A/N. I hope you like this chapter!

I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender.

Aang walked through the corridor, the last of his friends. In front, Katara was nearly running to the exit, while behind her, Sokka and Suki were quietly talking about something the airbender couldn't hear. And just in front of him, Zuko and Toph were following the others in complete silence.

He had been stupid to put Katara on the spot once more, hadn't he? Of course, she wouldn't want to put them in even more danger than they already were… He had asked because he thought that it didn't matter anymore… But seeing this play, he couldn't do that to her, right? If he died in the coming days, the next Avatar would be a child for years to come… And the people who would resist against Fire Nation rule would look for a leader…

That was what Hakoda had tried to tell him. The people would look to people close to the previous Avatar. Sokka, Toph… And Katara. And knowing the waterbender, she would not take kindly to people killing him. And the resistance would look to her, as his… companion. And they would certainly make her a symbol, as the possible wife of Avatar Aang… He couldn't do that to her. She would be in even more danger than she already was.

Suki had been right when she had berated him. He was only thinking about what was good for him, in the short term. He had not thought about what it would mean for Katara… If he died, she would live her life as a widow… Bitter and angry towards the Fire Nation. Well, more bitter and even angrier with that country than she already was.

And yet, he was hoping that at least… she would think about it. Yes, it was selfish… Yes, he shouldn't expect the response he was hoping for… She had kind of agreed already with marrying him after the war, hadn't she? But Aang didn't want to wait anymore. He wanted so much… And he knew that not everything he would want in this life would happen. But this? This… this was perhaps possible. If she wanted to.

The airbender walked through the door, quietly cursing himself for having been so, so very stupid. Why, in the Spirits name, had he given her the necklace here? He could have waited until they were back in their bedroom! It would have been more personal. And he would have had time to calm down after… After seeing this play!

Suddenly, a hand grabbed his own, and, looking up, he saw Katara, with a strange look in her eyes. Oh… Of course. He could have known. It looked like no.

Her blue eyes wondered slightly down, and, looking in the same direction, Aang saw her other hand, the one that wasn't holding his fingers, presenting him the necklace. Of course… of course she would say no. What had he expected? That she would throw her arms around him, saying yes? Yeah… He had hoped for that, but of course, he should have known.

Katara was rational. She thought about every single thing. She would study something from every aspect before considering her options. Unless it was life or death… But Katara would think about this, instead of just doing what her heart said to do. And she was right, of course.

The silken band of the necklace looked slightly crumpled, as if the waterbender had closed her fist tightly around it… And Aang knew what she meant by this.

I love you, but we must wait.

Sighing softly, he saw how the tanned fingers closed around the stone pendant, and her voice whispered.

"Ma timila dherai maya garchu… Sansara rahos. Ma… Ma timi… sanga bihe… garna."

"I love you so much… Let the world be… I want to marry you."

Aang blinked once.

Twice.

He opened his mouth, before closing it once more. Had he… Had he heard that right?

She could have meant that she didn't want to marry him. Garna meant marry, but bihe could mean both negative and positive. It depended on the thence in which it was used… And he recalled that he had not taught the waterbender that specific distinction. So… Did she mean what he hoped she meant?

Lifting his gaze from her fingers, closed around the necklace, he searched her eyes. Aang saw a small soft smile on her lips, and those eyes, those beautiful eyes… They screamed the answer he had been hoping for since the invasion.

Yes!

"Samcai?" he whispered softly, not daring to believe what he had heard.

"Samcai." Katara nodded, the small smile widening.

Really.

He let his breath out, and it felt as if he had been holding it for years. It felt like water breaking through a dam, one that had been building, without him realizing. Letting out a sigh of pure relief and happiness, he took Katara other hand, the one that was holding the necklace. Holding both hands, Aang felt his head turn.

Had she really said yes? Really? Yeah… She had said it. Spirits…

"Are… are you sure?" He managed to croak out, switching back to the common language of the Earth Kingdom, used by most people.

"Aang… I was never unsure." Katara exhaled softly, still smiling at him.

"I thought… I thought… you wanted to wait… I kind of put you on the spot. We don't have to… We can wait if you want." He managed to utter, his head still swimming, feeling quite overwhelmed.

