Hey guys, I'm back. I'm so sorry I haven't gotten in the chapters like I said, but here's my Christmas gift to you!!! One chapter I hope you like. Enjoy, and please, read and review!!!

2 weeks later, most of the ships had arrived back in their own homelands. A few southern water tribes ships still had yet to come home, but the people had waited long enough for peace. There was much partying and feasting in the ships' absence, but many were still resting.

Aang was one of them, yet every day he stayed awake more and became a little stronger. The young waterbender that had looked after him for so long never left his side, and everyday she healed a few more of his wounds. His burns were now mere scars, his ribs were now healed, every slit and cut was sewn back together into strong skin by his beautiful healer. All that left was the biggest one, which still confined the airbender, longing to be free.

Katara walked into the tent from outside the morning sunshine, both arms still wrapped, but now from her forearms up. She brought tea and noodles for her husband, as well as some fresh water. As she set them down and sat next to her husband on the bedside, Katara leaned forward and gently kissed him on his still lips. And to her surprise, she found herself locked in his kiss that he suddenly returned to her. She pulled back gently and smiled. "Good morning, sleepyhead," she whispered.

He softly opened his eyes. "Good morning."

"How do you feel?"

"Bored. Cooped up like a turkey-duck. And in pain. I need to get up and walk again."

"That's why I came," she said, holding up her waterskin. "Time to heal your broken back. Is there any way you can flip onto your stomach?"

He tried to sit up and push himself up onto his elbows, but groaned. "I don't think so." He looked at Katara with pain in his eyes. "Go get Sokka and Toph. They'll help. They're strong."

Katara nodded and then went to go find her brother and Toph.

She found her brother chasing a penguin-seal that had stolen his bag of jerky, while the young earthbender sat on a block of ice, just laughing and laughing. Apparently the penguin-seal was besting the warrior, and Katara couldn't help but sit next to Toph and laugh too. When he finally caught the penguin and stomped over with it still in his arms, the drool-moistened bag hanging from its mouth, he frowned and stormed even more at the two young women laughing at him. He turned an angry shade of crimson, part out of anger and part out of embarrassment.

"You guys think this is funny?"

Katara and Toph both fell off the ice, only laughing harder as they rolled in the snow. They gasped for air, but it didn't work as they burst out again, laughing, until Sokka could help it, dropped the penguin seal, and began laughing too. It was a funny sight, seeing three adults sprawled out on the ice, laughing their heads off.

Finally, Toph needed to breathe. She was the first to stop. "Guys—stop—we—need—air," she breathed, smiling. And Katara couldn't help noticing that she had never seen Toph's blind eyes shine so much. But they all sat up, and Sokka pulled Toph into a strong embrace, holding her close as he kissed her cheek. She reached up and stroked his cheek with a gloved hand before he covered her hands in his, while Katara bent the snow from her hair.

"That was hilarious, Sokka," she said, smiling.

"Yeah, but I'm still hungry!"

The girls burst out giggling. "Cool it, Snoozles. Obviously the penguin-seal over there thinks you need to go on a diet," Toph said, blushing and smiling when Sokka then jabbed her lightly with his shoulder. Then he turned his gaze to his sister.

"Do you need help with something, Katara? How's Aang?"

"He's well, and yes, I need your guys' help," she said, standing up. "I'm going to heal his broken back, but I need to flip him over. He can't do it by himself, and I can't either. Can you two help?"

Sokka and Toph were both on their feet in a second.

"Why wouldn't I help my best friend?"

"Yeah. Twinkletoes needs us. Let's go!"

They ran to Aang and Katara's tent, where the Avatar was waiting for them.

Sokka got on one side, with Toph and Katara on the other, and on the count of three, they picked Aang up and gently flipped him over onto his stomach.

"You comfortable?" Katara asked, putting her hand on her husband's shoulder.

"Yeah, but I need to get up," he smiled.

