A/N. First of all, sorry for disappearing! I went on holiday, and then started a new job! But I'm back, and I'm already halfway done with next chapter! This when is a bit over the place, but the important part is good!

As night was falling, Aang sighed, letting his hand pass over the new scar on his chest. The whole afternoon had actually been a haze of action and news, and it was only now that he was able to think about it all…

After Zuko had come into the tavern, Katara had insisted that Sokka and he himself would go back to the siege camp, so that they couldn't be more wounded than they already were. Sokka had protested, of course, but one look from Katara had forced him to accompany Aang to the siege lines. The airbender himself had insisted that if he was not going to fight, Katara wasn't going to do that either. She had clearly not liked it, but had seen the reasons behind it. She didn't look like a part of the besiegers, and it was entirely possible that their own soldiers would begin to fight her. So she had accompanied him, the water tribe warrior, On Ji and Masi to the camp, followed by Appa and Momo.

He had not seen much of her after that, only the moment she had come to check up on him and after that, she had been busy with healing her brother. The airbender had looked at her, drinking in each movement and just being happy about the fact that she was safe… He had cringed at the rather unmanly scream Sokka had uttered as Katara had set his leg the right way, and after that, he had listened to the grumbled protests of his friend as the waterbender healed the leg.

After that, Katara had gone to find Orsu and heal whatever had happened to him, so now, he sat in the tent with Sokka, looking at how his friend was testing putting some weight on his leg, grimacing each time he put too much on it.

"Katara said you shouldn't try walking for a day." Aang said softly, as he gave in to Momo insistent chirping and dropped the fruit he had intended to eat himself on the bed. As the lemur grabbed it and disappeared out of the tent, the airbender looked at his friend who sat down, evidently not happy about it.

"I still can't believe it." Sokka whispered, clearly not having heard a word Aang had said, "Azula had us all fooled… She knew exactly what to say. And she had the necklace! She had to have Katara."

Yes, that had puzzled him too. How had the princess got her hands on the necklace, which Aang knew, had been in Katara's pocket ever since their… Well, their wedding. He doubted she would have taken it out. Perhaps it had fallen out of it during their fight? That would have been the only logical explanation.

"Sokka, sit down… We don't know what happened. Azula knew what we feared… And used it." He sighed, as his friend fell down on the bed in front of Aang.

"Still, how come she didn't escape? She is one of the best waterbenders in existence! Don't tell her I said that!" The Water Tribe warrior hissed the last words, and Aang shook his head, smiling. A few hours ago, that movement would have hurt all his body, but now, it was far more tolerable. The pain in his chest was nothing more than a dull ache, easily ignored as long as there was something else to think about.

"I don't know… I only know what I told you when she left." He spoke softly. It was true, he had told Sokka everything what On Ji had told him before Shoji had stabbed him. Shoji… Where would he be? He had not come with them to the siege lines, and had stayed with Suki and Toph. Hopefully, he had found his family… Glancing through the entrance of the tent, Aang saw the dull light of old fires slowly dying out coming from the town. There had been messages trickling in all through the day, he had seen that… But he didn't know what had happened.

"So, what now?" He asked instead.

"Now, we hope the army captured Azula… But I don't think so. She is slippery. She would have had a plan, even if it was disrupted. She couldn't have accounted for you being inside the town, or Orsu telling us what had happened."

Aang wasn't so sure. Katara had told him Azula had burned On Ji's home, so there had been some suspicion on Orsu being a "traitor". But all that didn't matter. It didn't do anyone good to think about all the possibilities… The only thing they could do was wait and see. And Aang hated being stuck in that situation.

"We should have been helping our friends." He sighed.

"Yeah, because a cripple and a guy stabbed half to death would have changed everything. Aang, you have done enough. If you hadn't opened that gate…" He saw the air quotes Sokka made when he said opened, and couldn't help but laugh. Even laughing didn't hurt as much as it had done this morning… All thanks to Katara.

Katara… Spirits, he wanted to be close to her, feel her in his arms… Feel her breath on his chin, feel the soft thud of her heartbeat when he had his fingers on the soft skin of her lower arms… He wanted to hug her, kiss her, love her… And perhaps that was all possible… If only Azula was captured, and locked away. If that was the case, they could think of the future. A future without war, without violence, and without worry.

