*** I actually had this chapter ready when the first 2 went up, but I wanted to wait and see what kind of reviews I would get. But I don't wanna wait =p. Here's the 3rd chapter, and the 4th is ready, but I'm gonna hold off on putting it up for a couple of days. And yes, it's gonna get HOTTER! (not quite yet though, just wait...)***

Despite how late Aang had stayed awake the night before, he was the first one up, aside from Iroh, who was visiting for a little while. Iroh was making tea and he greeted Aang as he walked lazily into the small dining area for that portion of the palace. Zuko had it constructed specially for his friends when they visited so that they wouldn't have to use the giant main hall.

"Good morning, Aang. Would you like some tea?" Iroh asked in his usual jolly manner. "I'm about to make breakfast as well if you're hungry.

"Thanks Uncle Iroh." Aang said happily. Aang and the others had gotten used to calling him uncle.

As they sat down and drank their tea, Iroh broke the silence with a seemingly simple question. "So, what are you going to do now?"

"Oh, I dunno." Aang began. "I'll probably wait for everyone to wake up, then go out shopping with Katara or something."

Iroh laughed. "Naw, I don't mean like today. What are your plans for your future? What are your plans for yourself?"

Aang stared at Iroh in surprise. He thought for a moment, then shrugged. "I'm not sure. I haven't really thought about it much. I figured I'd stay close to here, where I'm needed, and help bring about balance between the nations with Zuko." Aang also secretly thought to himself, I'd like to kind of stay close to Katara as well. Aang's cheeks lit up with a light pink tint and he looked down bashfully, but Iroh didn't notice.

Iroh sighed and sipped at his tea. His face became more grave, and he set his tea cup down and continued to hold the cup with both hands. He stared into his tea while he spoke. "You know, Aang, that you are your own person. You have to have something for yourself and not just plan your life around other peoples' lives. You know well enough that you are the last airbender too." Iroh looked up from his tea cup at Aang.

Aang stared at him, puzzled. "Yeah, I know."

"Don't you think that maybe you should…. You know, rebuild your race? Bring airbenders back into the world?"

"Uncle Iroh, I know I'm the avatar and all, but I can't revive the dead."

"I don't mean that. "Iroh chuckled. "Maybe instead of using the word 'rebuild'… maybe 'repopulate' is the more appropriate word. The only way an airbender can come into the world is from another airbender. From you." Iroh saw Aang's confusion get worse, and Iroh searched through his brain to come up with a better way to explain it. He sighed. "Avatar Aang, you will probably have to get married as soon as you can, and start making babies as soon as you can, because you will probably have to make lots of them."

Aang was sipping his tea when the words came all out of Iroh's mouth, and then out of Aang's mouth came all of his tea. Iroh continued.

"Since the woman you will be with isn't going to end up being an airbender, the chance of your children being airbenders is a lot less likely."

"Uncle Iroh, I'm only 14, I'm not even old enough to get married."

"You are almost 15, you are approaching that age fast. Well, I'm not saying that you have to do it this way or anything, it's just something to think about. You know... just in case you meet a girl sometime, or maybe you have already met one... "Iroh grinned, knowing well who Aang's interest layed with.

Aang looked at him with a worried expression, then lowered his eyes to his cup. He thought about Katara, thought about how she might feel about it. He had loved her for so long, but they only recently brought their feelings out into the open. Would she want to be his wife and have an air temple full of children with him? Iroh was right, only his own offspring had the possibility of becoming airbenders, and the world would be out of balance completely without any airbenders left. What would happen if Aang died and there were no more airbenders? How would the cycle of Avatars play out? If Aang had children, and none were airbenders, then the chance of his children's children being airbenders was even less likely. Aang's face became filled with anguish as he thought more about it and doing the math in his head.

Just then, Sokka walked in. He leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest and stared down at Aang with an agitated look on his face.

"Aang, we need to talk."

Aang got up and followed his friend out into the hall, where they would have a bit of privacy. Aang knew what was coming, and he wasn't prepared for it. Sokka looked at him sternly. He took in a deep breath and let it out, and his face suddenly had a wide eyed sad look on it and he threw his arms up in the air.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Sokka shouted.

Aang was shocked. He expected Sokka to be… well, more angry. Aang smiled at his friend. "I tried to tell you, back at the village where we met Aunt Wu."

