As Aang walked the frozen pathways he could see all of the progress that the rebuild effort had been accomplishing for the villagers. He could see it in their smiles and the manner in which they carried themselves. There was a sense of security that Aang hadn't felt the last time he was here. He was given a glimmer of hope that greatly improved his spirits, that wasn't enough to stop his hands from trembling as he walked. He stuck his hand in the pocket of his pants to reassure himself that it was still there. It was, and Aang stroked the finely woven betrothal necklace. This simple action calmed him and he let his mind wander. Katara was visiting with her Gran Gran, no doubt discussing healing techniques, Aang smiled to himself as he pictured her, glowing water over her hands, as she tended to his burn after he had fought the fire nation's admiral.
She seemed in her element here. She was so strong in her own right, a master waterbender. Such a combination of power and love truly resonated with him. He couldn't imagine someone could possibly be more appealing, more perfect, than Katara. Aang's thought process was abruptly stopped as he found himself at his destination. Here was Katara's childhood home, more importantly, here was Katara's father.
Aang took a steadying breath and pulled back the hide that covered the entryway.
"Hokoda?" he called, failing to completely remove the apprehension in his voice.
Aang found the water tribe leader sitting at his desk pouring over a map of former fire nation colonies.
"Oh Aang! It's great to see you again, it's been quite a while since the last council meeting I was able to attend," Hakoda greeted the young Avatar warmly, offering his outstretched hand.
"I understand, I've had to miss a few myself. Lately it seems that there are always other matters to attend to," he replied.
Hakoda's eyes narrowed, his body visibly tensed, "Something new?"
"No! Nothing at all, well, nothing that concerns the water tribe…Zuko is…" he faltered as he searched for a way to salvage his confidence, "I-I have to confess I didn't come here on any official business. I was hoping we could talk. I have something to show you."
Aang reached into his pocket as Hakoda looked on expectantly and pulled out the necklace. Hakoda smiled knowingly.
"Well finally! I had just about given up hope that you'd ever ask her!"
"I've always intended to", Aang said with a smile, " ever since the moment I first saw her. It's just been..."
"I know", replied Hakoda, "you two have been through so much. I have to say I couldn't have picked a better match for her if I tried. When do you plan to ask her?"
Aang glanced nervously at the exit, "as soon as I can, we're short on time as it is."
"Well go! Go! We can begin the preparations tomorrow, first thing," said Hakoda, he rested a hand on the young man's shoulder, smiled at him reassuringly, and ushered him out the door, "we'll talk about the other developments later."
Aang couldn't believe how easy that was and in a way only an air bender could he traipsed above the snow as he set out in search of Katara. He found her at a small shop, drinking tea with Toph and Suki, who had her free hand intertwined with Sokka's. He stopped short to admire Katara as she laughed with ease, the way her eyes lit and her hair sparkled in the sun's rays as she threw back her head...she was radiant.
"Hey Twinkletoes! What's the big idea spying on us over there, come join us and get some of this tea." Toph's voice brought him slamming back down to earth and he summoned all of his courage to walk over to the group.
"Hey guys ha ha," he stammered awkwardly, rubbing his hand on the back of his bald head.
"Is there a problem, Aang?" said Sokka partially breaking free from his wife, Suki's, hand. "You sound like you've lost your mind."
"Uh...well I uh...it's just...Katara? Can I talk to you for a minute...uh...privately?"
Aang felt as if he had suddenly lost control of his limbs. He anxiously scanned Katara's face for any sign of trepidation at this request. He found none. She was everything calm and collected a she stood up, ignoring the knowing glances and unsuppressed smiles of Suki and Toph and the over protective glare that Sokka was suddenly shooting in Aangs direction. With a small flick of the wrist she water bended Sokka's tea onto his lap, not daring to glance his way at the sounds of annoyed protest that she heard from him.
Her eyes stayed glued to Aangs and she smiled sweetly, "sure thing."
"Could this be it? No Katara, don't over analyze. You'll just be disappointed." The young woman repeated in her head all the reasons not to get too excited. After all she and Aang talk privately all the time- although he never directly searches her out for a private discussion like this, and they're not usually at a surprise visit to her home, and it is almost sunset. Katara speed up past Aang in an attempt to hide her crimson cheeks. Aang turned to follow her with but not without one backward glance to his friends, Sokka was still grumbling, but he saw a wink from Suki and a nod from Toph, and he could have sworn she mouthed the words, "go get her Twinkletoes."
Aang sped up to fall into step with Katara. He led her towards the dock where the sun was setting. This did beautiful things to the snow and water and the dazzling colors danced and played almost as if in celebration of what was to come.
"Why don't we sit here to talk," asked Aang, a slight waver in his voice.
Katara obliged and sat next to her boyfriend, his robes matched the colors of the sunset and she couldn't help but think how wonderfully natural he looked sitting there. She noticed the unevenness of his breathing and placed a hand on his knee. She smiled at her Avatar and waited for him to be ready to talk.
Aang looked into the brilliant blue eyes of his love and suddenly all fears left him, "Katara, you are the most brilliant girl I've ever met. Intelligent and kind, powerful, yet reserved. You keep me grounded and offer me the most sage advice I've ever received. I know that often its hard with me and life gets so busy but I can't- I can't begin to tell you how much I love you." He paused here and saw the love he had for her reflected back in her eyes, he took out the necklace and offered it to her, "Katara, would you be my wife?"
Katara couldn't believe the beauty of the thing that Aang had presented her with, the color, the same as the sunset, the intricate weavings that somehow seemed to glow in their brilliance.
"Amazing. Truly amazing. Oh, Aang it's gorgeous! Of course, I will!" she threw her arms around him, letting the nervousness diffuse between them. They meshed perfectly with each other, savoring the moment and the promise of a happy life.
Aang could feel the tension growing inside him and abruptly pulled away, leaving Katara confused.
"Sorry sweetie", Aang looked genuinely remorseful, "I didn't want to…you are...exquisitely beautiful Katara. I can't wait for our wedding night."
Katara smiled unabashed by his speech, the monks that raised him were nothing if not traditional, and while she could curse them for her current predicament, Aang just wouldn't be Aang without them. She leaned back on her palms and attempted to bring her heart rate down to a somewhat normal rate.
"Alright Mr. Holy monk," she teased as she took off her mothers necklace and clipped Aang's in place, she tied her mothers necklace around her wrist a few times and knotted it there, "when where you thinking for the ceremony?"
Aang's face focused, "I was hoping we could have it sooner rather than later. The terrible truth is I don't know when I'll have time to come here again, I know that's not the most romantic idea."
Katara thought this through and said, "well water tribe ceremonies are fairly simple affairs you are presented and then you exchange your vows, but I want to incorporate air nomad tradition as well."
"There's not much to that either. So few of us married. It seemed... unnecessary"
Katara mused on this for a minute, "how about in two weeks time? I can't selfishly keep you to myself forever."
His face hardened as he looked out at the water.
"Well I hardly think we can finish everything by tomorrow," she added, "although I suppose we don't really need to invite Zuko- could he even come?"
"It's not that, Katara. Am I being fair to you? You're right, I can never be totally yours. There will always be something, won't there? It's not like tomorrow we'll wake up and the world will be at peace, it's not like-"
She silenced him with a kiss, "Aang I know what I signed up for, I've known since I first found out who you are. I've been with you all of this time, I promise, there's nothing more in this world that I want."
Nothing had ever sounded better to the young Avatar, and as they watched the remainder of the sunset together, her soft dark head laying in his lap, he couldn't help think that this was the best time in all of his lives.