Finally! I got this done! And I don't like it too much, but that's okay.

I dedicate this chapter to my friend, who gave me an idea for the most important part of this story! Let's see if you can guess which part it is!

Oh, it's an AU by the way :P

Disclaimer: Airhead does not own Avatar.

Panda Lily

Katara sat silently in the kitchen, staring out the window. It was a bright and sunny morning, but she did not feel the urge to enjoy it. Her gaze shifted to a delicate vase on the table in front of her. Inside it was a beautiful flower; a panda lily with petals striped black and white. Sighing, she let her fingers run over it for what seemed like the hundredth time that day.

A week ago, her husband had left to take care of some business in another country. He was an integral part of a large company and it was necessary for him to be present at an important meeting. But before going away, he had given her the flower.

"This is so you'll think of me everyday, and not miss me too much," he had said with a small smile. "I'll be back in a month. I love you." And with that, he was gone.

From that moment on, Katara kept the panda lily with her at all times. She stared at it everyday, deep in thought. She wore in her hair when she went to the market. And she kept it beside her bed every night before going to sleep. After a few days, she realised that it would not last long without water, so she placed it on their dining table in a vase.

The same vase she was sitting in front of at this very moment.

'I wish you would come home soon, Aang…' she thought. 'The house feels so empty without you…'

A week later…

Somehow, every day she spent away from him made Katara feel even more attached to the flower. It was as if a part of his essence had latched on to it. Its smell reminded her so much of him that she would let it waft around the house for hours. She would not cook anything during this time, fearing that the smell of the food would mask the lily's sweet scent.

Another week later…

She stared at the plant again, just as she had done yesterday and the day before, drifting off into memories involving her and Aang. It was her only source of comfort now that he was gone. And although he would be back in a week, she wanted to feel his presence every single day. She laughed as she remembered all the good times she had spent with him and her own brother when they were younger.

"Aang, where are you going…?" asked a sleepy eyed Sokka. He had been woken up at the sound of the younger boy trying to sneak out of their shared room.

"Uh…I'm going for a walk!" he replied, a little too cheerfully. "It's a beautiful night! There's nothing better than waking up in the middle of the night for a little stroll, huh?"

"Sure, I guess…okay, enjoy your walk."

Aang nodded eagerly and rushed out of the room. Sokka groaned as he lay back down to sleep.

After a few minutes, his head shot back up again.

'Wait…I thought Aang was a morning person…'

He jumped out of bed and ran out of his room, absently noticing that the door to his sister's room was also open. He opened the front door, still in his pyjamas, and scanned his surroundings as he walked forward slowly. Suddenly, he heard some bushes rustling. He walked up to them only to see two teenagers sitting on a bench and looking quite…occupied.

It was that night that he realised how close his sister and his best friend really were.

A smile graced her lips as the image faded. Sokka had told her everything once the two had returned home, and given them a long lecture about 'being more than just friends'. Sometimes she missed her brother as well.

But she still missed her husband more.

Her thoughts returning her to reality once more, she leaned forward to smell the panda lily before smiling.

'I know you'll be home soon, Aang. And I'll be waiting.'

--

After a week, he returned home. As soon as she saw him, Katara ran up to Aang and gave him a hug, which he eagerly returned.

"Did you miss me?" he asked once they had separated.

She tapped her chin thoughtfully before replying, "I did, but not as much as I thought I would."

He raised an eyebrow before noticing the flower, which was in her hair once again.

"You kept this?" he whispered, raising his hand to stroke the petals. She blushed.

"It reminded me of you…" was her soft response. "It made me feel like you had never left."

He grinned at her. "I'm glad."