Chapter 4

Toph felt the vibrations of four large feet hit the ground in the courtyard, then the lightest footed person ever touch down on the ground beside the four-footed beast.

Toph sprang to her feet, as she felt a servant who had been loitering by the window run around the edge of the room to the announcing guard. Toph weaved through the crowd to Katara and Zuko;

"Guys..."

She was too late to forewarn them. Three sharp taps echoed through the room. All eyes fell to the guard, and then to the large door of the ballroom.

"Ladies and gentlemen...announcing Avatar Aang"

The doors opened, and a boy who vaguely looked like the last airbender, only taller and more muscular, stepped through.

Aang looked around the room quickly, searching for his friends. He was met with shocked faces from everyone. He quickly processed what he saw; Azula, looking sane, Sokka and Suki in an embrace with each other, Ty-Lee on her head, Mai sulking in the corner, his old friend Bumi leaning over the food table, mouth half open and hand clutching a leg of something, King Kuei dancing with June (what was she doing here, he wondered), Teo and Haru who appeared to have stopped mid-conversation, Zuko with his hand resting on Katara's hip, holding her tight...Aang looked again, and Zuko was at least 3 feet away from Katara, who was standing next to Toph, all looking very shocked.

"Ermmm, hi guys, sorry I'm late"

Zuko, Katara, Toph, Sokka and Suki broke through the crowd, smiles replacing the shock on their faces and ran to their friend. They all joined together in a huge group hug, and Sokka shouted;

"Team Avatar is back!"

The group laughed at their inside joke, and the music started up again, and people slowly went back to dancing. Sokka and Suki walked away hand in hand to resume their slow dance, and Toph grabbed Zuko by the crook of his elbow, and whispered to him,

"Let him get it out his system"

Zuko looked at the small girl in confusion. She rolled her blind eyes.

"I'm blind, not stupid"

If Toph could see, she would have seen Zuko for the second time today go very red on account of Katara. They walked away back into the crowd, and he offered his hand to her for a dance.

Aang remained stood by the large ballroom doors, with Katara nearby.

"Join me on the balcony?" he asked

She nodded and followed him out. She was very aware of many eyes on her back as she followed Aang. They stood against the balcony banister and looked out on Appa. Katara had missed the sky bison, and the flying lemur, Momo, who, like Aang and her brother, and Toph, Zuko and Suki, had become such a large part of her life, and had disappeared for most of the last year.

Aang looked at Katara; he realised how much he had missed. She had grown taller, but was now shorter than him. She had filled out her curves and her face had become less child-like, and she had developed even more muscle tone, so he knew she was keeping up her water bending training. But was she doing now? He had no idea. There was something else; something just didn't feel the same.

Katara was taking notice of Aang as well. He definitely was not the little boy she had rescued from the iceberg almost 2 years ago now; he had grown taller, the robes he had on showed off the tone and definition that had grown into his stomach and chest, and he had developed a tan over his whole body. But this still didn't change what had changed in Katara a year before.

"You look...different" she said

"So do you"

"A year apart does that to people" Katara dead panned

"I wanted to apologise for that Katara, for just leaving without warning, for not writing to you, to any of you, for just...everything"

Katara turned around to look back through the archway and back into the ballroom. She saw Zuko glance at her, and she felt butterflies in her stomach. Maybe now she could admit what she felt to herself.

"You don't need to apologise Aang, we all understood, even more than you probably realised"

"But I shouldn't have left so quickly, especially after we, you know, kissed at the Jasmine Dragon"

"Aang..."

"Katara, did I miss my chance, or by some small stroke of luck, do you still feel something for me?"

"Aang, I'm..."

"Please don't say you're confused"

Katara gave a small smile.

"Aang, it's been a long year, and I've been away from home the whole time, and I..."

Aang interrupted her again, "You haven't been home?"

"I went home for Sokka's birthday, but really no, I moved to the Fire Nation, actually, Zuko had a section of the palace done up for me, I have an apartment here, and I serve as representative for the Southern Water Tribe on his council"

"Wow..."

"Aang, I've been so busy the last year, other things have taken precedence over relationships, but..."

Katara came to a stop before the words spilled out. Aang persevered;

"But what?"

"But I do like someone, and it isn't you" The words fell out of Katara's mouth before she could stop them. Aang bowed his head.

"It's Zuko isn't it?" Katara saw a flicker of disappointment on Aang's face.

"How did you..." Aang sighed before explaining

"Toph isn't the only Earth bender who knows the ancient techniques Katara. But I've had my suspicions since the crystal catacombs. I was hoping I was mistaken when I walked in to the ball...but clearly not."

Katara smiled lovingly at Aang, "You've grown up so much; you're not that little boy from iceberg anymore"

"The last time you said that to me, we thought we could be going to our deaths, and I kissed you" Katara's smile faltered

"Aang, I'm sorry, I love you, but I'm not in love with you...you are like a brother to me"

Aang pulled her into a hug; "That's a line from that awful play we saw." She laughed, "Would anything have changed, if I hadn't left?"

"I don't know, I don't think so"

Aang released her, breathed in and smiled wide;

"Then don't be sorry, it is destiny for you to not be with me. In truth, the last year has opened my eyes, and made me see my full potential as the Avatar. I think I agree with you, you're like the big sister and mother I always wanted all rolled into one"

Katara laughed;

"You've grown up so much. I know how to make this up to you," He tried to interrupt her, "Don't disagree with me, I want to make it up. Avatar Aang, may I have this dance?"

"You may, Master Katara" He offered his hand to her and they walked back inside.

A/N Ok, yeah, sorry. I just don't like Kataang in loads of situations - I think they can be great, and I hope Korra season 2 shows more of their domestic lives as they grew old together and they had their children, but my writing side has been poisoned by fanfic, both Kataang and Zutara that paint Aang as a controlling and an overly child like person who thinks he has possession over katara - I didn't know how to write him so he could be with Katara and not be like that, so I gave up, and just made him be the bigger man, and grin and bear it.
Keep reviewing and favouriting guys :D thank you so much xxx