Hello again all! Hope you guys are doing well, and here's chapter 18! Enjoy, and FYI, MANY, and I mean MANY, of you guys asked, no, screamed, at me, when's Azula GONNA DIE!! I have to say, hold your horses. It'll be a few chapters from now, but SHE WILL DIE! SO BE PATIENT!! Thanks!

Aang finished the last of the bandages. As he sighed, rubbed his bald head, and stared at Katara's face, he now noticed that even though they'd been apart for 15 years, she hadn't changed at all. He traced over her still face in his memory and his hand. Even though she was pale, he felt and saw her smooth, light brown skin, noticing how the candles around her caught the glow in her cheeks. He brushed his fingers around her chin, down her neck, felt her jaw bones, stroked her cheek, and softly ran his hand over her entire face, studying and remembering her. He couldn't remember anything more beautiful, more comforting, than her face. Only one other thing came nearly as close.

Their daughter's face.

Aang sighed as he dropped his head and let his hand drop from her cheek. He looked up and shifted the blanket above her. But he didn't even turn when Hakoda walked in.

"I know you wanted a few hours, but you need some rest. I've slept well, until now. Don't worry, son. I'll wake you if she changes. But she'd want you to rest, for your sake. Go to Sokka's tent, and he's prepared another sleeping bag. Aang?"

The Avatar didn't move or shift his gaze. Hakoda just lifted him to his feet, and he didn't protest. "Go get some rest. She'll be fine."

Aang took one more look at her, and left the tent. The snow had stopped, the fog had lifted, and the moon brightly shone down on him. He trudged to Sokka's tent. Dragging his feet in the snow, he took forever, just trying to finally enjoy the silence instead of dreading it, like in his tent. But the memories of the past few days suddenly hit him full on, voices screaming in his head.

"We can't give up yet!"

"Aang…" Sokka whispered.

"Where is Katara?" he asked angrily.

He had never seen his friends act this way.

He turned and saw his wife's lifeless body.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!!"

All of the anger and hate built up inside, screaming at him.

"I'm sorry, Ara, he's gone."

Aang looked at his beaten face.

"Please, Katara, stay with me. I love you."

"She's a fighter,"

"Aang," Toph cried, "Aang, AANG!!"

"I'm too late. I've failed you."

The loud voices in his head, the painful memories, and the lightning's sounding crack over and over caused him a splitting headache, and he fell to his knees in the snow, holding his head in his hands, slouched over. The voices got louder and faster, and he started to yell.

"GO AWAY!!"

"Twinkletoes?"

Immediately the voices and memories vanished. As he heard Toph's voice call his name, he breathed in and out shakily, but he didn't get up. Instead, she came and sat next to him. She knew she had to do or say something.

Come on, Twinkletoes, man up! Be an earthbender!

No, that didn't seem right.

What should I say?

He knows I'm not the hugging type, but then again, I have softened, and his heart is probably being wrenched out of his chest from the pain he's been burdened to carry. He's also got the whole world on his shoulders.

She awkwardly enveloped him in a tight hug.

This is weird.

As Aang fell into Toph's embracing hug and his tears started flowing again, he didn't care that she was his earthbending master. All he knew was that right now, a caring friend was there for him, and so he sobbed onto her. And suddenly, if felt as if Toph was given all of Aang's emotions through their embrace. Toph could feel through her touching him, and her listening to his inner body's voice, how bad he actually felt. She suddenly knew how bad he felt. And inside, she felt like she was dying too, along with him. She knew she'd be the same way if it had been Sokka. She knew she was the strong-willed, tough, honest, and brutal earthbender, but since Aang couldn't go to Katara for comfort like he usually had done, she forgot that side of her for a moment and just held him, telling him she was there for him, both of them kneeling quietly in the snow.

He finally calmed down. "Thanks, Toph," he said.

"Yeah, yeah," she said, now noticing that she let her guard down. But she smiled, got up, and held out her hand, which he gladly took. They calmly walked to Sokka's tent, where he was waiting for them outside. He put his hand on his best friend's shoulder.

"How is she?"

Aang looked into Sokka's eyes, turned away, and walked in. Sokka sighed and looked at Toph. "I know you and I are tired, but let's go for a walk." He took Toph's hand and they walked to the center of the village. He stopped and turned towards her and took both of her hands in his.

"I'm sorry."

"For what, Snoozles?"

"Toph, this is serious."

"Whatever," she mumbled. She knew he was frowning at her. "Okay, okay, what are you sorry for?" she smiled and laughed inside.

"For not marrying you 15 years ago."

Her smile vanished and her eyebrows shot up. "What—what are you talking about?"

