A/N. SLower chapter to set up the invasion plans and so on. Tomorrow, a Hakoda chapter… and then, the Awakening.

I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender

Sitting on the bed, with her back against the wall, Katara thought back to the conversation she had with her father this afternoon. From the window, she could see how the sunset on the Eastern Lake cast lights in the water.

He was wrong. Her father was wrong. Aang would defeat the Fire Lord. And then, the world could finally live in peace and prosperity. She had to believe that. There was no room for another outcome. They didn't deserve another outcome.

But the waterbender knew, deep inside her own mind… That what her father had said… It was a possibility. And that he had said it not to be cruel… But to be kind, in his own twisted way. He had no right to act like this, like a father who tried to protect his children! He had not done that for six years, and she and Sokka had to fend for themselves! No one had cared about what she had wanted for six years. Except her grandmother.

And Aang. He had always cared.

Aang had earned the right to act protective. To act like he cared. Her father had not. He had lost that right. So she would not listen. And his advice had been too little too late. She knew he wanted to protect her against the Fire Nation. But he had to learn that in this world, no one can protect you. And that she didn't need protection.

"I will not give you up Aang." Katara whispered. The airbender didn't respond, still unconscious on the bed.

She pulled the book towards her. Her father had been looking at them. Had he seen… her new book? The one that Toph had teased her about relentlessly since she had learned what it was? No, if he had, then the conversation would have been about that, surely.

Hadn't it been?

Sighing, Katara took the orange and yellow book in her hands. The front was just decorated with the title, there were no drawings or anything of the sort on the cover. Judging by the subject of the book… It may be better.

The last time she had seen one of these books, had been at Gaoling, with her brother. Katara, after scolding Sokka for wanting to buy it for Aang, had looked quickly inside it. And had slammed it shut just as quickly, not wanting to see the pictures.

And now… Well, now was a different thing. Katara was passed the stage that these kinds of things embarrassed her… A least, with Aang. When others talked about it, it was different.

Opening the book, the first page was just… text.

Air People's Ideas of Lovemaking, by Sister Kaarchi.

Wait… This wasn't written by some chauvinistic Earth Kingdom man? This was… an Air Nomad book? Aang hadn't said that. He had just said that every temple had at least one copy…

Flipping the first page, she was greeted by a long list of chapters. Letting her finger slide over the page, she saw that it didn't only treat about… well, the physical part, but also about… Well, things like Infections and sicknesses related to physical relations. Spirits… That was a thing?

Turning the pages to the number indicated at that chapter, she nearly shut the book. The first page of that chapter was a rather… disturbing drawing. One that would probably disgust most people. Her included.

"What about we don't look at that chapter… If we'll use this?" She murmured to Aang. Still, silence. Katara didn't know if they would get a use out of this book. She didn't even know what their relation would be like when he woke up. Would there be awkwardness? No hesitation? She didn't know…

Turning back to the list of chapters, Katara found what she had been looking for.

Ideas… and inspiration.

In the Water Tribes, these kinds of things were not discussed. Her grandmother had talked about the technical things, her cycle and what it meant. She had warned Katara that it could hurt, and that the first time, men didn't… well, it wasn't very good most of the time. But that it became better.

And when Aang had told her that this book wasn't offensive… Well, it had floated in the back of her mind. She had wanted to buy it, but there had never been time.

She began to flip the pages to the part that had interested her. That had intrigued her.

Katara nearly slapped the book shut seeing the first image. Spirits… That was… detailed. But after a few moments, her curiosity won. The waterbender looked at the drawing. There was a man and a woman, engaged in the same kind… of position… That Aang and she had been in the barn. Spirits… Did it look like that… From the perspective of an outsider?

She turned the page, to get a look at the other… ideas. Katara had not even had the time to look at the second drawing when a knock was heard on the door.

"Can I come in?" She recognized the voice of old Gilak. He was probably the person her father had sent to watch over Aang while she would join the others, discussing the altered invasion plans.

"Yeah, of course!" She shut the book quickly, pushing it under Aang's pillow. No need for the old man to see it.

Gilak entered, and softly closed the door. He had always been a rather large man, but now, he had gotten a bit fat. Katara suspected that her father had kept him back when there had been fighting for the simple reason that he was just… too old. He was well past sixty, with snow-white hair and beard. In his character, he was a bit abrupt and direct, but Katara had always liked the man. He had never judged, or had invaded the room with his need to see the Avatar. Actually, he had always been respectful and had asked kind questions about Aang and what he liked.

