((AN: Children are so cute, especially to write. x3 Probably have to wait for the canon confirmation of whether Sokka has a kid with Suki, but until then, it was enjoyable coming up with a fan-spawn in Kimiye, and the affect she has on our heroes. Also playing around with the reality of the lasting effects of war on the psyche, especially when one has to endure it at the ages that they were.
I try to keep it light-hearted despite it, though. x3 The next chapter will probably be a continuation of this one, joining Aang and Katara on their anniversary trip and their conversation. As for those of you who might be waiting for a story with little Tenzin in it, don't worry, I'll get there. :3
Mike and Bryan own all and sundry here, not me, and I'm glad I don't, because I'd have ruined it. xP And thank you all for your very kind comments! ^^ ))
"Eeeeheehee!"
At the sudden high-pitched sound of mirthful laughter echoing in the hall outside of the bedroom, Katara's eyes shot open, and then narrowed in recognition. Looks like Sokka's here, she thought with an exasperated, but happy, sigh. And of course he brought Kimiye.
With a sleepy groan, the Waterbender sat up and stretched her limbs, only pausing when her abdomen wrenched just a little at the motion. In her fourth month of pregnancy, she was ever-so-slowly getting used to having a slightly larger stomach…though there were moments of discomfort that caused her to wonder just how used to it she would be before she was soon desperately wishing for the baby to be born.
Despite that, she gave a little smile as she trailed her hand over the bump under her sheets. I can hardly wait, little one. Wait'll you see what's in store for you here.
"C'mon, get back here!" she suddenly heard Sokka's voice wailing from downstairs. No doubt, he was chasing after his rather spirited two-year-old daughter. "You got to walking like a year ago; can't you wait on running?"
"EEK! Ahaha!" Kimiye could be heard in reply, quite enjoying the fact that she could give her father quite a run-around. But of course, he was only playing with her; the warrior could easily catch up to her in a pinch. …Like your Uncle Sokka. Still; he could've let me sleep…his rather bemused sister thought as she ordered herself on her feet and got dressed. The mid-morning sunlight shone warmly into the windows, and the wind brought with it the fragrance of flowers as it fluttered through the drapes. The spring day bore the usual feelings of renewal and rejuvenation for the world, and though it was the season most associated with the element of earth, a pregnant Waterbender could still find it refreshing to breathe the air and bask in the aura. Especially on that spring day.
A soft blush crossed Katara's face as she looked to the empty spot on the bed beside her. She had felt Aang wake up much earlier that morning, lean in to leave a lingering kiss on her cheek, and plead in a whisper for her to sleep in; and that he'd be back later. She complied, but was too tired at the time to contemplate why he was gone that day until her waking hours. Our anniversary…we were married four years ago today. I wonder what he's got planned this time. She permitted a grin on her lips. One thing she liked about the Airbender; he never ran out of good ideas.
Thus, it left her some free time that day to think of something to do for him in return. But first, there were visitors…they were expecting Sokka and Suki to visit too, and Katara always liked to get back in touch with her brother and friend…and her young niece, of course, who was growing like a weed.
Once she looked fairly presentable in her loosely-worn Water Tribe dress (she'd soon have to find something a little more comfortable around the middle to wear soon, she realized) Katara strolled down to where she was hearing the commotion, near the living area of their little residential spot in the Southern Air Temple.
The first thing she saw was little Kimiye, toddling with a bit of swiftness around the corner. As soon as her wide blue eyes caught sight of Katara, she squealed in joy. "Auntie 'Ta'a!"
The Waterbender laughed and reached down to scoop the energetic child in her arms. "Well hi, Kimiye! Where's your dad?"
"Da!" she shouted out into the hallway and beamed back at her aunt. The little girl almost seemed a perfect match to her mother, except she had Sokka's brown hair and was a half-step from the dark tone of his skin. "Auntie 'Ta'a see Da!"
She chuckled again as she carried her into the living room. "It's 'Ka-ta-ra', Kim. Can you say 'Katara'?"
