A/N: Alright guys, in a few days I am going out to the field for a couple of weeks, I'll try to get another chapter up before I leave. I come back the weekend of the Fourth.

Now, onto the most highly anticipated chapter I've ever written… I hope I don't let ya'll down; I can't in good conscious call this a smut though. Also, it'll be a third person this time favoring Katara. I think it'll be easier to write this like that. Also, if I ever expected to get a flame, it'd be from this. If you hate it, tell me politely or don't tell me at all please. Again, love all my reviewers and followers, I hope you enjoy it.

Rated M

A New Level

The sun was low in the sky; the darkening orange and pink hue was battling the deep blue night sky that was filling over. The wind rustled in the trees around them gently and the pond shimmered under the light; the ripples from the waterfall flowing out and causing the smallest of waves to lap against their feet.

They weren't talking or really even thinking; sitting next to each other, hands entwined as they looked upon the pool of water. They wanted the break, they needed it; after each city or town they've visited, it's been one problem to the next.

Katara mused and glanced slightly over to Aang whose eyes were half-lidded as he gazed at the pond. She knew life with him was always going to be hectic, he was the Avatar; his duty was to the world, both spiritual and mortal… but she also knew she'd always be next to him.

They had finished their early dinner and picked up. Aang had unsaddled Appa so he could be free to fly or roam as he saw fit, at least until tomorrow. That left the two alone, which was what both of them wanted. There wasn't any awkwardness stirring between the two, but a sort of reluctance, that is, until Aang stood up.

"Let's go for a swim" he suggested, offering his hand to help her up as she smiled and nodded, climbing to her feet. When she climbed to her feet, something caught her foot, or pulled her hand, she didn't notice all too well but she suddenly fell forward into his arms, almost causing him to fall back.

"You alright?" He asked quietly. Her head tiled up and her eyes met his; her cheeks turned rosy as she nodded and regained her footing before pressing her lips to his. Their lips pressing together strongly as her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling her closer to him as his own snaked around her waist.

It wasn't a few seconds before their lips parted together and their tongues met and danced the same dance they knew so well; their lips moving almost as one as a frit of passion overcame the two, over a mere fall. When they finally broke, their heads leveled and each rested their forehead against the other as they gazed deep into each other's eyes.

"That wasn't exactly what I meant, ya know" Aang cooed quietly as she closed her eyes, a smile curved on her lips as her cheeks heated up.

"Didn't mean to trip either" she answered, shaking her head.

"You tripped? Could've sworn I wrapped a water whip around your ankle." He mused, his eyes trailing up as her eyes shot open and narrowed at the airbender.

"Oh, did you?" She said in a low-playfully threatening voice. "Nice trick, I wonder who taught you that."

"You want to see my next trick?" He asked, his eyes returning to hers and just as she was about to speak, she felt a small puff of air beneath her feet. Attached to Aang, she flew up and over several feet as the two landed in the center of the lake.

They broke apart almost immediately, he apparently swimming away from waterbender who had plenty of ammunition to use against him. The second she resurfaced she began to scan the pond for him but found no trace of him. Not even in the pond; she turned quickly looking in all directions through the clear water. That was when she felt two hands wrap around her ankles and yank her underwater.

Her eyes slammed shut for a second until the bubbles of the descent disappear, when she reopened her eyes she felt the same pair of lips against hers again… she returned the kiss and embrace without any complaint as the two slowly resurfaced together. Once their heads were clear, her eyes narrowed at the airbender once again.

"The next time you plan to launch us in a pond, let me at least take off my cloths" She muttered as he looked down at his own vestments.

"Hmm, no promises" he answered, swimming closer to her.

She resigned and her arms wrapped around his neck as they floated in the pond. She once again found herself staring into the airbender's eyes. They were as grey as a storm, but had so much more depth to them. She could see into his soul and found everything she loved about him waiting; he was warm and loving, the gentlest being who also carried the burden of great power and wisdom.

He too found himself entranced by her cerulean eyes; shimmering off the reflections of the pond and the ever dissipating sunlight. The two, without even realizing it, were lingering closer and closer to each other; their noses touched softly before their lips met in a slow and tender kiss.

