….

Katara had now "accompanied the Avatar" in his room several times now, and it was clear that, even after that first night, things had changed between them.

Her first evening with the Avatar had been… well nothing like she'd expected.

The dread and fear she'd felt that first night when she'd been chained, blindfolded, and taken so suddenly from her room at such late hours, had been admittedly extreme. All possible outcomes she could imagine had seemed to land somewhere on a scale between bleak and disastrous. She didn't know if perhaps she was on her way to die.

Katara had not been comforted to find herself in the room of the Avatar—all indications pointing to his intent to defile her, to forcibly take what she had no intention of giving. She'd berated herself for the sense of betrayal she'd felt when she'd first heard his voice; why should she feel betrayed when she'd never meant to trust him in the first place?

But she had. And that most definitely made the realization worse — because he was supposed to be her enemy; but somehow she had let her guard down, somehow she had let care for him enter in. The betrayal she'd felt at that moment had fed a hatred hotter than any she'd ever felt for anyone.

But then she'd been surprised again. He'd removed her restraints. Kept his distance. Proposed playing a game! The whiplash in her emotions had been more than disorienting.

Although Katara had not truly relaxed until she was back alone in her own room, she had to admit that she had… enjoyed herself. She'd actually had fun. Which was perhaps the most unbelievable part of any of it!

After playing several games of pai sho that first night, Katara had begun to yawn and the Avatar—no, Aang—had suggested it was time for bed. In a renewed moment of fear, Katara had glanced anxiously at Aang's bed, then reformed her ice-spear (that had long since melted on the table) and stood pointing it at him menacingly.

"You still think this is about sex?" Aang asked.

She said nothing.

Aang's brow furrowed and he turned away from her. "If all I wanted was sex, I wouldn't need you to get it," he replied, a touch of bite in his tone. Then in a quieter, softened voice he said, "But I'm not like that. I just want…" He trailed off, not finishing.

"What do you want?"

He looked at her then, his eyes holding the bottomless ache of someone surrounded by people, and yet still desperately alone. He said nothing, but she understood.

He'd stood then and awkwardly suggested that perhaps she was ready to go back to her room? With a hand rubbing the back of his neck nervously, Aang apologized again for "um… all of this"—somehow referring to the ruse of bringing her there for sexual favors. He'd then looked at her with almost palpably restrained hope and asked if she would "want to… maybe, you know… come again sometime?" His delivery was so not smooth that she found herself doubly surprised to answer that she would.

And she had. Most of the time the two of them just played a game or two, drank tea, and talked. Katara tried to keep their conversations on "safe topics" as often as possible, and was careful to side-step any information that she thought might be problematic. She sensed that Aang was doing the same.

But she really enjoyed her time with Aang, more than she knew she ought to.

"Good morning, Master Katara!" Aang sang out cheerfully as he jogged happily towards her when she entered his training arena.

The two had spent another evening together last night, and for some reason they had gotten into telling mishap stories from their childhoods. Katara didn't know she could laugh so hard for so long! They had resorted to hiding their laughter in throw pillows from the chaise lounge to keep Captain Li from hearing them as he stood guard outside the door.

Aang slowed to a walk as he got closer to her, a shy uncertainty finding its way into his voice. "Did you, um, sleep well?"

Katara couldn't help but blush at Aang's question. Most nights Katara would leave Aang's room around midnight, or maybe a bit later. But last night, Katara had fallen asleep on the chaise lounge, and Aang hadn't woken her. When she'd woken up in the morning (carefully tucked in with a blanket from the bed, she noticed), Aang had already left for his sunrise meditation with the Fire Sages.

"I slept fine, thank you." Katara couldn't help but tease him a little. "Although I must admit I didn't fall asleep where I'd intended to, which under most circumstances would of course be inadvisable. In this case, however…" Aang's eyebrows raised, awaiting her verdict. "I can't say I'm sorry."

Aang smiled brightly. Katara wondered at the little flip she felt in her stomach at the sight of it.

"How about you? Did you sleep alright?" she asked.

