A/N: Happy birthday SummerSweetheart! This is one of my longest pieces ever, so I hope you enjoy it :). You're the only one of my reviewers that read & reviewed every chapter even before my gynormous hiatus, so for that you definitely deserve a story dedicated to you :D. I hope your birthday was fantastic. To everyone else, I hope you like this too ^^.

I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender.


"Mind if I join you?" Aang turned around with a smile to find his new wife standing behind him in nothing but the undercloths she had taken to wearing in place of her old wrappings, thanks to Ty Lee taking her shopping in the Fire Nation capitol shortly after the end of the war. She had decided the more modern undergarments were much easier to take on and off, as well as move around in.

"Of course not, my lady." Katara laughed lightly as she stepped in next to her husband, sinking into the welcoming warmth and letting out a sigh of pleasure. The warm water not only allowed her to be immersed in her element, but soothed her muscles and joints, which felt entirely wonderful after weeks of being on her feet almost constantly preparing for her and Aang's wedding.

"It must be great to be royal…to have this any time you wanted." She commented wistfully, absently swirling a stream of water with her fingertips as they skirted playfully over her husband's thigh. Aang sighed.

"Tell me about it. But I guess if you're a good royal, like Zuko, you wouldn't get to use it as much as you'd probably like. Ruling a nation the right way takes up most of your time." Katara nodded in agreement, closing her eyes for a moment. Though she sympathized with Zuko, the world's troubles were the last thing on her mind right now. No, this afternoon was for her and Aang. She still felt partially immersed in a dream-like state after marrying him just last week. It all seemed so surreal, far too good to be true, as it often did with him. It was like…walking in the clouds. Privately, the waterbender wondered if this was a common effect of falling in love with an airbender, or if it was simply one of the many incredible things only Aang had the power to make her feel. It didn't truly matter either way though. She loved Aang, and he loved her too, and that was more than enough to make her happy.

Suddenly though, a warm splash of water on her face awakened her from her semi-conscious state, causing her eyes to snap open just in time to see Aang's feet kicking before disappearing beneath the surface of the pool. She rolled her eyes, watching his tattooed body as he swam in a small circle around the perimeter of the pool. Oh, I'll get you for that. She waited patiently for her husband to come up for air, smiling when his head crowned from the surface.

"Oh Aang." She called in her sweetest voice that she knew he couldn't resist. As planned, he beamed at her and splashed back to her side.

"Yes?" Katara said nothing, only leaned over and kissed him soundly on the mouth, cupping his face in her palms. He sighed contentedly, wrapping his arms around her waist to caress her sides. It was all the waterbender could do to not lose herself in the moment as he stared heavily into her eyes when they parted. She'd always found his eyes so entrancing...perhaps because they were the first ones she'd ever seen that weren't the usual water tribe blue...Mentally, she smacked herself. She was losing focus. With one swipe of her arm, she summoned a small wave to cover Aang as he was still staring at her, causing him to – almost- Katara thought with frustration topple off of his feet. Instead of retorting with another splash however, Aang merely asked in an equally sweet, innocent voice

"Is that a challenge, my love?" He was grinning at her in that devlishly mischievous way that almost made her want to forget about getting her revenge. She gulped.

"Maybe." She forced her voice to stay level, and Aang smiled.

"You're on." Before Katara could get into a defensive stance, he had frozen her feet to the bottom of the pool and swiftly made his way to her side again. He took her gently by the hands and leaned his forehead against hers, looking deeply into her eyes again. Don't look at him, don't look at him, don't look at him… She recited to herself, willing herself not to get lost in him and cave completely. The hot water had easily melted the ice around her feet now, the steam shrouding both of them in a warm haze. But somehow, she couldn't find it in her to move.

"Katara…" He said softly, almost pleadingly, besseching her to pay attention to him. Don't look at him…but then he dipped his head slightly, nuzzling her nose with his. She shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut. Why are you so charming? Unfortunately, this move only served to further his already increasing advantage over her as he took advantage of her temporary blindness and lowered his head to her face. "I love you." He told her seriously in a way that made her shiver. His voice was low and soft, and then he leaned over to kiss the side of her face, trailing his lips from her ear over her cheek and jaw, and then her neck…

