Chapter Five

When the bell rang downstairs, Gyatso thought that Aang could use a little more time to himself before seeing his girlfriend. He got up from the bed and descended down the stairs.

When he opened it, Katara was standing there, waiting. She wore a blue T-shirt and shorts with her hair down with a blue and white and flower clip over her left ear.

"Hello, young lady," Gyatso said, gesturing for her to enter. She did so and sat down. The elder offered her something to drink, but Katara politely declined. The only thing she wanted to see was Aang, being his old self. She imagined that his wound was still on his shoulder. But since the cut wasn't that bad, Aang was allowed to go home as long as he was careful.

Upstairs, Aang was looking at himself once more. He wore his yellow T-shirt with the word Air in Chinese (空氣) on it and blue jeans. He couldn't help but blush.

'Katara is at my house' he thought slowly. Does she like it here? Does she like Gyatso? So many questions whirled around inside his head. He took a deep breath to calm himself and his racing heart. He wants to impress Katara; not make a fool of himself! Still... he couldn't help but wonder. There was only one way to find out. His heart pounding again, even when he took another deep breath, Aang walked out of his room and walked down the stairs.

The room was spacious, with a couch and loveseat the color of deep orange, almost gold, with white lace curtains on the arched windows, the air symbol sewn into the wave patterns.

The carpet is red with gold lining, swirling into the center. Opposite the door, a stone fireplace with pictures on the mantel, showing pictures of Aang and his family before the deaths that changed his and his uncle's lives forever, decorated the room.

Katara and Gyatso were chatting when he came down. They looked up and saw the teenage boy coming towards them. Katara's heart skipped a beat before going crazy. He looked like nothing happened to him the previous day. But the girl knew that under his shirt sleeve was a mark of someone strong and brave; a warrior; her warrior.

She jumped up before Gyatso had a chance to and ran towards the boy she loved, hugging him as gently as she could. Aang returned her embrace. Katara couldn't help but tear up. Aang was here, alive, in her arms. It felt so right to be close to his body, feeling his warmth and heartbeat. Those simple things reassured her that he was still there, holding her.

"I'm so glad you're okay," Katara whispered. Aang held more tightly, ignoring his shoulder and enjoying Katara's presence so close to him. He could feel her heart beat through her shirt, his matching its rhythm.

Tears slipped out of his eyes as he said, "I'm glad you're okay, too". They held onto each other for a few more moments before looking into each other's' faces; blue eyes meeting gray. Very slowly, Aang leaned down and kissed Katara on the lips very sweetly and gently. Katara kissed him back. It felt wonderful to feel his lips on hers again.

The tingle from the first moment they touched in the hallway grew stronger in the pits of their stomachs, spreading warmth throughout their bodies as their hearts did relay races. They only stopped when they heard someone clearing their throat. The couple looked up, blushing, to see Gyatso staring at them. They had forgotten that he was still there.

"Sorry," they said simultaneously before giggling as they broke apart completely. Gyatso's old, wise eyes studied them knowingly before chuckling. Aang and Katara glanced at each other, wondering what was funny.

They looked back at the old man when he said, "You two have been through so much together during the previous weeks. You have both lost the ones who were dear to you; you have almost given your life's to protect those you love; and, as I can tell, your hearts are in the right place. And your souls are intertwined." With that, he left the stunned couple alone, heading upstairs to his room to read a book.

He figured that they deserved some alone time after their ordeal. He knows what it's like to lose someone he loved; his wife was shot during a thieving spree at a jewelry store. She tried to stop them, for she used to be a black belt, and she thought she could handle them.

She thought wrong. She fought great, the enemies' outnumbered her and they shot her dead. That was when Aang was five years old. Gyatso's eyes began to water, and he let the tears spill over his withered cheeks.

Downstairs, Aang and Katara were sitting on the couch, holding each other and drinking in the others' presence. It was very comforting to have them so near each other after what had happened.

Aang was enjoying it, just sitting with the girl he loved most. When he realized he liked her, Aang thought it was a just a crush that first time he looked into her ocean eyes. But the more they hung out, the more he realized that his feelings kept growing for her and her only.

Same thing with Katara; thinking it was a crush that would go away, but the feeling intensifying every moment she was around him.

They couldn't explain it, but the couple knew it was a good thing to happen. Love was rare for most people. Others didn't understand it either. Is there a definition for love? Yes, but not in a dictionary; in the heart. That's where it blossoms, turning into a rare flower that was sweet and gentle to the touch.

And Aang and Katara hoped, believed, knew, that they have a rare love that people only dream about or read in stories. The young couple couldn't help but imagine having a future together, living on their own, by each other's side every waking and sleeping moment. And something clicked inside Katara's head, something Gyatso said before he went upstairs.

"Aang?" she asked, lifting her head off his shoulder.

Aang looked at her saying, "Yeah?"

Katara took a moment before answering, gathering her thoughts so they weren't scrambled. "I just thought of something; what your uncle said. Do you remember when we met, in the hallway at school?" He nodded. Aang remembered that day like it happened yesterday. Katara continued, "Well, this might sound ridiculous, but, do you think that our souls are intertwined?"

Aang took a moment to contemplate her words. Were their souls intertwined? Were they destined to be together? In his heart, Aang knew that Gyatso was right. He always was. Plus, Aang can feel the connection between himself and Katara.