"Oh, I didn't sleep much; I was too keyed up to sleep." Aang looked bashfully at her. Katara tried not to acknowledge how adorable his bashfulness made him look. "You, um, you look really beautiful when you sleep… (although you always look beautiful, so I guess that's nothing new…)" Aang's cheeks blushed shyly, but he gave the compliment without apology, just straight forward honesty.

Katara felt her own cheeks heat up at the compliment.

Aang's shy smile was quickly replaced with a delighted smirk as he added wickedly, "But I did have a very refreshing nap during sunrise meditation with the Fire Sages; so I feel great! It was one of the best meditations I've ever had with them, actually!"

Katara laughed. But then she cut herself off, remembering where she was and what she was supposed to be doing. She glanced up at the ever-watchful archers and then cleared her throat, putting on her 'teacher voice.' "Well you won't be getting any more naps in my class. Start warming up with the Sunrise Crane kata please."

"Yes, Sifu," Aang replied with a bow, that somehow looked exactly as it ought to while simultaneously emanating a teasing sass that brought more heat to Katara's cheeks. "I'll do anything you say!"

Katara watched Aang begin the Sunrise Crane kata. His movements were so fluid, so relaxed, like a dance. She found herself caught up in the beauty of it, of him. The realization brought her up short.

She glanced again at the ever-present eyes observing them. And not for the first time, she berated herself for being so reckless! She knew it was unwise to continue these late night meetings with Aang. She knew they couldn't possibly end well for her. But each time he'd ask her if she would come again, she just couldn't say 'no.' The scary part for her was that the reason she didn't say 'no' had nothing to do with being afraid to offend Aang; it was because she wanted to spent time with him. She enjoyed his company. Even though she knew it was dangerous. She just couldn't seem to bring herself to stop.

"I see the Avatar is in a jovial mood today…" Counselor Zhao's drawl interrupted Katara's thoughts. She looked to see him step up next to her at the perimeter of the arena. "I wonder what could have put such a pleasureful hop in his step today?"

Katara clenched her teeth. She could feel Zhao's eyes on her even as she scowled straight ahead.

"The Fire Sages did report that he fell asleep during sunrise meditation," Zhao said with an exaggerated frown on his face. "Looks like you really tuckered him out last night."—A lecherous smile—"But perhaps I'll let it slide this time; a little vigorous exercise can be more rejuvenating than meditation at times, so I've heard."

Heat rose up Katara's neck. Katara obviously knew what hadn't happened, but she also knew what Zhao assumed had. And Katara was smart enough to know she couldn't set the record straight without unwanted consequences for both herself and Aang.

"And judging by the way you were eyeing the Avatar just now, I'd say the exertion was enjoyable for you as well."

Shame filled her knowing what he assumed she'd done, what he assumed she was. But her initial humiliation was quickly pushed away by righteous anger. She knew who she was and what she was (and what she wasn't)! She wouldn't let him make her feel small or worthless. HE was the small one.

"You really want to make an enemy out of me, Counselor Zhao?" Her voice dripped with venom.

"Ah, quite the contrary. I am admittedly in a hard position. Finding waterbending teachers for the Avatar has been a genuine headache. But I assure you, you aren't the only one willing to sell yourself for his needs." Zhao raised an eyebrow at her to make sure she caught his pointed innuendo.

"Counselor?" the Avatar's voice rang out.

Katara and Counselor Zhao both looked up to see Aang walking towards them. He didn't look happy.

"Is there some reason you've stopped your exercise, Avatar Aang?" Counselor Zhao asked, a bit of reproach in his voice.

"I noticed that you and Master Katara were… exchanging words. I just wanted to assure that you were both getting along alright." His words were amiable enough, but he didn't smile (a rarity for Aang these days).

"Of course, why wouldn't we be?" Counselor Zhao replied with false joviality.

"I just want to remind you that Master Katara is… important to me." Aang spoke with a rare but genuinely princely tone in his voice. He wasn't asking for approval; he was demanding it. "I'm sure you would treat her with nothing less than respect."

Counselor Zhao and Aang looked at each other for a long moment. Counselor Zhao was larger than Aang, but Aang was just as tall, and right now every inch of his height emanated royalty.

Katara had assumed that Counselor Zhao was the one who called the shots for the Avatar. But in this moment, Katara realized something: they both held sway over the other, balancing it back and forth like a dance. But when it came down to its foundation, Aang was the one with true status, true power. And Zhao knew it.

