A/N: So I took a little time off from writing this story just to get a few things sorted out. I'm not the type of person to write a first draft of anything, so the previous chapters were all scrambled inside my head and I just wrote them. I've decided to take you all on another arc before we hit our final one together. This chapter is just a little bit of filler, but should blend well into the story. Hope you guys aren't hating me. This story is my favorite, hope it's yours too.

The ferry ride to Air Temple island, as it was now called, never took long. The boat held almost no one nowadays, all of the Acolytes chose to live on the island with Aang. And seeing as the island was self sufficient, they had no real reason to leave. She looked to her left and right, seeing one Acolyte she was familiar with and smiled to herself, walking toward the bow and sitting beside her. Katara gave the girl a small shock when she nudged her.

"Oh!" She said and held her chest. "Hello Master Katara." She breathed out softly, letting her eyes flutter open to the day's light as the ferry started to cross the bay,

"Good morning Cho. I didn't mean to startle you." She said with a soft smile.

"No, it's okay. I was just deep in thought."

"Oh, anything interesting?" She asked, genuinely curious. The small woman let out a huff and blew a piece of hair out of her face, turning and letting her deep green eyes touch Katara's.

"It's a family problem. It's nothing you need to worry about…" She said and looked down to her hands, folded together in her lap. Katara, being who she is, laid a hand on Cho's folded set, making her look back to her. Katara smiled again and admired her extremely tiny figure, taking in her chestnut hair that was pulled into a very neat bun, aside from a few stray curls.

"Tell me." She said softly and squeezed her hands. Cho looked back up into her eyes and though just five years separated the two, she saw a Katara as a mother figure. Someone deeply caring. Someone compassionate. Someone she could trust. Before she knew it, her eyes were watering and her smile and turned into a frown. Before Cho could even ask for Katara's forgiveness she was pulled into the waterbenders arms. Cho wasn't sure what made her feel so safe with her but she just let out a sob, burying her head into Katara's chest. Katara cradled her head and patted her back, holding her close to her body.

"Cho, please don't cry." She crooned to the younger woman, thankful for the fact that they were the only ones on the ferry. "Is something wrong at home? Did something happen between you and the other Acolytes?"

"No." She sniffed and pulled away from her. "It's nothing like that. It's the opposite."

"I'm sorry, I don't follow you. What's going on?"

"It's my parents. They think I'm being brainwashed by Avatar Aang and the other Acolytes. They don't understand that this way of life is my choice, and that even though I am turning my back on my old way of life it doesn't mean they are bad parents." She relayed to the young waterbending master, more hot tears flowing down her cheeks. Cho reached up to dry her face with her yellow sleeves.

"Is that where you are coming from? You're parent's house?" Katara asked and put a hand on her shoulder. The woman nodded.

"Have you tried explaining how you feel? And that you are not the only one here who feels that way?"

"Of course I have. But every word that comes out of my mouth is either dishonoring them or hinting at being held against my will, according to my mother. She said that if I choose this way of life, then they never want to see me again. So I left." More tears started to come and Katara held her to her bosom, feeling very protective of this Acolyte she had come to know over the past few weeks.

"It's going to be okay. What you are doing is a remarkable thing. You are helping to rebuild an entire nation. If they can't see that good that you are doing, and that you actually want this, then maybe it's a good thing you are on an island." She said softly, rubbing her back. Cho let out another sniff and nodded.

"I think you're right. I know this is the right thing for me and my life." She said thoughtfully.

"And you have Aang and all the other Acolytes to support you. And I support you too." She added with a smile, making her eyes light up underneath the pain she was in. As the ferry can to the dock both women stood and Katara took Cho's hand, walking with her off the boat and all the way to the courtyard, where Aang was waiting for her.

"Good morning Cho, Katara. Everything alright?" He asked as they approached him, seeing the young woman's eyes a little puffy. She nodded and let go of Katara's hand. Katara brought her hand up to rest on her back.

"Why don't we go find Botan? She always has the best stories." Katara suggested.

"It's okay." She said and looked between Aang and Katara, feeling the pull they had towards each other. She felt she was interrupting their daily routine. "I can find her myself. She's usually in the library anyway. Thank you for your kind words Master Katara, Avatar Aang." She said and bowed softly, excusing herself and walking towards the temple. Katara took a few steps to follow her but an arm came around her middle and caught her. She turned her head and he was smiling, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Where do you think you're going?" He asked with a small chuckle.

"To see Botan. She said she was going to show me the thirty-six levels of airbending mastery today in a book she found."

