A/N. I thought it would be a in between chapter, and it kind of is, but still, rather happy with how it turned out! THe next few episodes have always been some of my favourites, so I hope to give some good chapters for them!

I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender.

The water was so nice…

After all that had happened, it was nice to relax for once… Katara had spent nearly a whole week trying to apologize to Aang, only for him to say sorry yesterday! He had thought it was his fault, that he had been the awkward one in this story, and that he had been wrong not to consider her feelings… But it had been her! She had not talked to him about that book, and he had got the brunt of the teasing from it!

But now, as she was standing in knee high water, with the sun on her face, Katara could not help but feel happy. Joyous about the fact that they finally knew what the other was. No more in between…

They had gone away from Shu Jing after lunch at Piandao's castle. It had been so good to see someone who respected not only himself and his people, but everyone, no matter their origin. Katara had been especially pleased by the fact that Sokka had done so well during the training week. Now, her brother had something for himself that she nor one of the others could do. He had always been special to her, but now, he had the confirmation from other people, and probably more importantly, from himself.

They had decided that it may be better to lay low for some days. The last three weeks, they had been rather… lax. Yes, they had looked out that no one saw Aang airbend, but the villagers of Jang Hui had seen them waterbend and earthbend…

That was a real concern. Would the Fire Nation regime know about these isolated events, and if so, would they suspect who it was? Most people thought them all dead, but how many people of the government knew about the possibility that they were actually still alive? Well, Azula knew that that she had only hit Aang… And that prince would surely have suspicions. But had they told their father? If not, then there was no way the regime would link these isolated bending reports with the possibility of their group still being alive…

So, to be safe, Sokka had chosen an isolated island chain, each smaller than the other, where they would spend a week, before going to the southern part of the main islands. Luckily for them, one of the islands, that appeared to be a dormant or dead volcano, appeared to have a lake inside it, and a small forest on its cliffs. It was perfect to hide in! the only way people could reach that place was by climbing the outer crater, then go down into the forest. And why would people do that? The only way you could know what it was inside was if you flew over it. Luckily for them, they had Appa. They had flown over the crater, seeing that there were strange rock formations in the distance, long thin pillars of rocks jutting out towards the sky.

So, now they would stay here for a week. A whole week with the lake, the small forest and… and Aang. There were caves in this crater! Maybe they could sneak off during night, and finally have several nights in succession to themselves. They had done it twice now, once in Ba Sing Se and once in that hut after the party… But spirits, did she want to try other things! Aang had not wanted her to return the favour last time, when he had kissed and licked… down there. But she had wanted to! It had seemed… Interesting? Yes, that was the word.

So maybe… This week would be good for everyone of them.

"Twinkletoes, I know that for people like you, swimming is all fun and games, but should you be exposing yourself like that? Cover up!" Toph shouted suddenly. The blind girl, who had been sitting in front of Katara, was for once enjoying the water just as she was. Alright, Toph was sitting on a boulder, but she had her swimming clothes on! And she had one foot in the water. Okay, maybe just a few toes. But still progress!

And what was this about covering up? Aang wasn't… naked.

"I'm wearing my trunks!" The airbender protested, trying not to laugh. And Katara didn't miss the quick look cast towards her. A look full of meaning, for the person who knew where to look.

I could lose them… Accidentally, of course…

"I know! Disgusting little man! It's your tattoos I'm worried about!" The blind girl protested. Yeah… She may be right in this case. Aang's tattoos were quite visible like this. In his Fire Nation disguise, he only needed to wear that headband to cover them up, but here, he looked much more like she knew him. Long legs and long arms, swirling tattoos over them… And his earthbending training from the last week was showing… Again. He had lost some of the muscles during his coma… But spirits, if Toph could make him do that training for another month… until the Invasion, that was, Aang would be quite… well built.

Try not to blush too hard at that thought Katara.

She kicked herself mentally. Toph couldn't see Aang, for he was floating in the water, but the blind girl was more than capable of feeling Katara's heartbeat. Spirits calm down. Yes, they had decided to tell Sokka and Toph about them… But not yet! They wanted to tell it when Sokka would have calmed down a bit about his own adventures. And if Toph discovered it by herself… Well, that would be horrible. Horrible for the fact that she would die of embarrassment by her teasing that was.

