A/N. Their "talk" (This is also my longest chapter to date, so I'm quite happy!)

I don't own Avatar the last Airbender.

As Katara looked out of the window of their living room in the Palace, towards the gardens enclosed by high walls, she thought about the conversation between them just an hour ago. It had been decided to split up, just for two weeks… Aang would go to the Eastern Air Temple, to meet the Guru. The airbender would drop off Sokka at their father's camp, and Toph would meet up with her mother.

Katara herself would help the Council of Five with planning the Invasion. She admitted that Sokka would have been the better choice to help with that, but after all the hardships he had endured, losing Yue, and never having been able to do something for himself… Well, she felt it was normal to let him have this.

They had discussed what to do after those two weeks. It left them three months until the solar eclipse, and just four before the Comet… The king had promised to send a regiment of earthbenders to the mouth of the river, so that her father could come to Ba Sing Se on the return voyage.

And Aang… well, he finally had Appa back, and the Dai Li had been neutralized. And their last talk, after the King's party… They had promised to talk when all their problems were over. And they were actually over now…

"Katara?"

The waterbender looked up, surprised at the fact that it was Toph who had spoken to her, using her real name, and not something like Sugar Queen or Sweetness.

"Oh, hey." Katara muttered, still looking out of the window.

"I know it's not my place to speak about it… But go talk to Aang. I know the whole Will they won't they is getting a bit old. You are going to miss him, and tomorrow, there will be no chance of something more privately. So… Go. He is in the stable with Appa." The blind girl stood next to her, smiling.

"Yeah… Thanks Toph." Katara felt the corners of her lips turn upwards. Sometimes, the earthbender could be sweet. If she wanted to be.

"Oh, and just for the record. I'll keep my feet from the floor."

Ah, there it was.

The waterbender just shook her head, walking to the door of her brother's bedroom. From inside she heard the very easily recognizable snoring of Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe.

Opening the door leading to the garden, Katara followed the small cobblestone path towards the stable. Looking inside, she saw how the great bison was sleeping, rolled up in a sort of ball, holding his tail between his paws.

"… And while you were away, I realized what I wanted! Sorry you were not there to see that revelation, but I promise you I'll tell you all about it during our trip! I promise." She heard the airbender's voice speak from behind Appa.

"Aang?" She called out, and a bald tattooed head appeared from behind the furry head of the bison.

"Katara!" He grinned and walked over. She saw that he had removed his tunic and was just walking in his trousers and boots. Quickly admiring the fact that he was gaining muscles, the waterbender turned her attention back to the gentle face.

When she saw his look, the eyes so full of determination and gentleness, her heart fluttered. It hadn't in several days… But after all the stress and loss of the last hours… She needed to feel it again. And Again. And never let it stop.

Appa groaned softly in his sleep, and Katara turned to the bison. Putting a hand on the silky fur of his head, she let her fingers run through the long hairs.

"He missed you." The waterbender said. She knew it was an evasive statement, and that they both knew it.

Just ease into it.

"I missed him too." Aang also put a hand on the bison's head, letting it glide from the arrow, closer to her own hand.

"I missed talking to you." He suddenly said. Katara saw how the tattooed hand stopped, just a few inches from her own tanned fingers.

"Me too." She whispered back. Moving her head slowly, Katara saw how the airbender was not looking at her, but was fixing his gaze on the closed eye of the bison.

"Can we… talk?" He spoke softly, so quietly that she had to strain to hear him. Glancing again, she saw how a soft pink hue had come to his face and ears.

"Aang…"

Now is not the time

We are going to be separated for two weeks.

Yes! Yes! Let's talk

"I've wanted to say so much… For so long." His voice sounded so sure, yet so hesitantly.

"Me too…" She answered softly. She felt the how, between Appa's fur, the hand of the airbender had begun to move again. Ever closer…

"I… Katara, the Air Nomads… As I said… We didn't give our heart lightly. They may have had partners, or relationships. But giving their heart, that, they did that only once. And it was enough. And it should be enough." The words sounded like a dam breaking through. Held in for a long time, and now that they were finally released, there was no stopping them.

"I have battled within, not knowing what to do. Anyone who would understand that point of view is gone… And then… You came along. Breaking me out of the shell, I had constructed around myself. Asking about my people. Trying to understand them… Learning their language. I… I never had anyone do that… for me…" He spoke softly, and she felt his fingers graze her own. Turning her head, she saw how he was still fixing Appa.

Putting her other hand to his face, she turned it gently, so that his eyes looked at her. She could see the unshed tears in the grey orbs.

