Years Without You

Ch.9: Proposal

I looked at her, I smiled at her. She still hadn't answer my question. I waited for her to answer, hoping the best.

"Depends" she said. "Do you want us to be together?"

I felt my smile shorten.

"If I say yes," I began to say. "Do you think it will last?"

"Aang," she said, softly. "We were younger back then, and I regret what I said. I want you back Aang, I want to be with you, forever."

I felt my heart enlighten.

"Marry me" I ordered her. She just looked at me like I was crazy."You said you wanted to be with me forever"

She smiled.

"Then yes," she said. "Of course I will marry you"

I smiled as she kissed me, passionately and deeply. I kissed her back with the same amount of passion, I put my good arm around her and pulled her closer.

We broke apart when air was really needed, we breathed deeply and smiled at each other, I pushed a lock of her hair behind her ears.

"Sorry I don't have a necklace for ya" I told her.

"It's alright" she said, smiling. "Just you is enough"

I gave a laugh. I felt happy again for the first time in ages. Katara was mine, and I was her's. That was all that mattered.

"Excuse me" said a quiet voice. We both looked over and saw an old lady, probably Katara's grandmother's age. "Are you the young boy who got hurt in a fight?"

I nodded. She looked at Katara.

"Excuse me deary" she said. "It's time to heal those wounds"

Katara stood up and walked out of the way. She still was with me as the Healer began to heal my wounds. It took a good hour's worth. When she was done, she looked at me.

"The wound on your stomach will stop bleeding, there was not much I could do however" she told me. "I cannot heal the pain, you will have to get through the pain on your own"

I nodded, understanding. What she meant was, my wounds were closed up but the pain would still continue on like a real wound. I gave her a smile and a nod.

That night came, I managed to get back up on my feet. Katara and I were out for a small walk, just to get used to the pain in my leg. All together, I ended up with a sprained ankle, a stab in the stomach and a few cuts and bruises. I retrieved my sword back and it sat in my sheath that still was tied around my belt.

I held Katara's hand as we walked back to the palace. We didn't have a worry in the world, it was just us and that was all that mattered. We were talking random subjects from farm life to rebuilding the Southern Water Tribe.

We were at the doors of palace, when trouble came back for round two. I narrowed my eyes at the man before us.

"Get out of the way Chen Lee" Katara barked.

"Katara are you really going to be with someone who broke your heart?" Chen questioned her. Katara looked at me, I saw her smile a bit. She looked back at Chen.

"Yes" she replied. Chen Lee glared at me, I shot him the same killing glare.

"But Katara," Chen began to plead. "Look at him, he is from that vermin country America, they are nothing but poor, filthy rats."

"I own a farm, boy" I warned, stepping up, pointing my finger at his chest. "And there is nothing wrong with that"

"Like I said before," Chen Lee said. "America is nothing more than poor and filthy rats. Some of those rats were people who helped destroyed your home Katara"

"Do not bring the Rebs into this!" I warned, letting go of Katara's hand. I walked right up to him. "The Rebs fought a good clean war"

"They were out to destroy us!" Chen fought back. "I thought you never liked the Rebs"

"They fought for what they believed in" I defended. "I don't know what they were thinking when they joined Ozai and the Fire Nation, but they had a reason to go against us."

"Yeah," Chen Lee spat. "But they also had a terrible General, who I recall, struck your army every chance he got"

"General Lee knew what he was doing," I said. "But remember that is the past, Lee came up us at Appomattox and surrendered. Our fellow General Chamberlain, spared the Rebs' humiliation and saluted to them, knowing that it was the right thing to do because the Rebs fought hard for their beliefs"

"I also do recall," Chen Lee began. "You also failed yourself, bringing humiliation to you. When Ba Sing Se fell"

I lunged towards him, hand on my handle, but Katara stopped me.

"No Aang" she said as she grabbed my arm. "He's only trying to break you down"

I looked at her then at Chen, who folded his arms across his chest, he gave me his devilish grin, knowing he was winning this won.

"You know what boy" I fought. "You are asking for another fight, but you know what, I won't give it to you. I don't care what the hell you say. I don't matter to me!"

"Then what does?" he asked me. I looked at Katara, I grasped her hand and looked at Chen.

"Katara," I said. "She's the only one that matters up to this point"

Katara gave me a smile, I pulled her close and wrapped my arm around her waist. She rested her head on my shoulder and put her hand on my chest. We looked at Chen.

"Katara is-"

"Is his" Katara finished for him, referring to me. I smiled.

"You cannot do this Katara" Chen Lee fought. Oh now he changes the subject.

"I'm getting married to Aang" Katara said. "Not you, I called off the wedding"

"You can't do that!" Chen Lee spat. Katara shook her head.

"I did" she said.

"He is not even a man Katara!" Chen howled.

"He's more of a man than you'll ever be" Katara told him. "Now go back to where you belong"

He grumbled and walked past us, he nudged his shoulder against me, causing me to take a step back. I saw him walk away. We let go of each other and I took her by the hand, we walked inside. We were looking for Katara's father, to tell him the good news.

We walked into the throne room where Hakoda was talking to a faithful villager about hunger. The villager finished up as we walked up to Hakoda.

"Hi dad" Katara greeted.

"Hello Katara and Aang" he said. He looked at me. "I see you are back up on your feet"

"Yes sir" I said, giving a slight bow. Hakoda laughed.

"What did I say about sir?" Hakoda questioned me.

"Uh yes Hakoda" I said, giving another slight bow. He laughed and put his hand on my shoulder.

"So why are you here?" he asked.

"We have good news Dad" Katara said.

"Oh really?" Hakoda asked. We both nodded. "Well please tell me"

"Aang and I…wished to be married" Katara told him. Hakoda eyed me for a moment, I was preparing for the worse.

"Absolutely…." He began. I felt fear hit my heart. "Yes!"

My heart swelled as I looked up at him.

"I give you two my blessing" he said. "When do you wish to be wedded?"

We were silent as we looked at each other, we looked back at Hakoda.

"Tonight" we said at the same time.

"Tonight?" Hakoda asked. "Don't you want to have your friends and family-"

"We've been apart for too long," Katara said. "I want to get married to him tonight"

He nodded and smiled.

To be continued.