The Next Day

"C'mon, Gran Gran," Katara said. "Let's get you dressed." She held her hands under her grandmother's shoulders as she helped the elderly lady sit up. She helped Kanna pull her heavy sleeping clothes off her body. She went to the wooden dresser and pulled out the day clothes for Gran Gran. She was walking back to help Gran Gran again when Sokka barged into the room.

"Hey, Katara!" he exclaimed, but then immediately turned around. He didn't want to see his grandmother nearly naked! "I'll tell you later." He walked out of the room.

Gran Gran chuckled as she slipped her arm into a sleeve. "What's so funny, Gran Gran?" Katara asked.

"That boy," she answered. "I'll miss him when I'm gone."

"Gone?" Katara questioned. Her confusion was swept away with realization. "Gran Gran, stop it! Don't think like that! You're not going to die, not at least while you're under my watch."

"You have such pretty hair, Katara. Your mother's hair…"

Katara didn't want to be in here any longer. "Come on—we're going to go outside today." She slid an arm around Kanna and had her grandmother's over her shoulder. Katara pulled her grandmother up into a standing position. Gran Gran took her arm off Katara's shoulders and instead placed it on her (Katara's) arm. She held onto it tightly in case she were to fall.

They reached the door flap. Sokka was standing on the opposite side of it. "Okay, so now guess what," he said, holding Gran Gran's other hand.

"What?" she asked, not wanting to guess, but wanting to know. All the villagers seemed to be heading to the front ice wall. She wondered why, but figured this is what Sokka was talking about.

"Zuko's here!"

"Zuko? I haven't seen him since the end of the war!" The three of them quickly walked to where everyone was gathered. Sokka told Katara to go greet Zuko, that he would make sure Gran Gran didn't fall. After making sure Sokka was sure, she hurried to the ship.

"Katara," Katara heard a voice to her right say. She turned that direction.

"Zuko!" she exclaimed, rushing forward to hug him. "It's been a year…," she said, stepping back. "Why haven't you visited?"

"It's really busy being Fire Lord," he explained. "The only reason I was able to make it here is because I'm here for diplomatic reasons. I have to discuss a treaty with your father." Oh, right. Of course. He didn't have any free time any more. "Business" was the only way they'd be able to see each other anymore. "I'm also here to welcome you all to the anniversary party we're having in a month. To celebrate the end of the war. I hear the Avatar—I mean, Aang"—it's been a year and he still hadn't broken that habit—"has scheduled to attend."

"Really? That's great." Things became silent between them. So much had happened since they'd last seen each other, but they still seemed to have nothing to talk about. "So, you needed to speak to my dad…?" Zuko nodded. She led him over to where her father was standing. "Maybe after supper we can talk," she said before leaving to go help with Gran Gran again.

Z x K

"I've missed you," Katara said. They sat next to the large fire in the middle of the village, Zuko stoking it every few minutes.

"I missed you, too." He paused. "What have you been doing since the war ended?"

"Um…well, shortly after your coronation, I came home and somehow ended up as the village's healer. Gran Gran got sick. I don't know what with, but she's just not doing as well as she used to. It seems like I have to help her with everything now." Zuko could tell she was frustrated. It was evident in her body language and how she spoke. But he also could tell she was frustrated with more things than just her grandmother. "And she's been talking about she's going to be leaving, she keeps saying she's going to die soon. And, Zuko, she can't die! She's helped me through so much. She can't just leave me. I wanted her to be at my wedding…to see my first child."

Zuko didn't know what to say. The people he loved weren't near the age of death. "Maybe if she's saying it's her time..."

Katara didn't respond. She stared into the fire. She felt her eyes prick with tears, felt the heavy lump in her throat. But she would not cry in front of Zuko. "I'd like to travel again," she whispered. "I feel locked up here."

"When I leave at the end of the week, come with me. I'm not the only one who hasn't been making visits."

"I can't…what if Gran Gran…? But enough about me. What's going on with you?"

"Azula's recovering…I think," said Zuko. "Last I heard, they managed to get her into a bath without much trouble."

"That's good."

"So much paperwork, though, with being Fire Lord…and annoying, closed-minded generals," he added. "It's a good thing Uncle's there to keep the tension down. Otherwise, I'd be at an Agni Kai nearly every day." Katara smiled faintly, but it disappeared when Sokka ran up to them, hollering his sister's name loudly.

"Katara, come quick—it's Gran Gran."

Katara's eyes widened. She didn't ask any questions, but rather stood up and ran after Sokka. Zuko didn't know whether to stay or follow.

Katara held her ear next to her grandmother's mouth. "She's not breathing!" she exclaimed to her family. She pressed her fingertips firmly into Gran Gran's neck. "I can't feel her heartbeat!" Hakoda began to practically pound on his mother's chest, trying to get her heart to beat again. Katara began doing mouth-to-mouth. Tears clouded Katara's vision. It was hard for her to talk. She broke down and began sobbing. The mouth-to-mouth wasn't working. Not really thinking, she stood up.

"Dad, stop," she said. Her voice was surprisingly calm. Her hands raised until they were level with her shoulders, parallel to her grandmother's chest. Her fingers began moving on their own accord.

She was Bloodbending! But it wasn't even a full moon…She couldn't think of that now. She pushed and pulled the blood through Kanna's heart. Soon, she felt it beating again. Katara nearly collapsed. She held her Gran Gran's hand up to her cheek. "Gran Gran…," she said.

"Katara," Gran Gran murmured. "Let me go…" She squeezed Katara's hand before her eyes closed and she went limp.

"Oh, La." Katara rested her forehead against her hands, her knees giving out. She began sobbing. The only mother figure she'd had for twelve years… She was just simply gone. Gone like her mother. Just…gone. Hakoda knelt down beside her. "Dad!" she cried out, flinging her arms around his neck and crying uncontrollably into his shoulders. Sokka stood frozen in the corner.