A/N. I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender.

At least Aang had stayed at the camp this time! The morning, they had done some waterbending together, which had been nice. It was also extremely awkward. Katara knew what Aang had proposed the night before, when he had asked to go swimming together… And she had said no. Of course she wanted to spent time with him… Just not now. Nothing against him, but she would prefer to have some time alone with him when she wasn't irritated…

Toph and Sokka had come back that morning with a bird. A messenger hawk. Seriously, how stupid was that! Of course that creature didn't serve any purpose! And also, they had come back with bags and bags filled with money, and even a small chest with gold bars. Seriously? That was not only of scamming people, Katara was sure!

They wouldn't have stolen it, Sokka was too intelligent for that. But she had eavesdropped as they explained what they had done to Aang. Apparently, they had acted as if some rich guy's carriage had run over Toph, and to ake sure they wouldn't tell the authorities, the man had given them the chest with gold! So, not only cheating the cheaters now. No, now they were the scammers.

Katara had asked Aang to do the cooking today. She was not going to feed idiots. And she was waiting for those two to return from their afternoon swindling.

"I suppose you were in town again, scamming?" The waterbender crossed her arms overs her chest as her brother and Toph approached the camp. From the corner of her eye, she saw Aang quickly concentrate all his attention to the soup in his bowl.

"Yes, we were." Toph answered proudly, walking past her. Sokka, however, looked guilty and down to his feet. Good. At least one that was turning around!

"I suppose you don't think what you are doing is dangerous, at all?" Katara felt her anger boil up again. How could they be so stupid! Certainly, Sokka, who was always very wary of new places where they could be discovered!

"No, I don't."

"Really?"

"Yes. Really!"

Hah! Well, Katara knew that was some tiger seal shit!

"Really? Then what is this?" She produced her evidence. Alright, it had not been nice of her to look through Toph's stuff. But she had wanted to count the money in the bags, because it was still money! Money they could use to buy things like supplies and things for the invasion!

And she had found that.

"Seriously, what is it with you people! I don't see! I'm blind!" Toph answered, but Katara saw the small hint of doubt in the misty green eyes. She knew what she had in her hand!

"A wanted poster! Of you! The Runaway! Are you proud of yourself now?" Spirits, this girl really needed to be taught a lesson!

"Where did you get that?" Katara heard the irritation in Toph's voice.

"It doesn't matter where I got it, the fact is-"

"You went through my stuff! You had no right!"

Pardon? No right? Well, if the earthbender tidied up behind herself, instead of just throwing everything on the ground, Katara wouldn't need to go through her stuff!

"Your stuff was a mess! I can't help if I stumble across something!"

"That is a lie! You are lying!" Yeah… The poster may have been hidden under a mountain of gold and dirty laundry. Which was a whole other conversation she wanted to have with the girl. But yeah.

"Fine! It's a lie, but you've been so out of control lately, I just knew you were hiding something! And you were!" Ha! Try to do better than that. It was logical and to the point! How could anyone talk their way out of this one?

Toph grabbed the poster out of her hand, ripped it in two, and then began to walk off.

"Don't you walk away from this! Came back here!" Katara pointed to the ground in front of her, angry about the total lack of regret from Toph. Stupid little girl!

"Oh no, what are you going to do Mum? Spank me? I'm not Twinkletoes!"

Katara didn't know what made her angrier. Being called mum, or the snarky comment about Aang, who had not even said something! Glancing quickly to where the airbender and her brother were sitting, she saw Sokka close his eyes. He knew perfectly well that that kind of "joke" didn't make her laugh. And Aang just sat there, looking at the sky with a face as red as her skirt.

"If it would teach you a bit of restraint, I would!"

"Well, you can't! You are not my mother, nor theirs!" Toph pointed to the two young men sitting there, trying to ignore the fight.

Seriously, where did this come from? This was the second time Toph mentioned her parents. Was she acting up against any authority that tried to rein her in?

