A/N Before I begin, this return to Sokka and Katara's home is AU from when they go home in the comics, because those are set a few years ahead of the series whereas this is only a few months after. Just thought I'd clarify. And I still can't find the comics online, just snippets here and there. So, elements may be taken from the comics, but this will be mostly AU to them. The only thing this is absolutely true to cannon on is the first tv series. This will be much lighter than the last chapter, I promise. And thank you to all who have read this far. I very much appreciate everyone who takes the time to read this story.
"Is it always this cold in the South Pole?" Toph grumbles as they near their destination.
"It was the last time I was here!" Aang answers cheerfully.
Toph makes a sort of hmph sound.
"I can't wait to meet your dad. For real this time. We were sort of preoccupied with the war last time." Suki says, snuggling closer to Sokka. They are wrapped tight inside Sokka's sleeping bag.
"He is going to love you! You're smart, and strong, and beautiful." Sokka exclaims.
"I can't wait to see Master Pakku and Gran Gran again. It's been so long since I've been home! I wonder how the children are doing." Katara relaxes against the side of Appa's saddle, gazing down into the clouds and glaciers below.
Appa lets out a groan and Aang pats him comfortingly.
"Don't worry buddy, we're almost there." He tells him.
Momo peeks his head out and chitters at a cloud shaped like a peach. The sun is setting behind them, lighting everything in soft orange pink color, and making the snow and ice below sparkle. It makes the little cloud look almost like a real peach.
"We'll be sure you get first helpings."Katara soothes him as he drools over the thought of that juicy peach. His ears droop and he shivers again and burrows back into her parka as deep as he can get.
"There it is!" Aang shouts. Appa descends a bit more rapidly than normal, and Aang hears Toph's screech of surprise.
They land and she's the first one off, only to stand there, frozen more solid than a glacier, stuck in place.
"I can't see anything." She states, plainly. "This stuff is like sand, just more...sharp."
"Sharp?" Sokka glances over while helping Suki unload their things. He misses one of the baskets of fruit they'd brought from the woods surrounding the Air Temple, and it lands on his foot. He races to pick up the spilled fruit, still watching Toph stomp her feet tentatively in the snow.
"What you hear as a crunching sound comes back through my feet sort of pointy. It distorts things without really muffling them. It sort of repeats like a finger tapping a table over and over. Not an echo, not muffled like sand, but... sort of sharp. Like everything I see has nails sticking out of it. That's the only way that I can describe it." She says.
She scoops up a handful of the stuff, squishing it in her hand until it's a solid ball, then letting it melt slowly through her fingers.
Suki takes her hand and guides her. Toph doesn't resist, but anyone can see the disgust on the younger girl's face.
Aang can't figure out why Toph hates Suki so much.
As soon as they enter the village, which now has defensible ice walls, children surround Aang. He laughs and greets them, proudly bending snow into small balls and then blowing them into enormous swirled cylinder shapes that left impressive trails behind them.
Katara runs towards the group of women and older boys coming toward them.
"Gran Gran!" She exclaims.
"Katara! My little Waterbender! I'm so happy to see you! Your father has told us everything about the prison escape! And there was a brilliant light on the Northwestern horizon one night. I was afraid that the war was lost. My mother had always told me that it was during the passing of a comet that the war began. I'm so happy to see you all safe and sound. Are we free? Is the war won?" Gran Gran pulls her into a hug as she speaks and doesn't let go until Aang arrives and takes Katara's hand. Gran Gran's eyes wander to his and light up with joy at the realization.
"The war is won. Nobody has to be afraid anymore." Aang states firmly. "There will be no more Fire Nation raids on the Water Tribes."
Gran Gran's eyes fill with tears. She reaches forward and pulls Aang into a hug.
"I never thought I'd live to see the day. Not until you showed up here with my granddaughter. And I'm so happy for you both!"
Hakoda joins them.
"Dad!" Sokka and Katara rush to embrace him.
"We were very worried these last few months. Where have you all been?" He asks, softly.
"It's a bit of a long story. But first...you remember Suki, right?"
"Of course. She's one of those Warrior girls who helped us escape the Boiling Rock."
"Yeah, she and I, we're kind of..."
"Courting." Suki interrupts his stuttery announcement.
