Hello People of Fanfiction!
This story's become really emotional for me, especially in this episode, I poured out all my feelings in this one, I hope you enjoy it.
Please, don't forget to review, and thank you in advance. :)
*Flashback*
fourteen years old Katara walked the corridors of the hospital to visit one of her dearest friends, she walked with her father and brother in toe, as the thing she's going to speak to Aang about required Hakoda and Sokka's presence.
She doesn't know how she came to like Aang that much, he wasn't the knight in shining armor of her dreams, she's always imagined herself falling for someone who is really cool, like the ones she sees in the movies, but then again she tried that just months ago with Jet, and her heart was broken, it was only Aang who understood her pain and made her feel better.
Yes, that's it, that's the thing she found in Aang that made him unique, his understanding, his respect for everybody, especially her, she knew he felt the same for her, but none of them even tried to confess to the other, their lives have been really shitty that they never had the chance to develop what's between them, his parents, her mother and now his uncle, they were both too damaged to think of something like that, what each of them hoped to see in the other at the moment was respect and understanding of their feelings, and so both of them found solace in speaking to each other, how many times did Aang fall asleep crying in Katara's arms ever since he entered the hospital? she couldn't even count as they were too many.
but right now they didn't come to have him cry in Katara's shoulders, although she wouldn't mind if he did, but still they are here with a proposal, they are here to convince Aang to live with them. after speaking with Chief Hakoda about it, the chief happily accepted because as the chief of the town, he was there ever since the incident happened and saw how Aang looked like, he pitied the poor boy for being so alone and detached, Hakoda tried to speak to him countless times to have his input on the case, but Aang refused to talk, Hakoda said that he was laying on the bed staring for hours, never speaking a word, until Hakoda gave up and departed, not because he gave up on Aang, but because he respected Aang's wishes and left him alone, even though the boy never said it.
Hakoda argued with Katara that Aang would never accept, but Katara kept insisting and so Hakoda accepted, hoping that the boy would accept but in the mean time desiring to accept his wishes, and so he told Katara that she shouldn't push Aang to the limit, she'd just ask him a couple of times, and if he kept insisting that he wouldn't, they would respect his wishes and leave him be, and Katara accepted the terms, knowing full well that she will make Aang accept. They finally arrived at the door of his room and knocked on the door, nobody answered so Hakoda and Sokka surmised that he was asleep, but Katara knew better so she called.
"It's me, Aang. can I come in?" She called from behind the door, and so the answer came immediately.
"Come in." The boy said.
Hakoda and Sokka were amazed by how dearly this boy thinks of Katara, but at this point, they saw a lot of signs of how dearly this boy thinks of her so they never asked and just followed Katara as she opened the door and entered.
"Hey, there. How are you doing today?" Katara asked with a smile and a very soft voice that made Hakoda and Sokka wonder is that the same Katara that yells at us at home?
"I'm alright, I think.." The boy responded as he propelled himself with his arm to a sitting position on the bed.
"I hope so, because otherwise who's gonna finish this egg custard tart that I brought with me?" Katara asked bringing the beautifully wrapped egg custard tart out of her bag, Hakoda and Sokka could swear they saw a faint smile playing on Aang's lips.
"Thank you, Kat. Much appreciated." The boy said, as Katara placed the tart on the table beside him and looked back at him.
"So I brought my dad and Sokka with me, they wanted to check on you as well." She said, and it was like Aang noticed their presence in the room for the first time, but that didn't bother Hakoda nor Sokka as they knew the state the boy was in.
"Hello, Aang, nice to see you again." Hakoda said as he extended a hand to Aang and the boy took it.
"How's it going, buddy?" Sokka greeted.
"I'm doing well, Sokka, thanks for asking. and nice to see you too, Chief." Aang responded, and the boy and his father nodded at him with smiles.
"So, Aang.. I'm not gonna lie to you, I know the doctors told us that you need some sleep at the moment so we'll cut to the chase, we're here to make a proposal." Katara said, and Aang nodded immediately, waiting for Katara to make her proposal, Katara felt a lump in her throat from the nervousness so she immediately swallowed and spoke again,
"We want you to come live with us."
