Sorry it took so long. I had so much written I had to figure out where to sever it. So only the Epilogue remains.
Thank you for sticking around for the end. You guys rock!
Enjoy...
He came to said point on the dawn of the fourth week. Mai and Toph were talking to him but as usual he was not listening. His thoughts of the break-up had all but consumed him for the last month.
"Have you heard anything I've said Twinkletoes," Toph demanded.
"What, um…no sorry." He looked at Toph blankly but Mai just continued talking over her.
"I think its time we go to Omashu." Mai said.
"Yeah sounds good. Pack and we'll leave first thing." Aang replied collecting his staff and taking off.
Mai was despairing of ever reaching him. Everything had changed when Katara had come into the picture and she could almost hate the younger girl for leaving him like this. She'd been stupid to think that her love would have been enough. 'It hadn't been for Zuko, why would Aang be any different?'
"Toph, I'm done. I've tried and I can't handle this anymore. Tomorrow he is rid of me." Mai got up and threw her food at the fire. She wished she could have been a firebender than she could have at least burned her sadness away. Mai had gathered some of her herbs and put them together in her satchel.
She had no idea if they would transplant well but if she was to make Omashu her home she was willing to try.
The ride to Omashu was as bad as the dinner the night before his birthday. Mai had refused to talk to anybody and Toph was in a snit about it. Aang himself was emerging from the month long depression and seeing his future with a brighter light. Unfortunately Mai had been nothing but polite and he was beginning to worry that he had taken too long.
It had pained him that she had not been wearing the nomad colors. She had returned to her Fire Nation ensemble. The red color turned his stomach and he resolved to talk to her after he went to see the generals.
He dropped off Toph who glared at him and told him, "you're truly dumb Aang. She's slipping right through your fingers. Not everybody gets a second shot at happiness you know."
He mulled over Toph's unusually kind words.
He rejoined Mai. She hadn't moved an inch and continued to only speak when spoken to. His outgoing Mai was being buried and he was determined to get unearth her. He'd been dumb like Toph had said. He just needed to straighten some things out and then they could settle their pasts and finally move on with their lives. "I'll only be a little while. If you want maybe we can tour Omashu after I come back," he suggested.
"Whatever you want," Mai replied.
He'd seen otter penguins with less icy dispositions but he was not going to let it faze him. He dropped her off at her home. Her mother had been a little shocked to see her in his company but she had been genuinely happy to receive them. He bowed formarly and the elder woman blushed becomingly.
He glanced back at Mai but she had already disappeared into her parent's home. Aang wanted so badly to stay with her but he had been putting off this particular meeting for too long.
Aang arrived at the Earth Kingdom palace and dismounted. Several members of the Dai Li had apparently deserted and had been welcomed back as the Earth King's personal bodyguards.
"Avatar Aang, we've been anxiously awaiting your arrival. Please this way." He was lead to The Great War Room of Ba Sing Se. The Earth King sat at the end with his faithful Bosco dozing beside him. He warmly greeted him, "Avatar Aang you are the last to arrive." Apparently Toph had arrived a little before him.
Aang took his place trying to ignore the fact that he'd been seated next to Zuko. "As you can see, we assembled a hasty meeting once it was known you would be coming. The delegates of the Water Tribe, are also welcome. Please be seated." he motioned to Sokka and Toph.
"Let the meeting begin," the King announced as fragrant bowls of fruits, cheeses and pastries were placed at various points on the table. Flagons of wine and juices were also within reach. Aang served himself a large glass of mango juice to clear his dry throat.
"First order of business is I believe to address the engagement of Lady Katara and Avatar Aang." A general named Maishi stood and handed the signed document over to Aang, "this agreement was signed by Firelord Zuko and Lady Katara in your absence. As you can see it addresses the all important business of the rebuilding of the Air Nomads."
"My sister is not a baby making machine." Sokka exclaimed loudly once the parchment had made its way to him. Aang had passed it along without a second glance.
"Gentlemen." Aang rose addressing the assembled men. "I'm afraid that is no longer possible. Lady Katara and myself have mutually decided to dissolve the contract. In fact at this very moment I would like the opportunity to talk privately with General Riohko over that particular matter."
General Riohko hadn't really been listening. He was the liaison for the Fire Nation within the Earth Kingdom but his job had become moot once Firelord Zuko had showed up. "Pardon me, Avatar but what business could you have to conduct with me that would require privacy?"
Zuko had been quiet throughout the proceedings even partially fallen asleep a few times. He however sat up as soon as Aang addressed the General. Zuko was well aware of who he was and he wasn't sure he could handle finding out exactly what Aang had to ask the surprised man.
"General Riohko, after you," Aang directed firmly.
The general pushed his chair out, he recognized a command when he heard it. "If it involves the Avatar, I must insist that we be privy to this information." General Maishi halted them.
"No, this is private." Aang repeated once more signaling Riohko to him.
"I'm sorry to insist Avatar but your business is also ours. Until you have done your duty to marry and father the necessary children, your life must be made public to us." General Maishi smugly informed him not looking the slightest bit sorry at all.
