Okay! Drum roll please! The chapter all of this has led up to. Might be shorter than I anticipated but it's packed full of detail. Anyway, please enjoy this chapter and remember there is a mature epilogue chapter to follow. I also want to take the time to thank you all for your reviews and faves and follows that have really pushed me. They have kept me going. I know it's just something small, but it's a huge deal to me. Writing is hard, especially when you work all the time. So thank you.

Waking from sleep is a strange sensation. Sometimes it's slow and lazy as you become aware of your surroundings, the time, how you're positioned. Sometimes it's a quick jolt and you are suddenly wide-eyed and moving within a few seconds. That morning… THE morning, Katara awoke softly and easily. The birds chirped outside and sun was filtering through the cracks of the closed window. She lay in a calm state she didn't expect to experience the day of their wedding. It was comforting to her to know that no matter what, this was the day. Everything her and Aang had been through had led to this vey day.

She took her time sitting up and walking to the window, opening it to take in the crisp early autumn air. Autumn was still a few weeks off, but the weather was teasing. The leaves changing slightly. Less hot and humid nights and more cool dew in the mornings. It was Aang's favorite season and she could see why. She crossed her arms and leaned forward on the windowsill, watching the sun light up the city.

A knock came behind her and she beckoned them in. She was met with a smiling face, a giddy laugh, and a black case full of who knows what.

"Hey Suki."

"Good morning blushing bride-to-be!"

Katara smiled and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

"I'm not blushing yet."

"Oh but soon you will be!" She heaved the case onto the bed and popped it open. It was full of makeup and warrior paint. Enough to color a whole squad of women.

"Suki, I know you are excited to do this, but we've been over this. I want a fairly natural look. I don't want to be… overdone with makeup."

"Oh don't worry, this is just the case I keep everything in. I know exactly what I am going to do for you and you will love it!" She said with a smile a mile wide. Katara smiled back and nodded.

"Okay I trust you." She brought a small stool from the corner and sat in front of the window, wanting to watch the city and the sun pass by.

"Hair first." Suki said.

"You're in charge."

Suki took Katara's hair and combed it carefully, trying to make it as straight as possible. She pulled two small pieces of hair out and clipped them out of the way. Her signature hair loops would not be lost in this hairdo. She started at her hair line and pulled the strands together, braiding and adding more hair as she went down her scalp. When she ran out of scalp, there was still plenty of hair left. She braided her hair over her shoulder and down to the very end, tying it off with a silk navy ribbon. It fell at crook of her arm.

"It's longer than I remember." Suki finally said after her fingers were cramping.

"I haven't cut it since last winter. Even then it was only a trim. I like it long."

"It suits you."

She smiled and Suki went back to work, taking the two hair loops and making the tiniest braids out of them, attaching even tinier beads to strands of hair and integrating them into the intricate design. She tucked the ends into the larger braid and secured them with a pin that had a pale blue lotus on it.

"There. Now no touching."

"Okay." She laughed as her friend grabbed the makeup case and looked for her first implement of war. As much as Katara was worried, Suki kept to her word. A little brown powder. Lush maroon lips. Soft rosy cheeks. Finished off with navy and sapphire eye shadow that was tasteful and just enough to bring out the shimmer in her eyes. It was natural looking minus her eyes which gave that special flare. When Suki handed her the mirror she smiled.

"See? I was good."

"Suki I love it. Very well done." She said as she checked her reflection from different angles. She handed it back to her and stood, rubbing her rear from sitting for so long.

"Okay, I am going to go grab you some food to hold you over until the ceremony. I'll be back in a few."

"Alright."

Suki put everything back in her case and left with it, closing the door behind her. Katara paced a bit. Not out of nervousness, more out of anticipation. Also a lack of movement over the last hour was not good for her body. She wanted to look at the dress Suki had brought the day previously, hanging mysteriously from her wardrobe in a black bag. She shook her head and told herself to behave. Not to look until Suki showed her. But with the day here and her make-up and hair perfect, it would be the perfect time to see it and try it on. She closed the gap between her and the bag and reached for the zipper just as a knock came at the door. She sighed and lowered her hand.