*Present Day*
Katara remembered that day as if it was yesterday, what a memory for her that was, it was the memory that started it all, the memory that started the happiest moments of her life, her moments with Aang, why did she remember it? because at the moment she's sitting on a table with Azula, waiting for the love of her life to arrive.
"I never got to thank you for this." Katara said shyly to the girl sitting beside her on the table.
Azula smiled at her fondly, "Don't say that, Katara. I started this turmoil, now please let me be the one to rid us of it." She responded, and Katara smiled back at her and nodded.
Ever since Azula's conversation with Aang two day ago, she's been in a debate with herself, it was like the two people living inside of you having a heated debate for two days straight, what she told Aang was truly how she felt, she knew for a fact that the love between Aang and Katara was so pure, the kind of love that you would never let go no matter what, she knew that even if Aang left Katara for her, he would never love her the way he did Katara, and so she came to a conclusion that enough is enough.
yes, she loved Aang, probably still do, but that's not something to drive you to break such a beautiful bond, they went through hell and back for each other, they made each other happy, and how does Azula respond to that? with a knife to their backs. it's her greatest regret, and she couldn't live with herself knowing that she was responsible for such a wholesome bond to be broken.
Azula spoke to her brother Zuko about it, and the boy suggested the plan that she dearly needed, first, she would have to call Katara, ask her for forgiveness and make her relationship with the girl much better, Azula did just that, and they have been talking ever since the morning, discussing their relationship and how it got really messed up,
the girls spoke to each other sincerely and Katara confessed to Azula that she was eavesdropping on the conversation that happened between her and Aang, and that was the main reason she agreed to speak to Azula in the first place, Katara also apologized for the display that happened in school, saying that she really regrets ever adding salt to Azula's wounds, Azula accepted the apology and countered it with one of her own, saying that she shouldn't have gotten in the way of Katara and Aang's love in the first place, the girls found solace in each others' words, and so they came to an understanding.
The next part of Zuko was plan was for Azula to call Aang and suggest that they meet in the Jasmine Dragon Cafe, but as soon as Aang arrives, Azula excuses herself and leaves immediately, leaving Aang and Katara to find a solution to their problems on their own, Azula knew that Zuko's plan wasn't of his own, as the same plan was applied to her and Aang, and when she asked him, he confessed that it was Sokka and Suki's plan all along,
they planned the whole thing for Aang and Azula to meet up, and then for Aang and Katara to do the same, Azula then remembered the promise she made when she entered the cafe and saw Aang sitting with Toph, the promise was that she would kick Zuko's ass as soon as she gets home, so she whacked him on the head, but what surprised her is that Zuko only responded with,
"I probably deserve it.", and Azula's response was, "You bet you do." But Azula went on with Zuko's plan anyways, or to be more precise, Sokka and Suki's plan.
She got Katara on the plan as well, and after some hesitation from the blue-eyed girl, she eventually accepted, and both of them were waiting on Aang to arrive.
"Are you sure this is the best way to go about it?" Katara asked, nervously.
"Just trust me." Azula responded with confidence, which reassured Katara, Azula then noticed the target entering the cafe and so she informed Katara,
"There he is, don't get nervous, just take a deep breath and act naturally." Azula said as she noticed Katara getting sweaty as soon as she informed her with Aang's arrival, Katara did as Azula asked and that did calm her nerves a bit, but not enough to act naturally.
"Hey! Aang!" Azula called on the boy, who just entered and even though they were the only people in the cafe, he felt like all eyes were on him as soon as he saw Katara sitting with Azula.
Aang suddenly felt very nervous that he never answered Azula's call, and kept playing with his hair,
Dammit! not again! Aang said internally, but still made his way to the table, asking himself how Azula is sitting with Katara all the way.
Aang stood at the table for a while staring ahead, unable to compose himself, "Sit down already!" Azula shouted, and the boy did as asked, sitting across the table from Katara, who was feeling the same as him.
Azula then stood up, "Well, I think you both know what this is about so I'm just gonna leave you two be.. Teo! I'll leave the cash on the counter." She said to the waiter who was sitting on a table at the far end of the cafe as there were no customers to attend to.