His lips moved over hers slowly and passionately, each different touch leaving their own lingering effect. His lips left hers and trailed slowly down her fact, each plant leaving the same lingering feeling as his lips traveled. His lips caressing her the entire time as they found her neck, she leaned her head back with her eyes shut, biting her lower lip softly.

His lips lingered and caressed her neck, deepening them slowly as she felt his touch. A soft, passionate moan escaped her lips "Aang…" which did all the more to entice him to further deepen and lengthen his kisses; expressing his desire with each one. She felt her own blood rush as her cheeks felt warm, her own grip around him tightening and pressing against his wet robes.

He trailed back up and leaned in, biting his lower lips softly before allowing their lips to reconnect with the same passion and intent as before. Aang pressed on further causing her to allow another moan to escape but be dampened as their lips remained locked.

Aang pulled away slowly and Katara opened her eyes; each of them breathing slightly shallow but slowly. She could read his eyes and he could read her.

He had better plan to finish where he left off, She sighed and gazed into his warm eyes.

She was suddenly very aware of two hands sliding up her sides. They started low, around the hips and gently glided up her body, drifting underneath her wet top. She knew his intentions and didn't fight or question, raising her hands as he slide the top up and over her head gently, as to not pull any of her hair. When it was over her head, she lowered her arms and he slowly took it the rest of the way off, his lips trailing from her elbow to her hand. Aang tossed the wet top onto the grass by the pond, leaving Katara in her sarashi and pants.

"Yours is coming off too" she purred with an irresistible smile. Her hands on his shoulders and slowly slide down his arms, underneath the top of his robes, gliding them down, under the water. His eyes flickered to hers with a warm smile

"This'll be a lot more difficult in the pond" he cooed and she rolled her eyes, but that smile never left her face.

They swam to the area where Aang had thrown her top piece and slowly climbed out. The pinkish hue from the sky was vanishing and the temperature was dropping slightly. Being out of the pond caused each of them to shiver.

"Hold on, I'll make a quick fire. Get out of your wet cloths" Aang said softly and she nodded.

Aang built a small fire pit with a bit of Earth Bending and threw in the wood he collected earlier. With a quick breathe of fire, the wood began burning brightly, letting up a generous amount of heat.

He glanced back to Katara who was now only in her bindings, one of her hands clutched her arm and she was shivering slightly. Aang wasted no time and airbended himself to the saddle, quickly undid the towel, blankets and bedding and shot himself back to the fire, landing next to Katara and dropping all of it except for the towel.

He wrapped it around her shoulders and pressed it against her arms, rubbing up and down them to generate heat.

"Your still in your robes… you could catch a cold if you stay like that" She said lightly. She may have been born in the Southern Pole, but she, like anyone, wasn't immune to what the cold breeze did to skin through wet clothing. He nodded and finished removing his robes except his own under garments.

She opened the towel and wrapped it around him, their bodies pressed together as they moved closer to the fire. Neither of them was all that cold anymore, but neither of them wanted to leave each other's grip.

After a few moments of standing by the fire, Aang broke from the embrace and spread a blanket over the soft grass that covered the ground. He sat down and reached up for her hand which, thanks to her, he found almost immediately and helped lower her down. She resettled the towel around them and both of their eyes traced to the fire, watching the dancing embers play as they rose from the wood.

It was dark now, the pink and orange hue having lost the battle for dominance in the sky some time ago, now leaving the deep blue sky overhead. The moon was out and nearly full with the stars nestling around it; causing Katara's blood to pull.

She felt his eyes flicker to her. "Katara, I love you" he said in a low, soft and enchanting voice that gave her butterflies like the two of them had just admitted it. She felt the blood rush to her cheeks as her eyes left the firelight and found his.

"I love you… so much, Aang, it's-" She murmured softly until his lips found hers, silencing her and banishing all other thoughts or feelings.

She could feel the beat of his heart as his chest was pressed to hers, his arms wrapped around her and hers around him as the towel fell off their shoulders. The fire swayed gently next to them as Aang continued where he had left off.

His kiss was slow and passionate and she responded with the same enthusiasm and passion, she could feel her blood rushing around her body, warming her in different places and from the beat of his heart, she imagined the same was for him.

