*I know, I know... this one took forever. I apologize. The reason for the delay? I was sick all weekend and had two papers to write. Now that it's finally done... the moment we've all been waiting for...*

Episode 11: We Are One

8 Months Later

"We were strangers on a crazy adventure, never dreaming how our dreams would come true. Now here we stand, unafraid of the future, at the beginning with you" – Richard Marx & Donna Lewis

Over the past several months, news of Aang and Katara's engagement had spread quickly throughout the world and almost everyone was overjoyed by the news. The world had come a long way in the last few years, but it was still a far cry from what it once had been. The war was over but the world was still out of balance in one crucial and glaring way. Aang was still the only Airbender left, and short of a miracle there seemed to be only one way to remedy this fact… that was for the true Air Nation to continue via Aang's bloodline. Otherwise, while the culture might live on through the Air Acolytes, airbending would die with him. No one really wanted to speak this aloud, but everyone knew it was the truth. Aang himself never acknowledged it, not consciously anyway… it was like an undercurrent of pressure that was always there deep in the recesses of his mind. It mostly came to the surface in ways that weren't obvious… Like in how much information he tried to cram in to his cultural lessons with the acolytes and how happy he got when someone new joined the ranks.

By the time Sokka and Suki had been married for over half a year, Katara and Aang's wedding day was quickly approaching as well. They'd spent almost all their spare time planning it down to the last detail. The two of them had worked hard to mix their cultural traditions as they most likely would be doing for the rest of their lives.

This wasn't easy, as there were certain things on which the two cultures were very, very different. The date was one issue, Air Nomad tradition was to plan such things on particularly auspicious days, and neither one was willing to wait until the next winter solstice even though that would have been the ideal for both cultures. Finally, they'd settled on the autumnal equinox, the beginning of autumn, a particularly high day on the Air Nomad calendar, and the fifth anniversary of the war's end.

The next thing was where to have the ceremony, Air Nomad tradition would have been to hold ceremonies such as weddings outdoors…. But that was made a bit difficult by where they currently lived. There was a reason Sokka and Suki had chosen the inside of the Village Hall. Except maybe, maybe, right in the middle of summer, the weather could be extreme and while everyone who actually lived there was (for the most part) used to it, it was fairly certain that their many friends across the world were not… so what they'd eventually decided, was to have the wedding at the Southern Spirit Oasis, which had been rediscovered and rebuilt in the years between the end of the war and their original return home. Both because it was the spiritual heart and most sacred ground in the entire South Pole, and also because the massive amount of spiritual energy warmed it so that rather than snow and permafrost the crescent shaped pond was instead surrounded by grass and even conifer trees. These things combined made it the ideal spot.

Katara had chosen to wear a blue and silver version of the traditional Air Nomad wedding dress, which normally would have been yellow and orange. It was actually in three pieces. First was a long, floor length sleeveless gown, next was a long, V-necked robe that was sewn shut from the point of the V-neck to wear it fell at her hips, with the rest of it going farther, down to meet the tip of the first layer. There was silver embroidery along the seam at the front of the robe, and an intricate decorative pattern spread roughly two inches out from it on both sides. Finally, there was the veil, which rather than covering her face, was attached to an ornate silver headdress and went over her head and around shoulders down to her waist. It too, was decorated with silver thread so that it would shine in the moonlight like a curtain of stars.

One tradition that both cultures shared was that the bride and groom were totally off limits to each other on the day of the wedding until the actual ceremony. So, on the eve of the wedding, the couple had retreated to separate makeshift huts which had been constructed for the occasion just outside the Spirit Oasis. Katara was pacing around hers in the sleeveless gown that formed the first layer of her wedding garments. The robe that belonged over it hung on a hanger, on a hook on the wall opposite the door. The veil and headdress sat on the dresser along that same wall. She didn't want to finish up too early and mess something up, but now there were still a couple hours until the start of the ceremony and it felt like there was too much time left with nothing to do but wait.