Katara quickly bent her water over her hands and slowly ran them down the entire length of Aang's back. The water turned blue, glowed, and then went back to normal. She bent her water back into the pouch and backed up.

Aang opened his eyes. The searing pain and numbness that had shot up and down his spine into the rest of his body for the past few weeks was gone. He felt only a healthy body working again. He felt great. He felt strong, powerful, and ready to begin the world anew. He felt—free.

He pushed himself slowly upward from his hands, expecting the sharp pain to return. It never did. He arched his back, sat up straight, and as he turned his gaze to the other three original members of the gang, Toph smiled warmly, Sokka looked content, and Katara sighed happily.

They all rushed forward at the same time and piled onto Aang, hugging him for dear life. He cried out once, but then sank into their embrace, everyone's faces already streaming with tears. At that moment, the four friends knew that everything would finally be alright.

As they all let go, the three still surrounded him. Toph gently leaned over and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. "Boy, Twinkletoes, you sure scared us," she said, trying to sound tough, but they could all see and hear in her eyes and voice that she had been filled with worry.

Sokka smiled at Aang as he hugged her. "Yeah, you did, buddy," he whispered. "We d—we don't know what we'd have done without you." He put a hand on Aang's shoulder, and Aang returned it.

His gaze then turned to Katara, whose smile lit up her face. She looked at Sokka, with a "get out NOW" expression, and he immediately got it.

"Uh, Toph? Let's go catch that penguin-seal. I really want my jerky back!"

Toph could feel Aang's and Katara's pulses start to beat rapidly, and she immediately got understood. She smiled.

"Good idea. I bet I could catch it faster than you," she said, smiling.

"I'll take you on that bet," he laughed, kissing her and taking her hand, leading her out of the tent. "We'll leave you two alone."

As soon as they were gone, Katara lunged for Aang, not kissing him, but wrapping her arms around him in an embrace so hard and so full of happiness and love that he couldn't do anything but hold her in his arms. And that's exactly the only thing he wanted to do. He could feel her shaking, her hot tears falling onto his skin. What she had gone through in the last few weeks for him, he could only imagine. He sighed deeply and began to shake as well.

Finally they parted but looked deep into each others' eyes. Katara raised her hand to put it on his cheek, and he closed his eyes, sighing deeply, feeling her soft touch of love and peace on his skin. He put his hand over hers on his face. And slowly, he began gently kissing her hand, passionately and just enjoying the feel of her skin again, the taste of it. He ran his lips around her hand and down her wrist, thankful that her touch was from heaven.

Katara gazed happily and lovingly at her husband. Aang was clearly at peace, and she knew how he felt. The turmoil inside them all was gone. They were alive, the war was over, and they were together. She sighed and closed her eyes also, enjoying the feel of his lips on her hand, until she finally opened them once more and turned her gaze to only his face, that familiar face that always brought her hope.

Complete happiness was written on him, and when he opened his eyes, they glowed with a mirrored peace, and at last, contentment and relaxation.

"It's over," he breathed, his eyes glistening with hope and unshed tears. "It's done." He bowed his head, and suddenly, the strong young man whose life was dedicated to keeping peace and balance and saving the world couldn't hold it in any longer. His tears of happiness and long-awaited relief poured down his face. The normally strong young man who had always held his own now shook uncontrollably, his body acting like that of an elderly man. But it was a good trembling, of pure relief and happiness.

Katara smiled happily, crawled closer to him, and wrapped her arms around him. She lifted his chin to look in his eyes, and she wiped his tears as if she were his mother, not wife and best friend. Softly she put both her hands on his face, holding him between them, and she touched his lips with hers, deeply and full of passion.

Aang closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of her skin on his own, her love sweeping over him, as was her element's custom, to wash all of his worries and fears away. He knew she'd always be there for him. Again, waves of love, passion, and relief fell over them, filling their bodies with it to strengthen them and give them the will to keep going.

