Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender

Tis is my first real fan-fic. Try not to flame me too much, savvy?

Appa groaned under Aang's feet. He had been flying since dawn and the 15 hour flight was nearing an end.

Aang, perched on top of Appa, squinted at the looming mountains with a sigh.

"Just a bit more buddy, then you can rest… You want to see them too, don't you?" Another groan rumbled from Appa. Aang laughed tiredly. "Yeah… It has been a while hasn't it?" He felt his eyes drooping. Momo was curled up in sleep on his lap.

"Just…" Sleep seemed too welcoming an option. "A bit…" No, he had to be awake to meet with his friends… "More…" He succumbed to his primal sense of euphoric dreaming.

It was two weeks since the second invasion. Aang had been found injured in the crumbling palace. The fire lord was next to him unconscious, defeated, but not dead. They were both dragged out before the palace fell. Since then, Aang had been through intense healing sessions. Under command of Zuko, Ozai had been treated lightly despite his heavy injuries. He was placed in a small metal cage, his indignant shouting reverberating throughout the heavily guarded cells. Had the freed earth kingdom generals had their way, the former fire lord would have died without a second option. Katara, knowing how Aang would feel about killing a fallen king, managed to persuade them to put off the decision till Aang revived.

Katara was sleeping while sitting on the chair next to Aang's bed. Her head was resting on the blankets above his torso. Her left hand tightly clenched his; her right hand was resting under her head. Some stirring from Aang woke her up. He opened his eyes and blinked around stupidly for a few seconds. Looking around, he recognized the fire nation insignia emblazed on the heavy curtains blocking the window from view. The nightstand next to him had a beaker of water, his clothes all on a small chair next to it. Feebly sitting up, he was greeted with Katara hugging him tightly, knocking the little air out of him.

"Oh, Aang… You're finally up…"

It took a moment to process what was happening. Then, he hugged Katara back with one arm, his other one unable to move under Katara's body. "Am I… What… Did we win?" Katara nodded, tears of joy flooding her eyes. Aang collapsed back onto the bed, giving a little groan as his head dropped onto the pillows. "That's a relief…" He said with a small sigh. His eyes looked up searchingly, a smile growing on his face. It wasn't long until he fell back asleep, Katara still grasping his hand.

As Katara left the room, she found Sokka Toph and Zuko talking together in the small lounge. "How is he?" Sokka whispered, realizing that Katara came out.

"He just woke," she replied, "but let him rest."

"The generals want an elective council regarding what we do with the prisoners soon," said Zuko, "and they're getting impatient."

"So?" Katara whispered back harshly. "He saved the world, brought down their greatest enemy, and deserves some rest! They owe him their skins, and all they can think of is getting him awake so they can murder Ozai? How can they be like that?" Her voice was getting treacherously high.

"Nothing, just saying…" mumbled Zuko, quailing under Katara's wrath.

Toph grinned. "I told you to watch what you say about Twinkle Toes near Sugar Queen." she said aloud, causing passing people to glare. A nurse came up to her and said "Keep quiet, can't you read the signs?" Looking straight at the nurse, Toph said "No." Embarrassed, the nurse hurried away, muttering about tending a patient. Turning her head back to Zuko's general direction, Toph continued, "Anyways, I told you to watch what you say about Twinkle Toes near Sugar Queen. She's been keeping crazy watch over him since he won you know. Almost like a protective penguin bear to her mate…"

Katara's dark skin turned a slight shade darker. "That doesn't mean anything…" she said looking away from Toph.

Sokka gave out a little snort. "That's why you wouldn't sleep anywhere too far from Aang, in case he might need your help right?"

"So? I'm just worried because he's injured.""

"…and also why you kept up with that AFTER we learned that Aang was in no immediate danger, right? If you wanted to be that caring, you could have devoted some time to my injuries you know…"

It was Katara's turn to snort. "You had a scratch on your finger."

"It looked infected!"

"Toph put some greenberry paste on it when you weren't paying attention so that it looked infected. Idiot."

As Sokka turned to Toph to reprimand her, Katara slipped away outside. Now that Aang was awake, things were only going to get complicated. Now that the throne went to Iroh, political reforms and such had to be taken care of. The Dai Lee, along with a small mottled group of firebenders were still under the command of Azula, although they were at the moment scattered. She sighed, wondering if the family she and Sokka had formed with Aang, Toph and Zuko would stay together. Zuko, of course, had to tend to the nation, Toph would most likely be sent back home, for the better or worse, and the siblings would most likely go home. She looked at the sunset; the sun's last rays were illuminating the white hospital, giving it a beautiful reddish pink hue. She would miss this back home in the South Pole. She wondered how much had changed the past year.

She wanted to talk to Iroh. He always knew what to do. Unfortunately, he was in the middle of a political squabble.

A figure fell out of the tree next to her. She rushed to help the man, and recognized it to be Iroh. "Oh, thank you very much" he said.

"Aren't you supposed to be back at the Head House?" she asked. Since the collapse of the palace, the Head House was used for political debates.

"Oh, no." Iroh replied. "That ended a while ago." Katara looked at him skeptically. Iroh laughed. "Well, it's more like I'm not the type for arguing about things like these in a small house. I just sneaked out to find Zuko. It has been too long."

Katara nodded. "Third floor lounge. He's with Sokka and Toph."

As Iroh started to enter the hospital, Katara blurted out "Well actually I was sorta wishing that you'd help me with a certain issue."

Iroh looked back at her, evaluating her. He stepped back from the door towards the waterbender. He had a smile on his face. "Ok. Make it quick. Before they find me."