"There are walls all around us, it's completely safe!" Katara protested quickly, wringing the water out of her long hair. Why couldn't they give Aang this? There were only few occasions where he could show his tattoos without worrying about being seen…

Suddenly, the airbender disappeared under the water, and a few seconds later, Katara could hear whooping sounds coming from the caves in the crater. Smiling, she felt that the water actually extended all the wall through some of the caves until it fell in a lake on the other side. Aang had surely found a way to access those and was using them as a giant slide. Sometimes, the airbender brooding and turned inside himself, but most of the time, when there were people around like now, he always found a way to make things fun.

"So… Looking forward to being screwed?" Toph spoke up, loudly enough to let Sokka hear it. Her brother had been polishing the beautiful dark sword he had made from the meteorite, and was now looking up with a mixture of disgust and amusement.

Katara herself felt her face heat up. Spirit, Toph had not teased them at all last week! But now that Sokka was back, suddenly, she needed to do it! The waterbender could have handled the blind girl, but with her brother next to them… No. She didn't want them knowing what Aang and she had already done.

Quickly jumping in the water, she floated on her back, imitating what Aang had been doing before.

"I don't know what you mean Toph." She spoke up, knowing that the earthbender could not detect a lie like this.

"Oh, don't you? Come on, Meathead there explained what he found in Twinkletoes chest last week!" Toph protested, while kicking a bit of the water towards the place where she had stood just a few seconds before. Katara saw the evil glint in the misty eyes, and also remarked that the corner of the earthbender's lips were curled up. Oh, she knew exactly what she was doing!

"I told you that so you could pester Aang with it! Not my little sister!" Sokka nearly screamed.

"And I chose to tease Sugar Queen! So, has something happened?" The blind girl shouted over the water, and Katara knew that she shouldn't answer with It's none of your business!

If she did that, the other two would have some suspicion, and Katara couldn't do that to Aang. He should be here, and they didn't want to tell the other yet! Katara just longed for some time alone with him, without the constant teasing and interest of the other two! Was that so much to ask for? Just… One or two days. Or even one or two hours! Just some time alone, to be open about her feelings with him… That was all she wanted.

"Should we read you the book? Maybe you'll pick up one or two things…" She answered instead, only to see the blind girl open her mouth, and shut it. From her right, Katara heard her brother snicker loudly. Had she… Just won the teasing with Toph? Really?

Quickly swimming towards where Appa was sleeping quietly in the shadows of some trees, Katara got out of the water, grabbing the red skirt that was laying on a rock next to the bison. Bending the water from her body, she shimmered into the skirt, but did not put the top on. The waterbender couldn't put it on, on top of her bindings.

Piandao had given them supplies, enough to at least last several days. To her surprise, the sword master had also included several items to make vegetarian dishes, something nearly unheard of in the Fire Nation, where every dish had at least some meat in it. As she was looked through them, Katara saw that most of the bags had a lotus symbol sewn onto them.

Surely just the family crest. But she had the strange feeling that she had already seen that symbol somewhere. Shrugging her shoulders, she heard Aang call down from the edge of the crater.

"There is a giant slide in those caves! It is just so cool!"

The waterbender smiled, hearing the joy in the airbender's voice. Actually… Their travels around the Fire Nation had been… Good. Yes, there were minor problems, such as the evident changes in the culture that Aang didn't mention, but that she could see in his eyes. Each time someone looked at him weirdly when he asked where the musicians were… Or that time he had tried to talk to a very old man in the Fire National language. The man had just looked at him, as if the words had no meaning whatsoever.

Otherwise, their travels had been fine. They had helped those students understand that not everything was about rules and order, then she had helped those villagers in Jang Hui. And finally, Sokka had learned something that none of the benders in their group could do. And after this week of "vacation" in the crater, their first month in the Fire Nation would have ended.

That meant that the Invasion was in less than five weeks. Five weeks to learn Aang everything possible. In waterbending, he was virtually a master in his own right. He had been for a long time, but she just loved the afternoon bending with him. Those had been some of the favourite moments during their travels, and Katara wasn't willing to give that up. Of course… He would still waterbend with her, even if it wasn't for training. But for some reason, it felt good to teach him those things.

Toph hadn't said it, but Katara thought that the airbender's earthbending was also rather advanced. Maybe she should discuss it with the blind girl, and see if there wasn't a way to make the exercises more difficult.

