I want to thank Taurus The Dragon, Ashley Barbosa, and SaoirseParisa for reviewing the previous chapter. The story in chugging along, and I want to thank Taurus The Dragon and SaoirseParisa in particular for helping me with some scenes. Our favourite couple is now onto the planning stage of their wedding, where we get to see some cultural differences in how each culture views marriage. There is a lot of mixing and matching, along with modern takes on cultural practices in the Avatar universe. This is something I'm sure you don't want to miss.

Warning: NSFW content will continue to be shown in this chapter, especially with Aang getting tattooed and circumcised. While I try not to mention anything too explicit (thanks for the reminder, SaoirseParisa), Aang will be in his birthday suit for one scene. I tried not to show a twelve-year-old's body explicitly but you can't deny that the way his tattoos are designed sort of makes it necessary. Again, if this is not your cup of tea, please turn away now. I will not take responsibility for your reaction to that scene.

Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko own Avatar.

"Uh, Aang, did you just call me up to help you pet-sit?" Katara asked, a sceptical look on her face while she let her fiancé through her front door. She got a strange text from Aang requesting that he came over quickly, only to find that instead of an emergency, Aang appeared with a dog sitting next to him. "You do realize that my apartment has rules about owning pets, right?" she pointed out, gesturing at the canine with golden-brown fur and a white belly.

"I know, but my apartment's rules about pets are even stricter than yours, which is why I have to get you involved," Aang replied, patting the dog and nudging him into the apartment. The dog was hesitant, its eyes darting around while taking very small steps. While it didn't look overly hostile, both Aang and Katara were aware that large canines like these could turn quite aggressive if humans demonstrated to be a threat to it.

"But seriously, are you pet-sitting for someone? It's been a while since you've had to take care of a dog," Katara observed, making her way to the living room. She plopped herself down on the couch, and Aang soon followed suit. The large dog stood at attention before them, not sitting but also not indifferent to them. The canine was testing Katara out, trying to determine if she was friend or foe. "What's the dog's name and who is the owner?" Katara questioned.

Aang placed an arm around Katara's shoulder, allowing Katara to lean in closer to Aang. "The dog is named Buck, and he's a stray on the streets. Gyatso and I often go to the Air Temple on Air Temple Island, where the monks there have been taking care of Buck for the past few weeks," Aang described, "They told me that Buck ran away from an abusive owner who has been reported to Animal Services. Buck lived at the outskirts of Republic City for a while, and some claimed he was in a wolf pack. Buck then returned to the city and the monks found him."

Katara's eyes widened. She knew wolves were common in the Water Tribes, and there were also some in the northwest part of the United Earth States. Sometimes those wolf packs did travel into the northern part of the United Republic, but Katara had never heard of domesticated dogs joining wolves. "So if the monks at Air Temple Island offered to take care of Buck, why is he here with you? Shouldn't Buck be on Air Temple Island right now?" she inquired.

Aang shook his head. "Buck isn't too trusting of humans. He used to be domesticated, so he can do city life, but the past abuse made him leery," the air bender explained, "My time on Air Temple Island made Buck friendlier towards me, but he's not fully comfortable yet."

Katara glanced at Buck, who now edged forward a little more. The water bender did want to reach out to Buck, but was also aware that physical contact with a dog that wasn't used to her yet was a risky move. "Did you offer to take care of Buck then? I mean, the Air Nomads should have a home for animals, unless Buck doesn't want to be at Air Temple Island," Katara stated.

"But Buck was in the wild for a while, meaning he can be a roamer," Aang replied, reaching out his hand to Buck. The golden-brown dog trotted closer to the air bender, who rubbed the fur on Buck's neck. "Keeping him on Air Temple Island will be too restrictive, but living on the streets can be dangerous. Seeing him wandering the ferry pier, the monks decided that Buck should be adopted. Since Buck is friendliest towards me, they think I adopt him."

Katara pursed her lips. If they were to take on a pet, the first thing they had to do was to find new housing. Both their apartments had rules that were not the most pet-friendly, and the last thing she wanted was to be evicted for keeping a pet. "Can't you leave him with Gyatso? I know you're busy with your Foreign Service training, but Gyatso is an option," she proposed.

Aang rubbed his bald head and chuckled. The Foreign Service recruited him after passing his exam last month. However, he didn't want to put his wedding on hold. "I guess I just want you to bond with Buck first, you know?" he responded, his voice somewhat shaky and his tone sombre, "I haven't had a dog in my life since Appa died when we were still in undergrad."

Katara sat closer to Aang and put him in an embrace. Aang took Appa's death hard, and Katara did help him mourn the Komondor's death. Back then, Katara reminded Aang how old love can evolve into new love, especially given how out of control Katara got when after Kya's passing. She kissed Aang's cheek and held his head so their lines of sight were in direct contact. "Then Buck will be our new pet," the water bender declared, "He'll be like our child, before we really decide on if we should have a child. I hope our first child can grow up with Buck!"

"I love that idea, Sweetie. And I can't wait to marry you and have children with you. If you agree to, of course," Aang replied, this time smothering Katara's lips with his own. The hand Aang had on Buck now rose to cup Katara's face, leaving the dog staring at them confusedly. It was like Buck realized Aang did not see Katara as a threat, and wanted Buck to accept her too.

After a few more seconds of lip-locking, the engaged couple finally came up for air. "Was Appa there for all your major events, including when you were tattooed?" Katara queried.

