A million thanks to my beta, Dilletantism! 3

I know some of you are bummed the updates for this chapter have slowed way down. I'm sorry. I've been in an inspiration rut. I hope you believe me when I promise that I will not leave anything unfinished. I just want to do a good job.

Love, Coyote

Chapter 5

Sokka may have suspected his sister had a crush at the conservation fair, but he knew it when he caught them in a back and forth over lunch. It wasn't the warm lingering hug they shared at the café counter—everyone gets a hug from Katara, and those she bestowed upon Aang weren't out of the ordinary.

…Even if he was the initiator.

It wasn't the two holding hands as they conversed. Sure, friends don't usually stand there holding hands while amongst a group of their co-workers, but Aang and Katara seemed completely oblivious to the confused looks that Sokka and Suki exchanged watching the two practically drink each other's auras.

'Maybe they're just really close now that they're helping each other with the kids' he reasoned initially.

After all, the two had quite the set-up these days. Katara had convinced Aang to move his schedule up in the mornings so that he could drop Bumi off at her home before school. In return, Aang would pick them up in the afternoons and get them started on homework. Bumi hadn't been late since, and his in-class shenanigans began to taper off when Katara encouraged him to spend each morning car ride communicating his goals and plans to accomplish them.

The change in both children had been wondrous.

Bumi took his "Big Brother" responsibility more seriously than either would have predicted. First, he was determined to teach Kya board designs so they could work on a few gadgets he'd been meaning to build. If the boy were being completely honest, he was hoping her creative eye would help him pare down the size of his electronics.

Bumi also made a point of including Kya in his friends' group whenever possible. Not only did it help Kya relax and embrace her new school, but it also had the unintentional benefit of increasing the boy's confidence and self-esteem. Like Toph predicted, having a directive that required his attention seemed to channel his excess energy.

Kya would stubbornly argue that she never needed Bumi's help, and maybe even complain that her "Big Brother's" upbeat attitude bordered on annoying at times. Yet, you could expect to find her in his orbit at every recess and lunch.

She stopped biting her nails.

Kya also took to Aang like a fish to water. The ways the man just seemed to understand her manifested in so many ways that Kya wouldn't be able to list them all if she tried. Most impactful was his decision, after becoming the unofficial Homework Lord, to swap her afternoon piano sheet music from rote classical to some of her favorite pop songs.

"I just thought you could use a change of pace…you didn't get to pick your practice music, did you?" he explained to Kya. She shook her head, mouth agape, and Aang winked knowingly.

For Sokka it was the joke swapping that proved his suspicions. In a lunchtime debate over whether Aang should regrow his beard, the corny dad quipped, "What will my beard say when it grows back? Hey, I've been hair before!"

Astonishingly, Katara guffawed loudly at the lame attempt at humor.

"Katara doesn't laugh at jokes," Sokka ranted to his wife later, "Katara wouldn't know a joke if it was growing on her face!"

"Like a beard?" Suki asked with a cheap grin.

"Yes, like a b—NO."

-0-0-0-

Sokka and Suki were still curled on the couch with their pre-bedtime tea when a knock at the door interrupted them.

"Alright, alright, hold your ostrich-horses, jeeze…" Suki called out as the assailant continued to pepper the door with ham-fisted blows. Still muttering under her breath, Suki was startled to find Katara and Kya on the doorstep, the former looking wild with a clenched expression and windswept hair.

"I need to talk to you." Katara said urgently before moving past Suki without an invitation.

Sokka inclined his head over the side of the couch in an absurd upside-down view that made his ponytail waggle, "Heeeeeey sis! What's with the late house call?"

"I need to talk to Suki." Katara replied cryptically, "can you take Kya in the back and run through flash cards?"

"But I wanna hear too!" Sokka whined, and Kya joined in with "moooom, can't I play?"

But Katara was in no mood, and the tell-tale rise of her temper was evident in the way she slammed her hands on her hips and furrowed her brow.

"It's like I stuttered or something. Did I stutter? I HOPE I don't need to repeat myself." Her response sent both the beleaguered child and Sokka scurrying to the other room.

