Despite the long day Katara had just had: the confrontation with Azula, the talk with Fire Lord Iroh and then her dad, Katara just couldn't sleep. She lay in bed and thought about the choice she should make. How could she be sure she was making the right decision? In the early morning she finally managed a few short hours of sleep. She was awoken abruptly with a shaft of bright sunlight as one of the servants drew back the curtains. The girl, noticing Katara stirring, quickly apologised bowing deeply. Katara waved a hand at her.

"Don't apologise, I should be awake anyway," the girl was quite young and seemed very nervous. Katara tried smiling at her but the girl averted her eyes and continued trying to pull the heavy curtains back from the large window. "What's your name?" Katara asked.

"Su-min, my lady," the girl muttered, bowing once more but keeping her eyes downturned.

"And how old are you Su-min?"

"13 ma'am," Su-min kept her eyes averted still but at least she was responding. Katara tried to push through the fog in her tired brain to find something to connect with the young girl about. She didn't enjoy seeing someone be scared of her. Then it hit her,

"I was barely older than you are now when I travelled all over the world with the Avatar," that got the girl's attention.

"But?" Su-min finally turned to face her head on. "But you're a master water bender," she exclaimed, her mouth open. All sense of politeness and formality gone. Katara smiled

"I wasn't when I left home. I could barely make a single water droplet float properly," she chuckled a little at the memory and how far she'd come in her bending since then. "I was just a child myself when I suddenly had to do all these amazing things. I was so scared all the time,"

"Really?" Su-min sighed

"Really," Katara swore, placing her hand on her heart to assure her truthfulness and shared a conspiratorial grin with her new friend. "So what I'm trying to say Su-min, is that there's no need to be scared around me, okay? I'm just a normal girl like you," Su-min nodded but still seemed hesitant . As the young girl turned back to open the curtains around the room Katara had an idea. "Su-min, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course my lady!" Su-min rushed over to stand closer to the bed eager to be helpful. Katara pushed herself so she was sitting properly in bed.

"You don't have to call me that,"

"I'm sorry, your highness." Su-min was once again quick to apologise bowing so low she almost hit her head on the edge of the bed frame. "It's just I thought... Because you aren't married yet, that I shouldn't," she looked distressed and Katara panicked.

"Oh, no that's alright," how had she managed to make things worse? "I just meant that you can just call me Katara," Su-min lip still quivered so Katara quickly moved on hoping she wouldn't cause the girl too much distress. "But never mind don't worry about it, alright?" Su-min nodded once more and took a few deep breaths while her hands stopped shaking.

"What did you need help with ma'am?"

"Well, I um," Katara flushed, it seemed silly now asking a stranger to help her make one of the most important decisions of her life. So she was careful about how she phrased the question.

"What do you think about me being Fire Lady one day?" Su-min smiled

"Oh is that all ma'am. I think it's so romantic," romantic? That's not what Katara had been expecting.

"Oh Su-min it's not like that, Prince Zuko and I. We're just friends," really could she even say that? She'd hated him just a day ago. Su-min grinned a dreamy look on her face.

"But I've heard about the way he looks at you my lady. All the palace servants were talking about it after the engagement party. My sister works in the kitchens and all the servers gushed about your dance," it was so hot in this room Katara thought as the girl kept on enthusiastically speaking about the rumours she'd heard out of the kitchens. She must have just misinterpreted what had been said Katara decided. That night had been a total disaster, her and Zuko probably just looked awkward the whole time. She needed to get this conversation back on track.

"So," she interrupted Su-min mid sentence. "You haven't heard anybody complain that I'm not from the Fire Nation, or even that I'm a water bender?" The young girl shook her head looking thoughtful.

"No my lady everyone I know of is happy you're here," Katara doubted that somehow but she supposed Su-min was not the most well placed servant to ask. "I can't speak for the nobles ma'am but everyone I know is happy to have a friend of the Avatar become Fire Lady," Katara pursed her lips. Of course it was her connection to Aang once again that was helping her.

"What a surprise. Everybody loves Aang" it might be petty to say but Katara was frustrated that even now she was still in Aang's shadow.