"Come in."

"It's me, I can't."

Her heart fluttered and suddenly the dress was forgotten. She came to the door and pressed her fingertips against the frame.

"Aang…"

"Good morning beautiful."

"You haven't even seen me yet." She said softly.

"I don't have to. I know how beautiful you are. Anything else added is just like looking a deity in the face."

She smiled and pressed her hands against the door.

"But…" She heard him whisper. "I still wish I could see you right now. I know we have to wait and that just makes it that much more exciting."

She fought back the urge to throw tradition to the wind and rip open the door. She wanted to see if he was dressed in his formal robes already or if he was just in his pajamas still. More than anything, she just wanted to see his face. Just as she felt her heart clench Suki came in the hall.

"Scoot Mr. Avatar. No peeking."

"I know. Just saying good morning." He said and she could hear the smile in his voice. She expected some kind of love soaked goodbye but he simply walked away. Somehow, it was better that way. Suki opened the door and was face to face with Katara. She laughed.

"Oh spirits you two are going to rip each other apart after the ceremony!"

Katara turned red.

"It's not like that! Well sometimes it is… just never mind!" She said and turned a shade darker. Suki laughed and closed the door behind them. She handed her a bean roll and she took it.

"I'll fix your lips after you eat." Suki said and Katara nodded, taking a bite.

They sat on the bed for a while in silence. She finished her breakfast and Suki painted her lips again. She smiled and folded her hands in her lap as she sat back down on the bed beside Katara. Silence had never been a burden to them. It was comfortable. It was a sign of the strength of their relationship. After a while, Suki had to question her.

"Feeling anything new?" She smirked, having lived this day herself not so long ago.

"Lots of things. Happiness, anxiety, apprehension, excitement, longing, and a hundred other things I can't name." She said softly, looking at her hands with a smile gracing her lips.

"You seem so calm though." She replied, a little shocked.

"It's all an act. Under my skin my heart is pounding and I feel like I can't breathe."

"Good acting. Keep it up."

She nodded and her hands tightened on themselves. Suki put a hand on hers and Katara glanced over with a grateful look in her eyes.

"Want to see the dress?"

"Yes, please!" She said, excitement running across her features. Suki hopped up and grabbed the bag, unzipping it as slowly as possible. Katara was waiting, almost holding her breath for the fabric to fall out into the light. She pulled it from the top and swung the dress over to her. Her eyes tried to take it all in at once but it was impossible. This required a up and down glance, thrice over. It was a color she could only describe as midnight silver blue fading into a dark navy blue on the bottom. It was full length, off the shoulder long sleeves, and the back dipped like a canyon. There was a long tie from sleeve to sleeve in the back to keep it from falling off. It was perfect. It was pure silk and had a very miniscule pattern of waves that could only be seen up close.

"Did… did you make this?" Katara asked, awestruck while her hands explored the dress.

"Yeah right! I actually got it from a modern watertribe shop here in town. I know it's a little risqué, but I think it's perfect for you." She paused and looked down at her.

"Want to try it on?"

She couldn't even answer properly. She was whipping off her clothing faster than Suki thought was possible, considering the bindings and everything. Katara grabbed the dress by the front collar and slipped her feet in, slinking it up her hips and over her bare chest. The sleeves were last and they were barely attached by a few inches of fabric. She made a mental note to put the sleeves on first next time. Suki tied the back and straightened the darts on the dress to align with her breasts perfectly.

"It fits like a glove. And your hips look perfect for bearing strong young men in this too." She joked. Katara swatted at her but laughed. She looked at herself in the mirror and was shocked at how everything came together. She had never felt more beautiful and more proper. She turned her back to see the arrow imprinted on her skin, the fabric almost parting just for this purpose. She felt so together. She felt sexy. She felt desirable. She felt like the star of the show. She felt important, honored even. She felt like a bride.

Katara smiled and Suki pressed her lips together.

"This could not be more perfect. You are perfect. I love you." She reached out and pulled Suki into a hug. She laughed and rubbed her back.

"Okay, you are way too emotional for this early in the morning."

"Suki, it's almost noon." She commented and laughed.