"You're right… The Fire Nation won't care. But we would. Aang… You and I…" Katara didn't finish her answer, but Aang didn't need to hear it. He knew what she meant.

Even though they were two separate people… They existed as one. He couldn't imagine a world without her, and she had hated every waking moment while he had been in his coma, close to death. They didn't need to explain. It went further than just love. Aang knew what this was. It had been what the Air Nomads had searched for. That ultimate feeling towards one person, laying down everything you are and have just for that one person…

"What is taking you so long?" His rambling was interrupted by Zuko's voice. Turning his head towards the others, the airbender saw that they stood a good twenty yards away, huddled together near the road that led to the north, towards the villa.

"Coming!" He shouted back, letting go of Katara's left hand. The right one, the one with the necklace, he kept in his grasp, as they walked to the others. Had she… Spirits, she had really said yes.

As they arrived near the others, Aang could actually hear what they were discussing.

"It wasn't that bad… I mean, the special effects were decent!" Sokka apparently tried to defend the play, while Suki was being everything but kind to the actors.

"I prefer bad effects and a good story. Which this play didn't have." The Kyoshi Warrior rolled her eyes, before the girl turned to them. The airbender saw Suki's blue eyes glance quickly at his and Katara's hands, interlocked between them. Also casting a look, he was relieved to see that their fingers hid the necklace from unwanted eyes.

Sure, Katara had said yes… But only to him. And he wasn't going to tell anyone else. This was something between the two of them. No one else.

"Agni, just be honest. We all hated it. I warned you about the Ember Island Players. They were as bad as I remembered. Seriously, I still don't get it why my mother liked them so much." Zuko spoke up, cutting off Sokka before the Water Tribe boy could begin to explain what he had "liked".

And once more, Aang felt the slight shiver he had grown used to when Zuko spoke of his mother. The airbender didn't understand it… But he felt a weird desire to know what had happened to that woman. Perhaps it was because he could sense that the firebender had loved her very much… But he wasn't sure. It felt… more personal.

"Maybe she liked the plays, but not the actors?" He suddenly spoke up, really not knowing why he said it. Zuko turned to him, the eyebrow above his one good eye lifted up, clearly confused by the thought.

"Huh… Maybe you're right. Well, not important. Let's just get home. Tomorrow, we are going to train… And plan our next move. So that," The prince waved to the theatre, "doesn't become a reality."

Aang felt Katara's fingers close more tightly around his own, and when he glanced at her face, he saw the slight fear in her eyes, before it disappeared once more. Realizing that that was exactly what she was afraid of, he quickly squeezed her hand reassuringly… At east, that was what he tried to communicate.

Sokka and Suki made up the front of their group as they walked on the path towards the villa, followed by Zuko and Toph, who, if the small snips of conversation Aang overheard were true, were discussing the geology of the island… Yeah… Super interesting…

Still holding the waterbender's hand, they walked in silence. He couldn't hide the stupid grin on his face, even when he tried to keep his lips on an even level, without betraying the happiness he felt. Who cared that in less than eight days, he would have to fight Ozai? This was way more important to him personally!

Oh spirits! He would need to see if in the house, there was everything they needed… If his memory was right, water tribe weddings required a long silken band, in a pale shade of blue, to tie around the hands… No wait. That was the Northern style.

The Southern style had been different! In that… There was something called the Water Ceremony. If he recalled correctly, it had been something like the woman pouring water over the man's hands, to symbolize her servitude to her husband….

He shuddered involuntarily.

No… No. That was not who they were.

But still… Aang would prefer if it was done in a way that the Water Tribe would accept. The Air Nomads had not really cared about if a couple was married or not. Spirits, his own parents had not even lived together, let alone been married. But he wanted to. And he did recall what a traditional airbender wedding had been like. Short, with an exchange of promises specific to each person… That had been all.

As he walked over the sandy path, Aang kept thinking about it. He really didn't know what Katara would prefer… Well, he would ask… When they were alone. He didn't want to be overheard… or spirits forbid that Toph would learn of it. Spirits, the teasing… He wouldn't survive that, he was sure of it. And Sokka would be half disgusted, half worried about his sister… And Zuo would see it as an absolute waste of time and energy. Energy that would be better focused on defeating the Fire Lord.