"Aang." She gasped, tilting her head backwards against her own will. She felt him smirk against her skin and she silently cursed herself for giving in, her knees trembling just slightly. It just wasn't fair, he knew that spot was sensitive. And he was taking full advantage of it. "Ugh…" She groaned. He pulled back, causing her to open her eyes, her breathing heavy. Aang was grinning at her. She was severely tempted to splash him again, to do something, but she couldn't bring herself to. Instead, she let out a shaky sigh and pressed herself closer to him. Rather than boasting his victory as she half expected him to though, Aang only gave her an affectionate peck on the cheek and returned his lips to their previous spot, kissing her neck and nipping lightly at her collarbone. She gasped in pleasure, leaning in to the contact and wrapping her arms around him, fingers pressing into his back. She felt her legs grow less steady by the second, and before long she was wobbling in the waist deep water, staying upright only because she was holding onto Aang, whose warm breath and lips and tongue were driving her out of her mind. He seemed to notice this, for he pulled away briefly to help her sit down on the submerged ledge of the hottub they had both been seated on before any of this started. She leaned back into the water and against the edge, allowing Aang to climb on top of her so that he was kneeling on the ledge.

"You win." He breathed in her ear. She drew back, surprised.

"Me?" Aang only nodded.

"Without even trying. Every time. You know I can't resist you." He said easily. Katara smiled, face flushed as she wrapped her legs around her husband's waist, pulling him ever closer.

"Good." She told him. "I don't think I could've held out any longer." And looking into her eyes, Aang knew she was being truthful. Never breaking his gaze, Katara guided her husband's hands around her back so that he could undo the ties that held the fabric covering her breasts together.

"Here?" He asked softly. "Are you sure?" Katara only nodded, kissing him deeply. It felt almost surreal for her to have this freedom now. She could love Aang whenever she wanted, however she wanted, and nothing was going to stop them from being together. And she couldn't help but want to take full advantage of it every time the opportunity presented itself. It felt almost too good to be true for him as well, as he was quite frequently busy with various avatar-related duties and was used to being limited when it came to being able to indulge in what he enjoyed most. Now, he finally had the time, the means, and the permission to touch, enjoy, love Katara as much as he pleased. And it felt incredible. He couldn't remember ever feeling so…warm. But it was a comfortable warmth. The steam, the blend of air and water, from the small pool seemed to be urging him an Katara closer together, and he wasn't about to fight that pull.

"Aang, Katara, we've gotta meet Sokka for-" Aang's fingers stilled and both benders whipped around to see none other than the Fire Lord standing at the entrance to the room.

"Oh, spirits! I'm sorry I…um…oh jeeze you're…I'll see you two in a bit, maybe." Zuko exclaimed, flushing a deep red and turning in the other direction to leave as quickly as he'd come. Both lovers were also red faced and mortified even as the door closed. Zuko always did have the worst timing. Katara thought darkly to herself, frustrated. Why now? But her thoughts were interrupted as Aang tugged on her hand gently.

"C'mon." He murmured. "We'd better go see what he wants."


That night, Katara couldn't sleep. It was a perfectly quiet, still, clear night that was for once undisturbed by pressing worries or anxieties about the coming days, but try as she might, the waterbender could not find rest when she closed her eyes. Instead, her lids twitched even as she did her best to lay still and coax her mind and body to drift away. Thanks to Zuko, they never had gotten to finish what they'd started in the hot tub earlier that day. Katara knew logically of course, that it wasn't Zuko's fault. To be honest, she wasn't even angry with him. She was more upset that she'd put herself in that situation knowing how easy it would be for someone to walk in and ruin it. She shifted, sleep still evading her. Normally, Aang's breathing would help lull her to sleep, but she could tell he was not asleep either for he was doing his best to be quiet, breathing through his nose at a less regular and audible rhythm than he did when he slept. She knew he was thinking about what they'd missed earlier as well, but with Zuko's interruption the mood between them had gone quickly from passionate to embarrassed and timid, and, much to both of their chagrins, had stayed that way for the remainder of the day. But Katara was tired of it. She didn't have the patience to wait for sleep to come and erase the awkward tension between herself and Aang.

"I can't sleep." She said abruptly. She felt the bed shake slightly as Aang laughed, turning over to face her.

"Neither can I. I guess…we should be more careful in the future, huh?" He seemed relieved that she'd spoken, and they both felt the tension already beginning to ease.

"You know it's impossible for me to be careful around you. I can be careful with you, like after Ba Sing Se, but I did warn you that resisting you when you're…like that is way too hard." Aang chuckled and they were silent for a moment.

"Come with me." He requested suddenly, sitting up and hopping out of the bed with a slight gust of wind. Katara sat up as well, puzzled.