Aang shook his head. "We did bring Appa to the Southern Air Temple, but the air bending exam is attended by the candidate alone," Aang explained, "I finished my exam, the panel graded me, and they decided that I can get my tattoos. Gyatso wasn't on the panel, but he knows most of the people there. The head examiner, Pasang, is one of Gyatso's longest friends, and he was the one to oversee the tattooing ceremony."

Katara nodded thoughtfully. By now, Buck shifted his position closer to the water bender, sniffing her a bit but still somewhat keeping her at bay. Katara did notice this and tried to relax, as to show that she was not a threat, but she kept thinking about what happened during Aang's ceremony. "So what happens during the ceremony itself? I know you told me that family and friends can drop in and out of the tattooing room, but did Gyatso and Appa stay the whole way?"

"No, they were only there for a few hours at a time. I think Gyatso didn't want Appa and Momo in there with all those needles and other sharp objects," Aang replied, "Don't forget that Air Nomads see the tattooing ceremony as a rebirth, meaning we have to treat this like we're born again. That means when we receive our tattoos, we are only in our birthday suits."

Katara's eyebrows rose, even though she wasn't too surprised at it. She had seen Aang wearing minimal clothing before, given Aang only swam in a Speedo. But still, envisioning her fiancé completely naked was something new. "How long does it take to tattoo your entire body?" she asked, gesturing at the blue arrows on Aang's limbs, "Did you stay in there the whole time?"

Aang nodded, explaining that the monks had the tattooing room set up right next to a bathroom. Meals were brought in for both the candidate and the monks administering the ink into Aang's skin. There was also a cot set up for the candidate to sleep at night, after the monks retired for the day. "They would come back the next day to finish what they started, and Gyatso did pop in and out," Aang described, "But I only put my clothes back on after it was all done."

Katara chuckled, recognizing that Aang had to be circumcised before leaving that room. "Tell me more about that," she requested, "What happened during that whole ceremony? Was it you who agreed to circumcision, or was it Gyatso, or was it both of you?"

To say that Aang was a mixed bag of emotions was an understatement. It was only yesterday that he took his air bending exam showing all thirty-six techniques plus using a technique all on his own. When the examiners announced that Aang passed his exam and would be the youngest person ever to receive his tattoos, the air bender was overjoyed.

But the excitement turned into anxiety when Aang entered a chamber in an isolated wing of the Southern Air Temple. He would be here the next few days to have his arrows tattooed onto his body. Gyatso already told Aang about the process, but it did not make Aang feel at ease, especially when he had to go through the process naked.

And there Aang sat, on top of a makeshift cot where he would spend his nights. Even though it was summer, Aang still had to wrap a blanket around his body. He observed the chair of his examination panel, Gyatso's old friend Pasang, light the incense around the room and murmuring prayers and blessings. Before him was an ink bed, where several other monks set up their equipment. Aang read from history books that past tattooing ceremonies were more rudimentary than this, and current medical standards made tattooing a lot cleaner and safer.

"Aang, we once again congratulate you," Pasang called. That snapped the boy back to attention, as the older monk now approached him. Pasang had a stern expression on his face, much different than what Aang was used to with Gyatso. "You are now an air bending master, having learned thirty-six techniques and demonstrating that you have matured. For that, you will be granted your tattoos. Please step onto the ink bed."

Aang dropped the blanket, feeling chills around his naked body. Stepping up to the ink bed, he took a seat on it and glanced around him. Various inking equipment and sanitization tools scattered nearby, all the while the monks prepared for the full blessing. "You came into this world with nothing, but you gained much in your journey," Pasang explained, "By mastering all the techniques, you are now reborn, you are considered physically, spiritually, and even sexually mature. We are very proud of you, and your parents and guardian are too."

Aang glanced at the door, where Gyatso stood outside watching. Once the candidate was completely shaved and the blessing was over, family and friends could enter the room. Gyatso brought Appa and Momo with them, and his attention was more on the Komondor and the lemur. Even with the lack of guests, Aang knew his parents would be proud of him in the Spirit World.

Soon, the familiar murmurs of prayers began. The strong smoke from the incense near Aang stuffed up Aang's nose. Taking a deep breath, Aang closed his eyes and prayed with the monks. Whether he was fearful or not, this was his new destiny as an air bending master. He now had duties to uphold his traditions, but also to carve a new path for Air Nomads in this world.

Once the prayers were over, Aang was asked to lay face-down on the ink bed. As he twisted his body around, Aang could see Gyatso trot into the room, Appa and Momo following closely. "I'm so proud of you, Aang," Gyatso stated, stepping up to the ink bed.

Aang smiled back at Gyatso. "I'll be face-down for the next day or two, at least until they finish off my back and my arms," he described, tilting his head at the tattooists, "I just feel a bit awkward that they're telling a twelve-year-old that he's sexually mature."

Gyatso glanced at Pasang, who merely shrugged. "I offered to delay your circumcision until you turn sixteen, which is a more sexually mature age," the uni-browed monk pointed out, "Gyatso wants to leave the final decision with you, but we're proceeding like you'll agree to it."

"Whatever the case, you are already mature, given how much you've grown," Gyatso proclaimed, "Just don't move too much on the ink bed when they do your back and arms. And when they do your lower body, that's when you have to stand the entire way."

