Authors Note: Because we're not given much information about Katara and Aang's adulthood, I'd like to think Katara had stayed at her home for a while until Aang was done making Republic City with Zuko. I also believe they won't live together unless they get married, so for the meantime, Katara is living at the southern-water tribe temporarily. It is also 110 AG.
Aang had returned to the southern water-tribe to visit Katara after bringing Republic City to life. Katara had devoted her life to help on whatever she could with Aang and the other nations, but her tribe had called her for help on healing their people. Aang had created Air Temple Island and the rest of the city with Firelord Zuko, and he had relocated the air acolytes into a new home where they will be closer to the nation's as a whole. He was excited to finally see Katara after many weeks. Between the time on creating Republic City, he would spend his days off visiting Katara when he was able to. They would also write to each other when they couldn't see each other for certain times. Aang was happy to see the Air Acolytes living at the air temple— filled with people devoting their lives as one, but he still missed seeing his Air-nomad people.
After landing on the fluffy snow on Appa, Aang was greeted by Katara, Hakoda, and her elderly Gran-Gran a few feet away from Appa.
"The avatar has returned," Kanna said as Aang jumped off of Appa. A smile was brought to his face as he saw his girlfriend. Katara ran towards him and embraced him for as long as she was able to. Katara liked the feeling of Aang's hugs. They brought her comfort and warmth and she liked to believe that things would be okay each time they hugged. Aang rested his chin on top of her head as she snuggled deeply against his chest. He smiled softly with his eyes closed as he appreciated the hug from Katara. They pulled apart and Hakoda approached Aang with a water-tribe handshake where they held on to each others wrist rather than hands. He knew about the avatars plan on proposing to his daughter. When he arrived to the southern water-tribe a few weeks ago, he had gotten the materials to make his own version of the betrothal necklace.
"You know I tried to do the same thing with Kya, but it was frustrating," Hakoda had said to him a few weeks back.
"I just thought she'd like to have another family heirloom to pass on," Aang said studying the stone. He knew just how hard carving was, but he thought it would be very important for him to do it himself.
"Its good to see you, Aang. Hows my son doing as a councilman?" He asked about Sokka.
"He's doing real fine and just started about three weeks ago. He's a busy man," Aang said and rested his hand on Hakodas shoulder. Hakoda was very proud of his son as he was doing his own thing helping the world for a better future. Katara wrapped her arm around Aangs and guided him to her families snow home where she had her own space to live. Hakoda and Kanna had walked in behind them and stood around the avatar and Katara and made conversation about the southern water-tribes reconstruction. Hakoda was really appreciative about how far the tribe has gone and with the help of its sister tribe, they have excelled tremendously.
Hakoda saw how impatient his daughter was getting just to have some alone time with Aang.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, dad. He understands how far our tribe has come," she said crossing her arms. Hakoda laughed at her demeanor and said he had to go back to his office and do chieftain duties and Kanna followed after him.
Katara sighed as her family left the tent, "Its just the two of us now." She smiled and he held onto her hands. They plopped themselves down on the ground where there was an animal hide rug that allowed them to sit comfortably on the cold ground.
"So tell me all about the city!" She said intrigued about her boyfriends work in society. He leaned in closer and explained how the air temple was made and he made his own touches on the temple to pay homage to the original air temples. She loved the sound of him being so passionate about his culture. It was one of the things that they had in common: their goal of preserving their culture. It was only a matter of time before new southern water-benders would be born/ relocate there, and she felt as if it was her duty to teach them the ways of southern water-bending.
"How has your time been here?" He asked.
"Amazing! Yesterday and a few days ago, I helped Gran-Gran deliver babies. I even taught myself how to know the gender of the fetus with my water-bending. Its almost the same as my healing technique, but I can just place my hand on the stomach and the water inside where the fetus is in, allows me to know what its like," She informed. Katara kept going on about the things she has done at her time being home, and Aang grew more in love with her than he thought he could. He listened to every word that was said as she kept going on about her life. He swooned at how passionate she was and especially very proud of herself on the things she has done.