"Do you all agree?" Aang asked the gathered gentlemen and Toph who was seated next to the King. All the heads bobbed with the exception of the King and Sokka. 'I tried to spare you, Zuko.'
"I bow to your decision but I will let you know that this is the last time you interfere with my personal life. I will not be anybody's puppet. I answer only to what must be done to maintain peace and if I see fit I will help in whatever way I can. My wife and children will be mine alone not property of the four nations. I hope I made myself clear," Aang snapped.
General Maishi's face was now a suppressed red hue as he sputtered but nobody was willing to back him up and he sat defeated.
"General Riohko, I would like to have the honor of asking for your daughter, Mai's hand in marriage."
The war room erupted into a chorus of whats and hows and noise as everybody began yelling over each other trying to understand what had just happened. "If everybody would just let me explain---" Aang's voice was drowned out by the angry exclamations from Zuko and the general confusion from the rest of the council's delegates.
Sokka just sat back and watched as pandemonium reigned. He was the only one aware that Aang had begun to glow. 'This should be interesting.'
"Quiet!" the glowing Avatar spoke and the many voices brought order to the room. He took a deep breath and continued in his normal voice. "I am aware that the original treaty required Lady Katara and myself to marry and produce an offspring within the year. I found that archaic and ridiculous."
Only a few had ever seen the raw power of the Avatar State but they had all heard about it. And though it was terrifying to behold the young Airbender in his bright light it was even more fearful to see his normal charming demeanor turn into a cold stony one.
"Like I stated before I am nobody's puppet and will not let my future wife or children to be used as pawns for any negotiations." That said Aang took a drink and continued, "since the original treaty is now beyond fruition, I will recognize another solution to help end the animosity between the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation."
"Just how do you intend to do that by marrying Mai?" Zuko asked his tone hinged with bitterness.
"One of the suggestions I believe was done by General Maishi. Please tell the rest of the council." Toph supplied. She had realized that since she was out of the running as Aang's wife, thanks to her engagement to Sokka that the Generals would scramble to find someone else now that Katara was not in the picture.
'Pretty smart, Twinkletoes.'
Maishi cleared his own throat and detailed the other plan. "It was suggested that Avatar Aang marry the daughter of a prominent Earth Kingdom family to insure that his friendship with Firelord Zuko would not be too beneficial to the Fire Nation." The man was not as comfortable talking as he had been earlier and secretly his fellow colleagues were happy to make the petty little man sweat.
"It was suggested that he be married to Lady Toph Bei Fong."
Sokka took over, "suggested? Aang was threatened and that was how this stupid document was drafted and signed." Sokka shoved the earlier document across the table in disgust.
"Please, this is a peaceful meeting. Avatar elaborate on how this will be fulfilled by your marriage to Lady Mai." The King intoned regally from his platform.
"General Riohko and his family have resided here since the beginning of the war and have made this their adoptive home. The general had a chance to be leave and chose instead to be imprisoned for a period of six months to show his loyalty to his adoptive nation following the end of the war. I find this a wonderful quality in my future father in law. Lady Mai shares this loyalty and has been invaluable in helping restore and rebuild the four temples that remain of my nation," Aang explained.
"For a period of more than a year she was also the liaison for the Fire Nation until her father took her position." There was a general murmur as several of the men remembered the somber young lady that had attended their meetings.
"She is a member of a high ranking Earth Kingdom family and fulfills all the requirements. So I will sign the new draft as long as I have her father's blessing and her ladyship's consent," Aang finished.
The generals heartily agreed and several other pieces of news were treated. After his announcement the usual complaints and discussion seemed boring. It didn't help that all he could think about was Mai and her reaction to the news. It also made him annoyed that though Zuko had not made a peep, Aang could feel the golden gaze burning a hole into him or at least attempting to make one.
He was exhilarated and apprehensive. 'I've been such a heel to her.' Even the excuse of his lack of experience with girls being limited did little to assuage the ball of guilt building momentum in his chest. He finished the meeting not sure that he had heard even half of what had been going on.
Aang decided to walk to Mai's house to recollect his thoughts and find a way to beg for her forgiveness. He stopped at the edge of the palace gates and waited for Zuko to catch up. "How did you know---"
"Stealthy you aren't. Besides you've been staring at me for the last hour and half. So I guessed you'd want to talk to me." Aang said.
"Are you really gonna ask Mai to marry you?" Zuko asked.
"Yes, Zuko I am. I hope you're not here to try to talk me out of it, because it won't do any good. I love her and nothing you say will change that."
"I don't like it and I won't pretend I do. You deserve that much honesty. I just would like to offer my friendship. You once said we could be friends. I would like to take you up on that." Zuko clarified.
"Why now?" Aang challenged.
"The better man won. You'll make her happy and I wish that for you both. I have to come to terms with it along with everything else in my life. I will need your help to reunite my Nation. I can't do it alone."
