Fear not, I'm still alive. Decided to update this – I'm hoping the plot isn't totally pointless. Ah, the fluff!

With a weary effort, Katara slowly found her way through the maze of tunnels and chambers that made up the glorious Eastern Air Temple. Her body was slowly succumbing to her weariness, as if she was a piece of debris being sucked into a giant vortex. The feeling of exhaustion was pleasing, as though her mind was patting her back, praising her for a day well spent. Indeed, she had very much enjoyed her day – everything from her journey, the joyful reunion with her closest companion, the warm introduction to her fellow Water Tribe members, and the complex tour of the Temple. She'd never seen Aang more pleased; more satisfied; more elated with the things surrounding him. She could sense the pleasure that had come with her visit and it filled her with a warm contentment to know that her presence summoned these emotions. With a sharp turn, she found herself staring into a door which opened at her light touch.

The inside – decorated in simplicity – produced a long mat for sleeping as well as a small desk, situated close to the tiled floor. The surface was littered with papers and wells of ink; nothing exciting, though she concluded it was Aang's room, for all of the others bore some Water Tribe token. In a hastened walk she continued down the corridor and found herself all at once lost. This, indeed, was not her room – it was out of doors, for one thing. It was as though the side of the temple had been chipped, this small platform the result. The tiles were uneven and outlined by rugged streaks of moss. It still held a sort of mystic physique about it, however, enticing Katara to finally sit upon the unguarded edge, despite the outrageous hour.

There came the soft shuffling of feet, growing louder and louder until Katara found herself in Aang's company once again. He said nothing, but focused his captivated stare on the wide expanse of nighttime sky. Katara pulled her knees to her chest, shivering with the cold. Aang cast a concerned glance, to which she replied:

"Don't worry about it. I've dealt with the cold all my life."

The matured airbender must have taken her chills to heart regardless, for in a matter of moments – assisted by his newly-polished firebending skills – the entire balcony was captured in a warm, fire-oriented glow. Katara let her gaze remain on the sharp, looming peaks of mountains that encompassed them, subconsciously drawing her hair from its braid.

"You know, it's been so long since I've seen you, I have no idea what to say."

Aang turned his head, nodding.

"Sometimes silence isn't always a bad thing."

And, just like that, every single event of the past five years spilled from the lips of the two benders. It was as though the silence meant to be inflicted had made the two long for conversation – and they found it. Katara felt as though she recollected every single event that had transpired at the South Pole and Aang as though each day at the Temple had occurred just yesterday. Eventually conversation was deterred by exhausted lips and the two fell into a sweet sleep upon the cold tiles, heedless of everything but each other's company. It was exactly how Katara had imagined their time together to be.

-o-o-o-

"Land!" Toph cried, renewing the childish nature that still existed in her.

Jian was hastily passed off to Sokka, who glanced at Toph with furrowed brows.

"We were only on the boat for an hour Toph," he countered dryly.

She stood, brushed off her baggy cotton pants, and took back her child, nose in air. The tension didn't last long, for all at once Toph's gaze was utterly absorbed upon the great, looming structures around them. Of course – as far as she could decipher – the mountain peaks were shrouded in clouds, only indicating more climbing for the young family. She let Jian to the ground – to which he excitedly began to crawl and babble to himself, occasionally attempting to stand – and turned to Sokka.

"We have to climb those?"

"Yep." The map was drawn out once again. "One of 'em."

Toph sighed.

"Whoopee."

Sokka grunted at her sarcasm.

"No, truly, this is really very exciting," the earthbender continued.

Toph lifted her baby boy from the ground, fiddling with his smooth mat of hair. Jain, not appreciating this in the least, grabbed his mother's hand and proceeded to gnaw on her fingers in his slobbery baby fashion, tiny teeth making the action all the more painful. And so the ostrich horse was mounted once again, Jian bawling pitifully at the continued travels, and the long ascent began.

-o-o-o-

Katara's eyes flew open with a start, excessive pain in all of her sore limbs stampeding in shortly after. She sat up, noting that Aang was no long beside her, and left the balcony, a bit disappointed at the airbender's disappearance. When she finally managed to locate her bedroom, a note of parchment lay upon her mat.

Katara –

Care to pay Appa a visit? Meet me in the front courtyard before the noonday meal.

This note was placed with her letter. And, with the coming of the noonday meal, Katara scurried off in excitement to once more meet her friend. It took a great deal of walking and several queries for the proper direction, but Katara eventually succeeded and found Appa resting in the courtyard. The Waterbender could have wept for joy at seeing this familiar fluffy monster, but did her best to contain herself – in the true Katara fashion. She let a slender hand travel through the fur against his side, enjoying the presence of her old friend and the calm, stillness of the moment. With a sudden lurch, however, Aang appeared behind Katara and grabbed her sides. Her girlish scream echoed in the cool mountain air and she quickly slapped his face with a deft stream of water.

"Hey, hey, it's me!"

Katara spun around and placed a hand over her gaped mouth, suppressing a giggle. She had no time to apologize, for Aang quickly retrieved the water and began a childish pursuit towards the woman before him, to which Katara took off in a mad sprint. The laughter and various squeals that arose from the courtyard attracted the attention of several Water Tribe nomads. They all had to admit, it was a spectacle to see this most esteemed Avatar chasing after the woman who had persuaded them to change the course of their lives. It was relatively amusing – if not shocking.

Eventually Aang surrendered to Katara's superior skill and took her slim hand in his, leading her drenched form over to Appa. In a matter of minutes they had ascended from the ground, making their slow way through a series of pinkish clouds.

"Does it feel any different?" Aang questioned, leaving his place at the reins to sit beside his friend.

The sheer excitement and bliss that had bubbled up in Katara was enough to make her intertwine her fingers with Aang's, giving a gentle squeeze to communicate the message, an action quite beyond her normally poised character. Of course, that only sent a whirlwind of affection through the airbender; the things he would have liked to do at that very moment – oh, the pain of controlling one's self! Fortunately for him, words failed to be in short supply.

"I'm guessing not," came the gentle whisper.

She threw a short, happy glance at him and continued to gaze from her position, crying with sudden excitement:

"Aang, look! Down on the path!"

Aang did as commanded and made a lung for his glider.

"You're going down?" Katara asked hastily.

"Of course; it's only Sokka. I can make him out from up here. Can't you see his big ears?" He looked over, seeing the fresh dose of happiness that had welled up within her.

"You want to come down with me?"

Her eyes widened like a child's.

"Isn't that only meant for one person? I mean, will we crash?"

Aang gave a chuckle.

"No, we won't crash. You coming?"

Of course, much to Katara's shock, flying down with Aang meant his holding onto her stomach with his free hand. She later decided that it was well worth it and maneuvered herself beneath him, allowing a firm grasp on her torso. And, though she never spoke of it, the blush that colored her cheeks was far darker than any other blush blushed before. (Say that five times fast, why don't ya?) She was indeed so caught up in these elusive feelings that even when they had dismounted from the glider her thoughts were in a daze. Of course, Sokka's loud voice threw her back into reality.

"Katara, do you have a fever? Your cheeks are flushed!"

This comment – and Toph's unavoidable smirk – did little to help Katara. She tucked her loose hair behind her ears and gave Sokka a hug. She would have done the same for Toph but, well…Toph is Toph.