"What are you talking about?" Despite her confusion, she couldn't help but smile warmly as Aang's eyes sparkled at her excitedly in the dark, inviting her to do as he asked. And she did trust him more than anyone…Before she even had the chance to swing her legs off of the edge of the mattress though, Aang had swept her into his arms bridal style.

"I'll show you." He grinned, and before Katara knew it they were flying down the halls of the palace to the courtyard that led to Appa's newly built bison stable. Zuko had had it built just for the purpose of Aang's frequent visits so that he and his very recognizable animal guide could get in and out of the palace without having to worry about being swarmed by crowds, for which both the avatar and his bison were very grateful. Appa was still awake, as sky bison, according to Aang, only slept approximately five hours each day. Normally, Katara would have asked where on earth here they were going as her husband hadn't given her the faintest clue and it was nighttime, but as Aang lifted her onto Appa's head, something told her that tonight, she didn't need to know. She trusted Aang and was in absolutely no mood to argue with him as she knew that if she did ask where he was taking her, he would merely give her that irresistible grin of his and tell her it was a surprise. So, as Appa took off as quietly as a giant bison could, they rode together in silence. Aang hadn't even bothered to put a shirt on however, so Katara knew they couldn't be going terribly far. Sure enough, after a mere ten minute flight, Aang landed the bison on a secluded hillside not far from the palace. The area was shrouded with large, leafy, tropical trees that the moon shone through, and as Aang helped his wife off of Appa's back, she heard a familiar gurgling noise that told her they were near a source of water.

"C'mon." Aang said softly, extending his hand. Katara took it without hesitation, following him through the trees until they reached a small, bubbling spring.

"Ohh…" She breathed, realization dawning on her. She blushed deeply but smiled as they both climbed into the pool, finding it just as warm and comfortable as the one in Zuko's palace. Then, Aang leaned in and kissed her deeply, the light of the moon shimmering on the water, the night quiet except for the quiet trickling of the small stream that flowed into and out of the hot spring and the chirping of cricket flies in the background. With a stomp of his foot, Aang earthbended a small bench in the rock at the edge of the spring and Katara stumbled backwards onto it, never breaking the kiss. No one will find us here. She thought to herself, shivering with pleasure as Aang's lips travelled down her throat to the area just above her breasts, kissing along her collarbone and upper rib cage. She arched towards him, finding herself gasping his name and soon aching to return the favor.

"Aang." She said firmly at last.

"Mmm?" He stopped, looking at her with those big gray eyes that despite everything they'd been through and all they'd done together, still looked the same way they had on the day they'd first met. Just looking at him made her feel as though she didn't have enough room in her to hold all the love she felt for the airbender. This incredible person who was so kind and so gentle even after losing everything. Who would never, ever hurt her. She smiled, eyes filling with tears of happiness. How was it that this wonderful person wanted her? "What's wrong?" He asked, reaching out to carefully touch her shoulder. Even though he'd just kissed her quite intimately for several long moments, Katara still found herself electrified by even the smallest touch of his hand. It was incredible, really, how she normally enjoyed a great deal of self control and a degree of pride but with Aang…with Aang, he could give her even the smallest of compliments or the lightest of touches and she would completely melt.

"You're just perfect, you know that?" She breathed, leaning close to kiss his cheek. His eyes were closed when she pulled back, the most content of smiles on his lips.

"Katara…do you have any idea how much that means to me?" He was whispering despite the fact that no one was around. Instead of answering, Katara only kissed him again, lips wandering over every inch of his face before making their way down to his chest and his shoulders and his hands…

"I mean it." She told him between heated kisses, feeling his breathing and his heart rate pick up as her hands wrapped around his back. "Turn around for a moment." She requested gently. He obeyed.

"Why…?"

"I just wanna…" She didn't finish, too distracted, too caught up in Aang. She ran her fingers from the tip of the arrow on his forehead all the way down to the small of his back, causing him to shudder. Those handsome tattoos of his.

"Katara…" He groaned her name as she used her waterbending to trace the arrows on his legs and feet as well. He bowed his head, bracing himself on the ledge of the spring for support. The waterbender couldn't wait any longer. She leaned over her husband's shoulder so that their cheeks rubbed together and then turned him gently around as she took his place against the edge of the pool, the moonlight filtering through the warm steam only serving to make him look more appealing to her as her eyes scanned his body up and down. He simply looked at her for a moment, eyes shining with adoration as he silently asked her permission. Now? He seemed to say, and she nodded in response.

"Please, Aang…" She whispered and he didn't hesitate to come closer.