"Aang… I only did what I felt was right. To suffer those things alone… It is a terrible burden, that no one should ever have to carry. You may be the last of your kind, but that doesn't mean you have to shoulder it alone." She explained, before realizing it sounded as if she had just done it out of compassion. Yes, it had been there. But it had mostly been because… She didn't want to abandon him… She didn't want him to have to do it alone… Because… Katara loved him. She loved Aang.

"Katara… We have talked about it. Over and over again. How the Water Tribes and the Air Nomads saw… Love. And there are no Dai Li, or Sokka, or anyone, to interrupt us this time. Please… Can we talk about it?" The hand that had grazed her fingers gently suddenly disappeared, and the airbender turned to a pile of hay, where his tunic lay, rolled out to form some kind of blanket.

Following him, she saw how a small candle was burning in front of it. On it, Katara observed the three circles of the Air Nomads, impressed in the wax… Looking further, she saw Aang's chest stand. Open.

"You have begun to do the rituals again?" Still, she evaded the real subject of the conversation. The waterbender had to laugh. It was funny! How the airbender was trying to steer the conversation in a specific direction. And how she was evading it, acting like she was the airbender.

"Yes…" Aang sighed softly, sitting down on his tunic in front of the candle.

"What is this about?" Katara asked, while sitting down next to the younger man.

"About hope. Air Nomads burned a whole candle if they were hoping for something to happen. If the flame burned through the night, it meant it would happen. If the flame died out, for some reason, then hope for that particular thing was lost, and we moved on. Or at least, tried to move on." He explained, while looking at the candle. Each time he inhaled softly, she observed, the flame flared up, just a bit.

"And why are you burning one now?"

"For a number of reasons. That my voyage will go smoothly. For Toph and her mother. For your father, who will see his son again after years of separation. For you." He finished gently, suddenly jerking his head up, looking in her eyes.

"Me?" She knew exactly why he was burning that candle. He was hoping it would show him she did care.

"Katara… I… I don't know how to say it. What… What I want to say, and what I can express in words… It doesn't do it justice."

"Can I try?" It was time. Time to show him exactly what she felt. She saw the relieve in his eyes. He had already taken the first step, after the birth of Hope outside Ba Sing Se. He had asked to talk about them. Now, it was her turn to show that what she felt.

"Aang… Since breaking you out of the iceberg… I don't know what I felt. When I learned Air Nomads only took one partner in life… It terrified me." She saw the grey eyes go wide. Yeah. That was the first time she had actually acknowledge the thing between them.

"It terrified me too! But Sokka helped me see clearer… as I told you." Katara saw how the grey of his eyes grew slightly darker. The blush on his face came back in force, and she too felt some blood rush to her face.

"Aang. You are the first man, that isn't of my family, to treat me… decently. To value me as a person." It was true. The Air Nomad had, since the first second they had spoken, never debased her, or treated her as an inferior being, just because of her gender.

"You are the first, since people learned I was the Avatar, to treat me… humanly. To see me as Aang. Not as Avatar Aang." His hand began to slide back to hers. Seeing it, Katara took the initiative, and grabbed his fingers.

She couldn't wait any longer. They had lost too much time already. Enough. If the Dai Li had not interfered, they would have talked about long ago. Now, talking was not enough.

She sat up and pressed her lips against the Air Nomad's. As she moved her mouth, the first thing she felt was a rigid, stunned immobility. But after a few moments, the paler lips pressed against hers. Relief streamed through her, feeling how Aang answered readily. Still holding one his hands in hers, she moved the empty one over to his shoulder, pulling him closer. The airbender responded, still keeping his lips on hers, by putting a hand on her waist. Feeling the long fingers pressed against her skin, a shudder came from deep within, shaking her to the core.

This. This was what they had been waiting for.

When she finally couldn't breathe anymore, the waterbender pulled back slightly. Looking in his eyes, she saw the relief in those orbs. Relief of what he had been feeling wasn't imagined, and that he had been right. And she felt the same. They had not said it out loud… But actions and soft conversations were enough. She loved him. And, if she wasn't mistaken… he loved her.

"Katara…" He groaned, but she cut him off, kissing him again. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world. A world, that at that moment, consisted of her, Aang, a barn and a soundly asleep Appa.

The hand on her waist moved up slightly, and Katara felt the airbender's finger graze the lower part of her ribs. If he moved just a little higher… Well, that would mean stepping into unknown territory. For both. Did she care?

When they separated again, she quickly pulled her hands behind her neck, opening the clasp of the mother's necklace. When it fell loose, she put it next to her. Aang looked at her quizzically.

"Don't want it to get tangled." She whispered, before beginning to open each button on the side of her dress.

