Just to prevent any confusion, I could not continue the story without giving Sokka and Katara's father a name, it just was not working calling him "their father" all the time so Soku is Katara and Sokka's father. I tried to do the whole DBZ thing, you know Gohan means son of Goku. Well Sokka means son of Soku….in my story anyway. Just so no one's like where the heck did this Soku guy come from?

Chapter 8 Bok Choy

The next morning Katara awoke to the bright sun shining in through the window of their cozy little room. She sat up stretched her arms up over her head and yawned. She turned to the window next to her bed and gazed out upon the already bustling streets of Bok Choy. She grinned at the sight of the people walking to and fro, dressed in all of the different colors of their nations.

"Not just blue for once," she thought to herself. Slowly she inched her way to the foot of the bed and gazed down upon Aang. He was sprawled out across the floor, his arms wrapped tightly around a pillow. She smiled at the sight of him.

"Hey Aang," she whispered softly; he didn't move.

"Aang," she called again, this time reaching to him and gently touching him on the shoulder.

"Aang wake up," she whispered. Aang stirred slightly in his sleep and muttered something under his breath. Katara slowly leaned closer to him in an attempt to hear what he was saying.

As she leaned over him Aang suddenly grabbed hold of her wrist and yanked her forward off of the bed. Katara yelped as she fell forward onto the floor and into Aang's arms. Aang quickly wrapped his arms around her waist and rolled her to the ground. Katara gazed up at him in bewilderment. His eyes were still closed and he seemed to still be fast asleep

"Great," she sighed, "this is going to be awkward when he wakes up." She immediately attempted to squirm her way out of his hold. But the more she squirmed the more tightly he wrapped his arms around her. Katara sighed in frustration, "now what," she thought to herself. She was suddenly distracted by a slight chuckle, she turned quickly to face Aang just in time to catch him snapping his eyes shut and straightening a smile. She stared at him in surprise.

"Is he…faking?" she smirked at him, "two can play at this game", she thought to herself. Slowly she moved her arms around his waist, all the while watching his face. She placed her hands upon the sides of his waist. His eyebrows furrowed slightly but he still did not let on that he was awake. Katara smiled trying bitterly not to laugh. She then grabbed his sides and began to tickle him mercilessly. Aang's eyes shot open and he burst into laughter.

"Katara" he laughed grabbing her wrists and pulling her torturous hands away from his sides, "Katara stop."

"Oh I'm sorry Aang did I wake you," Katara said in a sarcastic tone. Aang just grinned at her.

"She's on to me," he replied jokingly. He smiled. Katara smiled back giggling ever so slightly Aang's heart melted as he gazed at her, her bright blue eyes gazing back into his. He wondered how it was ever possible that he could've stayed away from her for so very long. Without a second thought he reached his hand to her face gently brushing the loose strands of her dark hair away from her eyes. He slowly leaned toward her, his face coming within inches of hers. He could feel her soft breath on his face; he could smell the sweet aroma of lavender from the lotion she always used. Aang suddenly found himself intoxicated by her. He longed so badly to kiss her, to just feel the softness of her lips so lightly pressed against his. He leaned in a bit further; they were so close now that their noses were just barely brushing each others.

Katara gazed at him curiously, unsure exactly of what he was intending, but there was something about the way he was gazing at her, something very deep. She'd noticed this look in his eyes once before, just before he had left the South Pole as he was saying goodbye. She had understood it then; he was torn about leaving, he wanted to stay even though his destiny was pulling him in another direction at the time. But now he was free to stay having accomplished his goals. Why would he be displaying such a look of longing now? It was as if he couldn't be where he wanted to be or that something very precious to him were just out of his reach.

"Katara," Aang whispered softly, "Um I want to say…I mean I need to…tell…you…some...thing." Aang's voice trailed off as he once again became lost in her blue eyes.

"What is it Aang," she asked. Aang broke his gaze and quickly looked away from her.

"Um well I just wanted to say…that we better hurry up and get ready so we make it to breakfast on time."

"Oh my gosh, you're right," Katara said quickly jumping up from the floor and rushing away to get ready. Aang just rolled onto his back and covered his face with both his hands in frustration.