"I should have married you right away, it's just, well, I was scared, and I didn't want us to be split like Aang and Katara, and I was busy, and I was trying to help set up the new tribe, and I was still upset over Yue and Suki, and I was planning the war, and then I had duties to the tribe, and—"

Sokka was cut off by Toph placing her finger to his lips. She took her hand once he became quiet, and placed her hand over his own, pointing his fingers towards and onto his forehead.

"You're doing duties to your tribe with this," she said. "What you need to do," she said, moving his hand downward, "is do your duties to yourself with this." She stopped his hand at his heart and took off her own hand. But he caught it and placed it on his heart, his hand on top. She stared blank eyes into his.

"I have always loved you," she whispered, close to his face. "And I always will. And I bet Yue and Suki are glad you've got me to protect you." She smiled.

"Protect me?"

She nodded. "Do you still love me, Snoozles?"

He looked at her and knew the true answer. "Yes," he said with pride. "I do."

"Then why are you apologizing?" she smiled. "I may be stubborn, but I am extremely patient. I could wait forever for you. You just couldn't make up your mind what to do."

He laughed. Suddenly he knew exactly what to do. He got down on one knee, held Toph's hands, and smiled. "Toph Beifong, will you still marry me?"

She smiled. "I will, if I have to."

He got up and was ready to kiss her, "on one condition," she added. "We don't get married until Sugar Queen and Firehead are better."

"Deal." He pulled her into a warm embrace, and she put her arms around his neck. Their lips met softly and gently, full of love. And Sokka didn't notice that the moon suddenly shone brighter on them; Yue, glad he finally let her go.

They pulled back, and Sokka reached in his pocket. "Here," he said, pulling out two rocks. "Toph, these are for your collection."

"What?" she smiled. "You remembered my collection! But what are they from? What's the value to me?"

He took both of her hands. "This one," he said, placing it in her hand, "was right next to my face when you knocked us all over when we first met you in your garden. Remember? I landed on the ground and Aang and Katara landed in bushes. This one," he said, placing the other one in her other palm, "Is when your parents gave me your hand. I stepped on it when I went to shake their hands and bow."

Toph smiled. "I think these two are my favorite," she raised her blind eyes. "Thanks, Sokka."

TWO WEEKS LATER

Katara struggled to open her eyes. Somehow, life had flooded back into her body, but all she could do was not cry out from the agonizing pain moving through her. She finally managed to flutter her eyes open, just a little, and she stared at the ceiling. Sunlight flooded in. She tried to focus her eyes, and she saw the water tribe emblem above her. Her wounded heart picked up speed as she said barely in a whisper of breath, "I'm home…" As she looked around, she tried to move her head but her neck burst out in pain. She winced and clenched her teeth, but she looked down: her neck, chest, and stomach were covered in bandages as were her arms and shoulders. I look worse than Aang did all of those years ago, she thought. But she had to find out what happened. She ignored the pain and looked around her. She was home. She was in her own tent, after 2 and a half years of being gone. She smiled weakly, and turned her head to the other side of the room.

Then she noticed him: a sitting figure, next to her bed, but bent over, his head relaxed on his arms, sleeping. Her heart nearly stopped as her mouth dropped, just a bit, when she recognized him. She saw and recognized the tattoos. She breathed out his name, barely in a whisper, as though he was only a dream.

"Aang…"

Her body started to shake and tears fell down her cheeks. She was in terrible pain, but she had to touch him, to know he was really there. She lifted her shaking arm from its place by her side and reached for him. Pain seared through her arm, but it didn't matter. As she touched his cheek, she let out a long sigh, smiled, and closed her eyes. He was back. And he was with her. She opened her eyes, tears still flowing, and caressed his cheek with her thumb.

He opened his eyes. Someone was touching him. And then he looked up to find brilliant blue eyes filled with love staring into his own grey ones. She smiled weakly at him. His heartbeat sped up. Tears came to his eyes as he whispered her name.

"Katara,"

He got to his knees next to the bed and put his hand on her cheek, his forehead to hers. She closed her eyes, feeling at peace, feeling his hand on her skin for the first time in 15 years. His tears fell down his face.

"You're alive."

"Yea," she barely whispered.

"I'm so sorry, for everything."

"My love, there's nothing to be forgiven from."

"You rest now. I'll tell the others that you're awake."

"Aang, I'm so happy that you're okay. I was so worried."

"I'm so happy you're alive."

She smiled, and he leaned forward gently to kiss her. His lips touched hers, and she kissed him back, their first real embrace to each other in 15 years. He looked at her. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Rest now."

She closed her eyes and he kissed her cheek. He got up and ran out of the tent. He ran to Sokka's tent, and Toph's was right next to him.

"Sokka! Toph!" he screamed through the tribe. "Get out here now!" he yelled as he started to run to Zuko's tent, and Sokka and Toph ran after him, unsure of what was going on. Aang stopped at Zuko's tent. "Zuko! Get out here! Hurry!" he then ran to Hakoda's tent.