"Katara…" Aang groaned, putting a hand on hers. Stopping her. Looking up, she saw how he was battling within himself. Of course. On the one hand, he wanted to go further. On the other hand, he was Aang. Always thinking of others.

"I can't anymore. Enough. We both know it Aang." She whispered, and after a few moments, he moved. Sitting behind her, she felt his hand go from her shoulders, trailing down. When his hand arrived at the last few buttons, she felt, to her immense satisfaction, how one by one, the buttons opened.

Feeling the fabric around her loosen, Katara shrugged the dress off her shoulders. She hadn't had time to think about the consequences if they really did this. And frankly, she didn't care.

She felt how he bent his head behind her, and how his lips gently touched the now barred left shoulder. Shuddering from the new sensation, she turned. Her dress pooled around her waist, and she sat back a bit.

Now, they were sitting, both on their knees, facing each other. As she looked at Aang, she saw how his blush has settled in something more permanent. Something… more primordial.

He didn't move, quite clearly waiting for her to set the pace. Thinking back of all the hardships they had endured, she felt it was only right. This was a new page. A new beginning, one with hope and a future. And she wanted it.

Not taking her eyes off the airbender, the waterbender pulled out the knot of the upper bindings. Katara knew what would happen. If they took this step, who knew what would happen. But she wanted it to happen. Let in finally happen.

As the silken fabric loosened around her chest, Katara kept her eyes on Aang. She saw how he was trying, with all his might, to keep his own gaze on her face, but how the grey eyes flickered lower. And lower again.

"It's alright Aang." She whispered. Not only to him, but also to herself.

"Katara…. We don't… We don't need…"

"Hush. I want to." She didn't need to ask if he wanted to. She had heard enough of this from her grandmother to deduce that the tent in his loose black pants was proof he desired it. Craved it.

As did she.

Pulling the fabric from her chest, she saw Aang's eyes wander to what she had just uncovered. The confidence she had felt just moment ago ebbed away when he kept starring. Moving her arms his front of her now naked chest, she felt blood rush to her face. But at the same time, Katara remarked how the fire in her stomach flared up. And how her nipples hardened.

Suddenly, while she was looking anywhere, except at the boy in front of her, Katara felt a hand take her own fingers. The shock of the contact made her turn her eyes to the airbender's face. In it she saw only one thing.

Love.

He didn't take his eyes off her, while with one hand, he held her own hand, and with the other, pulled her gently towards him. After a few moments, she felt his arms envelop her.

His mouth touched hers again, and the waterbender let her arms relax, revealing her chest once again. As Aang still kissed her, she let her hands trail upwards, over his arms, and then, over his shoulders. Her nipples, hard now on her breasts, touched his chest, and the feeling of contact betwen him and that part of herself made her shudder once again... The fire within her screamed and shouted to be heard, and Katara really tried to think logically.

Don't, it can only make things awkward.

What would happen if someone walked in.

But her brain lost that battle with her heart.

Finally!

Katara felt her lips being freed by Aang's, and how the airbender moved from her mouth to her cheek, and then further down. To her throat. She didn't know where he had learned that, and she didn't care. It was wonderful.

All this had not been planned. She had wanted to talk, and then, maybe kiss… But there they were, both half-naked, kissing. Without having said a damn thing about what they felt.

But Katara knew perfectly well that Aang would never do this if he didn't love her. Their discussions about the Air Nomads had made it clear to her he would never sleep with, or kiss a girl he didn't love.

The waterbender felt his breath on her chest, and observed his hesitation. He was now at the base of her throat, and it was clear he was trying to decide, or summon courage. Putting her hand behind his neck, she pulled him against her chest. It was such a nice feeling, having him there. To do something with him that was only for them.

"Katara… you're gorgeous…" she heard him groan, and the hot breath against her made her shudder again. Spirits, what was this…

"Aang… Do you… you know?" She managed to utter, not even knowing for herself what she asked him. Her brain didn't work properly.

Do you want to go further?

Please, screw me.

Fuck.

He pulled away from her chest, and just looked at her. As she returned his gaze, Katara was trying not to look down, at where his loose pants were being not so loose. No longer capable of mastering her curiosity, she put her hand to the trousers, and tugged. He was still sitting, so it didn't do much. But her meaning was clear.

"Come on…" She groaned, and Aang didn't answer, just stood up. As she did the same, the waterbender was acutely aware of the fact how her breasts moved with her while standing up. Feeling the airbender's eyes on her, Katara pulled her hair back, and stood in front of him. Stepping forward, she tugged again at his pants, who now fell free, pooling around his boots.

