Greetings, avid readers!

I'd like to start with thanking all the reads, favs and follows in this story. Even if silent, your support means a lot. As for the ones that took their time to write a review, thank you as well!

This journey is coming to an end. Thank you all for your company, your views and your reviews. This has been a story that has accompanied me through some challenging times, and thank you for walking it with me. I might post a final chapter, but know that it has been a pleasure. Thank you.

My weekly obsession is... I guess the rain. Because it's been raining so much. I need to start changing my views, my vision of the world around me, be more positive. So, I will call it a cleansing storm.

Brain Fart, hope you like this one.

Dommie, tell me in writing what you think.

This is my first try at a Avatar fanfiction. Go easy on me. Reviews and flames are always welcomed, for they keep my cat and I warm at night.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar nor any of the characters. Such credit should go to Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. I do own a... certain amount of characters that will be recognized further into the story.

Thank you, and enjoy the chapter!


Chapter XXIV: The New World


X—X

"I'll show you what a real master airbender is made of."

All was quiet for a moment. Perhaps in fear of her threat, perhaps in shock at the speech she had just delivered, or perhaps simply in expectation of what her next course of action was. Ahria closed her eyes and she brought one hand forward, a small twirl of wind spinning on her palm. Toph froze beside Aang, and he took a moment to look at her widened eyes before turning back to Ahria.

Elder Boqin scoffed. "You really wish to embarrass yourself in front of the whole nation?"

But Ahria said nothing, only raised her head higher, the little twirl of wind spinning faster. Toph's grip on Aang arm tightened, her frown deepening. The Avatar glanced at her, worried. Katara and Zuko both looked around, concern written all over their faces. And then, everyone heard it.

The sliver of the wind picked up, becoming almost deafening. Ahria kept her eyes closed but brought up her other arm to encase the little swirl, now turned into a ball of wind in her palms. Everyone gasped as they saw the walls of the barrier shift. The winds seemed to be fighting themselves, clashing against each other in turns of direction. The right horizontal waves began swirling, flying in opposite directions, moving up and down the length of it.

Boqin stepped back as Ahria's knees buckled, but she remained strong. She planted her feet firmly on the ground and arched her fingers. Her hands contained the sphere of wind, now so similar to what the barrier around the Air Dome once was. The walls of wind around them continued to shift, change, and become even more erratic. Ahria slowly inched her hands away as her brown began sweating, and Aang watched with batted breath as she panted.

Suddenly, she closed her hands in fists and parted them violently. And the second she did so, the wind barrier around the village shattered.

The people gasped as they saw the trees that surrounded the village, the entirety of the Earth Kingdom forest that kept the village hidden from the world. The winds dispersed into the four corners of the world, and Ahria's knee buckled. She took a deep breath and raised her head, chest heaving with the effort to disperse a century-old wind barrier raised by the most powerful.

She eyed the Elders one by one, taking small satisfaction in their aghast expressions. She saved Boqin for last and smirked at his horrified face. Then, finally, she turned to face the crowd and stood up straighter. Momo returned to his seat on her shoulder, curling his tail on her upper arm, and sat back, puffing his chest out.

"I will follow the Avatar wherever he may lead us." Ahria declared, standing up taller. "He promised me a home in the sky, in our Air Temples. Whoever wants to follow me and him, you will be more than welcome in the homes we will build for ourselves."

And finally, finally, her eyes fell on him, and his heart seemed to want to burst from his chest. He was so proud of her, so very proud. She did not need to prove herself to anyone, but what she had just done was one more proof of her strength, one last show of who she really was. He smiled, and she grinned. Aang nodded at her, words would come later and in a more secluded environment, but for now, all he could do was silently show her just how proud of her he was.

The people were silent. Ahria did not blame them. They had just watched what kept them secure for generations shatter at the force of her hand. She almost wanted to apologize and try to bring it back up, but she had a point to make. Those walls meant suffering, they were a cage. And she refused to let anyone live their lives behind barriers.

But then, a voice broke out of the silence.

"Many years ago, when I was a young chap like little Nian here..." the crowd parted to allow him to step forward. "My son, my own flesh and blood, was cast out by the Elders for making the same claims the little brat did."

"Old Mako..." Ahria gasped.

"But instead of seeking freedom in a time of peace, he sought to help in a time of war. For that, our Elders saw fit to exile him, much like they just did with you, little one."