He quickly got up, pulled on his shirt, splashed his face with water from the wash basin and made his way to the door.

"Hey I'll meet you downstairs Katara," he called, "and don't forget," he whispered suddenly taking her by the hand and kissing it lightly, "we're married," he said sarcastically." Katara nodded.

"You seem to be enjoying this little white lie," she smirked. Aang's face blushed slightly.

"Well I…I mean I…oh come on Katara you can't tell me you don't find the whole thing just a little amusing." Katara smiled at the young man before her.

"Well I have to admit it is pretty funny," she giggled, "I mean could you imagine…us married."

"Yeah," Aang chuckled nervously, "its crazy just thinking about it…I mean, uh, not that I ever thought about it before….uh, alright I'll just be downstairs."

Aang quickly exited the room pulling the door closed behind him. He leaned his back up against the closed door and let out a long sigh, "smooth Aang, real smooth," he whispered to himself, "how much further can I stick my foot in my mouth?" He turned back to the door and gazed at it for a moment. He placed his hand upon the wood wishing that he could just muster the courage to tell her to let her know how he truly felt. He let out a sudden sigh of frustration, dropped his hand at his side and turned to head downstairs.

Once he reached the first floor Aang walked over to the front desk leaned his back up against it and waited in silence for Katara. He couldn't help but think about her quite accurate observation. He really was enjoying the idea of being married to her even if it was just a rouse to get the last room in town. In truth he had imagined it many times, but she had thought the idea was amusing; she made it sound as if it would never happen. Aang sighed heavily, he had been planning to tell her his true feelings upon his return, but now he was beginning to doubt himself.

"Did you sleep alright," Rose suddenly interrupted Aang's thoughts.

"Huh, oh yes, great," Aang said turning around to face the old women.

"And your bride, she got enough beauty sleep did she?"

"Bride?… Oh, Katara, uh yeah…not that she needs it though," Aang grinned at the woman. Rose smiled back at him.

"It's so nice to see two young people so in love."

"Really," Aang replied trying his best to force a smile, "can I ask you something."

"Why, certainly young man."

"What exactly was it about Katara and I that gave you the impression that we were married; I mean we didn't say anything to you, what made you instantly assume that we were?" He looked to the woman curiously.

"Oh, an old women can just tell these things," she said leaning closer to Aang and winking an eye at him, "you two belong together, I can see it in your eyes." Aang's face reddened slightly and he looked away.

"It's in the way you two look at each other; anyone can see you're in love." The old woman smiled. Aang glanced sadly up at the door to their room as the old woman spoke. The old woman suddenly placed a hand on Aang's arm. "Is there something wrong son?"

"Oh uh no," Aang said immediately turning to face the old woman, "it's just uh," he turned his eyes downward toward the desk, "well, we're trying to keep a low profile, you see, nobody knows that we're married and we would kinda like to keep it that way."

"Is that right," the old woman said becoming suddenly intrigued, "is it your parents, do they not approve?"

"Oh no, nothing like that," Aang said, "it all just kind of happened spur of the moment, and if anyone found out, well, they might not understand you know because they weren't a part of it and all."

"I understand perfectly young man," the old woman replied," but it must be so hard for you."

"What's that," Aang asked.

"Well, having to keep your feelings for your bride secret not being able to tell her you love her in public, or show her your affection."

Aang just gazed at the old woman, a sad expression suddenly forming across his face. "You have no idea," he sighed.

"Well my boy, I suggest you hurry up and break the news to your families so you two will be free to be together."

Upstairs Katara had just finished washing up and was now just finishing up the braid in her hair. She glanced at herself in the mirror briefly and smiled. She quickly grabbed her parka from the bed and then turned toward the door. She stopped just in front of the door and reached into the pocket of her parka in search of her mittens when she suddenly came across the crumpled up letter from the night before. She pulled the paper from her pocket and gazed at it quizzically. She bit her bottom lip as she contemplated her actions.

