Chapter 6 - Traditions

A week after Zuko and Katara's talk on the veranda, Aang and Katara said goodbye to their family.

Sokka and Suki were eager to take Yue home to the Southern Water Tribe. And Hakoda had put off buisness as cheif for two weeks, so there would be work to attend to when he returned.

The fairwell was very emotional for Katara.

She was happy to be starting her honeymoon that afternoon, she and Aang would fly on Appa to Omashu before nightfall, but she was reluctant to part with her family.

As she always had been.

Hakoda hugged his daughter tight, and told her for the hundredth time how proud he was of her.

Her ability to Bloodbend had not scared her family, as she had expected. She had never told them she could, and their reception of of her ability had surprised Katara.

They thought of it as a gift.

Especially Sokka and Suki, who were also reluctant to say goodbye. They thanked Katara again and again, both of them overcome with happiness for their child's life.

Kana had already said goodbye, and was holding little Yue while Sokka and Suki said their fairwells.

"Congratulations Katara", Suki told her one more time, "I wish you and Aang every happiness."

"Thank you, Suki", said Katara.

The two friends hugged.

When Suki pulled away she smiled at Katara, then left to retrieve her baby from Kana. Suki hated any seperation from Yue, no matter how short.

"Come here", Sokka said as he approached his sister, arms open wide.

Katara ran into them, and hugged her brother with all her strength. "I'll miss you Sokka. I promise Aang and I will visit soon", she said.

"Yeah, I'll miss you too", he told her. "I'm glad everything worked out for you Katara."

"Everything worked out for you too", she said.

"It sure did. Thank you for helping with that", said Sokka.

"You're more than welcome", said Katara.

Sokka sighed after a moment. "Alright", he said as he pulled out of the hug, "Don't get all emotional on me now. You'll have plenty of time for that when you start your oogie filled honeymoon."

Katara glared at her brother. "Really?", she asked him.

He smiled, "Really", he told her. Then walked over to his wife. He turned around before walking out of view and waved at his sister.

She chuckled and waved back.

Katara turned around to say goodbye to the last member of her family, her grandfather.

As she turned she saw Aang reach out to shake Paku's hand goodbye. Paku looked at Aang for a moment, before pulling him in for a large hug.

Katara smiled.

Ever since the wedding, Paku had treated Aang differently. Less like a former student, and more like a new member of the family.

Aang hugged his old master back, and when he let go, Paku walked over to his grandaughter.

"It's going to be a long three months", he told her. "But I hope you and Aang have a nice honeymoon, and return to start a long and happy life together."

"Thank you, Paku", Katara said. "And we will all be sitting around a fire eating stewed sea prunes before you know it."

Paku smiled. "I can smell them cooking already", he told his grandaughter as he hugged her.

Katara could see over Paku's shoulder that Aang was gagging at the thought. Stewed sea prunes were his least favorite Water Tribe dish.

Katara repressed the urge to laugh at her husband.

Paku released Katara, and with one last smile at Aang, walked down the hill to the boat that would take him and his family home.

Aang and Katara watched as the boat left the dock, and sailed out to sea.

When the boat was out of sight, Aang pulled his wife closer, and kissed her gently on her forehead.

"Are you ready to go?", he asked her. Their bags were already packed, and could be loaded onto Appa's saddle quickly.

Katara leaned into her husband and nodded. "I'm ready", she said.

Aang led them toward Appa's stable. "Are you looking forward to the time away?", he asked his wife.

"I'm looking forward to time with you", she answered.

Aang smiled. "Me too", he said.

When they reached the stables, they loaded their bags onto Appa's saddle.

A few minutes later, they took flight.

It was a perfect day for flying, clear skies and a bright afternoon sun.

Appa knew where to fly, so Aang sat in the saddle with Katara. He played with her hair, and watched it blow in the breeze.

"It will be nice visiting Omashu again", Katara said. "We haven't been there in over a year."

"It will be even nicer now", said Aang.

"Why's that?", asked Katara.

"Because you're with me", he answered.

Katara looked puzzled. "I was with you last time Aang. We stayed there for three weeks in the spring during a diplomatic visit from..."

Aang silenced her with a kiss.

When he released her lips, he looked into her eyes. "This time", he said, "You and I are husband and wife. So we will truly be together."

Katara rasied her eyebrows at her husband, worried that the summer heat had gotten to him.

Aang chuckled, and explained. "Last time you and I were not married, and not engaged", he said.

