A/N: Hi everyone! I worked hard on this, and I hope you all like it! I love Avatar and wanted to share my love for the show with all of you. This story just randomly popped into my head, hope it turns out as good as I imagined it. Enjoy and please review!

DISCLAIMER: I do not in any way, shape, or form own Avatar: The Last Airbender… But, I kinda wish I did.


"Aang! Come on, we have to get back to the village! It's getting dark!"

"What?! I can't hear you! The… snow is too… loud!" The young airbender chuckled to himself. Wow, that was his most pathetic excuse yet. Besides, it wasn't getting that dark. They could still stay out for at least another half hour. He kept running. He knew that if he didn't keep moving Katara would catch him and then he wouldn't be able to get a good penguin sled in before the day was over. He heard her laughing a good distance behind him.

"Fine! But, once we find the penguins and you get your sledding fix we're going back to the village!"

"Woo!" Aang launched himself into the air with a tiny tornado. Once he landed, he gave himself a boost of speed with a gust of wind and raced back toward his girlfriend. "Well come on then! There's no time to lose!"

Katara laughed freely and yelped in surprise as Aang lifted her in his arms and sped off in his original direction. He carried her easily as he leapt over snowy hills. Katara looked up at Aang's face, and a small smile formed on her lips. His look was determined and full of energy, life, and most of all, spirit. But, her smile was not caused by Aang's expression. It was caused by the sense of déjà vu that popped into her head as Aang carried her. Looking at Aang's face, Katara was reminded of a day years ago when she had only just met Aang and they went exploring in the Fire Nation shipwreck. He had picked her up as if she weighed no less than a feather, just as he did now, and bounded around the shipwreck with her in his arms. She had looked up at his face then too, and the expression was still the same, though Aang's face had grown more defined and mature-looking through the years. Katara remembered how she had marveled at Aang back then. She had felt a bond with him right away but hadn't really considered him boyfriend material. No, those thoughts ran through her mind much later. She wondered if it was the same for him or if he had had feelings for her from the start. She made a mental note to ask him later.

Katara closed her eyes and rested her head against Aang's shoulder as he continued his search for the penguins. I guess some things never change. Katara had enough experience to know that sometimes change is good, but she also felt that some things really don't need to be changed. Even though most of the changes in her life had been good, Katara liked keeping things the same as much as possible. Change is never easy for anyone, even when the change is for the better. One thing she hoped would never change was Aang. So far, he had been doing a pretty good job of retaining his childlike spirit while keeping up with his Avatar duties. She loved that about him. No matter what happened, Katara could always count on Aang to find something to brighten the situation. He was like the sun – warm, bright, supporting the life around him. Now, if only he would give up this endless search for penguins…

"Katara?" She opened her eyes at the sound of his voice.

"Hmm? Oh, sorry. I guess I drifted off without realizing."

Aang gave a small laugh. "It's okay. You're tired, huh?"

Katara gave him a look that seemed to say "What do you think?" She had been helping Gran Gran and her father, Hakoda, around the village all day. A woman in the tribe had gone into labor that day, and Katara always helped Gran Gran deliver babies. She was practically an expert by now. She was also kept busy by her brother, Sokka, who had managed to get a fishhook stuck in his thumb again. At least he didn't try to get it out with another fishhook this time. After that ordeal, Katara helped her father train some of the children in the tribe. Hakoda trained the young boys in the art of being a warrior, and Katara trained the new waterbenders. Since the war ended, multiple had been born in the South Pole. She was thrilled that she was no longer the only waterbender in the Southern Water Tribe, but she wasn't crazy about teaching all of them. She finally understood Sokka's frustration with the ones that always had to go to the bathroom. Just when Katara thought her day was over and she could relax, Aang dragged her along to go penguin sledding. She mustered the last of her energy for her boyfriend, but they had been searching for penguins for hours now. She was exhausted.

Aang gave her a sheepish look. "Sorry, sweetie. I should've known you would be tired. I just really wanted to go, and you know it's no fun without you." He gave her his shy smile. Katara knew she could never be annoyed with Aang when he gave her that smile. Aang knew it too, and used that knowledge whenever he could.

Katara sighed and realized that they were no longer moving. Then, a barking sound slid into her ears. She looked down the slope of snow in front of them and saw the source of the noise – penguins. She turned her head to look back at Aang who gave her a triumphant grin. "Found them!" he said proudly.

Katara giggled. "Well then, there's only one thing left to do. Put me down and let's go penguin sledding!"

Aang's face split into an even bigger grin. He kissed Katara in delight before setting her on her feet again, causing a slight blush to slip across her cheeks. Then, he turned to face the herd of unsuspecting penguins, took a deep breath, and promptly shouted, "PENGUIN!" After which he raced down the slope to capture his newest victim.

Katara laughed and followed after him. Some things never change.


Snow flew in every direction as Katara's penguin slid to a halt at the bottom of a giant hill of snow. She cheered and pumped her fists in the air, her exhaustion forgotten. "Yes! I WIN!" She couldn't believe it. She never beat Aang at penguin sledding. Katara turned to see Aang and his penguin coasting to a stop right next to her.

