The store wasn't large, but it offered the widest variety of clothing items they could have hoped to find in a colony so far from the Fire Nation's mainland. Kino had rushed to the coats' rack, in hopes to find thicker ones than those available in the Tribe… but Sokka stepped towards him, an eyebrow raised as Kino scoured through the options before him.

"That's not going to help you down there, actually" he said "Three of these and you might just get the same protection as a single one of Water Tribe make…"

"Oh hell, it's just so cold down there, Sokka" Kino pouted, looking at him desperately "What am I supposed to do to stay warm if all the coats aren't enough coats?!"

"Uh… build a fire?" Sokka suggested, with an awkward smile "Stay indoors? There's a lot of possibilities beyond… woah, Zuko, what's that?"

The exiled prince was only a couple of racks away, holding up what appeared to be a dress with a mismatching floral print. He held it up cautiously, an eyebrow raised.

"I guess it's no good for the south, but maybe Suki would think it's pretty… wouldn't she?" Zuko said, at which both Sokka and Kino grimaced.

"Maybe she'd think flowers are pretty, but not those flowers, and not on that dress" Sokka said, grimacing as he made his way to Zuko's rack now "There's got to be something in here that wouldn't make someone's eyes bleed to look at…"

"H-hey! It's not that bad!" Zuko pouted. Kino snickered.

"Your taste for fashion sucks, Prince Zuko!" he declared. Zuko's eyebrow twitched and he scowled at Kino.

"I don't want to hear that from someone who wears eight mismatching sets of outerwear at the same time" Zuko growled. Kino whistled innocently, hands reaching for the coat rack once more.

Azula watched the three men argue over what clothes to buy, a small smile on her face. She had known Sokka would ask at least for a bit more time with his sister and her friends, but she hadn't thought he would intend to use that extra time to go shopping with them.

The group had left the tavern early in the morning, once the bartender had announced it was closing time. Everyone had been rather stiff and uncomfortable after sleeping on tables and stools, but, as uncomfortable as she was, Katara had been relieved when Sokka had let her know they could still spare a few more hours before taking off to the Fire Nation.

Even then, the waterbender wasn't in the best of moods, and it showed. She was studying a dark tunic she had liked, but she didn't appear remotely as enthusiastic about the shopping trip as she might have been, if the circumstances were any different.

"That would look nice on you" Kuzon chimed in suddenly, next to Katara. He startled her visibly, though she offered him an awkward smile nonetheless.

"I suppose, but I doubt I'll have much chance to wear it in the Pole" she said, sighing "It's both useful and useless to come here, feels like…"

"Yeah, but hey, if we do return to Whaletail Island again in the future, you could wear that kind of outfit" Kuzon said, pointing at the long tunic Katara was holding "That way we'll blend in better, right?"

"I… guess so" said Katara, raising her eyebrows "Do you think I ought to get it, then?"

"Well, only if you want to, of course" he said, smiling and tucking his hands into his pockets.

Katara was frowning as she analyzed the clothing item again, but her companion seemed to have found something in his pocket just now. He swallowed hard, stepping forward again as Katara folded the tunic and draped it over her flexed forearm.

"S-say, you had to take off your necklace for this disguise" Kuzon mused, scratching the back of his neck. Katara nodded, still frowning.

"Yeah, can't say I'm too thrilled about that" she whispered. Kuzon swallowed hard "Supposedly we'd keep a low profile this way, huh? It's funny how we went from hiding our identities and heritage as much as we could… to not caring about concealing any of those things in just two days"

"Yeah" Kuzon chuckled, though he raised a hand in a gesture of offering something to Katara "Well, I made this necklace yesterday, weaved it while we waited for Sokka's fight in the stands…"

"Must have been real entertaining if you preferred to make a necklace over watching the gladiators" Katara smirked, though her expression shifted immediately when she saw the delicately woven necklace, made of white thread carefully crafted into a braid-like formation "W-wow! You really made this?"

"I did!" Kuzon exclaimed, grinning excitedly "I, well… at first we were planning on making crafts, selling them on the streets since we didn't know how else to make money. But we have money now, so… I figured I might give it to someone… s-someone special. It'll suit you, just like the tunic, I think…"

Katara couldn't bite back a smile, though she tried regardless. She glanced at Kuzon gratefully, as he blushed expectantly… and then she took the necklace, at which Kuzon released his contained breath.

"That's really sweet of you, Aang. Than-…"

She was silenced when Kuzon yelped next to her, his eyes having left Katara for a moment, just as he was about to make a celebratory gesture; they had drifted up… to meet Azula's, as she gazed at them more openly than she had intended to.

Even if Katara tried to pull up her guard again, it would be to no avail: the Princess seemed to have been watching their exchange, although she seemed uncomfortable over being caught.

"Don't mind me" Azula said, quickly "I didn't see or hear anything, as far as I'm concerned…"

"Y-yeah, well… nothing happened, so there was nothing to see or hear anyhow" Katara said, though her attempt to sound snippy backfired, for she only sounded flustered instead. Azula only smiled and nodded, averting her gaze.

"All the more reason why I didn't, then" she said. She wasn't going to ask any questions or pester the other two about whatever their relationship might be… but what she was most curious about was hearing Katara calling Kuzon 'Aang'. It seemed a weird nickname, if that was what it was.

Kuzon grimaced, clearly uncomfortable by the ever-latent prospect of the two women coming to blows, even if the more hostile one was always Katara. Yet before he could try to distract his friend, who had pocketed the necklace out of embarrassment rather than putting it on immediately, the store clerk sprung up beside them.

"Ah! You wish to purchase this tunic?" the young man asked Katara, eyes gleaming "It's of splendid quality, if I do say so myself…"

"Oh? Did you make it?" Kuzon asked, staring at him in amazement. The young man smiled proudly.

"No, but I knew it was special the moment I put up its exhibit!" he said, proudly. He couldn't be blamed for his honesty, at the very least "So, if you wish to buy it, it's fifty yuans, my lady!"

"Fifty…?" Katara repeated, gritting her teeth. She had made around a hundred yesterday, but she had left the money on their small ship before running across the island to find Sokka…

She glanced at Zuko, knowing he had plenty of money on him… to find he was still being schooled by Sokka regarding what kind of outfit would be most flattering on his pregnant wife. And yet the thought of asking Zuko for money… she barely wanted to speak to him at all, let alone ask him for anything…

"Is there a problem, miss?" the clerk asked, eyeing her with confusion. Katara swallowed hard as she turned again.

"I, uh…"

"Here"

They didn't expect her to cut in, and it seemed that her attempt to salvage the situation might only make it worse, but Azula stepped forward regardless, counting a few coins from her last bag of money and offering them to the clerk. He accepted the money enthusiastically, as Katara grimaced.

"I-is it fine if she's the one paying for something I bought?" Katara blurted out.