"The Avatar is very nice, and very friendly but that's all I know really. But I've heard all the stories about how you taught him water bending and went on all these adventures together. You're so cool, I want to be just like you when I'm older" Katara flushed at the praise "Although ma'am," Su-min continued, "if you don't mind me saying. If I didn't know you were already engaged I'd have thought there was something going on between the two of you," Katara had chosen the wrong moment to take a drink of water from the pitcher beside her bed. She coughed, water spilling down her chin and onto the bed covers until her throat cleared enough to breath.

"Me and Aang?" No she must have heard wrong.

"I didn't mean to offend my lady," Su-min apologised, bowing once more.

"No Su-min you didn't do anything wrong," Katara tried to assure the younger girl. "I'm just curious as to what makes you think that?"

"Well, uh" Su-min said, scrunching her hands in her skirts clearly still worried about having said the wrong thing. "Well you are very close and affectionate, ma'am" Katara relaxed.

"That's just how we are. Aang's like that with everyone," Su-min didn't look convinced.

"I suppose so," she didn't sound too convinced either. "But I did catch him looking at you extra wide eyed my lady, when you were all dressed up in your finery yesterday" Katara couldn't help the heat rising in her face

"I'm sure he thought Toph and Suki were just as beautiful,"

"Oh no my lady! He told them they were pretty and all that but… yesterday morning he only had his eyes on you,"

"Well," Katara didn't know what to do with this information. Su-min seemed to sense the change in her mood. She bowed again,

"I'd best be getting on with my work my lady," she said as she scurried to the door, shutting it gently behind her. Katara threw her blanket over her face. Su-min must be mistaken. Her and Aang were just friends. He did like to hug her, but Aang hugged everyone! He never treated her more special than anyone else, did he? He'd even once said kissing her would be horrible when they were trapped in the mountains of Omashu. But he had been so weird since he arrived, and the other night he'd been acting especially odd. What was she going to do? She would mention it to Aang and he'd laugh and they could all move on. That was all. It was all going to be fine.

For once Katara had a free day all to herself. With nothing to do she was free to come up with a plan for how exactly to approach Aang. And it was terrifying. What if she was wrong and she made it weird between them? What if he got angry? What if… What if he did have feelings for her? It was all too much and so Katara stayed in bed as long as she could hoping to just avoid the issue. The sun was well above the hills when a knock at the door sounded. "Katara?" speak of the devil Katara thought. The knock went again, "Can I come in" Aang called.

"Just a moment Aang," she called back, jumping out of bed and throwing some black pants and a soft navy blue tunic over her sarashi. She flung open the door to see a startled avatar. Aang shook his head then laughed,

"Spirits Katara you scared me,"

"Sorry Aang," She tried to laugh like she would have if everything was normal. But everything was not normal and even to her own ears it sounded fake. "Come in," she offered, widening the door so he could squeeze past.

"Oh, um. Actually I was gonna ask if you wanted to go out with me?" Katara's breath hitched and she had to let out a strange wheeze. Aang's cheeks were crimson and he rubbed his neck in his usual way, "I meant, ah out of the, um the house with me. Would you like to go out of the house with me? If you're free" Katara nodded not trusting her voice. Good idea, better to be out of the house and away from everyone else for this conversation.

"How about a ride on Appa?" Aang offered, looking a little lost for other ideas as they stepped into the street. Katara suspected he might have thought she'd turn him down.

"That sounds great Aang," she said in what she hoped was her normal voice. Trying to to reassure him and herself that everything was the same as always. No matter what they were friends right? It didn't have to be so awkward. Not to mention Katara was happy for any excuse to go and visit the giant flying sky bison.

Appa had been housed in a makeshift stable built in a nearby park. Aang hadn't wanted him to be too far away but there was nowhere else for such a large animal to stay in the heavily built up centre of the capital city. As the two of them entered the stable Appa stood and gave a mighty shake that shook not only all the loose hay that clung to him off - dropping a substantial amount of hair in the process - but the structure of the stable itself. Aang leaped elegantly over to him - using his bending to jump further than usually possible - and hugged as much of the bison's nose as he could reach. At first Katara tried to keep her composure but she soon gave in and ran the last few steps to bury her face in Appa's soft fur. Appa sighed loudly at the attention and collapsed back on the ground to revel in the hugs. Eventually Aang levitated himself up on top of Appa head, "Hey buddy! Are you up for going on a trip with Katara and I?" Appa was certainly keen to get out in the air again. He was moving in an instant and Katara had to pull herself up his side to avoid being left behind. Aang reached down to take her hand and help her up as they emerged into the bright sunlight. Before Katara was even settled, Aang was calling out "Yip yip," to Appa.

