Disclaimer: I don't own ATLA... yada... yada...yada...

Author's note: There is some content in this chapter that is sexual in nature. But, I think I kept it clean enough to keep the rating T.

Chapter 11

After dinner Suki, Sokka, and the children stopped by the Jasmine Dragon for a cup of tea. Obviously, they couldn't go home until Aang and Katara finished talking. And who knows how long that will take. And they had no way of knowing if Aang even showed up. Once again, Iroh seated them in the room reserved for VIP's, giving them plenty of privacy. The children were on the floor playing with building blocks, and Suki and Sokka were sitting at the table drinking tea, watching them.

" I wonder what's going on at the house." Suki said.

" I don't know. I wish there was some way we could find out. " Sokka replied.

" Do you think Aang showed up? " Suki asked.

" Yeah. He promised he would be there, so he will. " Sokka answered.

" I thought you guys might be here. " Toph said, as she entered the room.

" Damn it Toph, you scared me to death! " Sokka yelled.

" Sorry. Didn't know you were so touchy. " Toph said, smirking. Then rolled her eyes.

" So... did Aang show up? " Suki asked.

" Yeah, but we had a bit of a problem. " Toph replied.

" What? " Sokka asked curiously.

" Sugarqueen fainted when she saw Twinkletoes. " Toph answered calmly.

" You're kidding! " Suki exclaimed.

" Man! I figured she'd be shocked, but I didn't expect her to pass out! " Sokka exclaimed, then laughed.

" Don't worry, she's okay. Twinkletoes cushioned her fall with his airbending. " Toph said.

" So what are we going to do? We can't stay here all night. " Suki asked.

" Maybe we can. " Sokka answered.

" What do you mean? " Toph asked.

" Iroh does have extra rooms upstairs. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if we stayed the night. " Sokka answered.

" What about the kids? " Suki asked.

" What about them? We can make a pallet for them on the floor. " Sokka replied.

" Yeah… That way we won't have to worry about interrupting anything." Toph said.

" I don't know Sokka. I don't want to impose on Iroh. Besides, Katara will have a fit if we don't bring Tenzin home." Suki said, worried.

" No she won't. She knows he's with us." Sokka answered. " Besides we can send a messenger to tell her where he is." He added.

" I'll go ask Iroh." Toph said, then got up and headed for the kitchen.

Aang stared at the beautiful face of the unconscious waterbender. Her head was resting on his thighs, and chestnut curls splayed across them. He stroked his thumb lightly against her cheek. Her skin was the color of mocha, and as soft as the petal of a rose. Her almond shaped eyes were cerulean blue, and sparkled when the light hit them just right, but were now closed. Her face was no longer round and cherub like, but much more defined. Accentuating her high cheekbones that her long, dark eyelashes now rested on. And a perfect nose was just above her full, sensuous, cinnamon colored lips. Aang slowly ran his thumb across her bottom lip. His eyes traveled down her neck to the visible cleavage showing at the top of her low cut gown. Then to her round, supple breasts. And lingered there a bit too long. He could feel a burning heat forming in the pit of his stomach, then traveling straight to his groin. A growing bulge forming in the crotch of his pants. His eyes slowly traveled down to her flat stomach, past her full, round hips to her long legs and well toned thighs. He resisted the urge to tug at his pants, becoming tight below his waistband. Katara began to stir and turned her head to the side, toward him. Her nose brushed the fabric of his pants, causing Aang to suck in a deep breath. Her eyes began to flutter open, until she was able to focus. Then realized she was staring directly at Aang's crotch, her nose buried in the fabric. 'Oh, my… wow!' She thought. A blush formed on Aang's cheeks. 'Shit!' He said to silently to himself, desperately trying to control the effect she had on his body. Coming to her senses, Katara snapped her head face forward, her eyes open wide and blushing the shade of crimson. After several minutes of awkward silence, Katara looked up at Aang's face. He was looking down at her. They gazed at each other, without speaking a word. 'I could get lost in those smoky grey eyes forever.' Katara thought.

Aang was the first to speak. " Are you okay?" He asked.

" Yeah… What happened?" Katara answered.

" You kind of… fainted." Aang replied, smiling.