"We couldn't be affectionate because we were there on business, and it wouldn't have been proper. And by honoring your tribe's traditions, we had seperate rooms."

Katara blushed at the reminder of seperate rooms. And seperate beds.

Aang had been the perfect gentleman during all those years of dating. They had agreed that they would honor the Water Tribe's tradition of marriage before they shared the same room.

Even when Katara had moved to Air Temple Island a year ago, she had recieved her own room at the opposite end of the temple.

But one month ago, things had changed...

... Katara and Aang had arrived home to Air Temple Island late at night.

The work of the Avatar is never ending, and they had just returned from Ba-Sing-Se on Appa, after a meeting about the importance of appointing a council in Republic City.

The King had offered up three candidates for the Earth Kingdom council member. Aang was to consider each candidate, and give an answer before the end of the year.

The meeting had run well into the afternoon, and Katara and Aang had left the city just after dinner time, eager to be home.

Aang had just finished settling Appa in the stable when he tiredly walked into the temple.

He would always say goodnight to Katara before bed, and hug her close for a moment or two.

But after a brief search, he couldn't find her.

She wasn't in her room, or the living space. He checked the kitchen, but it too was empty.

He walked upstairs in search of his fiancé.

She wasn't in any of the rooms he checked, nor was she on the balcony.

Aang wasn't worried though. On the nights when he couldn't sleep, he would wander around the temple, and on occasion he would see Katara down by the dock, practicing her Waterbending in the moonlight.

He would watch her until she was finished, or until he was too tired to stay awake. Then he would go back upstairs and find sleep.

He never told her he watched her. He enjoyed seeing her be completely free, and one with the water. An audience would ruin the effect.

Even though Katara had seemed as tired as him, perhaps she had gone down to the dock.

Aang was too tired to watch her that night. So he closed the door to the balcony, and walked to his room.

After he closed the door he heard a noise coming from his bathroom. He walked over to the slightly ajar door, and opened it.

Katara was standing in the middle of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, and drying her hair with another.

She turned toward the door when it opened. A blush quickly spread across her cheeks.

"I'm sorry", said Aang.

Though he was surprised to see Katara, and was wondering why she was in his bathroom, he had burst in when she was undressed and wrapped in just a towel.

"That's alright", said Katara. "I'm sorry if I caught you off guard. The water in my bathroom isn't working, and I needed a hot shower."

Aang was watching her as she spoke. She looked beautiful.

Maybe it was just that he was tired, or that he hadn't seen Katara in anything less than her not very revealing swimsuit before, but she looked absolutely radiant.

He realized he had been staring at the curve of her hips, and looked up into her eyes.

"I'll see what the problem is tomorrow", he said, "It's too late to do anything about it tonight."

Katara nodded. She grabbed her clothes and Aang backed out of the doorway so that she could pass.

She was just about to open his bedroom door when she stopped and walked back towards him.

She hugged him and said, "Goodnight Aang", in a whisper against his ear.

He held onto her for a moment, and couldn't help but kiss her neck once.

Twice.

A third time.

Each time working his way upward, until he reached her lips on the fourth kiss.

They had kissed briefly but passionately, before Katara pushed him away gently. She was smiling, and her cheeks were redder than Aang had ever seen them.

Without a word she walked to the door, and exited the room.

Even though Aang would have liked to continue kissing and caressing Katara, he was glad she had pushed him away.

The wedding was only a month away, and they had promised each other they would honor the Southern Water Tribe's traditions.

Aang told himself he could wait. He would wait forever for Katara if he had to.

A little later, Aang had just finished getting ready for bed when there was a tentative knock on the door.

He walked across the room and opened the door to see Katara standing there.

Still in her towel. Still looking radiant. And still with cheeks like fire.

He had been about to ask her what was wrong when she stepped forward, wrapped her arms around him and held him close.

After a moment she raised her head and looked into Aang's eyes. "I love you", she said.

"I love you too", he answered her. "What's wrong sweetie?"

"I...I was just thinking", she said, "Traditions, aren't they made to be broken at some point?"

Aang looked down at his fiancé with tender eyes. "I suppose so", he said as he leaned down and captured Katara's lips in a sweet kiss.

When their lips parted, he rested his chin on top of her head and whispered, "Are you sure? We can wait."

Though at the moment, he didn't want to wait another minute, let alone an entire month.

Katara smiled and wrapped her arms around Aang's neck, pulling him back down for another kiss. Before their lips met, she whispered back, "I can't.", and touched her lips to his...

...

