A/N: Hello again readers! Goodness, it's been a long time and I'm sorry :/. Luckily, this time I can actually tell you for sure that it won't be as long till the next chapter because I already have it and half of the one after written ^^. It's spring break and even though I'm still crazy busy, I'm inspired again so I'll try to make time to write instead of just letting everything overwhelm me. Anyways, as some of you have probably seen, the first episode of Korra was leaked online. I'll admit I was kind of scared (and still sorta am) because I wasn't sure how it would compare to the Avatar that we all know and love and it makes me hurt a little inside that almost all our beloved characters are dead in it. However, they'll never actually be dead because we're (at least I am) still gonna be writing about them and the comic book series isn't finished yet ^^. If you're like me and are feeling nostalgic for the old characters, just look at it this way: the fact that the rest of their lives were never covered in the actual series just gives us more room for fun and imagination, so the decision to skip to Korra on the creators' part sorta helps keep fanfiction alive, I think. Anyhow, I'm sure that I'll come to love Korra in time as well. Whew, that was long. Back to relevant stuff. This is a request from SummerSweetheart so happy readings to her and everyone else!
Aang had come to Kyoshi as quickly as he could after he'd heard the news about Katara from Sokka's messenger hawk. Going away for avatar duties was never easy on either of them, but after Sokka's message, Aang felt more guilty than he could remember feeling in years. He'd left his wife just a week ago with the beginnings of a cold, though it had taken some convincing on her and the rest of their small family's part. Suki had assured him that Katara would be fine and that as they were all there for each other, there was no need for him to worry. Oh, how wrong she'd been. Not that Aang blamed her, but Sokka's message had said that Katara wasn't eating and could barely get out of bed now. After unsaddling Appa, Aang ran straight for the house where he knew his wife to be, his heart thudding anxiously.
No one was sitting in the main room when he entered, so he quickly shut the door and half walked, half flew to the room he always shared with his wife when they visited Sokka and Suki. He paused in the door frame, his eyes softening and a frown coming to his lips upon taking in the scene before him. Suki sat in a chair by the bed, in which lay Katara herself, curled on her side and shivering slightly despite being wrapped in several blankets. Her face was pale rather than its usual healthy brown, her cheeks flushed. Suki lifted her eyes to him and bested a smile, rising from her position to meet him and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. He gulped.
"How…how is she?" he croaked. "What happened?" Suki cast him a sympathetic look.
"She's been this way since three days after you left. She kept saying she was fine, and then that day, she just…collapsed when she and I were making dinner. We talked to some healers and apparently something bad's been going around the island. They told us that the only thing we could really do is to try and get her to eat and…wait." Aang nodded, his own face becoming ashen as he approached the bed and took his wife's hand. Her fingers were moist with sweat, but Aang smiled slightly when they squeezed his, even as she slept.
"Did they say if she's gonna be okay? What happened to the other people who got this?" He asked quietly, so as not to disrupt Katara's slumber. Though Aang could tell she tried to hide it, Suki winced, as she'd been hoping he wouldn't ask that question.
"Well…" she began. "Only one or two very old people have died. Katara's young and strong so…" But Aang didn't hear anything after the word died. People had died from this sickness. Katara could die from this sickness, Katara had a disease that could kill her. He felt like his whole chest was collapsing. This was all his fault, if only he hadn't left when she needed him. How could he have? Suki however, apparently read the emotions his face did a poor job of hiding and came to sit by him before saying gently but firmly.
"Look, I know it sounds bad, and I know you're probably about to blame yourself, but you shouldn't. There was no way of knowing she'd get like this, and all that matters is that you're here now and you can help her. Those other people probably had some other sickness already and they were already fragile. Besides, beating yourself up isn't going to help anyone, so don't even think about it." Aang only gave a shuddering sigh and nodded once more. He knew Suki was right, and he was surprised at how quickly she'd picked up how he was feeling.