" Oh… Things just kind of went black, then I don't remember anything after that." Katara said, slightly confused.

" You're sure you're okay?" Aang asked, looking concerned.

" I'm fine." Katara answered. Trying to reassure him. Then, she reached up and cupped Aang's cheek with her hand. " I can't believe it's really you." She said in disbelief.

" It's me. I'm here." Aang replied softly.

" Why are you here? Why now?" Katara asked.

Before he could answer, they heard a knock at the front door. Both of them turned toward the sound. Katara sat up and Aang helped her get to her feet. Then she went to the front door and answered it.

" I have a message for Katara." The messenger at the door said.

" I'm Katara, thank you." Katara replied, as she took the scroll from his hand.

" You're welcome." The messenger replied, then walked away.

Katara shut the door behind him, then opened the scroll and silently read its contents. A scowl forming on her face. " It's from Sokka. They're not coming home tonight. Now why wouldn't they want to come home?" She asked, looking at Aang suspiciously.

" Um… I'd guess maybe he knew I was coming by tonight?" Aang replied sheepishly.

" And how would he know that?" Katara asked, raising an eyebrow.

" Well, he kind of came by to see me this afternoon." Aang replied, smiling.

" That's just like him! I can't believe it! He had this all planned!" Katara shouted, infuriated. " Well, if my brother begged you to come here, you can just leave!" She continued angrily. And pointed toward the front door. " I don't need your pity!" She finished, with tears welling up in her eyes.

" No… It's not like that! I wanted to come, I swear!" Aang exclaimed. " I even went to Kyoshi Island looking for you! I just got back this morning!" He added.

Katara just looked at him skeptically. The hurt showing in her eyes. " Sure… And I suppose he had nothing to do with that, either." She said sarcastically. Looking away from him.

" No, he didn't. I went because I wanted to. I wanted to see you." Aang said, sincerely.

" Why?" Katara asked curiously.

" Because, I realized that I made a big mistake. And I needed to talk to you about it." Aang explained.

" And what would that be?" Katara asked him sarcastically.

" You have every right to be upset with me, Katara. I wish I could go back and change everything, but I can't." Aang said, sadly. " I wish I wouldn't have left. I wish I would've stayed with you!" He added, woefully. " I was just confused… and jealous. When you went with Zuko to fight Azula… and then I saw you two embracing when we returned from the battle… I thought I had lost you." He finished, softly.

" You thought you had lost me?" Katara asked incredulously. " So, you think I would just have sex with you one night… Then run off with someone else the next day?" She screamed at him, enraged.

" NO! I would never think that!" Aang shouted defensively.

" Then what were you thinking?" Katara shouted back at him.

" I don't know! I wasn't thinking! I'm an idiot, okay!" Aang exclaimed painfully.

" You are an idiot!" Katara replied angrily.

" I know. I'm sorry. Please, forgive me." Aang begged her. Looking at her with his 'puppy-dog-eyes'.

" Don't do that! I hate it when you do that!" Katara shouted, exasperated.

Aang just looked at her, silently pleading for her to forgive him. " Katara… I love you." He said softly.

" Wh… What?" Katara replied, barely above a whisper.

" I said… I love you." Aang replied.

Katara didn't know what to say. She sat down on the couch, folding her hands in her lap. 'He said he loved me.' She thought to herself. This was all too much for her. She was so confused.

" Katara, I know it's probably too late to tell you all of this. But I had to tell you how I feel." Aang told her. With his head hung low.

" Aang… It's just that… It's complicated." Katara said.

" Is there someone else?" Aang asked. Not sure if he wanted to know the answer.

" Yeah… But it's not what you think." Katara replied.

" No, I understand. It's okay. I won't get in the way." Aang said sadly. Tears beginning to well up in his eyes.

" I wish I could explain. But I need time to think. Please understand." Katara told him.

" Of course. I'll say goodnight now. Sokka knows where to find me, when you're ready to talk." Aang replied, then turned to leave.

" Aang…" Katara started.

" Yeah?" Aang asked.

" Never mind." Katara said, sadly.

" Oh… Okay. Goodnight." Aang replied. Then walked out the front door, closing it behind him.