The celebration for the 10 year anniversary of ending the war felt like a blur. As the six people most responsible for ending it, each member of Team Avatar was being pulled in so many different directions from people begging to hear stories, anecdotes, and other funny stuff that happened along the way. Which is why Katara had to excuse herself to get some fresh air out in the balcony of the banquet hall. She wasn't sure how many more times she could explain how she discovered the Avatar in his icy prison or how she defeated Azula during Sozin's Comet.

"Mind if I join you?"

She didn't have to turn around to know who had joined her. "I don't mind," she said as her arms were placed on the rails of the balcony. She continued to look out at the bustling streets of Republic City below her as she felt his presence next to her. For a while, the two stood next to one another in comfortable silence.

"It's crazy that it's already been 10 years," he spoke softly. "It feels like just yesterday we were all in the Jasmine Dragon to have our own little celebration."

And it certainly did feel like yesterday that day happened. So many wonderful memories that she will cherish for the rest of her life. Perhaps the one that stuck out most in her mind though was the one that didn't happen. She remembered so clearly when Aang sneaked off while everyone was teasing Sokka for his art.

When the moment came, she excused herself and followed him. She stopped in her tracks when she saw the scene before her. There was Aang in his Air Nomad attire looking every bit the Avatar she knew he'd become with the sun setting in front of him. If there was any moment to tell him how she felt about him, that was it. But for whatever reason, she didn't.

For Aang, a similar memory replayed in his mind. He felt her presence at the doorway of the Jasmine Dragon that day and he could feel her heartbeat thumping in her chest because of her nervousness. He knew how difficult it was to put your heart out on the line and instead of turning to her and giving her an encouraging smile that it was ok, he did nothing. And the rest was history.

"What are we doing?" she asked, disrupting him from his thoughts.

"We're standing on a balcony," he teased, which prompted a playful elbow to his ribcage from Katara.

"You know what I mean."

"And what do you mean?"

"Is there any hope... for us?"

"I don't know what you want me to say to that."

"Yes or no," she stated simply. "We can't keep doing this forever. One of these days, one of us is gonna meet the right person and whatever we have between us will never have the chance to see the light of day."

"I know."

"You know?" She let out a massive sigh. "Then I guess your feelings have changed," she concluded solemnly.

"I didn't say that," he quickly corrected her. "I've always known that there might be someone that comes and sweeps you off your feet since I was 13. And you've always known that might happen for me."

"I guess you're right," she admitted. "Then what's stopping us?"

"Nothing. And it's been that way for a long time."

She had no idea why she was asking these questions when she knew all the answers. But for some reason, saying them out loud and having him reaffirm what she already knew was strangely cathartic. Words that needed to be said were finally out in the open. At that same time though, it was heartbreaking for her to know that this conversation should've happened 10 years ago.

"In that case," she paused and reached over to grab his hand in her own, "I'd like to give this a try if it's ok with you."

At first he didn't respond right away and Katara believed he might be figuring out the best way to let her down easy. Even though it would rip her heart out if he did, she would at least know that she put the cards on the table and did all she could to try and make this work despite how overdue this conversation was.

But the airbender wasn't thinking about how to let her down. In fact, thinking about all the amazing possibilities that were on the horizon. Maybe, just maybe, the happy future he always had in the back of his mind between the two of them would actually become a reality.

"I'd like that," he finally choked out while keeping his tear filled eyes out over the city.

Wordlessly, Katara reached over and planted a soft kiss on his cheek before going back inside. When he was sure she was gone, Aang reached inside one of his pockets and pulled out a piece of jewelry he always kept with him.

Whenever someone was able to steal a glance of it, Aang had just told them it was a lucky jewel he was given as a gift. Part of that explanation was true as Aang did consider it lucky. What others didn't know however was that the jewel was engraved with air and water insignias that he made himself. Maybe it was foolish for him to have such a thing with him everywhere he went. Or maybe despite how unrealistic it seemed, he kept this jewel so close because one day, it would belong to someone else.

A/N: And that's that. I hope anyone who read this enjoyed it!