As Aang had been travelling alone for some months the saddle Katara was used to riding in was not attached so she took a spot next to Aang on Appa's head. She was very aware of how close they were and that Aang kept moving over to stay close when she tried to put more space between them. She was soon distracted however, as they climbed higher in the sky easily passing over the mountains that surrounded the city. She couldn't help but grin as they drifted gently through the air. It was incredible. She had forgotten what it was like to soar above the clouds. Even her trip with Zuko in the airship a few days ago was nothing even close. She turned to Aang to comment on how much she'd missed travelling this way only to find him staring at her.

"Aang,"

"Katara I…" they said together. An awkward pause ensued. Katara cringed

"You go first," she offered, hoping Aang wasn't about to say something she'd regret. Aang nodded but didn't say anything at first just twisting Appa's fur around his fingers. Just as Katara decided she'd have to be the one to say something he finally blurted out

"Don't get married!" Katara's mouth dropped.

"What? Aang, I…"

"Please Katara," Aang didn't look at her and his voice was almost so quiet she almost missed what he said next. "Call it off. You don't have to do this," he was begging now, hands clasped tight in his lap.

"Aang I'm getting married in two days!" She was incredulous. How could he do this to her now? Aang finally faced her his eyes wide and desperate

"You found the truth about your mother," he elaborated, his eyes wide and desperate. "You can just cancel the wedding, I'm sure Fire Lord Iroh will understand,"

"What if I don't want to cancel it?" Aang's mouth bobbed open and closed like an arctic hippo for a minute. She didn't want to cancel the wedding? It was such a simple thing. Why had it taken a fight with Aang to be able to admit it?

"Why wouldn't you? You said," he was yelling now. "You said the only reason you agreed to this whole stupid thing was to keep an eye on Zuko. But you trust him now. So can we just stop this nonsense?" Why was he angry? How did he have the right to be angry at her

"That's not the only reason I agreed to do this Aang, and it's not that simple" she snapped back

"Why else would you want to?" Katara sighed. She knew he wouldn't understand but she tried to explain it anyway.

"I want to help people Aang. I can do that a lot better as Fire Lady,"

"You were already helping people. We ended the war," Katara rolled her eyes, Aang never could see the bigger picture

"You think Ozai being locked up ended all the suffering in the world Aang?"

"No," he shot back petulantly and flushed. It reminded Katara how young he really was. How young they both were really. "You could have stayed with me, Katara," he rebuked. 'We could help the world together, We could go now. Just fly somewhere new and…" his voice was desperate and it hurt Katara's heart to see him like this.

"I don't think that's a good idea Aang,"

"Why not Katara? It'll be just like old times,"

"I just don't think it's what's best for both of us,"

"What do you mean?"

"When everyone else left after the war, I stayed," Katara recounted. "Suki went home to Kyoshi Island, Toph went back to try and reconcile with her parents. Even Sokka went home. But I stayed with you, Aang. For months,"

"Katara I …" Aang tried to interrupt but now that Katara had started she couldn't stop.

"You really think I didn't want to go straight home. To see Gran Gran? To help my people rebuild? I am the only water bender in the whole South Pole Aang." Katara knew she was shouting, but she didn't care anymore. She'd held on to this anger and resentment for so long. Now she'd started she couldn't stop. "They needed me but I stayed with you. "

"You were the one who wanted to stay. I didn't stop you going home," Aang countered, his confusion clear.

"I thought you needed me. But after a while it was clear you didn't, not really"

"You think I didn't need you!" Aang was shouting now as well. The wind catching and amplifying every other word. "I relied on you Katara. I couldn't have done anything without you,"

"No, you needed me to look after you Aang," there it was. The truth Katara had been forced to confront when they'd been left alone and it was only herself and Aang. It hurt to admit it out loud but it was also a release to finally say the words.

"You did not look after me," his denial sparked Katara's own anger to build more.