"Is he a bit better now young one?" The man spoke. He had always called people younger them himself 'young one'. Katara had even heard him call her father that.

"He moves more, I saw him turn his head just an hour ago. You will call me if something happens, won't you?"

"Of course I will… I know that you would want to be here." Gilak smiled, grabbing the chair and sitting down next to the bed, "This young man is lucky to have such a good… friend…" He winked, and Katara couldn't help but appreciate the man. The waterbender walked towards the door, which was still standing open, walked through it and closed it quietly.

Walking through the corridor towards the large room that served them as dinner room, Katara was thinking about how the tribe was actually seeing her… Attachment. Some of the tribesmen had begun to talk. There was old Kranook, who had preached and scolded her in private about her closeness, but she hadn't paid any attention to his rambling. But there were others, a bit more discreet, who talked about the quite… unusual attention she paid the airbender. Some found it sweet and didn't comment on it, such as Gilak. Other however… seemed offended. Young Alqaok was such a man. She had heard several of the tribesmen talking about how the young man, who was just twenty-two years old and had been the youngest warrior to go with her father, had been talking about her. And how her rather improper behaviour was not suitable for a Water Tribe woman.

Oh how she hated that kind of thinking. But what could anyone expect? That was how it was with her people…

Opening the door of the canteen, Katara saw how the long table was occupied by a small group. There was Bato, Sokka and Toph with some of the older warriors on the one side, and on the other sat her father, Alqaok and Iqulak.

She knew the strategy. Keep the ones that would disagree almost systematically on the side with the most important person in the room. They would feel more important than they actually were, and it would help if the chief himself spoke some quiet words of encouragement to help them vote for the good thing, instead of just butting heads to show off their… own prowess.

"Ah, Sis!" Sokka called, waving and wiggling a bit in his seat, so to create room on the already crowded bench. Katara walked over and sat down, pulling a bowl of food, that had been standing on the table, towards her. She had not yet eaten, and if she had to listen to these discussions… Well, she would rather not do that on an empty stomach.

She felt the eyes of her father on her, and when she looked up, she saw only heartfelt concern in those ice blue eyes. Oh, she hated that. It made her feel guilty about having her own mind. And she was determined to only listen to herself.

"So? What do you want to discuss?" Katara asked to no one in particular, while eating the food as fast as she could. After the first bite, she had immediately recognized Bato's cooking. So, eating fast without trying to taste it was the better option.

"Sokka has a plan…" Her father begun hesitantly. She could tell that her brother had not discussed it too much with anyone. Otherwise, the room would be filled with more warriors, so that a vote could take place.

"Yeah! And it kind of depends on… on when Aang wakes up." Sokka spoke up, looking at her.

"Well, his wounds are healing nicely… So, a few days? A week? I don't know Sokka. I never had to do these kinds of things…" she answered. How was she supposed to know?

"Well, in that case, it could work. You all knew that we had planned an Invasion with the Earth Kingdom… And the Fire Nation probably learned about that. But they will never expect it to actually happen, now that they have taken Ba Sing Se." Her brother began to explain.

"You are not actually suggesting that we do that, do you?" Iqaluk spoke up, cutting off Sokka, who had just begun another sentence.

"Will you listen to him?" Katara bit back, irritated. She hadn't come out of the room to listen to stupid people.

"Thanks Sis. Yes, I want the invasion to continue. And to do that, I have some ideas. Can I at least present them, before anyone tries to stop me?"

Most nodded, but Katara saw how some of the men looked dubious. There was Kranook, shaking his head, while Alqaok was looking sullen.

"First, the plan had been to attack several of the Fire Islands simultaneously. But now, there are only so few of us left, we can't just use the old plan, which had counted on several thousands of soldiers. But if we act smart… Maybe we could do just one attack."

"And which outpost would we attack? It has to be worth it." Kranook spoke up.

"No outpost. No. We would attack just one place. One city!" Sokka began to smile.

Oh, his I-may-have-the-craziest-idea-ever smile. This was going to be good.

"Which one? Omashu? That would be a good thing… A strong place from which to conduct further operations…" One of the warriors to Katara's left spoke.

"No… I meant the Fire Nation's capital and the royal palace." Sokka still grinned.

Silence fell over the group. Katara saw how several of the men just looked like they couldn't believe the idea. It was crazy!

And yet… That could do it.