Aang took another deep breath and entered meditation mode. He felt one monk making marks on his head, while the other did the same on his back. The pricking and scratching caused him some pain, but Aang pushed it to the side. His body was completely shaved, consistent with the theme of birth and rebirth. But for now, Aang knew how important this ceremony was.

The monks were also kind enough to allow for meal breaks and bathroom breaks, but leaving the room or putting his clothes on were out of the question. Gyatso popped in and out several times, but when it came to sleep time, Gyatso left Aang all to his lonesome. By the time the first day ended, Aang entered the adjoining bathroom, where a full-body mirror was present. He could see his head and back finished, and couldn't help but smile at the additions to his body.

The process continued the next day, with the monks finishing Aang's back to where his spine met his pelvis. After a quick lunch, two moveable pieces of the ink bed were pulled out, with Aang placing his arms on them. By nightfall, the monks finished the arrows from the armpits to the back of the hands, but only did a rough sketch for Aang's buttocks and legs.

The third day had Aang concentrate on standing rather than lying down to nap. His feet were more than shoulder-width apart, just so the tattooists could tattoo his buttocks to the top of his feet. During the process, Aang tried meditating. He peaked at the windows to see the outside scenery. He even played with his belly button, pinching and pulling on the protruding outie. It was soon nightfall again, and to his relief they were complete. "Now comes the important decision," Pasang announced after he was summoned back, "Will you take the final step?"

Aang had thought about this for the past three days, and he truly believed he was ready. He knew about sex organs and free love, but also the oath of celibacy before marriage. He always respected life and liberties, including another person's right to consent to sexual acts. There was nothing suggesting he would ever stop upholding those, no matter the situation.

"So the decision was ultimately yours, and Gyatso was comfortable with whatever you chose. But on that day, you chose to go through with the circumcision," Katara concluded, nodding her head in understanding. The Water Tribes had no cultural views regarding circumcision, and any decision on it was up to the individual, their friends, and their family. "You also said girls are not circumcised. So what happens when they're tattooed?"

"The monks just say a blessing to the girl, and that's it," Aang responded, rubbing his bald head again. Turning back to Buck, he scratched the dog's head one more time. "And on the topic of sexual maturity, I really think we should look for a place to move in together after we get married. It should be a place with pet-friendly policies, and we can then adopt Buck."

Katara smirked. "That means we'll have a lot of paperwork to do in the future," she slyly pointed out, "I'm starting my internship, you're starting your training, we have to register for our marriage, and we have to get pet adoption papers for Buck. Can you handle it all?"

Aang leaned over again, kissing Katara on the temple and burying his nose in her hair. "I know whatever challenges we have in the future, we can tackle it together," he declared, "First it'll just be you and me, and then we can include Buck, and any other children we may have."

Katara nodded. As they stayed on the couch in each other's warmth, Katara could not help but think about Aang's ceremony. There was a lot of spirituality involved, and Katara knew the same would happen at their wedding. They both had to be spiritually cleansed before they were separated the night before. Deep down, Katara wondered how that would work for her. But if it meant seeing Aang in his birthday suit, maybe she wouldn't mind after all!

"I'm really glad that you're dropping by tonight," Katara stated to Kanna and Pakku. It was another night where Hakoda asked his children and his mother to join him from dinner. And of course, Hakoda's stepfather Pakku was also present, meaning the entire family could ask about wedding customs of the Water Tribes for Katara's wedding. "We've been working with Aang and Gyatso so much that I almost forgot about talking about our culture!"

"Not a problem, Katara," Kanna responded, nodding in thanks when Hakoda brought her a glass of water. They were all seated at the dining room table waiting for dinner, all the while Hakoda and Pakku prepared some traditional Southern Water Tribe dishes. Even though cooking was traditionally a female task in the Water Tribes, Pakku and Hakoda really wanted to show their cultural backgrounds. Moreover, there was a chance that some of these dishes might make it onto the wedding reception menu, meaning Katara was potentially tasting her own celebratory meal. "So what type of traditions have you worked on so far, and what else do you want in?"

Katara pulled out her tablet and showed Kanna her notes. Sokka, who sat across from them, craned his neck to read the upside-down text. The lone water bender of the threesome explained about her Air Nomad blessing before separating the night before, and then having Aang come to her home to pick her up. "I'm guessing we want to do it here instead of at my apartment, since I may be moving in a few months," Katara described. With Aang wanting a bigger place for them both and potentially adopting a new dog, things had to change soon.

Kanna nodded her head. Given Aang had to cross an ice block at the front door, and then stand on a white mat with Katara to receive their blessings, Hakoda's house was roomier than Katara's apartment. "I'm sure your father and Pakku can make arrangements," Kanna replied.

"Did Dad and Gram-Pakku even discuss what they want to say for the couple?" Sokka asked, leaning his body on the dining room table but lifting his head up, "They're getting two blessings from two cultures, so will he say something different from what Gyatso will say?"

"I'm sure Pakku can work with Gyatso to do blessings that stay true to the respective cultures, all the while bringing something new to you two," Hakoda pointed out, bringing a dish of stewed sea prunes to the table. It was one of the few vegetarian dishes that the Water Tribes were known for, and one that Katara made sure to include in her menu with Aang. "Did you ask Gyatso about what he has in mind for the Air Nomad blessing?"