Eventually Counselor Zhao chuckled, trying to make light of the moment. "Of course, Avatar Aang. I wouldn't dream of treating our esteemed Master Waterbender with anything but respect."

Aang nodded, a tight, polite smile at his mouth, but not in his eyes. "Of course. I would expect nothing less, Counselor." He then bowed respectfully to both of them and returned to his forms.

Tension radiated between a clearly pride-sore Counselor Zhao and a newly smug Katara. Counselor Zhao spoke without looking at her. "Don't delude yourself into thinking that you are in any way indispensable here."

Katara just kept her eyes straightforward, a confident smirk on her lips.

Counselor Zhao huffed and, with an elaborately irritated swirl of his cape, stalked out of the arena.

…

"Are you holding on tight?"

Katara nodded stiffly, but as she glanced over the window's edge into the dark garden below—very, very far below!—she began to second guess her judgement in agreeing to this. Aang answered her tight whimper at the sight the height with a gentle chuckle she could feel through his chest.

Aang was carrying Katara on his back like a backpack, and preparing to jump out of his third story window.

Concern about their considerable height managed to momentarily drive from Katara's mind the nervous flutter she'd felt holding onto Aang, their close contact originally making her heart thump and her skin warm hotly.

"I promise, I won't let you fall," Aang said with another chuckle. It must be easy for him to laugh at this kind of stunt when the very winds obeyed his command. But Katara didn't have that same assurance! Her stomach clenched apprehensively. Looking down, she was now quite sure that this was a terrible idea!

Aang had been telling Katara about his sky bison, Appa, for weeks now, always mentioning that he'd like to take her to meet him. Well, when Katara arrived at his room this evening Aang excitedly announced first thing (even while still removing her blindfold and chains) that today was the day! She was finally going to meet Appa!

Aang was excited enough that when he talked he hardly took a pause to breath. "I've finally worked it out, Katara! You see, usually when I sneak a visit to Appa, I just, you know, hop out the window and use a little airbending to pop me up onto the roof. Then coming home, I just, speed run up the side of the building."

Katara had never seen Aang 'speed run,' so her eyes blew wide at the prospect of someone being able to run fast enough to scale the side of a three story building!

"But with both of us, it's made this a bit trickier. But I've been thinking it over, and I think I've finally figured out how we can do it!"

"Do what?"

"Get us out of here. To see Appa! Of course." Aang spoke as though she had been privy to his plans from the beginning. He continued talking excitedly.

"At first I thought maybe we could use the sheet from the bed, but then, well, it's red."

Katara looked at the bed. Yes it was. But she wasn't quite following.

"It's red, Katara. Don't you see?! It would be way too noticeable. But then I thought about this!" Aang held up a long black cape, the kind of fine formal wear someone with deep pockets might wear to a ball.

"O-kay," she said slowly.

Aang took her acknowledgement as understanding. "Right!? Isn't it perfect! Lightweight, dark, and not too big. So all you will have to do is jump on my back and hold on tight to me." His cheeks pinked slightly when he said this. "I'll hold onto the edges of the cape and it can work like a parachute. Then I'll just airbend us up onto the roof!"

Katara half nodded, half shook her head as she tried to keep up with what Aang was proposing.

"Then from there we can just sneak to the back of the palace, and use the cape again to jump off the roof!"

"Jump off the roof…" Katara repeated numbly.

"Then coming back will be easy! I'll just bend air into the cape and fly us back onto the roof. It should work great!"

Now Katara didn't know how she had ever agreed to this! She squeezed her eyes tightly shut, trying to will away the vertigo she felt from looking down. Aang had already turned out the lights in his room (to keep their escape from being backlit) and explained where the guards were most often stationed (so they could more easily avoid them).

"Are you sure about this?" Katara forced out through her held breath.

"Of course!" Aang said jovially. "Well, at least 80% sure. I've never really done this with a parachute before. And not with two adults… So maybe 70% sure? But nothing to worry about!"

Katara was about to protest, but—too late!—Aang was already jumping from the window! All Katara could do was clutch onto Aang like her life depended on it (funny, since it did depend on it). For a terrifying moment, the two seemed to drop like a stone… before the cape opened with a snap and yanked them upward with a surprising jerk in Katara's stomach!

