A/N: So, I know what you're all thinking...Yay! An update : )

So, it appears this story is going to end up being longer than I had anticipated. I just can't stop writing it! Arg! But I'm sure that is of no worry to my readers. So, happy reading! (I took the time to describe Aang's and Katara's clothing in this one because I realized I hadn't done that yet…)

A Plan in Action

The morning before the wedding day buzzed in a chaotic frenzy. Katara's fingers ached tremendously from pinning and sewing Toph's dress, much to the demise of the bride who had insisted that her normal attire would be just fine. But, of course, Katara's stubborn nature wouldn't have it. Her brother deserved to see his bride in a proper ceremonial gown, though she did admire the small touches Toph had insisted on adding to make it special for a proud Earthbender.

However, Katara was thoroughly annoyed with said brother at the moment. Sokka had already come to her too many times to count, a frantic craze in his eyes as he groaned about Toph's father and his "intentions of grandchildren very soon". Katara nearly came unglued the first time he barged in, as it gave her little time to slam the door in his face before he caught a glimpse of Toph modeling the dress for further alterations.

And her annoyance didn't stop with her frantic older brother. Katara was grateful for the extra pair of hands that the Lady Bei Fong offered when it came to preparing pastries and various hors d'oeuvres, though she could have done without her incessant pestering and last minute changes.

Gifts had to be organized and listed, preparations made for the music and decorations, and, of course, arrangements made for the countless guests that the Bei Fongs had "cordially invited". Despite the immense growth of the village, Katara wondered silently to herself if the Southern Water Tribe had enough room for all the stuck-up dignitaries that would no doubt be in attendance tomorrow.

But none of that matters, Katara reminded herself as she sewed another stitch into the waistline, because tomorrow is Sokka and Toph's day. Not theirs… She had made it her personal responsibility to make sure everything would be perfect.

Katara winced as another pin stuck the end of her finger. "Ow…" she muttered between teeth full of pins as she drew her hand back, careful not to let a drop of blood stain the delicate fabric.

Toph turned her head in the direction of Katara's mutterings, a smirk evident in her pale eyes, "If you'd just let me wear my own clothes that wouldn't have happened…"

Katara glared, biting hard on the pins between her teeth, "It wouldn't have happened if you would just be still…"

Toph opened her mouth to counterattack, but a soft knocking on the door interrupted her.

Katara sighed in exasperation, grabbing the handful of pins from her mouth disgustfully as she turned towards the shut door, "Sokka, not now! I'm busy!!" she yelled as she healed the small spot on her index finger.

She gasped as the door creaked open, spreading her arms across Toph hurriedly to try to hide anything she could. She relaxed, however, when she saw Aang poke his head through the crack, an arrowed tattoo shielding his eyes.

"Katara?"

"Is something wrong Aang?" she asked hurriedly, "Please don't tell me my Dad lost the license again! Tell him to look in his desk, I put it in the top drawer."

"No Katara," Aang said, shaking his head, "It's not that-"

"Sokka? He's freaking out about the grandkids thing again isn't he?" she interrupted as she walked towards him. "Tell him to relax and drink the tea I made him. It's sitting in the kitchen."

Aang chuckled and shook his head again, "No no…"

Katara threw her hands up to her mouth in a gasp. "Uh… it's flowers isn't it?! I knew Sokka shouldn't have picked them so early! The blooms wilted didn't they?!"

"Katara!" he interjected through her worries, grabbing one of her hands and pulling her out the door into the hallway. The door made a soft click as it closed behind them.

In the solitude of the hallway he smiled affectionately as he placed his hands on her shoulders in a calming gesture, "You're Dad is rehearsing his lines for the ceremony, Sokka and the Bei Fongs went to get lunch, and the flowers are still as beautiful as they were last night when we picked them…"

He paused to smile, "Everything is fine."

She sighed, and returned his smile through her frustrations, "I'm sorry Aang. I just want this to be so perfect for my brother, and I just know something bad is going to happen…"

Aang nodded understandingly with warm eyes as he instinctively reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "I know you do."

She felt calmer just by being in his presence and she found her heart beating in a steady normal rhythm for the first time that morning…

"How long until you and Toph are done here?" he asked suddenly, bringing her from her thoughts.

"Oh… uh… Soon," she answered simply. "I finished the hem, all I have left is a few tucks in the waist line and she's done."

He grinned at her brightly in typical Aang fashion, "Good, because I want to take you somewhere."

"Take me somewhere?" she asked with confusion in her brow. "But Aang, I can't possibly… There's just too much to do!"

"Katara, everything is ready!" he argued with a smile. "You've made sure of that! And the Bei Fongs are here to finish tying up all the loose strings."

She started to object again, but Aang just smiled and kissed her on the cheek before she could say anything. "Meet me at Appa's stable in an hour. And bring some warm weather clothes."

