Yay, I'm pretty much all better now, so here's the next thing in my little story.
Fearless
Katara:
The guest rooms at the royal palace were almost as luxurious as the Avatar's and Fire Lord's. I didn't even know beds this soft even existed. Even if I hadn't been so exhausted it would have taken very little time for me to fall asleep in this room.
I felt horrible for going to bed so early last night and leaving Aang. I knew he wanted to spend time with me, but I tend to get irritable when I'm tired, and the last thing I wanted to do was be rude to him. Besides, we had a whole week to spend together. A week. My heart sank—it wasn't nearly enough time with him. I wish I had more time with him…so much more time with him.
Bright sunlight fell over my face, disturbing my dream. I quickly pulled my head under the covers, trying to conserve the dream, but it was already gone. Still, the memory remained. It had been something like this: Aang and I, rather old, standing side-by-side and gazing out at the world we had won. As husband and wife.
I blushed and buried my face a little deeper into the sheets. Such a silly dream, but it had been so realistic and beautiful, like it was actually going to happen. I hope it does.
There was a knock at my door and I lifted my head, blinking in the strong sunlight. How late had I slept in? Aang walked in, carrying a tray of food.
"'Morning Katara. You overslept breakfast so I grabbed you some," he said, setting it down on the small table next to my bed before perching on the edge.
"Oh Aang, how sweet!" I said, scooting closer to him. One of his arms wrapped around my shoulder and the other one handed me some bread. I placed my head against his chest and nibbled on the food, blinking contentedly. I wanted that dream to come true so badly it made my heart ache.
With wide, blank eyes I stared across the room and added to the dream in my own head—of course kids, at least one airbender and hopefully waterbenders. But I wasn't going to be too picky. And a house—but where? The Southern Water Tribe would be nice I guess, but any corner of the world would be wonderful. I wanted to live someplace more interesting than where I lived now. Maybe some place I had traveled long ago? It didn't really matter where, as long as I had Aang with me. He had made me want to travel and see everything the world had to offer. He'd made me fearless and gave me a yearning for adventure. We could live in a tiny hut for all I cared. We could live on the Serpent's Pass. As long as he was there with me. That was all I asked.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked suddenly, and with a start I realized that I had been staring off into space.
"I was just thinking that—" I started to say, then stopped, blushing. I couldn't tell Aang all this. He'd probably think I was weird or crazy. I had known him for what, two years? And I was already dreaming constantly of marriage and kids. I couldn't tell him how badly I wanted to marry him and how I had had all these fantasies about our future together. Gosh no, he'd probably run from the room screaming.
"Never mind. It was nothing," I said quickly.
Aang:
"Okay…" I said, unconvinced. But whatever she had been thinking about was between her and her mind. "So are you ready to go downstairs now?"
She pressed herself a little closer to me as if she was reluctant to move. From what had happened last night I thought she didn't want to spend any time with me. But maybe not…
"Or you could stay here. You are on vacation."
"Will you stay with me?" she asked. Her eyes suddenly widened as if she wasn't planning on saying that. My heart skipped.
"Sure, if you want me to..." I said suspiciously. She murmured something and nuzzled against me. I took that as a yes.
A/N: Sorry about another short chapter. This one is actually even shorter than last time.