Three… four… five… suspended breaths later, and Aang was touching soundlessly onto the red clay tiles of the roof. Katara didn't see this. Since her eyes were clamped tightly shut. But she felt the way Aang's hips shifted from floating to standing.

"You can, uh… let go now, Katara." Aang's voice sounded a bit strangled. Katara loosed her death-grip, realizing that he probably was a little strangled, given how tightly she was holding onto him.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as Aang set her gently onto the tiles.

Aang turned and smiled enthusiastically at her. "No worries. Look, Katara! It worked!" Katara wasn't sure she appreciated the sheer magnitude of surprise in his voice.

Aang rolled the cape quickly into a ball and tucked it into a satchel he held on his shoulder. Then he smiled and tugged Katara by the hand—her hand hummed with his touch—gently pulling her in the direction they needed to go. When he let go of her, her fingers protested the loss of his hand on hers.

As Aang led the way, Katara could hear Aang's soft laughter echo back to her, as though he were a child on a great adventure; as though this was no more than a game, with no greater consequences than to be caught by a disapproving parent who might send them to bed without their supper. Despite the genuine danger they were putting themselves in, Katara couldn't help but be drawn up into Aang's excitement. Laughter escaped from her as well.

Aang's footsteps on the red tiles were silent and sure. Her's were… less so. A tile under her foot shifted and she slipped, catching herself with her hands. Aang was crouching next to her before she could even look up.

"You okay?" he asked quietly, helping her to her feet.

She nodded. "So you've… done this before?"

Aang nodded. "Sure. I do it all the time."

Katara looked around. This part of the palace was the tallest around, affording her a clear view of the lights from the buildings below. She could see the sentries pacing in the courtyards and along the walls, looking vigilantly for anything suspicious.

"Aang, what happens if you get caught?"

"I just don't get caught." He flashed a cocky crooked smile at her, and took her hand again. "No one is stealthier than an airbender."

Except a spirit, perhaps, Katara thought to herself. Katara's mind turned wryly to the Blue Spirit, a benevolent spirit that had suddenly, and inexplicably, bestowed its patronage upon her little traveling group, bestowing nighttime gifts of food and supplies to their poor traveling threesome. Admittedly, fourteen-year-old Katara had developed a bit of a starstruck crush on their silent nighttime benefactor, even though she had only caught a glimpse of him twice. Uncle Iroh had eaten the spoils, but remained quiet when Katara gushed about their good fortune. Katara had grown up believing in spirits and their magic, so believing in the Blue Spirit had been easy. But years and experience (and a yelling match with Zuko when she'd found his frightening blue opera mask) had taught her that these things were rarely as magical as they seemed.

Except now, Katara wondered. She supposed she was holding hands with an immortal spirit right now. And she didn't want to admit it, but it did feel like magic. But Katara honestly didn't know if that magic was due to the Avatar, or to just Aang himself. The thought that Aang's soul embodied the endless cycling lives of The Avatar was both disorienting and hard to believe. Aang was just so… human.

Katara wondered briefly what a team-up of her two spirits would be like: two princes of the Fire Nation, two sons of Ozai, two 'spirits' who were really just men. The image was breathtaking. They were about as opposite, in most ways, as Katara could imagine two people being. But they were both strong. And good, once you got past their facades.

Too bad they were sworn enemies. Too bad they planned to kill one another.

These thoughts brought Katara up short, her hand yanking from Aang's as her feet planted themselves, unmoving. He looked back at her questioningly.

Thus far the Rebellion had largely ignored the Avatar. He was too far away, and too strongly guarded in the heart of the Fire Nation capitol. But she knew that things would be different the moment Aang left Caldera City. He would be a target, one that the Rebellion's best fighters would gladly die for, as long as they could take him down with them.

A lump rose in Katara's throat as she realized for the first time that she didn't want Aang to lose; she didn't want the rebellion to kill him as they hoped to. She'd been living such a double life since coming here to the Fire Nation, that she rarely put her old life along side this new one. Her old cause was in direct opposition to how she felt today.

