Chapter 10. Promises Made

"I can't believe that we haven't been bothered…" Katara commented quietly as she and Aang walked hand in hand threw the crowded streets towards a restaurant they had both agreed on, people continually pointed and whispered about seeing the Avatar but none had tried to approach him as they had in the past, it was both relaxing and an unnerving experience for the two master benders, who were trying to just enjoy their last day to relax together. The gang would be leaving from the Fire Nation tomorrow morning, they had all the information they needed with Tinly's letter to try and find a place where they could meet up with her, and it had pretty much become a race against the clock for the air bending woman's life, not to mention for Zuko's mother. Now that the Avatar knew of his people still being alive, the ASSU had full intentions of stopping him from helping them. Aang knew from his fellow Air nomad's words that the Secret force had been looking for the fifth air settlement for years, and after all the recent failed attempts of trying to reach the avatar, the ASSU were quickly zeroing in on the Air nations last remaining hope for survival's location. However stressing all of this information was, the gang had decided to all enjoy this last day before they had to begin this new mission, knowing full well that they wouldn't get another real chance for a long time.

"I think they are getting used to seeing me now… Besides, I'd like to think they have respect for my girlfriend and I while were out on a very obvious date." He gave her his trade mark grin while squeezing her hand lightly. "I guess that could be the case, but It still doesn't stop the glares I get from other girls… it makes me want to water-whip them…" she returned the gesture to a group of females across the street from them, all of which were looking at her with varying levels of disgust. Aang responded to her tension, and those other women, by pulling her close against him and kissing her, not a light peck in the slightest either. "Well, you'd think they would be used to that over anything else… I mean, I've never been with another girl… nor would I want to be." She smiled a little light headed from his very public display of affection for her as they resumed walking. "Really? You'd never want to be with anyone else?…" Her voice held more hope in it then she would have liked. He looked at her like she'd grown a second head. "Katara… seriously… I've been in love with you sense the day you released me from that iceberg. What makes you think I'd change my mind?" She gave a weak grin while her eye's found the ground suddenly very interesting, as they stood outside the place they were going to eat. "I don't know… maybe realizing you were the avatar and could have anyone you wanted… I mean, I'm just a peasant… hardly anything spec-" She was silenced by his strong but gentle lips against hers, He fisted the back of her new outfit as he pulled her tightly against him, giving her no chance to back away from him. "-Never. Think like that. Again. You are everything to me." He said breathlessly when she finally released his mouth from her own desperate need.

Tears glittered in her blue eyes as she hugged him. "Ok…" her voice was whispered, and husky from all the emotions that seemed like they wanted to overpower her. It took them a few minutes to gain composure during which he said. "Besides, you aren't a peasant, last I checked your father was the chief of the southern water tribe… that kind of makes you a princess, don't you agree?" Katara laughed with a light blush. "I guess… " Truthfully she hadn't considered ever being royalty, having grown up in a very small place that she had yet to even go back to sense right after Ozai's defeat, she always just felt like a normal person doing what she could to help her fellow water tribesmen.

They both finally managed to relax enough that they could comfortably enter the restaurant, doing so caused their current thoughts to be momentarily ceased as people immediately began speaking to them. "Avatar Aang! What a pleasure to have you here. How may I help you on such a fine day?" "A table for two please?" He asked kindly to the store owner whom had seen them coming in and taken the place of the normal hostess. "Yes sir, right this way…" Katara rolled her eyes in amusement when they were seated in a private booth by the window, it never failed. Where ever they went, if Aang was noticed they would be treated like royalty. "You know… sometimes I'm glad you're the Avatar…" he snorted in amusement as the waiter approached them, then left quickly with their orders, as if his job had been threatened if he disrupted the Avatar's visit in any way. "I guess it's not so bad… it's still weird to me though, I mean… I grew up a monk, to be treated like I'm some kind of king is just not something I think I'll ever get used to…"

She laughed, tracing random designs on his hand as they rested them up on top of the table. "That's not a bad thing Aang, You're humble. That's defiantly something I've always been grateful for." He smiled just happy to be in this moment with whom he considered to be the most beautiful woman in the world. His mind began drifting towards the engagement pendant he had still nestled in his robes. "Katara…" He asked suddenly nervous, a blush crossing his pale cheeks as he debated on if he would do it now. "Yes Aang?" She felt his anxiety levels rise, and stroked his hand calmly."When we get everything sorted out with the other Airbenders, and the ASSU…" he paused, being unable to go exactly where he wanted at the moment, his throat seeming to close, so after a deliberate moment of silence he redirected his words just slightly. "Where do you want to live? I mean… you've stayed with me for the past few years, and I guess you could say we've lived in Ba Sing Se… but I mean, Sokka and Suki will have to stop traveling with us soon… and well, I was thinking… I mean, I know I'm a nomad by nature and all but… and this is just a thought, not saying you can't go with your brother either…I guess what I'm saying is… it would be nice to have a permanent home…for us… I mean, if you wanted to that is…"