Suddenly she heard a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" she asked.

"Katara, it's me…Suki…can I come in?" a familiar voice asked.

Katara opened the door to find that it was indeed Suki, standing in the doorway wearing her new parka, she smiled and stepped out of the way to let her sister-in-law inside.

"I thought you might like some company…." Suki told her as she came in and slid the door shut behind her.

Katara responded by immediately hugging her. "You have no idea… there's still more than two hours until the ceremony and I can't even think straight… and I can't talk to Aang… I hate this part…"

"Ok, calm down Katara, you'll see… the next two hours will go by like that…" Suki told her, snapping her fingers. "Besides… it doesn't look like you're even close to ready yet…want some help?" she asked.

"Yes please…" Katara replied.

"Ok, start by putting the robe on and then I'll do your hair…" Suki told her.

Katara nodded and shot her a relieved smile.

Meanwhile…

Aang was in a similar hut on the other side of the oasis. In order to make sure the bride and groom didn't see each other until the ceremony, there were no windows in these huts. Surprisingly, the usually harsh landscape was unusually calm. The winds that were usually howling in this area were distinctly absent, leaving the whole area in an eerie quiet.

Aang was already dressed for the ceremony, wearing a simple suit that had been cut from the same cloth as Katara's wedding dress. It had the same silver embroidery, just less of it. He now sat meditating, forcing himself to relax and clear his mind.

After he'd been sitting in his meditative state for a while, he sensed that something had changed and when he opened his eyes to see what, he found himself in the Spirit World.

Almost as soon as he realized that he was indeed, in the Spirit World, Roku appeared before him.

"Roku…" Aang exclaimed in greeting.

"It's good to see you Aang…"

"What am I doing here?" Aang asked.

"Well, the other past Avatars and I can't make it to the actual wedding… so we thought we'd talk to you before… and besides there are a few other Spirits who wish to speak to you as well…" Roku replied. "I told you it gets better…"

Aang smiled. "You were right…"

"I'm glad that particular piece of wisdom was proved correct… let me offer you this wisdom… in my life, I learned quickly that Ta Min was more than just the love of my life, she was my best friend, voice of reason, and greatest ally… the road ahead will not always be easy… married life rarely is easy, and your responsibilities as the Avatar will further complicate that journey… but both become easier when you realize there's someone at your side… my point is, every marriage is a partnership… your position compels you to strike an especially delicate balance, which will be almost impossible unless you remember that the two of you are in this together…" Roku counseled him.

"Thanks for the advice Roku…"

"You are most welcome Aang…" Roku replied as he drifted away, only to have Avatar Kuruk appear almost immediately to take his place.

"Hello Aang…"

"Hi Avatar Kuruk…"

"What awaits you in the mortal world reminds me very much of my own life… let me help you to not repeat my mistakes. Roku already explained that just as you must keep balance in the world and within yourself you must also keep balance between your responsibilities to the world and your responsibilities to your own family… in my life, I learned the hard way that the two are intimately connected. I lost my beloved to Koh as punishment for ignoring my responsibilities as the bridge between the mortal and spirit worlds. She paid the price for my negligence. Don't repeat my mistakes, and don't make a similar one on the other side of the coin, this is the wisdom I offer you young one…"

"I understand, thank you Avatar Kuruk…"

Before Kuruk could say anything else, he and Roku switched places again, only this time, Roku had brought his dragon, Fang.

"Come… there are a couple more spirits who wish to speak with you before I send you back…" He beckoned.

Aang obeyed and took his place on the dragon's back behind Roku and they flew off.

"Where are we going this time Roku?"

"It's not a matter of where… it's a matter of to whom…" The former Avatar replied.

It wasn't long before they landed in what appeared to be a grassy meadow surrounded by cliffs. Aang looked around, but saw no one…

"Um…Roku… there's nobody here…" Aang observed.

"Oh really…? I guess I'm not really here right now then…" replied a familiar voice.