The child's face was quizzical, but she was still bouncy nonetheless. "K'ta!"
"Try again," the Waterbender grinned and poked her nose. "Ka-ta-ra."
"Katta!" Kimiye laughed, and her aunt just spared a slight roll of her eyes.
In the living room, she finally spotted her older brother, sprawled on his back on the couch. As soon as he caught sight of his sister and daughter, he snorted. "Thanks for catching her. She's wearin' me out."
"Well, that's what you get for having a kid with a Kyoshi Warrior," Katara grinned back as she set her niece on the floor to rush to where her father was laying. "A kid that's just too cute. She's almost got my name right."
"I wouldn't put my hopes up," Sokka snickered. "I still can't get her to call me 'Dad', or 'Daddy'. It's just 'Da', like she cut the letter off."
"Funny, she knows perfectly who her mom is," Suki cut in, having listened to the conversation from the hallway before bringing in her pack and setting it to the floor. To press the point home, Kimiye belted out a loud "Mama!" before rushing to her.
"Gr," Sokka grumbled and let his head bounce off the pillow. "At least she can't pronounce Aang's name right yet. And his is the easiest one!"
Although that was true, the child still easily recognized the name of her beloved uncle. She perked up and blinked at Katara. "Unca' Amg?"
The Water Tribe woman spared a little giggle. "Uncle Aang's not here right now, Kim. You'll probably see him later."
"Aw," she pouted, causing the three adults to chuckle. Although the girl loved all of the adults around her, family and godparents alike, it was Aang that she warmed up to first as a playmate, and he was only happy to comply; it made he and Katara the first choice one had for babysitters.
Sighing, Katara walked up and embraced her brother and his wife. "I'm glad you three arrived safely. How are things going at home?"
"Good, but slightly stressful for Dad," Sokka admitted with an annoyed groan. "He's been arguing nonstop with the councilmen from the Northern Tribe about policies on integrating our cultures' traditions a bit more. Like, they want us to consider the possibility of allowing arranged marriages, and where to have the New Moon Celebration, things like that."
"Oh, great," Katara's eyes rolled. "I hope they don't go forward with it. Our tribe is small, but it still has a culture of its own…we're still looking up the history for it. And you and I both know how we feel about arranged marriages anyway."
"Agreed," Sokka nodded, sparing a soft glance to Suki. "But, hey, as long as they resolve it peacefully, that's all I care about. We already adopted a tradition of theirs anyway; the betrothal necklace thing."
At that, Katara reverently brought her fingers up to the necklace she wore that Aang had given her when he proposed. Although she hadn't known what the necklace had meant until she wore her mother's to their first trip to the North Pole all so long ago, as it was wholly unknown to their little village (save for Kanna), the young Airbender had still wanted something referencing the culture of Water to give to her. Likewise, Sokka found it a good idea to make one for Suki when he proposed long before that. They'd called them "engagement" necklaces instead, to cement the fact that Katara and Sokka had both happily chosen their soul mates.
"So, speaking of you two," Sokka began with a smile as he regarded the slight showing of Katara's belly, "How's my little nephew coming along?"
"Nephew?" his sister echoed incredulously. "How do you know it won't be a niece?"
"Uncle's intuition," he responded in a sage fashion with his index finger raised. "I'm gonna be right about this one, trust me."
"You weren't right about our daughter," Suki muttered. "Seriously, Sokka."
"Once a sexist, always a sexist," Katara smirked.
"Am not!" Sokka snorted. But his face instantly melted the moment that Suki placed his daughter on his stomach and she started playing with his shirt. "Aw," he gushed, holding her up. "Who's a purdy kid? You are…that's right!"
The women laughed. "Anyway, Sokka, no need to worry. Things are healthy and normal so far," Katara pointed out, her palm flattening on the smooth surface.
"Aang must be so proud," Suki smiled, her head tilted as she watched her friend. "Say, today's your anniversary, isn't it?"