Katara flipped to another page on her tablet, this time containing notes of things that Gyatso wanted to say in his blessing to Aang and Katara. Lots of it referred to Air Nomad traditions, such as cherishing life and showing compassion to each other. There were also remarks about forgiving each other for pain they might cause each other in the future, to not despise or be angry with each other, and to free themselves to each other and encourage the other to be free. All these were consistent with Air Nomad beliefs, all of which the couple accepted.

However, Aang and Katara also added in their own tidbits, such as embracing different cultures, accepting change, and cherish every happy occasion like the midnight sun. Those were more akin to Water Tribe details, to which Aang and Katara wanted to include as well. It was truly a mix of both cultures, and Katara was intent that Pakku's blessing included the same.

Shaking her head a few times, Katara turned to Pakku, who came up with another traditional Southern Water Tribe stew. The hot soup bubbling in the pot and the smells of the ingredients were enough to get everyone's mouths watering. This one had seafood ingredients, so Aang was unlikely to try this at the wedding, but everyone else would be welcome to have it. Katara did enjoy a good seafood stew, especially in the winter. But with the wedding to take place in early June, just a few weeks before Katara's birthday, it would be the first time Katara tried this dish in late spring or early summer.

Pakku sat at the end of the table between Sokka and Katara. The traditional Water Tribe man, who had since accepted newer ideas about his culture, was more than happy to give Katara some tips for his blessing. "The white mat is meant for purity of the couple and how their pure love can support each other throughout their lives," the older water bender explained, "So if you want to include Air Nomad phrases, we'll have to think about what support means to Aang."

Katara nodded. She knew the basic lines where the couple recognized each other as spouses, but also additional lines regarding their connection to nature. There were lines about being each other's feet for running, heart for beating, and eyes for seeing. The main issue was how to incorporate Air Nomad beliefs into this blessing, just like how Gyatso incorporated Water Tribe beliefs into his blessing. "I guess it'll mainly be about supporting Aang in his quest for inner peace, spirituality, and overall cherishment of life," Katara commented.

Pakku tapped his chin. Leaning his head closer to Katara's tablet, he glanced at the notes she took on the basic Water Tribe blessing. Since the Water Tribes believed in relating to each other and the overall group, maybe something along the lines of helping each other be at peace and celebrate life would work. "How do you feel you can support Aang in doing that?" Pakku asked Katara, "Or do you feel it's more your personal growth that supports Aang?"

"Probably the latter, I think," Katara responded, thinking back to all the things that brought her closer to Aang. Even when they didn't see eye to eye, Aang and Katara were always there for each other, encouraging each other, and believing in each other. Aang calmed Katara when she was at her worst, and Katara reciprocated when Aang was at his worst. They both took each other to better places, and they both grew as people as a result.

"Can we try something along the lines of being each other's support, both physically and emotionally?" Hakoda proposed, taking a seat next to Sokka, "And if you want, you can even add in something spiritual, given how Air Nomads value their spirituality."

"Well, nothing has to be set in stone for now," Kanna interjected, placing her napkin on her lap. Sokka and Hakoda proceeded to doing the same, and Katara took the hint to put her tablet away. Given how good the food looked and smelled, Katara hardly found it proper for her to keep everyone waiting. "Let's focus on the big ideas first, and then narrow down later on."

Katara nodded, allowing her elders to take some of the stew first. She thought about how these blessings almost resembled a rite of passage for her and Aang. The air bender told her that Zuko planned to roast him during the best man speech, and Gyatso would have similar wisdom for Aang when he did his blessing. It made Katara wonder how the Water Tribes viewed rites of passages, given there was nothing as dramatic as getting arrows tattooed onto one's body. "The only rite of passage I know in the Water Tribes is ice dodging, and that's for boys only," Katara commented, taking the ladle from Pakku, "Is my wedding considered my rite of passage?"

Pakku shrugged. "If you want to be traditional about it, a rite of passage for water bending girls is mastering healing arts," the older water bender pointed out, "You wanted a mix of combat and healing, and thank goodness you made me see the wrongs of my ways when you pushed me on that. But didn't you take part in ice dodging a couple years back with Aang?"

"You realize just because we're going on a boat doesn't mean you have to switch into your swimwear, right?" Katara observed, watching her eighteen-year-old boyfriend march into their ship. Originally Katara invited Aang out for a day on the beach, but plans changed when Hakoda decided to tag along. Indicating he wanted to do something with Sokka, he explicitly invited Katara along, who in turn asked Aang to help out.

But here was the air bender wearing his trademark bright red Speedo and standing right on deck. Aang had a perplexed look on his face, wondering when they would go back to Rocky Bay's beach. "So what exactly are we doing, and whose boat is this?" Aang asked.

Katara turned to Sokka and Hakoda, who were positioned at the controls. "This is a very unique ceremony for those from the Water Tribes called ice dodging," Hakoda explained, placing one hand on the wheel, "It used to be that boys will start sailing through polar waters starting at the age of fourteen, but due to Sokka living in large cities like Republic City all his life, he never experienced that. Since Sokka had been getting his boating license, I thought we can replicate that here, with the rocks at Rocky Bay replacing the icebergs at the South Pole."

"And that's why I brought you both here, because ice dodging requires two helpers to assist the helmsman," Sokka added, stepping forward to the dating couple, "Dad asked Bato for help, and Bato rented this boat for us. He also wanted to proceed with the good weather. Since we're going to be at Rocky Bay today, he figured we might as well go for it."