A small moan of passion along with anticipation escaped her throat as she tightened her grip around him. Aang gently lowered her down, his lips leaving hers as he trailed down from her jawline to her throat, then her neck to her collar bone. His lips leaving that same lingering tickle that gave her the bumps.

She opened her eyes and found his; he was looking down at her with the most enticing… enchanting smile it gave her butterflies and goose bumps. She rested her hands on his shoulders as he leaned down. Without words and no clothing in the way, Aang undid the bindings around her chest with ease. She slide her own hands down his sides and found his waistline, gently pulling his undergarments down and off as he did the same with hers.

Now they were there, where they wanted to be for quite a time. Each of their hands exploring each other's bodies and newly revealed skin in such a way they hadn't before. Both of their bodies warming as the blood rushed through them both. It was then Katara caught a glimpse of him when he was stiff.

Aang's hands were slowly and carefully caressing her breasts and peaks, feeling every portion of her skin causing even further stimulating feelings to flow between them.

Their lips broke as they caught each other's eyes, the firelight combined with the moonlight bathed their skin as they studied each other. The reflective hue complimenting each of them, shining off of his milky skin and pale blue tattoos along with her own beautifully rich olive tone.

Her eyes narrowed as the smile curved up her lips causing Aang to feel light headed over the sheer passion and love he felt over the beautiful waterbender that laid beneath him. He pressed down, pressing their chests together as their cheeks touched, his own lips found her throat as he kissed it softly.

He felt her breath hitch as his stiff member made contact; pressing lightly against her. He glanced up, her eyes were closed and she was biting her lower lip as her arms gripped tighter around his waist.

"Are you ready?" he whispered softly. Her eyes opened slightly and flickered to his with a longing he'd never seen before. She nodded, her eyes betraying her more than her nodding; this was a desired longing shared by the two of them, to give themselves to the other completely… and they were going to do just that.

Aang nodded and smiled, pressing his lips lightly against hers as he pressed the tip in; her breathe hitched again.

"Don't stop." She stammered quickly, afraid he was going to stop. Aang nodded and slowly eased himself in; she felt the pressure growing within her. "Aang…" she moaned quietly, her grip tightening around him.

Her left hand left his waist while her right remain, and found his right hand. Their fingers intertwined as he pressed down, his other hand wrapping gently under her head. His lips trailed from her lips and kissed and trailed on her neck, lingering longer at some points than others.

He lowered his hips and continued, pushing gently within her. Both of their breath hitched as their grip tightened. There was a certain peace and romance to their love tonight, it was their first and it was beautiful to both of them.

At a certain point of him pushing within, she made a quick yelp that caused him to stop and look at her.

"Are you okay?" He asked in a very concerned look and a very warm smile came over her face as she continued to notice how caring he was.

"I'm fine… just… slow… for now" she muttered, short of breath and he nodded. His movements were slow, delicate and dedicated. Her chest heaved against him as he held her, very mindful of his weight on her but keeping their bodies pressed together. They could feel nothing but each other, not the warmth of the fire or the slight cold of the breeze, their senses were each other.

Aang was moving as slow as he could, not bothering to rush himself for their first time. It was a delicate dance, push and pull, push again; a back and forth motion much like that of Waterbending. The push and pull of the currents of the ocean, he slowly began increasing his pace as her own moans increased.

Their soft sighs and moans were like music to the other, pure sounds of blissful passion filled them as they purred and sighed into each other's ears. When he'd slow down, she'd whimper and moan his name softly, coaxing him to move faster; she was past the stage of pain, she was in the stage of passion and she needed Aang to feel how much he meant to her, and her to him.

They kept the same rhythm and pattern here as they did when they danced; this was their dance, one only for themselves; dedicated to each other and meant for no one else. His comfort with his own movements increased as his lips picked up where they left off, kissing and sucking gently on her neck; in conjunction with his movements causing her moans to increase.

His lips trailed up slowly and met hers again, she returned his kiss with a passion and longing as another small whimper escaped her lips. Their eyes opened briefly and they each found themselves gazing into the others. Katara's hips rocking against Aang's as she felt her own pressure begin to build up; she could see the longing and desire, the love that was in his eyes as their lips met again.

