."

And once again, Katara was reminded why her break up with Aang was the right choice. Sokka just knew without having to ask that she would want to help them and teach a new generation of waterbenders.

Because that's just who she was.

Time seemed to move past Katara like she was penguin sledding down the steepest hill, everything was a blur and she was unable to catch her breath as everything raced by her.

She loved every moment of it.

Most of her time was spent with Sokka, their father and the waterbenders tasked with building the new residential area. The city was beginning to overcrowd, something Katara hadn't noticed her first day back, but as the days bled into weeks, she could see families who were growing larger, but their homes stayed the same size, unable to accommodate.

Thanks to trade deals with the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation, Katara's people didn't have to live in homes made purely of snow and ice. While she and many of the people in the Southern Water Tribe loved the land they lived upon, it was nice to have a break from the endless white.

So, the homes became a beautiful balance of snow, ice, and wood and the cost to build them stayed next to nothing. After all, the tribe had an abundance of fish native only to their waters that the people from the other nations craved and were willing to pay for.

It made Katara proud. The war may have diminished her Tribe to almost nothing, but their spirit never broke and that became apparent the moment the war ended because now they flourished.

Katara also taught numerous classes at the bending school. Pakku had put her in charge of the advanced classes that required more stamina and endurance than he had. Most of the time he left Katara to her own devices and allowed her to create the curriculum that the students would learn and practice, but some days Pakku couldn't help but egg his step-granddaughter on from the sidelines.

Today was one of those days, and the students shifted their focus back and forth between the two masters. Finally, Katara put her hands on her hips and turned to face Pakku. "Master Pakku, if I recall you agreed to let me teach these classes," she said with an eyebrow raised.

A couple of students giggled.

"I agreed to let you teach them waterbending," he drawled, "not whatever it is you're teaching them now."

Katara restrained herself from pulling a Sokka and kept her hands on her hips. "I am teaching them waterbending, but we're using techniques from other bending styles. If you remember I did manage to beat you the last time we sparred because of that," she said with a smirk.

The whole class gasped at her words, a few of them have horrified looks on their face that both their masters spoke to each other in such a way.
Katara knew Pakku enjoyed this as much as she did. Which is exactly why she didn't back down. "I'd be more than happy to allow you to join the students and learn along side them."

Silence fell upon the school, the students shifted around them, unsure of what to do.

Pakku broke the tension by bursting out into laughter. He waved Katara off as he shook his head. "No dear, I think I've learned enough today. Carry on," he said as he walked out of the room.

And for the first time in five years, Katara felt almost content with her life. As the days bled into weeks that bled into months, there was a relief that settled on her shoulders. It had been a relief to stay somewhere long enough to establish a routine, to recognize faces that walked by her in the markets and to have her named called out by friends as she walked through the streets.

Soon enough though, Katara was reminded of Aang and her past when Sokka announced it was time to prepare for the Peace Festival.

Once a year Katara and Aang had traveled somewhere new to partake in the Peace Festival that Zuko and Sokka had come up with. It was a festival meant to promote peaceful travel among each nation and each country or city that hosted the festival welcomed visitors from all over the world with open arms. It was an attempt to erase a hundred years of fear and hatred.

It wasn't perfect by any means, but Katara was proud of her brother and friend for being the first to make attempts towards harmony once more. And after all, what a better example than to have the Fire Lord and future Chief of the Southern Water Tribe be the founders of the event, almost polar opposites in every way but clearly dear friends.

As the meetings for the Peace Festival began it was clear to Katara that Sokka had every intention of making this one in the Southern Water Tribe the best one yet.

"Sokka maybe we should worry about the details of that later, we need to move on to…"

"Don't you think that's a little dangerous? There are going to be children running all over the place…"

"Yeah no, waterbending doesn't work like that. Of course I know!"

Hakoda left the responsibility of the festival in the hands of his children, though he admittedly had to break up a few heated arguments between them when both became far too stubborn.

After a solid month of planning however, Katara and Sokka stood in the middle of the town square and watched everything come together. All the arguments and urges to ice Sokka to the wall were suddenly worth it. And she would do it again and again if they could have the festival here every year. Unfortunately though, it'd be several years before the Peace Festival came back to their tribe and by then Sokka would be Chief and wouldn't be able to dedicate as much focus. It was a little sad really, but it made Katara excited for Sokka's future. If he threw half of the energy he did into this festival, he would only continue to improve the Southern Water Tribe and turn it into something magnificent.

"I can't believe the festival starts in a couple days," Sokka said as he stood on the sidelines with Katara.

She bumped his shoulder with her own and grinned up at him. "Maybe you'll be less annoying now," she teased.

He rolled his eyes but his smile told Katara he was equally amused. "Nah, I'm always going to annoy you. Comes with being a big brother. Sorry," he shrugged.

Katara let out a theatrical groan, but she knew she wouldn't want a thing to change between them. The day Sokka stopped being annoying would be the day she would attempt to heal someone's soul because a broken soul is the only way that'd happen.

Before they could continue their banter, they got pulled into separate directions as the workers had questions or concerns about their tasks.

As the sun began to set Katara and Sokka looked out at their work from the palace. Everything came out exactly as planned and now all they could do was wait for people to arrive and enjoy the festivities they had arranged. A sense of accomplishment settled over Katara as she leaned against the balcony railing.

"When in La's name did we grow up Katara?" Sokka asked.

Katara shrugged. "I'd say somewhere in the middle of the war," was her reply.

They stood there for a while, completely silent as they appreciated their hard work and realized at the same time they weren't kids anymore. Not that they ever really were kids in a traditional sense, not in the way that the children grew up now. But still, when they looked at the world they saw all of it, the terrible and the brilliant, weaved in the very fabric of life itself. It was a little sad, but Katara knew their enlightenment allowed them to help minimize the terrible.

Sokka turned in just as the full moon rose over the horizon and Katara's heart ached for her brother as it always did whenever she remembered that Yue was the moon now and that Sokka lost the chance to see what their lives could have been like.

Katara knew he loved Suki, would risk his life for the Kyoshi warrior, but he would never be able to fully give his heart to Suki because Yue would always own part of it.

Eventually, Katara made her way to her own room. She would need the rest for the next few days, Sokka and herself weren't naive enough to believe the Peace Festival would go off without a hitch and that they would have to put out a few fires, perhaps sometimes literally, during the event.

The curtains in her room were thrown open even though they faced east. Katara loved the way the moonlight looked spread across her bed and floor. It was a comfort to her, almost as though the light was another blanket.

As she settled into a comfortable position she let herself drift off to sleep, but not before she swore she heard a soft, "Thank you," that sounded so much like Yue it stabbed at her heart.

No matter where she ended up in her life, there was comfort in the fact she'd never be completely alone.

End Notes: And there you have the first chapter! I hope you liked it. :) Also, a big shout out to all those other fic writers out there who've written stories of Katara becoming a badass world leader in her own right, away from Aang, they've all inspired this fic in some way!

I've posted the first three chapters of this fic on AO3 so I'll post chapter two tomorrow and then chapter three the day after so we're all caught up on both sites.

Until then 3