Katara was brought out of her memories by Aang stroking her hair again.

She looked up at him and smiled, her cheeks returning to normal.

"We were younger then", she said. "And we hadn't been living together, you wouldn't have liked sharing a room with me."

"We weren't that much younger, and I would have enjoyed it", he said.

"In fact", he added as he kissed her forehead sweetly, "I would have loved it."

Katara chuckled. "You mean wouldn't have let traditional boundries stop you if we had been given the same room?", she asked teasingly.

"I would have loved sharing the same room", he said. "But yes. I would have kept my promise of honoring your tribe's traditions."

He leaned his head back down and after trailing kisses from her forehead to her throat whispered into her ear, "But apparently not everyone likes to honor traditions."

Katara turned her head so that she could look her husband in the eye. She glared at him, and he stared back at her.

After a few minutes, Aang said, "Of course, had I walked in on you any sooner, I might have been the one that said good riddance to tradition."

Katara smiled, but didn't break eye contact.

"I was sort of hoping you would have", she said.

Aang smiled back and asked her, "That I would have broken tradition, or walked in on you sooner?"

Katara finally broke eye contact with her husband so she could roll her eyes at him. "To break tradition", she said.

"Ah, that's what I thought", said Aang as he pulled his wife close.

"Though I wouldn't have minded the other option", he added after a moment.

Katara pushed her elbow backward and hit Aang lightly in the ribs.

"Ouch", he said as he withdrew his arms. Though it hadn't hurt at all.

"I married such a romantic man didn't I", Katara said sarcastically.

But then she remembered Toph telling her she used sarcasm too much, and was about to apologize.

Before she could, Aang wrapped his arms around her again.

"Yes, you did", he answered her remark. "Though I haven't had a lot of practice at the really romantic stuff yet, I'm just recently married.

Katara laughed and Aang pulled her closer.

They contined the rest of the journey mostly in silence. They laid in each other's arms, and watched as the clouds passed by.

Soon, the sun was close to setting, and the sky was bathed in pink, red, and orange.

It was at this time that the great city of Omashu came into sight.

Aang got up and went to take the reins while Katara viewed the city from Appa's saddle. Even though so much had happened in the past year, the city remained the same.

Aang landed Appa in the courtyard at the large hotel that often served as a home away from home for diplomats and visiting royalty.

King Bumi had offered for the two to stay at his palace, but they said they wanted to be alone. Before they could find a place to stay on their own, Bumi had rented the entire diplomatic hotel.

Which was just a short walk from the palace, so that the couple could visit at their leisure.

Once landed, Aang went back to the saddle and picked up his bride. "We're finally here", he told her.

She reached her hand up to his face and caressed it. "Finally", she said.

With Katara in his arms, Aang jumped out of the saddle and used his Airbending to land them safely and gently on the ground.

He continued to hold his wife, and carried her up an outdoor staircase to the second floor hall, which was open on one side to the courtyard.

Climbing roses decorated the pillars they passed, and Katara could see two attendants taking the bags out of Appa's saddle.

King Bumi had told them in his letter that there would be two attendants ready when they arrived. And that they would come again in the morning and in the evening, to prepare food for them.

Aang came to a stop in front of a large wooden door and using his Airbending, pushed it open so that he could carry his bride over the threshold.

"I believe you already did this on our wedding night", Katara said. Though she was overjoyed to finally be alone with her husband. Two weeks of guests hadn't left much time for them to be alone together.

"But this is our honeymoon", he said as he walked past the threshold. "And I'm all about traditions."

Katara laughed and held on to Aang as he carried her past a large sitting area, past the bedroom, and out to the large balcony through the already open door.

He set her down but kept an arm around her shoulder, and wrapped his other arm around her waist.

She leaned into him as they looked at the incredible view of the city. In the distance, they could see the mountain range that hid the secret tunnels of Oma and Shu.

The tunnels where Aang and Katara had shared their first kiss.

"It's beautiful", said Katara.

Aang nodded, but then looked down at his wife and said, "Not as beautiful as you Katara".

Katara smiled and turned so that she could caress her husband's face.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, which had been left open. Aang and Katara went back through the bedroom and sitting room to find one of the attendants standing in the doorway, unsure if she should enter.

"You can come in", said Aang.

The young girl smiled and said, "No need Avatar Aang," she turned to Katara, "Master Katara."

"I am here to tell you that your Bison has been properly cared for, your bags are right there", she said as she gestured toward the floor space by the couch, "And that your dinner is ready for you downstairs whenever you like."

