7 weeks ASC

After eight days, Sokka and Suki said good-bye to their friends (and relatives) and headed towards the South Pole. Katara shed some tears as she hugged Sokka, but she knew he was in good hands with Suki. She was a bit envious that he was going home, but she easily checked her jealously by realizing the alternative was remaining with Aang.

As per plan, Aang still had not talked directly with Kuei about a return to Ba Sing Se as yet. But soon it would be time to start planting the seed.

In the meantime, he felt it was a good time to send a note to Iroh letting him know what has been going on.

Iroh,

I hope this letter finds you well in Ba Sing Se. I wanted to provide you an update on my progress with the Earth King.

After an initial negative and defensive reaction by Kuei towards me, I decided the best way to move forward was to befriend him and earn back his trust before mentioning Ba Sing Se. This plan has been going well over the two weeks I have been here at the Northern Air Temple.

There was something else pertaining to Kuei I wanted to inform you of. He is going to ask a young woman named Fei Yen to marry him in the next week or two. She met him shortly after the fall of Ba Sing Se to the Fire Nation and has been by his side ever since. She has gray eyes and there is something about her that I need to look into. Could it be that she has something to do with the air nomads? After my conversation with Guru Pathik, I am hoping there are other air nomads out there.

Sokka and Suki dropped by on their way south to the southern water tribe. Everything went well at the North Pole, though I think Sokka was glad to leave because of the Yue/Suki confusion. They stayed for about a week and it was so nice to see them again. We also got a chance to clear up an almost-mess that Sokka started. He inadvertently threatened Kuei telling him that I would force him back to Ba Sing Se – both you and I know I would never do that, but I guess Kuei didn't know. That's why he was so cold when I first talked to him.

Katara is still by my side. Once Kuei agrees to return to Ba Sing Se, I am unsure what my next destination will be. Either we go directly to Fei Yen's village of Qi Cun to find out more about her and her family, or perhaps we head south to the southern water tribe before going to Qi Cun. Katara would like to visit home before continuing on our journey.

Aang

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One crisp late fall evening, Katara entered her and Aang's room to find him laying on his back on the bed. His eyes were closed and he looked as if he were either sleeping or concentrating deeply. Katara said nothing so she wouldn't disturb him.

When Aang realized Katara was now there, he opened his eyes and turned his head towards her. "Hi," was all he simply said.

"Oh hi, Aang. I didn't mean to bother you," she replied as she put on her nightclothes.

"You weren't. I was just waiting for you," Aang said. "I think we need to talk."

"Uh-oh," she said, mostly in a joking way. "That doesn't sound good."

"I've been meaning to bring this up since your 'girls' night out. It's not the easiest thing to talk about," said Aang.

"I think I know where you're going with this. I learned some stuff that night too and yes, we should probably have a talk," replied Katara.

Aang turned on his side and Katara laid down on the bed to face him.

"You want to talk about sex, don't you," said Katara.

"I think we should," said Aang.

"You're probably right. I was told it is always best to discuss this while not 'in the heat of passion'. I guess now is as good a time as any," said Katara.

"Katara, I am going to marry you someday. You know that, right?" he asked.

"I was operating under that assumption," she replied in a playful way. "Plus you've said it at least three times in the last two months. What are you trying to ask?"

There was a pause in the room.

"Um. I'm not saying now is the right time to do anything. But when do you think the right time will be?" Aang asked.

"You mean, for sex?" she asked. "I heard some pretty good advice from Suki. She said it is up to us. I thought that was pretty smart on her part – not to let what others are doing, or what customs we should be following dictate how we feel about each other."

"Kuei told me he and Fei Yen are waiting," Aang said.

"Fei Yen told me that too," Katara replied. "But you have to admit, they are probably closer to marriage than we are."

"He's going to ask her very soon," said Aang.

"I figured as much," she said.

Another uncomfortable pause.

"Here's my take on the situation – I don't think now is the right time. But as far as we're concerned, I don't think we need to wait until our wedding night either," Katara said. "Aang, I know our destiny in my heart. We will live out our lives together as husband and wife. Whether we start our full physical relationship tonight or three years from now – well, what's the difference?"

"Age for one," Aang replied. "I know I'm an 'old soul'. I think I am older than I appear to be whether that is from technically being born 113 years ago, or from the Avatars who are part of me, or from what I've been through this past year. I'm just having a hard time reconciling when is the right time. I'm afraid of rushing things. Even Iroh's voice keeps running through my mind to take it slow."