"Is there a point to this, Mako?"

"You might be an Elder, but I'm still older than you. So shut up, boy." the old man spat. Ahria held in a giggle. "Where was I?"

"Your son being exiled." someone offered.

"Thank you. He was exiled for trying to help. The little brat was exiled for wanting our people to return to their righteous home, in the Temples we tried so hard to mimic here." he gestured around, coming to a stop by Ahria's side. "This little brat... the bane of my existence..."

Ahria grinned up to him, and he nudged her chin with his knuckle. "She has been the daughter I never thought I'd have, a companion I believed I did not deserve. Someone who ate all my crumb cookies. And devoured my chili."

"It's so good!" she complained.

"Why would I trust a man that saw fit to cast out his own flesh and blood to the streets? A man that let his own daughter wander the streets in a storm, seeking a shelter she did not know she would find in my home? A man that exiled his own daughter for she did not conform to his ideals?"

A murmur went through the crowd, but old Mako simply turned to Aang. "My boy. I know I'm but an old man whose bones are crumbling faster than his cookies. But, if you let me, allow me to follow you into the paradise you promised us. Our home in the Air Temples."

"It would be an honor to return you home, Mako." Aang bowed his head.

"Yeah, I'm with old Mako in this one." Mako – Tenna's brother – let out.

"What did you call me, boy?!"

"Sorry. Mako." he grinned. "But I'm with him on this one. I'm a scout. Rea, me, and a bunch of other people have been telling, time and time again, how the war is over, and has been for years now. Rea had the guts to do something about it."

"Yeah!" a chorus echoed in the crowd.

"And I can't follow someone who does that to his own daughter." Mako turned to Aang. "I'll help in any way I can. Think I could make a home in the Temples?"

"I will be honored to have you there, Mako." Aang smiled and raised his voice. "As a matter of fact, I will be honored to have any and every single one of you. The repairs of the Temples will commence shortly, and with all hands on deck, the quicker they will become a home to all of you. Whoever wishes to follow me, I will be honored to lead you home."

X—

"Hey."

Ahria looked up to see Aang smile down at her. His eyes glowed with the light of the setting sun, his one-shoulder robe gently flowing behind him. She noticed his scruff had grown to a visible size and smiled. She scooted closer to the edge of the roof to give the Avatar more room to sit. He did so quietly, and the two turned their heads back to the view below.

The two sat on the roof of the highest tower of the Southern Western Temple. They two watched as the celebrations happened below them, on the streets of the temple. The leftovers of food were still being passed around by the still-hungry ones, the music that the young danced to, and the cries of challenges being won and lost. Even from afar, they could still hear old Mako shouting at a few to stop interrupting his game of Pai Sho.

It had been two months since Ahria had shattered the Air Dome barrier, and they had left to make the Air Temples their homes once more. With the help of all the nations and bending powers, they had made the Temples livable once more, one by one. Aang was proud of all the work they had accomplished in so little time but was more than ready to take a break.

Though he had helped each and every Temple ready to be lived in, he had let everyone know he would be living in the Southern Temple, which he had always considered his home. So, he had made sure to leave at least one person he could trust in charge of the administrative decisions for the time being: he trusted they would manage themselves. Elder Bao was in charge of the Eastern Air Temple, Elder Shiro of the Northern Air Temple, and Li Mei was in charge of the Western Air Temple.

The reason why he did not choose Ahria to lead a temple was because he wanted her by his side. Plus, old Mako would kill him, Avatar or not, if he had sent his surrogate daughter away.

He looked at Ahria, who looked down at the party with a soft smile on her face. She looked beautiful. A bit different from the four-nation donning colors she was, but she looked amazing. She had switched her one-sleeved kimono for a one-shoulder yellow robe like his own, the sash around her waist a deep blue color. A gift from Katara and Sokka, no doubt. Her corset had become a lovely shade of orange, though kept the same beige pants.

Her hair was still down to her waist in crazy curls, that seemed to bounce with every moment she made. Her eyes were smoother, no longer searching for enemies on every corner. The tie he had offered her all those months ago still rested on her wrist, as a memory of what he promised her.

He had not forgotten her. He had barely managed to have five minutes alone for the last two months before either of them was whisked away to their duties – his as the Avatar and hers as the organizer of the works and constructions. But now that he finally had time to breathe and think something other than returning the Air Nomads to their homes, he could finally act on them.

