The sunrise had well ended before Katara and I finally returned to the inside of the house. By now people were up and about which was hard on me and Katara.

How weird would it be if you saw the Avatar after disappearing for hours walking back with the Waterbending Master of the Southern Water Tribe, who is in her pajamas? Yeah, pretty weird.

So it ended up with me and Katara ducking and hiding behind every corner on the way back to Katara's room.

Right now we were shoved into an alcove as we watched another Earthbender walk right on by us.

In fact we were almost caught for Katara started to laugh.

"Katara, be quiet!" I whispered in a panicked voice.

Her giggling started to die down, but it still remained, "I'm s-sorry…you…you are tickling m-me."

I arched an eyebrow, "I'm tickling you? That's why you're laughing?"

I only received a nod as Katara stifled her laughter.

My hand twitched from being in this position for so long; me in the back of the alcove with my hands on Katara's sides as her back was pressed up against me.

This sent Katara onto another giggling fit.

"A-ang p-please stop!" Katara giggled out

A grin fell upon my face as I squeezed her sides again. Katara started to laugh even louder.

"You are ticklish!" I shouted in recognition.

I was going to go in for the kill, but Katara sprinted out of my arms and down the hall towards her room.

I was on fast on her heels before she turned the corner.

That's when I ran straight into Sokka. I fell back onto the ground and looked up at his face. Oh, was I in for it now.

"AANG!" Sokka's voice boomed out.

I rubbed the back of my head in embarrassment, "Oh, hey Sokka…I didn't see you there."

Sokka pulled me up, "What are you doing!? You can't be running a hundred miles down a hallway!"

I pried Sokka's fingers from my shirt, "Sorry…I was just on my way to…" I couldn't think of an excuse.

Sokka was still fuming, "Oh, I know where you are going!" I froze up. How'd he know about Katara and me? "You are on your way to your meeting to pick you new council…which by the way you are late for!"

I breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't know, I'm safe…wait…no I'm not! I'm late!? Shoot!

I went speeding off, "Thanks Sokka!"

I thought I heard Sokka something about me being the same goofy kid I use to be, but I wasn't sure. He was probably mad that he had to wake up to find me. Neither Katara nor Sokka are morning people.

I went speeding to my meeting. As soon as I arrived, I took a deep breath and smoothed out my clothing before going in, I could at least act like I new the meeting was right now. As I walked in, everyone rose from their seats and began to greet me.

"I'm sorry ladies and gentlemen…I had some business to attend to." Yeah, that was a lie, but it worked for I heard hundreds of responses saying it was okay and they didn't mind and other stuff.

I walked with an air of importance to my seat at the head. Usually, I hate dealing with this bull. I'm a normal person and I'm down to Earth. However, I have to act like I'm the Avatar to gain respect, I don't need another council like my last one; people cursing me behind my back and showing me a great deal of disrespect.

Once I was seated everyone sat along with me. This is when I began to explain how this would go.

"I will see everyone individually in the hearing room. You will explain to me your views and ideas. You will tell me a little about yourself. After I have heard from everyone, I will discuses with my chief advisors and you will be contacted tomorrow about you position on my council." I finished my speech and looked out at the crowd. Most of them were nervous and as stiff as a board, some were shaking, very few were calm.

Realizing I probably intimidated most of them, I gave a comforting smile, "Don't be nervous. Just be yourself." I clapped my hands together and started to walk towards the hearing room, "Let's get this started!"

Three hours into the interviews and I was bored out of my wits. Most were boring and talked about how they could help and most shared the same ideas. There were a few stand outs, but it was really just three hours of hearing people drone on about themselves and how they would be the best choice.

My head was in my hands when I was listening to my newest interviewee. An older man, much like Rong, air of arrogance he was telling me about all I was doing wrong and how he could whip this council into shape.

I leaned back in my chair wishing this interview would just end.

I glanced to m left at Sokka. He had his eyes closed and was nodding every few minutes to what the man said. Sokka was asleep, he was worse at these meetings than I was.

Toph was not even around. She never came to the meetings. It was something about not wanting to spend her time with a bunch of stuff shirts and snobs…or something like that.

Zuko was on a recon mission with Suki, checking out new Fire Nation camps; they wouldn't be back till tomorrow.

Lastly, there was Katara at the door writing things down, probably ideas and things this man had said.

I had been studying her for about three minutes before she finally looked up. Her eyes caught mine and she gave me a questioning look. That's when she mouthed something to me, 'What?'

I checked to see if the man was paying attention. He was off in his own ramblings. I was safe to respond, 'I'm bored.'

Katara shook her head, 'What am I suppose to do about it?'

I gave her a wide smirk, 'I could think of a couple things…'

I could see Katara giggling from a far before she gave me a serious look, 'Aang!'

I started to chuckle, 'I was just kidding.'

'I know.'

'I wish this guy would just shut up,' I mouthed before giving a big sigh.

'Me, too.'

'Does this guy ever stop for air? He has been talking for five minutes straight and I haven't seen him breath once!'

This time Katara didn't giggle, she laughed. So everyone in the room just stared at her. I, myself, was trying my hardest to not burst out laughing.

Katara's face was bright red when she apologized for interrupting. I took this moment to dismiss the man and to tell him that we shall be in touch.

I also told the rest of the recruits that we would be taking a short break.

Sokka and some of the guards began to talk, so that just left Katara and me.

I noticed she was walking over to me, "I can't believe you did that!"

Katara gave me a playful whack on the shoulder with the papers she was writing on, "It's your fault! If you hadn't have said that I wouldn't have laughed!"

I giving her a dashing smile before speaking, "How can I make it up to you? A picnic just the two of us? How about a walk through the park under the moonlight?" I looked at Katara to see her response. She still just gave me her stern look. I returned her look with one of pleading, "Come on 'Tara I'm naming all your favorites, don't be mad!" I raised my eyebrows, "Or I could just give you a kiss right now." I began to lean in.

"Aang stop it! People are around!" Katara yelled in a hushed whisper.

"I don't care," I replied as I leaned in more.

Katara pushed me back into my seat. I began to act all sad and hurt.

"I'll meet you tonight for that walk you talked about." Katara whispered as she began to walk away. Score!

I started to relax in my chair when the doors were thrown open. I rolled my eyes. Couldn't the applicants wait ten minutes? It had only been what? Five minutes since I called for a break?

I was surprise when I looked up and saw two of my Earthbenders holding a man blindfolded and cuffed in earth hand-cuffs. But, that wasn't what really got me. The real kicker was that the man was garbed in Fire Nation attire. They had my full attention.

Whoever this man was and whatever this man did, he'd pay for it…I'd make sure of it.



A/N: Hello back again! Now we have Aang dealing with recruiting the council's new members, and a sudden stranger appears out of the blue!

Read, review, tell me if you have any ideas for the story, I would love to hear them. Ask questions if you like! Also just review! I don't care if you just say you like the story...or hate...but then why would you be reading it? I don't mean to sound pushy, but please review! It makes me feel like I'm doing a pretty good job.