"What can I do for her?" He asked, unable to completely control the hint of desperation in his voice, despite his friends' reassuring words. He couldn't help it when he knew Katara was in any kind of trouble.
"Keep her cool." Suki answered gesturing to a rag sitting in a wooden bowl at Katara's bedside. "And make sure she drinks the rest of that tea when she wakes up." Aang nodded.
"I will." Suki smiled, genuinely this time and stood up.
"You know, I'm sure just seeing you will make her feel better. Sokka and I are right outside if you need anything." Aang returned the smile in thanks and then turned his full attention to Katara.
"I'm sorry." He whispered to her, standing up and taking the washcloth out of its bowl to dab at her forehead. "I should've stayed…" Her brow furrowed at the contact and Aang's eyes widened when hers fluttered open.
"A-Aang?" She asked uncertainly, and judging by the glazed look in her eyes Aang guessed the sight of his face wasn't completely in focus for her. Still, he did his best to smile for her sake.
"I'm here." He murmured. Now it was her eyes that widened and she sat up with surprising abruptness, causing Aang to move back. Almost as soon as she was sitting up straight however, she doubled back in a fit of coughs and Aang gently placed his hand against her upper back, lowering her back down. "Easy there." He murmured, only to be cut off.
"What are you doing here?" She asked weakly. "You're supposed to be…supposed to be…"
"Shh." Aang hushed her. "I know. I was supposed to be in Republic City, but not now. I'm supposed to be there for my wife when she needs me too, right?" Even in her exhausted state, Katara looked conflicted as she pondered his words.
"I…" She began, and then caught her husband's eye, recognizing the familiar concerned, caring gaze, feeling him close to her again… She closed her eyes softly in defeat. "I missed you." Her voice trembled slightly and Aang lowered himself to her level to take her into his arms.
"Me too. And whatever you do, I don't want you to worry about me leaving Republic City right now. They've got it under control. You just have to focus on getting better." Katara gave him a tired smile and slumped back against her pillows, enjoying the feel of Aang's cool touch against her cheek.
"Here. Suki said you should drink this." He helped her sit half way up and held the warm drink to her lips.
"I'm strong enough to hold a teacup by myself, Aang." She informed him, just a hint of playfulness in her hoarse voice. Aang shook his head in response.
"Just let me help you, okay?" Katara sighed, though her lips were still curved upwards in a smile as she surrendered, allowing Aang to hold the teacup as she drank. To his relief, she finished the drink, leaning back again in exhaustion with a sigh. Aang winced upon hearing her breathe in the silence that momentarily settled over them, each inhale sounded like it took all of her strength. "When was the last time you ate?" He asked upon recalling Suki's words. Katara frowned, biting her lip.
"I don't know." She confessed, and Aang frowned. "It's okay." She added rather hastily. "I'm not hungry." However, Aang had already pushed himself off of the bed.
"You should still eat something. You need it. I'll be right back." He was about to leave the room when Katara called softly after him-
"Promise?" He turned back and gave her his most reassuring smile, bending slightly to kiss her forehead.
"I promise." He could only assume that her fever was making her less like herself, for the slightly fearful look in her eyes was one he was not accustomed to seeing. Still, it only made him more determined to stay true to his word. He gave her hand one last squeeze before exiting the room, exhaling softly as he moved towards the kitchen, finding Suki already there. She turned around upon hearing him enter.
"Is she awake?" She asked quietly. Aang nodded.
"I told her she should eat something. Do you have anything already made?" Suki chuckled.
"I have too much made. I keep thinking that she'll get really hungry so I cook a lot, but she never seems to. You might be better at convincing her to eat than Sokka and I though. Speaking of which, aren't you hungry?" Aang waved a hand dismissively.
"I'll eat when she goes back to sleep. Which could be soon, so I want her to eat first." Suki laughed slightly as she nodded, filling a small bowl with soup from a large pot and handing it to Aang, who immediately moved to leave for Katara's room.