"Isnt that amazing?" She exclaimed proudly. He was happy for her and pulled her into a hug. She was also proud of him for bringing back his culture to the people; although she knew how much he had wanted the air-nomads and more benders.
A woman of the tribe interrupted Kataras time with Aang as she walked into the tent and apologized for interrupting, but Katara was needed at the healing tent.
"I'm so sorry, Aang. I'll be right back," she said quickly giving him a peck on the cheek. She got up from the ground and followed after the woman.
Aang was left alone, but he liked having some alone time. He understood how important Katara was for her people, and it was perfect time to rehearse how he was going to propose to her. He stuck his hand in his pocket where he had kept the necklace wrapped in a cloth. He was really proud of himself on how he carved the air swirls on one corner of the stone, and on the bottom of it, was the wavy waves of the water-tribe. He grasped on the stone and circled his thumb on his carving.
"Sokka, look what I made!" Aang said walking into Sokkas apartment at Republic City. Sokka approached to his sisters boyfriend and noticed Aang holding onto something proudly. He put his finger on his chin as he looked closer at the object. He widened his eyes once he realized what it was.
"Youre going to propose?" He asked to which Aang nodded happily. Sokka cheered and picked up Aangs light body in a tight embrace and swung him around.
"This is such great news! Does she know? Of course she doesnt—" he stopped himself laughing at his ludicrous question. He was just too excited he couldn't contain himself. He respected Aang ever since they ended the hundred- year war. He knew just how much Katara loved Aang, and how much Aang loved Katara. You could feel it in the air.
"I want to see the stone," Sokka said extending his arm out towards the airbender. Aang plopped the necklace onto Sokkas palm. Sokka brought the stone closer to his face and looked at the carving. Aang noticed how his face fell and Sokka looked away from the stone.
"Why does it look like Momo made this?" He critiqued. Aangs face fell once he heard those words. But to his surprise, Sokkas serious face had changed into a smile where he had to cover his mouth from containing his laughter. He was snickering as he saw how the avatar was hurt at his words.
"I'm just joking! Its amazing," he said smiling and handing back the necklace to Aang. Sokka let out a sigh of amusement. "Still got it."
Aang chuckled to himself lightly at the memory. He kept playing how the day would go by in his head and imagined every type of scenario he could think of where and when he would ask her.
A few days had passed and Katara had finally had a day for her to rest. She was not needed around much as she trained other water-benders in her tribe all the things she knew about it and along with the help of Pakku. Aang had walked into Kataras tent and greeted her.
"Hey, Aang. Im sorry for not being around much," she apologized. She felt guilty of course because it had been many weeks since they hadn't seen each other, and when her boyfriend was finally here, she was busy doing all she can do in her tribe. He shook his head no and told her he understood she has a duty for her home.
Aang had the whole day planned. He had made a plan along with Hakoda to have the tribe participate on his way of proposing to Katara. Hakoda had agreed to everything and made sure it will run smoothly along with the people.
"How about we have a day to ourselves? Just you and me," he said approaching closer to her. He held onto her hands and intertwined his fingers with hers and she blushed.
"I don't see why not," she smiled.
Later in the day, Aang had taken her to the spot where the otter-penguins had roamed. The animals waddled closely together in a group as they were searching for food near the ocean.
"We're not going penguin-sledding are we?" She asked confused.
"I think our time penguin sledding has passed," he chuckled. Katara was happy to see the penguins and she reminisced on the time Aang was freed on the iceberg. When she first laid eyes on him, the first question he asked was if she wanted to penguin sled with him. When she did, she felt so free and had fun for the first time in many years. She had forgotten what fun was like to which Aang reminded her that she was still a child and deserved to do fun things in her childhood. So much time had passed that the war was over and Team Avatar had grown up doing their own contribution on keeping the world balanced helping the avatar.
The couple sat criss-crossed on top of the snow. They allowed the otter-penguins go near them, and Katara began petting one. She even treated them to many fishes with her water-bending. Aang began to laugh as an otter-penguin began cuddling against him on his chest. After a while, the penguins had left the two alone and both sat in silence and enjoying each others company.