Katara leaned in and gave Aang a light kiss on the lips. "This is nothing to get worked up over," she said to him. "We'll know when its right. Let's just agree to let things fall where they may. I'm not going to regret anything making love with you whether that's sooner or later in our relationship. I love you, and I love being with you. That's just not going to change."

Aang felt better after Katara's reassuring talk. He leaned in to her and gave her a light kiss. He pulled back and looked at her. A silent conversation took place between their eyes for the next few seconds. Then they both leaned in for a long, deep, passionate kiss.

Aang placed his palm on Katara's face as their mouths moved in unison. Their tongues intertwined as the rhythm of their lips became steady. Katara soon moved her arm to Aang's back and drew him closer to her as both their bodies still laid on their sides.

Access to Katara was easy because she was already changed for bed before their earlier conversation began. Aang moved his hand from her face and gradually moved it down to the bottom of her nightshirt. The kissing stopped for a split second as Aang lifted the shirt over Katara's head leaving her fully naked except for her bottom undergarments.

The kissing resumed quickly as the pace of the lovers actions started to accelerate. Aang moved his hand from Katara's breasts to her rear end. He scooted nearer to her and tried to get as close to her as he could - as if he couldn't quite get close enough to her no matter how close he got.

Katara noted the hardness she felt rubbing up against her lower belly. She reached for it through his clothes but just as she brushed it, Aang rolled her on her back and moved his mouth down to her breasts and began nibbling on her nipples.

Katara arched her back in pleasure as she let out a moan, "Oh Aang."

Eventually, Katara grabbed Aang's shirt and started to pull it over his head exposing his muscular chest, arms and stomach.

"You're right Aang. You definitely seem like you are older than thirteen," she noted in between heavy breaths while looking at his body.

Aang moved up to Katara's neck and kissed her frantically below her ear. As he did, Katara noted the gyrating rhythm that was starting to happen between the two of them.

She once again reached down - this time between their bodies - and finally had an opportunity to start rubbing his erection with her hand. He groaned in delight. He never imagined how good it would feel to have Katara touch him there.

"Katara - I..." he started, not really sure how to say what he wanted to say.

"Shhhh...don't be embarrassed. This is new for me, too," she replied in a whisper.

"If you keep that up, you know what's going to happen, don't you?" he asked.

"Yes...now hush," she said as she dove back onto his mouth with hers.

She took her hand off his shaft and gently pushed him off of her and onto his back. She got off the bed and made her way to his feet. In the blink of an eye, his pants were now gone. This was the first time he had been completely naked in front of her. Aang had to fight the urge to cover up. He wondered what she was thinking.

"Are you ok Katara?" he asked knowing this was the first time she had seen him in this fashion.

"Mmm-mmm," she replied as she crawled next to him on the bed. "Close your eyes."

She grabbed his shaft with her right hand and slowly started moving it up and down. Aang took a deep breath and let it out.

Katara was curious how Aang would react to different things that she did. She tried moving slowly then quickly. She played with the tip of his penis. She even grabbed his balls and kneaded them like a soft dough. Most times she tried something different, Aang would vocalize his approval.

"Aang, what do you want me to do?" she asked.

"Like this," he showed her how to grab it. "Now just move back and forth. The faster you go, the quicker it will be."

Katara did as she was instructed. Up and down, starting off a bit slow...but then increasing the speed. She could see his body tense and heard his breathing get faster and louder.

She could tell he was about to explode when he arched his back and held his breath. His arrows glowed for a split second as he released onto his stomach. His body then let go its tension and he trembled a bit.

After a few seconds of silence, Aang finally spoke. "Katara, that was amazing."

"I'm glad I could be of service," she replied with a smile. She went to find something to clean him up with. As she was about to wipe him up, she touched the white liquid on his stomach and rubbed it between her thumb and forefinger. So this is where babies come from, she thought.

"What?" Aang asked her, suddenly feeling a little self-conscious, as any newby would.

"I'm just curious," she replied. "You have to remember that this is new to me, too." With that, she wiped off his stomach.

Aang put his pants back on and laid back down on the bed. Katara put her head on one of his shoulders and nestled between his muscular body and arm. It wasn't long before they were both sound asleep.

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Thanks for all the positive reviews guys (as well as the ones that have constructive criticism). Funny thing is, when I started this, I was in love with the A:TLA and just wanted it to continue. But now I'm really enjoying where I think this story will end up going. I had some extra time this weekend and was able to post 2x in 3 days. Onward and upwards...