"I don't think so." He said and pulled her against his body, burying his nose into her hair. He took in her scent and smiled, holding her around her waist with both hands. "I think you're starting to lose sight of yourself."

"What does that mean?" She said and turned in his arms, suddenly very close to his face and half exposed chest. She looked up at him and raised an eyebrow, waiting for her answer. He just gave her a soft but very long kiss, leaving a tingling sensation behind and making her almost forget her question.

" You've been hanging around here and learning things for two weeks. I think you are focusing too much on Air Nomad traditions, Master Katara." He said with that adorable half smile she loved. He took her hands in his, kissing the backs of each. "Come on." He said as he turned and let go of one of her hands, leading them back the way she came.

"Where are we going?" She asked, looking back at the temple.

"It's so hot today, don't you think?" He said, as if he were making complete sense.

"What?" She asked, confused, but not pulling against him as they descended down the steps and walked along the dock.

"It's really hot for this early in the day. It's barely ten and the sun already feels fierce."

"Yeah, it's hot. It's summer. That's why I wore this." She said, pointing to her dress. She was wearing a pale blue dress that tied at the side and had two slits up the sides stopping where the high point of her waist was. The dress went down to her knees and was short-sleeved, each hem lined in white, including the v-neck of the dress. It was something she had from her younger years but still fit into. She did wear leggings under it to make it appropriate. She only brought it out on hot days.

"Yes I saw that. I love it. Compliments you well." He said and she blushed. "But more to the point, it's a perfect day…" He said and grabbed the hem of his sash and tugged it off his body, leaving him topless. "… for waterbending." He said with a smirk and folded his sash, placing it on the dock and looking to her.

"Really? That's what you want to do today?" She asked but was very distracted by the sight of him without a shirt. The morning light highlighting his pale chest, the way there were little shadows where his abs were, the lines of his shoulders and the muscular arms… she questioned if he was really twenty. She blushed and looked away, worried where her thoughts may lead if she stared for too long.

"Yes. I want us to waterbend. Together." He said and stepped towards her. "But I will give you a little incentive, since you don't sound so excited."

"It's not that I'm not excited… I just have other things I could be doing."

"Katara. You are the most talented waterbender alive right now. Please don't tell me you are losing your passion for the thing you are the best at." He begged and wrapped his arms around her, looking down at her with a look that could break any girl's heart. She rolled her eyes.

"Alright fine! But… just before we do this, just know that even though I love waterbending, I've never seen what you can do, so I'm not sure how it will look to you."

"Sweetie… stop." There is was again, him calling her a little pet name out loud. She was completely at his mercy. He backed away from her and motioned to her. "Amaze me"

She bit her lip and looked at the water on either side of the dock. She took a deep breath and tried to forget he was there, raising her arms in the air. At the same time, two large streams of water flew into the air on either side of her, twisting in a giant spiral up into the air as they followed her hand movements. She was lost. It was just her and the water, the push and pull of it completely taking her over. She spun and the water came down and surrounded her like a gravity-defying river, coursing around her body and moving with her arms. She moved her arms higher and pushed forward, making the water surround him and her in a figure eight. He smiled and lifted his arms, bending it around himself and sending it back to her. She hadn't anticipated him to join in. She sent the water back into the bay and smiled to him, taking a deep breath. Bending was an amazing release for her.

"That was perfection. I love seeing how you flow your energy through the water, you really become one with it. It's beautiful." He said and she blushed again. He was rather free with the compliments today.

"Okay Avatar. Your turn."

"Hmm?"

"The 'incentive' you spoke of?"

"Oh right!" He said and swirled his arms around him, capturing the air and compressing it into a ball. As ball swirled faster and faster he put it down and jumped on it, riding it up and down the dock. When he passed Katara she laughed as her hair and dress flew into the air. He looked absolutely ridiculous and amazing at the same time. She was giggling out of control when he was on his way back, jumping off the ball and letting it burst and flow over his and her body, her hair and dress flying in the opposite direction. he was smiling with a childlike pride and Katara was still laughing.

"Well? What do you think?"

"That was probably the most amazing thing I have ever seen you do." She said in between giggles. He came up and captured her in his arms, giving her a kiss.

"That's how I got my arrows."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I invented it. I call it the air scooter."

"Very nice."

"But we're not done yet." He said and sat on the edge of the dock, taking off his shoes.

"We're not? I thought you said it was perfect?"

"It was, but it was small time. Child's play." He said and put his shoes to the side, rolling up his pant legs as she scoffed.

