Hey peoples! Time for an update. There's a comeback character in this chapter... let's see who.

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An Old Friend

The morning sun flashed through the bedroom curtains, blinding Katara as she sat up. She rubbed her eyes, and stepped out onto the floor. She stretched her arms, yawning, and walked over to the mirror hanging from her wall. After a quick review, she decided that she looked decent enough to go downstairs for breakfast with the others without having to bother to get dressed first. She was pretty hungry.

She opened the door, and jumped when she saw someone already standing outside. There was Aang, hand up and fist ready to knock. He lowered it, and laughed. "Sorry if I startled you. I just wanted to see if you wanted to go get some breakfast…" He had noticed her still in her nightgown. He was fully dressed in his robes for the day, but that was no surprise. Aang was always one to rise early, even back in their old days of camping.

"I was just heading down, actually," Katara replied, grinning, and a little embarrassed.

"Oh, I don't mean here," Aang said, "I meant as in going out. Together; just the two of us."

An ecstatic smile lit up Katara's face, and she nodded with a "Sure!" Looking down at herself, she added, "I'll just go and… get dressed first." She closed the door, and in a few minutes she and Aang were heading out of the shop and into the open air of the city.

-

"Are you serious?" She gasped.

The two walked down the street, arm in arm, catching up on the last few months' worth of events between them. Katara could tell that Aang was especially fond of the meeting room stories – those about the highly esteemed Fire Lord, of course.

"Completely. He was not only snoring, but leaning on the shoulder of General Wu. I think the guy was about to have a heart attack. It 's not everyday that the leader of your country falls asleep on you. I think he should've considered it an honor," Aang said.

Katara laughed at that. "Poor Zuko. But with meetings going all day and so late into the night, what else would they expect? You were both exhausted 24/7."

Aang took his arm from hers and instead wrapped it around her shoulder, pulling her closer as he smiled. "Well, we're back now with a full month of rest to catch up on. And I intend to relax for every second of it."

He really was relaxed, Katara noticed. Much more so than he had been the night before. I knew there was nothing to worry about, she thought. He wouldn't-

"We're here!"

Katara's thoughts stopped instantly and she looked up. They were standing before a small restaurant, the sign "Meng's Nook" hanging above the entrance. The place looked familiar…

"I remember! We used to come here, months ago." Katara exclaimed.

"Yup," Aang said. He grabbed her hand and led her inside. "Let's see if the menu's changed at all."

-

The menu had changed, after all. But it was much to Aang's relief. Prices were lower since the last time he had been there six months before. But it wasn't just that way in the restaurant. All over the world taxes were being reduced and many people lived happier, wealthier lives. With the war's end there was no need for much spending because there was practically no military to support anymore. The Fire Nation had ended its coin raids upon villages, no longer demanding support of their lord and his mission in the form of cold, hard cash. Times really were more peaceful. And because of it two got to chow down for the price one.

Which definitely explained why the small nook was crowded to the brim with hungry customers. Aang and Katara were seated, only getting to cut through the anxious line of people because of the Air Bender's… special status. The two ordered, and waited for the dishes to arrive.

"Last I remember, it wasn't this crowded," Katara mentioned, "Not that I've been here since you left." For a second she held a sad expression, but decided that it wasn't the time nor the place for brooding, and perked up before she could ruin the meal.

"I'm sure it's just the great food," Aang said as he looked off to the door. People were starting to point and whisper behind the shade of hands, causing a noticeable drop in the room's volume. He looked back to his girlfriend, and embarrassedly smiled as he shrugged. "Mostly the food, I'm sure." Katara let out a small laugh. Just then, a waitress came by.

A tray was set on the table, and the smell of their dishes floated by like a breeze. "Here you are," said the waitress. But before Aang could dig in, he was halted by was halted by an audible gasp. He looked up, and the woman was staring at him in awe.

"You're the Avatar, aren't you?" Her eyes trailed down the tattoo on his head, and stopped when they reached the wooden amulet strung around his neck.

Aang backed off of the food for a second. "Uh, yes, I am."

Jin graced him with a small bow. "It's an honor to meet you. Let me just say, you sure are good for business." She indicated towards the entrance where the line of potential customers was getting more concentrated, with people attempting to shove their way in the shop. "Which I guess is a good thing," she added. For the first time, the couple noticed the bags under her eyes.

"You look tired," Katara said, "Why don't you sit down?" She pulled out the extra chair at the table for emphasis.

"No, I really can't. This place is getting busier by the second, and-"

"Just for a moment," Aang interrupted. "Besides, trust me. Any time you get a chance to just relax, you should take it." He wore a knowing grin.

The waitress stared at the seat for a second later, and just plopped herself down, her head practically banging on the table. The couple looked at each other in worry.

"I'm sorry for disrupting you, I really am. I'm just so tired…" She lifted her head and sat up straight. "I'm Jin, by the way. Nice to meet you both." She smiled, and there was a certain glitter in her eyes. Despite her being so fatigued, it made her seem lively.

"It must be hard working when you're so beat, Jin. Why not take a break?" Katara wondered out loud. Jin sighed before answering.

"There's far too many people to feed and not enough help. So all of the employees have been working double time to make up for it. That includes pretty late nights, and as you can see, I haven't had the time for much beauty rest lately." She touched a hand to her eye.

Aang nodded at this. "Trust me, I know how you feel." But she really was a pretty woman. She seemed to be a few years older than the pair was; maybe in her early twenties.

Jin, then tired of the subject, decided to take the conversation in a new direction.

"So, the Avatar… I guess you're pretty good friends with the Fire Lord then, eh?"

Aang was taken aback by the random turn, and it showed. "I am, actually."

"Don't worry," she said as she held up both hands in defense, "I'm not one of those crazy stalkers. I just wanted to hear how… an old friend was doing."

The couple's eyes flew open immediately, Katara accidentally spitting out what little tea she had just sipped in.

"An old friend? You knew the Fire L- Zuko? How?" Katara spewed.

"Well, he was in Ba Sing Se for a while before," Jin said, a little ruffled by the reaction. Katara's face grew red, and she started to babble out an apology.

"Oh, no, I didn't mean it like that, really! It's just… I didn't know that he had had actual friends here." Jin's expression lightened again.

"Oh, he did. Well, me at least. Actually," she said as her face grew sly, "we were a little more than just friends. For a short while, anyway." She ignored the questioning looks on their faces and continued. "I ran into him a while later. His new girl seemed nice. Let me swing knives at him."

Aang rolled his eyes at this. "Nice… yeah, I guess that's about right."

Jin chuckled, and then stood up. "It was nice chatting, but I guess I should get back to work now. And you should get eating. Not only is your food getting cold, but the line is multiplying like rabbaroos." The pair didn't even dare to look back at the entrance.

"Good idea. See you around, Jin," Katara said, and with a smile the waitress left, leaving the two to their meal.

"Hey Katara," Aang said as he lifted up his chopsticks.

"Yes?"

"As much as I'm tempted, how about we don't mention this to Zuko."

"… Good idea."

-

They ate and left, leaving behind them the hope that the star-struck crowd would somehow loose interest and thin away for the day, for Jin's sake at least. Somehow.

Kay, so that was just some cute fluffiness and a nice little visit from our friend Jin. Not too much drama this chapter, I know, but it'll return very soon ;D I promise.

How was it? Please take a second out of your day and leave a review. Comments are always helpful!

-Mangafangirl