"Well… yeah. The only policy for a merchant is to take the money and deliver the merchandise, simple as that" said the man, grinning. Katara made no efforts to hide her discomfort clearly unwilling to be indebted to Azula even over something so small.

"Well, even if Zuko had paid for it, it'd still be her money, if you really think about it…" Kuzon reasoned, grinning and shrugging.

The Princess would have backed down immediately, hoping to flee the awkward situation that had only become more awkward because of her attempt to help… oh, what dreadful habits she had picked up from Sokka, truly. Yet the clerk was watching her intently now, and Azula wasn't one to let people stare at her so insidiously without demanding for an explanation.

"Yes?"

"You… you really must have worked hard to make that costume" he said, eyeing her up and down "For a moment I seriously thought you were the Princess, haha!"

Both Katara and Kuzon were stunned cold by the clerk's words, though they glanced at Azula moments later, uncertain of how she'd respond to such ridiculous situation. The Princess seemed just as surprised at first, but her face broke into a slow smile soon enough.

"Oh, I worked hard for it, alright" she said, her voice sarcastic "I snuck aboard her ship yesterday and stole her armor and hairpiece, just like that…"

"Wait, y-you did WHAT?!" the clerk exclaimed, his easy approval now shifting into utter horror.

"That's why the Barge returned barely moments after it took off, you see" Azula said, with a dramatic sigh "Her guards are currently rushing all over the island, looking for her stolen goods everywhere they can …"

"Y-y-you're joking. S-she's joking, right? You're definitely…!"

Azula couldn't help but laugh and shake her head, which did nothing to reassure the horrified clerk. Kuzon couldn't stifle a laugh of his own at the Princess's random tale, though Katara seemed puzzled rather than amused. She didn't say anything until the clerk slipped away, though, heading to some backroom, perhaps to consult with his boss or other colleagues on whether the Princess's guards had been seen looking for a female thief of Azula's exact description.

"I suppose it's entertaining to send people into a panicked frenzy?" Katara asked, raising her eyebrows. Kuzon covered his mouth, but Azula smiled without half as much shame.

"It's probably better this way. If he recognized me for good, he'd have started bowing and acting like I should take everything in his store for free" Azula explained "It's quite ridiculous when they do that"

"But then… people don't always know you're, well, you?" Kuzon asked, cocking his head slightly "Feels like they should, right? You're pretty much the second most powerful person in the Fire Nation…"

"Yet my face isn't in every statue or painting, or plastered in schoolbooks…" Azula said, with a shrug "They'd certainly recognize my father, but it's less likely for them to recognize me. Sometimes just removing the hairpiece is enough to mislead people about who I am…"

"Do you do that often?" Katara asked, raising her eyebrows "Not wearing that hairpiece, I mean. Sokka mentioned that he, uh, asked you to let him borrow it once for…"

Azula stiffened quickly, her slowly improving mood taking a turn for the worse as she closed her eyes tightly. She breathed deeply and shook her head, covering her mouth with a hand before answering.

"He did borrow it. And he did stab someone with it. That's why I lend him my sword now instead, at least that way he's using my borrowed possessions for their intended purposes…"

"S-so that whole crazy story about that Scavenger Hunt was true?" Kuzon asked, his eyes glowing with curiosity "Wow, I thought he'd made up that part for embellishment! Seemed unlikely that the Toph girl would fall for a trick like that so easily…"

"It was a smart trick. And I would speak of it with great pride if it hadn't resulted in me needing to clean my hairpiece quite desperately once I got home" Azula huffed, shaking her head "The blood didn't stain the metal all that badly, but sometimes I still think there's a hint of it…"

"So wait, it's the same one still?" Kuzon asked, eyes wide.

"Why don't you have a new one made for you?" Katara said, raising an eyebrow "Feels gross to wear a hairpiece that was inside someone's bowels…"

"It's a thought, but… I suppose it was part of owning up to my poor judgment" Azula said, sighing "Though, if you keep describing it that way, I think you'll convince me of doing just that"

Kuzon laughed, and to Azula's surprise, Katara smiled a little, too. That she would find amusement in anything Azula had said or done was an unexpected step forward, even if it was a small one all the same.

"Everything okay over here?"

When Azula raised her gaze towards Sokka, she found he was hidden behind a tall pile of clothes he was balancing across his arms, tall enough to reach his chin. Behind him, Kino and Zuko had less clothes, but sizeable piles of their own all the same.

"W-woah, are we going to buy out this entire store?" Kuzon blurted out, flabbergasted.

"Not the whole thing, but you know, enough that you guys can have plenty of clean clothes, and underwear and… well, anything you might need!" Sokka said, beaming.

"Had to get some more blankets" Zuko commented, as he placed his pile of clothes on the shop's counter "I know we ought to have plenty once the hunting's back on track, but we don't know how long it'll take for that to happen, so…"

"Better safe than sorry" Kino said, dropping his pile of clothes next to Zuko's.

By the time Sokka had followed their example, the store clerk had returned from the back room, and he still regarded Azula as though she were a very confusing mirage. She smiled and stepped towards the counter nonchalantly, as Sokka gushed before his sister and Kuzon about how much fun shopping could be.

"This store had plenty of stuff, but damn, if you'd seen the stalls at the festivals…" Sokka sighed, smiling innocently "You would've loved it, Katara. Clothes, and flowers, and games… ah! I forgot to tell you about this game we played, back when I…!"

"Back when you… what?" Katara said, raising her eyebrows in confusion when Sokka paused for no apparent reason.

It took Azula a moment to realize what he'd been about to spill. She glared at him warily over her shoulder, finding his expression was blank as he kept his mouth ajar.

"Sokka? You still there?" Katara asked. Sokka shook his head promptly and smiled awkwardly.

"J-just, when I was with Song and Rui Shi, checking out the stalls and stuff, on the first day of the festivals last year?" he said, awkwardly "I didn't see the game again this year, but I hope the woman who made it has had a good life, ehehe…"

Azula swallowed hard, wishing his slip-ups could be more easily remedied. How often had he done the same kind of backtracking when sharing their many stories last night? At this rate, there was no doubt his sister would pick up that there were countless things he was hiding from her…

"Okay, then! All this amounts to… thirty thousand yuans!" the clerk finally exclaimed, and Zuko flinched.

"C-couldn't you get us a discount?" he asked, with a small voice "I mean, I think I can afford it but…"

"Oh, please" Azula said, rolling her eyes and dropping the rest of her bag on the counter. The clerk jumped, frightened upon interacting again with the presumed thief of the Princess's armor and hairpiece.

"Woah! Azula, you don't have to…!"

"It's all my money anyhow, Zuko. Stop making such a fuss. There should be enough in there" Azula turned to the clerk with the last indication, though the man was now pointing at her in shock.

"Y-you are her! You are! T-the… the Princess doesn't have to pay…!"