Katara nodded with resolve, while Aang seemed a bit hesitant. He glanced around the yacht, which was not very large compared to the more luxurious ones. There were two sails, with a main sail in the middle and a smaller one at the back. He doubted they would sail too fast, even though the wind had been steady all day today. "And what roles do we have?" Aang asked.

Hakoda smiled. "Ice dodging is about wisdom, bravery, and trust," he pointed out, "We will sail the boat out to the rocks, and then I'll leave Sokka in charge. He will direct you two the rest of the way. I'll try to video call Bato in, but I'm not sure if he can be reached."

Before long, the threesome hopped onto the yacht and sailed towards the rocks. While Hakoda steered the boat, Sokka explained that he especially wanted Katara and Aang involved for their respective elements. Katara could control the water, which gave them an advantage for getting past the rocks. Aang could control air, which allowed him to manipulate the sails. "Toph and Suki will join us later on, but I really hope they can be here to see this too," he concluded.

By the time Hakoda steered the boat closer to the rocks, he beckoned Sokka to become the helmsman. "I've gone as close as I possibly can," he declared, "The rest is up to you."

Immediately Sokka called the shots, asking Katara to take the main mast while Aang took the back sail. Before they could even prepare, the boat entered the first set of rocks, edging dangerously close to them but not hitting them. The cold water rushed up the sides of the boat, all the while Katara kept her hands on the sail. "Keep at it, Katara," Sokka called, turning the boat to starboard, "And Aang, ease up on the back a little bit."

Before long, the harrowing ride through the first set of rocks was complete. Hakoda sat at the back in silence, his eyes tilting back and forth between his phone and Sokka. "You still have another set of rocks to go," he pointed out, "Let's try to finish those, okay? Meanwhile, I have Bato on Facetime and he's seeing every moment of this."

Hakoda turned his phone around and indeed, the recognizable thin face of Bato appeared on the screen. "I'm really proud of you, Sokka," he declared, "Now let's finish this and you can receive your marks. Are you ready to show the world what a Water Tribe man can do?"

Sokka nodded with determination. Turning his attention to the second layer of rocks, he asked Katara for water to raise the boat's level and Aang for wind to push into the sails. Katara pushed her arms to either side of the boat, whipping them around and pushing the waves higher. Her muscles were incredibly sore, and her lower body barely maintained balance. She took a gander at Aang, who whipped the air around and sent blast after blast into the sails. Deep in her mind, Katara wondered how Aang could do this while wearing only a Speedo. Wouldn't he freeze from the water or have his skin cut by the waves slashing at the back?

But none of that mattered, as the boat exited the last column of rocks. Katara slowly lowered her arms, letting the waves sink down while exhaling a deep breath. She took a look at the back, where Aang could be seen doing the same. With the boat now in smoother waters, Hakoda stood up and placed a hand on Sokka's shoulder. "Well done, my son," he commented, "That was amazing, and the way you had Katara and Aang do their roles was profound."

Bato complimented Sokka and encouraged him through the phone. But while Sokka's attention was split between Hakoda's phone and steering the boat back to shore, Katara and Aang embraced each other. Even though this was Sokka's moment, somehow it belonged to them as well. They might have played second fiddle to Sokka, but they still made it possible. And to see how well they synced up and worked as a team, it only made their relationship stronger.

"Okay, love birds," Hakoda's voice called. Katara and Aang released from the hug, Katara staring sheepishly at the floor while Aang rubbed his bald head apprehensively. "You can date later, but let's get back to shore first. We have special marks to give all three of you."

"Yeah, and no more giving me oogies, or I might hit something and sink this boat!" Sokka exclaimed. While Aang chuckled nervously and Katara groaned, it was clear that this moment was important of them all, no matter what role they played in this rite of passage.

"And if I remember correctly, Sokka got the Mark of Wisdom, Katara got the Mark of Bravery, and Aang got the Mark of Trust," Hakoda recalled, tapping his chin thoughtfully, "And Aang also became an honourary member of the Southern Water Tribe, even though in my mind, he has always been a welcome member in my family."

Kanna and Pakku both smiled, realizing how much that event meant to both Sokka and Katara. With the ice dodging bringing Aang and Katara closer, one could only imagine what the future would hold for this couple. "Maybe you should ask Gyatso to refer to ice dodging in his blessing too," Pakku proposed, "It certainly can't hurt with your bonding."

"That's all fine and dandy, but don't you think you should focus on other aspects of your wedding as well?" Sokka interjected. The entire table glanced at him, watching his plate tower higher and higher with food. "Zuko told me that while you and Aang will do the traditional main courses, you wanted Iroh to do the appetizers and desserts. When will you try out his menu?"

"Seriously, Sokka," Kanna responded, giving Sokka a sceptical look, "Is food all you think about?" That got a wave of laughter amongst the group, all the while Sokka tried to justify the mountain on his plate. As the family continued to enjoy their meal, Katara gave the menu a bit more thought. It would be an interesting mix of Water Tribe and Air Nomad cuisine, with a touch of Iroh's own specialty. Heck, if it wasn't for Malina leaving town for a business trip, Katara might ask her as well. The bigger the mix in cultures, the better for them all!

"Way to go on vacation while leaving all the hard tasks to us, Ty Lee," Mai muttered into her phone, glancing at the screen with an unimpressed look. The stoic blade-thrower was one of several people invited to Iroh's restaurant for tasting a very important menu. "I know you've been in Ember Island for a few days already, but can't you ditch your six sisters for a while and at least give us your thoughts on the food?" Mai demanded, not too thrilled at her cheerful friend.