"Well, you aren't full of yourself at all." She said with her arms folded.

"That's not what I meant. Come with me." He said as he jumped off the dock, landing on a sheet of ice and turning back to her, looking up at her and holding out his hand for her.

"Where are we going now?" She asked reluctantly.

"Out to the bay. Where you can show me what you're made of."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Only if you see it as hard, Sweetie." He said with the most playful smile he could manage. Katara was furious at his teasing and she huffed a little.

"Okay, but you'll regret it!" She said smiling and taking a strip of cloth from around her wrist and putting it in her teeth. She took her fingers and raked through her hair, taking a few moments to braid her hair, trying it off at the bottom. She threw the braid behind her and slipped her little flat shoes off. She was getting a little hot as the sun rose higher and she hooked her fingers in the waist band on her tights, stepping out of them and tossing them aside. Aang blushed and felt a little awkward watching her undress. The slits in her dress went up so high... so much of her long beautifully dark legs were showing. He cleared his throat and looked away. Katara jumped off the dock and landed on a sheet of ice beside him.

"Ladies first." he said and smiled, rubbing the back of his neck. She smiled and took off on the sheet of ice, leaving a huge wake for him to follow through. He laughed and propelled himself forward, following her out to the open ocean. The farther out she got, the bigger the wave beneath her got. She pushed herself up and off of the wave, spinning through the air and landing on the crest of another she was bending up, laughing the whole time. Aang followed her, enjoying himself. He hadn't realized how much she had truly been holding back; the waves both of them were on were immensely high, towering over the ocean line.

She bent a huge torrent of water off the wave that went in a loop, following the flow with her little board of ice and giving a loud shout of joy when she was upside down, following through until she was back upright and letting the wave fall and freefalling into the ocean. Aang circled the area where she went under and looked around, wondering when she was going to come back up. Before he knew what was happening, she came up under him and flipped his ice board, making him fall into the water. He surfaced quickly and looked around, seeing her laughing hysterically. He laughed and splashed at her but wasn't able to make the water connect with her. She raised herself in a spinning pillar of water, circling him once, still laughing, as he raised himself up. She took off towards the island again and he raced after her. It was hard to keep up with her, riding his own pillar as fast as he could until he finally caught up with her, lunging towards her and catching her around the waist as they fell into the ocean. Aang put a barrier of air around their faces and they stayed under water in their little pocket as he held her close, both of them laughing even harder. He kissed her lips through laughs and she returned it happily, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. He broke their kiss and smiled, just staring deeply into her eyes. She grinned and floated in his hold, returning his gaze. They weren't sure how long they were like that, but eventually Aang spoke softly.

"We should head back."

She nodded and broke away from him, swimming to the surface as he watched her go, breaking the air pocket they had shared. She rode her own wave to the dock and beat him there, watching him come up and step easily up to the dock from the water.

"How was that?"

He smiled and came up to her, taking her up in his arms and giving her a spinning hug. She giggled and he put her down, kissing her forehead.

"That was the most fun I have seen you have, ever."

She smiled and rested her head against his wet chest, closing her eyes and listening to his heart beat. He rested his head on hers and held her close, letting the sun dry them off. his hands followed the bumps of her braid, going down to the small of her back.

"I like the braided look on you."

Katara blushed again and looked up to him.

"Even though it was just to get it out of the way?

"Yes. You are so beautiful, no matter what you do."

She blushed deeper and leaned up, kissing him softly on the lips. He cupped her face and became lost in her warm lips, not caring if anyone was watching or that they were completely soaked. By the time she pulled away, she needed to hold on to him for balance, feeling slightly lightheaded. She smiled and so did he, feeling her pull on him.

"I love you." She said quietly, looking into his silver eyes.

"I love you too." He responded as if it were second nature. he smiled and she backed away from him, pulling the water from her clothing and sending it back into the bay. He did the same and they both got dressed. As she slipped on her shoes she frowned a little at the sight of him putting his top back on. She just mentally shrugged and told herself she got a great view and will just have to search the archive of her brain for that mental picture later for more. Just as she was about to say something, a messenger hawk came and Aang held his arm out for her to land on. He grabbed the message from its back and unraveled it, starting to read it.

"Hey, it's for you. Sounds urgent." He said, passing it to her. She took the scroll and read it quickly.

Katara,

I can't do this anymore! Sokka is being as helpful as ever and I am basically left planning this wedding on my own and I am about to crack! Please, please, please help me with this. I don't have anyone else who could possibly help besides you and the wedding is only two weeks away! Below is our new address. Please send me a message soon.