"It is," Katara smiled. "That's why I think he jumped out so early this morning. He might be planning something."
Sokka narrowed his eyes at his sister. "There aren't gonna be any shenanigans we shouldn't be walking in on, are there? Remember, there's a kid present." He laid his hand on Kimiye's head, causing her to giggle, heedless to the conversation going on around her and only focused on her fun.
The Waterbender quirked an eyebrow. "Sokka, please, give us some credit. We do have courtesy for guests."
"Just warning you, sis, I've got my eye on you guys," he deadpanned with the appropriate hand gesture.
Suki snorted. "Anyway, Katara, I'm glad that you two are going well together. I think you'll be the happiest parents in the world once your kid arrives. They're a lot of work, but they're such a joy."
"I don't doubt that," she smiled back to her sister-in-law and came to sit down on the chair next to her. "I've been ready for a baby and all of the work that comes with it…ever since we got married. It's like a reward for me for all of the hard work that we had to go through to bring peace to this world again."
"Well, it is rewarding," Sokka smiled as he watched Kimiye scramble off of him and walk towards his sister. "And a little sad, knowing you'll have to watch them grow up someday."
"That's what you work toward," Suki softly admonished as her daughter begged the Waterbender to pick her up. "Preparing them so that they have a good influence on the world too."
As Katara met her niece's deep blue eyes and pulled her into her lap, she thought over everything that was said…and further back into the past, everything that had happened to them.
Admittedly, the war was always going to sit in the back of their minds, no matter how they managed to live…what they all had overcome was neither glorious nor heroic, and the scars would always be there to prove it…mentally and physically. There would always be a lingering fear that she would lose everything she had. Aang, Sokka, Toph, Zuko, Suki…everyone in their little group had their fears and nightmares. The best that they could have done for it was to live for hope.
They now lived for their children. And through Kimiye's innocent smile, Katara found something to look forward to in her own child. She knew that they would never bear the pain that their parents did…she hoped that the stories told to them would only give them the incentive to take the world head-on and with no fear, suffering, or sacrifice.
"Auntie K'tara," the small girl chirped, interrupting the Waterbender's thoughts with a light tug on her hair. "Hungry."
"I second that," Sokka declared as he swung his legs over the edge of the couch. "Let's hustle to the kitchen and whip up some grub, women."
With simultaneous grumbles of annoyance from his sister and wife, Katara took Kimiye and handed her to Sokka. "Okay, big brother," she mocked, "We will cook breakfast. You will change her."
Blinking in disgust as soon as he could smell the odor, and casting an annoyed glare to the two smug females leaving the room, he held his daughter to his face and narrowed his eyes. "You are so getting potty-trained later."
"Potty!" Kimiye repeated with a loud giggle, finding the word rather funny as a child would.
Sokka's expression softened once more. "Gaaaaah…you're too cute…and you seem to have my sense of humor too. So, my little warrior girl, wanna go help your mother and your aunt in the kitchen?"
Little more than heedless of his words, Kimiye simply let out a giggle and playfully reached out to squeeze his nose.
"Myeah, din't thinkg zo," he mumbled over his closed nostrils with a smirk as he traced their steps to the door and grabbed a clean piece of linen on the way.
A little later on in the afternoon, as the sun and its warmth was slowly making its way to the other side of the sky, it witnessed a portion of a small family having fun in and out of an Air Temple that was long neglected without the presence of a child's laughter. The three friends caught up more while they let Kimiye wander and explore all the little niches that she could find. After lunchtime, she was finally exhausted and taken inside for a nap.
Katara volunteered to take her, mostly after seeing Sokka's over-exaggerated display of lethargy. But she was always more than happy to spend time with her niece, especially as she often never saw her brother and his family for weeks on end. I'll bet Aang misses traveling around with everyone together as much as I do, she mused. Who'd have thought that such a ragtag bunch of kids would have a future like this?