"Then fine! We'll just leave! Take all the clothes and get out, all of you" Azula growled at the rest of the group "Out, before this fine and generous gentleman realizes what a terrible deal he's throwing himself into!"

Zuko obeyed begrudgingly at first, but with curiosity before long. The clerk seemed utterly starstruck over having the Princess in his shop, so starstruck, in fact, that he hadn't noticed Azula had made no motion to pick up the bag of money she had placed on his counter.

By the time they were outside, though, everyone seemed to have understood Azula's actual intent… except for Kino, who was carrying his share of clothes while glancing at the store with a wistful expression.

"It is a terrible deal, isn't it?" he sighed "On one hand I guess it's good that the Princess didn't spend all her money, but on the other hand…"

"Kino" Zuko said, huffing and shaking his head as Sokka, Kuzon and even Katara laughed. Azula only stared at Kino with raised eyebrows, spreading her hands out theatrically to show she was holding nothing.

Even then, it took him a moment to put things together. By the time he did, he released a surprised yelp.

"Y-you…! Oh, goodness, you left him the…!"

"And I'd prefer it if we are far enough from the store by the time he notices my little stunt, so, if you all wouldn't mind getting a move on?"

Even Zuko seemed to laugh now, as Kino blushed, ashamed and awkward. Sokka smiled at Azula as the other four started on their way down the port's streets, and the Princess shrugged nonchalantly at her gladiator before they followed the rest of the group.

"You just can't help yourself, can you?" Sokka said "I do so love this side of you"

"And I suspect you shouldn't be voicing such thoughts so lightly" Azula whispered, though she grinned as well.

"Well, you need to stop giving me reasons to! Or, uh, actually don't" Sokka chuckled "I'd rather you do right by people. Though, at this point, I guess that goes without saying. I can't remember the last time you did anything wrong, let alone for selfish reasons…"

"Oh, I told Zuko his daughter would stop respecting him if she ever spent time with me, surely that counts…" Azula smirked. Sokka chuckled.

"Telling the truth is hardly bad, in essence…" he said, shrugging. Azula couldn't hold back a soft laugh to hear him say that.

"You shouldn't justify my worst impulses, Sokka, you'll only encourage me to be awful…" she smiled. Sokka grinned at her.

"If making fun of your brother so lightly is the worst you can do these days, I don't mind encouraging it at all" he said "We all need some mischief and chaos once in a while, it's only natural…"

"It's wonderful to know I have your approval, then" Azula smirked proudly, prompting him to laugh again.

They had walked all the way back to the docks by now, and Zuko stopped at the sight of Azula's Barge. If she had no money left, having left it all at the clothes' shop…

"You guys have to get going soon, don't you?" Zuko turned, addressing the Princess and her gladiator directly. His words gave Katara pause, her mood suddenly not as placid as it had been moments ago.

Both Azula and Sokka slowed down, their smiles fading at those words. They knew their time with the South Pole's group would end today, and yet it seemed too sudden now, despite everything.

"We should, I guess" Sokka acknowledged, nodding weakly "And, well, it's not like Azula has much money left to help you with…"

"You ended up blowing everything on us in the end" Zuko sighed, shaking his head. Azula shrugged.

"You said you'll pay back one day, Zuzu, so I'll just sit back and wait patiently for it to happen" she teased him, though her brother's three companions froze at her words.

"Z-Zuzu?" Kuzon said, with an awkward smile. Kino outright squealed before covering his mouth to poorly conceal his laughter. Katara raised her eyebrows and smirked.

"Wow. That one I'm keeping. Why didn't you tell us that's what your sister called you?" she asked, her smirk more unpleasant by the minute.

As expected, Zuko's face flushed darkly, his eyes mere slits now through which he glared at his sister viciously. Her smile couldn't have been wider.

"You just had to, didn't you? Just like that?" Zuko huffed, as Azula shrugged apologetically.

"What can I say? I think I've bought myself the right to throw plenty of jabs at you, quite literally too" she said, grinning. Zuko rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Well, that's definitely going to make me much more eager to see you off. Go now, both of you, before you come up with worse nickname ideas…"

"W-wait! Please don't go yet!" Kino blurted out suddenly, drawing all gazes towards him "I-I… I know it's selfish and it's not my place to make requests, b-but I…!"

Sokka raised an eyebrow, confused as he watched the former soldier's pleading posture… and his body was angled towards Azula.

"C-could you please show us your firebending?" he said, his voice small. Azula's confused anticipation seemed to fall flat then. She raised an eyebrow, perplexed, and within moments Kuzon joined in on Kino's pleas.

"Yeah! Actually, that's a great request!" he said, beaming and approaching her "Sokka says you have flames of many colors…"

"I'd heard about the blue before, but the gold is…! It's got to be so pretty!" Kino said, eyes gleaming with illusion.

"Uh, right…" Azula said, sighing before shooting a judgmental glare at Sokka. Yet before she could say anything else, she caught him muttering.

"All her fire's pretty, mind you…"

"Oh? What was that?" Azula asked, and Sokka flinched, his cheeks red.

"N-nothing! I didn't say anything!" he determined, folding his arms over his chest. Azula smiled, despite herself and raised a hand.

Both Kino and Kuzon stepped back cautiously, despite their torsos leaned forward with anticipation. Azula betrayed no effort when a plum of blue fire began dancing over her palm… though she nearly clenched her hand into a fist when both Kino and Kuzon howled in amazement.

"It's blue! It's really blue!" Kino exclaimed excitedly, grabbing his friend by the shoulder and shaking him.

"W-what about the gold? Can you do that one too?" Kuzon said now, avid for more. Azula sighed and shook her head, though this time she closed her eyes.

Something placid, gentle, crossed her face as she continued bending the blue flame… within instants, its color had shifted completely into gold. Again, Kuzon and Kino seemed utterly blown away by the sight they had been privy to.

"It's gold now! It's really…!" Kino started, and Zuko rolled his eyes.

"We're all seeing it, yes, it's indeed different colors! Exactly what you heard!" he said, stubbornly. Azula laughed, smirking at her brother.

"Might as well show you lightning too, while we're at it, right? Surely you've never seen that before…" she said, taunting Zuko quite deliberately. Despite his irritation, he actually smiled and rolled his eyes.

"Oh! B-but that'd be too dangerous, wouldn't it?" Kino said "All I heard about lightningbending was that it was so very dangerous…"

"But it'd be great to see it. Imagine if we could see the Electric Sword trick!" Kuzon declared suddenly, and Azula's handle on the conversation seemed to vanish just that easily. She turned to Sokka, with an indignant expression that demanded for an explanation that, going by his guilty grin, she would never find satisfactory.

"So, not only did you tell them about that particular accidental skill of ours, but you also decided to do so by sticking by that ridiculous name?" she asked. Sokka pouted.