Sokka looked confused. "You were talking about my sister?" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "How long have you had this crush on Katara?"

"I think 'crush' is a bit of an understatement." Aang giggled. "Actually, I don't know when it started. It was probably the moment I opened my eyes after being in an iceberg for a hundred years. I've always felt a strong connection with Katara, and I felt it when I first laid my eyes on her… and since that moment, my feelings just grew more and more over time." Aang's face looked peaceful as he thought back to the very first moments Aang and Katara shared together. He woke up in her arms, and he saw the most beautiful face he'd ever seen, and will ever see. "I'm in love with Katara." Aang's voice was soft and sounded so pure that it almost brought tears to Sokka's eyes.

Sokka got himself together and threw an arms around Aang's shoulders from the side of him and gave him a squeeze, being goofy to hide his sensitivity to Aang's passion. "Aw Aang, I think that's sweet! Of course, as her brother, you have to have MY permission before you can properly date her." Sokka grinned from ear to ear.

Aang looked up at him with exaggerated pleading eyes, making his bottom lip tremble a bit, and Sokka bursted out laughing. "Ok, ok, you have my permission! But, since she is my only sister, this is the only chance I get to do the big brother talk to a guy that wants my sister." Sokka stood up straight and cleared his throat. "Aang…" Aang straightened up too and looked at him. "If you break my sister's heart, I will break all the bones in your body."

Aang gave him a sly grin. "Sokka, do you really think you can take me on?" Sokka slumped, with a 'yeah, that's true' expression, and Aang laugh. "But you don't have to worry anyway, I couldn't imagine being with anyone but Katara."

Just then, Zuko was spotted walking down the hall towards them. When he approached, he turned to Aang. "You got a message this morning." Zuko handed Aang the rolled up parchment. Confused, Aang pulled the string loose and unraveled it. He read the brief message and looked at Zuko.

"It's from the village elder of Osaiya. He's requesting an audience with me at his village." Aang told his friend. Aang and Zuko had visited that Earth Kingdom village during their recent travels and took care of a band of ruffians who showed up at the village while they were there. They tried to ransack and terrorize the people there. The village wasn't small, it was quite nice and laid in the foothills of a huge mountain where there were many mines. The villagers mined for the beautiful and rare gemstones that could be found only there and nowhere else, which is what made the village so prosperous. Obviously, that was what the band of thieves was after. Zuko had placed some troops in the village to help defend the village and their precious mines of gemstones.

"Did he mention what he wanted to speak to you about?" Zuko asked.

Aang shook his head. "No, just that he wants me to come by as soon as I have the chance. It's not that far, only a few hours ride on Appa. I should just go ahead and go today."

"Where are you going?" Katara walked up just then, and Aang turned his gaze to her. She was dressed and ready for the day already. He noticed right away that her hair was mostly down, part of it up on a bun, and he smiled. He explained to Katara about the village and how he was requested to come visit with the elder there.

"Oh" Katara said, a little sad. "Well, when are you going?"

"I thought I'd go today, actually." He noticed the surprised look on Katara's face, and saw how she tried to hide it. She looked slightly disappointed, but she tried to act indifferent. "It'll probably be an overnight trip, I may even stay a couple of days." He went on.

"Oh… ok. Well, have fun… I guess." She said.

"Katara, you should come with me." Aang suggested. She looked surprised. "The area over there is beautiful, there are waterfalls and lush forests, we can make a mini vacation out of it."

Katara's face lit up. "Ok, sounds fun! I'll go pack up!"

"Me too!" Sokka shouted in excitement. "I'll go get Suki and we'll be ready soon!" Before Aang could protest, Sokka was running down the hall to his room.

A few of the villagers spotted the flying bison in the distance, and soon word spread fast of the approach. Aang, Katara, Sokka and Suki were all aboard Appa as he came down for a landing in a clearing in the west end of the village. People were crowded around to see what was going on, and as soon as they saw Aang, gasps were heard among the crowd, along with the shrieks and louder gasps from young girls among the crowd. Katara noticed them right away. Of course he would be popular among the girls. He was the Avatar, and he definitely wasn't hard on the eyes.

Aang and Sokka slid down Appa first, then helped down the ladies. Toph decided not to join, she thought it would be pointless for her to go. Everyone guessed that she just wanted to spend time with Haru.