"Nice of you two to finally join us. What took you so long? We were waiting for ages." Katara laughed in glee at the thought that she had actually just won.

"I didn't lose by that much! I just picked a slow one, that's all."

As if on cue, Aang's penguin abruptly stood up, knocking Aang to the ground in the process. Katara laughed even harder. While she was preoccupied with wiping tears from her eyes, her own penguin decided to follow suit and stand up as well, sending Katara into the snow next to Aang. Katara's laughing came to an end while Aang's was just beginning.

"That's what you get for bragging," he said after his laughter had died down.

Katara grumbled and brushed the snow out of her hair.

"Here, you missed a spot." Aang plucked a small clump of snow out of Katara's hair and tucked her hair behind her ear. He had a habit of doing that since she no longer wore her hair in a braid. Ever since the Day of Black Sun, Katara had worn her hair down. She liked how it looked, and she also liked it when Aang tucked her hair behind her ear. She remembered her father doing the same thing to her mother. She had always wanted moments like that for her own. Now, with Aang, she had them.

Katara looked up to meet Aang's gaze. She completely forgot what she had been grumbling about. Aang reached up and placed his hand gently on her cheek.

"Are you okay?" he asked with a small smile.

Katara blinked at him. "Huh?"

Aang chuckled. "Well, you did just get thrown off a penguin."

"Oh yeah, that. I'm fine," she replied, blushing. She and Aang had been together for six years, and she still blushed at the smallest things.

"Good," Aang said, smiling again. "Well penguin sledding's done, and it's actually getting dark now. We should head back."

Aang stood up, brushed himself off, and held his hand out to Katara. She took his hand and held it as they walked back to the village together.


The next morning, Katara walked out of her tent and stretched in the pale sunlight. Hopefully today wouldn't be as hectic as the one before. With that thought in mind, she set off to find Aang. She stopped in the tent shared by Gran Gran and Pakku where the family, Aang included, usually met for breakfast. As she entered the large tent, she was greeted with a warm welcome from Hakoda, Sokka, and Aang. Pakku was on a trip to the North Pole to visit some old friends, and Gran Gran was most likely checking on the baby that had been delivered the previous day. Katara took her usual place next to Aang who gently grasped her hand in welcome. Normally, he would have kissed her hello, but he always kept the displays of affection to a minimum around her father. Katara rolled her eyes in amusement and squeezed Aang's hand in response.

"So what's everyone talking about?" she asked as she grabbed a piece of bread.

"Well, I was just telling Dad about how getting a fishhook stuck in your thumb can happen to anyone!" Sokka said, his voice rising toward the end as he faced his father.

"And I was about to agree with your brother. It can happen to anyone. But, how many people have it happen to them twice?" Hakoda asked with barely concealed amusement as he took a sip of tea. Katara and Aang both laughed while Sokka pouted at the ground.

"I was thinking of taking Appa for a quick ride today. He's been kind of bored lately. You wanna come along, Katara?" Aang said.

Katara couldn't help but smile as she replied. "Sure, it sounds fun. I've missed flying anyway."

"Yeah, it's been forever since I've been flying! I'll go too!" Sokka exclaimed.

Katara shot a glare at her brother. Sometimes he could be so clueless. Aang, however, just laughed at Sokka's obliviousness. "Sure, Sokka. You can come too."

"Just don't be up there too long," Hakoda interjected. "I need Sokka's help with warrior training, and Katara has to get back to teaching waterbending."

"Ugh. Great. You know, I really wouldn't mind it that much if they would just sit and listen. I'm happy to teach them, I really am, but the little ones just won't sit still! Then the older ones start to complain that they're bored because I'm too busy trying to get the little ones to stay in one place and listen! Can't I just have one day off?"

"I'm sorry, Katara, but with Pakku gone, you're the only one who can do the job," Hakoda replied.

"Hey, why don't I help?" Aang suggested. "I mean, I'm a waterbender too. I can help you teach them."

"Aang, that would be great! Thank you!" Katara exclaimed, throwing her arms around him.

"No problem! It'll be fun!" Aang replied as Katara released him. "Besides, who better to teach bending than the Avatar?" Katara raised an eyebrow at him. "And the answer to that question is you, of course! You're the best teacher they could have!" Aang quickly exclaimed, attempting to save himself.

"Nice save, Arrowhead" Sokka whispered as Hakoda chuckled quietly.

Katara narrowed her eyes at Aang, but an amused smirk twitched on her lips. "We'll see," she said, going back to her breakfast.

As the conversation moved to Sokka suggesting a trip to Kyoshi Island to visit Suki, they were interrupted by Gran Gran entering the tent with Bato close behind her. Everyone looked up to greet them but stopped at the sight of their expressions. They both wore looks of concern.

"What is it?" Hakoda asked, immediately standing.

"It's probably nothing," said Gran Gran. Her tone indicated that it most likely was anything but nothing.

Bato placed a hand on Gran Gran's shoulder and looked around the room as he said, "The Fire Lord is here."


A/N: So, what do you guys think? This is my very first fanfic, so I hope it's good! Please let me know if you think I should continue the story. Thanks for reading! :)