Sure, there would be worry aplenty, but not the kind of end a century old war or the world is doomed kind of worry.

"Great Spirits, Twinkles, calm down." The gruff, tired voice of Toph sounded just behind the entrance, and seconds later, the blind girl emerged inside the tent. She was covered in dust, stank of ash and smoke and sweat, and to be honest, looked dead tired, but alive. She was soon followed by Suki, who threw a quick smile at him before joining Sokka on his bed, whispering softly. She too looked as if she could have used several days of sleep, but she looked cleaner than Toph.

"What happened to you?" Aang asked, pointing his chin to the earthbender.

"Well, some firebender thought it a good plan to make a wall explode right in front of me. Of course, the fool didn't think about the fact I could just throw the debris right back at him. But the dust hit me. So, a new coat of healthy earth!" The girl laughed, throwing her arms in a movement of showing off, and then threw herself right next to him. He saw the dust fall on his bed, and bend some air to clean it.

"Are you both alright?" He asked, feeling concerned and slightly ashamed he had not stayed to make sure they were not hurt.

"Yeah, yeah, the town is in ruins, a lot of people burned to death in the lower parts, where we couldn't reach them before it was too late… But most of the garrison is dead or in chains. And Azula slipped away. There were several ships leaving the harbour before we managed to reach it." Toph shrugged, as if it wasn't a big deal, but Aang felt his heart break at those words.

Hundreds were dead… Just because two people were fighting for the throne. The lives of the survivors were quite literally in ruins… All because he had not managed to end this war before it started… Gritting his teeth, he thought back at the words Gyatso had spoken to him in the mist. It was not his fault. Not his fault. How could it be?

Would Sozin and Szeto be stopped? Aang knew he should try and contact Roku, but to be honest… He felt drained. How could anyone resolve both problems in the Spirit World and in this world? No one could be everywhere at anytime…

"At least, we know in which direction she was going… West." Suki spoke up, clearly having been listening to them.

"West?" Sokka spoke, confused. And Aang shared it. West, there was nothing for Azula. The islands were all but in Zuko's hands, except Fire Fountain City… But that would only be a matter of time, and Azula probably knew that Iroh was there, and Aang doubted she would want to test her command skills against her Uncle… So, why west?

"Ember Island." Sokka spoke, his voice high as it always was when he realized something, "She had been using Ember Island. Of course… She did what we did. Hide in plain sight."

It made sense… But they couldn't follow her. They knew next to nothing about how Ember Island looked, or even if that was really where she was heading.

"We'll see what to do… Tomorrow." Aang nodded, "Today, we can't do anything… Nor should we. We are all tired, while Azula is rested and alert."

He saw Sokka nod at those words, and felt a slight pang of pride realizing he had correctly assessed the situation. And then, the pride was replaced by regret and pain. What was he becoming? Air Nomads shouldn't know anything about military things… Nor about how to fight. Yet one more thing he had not done as he was supposed to.

No… Gyatso too had known about war. He had taught Aang plenty of things about strategy… Even if Aang realized it only now he was somewhat older. Still, it made him regret the carefree times he had been used to.

"Well, Zuko asked for you both to come to Piandao's tent. We have some things to discuss." Toph shrugged, grabbing Aang's arm and pulling him with her as she stood up. Feeling a slight ache shoot up his chest, he grimaced.

"Toph!" He heard Suki groan.

"What? Take Meathead, we have better things to do than politics. The sooner we have talked to the old guy and Sparky, the sooner we can follow the bitch. And the sooner Aang can go fuck Katara."

"TOPH." This time, it was Sokka screeching, "Aang won't… He is wounded!"

"Yeah, as if that would stop him. Or her. In any case, she can heal him anytime he is winded. And with a bit of luck, she can bend his blood back to-"

"Enough." Aang spoke for himself this time. This was no time to make jokes… And to be honest, Toph was saying exactly what Aang had been thinking. Would… Would it be too forward? They had just found each other… Would Katara… Would she like that? He felt his cheeks burn when he saw the slightly disgusted look on Sokka face, while Suki smiled as if she knew what he was thinking. Toph was just grinning.