The Waterbender placed the child in the residential bedroom reserved for Sokka's family, wrapped warmly and comfortably, and she was asleep within moments. For a time, she watched her as she slumbered. So peaceful and so devoid of troubles…did any of us ever sleep like that with a war going on? Katara couldn't help but wonder. Mom…did you ever watch us sleep? Were you happy for us, or afraid?
Suddenly, she felt tears coming on. Shaking her head, she bit them back. Come ON…what would Aang say? You've chastised HIM too many times for dwelling on the past. It's over. There's no reason to fear anymore.
Opening her eyes again, Kimiye was still asleep and free of any worry. She probably wouldn't have yet even had nightmares that rivaled those of her mother and father, or her aunt and uncle. The scars don't go away, though, a part of Katara's mind reminded her, and she found herself praying that the child that she carried…and her niece…would never see it.
After a few moments lost in her musings, there was a sound at the window like a rush of air. An updraft disturbed the curtains, and in her range of hearing, there was a light tap on the ledge as if something landed there.
Knowing exactly who it was that could bring an unnatural gust of wind with him, the Waterbender spoke in a loud enough whisper to hear, without turning to the window. "Don't you ever use a door?"
"What, and be bound by gravity like you guys? No thanks," the presence whispered back. With a grin on her features, Katara turned to face a familiar arrow-clad monk sitting on the windowsill, his staff in hand. The Airbender gave her a warm smile in return before turning his head to regard the child still fast asleep in the blankets. "Did she just fall asleep?"
"Yep," Katara chuckled quietly and stepped up next to him, following his gaze. "Too bad, too; she's been asking for 'Uncle Aang' to come and play with her all day."
Her husband snickered as he quietly set his feet to the floor and stood up. "Well, she can wait for a little bit. They're staying for a week, aren't they?"
"Or so," Katara murmured. "Who knows how long that is when Sokka estimates."
"Yeah, really…but, who cares how long it is," Aang admonished with a shrug as one of his arms wrapped around her waist and held her close. "I've been starting to miss everybody."
"You too, huh?" his wife sighed as she leaned into him.
"Always."
For a while, the two of them watched Kimiye sleep. Then, Aang broke the silence with his quiet, ever-thoughtful voice. "You're probably going to kill me for dwelling on the past again…but sometimes, just for a second, I forget why I did everything that I did…and had to fight so hard and hurt so much. Then I look at you, and her, and I know."
To his slight surprise, Katara nodded. "It's not just you, Aang. I've been thinking it too. We have no reason to worry anymore, but there are days when it just…comes back to hit you, you know? Even after eight years. Who'd have thought war was supposed to be like that? We were far too young to have seen the sacrifice that we did."
His stormy eyes closed, and he pulled Katara close against him in a tight embrace. He wanted to feel that she was indeed standing there with him, and that he wasn't living a very long dream. She reached up to his back and gripped his warm robes in return. In his arms, she knew that she could let her tears flow without remorse. And she knew where his scars were, too…it was white and ghosted over with time, but the lightning burn had still not disappeared from where it broke the arrow on his back. But the way he grasped her, so tight and so fierce, told her that he was still voicing his silent thanks to her for saving his life even after all that time. They were there for each other, and because of each other…it only took them an embrace to remind them of it and banish the worries of the past.
When they could regain their composure again, both gaining and lending their strength to the other, Katara broke from him and let out a quiet laugh. "I could never forget why I married you, though."
"I'm irresistible?" he said with an innocent, toothy grin.
Katara bit back a loud snort. "Oh, right, you were always just so charming and smooth, Mr. 'I'd rather kiss you than die'."
"Well hey, if the universe gave me that option…" he meaningfully quirked his eyebrows.
With another snort, she tugged at his arm. "C'mon, goofball, let's let her sleep."
Quietly, they tip-toed out of the room and pulled the door closed with a feathery click at the latch. They strolled down the ornate hallway until they were out of earshot, and then the Waterbender curiously faced her husband with her arms crossed. "So, just where were you all day?"