Katara blinked, she knew that wasn't all that Aang was trying to ask. She had known him to long not to know when he was struggling with something, however the question she thought he might be wanting to ask was something she wasn't sure was a figment of her imagination or not yet, and frankly she was to terrified at the moment by the possibilities to find out. "Well, I want to go where ever you do… I know Sokka and Suki want to settle down soon, but I'm not with them. I'm with you." He couldn't stop the smile that shot from ear to ear as his heart rate picked up tenfold. "Really? You still want to be with me?" She rolled her eyes and squeezed his hand, not sure how he could possibly think otherwise. "Of course Aang…-" Her mind went back to the vision she had seen the night before, being at the Southern air temple, even in her heart she knew it was right. "Why don't we go back to the Southern Temple… that was your childhood home after all… and I'm sure the other Air nomads will want to stay near you for a while, if anything it will be a good place to rebuild your nation. And will be a nice place to um… start… a family..."

Aang didn't miss the blush that covered his best friend's cheeks, though he could tell he had one forming of his own from the quickly becoming awkward conversation. "A family… would be… nice." He stumbled a bit when he said that out loud, having not meant to. "I mean… that temple isn't the largest, but I'm pretty sure the nomads left aren't very many…I mean, your right, it would be a good place to rebuild. I like that idea-"The waiter brought their food unknowingly sparing the young couple a few moments to regain their composure, they returned thank you's with him before he left again, clearly still nervous to be in the Avatars presence. "Maybe we could ask Sokka and Suki if they would like to live their too… and even Toph might like it. Especially sense she's talking to Teo now…" Katara couldn't get the blush to leave so she just sucked it up and started to eat, slowly relaxing at the thought of her brother and sister-in-law living with them still. "I think that would be really cool if they agreed… Toph could help us re-build it too. Make it more comfortable to house families…" 'Again I had to say family, why did I have to say that?' She decided it was time to shut up as the blush reached all the way down her neck. "This food is wonderful…" Aang nodded both amused and grateful for the conversation change, a small smile playing at his lips. 'She wants to have a family with me… '

His heart danced with the thoughts of Katara and his children as the words sang throughout his mind, out of the blue a thought hit him. "We need to visit the Southern Water Tribe…" He nearly choked on his own food as he realized he had said that out loud. "Why…?" "Oh um…I don't know… maybe to just check on it… we haven't been there in so long…" She let it slide, not sure at this moment she wanted to know what was on her boyfriends mind.


"Sokka really?" "Yes Suki! It matches my sword sheath and belt perfectly!" Sokka's wife rolled her eyes as she watched him pay for yet another bag, having left the other one at the western air temple, or so he claimed. "Sokka… you really do worry me some days." "Aww, but you still love me!" He gave her an over-the-top grin before placing a gentle kiss on her lips. She laughed. "Yeah, I guess I kind of have to at this point… I mean you know…" He glared at her playfully as she patted her rounded stomach for emphasis. "Oh I see how it is!"

"Sokka… did you seriously get Another bag? What happened to the last four you've had in the past year?" Toph strolled up to the couple, Teo rolling beside her laughing a bit, He had heard stories of the water tribesmen's obsession with shopping, and more so with owning bags that matched his outfits. "So what if I did?" His argument died when he took in the details of his earth bending friend. She had a cheerful glow about her that he could have sworn he'd never seen before. He was going to comment but Suki nudged him in the ribs, knowing full well what he was about to say and not wanting to embarrass the younger girl.

"I like your outfit Toph, I knew it was a keeper! And why don't you ever wear your hair down like that? It looks beautiful." the girl in question blushed as she crossed her arms in a happier than normal way. "Thanks Suki, I guess it's ok. And I'm only wearing my hair down because we're not doing anything that will make it annoying, don't get used to it." "But she's right Toph, you look very pretty." Teo piped up with a grin as he took a small amount of amusement in seeing her pale cheeks turn pink. "So what else do we all need to get before we leave?" The earth bender decided a topic change was necessary as she walked along side her friends down the strip of stores. "Well, Aang mentioned we should get supplies to last for a few weeks, so I guess we need to get more food… ""Where did he say we were headed anyway?" Suki questioned while rubbing a spot on her stomach where her child had kicked affectionately.