"I never said I was." Of course, she wasn't! She just gave advice from time to time! And she really didn't want to act like that! If she did, it was only out of care for her family and friends… Even Toph. She didn't say all these things to irritate the girl! Katara just didn't want her to run into trouble!

"No, but you certainly act like it! You think it is your job to boss everyone around, but it's not! You are just a regular person, like the rest of us! So, stop acting like you can tell me what to do! I can do whatever I like!"

No! She couldn't do whatever she likes! That was the whole point! What if they were discovered! One blind earthbender was quite enough to make the authorities think about the people that she travelled with! And Katara didn't boss them around!

"Sokka, do I act motherly?" She whipped her head around, to look at her brother, who smiled sheepishly.

"I'm staying out of this one!" Yeah… They already had this discussion plenty of times with their grandmother… So? Maybe she did act a bit motherly! What of it!

"What about you Aang?" The airbender looked up from his soup, trying to look anywhere but at her.

"Eh… I… I don't know! My mother didn't exactly act like a typical mum!" Aang responded. Wait… This was the first time Katara heard anything about Aang's mother… But still, he could have said no!

"Oh stop rubbing her neck and sit up straight!" She bit back. If they thought she acted like one, so be it!

And the idiot actually did it. A lovely idiot. But still an idiot.

Toph muttered something about not wanting to see her and turned her back to Katara. Good! The waterbender felt exactly the same! Walking back to where Appa was lying around, she said down with her back turned to the others in a clear gesture of protest.

Katara wasn't acting like a mother to them, was she? Sokka was her brother, and they had a clear sister brother dynamic going on… Alright, maybe she had done some things before that could be interpreted like a mother chastising her child, like that time that she got angry with him about his socks… But still, that had just been because the waterbender had hated his sexist way of living! Making her do the laundry and so on while he "hunted".

And Toph needed some guidance! She had never been outside of a golden mansion before she joined them. Sure, the blind girl had been able to get to Earth Rumble all on her own, and to participate in it, but that was still not the real world! The real world was often a horrible, disgusting place, and Katara had tried to shield her from most of it! She had not told Toph about the horrors of the war outside Gaoling, and that was only for the better! Maybe she should have, so that Toph would understand what she was protecting them from!

And Aang… Well, if she didn't want to act like Sokka's or Toph's mother, she certainly didn't want to with the airbender! Spirits no! That would be… oh so weird. No one would do that with their mother! Aang surely didn't see her like that, did he? And that talk about his own mother… How had his parents been actually? Like him, funny and goofy? Or serious? She should ask him about them once…

Suddenly, that stupid bird landed beside her, squawking and ruffling his wings around. There was a small paper in the cylinder that was attached to his back. Opening the container, Katara unfurled it, and saw her brother's handwriting. With an apology from Toph. Signed by the blind girl.

"I know this is you Sokka! Toph can't write!" Spirits what a bunch of knuckleheads! "You are all driving me crazy!" She shouted at her brother, ripping the idiotic message to pieces and stomping off towards that bay that Aang had mentioned yesterday evening! She was going for a swim, but alone! Katara really didn't want to see anyone at this moment!

Walking over the path leading down to the water, she kicked the sandals of her feet, grumbling to herself. Seriously, how stupid did they think she was! Katara knew, deep in her heart, that it had not been meant as a slight or a joke, but rather a dumb try to forge a peace in the group. Well… That was for Toph to engage. The waterbender refused, categorically, to do that. Even if she had been in the wrong with small things, like going through the blind girl's things, in general, Katara was right! How dared that girl think she did all those things just to boss them around!

Who made sure there were supplies? Who helped each evening with cooking, even if it wasn't her turn to do so? Who replaced the clothes that were torn or just too small? Maybe the others didn't realize, but Katara pulled her own weight, as Toph would say, but also the weight of the other three!

Well, at least Aang had been right when he said that there was a nice bay underneath their campsite… Standing in the soft sand, Katara inhaled softly and slowly. It was good to feel that underneath her… And the water, pushing and pulling as it always did.