Suki regarded Katara as she returned from the kitchen with a fresh pot of tea. Her sister-in-law didn't seem to notice she'd re-entered the room. She was clearly immersed in her thoughts, her gaze glassy and fixed on an uninteresting patch of ceiling as her knees bounced up and down agitatedly.

"So…what's going on, Katara?" Suki asked, sliding a mug across the table.

Katara accepted the drink gratefully and started clumsily, muttering "I messed up, Suki…"

Suki refilled her own cup without responding, patiently waiting for her to continue. Soon enough she was rewarded with a verbal slew as Katara shifted restlessly in her chair.

"I kissed him, Suki. I kissed Aang... I didn't mean to! Or maybe I did…I don't know. I DON'T KNOW." Katara's eyes sank to her tea, avoiding her sister-in-law's wide-eyed gaze.

Suki recovered quickly, letting out a startled breath. "Why don't…why don't you start from the beginning?"

-0-0-0-

That morning, Katara entered Aang's house without knocking, her heightened sense of worry winning over any sense of propriety.

"Aang? Is everything okay?" she called out towards the back of the cozy home.

Rounding the corner, she was relieved to discover Bumi, still in his pajamas and sleeping on the couch. At first it looked like he was bundled in a large, hairy blanket until the blanket gave a single, half-hearted WOOF and wagged his tail lazily.

"Hey Appa…" Katara murmured as she scratched his head and took in the sleeping boy. She knew they were sick based on Aang's clipped text message that morning, but an inert Bumi surrounded by spent tissues was still a disconcerting sight. Not wanting to wake him, she passed a soft hand over his mane before padding towards the back of the house.

Katara found Aang folded on the bathroom floor like a seasick origami crane. He attempted a feeble smile and wave as he sat up to greet her head poking into the bathroom, but the effort sent him retching once more.

"Katarauughhhhhh"

Katara winced and waited for his clammy face to reappear.

"…You didn't have to come here" he gurgled, but his protest fell on deaf ears. Katara was already down on the ground next to him, appraising him with those eyes that starred in more dreams than he'd cared to admit. When she pressed her lips against his forehead, he closed his eyes and leaned into her contact, sighing.

"You're burning up," she whispered. Katara drew back slightly, and for a moment the air lay thick between their noses.

"I don't want to get you sick" he said and tottered forward to get up. Katara helped him with a steady hand sweeping his back, and he shivered.

"In bed with you. Doctor's orders." She commanded and took his hand, using the grip to pull him back to his bedroom.

"Oh, are you my doctor now?" Aang managed with the ghost of a grin. He suddenly felt self-conscious watching her rearrange his untidy bedspread.

"I've been told I have healing hands. I already checked on Bumi, he's still sleeping. I'm going to call out from work too."

"Katara…" Aang started weakly but collapsed into bed at her gentle shove.

"Would you do the same for Kya and me?" she asked pointedly. He looked up at her face, full of genuine love and concern. Aang melted.

"Obviously, but—"

"Uh-uh. No buts." Katara directed, then left to make her phone calls. She returned with a large glass of water, fully prepared to push back on any self-deprecating argument he may have formed in her short absence, only to find Aang already fast asleep.

She was making sea prune soup when he finally reappeared that evening looking less flushed and more rested. The two nodded in passing as he ambled to the living room to check on Bumi and Kya, and Katara took the opportunity to ladle out a bowl for him.

"Thanks for that. I'm sorry I slept so long." Aang apologized with a sheepish grin. Katara responded with a nonchalant wave, draping a towel over her shoulder. She placed a cool hand against his forehead and felt him sway into her touch. Wondering at it, her eyes roved over his fluttering eyelashes.

"Much better" she meant to say, but it came out more of a whisper. Aang nodded in agreement.

"And I don't mean to rush out of here, but I need to get Kya in bed…" she said, backing away again.

"You're always welcome to stay here. We have an extra bed, and the couch folds out." Aang offered, still hovering with an almost bashful demeanor she wasn't used to. She wanted to say yes but chewed her lip instead.

"We can't, but next time I'll bring clothes" she heard herself say.

They stayed in the kitchen cleaning up and chatting. Before the end, she'd even coaxed a few laughs out of Aang, the proof she needed to know he really was feeling better. Together they ushered the children every which way—Bumi to the shower, Kya bouncing uncharacteristically to the car.