Katara looked at the floor. "Well, since the world is sorting itself out, I realized that we all have to separate and go our separate ways." Tears welled up in her eyes. Nonetheless, she continued. "I'm torn up inside. I want to go home and I know everyone else wants and needs to go back to where they belong but I can't help it if…" A sob arose. "I can't help it if I don't want them to go." She looked at Iroh through tear-filled eyes.

Iroh sighed. "You know, it doesn't have to be like that. It may seem like saying goodbye forever but its not. You're going to meet again in the future. I mean, look at you all." He smiled at her. "The five of you are the most important figures in history. You're all going to meet up again." He hugged the crying girl. "Fate has a way of sorting everything out. If it's meant to be, it'll happen so that you're all happy."

Distant shouting arose. Iroh looked over his shoulder. "That'll be the council looking for me. Beg pardon but I need to go speak with my nephew."

Katara nodded. "Yeah." She looked at Iroh running into the building. Night had set, the building now held a bluish hue. "Thank you." She said to the Fire Lord as he disappeared from sight. She entered the building again.

Sokka and Toph accompanied Katara into Aang's room this time. It was dark, the curtains had been set aside and the windows were opened, the light of the moon being the only source of light.

They found Aang awake, looking at the ceiling with his grey eyes. His hand traveled over his head where once again, hair had grown. Toph pulled Aang into an embrace, crushing him with her strength. "You had us worried there Twinkle Toes." Aang grinned back. "Nice to see you too Toph." His hand traveled over the candles, lighting them.

Iroh and Zuko joined the crew a short while afterwards. Zuko smiled at finding his friend awake. "Hey Aang." Aang looked back at Zuko, his signature smile on his face.

Zuko went straight to the point. "You're wanted at the council. They've waited for you before they made any decisions. Should I alert them now?"

Aang seemed not to have heard. His eyes were concentrated on the ceiling. Sokka leaned towards him. "Aang, c'mon… It's an honor to be involved in such a big event. All the major leaders, my dad, Master Pakku, the Earth King, Bumi, everyone, is there. They've waited for you until now. The world needs a decision, a leader."

"I'm not going to be the leader of the world."

Sokka sighed. "Fine. But they still need you for this."

"Besides…" Zuko interjected. "You're the Avatar, the man who saved the world. I don't think you have an option in this."

Aang's gaze never left the feeling. "Did anyone come in here for the sole purpose of greeting me?" Right on cue, Momo flew through the window and landed on Aang's chest. Aang laughed at being reunited with his furry friend. After playing with Momo for a while, he sighed and said "I'll go tomorrow. But only because I don't seem to have a choice."

The tension seemed to pass. The group chatted on until Toph commented that it was getting late. Slowly, one by one, they filed out of the room. Toph went first, followed by Zuko and Iroh. Sokka fell asleep during the middle of the conversation but awoke with a start and went off muttering about a warm bed.

Katara went over and sat on Aang's bed. Aang shuffled around uncomfortably until she could sit comfortably. He put his hand on hers and started stroking it distractedly. His eyes seemed faraway. "Everything is going to change now, isn't it?"

"Yeah"

He smiled sadly at her. "I know it was during the middle of the war, but I enjoyed the time we spent together." He realized what he said and blushed slightly. "You know, the time we all spent together."

Katara hugged him. "It's not ending this way. We will get back together later on. We have to." There was a strain of hopelessness in her voice. They remained like that, on the bed hugging each other, until Aang said "You know I'm naked right?"

Katara gave a little start and got off the bed. "Sorry."

Aang smiled slightly and said…

Katara awoke. She didn't bother getting up. She shut her eyes, willing herself to go to sleep, trying to remember what the dream was about. It was something that happened in the past. She shut her eyes with all her might and tried to go back to sleep, back to her dream. It was useless. Sitting up, she looked around. Sokka must have carried her to the cave after she fell asleep. She looked around trying to get an idea of her surroundings. She was lying near the mouth of the cave. The view showed that she was near the top of the mountain. It was night and she could see the forest below rustling with the wind. It was a passage the gaang found during their past flights. It was in all respect, the perfect cove. The entrance to the cave was narrow but inside, it was wide and roomy. The cave went on in the back. After following a passage in the back of the mouth of the cave, the atrium opened up. The ceiling was split, allowing a view of the sky and also allowing a huge flying mammal to enter via sky. It was impossible to find unless you knew where it was or if you just happened to be on a flying thing and happened to be looking straight down. Katara smiled remembering Aang's face at the sight of the cave. She spotted Sokka not far from her, still in all his clothes. He must have collapsed after carrying her up the mountain. Even now she couldn't help but be surprised by her brother's strength at times. Walking outside, she almost bowled over a solitary figure walking up the mountains thin, winding, natural path. "Toph!" she squealed, picking up the figure in her arms. Toph gave out a huge yawn. "If you don't mind, can you carry me up like that to the top of the mountain? I'm tired, can't see a damned thing on this path, and don't feel like walking anymore." Katara smiled, remembering her best friend's personality. She led Toph to the cave, where Toph immediately seemed to relax. "Ah, cold, hard, stone!" She fell on the ground, a smile growing on her face. Katara was struck by how much her friend grew over the course of the past year. Toph seemed to have developed her breasts more, her hair was now let down. She was more womanly in every aspect. She carried herself next to Sokka and soon fell asleep.

Katara smiled and looked up into the sky from her position inside the cave. The moon was almost full. It hung there like a worn out yellow round shield. The view was perfect. Suddenly, a black dot grew on the moon, growing by the second. Katara smiled softly and felt herself go to sleep.

Aang was back.