"I see. Well, that is good news. It sounds like we have much to catch up on. Come inside, we have just prepared dinner." He glances at Aang and Katara's joined hands.
I have some explaining to do... Aang gulps.
The group heads for the warmth of the large central igloo. Momo screeches and flies out of Katara's parka, rushing ahead towards the building.
Once everyone has eaten and the conversations between individuals have died down, Hakoda motions for Katara to recap some of their story. She shares a bit about finding the man who killed her mom, how she hadn't been able to find it in herself to kill him for his horrendous crime, but she also still could not find in herself to forgive him. She shares how she forgave and accepted Zuko, her part in defeating Azula, and finding out that Aang had defeated Ozai. She left out the part about her decision to date the Avatar.
Sokka recounted how he tried to plan for the battle, his and Toph's fight on the airships, how Suki came and heroically saved them when all seemed lost.
When asked for her version of events, Toph shrugged and declined to say much.
"Not too much to add here. Sounds about right the way it is." She states. Aang notices that she still seems kind of sulky when Sokka mentions Suki coming to their rescue.
No way! He suddenly gets it. How did I not see it before? Maybe I can talk to her... His thought is cut short when Hakoda's attention turns to Aang.
"And I am especially interested in your side of the story, Avatar Aang." He says, glancing again at Aang's hand holding Katara's.
Aang briefly describes how Zuko helped him overcome his fear of Firebending, how the stone triggered his Avatar State when he'd thought he'd lost it forever, how he managed to defeat the Fire Lord without killing him, taking away his ability to Firebend.
"Now, we're looking for other Airbenders. There were some scrolls telling how sometimes the people of other Nations would have the ability to learn Airbending, usually if they couldn't bend their element of birth. But there are some cases of those who could bend two elements. And they weren't Avatars. They would never master either element, but could still do a bit of both. Most of the time, they were Waterbenders. That's why we're here now. We were hoping there would be some of you willing to go to the Air Temples and learn the ways of the Air Nomads. Maybe some of you could be Airbenders and not even know it."
"I see. So it is possible to bring back the Air Nomads?" Hakoda doesn't sound disapproving, but he sounds a little skeptical. Aang isn't sure if he's reading this right, or if his nerves over Hakoda's opinion of him and Katara are making him read more into the man's tone than he needs to.
"Yes, it is. If you think about it, it's destiny. The world needs all four elements to be balanced. It needs all four Nations. It only makes sense for there to be more Air Nomads and Airbenders." Katara interjects before Aang has a chance to respond.
Sokka's yawn interrupts further conversation.
"I think this is enough for tonight. We're all tired." Hakoda says.
Aang breathes a sigh of relief, but Hakoda stops him before he can leave.
"Avatar Aang, I'd like a word with you, in private." He says.
His stomach sinking to his toes and heart finding his throat, Aang follows him.
"Please, have a seat. I only wish to speak, there will be no confrontation." Hakoda motions to a sealskin.
"This is about me and Katara, isn't it?" Aang says, wanting to cut straight to the point.
"Yes. I'm not overly fond of the idea of the Avatar courting my daughter. You're younger than she is, which would be fine with me if you were both older. But right now, you are still a child, she is nearly a woman. You are not that far apart in age, and when your perspective has time to mature to her level, I'll have no problems with it. I'm not asking that you not court her. Only that you wait a while, and see how things change. You're a bit young to be making a decision on a life partner. I'm willing to bet my daughter is your first love."
Aang feels his face get warm. Hakoda smiles a little at this.
"You're worried that I might find someone else that I like more." He states.
"Yes. I only want the best for my daughter. I don't want to see her heart broken because the man she decided to court was a young and naive boy. I want someone who will look out for her mental and emotional wellbeing. Which brings me to my second point." Hakoda leans back on his hands, as though this were some relaxed conversation about the weather, not a heavy debate on a romantic love.
"You being the Avatar bodes well for my daughter's physical safety, at least while you're near her. Nobody would dare to challenge the Avatar, master of the four elements, over a young lady. If he did dare to do so, I'd say he'd almost deserve her by default, because that would take some serious guts. But what about when you're doing your job, and it takes you far from home? What about when the threat of the Avatar is slightly removed? Oh, they may know you'll exact justice if they hurt her, but the threat is far less than if they were staring you in the face." Hakoda pauses, presumably to allow for Aang's response.