-Suki

"Wow, poor Suki." She said, handing it back to him.

"What's wrong?" Aang asked.

"She's having wedding issues. I need to go. Can you please respond to that letter on the back and tell her I am on the way?"

"Sure. I guess I'll see you later then." He said, a little sad to see her go. She smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thank you so much Aang. You can come over later tonight if you want." She said as she ran to the edge of the dock.

"Hey! Aren't you going to wait for the ferry?" He called to her.

"No… I don't think I need it anymore!" She smiled and called behind her, jumping from the dock and propelling herself towards he house, Aang smiling as he watched her go.

…..

Later that night she came home and was completely exhausted. Having to calm Suki was one thing, but as for the wedding… Suki had almost none of it done. They had gotten through a large chunk today be she would certainly be busy for the next couple days.

She sighed as she unlocked her front door and closing it behind her once she was safe beyond the threshold. She slipped off her shoes and went straight to the bathroom. She untied her dress and let it fall to the floor as she ran a cool bath for herself. She added her favorite bath soap to the water, the one that was made with milk, honey, and lemon grass. She inhaled and smiled, loving the smell of her bath. Katara slipped her leggings down and undid her bindings, throwing them in a pile she swore she would take care of later, but knew the water would make her forger everything. She untied the ribbon around her hair and let her hair go free, finger combing it out until the bath was full. With the water stopped she lowered herself down into the water and relaxed, taking her time in washing her body and hair.

When she was wrinkled from the water, she pulled the plug and slowly stood, grabbing a towel and drying off her body. She looked in the mirror in a moment of vanity, admiring her own body. It had been a while since he had done such serious waterbending. She touched her stomach and wondered if she needed to do more training, seeing as her skin only hinted at muscle. She closed her eyes and ran the towel through her hair, turning off the light and blindly walking from the bathroom to her room, all the while running the towel through her hair; a part of her that never likes to dry.

She heard someone clear their throat as she stopped in her doorway, eyes popping open. There, sitting on her bed, was Aang. She was happy to see him, but wondered why he looked so uncomfortable. He was completely red and looking away from her. then it hit her. She was completely naked accept for the towel in her hand. She made a little squeak and backed into the hallway and around the corner.

"Sorry… you said I could come over later… I guess you forgot."

She held the towel to her chest and leaned against the wall.

"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to forget Sweetie…" She said, and blushed. She had never called him anything but his name. "The wedding stuff just completely wiped my mind…"

"It's okay… Do you want me to leave?" He asked down the hall.

"No! No. Just… can you toss my night gown out onto the hall?" She asked and then heard him shuffling in her room. Soon an arm came from out, holding the little silk night gown. She took it from him and his arm disappeared back into the bedroom, slipping it over her naked figure and tossing the towel into the bathroom. She walked into the room and found him standing against the wall. She blushed and sat down on her bed and crossed her legs. He pressed his lips together and slowly walked over to her, sitting beside her. They didn't look at each other, just sitting in a strange, embarrassing silence. When the silence was deafening, she asked him a question.

"Did you come over for anything in particular."

"No. I just wanted to see you." He said softly. She chuckled darkly.

"Well, you got to see me. All of me. I guess you got what you wanted."

"Trust me, that was too much too soon." He said and he grabbed her hand, their gazes meeting. She was blushing still but smiled, bumping her shoulder into his. "Next time I'll just wait for you to get home, then come over."

"How did you get in anyway?"

"Oh, yeah… you should really lock your windows."

They both giggled and she held his hand, looking back up into his eyes.

"Will you stay?"

"Stay the night?"

She nodded and bit her lip.

"I sleep better when you are here."

"I sleep better with you in my arms too." He said and stood, taking his sash and shoes off, leaving them over in the corner with his staff. She crawled to the head of her bed and slipped herself under the covers, watching him walk towards her. He stood at the side of the bed, trying to decide if it was okay to sleep on top of the covers or under them. Katara sensed his dilemma and pulled the covered back for him.

"You sure?"

"Yeah." She said and bit her lip, turning her back to him and laying down. He crawled under the covers and wrapped an arm around her waist, giving her hair a kiss before covering them up together. Just as she was about to fall asleep, he whispered to her.

"You are the most breath taking human on this planet… and I am so incredibly lucky to be with you…"

She stirred and turned to face him, giving him a loving kiss before falling asleep in his arms.