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Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar.

Chapter 10

"How could this happen?" Katara said as she stared at the letter. "We wrote to tell her parents how she felt, that she was happy with us. How could her dad expect her to come home like this and meet a fiancé she's never met?"

She was getting angry, but kept her voice low as she saw Toph stir and sigh as she shifted in her sleep.

"We need to tell her," Katara said as she stood up.

"I agree," Aang said, "but once she's awake. She hasn't left his side since he was hurt. We should get some rest and tell her tomorrow."

Katara nodded and sank back into her chair. Her exhaustion came over her as she felt her anger slip away. Her head nodded once as she fought to stay awake, thinking of her nice comfortable bed, but she fell asleep before she could get up.

She woke the next morning to talking from the other corner of the room. Katara brought her head up and saw Toph in the same position, but awake and speaking softly with Zuko. Katara sat up straighter, stretching the kinks out of her back as Kalaya walked in the door from the large infirmary.

"Good morning," the healer said to Toph and Zuko. She went over and checked Zuko's vitals with blue healing water covering her hands.

"Looks like you'll be up tomorrow," she told Zuko before she turned to Toph. "And you should get some rest. Good morning, Katara, how are you doing?"

Katara saw Toph and Zuko turn their faces towards her in surprise as she stood up, straightening her shirt and smiling a greeting to the healer.

"I need to check on my other patients, but I'll check in later, and Toph, you need rest. I'll lock you in your room if you don't get any," Kalaya said as she turned to go, giving a stern look to the earthbender.

Katara saw Toph duck her head in a slight nod, though a wry smile was on the earthbenders' face, hidden from the healer by Toph's bangs. Zuko nodded before glancing at Katara again.

"How long have you been here?" he asked her once Kalaya had exited.

"Since last night," Katara replied. "You two were asleep."

Zuko nodded and turned back to Toph, smiling. Katara saw him squeeze Toph's hand as she approached them, still holding Toph's letter from her dad in her hand.

"Toph, there's something I have to tell you, or at least read to you," Katara said as she walked to them.

She found another chair and brought it to sit next to Toph and Zuko. They were looking at her puzzled, as she took Toph's free hand and placed the letter in it. Toph ran her thumb over the seal and her face ran through a series of emotions from happy to sad to confused.

"What does it say?" she asked Katara as she handed the letter back.

Katara glanced at Zuko, worried, before taking a deep breath and opening the letter.

"It says; To my daughter Toph, this is your father. I know you have been traveling the world, teaching the Avatar, a task that has brought honor to our family, but now is the time to come home. The Avatar surely must have mastered earthbending by now and your family needs you. We are about to merge our business with the Ha Long Family. You are to return to Gaoling at once to meet the son of the Ha Longs, Tawn. You and he are to be affianced and the union of the two families will produce the largest merchant family in the world. Your mother hopes to see you soon."

Katara looked up at Toph as she finished and saw the earthbender's free hand clenched into a fist, her knuckles turning white, and her face was hidden by her bangs.

"You don't have to go," Zuko said softly to Toph, still holding her other hand.

Toph sighed and turned her gaze to him, starting to smile softly. Her body started to relax as she turned her misty gaze onto the firebender.

"You faced your father, I need to face mine," she told Zuko before turning her gaze to Katara. "When did you learn about it?"

"Last night," Katara said, sighing, glad she wouldn't have to put up with Toph's temper. "Aang gave it to me, and I wanted to tell you, but they made me let you sleep."

"Good thing too," Toph replied, smiling a wry smile. "I would have kicked everyone's' buts if they had woken Zuko."

"I'm not helpless here," Zuko said, "And I would have helped if they had woken you."

Katara smiled at him, glad they both were taking the news in stride.

"You should rest until Kalaya says you can get up," she told him. "You lost a lot of blood before Aang could stop the bleeding. What happened anyway?"

Zuko sighed before starting to talk.

"I saw the assassin go after Aang, and knew that if she faced him in hand to hand, she'd kill him. He's our only hope, and I've given everything to make sure he will stay that way. I engaged her when she went after him and we fought, mostly with swords and daggers. She must have noticed her numbers dwindling as we fought. She's better than me, though I held my ground. She managed to get a dagger into my side as she called the retreat."

Zuko became silent and Katara saw he was reliving the moment and his brow furrowed as if he didn't want to think about something.

"What else happened?" Toph asked calmly.

Zuko looked into the earthbenders eyes and Katara saw him squeeze her hand again. She knew he didn't want to tell Toph what had happened next, but had to.

"She whispered something to me. She told me that if she couldn't have the Avatar, she'd have me first, and then pick off the others one by one until the Avatar was all alone. Then she'd kill him. She's going to try and kill us all, and thinks I'm already dead."

"You would be," Katara said, "if Aang hadn't stopped the bleeding and Kalaya healed you."

Zuko looked at Katara and nodded.

"Thank you, Katara," he told her. "For guiding Aang through the healing. The Green Dragon thought we were the worst threats and will go after you next to finish what she has started."

Katara sighed. "I know. We're heading to Gaoling to see the specialist once you're well enough. Sokka has a few ideas he's passed on so that they can defend themselves against the balloons. Hopefully it won't be too long before I can waterbend again."

Zuko nodded and became silent as he turned his head to look at the ceiling. Katara took the cue and rose from her chair. She placed Toph's letter next to her.

"I'll be outside in the infirmary helping if you guys need anything, but you both should rest," she told them.

Zuko nodded again, and Toph sighed.

"I will, after he's asleep again," Toph said, turning back to Zuko.