"I could assign someone to protect her. We do have a lot of powerful friends. King Bumi of the Earth Kingdom, for instance. Or Fire Lord Zuko. Katara wouldn't have to be alone. And if we have any kids, I could get the sons to look out for her."
Hakoda nods.
"That would make sense. It makes me feel at ease to know that you have ways of protecting her when you aren't there. And that you're thinking farther in advance. But now, another question. You being the Avatar, you may outshine my Katara in the world. That is fine, in it's own way, but if she's married to you and raising your children, where will she find the time to appear at the meetings and gatherings that will inevitably shape the future of our world? She has seen the things you've seen, she has opinions and ideas that may be useful. How will she share those? How will she get the credit she deserves? My daughter doesn't care much about things like getting credit, but I don't want the world to forget about one of it's most powerful Waterbenders of the time, outside of the Avatar, of course."
"How could anyone forget about Katara?!"
"Think about it, Aang. At least two of the last four Avatars were married. Without searching your Avatar memory, how many of their wives do you actually know?"Hakoda leans forward and takes a bit of seal jerky.
"Just Kuruk's wife, but only because of Koh. I wouldn't have known about her otherwise."
"And to be fair, the world doesn't really remember Kuruk anyway. He sort of the Forgotten Avatar. At least, the Water Tribes would like him to be. But Avatar Roku did have children. One of his descendants was Fire Lord Zuko. Who helped you on your quest. Without him, you might not have learned Firebending. But do you remember the name of the lady that was his great grandmother? The wife of Avatar Roku?"
"No." Aang is ashamed to admit it. He sees Hakoda's point.
"Katara has done great things for the world. Arguably, you could have done what you did without her help, but it would have been much harder."
"I could never have done it without Katara!" Aang states passionately.
"Then see that the world doesn't forget her role in this. Because she's too selfless to think of it. That's all that I'm asking."
"I'll make sure she gets statues in every city, town, and village we've been to between when we met and when we defeated the Fire Lord. I won't let them forget! Ever! I'll even build her a shrine myself!" Aang exclaims.
I'll make sure they never forget Katara. They're going to remember her more than me! I'll make sure of it.
"A shrine might be a bit much. Katara would probably protest against that herself. But some statues, poems, tapestries, things like that here and there might be in order." Hakoda leans back again, studying Aang.
"So...do we have your blessing to continue courting?" Aang asks, apprehensively.
If Hakoda tells him no, he knows that he must respect it. The monks would have wanted him to, and using his status as the Avatar to gain something he liked or wanted was a lesson he only had to learn once. Katara would kill him if he ever did it again. He makes a mental note to check up on Kyoshi Island to see how they're doing now that the war's over.
"I would say I can't give it freely. Your age and it's related perspectives and naivete still concern me. I'd say continue if you like, but I'm withholding my official blessing until you're both older. And whatever you do, don't try to marry my daughter without my knowing about it. You will ask me first, when you're of age. I'll think it over for the next three or four years. When you turn sixteen, ask me then."
"I understand, sir. I give you my word as the Avatar, that I will protect Katara, give her the recognition owed her, and that I'll wait until I have your official blessing before asking her to marry me." Aang bows deeply.
Hakoda chuckles a bit and comes over to give him a hug.
"You're young yet. I just wanted to state my concerns and see what your thoughts were. You'll be treated like family around here, Avatar Aang. We know you respect us, and mean us no harm. Besides, the children have missed having you around."
Aang laughs a bit.
"I've missed playing around with them. I may be the Avatar, but like you said, I'm still a kid too."
-
Katara's POV
"So, you're courting the Avatar." Gran Gran says, not disapprovingly. She unrolls her sleeping bag on the floor of their igloo.
"Yes. But Dad doesn't seem comfortable with it. He was looking at me and Aang holding hands the whole evening. I think he was trying to hide it, but he didn't do a very good job." Katara huffs. She unrolls her own sleeping bag, surprising Momo, who was snuggled up sleeping inside. He squeals and shivers and burrows right back in the moment that it's flat on the floor.
Gran Gran smiles at the little lemur's antics.
