Well, here's the 9th chapter! It's a new year pressie! Happy New Year!
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar, but I own the right to love it.
The Wedding
At dinner, everyone had something to announce. Aang told everyone about their engagement, while Katara was busy staring at Sokka. When Aang was done, he whispered in Katara's ear, "don't worry, I asked him already. He said ok, but I cannot hurt you, harm you or break your heart, or he'll personally remove my tattoos. I treasure my tattoos a lot, and I'm not planning to remove them anytime soon." Katara beamed at that. Next were Sokka and Yue. Yue announced that she was going back to the northern water tribe, but this time, she was not going to submit to an arranged marriage. And then she threw her original necklace in the air and used Sokka's sword to slice it up. It fell to the table slowly as everyone covered their food. Her eyes were filled with determination, and Sokka could not help but stare into them. Yue collected all the pieces of her ex-betrothal necklace and went out to burn it. Taking advantage of her absence, Sokka quickly whispered, "I'm going to ask her to marry me!" everyone whooped and cheered, and when Yue came back, a puzzled look plastered on her face, they stopped. Suddenly Toph choked on a piece of meat, arousing more laughter. "You guys are acting weird, what's going on?" the former body of the moon spirit sat down, as her boyfriend stood up. He fumbled with something and told Yue to close her eyes. She did, and felt something warm brush her shoulder, settling behind her neck, and something cold touch her front. She blinked and reached for it, her fingers exploring the cool stone. She took it off to examine it. It was just like the one she just destroyed, only the carving on this was jagged, edged, and it was of a sword and a boomerang tilted to meet each other in the center. "It's so cute!" she remarked, putting it back on, but Sokka reached out and stopped her, shaking his head. "Oh no. This is strictly for me to put on." and he took the necklace and wound around her neck before securing it. Katara was crying when he turned back around, and she had Aang's tattooed arms around her neck, trying to get her to stop crying. "Just think, we will have to separate soon. Oh Sokka, I'll really miss you!" Out of the blue, Suki spoke up. Yue thought she looked sad, as she told them of her change of plans. She now was going to go back to Kyoshi to complete her training. Toph, on the other hand, was staying here, far from her parents, yet close to all of them. Just then Mai exclaimed, "HEY! We can have a combined wedding! We can hold it here in Ba Sing Sei, where everyone had ever lived happily with their friends, and we can invite everyone we know. It'll be GREAT!" Katara leaned to her right and muttered something to Aang, causing him to laugh and quickly put his hand over his mouth. "What?" Mai demanded in that signature flat tone. Aang and Katara merely laughed and shook their heads, managing to, through their laughs, choke out, "Nothing, it's a great idea! We totally agree!" Sokka and Yue nodded in agreement. "What about you, Zuko? It is our wedding too, after all. Erm... Zuko..." she poked him in the side, causing him to flinch, bringing him out of his daydream. "Er, sure!" he was thinking of how to re-do his proposal, and not really paying much attention to what his fiancé was saying.
About 2 months later, the preparations were in place. The wedding was set in 2 days' time. The bridesmaids have succeeded in keeping the brides and grooms apart, by renting another apartment for them altogether. The brides were totally excited, the grooms were too nervous to feel anything but nervousness. Sokka had told them, the wedding planners to make sure they served lots and lots of food, and variants from all the four territories. Katara took care of decorations, while Yue hand-picked the bridesmaids and Zuko the best men. Aang got the Earth king to grace the occasion by acting as the maestro, and Mai sent the invitations, written personally herself with her royal calligraphy. Suki did the final make-up for them, and Toph customised the location so that there are 3 platforms, and a raised aisle for them to walk. All allies and family were invited, though some, like Yue's father, were not very happy about his daughter running off to marry some foreigner, though he was stunned that his daughter was even alive. In fact, when he received the news, he fainted, and let the whole northern water tribe know. Yue's ex-betrothed was fuming, and refused to attend the wedding at all, despite her father's constant begging. "Don't you want to see the princess finally be happy?" he had said.
