You have NO IDEA how long this took me. But it's here now!

DISCLAIMER - Avatar is owned by Mike and Bryan

Read on, my brave warriors!

Ever since the end of the war, and all the men and boys had returned to the watertribe, life for the young girls there and women had certainly got more interesting.

All Katara's friends were getting engaged, or courting, and now that their village was growing, Katara was finding that the traditional way of courting someone was really not the traditional way anymore.

The Southern Watertribe was just so big now, and the amount of people was still so few; not everyone lived in one place anymore. Young people were allowed to go out, unchaperoned, and even the rule of asking her father before doing anything was starting to be disregarded too.

And the latest thing to have happened, much to Katara's distaste, was that the tradition of a betrothal necklace hadn't been re-started.

At one of the latest weddings, she sat with Aang, who had insisted on being treated like a normal person by refusing the 'seat of honour' and sitting at the front instead. Katara sat through the ceremony, which seemed to be so quick – since it was devoid of most traditional values – and at the end, when the dancing and singing started; she crossed her arms and huffed.

"You would think," she said to Aang in an annoyed sort of way, which was appropriate since she WAS annoyed, "that our wedding traditions would add a little more beauty to the ceremony, but no! Everyone just wants to get it done as quickly as possible so they can start living together!"

"'Tara," Aang said, quietly, trying to keep from smiling at the adorable scowl on her face, "It's just because it's only been a few years since the end of the war, and most of these girls and boys have lived through the war their whole life. I know the Airbenders certainly wouldn't have had time for all our traditions, what with the war going on, so I guess your people didn't have time to do it the slow way…or they might've not got it done at all."

Katara knew he was right, but she sighed anyway, "I guess, but the war's over! And all our traditions made a wedding so beautiful…" Her eyes gained a faraway look and Aang bit his lip. He knew why she was getting annoyed.

"They haven't lived with the traditions, Katara. They don't know them, they haven't seen traditional weddings. I think only you and the older women would probably remember it."

Katara looked out over the dancing couples, and sighed, "I know, you are right. But there was so many traditions that made a wedding so lovely…all the young unmarried or newly married couples got to share a dance with the bride and groom, there would be flowers everywhere, and the bride would always have the most beautiful in her hair…even the betrothal necklace tradition has stopped," she mumbled the last part, and a faint blush came into her cheeks as she remembered the real reason she was upset about that.

Aang suddenly had an idea, and he grinned, pulling Katara up with him as he stood. "Well, then, let's make it traditional!" He grabbed her hand and pulled her into the middle of the dancers, then clapped his hands, yelling, "Would everybody listen, please?" Everyone turned immediately, expecting some kind of speech from the Avatar, but were surprised when he said, "I think it's time for all the young couples and newlyweds to have a dance, don't you?" Several of the older women's faces lit up and they nodded vigorously, and they pushed their various daughters and sons out onto the dance floor. Katara blushed furiously as Aang stationed the bride and groom in the middle, then brought her to stand next to them.

The music started, a light tune, and a man came forward to sing; the first time that night there had been a singer.

"This is for you, 'Tara," he whispered, bringing out a beautiful Panda Lily flower from inside his robes, as if by magic, and tucking it into her hair. "After all, you are the most beautiful here." Katara smiled, her cheeks stained red but her smile alive with happiness. Aang smiled his signature cheeky grin back at her, taking her hands in his and placing one hand on his shoulder, and one of his at her waist.

"Aang, what're you doing?"

"This is how we do it in the Air Temples." Katara beamed and, following Aang's lead, they began to twirl, taking three steps forward, three steps back, and turning in large, sweeping circles, so Katara's unbound hair and light dress flowed out around her. The other couples moved aside, watching Aang and Katara with wide eyes. Even the bride and groom stepped back, wanting too much to see the Avatar dance than to dance themselves.

Aang spun Katara out, watching her spin on the spot; still wearing his goofy grin, then brought her back to him, holding her close, their eyes locked together. Her hand was now pressed against his heart, his hand covering it, and her other arm had curled around his neck. They still spun; neither of them missing a step, and occasionally Aang would swing her out again, his face so full of emotion as he twirled her round and round that many people looked away…but not for long.

Everyone could see how in love they were, and many whispered to each other that there would be another wedding, before long; and they could tell that, when it happened, there would be no other wedding like it.

Aang could hear them, with his sensitive ears, and he smiled to himself, watching the flickering moonlight play across Katara's face, her eyes closed and her head resting against his chest. If I have anything to say about it, he thought, there certainly will be.

"Hey 'Tara," he whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too."

Aang felt the little hard necklace in his robes bump against his side gently, and his contented smile grew.

Who said traditions couldn't be restarted?

You know, I was watching The Great Divide yesterday, and when Katara says 'That is sooo wrong' I was like wow...she sounded really...erm, yeah. So that was a little freaky.

Hope you liked it!

Love, Helena x