Chapter 14 The Discovery

Aang stood gazing up at the twinkling stars above. He sighed deeply as he began to go over again and again in his mind the events that he had just witnessed; Takashi down on one knee fastening a bracelet around Katara's delicate wrist, proposing to her. He closed his eyes tightly and brought his hands to his head in sudden anguish. Why had he ever come back here? He should have known that she would have moved on by now.

"Moved on, ha," he paused for a moment, "she never even knew how I felt; she had nothing to move on from!" He turned to the little lemur that was now sitting beside him in the snow watching him pace back and forth. "I am such an idiot Momo." Momo only squeaked in response

Aang's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a soft sobbing coming from somewhere off in the distance. Slowly he crept down along the beach until he came to a steep bluff. As he came to the edge of the bluff and peered down onto the lower beach he spied Katara sitting alone by the water looking up at the glowing moon crying. Aang immediately floated down from the bluff and sat beside his best friend.

"Katara," he whispered softly placing a hand upon her shoulder, "what's wrong."

"Aang," she said quickly wiping her eyes, "Nothing's wrong I just…." Aang gently slipped his arm around her shoulder to comfort her.

"You can tell me," he whispered. Katara laid her head softly upon Aang's shoulder.

"It's Takashi," she stated. Aang's heart sank for a moment with the mention of his name.

She held up the water nation bracelet that Takashi had given her, emphasizing the hand carved charm.

"He asked me to marry him Aang," she said staring up at her best friend, her eyes wide, "to marry him."

"Well…what did you say Katara," Aang asked looking away from her and off into the distant frozen landscape.

"Well I", she gazed at Aang a moment unable to decipher his emotions, "I told him that I needed some time to think about things," she replied.

"Do you want to marry Takashi?"

"Well that's the thing," she said softly, "All my feelings are so…confusing right now…I mean Takashi and I are friends…I had no idea that he was going to come back here to ask me to marry him…all this is just happening too fast."

"Katara," Aang paused taking a deep breath before continuing, "do you love Takashi?" Katara paused for a moment pondering Aang's question.

"Well…I do love him," she sighed. Aang's heart sank to his stomach. "But I feel like I love him the way I love Sokka," she continued, "I mean I care about him a lot and I want him to be happy…and I really don't want to hurt him but…" She paused gazing up into the clear night sky, "I know if I did marry him, he would always be there for me and he would always love me, but I just don't think it's right… She turned to Aang tightly grasping his hand in hers. He felt his face warm as she looked to him imploringly with her deep blue eyes.

"What should I do Aang," she asked, "do you think I should marry Takashi?" Aang's heart plummeted and he slowly looked away from her.

"I…I think you should follow your heart Katara…. no matter what." More then anything Aang wanted Katara to be happy, even if it wasn't with him.

"Thanks Aang," she replied as she lay her head back on his shoulder. Aang then slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. Maybe she would agree to be Takashi's wife in the morning but for now she was still his Katara, as she would always be in his heart.

As they sat together in the snow, Katara gracefully raised a glistening stream of water out of the sea and began manipulating its shape. Aang watched her as she softly twisted and twirled the element. She was especially beautiful in the moonlight. He would have given anything to make this moment last forever. Aang slowly pulled another stream of water up next to Katara's gradually intertwining it with hers till the two streams became one. As he did this, Katara glanced at him curiously. He sighed suddenly allowing the water to fall.

"Katara," he said, "it's getting kind of late, maybe we should get back."

"I don't want to go back," she whispered, "not yet…. I don't want to face Takashi just yet."

"Alright," Aang replied, "we'll stay here…hold on." He stood suddenly and walked over to Appa who had been sleeping nearby. He quickly air bended himself onto Appa's saddle and picked up a heavy fur blanket. He then jumped down from the bison and came back to where Katara was sitting. He gently draped the blanket around her shoulders and then leaned himself up against a nearby rock. Aang just gazed up at the glowing stars in the clear night sky. He longed so badly to tell her how deeply that he loved her. As he lay there lost in his thoughts of her he was suddenly disturbed by Katara crawling up next to him. He looked down at her in surprise and smiled. Katara just cuddled up next to him spreading the blanket over him as well. Aang put his arm around her and she nestled her head on his chest. It was all too much for Aang; he was drowning in his love for her. Now having her laying beside him once again, feeling her warm breath on his neck, the soft curve of her body leaned up against his, and her silky hair brushing up against his chin, he could no longer keep his emotions to himself.