Perhaps the only person who would understand was Suki… but she was a blabbermouth… So, if they told her, Sokka would know. And he would tell the whole world.

So, better that no one knew. No one.

"Anyone up for a toast on how bad the play was?" Suki asked from the front of the group, and Aang's heart sank into his shoes. No, he wasn't! He wanted to talk to Katara… But then again, he also wanted to spent time with his friends before… Before the comet.

"One glass." Zuko spoke, apparently trying to sound decisive, "and then, we really need to get some sleep.". One glass. Aang could live with that! That would mean he spent time with the others, and also that he and Katara could talk about… What would happen now.

Glancing at Katara, he arched an eyebrow. She nodded, smiling. Spirits… He didn't even need to talk anymore for her to understand his meaning… This felt right… so, so right.

As they arrived at the villa, the airbender let himself fall into one of the chairs he and Katara had used a few nights before, when they had come back early from the town. Suki had found some others chairs the days before, so now, there were enough for everybody. Zuko entered the house, presumably to get glasses and something to drink.

"I still liked the actor that played me!" Toph laughed as she fell in the chair next to him. Aang didn't say anything, but he rolled his eyes, for he ahd hoped to keep that one free for Katara. Now, the waterbender had to sit on the other side of the small table.

"It was the biggest man I have ever seen Toph… Even the Boulder was on the small side compared to him." Sokka sat down next to his sister.

"Exactly, that was what I liked." The blind girl grinned her wicked smile, the one she used when she was going to be a pain in the ass.

Aang didn't comment as Sokka and the earthbender began a lively discussion why her actor had been the perfect fit, or the worst. To be honest, he didn't really listen. His mind went back to what Katara had said outside the theatre. Spirits, she had really, really, said yes… She wanted to marry him! Spirits, if Gyatso could see him now… Or Jinora. Or even anyone from his childhood. They would be so happy…

"Hey, what's up with the sadness over there?" Toph suddenly voiced, and underneath the harsh question, Aang could hear the soft concern.

"Nothing, just thinking about something." The airbender smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes, even he could feel that. Feeling eyes on him, he lifted his head to see Sokka and Katara look at him with concern, while Suki didn't look at him. Surprisingly, she was watching Katara.

"Nothing, really." He shook off the slight sad feeling he had when thinking of his lost family and friends, before turning to Sokka.

"So, what happened when I was… outside?" When he had stormed out of the third act, his friend had followed him and had alluded to something he had called Making some changes to his character's jokes.

"Oh, that? I went to see my actor and gave him some pointers!" The water tribe boy answered proudly, apparently totally forgetting his previous concern.

Aang tried to hide a smile but was unable to. Spirits, that sounded so… Sokka-like. Only he would be insulted enough by the performance to go see the actors and explain how they should be acting.

"And?" He asked, still impressed.

"Well, Jurzu was very impressed by my take on Sokka." His friend crossed his arms on his chest, pointing his chin upwards, clearly proud of himself.

"Jurzu?" Katara asked, and, when Aang looked at her, he could see a teasing gleam in her eyes.

"I asked his name, so what?" Sokka suddenly sounded very protective.

"Was that all?" Toph laughed.

"Alright, maybe we are getting together at lunch tomorrow to discuss the complex character of the misunderstood meat and sarcasm guy." His friend admitted, earning the laughter of the whole group as Zuko rejoined them.

"Alright, this is the only good thing in that Agni forgotten place." The firebender put a bottle, already uncorked, and some glasses on the table, and poured each of them a glass. Aang, to his amusement, saw that his and Toph's were slightly less filled than the others. As if Zuko thought they shouldn't drink…

The prince took two glasses, and handed one to the blind girl. Aang still watched him, as Toph took the glass that was nearly filled to the brim, that Zuko had clearly intended for himself.

"Nice try Sparky." Was the only comment the earthbender gave. Zuko, shaking his head, sat down. The airbender looked at Katara, who had her eyes also fixed on him.

"To that rotten play!" Sokka sighed, lifting his glass in the air before putting it to his lips.

Aang didn't take up the toast. He kept looking at the waterbender, and lifted his glass in her direction, with a smile on his face. He couldn't help it. He didn't want to toast on that horrid play. No. He would toast on something else.

You and me.

