Author's Note: Thank you so much for the reviews! I hope I make you all proud...or at least happy with the way I have continued with the story. (Which reminds me, I will say again, and for the last time, that it is perfectly fine to stop where I ended the first chapter, especially if you have very definite ideas about where you want the story to go. It is certainly my hope you will want to continue though, and that you will appreciate this next chapter.)

Out of the many ways I envisioned this could play out, I chose this path. It just seemed right, plus I think it turned out the way I wanted my first Zutaraang (also my first Avatar: The Last Airbender) to turn out. I tried hard to make sure that the characters were NOT OOC (out of character), which is kind of difficult sometimes. Let me know if you see any major issues with OOCness or any other mistakes. Try to keep in mind though, that this is several years after the series, so their characters would have changed and grown somewhat over time.


Chapter 2: Changing

Aang took a deep breath, calming the beating of his heart. Katara continued to sweep gracefully through her bending poses, creating a beautiful, harmonious and yes, sensual dance. Often he would join her, the two becoming one through the dance, but not today. Watching her calmed his spirit. He would meditate on these questions. Seek back through his many life-times and through the spirit world for guidance. In his heart he felt he knew what the correct answer was, but he needed to be sure.

He sat there in the garden, next to the pond, the quiet sounds of birds and bugs, the wind through the leaves and grass, the soft warmth of the sun, all helping to calm his soul. He sat with his eyes closed, meditating on the world around him, seeking answers through nature. Finally he dove deeper, back into his unconscious memories and into the spirit world.

His eyes opened several hours later, the shadows having grown long with the slowly setting sun. Katara had long since gone into the palace. He had felt her soft lips brush against his forehead, even as he walked in the world beyond. And now he understood what would be the best for all of them.


She was sitting on their bed when he entered the room, already wearing her nightgown. His favorite- seafoam green. It was thin enough to allow the soft shadows of her breasts and thighs to be visible, which only heightened his pain. He stood for a moment, watching her read a scroll in the dying light. The curtains fluttered gently about the bed, sweet breezes wafting in from the gardens beyond. She glanced up and smiled softly at him, before going back to her reading.

"Katara?"

"Hm?"

Aang took another deep breath, steadying himself for the task ahead. He sat in front of her on the bed and gently ran his hand over her fingers. "I'd like to talk to you about something. Would you hear me out?"

She looked up at him, surprised. "Of course Aang." She rolled up the scroll and set it on the nightstand, turning to give her full attention to her lover. Her brow furrowed slightly as she watched him. "Is something wrong?"

"No. Well, not exactly. I just have something important to say. And then we have a lot to discuss, I think." She waited expectantly and he continued slowly. "Katara, I'm not really sure how to say this." He took a deep breath, "I-I know that you have feelings for Zuko." He watched as her eyes widened slowly, confusion and then guilt and pain mixing. He held up his hand quickly before she could speak. "I've known this for a long time, but I had hoped that it was a passing fancy. I saw last night that it wasn't."

"Aang, please, I-" She tried to speak, but he again held up his hand, silencing her.

"Katara, my love, I know you love me, but I also know that a part of you loves Zuko, whether you are willing to admit it or not. I'm the Avatar, which means I can sense many things not said and that also gives me a huge responsibility. I'm not upset with you," he hurried to explain when he saw the deep pain flash through her blue eyes while she seemed to hunch into herself. "I know that you never meant for this, Katara. I also know it isn't Zuko's fault...but he is in love with you too." At this, her eyes flew up to his. They were filled with her own longing to have her feelings returned, yet there was also fear that Aang was hurt and abandoning her. His heart clenched tightly to see the warring emotions flicker across her face. He could see the desperation and deep love for him in her eyes, but he continued, unable to give her reassurances.

"I-I've spent the whole afternoon meditating on this problem…and it is a problem, Katara." He felt tears well up in his own eyes, even as he watched the wetness overflow onto her cheeks. "We would be happy in our marriage for a long time, because we both love each other, but eventually…this would destroy it; destroy us- destroy you…and Zuko. It's too much for you both to bear. We all care about each other too much to allow something like this to wound us so deeply and so permanently." She let out a strangled noise at his words, trying to suppress her sob of desolation. "Katara…please…I have to do what is best for all of us. I have to try." She continued to weep silently, her shoulders shaking, one hand clenched tightly around the sheets as if it were a lifeline keeping her from sinking.

"I've thought about this from every angle," he continued quietly. "I've played so many different scenarios in my mind. It was so hard to figure out what was truth and what was merely a lover's wish, but I know the correct path now. One that will give us all spiritual fulfillment, even if at times it seems bitter."

"A-Aang," she managed to wrench his name from her lips. He twisted the sheets in his hands, even as she continued to do the same. This was harder then he had thought it would be. He couldn't think of the correct words to say what he knew needed to be said. Finally, he sighed and stated simply, "We can't continue our relationship like this. We have to let Zuko in."

Nothing. She hadn't moved, hadn't spoken, had barely breathed for the past few minutes. She continued to stare at him dumbly, trying to comprehend his words. He simply stared back at her, his eyes pleading with her to understand; to not think too harshly of him.

"W-What does that mean?"

"Our love is true, Katara, of that I am certain, but your and Zuko's love is true also. We'll all be hurt very deeply if you and I marry or if you and Zuko marry, just as we would all be hurt if we went our separate paths. The only way then is for us both to be with you."

"Wha-!" Her wail turned into a spluttered cry of rage. Now that he didn't expect, although really, it was Katara. His strong, beautiful waterbender. Not so surprising after all, now that he thought about it. "You intend to share me like I was a piece of-of-of…"

Ah. So that was what she was mad about. "No! I would never want that, Katara!" He watched as she quickly mastered her emotions, so raw from grief, fear, and now anger. "I know that many will look down upon this, but I think that we will all find fulfillment by being in an equal relationship with each other. That means, we all…well, marry one another. We all love and care for one another, this would just be an extension of that."

She stared at him, but this time she fully comprehended his words. "You think that we should…a-all three of us," she struggled for a moment, before finally finishing lamely, "together."

He smiled gently at her. "Yes. Together. That is how we should be. We can be together, Katara," he let his voice fall to a whisper. "It will set us all free from this pain and loneliness." She worried her hands together for a minute as she mulled over his words. She was so strong, so down-to-earth and able to cope with sudden changes. He loved that about her.

"But what about Zuko? What will he say to this plan?"

"We'll talk to him together, if you think you could want this too. Lay everything out on the table, but I am sure that in the end, he will see this is a wonderful thing. He is mature and calmer now. He'll see this as a beautiful gift for all of us. A special spiritual bond that is being created around us." He smirked as he looked at her wide, hopeful eyes. "Though I am sure we will get quite a lot of yelling before he comes to see this as wisdom."


Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed! Reviews would be most welcome. Should have the next chapter up within a couple days.