A/N: Hey guys! Sorry about the long wait. I won't go into details, but everything is a little better now so I should be able to get this much out. Remember, we are on chapter 18 of a 19 chapter story with a 20th chapter epilogue. Chapter 20 is mature rated. Completely skip-able. You can end at chapter 19 and feel fulfilled. I am writing this way to make everyone happy. I really, really want that last bit of smut but some of my readers really don't want it. So, this is the decision. I own nothing, here we go.

It was going to be the most thrown together catastrophe of the century. At least that's how Katara felt. She, like her fiancé, was a hopeless romantic. Unlike her soon to be husband however, she was obsessed with details. Formal invitations, dress shopping, renting a venue, getting a proper countdown calendar. These were things she had always been looking forward to stressing over, and now she was stressed about not having them. It was unconventional, spontaneous, and just a tiny bit exciting.

Aang had always been a little unpredictable and that was something she was growing used to. It was a trait that was missing in her life and although things didn't quite go according to her thorough plans, the end result was always something she was happy with. But a wedding was not a first date. A wedding was not a trip. A wedding was something sacred and important and this is where her anxieties drew the line.

A knock came at her door and she let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. She was already awake. She wasn't even sure when she had woken or if she had simply lay there all night in her thoughts. The door slid open and she heard it close quickly. Aang knelt down at her bedside and kissed her cheek. She smiled and opened her eyes, happy to see him despite her ever spiraling anxiety.

"Good morning, Aang."

"Morning Katara. Last day."

She nodded. "Last day." She paused and turned her back to him. "Check my arrow?"

"Sure."

He lifted the covers and blushed, seeing her bare body. He tried to focus on the arrow and nothing else. After a few seconds he let the covers fall back to her body.

"Dark blue. Just like I said."

"Good. And it's not messed up or anything?"

"No. Why aren't you wearing anything?"

"I didn't want to smear the design in my sleep."

"Katara, it's been on your skin for days now. It's stained. It's not going anywhere until we want it gone. Or it will fade over time. The paste is already gone. What I'm seeing is the mark left behind."

She wrinkled her nose.

"I'm just being extra careful okay?"

He smiled and rolled his eyes, standing up straight and picking some bindings out of her drawers. She sat up, holding the covers to her chest and watched him grab some simple clothes for her. He rested everything on the end of her bed.

"Please get dressed."

"I know, we have a lot to do."

"I have a lot to do. You have a visitor."

She raised an eyebrow and he winked at her, leaving without another word.

X

She walked through the halls towards the main temple, her combed hair swaying with her gait. She made her way up the stairs to Aang's office and hesitated on the handle. She heard nothing; no taking and no shuffling. She wondered who could possibly come to visit her today. She pushed the door open and her eyes scanned the room, flooded with early morning light. Standing in front of the window was a man she would have known anywhere, dressed rather casual for a Firelord.

"Zuko!" She smiled and he turned to her. He mirrored her grin and she closed the gap between them quickly, pulling him into an embrace.

He laughed and gripped her tighter.

"Hey there, Princess."

She laughed into his robes and hit his arm. "You jerk." She lifted her face from his chest and looked up at him. "I thought you said you couldn't make it. Your letter made you sound so busy…"

"And miss my two favorite people become a family?" He asked and loosened his arms around her. "You know how much you mean to me. And Aang is like the little brother I never had. Seeing you happy with each other… I can't describe how amazing that is to me." He said softly and Katara looked down.

"I am so happy you're here. And dressed so casual." She smirked and her arms fell to her sides.

"Don't worry, I won't disappoint tomorrow."

She sighed. "Tomorrow." Katara looked wistfully outside the window. She was anxious in many ways, but above all else she was excited.

"Happiness looks beautiful on you. I think it's my favorite thing to see you in yet."

He caught her eye and she smiled, her fingers tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

"He makes me more than happy, Zuko. Life with Aang is exciting and romantic and -"

"Hey, you can stop there."

"It's not like that." She laughed and he blushed.

"I just mean that it's more than any one emotion. But they all fall under the same umbrella. I just feel so… complete."

He smiled, lifted his head, and looked to the door.

"Well, you have a line of people waiting to see you so I shouldn't keep them waiting."

"I do?"

"Your family docked right after I did. You father didn't mind letting me have you first."

"Did he ever?" She said and laughed at the double meaning hanging on her lips. Zuko did his awkward laugh, even after all these years. She worked herself up and held herself high, feigning a proper voice.

"My dear Firelord, I'm afraid it would have never worked out between us."

"And so it seems this is where we stand," He recited back to her and they fell into laughter again. He took her hand and bowed to her.

"It has been a pleasure and honor to be your friend, my dear Lady Katara." He said with total seriousness and she smiled. He dropped her hand and waved goodbye to her.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow." He waved back and watched her friend close the door behind him.

