So, I'm late to update once more. There's some construction being done on my house, and the workers had to cut power to a part of the house, leaving my computer off and my files unavailable.

In the meantime, I tried to write a kataang songfic based on the song 'I Want You Back' by the Jackson 5 ('cause 70's music rules all)on my dad's computer, but I failed miserably. So, whatever. Sorry to keep you waiting for this story.

The reason I've been making a big deal out of the 'this is not a lemon' thing is because I continuously get emails (usually anonymous, from non-reviewers) asking if there will be any adult scenes. So for any stubborn people left, this story won't be a lemon, and stop asking before I change my email address.

I don't own Avatar.

Ch.21

Aang and Katara had been making their way back to their campsite in silence, still thinking about the awkward situation they were both placed in just minutes earlier. Their faces were pretty much glowing red, and although they knew that they needed to talk about it, it was a bit of an uncomfortable subject, and neither knew how to approach it.

Once back at the campsite, there was still an unnerving silence between the two of them. It was too early to go to sleep, the sun having entirely set just a few moments ago. Aang sat on the ground, and Katara followed, sitting right next to him. They remained silent, staring into oblivion, neither knowing how to start the conversation… Or any conversation for that matter.

Once this went on for long enough, Aang saw no other way to start this off. They needed to talk about this.

"So……" Aang trailed off, just trying to get each other to start talking. For some unknown reason, the blush had made its way back to Aang's face

"Yeah… So…" Katara's blush was beginning to return as well.

More silence filled the air. They both shifted uncomfortably on the ground, hoping that the other would talk first. Once this went on long enough, Aang got too impatient to keep waiting around.

"Damn it, we can't ignore that it happened. It did. But we stopped in time. Nothing serious occurred, so can we stop acting like this?"

Katara sighed. "You're right. But it's just… I don't know…"

"Weird?"

Katara looked him in the eyes, the first time since the incident. "Yeah, weird. But, not weird. What we were about to do…"

"Yeah… I'm sorry…"

"Sorry? Why sorry?"

Aang looked at her, confused. "I told you, when I get like that… It's like I'm there but I'm not in control. I'm just… sorry. I don't want to do anything that you don't want me to do. I can't lie, though, up until the point where we realized what we were doing," Aang's blush intensified greatly. "I kinda liked it…" He said in a weak, ashamed voice.

For the first time since the incident, Katara laughed. "Then I guess I'm sorry, too."

Aang looked confused again. "Why?"

"What, did you think that you were the only one enjoying yourself back there?" She asked, her cheeks growing warmer.

At this point, it was physically impossible for Aang's face and neck to get any redder. But, he managed to find something to laugh about. "I should very well hope I wasn't."

They both laughed quietly, enjoying the fact that they were managing to talk about it without trailing off on every second word.

When the laughing stopped and the quietness became unbearable once more, Aang broke the silence again.

"Like we said, we'll just need to be more careful."

"Yeah, and we will be." Katara said with a gentle smile. She stood up and Aang followed. "Well, there's not much left to do. Let's get some rest. We'll need to actually look for Sokka and Toph tomorrow." She took Aang's hand and began walking towards the tent, but Aang resisted.

"I can't go in there with you. Not after what happened at the beach."

Katara pouted in protest. "We said we'd be careful and we will be. Just because we'll be in the same tent doesn't mean that anything has to happen. Now c'mon."

Katara forcibly pulled Aang into their small tent made of palm tree branches. Aang forced a grunt of disapproval but was really smiling about it, and Katara knew it.

"Okay, okay, fine, I'll go in. I only have one good arm left, stop trying to pull it out of its socket!"

Katara laughed and let go of his arm. Aang rotated his shoulder, resulting in a loud popping sound, expressions of pain on Aang's face, and several stifled giggles from Katara, followed by Aang sending her an angry glare which was quickly replaced with a broad smile.