She knew that she had made a mistake in getting to know Aang as she did now. She should never have let herself care about him.

Not when she was supposed to want him dead.

Aang was looking at her, concern on his face. "Katara?" he whispered. "Is something wrong?"

Katara tried to reach for her old mask of indifference towards him. But it didn't seem to fit anymore, and she knew she could no longer wear it.

She knew he was a Weapon. A powerful one. But at this moment she couldn't see past the boy, Aang. Aang who wanted to heal, not to hurt. Aang who blushed and teased and laughed. Who made her feel things beyond the war. Made her feel precious and treasured.

"I'm fine," she lied, and continued forward, leaving Aang to catch up with her.

At the back of the palace, Aang floated them both lightly down to the garden below. The back garden was enormous, and although there were still torches lighting the pathways, Aang seemed to know how to best stay in the shadows. More than once, the two had to tuck themselves into the dark shadows of a hedge to wait while a pair of guards walked past. But eventually they reached Appa's stable without incident.

Crouched in the shadow beneath one of the stable's windows, Aang put his finger to his lips telling Katara to stay quiet. Then he stood and walked around the corner and in through the front door of the stable. Katara could see him through the window.

A boy of around twelve years old shot to his feet nervously from his seat by the front door. Katara thought he must have been dozing off before Aang arrived, and was likely worried he'd been caught. But when the boy saw Aang he visibly relaxed.

"Flameo, Otōto!" Aang said cheerfully. The boy smiled widely, silently. "Anything new with Appa these days? How's he doing?" The boy shrugged, and dragged a large bag of white fur over for Aang to inspect. Katara could see a row of these bags propped against the wall.

Aang laughed. "Well it's springtime, Otōto! Appa sheds in the spring!" The boy rolled his eyes, and motioned out the door and back into the stable, then threw his hands high in exasperation. Aang laughed again, ruffling his hair. "I know, I know. It gets everywhere! Thank you for cleaning up after him. You take such good care of Appa. It's a very important job, you know!" Aang said affectionately. The boy stood a little taller and puffed his skinny chest out at the praise.

Aang chuckled and pulled the satchel from his shoulder. "Hey, Otōto, do you think you could give me some time alone with Appa?" Aang pulled a large steamed baozi from the sack and handed it to the boy. The boy smiled largely and took the baozi with two hands, bringing it to his nose to smell it indulgently.

"Take your time eating that," Aang teased as the boy clutched the bun and headed towards the wall surrounding the stable. He waved at Aang dismissively as he headed out. "And maybe take a nap once your belly is full!" Aang called out after the boy as he disappeared around the corner with a last impish grin.

Aang looked fondly after the boy a moment longer before he flashed a triumphant smile at Katara through the window. Katara's breath caught; Aang's smile was nothing short of stunning. And it was disconcerting to her how much it flustered her when he shone it her way.

Aang rounded the stable wall to where Katara was waiting. Katara motioned in the direction the boy had left. "He seems really cute."

Aang smiled affectionately. "Otōto is a sweet kid."

"He seemed… kinda quiet," Katara observed.

"I'm not sure if he can't talk, or if he just doesn't like to." Aang said. "I don't actually even know his name. Otōto just means 'little brother' in one of the outer island dialects here in the Fire Nation. He looks so much like my old friend, Kuzon's little brother…" Aang drifted off in thought for a moment, before turning back to her. "He takes amazing care of Appa, and he's never ratted me out for coming here, so…" he smiled, albeit Katara detected a tinge of sadness in it.

Just then there was a low grumble and a snort from inside the stable. Aang snapped his fingers enthusiastically, seeming to remember what they were there for. "Come on, Katara! Appa awaits!"

Katara wasn't sure what kind of animal exactly to expect when they entered the stable together, but whatever image she had preconceived, this was certainly not it. Aang's sky bison was huge! From the outside the stable had been large, but Katara had just assumed Aang's pet had royal accommodations with lots of room to move around; she had never expected Appa's sheer size to take up half the building!

Katara's feet stopped moving at the door, and Aang had to come back a few steps to take her hand and lead her further inside the stable. Again, Aang's hand sent nervous vibrations through her, his touch distracting her enough from what she was seeing to get her feet moving again. Her hand felt empty again when he let go too soon.