"Sokka… are you mad?" Bato spoke first, but seeing the small smile on the man's face, the waterbender knew exactly why he had spoken. He was intrigued and wanted to know her brother's plan.

"I may be. But listen! The eclipse will take their bending. And it is the Fire Lord who commands and takes the decisions. If we can just… take out the royal family… Then we have a chance. That would be all! Take out Ozai and his children."

"All? That would be all? Sokka, this is just crazy, we are not even a hundred warriors! How in La's name could we ever hope to take the city?" Kranook spoke. Katara began to suspect that her father's silence was calculated. Let the people debate and shout, but in the end, people who had only some wind to blow would quickly run out of it in the face of good rational planning.

"Oh, we won't be alone!" Sokka turned to her, "What do you think? Could we convince some of our friends to help?"

Katara smiled. What was that kind of question? All their friends had been wronged by the Fire Nation. Of course they would take this chance.

"Yeah. I think so. You are thinking of Tyro?" She said, and saw the confusion take hold of the others.
"He was leading over two hundred earthbenders after escaping from prison."

It was true. They had heard about how a small army of earthbenders was wreaking havoc on the western coast. That had to be Tyro and Haru.

"Yeah, I also wanted to ask the Swamp people and The Machinist." Sokka grinned, and turned to the others, "We met some really interesting people… And I they all help… We could have at least six hundred warriors."

"Six… hundred?" Iqaluk spoke first, clearly surprised. He had probably thought that the Water Tribe would have to do the brunt of the fighting.

"And how are we supposed to do this? The eclipse won't be there forever, and when it disappears… We will be fighting their elite firebenders. We won't stand a chance." Her father spoke for the first time, with a hand rubbing his forehead.

"Ah… That is where Aang comes in. He will just have to get to the Fire Lord and defeat him during the eclipse, while he can't defend himself." Sokka smiled, looking at her. She nodded. Aang could do that.

"And how is he supposed to get to the Fire Lord?"

"Well, we'll act as a very big distraction. While their whole military force is focused on us… Aang flies over them, into the Royal Palace, and that is that. Simple!"

Her father looked up. And Katara saw the worry. And how his eyes flickered to her. Ah, he worried about what would happen if they lost. While Aang was behind enemy lines…

"They would see the bison and immediately fall back to the Palace!" He protested.

"Oh, don't worry about that, Aang can fly on his glider, it is nearly invisible." Sokka waved the protest away.

Hah! In your face.

And she heard how the murmurs around them sounded… hopeful. And how the only one who didn't seem convinced… was her father. But he knew that if a majority voted in favour, that he couldn't do anything against it.

"So, you want us to assemble with all these people, and attack the Fire Nation Capital as a distraction so that the Avatar can take out the Fire Lord and his family. We are overlooking one crucial fact. In the Fire Nation, the only one that can start wars and end them, is the Fire Lord. And if the royal family is dead, who will that be?" Bato synthesized.

"Well, I thought about that. Katara, you told me that Iroh fought against his family in the Catacombs… Maybe he can do it?" Sokka asked her.

Yeah… Iroh seemed the more… lenient choice in this case.

"We'll need to know where he is now, but if he is still alive… yeah, he would be the better choice."

"Well… You've certainly given us things to think about Sokka… Let's sleep on it." Her father stood up, and quickly, the conversations turned to other subjects.

"Well, he seems interested." Toph spoke for the first time, sarcastically smiling as if it had gone well.

"Ah, just give it time! It is crazy, I know… But if we don't do this now… Aang might be forced to fight against the Fire Lord just before the Comet… or spirits forbid, during!" Sokka sighed.

"Everything but that. I won't permit it!" She spoke up. Never. She would not stand for it! That Comet had made it possible for the Fire Nation to wipe out a whole race! Aang wouldn't stand a chance!

"Katara… I don't want him to. That's why I came up with this. It is not perfect… But it is our only shot to help him." Sokka said. The waterbender saw the real concern in her brother's eyes. And yes… Maybe she had been too absorbed into healing Aang, and protecting him… She may have forgotten that Sokka and Toph also cared for him.

"I know… I… I just want him to wake up. So that he can have a say in things where he has a role to play in." She sighed softly. Suddenly, Katara felt a hand on her knee. From her right. Toph…

"Listen Katara. His heartbeat if stronger than ever since Ba Sing Se. His breathing is becoming steadier. And he will wake up, sooner than later." The blind girl spoke quietly, pinching her knee.