"Katara," he whispered, "Katara I have to tell you something." Katara did not answer him. Aang looked down upon her, she was fast asleep. He smiled slightly at the sight of her and then leaned in to kiss her lightly on the forehead, "I love you," he whispered softly. He then rolled over to his side to face her, she was so peaceful. Gently he wrapped his opposite arm around her waist and gazed at her until he fell asleep.

The next morning

Sokka was awakened by a loud pounding on his front door and Takashi yelling from outside. "Come on Katara," he called, "open the door I just need to talk to you" Sokka ignored the young man's pleas hoping that maybe if he just ignored him he would give up for the time being and go away.

"I'm not leaving until you talk to me," Takashi called.

"Damn it," Sokka mumbled under his breath. He forced himself out of bed and stumbled to the front door. He flung it open and glared at Takashi.

"Are you aware that it is the middle of the night and people are TRYING TO SLEEP!"

"Look I'm sorry Sokka; I just need to see Katara."

"Katara isn't even here, Takashi."

"Not here, what do you mean she's not here, didn't she come home last night?" Sokka just stared at Takashi.

"Listen, Katara is fine," he sighed, "she can take care of herself and besides Aang is probably with her any way."

"What Aang is with her…they're together!" Sokka grimaced as he realized his mistaken slip of tongue.

"Takashi it's no big deal, they go off alone together all the time." Takashi's face contorted in anger. Sokka silently cursed himself for yet another misspoken comment. "So this is why she needed time to think things over," he yelled, "she's been running off with Aang behind my back all this time."

"Takashi it's not what you think…I mean…I didn't mean it to sound…they're just friends…Takashi." But it was too late the young benders mind had been decided and he was already storming off to find Katara and Aang.

"Just great," Sokka sighed to himself, "Katara will surely pay me back for this one." He ducked back into the house and flopped down into a nearby wooden chair leaning his cheek against his fist. He stared longingly to his open bedroom door wishing that he could just crawl back into his bed

Sokka sighed in silent defeat, "stupid Katara and her stupid love life." There was no possible way he was going to get anymore sleep tonight, not with Takashi stalking Aang and Katara in a blind and jealous rage. Of course it was probably mostly his own fault for giving Takashi the wrong impression of what they were doing to begin with. Sokka rolled his eyes at the thought of Katara literally biting his head off for accidentally ratting her out. He stood quickly, and ran to his bedroom to get dressed. There was no way he was going to end up getting the blame for this, at least not all the blame anyway. With one last look at his warm soft bed Sokka reluctantly left the house and trailed after Takashi.

Aang tugged at the heavy blanket in his half conscious state in a futile attempt to shield himself from the icy artic wind. The fact that he was laying on a sheet of ice to begin with, didn't seem to help his efforts much. He rolled to his side bringing his arms and legs closer to him in an attempt to keep them warm. He was suddenly taken by surprise when a warm arm slipped gently around his waist and he heard a discreet moan as Katara adjusted her sleeping position beside him. In his sleep he had forgotten the events of the night before, how they had talked all night and then fallen asleep together under the stars wrapped in each others arms. His eyes shot open and he turned to face her sleeping form. She had such a peaceful expression and the rosy pink of the rising sun lightened her features perfectly, making her seem almost like an angel lying there beside him. She was absolutely breathtaking. He gently wrapped his arm around her tiny waist and closed his eyes once more. "Today is the day," he thought to himself. Today he was going to tell her that he loved her, before she answered Takashi's proposal.

As suddenly as the thought had crossed his mind a huge amount of ice cold water suddenly fell from nowhere and over top of Aang and Katara, soaking them to the bone and waking them immediately. They both jumped to their feet in shock and surprise.

"What the heck just happened," Katara cried.

"I have no idea," Aang cried, he came up to Katara and rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Morning Sunshine," Takashi smiled at Katara. His eyes darted to Aang and his smile vanished, "Avatar"

"Takashi," Katara cried, her eyes wide in shock, "did you just soak us?"

"Well I thought after last night the two of you might be in need of a cold shower." Katara's face turned red with both anger and embarrassment.

"Takashi this is not what it looks like," she said softly.

"Are you absolutely sure that it is not what it looks like Katara, cause from where I'm standing it all looks pretty obvious to me."