"Your father just wants the best for you. Aang is still a bit young to be taking courting seriously. You're his first love. And he's yours. It's understandable. But if you think about it, really think, you'll realize that it can't work with the differences in experiences and views of the world you both have right now. His view of the world is still somewhat that of a child. He still believes that everyone will just get along, so long as he's there to fix things, even though he knows the last Avatar failed to stop a war that lasted for one hundred years. I am not saying that he's stupid, just naive. I'm not saying that your relationship can't work at all. Just not now. And I think you'll find the same thing if you give it time. Age is far less of a barrier than one would think, but not in the young years while you're both still learning who you are as individuals, and your views of the world and your place in it with regard to those views."
Katara still doesn't want to hear this. She refuses to look at Gran Gran, opting instead to slip into her sleeping bag and lie on her back, glaring at the ceiling instead.
"My dearest grandaughter, I just want the best for you, and I'm not opposed to your relationship with Aang. He's a very sweet boy, and a very powerful Avatar. I have no doubt that he will try to do right by you. But I'm asking that you think it over, talk about this with him. Find the similarities and the differences in your ways of thinking. Discuss where you can compromise, where your boundaries are, and where there is room to grow. Don't ignore your differences. And if it comes down to it, be willing to court other young men. This is only your first relationship. Don't put all your seal jerky in one pack."
Katara mulls it over for a few minutes. Momo snuggles closer to her for more warmth and she pets him absentmindedly.
"Did I mention to you that I found who killed Mom?" She asks. A lump rises in her throat and she swallows it down.
"Really? How? It was so long ago, and he was only one of a million soldiers who all looked almost the same in uniform."
"Zuko knew him. Or knew someone who knew someone who knew him. I was pretty hateful towards Zuko when he first joined us. I was the first one to trust him in Ba Sing Se, and he turned on us and almost killed Aang. So, when he came along and claimed to have changed, that he outright wanted to help us, I wasn't planning on believing him. So, he tracked down Yon Rha. And let me deal with him how I saw fit." Katara feels the familiar hatred boiling up, and it nearly chokes her.
"And how did you deal with him?" Gran Gran's voice is sad. But not angry.
"I let him go. But I didn't forgive him. That's what Aang wanted. He thought that I could just forgive that monster! Zuko understood. I was going to kill Yon Rha. Zuko saw that. He was going to just stand there and let me. Aang would have gotten between us. He would have given me another lecture on forgiveness. I want to be forgiving. I forgave Zuko. But some things just can't be forgiven."
"I agree. The important thing to learn here is whether or not you can understand where Aang is coming from, even if you don't agree with it. If you can, then you aren't too different. If you can't, it's not a sure thing, but it's a good bet that you are. It may something you'd want to consider discussing with Aang. Another thing to think about is how much of that perspective is an innocent child's naivete, and how much of it was how he was raised? The Air Nomads were very pacifist in nature. Forgiveness is one of the fundamentals of sustaining that pacifism. It may be that you and Aang are just too different in identity, culturally and that's a possibility you must consider as well."
"Do you think I'm wrong to be with him, Gran Gran." Katara finally sits up again and looks at her grandmother for guidance.
"Not at all, dear. Not at all. If you love him, then you love him. It's worth exploring and thinking about. But again, don't put all your seal jerky in one pack this early on in your life. Commitment is certainly a good thing to have in a relationship, but only after you thoroughly understand what it is you're committing to. I would suggest talking to Aang about these things."
"Thank you, Gran Gran. I can always count on you for advice."
Katara settles back into her sleeping bag as Gran Gran blows all the candles out. She listens to the sound of the wind blowing through their camp, winding it's way between the igloos and back out to sea. She takes a deep breathe and relaxes into a deep, peaceful sleep. She'll think more in the morning.
A/N So there's a lighter chapter. I want to make it clear that I don't hate Kataang. I like the innocence in that pairing. But as far as how the series wrote everything, it didn't feel natural for them to end up together in the end. They didn't really explore it enough. I kind of saw Katara with Haru, although I have yet to see a single fic with that premise. I have never written anything with romance in my life, nor am I very experienced when it comes to romance. So, if I write any pairings wrong, I apologize, and please let me know so that I can do better in the future. I felt it made sense to explore some of the romance in the series in this fic since it's set right after the show, where the characters have a little more leeway when it comes to time to explore those feelings. I'm glad there wasn't a lot of it in the show, because it really wouldn't have made sense with what was going on at the time. But here, it sort of does make sense to look it over.