Looking at the waterbender, he tried to make her understand that. That it was just about them. Just them, and not someone else. That this toast, he made it just with her. For her. To her. Always.

The sound of the others, discussing the play, drowned away in a silence only he could hear…. And probably Katara, for her eyes were trained on his, not even looking at the others. Was this normal? Was this what it was always supposed to be? Spirits, Aang didn't even understand his feelings. The only thing he understood, was that all the worries and apprehension he could have felt, knowing he had to fight the most powerful man on earth, melted away just by looking into those beautiful blue eyes…

Eyes that held the world into them. That held everything important. Eyes that he knew could scream every emotion. Love, anger, sorrow, kindness, concern… Spirits he could go on and on. But never would words describe what he felt at that moment, looking at her. Looking at the woman he loved. The woman who had agreed to marry him, although they both knew that his life could be cut short at any given moment.

But he didn't care about that. Yes, he worried what Katara would do if left alone in this world… But that would not happen. If he could just defeat Ozai… That would solve all their problems.

"Alright. Bed. I had enough of this day. Tomorrow is another day, and we are going to be serious. Just eight days guys." Zuko's voice pierced the silence that Aang had only heard in his head, and, nearly shaking his head to throw off the drowsy feeling, he turned to the firebender.

"Sunrise?" He asked, knowing that Zuko would know what he meant.

"Sunrise."

That left him enough time to catch some sleep… And talk to Katara. He needed to know several things! Swallowing the last of the wine, he stood up, as the others were doing the same. He could hear a sharp intake of breath from Toph, behind him, as he turned towards the door.

He froze.

Aang had seen her taking off the shoes she had been wearing to cross the town. It would have been bizarre if she had been walking bare feet in the middle of a crowd. But she had taken them off. And as she stood up, her feet had reconnected with the ground. Meaning, that the blind earthbender could feel everything. His emotions. Katara's emotions.

The stone necklace neatly hidden in the waterbender's fist.

The stone necklace, which Toph knew Aang had made. Which Toph knew he had been given back by the waterbender.

And now, Toph knew that the necklace was once more in Katara's possession. And the blind girl knew what necklaces meant in the Water Tribes.

Shit.

He didn't move, as he waited for the dreaded question. As the other filled past him, he stayed frozen next to his chair. First Zuko, wishing him good night. Then came Sokka and Suki, suddenly too enraptured with each other to even look at him… And then, to his surprise, came Toph. He had thought she would tease him senseless, and just pester Katara. But she just smiled towards them.

"Goodnight… Don't stay up too late." The blind girl grinned wickedly, but that was all. Had she not understood the meaning of this? Spirits, if that was true… Perhaps she had not connected the dots! That was a possibility… right?

As the earthbender walked into the darkness of the interior, Aang exhaled softly in relief. Turning to Katara, he saw that she had gone around the table to stand just a step behind him.

"She knows… Right?" The waterbender whispered, sounding relieved and puzzled at the same time.

"I guess… But if she did, wouldn't she have teased us to death?" He didn't understand.

"Perhaps… Maybe she has finally learned some people skills?" Katara suggested.

"Toph?"

"Yeah, sorry. I guess she knows but is keeping it to herself… For torture reasons, or perhaps because she knows it doesn't concern her…" The waterbender put forward.

They just looked at each other, and at the same time, came to the same conclusion.

"Torture."

Letting out a small laugh, it sounded so strange, to laugh… After everything that had happened today, the whirlwind of emotions in his heart… Sadness, happiness, sorrow, jealousy, anger, hate… Everything had happened in the span of just one evening…

And to finally laugh, because in a world that didn't make any sense, he had found something that did.

Also entering the house, he heard Katara close the door behind them, and, quickly walking up the stairs, Aang could sense her following him through his earthbending. He was not as good as Toph with detecting movements and people, and certainly not on the hard wooden planks of the stairs. If he had not known it was Katara behind him, he would only have sensed the presence of something on the stairs.

Suddenly, he felt a hand on his backside. The contact was brief, but it did make an impression. To be exact, the impression that the waterbender had just… Slapped his butt.

"What?" He asked, in the dark, utterly confused. She had never, never, done that. Even when they… they were in bed together, she would not do that.