Looking around, she realized that the cliffs around them actually hid it quite well from prying eyes… The only way somebody could look down was if they passed the entrance of the bay and stopped long enough to watch, or by the path that she had just taken to come here. And the others would leave her alone for the moment…

So… Maybe she should just swim for a bit… Like Aang had suggested?

Well, he had suggested that they could go for a swim, but Katara knew full well what he had meant by that. Swimming naked for a second before going to town. And by that, she didn't mean Fire Fountain City. But she had refused. Not because she didn't want to, but just… Not that night. Not after all that had happened.

But she could try now, couldn't she? Looking once again, Katara realized that someone who would look down from the ledge where Appa lay could also look into the bay… But if she stayed underneath it, no worry… right?

She shimmered off the skirt and put it on a rock next to the path. If someone came down, it would be clear, no?

Right, then her top, and her bindings. A shiver ran down her back when she stood naked. Of course, Katara had been naked often enough next to rivers or so on when they camped around in the Earth Kingdom, but it still felt weird to do so in a space where anyone could walk around the corner and see you.

Oh you know that you are kinda hoping for "someone" to do so.

Shut up brain. Not now.

And indeed, not now. She didn't feel the usual fire in her stomach that she did when thinking about what Aang and she had been doing. There was just too much irritation between her and the others…

Jumping into the water, she felt the cool liquid envelop her. Katara swam to the other side of the small alcove, and then back again. Still no one in sight. That was good, she really didn't want to be interrupted. Above her, Katara heard Appa groan and stand up, with some chittering that was surely Momo, and the heavy steps made her think that the bison walked over to the river on the other side of their camp, probably to do the same thing as she was doing.

Swimming to the rocky cliff underneath the ridge where Appa had just been sleeping, Katara ducked her head underneath the water, and the weight of her hair fell away when her head was completely under water. It had been getting long actually… Maybe she should cut a bit off or ask Aang to do so. As much as she loved her brother, she didn't trust him with scissors, or her hair. And Toph… Well, she would get a kick out of ruining it probably.

Resurfacing, Katara shook the hair out of her face and floated around for a bit… It felt nice, but this would only be an intermission between the fighting… And Toph would not break. Katara admired that trait from the earthbender. The girl never gave up… But the problem was that in a fight, there was no way to beat her, because Toph thought she was right. She was probably incapable to see the other side of things… Like her element. Face it head on. Not adapt and overcome like in the Water Tribes, or dance around the problem and evade it like the Air Nomads… Just, Toph would run straight into a problem and beat it up.

"So, let me guess. You brought me out here to tell me your sister is not as annoying as I make her out to be."

Wait, what?

Looking up, Katara saw two pair of feet appear from the outcrop. One pair had no soles on the sandals, and the other was way too big to be anyone other than her brother. Oh no…

The waterbender didn't want to hear a conversation about herself, not like this! And certainly not one between Sokka and Toph!

Another pair of feet appeared, one without shoes at all, in a dark pair of trousers. Aang. Spirits, he was also there? No, no, no…

And Katara couldn't move. If she made a sound, the others would know she was there, and if she quietly made her way to the shore, Toph and Aang would probably sense her walking there… There was only one logical choice… Stay put.

"Oh no, she's pretty much a pain."

WHAT?

There she had been, thinking her brother would at least try and talk some sense into Toph! And Aang said nothing? Spirits, he didn't even try to defend her! Not that he needed to, she was quite capable of that herself, but still!

"She always has to be right about everything, she gets all bossy, and involved in your business."

Well, thanks brother dear. Katara huffed softly. That was really a low blow! She did all those things for his own good, because she cared about them!

"Yeah, I don't know how you can deal with it." Katara head Toph sigh. Yeah, why would anyone deal with it, it was much easier to just nod and complain about it behind her back!

How about now, my dear? How about saying something, to stand up for me?

