*i commanded my muse Fairies to bring me some pie! I am still waiting on that, so whilst I waited, TADAH! I own nothing! And please be nice to poor Piandao lol!*
Katara sipped her beverage slowly. Today had been a rough day. Piandao had almost fainted at the sight of her, she looked exactly like her mother he said. They returned to the main house and now sat in awkward silence in the dinning hall. Toph claimed to have a splinter in her foot and dragged Sokka away to help her get it out. Piandao sipped a bit of whine that his butler had brought. And after what seemed to be ages, he spoke. "It's been a long time Katara."
"We've met before?" Katara inquired as she set her drink down. Piandao nodded, his aged eyes taking her in for a moment. He smiled, "yes, though you were about four at the time..." Katara nodded and the silence resumed for a moment more. Piandao sipped his whine again, "I have a feeling as to the nature of your sudden visit. Please, ask whatever it is you need of me." Katara could not help herself as her mouth voiced the questions her heart feared the answers too. "Did you and my mother have an affair?" He smiled, "you are not the first of your family to ask me this. But to truly answer this I must explain how your mother and I knew each other. We grew up together, childhood friend and high school sweethearts. When we graduated, I enlisted into the military as per the wishes of my family..." Piandao paused and covered his eyes, whether the light bothered him or he was trying to hide from the memory Katara was unsure.
"... While I was away, your mother... met your father. Her words were sincere in the letter she sent that shattered my world. I was in the middle of combat and the woman I had wanted to marry had met another man and planed to be his wife..." He breathed in heavy. "But... I eventually grew over it... I believe my accident was mostly to blame. After the war I returned home and worked for my fathers company for a few years. It was actually your brothers fault for your mother and my reunion. I was out for my afternoon jog when she stopped me and begged my help to get her child unstuck from the tree. We began to have coffee, two old friends catching up. But your father worked a lot, he tended to forget about family plans with her and Sokka. That or disregard them, I'll never know."
"But your mother allowed me to fill in for her husband on outings with Sokka, the three of us always had a grand time. Now Katara I need you to believe me when I tell you this, before and during the time of your birth, your mother and I were just very good friends. She could never betray her family the way that your father imagines." Piandao removed his hand from his eyes and stared strait into Katara's. She saw no deceit, no lies, though she wished Toph were here so that she might figure out if he was lying or not. Katara released her breathe 'when did I inhale?', "How can I be sure your telling the truth?"
Piandao chuckled a bit as he stood and walked over to the china cabinet by the kitchen door. He pulled out what looked to be a small black box and returned to his seat. "I was awarded this after my accident, behind it is the report of my injuries... I've made my peace with it, but others reactions have never been easy to take." He slid the box to Katara who caught it before it fell off the table. In it was a medal in the shape of a purple heart. Behind it was a yellowed, aged piece of paper. Katara unfolded it and read. ' First Sargent Piandao Kekoa... wounded Chameleon Bay... enemy sniper shot through the upper right thigh, strait through genitals and out the lower left femur... OMG!' Katara felt her eyes widen in horror as she realized what the report was truly telling her.
Piandao covered his face as he attempted to hide his snickers. "As you can see Katara, it is literally physically impossible for me to be your father. Your mother knew this as well, which is why I believe she was more than willing to share her little family with me. Unfortunately your father could not believe such a far fetched tale... I admit when it happened I had a hard time believing it myself. Never the less, I am not your father... and not through lack of wishing believe me." Katara covered her face with both hands, "I'm so embarrassed!" Piandao chuckled, "you! I just had to show a beautiful young lady a report that stated I lost my man parts!" They both started laughing loudly, Toph smiled from the other side of the kitchen door. "OK Snoozles and Jeeves, their done talking you can come out now." Sokka and the butler came out from the connecting pantry door, both flushed with embarrassment.
Katara toweled her hair out as she walked into her room, Piandao had insisted that she and Toph stay the night as his guests. She sat on the massive bed and snuggled into the soft comforter. Katara was greatly relieved to find out the man she called father her entire life was rightly so. But how t make him realize that? 'One crisis at a time,' she thought to herself. A light knock at her door pulled her from her musings. "Come in!" Sokka entered and closed the door behind him. "OK I should'a told you I was still in contact with Piandao, for that I'm sorry." Katara smiled, "Toph make you come in and apologize?" Sokka rubbed his rump, "for a blind girl, she packs a wallop. But you know I was only trying to keep things less complicated for you."
"Its fine Sokka... now that I know the truth... I feel... I don't know. Lighter? Maybe even closer to mom? Just this whole thing with Dad seems easier now." Katara replied as she sat back onto the bed. All Sokka could do was nod. "Alright baby sister. Get some sleep. Also call that boyfriend of yours. If I were him I'd be worried sick." Katara nodded and as Sokka left pulled the phone on the nightstand table onto the bed. She dialed Zuko's cell. He picked up after four rings, "Hello?"
"Hey lover." Katara cooed. "TARA! Where are you? Are you alright? Hows Toph?" Zuko asked frantically. Katara giggled, "I am fine, Toph is fine. We're fine. We are about an hour and a half outside of Blazing Palms. We'll be coming home in a few days." Katara hears Zuko let out a sigh of relief. She smiled into the receiver, "I found the answers I needed." She could feel Zuko smile into the phone, "I'm glad babe. I just kinda wish you would've included me..." "I'm sorry hun, but you've got things with your sister to worry about. After all, in about five months you're going to be an uncle." Zuko coughed slightly as he chuckled, "don't remind me. Jet is crashing on the couch tonight, she is only slightly hormonal and Jets at a loss." Katara laughed and wished Zuko a good night. After they hung up Katara snuggled deep into the covers and fell into a much needed sleep.