"Whoa, slow down, you don't even have a spoon!" Aang halted upon hearing Suki behind him and he turned back, grinning sheepishly as she handed him the utensil. "And calm down, you're making me nervous just watching you."
"Sorry." Aang apologized, rubbing the back of his neck. Suki only chuckled.
"Whatever. Just try not to panic too much, okay?" Aang nodded with a small smile as he moved to leave once more
"I'll try."
"Back." He announced upon returning to Katara's room, moving to sit beside her in the bed. She wrinkled her nose at the sight of the food.
"You're gonna make me, aren't you?" She asked warily.
"Come on Katara, you're a healer. You know better than anyone how important it is to eat." Aang urged. She nodded.
"I know." She sighed. "I just haven't been hungry. I don't even like food anymore…" Aang frowned, covering her hand with his own.
"I know you don't. But you know you have to eat. Please Katara, for me." He beseeched and when she caught the pleading, concerned look in his eyes, she couldn't help but allow her shoulders slump in defeat. Before Aang could say another word, she had taken the bowl gently from his hands and brought it to her lap, spooning the broth into her mouth. Aang looked at her quizzically for a moment and then shook his head lightly. Perhaps, he thought, Katara's sickness was making her less stubborn as well, not that he was complaining in this particular case. She managed to finish half the bowl before pushing it away and closing her eyes once more, looking exhausted. Aang took the unfinished food from her and tucked the covers gently around her, brushing a damp strand of hair out of her face.
"Tired?" He asked. She nodded, opening her eyes half way to look at him.
"You'll stay, won't you?" She requested softly. Aang nodded.
"Of course." He lifted the covers so he could crawl in next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist and curling himself around her. She nuzzled close to him, placing a kiss against his jaw. He approached her lips with the same intention, but she pushed him gently away.
"I don't want you to get sick too…" She said sleepily. Were it not such a grim situation, Aang would have laughed for she had just requested he stay with her, but it didn't truly matter. He couldn't possibly leave her alone in a time like this.
"I'll be fine." He assured, caressing her cheek. "You just get some rest." Without further protest, Katara shut her eyes again, and soon enough her ragged breathing evened out, though it was still labored and painful to listen to. Aang only held her closer and tried to find sleep himself.
When he woke again, it was still dark outside, and Aang realized with slight annoyance that his stomach was growling. It was only then that he recalled he never had been able to get around to eating dinner, despite Suki's recommendation that he take care of himself as well as his wife. With a sigh, he eased himself oh so carefully out of bed so as not to wake Katara and slipped out of his day clothes, pulling on a robe in their place and leaving the room on tip toes, igniting a small flame in the palm of one hand for light. He nearly stumbled backwards upon reaching the kitchen however, as he saw a dark figure sitting at the table when he'd expected to be quite alone. The figure spun around.
"Who's there…Aang?" Aang's racing heart slowed. It was only Sokka.
"Hi." He greeted, coming to sit beside his brother in law. "Sorry to scare you." Sokka waved a hand dismissively.
"I wasn't scared. You were the one who almost fell over." Aang made a face.
"Did not." Sokka raised an eyebrow and Aang exhaled in defeat. "Okay, fine I did. I just didn't expect anyone to be up this late. What are you doing?"
"Having a midnight snack." Sokka answered nonchalantly. "The real question is, why are you up so late?" Aang shrugged.
"I never had dinner at all in the first place. Katara wanted me to stay with her." At the mention of his sister's name, Sokka's shoulder seemed to slump and he sighed heavily.
"Oh yeah." Aang spooned a portion of Suki's soup from the pot that had now grown cold and frowned.
"I feel awful." He confessed. "If I hadn't left when I did…"
"Aang, stop it. If you hadn't gone, Katara would have worried that you weren't doing your job because of her and she would've gotten sicker anyways. I wish it weren't such a double edged sword with her, but it is. She gets lonely when you're gone, but if you stay and ignore what she thinks is your duty, she gets guilty. You know that. Besides, there was no way for any of us to know it would get this bad. It started off as just a regular cold and none of us ever suspected it would get serious." Aang nodded between spoonfuls of soup.