"What's obvious Takashi," she yelled, "what is it exactly that you are implying that I've done."

"Oh come on Katara," Takashi said pointing accusingly at Aang as he spoke, "since the moment he came back, you two have been lost in your own little world together, holding hands, telling your little inside jokes, flirting like there's no one watching."

"Takashi," Katara defended, "Aang and I are friends."

"Friends Katara, friends...you both seemed a little more than friendly a minute ago." Katara was left speechless in the wake of his accusations

"What's the matter you have nothing to say?"

"That's enough Takashi, you've made your point," Aang interrupted. He immediately came between Takashi and Katara pushing Takashi away slightly with a hand to his chest

Takashi sneered at Aang smacking his hand away violently, "Who are you to tell me when I've said enough."

"Takashi please," Katara pleaded now with tears brimming in her eyes. Takashi ignored Katara completely and focused in on Aang. He came up directly in Aang's face.

"Who are you to defend her at all, you have been gone for two years, who do you think defended her when you were no where to be found, who do you think protected her, who do you think comforted her?" Aang was rocked by the truth in Takashi's words. He turned to Katara with immense guilt and sadness in his eyes he turned back to Takashi who was now glaring at him.

"Takashi," Katara cried, "don't you dare condemn Aang for things that you know nothing about." She glared at him with tears in her eyes. Takashi was taken aback by her outburst. He gazed at her hurt expression; he glanced back at Aang, who also displayed pain in his eyes. Obviously he had struck a nerve. It seemed that Aang's leaving was a painful memory for both of them.

"Whatever," he yelled and turned to walk away. Katara turned to Aang she reached for his hand and grasped it tightly in hers.

"Aang," she said softly, "I know you feel guilty for leaving but don't, you had to go, I know you had to, it doesn't matter what anyone else says, or thinks." Aang turned to her and smiled weakly.

"Don't you regret it for a second," she sighed. She paused just gazing at Aang.

"I have to go after Takashi," she said, "I have to make things right with him okay." Once again Aang felt his heart plummet to his stomach. It almost seemed as though it was inevitable for them to be apart. He was planning to tell her how he felt this morning; he was planning to tell her that he was in love with her, and now this. It felt as if everything in the world were trying to keep them apart.

"Hey Aang," a familiar voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts. Sokka paused next to him out of breath from running.

"Hey Aang did I miss the fireworks…hey uh did you know you're all wet." Aang rolled his eyes and air bended himself dry.

"Aang where is Katara," Sokka asked curiously.

"She's off talking to Takashi," he replied in an emotionless tone.

"Aang are you alright," Sokka questioned noticing his friend's glum disposition.

"I'M FINE SOKKA, LEAVE ME ALONE," he yelled. Sokka just eyed Aang.

"Aang," he said softly, "why don't you just admit it already, I mean what exactly is it that's stopping you?" Aang looked in Sokka's direction curiously.

"Admit what Sokka?"

"Come on Aang; don't pretend like you don't know what I'm talking about." He paused stepping in front of Aang and forcing him to look him in the eye.

"Don't forget I've been around you guys forever, I've seen every lingering glance and every goofball smile, and the flirting," he rolled his eyes, "god help me, the constant flirting." Aang's face began to blush.

"Don't act like I can't tell that you're in love with my sister."

"Sokka I…uh," Aang started.

"Hey, its okay, what I don't understand is why you haven't said anything to her yet."

"It doesn't matter now," Aang sighed; "she's going to marry Takashi."

"Wait…she said that, she actually said she was going to marry Takashi."

"Well no…she didn't say it Aang replied, but…"

"Aang, Katara is not going to marry Takashi."

"What, how do you know that?"

"Because, she doesn't love him…." he smiled knowingly, "she loves you buddy."

Aang's heart began to race. He shook his head in disbelief.

"How do you know that," he asked fervently.

"What are you blind," Sokka questioned, "it's only completely obvious, she talked about you only everyday that you were gone; she looks at you the exact same way that you look at her and did you know she stares at you when you're not looking, I swear to God; I've caught her doing it."

"So Katara loves me….you're telling me that Katara loves me." Sokka nodded smiling at his friend in amusement.

"Well…what should I do Sokka?

"For starters, you should go after her and tell her how you feel before she does say yes to that dope Takashi if you haven't told her by now she just might."

To be continued