"I did Aang! I was the one who did all of the cooking, and the laundry and the shopping and everything. You got to go off and do your Avatar stuff,"

"Because I'm the Avatar Katara! I can't change that"

"I know Aang. But You even stopped asking me for help, even just to hear my ideas," she clenched her fists and she could sense the water in the clouds they flew through. "It got to the point where I felt like you didn't even notice if I was there or not. That's why I had to go home,"

"Katara, you could have talked to me, I would have changed" Aang reached for her hands but stopped himself unsure if she would let him touch her. Katara took a deep breath and let the water surrounding them go and instead reached for him, he was still her friend

"I tried Aang," he shook his head.

"No, I would have noticed. I would have …I would have noticed if you were unhappy" Katara sighed. That was the point; he hadn't noticed.

"Now do you see why I felt like I had to go home Aang?"

"But... You told me Sokka wrote and asked for your help back at the Pole?"

"I lied, Aang Sokka wrote but he didn't ask me to come back. I decided that the best thing for both of us was for me to go," it was sort of the truth. She'd been so unhappy that she had written to Sokka to ask if she was needed at home. His reply had said not if she was happy with Aang they could manage. But she had needed an excuse to leave. And this way wouldn't have hurt Aang's feelings.

"I'm sorry Katara, I," he squeezed her hand tight. "I didn't know," Katara smiled at him.

"It's all in the past Aang. We just had different paths to take. And now, I think this wedding is the best thing for me,"

"Katara, please no, you don't have to come with me right now but please don't get married,"

"Aang, I just explained why I want to, why I need to do this,"

"There's another way, I'm sure. You could," he looked around wildly as if a solution would just appear before him. "You could be an ambassador? Or something else. Just don't get married," his grip on her hands was strangling now.

"You can't tell me what to do Aang, why does it bother you so much, can't you be happy for me?"

"I love you," Katara stilled. The words washed over her. The thin air must be getting to her. She couldn't breath. This was not the way she'd ever imagined a man confessing his feelings for her

"No you don't," he couldn't be serious. He was just trying to get her to do what he wanted.

"I do," Aang clambered to his knees and placed a hand on his heart. "I swear Katara. I've loved you ever since you found me in that ice berg,"

"What, how?" She was so confused. "For that long? How come you've never said anything before now?"

"I tried okay? So many times," Katara was drawing a blank and it must have shown on her face. "I kissed you on the day of the invasion! Didn't you get it then?" Aang asked

"You never brought it up again! I thought you just did it because of the pressure of the invasion or something," Katara retorted. "You said you'd rather die than kiss me in the two lover's cave!"

"I was 12 Katara! I was awkward and embarrassed. I asked you out so many times since then and you never noticed and just invited the whole group along too"

"Because I didn't realise they were dates Aang," Katara flushed at clueless she'd apparently been. But it wasn't her fault if she hadn't realised it was a date. "You never actually asked me to go on a date with you! You just asked if I wanted to grab some food or go for a walk," and then it hit her. The other night when they'd gone out together. How weird Aang had been acting all evening and the strange reaction he had to the news that Sokka and Suki would catch up with them. "Wait, you did it again the other day! When we went out to explore the city, you thought it was a date?" Aang flushed a deep red

"I, well yes okay. I planned on telling you how I felt that night but then everyone wanted to see a few bending tricks and when I got back to out table Sokka and Suki were there and you were gone," Katara was infuriated once more.

"That's exactly what I mean Aang!" she screamed. "You thought we were on a date and you still couldn't resist showing off for the crowd that you're the avatar!" she'd been annoyed at the time, she would have been furious at him if she'd known he was interrupting a romantic evening for some attention from strangers.

"What am I supposed to do Katara? That's who I am," Aang bellowed fury written across his face.

"I know it is Aang, that's why we'll never work as a couple,"

"No Katara, wait that's not what I meant. I love you," Aang pleaded reaching for her hands once more but Katara pulled away from him.

"You love the idea you have of me, Aang" she tried to be gentle. She didn't want to hurt him anymore than she already had. He was still her best friend

"Katara I love everything about you. You are the most amazing person I have ever met,"

"That's not true Aang," Katara sighed. "You don't love everything about me. You don't like when I'm materialistic, or when I'm emotional. You especially don't like when I'm angry,"

"That's not fair nobody likes when anyone is angry,"

"It's different Aang. When you're upset or angry I try my best to help you fix the problem or work through it or just be there for you. You just try and get me to get over it so it's more comfortable for you,"

"And what? Zuko gets you?"

