A/N: Hello again! School is finally done and over with and I had a huge urge to sit down and write! I hope you enjoy the latest chapter!

The characters of ATLA are in no way mine :)


Three days had passed and the storm had showed little sign of letting up. Hakoda and his men were still out there in the storm and the rest of the tribe was getting anxious. I could hardly blame them. Being trapped in this fortress, while lifesaving, was maddening. There was hardly any sunlight to be enjoyed and all light was given off by torches that were lit sparingly. The south was in conservation mode until the hunting party returned with more food.

Meanwhile, Hahn was enjoying his unsupervised time. Though he and Katara remained separated for much of this time, he was unashamed of his meeting with other northern members. Those that I eavesdropped on seemed innocent enough but they were likely speaking in code. Still, they kept away from Appa and that was enough to keep me somewhat content—content enough that I didn't follow Hahn everywhere he went, just some of the places.

Though it was frequent enough that Katara confronted me with her folded arms, jutted hip, and pout that sent my heart into summersaults.

"Aang, what has Hahn done to you to make you dislike him so much?"

And then it screeched to a halt. Lie.

"I don't dislike him, Katara," I insisted.

She arched her brow, silently calling me out.

"I don't trust him, okay?"

"You don't even know him!"

I sighed, massaging my temples as I contemplated my next move. We were out in the open and while the market may have been closed, people still wandered the streets and I didn't trust that our words wouldn't be overheard. "You're right, I don't," I replied delicately, the words feeling vile as they left my tongue. I didn't want to know him. If anything, I wanted to know if Sokka trusted him about as much as I did.

She hesitated, caught off guard at my surrender. She did, after all, come here looking to pick a fight and who better than me? She had to live with everyone else in the tribe but I was temporary. If I left her life would go on, she wouldn't have to duck corners to avoid me, unlike her tribesmen. She bit down on her lower lip and I shook my head.

"Your dad has been gone too long," I said, figuring I might as well throw her a bone. That was probably why she was picking a fight in the first place.

With that, Katara collapsed onto the railing of the bridge, looking down in the flowing water below. "We don't normally abandon our hunting parties like this. By now a search party of benders would have been sent out but Hahn is blocking that action."

I bit down the retort that rose in my throat. Of course he is. "Why is he doing that?"

"He says we can't afford to send out any more people. We need benders to defend and to man the walls. If the storm ends someone needs to take down the dome."

I nod, looking up at the ice structure that sheltered us. As massive and amazing as it was, it was a bit ridiculous but I suppose it kept them sheltered from the elements. "It's been three days. If they haven't found shelter they're probably dying an—"

"Aang!"

"Let me finish!" She frowns but, thankfully, doesn't protest. "If that is the case, someone needs to go after them."

Her eyes bore into me, looking hopeful. "Are you going to?"

Was I? I had been heavily considering it but I wanted to meditate on it first. Roku might be able to offer insight on their status and that was what I wanted to know above all. Going out in this storm was risky enough, it had to be worth it. "I hope to," was all I said in reply.

She nodded slowly and started to turn. "Let me know, Aang. Something doesn't feel right." With that send off, she walked away.

Something doesn't feel right. Well, with Hahn for a betrothed I'm sure nothing ever felt right.


That afternoon I sat in my home with my legs crossed and my hands resting in my lap. My breathing slowed until I faded from my body and took my first few steps into the spirit world.

"Avatar Roku?" I called, only to be greeted by silence. I frowned, looking around for any sign of him but found none.

Until Fang, Roku's spirit guide, poked his head through the door and silently pressed a whisker to my forehead.

Suddenly I was transported from the city to a cave several miles east of here where the hunting party had taken shelter, amongst them was Hakoda, lain out over the pelts resting closest to the fire while Bato sat beside him, watching the two last minute additions carefully. The rest of the party remained between their chief and Hahn's men. They didn't trust them either. Good.

"He won't make it much longer if this storm doesn't let up."

"We should have brought a healer."

And then I was back in the real world, Fang had released me, knowing that I'd seen all I needed to see.

Alright, Hahn. Let's see how much of a bad guy you really are.


It was probably a bad idea but my proposal to Hahn involved me leaving that very night and he was eager, very eager to be rid of me. When I'd asked for reinforcements his retort was that they would slow me down which may be true but being the avatar did not make me invincible. He refused to budge, however, and that left me with either going myself or going with Appa and I wouldn't dare risk Appa's safety in this storm.

But I didn't think he was safe here either.

But, if Hakoda's life was in danger, it was a risk I had to take. I didn't think Hahn was stupid enough to try to attack him a second time—the whole city was still searching for the perpetrator.

The provisions I brought with me were limited, mostly some dried food and bandages that I hoped would help Hakoda. My time in the north hadn't yielded much in the way of healing, the masters deemed I didn't have a talent for it and kept it limited. Though I knew a rather skilled healer, I had no intention of asking her to join me in a blizzard I only vaguely knew the way through.

Though it would seem I had no choice.

"I'm coming with you."

I jumped, landing lightly on my feet with my staff at the ready, only to find Katara blinking at me, ready to go with a pack on her back and looking extra bundled.