"Hey, as long as everyone has a cheery aura on the wedding date, I think you'll do fine," Ty Lee responded with a chipper tone. Indeed, Ty Lee was at the beaches that Ember Island was so famous for, wearing a bikini that was more revealing than her usual one. The two-inch thick straps tying her top around her neck and her bottom at both waists were replaced with spaghetti strings. Even the usual pieces of cloth around her chest and waist covered less than before. "Besides, seven siblings mean seven opinions, and we don't really want that."

Mai rolled her eyes and tilted her screen around the entire table. Aang was present, and so was Ty Lee's other best friend Suki. But the one person who seemed most disinterested was Toph, who leaned her chair back and kicked her feet onto the table. "We're still waiting for Katara before we start the tasting," Mai described, turning the phone back to herself, "Do you want me to show you what each dish looks like, at least?"

"Mai, it'll be okay if you don't show Ty Lee the dishes. She is on vacation with her family, and I don't think we should take time away from that," Suki suggested. She craned her neck to see Mai's phone, to which the latter tilted towards the Kyoshi Island native. "And how are things going with your sisters, Ty Lee? Are you enjoying the beach right now?"

"It's a good chance to bond with them after not reaching out to them for a while," Ty Lee responded. Throughout her life, Ty Lee was so concerned about being compared to the other six sisters that she would do anything to be different. It even caused her to join Azula, which affected her friendship with Suki. "I don't have a lot of time with them now that I'm a competing gymnast. Any extra time I have with my sisters, I might as well enjoy it, right?"

"Sorry I'm late, traffic was really bad," a voice called from the other side. The entire group saw Katara trot up in a huff. "I thought I'd get my workout in at the university before dropping by, but then I lost track of the time. I didn't even change out of my workout clothes."

The entire group glanced at Katara wearing a white crop top with burgundy track pants. Given it was only early spring, they wondered if she felt chilly showing her midriffs like that. As the water bender sat down, she noticed the Facetime chat on Mai's phone. "Ty Lee is having pretty good weather," she commented, placing her bag on the ground and waving at the acrobat, "Are you at the beach with your sisters? And what do you have planned for the rest of the day?"

"Oh, not much, other than just hanging around," Ty Lee responded. She turned her phone to the other direction, and sitting on the sand were six ladies who physically resembled her. Like Ty Lee, they all had on those revealing string bikinis, making them truly a matched set. Turning the phone around again, Ty Lee continued, "Mai wants to show me what each dish looks like, but I don't think she should. I don't want my sisters trying to interject every time, you know?"

"What happened to some problems being too big to solve on your own?" Toph retorted, placing her sandaled feet down from the table. Leaning forward, she tilted her head to the sound of the voice while flashing a cheeky grin. "Didn't you say that to Suki and me one time?"

Ty Lee's smile faltered for just a second, recalling the difficult discussion she had with Toph and Suki shortly after getting her gymnastics scholarship. It was when she realized that she had to be fully independent that Ty Lee began missing her sisters, realizing how much value they brought to her life as well. Even so, it didn't keep Ty Lee down for long, especially when she had a full vacation to look forward to. "Some problems are too big to solve on your own, but picking appetizers and desserts for a wedding sure isn't one of those," she replied with a grin.

"Okay, I think we should let Ty Lee off the hook now," Aang proposed, waving a hand at Mai, "As long as she can make it to the wedding party, I'm good with her vacationing."

Mai soon ended the Facetime call before turning back to everyone. "Before we get Iroh to serve the dishes, I have to ask Aang and Katara something," the stoic woman stated, turning to the engaged couple seated across the round table from her, "Have you decided what types of flowers you want? My aunt Mura wants an update and I was asked to be the messenger."

Aang and Katara glanced at each other. They had been together for over a decade, but they only started dating after they both entered high school. They still remembered the first set of flowers Aang got Katara, which was a bouquet of panda lilies. Part of them did want that to be featured, but given how much mixing and matching there was, both of them wanted more. "The panda lilies, of course," Katara stated, "But do you have any other recommendations?"

Mai smiled. Turning to her phone, she clicked on a couple of photos and showed the couple. "In the Fire Nation, peonies are used in weddings to wish fortune upon the couple," she explained, turning the phone around to show everyone the red flowers, "There's another one called sakurasou, a purple flower that represents long-lasting love. Will these work as well?"

Aang and Katara whispered between themselves, considering the possibilities of adding a Fire Nation twist to their wedding. "After all, Zuko is the best man, and he's a fire bender," Aang pointed out, "Maybe adding two flowers common in Fire Nation weddings should be fine."

"You're adding in quite a few different elements here," Suki commented, taking a gander at the flowers on Mai's phone, "What do you have in mind for the United Earth States? Will Toph here be singing at your wedding or something?"

The blind earth bender snorted at the remark. "Are we still going off about that song I did for the charity event when I was eighteen?" Toph recalled, waving a hand nonchalantly, "That was a long time ago, and even though I liked the song, I'm not sure if I want to sing it on repeat."

"Hey, I still remember when you had Suki, Sokka, and me present a part of the song using sign language," Mai chimed in, gesturing at Toph with her cellphone before pocketing it, "I know you want to focus your father's new philanthropic organization on disabilities and all, but you can't deny how hard sign language is when you have to perform it to music."