Katara began moving her lips past Aang's, to over his forehead, cheeks, neck, eyes, nose, anywhere she could reach that was him. And all the while, the Avatar kept sighing, from his release of the burden he'd always been forced to carry, as well as the love Katara was giving him.

Aang then opened his eyes and grabbed her hand from his cheek. She stopped kissing him and looked into his eyes once more. Those grey eyes had always, in a way, haunted her. She had always been watched by those eyes, eyes of a lover, peacemaker, Avatar, friend. She just stared, captivated by them as she always had been. But they always held something that she couldn't tell what it was, deep within. It was as if he was keeping the last known secret of his from her.

And now, it was gone.

And she realized then what it was: heaviness.

For an airbender, he was light and free, of heart, mind, body, and soul, but his eyes somehow held him down. The only time in her life that she ever remembered seeing the reflection she did now was when she first met him, only up until the time he learned of the war while they were exploring the Fire Nation ship. They had come so far, with Aang carrying the burden he was meant to bear, keeping his feelings in, but failing at keeping it out of his eyes. His eyes held him down. And now, Katara couldn't find the heaviness anywhere, replaced by peace. She smiled and kissed him once more, and they parted.

She then finally broke the silence as well. "Let's get you outside in the fresh cold air," she said, putting her arm around his waist and his arm over her shoulder. She lifted him up, and he groaned once, his legs not used to the weight in a long time, but he got over it quickly, and while he stood a little shakily, Katara put a parka over him and put his arm back over her shoulder. She then opened the tent flap, and they walked out together.

The bright south pole sun shone down on the Avatar as he blinked a few times in the cold air and stepped forward, his arm around Katara. Children were laughing and playing, and adults were chatting happily. The crystal blue sky shone clear and bright, while the world beneath it rejoiced, free from the war.

Aang took a deep breath in, enjoying the fresh air. He smiled and looked at his wife. The master waterbender and his best friend looked out at the tribe, and then turned her smile and gaze on him. She wrapped her arms around him once more. "I'm so proud of you," she whispered, "Avatar Aang."

He hugged her tightly back. "I'm so proud of you, too," he whispered in her ear, holding her tight.

"AANG!" cried a voice behind them. Aang and Katara both turned as Zuko ran up and hugged his best friend, his arm still in a sling. Both men laughed joyously and as they hugged, Katara laughed happily, grabbing both of them, and they included her.

Sokka and Toph, who hadn't been that far away at all, came around the corner and up the stairs, smiles lighting up both their faces. Sokka ran and hugged the group, and Toph did a running start and leapt onto them all, making the group fall to the snow with an "oomf!" They all laughed. The girls cried. They were all together. All were laughing and enjoying themselves. All except three.

Mai heard the laughing outside and smiled, but her thoughts were focused on Ty Lee. The young woman had woken up every now and then, but she, for some reason, had gotten an infection, even with Katara's healing. She was in and out of consciousness, had a high fever and chills, and she, when she did wake up, didn't know where or who she was, and didn't recognize Mai.

The young daggermaster just sighed and brushed the tangles out of what hair wasn't burned off on the sleeping girl's head. She looked at the acrobat. Ty Lee's arm was strapped to her chest, keeping it in place, and her burns were either covered in bandages or a type of medicinal paste which the healers of the tribe had made.

Mai bowed her head. The fever had broken the day before, but the girl's skin was cold and paper-thin. She looked translucent, as if she wasn't real.

As if she were dead.

Mai grabbed Ty Lee's hand, begging her best friend to pull through. How she longed for Ty Lee to be rosy and pink and full of laughter again.

"Ty Lee…" she whispered.

"Ugh…M…Mai?"

Mai lifted her head. Ty Lee's eyes were partly open, but she gave a soft smile. And most important, she recognized her best friend. Mai smiled, sighing with relief. "You're awake!" she cried, leaning closer.