As they exited the tent, he could smell the smoke in the air, but also the smell of rain and wet earth. The smell of autumn… Mixed with the smell of suffering and despair. Toph was pulling him past rows and rows of tents, towards the tent standing close to the tree line, the tent he knew Piandao would be.

As they neared it, he saw that from the other side of the camp, a small group approached. There was On Ji and her mother, followed by the man he had spoken to at the gates the day he had snuck into the town… The man, Orsu, was being helped to walk by Katara. When he saw her, he could feel his heart beat faster and faster. It had not been a dream… No dream at all. His eyes filled with tears, and he even felt one roll down his cheek. It was really over… And he wouldn't leave her side from now on. If she would allow him of course.

As they neared each other, he saw that Katara passed the arm she had been supporting to On Ji, and quickly marched to them.

"Why are you out of bed! I told you both to stay there! And you!" She turned her magnific blue eyes to her brother, "You should have been staying very still! I won't set that leg again! Not if you scream like a little girl every time I do so!"

Aang just smiled.

"Relax Sugar Queen, they are also summoned to this." Toph pointed a thumb to Piandao's tent, "You wouldn't disobey a direct order from the Fire Lord, would you?" The airbender heard the joke in the earthbender's voice, but Katara did not.

"I would kick that idiot's ass for not thinking two coherent thoughts after one another. Seriously, you should both be resting." Katara was fuming.

"Spirits, be happy I pulled him out your brother's tent." Toph rolled her misty eyes, then pointed the thumb to Sokka "I don't think you would like this idiot being your audience tonight!"

"TOPH!" Both siblings screeched at the same time. And Aang could help but chuckle.

"Instead of acting like kids, could we all be serious for three seconds?" The soft, scrapping voice of Zuko appeared net to him, and Aang looked at the firebender. He too looked dead tired, and the skin around his scar was stretched so thinly Aang could have sworn he saw the bone beneath it. Zuko look defeated.

"Lord Zuko." Orsu spoke softly, bowing before wincing. Aang saw it, and tried to step towards the man who had kept Katara's secret safe to help him, but Zuko was already next to the man.

"No need for that." The firebender said, as gently as he probably could, and helped the man to straighten once more, "Come. We have things to discuss." With that, Zuko turned away and walked to the table standing net to the tent. Aang saw that Piandao was already sitting next to it on a bench, cleaning his sword. Cleaning it with a cloth so reddened by blood Aang felt his head swim.

As the others gravitated towards the table, Aang held back and stayed with Katara, looking into those beautiful deep blue eyes… Spirits, why was he the Avatar? He would have preferred to spend every waking moment looking into those eyes… Losing himself every time in their beauty…

"Twinkles! You can rip off her clothes later! Now, serious things!" The shout was followed by soft protests from the table, but Aang felt his cheeks burn once more. If Toph was able to "see" that… What had Katara seen?

"Sorry." He whispered, shuffling to the table. As he sat down, Katara joined him to his right. And took his hand in her under the table with a soft smile on her lips. Smiling back at her, he still didn't know how to act around her. Everyone knew… Pressing his fingers into hers, he turned to the others.

"Well, that was a bloody mess." Piandao cursed, throwing away the bloody cloth, "Avatar Aang, why, in Agni's name, did you go inside?"

He felt all eyes on him.

"You know why." He answered, glancing at Katara. That made Piandao deflate slightly, but the airbender still saw the annoyance in the old swordman's eyes.

"Well, no matter, what is done is done. My soldiers are counting the dead, on both sides. I'm sorry, Master Orsu, but it seems we couldn't stop the burning of the harbour quarters of the town. The Princess started her fires there, and her soldiers stopped us reaching them… I'm sorry."

Aang looked at Orsu, seeing how the man's eyes filled with tears at the news.

"I'm sure…" The man sniffed, "I'm sure there was nothing any of us could have done against her. She… Well, she didn't seem like a good person."

That was putting it nicely, Aang thought, but then again, Orsu probably didn't know how much everyone here hated Azula, and probably tried to be polite.