"You know…you're about the most perfect thing I've ever seen too." He told her, kissing her forehead and reaching out to touch her hair reverently. "Spirits, you're so beautiful." Even though she'd heard it from him so many times before, Katara couldn't help but blush warmly and give a shy smile, looking down.

"I love you so much, Aang…" She murmured as he rested his forehead against hers. And this time when he nuzzled her nose, she didn't shut her eyes or try to resist.

"I love you too. More than anything." He tucked a strand of hair lovingly behind her ear before kissing her heatedly. She felt his stiff warmth pressing between her legs and she sighed softly against his lips, deciding to make the first move as she slid his pants off for him and tossed them out of the spring so that the water lapped at his bare thighs. He returned the favor, untying the cloth that covered her breasts that she'd begun using in favor of her old chest bindings thanks to a shopping trip in the Fire Nation Ty Lee had taken her on- and then her undergarments, leaving both of them unclothed in the moonlight. Small droplets of water settled on their exposed skin from the steam, Aang kissing away the ones on Katara's shoulders as they moved still closer together.

"Aang…I-I…" She pleaded. He nodded and she felt him push gently, oh so carefully into her so as not to hurt her. She closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. Finally. That small, seemingly simple motion was enough to relieve all the tension that had built up during the day and Katara couldn't have been more grateful. Aang rested his head on her shoulder, nuzzling into her neck to kiss her again, sucking lightly at the skin just below her jaw as he began a steady rhythm within her. "Oh…Aang…" She groaned. She bucked her hips against him, urging him to continue. He kissed her sweetly on the cheek and smiled fondly at her, catching her gaze again as she wrapped her legs around his waist as she had back at Zuko's palace. Only this time, no one was going to interrupt them. Taking his hand, she placed it on her breast, inviting him to touch her. She wanted him now more than ever, all of him, and she never wanted him to stop. "You're so wonderful…" She sighed. Aang only gave her that loving smile that made her go weak at the knees.

"Only for you, my forever girl." He murmured. She rested her forehead on his shoulder, feeling his breathing grow heavy as he pushed deeper inside of her, both of their heartbeats picking up as the feeling only intensified. He moaned softly, closing his eyes as they continued to make love, the warm water both relaxing and stimulating him in the same way he knew they must be doing for Katara. He thrust as deep into his wife, the only woman he'd ever loved, the only one he ever could love, as he could and she gasped, groaning out his name in a long breath. The heat between them was only intensifying as he continued his steady pace, and it was all he could do to not close his eyes and faint with the pleasure they shared. But he didn't ever want to stop, didn't ever want to be without this wonderful woman whom he loved more than anything. "Katara…" He moaned loudly. She arched her back in response, prompting him to increase his pace. She was gripping him so tightly that they could have been one being, and he was completely lost in her. He knew he couldn't last much longer. With several more thrusts, he felt her tighten around him and his world seemed to shatter into hot shards of pleasure.

"Katara-!" He half cried half gasped out her name, hearing her call out his own as he released inside of her, filling both of them with the heat. She kissed him soundly, and then finally slackened her grip on him, allowing him to relax against the stone ledge she sat on as they both fought to catch their breaths. For a moment, they simply lay together, Katara's head on her husband's shoulder and their fingers laced together. Then, she opened her eyes to look into his, giving him a tired smile.

"Hey." She breathed, squeezing his hand. He blushed softly, eyes alight.

"Hey." He answered, his voice low but affectionate as he reached over to twirl a lock of hair around his finger. She yawned and he smiled lovingly at her. "Did I tire you out?" He asked playfully, quirking an eyebrow. She laughed.

"Oh, I never get tired of you. You know that. It's just late." Aang nodded, using what felt like all of his willpower to stand up.

"I know." He helped her out of the hot spring and bended both of them dry. "We can sleep on Appa tonight and get back to the palace in the morning." Together, husband and wife made their way back to the clearing where Aang had left Appa and wasted no time in curling up on his massive tail. The airbender took his wife into his arms, holding her close to him as the cricket flies chirped in the trees.

"Aang?" Katara asked softly just as he closed his eyes.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks, for this. You really are the best thing that's ever happened to me." She told him sincerely. For a minute, Aang's eyes seemed to haze over, but he shook his head and blinked quickly.

"I couldn't be any of what I am without you. Spirits, I love you so much." He breathed.

"I love you too, Aang." At last, she closed her eyes. Only this time, there was nothing stopping her from drifting off into a peaceful slumber.