"Yeah," Ty Lee whispered softly, closing her eyes again. "I don't remember anything. The last thing I saw was Azula standing over me, and—terrible pain—and, wait, the sunshine isn't red anymore," she whispered, when her opened eyes searched the light at the tent flap coming in. "It's over, isn't it. The war ended yesterday…"

"What 'yesterday?'" Mai asked, confusion in her face. "Ty Lee, you've been in and out of consciousness for over three weeks…you're the last one to wake up. And we're back in the southern Tribe…"

"Oh…wow." Ty Lee whispered. She then looked into Mai's eyes. "Wha—what happened to Azula? She didn't kill me…"

"I stopped her from doing it, but I didn't kill her…" her eyes turned away from Ty Lee's.

"Wait, is she—dead?"

"Yeah," Mai said, turning her gaze back to the other woman. "Ara killed her. I wish I could've seen it."

Ty Lee sighed. "Wow. Good for her!" She paused for a bit. "So, what's wrong with me? Am I hurt badly?"

"Not much anymore," Mai replied. "you're still healing, as Katara healed most of your cuts, burns, and broken bones. You did get an infection, with a high fever, and we almost lost you a few days ago, but you pulled through. And other than being a little weak and your arm dislocated, you'll be fine. But get some rest. We need you back on your feet. Sleep now. I'll tell them you're awake later."

A while later, after the five outside had calmed down and talked about their struggles, battles, and wounds, Aang finally asked the question that they were all waiting for him to ask.

"So, what happened to Azula?"

The other four stopped talking to each other and looked at him. "You didn't know?" Toph asked.

Zuko turned his gaze from Toph when she spoke, to Aang. "Aang, she was killed. In battle."

"What?! That's amazing!!! By who? Certainly someone who's one of the best, an older, trained, experienced warrior."

"Well…" Sokka said with a shrug, "yes and no…"

"Do I know him?"

"You know her, Twinkletoes, better than you think."

Aang looked up at the group. Their expressions were serious. He turned to Katara, and she nodded.

"Our daughter, Aang. Ara killed her."

Aang couldn't believe it. And he couldn't stop smiling. "Wow. My little girl. She killed Azula? She saved my life as well. Is she okay? I mean, from the war?"

"She got hurt, badly, but she'll be fine," Zuko answered.

Aang then stood up. "I need to see her and hold her and I need to know she's alright. Where is she?" he said as he turned to go. "In her tent?"

"Acutally, we don't know where she is," Katara said. Aang turned with confusion in his face. "All we know is that something big is troubling her, but we, even Zuko," she said, nodding toward the prince, who lowered his eyes, "can't reach her. She keeps disappearing for hours at a time."

"On Warrior?"

"No," Sokka said. "Warrior is still on the ship coming from the battlefield along with dad, Iroh, and a few others. Warrior broke his wing, so he won't be flyin' anytime soon. But we can't find her. And if she wants to be alone, I know my own niece well enough to know that she's a free spirit and that she'll open up if she wants to."

Aang started to walk away. "I'm going to find her."

"Aang, give her some time," Katara said, standing up. "she wanted to be alone. She told me that. She said she needed to find her own peace."

"I need to find her. For my sake as well as hers."

Katara stared after him as he left to get Appa. She turned back to her family.

"What does he mean by, 'his sake and hers?'" she asked.

Sokka and Toph shrugged, but Zuko looked towards Aang as well as he got on Appa and flew over their heads.

The prince then turned to the waterbender.

"Airbender's secret."

Hey, so I hope you enjoyed! Ara's gone off to do something dangerous? Where is she??? What's the airbender's secret??? One thing's for sure, they're not out of this yet. Please read and review, and I'd say more, but it's almost 3:30 am here for me, and I'm tired. I gotta go to work tomorrow, but after that, I'll try and write another one! The spark hasn't died! Just put on hold! I've been really into my art, if you'd like to check it out, it's almost all avatar, and it's at (without spaces) www. avatarone3. deviantart. com. Enjoy! And please read and review! Happy holidays to all you guys!

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