"Appa!" Aang exclaimed and flattened his body across the giant creature's furry forehead. "How are you, Buddy?"

The sky bison snorted in reply, sending straw and hot air skittering past Katara's ankles. Appa then stepped back and licked a gigantic tongue across Aang's torso and face, leaving him damp with his topknot tipped a little lopsided. Aang laughed and stepped back with a two-arm sweep, waterbending the wetness away. It was all for nought though, as Appa immediately licked Aang's back, knocking him into a forward stumble. Then another giant lick and Aang went down to one knee laughing joyously. "Okay, yes! Yes! I brought something for you too, Appa!"

Aang walked over to his satchel and pulled out two cantaloupes. Appa opened his mouth with an approving groan as Aang lobbed one, then the other into his enormous waiting mouth. The giant creature shook his body approvingly, sending a ripple of movement down his two, four, no six! legs and finally into his giant flat tail which flapped once, sending a gust of wind swirling through the building.

"Appa, I want you to meet someone!" Aang bounded over to Katara and took her hand, bringing her closer to the mammoth creature. "Appa, this is Katara! You know, the uh, the one I've been telling you about." Katara noticed Aang glance shyly away from her.

The giant bison turned his head, and Katara was faced with a large, warm brown eye that brimmed with surprising intelligence. Katara put out her hand and tentatively touched the white fur of his cheek; it was soft and thick. She walked from his face towards his flank, running her hand along his fur as she went. "Hello… Appa," Katara said a bit self-consciously. The giant bison replied by turning his head toward her and licking up her body with a hearty, enormous tongue.

Katara was so surprised (and repulsed) that she laughed out loud! She looked down at her sopping clothes and wiped her face. Then, for some reason (instead of running in disgust, or waterbending away the wet), Katara threw her arms wide and buried herself in a hug in the deep, loose fur behind Appa's head. Katara felt a low, approving rumble in Appa's chest and his giant head nuzzled into her gently.

Amidst her laughter, Katara felt another emotion spike within her. Appa's touch—the warmth and acceptance of it—opened an ache that she had long ignored. It had been a long time since she'd been touched in sincere, undemanding affection. When was the last time she'd really touched someone who didn't want something from her? A touch that communicated care without expectation? She had touched many people since leaving her destroyed tribe in the South Pole: the broken, needy grasps of the men and women she'd healed, the leaning weight of exhausted refugees, the violent grappling of physical combat. There had been kind touches as well: an occasional gentle hand from Uncle Iroh. And of course there had been Zuko… But it had been so long since she'd left her tribe, left the Rebellion. Appa's tenderness seemed to break a dam inside Katara, and she ran her arms through his fur, giving and receiving affection without reserve, laughing and crying as she did.

Katara heard Aang say something to Appa with a laugh; she didn't quite catch it but she thought she heard something about "stealing his girl." When Katara pulled back from Appa's fur, Aang was looking at her with a soft, affectionate expression so warm that it made her face heat.

"He does that for me too," Aang said.

"Does what?"

Aang just smiled. "Loves me."

Katara turned her face back into Appa's fur to escape the warmth in Aang's eyes. "Is that what Appa is doing right now? Loving me?" Katara asked with a laugh, although she already felt the answer.

Aang nodded, that same, happy-sad smile on his face. "Appa is really good at loving." Aang stepped forward and ran his own hand through the fur behind Appa's ear. The giant animal leaned heavily into his touch. "Don't get me wrong, he's also a big baby sometimes and don't even try getting between him and his food because he will choose his stomach over his heart, but yeah… Appa's my best friend."

Aang spoke again, his voice quieter. "I'm selfish really… to keep him here." Aang's hand moved from Appa to his own forearm, rubbing it in that same, agitated tic. "Appa ought to be free; I ought to let him fly away from here." Aang looked at her then with a guilty mirthless half-smile. "But I can't. I don't think I could survive all this without him."

The stark way he said that last sentence, gave Katara the impression that Aang meant it literally.

Katara considered the man in front of her. His fondness for his animal was obvious. But where else did he turn to for love? She'd heard him speak often and openly of people from his childhood he'd cared for—his mentor, the other Air Nomad children, friends he'd made while traveling the world. But what about now? When was the last time he'd been touched without demand? Did he ache for the kind of genuine touch she also hungered for?