"I think he said we were going to try to hit Omashu, and if nothing useful turned up we were going to try the eastern air temple… I don't know after that" Sokka said thoughtfully as he pulled out his atlas that he had gotten a few years ago. "If I'm right we will be traveling for the rest of the summer, though this means were probably going to miss the Summer solstice meetings, I wonder if the nations will be upset about that?" He added offhandedly, Toph furrowed her brows. "I remember last year how pissed the Earth king was when we didn't get Aang on time to the Spring meeting. That could be a problem." "Why? Where's this meeting going to be anyway?" Teo asked as everyone else sighed. "The Northern water Tribes hosting it this season, it used to be only held in the Fire nation before the war, as the Winter Solstice is usually the North's responsibility. But no one trusts them enough yet to have all of the officials be there that are needed to attend." Suki said. "Boy wont it be nice when they finally trust the Fire nation again? It's been a huge issue with Zuko for the past three years. He doesn't understand why they still won't allow him to properly host the meeting. And Aang's been unable to make much leeway in the process… hopefully within the next few years things will be better." Sokka spoke up again before being thoroughly distracted by a weapons store. "Here we go again…" Suki smacked her forehead with her hand as her husband disappeared from sight.

"Why is this meeting such a big deal?" The young man in the wheelchair asked offhandedly as he and the rest of them had followed Sokka into the store and watched him prance around with random weapons. "Well, aside from all the normal meetings that are held, the Solstice and Equinox meetings are an annual agreement of power change." Toph said while flicking a strand of her hair from tickling her nose. "I guess it more of a recognizing that one season's power has faded and another has strengthened type of thing… all of the kings and heavy officials show up for their designated element and then discuss everything that's been happening in their areas and what huge things can be done to better the world." "Oh I see… why is it so important that Aang be there?" Sokka popped out of the store and answered, as if he had been there listening the whole time. "Its one of the few meetings that the avatar is actually required to attend, well for the most part. That and he is the only at least known, living Air nomad to represent his race… it's really, a big huge waste of time if you want to know the truth, but officials are weird with what they consider important." He shrugged as they continued walking towards the food section of the markets. "I guess they will just have to get over it this summer… With what you've said Sokka, we will be somewhere in the earth kingdom during the meetings, nowhere close to that frozen waste land!" Toph said cheerfully, she detested the ice and snow that made up the North and South pole, preferring to stay in Warmer climates that didn't require shoes to survive.

"Yeah… I guess they can just yell at us all for it when the Fall Equinox meeting comes… Hopefully by then some of what were dealing with will be sorted out, either that or Suki's and My child will be born." "Oh I see how it is Snoozles! You don't mind the trouble we will all be in, because you're planning on skipping the meeting anyway! Cheater!" "Wait? I thought you said the Avatar had to attend these meetings, why do all of you go?" Suki smiled to Teo as Sokka and Toph slipped into their own world of bickering. "Well, He is the Avatar, but he needed others to stand in as representatives for his people. Us all being the closest thing he has to family agreed to take those positions… so technically all of us are Air Nation now. Sort of… you get the point." Teo nodded his understanding. They all then parted to hunt for proper food supplies, promising to meet back up within the hour.

Zuko waved in greeting as everyone slowly trickled back into the palace grounds. He was out in the front gardens with Azuna playing with some of her new toys, Shishi and Momo were giving one another extensive grooming sessions nearby, both totally oblivious to anything around them. Aang and Katara were the first ones back, the Air bender immediately took in the site of his obviously attached lemur friends with a soft smile, he nudged Katara who was talking with Zuko and she too looked over to see the cute little creatures. "Aw, they really like each other!" "Yeah, it looks like Momo's got a girlfriend!" at his name the small bat poked his big ears up and eyed his long time friend, making a few excited sounds as he pulled ShiShi close to him. She let out a soft purr that had everyone chuckling.

"Aang, if you want to leave Momo here, I don't mind keeping him too." Zuko said off handedly as he helped his daughter dig a hole, she seemed oblivious to what was going on around her, that is until she heard Sokka's voice. "Untl SokSok!" She squealed as she took off faster than anyone thought her little legs could take her. "Hey you! How's my favorite niece today?" They heard the Water tribe warrior say before he and Suki came around the corner, Azuna in his arms. "Oh Sokka… you got another bag?" Katara commented, making Aang laugh as he noticed the deep burgundy colored satchel too. "What's everyone's problem with me getting a new bag! Zeesh! I lost my old one at the western air temple ok?" everyone present just shook their heads. Azuna giggled at her Uncles obvious discomfort. "SokSok Funneh!" The man looked down at the little angel in his arms with a wicked grin. "Oh, you think I'm funny Azuna?" her golden eyes widened in mock fright just before she was overcome with laughter as Sokka's fingers found her ticklish spots.