Zuko was humbled as Aang reached out and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Thanks, I will be glad to help. I have to go Zuko." Aang did not want to hurt the older man more that he had already but he was desperate to see and hold Mai again.
"I understand." Zuko remarked watching Aang hurry off to Mai's house. That could have been him but he had squandered it. It was times like this that he missed his uncle the most. He decided to go to their old tea shop before the Jasmine Dragon.
He inhaled the dark intense richness of the tea soaked house and seated himself to the right in the corner as far from others as possible.
"What can I get you sir?" Zuko looked up into the familiar eyes of Jin. "The cure for a lost love?"
"White Lotus Tea. It's new and comes with compliments from General Iroh of the Jasmine Dragon," Jin said placing her hand slightly over his in comfort.
"I'll have that," Zuko replied. Wondering if it was providence that had sent him here.
Mai's House -
He approached Mai's house and sling shooted onto her roof. He slid down it and crept around. She was on the terrace of her room staring into the sky. "So you asked for my hand in marriage and my father happily consented, is that why you are here? To collect your bride?" she asked.
"Your father told you huh. I'm sorry I had wanted to tell you myself but the opportunity didn't arise until earlier and I got sidetracked by Zuko and well… so what's your answer?"
"What's your motivation? I thought you said we would discuss this at a later date."
"I don't want to wait anymore. I've made my decision but I need yours. Don't you want to go home?" he asked rejection already eating away at his sunny mood.
"I am home, Aang." Mai responded.
"I thought your home was by my side? Has that changed and you just haven't told me?"
Mai shook her head in disbelief, "I'm a replacement. What girl wouldn't love to be that? Of course I'll come back so you can continue to ignore me and if I'm really lucky you might say more than two words to me at dinner. What an honor that will be."
She waved him away slipping back into her room, "go home Aang or better yet go find Katara. She might want to still be with you, though if she doesn't you can always find some high born Earth Kingdom lady."
He slammed into the terrace, anger and desperation battling for dominance over his face, "after everything we've been put through you're just going to let me leave? What happened to making your life with me? I'm more sorry than you'll ever know that I've ignored you these past few weeks but I was just trying to figure things out and I have."
She paused on her doorway, "really? I'm all a quiver with anticipation. Tell me Aang. I'm dying to know."
"Don't do that. Don't hide behind that mask of yours. I know perfectly well that you aren't indifferent to me." He forcibly pressed his lips to hers, reminding her of the times that her passion had burned just for him.
She pushed him away, "don't you dare do that again. You don't get to kiss me and pretend that everything is ok. You don't get to just ignore how much you've hurt me. I patiently waited, prayed that you would open up to me again but all you did was what you accuse me of. You clammed up and now you just want to sweep it away with a declaration of marriage? I'm not that easy."
"I'm fully aware of that, why do you think I'm here ready to drop to my knees at your request."
She glared at him not willing to budge so he stalked over to her. "Mai, I can't apologize enough for this past month." He pulled her into his arms and she struggled but he was much stronger than her and he just waited until she tired herself out, "I never thought that the break with Katara would be so hard. I don't have your strength and I'm truly sorry I damaged our relationship with my silence."
"I hate you for making me feel like this. For making weak and mostly for crying for you. I'm sick of crying over you stupid men." She sniffed, her hands slipped beneath the folds of his tunic to rest on his bare back. "How can we possibly work? Between Zuko and Katara there is so much baggage. Is there any room left for us?"
"We will work because Zuko and Katara are part of the past. I saw that today, I need to move forward and that can only work if you are next to me every step of the way. Mai close your eyes," he pleaded.
Mai obeyed and she could hear a tinkling noise and something cool slide over her head and rest on her collarbone. "Mai?" she opened her eyes and touched the carved beads with wonder.
"For these past three weeks, I've been carving these. It felt like someone was guiding me and now I know why. The last thing I would do is hurt the one I love. Mai will you marry me?" He asked lifting her hair and adjusting the sand colored beads.
"You mean it? You sure about this?" Mai's eyes were dark and full and he could see her fear. Zuko had once proposed to her and taken it back and he could see that reflected in their depths.
"Yes. I haven't been so sure of anything else in my life. I love you Mai. Be my wife."
When Mai had first met Aang the first thing that had spoken to her about him were his eyes. He had never been able to tell a lie with his eyes. They always confessed for him regardless of what his mouth was saying. "Yes, but will you say it again?"
She ducked her head down shyly unable to look into those gray colored orbs, "I love you Mai." He twirled her around. All their anger and doubts dissolving into the inky darkness. "I love you, I love you." He stopped his enthusiastic shouting and teased, "aren't you going to tell me?"
"I think its fairly obvious that I do but if you must hear it," she sighed dramatically.
"Oh, I do. I have to be reassured," he said.
"I love you too, though you're much too hyper and I really shouldn't encourage you." Mai said leveling him with a mock serious look as he put her down.
"Mai, I look forward to a lifetime of you calming me down," he replied stealing a well earned kiss.