Not that she wanted to make Aang's life even more strained, but that was just it. Katara wanted him to have every chance possible against Ozai during the invasion. Yes, the Fire Lord would not have his bending, but who knew what protected the most powerful man in the nations? Maybe he had hired some earthbenders! Maybe those elite archers here hidden around the palace! Maybe… maybe…

Stop it. No reason to worry, there is nothing to worry about!

Sighing, Katara left the bags of supplies and stepped towards Appa. The moment she arrived next to the bison, Momo flew over her head, with some kind of fruit clasped in his small paw.

"There are berries at the base of the crater." Aang's voice sounded behind her, and she saw a tattooed hand come over her shoulder, holding some blueish berries.

"Thanks!" She smiled, taking several and putting them in her mouth. It tasted so fresh, with a kind of floral taste. The moment she bit down on one, Katara tasted the juices in her mouth. Turning around, the waterbender saw Aang stand there in his undergarments, grinning widely at her.

She couldn't help it, but giggled.

Aang's teeth were blue from the berries, and it gave him the weirdest look she had seen him sporting in a while.

"Charming!" She nodded towards him, and pointed to her own teeth, who were surely the same colour now.

The airbender in front of her grinned, and stepped towards her. She saw how he quickly looked over his shoulder, probably to check if the others were in the vicinity.

"I could clean that… for you." He whispered quietly, at she heard the hesitation in his voice. The implication made her blush.

"Oh, really? Well… I'll maybe let you do that… Later?" Her own response was also hesitant. As much as Katara enjoyed the gentle teasing and the insinuation of what they could do, it still felt… New. Awkward. But wonderful.

"Really?" Aang spoke up, rather loudly. His ears became crimson-coloured, and she saw the hope in those grey eyes.

"Tonight?" She whispered. Spirits, this was going to happen again! Yes!

Aang nodded, grinning from ear to ear. He turned away, and Katara watched as he nearly ran towards the water and jumped high into the air to land in the middle of the lake, splashing the water high into the sky.

Shaking her head, the waterbender couldn't help but feel giddy at the thought of sneaking off again tonight.

The hours crept by so, so, slowly. It was Aang's turn to make dinner, and he had put on his trousers, but was still walking around bare-chested. Not that that was a problem for Katara, but she knew she had to hide the fact that she was watching him, imaging everything they could do together that night. Maybe they could use those caves to get out o the crater, and go and sit a bit at the lake on the other side of the volcano? If it was nice and quiet, they do plenty of things without Sokka or Toph knowing! Even Toph couldn't feel everything, certainly not with a mountain of rocks between them!

Dinner was torture. Sokka kept explaining what was so great about the sword, and Katara had listened with interest. The first time. The second time. And all the time after that. But now, during dinner, she was having a hard time concentrating on his twenty-sixth time.

"So, you see, there was more to the meteorite that met the eye! We had to…" The words kind of went into one ear and out of the other. Katara would rather think about how she was going to prepare for tonight.

She had read up on some chapters of the book, and had some ideas of what she and Aang could do. First, she wanted to do things to him… like he had done for her last time! And she had also seen… different positions. For the moment, they had not tried too much, only with him on her, and she on him… But there were more! One particular one had made her blush, and the weird sensation in her stomach had flared up seeing the drawing… Yeah, she wanted to try that one.

And after that, they could always improvise… Maybe even do it more than once? If that was possible, of course…

"Oh! Oh, I forgot! Toph, I have a present for you!" Her brother suddenly interrupted her thoughts, and Katara looked up. From the corner of her eyes, she saw how the airbender also kind of seemed to wake up from a daydream. The same kind as she just had? They watched as Sokka dived a hand in his pocket searching for something, and produced a small, beautiful crafted arm ring. The pitch black metal shone in the orange hue of the sunset, and Katara couldn't help but smile.

"I had some leftover material from the meteorite, and I guessed you never bend space metal! So… Here!" Her brother handed the blind girl the arming and sat down again to begin his second bowl of noodles.

"I'm not going to lie, I love it!" Toph usual high voice sounded even higher, and Katara glanced quickly to the earthbender.

Was that a… blush? A blush. On Toph Bei Fong's face? Oh spirits… This was good. Too good. As the earthbender began to change the shape of the arming, Katara saw the little smile on her lips. The waterbender wanted to know more about this… new development. But maybe wait a moment… in case Toph began to tease her again.

