A/N: just a lil story i came up with after reading the proverb "Time and tide wait for no man." PLEASE DO NOT FLAME!!

Ages

Aang: 20

Katara: 22

Mai: 23

Zuko: 24

Time and Tide

"Time and tide wait for no man." -- Proverb

Ever since the first time he saw her, he knew he was in love.

Aang's eyes fluttered open and he found himself staring into the face of what seemed like Heaven itself, in the form of a fourteen-year-old girl.

Yes, Aang truly felt like the luckiest boy alive to be best friends with Katara. She was everything he could ever want in a girl, and more. But as he watched her walk down the isle to Zuko and not him, he felt like his world was collapsing. Heck, ever since he heard (by Messenger Hawk) that Katara was engaged to Zuko, he felt like his world was collapsing.

I could've been there, he thought angrily. I could've been there and proposed to her first! But nooo, I just had to take care of my duties as the Avatar! Stupid Avatar duties!

Aang sighed, remembering the words of the monks back at the Southern Air Temple when one of the boys had shown up late for training.

"Time and tide wait for no man," said Monk Yuuhan wisely. "Take Kalen's late arrival as an example. If he came even five minutes later, he would've missed learning how to make a small tornado!"

"Yes, Monk Yuuhan," all the boys replied respectfully.

Just before she reached her fiancé, Katara glanced back, and her sapphire eyes met with Aang's gray ones. She smiled sadly at him before facing Zuko.

Aang didn't know it, but Katara was having the same inner conflict as him. She'd only agreed to marry Zuko because that was her duty. Hakoda and Iroh were the two constructors of this "master plan" of joining the two opposite elements by marriage.

When the time came for Zuko to say his "I do's", he hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I'm sorry, but…I just can't."

Over half the crowd gasped.

Zuko turned to Katara. "Listen," he said gently, "you're a good friend, but…I just don't love you." He looked to the side. "There's someone else."

Katara smiled. "I was going to say the same thing," she said.

Aang gaped.

Zuko grinned back at her, and turned to the Head Fire Sage who was supposed to be marrying them. "This wedding's off," he said. He walked into the crowd and stood in front of Mai. "Will you marry me?" he asked.

Mai's jaw dropped. After a moment, she threw herself at Zuko and cried, "Yes!"

Meanwhile, Aang was busy shoving his way through the crowd, trying to get to Katara. Finally he just gave up and jumped over the rest of the people in his way.

He landed before Katara. Reaching into one of his pockets, he felt his hand close around a familiar object. He fished it out and held it in his fist. It was a Water Tribe betrothal necklace that he'd made on his journeys around the world. Aang had decided, after hearing about Katara and Zuko, to keep it for good luck.

I guess it was lucky after all, he thought.

"Katara," he said slowly, "will…will you marry me?" He held out the necklace.

Now it was Katara's turn to gasp. When she recovered, she said, "You know what they say: Time and tide waits for no man…"

Aang hung his head.

"…but sometimes, if you wait long enough, the tides can change," she finished, smiling. "I love you."

Aang looked up, and, grinning, tied the necklace around Katara's neck.

The next day was chaos. There were to be two weddings. First, Mai and Zuko would be married so Zuko could be crowned Fire Lord. Next, Aang and Katara would get married.

Everyone thought it seemed right for Aang to be with Katara. Even Hakoda and Iroh.

And this time, when they were exchanging vows, there weren't any regrets.

"Time and tide wait for no man…but sometimes, if you wait long enough, the tides can change." -- Katara

sooo, how did you like it? plz tell me! also, i don't really know why i put all the main character's names in bold. i just sort of...felt like it. SO THERE!

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar. You'd know if I did, cuz there would be 3 more seasons of it. I DON'T WANT IT TO END!!