Rating: G

Word Count: 576


Katara smiled as she spotted her husband. He was standing in the courtyard of the island, watching their three kids playing with Appa and Momo. Seeing his posture so relaxed was such a relief.

He hadn't been like that since Yakone's attack on the council a week ago.

The utter terror that had gripped her when she heard the account over the radio was indescribable; a psychic bloodbender? Bloodbending itself was a nightmare to behold; she had thought she stopped any chance of it reappearing with her success in passing the law banning that particular practice.

But one that could do so, not only without the full moon, but with his mind?

What chilled her blood to ice and froze her at her core, however, was the fact that Aang had almost been killed. When he had staggered back into their home, exhaustion lining every crease in his face and wincing with every movement, one healing session was enough to see that his body had been contorted beyond its limits.

As much as Aang reassured Katara that he was fine, Katara suspected he was more shaken than he let on. Even in the privacy of their home, when Katara embraced him, she could feel the trembling tension in his muscles, as though he were ready to fight at any given moment. But as much as she tried to soothe him, she could see this was something only Aang himself could snap out of.

So she was relieved beyond words when he stood there, watching over their kids, with no sign that he was going to snap into fighting mode. She stepped up behind him and snaked her arms around his torso before planting a kiss on his back.

She felt Aang shift, twisting towards her, felt a laugh bubble up from him and shake his form. She looked up to see Aang smiling down at her, eyes twinkling mischievously. "Well, hello there, beautiful."

Heat rushed to Katara's cheeks, and she squished the side of her face against his back to stare up at him. "Stop trying to be smooth," she retorted, although the effect was ruined with her grin. "It's not gonna work with me."

Aang gave a great, theatrical gasp. "Who, me? Why, I was only stating a fact!"

"Oh, shush up, you." Katara laughingly smacked his shoulder as Aang chuckled.

When their laughter had passed, Aang looked down at her, smiling that smile of his she had grown to know so well. "So what brings my beautiful wife out here?"

Katara considered smacking him again, but she peered up at him instead, letting the comment roll off of her. "Well, your wife saw you standing out here and wondered how you were doing." She met his gaze steadily, and her voice grew softer of its own accord. "And she just wanted to know if you were alright."

Aang's eyes softened in that way that told Katara he understood what she was trying to say. He looked out towards their kids, and Katara followed his gaze to see Bumi and Kya chasing each other in a circle around Tenzin, who had on an adorably bemused expression as he tracked his siblings with his eyes. Momo's screeching joined the kids' laughter in a carefree harmony that echoed through the courtyard, and Appa's sleepy grumbles only added to the chaotic symphony.

"You know what?" Aang murmured, a soft smile gracing his face. "I think I am okay."