"W-well, you never offered a better one!" he exclaimed "You always complain about my bad sense for names, but if you don't give me alternatives, how am I supposed to learn anything from your great wisdom for naming things, huh?"

"You don't even have to name it, to begin with" Azula huffed.

"I told you, attacks with names are the ones to be feared!"

"No, they're not" Azula said.

"They're not" Zuko agreed.

"Yeah, I'm afraid not" Kuzon said too. Katara refrained from speaking, although it was apparent she agreed with them. Sokka hissed.

"You're all just a bunch of sticks-in-the-mud, I swear…" he grumbled "Well, then, Princess! Do tell, what would you sooner call it, if you had to give it a name!"

"Oh, off the top of my head, just call it Lightning Rod" Azula growled. Sokka snorted.

"That's so obvious!"

"Exactly. Obvious is better than ridiculous" she declared. Sokka's eyebrow twitched.

"As if, Princess, as if…!"

"Yeah, you know, you really could continue this very serious argument on your way home. I don't think we need to hear it, do we?" Zuko said, cuttingly. Katara shot him a begrudging glare: she would certainly prefer spending more time with Sokka, even if it was only by hearing him argue with the Princess. That they would argue in this way, at least, gave her hope that maybe her brother would snap out of his enthrallment with the Princess eventually, somehow…

"But it was fun…" Kino pouted, prompting Zuko to yank at him by the shirt and pull him away from his sister.

"Enough nonsense. We all have stuff to do, and the sooner we get to it, the better" Zuko said "The four of us could be on our way to the South Pole today, even. There's no time to waste"

"You'll just take that boat again?" Azula asked, grimacing "I suppose it'll be less chaotic if you have a waterbender to help you with the currents, but still…"

"The currents ought to land me in the same place I ended up last time, shouldn't they?" Zuko shrugged. Azula blinked blankly.

"I wouldn't know, personally. For your sake, let's hope so" she said. Zuko nodded.

"At any rate… time to part ways, it seems"

"Only because you insist so much" Sokka smiled, shaking his head "Here I thought you'd missed me!"

"Of all people in the Fire Nation, you're by far amongst those I missed the least" Zuko snapped. Sokka pouted, shaking his head as he made his way to Katara.

"What a snippy jerk. After I ordered as much food as I could for him, too…" he said, dramatically. Katara smiled.

"That's Zuko indeed. A snippy jerk" she agreed wholeheartedly.

Katara handed the bundle of clothes she had been carrying to Kino, taking what appeared to be the last opportunity she'd have to hug Sokka, at least for a year… but all things considered, a year was a far better prospect than the five that had gone past them by now, and far better than dreading she would never reunite with her brother again. It wasn't the best-case scenario… but it was better than she had expected, even so.

"Eh, well, the goodbyes are bound to take a while anyhow" Zuko sighed, glancing at Azula "Don't expect me to hug you again, though. Not after you called me Zuzu in front of them"

"Such harsh punishment! You wound me so, brother!" Azula said, melodramatically, smirking as she made her way towards her Barge's dock.

The whole group walked in the ship's direction, though by the time they reached its pier Kino placed his stack of clothes by the beginning of the dock, already overwhelmed by having to carry so many of them. To his surprise, both Aang and Zuko followed suit, while Katara and Sokka continued to walk together on the wooden dock.

"Everything's going to be better now, Katara. You'll see" Sokka reassured her "We'll see each other again sooner than before, and…"

"And I'll bring Dad here for it, too" she blurted out, suddenly. Sokka's placid smile froze, his eyes widening with dread "Whether you like it or not"

"I-I just… d-did you just say you'll bring Dad?" he asked, his voice high-pitched. Katara nodded, only pulling away to glare at him reproachfully.

"He wants to see you again, you goofball. He misses you every bit as much as I did" she said. Sokka sighed but nodded.

"I know, I… I miss him too. And, well… I hope he'll be okay with coming here in a year, then" he said "I'll be ready, or so I hope, heh. Send him a big hug, and to Gran-Gran too"

"I will" Katara said, smiling and embracing her brother again.

Zuko didn't want to spend long saying his farewells, but he gave his sister a small grin and a nod. Azula nodded back, silently, though Kino and Aang weren't all that silent about parting ways with her.

"S-so, uh, I wanted to apologize!" Kino blurted out. Azula raised an eyebrow, uncertain of what he was so remorseful for "I was, uh, really stupid and embarrassing back at the Arena, I guess? I made a terrible first impression, I know I did, but um… you're really cool! Way cooler than I imagined! And it's not that Zuko didn't say you were…"

"I'd be far more shocked to hear he had said so rather than the opposite, frankly" Azula said, smirking at her brother again. Zuko smiled and shook his head.

"B-but you know! It's one thing to hear about how impressive you are, and another to see it! S-so, uh… I'll try to behave myself in a year! If they let me come again, that is. Uh, well, what am I saying, the point is I have always admired you and I shall admire you even more now! Thank you! I am just going to go now!"

He turned around awkwardly, one leg outstretched as he turned on the heel of the other one, but before he could run and hide for making a fool of himself before the Princess again, Aang grabbed his shirt's collar gently and made sure he stayed on the dock with them.

"I wish we could have had more time to become friends, but maybe the next time we see each other we will have that opportunity" Aang told Azula, smiling "I, uh… I'm sorry about what happened at the Arena, too. I'm sure that must have looked awful at the moment, when you had no idea who we were…"

"That it did" Azula said, but she smiled regardless "I'm not going to begrudge you for it anymore, though. Once I saw you again on the dock, I understood why you'd acted as you had"

"Yeah" Aang said, grinning and scratching his head awkwardly "At any rate, from what Sokka explained, you two are… well, you're doing great things and helping steer the world down a better path, right? I thought I'd thank you for that, I've always thought the conflicts in our world would benefit more from peace than war…"

"I suppose it's only fitting that a man with such philosophies would leave the army" Azula nodded "I can only hope this path will prove to be the right one. It feels like it is, if nothing else"

"Yeah. I think you're right" Aang said, smiling warmly "Thank you, Princess Azula. I look forward to meeting you again"

"Odd as it may seem for me to say so, I look forward to it as well" Azula smiled, nodding in his direction.

Zuko hadn't been eager to say anything at all earlier… but he breathed deeply and joined in with Aang's spirit of gratefulness.

"I don't know if you'll fix the world, myself" he said "Although I sure hope you can make it happen. But even if you don't… what you did for us, for the Water Tribe, is already going to make a great difference. We owe you a lot more than I think we'll be able to repay you for"

"Then consider the debt irrelevant" Azula said, closing her eyes "As things stand, I have no interest in collecting back, let alone from people I've wronged… especially those I've wronged as I did the Water Tribe"

Her words gave the three men pause, but Azula bowed her head towards her brother.