"Malu?!" Aang exclaimed when he followed the sound of the voice and saw his sister walking toward him. She looked just the same as she had when he'd freed her from the Tatarimoke over a year previously, well…almost…. Something had changed. She seemed, happier, at peace…

"Don't look so surprised, you trying to tell me I can't say 'hi' to my big brother on his wedding day?" she asked as she approached.

"No…of course not…it's good to see you…" he told her, slightly teary-eyed.

He wanted to hug her but although they were in the Spirit World he wasn't entirely sure, since this was the first time he'd come across the departed soul of someone other than one of his own past lives, whether or not she was solid.

Sensing his hesitation, she hugged him instead.

"I miss you…" he told her.

"I didn't really go anywhere… I left the physical world but I didn't leave you and I never will… We're family. Anyway, we don't have much time but I wanted to say I'm happy for you…" She told him.

"Thanks…but how are you here?"

"All souls go on forever, some of us come to the spirit world, and some, like the avatar spirit within you are reborn. Remember, time is an illusion and so is death…"

"That's what the guy in the Swamp told me." Aang remembered.

"Sounds like a guy who knows what he's talking about." She replied. "I have to go now, you're only allowed to see one of us at a time, and there's someone else here who wants to talk to you… Don't worry, you'll see me again…" she told him, hugging him again and squeezing as though her life depended on it. As soon as she let go, she faded away.

Before long another figure appeared right where Malu had come from. This one wasn't someone Aang recognized. She was obviously from the Water Tribe and actually looked a great deal like Katara but was obviously older, appearing to be in her early to mid-thirties.

"Hello…" Aang said in greeting.

"Hello Aang…it's good to finally meet you in person…"

"Um…I'm sorry Ma'am but, who exactly are you?" Aang asked, confused.

"My name is Kya…" she replied, knowing that, that was enough.

Kya, where have I heard that name before? Aang thought, searching his memory. Then suddenly it dawned on him. "Wait a second…you're Katara and Sokka's mom aren't you?" He asked.

"That's right…" she answered with a broad warm smile on her face.

Aang was awestruck but instinctually gave a bow of respect. "It's an honor to meet you Ma'am.

"The honor is all mine, I asked Roku to bring you here for two reasons… first… as a mother, I wanted to welcome you as my very soon to be son-in-law and also to thank you…"

"For what?" Aang asked.

"Ten years ago the Fire Nation came to our village seeking to find the last Southern waterbender and eliminate her. I lied and gave myself up to protect my daughter and our people. It was my decision and I would do it again. Thanks to you the war is over and I no-longer have to fear that the Fire Nation will one day figure out that I lied, on top of that… when the moment came, you, your council and friendship saved Katara from herself. I never wanted her to lower herself to that despicable man's level on my behalf. Even more than that… without even realizing it, you have filled at least part of the hole in her being that I left behind. For these reasons, I am eternally in your debt. Seeing her as happy as you make her means more than you know…"

"Honestly Ma'am there's no reason to thank me…I love her more than anything…"

Kya's smile only grew when he said that.

"Regardless, you have my gratitude and I couldn't ask for a better son-in-law…may the two of you have a long, happy life together… I wish I could go to the wedding in person but I will be watching from here… Now before you go back to the physical world I have one small request…" She told him.

"Anything. What is it?" he asked.

"As far as Katara is to know, this conversation never happened. You will not tell her…."

"O..k…." Aang agreed reluctantly. It seemed to him that Katara would want to know about this, but he couldn't escape the intensity with which Kya was swearing him to secrecy. For some reason, it seemed imperative to her, that he keep this from Katara, and if there was one thing Aang had learned about the Spirit World, it was that when someone there told him to do something, it was almost always best to obey.

"It's for the best… I'd tell you that you'll understand someday but honestly I hope you never have to…now go… stay here much longer and you'll be late…" She cautioned.

The next thing Aang knew, he had returned to his body, and saw through the tiny space beneath the door that sunset was almost upon him. As soon as he registered the fact that he'd been in the Spirit World for over an hour and a half, he heard knocking at the door.