"Ehm… I don't know… I just wanted… You know… Make the atmosphere a little lighter?" He heard, rather than saw, the furious blush on the waterbender's face.

The airbender couldn't help but laugh loudly. Spirits, that was how he wanted it to be! Awkward, but so, so them. He took her hand and let her towards their shared bedroom. As the door closed behind them, he waved a hand towards the small oil lamp that stood on the bedside table. As the room was filled with a soft orange light, Aang let go of the waterbender's hand.

"You are still sure?" He asked. It sounded needy, but the airbender wanted to hear her say it again. And again…

"Yes!" She laughed aloud. Looking at her, Aang saw the pure happiness radiating from her.

"I mean, sure, I still worry… But you're right. Why let the Fire Nation dictate what we should do. It doesn't change anything." She continued, and Aang could have sworn he saw the shadow of something… angry… pass over her expression. But that could have been the shadows cast because of the lamp.

"Yeah… I understand. I still worry about what Azula has said she would do… But she would do anything, and she knows. She knows… So, why let her decide what we do. No one needs to know about… this." He gestured to the necklace that was still in Katara's firm grasp.

"You know… I never told you what I thought of it… Last time." Her smile looked sad for an instance, and the airbender knew she was thinking of their time in the temple, about her rejection of the necklace… Of the lost time, because they both let the Fire Nation control them.

"You… You like it?" He asked, feeling awfully aware that the pendant wasn't perfect. He had messed up the wave on the bottom half, and he may or may not have smoothed it with some earthbending… But still, it was not bad, was it?

"I do." She smiled at him, reassuring him, "It is just like us. Two different parts… of the same."

Aang could see how Katara opened her palm and let the silken band spill out, keeping the stone pendant in her open hand. He took a step towards her, and looked down to the stone.

"How… How was it supposed to be done?" The only thing he had known about Water Tribe betrothals were that the man was supposed to make a necklace, and the woman had to accept or reject it when it was offered. But he had not known about… after.

"Traditionally you mean?" She spoke the word traditionally with such scorn that he guessed it wasn't that pretty.

"Yeah…"

"Well, it's the Water Tribes. The man, if accepted, would put the necklace around the girl's neck to claim her. Then, normally, there is a year between the betrothal and the actual wedding." She explained.

Yikes.

"Ehm… Well, in that case, don't wear it. Or, if you want… you can put it on. Yourself, I mean! I have no intention whatsoever to claim you." Spirits, no! Never, in a million years. Claim someone… That was so contradictory to his own beliefs that he couldn't even imagine why someone would want that.

"I'll just keep it… And put it on after…" She didn't finish the sentence, but Aang knew what she meant.

After the battle.

After they had won.

"And… What about that year?" They didn't have a year… probably.

"Well, normally, a woman would spend that time gathering the things they would need to make a home, while the man would work his ass off to provide for her." It was said with such disgust, but he understood. It sounded… horrible. Horrible to be a woman in the Water Tribe.

"Well… I don't have anything to provide. And I won't work my ass off for a year. So… You'll just have to take my broke and homeless ass." He smiled, trying to make the subject of their conversation slightly more amusing.

"I'll take that over a man who thinks I'm his propriety." Katara laughed, clearly having understood the joke.

Here came the difficult part… He wanted to ask the important thing.

When?

"And… Well, our situation is a bit strange I guess… But what if they couldn't wait a year?" That had to happen, right?

"Well… it could be shortened." Katara said, now with some shyness in her voice.

"How much?"

"Like… Anything they wanted. If there was a need."

Having to fight the most dangerous man in the world, possibly dying and losing a century-old war, in less than eight days. That had to be something that qualified for a shortened waiting period… Right?

"So… When would be… acceptable?" He held his breath after asking that.

"Well… Maybe… tonight?"

Answers :

Jjsmith103: Yeah, I really wanted to show the conflict within Katara. She wants to say yes so desperately, but is holding back for his safety. But hearing, from other people, that that is a long gone hope, is just what makes her change her mind! I thought about the ending, fearing it would be a little cheesy. For I focus on Aang's culture, but I don't want to make her totally go Air Nomad culture appropriation lol.

Rak: Of course she was finally going to say yes. But now, we have a whole set of different problems that they are going to have to live through lol!