"Aang won't find out," she muttered, "and besides the letter is addressed to me." Casually she dropped her parka to the floor and headed back into the room. She sat back down upon the bed carefully smoothed out the crumpled letter, and after another brief moment of contemplation she began to read.

Dear Katara,

I'm writing to you from Omashu right now. It's so beautiful here during the summer. I wish you could be here. Anyway I'm supposed to be convincing King Buhmi to join the peace conference that is going to be held in a few months in the Fire Nation but so far all we've been doing is riding around on the transport system. I know you're probably shaking you're head right now and telling me to stay out of trouble, but surprisingly the guards are much more tolerant of this kind of behavior when their own king is the cause of it. I have to say Buhmi is still the crazy kid he was a hundred years ago and I hope he never changes. Anyway, as I was on my way here Appa and I flew over that cave that we used, to get to Omashu when we were still on the run from the fire nation. What did those musicians call it, The Cave of Two Lovers? Seeing it just made me think back to when we were all traveling together and it made me miss you terribly. I couldn't help but think of when we had gotten ourselves stuck in those caves, and when you kissed me because we thought it was the only way to get out. What a silly and awkward moment, I was so nervous that I accidentally insulted you, only because I had been rambling on not even realizing what I was talking about, and the more I tried to save myself the worse it got. I think I still blush when I think about it. I really don't know why I'm thinking about that right now, I guess I just miss you. I would do anything just to see your face right now, to see you smile, to hear your laugh. You are all I think about since I've been gone Katara. I just wish you knew I wish that I could tell you…

Katara looked up from the letter; she quickly folded it but just held it in her hands and gazed at it. What was Aang saying in the letter, why hadn't he sent it to her? Did he really think about her all the time that he was gone? She felt strange as she pondered the questions in her mind. Suddenly a knock at the door interrupted her train of thought she quickly shoved the letter under her pillow and ran to open the door. Aang stood in the doorway gazing at her. She gazed back at him trying desperately to look innocent so that he would not become suspicious of her going through his things.

"Are you okay," Katara he asked, "You were taking so long."

"Oh yeah," she said, "I'm fine, I just wanted to look perfect," she smiled.

"Well," he smiled, "I don't think it's possible for you to look any more perfect then you already do." She smiled at him and shot him a questioning look.

"Was that for show," she asked, "or did you really mean that."

Aang smiled leaning in close to her, "wouldn't you like to know."

"AANG," she laughed hitting him lightly on the shoulder.

"Hey," he laughed, "no need for violence...come on lets get out of here, were wasting valuable daylight." Katara smiled and slipped her arm in his.

"I'm ready when you are," she sighed.

Sokka lay his head down upon the old wooden table crossing his arms over the back of his head in frustration while his father voiced his anger.

"I can't believe this is happening," Soku cried Katara's note clenched tightly in his fist.

"The closest village is Bok Choy, and that is a four day journey, how do they expect me to believe that they will be back by tomorrow!"

"By canoe dad," Sokka suddenly interrupted earning himself a stern look from his father, "it's a four day journey by canoe, Katara and Aang took Appa and for Appa it's about a day's journey maybe even a little bit less." Soku paused in his rambling and just stared at his son as if processing the information he had just been given.

"It's still not right for her to be off with a man when they are not even married."

"Oh come on dad," Sokka smirked, "You do realize that he's the Avatar right…the same guy that we traveled the world with for nearly six years, I mean seriously in all that time if he was a threat to Katara's honor don't you think he would've tried something before; oh wait I think I see it all clearly now, his plan all along was to spend six years gaining our trust, leave for two years to throw us off and then come back when we least expect it to steal Katara away in the night." Soku sighed heavily resting his elbow on the table and leaning his chin upon the palm of his hand.

"Listen dad, I know you're worried but, Aang is a good guy, he has nothing but good intentions in mind for Katara, believe me, and as far as I know they are just good friends so you have nothing to worry about."

"When they get back to this village," Soku growled, "that's when I will have nothing to worry about." Sokka only smiled at his father.

"And as for this young man, Avatar or no avatar once he returns with my daughter, I'm going to have a few words with him about respect."

"I would expect nothing less of you Dad," Sokka replied.

To be continued