Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA or its characters.

100

Epilogue- Two Months Later

"Over here," Suki squealed, bouncing up and down as she attempted to catch their attention in the crowded airport. She waved a vigorous hand above her head.

Aang saw it, running over to her and sweeping her into a bear hug. Katara appeared a moment later, and Suki let out a laugh of delight as she pulled her into her arms.

"I'm so happy to see you guys," Katara exclaimed. "It feels like it's been eighteen years!"

Sokka grinned, wrapping one arm around Katara's shoulders and giving her a tight squeeze. "You moved away two months ago, Katara. And, we talk every Wednesday and Sunday on video chat."

"Well, even so," Katara said, wrapping her arm's around Sokka's midriff.

Aang stepped in, practically jumping into Sokka's arms. He even kicked up a foot and everything, causing Suki and Katara to descend into giggles. "Spirits, I've missed having another guy around the house," Aang said when he let go. "Living with Katara is amazing, but it was a lot easier to pretend the bristly hair in the sink wasn't mine when there was another person who shaves."

Sokka gave him a commiserating look. "I understand your pain explicitly."

"Come on, we'd better get moving," Suki said, hooking her arm through Katara's and guiding her toward the baggage claim. "You're only here for the week, I want to be sure we're making the most of it."

"We have to leave in, like, ten minutes," Sokka called. He and Aang hung by the doorway, leaning casually against walls and foyer tables as they waited for the girls to finish getting ready. "Suki, you literally can't be late to Song's rehearsal dinner. You're, like, the second most important person after the bride."

"What about the groom?" Aang asked in confusion.

Sokka chuckled. "The groom's job is easy. He just shows up at the end of the altar. It's the girls who do all the work."

Aang grinned with him, but it faded after a moment. "So," he asked slowly, looking around to be sure he couldn't be overheard, "are you sure that Song doesn't mind?"

"She doesn't," Sokka assured him quietly. "She said that as long as you're not doing it on her wedding day, she's going to be over the moon for you guys." He eyed Aang. "You're not doing it on the wedding day, right?"

"No," Aang said. He bit his lip. "I'm doing it tonight."

Sokka stilled.

"Is... is that okay?" Aang asked uncertainly.

"It is," Sokka said after a moment. A slow smile spread across his face, and he grabbed Aang by the shoulder. "Of course it is. I'm happy for you."

Aang sighed in relief. "Well, don't get too excited. She hasn't said yes yet."

"Okay," Suki called, hopping from the bathroom on one foot as she struggled to slide on an absurdly high heel. "I'm ready."

And she looked amazing; long, hip-skimming trousers over a skintight black turtleneck. Katara followed behind her, dressed more casually in a sweet floral sundress under a cardigan. "Wow, Katara," Aang said. "You look beautiful."

Katara blushed. "Oh, this old thing?" she joked, plucking at the floral fabric. "I bought it in that boutique down the street from our apartment two days ago for this exact occasion."

"It's adorable," Suki complimented her. "That was such a nice thing to say, Aang." She shot a pointed look at her own boyfriend.

"What?" Sokka asked. "She looks beautiful... but I wouldn't describe your outfit as 'beautiful', necessarily. More like a... sexy kind of terrifying. Like you have a man tied up in your closet."

She smiled at that, patting his cheek gently as she crossed the threshold of the apartment. "Maybe later," she purred.

"So, it's happening tonight?" Song asked breathlessly as they waited at the beginning of the aisle, her hands clasping under her chin in excitement. "And you're not there?"

"Suki said I have to be here," Sokka mumbled.

Suki shot him a dirty look. "We didn't want to miss your rehearsal dinner, Song."

"You guys should have told me!" Song admonished. "We could have rescheduled."

"We literally can't; your wedding is tomorrow."

Song waved her hand. "It's not that hard to walk down an aisle."

"We'll see how you feel tomorrow," Suki said, laughing. "And anyway, Aang wanted something private. Okay, Sokka- it's our turn."

Sokka straightened, puffing out his chest and holding out his arm. "Okay, ladies; watch how a pro does it."

"Watch how a pro does what? Walking?" Suki asked dryly. "Do you have the rings?"

He blinked, feeling around in his pants pocket. "Oh, fuck."

"Wow," Katara breathed. "I don't even have words for this. Your friend outdid himself."

"Yea, he's pretty great," Aang said. He wiped his hands against the fabric of his pants. His palms were sweating. "He started this picnic thing a few months ago, and he says business has really taken off."