"I'm sorry for what my sister did, and promise you any help we can give you to rebuild the town." Zuko spoke softly, "And… ehm… Well, we would like your opinion."

"Mine?" Orsu seemed confused, "What for?"

"The governor, Lord… Kantuno?... He was not found amid the prisoners, nor with the dead for the moment. Our suspicion is that he joined the Princess west. We need someone to take over the town in his stead." Piandao explained.

"Well… Ehm… I don't know. Anyone from the council would do to be honest… As long as those loyal to the Princess are not permitted inside the council."

"The council… well, the town's hall seemed to have been destroyed. We think most council members were inside." Zuko spoke softly. Aang began to realize the scale of destruction left by Azula. She had burned the poorer parts of the town, costing hundreds of lives probably… And she had cut off the leading citizens by the neck. The town would not be able to be used effectively by Zuko, unless he would manage to build up the harbour, bring people in, and name a new leading council of town's people. All in all, she had destroyed the town in all but name…

And all those lives…

Looking at Orsu, he saw the man had paled considerably, for he had probably lost friends. Aang didn't know what to say, but as he opened his mouth to say anything, Katara spoke up.

"The choice is clear, no? Orsu." With that, Aang saw that the Fire Nation man looked startled, and even a little scared.

"Me? No… I can't…"

"Why not? You know the town, people respect you, and to top it off, you are actually a decent human being. Which is rare in the Fire Nation." Katara shrugged those last words, "And if not by your actions, you are probably the leading citizen anyhow now."

"That was our idea too. Master Orsu, we would like you to be governor of Kirashi. Not only did you come here out of love for this place… You also swore an oath to Lord Zuko, without being forced to. And if my information is correct, your actions gave you the most powerful ally you could wish for. The Avatar." Piandao gesture to him.

Yes… That was true. For what he had done for Katara, Aang would do anything for this man. To be honest, for everything that family had done for them. They had kept Katara safe… Safe from harm, and hidden. Hidden… Aang still didn't understand everything that had happened, but he knew one thing. Orsu would have his eternal thanks.

"I… I just did what anyone would have done for someone in need." Orsu whispered.

"You could have betrayed me." Katara said, her beautiful soft voice ringing in Aang's ears as clear as day… Spirits, how he had missed that, "When you learned who I am… You could have betrayed me."

"I have honor Master Katara. You were a guest in my home…" Aang saw the eyes of the man widen, "Wait, my house!"

"It burned my dear." On Ji's mother whispered, and the airbender saw the hurt in her eyes. Not only had the town burned… But people's lives were gone too. Aang had seen the beautiful, and rich, library Orsu had kept. How many years had that taken? All to be lost in a single moment…

"Oh…"

"Azula burned it." Katara interjected, "Of course that bitch did that. Did you annoy her a lot?"

"I just said… That we shouldn't fight if it meant losing the town." Orsu whispered.

"Well, the town is lost regardless." Sokka spoke for the first time, and Aang would have liked him not to be so blunt, "The only thing left to do is rebuild."

At that, the airbender had to smile. The eternal adaptable nature of the Water Tribe. Burn something, and they will rebuild without a second thought. As he watched Orsu, Aang saw the thought process. As governor, he could rebuild his town, reform it in a positive manner… Under the guidance of Zuko's future government, and with the knowledge that if something happened, if something threatened the new town, Aang would come and help.

"Is there no one… better suited?" Orsu asked softly. Aang had hide the smile he could feel forming on his lips at that question.

"No." Zuko answered, "We want it to be someone who cares as much for his home as I do care for the Fire Nation. I didn't betray my country, I wanted to protect it, so I joined the Avatar. Much like you did."

"In that case… I would like that." This time, the ghost of the smile Aang had seen appearing on the man's lips formed.

"Well, it that case, you are now Lord Orsu, Governor of Kirashi Island." Zuko spoke, and the airbender heard Toph snort.

"I suppose you will have some work. If you want, there are some earthbenders with the army. If they are asked nicely, they may want to help you rebuild. But don't count too much on it, they quite hate the Fire Nation." The blind girl spoke harshly, but Aang knew why she said it. It would be good to see Fire Nationals and Earth Kingdom citizens work together once again.