"Hey! That's enough Sokka, let the poor fire brat catch her breath!" Toph shouted as she and Teo rounded the corner as well, she quickly stole the child from her tickle attacker, receiving a hug from tiny arms in gratitude. "Tank ou An ToffToff! Tank ouuu!" She kissed her favorite Aunts cheek, much to the young woman's surprised delight. "You're welcome brat!" She grinned down at the girl. "What I don't understand though is, why didn't you just fire bend him? We all know you can do it!" "Toph!" Zuko shouted, "What?" "She's too young to fire bend!" "Yeah right! You all saw how she got me last year!" "Yeah, that's just because she's advanced for her age… most kids don't start showing that their fire benders until about five." "Oh… well she can, so again, I don't see the problem." The toddlers father shook his head giving up. "Well sense you are all back now, dinner's going to be ready soon, I thought it would be nice to have one more real meal with everyone before you take off." "Oh that sounds like a great Idea, but it's still early?""I figured you would all want to go to bed early so yeah… I can tell the cooks to wait though if-""Oh no! that's fine, your right I'm sure everyone wants a good night's rest anyway!" Aang interrupted cheerfully.

"Well isn't this depressing…" Mai said with a small smile as everyone sat down to eat. "Yeah, but hopefully it won't be so long before we all see each other again." Aang grinned back, taking a piece of bread to munch on. "Well the summer solstice will be coming up… you're going to be there aren't you?" Zuko asked in between bites. "Um… well." "No Zuko, we probably won't be…" Sokka answered for Aang, already having discussed this earlier. "What! Aang, Your going to leave me alone with all the other nations?" The Fire Lord halfheartedly complained. He had been there last night when Aang finally read the letter he had received from Tinly. He was aware that it would probably be fall by the time he saw his friends again. "I'm sorry Zuko… but right now, My people's safety and survival mean more to me then dealing with politics… but, could you keep an ear out for me? Incase anything interesting is said?" He grinned when his friend nodded in conformation. "I understand, and your right. You're the only chance my mother has of surviving this as well…" This quieted everyone for a moment as they thought over the situation fully.

"Don't worry Zuko, we'll get your mom back for you." Katara finally said, her voice gentle as she helped feed bits and pieces of food to Azuna. "Good, because it would be nice to have him complain about something else besides his mother for a change…" Mai added, her husband smiled as he understood what she meant. She had been in a much better mood sense they figured out why the attempt on their daughters life had been about, it didn't make things better, but understanding the whys of a situation like that had a way of putting their minds at ease. "Yeah, and if luck has it we can have all the air benders that are still alive, safely out in the open again!" Sokka said before shoving another piece of goose chicken into his mouth. Aang finally looked away from watching Katara, having been picturing her with their own child, to look at his meat obsessed friend. "That would be nice… Speaking of, Katara and I were talking about a place to stay… I was wondering, have you and Suki figured out where you want to raise your baby?"

This caught the young couple off guard, but Sokka quickly relaxed a grin covering his face. "Well we've talked a little about it, I was actually going to ask you first Aang but… What do you think about living at one of the temples?" This made both the boys sister and her boyfriend laugh. "That's exactly what we were thinking… the Southern temple to be exact." The avatar said as he watched Sokka exchange a happy glance at Suki. "Then it's settled, that's where we want to live… It just seems logical, being not far from the Southern Water tribe, but far enough away from other places that we won't have to worry about attacks." Aang nodded in agreement. "That's what Katara and I thought, not to mention it's not easy to reach the Southern Temple, and by the time someone did one of us would know it." "What about Me twinkletoes?" The boy in question gave a sheepish smile, not even worried that it was missed on his friend. "Well, that was my second question. Toph would you want to stay with us there too? Teo you could come if he wanted, I mean you're already traveling with us now… but it's up to both of you." Teo nodded. "I'll have to go visit my father from time to time but I don't see why not, I've wanted to explore the other temples for a while now anyway!"

He blushed as he left unspoken that it would be nice to spend that much more time with Toph. She was also fighting the heat building up around her cheeks, her heart rate beating like a humming birds wings as she remembered that Teo would be traveling with them for now. "Yeah, I don't mind I guess…" She finally said, trying to stay just as nonchalant as ever. "Well, the Southern temple isn't too far from us I guess… maybe once things settle down it will be easier to visit then?" Zuko asked, he had hoped that they would of chosen the western temple, being so much closer to him and his family. But he understood why it would be the Southern that they'd prefer. They had desert passed out and the conversations slowly began drifting to random things that had happened in each individual's day, everyone just enjoying one another's presence as they all fought the knowledge that tomorrow they would be once again on another important mission, and that they'd be leaving a part of their rag-tag family behind.