"Wait." He whispered. The voice much huskier than it usually was. He pulled his footwear off, throwing it somewhere in the hay. He didn't look. The trousers followed. She quickly glanced down, and saw how he was wearing the brown underwear he usually sported. Just like watebending. Well… Not exactly. During waterbending she had her upper bindings…

Katara shimmered the dress that was still around her waist, off, and stood in just her leggings. If she wanted to stop… Now was the time

Spirits no!

Hooking her thumbs inside the leggings, the waterbender pulled them off.

They stood in front of each other, both only wearing the last piece of their clothing… They were just one step away from changing… whatever they had… Forever.

Katara saw how Aang moved, placing his hand around his waist. Then, he stopped, looking at her, with raised eyebrows.

"You're sure… You know?" He muttered. Katara nodded, searching for the knot in her lower bindings. When she found it and undid it, the fabric around her thighs loosened. Not pulling them off, her eyes quickly glanced at Aang, who was still standing, hesitantly, with his thumbs inside the underwear.

"Katara…" He groaned. The waterbender stepped forward, feeling the fabric of her last garment fall a bit. Not enough to uncover her, but still, it was noticeable.

As if it was something she did every day, she kissed Aang again. Feeling the soft lips against her own was like the sun breaking through on a rainy day. Relieve. Rejoice.

As she kissed him, Katara felt his hands on her back, going lower. Feeling blood rush to her face when he arrived at the swell of her rear, she pulled closer. Where this courage and sudden decisiveness came from, she had no idea. One of his hands now lay over her right butt cheek, softly caressing it, even if the fabric still separated his hand and her skin.

Katara knew what she wanted.

"Come on." She whispered against his lips, pulling him down with her. She lay down, with the airbender hovering over her. Against her back, she felt the soft fabric of his tunic, laying in the hay. Spirits, it was a cliché. Kissing and making out in a haystack. But she didn't care.

The hand that had rested on her rear was now, to her surprise, pulling at her bindings. Blushing at the thought of having him see her… well, naked… She looked in his eyes. He was only looking at her face. And from this position… Well, it would be difficult to anything else.

Relaxing at that knowledge, she lifter her hips up, and the fabric suddenly fell away. Her movement also happened to make her centre graze against his hips. And she felt it. Spirits…. That was hard.

A groan escaped the airbender's lips, and he quickly put a hand against his mouth.

"Sorry." He whispered. She could see how her pale cheeks were red from embarrassment.

"It's normal." Katar whispered back.

"Seriously?" He laughed softly against her lips. Of course… Aang had never shared a small igloo with parents… So, he didn't know about the rather embarrassing moment when a child walked in on her parents… well… Going to town. Lucky Aang.

"Yeah…" She laughed with him, before hooking her thumbs in the underwear he was still wearing. The smile on his lips immediately vanished, and he turned serious again.

"We… if you don't want to…" he began.

"Aang, I've waited for this since the cave… Please!" She cut him off. It was true, she had. Katara had, when kissing in the Cave of the Two Lovers, began to undo his tunic, but they had been interrupted by the discovery of the blue crystals.

She pulled the last garment down.

Katara didn't look down. He had not done that, when her centre had been undressed. So… It was fair she didn't do it either. Fixing his face, she lay still underneath him. What now?

The waterbender nearly yelped when a trembling hand caressed her waist.

"Katara… I… I waited so long… You can't imagine…"

"I can… I did the same… Please… Let it happen tonight… we have lost too much time… I want it to happen." She murmured back. The flame inside her stomach flared up again, and the feeling was nearly too much for her. Gran Gran had said most girls needed… preparation to be able to… well, do this. But feeling how slick she was already… there… Katara doubted it very much.

"Sure?" The airbender moved his face, as to look directly in her eyes.

"Yes." She answered, pulling him closer to her. While pulling his head against her, she looked over his shoulder. Nearly exploding from laugher, she managed to hide it.

Sokka was right. Blue butt.

Just then, she felt something graze the inside of her thigh. That made her laugher die in her throat. Katara knew perfectly well what she had felt against her. And… Well, she felt how her folds pulsated.

Spirits…

Pulling Aang to her, she began to kiss him. As they kissed, Katara moved her rear just slightly, and put her feet down at either side of the airbender. Now, or never.

Feeling the same thing hit her softly against the part of her thigh where her leg linked up with her centre, she stopped the kiss. Looking in the grey eyes, which fixed her intently, she nodded.

His hand moved between them, and after some fumbling about, she felt how Aang's member aligned against her opening.

Nodding again, she kissed him once more.