That morning, Suki got out all her make-up that she had, and rushed the brides into the dressing room and began to work on them. When she was finally done, she shooed them to where the stalls where they put their dresses on. She admired Katara's dark blue dress which flowed in the air as she walked. It was light, and made of fine, thin silk. The design was simple too, with only a solitary moon flower at where the dress parts, revealing her pure white boots. She tied her hair up, leaving a few loose strands down, along with her hair loopies. On her left ear dangled a crescent moon, her right held a gem filled with crystal water from the fountain. Yue had the same crescent moon earring, but her right earring was a boomerang. She wore a light purple and elaborate dress, given to her by her mother. Katara had agreed that it would be suitable when she showed it to her. She wore classic crystal blue heels. Her dress did not have a parting, instead it had a train. Her hair was allowed to flow freely, except for her white, wavy hair loopies. Mai's hair was done up the same way that it was always food, but she braided the two strips dangling on the side, tying them with fire lilies. She still wore her betrothal bangle, as well as a new bracelet that Zuko gave to her that clasped on and hugged her wrists so tight she couldn't feel her hand. She wore a dark red robe which had a parting at both sides, and a short swallow-tail train. Dragons were embroidered on it, winding around her thin figure and hugging it. She also wore a traditional head dress with columns of beads dangling from it, making her neck feel strained, but she was ready to endure all that for her true love, although he could be a real jerk sometimes. Her make-up looked like the Kyoshi warriors', but less fierce and more feminine.
When their fathers accompanied them down the 3 aisles, all eyes were set on them. Most guys were caught gawking, to the dismay of the 3 grooms. Toph trailed behind Katara, feeling a little blinded by the numerous heartbeats present. Mai was followed by ty lee, dressed for the occasion in an elegant and fitting costume she borrowed from the circus. Suki followed Yue, shining in her own beauty which complimented Yue's naturally. After what seemed like eternity, they finally reached the platforms, proudly food up by Toph and Katara. As the Earth King stood before them and they pledged their undying love for their husbands, their husbands returned the favour by kissing them whole-heartedly and fully on the lips. The same thing was done again, this time they switched roles. Zuko absent-mindedly trailed along Mai's parting, not drawing too much attention to himself by moving closer. In turn, she played with his robes, feeling the soft silk between her fingers.
It was time for reception, Sokka's favourite part. In a flash, he ran to all the trays, picking something from every, and rushed back to his wife, who had yet to get any food at all. He took his own plate, dumped half of it in hers, and began to eat himself. Across the table Katara was giggling, and remarked, "Finally Sokka learns to share!" everyone laughed at that. Reception went on like that, with Toph making rude comments about any one of the couples once in a while, some choking, lots of laughter, and of course, mention of babies, which resulted in blushing, stammering and intentional changing of subject all the time. Unfortunately for Aang, who was still not quite open to the idea, due to his age, that subject somehow always returns.
That night, the extra two rooms were finally put to use at the tea house. Sokka and Yue had taken the old girls' room, Aang and Katara the guys', Zuko and Mai the extra room, and Toph and Suki the other extra room. When Katara was moving her things, Yue had spotted her waterbending staff and borrowed it to investigate. As Katara got ready to sleep that night, her brother and sister-in-law came knocking on the door. Aang, who unknowingly opened the door, got dragged out by Sokka, leaving Katara and Yue in the room. "Katara, you found this in my store right? Did you know that your mother made it? I checked with Gran-Gran. She said it was your mother's final piece of work before she returned to the South Pole from the north, where she had learned weapon making along with your dad. This was the only workable work of hers, the best of its kind. It was returned to the North Pole after she... I don't know how it ended up in my shop after that, probably the fire nation. It is rightfully yours, made for you. Use it well." Katara reached for the staff, treasuring it even more now that she knew her mother made it for her. It was like her necklace, which now held the love of two people- her mother and... Aang. She sighed contentedly; no one can take him away from me again. Speaking of Aang, where did Sokka drag him off to? She began to worry as she ran out in search of them. Stupid Sokka, if he dares hurt a hair on Aang's head... Wait, Aang doesn't have hair, she laughed as she thought and opened the door to Sokka and Yue's room, to find the two of them sitting on two beds, facing each other and talking. The look on Aang's face suggested he was being tortured until Katara came in to save him. Growling, Katara turned to Sokka. He raised both hands, quick to defend himself, "I didn't do anything! You know I won't hurt a hair on Aang's head! Well, technically I can't, coz he doesn't have hair, but you know what I mean..." he gestured to her husband's arrowed head. Katara dragged Aang out by his wrist, as he looked at Sokka with an apologetic look. Sokka shrugged and slit his hand in front of his throat, as Aang's eyes widened with fear. Swiftly, Katara used the staff, still clutched in her hand, to direct some water from the bathroom tap to Sokka's head, wetting him as well as the bed he was sitting on, and slamming the door close. The last Aang saw of Sokka, he was sitting drenched on the bed, a defeated look on his wet face. They went back into their room, passing by a puzzled Yue headed back to Sokka's room (the corridor is very wide, so it takes a while to walk to and fro rooms directly facing each other).
What is going to happen to Aang??
I plan on writing more fluff next chapter, so don't worry, fluff-lovers! But definitely NO LEMONS!!!