She actually counted on Aang speaking up at that moment, but it was her brother's voice that drifted towards her.

"Actually, in a way, I rely on it."

What?

"I don't understand…"

Well, for once, Katara could agree with Toph. She didn't understand either.

"Well, when our mum died, that was the hardest time in my life… Our family was a mess…"

Yeah… that was a good description for it. Their father had been a depressed pile of flesh, not moving from the igloo all day, just watching the empty space where her mum was supposed to be… And Sokka had been dealt with it in his own way, ignoring everything and going on with the daily training and hunting.

"But Katara… She had so much strength. She stepped up and took on so much responsibility. Much more than someone could ask from a child… She helped fill the void that was left by our mum…"

Sokka's voice was thick with emotion, and Katara herself felt a lump in her throat. He had never told her that… And to hear it, it felt weird. Weird, in the sense that that had never been her intention. Katara thought that Gran Gran had filled that void… She had just helped her grandmother.

"Oh… I guess I never thought about that…"

Was Sokka… Talking sense into Toph? Spirits, he should get a medal for that…

"And I'm going to tell you something crazy… That I never told anyone else… Honestly, I'm not sure I can remember what my mother looked like… It really seems like, my whole life, Katara has been the one looking out for me. She's always been the one that was there, and now… When I try to remember my mum, Katara's is the only face I can picture…"

That was… Horrible. Horrible for Sokka. Katara felt her heart ache at the thought, the idea that her brother was incapable to conjure their mother before his eyes in a heartbeat… But she understood. Each passing year, it became less and less easy to do so for her…

"The truth is… Sometimes Katara does at motherly, but that is not always a bad thing… She is so compassionate and kind… And she actually cares about me, you know… The real me. More than my own mother…" Katara head a sniffle come from the blind girl and was surprised by the idea of Toph being able to cry. Or at least, be open about enough about her feelings to show such vulnerability…

Spirits… That was even sadder than what Sokka had said. At least, they had a mother that had really cared for them…

"Don't ever tell her I said any of this!" Toph gruff voice interrupted the tears, and it was clear to Katara that the girl tried to reinstate her though persona.

"Yeah, yeah, don't worry!" Looking up, the waterbender saw the feet of her brother disappear, but Aang and Toph remained. There was silence for a few moments, probably so that Sokka would be out of earshot.

"Are you here to tell me to apologize… because… well, maybe I owe her an apology."

Yay!

"No… Or at least, not really." For the first time, Aang spoke up, "I love Katara, more than I could put into words. Her bossiness, her sweetness, her utter lack of evil or meanness. All those things make me love her. But please stop teasing us… Just for a day or so… I need calm for a few days." The airbender laughed, and Katara couldn't help but smile. That was sweet of him.

"Alright… You two are actually quite good together… But enough sappiness, please! Come on Twinkletoes, or should I call you Spank-me-harder-Sugar-Queen? Sorry!" The last word probably came after a look from Aang, and Katara saw how the two disappeared.

At least, after a moment, she could swim back to her clothes, dress… And maybe walk back to camp, and also apologize? She had also said some things to Toph… Yeah, that would be better!

Answers :

Kalaong : Oh yeah, those two are absolutely not as innoncent as they look! Which is going to be in a chapter shortly, because I plan one smut chapter before the invasion!

Gabriela N. Gonzalez : Yeah, those were happy times lol… But indeed, if you are forced to spent time with everyone without having some privacy, it is bound to go wrong at some point!

Rak : Aang just tried to do a nice thing and didn't realize what consequences it would bring (story of his life I believe)! Yeah, I'm trying to move to story forward towards the invasion, but still include sweet moments, and maybe some angst shortly!

Jjsmith103 : Hey, nice to see you back! He tried to ask, but was shot down, which is totally normal in this situation, but also, the poor guy finally had a shot and was shot down lol! And yes, I feel that an aged up Sokka would not be too immature about these things, certainly not because he knows that Aang and Katara care deeply for each other!