"Great party down there, huh?" he commented.

"Yeah. Though I think old Mako will hunt me down tomorrow morning." she giggled.

"Why?" he frowned.

"I... may have told the children he makes awesome crumb cookies." She smirked, and Aang chuckled.

"Oh, he's going to hunt you down."

"Unfortunately for him, I spend my life on rooftops." she sighed happily. "But... he's happy. That's all I want."

"Are you?" Aang let out.

She turned to look at him. "... I'm in an Air Temple. My family, my people know the war is over. They breathe freedom air. I couldn't be happier."

"And your..." he cleared his throat. "Boqin?"

"He stayed at the Air Dome. I will not visit, I will not think of him. He chose his way. As I have chosen mine." she declared, looking back at the party.

"I'm sorry that had to happen."

"It's okay, Aang." she placed a hand over his and smiled. "You didn't cause this. And though I know you want to, you can't fix everything that is wrong in the world."

"But I can try." he licked his lips.

"And you already succeeded." she squeezed his hand "Look around you. You've brought us back to where we belong, Aang."

"Yeah." he nodded. "Ah, Zuko sent a messenger hawk. Asking me if I'd bring you along for his wedding."

"Oh, of course!" she exclaimed. "I cannot wait to make the Fire Lord embarrassed."

"Yeah, me either." he took a deep breath. "I'm glad."

"You're not... angry?" she tried.

"Why would I be angry?"

"Because not even three months ago, you and Katara were together. You thought she was your forever girl. And now..."

"Now she's doing what she loves, she's to get married to the man she truly loves and is happy."

"And you?"

"Me? I'm living in a restored Air Temple with air nomads, going to where I am needed, following the Spirit's call." he smiled. "And I couldn't be happier here."

"Yeah... life is pretty good here."

"Right where I am."

"What?" she turned to him when he grabbed her hand. "What do you mean?"

"Right here. Is right where I want to be."

"On a cold rooftop?"

"Mh-hm."

"...with me?" she gulped.

"Exactly," he whispered.

"Aang..."

"Spirits know I've been considering dropping everything that I'm responsible for the past month." he shuffled closer to her. "Just so that I can whisk you away and have some alone time with you."

"Why would you want to be alone with me?" she frowned.

Aang cupped her cheek and smiled as the pink blossomed in her skin. He watched as her eyes grew brighter, unsure but not stopping him. He felt her palm raise to his chest, where she was sure to feel the rapid beat of his heart. He leaned in closer, watching as the blur of heavy lashes became singular lines of dark brown.

"We always seem to have our most serious talks in the quiet of the night. Most of the time in a bath house." he smiled and watched as her blush darkened. "But I don't want to wait for fate to make a pattern out of this coincidence. This time, I want to make this happen."

"Aang..."

"Two months ago, you apologized for something that you shouldn't." he declared, watching her eyes widen. "Two months ago, I had to watch you walk away from me after six little words sealed my fate and my story."

"I'm sorry." Ahria tried to look away, but he did not let her.

"Don't. Tonight, I won't let you walk away. I don't want the heart you took from me that night." she sucked in a breath, and he smiled. "I want to tell you that I'm sorry I took so long to realize how madly I am in love with you."

It was his time to suck in a breath when Ahria stretched her neck and pressed a kiss to his parted lips. Her lips were as soft as he had imagined, and her kiss as gentle as her voice. He cradled her face closer and swallowed her sigh, as her fingers tightened on his vest. Aang tilted her face to kiss her deeper, and she whispered his name against his mouth.

When he finally pulled away, Aang had somehow maneuvered Ahria onto his lap, and her arms were wrapped tightly around his neck. Her breathing was unsteady, her eyes still closed and her lips parted, red from his thorough abuse. He brushed his thumb over her cheek as the other arm tightened around her waist.

"Are... are you sure?" she whispered, her pearly eyes fluttering open.

"If I weren't before, I sure am now." Aang chuckled softly.

"Aang..."

"I love you." he declared, and her eyes jumped to his. "My little song."

"I love you," she replied. "My savior."


A/N: Can't wait for you to see what happens. I got to the point of no return where I can't drop the story... but still. Keep in mind, I'll keep this story up or drop it depending on your feedback.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to review if you want, or if you don't, I hope you liked it!

First to review gets a cookie!

Lots of love from this weirdo,

LoneeWolf :)