"Aang…it's me, Sokka…are you ready? It's time to go…" Sokka beckoned, sliding open the door to find his friend sitting on the floor in the lotus position. "Spirit world journey?" he asked.

"Yep, Roku pulled me in…"

"For what?" Sokka asked. "Were the past Avatars giving you marital advice or something?" he asked dubiously.

"Actually…yeah…"

"Alright then… get up, it's time for us to head to the Oasis…"

"Coming…" Aang replied, rising to his feet and following Sokka out into the windswept tundra.

Back in Katara's hut… Suki was carefully putting the veil and headdress on top of her head. Her long brown hair had been brushed and curled so that it fell like a brunet waterfall around her shoulders. The blue veil and silver headdress framed it beautifully.

"There….we're done…you're ready…" Suki told her, handing her a mirror.

"Thank you so much for this Suki…" Katara replied.

"Don't mention it…anything for my favorite sister-in-law… I know you're my only sister-in-law but still…" Suki replied.

The two of them shared a laugh at that but then they heard a knock at the door.

"It's me…" Came a familiar voice.

"Come in Dad…" Katara told him.

At her words, Hakoada slid the door open and came in. When he saw his daughter his blue eyes went wide.

"Katara…"

"Hi Dad…" She replied turning to face him.

"You…you look so beautiful…you remind me of your mother, on our wedding day…" he told her.

That made Katara tear up just a little…

"I wish she was here…"

"She is… and I know she's proud of you… I love you…" he told her, hugging her gently.

"Guys… I hate to interrupt but it's time…" Suki told them. "Let's go…"

At her words, Hakoada offered Katara his hand. "Can I walk with you?" he asked.

"Of course…" Katara replied, taking it.

When they left the hut and entered the tunnel leading into the oasis, they could hear the mix between the water tribe ceremonial drums and the air acolytes chanting… When they reached the end of the tunnel, the cavern opened to reveal the warm, grassy meadow surrounded by cliffs and the crescent-shaped pool of spirit water at the center.

Aang was waiting for her beneath the arch in front of the pool, standing next to him was Iroh, who had agreed to fulfill the same role for them that Aang had for Sokka and Suki eight months earlier. Their friends and family from around the world had gathered once again and stood on either side of the arch, surrounding the pool except for a small path along the water's edge that they left clear. When they got close to the arch, Hakoada let go of his daughter's hand and took his place at the front of the crowd.

Katara took her place beside Aang, who looked at her with love, contentment, and joy in his gray eyes. Katara returned his gaze, struck by the fact that the goofy kid she found in the iceburg had grown into the man who now stood at her side, the love of her life…and now here they stood, about to start their life together.

Then the ceremony began. The music stopped, a hushed silence fell on everyone present in the oasis, leaving only an aura of excited anticipation.

"Good evening everyone…" Iroh began. "Tonight, we gather on ancient and hallowed ground to celebrate the marriage of Katara and Aang. There are few things in the universe quite so wonderful as the joining of two hearts in a bond such as this… Now, Katara, Aang… take each other's arms…." He commanded.

They turned to face each other and did as they'd been told, and Iroh pulled two long sashes out of his robes. One was blue and the other was yellow. He took the blue one, and tied it around Katara's arm and Aang's wrist, then he took the yellow one and tied it around Aang's arm and Katara's wrist. Then he wrapped the rest of both around the couple's outstretched arms so that they met in the middle and tied them together.

"Do the two of you vow to love and honor one another, to support and balance each other as two parts of the same whole for as long as you both shall live?" he asked.

They looked into each other's eyes for a fraction of a second and confidently replied in unison "We do…"

"Then I declare you, husband and wife…" Iroh replied, using the faintest touch of firebending to burn the sashes and in doing so untie them.

No sooner were their arms freed then they embraced and kissed each other passionately, looking into each other's eyes as though no one else were around. Each filled with excitement for what life together had in store…