"Sorry, can't tell you," he stated in an off-hand way, clasping his hands behind his back. "It's a surprise."
"Oh really."
"Really."
"Heh," laughed Katara. Suddenly she was drawing close, placing her palms on his chest as her face closed in on his, eyes glittering and with a bit of a purr in the tone of her voice. "It couldn't possibly be an anniversary surprise for your wife?"
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Aang said with a mock scoff. His face twisted into a wry grin before he gave a sneaky kiss to her lips.
"Oh!" She exclaimed, stepping back and indignantly resting her hands on her hips. "Well, if that's how you'll play it, smart guy…" She turned around and sent a rather wicked grin over her shoulder in return. "…I guess you'll never figure out my surprise."
He blinked, tilting his head. "What is it?"
"Sorry, can't tell you," she echoed, innocently humming as she walked away.
"Ugh! That's not fair, Katara!" he laughed as he ran to catch up with her.
"You know what they say," The Water Tribe woman called as she turned and raised a hand. "All's fair in love, and…"
With the swiftness that only a Master could manage, she willed what water could be gathered from the warm, cloudy air and froze them on her hands, flinging the ice crystals to the floor at his feet and making him flip out of the way in surprise.
"…In war," she finished with a smirk.
Dumbfounded, Aang watched as she gave him a smug smile and started walking away again. "Oh yeah…?" he murmured a laugh before adopting a quick stance. With a whirl of his arms, a blast of wind was summoned towards him.
Suddenly, Katara yelped as she found herself flung back, only to be gently caught and wrapped tightly in the arms of a devious Airbender.
As she turned to meet his eyes, she saw that they had a good amount of pleading within them. "Think we can focus more on the love part and less on the war part?" Aang smiled, soft and serious. "I really did have something I wanted to show you."
Once again, Katara found her resolve melting away when faced with the eternal love beaming from his countenance. Defeated, but happily so, she pulled close and returned the kiss that he gave her earlier. Only this time, instead of a peck, she made it linger. "Alright, Avatar, you got me," she murmured upon breaking away.
"Mm…" he smiled against her lips. "Let's go find a good place to sneak out, then. Knowing our luck, Sokka might find us at any second."
"Or his wife."
At the suddenness of a new voice, the two leaped apart and took their respective fighting stances, only to see Suki in the hallway with her arms crossed and one eyebrow quirked. "You guys are really falling out of touch," the Kyoshi Warrior smirked. "I never thought it was possible to sneak up on the Avatar."
"Apparently that proves it wrong," Aang muttered, slumping in annoyance.
Katara laughed and faced Suki, patting her husband on the shoulder. "Well hey, you're still pretty stealthy. And, also, I think I was distracting him. I'm good at that, right?" She gave Aang a wry glance. Giggling at the blush on his cheeks, she continued. "Anyway, good you're here; you'll be happy to know that Kimiye's fast asleep in your room."
"I figured as much; I knew you'd be heading off, since I saw Aang flying toward the window from outside, so I was coming up to keep an eye on her for Sokka." Suki gave the couple a light-hearted smile. "Go on and enjoy your anniversary. There's plenty of time to catch up and watch my husband rant at you guys later."
"Yay, Sokka-rants," Aang sarcastically drawled. "Can't wait."
"That just means we can have an excuse to stay out later, right?" Katara laughed and bowed her head towards her sister-in-law. "We'll see you soon, Suki."
"G'night, crazy kids," the warrior bowed back. She stood watching the two as they trotted down the hallway and around the corner, eager to make themselves scarce. Then, shaking her head with a smile, she made her way to the aforementioned room.
As she found upon carefully unlatching the door, Kimiye was still lost in an age of dreams and all but vulnerable to the waking world.
While the Kyoshi Warrior had fewer scars from the war than her friends, she still felt the heavy weight of memories from that time. When Sokka came to join her, and the two of them got carried away in watching their baby girl sleep, they too found comfort in each other and the new-found hope that was growing ever so slowly through an age of peace...and the members of their unconventional family.