As Aang turned to face the crowd, the young girls made their way to the front of the crowd to get a better look at Aang. Some were even eyeing Sokka. The girls were whispering to each other and giggling. It didn't bother Katara too much, at least not until a girl bursted through the crowd, running to Aang.

"Aang! You came back!" The girl yelled. She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck and embraced him hard, almost knocking him over. Katara watched in shock. How did he know this girl?

"Ah…. hey Maiya." Aang said, lightly returning the hug, not putting any force into the embrace like she did. She pulled away from him and gave him her biggest smile she possibly could. Katara noticed that this girl was actually pretty cute. She had gray eyes and light brown hair that went down past the middle of her back. She looked to be about Aang's age as well.

Aang pulled away from the girl and turned to his friends. He introduced them. "This is Sokka, and that's Suki, and this is Katara. And of course you know Appa." Appa let out his loud Appa moan, as if to greet the girl. Katara noticed that Aang didn't make any special indication of her. What exactly was this girl to him? Did something happen with them when he came here last? Katara felt her stomach knot up as she worried over it.

The group was escorted to a large house, the Elder's house, where they would be staying at while they were there. Aang was informed that they had not anticipated him to be arriving so soon and that the village elder wouldn't be back till later in the evening. So the group decided to just relax and enjoy themselves.

To Katara's dismay, Maiya had been following them around. Well, she had been following Aang around. After a while, she just couldn't stand it and she just had to ask. "So how do you guys know each other? How did you meet?"

"Well, she's the village elder's granddaughter" Aand replied. Katara raised her eyebrows slightly.

"Aang saved me!" Maiya explained with excitement. "That band of jerks who attacked our village kidnapped me and threatened to do bad things to me if my Grandpapa didn't hand over all our gemstones we mine from the caves. They had me deep in the mountains, and Aang came and found me and fought off the bad guys and carried me back to the village."

Katara felt a wave of depression fall over her. He saved her? He carried her back to the village? She tried to hide her anger and jealously as best she could, but Aang could see it.

"Well, her ankle was twisted, so she couldn't walk." Aang said, looking straight at Katara.

Oh yeah, like that explanation makes me feel better about it. Maiya seemed oblivious to Katara's frustration and was focused completely on Aang. "You're my hero Aang." She hugged him tightly again.

Sokka watched and raised his eyebrow in suspicion to Aang. Aang returned his glance with a worried look, almost like he was begging Sokka to help him out.

Katara got up. "I'm going to go out for a bit. I'll see you guys later." And she walked out the door. She walked a few paces down a path that looked like it would lead to a forest, and she started running, She couldn't believe how hurt she felt. Did Aang have any idea how she would feel about this? Did he care? Why was he letting this girl all over him? Was it just because she was the village elder's granddaughter?

Aang got away from Maiya finally. "I think I'll go out for a bit too."

"I'll go with you!" Maiya said excitedly.

Before she could follow Aang, Suki grabbed the girl's wrist. "Actually," Suki said. "We would love for you to show us around. Aang already knows his way around obviously, since he's been here before. Why not hang out with us for now."

Maiya looked at them, and then looked painfully at the door that Aang had just walked out of.

After a while, Aang finally caught up to Katara. She heard him approach, but she didn't turn to face him because of how embarrassed she was of being jealous.

"Katara, wait! What's wrong?" He grabbed her wrist and pulled to turn her around. He saw water in her eyes that she was trying to hold in, along with anger. She yanked her wrist back and looked away. "It's bothering you that much? You know I have no interest in her, right? The only girl I want…"

"Aang…" She interrupted. "Just stop it." He froze in horror at her words. She stood silent for a moment before she spoke again.

"I know, ok. But… I can't help but to be angry. You were just doing your job as the Avatar, you were doing what you felt was right, but still… I don't like to hear about you saving some girl who is love struck over you… and holding her like that…" She brought her hand up to her cheek and rubbed a tear away with her palm . "And I guess stuff like that may happen again, you being the Avatar and your obligation to help other people."

Aang wrapped his arms around her and drew her close. He nuzzled his head in her hair and closed his eyes as he took in the wonderful scent of her.

"You are the only girl I want to hold, Katara, you know that right?"

She nodded and buried her head in the space between his neck and his shoulder.

The sun was beginning to set, and the trees around them changed hues along with the air around them with the vibrant colors of dusk. Aang could feel Katara's heart racing against his chest and wondered if she could feel his doing the same. Her arms were around his neck, his arms were around her middle to lower back, and he could feel, though just slightly, the rise and fall of her chest against his. It sent shivers down his body and to the lower region of his stomach. Just that simple feeling of her could do so much to him.