"This brought back many memories," Aang said softly. She looked at him and nodded her head.
"It felt so long ago when we had first met like me freeing you from the iceberg." To which she put her hand on top of his and gave a gentle squeeze. "I feel like it was destiny for me to have met you. Without you, I wouldn't have found myself."
"We have done so much together in the time after. Thank you for being there for me," he said looking into her eyes. Katara felt her cheeks burning up and looked away from Aang from shyness. The day was almost coming into an end as the sun was setting and releasing orange and pink colors at the sky. They sat there watching the beauty of nature and decided to head back to the tribe.
They had returned to the tribe and Katara thought it was strange that there was no one outside. As they got closer to the heart of the tribe, there stood many villagers facing Katara and Aang. The people were smiling warmly at the couple. On the ground, there was petals from the winter jasmine flowers scattered around. Kataras eyes beamed at its beauty.
"Whats happening?" She asked Aang. She looked back behind her to where Aang had stood and all he could do was smile. She looked back at the crowd and saw Sokka standing next to Hakoda and their Gran-Gran.
She gasped seeing her brother, "And Sokkas here?" She couldn't believe it. It had been months, and she really missed seeing him. The women of the tribe held onto paper lanterns and let the fire illuminate the scene with the lanterns glowing. Katara gasped as she saw the world around her. It was all too beautiful and she couldn't find any words to express how beautiful it was.
"Did you do all of this?" She asked to Aang as she turned around to face him. There, he had the necklace out and Katara gasped seeing it as Aang held onto one end of the necklace and the other with his other hand. Tears began to well in her eyes as she felt so appreciative and joyful on what was to come. She began nodding her head smiling wide as she walked towards Aang. She leaped into hug from him as she made a tight embrace and he hugged her back as well.
"Yes. I accept," is all she could say and met her lips with his. The crowd of her tribe cheered as Katara had accepted.
"Oogies!" Sokka said out loud from the crowd. Katara broke off the kiss with Aang and glanced at her brother and laughed it off.
"I didn't even get to make a small speech about how I feel for you," Aang said. Katara laughed and reassured to him it wasn't needed.
"I know how much you love me. You don't miss a day telling me about it, and I love that about you," she said softly to him. It all felt like it was just the two of them in the world. Kataras face fell as she realized she was wearing her mothers necklace. She held onto it.
"The necklace. . . " she said.
"You don't have to wear mine. I just wanted to have a version of the necklace with our nations on it."
"No. . ." she thought for a moment and accepted for what was to come, "I think its time for me to take it off." She said unclipping her mothers necklace. Aang asked her if she was sure about her decision to which she nodded her head. She held onto her mothers necklace and she gathered her hair and lifted it up to allow Aang to clip the necklace. Once she heard the click, she let her hair down and smiled at the necklace. She turned to face the crowd and pointed at the necklace smiling proudly. The people cheered once more and expressed how beautiful it had looked. Sokka ran towards her and hugged her as a way of congratulating her. Hakoda did the same and nodded his head at Aang as a way to show respect.
Katara felt it was a nice way to start a new chapter of her life with her fiancé now. It was always just the two of them in their world.
Back at her tent, she had put her mothers necklace away in a small box. She cried softly to herself as she put it away, but she knew it was time for her to move on. Aang had walked in the tent and approached Katara behind her. He put his hand on her shoulder, and she turned her head to see him. Her lips began to tremble as she saw the man she loved comforting her. He pulled her in closer to him and hugged her as she cried softly against his chest. She wiped her tears away and rested her face against his neck.
"I wish she was here to see this," she whispered to him. He put his hand on the back of her head and stroked her hair.
"She will always be. I know just how much she is smiling seeing this," he reassured to her to which she smiled at his words. Katara no longer felt sad about her mother. Aang was right. Her mom will always be there for her whether or not she doesnt see her physically. She felt calm after Aang had comforted her. It had always been just the two of them and it would always will be. Just the two of them.