"I know." He admitted. "I just feel so…useless." Sokka pushed his now empty plate of food aside and placed a hand on Aang's shoulder.
"I know, that's how I feel too. I can't do anything. I can't cook for her, I can't tell her what she should do to get better, or anything. But you shouldn't feel that way. You're her best chance for getting better faster. I'm sure just being around you makes her feel much better." Aang seemed to brighten just slightly.
"Really?" Sokka rolled his eyes.
"Of course! I don't think she would've married you if she were happier when you were gone." Aang laughed his first real laugh since arriving.
"Well, when you put it that way…"
"I'm serious though." Sokka continued. "This is the first time since she's gotten sick that she's slept this long through the night. Normally she-" Sokka never had the chance to finish his sentence, for at that moment, a half strangled cry broke through the quiet night air and both men jumped to their feet. The cry was followed by a series of violent coughs that grew louder and louder as Aang and Sokka approached the room where they'd believed Katara to be sleeping peacefully just moments ago. When Aang opened the door, they caught sight of Katara sitting straight up in bed, her eyes wide and her whole body shaking. Aang didn't hesitate to rush to her side, finding her face wet with sweat and tears as she struggled to breathe through her coughing fit.
"Katara…" He breathed. She looked at him almost fearfully and he cupped her face in his hands. "It's okay." He murmured. "It's just me." Looking around the room frantically first, she dropped her forehead to his shoulder. Aang heard the door close behind him, indicating that Sokka had decided to leave the two of them alone. Her breath came in shuddering sobs now and Aang wrapped her in his arms, resting his head atop hers. "It was just a dream." He assured, hoping he sounded more sure of himself than he felt. He rubbed her back, using gentle airbending to help her breathing become more regular again. Seeing her this way made his heart ache.
"Aang…" She murmured when she could breathe again. She pulled back slightly from the embrace, though her hands were still in fists against the sleeves of his robe. She then sighed and shook her head, seeming to become more aware of herself.
"I'm sorry." She said hoarsely. "This fever is making me act crazy." Still, her eyes were wet and she looked visibly shaken. Aang drew her back towards him.
"You're not acting crazy. You're sick, and besides, we all have nightmares sometimes. Don't worry about that, okay?" A tired hint of a smile tugged at the corners of Katara's lips as she slumped in exhaustion, allowing her head to fall against Aang's chest.
"You're one to talk." She croaked. Aang chuckled.
"Fine. But you still don't need to be sorry, this is my job, remember? I kind of promised when I married you." He laced his free hand with hers, giving it a squeeze.
"I love you." He could barely hear the whispered words, but nonetheless they washed over him like warm water as her breath tickled the skin exposed by his loose robe.
"I love you too, Katara." He pressed a kiss to her cheek and he felt her fingers begin to trail up his arm over the tattoo, even as her eyes began to droop once more. She kissed his bare shoulder and he smiled, but laid her back down on the bed. He knew how quickly things could get intimate if he allowed her to continue, and Katara needed rest more than anything else.
"Aw. You're no fun." She joked weakly. Aang laughed, wringing out the washcloth that still sat by the bed and gently dabbing at her forehead.
"You need to rest. I'll be more fun when you're better, I promise." He said fondly, lying beside her again.
"I already feel better." She insisted, though her statement was followed by another cough. Still, Aang could tell she was at least partly telling the truth and that alone gave him more hope than he'd come here with.
"I'm glad." He murmured. He could scarcely believe how accurate Sokka's words from earlier had been. Though, he supposed that if the situation were reversed he would also benefit immeasurably from Katara's presence. He looked at her again, only to find her eyes closed in slumber. Her breathing was still labored and uneven and Aang knew that it could be a while yet before his wife was completely well again, but he thought to himself, considering they had their whole lives ahead of them, this would be but a small obstacle.
