Okay this is the last one I have pre-written. I am going to try to do some catching up. But I'm not in the best of moments to be doing a lot of writing. I will write as I find time between everything else. This one is relatively fresh and since I have already written the ending, I know where I am going with this one. Smiles!
Sokka sat up when Suki's voice broke through the house. He jumped up fumbling with the sheets and ultimately falling face first on the floor. Suki slid into the room, her face seemed stretched to the brink in a smile. She was holding a piece of parchment and dancing about like she was going to wet herself. Sokka untangled himself from the blanket and stood up, snatching the paper out of his elated girlfriend's hands.
"What's going on?"
"Your sister!" Suki squealed. Sokka looked up at her with wide eyes,
"She isn't hurt is she? Is something wrong?" Sokka ask forgetting about the paper in his hand. Suki's smile dropped as she cocked her eyebrows.
"Would I be smiling if something was wrong? And also, dummy, you have the letter in your hand, why don't you read it?" She shook her head as he looked down at the paper and grinned that devilishly foolish grin of his.
"Oh yeah." Sokka cleared his throat and read the lettered his eyes widening. He looked up at Suki with a smile covering his face. He dropped the paper and wrapped his arms around Sui. He let out a victory cry as he swung her around, lifting her off the floor,. He lost his balance and they went tumbling onto the bed in a fit of laughter. He pushed himself up off of her slightly and looked down at her with a smug grin. He ground himself between her legs and arched his eyebrows.
"Since my kid sister is pregnant, maybe we should work on making one of our own?"
Suki cocked her eyebrow at him and quickly jerked her knee upward. He fell over onto the bed with a whimper. She rolled not her side and patted his cheek.
"It is a good thing you're cute."
Hundreds of miles to the east another couple was just receiving word of the good news. Zuko wiped the sweat from his brow as he dodged another rock. He flipped backwards as a boulder shot up from under his feet. He narrowed his eyes and decided it was time to take the fight to the next level. He shot forward dodging the rocks that were jumping up from the ground and hurdling through the air towards him. He sunk down as the girl swung around sending a boulder at him. Quickly, he lunged himself forward grabbing her knees, taking her to the ground. He laughed as he listened to her heavy breathing. He let out a yelp as she buried her hands in his hair and pulled. She rolled backwards sending him slamming down on his back. She used his momentum to roll herself over with him, landing straddling his waist. Her clouded eyes narrowed as she smiled, slapping him on the chest.
"I win, Sparky." She said with a laugh. He shook his head and grabbed her shoulders, rolling her onto the ground.
"I want a rematch." He said with a smile as he kissed her gently. She nodded and threw him off of her. She jumped up and sunk him into the ground with a stomp.
"There. I win again." She frowned and turned her face northward. Someone was coming quickly. Who ever it was was clumsy, as they were stumbling. She let the earth spit Zuko out as he grew aware of the rapidly approaching fire nation guard. His face took on its stoic glare. Only when something was terribly wrong did his uncle send a guard with news. He ran to meet the man who was obviously worn with exhaustion.
"What is it man?" Zuko said grabbing the man in the armor.
"There is a message for you from...from Lady Katara." Zuko frowned and grabbed the scroll from the man's hand. He turned and watched as Toph ran over.
"From Katara?"
"Is something wrong?"
"I don't know I haven't read it."
"Well then, read it." She said crossing her arms. He grinned and unrolled the parchment. His eyes moved over it slowly. After a few seconds, Toph grew irritated.
"So? I know your still there, I can hear you breathing." She said with a huff. He looked up at her, not sure how to take the news on the paper.
"It says that she and Haru are going to have a baby." He said looking at her waiting for a sign of how she would take it. She nodded and cocked her head to the side.
"It took em long enough didn't it?" She said with a grin. He nodded and rolled the scroll back up, the two of them completely unaware that the fire nation guard had fallen over. He thought for a moment and walked over to her, throwing his arm around her shoulders.
"You know what else has taken long enough?"
"What?" She narrowed her eyes expecting him to throw her to the ground, starting the match all over again. He spun her around and held her tight against his chest.
"Our courtship...I think you should marry me."
"I think you've got to be out of your mind." She said with wide eyes. She waited for him to laugh but when he didn't, her eyes widened further. "You're serious?"
"When am I not?"
"That's true. You do tend to walk around like you have a stick shoved up your ass."
"Ah." He said not prepared with a smart comeback. "So yes or no?"
"Hell why not. I've got nothing else better to do." She said and hugged him. Zuko shook his head as a held breath left him. He didn't think he would ever get used to her brashness, but at least it would keep things interesting.