"What was your order again, Princess?" The boy asked.
"Two lemonades."
"That would be ten dollars."
Azula was surprised by this, "What? I thought it was six dollars?"
"Yeah, but since we cleared the cafe today for you and your friends, the extra four dollars are my tips."
"Your father is the second richest man in the earth kingdom, and you're asking for tips?" Azula asked.
"My father is this cafe, and I don't think it's that rich yet." Teo responded.
Azula groaned, "Fine.", she then left ten dollars on the counter and immediately departed.
"Always a pleasure serving you and your friends, Princess."
Back to the table of two lovers, Aang and Katara were sitting in silence, both of them staring at their hands which were placed on the table, none of them wanting to take the initiative and break the silence, until Katara decided to do it for the both of them.
"Hey, there. How are you doing today?" Katara asked, starting the talk, only for Aang to start laughing.
Katara was surprised at the display, she even got nervous by it, so she immediately asked, "What are you laughing about?"
after a while, Aang finally composed himself and stopped laughing,
"That day at the hospital, those were the exact same words you started your conversation with." Aang responded, still chuckling a bit.
Katara then smiled at him, "You still remember?" She asked.
"How can I forget the day on which I made the best decision of my life?" Aang asked, looking at her with fondness in his eyes.
The tears gathered in Katara's eyes as she too remembers every bit of detail about what happened on that day.
*Flashback*
"We want you to come live with us."
Aang was silent for some moments, looking on the ground, not even the Hakoda family as he said, "No." Sokka and Hakoda were shocked by his short answer, especially after the way he was treating Katara, how could he refuse a proposal like this? he would get to live with Katara, that seemed to be something he would dearly love.
but Katara was never shocked and spoke normally, "C'mon, Aang.. We've already talked about this." She responded, and that shocked Hakoda and Sokka even more, as Katara has never told them that she proposed that to him before.
"And my answer's still the same, I can't do it, Katara."
"But why?" The girl asked.
Aang was silent for a while, but then he responded calmly, "I don't wanna feel like a burden."
Hakoda decided to interfere, "Don't say that, Son. You're a joy to any house you would enter, nobody would feel you're a burden."
"I would." Aang merely responded. Katara's tears gathered in her eyes, she looked at Aang with both sadness and disappointment as she thought for a second that it was hopeless, but it was a feeling for a fleeting second, as suddenly those feelings turned to determination, she stood up from the chair she was sitting on to face her father and brother,
"Dad, Sokka, Could you please wait for us outside for a second?" She asked with fire in her eyes, her dad and brother knew that that's a look that would never accept arguments so they saved themselves the hassle and without further talk, they got out of the room, leaving Aang and Katara alone.
as soon as the door closed behind her family, Katara turned slowly to face Aang, she found him staring at the ground in deep thought.
"Why would you feel that you are a burden, Aang?" Katara asked.
"I just would."
"That's not an answer." Katara said, her patience wearing thin.
"We've already talked about this, Ka-"
"NO, WE DIDN'T!" Katara yelled as tears fell freely from her eyes, which shocked Aang into silence,
"I DON'T WANT YOU TO COME LIVE WITH ME BECAUSE I PITY YOU, YOU IDIOT! I want you there because I need you.." Katara whispered the last part as she took a seat on the chair beside Aang's bed and kept crying, her crying developed into all out sobbing, which shocked Aang to the core, does it really mean that much to her?
Aang felt really bad for it so he spoke up, "Katara, Please.. don't pressure me into this.. No.. Don't cry, you know how I feel when you do, don't do this to me, Please.." the boy said, feeling tears gathering in his own eyes.
his last words struck a nerve in Katara, and so she tried the best she could to compose herself, she looked at him with eyes filled with agony as she wiped her tears, "I'm good.. I'm good." Katara kept murmuring.
"No, you're clearly not. What's wrong?" Aang asked, as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
Katara tried as she might but she never was fully able to compose herself and what she said next made it even worse,
"I lied to you, Aang."
Aang was surprised by this, "What?" He asked.