Smiling, Katara put a hand on the pale one on her knee, and softly squeezed.

"I know… I'm going to walk a bit on the deck before returning. Care to come?" the waterbender asked.

"Are you going to be mushy and teary?"

"No, I promise."

"Alright then."

They stood up, waving to Sokka, who also stood up and walked to the other side of the table, where their father was in discussing with Bato. While she and Toph passed the two men, Katara caught a small part of something Bato said.

"…oda, you need to listen, it is crazy, but it could work!"

Ah… So he was trying to convince her dad to agree to the Invasion. Yeah, of course, he was. Her father himself had told her that Bato was the voice of reason when he let his own personal objections or feelings stand in the way of a good plan. And she had seen his look. He was against it, because it put Aang in danger. And he wasn't afraid of losing Aang. Her father was afraid what that loss would do to her.

She and Toph walked down the corridor, into the fresh air on the deck. Katara immediately made her way to the railing to look over the railing to the water beneath them, and to feel the wind against her face.

"So, what happened? You seemed more relaxed after our trip to the town, and now, you feel like there's a stick in your butt." Toph made a face, "Please don't tell me that that is something your book says is a good idea."

Feeling her face heat up a bit, Katara shook her head.

"No… No, my dad tried to meddle in my feelings."

"I told him no to do that." Toph groaned.

"He meant well I think, but yeah… I don't like it. Not as if I didn't think things through."

"Did you?" Ah… So Toph was going to be direct. At least, that she could admire.

"Yes. And I found out that two months with Aang would be better than none at all." After her father had left, Katara had thought about it. And he had been right. Aang could die, and that would mean that the war was lost, and that every associate of the Avatar would be hunted down… But they would be regardless.

So… Better to live that limited time to the fullest… Than have nothing at all.

"Yeah, I agree. Why not life a little, before facing near certain doom?" Toph joined her next to the railing, pocking a finger in her side.

"Indeed… I have thought about all the things that could happen, and of course, there are risks… But I want to take them." Katara pocked the blind girl right back, and she looked offended.

"That is my thing Sugar Queen. You weep and talk too much, and I tease and slap you around a bit. That is how this works."

"Oh, you have been way too nice these last few days. I must have some influence on you." Katara smiled.

"You, nice? Have you seen or heard yourself these days?" Toph shoved her gently.

"Yeah, I may have been a bit… much to handle…"

"You killed people in cold blood Katara." The waterbender heard the change. Suddenly, Toph sounded serious, and stopped fooling around. And used her real name, not some stupid nickname.

"I know… And I regret that. I shouldn't have, but.. It was like… Some pure rage took over. And hate. So much hate." She answered, whispering the words.

"Well, will it happen again?"

"Not sure… My father said he had the same feelings when my mother died… He advised me to talk about it with someone." She spoke.

"Well, if needed, you can talk to me. But try to hold yourself together until Twinkletoes wakes up, he is much better with all this emotional stuff." Toph took a step back, and began to grin.

"And if he can't talk you out if this mood… He can always fuck you out of it." The blind girl ran like the wind, cackling.

Yeah… This was going to be fun, with Toph knowing about that book… So much freaking fun.

Katara turned around and entered, back to her wake at the airbender's side.

Answers :

Gabriela N. Gonzalez : Yeah, he kind of screwed himself into this situation. He should just leave it alone, but he loves his children, so he tries to help them, even if that is like this, totally the wrong way.

Chinmay : I rather think Katara is too stubborn too listen too anyone, except maybe Aang… But you'll see how I'll tackle this problem!

Jjsmith103 : Indeed, he just tries to convey what he thinks about the situation. He can"t hope for anything else actually, and he knows it. He just tries to find a place in their heart again. With Sokka, it was easier, because he had those few days without worry. With Katara however, he is in a whole other situation. And indeed, there is really no thing that would stop her in this case.

Rak : Precisely, Hakoda feels lost and afraid for his children, while Katara is beginning to know exactly what she wants! It is nice to see and to write how she is way more assertive. And thank you very much! It is really nice to hear!

CoyoteLemon : Thank you! Yeah, I really don't want her to be uncertain, or to love Aang only at the end, as… Well, in the show, it isn't the case! Oh haha! The last few months, I have worked on 3D models of objects in a museum, and the program that runs the models takes forever, so I have time between models to write. That's why lol. It will slow down when I have fieldwork to do!