A/N: Part 4/7 for Kataang week. Prompt "Storm" for Thursday July 24 2014. Turned into an AU. Enjoy!

The storm was tearing the city apart. Street lamps laying the roads, power lines down, blackouts in sections of the city. It was one of the worse storms they had ever seen and it wasn't ready to give up yet. Waterbenders fought against the rain and ran from the train stations. Airbenders manipulated the wind around themselves to steady their bodies. Everyone else was struggling with umbrellas and rain coats.

Being the avatar stuck walking the streets of Republic City in a storm like this is no problem. It takes a little effort, but other than that, it's a piece of cake. For a waterbender, even if you are the best? not so much. Her focus was on not getting her bag wet, filled to the brim with book and papers. So she kept her eyes down and marched through the streets, letting people make way for her. She was so focused she didn't see where she was going, and bumped right into him, her bag dropping and books flying everywhere just as a crack of lightning split the sky.

"Sorry!" She said and held her hand up, bending the rain and looking the person in the eyes who caught her by the shoulders.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked and helped her steady herself.

Their eyes met and they were caught off guard. Those eyes. So familiar.

"Aan-Avatar Aang?" She said with surprise.

"Katara?" He said with wide eyes letting her go. He smiled. "Wow I haven't seen you since…"

"Since graduation." She said with a shy smile. "How are you?"

"Me? Well, I'm sure you've seen the news, you know exactly how I'm doing." He said and rolled his eyes.

"I don't believe everything I hear though. You look good." She said and admired his sunset robes.

"Me? You look amazing. Wow, I can't believe it's been eight years. Time flies." She rubbed the back of his neck and looked down, seeing her bag and her books. "Oh! Sorry, let me help you."

He bent down and picked up her bag and books, bending the water right out of them and handing her the bag.

"Here."

"Thank you." She looked around and saw a coffee shop on the corner behind him.

"Do you have a couple of minutes?" She asked over the wind and thunder, pointing to the store.

"Sure!" He smiled and turned with her at his side, walking through the people to get to the shop. he opened the door for her and she smiled, ducking into the warm and thankfully lit café. They picked a table and sat down, a small silence falling between them.

"Do you want something to drink? My treat." He offered.

"Oh, um sure. Small hot chocolate."

"You got it." He nodded and excused himself.

Katara twirled a piece of hair around her finger. Eight years had changed him so much. He was a man now. Strong, tall, handsome, but he had always been good looking. Aang was standing in line thinking the same thing about her. She had been the most beautiful girl in school, no doubt. But now? She was goddess in the flesh, her beauty had only gotten better with age. He ordered her drink and got himself a tea, leaving a generous tip and coming back to their table.

"Thanks." She said and gripped the drink, their fingers brushing for just the slightest moment.

"No problem." he said and sat down, letting his tea cool.

"So, last I heard, you were going back south to live with your family. What are you doing in back Republic city?"

"Oh, well I actually stuck around and continued my education. I was actually on my way home from my internship when I bumped into you."

"That explains the nurse skirt." He said and they both chuckled.

"Yes, that would be my intern uniform so they know I'm not a real nurse yet."

"But you are the best healer I've ever known." He said and cocked his head to the side.

"Yeah well, no one cares about skill without a degree anymore." She rolled her eyes and took a sip of her drink. "How long are you in town?"

"Well, I've got two press conferences this week, a private meeting with the President, and a visit with our Chief of Police. So I'll be here for a bit."

"Oh okay." She nodded and took a sip of her drink, a little too shy to ask what she really wanted to say. Aang, however, never had a filter to begin with.

"Look, I need to say something." He said and took a deep breath. "I know we are probably totally different people from when we were in high school, but I always liked you. A lot. I was just so busy with my training I didn't have time for a relationship. And I don't know if you're single or not-"

"Oh no, I'm single." She interrupted and crossed her legs under the table.

"Good because I would really like to see you again. I know this is crazy but I don't think us meeting today was a coincidence."

Just then the power went out and Aang sighed in frustration, lighting a flame in his palm to see her again. Several people in the café did that same thing.

"Can I please take you out to dinner? On a date? Unless you don't like me, then that's okay too. You can say no."

"Aang I've always like you. I just didn't know why you didn't ask my out when we were younger, but I guess I understand now… but yes. I would love to go out with you."

"Great!" He said with a big smile. "I know a restaurant that serves all kinds of food. Friday at seven sound good?"

"Sounds perfect. Here," She said and dug through her bag, grabbing a pen and paper. She scribbled her address down and put her number at the bottom. She handed him the paper. He read the address.

"Hey I know where this it. Nice neighborhood."

She smiled and they stood.

"I'm sorry to bail out on you, but I have some extra paperwork to get done. I need to get going."

"Sure. I'll see you Friday then?"

She smiled and came close to him, kissing him on the cheek.

"Till Friday night." She said and waved, ducking out of the café with both of them blushing.