My lips formed a frown and I shook my head. "I can't ask you to do that, Katara, it's too dangerous."

"My father is out there, Aang. I don't care about the danger. You told Hahn you need a healer and he said he couldn't spare any. Well, now you've got me. Let's go." She turned toward the door.

"Does Hahn know you left?" left my lips before I even had the chance to think it over.

She paused in the frame briefly, tossing a "No," over her shoulder and pushing out into the street.

I should have been ashamed of the glee that little syllable caused me but I wasn't. Perhaps his worry over his missing betrothed would keep him too busy to plan another attempt on Appa's life. Hopefully.

We stopped by Appa's barn before departing saying out farewells. I promised him I'd return soon and I checked in with a few of his guards. I'd become friends with a few of them and I hoped their allegiance rested with Hakoda and not Hahn. Someone needed to keep an eye on him.

Then, with no send off, Katara and I snuck away into the storm.

The wind had died down within an hour into our trek but fire still radiated from my palm and Katara stayed close, savoring its warmth. It looked as if we were catching the tail end of the storm, the snow lightened up. Tui and La had blessed us, it seemed. I was thankful for that. This was going to be hard enough as it was.

We made small talk as we walked, she told me little things about growing up in the village as it grew into the city and I told her a little about the fire nation, about Zuko and Azula. Siblings that were so complete opposites it was hard to remember that they were related. I emphasized that Azula's fierce nature kept me far away from her in a romantic sense, though it didn't ward off any of the fire nation men that looked her way. She laughed at that. I liked her laugh.

But soon the sky went completely dark and we had no choice but to set up camp for the night.

Our shelter was formed out of the ice at our feet and our warmth was found in the little fire I made and the sleeping bags Katara had the forethought to pack with us, I made her set hers up on the sled, figuring it would keep her just a bit warmer. In the meantime, we chewed on strips of the dried meat and sea prunes (which were gross but I hardly had any other option) while bundled in our bedding, neither of us could sleep. At least I had fire breath to keep me warm and Katara was accustom to this chill. At least I assumed so.

"Aang?" she called out softly.

"Hm?"

She was silent for several heartbeats before she finally spoke. "Staying close to Hahn is the best way to find out what he's up to."

I let out a deep breath. "I know."

"Dad and Sokka don't," her voice didn't sound angry. It sounded hurt. "Their fear for me makes them blind. In the North I did grow to respect Hahn; he's powerful and very intelligent but Sokka's warning was an opportunity. Hahn trusts me. He trusts that I love him enough to do anything for him. Dad and Sokka assume the same. I'm just a little girl with a love sick heart."

"Are you?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.

"No," it was barley a whisper.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

She sat up, her hair falling over her shoulders as she looked at me from across the fire. "There are ears everywhere in the city. The north has been there so long that many of the southern people have begun to blend in with them. Sometimes I catch myself wondering why the joining of the tribes would be such a bad thing."

Despite the fact that my heart was lodged in my throat, I spoke. "Balance. Like Tui and La the Northern and the Southern Water Tribes serve to balance each other out. If one chose to conquer the other the results could be disastrous. The Tribes would lose their balance, people resisting the split would rise up and you would break out into civil war. Other nations would seek to aid you and from there another war could and likely would begin."

The corner of her mouth lifted slightly and she nodded. "I know. Hahn and Arnook think that the water tribes have been out of balance since their separation and seek to restore it. But, I think the Avatar would know more about balance than Arnook."

It all came down to a difference of opinions. It sounded simple enough but I knew it was going to be a long journey to end this. Convincing Ozai that conquering the world wasn't going to solve anything had been difficult enough. If it wasn't for Iroh, I don't think we'd have been able to get anything done. I hadn't even learned any of the elements yet—as far as he knew, I was just a child. But, it had somehow all worked out. Thank the spirits.

"Katara, isn't your absence going to make him suspect?"

"He knows I'll do anything for my family. I've already lost my mother, I won't lose my father."

"But you're with me."

She paused, likely debating what to say next. "He doesn't know how I feel about you."

I wanted to believe her but I didn't. She almost tackled me to the ground at the pier, if Hahn didn't find that suspicious he would certainly find our absence suspicious. I rolled to my side and propped myself up on my elbow, finally allowing myself to face her. "What are we doing, Katara?" She threw Hahn's trust away to go on this trip with me. I was sure it was for her father but part of me didn't believe that was the entire reason.

Her eyes closed and she shook her head. "I don't know."


That morning we packed quickly, leaving at first light. The days were short in winter so we had to move quickly. I estimated that we were about half a day trek from the cave, assuming they remained there. Fang's vision hadn't allowed me much of a chance to look around their shelter but my gut told me they weren't safe yet.

And we weren't moving fast enough.

I had two options, to leave Katara with the sled and use my glider to look ahead or to have Katara sit in the sled while I used my airbending to propel us to our destination. I wasn't about to leave her out her on her own, not when she didn't know how to defend herself.

