This is almost the end of it all, guys :) One more to go after this.
Chapter 28 - THE END
The evening was quiet and peaceful. Butterflies skirted among the various wildflowers, silken wings beating soundlessly and gracefully. The tall grass swayed to a light breeze, dancing amongst themselves.
Katara wandered among the meadow, brushing the plants with the tips of her fingers. She inhaled every scent, amazed and content with the variaty of flavors she was able to detect.
For the moment, she was happy.
It had been one year since the tragic battle that had resulted in the death of both Aang and Kya. Of course, Aang had returned . . . but with terrible consequences.
Katara closed her eyes, remembering what had occured when Aang had awoken.
Aang was alive.
Katara's eyes brimmed over in overwhelming relief as she dropped her head to his chest and began to cry. Sokka stood by in amazement, shaking his head.
Aang groaned, eyelids fluttering. "Wh . . . where am I?"
Sokka sat next to his brother. "You're in your house, Aang . . . remember? We just had that huge battle?"
Aang frowned. "Katara? Why are you crying?"
Katara, shaky and unsteady, sat up and stroked the side of his face, leaning in to kiss him. She did so gently, ever so lightly pressing her lips to his. Pullng away, she leaned her forehead against his and said, "You were dead, Aang."
Aang, taken aback, stared into Katara's expansive blue eyes. "I was . . . dead?"
She pursed her lips, nodding slightly. "I was scared . . ."
Sokka, sensing a moment, suddenly remembered that Toph was in the rafters, mortally wounded. Glancing at Katara, he silently walked off, calculating a way to climb that high. Toph had done it . . . and she was blind!
As he climbed away, Aang gradually remembered the events of the battle. And, as he remembered, he began to look panicked and sad.
"Katara," he whispered, "I killed a lot of people, didn't I?"
Katara nodded again, closing her eyes. "Yes, but you did it to protect me, Kya, Sokka, and Toph."
"But . . . I enjoyed it, Katara! It was like a sport to me!"
Katara didn't know what to say to that . . . so instead, she silenced him with another kiss, to which he responded fully.
"Aang," she stated firmly when they broke apart, "I honestly could care less about what you did. You are alive. I am alive. Sokka is alive. Toph is alive."
Aang waited, expecting to hear the name of their baby. Then, at that thought, he cried out in surprise.
"Katara! You're in labor! We have to get you to a healer!" Grunting, he attempted to sit up, succeeding the second time.
Katara sat, unresponsive. A dead expression dulled her face, and she stared off into nothing with empty eyes. "Aang . . ." she whispered, still as stone, "Kya . . . she's going to be a stillborn."
Katara always cried at that memory. She did so then, falling to her knees amongst the cheery wildflowers.
She remembered that dreadful time. It was miserable, filled with tears and grieving . . .
"Just once more, Master Katara! Do NOT give up!"
Katara screamed in agony, gripping the sides of the bed so hard that her knuckles drained of blood. Mustering the last of her strength, she gave a tremendous push, collapsing when she successfully gave birth to her first child.
Of course, there was definitely something wrong. Aside from Katara's heavy panting, there was no sound whatsover. The baby lay, limp and lifeless, in the healer's arms. Still attached by the umbilical cord, baby Kya seemed to be asleep.
"She was right . . ." the healer mumbled to her assistant, "she was stillborn . . ."
Without another word, the healers proceeded to clean the baby as if nothing was wrong. They clipped the cord, then placed her in a warm, shallow tub of water. They gently and reverently cleaned her, drying her skin tenderly.
Katara, succumming to her grief, allowed tears to fall freely.
The healers wrapped the baby in the softest of blankets, carefully tucking every corner and every loose end. Then, in a somber line, they presented the baby to Katara.
Katara, shaky and weak, extended her arms. She accepted Kya as if she were alive, tucking her into the crook of her elbow and rocking softly. Throat constricted, she asked, "Would you retrieve my husband, please?"
"Yes, Master Katara," the lead healer responded, bowing. She shuffled off, silently rounding a corner.
The apprentice, who was not much younger than Katara, stared at the floor. Clearing her throat, she said, "She's beautiful . . ."
Katara smiled, her kindness prevailing. "Thank you."
The apprentice bowed, awkwardly striding through the door as well.
Katara was alone . . . finally.
She allowed her emotions to run rampant, burrying her head into the blanket of her baby girl as she sobbed her heart out.
She didn't notice when Aang walked in. He had been right at the door the whole time, ready to break it down every time she had screamed.
She felt his presence when, as a true father and husband, he gently picked her her up, scooting underneath her so that she was on his lap, still cradling Kya.
He cradled them both, face pressed into Katara's shoulder.
No words were said. They didn't need to say anything. They understood each other perfectly, words or no words.
And they sat there, understanding each other, for over two hours, cradling the baby who had saved both of their lives.
Katara arrived at her destination, carefully falling to her knees. She set her basket down, opening it to reveal a small lunch for two. Setting everything up carefully, she hummed to herself, pointedly ignoring the headstone before her.
When everything was ready, she finally faced the grave, kneeling reverently. Clearing her throat, she said, "Hello, Kya . . . Momma here." She smiled faintly, remebering the way Kya had said 'Momma!'.
Sighing, she suppressed the tears. "Today . . . is your first birthday, baby girl. I just thought that I would stop by and say hi . . . Your father should be here any minute now-"
"Hello, Kya! Daddy here," Aang sounded, appearing out of the blue. He pressed a kiss to Katara's cheek, then sat down and wrapped his arms around her.
Katara smiled, leaning into his embrace.
"You know, Kya," Aang said, "I'm a little upset you didn't stay around long enough for your old man to meet you."
"Oh, hush," Katara chuckled, "be somewhat serious."
"Okay, okay . . ." Aang murmured. "but, this has to be somewhat quick . . . Sokka and Toph's wedding is in three hours . . . Don't wanna miss it, do we?"
"You're just excited about being best man," Katara mumbled, lacing their fingers together.
"You bet I am!" Aang laughed, snatching a nearby Panda Lily and tucking it into her hair. "By the way, you said you have a secret to tell me?"
Katara grinned, nodding. "Yes, yes I do . . ."
"Well? What is it?"
Katara hesitated, twirling a piece of grass around her finger. "Kya, honey, close your eyes," she said cheerfully, proceeding to pull Aang into a kiss.
It was long and deep, uninterrupted and perfect. And, when Katara pulled away, Aang almost looked disappointed. "Was that the secret?"
Katara shook her head, biting her lip.
"Aang . . . I'm pregnant."