"We're not talking about Zuko right now,"

"But that's what you think right?" Aang spat at her. "He's this amazing guy who understands you," spirits help her. Katara was about to punch the avatar in the face.

"He tried at least," she tried to reason

"By helping you get vengeance? He should have stopped you!"

"It was my choice to make Aang, and Zuko was the only one who even bothered to try and figure out the real reason I was so angry. The rest of you just told me to stop acting out,"

"So you love the guy that hunted us? That tried to kill me!"

"I don't love him Aang. But I don't have to. It's just an arranged marriage, alright"

"How can you trust him Katara?" Aang objected

"He's changed, he's not the person we used to know,"

"How do you know, how can you be sure he's changed?"

"He proved it to me," Katara asserted. "Zuko listened to what I said to him and actually showed me the changes he's already made on his own to be a better person,"

"So he's not as evil as his dad, that's not saying much," Aang blustered with no better counter argument.

"So what? You think he's just pretending?"

"I didn't say that. I just meant that maybe he ended the war but that doesn't mean he'll care about all the things you care about. Or that he'll let you do anything about it anyway," Katara froze. Aang was right. she had just assumed Zuko would be willing to make real changes for the Fire Nation but what if he wasn't? What if she went through with this and she still ended up just a pretty figurehead watching people suffer.

"Take me home Aang," she needed to think. She'd been so close to choosing to stay but now, she didn't know any more. And she needed space from Aang.

"Wait Katara just listen to me,"

"I'm tired Aang, and this conversation is going nowhere. Please take me back now,"

"No," that's not what she'd expected. If Aang didn't take her back she had no way of getting there on her own.

"Aang," she said, trying to keep her voice reasonable. "You have to take me back," she might be a water bender but this far up in the sky there was nothing she could do if Aang didn't listen to her.

"No," he said again. "You take Appa and do whatever you want. I have to go, I'll see you later," and before Katara could stop him he was off on his glider disappearing into the sky.

With Aang's sudden departure Katara broke down crying hysterically. She was too emotional to navigate her way back to the stables so Appa took charge for her, flying low over the city until Katara was calm enough to recognise the area and guide him down again. Despite being safely back on the ground Katara was reluctant to move from her spot on Appa's head. She couldn't get Aang's comments about Zuko out of her mind either. What if he was right? Just because Zuko wasn't outright evil anymore that didn't mean that he was good. Would she be given any real power once they were married or would he expect her to stay in the palace and host fancy tea parties and nothing else? Maybe she should just go with Aang like he wanted? Wouldn't it just be easier? But she wouldn't be happy. It was a cold and hard truth. Maybe her life would be simpler but she would be settling and she would resent Aang, and herself, for it forever. Katara buried her face in Appa's soft fur and cried some more.

Her tears had just subsided into hiccups when she heard movement at the entrance to the stable. "Go away Aang! I don't want to talk to you right now," she called out. The laugh that followed was definitely not Aang's

"I am most certainly not the avatar my dear," Kanna's distinctive croaky voice called back.

"Gran Gran?" Katara asked peering over App's large head to see her grandmother shuffling inside. "Why are you here?"

"I was concerned for you of course,"

"You don't have to worry about me,"

"Come now Katara, you think you can lie to your Gran Gran? I saw you leave with the avatar hours ago and then this wonderful flying bison was seen low in the sky with you clearly visible but no Avatar," Katara hung her head. So everyone would know by now. "It is also growing late in the day and I was concerned you would miss dinner and I didn't spend all day cooking sea prune stew for you to miss out,"

"You really made sea prune stew?" Katara asked breathlessly. It was her favourite dish but almost impossible to make outside of the poles. Gran Gran nodded,

"I began preparing it after I saw you head off with the Avatar alone this morning, I suspected you would need the comfort of your favourite food after whatever happened," Katara slid down Appa's side and embraced her grandmother.

"Gran Gran you have no idea, thank you" Gran Gran patted her on the back a few times before stepping back.