Looking into those ocean blue eyes, he said, "I believe so."

Katara can see in his eyes that he was telling the truth. They stared at one another for a few moments before Aang kissed her. Sparks shot like fireworks through their bodies, filling their blood with heat.

The kiss deepened, with their hearts accelerating to the point where breathing was almost impossible. But they didn't stop; they never wanted to stop. The feeling of being together, feeling this deep sense of love, made them want more. The last thing they wanted was for this magic to end and they certainly want to end this kiss. They did though; when they had to let air in, the couple reluctantly parted, with an inch between their lips, arms still about them.

Opening their eyes, Aang and Katara stared at each other, panting slightly from the kiss. "Wow," Aang breathed. Katara giggled before snuggling in his arms again. They were silent for a little while, letting their breathing and hearts slow down to their normal rhythm. Just like with every touch, the kisses kept getting better and the tingle kept getting stronger.

Then Katara said, "I believe it too." And she meant it, with her heart and soul.

Aang tightened his hold on her. "That means a lot to me, Katara," he whispered wholeheartedly in her ear.

They sat like that for a long time, not saying anything more, just holding each other, lost in their thoughts.

After a while, Katara checked her watch and sighed. She almost forgot about the party that Sokka got her into during. The watch read 3:56. Katara had to get the party together before seven o'clock, before disaster that she knew would come DID actually come.

Sensing that Katara was moving, albeit reluctantly, out of his arms, Aang thought he knew the reason for it: the party. He looked at the clock over the mantel: 3:57 now. He sighed, too.

Letting go of her, Aang asked, "Do you want me to go with you?"

Katara turned around, meeting his amazing, caring gray eyes that always made her feel safe. She was torn; Katara wanted Aang to come with her, but at the same time, she wanted him to stay and get better.

Finally she said, "That depends: Do you feel well enough to walk over to my house?" He stood up, never taking his eyes from hers. His shoulder throbbed a little, but not to a point where it was unbearable. He took her hand in his, squeezing her fingers.

"Yes," he said. "I'll manage just fine. Besides, I don't want to leave you alone. Remember what happened at school, in the hall when you were trying to give out flyers? I don't want anything, or anyone, hurting you again. I'm going to be there for you. I promise." He brought her hand to his lips, brushing them, causing Katara to shiver. Looking into his eyes, she felt the rightness of having Aang by her side, knowing that he meant what he said.

She said, "Okay; if you feel that way, than you can come and stay. These past weeks have been the best weeks of my life. Just by having you around makes me feel safe, like nothing can touch me." She cupped her hands on his cheeks, feeling warmth gather in them. "I don't want to leave you either. You're very important to me. I love you." Katara could feel her cheeks warm as she said it, but she didn't stop looking into his eyes; his eyes, steady on her, told her he felt the same before he responded, blush blossoming on his cheeks as well.

"I love you too, Katara. More than you will ever know." Then he kissed her again, never getting tired of her warmth.

The clock's bang interrupted when the hands read 4 o'clock. Breaking apart, the teens decided it was time to go before they forgot about the party again.

Back at Katara's house, she and Aang got the living room in order; the streamers crisscrossed the ceiling and wrapped around the banister of the stairs. Food lay out on the long table they brought up from the basement and cleaned of dust. The stereo system and CD's are set up where the TV set sat.

The clock over the TV read 6:30. Almost time for the party to start. Katara shook her head. How Sokka got her into this she will never know, but she's going to try to have fun. As long as Aang is there, nothing could go wrong. Without warning, Jet's words echoed in her head. 'A party. I think me and my gang will come.'

Will they really come? She had no doubts about it. And if they did come, what would they do? Gang up on her? Hurt her friends? Her eyes traveled to her boyfriend. Or would they hurt Aang? She has a flash of a memory from the Mall: a pair of dark eyes watching her from the broken window. She shivered. Aang saw at the corner of his eye and walked over to her.

He asked, "Are you okay?" His arms wrapped around her protectively. Katara leaned into him, savoring his presence.

Shaking her head, she replied, "I'm a little worried. Remember what I told you in the nurses' office? About Jet and his gang coming?"

His whole body tensed, Katara could feel it, but he spoke calmly, "Yeah, I remember." And nothing more was said between them.

Deciding to get as much time together as they can, Aang led Katara out of the house and to the pond out back. Arms still wrapped around her, he sat down, bringing Katara with him. They lay back on the grass, watching the blue sky. The birds were singing and the fish in the pond swam without care. Katara placed her head on Aang's chest, listening to the rhythm his heart beat created.

They stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's' arms, feeling protected. Aang's hand stroked her arm gently in a soothing rhythm. Katara sighed, content.

Looking up at him, Katara saw that he was watching her, eyes still full of concern. She managed a small smile before bring her face closer to Aang's. Without being told to, Aang kissed her gently on the lips. His arms tightened around her, holding her there. After a few beats, they ended the kiss and snuggled together again.

A little while later, they heard cars coming up the drive. Katara sighed and got up slowly. Aang followed her lead. The couple went into the house just as they heard the doorbell ring. Looking at each other, Aang and Katara went to the door. Katara, as the doorbell rang again, opened the door, and the party commenced.