The entire village was alive in celebration. Haru had tried to keep things quiet but once that damned white headed priest got wind of the expectancy, the news roared through the village like wild fire. Jubilation could be heard for miles on end as the night sky lit up with every burst of fire works. The townsfolk danced as the couple sat on the stage watching the festivities. Haru smiled softly as he held Katara's hand in his own. He leaned over brushing his lips against her ear.
"All for Katara."
"Yes. All for Katara." She said with a smile, leaning into him as he kissed her cheek. She felt a pain whirl through her as she looked out at the smiling crowd. She turned her head looking over the entire village until her eyes came to rest on the priest standing at the base of the temple. His icy blue eyes narrowed as she looked at him. Fear surged through her as she realized that look. He knew much more than the rest of the villagers. Her heart stopped. It couldn't be possible, before she could bring reason to her mind he began walking toward them. He walked up behind them and set a hand on either of their soldiers.
"The city celebrates this great news. Why don't you two join the village in dance. It will be good for you." The priest said with a smile. Haru nodded and stood up shaking the priest's hand.
"You are a good friend, Hylin." The priest smiled and nodded. Katara stared at the young priest as he spoke with her husband. He had sculpted features, hair that hung past his shoulders and yet with all of his training in the sacred arts, he gave her a weird feeling when she was around him. He turned those chilled eyes upon her with a soft smile.
"You must take good care of yourself, you are with child now. I'm sure your midwife as told you it would be unwise for you to travel." His eyes narrowed slightly with the last word, bringing fiery heat to her face. He did know. She nodded and forced a smile.
"Yes of course. I have no need to travel. Sokka is on his way here." She said regardless of the tightening in her throat. Haru looked at her with a wide grin.
"Is he now?"
"Yes. I received his letter this morning."
"That is wonderful!"
"Yes...let's dance now...shall we?" She said pulling her husbands arm as the music sounded around them. Her heart pounded in her chest. If the priest knew of her adultery, then how much did her husband know? Surely, the priest wouldn't keep that kind of information from him? He was the closest friend Haru, both in distance and in relations. She sighed as her mood suddenly turned sour. How would she keep living the lie without her guilt eating her to the core?
Aang smiled widely as Appa soared through the air. For once in five years he was actually feeling more like himself. He had pushed the darkness away from him, banishing Kijhas from his sight. He wished he had never met the dark being in the spirit world. He let the wind whip around his head, his bright arrow gleaming in the moonlight. He laughed joyfully as Momo skittered over his shoulders and down to Appa's left horn. Aang smiled as he cracked the reins driving Appa to land. He rolled down of of his best friend and tossed a bail of hay into the large barn, which Appa greedily took too. He picked up a bowl and scooped several berries from a bucket setting it down on Momo's perch. Momo chattered happily as he made his way up to his perch.
Aang grabbed the cantine from the hook and took a drink. He wiped the water from his lip and pulled a fire ball to his hand to light the way back to his house. He stopped with a chill ran over him. He killed the fire and dropped down looking around him with wide eyes. Three dark forms stepped out of the darkness, illuminated only by that eerie light spirits put off. His breath caught in his chest as he recognized the three. One was the ruthless general he had fought during the war, the one with side burns. A pair of dark eyes stared out from under dark shaggy bangs, Jet hadn't changed even in death he wore the same smirk. The last ghastly ghostly figure he recognized as the girl who had befriended Zuko, and thusly betrayed Azula. He narrowed his eyes and stared at the three.
"We come with a message from Kijhas." Mai said her voice echoing thought the night.
"I want nothing more to do with him." Aang snapped, his joyful spirit dying by the moment. Zhao shook his head and flared his hand out.
"You have no choice. He is expanding his full power to you." Zhao said with a wicked grin.
"All you have to do is combine with him. And all his power, is yours." Jet said shifting the twig of wheat in his mouth to the other side.
"Tell your master that I am not interested."
"Perhaps you will be once you read your message." Mai said pointing a hand towards his door. Aang followed her motion and looked at the parchment tacked to his door. He glanced back at the spirits as he walked over tearing it from the nail. He read over the words, his face paling as he took in the words. His heart froze as the paper fell limply from his hand. He looked back up but the three spirits were gone. His hands clenched as he began to tremble. He hit his knees and let out a scream.
My dearest Aang,
I am writing you for what is possibly the last time. I regret to inform you that I am with child. There isn't a doubt on who the father is. But as you know all to well, I am married. Haru is a wonderful man and is under the impression that he is the father. Because of this I will no longer be taking my trips to visit you. What we had is over. We cannot continue living in the darkness. I cannot bear the guilt nor can I live with the pain that I know I am causing Haru. I haven't told you enough, but I do love you. Some of the best memories I have, are the ones spent in your arms. I have had fun and I know that I will miss both your companionship and your touch. But we have grown, and I must move on. I have created a life with a wonderful man and I must live up to the expectations he has of me.
I love you, my friend. Take care.
~Katara.