Katara smiled happily, settling onto the soft blanket and resting on one of the cushions scattered around. "I can imagine. Oh my gosh, look!" she exclaimed, leaning forward to the little table, illuminated by candles. "He has little camellia blossoms! Those are my favorite, you know."

"I may have heard that somewhere before," Aang laughed. He settled down beside her, opening the picnic basket he'd brought with them and setting out the plates and food.

"And we get this garden all to ourselves?"

Aang nodded. "It's part of the package."

She smiled mischievously. "Well, it's amazing. So amazing, one might even think you were planning something."

"Nah," he said, wiping at his palms again. "I'm way too spontaneous."

They spent the evening wrapped in laughter, wrapped in each other's arms, wrapped in the hues of orange and pink that filtered through the blue twilight as the sun set above the garden walls. The food was delicious; the wine even better, and Katara's contented smile sent Aang into a sense of quiet serenity. That is, until the evening began to draw to a close. It wasn't that Aang had a schedule to keep, precisely; more that he realized that there was no time like the present.

"Did you have a good time?" he asked quietly, his lips by her ear as she leaned against him, her back resting comfortably against his chest.

"It was perfect, don't you think?" she asked, smiling up at him. "I wish we could stay here forever."

"Maybe not forever," he murmured. "There are still some things I'd like to do." He fished around in his pocket for a moment, praying to every Spirit he knew that she wouldn't notice his hands shaking.

"Mmm." She stretched contentedly against him. "Like what?"

"My imagination has run away with me a bit, when it comes to you," Aang said. "It's... It's like-" he stumbled, faltering for a moment before starting again. "I pride myself on living in the moment. I survived some pretty crappy situations in Ba Sing Se that way. Don't dwell on the past, don't worry about the future."

Katara looked up at him, understanding in her eyes.

"But, we're here, in this moment," he continued, feeling a little braver now. "I see you leaning on me, and I love you, right now, right at this time. And then, my brain takes that image, and it... it changes things. I can see you, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, years from now, still in my arms, your hands wrinkled and your hair gray but you're still just as beautiful, and you're still smiling at me, asking me if I think it's perfect." He opened the little box, and showed her the ring, woven silver intertwined with small diamonds, the best he could afford, and enough, he hoped. "I do think it's perfect. And I want to reassure you that it is for the rest of my life." Aang took a deep breath. "I love you. I'll always love you. Please, Katara... Marry me."

She didn't say a word, and for a moment, one dreadful moment, he feared he'd miscalculated, misinterpreted the signs, the conversations, the whispered promises. And then she smiled, and though it was dark throughout the garden, he would have sworn the sun came out.

"I'm just so freaking happy for you guys," Suki said, her head still leaned on Katara's shoulder as they snuggled on the couch.

Katara blushed, admiring the way the little diamonds caught the light, and reached for Aang's hand. "We're happy, too."

"I can't wait for your wedding."

"That's good," Katara said, smiling like she had a secret. "It's a good thing that you've had so much practice as a Maid of Honor."

Suki gasped delightedly. "Are you serious? Yes! I'd love that."

Aang tilted his head toward Sokka. "Be my Best Man?"

Katara rolled her eyes with an affectionate laugh. "How prosaic."

"Am I supposed to do a second proposal for the Best Man?" Aang asked with a laugh. He slid off his seat on the couch, and got onto one knee in front of Sokka. "Sokka, I have nothing to offer you but food and friendship- will you stand next to me at the altar and help prop me up in case I pass out while I'm marrying your sister?"

Sokka laughed. "I accept," he said, placing one hand over his heart like a maiden from times long past. He smiled over at his sister, all the love and happiness he bore for her in that gaze. "I'd be honored to be there. For both of you."

"I can't believe how much has changed," Suki sighed, her head returning to rest on Katara's shoulder.

Katara lay a gentle hand on Suki's cheek. "I know. We were all such a mess."

"Such a mess," Suki agreed with a laugh. "But look at us now. It was like it was meant to be."

"Yea," Katara said, smiling. "I think it was."

"Oh, shit," Song breathed, her hand going to Suki's as she heard the music playing. "That's the music," she said. "Shit, Suki, I'm supposed to go out there next."

"Everything's okay," Suki assured her. "Remember yesterday? It's just an aisle. It's just walking."

Song nodded. "Walking," she repeated faintly.

"And Haru is at the end."

"Haru," Song whispered.

One of the bridesmaids peeked into the dressing room. "Suki, the first girl has gone down the aisle. Is she ready?"

"Ready?" Suki asked Song. Song nodded again, and Suki turned back to the bridesmaid with a smile. "We're ready."