"We'll make better time if you get in the sled," I said, breaking the silence that had enveloped us for the last hour. Last night had left many things unsaid and things between us had changed but into what? She didn't love Hahn, she was with him to be a spy more or less. She had feelings for me of some sort but she'd hardly expanded on them. Where did that leave us? I was too nervous to ask. Not when we had this task at hand.

She turned and I stopped a few feet behind her, my hands falling from the grips. We'd have brought dogs to pull it but Hahn had insisted those were busy, too. Convenient.

"Took you long enough to think of that solution," she smirked as she rearranged the supplies, pulling the blankets and tucking them around her legs and torso. "Ready when you are."

And we were off, flying through the snow toward the mountain range that lie miles away, Katara whooping and laughing as we went. I couldn't help but be reminded of the last time we went sledding together; granted it was different than this. It was still fun. Simple.

Until we found that stupid abandoned Fire Nation ship.

I suppose I should I have been thankful that it was Hakoda's ship that reached the village before a fire nation ship after we'd sent that flare up. But that moment marked a mistake that I was still regretting to this day. I'd left the South Pole with Hakoda and we'd lured away the enemy ship encroaching on the South Pole all the way to the Earth Kingdom, where we convinced General Iroh and Prince Zuko to work with us rather than against us. From there the peace treaties had been drawn up and the long process of peace began.

The sun was high in the sky by the time we reached the mountain range. From there we went on foot, leaving the sled behind and placing most of our supplies on our backs.

The cave wasn't far off, nestled behind boulders that had fallen from larger rockslides, protected enough from predators but prone to snow build up, as we discovered when we found what looked like the opening. That was easily removed but it explained why the group was still in there, they didn't know the storm had finally ended.

"Aang," Bato gasped from Hakoda's side and Katara bolted passed me, water already in her hands to help her father.

"Bato what happened?" I asked, pulling him aside.

"A wild polar bear dog. We had it cornered until someone," He glanced to the two men isolated along the wall of the cave, "messed it up."

"Those are Hahn's men?"

He nodded. "They've been whispering ever since we took shelter in here. I don't trust them, Avatar, and they know it. What happened to Hakoda wasn't an accident."

I nodded, glancing over at the two men who now looked white as ash. They were nervous, scared even.

Good. They can stew in that for a bit.

"Watch them," I ordered. I didn't want them escaping while I spoke to our healer. "How does he look, Katara?"

"He has deep lacerations across his chest that Iman was able to stitch up but he's lacked any other treatment."

I nodded my thanks to Iman and knelt down beside Katara. "Is there anything you need?"

She shook her head and lowered her voice to a whisper. "Aang, I know those men are the ones that tried to hurt Appa and I know you're dying to interrogate them. Iman and I will remain here but take Bato and show them what it means to endanger the Avatar's family."


The two men were a lot less helpful than I had hoped they would be. There was little they were willing to say about Hanh without the use of torture. But they did admit to what they tried to do to Appa and that was, for now, enough for me. Bato was eager to get more but I wasn't about to stoop to that level.

However, I was willing to give them only one strip of dried meat to share while everyone else ate their fill, gobbling down the sea prunes at an alarming rate that made me feel ill. It took me five minutes to eat just one of those horrid things, if anything it made me yearn for the flavor of Fire Nation cuisine.

"We shouldn't move him until tomorrow," Katara finally said, glancing around, pausing to look at the two men behind earthen bars. "Aang, do you mind if I speak with you outside?

"Sure." I followed her out to cave door, reinforcing the bars around the traitors before I left. We trekked down the makeshift trail I'd created shortly after our arrival into a small area hiding from the view of the mouth of the cave and far from earshot.

I arched a brow. "What's wrong?" I inquired, concerned with her distraught look.

"You asked me last night," she started, "what we were doing and I told you I didn't know," with a deep breath, the rest of the words came tumbling out. "That was a lie, Aang and one I'm sorry for having told. I wanted to know that my father was safe before I did anything reckless. But, I know what I want. It's what I've wanted for years but I'd long since given up on. It's what I've been denying myself…"

The blood pulsing through my ears quite honestly drowned out the rest of what she was saying. Once again my heart was in my throat and my stomach was doing violent summersaults as I started at her, watching as she moved her hands around as she spoke. I watched her lips move, forming words I could hardly hear before I leaned down a kissed her, pressing my lips against the warmth of hers.

The surprise wore off and my hands slipped from her face to her waist as her arms slid around my neck, pulling me just a bit closer. I tightened my grasp, lifting her up to her toes in my embrace as our lips met and my tongue skirted along the edge of her lips.

Ten years poured into this kiss. Ten years of tears, regret, and love shared between us. Ten years of emotions that we couldn't even fathom into writing suddenly coming to the surface and overflowing into the other. I was practically bursting at the seams.

But then the moment was over and Katara stepped away, a smile playing on her lips as her cheeks turned just a bit rosier. "I-I should check on my father," she mumbled and walked back up the path.

I watched her go, a bit flabbergasted. I waited until my heart stopped pounding before following her, trying to remain hopefully but one resounding question kept on roaring through my mind.

What are we doing?


And there it is! Reviews are like rainbows on a dreary day!