Prompt Three (August 21, 2009): Reunited

Home Again

"Gran Gran!" Katara shouted as soon as she caught sight of her grandmother. She sprinted down the ramp from the small Fire Nation ship (curtsey of the new Fire Lord) and erased the distance between her and Kana, disregarding the pure white snow she hadn't seen in months. Seconds later, she slammed into her elder and enveloped the woman in a bear hug. "I can't believe it's been almost a year!" she laughed.

"I'm proud of you," murmured Kana against the girl's shoulder. It was all she could say. She herself couldn't believe it. Her own grandchildren had saved the world! It was a lot to take in for an aging woman.

"Katara, move. It's my turn!" Suddenly Katara was yanked out of Kana's arms and shoved aside. "Hey Gran! I'm missed ya!" Sokka exclaimed, ignoring Katara's angry shouts. Kana backed away from her grandson after a few minutes to gape at them both. Sokka's voice was much deeper than she remembered, and where did Katara get that new hairstyle?

"My, you have two changed so much! And I see you did a great job protecting your sister," she marveled. Kana patted Sokka's hair affectionately. "Wait, how did you hurt yourself this time?" she questioned, glaring at his bandaged leg and crutches.

"Oh, you know, just a little this and that," Sokka shrugged and leaned against his crutches. His eyes gleamed, so she rightfully assumed he had an exciting story to tell for later. Kana smiled.

Normally, the three would have been busy talking about the past year and everything that had occurred, but being there, in each other's presence, was enough for now. They hugged again.

Panting, Hakoda met up with them. "Son, how did you run so fast?" The fresh snow crunched underfoot as the other Water Tribe men departed to go piece together their families. Hopeful happiness filled the tribe for the first time since the raids began.

"A lot of changes since I last left?" Hakoda looked around the tribe. More homes and a stronger wall were being erected everywhere by craftsmen and waterbenders. Last time he had been home, their clan was merely a circle tents. Now, it was this big busy center. The change almost rendered him completely speechless. He turned back to the port at which the ship was docked. Hakoda couldn't even remember ever having a port.

"That is a tale best left for later. Now, do I get any love from my long lost son or not?" Kana asked dryly. Grinning, Hakoda reached over to embrace his mother. He then noticed a new betrothal necklace around his mother's neck. As soon as he began to examine this new development, Kana interrupted him, observing the increase in snow. "Come now, before you world travelers freeze to death."

That night was spent inside a newly constructed igloo telling tales and reminiscing about their journeys. The teens had explained that the rest of the team was off visiting families and that Zuko and Aang were taking care of treaties in the Fire Nation. Kana had also told them about the arrival of the Northern Water Tribe, Pakku's proposal, and their new engagement, with protests from her son, of course. While they were chatting, the cheery fire felt like ice compared to the warmth of a newly reunited family. Laughter melted away the strong hurt of separation. This was home. Nothing could ever change that. Yet, something inside Katara felt strange. Almost melancholy.

And when Kana noted this, the younger girl had a strange answer.

"This just doesn't really feel like home anymore," she hesitated, hoping to not have upset anyone. "I mean, I love you guys, but I feel like I don't belong."

"Isn't your place here?" Hakoda inquired with a frown. He didn't appreciate the idea of not seeing his daughter much, especially since the war just had been ended. He wanted to make up for lost time, and actually be there for her. Kana, on the other hand, perfectly understood what was going on. She knew her granddaughter's world had been turned upside down when she found the boy in the iceberg, and she had learned about the budding romance between them from Pakku. She also knew that once Katara received a small taste of the world, she would become addicted. Katara had always been a nomad at heart, ever since she had been small, thirsting for more bedtime stories. And she knew exactly who brought it out of her. Katara just needed to admit it to herself. She is one of the most stubborn people Kana knew, after all. The elderly woman shook her head of these musings, and anticipated the response.

"Maybe," Katara started, with a pinch of sadness. "But I really feel like I'm missing much more of my life, like I wasn't meant to ever truly stay here," she stumbled over her words in an effort to clarify how she felt. During this past year, she stopped really thinking about the South Pole. Of course she thought about her grandmother all the time, but the South Pole began to feel a distant memory, a testament to how far she had come, instead of a home. So what was her home? Katara didn't know the answer. The only thing she was certain of was that she wanted to travel the world again.

"You belong with the Avatar," Kana answered for her. Ignoring Katara and Hakoda's surprised glances, and Sokka's snorts, she plowed on. "I know it, he knows it, and you, my little waterbender, know it."

A splash of red burned at Katara's cheeks. "But, but, how do—? I don't—"

"What are you afraid of? Did you not face an entire army to save him once?"

Katara sighed. She had so much to do. And she knew exactly how to start, as much as it pained her to do so. She would have to catch Aang before he left the Fire Nation for Omashu next week, meaning cutting her visit with her grandmother short. She sighed again. "Sokka, are you coming with me?"

"I would never abandon you," he affirmed with a smirk. "Plus, I have to see Suki sometimes."

"Just remember to visit often. And don't forget to bring me your children. I want to see them all," Kana warned. Katara's blush intensified and Sokka nearly choked on his sea prunes.

The next night, after greetings to old friends and an uncomfortable chat with Hakoda, the siblings boarded the ship. As it prepared to leave, Kana waved at the smiling girl and boy on the ship. She laughed at their shouts of love and promises to bring the others to them soon. When she started thinking about when Pakku would return, her son startled her out of her thoughts. "I wish they didn't have to go," he whispered from her right, fighting valiantly against tears.

"You were always going to have to let them go," she replied. To that, he sighed, forlorn gaze renewed, and continued waving at the ship until it was a mere speck on the horizon.

They would be reunited again, Hakoda promised himself.

--

A few days later, a certain waterbender surprised a certain airbender with kisses, tears, and apologies tumbling from her lips not fast enough.

Lesson learned: A home is not built out of stone (or ice), but out of love.

A/N: Uh, I certainly did not forget about Sokka's leg in the first prompt, and I certainly did not just remember it today. Heh, heh. *sweat drop* …You see? It's mistakes like these that keep me from having nice things. Grr.

Thanks for reading!