"Live your life to its fullest potential, that's what I say," Toph retorted, suddenly sitting straighter and her posture more prideful, "I'm not just a blind earth bender. I'm also a metal bender, a university graduate, a businesswoman, a performer, and a good friend to the disabled. Why do you think my dad agreed on the spot when I told him I wanted to market his charity?"

"Toph Bei Fong, jack of all trades," Suki murmured, tilting her head at the earth bender. It was no secret that even though Suki and Sokka were dating, Sokka kept a close platonic friendship with Toph. Suki somehow felt it was their creative thinking that got them bonding, and Suki knew well enough to give those two some space to brainstorm when required. "And should we add midwife to that, after that incident from a year back?"

"Are we really going there, Suki? How did an all-girls hiking trip with us three turn into an emergency baby delivery in the middle of a parking lot?" Katara called from her end of the table, getting some chuckles from the group, "But seriously, if us three didn't coordinate well, I think there would have been so many problems for both baby and mother."

"You mean if the parents' car didn't break down in the middle of the highway, and they didn't flag us down for help, there would be problems," Toph replied, punching Katara in the shoulder, "I'm kind of glad Sokka wasn't there, because he might faint like an old lady."

"Will any of you ladies please help my wife and me?" the man desperately asked, waving at Katara and her two friends from his vehicle. It was a warm spring day when Katara decided to go hiking with Suki and Toph. They chose an area far enough away from the city to avoid the crowds, but still popular enough to see a steady stream of visitors. It was going to be a girl's day out, with just the three of them while the boys stayed back at Republic City.

However, that was soon dashed when Katara, Suki, and Toph left their vehicle. Marching through the parking lot, they had to cross over to the other side before they reached their hiking trail. They were just about to enter the path when a loud honking occurred from the highway. They glanced up to see the man in question, a man with dark hair and a goatee, wave at them from his vehicle. "My name is Than and I'm rushing my pregnant wife Ying to the hospital," he explained, his tone slightly frantic, "My car just broke down and she's about to give birth soon. Will you ladies please give us a hand, or at least help us call an ambulance?"

Katara glanced at Suki and Toph, who looked just as helpless as Than. Neither of them had any knowledge in health sciences or medicine, meaning everything was left to Katara, who was only in the process of applying to medical school. Hearing Ying's cries of pain from inside the vehicle, and how far they were from the closest population centre, the situation was dire.

Nonetheless, Katara was prepared for this task. She didn't apply to medical school just to be afraid of such a situation, especially when the health and wellbeing of mother and child were both in play. Taking a deep breath, the water bender steeled herself and barked out orders. "We have to take Ying out of the car and into a safer spot," she decided, trotting up to the rear door of the vehicle, "If you have a towel, then we'll take that too. We'll soak it with our water."

Than immediately opened the rear door before going to the trunk, rifling through it to look for the items Katara mentioned. Meanwhile, Katara turned to Toph. "I want an incline of concrete leading to the door, so we can ease Ying out of the car," she described, "Once she's on the ground, we can bend a tent for cover. Suki will help me from there while you call 9-1-1."

Toph obeyed Katara's orders, bending the concrete to form a ramp. The husband returned from the trunk, holding a fairly old rag with questionable odour. Wrinkling her nose, Katara figured she had to make do. "Suki, will you dust it off while Than and I tended to Ying?" she requested, handing the rag to the non-bender, "We don't want Ying to get an infection."

Suki took out a bottle of water she brought for the trip and poured it over the rag, washing out the grime and dust on it. Katara then focused on Ying, having Than go to the opposite side of the vehicle. "You push her towards me, and I will lower her to the ground," the water bender instructed the man, "We don't want her to fall, so go gently and slowly."

Ying tried her best not to writhe around while Than and Katara manoeuvred her out of the car. Toph could not see what was going on, but from the vibrations through her sandals she could feel Ying's legs scraping against the ramp. From behind Toph, Suki set up the rag and held her water bottle tightly. "Do you want more water, or are we good?" she asked.

"We're fine for now," Katara responded. Ying was already halfway out of the vehicle, with only her upper body still inside. Seeing the precarious position, Suki tucked the water bottle under her arm and ran to Katara's other side. "Try to adjust her shoulder so she can get out," the water bender instructed, "That way, she doesn't bump into the door."

Katara and Suki managed to get Ying onto the rag. With Than running back out, Toph created an earth tent. She pressed one foot next to the tent, feeling everyone's heart rate shoot up. "You're doing great, Ying," the blind earth bender could hear Katara tell the pregnant wife.

Despite her curiosity, Toph tore away and pulled out her cellphone. It was a special phone made especially for visually impaired people. With each press of the keypad, Toph could hear the phone call out the numbers nine, one, and one. Knowing that she got the right number, Toph placed the phone next to her ear and waited for the call to connect. Even though she often showed the exterior of a tough girl, Toph's heart was pounding even faster than Ying's.

While Toph spoke on the phone, Katara and Suki were involved in something complete different. There was no container available, meaning Suki had to hold the baby while washing it. But right now, they were concerned when the baby would even come out, given how much Ying hyperventilated. "Just get into a rhythm, that's all there is to it," Katara soothed Ying.

Katara reached between Ying's legs, ready to receive the baby. "Push on the count of three, Ying," she called, glancing up at the soon-to-be mother, "One, two, three, push!"