Sokka had seen the dress, hanging in a clear garment bag in his closet for months. It was hard to imagine all that flowing fabric as anything wearable, but there she was. Song had good taste in bridesmaids' dresses; Suki was regal, lithe. Breathtaking. Her hair was arranged in a low chignon, and her silken skin was swathed in smooth green chiffon, a compliment to the gardens surrounding her. She smiled a knowing little smile at what he was sure was an awestruck look on his face.

And then it was their turn, and he took her arm gently, guiding her down the long aisle, between flowers and ferns, past the guests (including Katara and Aang, who smiled encouragingly at them), to the beautiful pagoda at the end. They took their places on either side, Sokka at the head of the groomsmen at Haru's right side, Suki at the head of the bridesmaids, awaiting Song's arrival.

The music changed, and Song was gliding down the aisle, a vision, no doubt, in a massive dress of creamy white, but Sokka couldn't see her. His head was turned, and he was looking at Suki, at the smoothness of her profile, at the soft, affectionate smile on her face, at the tears of happiness in her eyes. When she turned her head for a moment, catching him staring, he couldn't bring himself to look away. It was easy to lose oneself in weddings; the pageantry, the dresses, the ceremony does that. But, at the moment, Sokka was finding himself lost in someone else, heedless of his surroundings and deaf to the progression of the wedding.

And when she met his eyes, when she didn't turn away, he could see that Suki was just as lost as he was.

The ceremony was beautiful (the parts Sokka paid attention to, anyway), the reception was a blast, and everyone returned home happy, their faith in love renewed.

But now, Sokka sat on his bed, turning over a ring that had been hiding for months at the bottom of his sock drawer. A raw cut emerald over a gold ring that twisted like branches. From the first moment he saw it, he knew that ring had been made for Suki. And she'd come a long way from the year before.

The wedding had been something else entirely. She had to have known- she had to have known- what was on his mind as he'd watched her, Song and Haru's voices washing over them like a montage. Her eyes had been just as intent, just as focused. Just as full.

He twisted the ring in his hand.

"What's that?" Suki asked as she entered his room, still wrapped in her towel, remnants of the wedding makeup still clinging around her eyes.

"It's a, uh... it's a ring," he admitted, holding it up for her to see.

She strode to the bed in silence, sitting down, her eyes never leaving the little loop of gold and green between his fingers. "It's the most beautiful ring I've ever seen," she said finally.

He held it out for her. "It's for you."

A hesitant little smile lit her features. "It does seem like it would suit me better than it would suit you."

"I thought the exact same thing when I bought it," he said with a smile to match hers. But it faded, replaced with a soft seriousness. "It's not an engagement ring. Not if you don't want it to be."

Suki rested her hand over his. "What then?" she asked, but there was no worry, no fear in her voice.

"Months ago- months ago- I bought this ring for you, because I saw it and I just thought it was... you," he explained. "Beautiful, but understated. Not refined, not perfect. Unapologetically itself." He spun the ring between his fingers. "It's not an engagement ring. Just a promise. That I'll love you until my heart gives out, and I'll be with you for even longer."

There was a little tear in her eye, but she smiled, leaning forward so he could slip it onto the ring finger of her left hand. It was perfect there; like it was meant to be. Just as he'd imagined it when he'd bought it. They admired it together for a moment.

"If you're with me until after your heart gives out, you'll be dead," she said offhandedly.

He sighed, rolling his eyes. "It was metaphorical, Suki."

"I'm just saying, if you look at it literally, it sounds gross."

"Don't look at it literally, then."

She grinned. "It's a nice concept-"

"This is what happens when I say nice things to you-"

But she only laughed again, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him backward onto the bed. They lay together, entangled, and she held her hand up to admire the way the emerald caught the light. "So... when's the wedding?" she murmured.

"Aang and Katara's? I don't know," Sokka answered wryly. "I imagine that they don't know yet, either. They did get engaged only yesterday."

"No, not theirs," Suki said softly. "Ours."

A/N: my relief is quite literally tangible. A hundred, a thousand thank yous to the readers and the reviewers. I can't believe this little story that I began to take the edge off the seriousness of The Minister became this sprawling modern 'saga'. There are people who have reviewed nearly every chapter and I can't thank you enough. I'm so grateful for what I learned here, I'm so grateful for the support I got, I'm beyond grateful and thankful for this experience.

Nate- maybe one day. Not anytime soon, though. This was a big endeavor.

Let me get off this soapbox. And I'll see you guys again at Chapter 1 of The Accord.