She checked the clock on the wall and nodded.

"Time flies I suppose. Just a few hours now." She glanced back at her friend. "You aren't going to take that off are you?"

"Probably not. Got shoes to match?"

"You know I do." She winked.

X

From the time the sun had risen to the time now when it was just turning orange over the city, Katara had thought a novel's worth of things about her new life and where it would take her. It was impossible to focus on just now, just tonight. She had indeed kept her dress on. Her hair was still perfect. Make-up still intact. And the tall shoes Suki had bought were still on her feet. She had never had shoes like this before but they were apparently all the rage right now. She practiced walking in them for a few hours and she eventually was perfect at it, though they weren't the most comfortable, they were the most beautiful shoes she had ever seen.

When five became six, she was ready. When six became seven, she was anxious. And when seven became seven thirty, her heart was bound to explode.

Another knock came at her door and Suki opened before Katara could say a word. She was in a simple teal dress with her hair in a very plain bun. She looked very nice, but not nearly as nice as the bride. That was the idea though.

"Are you ready?" She reached for her through the threshold.

She didn't have any words to answer her properly so she just stood and took Suki's hand. They looped elbows and she led her down the hall towards the courtyard.

"I can't wait for you to see it."

She let out a shaky breath. She didn't know why she was nervous. She loved Aang with all she was. This was what she wanted more than anything. She thought that maybe achieving your desires is just one of those things that is literally unbelievable.

The buildings went passed her in a blur and suddenly she was showered in the glow of lanterns and the sun just beyond the horizon. Her whole tribe was there. Some even from the north. All the acolytes where there. Sokka, Toph, And Zuko stood nearest Aang, Hakoda directly to Aang's right. Suki let go of Katara and walked ahead of her down the center of people, leaving her frozen.

Aang beckoned her forward and her feet mindlessly stumbled forward. Everything around her was overwhelming. The mixture of loving faces, the Air Nomad and Watertribe decorations perfectly blended, And Aang's eyes pulling her forward. It was so fast. Before she knew it she was taking his hand and facing her father.

"Usually, a different official would perform this for you, but because of the special circumstances, I'm going to make sure this is the perfect officiating." Hakoda smiled and Katara glanced at Aang. That wasn't what she had planned but Aang was, as always, full of surprises.

Hakoda took a deep breath and looked at the two before him.

"As sure as the sea meets the sky, today air and water become one. Through the ice field and biting wind, you must navigate your relationship as partners in a boat, working together. Without cooperation the ship will sink and so will the two upon it."

He rubbed his thumb upon Aang's forehead and made a line with navy blue ink.

"Aang, I leave you with the mark of the trusted. I trust you with my daughter as the world trusts in you."

He smiled and nodded his head once.

Hakoda turned to Katara and gave her a mark too, this one in a crescent moon shape.

"Katara, today even as a bride, you earn the mark of the brave. You have helped Avatar Aang on more than one occasion and even saved his life though you yourself were not expected to. I am sure you will have many more adventures together that require that bravery."

She smiled and gave Aang's hand a loving squeeze.

"The spirits of the ocean and moon bear witness to this union. May they bless you all your days."

Hakoda smiled and wiped his hand on a cloth.

"Our people have many traditions, but so do yours, Aang. So now, we move to your part." He smiled, happy to give this opportunity to Aang. He reached behind him and shoved some threads in his pocket before speaking again.

"In the Air Nomad culture, the arrow is very important. It is a mark of an Airbending Master. It is the mark that the sky bison bear. But in marriage it is also important. Katara of the Watertribe has an arrow on her today, just as you do Aang. You must visualize them as one mark. One real arrow to hold on your hands. It has to be straight to fly correctly. It must be notched to fly. And most importantly, it must be aimed at the right target. Just like that arrow, you must be following the same path to have the end result you both desire. You must struggle to go forward. And you must search for happiness and peace above all else."

He reached into his pocket and held three different colors of thread.

"Please hold your hands out."

Aang was quicker so that Katara could follow suit. Aang raised his left, Katara her right. The arms that were next to each other and had been holding hands. Hakoda took a yellow thread and tied it from Aang's ring finger to Katara's.