Katara, again tried the best she could to compose herself, "You've always asked me of my mother's whereabouts and I've always told you that she works abroad, My mother never worked a day in her life, Aang. she's dead." Katara said, her voice cracked at the last part, as she sobbed again.
Aang gasped, he was very shocked by this that tears gathered in his eyes again, "No.." He uttered.
Katara nodded and continued speaking, "She had.. Leukemia, and since the doctors in this town don't have the medicals to treat her, my Father took her to Caldera City, where she was treated for a couple of months.. before she died three months ago. I only kept telling you that she's still around because I was trying to convince myself that she's still here with us, but I can't lie to myself nor to you anymore, Aang. My mother is dead and we can never bring her back, but I can have you by my side to get me through this. so I asked my dad to take you in.. because I need you." Katara finished, and kept sobbing.
All the while Aang was staring at her in shock, tears were falling down his cheeks without even realizing, so many thoughts were going through his mind to care, but the one that stuck the most was the one he revealed to Katara,
"You've lived through the pain this whole time, and you still found it in you to take care of me after my uncle's death?" Aang asked.
Katara then looked at the ground as she tried to process this as well,
"Taking care of you the past couple of weeks was the best thing I've ever done, it cleared my mind of all negative thoughts, just looking at you was enough for me to forget my pain, it's the main reason I know that I need you. Even when you were unconscious, you were able to get me through difficult times, Aang."
Aang looked at her with different eyes, it was like new found feelings, and because of those feelings, he never hesitated for a second before saying,
"The feeling is mutual. I would have never passed through these dark times without you, Katara. My judgement was clouded by my ego, but it would never change the fact that I need you too." Aang said.
Katara was somewhat relieved by his answer but she never got a real answer so she composed herself and asked him the inevitable question,
"So.. Are you going to come live with us.. with me?"
Aang was silent for a while but then he answered, "I'd go with you to the end of the world and back, Katara."
Katara got the memo, and his answered relieved her to the point that she hugged him very tightly, forgetting that he was feeling pain all over his body, she only stopped when she heard the boy groan in pain,
"Sorry.. I'm so sorry, Aang. I was just really excited, Are you alright?" She asked, checking on him with panic.
Aang chuckled through the pain, "I'm alright.." He said, and his chuckle was like music to Katara's ears, she hadn't heard him laugh in a while, and so it was really special to her.
"Thank you.. for being in my life, Aang." She said, looking at him with fondness in her eyes.
He repeated what she said, looking back at her with the same fondness,
and so the relationship between the two lovers started, a relationship of being there for each other, a relationship of love, respect and understanding, that drove away the pain that both of them had to endure.
As someone once said, Love is brightest in the dark, Love is the kind of light that can lead you through the darkest of times. Just at that moment, Aang could put a name to the new found feelings that made him see Katara with different eyes,
It was Love.
*Present Day*
Katara and Aang kept living in their dream world, thinking of that day that change their lives forever, it was Aang who broke the silence by merely saying,
"I Love you, Katara."
Katara's tears fell out of her eyes, and she stood up and ran to his side of the table to take him in her arms, he stood up as well and hugged her back, she then pulled back and looked at him,
"I Love you too." and she closed the gap between their lips, they shared a kiss that seemed to have driven away all the pain that they felt the past couple of days, it made them forget all about their pain and struggles, just like his answer that day made them feel it as well, they forgot all about how they got into a fight in the first place, both of them really missed each other and so they never spoke of it, they would definitely speak of it some time in the future, but the happiness they felt at the moment made them forget where they were, it was the kind of delight that you would only feel in the arms of someone you love, and so they were that delighted.
Just at that moment, they both knew for a fact that they were made for each other, and they would never have it any other way.
Emotional, right? well, I hope so that was the essence of the chapter lol.
I hope you enjoyed this one, next chapter will be dropped some time soon, I know I've been neglecting some plots in the story, like Zuko-Toph relationship, and to that I say no worries, Everything will be discussed in the upcoming chapters.
Stay tuned.
Don't forget to review, Please. it really is helpful for me.
Thank you for reading and please stay safe :)