Rating - Eh, Light T?

Candles

"So let me get this straight? We got engaged. We got engagement gifts. Zuko throws us an engagement party nearly a year later with the wedding being a few months away, and we are get gifts for the engagement party?" Aang looked adorably befuddled as he sat amidst several crates, boxes, and packages of gifts that had been given to them at the party thrown by Zuko. The two had several servants help them carry as much as they could back to the palace suite—the one they weren't supposed to be sharing—so they could get a handle on the seemingly endless pile of stuff. Gifts had included everything from silks, cushions, cooking utensils, soaps, baskets, and fine glassware.

"We'll get more when we actually have the wedding ceremony too. If you think this is bad, just wait and see, Aang." Despite the fact that her words sympathized with Aang's plight, it was quite clear that Katara was enjoying every moment of this. The two had been traveling together since the end of the war. While Aang would always be a nomad at heart and Katara-like her element-would adapt and flow anywhere, it was obvious that she eventually wanted to have a home and be more settled than they had been over the years. All these gifts showered on them made the prospect more and more tangible. She looked serene and content sorting through the items that would fill their future home. Aang couldn't help but to smile at her even though all these earthly possessions were making him a little uncomfortable.

"What's that one? In the green wrapping paper." He pointed to a box that would have been the perfect size to house a curled up Momo. He didn't miss the light in her eyes and Katara reached for the box and and uncurled the scroll attached to the top.

"'Avatar Aang and Master Katara'," she read aloud, "'Please accept this humble gift as a way of showing my appreciation for recommending my services and products to his royal Earth King Kuie. My business has grown tremendously and despite our past differences I have you two to thank. Congratulations on your engagement.' It's signed Li Gan-Lan. Who is Li Gan-Lan?"

Aang shrugged and Katara turned the scroll over and saw that when it was uncurled the words "From the Cabbage Merchant" were visible on the outside. She grinned.

"He's the cabbage merchant. I guess we recommended him to Kuie one day."

"So…what'd he send us. Not cabbages I hope?"

Katara pulled off the green wrapping paper to reveal a small wooden crate. The moment she opened the box the combination of several sweet and floral aromas wafted up to her nose.

"Looks like he got us scented candles," she leaned forward and took a deep breath before looking over to where Aang was sitting and flashing him a bright smile, "Wanna smell?" Her excitement was adorable to him and he smiled back.

"What's the green one?" He asked as she inhaled the scent. She didn't answer but passed the green candle to him and he did the same.

"It's pine. I like it. It reminds me of camping in the woods with you," he disclosed after answering his own question. She grabbed another candle that was a reddish color, closed her eyes, and took in the pleasant scent.

"I've always found that scents evoked memories for me. What's this one?" She looked at him tenderly, her eyes almost seemed to be watering.

Aang took the candle from her hand and sniffed it. He returned her look and was certain this pleasing, flowery scent was bringing them back to the same moment, the moment when it was foretold to her that she would marry a powerful bender and he had been happily eavesdropping on the conversation. This scent had been heavy in his element, confirmation that the fortuneteller's predication had been correct. Three months from their wedding, nothing had yet proven her wrong.

"Panda lily. Aunt Wu was burning panda lily incense when she told you your fortune…or at least the first time she told you your fortune." Katara scoffed and playfully chucked some of the paper lining the candles in the crate at him.

"So you were eavesdropping!" she exclaimed but the mirth in her eyes betrayed any anger in her words.

"Katara, of course I was eavesdropping. Can you blame me? Who wouldn't have wanted to know that this," he gestured around the room, "was going to happen one day?" Her mouth fell open for just a moment from surprise at his answer. She moved over closer to him dropped herself into his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly. She moved her hands to his shoulders and the face to hold him close to her while his hands grasped tightly at her waist. He was a little breathless and glassy-eyed when she pulled back.

"What was that for?" He asked quietly. She once again didn't answer but reached for the box again and grabbed a cream-colored candle. She inhaled and indicated for him to do the same.

She whispered to him, "We're getting married in just three months and I couldn't be happier than I am right now. I want you—us—to remember this moment every time we burn this candle in our home."

He smiled up at her and kissed her again.

"Then I hope our house always smells like honey and vanilla."