"Send my regards to Suki, and perhaps let Mari know she has an aunt who's quite curious about meeting her" Azula said, smiling "Maybe someday?"

"Surely" said Zuko, grinning "Take care of yourself, Azula"

"You as well. And of your family, and your friends… and the whole Tribe, I guess" Azula smiled. Zuko chuckled a little but nodded again.

The Princess spared a glance at Sokka and Katara, and it didn't escape Aang, Kino or Zuko that there was something wistful, perhaps even painful, in her eyes. She seemed to ponder whether she ought to wait for Sokka or not for a moment, awkwardly standing where she did… until she took a quiet deep breath and turned, deciding against waiting after all, giving the siblings as much time as they might need. She started her way down the pier, towards her Barge…

"Wait!"

That word alone, spoken with such power, seemed to stop even time itself. Azula froze on her footsteps, unease rushing inside her as she cautiously turned to face the woman who had shouted after her…

Katara had stopped embracing Sokka. It reassured Azula briefly to see her gladiator had stepped away from his sister only to stand between the two of them now, as though wary of Katara's motives to ask Azula to wait, just when she was trying to slip away unnoticed… all the men on the dock appeared as apprehensive as Azula felt right now. Katara hadn't been all that hostile since they'd met, despite she was far from friendly towards Azula… but the stern frown on her face suggested Azula's good luck had ended now that she was about to separate Katara from her brother once more.

"There's much left unsaid between the two of us" Katara said, bluntly, and Azula's stomach sank. She wondered if the girl intended to say it all right now: if so, she would endure it. There was little else left for her to do, anyhow… "You know it as well as I do, don't you?"

"That I do" Azula acknowledged, nodding "And I understand if you intend to deal with it now, I suppose…"

"Woah, woah…" Sokka said, with an awkward grin as he glanced between the two of them "You guys aren't about to do anything stupid, are you?"

"Sokka… this is between her and me, really" Katara hissed. Her brother didn't mask his outrage upon hearing those words, although he fell silent regardless, if begrudgingly. With that, Katara turned to Azula again "No, I don't think I can confront you for everything the way I've intended to for the last five years. Not this time, at least. It'd have to wait another year, I guess, at best…"

"Then I'll, uh, not look forward to it, but keep it in mind, rather" Azula said, lowering her head "I know it'll seem like empty words and pointless promises for me to say I'll do my best to ensure your brother will be here in a year, safe and sound…"

"Yeah, as much as you may have good intentions, I can't say I put much worth in your word, as things stand" Katara said, bluntly. Azula breathed deeply and released that breath, in resignation.

"Hopefully by next year you might put more worth in it, then. I can't guarantee much, it's true that our line of work is awfully dangerous, and the more successful we are, the more dangerous it becomes… but your brother is stronger than any man I know, and something tells me he hasn't even achieved his full potential as a warrior yet. So perhaps don't believe in my words… but believe in him, instead"

Sokka's cheeks heated up as he listened to Azula's compliments. That she would say such kind things about him, so openly, stirred many pleasant emotions within his heart, inevitably so. Katara's eyes softened somewhat, yet her fists continued to tremble at either side of her body. Azula gritted her teeth, taking Katara's silence as surrender.

"If that's all, then…"

"Do you love my brother, Princess Azula?"

The words hung heavily in the air between them all, even if they were spoken quickly.

No one reacted right away, not in any way other than by gaping at Katara in utter shock for her bold question. It was a question that had been poised to find a particular answer… but most of them failed to understand her purpose: what did she want to hear? What exactly was she hoping to accomplish by asking something so controversial?

The first to react, though, wasn't Azula. Suddenly it was difficult to conciliate the happy, easygoing man they'd spent a night and morning with, when contrasted with the outraged, serious one Sokka had become just now.

"What… what the hell, Katara?!" he said, profound disappointment apparent in his body language, in his frown, in everything about him right now "Are you crazy?! Why would you ask something like that?!"

Katara didn't answer, not daunted by her brother's response in the least. Her eyes were traveling past Sokka, set with determination on the woman she had just spoken to. And even if Katara was trembling with anticipation, she waited, frowning. She waited, resolved to obtain the truth from the Princess right now, for once and for all.

"Uh, g-guys? Maybe we should calm down…" Aang chimed in, nervously. Behind him, Kino had covered his mouth with his hands, his eyes wide as plates as he stared between the two women in utter confusion.

Zuko was, perhaps, the one to react least visibly. He had been surprised, taken aback, even… but just like Katara, he found himself focusing on Azula instead, waiting for her answer. And he was confused, profoundly, by why she hadn't given it yet…

But his sister was deep in thought, with a conflicted expression on her face. Her hands had tightened into fists upon hearing the question, and her serene silence contrasted perfectly with Sokka's outburst:

"Should I go around asking people if they love you, willy-nilly, just like that?!" he was asking Katara now, spreading his arms out in a gesture of indignation "Honestly, what's wrong with you?!"

Azula listened to Sokka's attempt to defend her, knowing why he was doing it. Knowing that he didn't want to hear the answer he figured Azula would give Katara. An answer that would protect her pride… an answer that would protect their relationship, an answer that would kill her inside to speak aloud, even if it was a blatant, known lie, even if she knew Sokka would understand it completely.

They had agreed that they'd protect their relationship at any cost. They had promised to make sure no one else would know, no one other than those who had found out by now, because it was too risky… but what was so risky this time around? Wasn't it risky if the Fire Lord found out? Wasn't it risky if Azula's political enemies discovered it? How risky could it be for Sokka's family to know, if not the full truth, part of it? What was the risk in speaking said truth at a busy port, on a dock empty barring the six of them, when no one was likely to overhear it?

So long ago, Azula had told Sokka off for standing by their relationship, by their bond, even in the face of death. She had told him to lie, for she could accept lies, she understood them… the one thing she would never accept was losing him. That latent fear, ultimately, was the one true reason to lie about their relationship. Doing it out of pride? Out of not wanting to embarrass herself in front of her brother?

Those reasons were folly.

Those reasons weren't valid, not anymore.

She gritted her teeth, uneasy at first. Maybe this wasn't the answer Katara wanted… but it was the only answer she wanted to give right now.

And so, while Sokka was in the middle of his rant, Azula found the determination she needed inside her to interrupt him with two simple words:

"Seriously, and you say I'm the insensitive…!"

"I do"

She had spoken without the strength said affirmation required, and yet the sound of her voice gave pause to everyone on the dock. For a moment, she feared it was because they hadn't understood her, not when Sokka had been in the midst of his rambling, which had stopped when she had spoken… so the Princess breathed deeply and raised her head, owning up to her proud answer.

"I won't hide the truth from you" she stated, plainly. Sokka turned around, silenced by her words, astonished by her resolve "I love him"

Katara's hostility vanished, or, at least, she put it on hold for the time being. The shock of hearing the Princess offering such an answer seemed too strong for her to digest, and the same could be said for the others: Kino's jaw had dropped, unable to give his eyes any credit. Both Zuko and Aang were stunned too, although they didn't seem remotely as shaken up by her sudden declaration as the others were.