When Aang got to the entrance of their small tent, he pulled on the palm branch that made their 'door' and motioned for Katara to enter first. Once he was inside, Katara was already on the ground, looking for a comfortable spot as she constantly turned over, looking for a comfy way to use her arm as a pillow.

Aang laughed silently at the sight and lied down next to her on his good arm, extending it towards her so that both he and she could use it to support their heads.

Katara saw him and stopped tossing around to smile sweetly at him. "Thanks." She said as she rested her head on his arm. She turned over to look at him. "You don't have to be so far away, you know."

Aang had left a good foot or two in-between them, still worried that such close contact could spark another event like the previous one. He scooted a little closer to her, but not much. Katara rolled her eyes and scuttled up close to him.

At first, Aang thought it was a bad idea. He thought that the safest way to guard against what had happened was to remove all temptation.

But when Katara moved closer to him, so close that her nose gently grazed his when she settled down next to him, all those thoughts were gone. The only thing that had his attention was Katara. He didn't blush from the contact between the 2 of them, he wasn't embarrassed by their close proximity, all he was aware of was this wondrous creature that had somehow been able to accept his love and love him back.

He got that feeling in his chest again; it made him feel heavy but light-headed at the same time. It was a feeling that left him warm and calm and serene. It only came when he was around her, and it only made him want to be with her more. It made him feel complete; it made him feel like his duties as the Avatar were nothing more than an annoying chore. It intoxicated him from inside out, and it clouded his thoughts until Katara was the only thing on his mind. It made him wonder how he could have ever lived without this sensation that currently occupied all his senses. When he felt like this, he knew that any challenge could be overcome, as long as he was doing it for her.

This sensation left no doubt in his mind that the great emotion that people refer to as 'love' was coursing through his body, and it was coursing through his body because of her. She was his reason to feel, she was his reason to be the Avatar, and she was his reason to live. Any and all problems took back seat, as long as they weren't her problems. This was the great emotion of love, and it filled him up until nothing else was on his mind.

And the only other thing that could bring a smile to his face was the knowledge that she felt the same way.

Less than a second had transpired since Katara moved closer to him. She was looking at him intently, waiting for a reaction. She was surprised when all she got was the warmest smile he had ever given her.

It was odd, but that smile… It radiated something so intense that it made Katara feel emotional. She smiled and noticed her vision blurring slightly, a tear forming in her eye. She blinked it back.

"I love you." Aang moved his head just a little closer to her and laid a small, gentle kiss upon her lips. It was a phenomenon he could not explain, but when he pulled back to rest his head on his arm once again, a tear rolled down the side of his face. "I love you so much."

Katara stopped blinking and let a tear roll down her face to match his. "And I love you. With all my heart."

Aang struggled with it, but was able to put his bandaged arm around Katara, to gently pull her closer to him. She snuggled into the warmth. They both closed their eyes and were lulled into a deep, restful sleep, smiles still gracing their faces.

On the count of 3, say it with me. 1… 2… 3! Awwwww!!!

I don't know how I wrote this, but I did. And I liked it. And I believe that I have just proved to the world that men don't have only one thing on their minds. Now they have 2. Lol.

I needed this. Very badly. Ever since that stupid commercial, Kataang has been slowing down and Zutara has been gaining momentum. But, the Zuatarians are celebrating too early. The same thing happened on the commercial for 'The Waterbending Scroll' when Zuko said "I'll protect you from the pirates." Every Zutarian in the fandom went crazy and started foaming at the mouth. Then the episode came and they were all left sad and depressed.

That's probably what will happen now. From a freeze-frame of the commercial, when Katara is touching Zuko's scar, her other hand is holding the Spirit Oasis amulet. She's just trying to heal his scar. It doesn't mean they're in love.

So if any Zutarian starts going crazy over this thing too early, tell them about the freeze-frame and fight back for your fellow Kataang shippers. If they want war, we'll give 'em war!