Katara smiled at them and left the room, trying to find Hina. She found the head nurse and attendant encouraging a man with a bad burn on his shoulder, and waited until she was done and had turned away.

"Oh, hello dear," Hina said when she saw Katara. "Did you get something to eat yet?"

"Not yet, but after I do, where can I help?"

"Ah, you're such a dear," Hina said, smiling a warm, genuine smile. "Find me once you've gotten a bite and I'll have you changing bandages. Food is always available in the dining hall for the nurses and patients."

"Thank you," Katara said as she hurried to the dining hall, he stomach starting to growl.

She found Aang and Bumi in the dining hall along with a few nurses getting food for some of the injured. Aang and Bumi were talking quietly in the corner and smiled and waved to Katara when they saw her enter the room. She grabbed a sandwich and some fruit before joining the king and Avatar.

"How's Zuko doing?" Aang asked once Katara had joined them.

"Doing well," she answered. "He's awake, but still a little pale. I read Toph her letter."

She saw Aang and Bumi looked shocked and surprised as she took a first bite.

"And you're all right?" Bumi asked, still surprised. "The Ba Fongs are known for their tempers."

Katara nodded as she swallowed. "I know, but surprisingly, both Zuko and Toph can control each others tempers quite well. She wants to face her father, and I don't blame her."

Bumi nodded while Aang was still looking shocked.

"They have both grown very much since joining you and your companions, Aang," Bumi said, smiling at Aang. "You have all grown since you've met."

Aang smiled and glanced at Katara, blushing. "I think you're right, Bumi. Katara, any plans today?"

Katara's smile faltered. "I told Hina I'd help her in the infirmary. But catch me again later, and we'll have some time alone."

She watched Aang frown before he started smiling again.

"Sounds like a plan. I'll go see if Sokka needs any help," Aang said as he left.

Aang bowed to Bumi and smiled at Katara before he left. Bumi saw some generals heading his way and excused himself to meet the men. Katara saw an empty chair and enjoyed her breakfast before heading back to the infirmary to help Hina.

Hina had her change bandages over burns behind Kalaya as the healer went around, healing with waterbending. They did that until early evening when they finally reached the last burn patient.

"Seti!" Katara cried as she spotted the young man. "Are you all right?"

"Fine, Lady Katara," he said as he held up his right arm to Kalaya. "Just a small burn. Thank you Lady Kalaya."

Kalaya blushed as the young man thanked her and Katara moved in to bandage the newly healed skin.

"Thank you again, for holding my daggers for me," she told Seti before heading off to follow Kalaya.

Kalaya was still blushing and was starting to head to the dining hall.

"Are you all right?" Katara asked the healer when she caught up with her.

"Yes," Kalaya replied, still blushing. "Do you think he likes me?"

"Seti? I don't know. Why don't you ask him?"

Kalaya's cheeks turned crimson. "I've tried. I just get tongue tied whenever I get close to him."

Katara started giggling. "Just talk to him. You'll be fine."

They saw Aang heading their way and Kalaya said goodbye as they reached him. Aang smiled at Katara and held out his arm for her. Katara hooked her arm in his as he led the way to the dining hall.

"Is she ok?" Aang asked her. "Kalaya, she looked red."

"She likes Seti, the guy who interrupted us. And she can't talk to him. But I think she'll be fine. How was your day?"

"Good, I played with Appa and Momo. Sokka sent his hawk back to Suki to tell her we'll be there soon. Are you hungry?"

Katara glanced at Aang and saw that he was grinning, and his face looked like he had a surprise and was about to burst if he didn't show her soon.

"Starving. Did you plan something?"

Aang blushed and she knew she had hit the mark.

"Yeah, this way," he said as he led her off into a side corridor, away from the dining hall.

He led her through the hallways to the fountain courtyard where a blanket was set out on one of the lawns behind the fountain with some food and juice. They enjoyed a quiet evening together, eating, talking and an occasional kiss as it got late. Katara started yawning, but tried to stifle it as she snuggled against Aang's shoulder.

"You're tired, you should get some sleep," he said, trying to stifle a yawn of his own.

He smiled at her and got up, holding his hand out to her. She took it and he helped her up before grinning at her.

"I don't think you'll make it to your room," he said, still grinning mischievously. "Can I take you there? By air scooter?"

Katara turned thoughtful. Though she had seen Aang use his air scooter many times effectively, she didn't know how good he would do with another person on.

"C'mon, it'll be fun," he said.

She smiled at him and sighed.

"Ok. What should I do?"

Aang's grin widened and he created his air scooter, balancing easily on it with his foot, his legs in their normal cross legged position.

"Step onto my legs, and hang on," he said over his shoulder as he rotated so that his back was to her.

Katara smiled and held onto his shoulders as she climbed so that her feet were on his legs at his waist. She held onto his shoulders as he took off. Katara let out an involuntary shriek as she almost flew off, but she held on. They flew through the corridors, passing people as if they weren't there. Aang was laughing and Katara felt herself laugh as well as they continued on, before suddenly stopping outside her door.

Katara felt sorry that the ride was over as quickly as the air scooter faded away into nothingness. She jumped off his back as his legs straightened so that his feet could touch the floor. He turned around to her and was grinning as he stepped in close to her.

"That was fun, we should do that another time," she said, blushing as his face inched closer to hers.

"Yeah, another time," he whispered before he leaned in to kiss her.

Katara wrapped her arms around Aangs' neck as he wrapped his around her waist as they started to kiss.

"Ahem," Toph's voice said from behind Katara. "I wouldn't interrupt you, but I need to get through the door before I fall asleep."