"But Aang!" she called after his retreating back, "Warm weather clothes? Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise!" he called over his shoulder.

She wrinkled her brow, "A surprise?" she muttered to herself. "Aang! I don't have time for surprises! " she called after him.

"One hour…" he answered with a wink before disappearing around the corner.

The midday sun was warmer than he'd expected at the high altitude Appa was flying. His parka lay in a pile behind him with Katara's, forgotten for the time being, leaving him to bask in the warm sun in his usual attire of a sleeveless V-neck yellow and tan tunic, dark grey trousers and an orange sash tied at his waist. Katara herself, had apparently heard his suggestion of warm weather clothes, despite her arguments, and had pulled off her parka earlier to reveal a lightweight sleeveless dress with a low V-neck that had originally made the Avatar blush. The blue of the dress matched her eyes and intricate designs adorned the sides as it reached her ankles and continued up the long slits on either side to her hips, allowing for free mobility. Darker blue leggings covered her legs to her knees where a pair of brown fair-weather boots met with them. And of course, her mother's necklace still hung in its usual spot around her neck.

The breeze was refreshing and Aang couldn't help but notice how it caught Katara's hair in little wisps and blew it around her face in a mahogany halo. However, the angelic radiance that beamed across her tanned face didn't quite match the worried expression in her eyes or the evident frown that had found its way to her lips. She sat behind him, leaning against the front of the saddle with Momo in her lap as she stroked the sleeping lemur robotically. She'd obviously let her mind stay back at the South Pole that they had left only an hour prior...

Aang couldn't ignore the butterflies in his own stomach as he rested the reigns on one of Appa's horns – the giant beast knew exactly where they were headed anyways - and climbed into the saddle.

She hadn't seemed to notice…

"Hey," he said softly, placing a friendly hand on her shoulder.

She turned to him, though she seemed to be looking through him as she said, "Aang, I did leave good enough instructions for the cake right? You don't think Toph's mother will mess it up, do you?"

Momo smacked his lips upon awakening, and bounced from Katara's lap to go find some food. Aang sighed, finding himself worrying if now was indeed the best time to take Katara away from the planning to hatch his own plans…

"Katara, everything is going to be perfect tomorrow." He drew a hand to her jaw to turn her face up to his, "Trust me…"

She drew a deep breath and placed one of her own hands on top of his, creating a warm feeling in the pit of his stomach. "You really think so?" she asked quietly after a few seconds.

"Of course I do," he answered with a smile. "You're you Katara. Perfection follows you where ever you go." He grinned, "Now would you just relax and enjoy the ride?!" he teased jokingly.

"Okay Aang," she nodded her head as he withdrew his hand from her face.

"And Momo," Aang paused to glance over at the lemur who had found a bag of litchi nuts in Aang's belongings and was trying to break one open on his Airbending staff. "Don't spoil your dinner."

Momo chattered a response before running over and jumping back in Katara's lap with a dejected look on his face. Katara smiled and scratched behind his ears. She drew a deep calming breath, soothing invisible wrinkles from her clothing as Aang resituated himself at the reigns. Once she was pleased that her nerves had de-frazzled and her heart had found its normal rhythm once again, she climbed over the saddle herself and plopped down hesitantly beside him. Momo took his usual spot on Aang's shoulder. It'd been a while since she had ridden the skies like this, and she suddenly found herself wrapping her fingers around Aang's bicep cautiously as she peered over Appa's furry head.

He turned to her with a light blush at her gesture before he laughed, "Something wrong?"

"Huh?" Katara shot her eyes back up from the clouds beneath them, "No… nothing's wrong," she answered as she loosed her grip on his arm and felt her own blush reach her face, realizing just how tight she'd been holding onto him.

"So…" she started conversationally after regaining her composure. "Are you going to tell me where it is you're taking me," she paused to narrow her eyes playfully, "or am I going to have to force it out of you?"

"Hm…" Aang pondered her suggestion, stroking his chin thoughtfully - he really had been hanging around Sokka too long - before grabbing the reigns again. "I guess I could give you a hint…"

She raised her eyebrows at him, signaling that she was listening.

"The last time I brought you here…" he paused, thinking, before smiling broadly. "Sokka tried to eat Momo…"

At this, the lemur squawked loudly in distaste.

"I'm not sure that will narrow it down enough!" Katara joked. They both shared a laugh at the poor lemur's expense before Katara grinned widely. "Aang, I should have known!" she exclaimed suddenly as Appa picked up speed. "It's the Southern Air Temple, isn't it?"

Aang didn't say anything, but the huge grin that had spread across his face spoke volumes.