"I suppose it's true that I shouldn't say that so freely, and thus, lying might have been easier" Azula conceded, swallowing hard "I certainly never expected I'd say this to such a large audience, let alone one my brother was part of… but, after all I've wronged you and your people, I think I owe you the truth"

"Azula…" Sokka mumbled, his previous outrage gone, replaced by disbelief altogether. She wasn't doing this. She hadn't just told his sister that she loved him…

But she had. And she seemed scared, but not enough to back down. She seemed nervous, but not so much as to regret what she'd said. Determination glowed in her golden eyes, and there was no deceit to be found in them. She spoke her truth earnestly, unwilling to back down even if all common sense dictated that's what she should do.

"I didn't always feel this way towards him" she acknowledged "And I certainly didn't expect I ever would, when we first crossed paths in the South. I was… I was ruthless, I was cruel, and I cared little for his motives to fight me. His struggles didn't matter when all I could see was an enemy. But… even then, he surprised me by defying me in ways no one else did, by defending his people, helping his men escape and taking the fall on his own. I… I didn't realize it right away, but in time I came to understand… that's what a true leader does. That's what a strong leader ought to do. And without my full awareness, I've spent years following the example he inadvertently set for me since then.

"I haven't always done right by him, and it goes without saying… for a long time, I was a fool. I was headstrong, stubborn, I hurt him, I… I did wrong that I cannot atone for, no matter how many times he brushes it off and says it doesn't matter. Because the truth is, the damage I did when I took him away from home, when I let him be carried off to the Amateur Arena because nothing mattered to me but my own advancement, cannot be undone. None of the kindness or generosity I may show you now will make up for everything I took from you and your people.

"I doubt you will believe me, but truthfully… I regret it. It's why I've… I've let him know that I'm willing to take him home, whenever he's ready to return. And it's also why, regardless of my regrets, I don't have it in me to so much as ask for the forgiveness I know I'm undeserving of. Because I… I can't imagine what a nightmare of a life I'd lead if I lost him. And that's exactly what I inflicted upon you, and your Tribe. I would never forgive someone who forcibly took him from my side… just as I don't think you should ever forgive me"

The content of her words didn't surprise Sokka: the true surprise was that she would speak them aloud in this manner, as good as acknowledging before the entire world that her heart answered to him. He couldn't help but gaze at her desperately, wanting nothing more than to wrap her in his arms, to silence her self-deprecating words, to make her understand she had no reason to be so hard on herself, not anymore… not after everything they'd been through together. As far as he was concerned, she had more than made up for her wrongdoings. Hearing her claim otherwise so boldly was staggering…

"I've only become who I am now thanks to him" Azula continued "And… I like myself much better after he became part of my life, selfish as it sounds. He has inspired me, encouraged me, proven to be the best partner I could have ever asked for. And I can only hope to do the same for him"

Her eyes shifted towards Sokka, who seemed utterly speechless now… and yet there was a hint of a smile on his lips, one she answered with a small one of her own before turning to Katara again.

"So… yes. I doubt you will feel any better about me, regardless of what I say, regardless of how I feel about Sokka. Whatever judgment you make of me is fair, I'm sure… but I do intend to keep your brother safe, and I hope to offer him whatever happiness I can give him. I want him to remain the kind-hearted, strong-willed, rebellious brave man he has always been… and the goof he is, more often than not, too. With his poor choices for naming things, even…"

"Hey, now…" Sokka mumbled, though without the intent of interrupting Azula. Even so, his small protest brought a smile to Azula's face.

"I will endeavor to protect him, even if I can't say I've done it successfully every time. I have a long way to go, much to learn still, before I can be the best possible partner for him, even if he might deny it. But I intend to do better, to fight for him as he fights for me, and to bring him back to you within a year indeed, as he asked me to"

Azula's words were followed by an awkward silence. Sokka had hung his head, though he was smiling in disbelief still, whereas his sister appeared to have been hit over the head with a wooden plank. She didn't seem appalled though… and Azula hoped that was a good sign. Kuzon was genuinely happy, though, something that was slightly surprising… and Zuko's own smile was even more surprising. Azula certainly had no intentions of sticking around much longer to hear whatever he had to say about her monologue.

"So… good luck on your trip home, and may the money be of help" Azula finished, stepping back on the dock "I have to let the crew know it's time to leave so… until next year, I suppose"

With that, the Princess bowed her head in Katara's direction before turning on her heels and walking as quickly as she could towards the Barge. That had been quite a big confession to make, and she had certainly let her feelings run away with her… but she had used up all her bravery as it was. Sticking around to hear whatever Zuko might say, or answering any more of Katara's wild questions, was not an appealing prospect.

Sokka nearly made to stop her at first, raising a hand to reach for her, but she had dashed away too fast. Instead, he only smiled in disbelief at her back, his chest burning with the warmth he had only ever experienced because of her. Of all amazing things she had done on this trip, he never expected her to speak so earnestly to his sister.

"Well…" Sokka said, breathing deeply before turning towards Katara again "Guess you really shouldn't have asked that question, huh?"

Katara breathed deeply, her eyes on the dock's boards under her feet now. Truthfully, she had hoped the Princess would never admit to caring about Sokka, even if it was clear that their camaraderie went beyond that of simple friendship. She had known it would have broken her brother's heart to hear the Princess say she didn't love him… but at the moment, it had seemed the lesser of two evils. Had he understood that he was disposable, that the Princess didn't need him half as desperately as he seemed to need her, perhaps he would have been more willing to come back to the South Pole one day…

Now she dreaded he'd never want to go back at all. Not when it seemed his attachment to the Princess was entirely mutual. Not when, in all likelihood, he had already known as much long before Azula had offered her question such a candid answer.

Katara raised her eyes to find Sokka again: his angry outburst from earlier seemed to be completely gone. He wasn't smug about the Princess's words, though, nor was he remotely as shocked as he should have been if this had been the first sign that his feelings were reciprocated. If anything, he was quietly ecstatic about what the Princess had said.

"Y-you knew about this?" Katara blurted out, and Sokka raised his eyebrows "That she… that you…"

"You know… that's definitely something I'll answer you a year from now. Yeah" he said, breathing deeply and smiling at her "But I do have to go now, Katara, or the Barge will leave without me"

"T-the Princess said…" Kino mumbled, eyes wide "S-she said…"

"I guess it is cruel, to a fault, leaving you all on that particular note, but… I doubt anything I say now will help much" Sokka said, sighing and looking at the group "So… uh, Kuzon?"

"Yeah?" Aang said, eyes gleaming as he gazed at Sokka.