"Thank you", said Aang. "We will be down shortly."

The girl nodded and was about to leave when Katara asked her, "What is your name?"

The girl turned back around and answered, "My name is Yin, Master Katara. I am your personal attendant. Anything you need, please feel free to ask. The Avatar's attendant is Han, he is also prepared to get you anything you need."

Katara walked forward and patted Yin gently on the shoulder once.

"Thank you, Yin", she said. "But please, there is no need to be so formal. You may call me Katara, and you may call my husband Aang. And if there is anything we need we will let you or Han know."

Yin smiled, and exited the room.

Aang walked up to his wife and asked her, "Should we go and eat? Or did you want to admire the view longer?"

"I'm fine with either option", she answered. "As long as you're with me."

Aang smiled, locked his arm with his wife's, and lead her into the outdoor hallway.

"Then dinner awaits for the Avatar and his bride", he said.

A few minutes later they sat down to a wonderful dinner, which consisted of dishes from every nation. Including some Air Nomad dishes that had been brought back in the last few years.

After dinner, Aang led Katara out into the courtyard and held her close as they stared at the sky and admired the stars and half moon above.

Aang could feel Katara tense up a little as she stared at the moon, and he knew she was remembering the wedding.

They had talked privately about the matter, but there was nothing to be done except try to understand how it had happened. And Katara had told him she didn't want to know.

She wouldn't say anything more after that, but Zuko had told Aang about his talk with Katara.

About how she was worried about her ability, and about it happening again.

He had also told Aang that she had attacked him, not realizing who was approaching her. Her Bloodbending had put her on edge, and Zuko told Aang that the honeymoon was probably the best time to calm her down, and help her realize that there was nothing to be afraid of.

Now, as Aang felt his wife tense up, he realized just how on edge she was.

"Do you want to talk about it?", he asked her.

After a moment of silence she answered, "No. I just want to forget about it."

Aang nodded. He understood how she felt about her ability, and he would respect her decision.

"Alright", he said. "Now what can I do to cheer you up? A moonlight stroll? Dessert on the balcony? Romantic music?"

Katara laughed.

"What's so funny?", Aang asked her. Which only caused her to laugh harder.

He felt her loosen up, and was glad he was able to take her mind off of the troubling matter.

"I was imaging you playing romantic music on that Tsungi Horn you insisted on bringing", she said once she caught her breath.

Aang smiled and said, "So your saying I haven't improved at all."

Katara gazed into the loving eyes of her husband, and reached up to caress his face. "That's what I'm saying", said Katara.

Aang gazed back at her, caught in the trance of her beautiful sea blue eyes. "Alright", he said, "No music."

Katara smiled at her husband and pulled him down for a brief, sweet kiss.

After a few moments of silence, Aang said, "Remember how we broke your tribe's tradition?"

Katara blushed, and the lanterns nearby as well as the bright night sky allowed Aang to see the color rush to his wife's cheeks.

"Yes", she whispered.

"I wanted to tell you that we didn't just break your traditions. We broke mine as well."

"What do you mean?", asked Katara.

"Air Nomads never marry", he answered. "They have relationships of course, but the women live at seperate temples most of the time. I'm the first Air Nomad in history to break that tradition."

Aang hugged Katara tightly and whispered into her ear, "Traditions were made to be broken. Or so I've heard."

Katara smiled against Aang's shoulder, and she could feel him chuckle. She held her husband close.

"Which reminds me", said Aang, "I packed that towel of mine. It's upstairs in the..."

He was silenced by Katara putting her fingers to his lips. He remained quiet as she lifted her head from his shoulder and gazed into his eyes.

A moment later, she removed her fingers and kissed him once again. This time the kiss was long and passionate.

When their lips finally parted, Katara whispered, "I love you Aang. With my whole heart I love you"

Aang very suddenly dropped his arms from his wife, and repositioned them so that he could lift her off the ground.

He carried her up the stairs and into their living area. The whole way up he sweetly kissed her forehead, her cheeks and her lips.

When he entered the bedroom he whispered back, "I love you too, Katara. More than anything."

He captured her lips once more and closed the door.

Authors Note - The honeymoon has finally begun. This chapter took me a while to come up with, but I finally found my grove and wrote most of it out quite quickly.

I got to include a flashback again even though I wasn't planning on one. I am very happy with how it turned out.

I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far, I have plenty more planned for it.

I will start working on chapter seven very soon. There are questions to be answered, and a future to write.