It was still mid afternoon when Appa began the steep ascent to the top of the clouds, signaling their arrival to the Southern Air Temple. As they broke through the clouds, sending little wisps of white fluff in every direction, Katara suppressed a gasp with her palm. Aang smiled at her with knowing eyes as Appa landed at one of the Bison stables near the base of the temple. Katara was speechless as she was pulled against Aang's chest and airbended to the ground.

Once her feet had connected with solid ground, her mind seemed to do the same. "Aang… it's… it's beautiful!" she whispered breathlessly, her eyes still wide in amazement as they struggled to take in every aspect of her surroundings.

And beautiful, it was… A new life had been breathed into the old temple and it practically glowed in response. White and red cherry blossoms bloomed in every corner and the breeze pulled its flowers from their branches so the air itself danced with their beauty. Lush carpets of green grass filled the space between, only small patches of snow reminding inhabitants of the season past. Aang smiled, breathing in the familiar thin air with nostalgia as Katara continued to take in her surroundings.

White stone carvings decorated endless courtyards and water fountains had once again found their purpose as natural springs bubbled forth into pools of shallow water. And the buildings themselves had been fully restored to their natural splendor, no longer decrepit old shells of what had been. Now they stood tall and proud against the mountain side, every stone polished and restored to its rightful place.

"Aang, did you…" she trailed off, still in shock from everything as she turned to him. "Did you do all this?" she asked quietly with a sense of respect and admiration for him she hadn't felt in a long time.

Aang didn't answer right away. He smiled with a certain sadness, "I just couldn't let it fade into the history books, you know?" He sighed, breathing in the scent of crispness and clarity, "This is my home. I couldn't let it die too."

She smiled at him with a tear of pure amazement. "It's beautiful," she said in all senses of the word. The stories she had heard Aang tell of the Southern Air Temple all seemed to come alive around her at once. The monks and their tattoos walking along beaten paths in deep meditation... The Sky Bison grazing in green cliff-side pastures… Children laughing and playing games in the nearby air hockey court… The sky alive with lemurs and benders, riding the winds… And in the near distance she could faintly discern the sound of…

She blinked back the images when she realized the chatter she heard wasn't just in her head. "Aang?" Katara quickly turned to the direction of the sound as a knowing grin spread across the Avatar's face and Momo chirped loudly at his side. "Is that-"

"Come on!" he interjected as he airbended his staff into one hand and grabbed her wrist eagerly with the other. He started running up the winding path towards the temple as Momo flew on ahead of them, disappearing around one of the path's winding turns.

Katara laughed as she was drug along the embankment. "Aang?! Will you slow down?! What was that sound?!"

After a few minutes Aang stopped, allowing Katara to catch her breath. The thin air wasn't agreeing with her lungs as much as she'd hoped…

"I know a faster way we can get up there," Aang grinned with a mischievous glint in his eyes that Katara knew all too well.

Katara drew a deep breath to steady her breathing as she glanced up at him through fallen bangs, "And just what might that be?" she asked gingerly, though she was afraid she already knew the answer.

With a spur of the moment decision, the wind blew with an unexpected gust as Aang twirled his staff at his side, opening it into his familiar blue glider. When he saw the look of horror flash across Katara's face, he didn't give her a chance to react before he took off into the sky.

"Come on Katara," he called down, though his words were faded by the winds. "You won't have to run anymore!"

Katara crossed her arms across her chest with decision and glared up at him, "There is no way you're getting me to ride that thing with you," she answered with determination. "Let's just keep going," she shouted as she started walking back up the path, trying her best to enjoy the cherry blossom trees that lined the cliff-face.

He swirled around to her, gliding just over the edge of the overhang along side her as she walked with eyes staring straight ahead. "Come on Katara," he offered pleasantly. "It's perfectly safe. I've done it a million times."

Not that she could argue with that. She had seen him soaring around on it more times than she could count… But she remained stubborn and unmoved. "Aang, you know how I feel about it."

Then he pulled the card on her that he knew she couldn't refuse…

"Don't you trust me?"

She stopped in her tracks, trying her best not to look in his general direction, "Aang, you know I do."

He swooped back to the ground in front of her, his glider at his side, "Then why won't you ride with me?" he asked with the boyish charm that suited him so well.

"Aang… I…" she started, but to avail. She could feel herself falling into his smile and earnest eyes. Even his glider at his side whipped in the wind and seemed to plead with her.

"Please?" he asked cautiously, his hand held out to her chivalrously. "You'll love it. I promise I'll go easy."

She sighed, turning her eyes to the sky, "Fine…" she said in a voice that edged on annoyed, but somewhat delight. "But if I get scared…"

"I promise I'll let you back on the ground," he finished for her with a wide grin of triumph.

She paused with a 'what-in-the-world-was-I-thinking' expression before walking up to him. "Aang, how am supposed to-"

He cut her off by pulling her closer to him, she instinctively wrapped an arm around his neck as he bent down to whisper in her ear, "Just hold on tight."