"Good luck with the trivia club" Sokka said, sarcastically. Aang snorted, pleased that Sokka seemed as amused as he felt "Maybe the next time we meet I'll have new stories you can share with them, get yourself that Grand Master title…"

"Sure thing" Aang laughed "You know… I really had heard so much about you, but I don't think any of it lived up to the reality of who you are. Good luck with, well, everything, really. We'll be hoping you two keep on succeeding at everything you do, inside the Gladiator Business and outside it, too"

"Thanks" Sokka said, grinning "And now, Kino… Might be good if you close your mouth before flies slip inside it?"

"I… Huh?" Kino managed to say, though he still couldn't seem to close his mouth.

"Oh, well" Sokka laughed, shaking his head "It was good to meet both of you, anyhow"

His eyes went to Zuko now, and for once, there was a sense of dread in him when facing Azula's older brother… yet the scarred prince only regarded him with a smirk, shaking his head slightly.

"Y-you're not going to give me a big brother talk or something, are you?" Sokka asked, with a small voice "Because I mean, I don't think I'd really be intimidated, and it wouldn't suit you at all, though it'd be good to know you're that concerned with your sister's wellbeing…"

"I'm concerned enough. Concerned about why, of all available fools, she had to fall for the most annoying one she could find" Zuko smiled "Honestly, it's her life, and yours, so… just, don't do anything stupid"

"Uh… I won't do anything I haven't already done, I suppose" Sokka said, with an awkward smile.

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"I wouldn't know! Anyways, I do have to get going, so bye, everyone!" Sokka said, turning clumsily rather than answering Zuko's last question.

"Sokka!" Zuko called him, and Sokka glanced at him awkwardly from over his shoulder.

The exiled prince eyed him meaningfully, surprising Sokka by how earnest he appeared right now. Instead of asking for more explanations, instead of making further scathing comments, Zuko breathed deeply and nodded towards him.

"Just… look after her, alright?" he said, hardly believing he was speaking those words, let alone to someone like Sokka "We both know… not a lot of people have done right by her. Most of us never have. So… take care of my sister, will you?"

Sokka smiled heartily now and nodded too, showing Zuko more respect in that one moment than he had in most their previous encounters.

"I promise I will, Zuko. You can count on it" he said.

Even if he had been ready to take off moments ago, if just to get away from Zuko, Sokka found himself unable to take one more step towards the Barge. Oh, Katara shouldn't have asked Azula what she had, it was clear as day… but even if he wasn't happy for it – by now it was clear Katara had hoped Azula would give her a negative answer that Sokka would have been brokenhearted over –, he still couldn't leave his sister just like this.

So, despite himself, he smiled and turned again, just in time for Katara to run into his arms and hug him tightly. Sokka patted her back and sighed, shaking his head gently.

"It's okay" he whispered "I'll be back before you know it, Katara"

"You'd better" she said, clutching at him "I… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have, I know, but…"

"But you couldn't help it" Sokka said, smiling "I know you want what's best for me, okay? And I want that for you too, Katara. Maybe I'm crazy, maybe things won't continue to be smooth sailing with me and Azula in the future… but so far, our partnership only gets better"

"So you've said" Katara sighed, shaking her head "I'm sorry… hopefully a year will be enough for me to process all this…"

"Yeah" Sokka agreed, pulling away to smile at her "So, despite your sneaky questions that you shouldn't be asking… I love you, Katara. Take care of yourself, okay? And of Dad and Gran-Gran and everyone, too"

"You too" Katara said, gritting her teeth "Come back to us in one piece, alright?"

"If I've survived without losing limbs so far, I think I'll be fine by now" Sokka chuckled. Katara smiled and patted his chest.

"I love you too, goofball. Yeah, maybe that's the one thing she said I'm sure we can agree on. You truly are a goofball" Katara said. Sokka laughed again "Go, then. B-before I change my mind and decide to keep you here against your will"

"Yeah, that's definitely my cue" Sokka chuckled, stepping away and waving at the group "See you all soon! Take care, you guys!"

Aang waved back at Sokka, though Zuko only smiled. Katara grinned half-heartedly as she watched her brother reach the ramp again… the same ramp he'd nearly fallen from yesterday, when he was racing down towards her. The ramp that he had only been able to climb down because the Princess had ordered for her ship to return to port, moments after departure.

The signs were clear enough. They always had been, even if Katara didn't want them to be. At this point, she had even more questions about their relationship than she had before… but only about how far it had gone, rather than how real it might be.

"That went well, huh?" Aang said, with a small voice. Katara huffed, her shoulders deflating as she released her breath.

"Did I just… push him right into her arms?" she asked. Aang shrugged.

"Only if he hadn't been in them already?" he mused. Katara grimaced, and Aang bit his lip "Eh… sorry. I shouldn't have said that"

"I shouldn't have either" Katara admitted "And you're right anyhow. Hell… you're right. Crap. I… I don't want to be related to Zuko. I really don't"

This, at least, brought the rest of the group to laugh, including the shocked Kino, who chuckled despite his enduring surprise.

"You think I'm any happier about it than you are, really?" Zuko asked, prompting Katara to smile too.

Sokka had climbed up to the deck, beaming brightly. It hardly had sunk in so far that Azula had actually done what she just had… all of it, from bringing him to Whaletail Island to satisfy his curiosity, all the way to confessing she loved him, with complete honesty, in front of so many people. He had told Azula that Katara had figured him out, but he had successfully kept their relationship a secret so far… would it remain one now, he wondered? Would his sister assume their love was a chaste, platonic one, or would she have guessed correctly that the pair of them had been together intimate and illicitly for the better part of two years now?

He knew Katara wouldn't approve of their relationship: she already didn't without understanding for sure what was happening between them. But hopefully Azula's words had brought Sokka's sister to reconsider many things she had taken for granted before reuniting with him for the first time in so many years…

A group of sailors collected the ramp once more, but Sokka only noticed them once they were already heading back inside the ship. He breathed deeply and stood by the Barge's railing, knowing it was ill-advised for him to track down Azula right now. As soon as he saw her, he would wrap her in the most unchaste embrace, and as much as Azula seemed willing to reveal their relationship to Katara, she wasn't likely to take it kindly if he hugged her in front of the sailors and guards of her Barge. For now, he was better off calming down, somehow. If that was even possible. If he could ever stop himself from smiling like the fool he felt he was right now.

He was beaming as he waved at the group that still waited by the dock. They had collected the piles of clothes by now, and some waved in response. Katara was one of them, though she only did it half-heartedly, shyly. In one year, he would likely tell her the full truth, as long as Azula agreed that it was a good idea. Admittedly, he didn't expect Azula would want him to reveal any of the more intimate details about their relationship… but he could fill in some of the many gaping holes he'd left in his story last night. Perhaps Katara would be less apprehensive if he did.