X

Katara walked from the temple back to her dorm after her family and friends had all come to visit her before the wedding. Her father was approving and content with her choice. Sokka had grown to the idea. Suki was very excited, considering she was in charge of the make-up, hair, and dress. Toph was happy. She had actually spoken tenderly about their relationship briefly before telling her to not trip while walking down the aisle. A joke of course, with a soft pat on the back. Other members of her tribe had come and were so excited to see her all grown and impressed with the fact that she was marrying the avatar.

Overall she was exhausted from lack of sleep and having to talk to so many people, all the while wasting the last day of preparation. She entered her room and changed into her nightgown, opening the window to see the city out over the inky water. The cool breeze off the bay felt good to her warm skin.

She leaned against the window and rubbed her arms. A knock came at her door after a few moments of silence to herself, making them short lived.

"Come in." She said softly.

She heard the door open and slide closed. Light foot falls came behind her and a pair of warm strong hands found their way around her waist. A warm pale cheek rested against hers and a familiar pair of lips gave her a tender kiss on the cheek.

"Did you enjoy your visiting day?" He asked softly.

"Somewhat." She said and her lips frowned. He exhaled through his nose and kissed her bare shoulder.

"Did you get all the loose ends tied up?" She asked.

"Mm hmm."

"Everyone is here that is supposed to be?"

"Yes."

"We have the means to feed everyone?"

"Yes."

"The lights? The decorations? Music? The ceremony?"

"Katara, stop."

She turned in his arms and her eyes held some shade of fear he couldn't name.

"Everything is taken care of. All you have to do is show up and promise not to change your mind." He said with that crooked grin she loved so much. She found the corners of her own lips curling upwards.

"Don't hide your smile. Happiness makes you so beautiful."

"That's what Zuko said. Earlier this morning."

"If Zuko can see it, everyone can see it." He joked and Katara found herself giggling at the expense of her friend. Aang wrapped her in a tight embrace. She rested her head on his chest and listened to his heart beat. It was steady and strong. In that moment she felt the earthbender inside of him. He felt steady. He felt like the one thing that was keeping her together. His hand came up to cradle her head.

"Sweetie, I know you are anxious. I am too."

She scoffed.

"No really. I am. For me to be responsible for the whole world is one thing. The world is faceless. The world is one big problem after another that I have to clean up and make everyone happy. But you," He paused and stoked her hair.

"If something were to happen where I would have to chose between saving the world and saving you, I would chose you. And you being my wife, that's what you should expect. Except you can belong to me alone while I will always belong to everyone. I am supposed to chose the world to save. That's my destiny. It's unfair. It's not balanced. It's a disaster waiting to happen. And for some reason, I just love you too much to care." His voice fell on the last line and she kissed his shoulder. She pulled away and looked up to him.

"Aang, I didn't know you were going through such distress. But you will never have to chose between me and the world."

"Won't I?"

"No. Because when you save the world, you save me too. And I'll always be by your side, helping you. I have been until now. Why would any of that change?"

"You can't help with everything though. There are some decisions I need to make alone."

"And for those moments, I will be silent and be there for moral support. We are a team. You can't get rid of me so easily." She smiled and he let out a breath.

"I know. I just always want you to be safe. Above anything else, I want you to be okay."

"And I always will be. I'm strong and where I fall short, you can make up the difference."

There was a silence that fell between them and she rested her head back onto his chest. His heart was so slow and steady. She could feel his pulse through the shell of her ear and against her cheek. She closed her eyes and tried to breathe calmly, matching her breathing to his. Before she knew it, her weight was leaning against him and he chuckled. She blinked and stirred.

"What?"

"You should sleep. You practically are." He said softly and kissed her hair.

She nodded and he walked her to her bed. As much as she could worry for days, her body was shutting down on her. He pulled back the covers for her and she lowered herself down gently, scooting into just the right spot before he covered her.

"Last night alone."

"Last night we have to wait."

"Last time I have to watch you walk away."

"Last time I have to." he smiled and kissed her lips softly. She expected a quick kiss goodnight but his hands cupped under her jaw and pulled her to him, angling her up just slightly. He knelt onto the bed and kissed her deeper and she moaned against his lips. Her hand came up behind his head and pulled him down to her, getting just as lost as he was. she broke the kiss to gain her breath and he gripped her hand softly, pushing it against the covers and moving his lips to her jaw line. A denial trembled on her lips but her body overruled her voice. She arched her neck and his lips followed the line of skin, making her sigh and screw her eyes tight. She bit her lip, trying to hold back her voice but when his tongue licked her skin and moaned his name and he pulled back. He smiled to her and gave her another quick kiss, his eyes dark but his smile devious.

"Also, last time I get to do that and have to walk away."

"Why would you do that?!" She groaned and threw a pillow to him. He laughed and caught it, setting it back on her bed and standing up.

"Because I want you to know what just the sight of you does to me. I want you to remember how you feel right now and know after tomorrow we will never have to hold back again."

She blushed at where her mind took her and Aang's cheeks flushed too. He smiled and whispered a goodnight to her, her reply just as breathless. She was so focused on calming her heart and body she had completely forgotten about the wedding stress, which in all honestly was Aang's plan. She fell asleep soon after he left, getting some much needed rest.