"So Katara, do you want to tell me about it now while we have a moment's privacy or would you prefer to talk with friends?" Katara shuddered at the mortification of telling her friends about Aang's confession and their ensuing fight. She would tell them eventually but she couldn't deal with their judgements and conflicting opinions just yet. She paced the width of the structure trying to figure out how best to explain everything that had happened.

"Aang asked me to cancel the wedding," Gran Gran did not seem shocked.

"You said you didn't want to?" Katara nodded, "So what did he offer instead?"

"He wanted me to go with him, He said we could help people together like we used to,"

"And you said no?"

"I did, I said I didn't want to and he insisted"

"Why would the Avatar, one of your closest friends insist?"

"He said he loves me," it sounded ridiculous even knowing it was the truth

"So the little pip squeak finally got the balls to tell you huh," Gran Gran chuckled to herself. "He left it to the last minute. I must say I didn't think he'd do it,"

"Gran Gran you knew?"

"Katara dearest everyone knew, that boy wears his emotions on his face and he had almost literal heart eyes for you," Kanna remarked casually as if it were the most obvious thing it the world

"What, then how come I didn't know?" Katara demanded.

"I think you did my dear, you just didn't want to deal with it yet so you blocked it out," Katara thought back through all the time she had spent with Aang. In hindsight there had been so many times when she'd just brushed his actions off as slightly weird or just Aang's personality but they could have been his attempt at flirting. She felt stupid for not noticing sooner and a little bad for Aang that she'd been so accidentally callous with his heart so many times.

"I… I didn't mean to. He never said. Not really,"

"Don't blame yourself Katara," Gran Gran comforted, taking one of Katara's hands in her own. "Maybe you ignored a few signs but that boy never told you upfront how he felt so he can't hold that over you. The important thing is now that you do know in no uncertain terms how he feels, how do you feel about him?" Katara didn't need long to assess her feelings. She knew the truth

"I love him Gran Gran just not in the way he wants me to. He's my best friend, my little brother even. I want to look after him and take care of him and make sure he doesn't get hurt, but I don't want to be with him,"

"Then it's simple, you just have to tell Aang that and he has to accept it. He cannot change the way you feel,"

"I don't want to hurt him Gran Gran,"

"My dear girl if you sacrifice your own happiness now you'll be doing it for the rest of your life,"

"I don't know if I can do this Gran Gran," Katara muttered, tears stinging her eyes again.

"I left the man I loved and crossed the world alone to ensure my happiness, you can talk to your friend honestly about how you feel,"

"I'm not as strong as you are,"

"Oh darling," Kanna encouraged "you are much much stronger," Katara was unable to stop the tears from falling down her face. She was pulled into a bone crushing hug. Her grandmother's appearance hid a surprising strength for a woman of her age. Spirits Katara would miss her grandmother so much. That was if she was in fact staying in the fire nation.

"Gran Gran,"

"Yes dear?" Katara pulled away and wiped her face.

"Aang said something, about Zuko, and I don't know if it's true or not,"

"Well there's only one person who does know,"

"Who?"

"Prince Zuko himself," Gran Gran laughed pinching her cheeks as if she were still a small child. "Go and ask him. If you two are indeed going to be married, and you want it to be a happy marriage at that, then you need to be able to speak to one another especially about the hard things, and there's no better time than before you go through the official ceremony and things are done that cannot be undone,"

"What if I don't get a good answer?"

"If he avoids the question, keep pushing. Tell him you need an answer or you won't go ahead with the wedding," Katara gulped but she supposed that it was a fair repercussion. "And, if you don't like the answer," Kanna continued on brusquely, "then you say thank you for everything and you hold my hand all the way back to the South Pole," Katara nodded.

"You're right Gran Gran," it was that simple. Either Zuko agreed with her about what had to be done or he didn't. That was that she just needed to ask him. Kanna laughed

"Of course I'm right! I'm too old not to know a thing or two" Katara laughed too and it felt so good. She looked out the door, it was starting to grow dark but Katara knew it was now or never.

"I have to speak with Zuko. Can you…?"

"I'll speak to your father, he knows better than to talk back to his mother,"

"Thank you for all your help," Katara kissed her grandmother's cheek.

"Any time dearest,"

"Save some sea prune stew for me!" Katara called as she dashed out the door. She set her shoulders and headed for the palace.