Whatever she was feeling, whatever this passion was it felt like it was about to explode from her. She felt shivers down her spine as her back arched, his lips wandered around her, tracing her jawline and collar bone in equal light. That was when she returned the feeling for him, all the while rocking her hips with increasing passion.

She leaned up and kissed his neck, planting her lips around it and sucking gently on it as her tongue traced the skin she had, he let out a low moan. She smiled inwardly, this was a moment for the both of them and she meant for both of them to enjoy it.

His lips quickly found hers and pressed her back down against the blanket, coaxing another enchanting hum from her throat as her back continued to arch, his hand trailed up her body and found her breasts, and he ran his fingers over the hard-tipped center causing her to whimper.

They both felt the feeling that whatever passion they had was about to explode, Aang pressed his body down against her as his hips moved and rocked with hers, his movements becoming more and more dedicated and full of passion as she felt his stiff member pushing and pulling within her.

Aang slide his arm under her waist, bringing their bodies closer together, he wanted to feel her, all of her and she wanted the same as the feeling of sheer bliss continued to overwhelm them. They were lost within the passion the other was giving, each of them giving straight from their heart as they let their bodies take over.

Any resolve the two had vanished as Katara tried eagerly to kiss Aang on the lips but missed as she moaned loudly with increasing passion "Mmm, Aang… Aang!"

"Katara…" Aang moaned in response as she felt a warm sensation within her explode in her passion. She clutched against him hard, arching her back as he arched forward, his member deep within her as the explosion of fiery passion overwhelmed them both. They each shivered slightly as the feeling dissipated but they held each other firmly, not a sliver of space between their bodies.

Aang's weight pressing down and against her as she laid on the blanket and soft grass beneath them, her back sagged back to normal and for quite a time, they laid like that, neither of them asleep with the fire still crackling and dancing next to them.

Aang slide off of her gently but their embrace remained as she turned over to her side so she was facing him, their eyes were half-lidded as they gazed at each other. An unmistakable smile was painted on each of their faces and undeniable emotions were seen in their eyes. They rested their foreheads together and felt the slight pressure of their noses as they touched; they each let out a small sigh of bewildered happiness as their eyes closed for a time.

After a moment, Aang felt her fingertips trail his arm and he opened his eyes, moving his head in closer so their lips touched again. It was a slow and tender kiss fit for what they had just done, both of them still lost in bliss.

"I love you, Aang" she breathed softly against his lips

"And I love you" He cooed quietly, his lips brushing against hers as she purred and smiled in response, shifting her head to allow him to kiss down her neck as he was already doing. He trailed down, lingered for a moment before trailing back up to her lips and pressing against them softly for a time. When they broke, Katara opened her eyes and rested her hand on his cheek, her warm smile causing Aang to feel light headed.

"It was every-bit as amazing as I expected it to be" She purred, her thumb moving up and down his cheek as he smiled and nodded.

"Can definitely get used to that… thought… I thought I hurt you…" Aang muttered the last part softly as he looked away, his concern for her continued to astound her… she could never ask for more, and as long as it was Aang, she would drop her guard and walls and let him in to show him he meant every bit as much to her, as she did to him.

"Aang… a woman's first… involves a little pain. But I don't want you to worry, it was amazing and… beautiful…" Katara's voice cracked near the end, a tear sliding down her cheek as Aang's eyes opened in concern, his hand finding her cheek and gently wiping the tears away from her face, she looked back up into his eyes.

"Katara?" Aang questioned softly as her eyes watered lightly.

"I love you so much, Aang" her voice cracked again as she buried her face in his chest, his hand moving gently up and down her back

"And I love you, Katara." He whispered in her ear softly, causing a small tickle that gave her a small giggle as she looked back up to him.

"Thank you" she said softly, still gazing into his stormy eyes.

"You'll never need to thank me, I should thank you…"

"For what?"

"For everything you've given me" Aang whispered, she felt a small spurt of emotion that caused her eyes to well up again as she smiled and shook her head.

"You'll never need to thank me, either" She said softly as she pressed her lips to his.

Aang bit her lip lightly causing her to moan gently and purr softly as he returned the kiss. He was content to not move for the rest of the night, just lay there by the fire light, with the woman he loved pressed tightly against him after the most important moment of his personal life. They had a connection no man, woman, beast or spirit could break… they had each other and their love.