Healing

Summary: AU. Aang said forgiveness was the first step.

Note: Dedication. This was the first prompt that I wrote anything for and its special to me/personal favorite.

The laughter inside Susan had quieted into a respectful silence minutes after he parked next to the curb and leveled her with a steady gaze.

"You sure you wouldn't feel better with a partner in there?"

She was thoughtfully returning his stare before sighing, "You're right Sparky."

Leaning forward she lifted the familiar fedora from his head to hers, "Better bring the real love of my life."

"Ouch Dollface," Aang grabbed at his heart, "running off with one of my prized possessions; now I know it was better to leave Appa asleep."

Katara smirked, "Oh yeah, shaggy sheepdogs are totally the cat's meow this year."

"I knew you were scratching his ears more then usual lately."

Katara giggled, hitting him in the arm before following up with a kiss to Aang's cheek.

"Well, make up your mind already." Aang smirked.

"I see what you've been doing. Nothing but chuckles since we got in here."

"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."

The look in Katara's eyes warmed Aang right to his spirit, and his playful smirk conceded to a bashful smile.

Even after a year, as he was sure it'd be after a thousand, Katara made him the happiest fella he knew.

"Thank you, Aang."

Aang turned the ignition off. He tilted the rim of his hat upwards and planted a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"Take as long as you need."

—

It was their week.

Taking a break from planning for 'The Big Score' had the group planning an impromptu camping trip to a location Aang only described as the "Temple".

But before their Big Score, there was something Katara wanted… No. Needed to do.

So they asked Sokka to borrow Susan for a week, and drove a ways out from the distillery, closer to where Billie stayed.

On a hidden, clean pasture sat an abandoned church. Its backyard filled with loved ones whose deaths were better mourned privately.

Her mother was one of those people.

Clutching her necklace, Katara took a seat at the front pew, her throat closing at irregular intervals.

"This is as close as I can get, sorry Mom." She chuckled humorlessly while her right hand gripped her trench coat.

It was peaceful inside. She could hear the grass rustling through the chipped glass windows.

"I haven't had a chance to talk to you in forever… Remember Aang? I think I told you about him… Mom, he's the one." Katara smiled down at her shoes, "He's the reason I could even come here…"

Her gaze hardened, gaining the small, crazed luster it'd had nights before.

"Last week, I found him. The man that killed you… and I… I killed him."

Katara bit her lip. That was a lie. She tortured him. Aang put him out of his misery.

"I'm so sorry…" Her eyes were misting over, "I'm so sorry, I wasn't able to save you…"

"I miss you." She hunched over and hugged herself, the hair she'd pinned to the side fell over in a curtain.

Someone wrapped their arms around her.

"Mom?" She squeaked, her voice trapped in her lap.

Aang sighed into her neck and silently squeezed tighter.

"No. But I'm sure she's here. And I know she forgives you."

They sat there quietly until noon, when Katara finally sat up and smiled at Aang.

Just like he'd told her before.

Forgiveness was the first step to begin healing.

A/N: Dedicated to Lyralocke. All references were from her "Parlor Tricks" story, and you should definitely read her work.