Aang re-emerged a few minutes later. He rummaged through a few drawers and threw some random things into a bag. He grabbed Katara's hand and pulled her out of the room.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"You'll see," he replied.

He took her outside the palace, specifically to Appa who was waiting for them right outside the door to the stable.

"Yip-yip!" Aang said to his lifelong friend, and off they went.

"Aang, where are we going?" Katara asked.

"You'll see. For now, here's a blanket. It's the middle of the night. Get some rest. We'll be there in a few hours."

OlOlOlOlOlO

It was still pitch-black when they landed. Katara lay sleeping in Appa's saddle. Aang got up and scurried about for bit, all the while, letting his soulmate sleep.

When she finally opened her eyes, the sun was just peaking over the mountains. She rubbed her eyes and lifted her arms up to stretch.

"Come with me," he said.

She climbed down off Appa. "Aang, are we at the Southern Air Temple?" Katara asked.

"Yes, we are home," he replied.

"What - ?" she started her next question.

"Come with me," he said again as he grabbed her hand and led her inside the temple. He took her through a few rooms and down some staircases. Then they finally arrived at Aang's intended destination.

"I know this is going to sound silly to you, and I'm not really sure how the Air Nomads exactly did this 100 years ago. So I'm shooting from the hip a little bit here," he said.

The room they entered was a prayer room. Even with the dim light coming in from the outside sunrise, Katara could see there were statues and dried up fountains inside. A few jewels seemed to adorn the walls. There were a ton of cobwebs hanging from just about everything, as if no one had been here for a hundred years.

"Close your eyes," Aang commanded. Katara did as she was asked. She heard Aang airbend, waterbend, and firebend in quick succession.

"Ok, open them," he said.

When she opened her eyes, it was like she was looking at a completely different room. Torches were lit so that she could see, the cobwebs had been blown away, and the fountains were now functioning.

He grabbed her hand and led her to the center of the now-beautiful room. He turned to her and faced her as he grabbed her second hand. He leaned in and gave her a peck on the lips.

"I realized something last night when we were talking," he started. "I've been thinking about us for a while now and what was the right thing for us."

"Sounds serious," she said in a bit of a joking manner.

But he wasn't joking. "Katara, Air Nomads do not get married – at least not like other nations. But then again, they never ventured outside of their own nation for a husband or wife either. From the time they were sixteen, they participated in the winter festival and often found their spiritual mates at that time. It was just a given that these two airbenders would be together as a couple for the rest of their lives – even though they would live at different temples."

He paused before continuing. He let go of one of her hands and placed it on her cheek. "I believe that you are already my spiritual mate. We are already destined to spend the rest of our lives together. In my mind, from an Air Nomad perspective, we are already married. It's already a done deal – in my culture, that is."

Katara's eyes opened a little wider at hearing Aang's thoughts.

"Married?" she replied. "Us?"

"Now, I'm not saying we don't have to make it official for your friends and family. We can still have a ceremony in a few years time and all that," he said. "And we don't even have to tell anyone. But I wanted to bring you here, to my home, and to one of my most sacred places to declare myself to you."

"You were right, you know," he continued. "Nothing is going to change for us. It's not like there is a sudden day of awakening and we will be more in love with each other than we had been before. I love you more than anything in this world and we are both soulmates and bonded mates. I will spend the rest of my life with you and will spend every day trying to make you happy."

"Oh Aang, you already make me so happy!" she replied, with a tear running down her face. "I love you so much, it hurts sometimes. I can't imagine living my life without you, either."

With that he swooped her up into his arms and carried her out of the room. He took her through a few corridors and out to a beautiful open balcony that faced east. The sun was still very low in the sky - but beams of sunlight did successfully stream through the mountains. On the balcony was a baby blue blanket and a small round fluffy cushion, reminiscent of the koala sheep bed his friends had made for him the night before the day of black sun.

"This is it Katara. No more waiting," he said to her.

"Oh Aang, it's perfect," she replied.

"It's one of my favorite places in the entire Southern Air Temple," he said.

He gently placed her feet back onto the ground. He no longer had to reach up to kiss her; they were about the same height now. At just under the age of 14, he had reached his peak growing years and was definitely gaining on her as far as height went. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a long passionate kiss.

The couple eventually kneeled down onto the cushion. The kissing never paused in the least as they started to undress one another. The pieces came off one by one and flew to all areas of the balcony. Pants, shirt, dress, socks, and undergarments – all tossed aside.