Zuko, who was still healing and favoring the right side of his chest, opened the flap with his left arm just as Sokka and Toph got there. "What's going on?"

"We don't know."

"Okay, Twinkletoes has officially gone mental."

They hurried to Hakoda's tent, but Aang ran right past them, using his airbending to run extremely fast back to his own tent. Sokka and Toph tried to catch their breath, and Zuko was still trying to catch up, as he couldn't run because of his heart. The three stopped and waited for Hakoda. As he came out, they all gave him questioning looks.

"Hey, don't ask me. Let's just follow him."

When they got to Aang and Katara's tent, he was standing outside, holding the flap open, a bid smile plastered over his face, and the first color in his cheeks in weeks. They all slowly walked in and looked at Katara. She wasn't moving, and her chest barely moved up and down. Their smiles vanished as they turned to Aang with upturned eyebrows. "Is this a joke?" Zuko asked.

"Just watch," Aang said. He kneeled next to the bed. "Katara?" he asked gently.

They all held their breaths as she blinked, opened her eyes, and smiled at Aang. He looked at her. "You've got company."

He nodded to the others. They all watched as she slowly turned her head towards them and smiled. "Guys," she whispered.

Each of them let out the breath they were holding and smiled and tears came to each ones' eyes. Hakoda was the first to reach his daughter's side. He put his hand on her cheek. "You're okay," he whispered.

She nodded. "I'm glad to see you again, dad. I missed you so much. I love you."

He kissed her forehead. "I love you too. I'm so proud of you."

He got up as Sokka and Toph stepped forward. Katara knew that they were both tough, but she also knew from their eyes, and Toph's light smile, that they were relieved to know she was okay.

Finally Zuko stepped forward. Katara smiled wider, for she hadn't seen one of her best friends in over 2 years, but her smile vanished as his robe slipped a bit, revealing the bandage. She caught sight of it covering his chest. "What happened to you?"

Zuko looked down at her gaze. "Oh…it's, uh…nothing."

"Don't be modest, Zuko," Aang said.

"Yea," Toph cut it. "You saved Sugar Queen's and all of our lives and received a nasty battle scar."

Zuko looked back at Katara. She smiled weakly but her eyes were filled with worry. "I'm fine," he reassured her. "And if it weren't for your daughter, I wouldn't have lived. You just take care of yourself. Get some rest; everyone, we're leaving. Get better, Katara."

"You too."

Everyone left, and Zuko was the last one out besides Aang, and he overheard Katara's question:

"Where's Ara? You've met her, right?"

"I have. Katara, I'm so proud of you. You're a mother," he smiled.

"And you're a father," she smiled back. "Where is she?"

"I'll find her," Zuko put in. "I need some fresh air anyway.

He found the young girl outside the tribe, airbending some snow flurries on her back, looking up at the sky. He sat down next to her, and laid his left side down onto the snow before letting his right side settle.

A few moments of silence passed between them. Zuko heard the snow flurries' 'whoosh' sound as she moved them around. He finally had to break the silence.

"Your mom woke up."

"That's great!"

"Well, why don't you want to see her?"

"I do, but Zuko, nobody gets it. My mom and dad haven't been together in 15 years. I thought that they'd like some time alone, to themselves. I'll see her when everything gets back to normal."

"Ara, you are the kindest and nicest person I've ever known."

"Thanks, Zuko. And you're the biggest hothead I've ever known."

"Thanks, I…hey!"

Ara laughed as she sat up. She helped Zuko sit up, and his eyes flew to the hand that helped him up. Under her mitten, a bandage crawled up her wrist. "What happened?" he asked, worried.

"Oh, I don't know if I showed you this," Ara said, "but I wanted to tell you that whatever wounds I get for you, I'll keep."

She took off her mitten and showed him her bandaged hand. He took it in both of his hands. "When did you get this?"

"When I was trying to catch you from falling I got shocked. The middle of my hand and each end of my fingers were burned. But you are worth it."

He smiled. "Thanks."

Ara looked at him. "Hey, Zuko, how come you never went to the healers for your wound?"

"I'm keeping it this way."

"Why?" she asked, in total shock.

"Ara, my sister came this close to killing me. My father almost killed me, too. I keep the wounds and scars because I feel that I need to remind myself to keep fighting against them."

"But all that pain, your agony…"

"I've been through so much worse in my past decisions, my soul, my thoughts, and my loyalties, that I can take this kind of pain."

"But I can heal you! I can take it all away!"

"You saved my life, Ara. You brought me back. And that is enough for me."

Okay, I hope you enjoyed! So please, read and review, I love hearing what you guys think, and thanks for all of the great compliments! And please tell me any predictions you have! I'd love to hear what you think'll happen. AND DON'T WORRY, AZULA WILL DIE, EVENTUALLY!! STAY CALM!! Thanks,

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