Ten weeks since the return of the Avatar.

Forgiveness. The sweet consolation of forgiveness was all Aang craved. He had betrayed his friends' trust. His family's trust. Katara and Sokka were the only family he had left in this new world he was still becoming accustomed too; and the thought of losing his family led him to deception.

The previous day, a scout had delivered a message to Aang with the intent to pass it on to his new acquaintance, Bato of the Water Tribe. However, in his panic to keep his friends by his side Aang had hidden the map from Katara and Sokka, because it led to the location where their father and the other warriors of the Southern tribe were setting up camp.

Little did Aang know that when the siblings found out about this hidden fact, they would leave him in angry bitterness. And yet, here they were once again a day later on the back of Appa flying away from the messy fight scene that reunited them.

Confused as to what their reunion meant, Aang investigated. "So... where do we go?"

Katara's comforting voice enlivened Aang's spirits. "We're getting you to the north pole."

"Yeah," echoed Sokka. "We've lost too much time as it it."

Puzzled, Aang continued his inquiry, hopping up Appa's head and putting his hands upon the saddle to make eye contact with the brother and sister. "Don't you want to see your father?"

"Of course we do Aang, but you're our family too. And right now, you need us more." Sokka's assuring words put Aang's mind at ease.

"And we need you." Katara added to the end of Sokka' statement.

Sweet forgiveness. Aang had been in so much turmoil ever since they ran into Bato: feeling betrayed and confused. But he now saw things as they really were: these siblings were not fairweather friends that come and flow with the tide; they were his family, that would stick with him through the hardest of times, and who would forgive him when he made mistakes.

Aang's pulse rose ever-so-slightly as he began to lead the conversation in a different direction.

"I wish I could give you a little piece of home, Katara. Something to remind you..." He half trailed off, half was interrupted by Katara.

"I'll be okay."

"Still!" Aang perked back up, childlike sparkles gleaming in his eyes. "Just a little trinket. Maybe something like... this?" On the last word he pulled out Katara's necklace, her most cherished possession of all. Holding it out towards her, it's beauty blew in the wind, glimmering and shining in the pink hue of the surrounding sky. It was a beautiful piece of artwork: the insignia of the water tribe delicately carved into it, and then coated over in a glossy surface with a tint of blue stained in the protective coating.

"Aang!" Katara exclaimed with joyous shock in her voice. "How'd you get that?"

"Zuko asked me to be sure I got it to you," Aang answered facetiously.

Playing along, Katara flopped her hand halfway over her mouth in sarcastic astonishment. "Oh, that's so sweet of Zuko. Would you give him a kiss for me when you see him?"

Aang's smile was so big his eyes were no longer open. "Sure!" His head was slightly lagging behind all that was going on, trying to grasp the true feelings that had been going through his head; that's when he felt her warm soft lips touch his cheek.

His heart skipped a beat.

She pressed her lips against his cheek, pushing his head slightly to the side due to his unexpectedness. Her enthusiastic sound effects just lightened the mood, and his entire body felt lighter than air. His stomach filled with butterflymoths, and he felt a warmth in his cheeks as a red blush came over him. Her kiss lasted less than half a second, but those few treasured moments were such a delightful haven for him. As Katara pulled away and sat back down in the saddle, Aang opened his eyes and twiddled his thumbs nervously. What else could make this day better?