The rest of the night was one that was filled with passion between the teenagers. The deed had finally been done, and it was under their own terms in their own special location.

OlOlOlOlOlO

The lovers cleaned up the balcony and made it look like they had never been there that day. It had only been a few hours since they arrived at the Southern Air Temple, but they knew they couldn't be gone too long. This was an unscheduled trip after all, and a spontaneous one at that.

"Yip-yip!" Aang shouted and they were on their way.

Katara and Aang both leaned up against the back of Appa's saddle. Aang's arm was around her shoulder and her head leaned into him.

"I can't believe how perfect that was," she said.

"I don't have to worry about it not being memorable, that's for sure," Aang remarked.

They kissed.

"I can see why people don't want to stop doing it once they've started," Katara said. "I know this is a selfish thing to ask, but can we stay a few extra days at the palace before we head for Qi Cun?"

"I don't see why not," Aang replied knowing what Katara was really inferring. "But we should have a serious discussion now about a few things."

"You're getting serious on me?" she questioned.

"I think I have to," was his reply. "Katara, I meant what I said this morning – in the prayer room. I would be happy if we just lived our lives from here on out. But, that being said, I think your father, brother, and grandmother would want something a tad bit more formal."

"Yes, your point being? We know all this already," she answered.

"Katara, what if you get pregnant, and it's before the water tribe ceremony?" Aang asked. "After this morning, theoretically, you could be pregnant now."

"Hmmmm…," she thought. "Good point."

She thought for a moment. "So let's plan the ceremony then."

"You don't think it's too soon?" Aang asked.

"Well, it is a little earlier than I would have planned for, but I will be 16 in only a few months. That's the normal marrying age for a water tribe girl," she answered. "I'll send a scroll to my Gran and to Dad when we get back to the palace. But you have a job, too."

"I do?" he asked.

"Well, if we're doing things according to water tribe traditions, you had better start carving me a necklace," she said.

"I'll get right on it," he said.

OlOlOlOlOlO

Appa landed back in the Fire Nation just after dinner.

"Go have a rest, boy," Aang said. "You've been up a while."

Aang and Katara grabbed each others' hand and walked into the palace.

"Where were you?" said Suki, who was the first person to see the two.

Aang and Katara looked at each not really knowing what to say. Truth? Lie?

No one said anything at first. Then Suki rushed forward and gave them both a big hug, "Awww, that's so great!"

"Wait. What's great?" asked Aang.

"It's written all over both of you," Suki replied. "Katara, I'll want some details later!" With that she turned and flittered away.

She stopped and turned, "Oh, but you'd better go get cleaned up….and act normal else Sokka might figure it out!"

OlOlOlOlOlO

The next morning at breakfast, there was a lot to talk about among the five remaining inner core of friends.

"Sokka," started Katara. "I wanted you to be the first to know. Aang and I are going to get married on my 16th birthday."

"Isn't that a little soon?" he asked. "He'll only be 14 then."

Suki stepped in for the couple, "Yeah, Sokka, but he's the Avatar. He may be young in age, but think about how much he's experienced over the last two years. I dare say he's probably more mature than you are."

"True," Sokka replied thoughtfully not even arguing that point.

"And we have been together for over a year now," added Katara.

"So we'll meet you in three months back home?" asked Sokka.

"Oh Sokka!" Katara yelled, giving her big brother a bear hug at his acceptance of the situation.

"What are you guys going to do until then?" asked Aang.

"I already made arrangements to head over to Shu Jing," replied Sokka. "Suki's coming with me. I think it is the logical next step for us. Suki has been missing her training, and I want to eventually be a master swordsman. We contacted Piandao and we're going to stay with him for a few months and train. He said we were welcome."

"Suki, you're going to learn sword fighting, too?" asked Katara.

"I'd like to," she replied. "And I can train Sokka more in the way of the fan while we're there, too."

"Maybe I'll see how much space rock is left and I can make a new space sword while I'm there," said Sokka.

"Well, you already know where we'll be. Qi Cun and then the Eastern Air Temple. But we'll be hanging around here a few more days," said Aang nonchalantly.

"I guess Zuko and Mai will just honeymoon then come back here," said Katara.

"That would be the logical guess," said Suki.

So everyone is accounted for except Toph.

Toph was sitting quietly at the end of the table. All eyes turned to her. "I've been thinking," she said. "There is somewhere I want to go, but it's something I have to do alone."

"Where, Toph?" asked Aang.

"If you don't mind, it's a little embarrassing, so I'd rather keep it to myself for now. I will see you in a few months down in Frostyville."