"Wait… You are going to call me crazy… But it feels like a metal man is coming." Toph suddenly interrupted her metalbending, looking up. Katara also looked up towards the edge of the crater. What was Toph talking about? A metal man? That was impossible…

For a minute they sat in silence, all four looking up towards the rim and watching for any sign of the metal man.

A glimmer of sunlight crossed Aang's face, and Katara felt her heart clench tight for some reason. Wait… Metal reflected sunlight.

Oh no.

No!

Katara saw the beam of… light coming towards them, but Aang was quicker than she was. He was already up and bending some sort of air shield towards the incoming attack. The force of the impact created an explosion, and the waterbender felt the light blind her. Next to them, she heard Appa groan and Momo chitter away.

Toph was the next in action, sending rocks up towards where the attack had come from. In a second, the rocks disintegrated and another attack came. Aang luckily managed to create the same kind of shield around them, but the ground beneath her still rocked around. What was this?!

She had finally managed to locate the attacker. A shadow stood against the setting sun, and Katara moved. Pointing the water of the lake in a sharp point, she threw it as hard as possible towards the figure.

He just… evoparted it. In a second, the water was gone, and the crater was filled with warm steam. What the actual fuck! What was this?

"Quick! Here!" Her brother whispered, so that he wasn't heard by the individual on the edge of the crater. Following the sound of his voice, Katara made her way behind a rock, where Toph, Sokka and Aang were already sitting, accompanied by Momo, curled into a ball, and Appa, who seemingly was trying to make himself as small as possible.

Suddenly, the steam parted, and in the second before an attack rocked the crater again, Katara finally got a look at their attacker. It was indeed a man, and the attacks seemed to come from… Something on his forehead. What, or who, was this!

"How can we beat a guy who blows things up with his mind?" Sokka whispered-screamed.

"We can't! Get on Appa, I'll distract him!" And before Katara could stop him, Aang was already gone in the smoke and steam.

No! No! That man was surely attacking them because he knew who they were! And Aang was the one person that should not be used as bait! No!

"Come on, Aang will not be able to distract him too long!" Toph shouted, but Katara saw the worried look the earthbender cast in the direction the airbender had disappeared to. Spirits…

They quickly threw everything on Appa's saddle, and the three of them managed to put in on the bison. As Katara was fastening the belts around Appa's stomach, Sokka ran, collecting some last few things.

Katara jumped into the saddle as soon as the most important straps were done, and beckoned the others. Extending a hand to Toph, the waterbender saw her brother take the reins. Good! After Aang, Sokka was the best one to guide Appa! As if the bison knew that his master was in danger, he flew off as soon as they were all on it. Momo followed behind them.

As soon as they crossed the edge of the crater, Katara could see the carnage in the field of weird rock formations. Fire, smoke and destruction made a path towards the west, towards the sea. Aang had clearly ran as fast as he could, to create distance between them and the attacker.

Stupid, stupid! We can't help if you are too far away!

A flash in the distance made her look up.

"THERE!" She nearly screamed to her brother, but he was already directing Appa to it. It looked too much like the lightning that had ended Aang's life… Spirits, don't do this!

A small figure flew up from the explosion, and seeing how high he went, and how he began to fall slowly, Katara knew that was Aang, airbending to cushion the fall. Spirits thank you…

She caught him in mid fall, and felt the air around her being pushed aside as he landed softly beside her.

"Don't ever run away like that!" Katara whispered in his ear, hugging the airbender fiercely to her body. Alive! Alive.

"I'm alright." His soft answer came.

"That was random." Toph grumbled.

"I don't think so…" Katara sighed. It had been too specific, too planned. The man had attacked while they were eating, and had been prepared to handle water, earth and air! It was all too well planned.

"I get the feeling he knows who we are…"

Well, wherever they were going, Katara knew one thing. After this, there would be no sneaking around… No, they would have to stay together. So, no more nights with Aang….

Why is it that when things are going well, something had to mess it up? Well, Tui and La? Why? Why was her life always very good or very bad? It was not fair.

Answers :

Gabriela N. Gonzalez : Indeed, I personally never had that discussion with my own partner! I suppose that some people would feel more comfortable knowing exactly what they were for each other, but in this case, with first love and all the sh*t they went through, I thought it fitting,

Rak : As much as I focus on Aang and Katara, because we follow them, I don't want to put Sokka and Toph in the story as side characters. So, I love the fact that you like the way I done it in that chapter! Thanks!

Bbacon : Oh that is so cool! Actually never really had a binge reader, that I know of! Thank you very much!