"This first thread represents communication. You must always talk to your mate, be it for pleasure or to work out an issue. A marriage without good communication is as frail as the thread that ties you now."

They both nodded. Hakoda took an orange thread and tied it around the same fingers.

"This second thread represents trust. You must depend on one another. You must trust each other so much so that you would never think badly of the other person. Trust is easy to lose and even harder to regain. You have trust now, do not let that break."

The both nodded again. Katara was slightly beside herself, fascinated by the Air Nomad marital ceremony. She had never read anything about it so this must have all been straight from Aang's mouth to her father's ears.

Hakoda pulled out the last thread, red. He tied it to the same fingers.

"Lastly this thread represents love. A marriage without love is much like a red thread; beautiful to onlookers but weak and easy to tear apart. Love is the very basis for why we are all here today. You two love each other, we can all see it in your eyes. If you keep that love, this thread will be the strongest of them all."

They smiled and Hakoda took both of their hands. He raised them so everyone could see.

"These three things are the building blocks for a happy, pure union. Even if only one is good and two are weak, it will eventually break. With good communication, doubtless trust, and undying love, these threads can become a strong braided rope that will tie you together all your days."

He let their hands go and they came down to their sides, holding each other's hands. Aang turned towards her and she took her queue, looking into his eyes. Suddenly everything that was going so fast before her was stopped. No time mattered. Nothing passed. She felt for just a fleeting moment that it was only her and Aang standing there. He looked into her eyes and they were both filled with joy, unable to hold back smiles. Hakoda turned to Aang.

"Aang, will you confide in, trust, and love Katara all your days, so that she may be your wife."

"I will." He said, looking more happy than he ever had.

Hakoda nodded and turned to his daughter, whom was barely aware he existed.

"Katara, will you confide in, trust, and love Aang all your days, so that he may be your husband."

"I will." She breathed out, smiling wider than she ever had.

"With all these witnesses present, mortal and spiritual, I declare this union is fully bound."

Katara smiled and before she knew what was next Aang advanced to her and cupped her face, taking in her lips as if he needed her kiss to live. She closed her eyes and wrapped herself around his neck, feeling him dip her backwards. She didn't care if her whole tribe saw this. This was the proof of their love and she was going to enjoy it. When Aang finally had to come up for air, he still held her back, looking down at her in his arm. There was a lot a hollering and whooping from the crowd but it was muffled to them. In that second, the second they became each other's, the second they had finally come together, nothing outside the two of them existed.

He stood her up and they clasped their tied hands together once again. Aang smiled to her and Everyone dispersed to set up for the food and festivities.

While everyone was going off to do their assigned duties, Aang and Katara stayed put. They were locked in a gaze that not even an earthquake could break. After a while Aang finally spoke.

"So, what did you think?" He asked softly.

"It was absolutely perfect. A perfect blend of you and me."

He smiled and kissed her lips again, much more tenderly this time. When he pulled back her eyes seemed glazed.

"Katara? What's wrong.?"

"We're married…. Aang, we're married!"
He laughed and touched his forehead to hers. He wanted to make fun of her but if he were honest with himself, he was quite in shock too. He had a wife. He was a husband. With just a few words, they had become a family. It was so surreal to both of them. Katara looked down at their tied hands. Although the threads had slack, it would still be impossible to eat while tied.

"How long do we have to stay tied for?"

"Oh, for the next three days. A day for every string."

Her face went blank but inside she had a small screaming voice. He laughed at her expression.

"I'm kidding! We can take them off whenever we want."

"Oh, okay." She sighed and he chuckled a bit. "Don't scare me like that."

"Let's go find someone to cut us loose so we can enjoy our meal and dance together."

"Hmm." Katara smiled and Aang raised a brow.

"What?"

"That word. Together. It has such a weight to it now that it didn't before."

"Katara, as long as we are together, there's no weight we can't bear."

She smiled and kissed him for longer than appropriate in public. He had to pull away and hold her waist.

"We'll save that for later. For now, let's enjoy the party."

"Okay. But you promised for later." She winked and he laughed as they finally left their spot in the courtyard, together.