"You know, we never really had a chance to finish our conversation yesterday." He said softly.

Katara opened her eyes and felt a sudden nervousness. She had admitted to being in love with him, and he told her he loved her. The nervousness was coupled with a rush of excitement as he pulled away just slightly to look into her eyes. She stared back, a loss with words. Aang had the question prepared to let out, he was going to ask Katara to be his girlfriend, but before he could ask, he saw Maiya approach from the corner of his eye.

Maiya had seen them as she approached, and before she was noticed, she stopped, and was overcome with jealously and hatred for the girl in his arms. She hid her emotions very well, however, and approached them.

"My grandpapa is back now." She announced. She smiled and cocked her head to the side in a cute fashion. Katara felt a bit of relief, maybe the girl wasn't so obsessed after all since she didn't seem fazed by the sight of her and Aang together. Oh course she didn't know how wrong she was.

"Let's continue this later tonight." Aang said.

They followed Maiya back to her house where her grandfather awaited them. Sokka and Suki were there waiting as well, sitting on the comfortable couch in the living room of the elder's house. The elder, a tall, built, elderly man, stood there awaiting them. He reminded Katara of Master Paccu.

"It's nice to see you again, Lee Yun." Aang said respectfully.

"And you too, Avatar Aang." The man bowed back.

Aang straightened and looked up at the man. "So… um, what was it that you needed me for, sir?"

The Elder chuckled, "Let's not be in such a hurry. Let's all have some supper and tea, and then we will discuss the matter later."

After their light meal and a round of tea, the group made their way back into the living room. Lee Yun sat down in a chair, and everyone but Aang sat on the couch.

"Have a seat." Lee Yun gestured to a cushioned chair, which sat facing another that Lee Yun then sat in.

Maiya sat next to Katara on the couch, which made Katara feel a bit awkward, and she had no idea that the girl did it intentionally.

Lee Yun smiled at his granddaughter, then looked at the floor. "Maiya's parents were taken from her by Fire Nation soldiers during the war when she was very young. I took her into my care and raised her myself. But she has a gift, you see, a gift that needed to be handled with care, because if she was found out, her life would have been taken by the Fire Nation."

Aang gave him a questioning look. Lee Yun continued. "When I first saw signs of this gift, right after I took her in, I told her to never use her gifts ever again, for it was too dangerous for her to use. But now that this war is over, I believe that it is safe for it to be known… maybe even important." He looked up at Aang with a very serious expression. "Maiya is an airbender. And I would like for you to teach her airbending."

Everyone in the room gasped and looked at Maiya. Aang, especially. He wasn't, after all this time, the last airbender? He looked at her with disbelief. "But how?" He asked. "How is it that she's an airbender?"

"Her great great grandfather, on the other side of her family, was an airbender monk at the Western Air Temple. His son was an airbender as well, but he ran away from home because he had fallen in love with a woman from the Earth Kingdom. The war started, and the airbenders were all destroyed. The man had two children with his wife, but neither one of them were airbenders. The man was found later on and was killed because he was an airbender, but they didn't find his family that he carefully hid away. One of those children was her grandmother, and she had only one child, her father. No one else after Maiya's great grandfather was an airbender, and no one thought it would ever be possible for one to show up in the line since the airbending blood had grown so thin. But here she is, an airbender." The old man paused and sighed.

Aang, still in shock and not sure how to feel, replied finally, "Wow, that's… amazing. You're like a miracle child, Maiya."

Maiya smiled sweetly at Aang and blushed. Katara was almost sweating. She couldn't believe it, there was actually another airbender alive in this world. She was suddenly afraid about what would come next when she noticed that Lee Yun had more to say.

"Aang," Lee Yun said with a voice filled with stern yet compassion at the same time. Aang looked at the man.

"Yes?"

"I want you to marry my granddaughter."

*** Not so much on the romance in this one, sorry. But the next chapter will definitely make up for it XD! But you gotta wait for now. I'd like to know your opinions, so if you don't mind, please leave a review... Also, I'm kinda new here, so I don't know how to navigate around the site much yet, so I don't know how to view reviews without just searching for my story on the site. Can I look at the reviews somewhere in my account area thing?***