Ying let out a loud cry, and before long, the recognizable sounds of a baby crying joined in. Katara cracked a relieved smile when she could see the newborn out of the womb. She took the rag and wrapped it around the baby, handing it over to Suki for a quick wash. "It's a girl, by the way," she announced, hoping she was loud enough for Toph to hear.

Suki washed the baby up to the best of her ability, all the while Katara checked on Ying. Before long, the familiar sirens of an ambulance could be heard, and Toph waved down the paramedics. By now, the professionals took over, checking on both the baby and Ying. Katara quickly updated the paramedics of what happened, and she received nothing but praise in return. "I'm not the only one who delivered the baby," Katara interjected, gesturing at Suki and Toph, "They helped as well, and I think they deserve just as much credit."

Than smiled at the group. He turned his head to watch his wife and baby being wheeled into the ambulance. "I'm sure my wife and daughter are very thankful, and we felt so hopeful when the baby was delivered," he declared, "And that's why we're naming our baby Hope."

"I still remember Toph saying I shouldn't say too much to Sokka, in case he fainted like an old lady at the details," Suki commented, giggling at the remark, "I did tell him later on, and he did sound grossed out. I wonder what it'll be like if Katara tells him about med school."

Toph shrugged. "It was an interesting experience, inspiring too," she stated, thinking back to her performance for her father's charity. That event only reminded Toph that every birth was important, and every life had meaning in its own way. Even if it was like fire in the rain, trying to keep warm in a hostile environment, there was no stopping someone determined to live life to the fullest. And for her two engaged friends, Toph knew they would marry the same way.

Just then, Katara trotted back to their table. She excused herself earlier to use the bathroom, and now she came back changed out of her workout clothes. "Anyway, where are we at with the menu? Did Iroh serve anything yet?" she asked.

Aang glanced at the menu again and shook his head. "Iroh still haven't come out with any dishes yet," he responded, flipping through the photos of food Iroh proposed for their wedding, "I don't want to rush him, since he probably wants more time to perfect the dishes."

"Why don't I go in and take a look? Even though Zuko and I are taking a break on our relationship, I'm still on talking terms with him and Iroh," Mai suggested, excusing herself and striding to the kitchen. Deep down, despite the recent break between her and Zuko, Mai hoped for a long-lasting relationship with him, just like Aang and Katara were doing right now.

Again, I have a very long list of inspirations, so please bear with me as we go through this:

1.) The first scene is a request from Taurus The Dragon who was inspired by the release of "Call of the Wild" recently. We agreed that we would incorporate Buck, the main dog from that movie into my story. In doing so, I had to have Appa and Momo no longer be with us, just to show Aang can replace old love with new love. Since Appa is a Komondor and not a Sky Bison, his lifespan can be shorter and he would pass away while Aang is still in undergrad. I hope this does Buck justice and shows him becoming a part of Aang's new family.

2.) Aang's tattooing ceremony is a mix of Tibetan Buddhism and Judaism. Just like Tibetan Buddhism, Air Nomads believe in reincarnation and rebirth, and I included some aspect of that here. By becoming an air bending master, an Air Nomad sheds their ways as a child and embracing their duties as an adult. Due to their free love culture, they are also educated in accepting love of all forms, while respecting other people's consent (ex: no sex before marriage). Taking a page out of Judaism, boys are given a blessing and circumcised, similar to the Brit Milah ceremony, but girls are only given a blessing and that's it. My inspiration for the Judaism part: Kelev.

3.) The tidbits I included for blessings from Air Nomads and Water Tribes are actual translations of traditional Tibetan and Inuit blessings. I didn't include the full part because I'm still thinking about what exactly they should say. But you can expect to see the actual thing in Chapter 4 or so, when the actual ceremony takes place.

4.) Toph performing a song at a charity started by her father in support of disabled people is inspired by something similar in Singapore. It's called the "See the True Me" campaign and the song is called "Fire in the Rain." I used a song with an identical title in my Korra fic, but these are not the same. The main singer of the Singapore song is a young girl who is blind, and she actually sounds a lot like a softer and gentler version of Toph. Leave a review or email me if you want to see the video.

5.) Mai's comments about flowers used in Fire Nation weddings is directly from Japanese culture. The Fire Nation represents Militarist Japan, so I figure their views on flowers in weddings are similar to Japanese people. Peonies and sakurasou are real flowers that exist in Japan, and they are used in Japanese weddings for the reasons Mai stated. I figure that since Mai's aunt is a florist, Mai should have basic knowledge of this. That's why I chose her to be the one supplying the flowers for the ceremony.

6.) Pasang being the head monk presiding over Aang's ceremony is from "the Storm" where he served a similar role in Aang's examination and subsequent reveal as the Avatar. Hakoda taking Sokka ice-dodging (while Bato watches through a cellphone screen) is from "Bato of the Water Tribe" where Sokka did the same thing with the roles reversed for Hakoda and Bato. Toph talking about living life to its full potential and becoming a jack of all trades is from "the Metal Clan" in Korra where she was quoted by Aiwei of saying the same thing. And Katara asking Suki and Toph to help her deliver a baby (hence taking her first step into medicine) is from "Serpent's Pass" where she asked them to help her do the same thing.

Thanks for reading this chapter and I hope you're doing well. This recent health scare isn't making things better, but I'm sure we'll get through this. Stay healthy and hope to see you soon.