With a nod of her head, she buried her blush into his chest as she wrapped her other arm around his waist. His scent was clean and fresh, like the wind and she could feel and hear his heart thundering loudly beneath his ribcage. She smiled to herself, wondering if she was the reason for the sudden increased tempo of his pulse as she wrapped a leg around one of his.

It seemed his confidence had stepped down a notch as she felt his Adam's apple gulp over her head. She looked up at him, only a few inches separating her face from his, "I'm ready when you are…" she said unsurely.

He smiled back down at her and nodded. "Hold on!" he called as a gust of wind launched them from the ground. Katara shrieked out of pure relax as her feet left the dirt and she clutched Aang tighter, burying her face into his chest. She felt him laughing softly, but she didn't dare loosen her grip to accuse him of it as the air swirled around her freely.

She realized she had stopped breathing when she heard his voice in her ear. She released her breath and tried to hear what he was saying. Something about opening her eyes…

She shook her head into his chest, "No way!" she called back, her eyes shut tight stubbornly. "Just hurry up and get us where ever it is we're going!"

"Katara, not everyone gets to see the Airtemples from the sky like this," he reasoned with her, the wind catching his voice and swirling it around her so that it seemed he was everywhere at once. "Just look at it, once… for me?"

She sighed again, exasperated that he knew all the right words to pull at her heart strings. "Aang, what if I get scared and fall?" she asked, loosening the hold her eyelids held on her sight.

"I'll catch you," he said simply directly in her ear. Her spine tingled from his breath and it was all she could do to suppress the shudder than tried to run its course through her entire body.

"Promise?" she asked hopefully, peeking one eye open just enough to let in an undecipherable light.

"I promise!" he called back as he swirled upside down so that Katara was on top of him and the glider was beneath them, offering Katara a better view of the landscape, "Now open your eyes!"

She gasped at the sudden change of position, and in response clung to him tighter. Once she regained her bearings, she realized that with him beneath her, she suddenly didn't feel as vulnerable or afraid. She carefully pried one eye open, then both, to stare directly into Aang's face.

He was smiling a grin that seemed to cover his entire face. She found her eyes naturally locking with his as she smiled back, suddenly very comfortable holding on to him in the clouds, his arms spread out in the T shape they always were when he was gliding and his legs tangled with hers at the tail.

But she lost sight of his smile when her eyes wondered from his and settled on the imagery of the Southern Air Temple around her. It was breathtaking, to say the least, and it was all she could do to keep from jumping at the unexpected freedom of soaring around it so carelessly.

Aang must have noticed the look of wonderment that had accompanied her, and he laughed at her child-like expression, "I told you…"

"Aang!" she said freely, "It's so… so…" she paused, frustrated at her lack of words. "It's unbelievable!" She decided her choice of words earlier summed it up rather nicely. "It's beautiful!" She yelled, her eyes still gazing on the cliff face temple.

"Yeah it is…" She hadn't noticed that Aang's somber grey eyes were still fixated on her tightly. The ripple of the wind moved through her hair, pulling loose strands from her braid to dance about her face. Her clothing moved along with it, casting her in a surreal image that seemed more like a dream than anything else. Her eyes were wide and sparkling with excitement, her lips drawn into a truthful smile that told him what she was thinking without her having to say anything, and everything about her seemed to glow.

She did, however, notice the soft intonation of his words that did not match the enthusiasm in hers. She turned her attention back down to him, noting the longing in his eyes. "Thank you Aang," she said softly. As she looked down at him, and he up at her - neither of them realizing the compromising position they were in – the winds swirling around them disappeared, the gravity-defying glider was non-existent, and the temple that had awed them both faded into the background.

He smiled up at her, "I'm glad you like it." He could feel himself being drawn to her, his heart thundering in his chest and his throat dry as a bone. Her mouth was so close to his that he could taste it, her breath sweet and hot on his lips. She leaned into him, only a space of breath separating them…

A/N: I know… I'm as evil as they come and you all hate me now. I had originally planned on the Southern Air Temple trip to be all one chapter. But it is just ending up being too long! So I'll post it in two parts. Don't fret, I've already started the next part and you can expect it to be up by the end of the week:)

I had to keep Aang carefree and like a kid, since I don't think he'd ever grow out of that either, and I remembered Katara being so unsure about flying when they were at the Northern Air Temple. This is what came out of that. Obviously, most of this is part of the plan that Sokka and Aang conjured up, though parts of it are Sokka and parts of it are Aang. Which parts are which will be revealed at a later time… :)

Don't forget… Reviews are greatly appreciated and always replied to! I've also got my oneshots posted. See my profile and click on "Just a Word".