"Do it." She whispered.

Katara felt her folds being forced apart, and how Aang slowly pushed inside. Biting her lower lip, she tried to relax into this new feeling. But, as the airbender kept pushing, ever so slowly, she began to feel the pain. It was not mind-numbing, but it was present.

Putting a hand on his shoulder, he immediately stopped pushing.

"Are you really alright?" She heard him ask her. In his voice, the waterbender heard the strain. It was quite clear he was trying to control himself.

"Yeah… Just give me a moment… How about you?" Even if it was probably way less painful for him, she had to ask.

"You are so beautiful… So lovely… I… Katara, I can't… it is too much…" Not knowing if he talked about the physical aspect of what they were doing, or the emotional, she just nodded.

"Okay… Go on, I think I'm alright."

He began to push again, slowly and gently. This was why she loved him. He was always kind, even if he had to restrain himself. Never did he do anything against her will.

It became a bit easier, now that he had past a certain point. Still sliding into her, Katara began to concentrate on the feeling in her centre.

If she wasn't mistaken, he was quite… big. Maybe not enormous, but the girth was certainly not what she was used to with her fingers. But then again, she did not have anyone to compare him with. Only him. And that was enough.

"I… that's it." He murmured, still with that strain in his voice.

It was quite enough, she thought to herself, smiling. Katara inhaled slowly, and nodded. Aang began to withdraw, before pushing back slowly.

"Ah!" She moaned, not able to hold the sound in.

"Did I hurt you?"

"No, no, not at all!" She urged him on. It still felt a bit painful, but after several thrust… Well, it began to feel good. Really good. A hot feeling spread from her centre to her nipples, and at each thrust, Katara couldn't help but make a small sound. It was too good…

"Tara…" Aang whispered in her ear, and for some reason, the fact he didn't use her whole name made her blush harder than what they were doing.

"I… I can't… go on…" She heard the quick whisper in her ear, but it was alright. Katara had known it wouldn't last long. Gran Gran had warned about that.

"It's alright!" She managed to say between puffs and groans.

His movements picked up speed, and she cried out. That was deeper than he had gone until now, and she was not prepared for it. One. Two. Three. At the fourth, he buried his face against her chest, and Katara felt the hot spurt deep inside her, while his member pulsated inside of her. Blushing furiously at what had happened, the waterbender felt the boy on her groan against her left breast.

After a few moments, she began to feel conscious about their position. If someone walked in…

"Aang?" She tapped his shoulder gently, and he lifted his head from her chest to look at her.

"We need to dress…" She whispered. The airbender nodded, and she felt him slide out of her. That feeling… Spirits, that was good. She groaned when it was completely out.

"Did I hurt you?" He had probably interpreted her groan for an expression of discomfort.

"No… well, it was a different from what I expected. But… No, you didn't hurt me." Even though she felt sore, it was true. He had not hurt her, or at least, not by choice.

"Ehm… Would you mind… Averting your eyes?" His gentle voice sounded shy. Katara understood the feeling. Even though what they had just done was everything but timid, they had not actually… well, seen each other. And this was not the time.

She shook her head, and turned her head, while he did the same. Feeling him stand up, she quickly moved to press her legs together, feeling around for her bindings. Having found the lower ones, Katara began to wound them around her once more.

When that was done, she heard how Aang was searching for his trousers and boots in the hay behind her. Deciding that her upper bindings were not necessary, nor were her leggings, she pulled the dress on, closing several buttons so it would stay in place. Looking to where Appa was still sleeping, she called out.

"Are you… dressed?" It sounded so strange to ask him that.

"Yeah!" He answered.

Turning, Katara saw how the airbender was looking at his tunic in his hand, with a shy smile.

"I'll… Have to wash it." Aang spoke softly. From where she was standing, she saw the orange and saffron fabric covered in hay. And with a rather large wet spot in the middle. Blushing, she realized that that had been her.

"Sorry…" She apologized shyly.

He just shook his head, pulling a blanket from somewhere behind the Sky Bison, and putting it on the hay.

"I'm going to stay here… Sleep next to him…" Aang nodded towards Appa.

"Would you… mind if I stayed?" She murmured.

"Of course, not…"

As they settled on the blanket, Katara felt the exhausting day weigh her down. Spirits, this day had really been… life changing.

And as she felt asleep, for the first time in weeks… She felt happy and content.

Answers :

Chinmay : To see how this continues, you'll have to wait, but I hope their little "talk" was good for now !And thanks! I write between work, because I have to wait for the computer to do all sorts of calculations, so in the meantime, I write, that why! Thank you very much for the compliments!