"May… May I go?" Orsu asked softly, his eyes turning to the town.

"You may. The soldiers are guarding the streets, and searching through the rubble. We won't know the complete damage until tomorrow, but I assure you, my soldiers have been ordered to keep in line." Piandao nodded, before turning serious, "Yet, it may be wise to leave your wife and daughter here, under the care of the Fire Lord."

Aang gritted his teeth. That sounded as if the two were supposed to be hostages, and his face probably betrayed his feelings, as he felt Katara's fingers press into his, and as he turned to look at her, she shook her head slowly, and he understood. It was a kindness. If the soldiers didn't obey their orders, it may be safer here than inside the town.

As Orsu nodded, he stood up and staggered slowly towards the town, disappearing behind some trees. Masi and On Ji looked completely lost now, standing next to the table where all of them were sitting. And Aang understood their confusion. Here they were in the presence of the whole group that had brought down Fire Lord Ozai. He imagined they were feeling like he had done when meeting the Council of Elders.

"Please, sit. I will ask my servant to bring some food here for you." Piandao gestured at the space Orsu had freed, and the two women sat down awkwardly, "We have much to discuss."

That was true… And Aang dreaded all the talk. He didn't want to explain why he had gone into the town, he didn't want to talk about what had happened afterwards. Not here, not to all his friends…

"Could the Avatar be excused? His wounds are still rather… fresh." Katara spoke up, and everybody seemed surprised by her words, so formal and polite.

"About that… We thought it a good idea if he was not here at all. The Princess gave him a week to leave the Fire Nation because she said she had captured you." Piandao spoke, "We thought about keeping her in the dark of this… reunion."

The last word was spoken with such an amused twinkle in the man's eyes that Aang turned his own eyes to the wooden board of the table, blood rushing to his face.

"We'll explain everything tomorrow." Zuko added more seriously.

"In that case, I'll go back to the tent." Aang whispered.

"I'll come to heal you some more." Katara smiled, and he felt himself being pulled up by his hand. As she began to lead him away from the table, Aang swore he could hear some very undignified sounds coming from where Toph was sitting, then a hushing sound that seemed to come from Suki, and finally the blind girl's reply.

"What, it is what Sugar Queen is going to do to him!"

After those words, they were too far away to hear the answering shout from Sokka, as Aang was quite sure his friend would hate this kind of talk. And to be honest, Aang himself felt rather awkward at the words. Would… Would Katara want to do that?

As they walked between the rows of tents, the airbender realized two things. First, this was the first time the two of them were alone.

And second, that they weren't going back to the tent he had occupied with Sokka.

"Tara…" He began, but the waterbender put a finger to her lips, shaking her head.

"Where…"

"Healing Orsu took two minutes. I've been doing something else this afternoon." Was her only answer.

As she guided him out of the mass of tents, he could feel where they were going. Or at least, towards whom they were going. As they turned around a tree, he saw a clearing, with Appa, saddled and ready to go.

"What…"

"Ehm… This place… You know what happened here." Katara began, and for the first time today, Aang heard the slight shyness in her voice. Thinking about it, he realized that further north lay the hills with the shepherd's huts…

"Tara… The rain…" Aang knew that those huts were always abandoned during the monsoon season for they lay at risk at being swept away during a mudflood.

"Orsu assured me it was too early for the huts to be at any serious risks… And there… We can talk… Talk and talk." She began to laugh a wet laugh, tears in her eyes, "Finally talk…" As she spoke those final words, Aang saw her stand in her toes and kiss his lips.

The kiss was furtive, almost shy… And the sweetest thing he had tasted in weeks… months… The kiss felt like the one they had shared at the tomb of Oma and Shu… The first one they had ever shared. And the warmth of that kiss spread through his entire body, a better medicine than any herbs or healing could ever have been…

"Spirits I missed you so… so much." He whispered, tears blurring his own sight now.

"Come." She whispered, taking his other hand and pulling him to the Sky Bison, who looked as if he was dying of happiness too. And Aang let himself be led to Appa, knowing that they would have all night to talk to each other.

Answers:

McChartney: Thanks! I liked to write the reunions!