"Remember, lots of water for both of you, keep checking to make sure the fever doesn't creep back up for both of you…and maybe you should skip your run." Katara lectured at the door, while padding her pockets in search of keys.

"I never skip my run" he bragged to Katara's rolling eyes, then produced the keys she'd left on the counter.

"Ugh, what would I do without you?" she sighed gratefully, thumbing for her car key.

"What would I do without you? You're like my best friend, Katara. I can't remember the last time someone made me soup." Aang said while enveloping her in a firm, warm hug. Katara leaned her forehead down into his chest. It could've been the thousandth hug they'd shared, the way she accepted his embrace without question.

It wasn't a deep, thoughtful decision when she kissed him. It felt ridiculously normal, as though they'd done it every time they said goodbye. She was warm and comforted when she leaned up and pressed her lips against his, the parting kiss of a couple who had already shared decades of companionship. Aang's breath hitched with surprise, but it didn't stop him from pressing back into her embrace.

When they drew away, Katara's stomach lurched at what she'd done.

"I-I don't know why I did that" she stammered quickly. "I'm so sorry…that just sort of…I don't know why I did that?"

All at once, they were both flushed and shuffling. Aang rubbed the back of his neck, confused, and Katara ran panicked fingers through her hair.

"Now you're gonna get sick…" was all he could manage, blushing furiously.

"I..uh..I gotta go. Shit. Sorry. I'll uh…see you at work. Shit… Feel better!" She blurted out as she all but ran to her car.

-0-0-0-

Suki goggled back at Katara, who finished her story and made to hide behind her mug, chugging her tea like it might wash away her embarrassment. After a long silence where Suki mulled over what advice (if any) she might provide, she finally managed to respond.

"I mean…it's not like we haven't noticed that you're attracted to him." Suki started.

Katara considered denying it at first. To say it out loud made it real, and with real comes danger. An index of thoughts unraveled as she bit her lip and bounced her knee. Katara was a person who rarely remembered her dreams, and yet she sat there and recalled so many of his face, his eyes, his smile, his hands on her body. How many nights since she met Aang had she satisfied herself alone in the night, dampening her sheets as she imagined his naked body moving against her own?

More visceral than her dreams were all the waking moments when she unapologetically sought his company. The scent of him, so warm and clean—like good soap and sandalwood. Excuses to hover in his orbit all for the chance to steal some of the air that wafted around him came easily. And touching him? He deserved every hug she could muster, she reasoned, and he never seemed to shy beneath her fingers.

Yes. I want him. I've wanted him since I first laid eyes on him.

"He's attractive by any standard. I'd be stupid to deny it." Was what Katara managed to say out loud. Suki seemed unimpressed.

"Do you love him?" Suki asked point blank, and Katara's eyebrows shot up into her hairline.

"What!? Slow down, Suki. Monkeyfeathers…" she exclaimed while Suki drained her cup and leaned forward.

"Listen. I've known Aang since Sokka and I moved here years ago. We've watched Bumi grow since he was a diapered, drooling mess, okay?" Suki began. The veteran's instincts to protect were as strong as ever, and it needed to be said.

"He's a good man, a great friend. He deserves to be happy, and I worry about how he always wants to see the best in everyone he meets. He's been through A LOT. Do not pursue this if you're just going to scratch an itch."

Katara flushed with anger. "I've never treated ANYONE like something to be used. How could you say that? I especially wouldn't do that to him! For spirit's sake, Suki!"

But for a short quirk of her eyebrow, Suki remained unfazed. "Yeah? Did you know that he has full custody of Bumi? Do you know why? That woman almost broke him."

"Yes. He told me." Katara responded defensively.

"Did he tell you that he fought in the war?"

It was Katara's turn to furrow her brow. "He was just a kid during the war" she argued, but the information had stunned her.

"So were we," Suki pointed out. "The war didn't give a shit, did it?"

Katara swallowed hard. She thought of her mother. She thought of the small altar to Gyatso she'd seen in Aang's room. His unflappable positivity made it easy to forget how much he'd lost sometimes.

"I kissed him, and it felt like home." Katara confessed.

"You should tell him that. IF you're looking for something serious. He deserves nothing less."

"I know" Katara continued, "that's exactly why I'm NOT going to tell him."