A Kiss in Ba Sing Se

[A/N: This is an A/U story. The Toph character does feel inferior to Katara and so in order to compete for Aang's affections pulls out all the stops. Aang is a boy with near infinite power and is being offered love and comfort from the two girls most dear to him.

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights or titles to the characters of Avatar: The Last Airbender. ]

Chapter 9

The Walk

"Lets go through the park," she had said. "I hear there's the perfect place for two people to get to know each other better in a special way... if you know what I mean."

He had nodded his consent, but as they got closer, the more uncomfortable he felt.

"Aang you're being paranoid," he told himself, "what's the odds she's heading for the same spot Toph went to?"

"Suki told me about this spot," she said with a giggle. "I can't wait to see it."

His heart sank, he knew where they were going now. As they turned downed the path Katara covered her mouth in shock.

"Oh, look Aang! Somebody destroyed this beautiful patch of moon flowers. What a pity."

"Yeah," he agreed with her, wondering what could have happened, "it is a shame."

"Well at least we still have a little moon light left," she pointed out with a wink and a lick of her already moist lips. "I guarantee, the best is yet to come."

The memory of his previous walk began to replay as Katara took hold of his arm, clutching it tightly.

It was quite easy to tell she was a female as well, extremely easy!

As he looked over at her, her sparkling blue eyes caught his attention and his heart started to beat wildly.

"It's chilly but nice isn't it Aang," she sighed, resting her head upon his shoulder.

"Y-yes," was all he could mutter.

"Earlier you were so... mature out on the porch... now, your acting all shy... why?"

He smiled, "I-I guess, I'm just... just tired."

"Did Toph wear you out?" she asked with a devious smile.

He thought his heart stopped for a moment, "Uh... no, not at all. I was..."

She began to laugh, "Don't be so serious Aang. I was just making a joke. I thought you were about to fall over."

"Sorry I'm so jumpy, Katara, I guess thiss is no way for a new boyfriend to act."

"You're fine, new boyfriend. In fact, lets sit here," she suggested, just short of the tree on a small wooden bench.

He was grateful it wasn't the same spot as before, though he could see the tree in the distance.

They now sat quietly side by side."Aren't you going to put your arm around me Aang?"

"Uhm... uh... sure Katara. Sorry I didn't do it sooner," he apologized, gingerly slipping it over her shoulder.

"I'm not made of glass Aang, and we are going together now... right?" she expounded with a warm smile, placing her hand on his thigh, but I can understand the shyness... it's rather cute all for the all powerful Avatar, " she said with a small laugh.

Those big blue eyes, seemed to reflect the moonlight. They mesmerized him and he was drawn in as their lips met. Fuller and deeper the kiss extended as they began to moan and sigh.

His mind became a blur as he felt her hand upon his chest, rubbing in slow wide circle.

In his mind, visions of the earthbender doing the same, forced their way in. "Focus, focus, you're with Katara," he thought, even opening one eye to verify.

She felt the intensity of the moment waning, "What's wrong Aang, I thought you were getting in the mood?"

"Eh... I don't know Katara, I-I just got a lot on my mind."

She sat back and looked at him, "You do look pretty beat. Sorry, I was just being selfish. We're going to have lot's of opportunities," she remarked as she let her hand drift up his thigh.

"Uh... ah... y-yes we will," he gulped, as he felt her intimate touch.

Suddenly he had an idea. He recalled Toph's reaction to his touch. The explosion that occurred between them. Just maybe he and Katara had the same kind of connection or this was some kind of special Avatar power.

"Yeah, maybe it depends on how closer we are," he thought. "Katara is like all my people to me. Who's closer that that?"

Aang lean in and kissed in fervently as he laid a hand upon her stomach. He focused all his will to seek out the waterbender's core.

After a few moments, Katara, leaned back, "Uhm Aang, what are you trying to do? Is this some Air Nomad ritual or something? I mean, it's cute and all, but I think a little higher... or maybe even a bit lower, would be more... ya know... fun?" she suggested.

"I was just contemplating when we would have children Katara," he said solemnly. "What a blessed event that would be, I won't be the last airbender anymore."

Tears came to her eyes, "That's such a wonderful and mature thing to say Aang? I love you much," she cried hugging his neck.

Aang stroked her thick chestnut hair as she laid in his arms.