Aang sat up against the head board of his bed, fire bending just enough light to read over the letter again, wanting to make sure that he was able to follow her instructions perfectly so that they'd have a better chance.

Avatar Aang,

I know that we haven't exactly gotten to get to know one another, but I wanted to tell you that Ursa and myself are leaving. We've been hiding here to long and things have become… complicated, not to mention near impossible when it comes to reaching you. The ASSU have been tracking me a lot better than usual lately and it's starting to scare me, so we will have to meet at another time.
Aang I want you to know, we are not the last of our race. But there aren't very many of us left, when I left the Kai Temple with my best friends it was because my own parents along with theirs and several others hadn't returned.

You see,We had gotten word from one of the few who knew how to reach us about your return, it was such good news that a lot of the nomads whom were older and could hardly take being contained as it was took off to find you. No one ever returned or was heard from again, eventually Master Gen' Tow began organizing search parties for you. We knew what had happened to the others, we've always known what usually happens to the ones we never hear from again. The A.S.S.U has been hunting for our kind sense Sozin massacred our people during your youth. After the first fifty or so years our people decided it was safest to just stay at the sacred hidden temple.

Of course your well aware of our nature, it wasn't easy and through the years many couldn't handle it and attempted to return to the normal world to be free as the wind. There are a few families who have succeeded at this, three to be exact. All of which have been so careful about what they do and if and when they bend that it's almost as if that life became more of a prison then the Kai Temple. After you were returned to this world we became over excited, unfortunately that was what has cost so many lives, and what's worse you never heard a peep of it until a bit ago. That should tell you right now just how powerful the A.S.S.U are. Be careful Aang, sure you're the avatar. But there are a lot of them and each one has a special ability that sets them apart from the rest.

Now, Ursa and myself are planning to head to Omashu, it's somewhere we haven't rotated too in a while and should be safe to hide in for a short time. I ask that you come to us, but know that they will probably be following your sky bison, and unless you're quick we will head towards the eastern temple. If you miss us there I will do my best to leave clues of our next location. Please Avatar, I have a younger brother I haven't seen in three years, where all that's left of my family line and I'm so scared he will try to find me if we don't get word to him soon. What's worse is that the A.S.S.U has a general location of where the Kai City is… If they find it… it will be easy to destroy. All that's left are younger generations who are still fighting to become masters, and the three High Monks, Master Gen' Tow. Master Sona 'Li, and Master Talan. There are no others, everyone else has been killed including my two best friends whom along with myself were the last of our generation whom had fully mastered air bending. If the sacred lands of Kai are found our race is doomed.
I have faith in you Avatar Aang, You and your friends will be able to save us. I know you will.
May the right wind guide you, May your skies be clear.

-Tinly

Aang smiled as he looked over the last line, "May the breezes protect you, Until we meet again, Fly Free my friend." He finished the old saying, remembering well how common a phrase that had been with his people growing up. It had been so long sense he had heard it now that his eye's misted over. Finally he pulled himself out of his memories and rolled the small note up sticking it back into his bag, before curling up in bed and letting sleep take him."I'll find a way to help you Tinly. I promise."
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Ok folks. here's chapter 10. =D that was for some reason not easy to get out... I kept getting distracted by IRL the hole time but here you go.

Also. HOLY CRAP I HAVE 21 REVIEWS! 8D that makes me epicly excited! that means people like my story! So again thank you to everyone who's still reading =D

Loopy Kid: I hope that this will satisfy my small -lets-pretend-it-didn't-happen- mistake XD lol I corrected the Peasant comment in a way that flowed with the story... I hope you enjoy it. Sorry it took me more then a day or so, I'll start working on 11 tomorrow but I can't make promises for getting one out during the weekends Promise one will be out Tuesday at the latest, monday to sunday night at the earliest =) again never feel bad for pointing things like that out to me. I appreciate that! 83

Kimjuni2: =D that makes me happy to hear, I hope that you enjoy this chapter as well!

hyperpotterprincess: You just made me all giddy, thank you! I'm glad you think so and I promise to keep em' coming! Thank you for your review!

Thank you everyone as always for your reviews or even just reading the story. It means alot to me that people find this crazy imagination of mine to their liking! I'll have 11 up by Sunday at the earliest and tuesday at the latest ;D

Until next time!
Surf-