After dinner, Katara retreated to her rooms and put on her pajamas. While brushing her teeth, she examined her skin in the clear mirror above the ice sink. When she had first arrived in the North Pole, it was before she had been invited down into the crystal catacombs in Ba Sing Se, and she had marveled over the crystalline structure of the ice. But now, having traveled the world over, all she saw were pieces stolen and cobbled together in every nation's architecture. There was nothing wrong with a little inspiration, but it had wounded Katara's pride to see something she had claimed for her own have its origin in a faraway place.

Between jet lag and the darkness hindering her own internal clock, Katara was restless after preparing for bed. She walked out onto her balcony and watched the green ribbons shimmer over the oasis. This was going to be her home and she tried to feel something for it.

It had everything she wanted. Strong walls to protect her people, an opulence that she used to dream of, and a connection to her family. During dinner, she had watched as her father talked with a woman and saw a familiar look in his eye. Gran-Gran lived here, now, with Pakku, coming back full circle in her life. Sokka might only visit, but her family was settling down here in the North Pole.

But it felt more like getting stuck in permafrost than putting down roots to her.

"Yo." Sokka said from just behind her. Katara jumped and glared at him as he walked up.

"You scared me!" She snapped.

"I knocked, but I guess you can't hear me out here."

"I guess not."

Sokka stepped up to the railing, standing next to her, and they both looked out at the spirit lights. They stood together quietly and, after a moment, Katara leaned into him and put her head on his shoulder.

The North Pole had been brutal. Everyone was excited at their arrival; no one in the North Pole knew that the South Pole was still surviving. When they were told that their parents weren't there, Pakku himself had promised to help teach Katara before sending them out into the world. Anything for Kanna, he said.

While they stayed there, Sokka and Katara lived in the palace. They both got to know Princess Yue fairly well, but Sokka fell in love.

It had devastated him when she sacrificed herself for Tui.

"How are you doing?" Katara asked, rolling her head back a bit to look up at him.

"I'm alright. It's been a long time." He said. "It doesn't hurt anymore."

"Do you think dad is moving on?"

"Are you talking about Malina?"

"Is that her name?"

Sokka shrugged, bouncing Katara's head until she stood up.

"How does it feel being the only one without a tragic love story?" Sokka questioned.

"I think I might be getting one." She muttered and draped herself over the balcony rail.

"Are you in love with Zuko?" He asked.

For some reason, Katara suddenly felt like crying and her throat tightened. "I really like him, Sokka."

"He's a good guy." Sokka replied and put his arm on Katara's head.

"I don't think we're good for each other." She admitted. Sokka's hand hung in her face and she saw thin scars on his palm.

"How's that?" He asked.

"We're total opposites."

"Katara, you're whole life is filled with opposites. Your bending is based on opposites." Sokka scoffed.

Shaking off his arm, Katara stood up again.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"I mean that opposites aren't always contradictions. Yue is the moon, she pulls. You are the ocean and you push. That's what keeps the tides going and we won't even get into what a big deal that is for our planet. Plus, look at you and me."

"What about us?"

"We came from the same womb. I'm male, you're female. I'm a non-Bender, you're a Waterbender. But we're still the children of Kya. We are opposites but we are siblings. We are one thing."

"Fire and water are a little more extreme than that Sokka."

"What about a soldier and a healer?"

Katara paused and looked away.

"I'm having enough trouble with that as it is." She mumbled.

"Katara, sometimes it's not about being a counter to something, but a counterpart. It's about the pieces of you that make up who you are. And for as fiery as Zuko is, you two have more in common than not."

"You mean the fact that we both have dead moms and are royalty?" Katara snorted. "Then you have just as much in common."

"Katara, if you're going to be a brat about this then I can't help." Sokka retorted.

"I'm not being a brat."

"You are. I've had to deal with you for your entire life." Sokka put his hands on her shoulders and looked her square in the face. "I mean that you both are more than willing to break yourself apart for the people you love. And if you love each other, maybe you'll finally have someone to keep you in one piece."

Katara's eyes watered and she wiped them quickly.

"Harmony comes from opposites working together, not from sameness." Sokka added softly.

Katara nodded and Sokka pulled her close, hugging her tightly.

"You know what I really hate about the North Pole?" He whispered into her ear.

Katara sniffed. "What?"

"No penguins. Can't go sledding." Sokka replied.

Katara laughed and closed her eyes, holding onto the back of Sokka's shirt. Together they just breathed.