Katara's mind went back to a moment with the Crown Princess; she had kissed his cheek and held his hand. But Katara had sensed great apprehension in Aang at the time. Was that a relationship he valued? Or was the Princess Azula another person in his life that demanded things from him?

Before Katara could wonder much more, Aang suddenly perked up and bounded to the front door, throwing both double doors open wide. The Avatar's bizarre way of flitting from one mood to another was disorienting sometimes. "Come on, Appa! Let's go outside. It's much too nice a night to stay cooped up in here!"

Katara stepped back as Appa eagerly walked out the doors into the large walled-in field outside. As she followed him out she noticed a large, ugly looking scar on the bison's tail—one that cut it nearly in two. She wondered what could have happened to make an injury like that on such a big animal!

Katara watched as Appa and Aang bounded into the enclosed field; a mini game of tag ensued (in which, Aang lost, being caught and squashed laughingly to the ground under one of Appa's front paws). Katara couldn't help but smile. She had never seen Aang this relaxed, this openly happy. Hearing his laughter, Katara could almost imagine him as a child in the air temples, doing the things he'd told her about—playing airball and racing gliders—free and unburdened.

From under Appa's paw, Aang leaned up and whispered something into Appa's giant ear. Appa let him stand and Aang sauntered towards Katara with an entirely too innocent look on his face.

"What?" she asked a wary smile spreading on her face.

A mischievous smile bloomed on Aang's face as well—a playful invitation—and soon he was running for her. Katara's childhood instincts took over, and she ran! Aang was fast, but she had the advantage of dictating the direction. Twice she doubled back only to have Aang overshoot her and have to change course to chase her again. Both their laughter bubbled into the night air.

As Katara ran, Aang conjured an airball and rode it alongside her, banking the wall of the courtyard, forcing her to move towards the middle. She laughed and ran to get away from him. In her haste, she didn't see that Appa had positioned his big body right in front of her, and she ran right into Appa's large, soft flank (which she realized too late was all part of the plan!). As she stumbled backward, Aang was right there to catch her so she didn't fall.

"Tag!" he said triumphantly.

"No fair," she complained, "two against one!"

Aang laughed as he held her up, helping her to her feet. He was so close; close enough for his warm laughter to ruffle the hair by her ear. Katara's breath caught in her throat.

Her heart began to thump loudly as she turned towards him, placing her hands on his shoulders to steady herself. The atmosphere between them suddenly felt thick. He didn't pull away from her. And she didn't want him to pull away.

"Katara, I—" Aang began. But Katara shushed him with a look. She then leaned into his chest, and wrapped her arms around his back in a slow, deliberate hug. A stunned second later, Aang's arms found their way around her as well.

The hug was warm and close and charged. They said nothing, but so much was said. Katara turned her head and laid her cheek across Aang's shoulder. Aang in turn tipped his head to rest against hers, pulling her tighter against him.

And Time was lost. Lost in the soft sound of crickets, the blinking of the stars, and the love of one human being for another.

….

"Thank you, just leave your message at the door," the swordsman replied while he held his sleeve up and out of the ink of his calligraphy.

"I was told it must go directly into your hand, Sir."

Piandao looked up at the messenger; the woman was tattered and aged, but her grey eyes were sharp and intelligent. She held a small discolored note in her hand.

"I see." Piandao carefully hung his brush on the stand on his desk and walked gracefully over to the woman. He took the folded rice-paper from her withered hand. She watched him attentively as he opened and read it.

His expression never changing, Piandao then walked to the desk and removed a small metal incense burner and a set of spark rocks from an elaborately carved ebony box. He took the spark rocks—his need for these having been a source of endless shame for his parents—and lit a small incense stick and set it upright in the burner. He let it burn a moment, the aroma quickly filling the room.

Piandao then held the thin rice-paper note on the smoking end, a small flame sparked and caught the paper on fire. The note quickly shrived into black ash, which the swordsman dropped carefully into the burner.

The woman seemed to exhale in relief.

"Thank you, Madame. Consider the message received."

…..