"Karata, why did you choose to kiss me today?" he asked, thinking about the timing. "I mean, you could have after we defeated Ozai, or the days when we were working on the World Council. Why did you pick today of all days?"

The waterbender started to play with her hair and look down demurely, "Well, to tell you the truth, I wanted to make sure I really felt the right kind of love for you Aang. When I first met you, I felt like you were like my little brother."

"Oh..." he sighed with a pained look.

"But... things have changed. That's why I wanted to make sure. I didn't want it to be just some type of brotherly love or hero worship. I want to know true love like my mom and dad felt. I even asked my dad about how he felt when he was in love and he told me."

Aang's ears perked up, "What did he say?"

Katara looked over at him, " Well, he said, you start off being best friends, and then when you can't imagine a day ever without them, then you know you're in love," she explained, looking up at the moon with sparkling eyes.

The pain in his chest hurt worse than when Azula shot him, as he stared at her, "Katara, I want to take this slowly," he stated with a long exhale, "be-because, this is, is so important, for the both of us. I mean, it's a decision about the rest of our lives... about if we will be together. Can, we just go back to the Inn, you know, the regular way?"

She took a breath as if relieved."Sure, Aang, in fact, I would like that very much. I think I just fell more in love with you," she said as she placed her arms about his neck and kissed him again, deeply. "Let's go."

They walked back slowly, arm-in-arm, talking of love and life, as Aang started to have second thoughts about not going through the park with her.

Finally they arrived, and in a secluded corner shared a few more embraces and passionate kisses before heading in for the evening, leaning on each other dreamily.

"Your Grace, Avatar Aang," the desk clerk called out, "There is a message for you with the Royal Seal upon it."

Aang broke his loving embrace and walked over, shadowed by the beautiful and curious waterbender.

He opened the seal, but before he could start reading, Katara pulled it from his hands. "You're way too slow Aang, let me read it." She started scanning it. "Oh, it's from Toph!"

His heart started to beat wildly, "I-I didn't know she learned how to write?"

"She doesn't Aang," Katara huffed, rolling her eyes, "it's obvious she had some underling write this out for her."

He inwardly exhaled, "Oh... so what does it say."

"Well, she writes for you to meet her first thing in the morning, okay, to resume training at the place you both discussed. Hmm... I guess she took your continued training talk to heart. So you better go Aang or she'll send the Palace Guards after you, or something."

"Y-you really think she really would Katara?"

"No... I was just joking Aang! Boy you do seem jumpy tonight. You do need to get some sleep."

"Yeah, I'm tired Katara," he sighed wiping his face, "it's been a long day... a good day... but a long day."

"Well, thanks for throwing that in sweetie, and it is late, so you better get to bed if you are going to meet her at sunrise. Besides, she can't train you too hard since she has to be at the palace for the Royal Announcement and Tea. That should also mean you won't be late either, though I'm sure you'll find a way."

"Katara!"

Katara laughed again, "Just joking... have some fun." she told him as she gave him another kiss... this one long and steamy, as well as very wet with a little waterbending included.

It totally rocked, and he tried to solicit another, but she turned and started walking down the hall ever so slowly, showing him what he had missed by not taking advantage of the park. He kicked himself again, she definitely was eye candy, and he ate her up until she was out of sight.

Then reality barged in like a boulder. The analogy was very apropos being that he was thinking of Toph.

Aang turned and headed back outside, "How am I going to tell her," he asked himself wiping a tear away, "I never wanted to hurt you Sifu. I know this is gonna break your heart. I'm such an idiot! Why didn't I just walk away or say no to walking through that damn park... UGH!"

The Avatar was now back in the park sitting on the very same bough, evaluating his decisions with his head buried in his hands.

"You know why Aang," he answered himself, "you've known from the moment you met her. It was like you've always known her, and she … AAHHH!" he yelled into the sky.

"I can't go on like this! Suki is right! This is now and my people are gone. Our ways are gone. I have to decide on one and only one. Something has to end, and I've loved Katara longer, so it makes sense to tell Toph... right," he reasoned. "B-but the real question is how should I do it? Tomorrow, we'll be at the rock quarry, and at least if she kills me, it would be swift, plus she can bury me too," he laughed tiredly.

He knew he would never get to sleep with the few hours remaining of the night. Aang decided to sit and remember poems, prose and advice on love... subtracting Sokka's. Maybe something in them could give him a clue as to how to handle this situation and bring him comfort.

He drifted off into a troubled sleep.