The Barge began moving, and Sokka lingered on the deck, still saying goodbye to his sister and her friends. No one was shouting after each other this time, even if Sokka's chest hurt over watching his sister shrink in the distance. He smiled regardless, knowing this wasn't the last he'd see of her, knowing Azula would uphold the promise to bring him back to his family, no matter in what form.

And knowing, too, that his father would be there on their next encounter.

He swallowed hard as he dropped his hand. It was intimidating, terrifying to some degree… if there was someone whose approval he had craved all his life, it was his father. If he truly didn't hold Sokka's mistakes against him, despite they could have cost the Tribe so much, despite his disappearance had surely brought his family no end of grief… he closed his eyes, holding back the tears that pooled in them just upon considering the possibility of a happy reunion with his father, too. In one year, perhaps even less than that, he would be face to face with Hakoda again…

"So… was everything okay?"

Sokka turned around at the sound of Song's voice, still smiling as she watched him from the tower's threshold. The young woman was grinning too, at first nervously, but the sight of Sokka's expression reassured her quickly.

"Song…" he laughed, approaching her, his hands in his hair "Oh, shit… I can't believe everything that just happened. I can't, I really can't…"

"I thought something had gone wrong, going by how Azula was acting just now…" Song asked. Sokka snorted and shook his head "She rushed up to her cabin right after telling Rui Shi it was time to go, and she looked pretty flustered…"

"She's… she's crazy" Sokka laughed, shaking his head still "Curses, Song, I… I can't believe what she did. She just went and… and told Katara the truth, just before we left. She told her she loves me"

"Woah. She did?" Song said, eyes wide "W-wait, really?"

Sokka laughed again, a hand moving over his forehead and down to his chin. Song smiled along with him soon, though she seemed as surprised as everyone on the dock had been.

"Katara… I told her enough, you know? S-so she knew… well, she figured out I was in love with Azula" Sokka said, smiling and shrugging "Not like that's hard to understand, really. But then she… she's crazy too, my sister. She went and asked Azula, point-blank, if she loved me, and I was angry because I thought it wasn't warranted at all, you know? Asking something like that so suddenly, it just seemed so wrong and I was sure Azula would just lie… but she didn't"

"Goodness" said Song, laughing too and approaching Sokka to give him a quick hug. It looked like he might fall over in disbelief if no one held him in place "Oh, Sokka…"

"I'm going to lose it" he laughed "This is… this is the last way I thought this would turn out, damn. And now…"

"Now it seems your entire Tribe's going to know you two are crazy about each other?" Song finished, with a teasing grin. Sokka laughed, throwing his head back.

"I think I need you to pinch me, punch me, do something… I can't believe this is real, any of it" he said. Song smiled, guiding him inside the ship.

"Maybe you need food, or proper rest? I doubt you got much of it last night" she said. Sokka snorted.

"I haven't slept in over twenty-four hours!" he declared proudly. Song sighed, shaking her head.

"Then as your personal physician, I think that's what you need right now" she said, patting his back as they made their way downstairs "Maybe if you take a nap your brain will be able to register everything that happened today?"

"I wouldn't know for sure" Sokka chuckled "But it's worth a shot, I guess"

Song didn't leave him right away, accompanying him to his room and even spending a couple of hours in it with him, hearing Sokka recount what Katara and her friends had told him, along with their reactions to the stories he'd shared. He'd still have moments where he froze, laughing in disbelief at the thought of what Azula had said on the pier, but eventually he'd return to his recounting just the same.

Song convinced him to take his nap after a while, and to Sokka's surprise, he actually did get some rest, even if nowhere near as much as he supposed his body would need. He woke by nighttime, rushed to eat dinner – he found Azula nowhere around, despite she had taken her lunch and dinner with everyone in the dining deck lately. No doubt, she was just as unwilling to be near him in front of an audience again as Sokka suspected she would be, but he had every intention to seek her out in her cabin later anyhow.

Azula had been far less successful at napping than Sokka was, despite she had tried to sleep anyways. Her neck was still sore, her legs as well, but no position on her mattress had aided her in finding respite when her heart was still racing. The same words repeated inside her head over and over… and eventually she smiled upon voicing them:

"What have I done…?" she finally whispered out loud, closing her eyes as she allowed herself to remember the first time those words hard circulated in her head constantly… right after their wild first kiss. Oh, she had been so sure she had made the sweetest mistake of all by taking that risk… but of all wrong things she had done that day, the kiss itself hadn't been one of them. She hoped telling Katara the truth would turn out to be a good thing, just as much as kissing Sokka had been…

A knock on her door startled her. She pushed herself up from the bed, eyeing the door nervously despite knowing it couldn't be anything bad. No, it was likely Sokka, and he would want to talk about what she'd done, and… that would be embarrassing, likely. Still, she wasn't sure there was any reason to be flustered by anything when she was around Sokka anymore.

She had barely opened the door when he threw his arms around her, with such enthusiasm he lifted her off the floor. Azula couldn't help but gasp, a slightly louder cry of surprise leaving her lips than she had ever intended to release, as he held her tightly and even spun in circles with the Princess in his arms.

"Sokka!" she laughed, but he was hugging her with such abandon, laughing into her chest as he held her against him.

"You unbelievable, wonderful woman, you…!" he said. He carried her with such ease Azula felt near weightless in his arms.

"Hell, put me down!" she laughed still, though Sokka didn't comply, shaking his head and squeezing her tighter.

"Never! No one can pry me off you anymore, Princess!" he declared proudly, and to his surprise and delight, she actually wrapped her arms around his neck, legs rising to surround his hips.

"Oh, you're ridiculous…" she said, smiling, and Sokka only raised his head to look at her after those words.

"How could you…? How could you do that?" he asked her, with azure eyes that gleamed so brightly they'd put sapphires to shame "Seriously, Azula, why did you tell her the truth? I thought… I thought you wouldn't. You've always said we should keep things quiet, that the less people know, the better…"

"Yeah, well…" Azula said, fingers lacing with the soft locks of his hair "It didn't seem like it would be right this time. I… I don't know, Sokka. Something just came over me, and I thought… I thought it'd be okay to tell her the truth. Even if she wouldn't exactly like our partnership any better for it, I thought that maybe she should know you're not the only idiot in love around here. Might have reassured her, I don't know…"

Sokka laughed, shaking his head. One of his hands reached for the nape of her neck, pulling her closer for a heartfelt kiss. Her grip around him tightened, his other hand firmly planted on her rear as she responded readily to his kiss. The rushing love inside them seemed to be overflowing, pouring into one another in a frenzy, and they both knew exactly where that would lead them… but Azula had one moment of clarity before the blend of affection and heat clouded their minds altogether.

"You left the door open, silly…" she whispered. Sokka smiled and shook his head.

"Way to kill the mood. So worried about a single door when you just told the whole world you love me…"

"Four people aren't the whole world" she said, though she kissed his lips again "Now you're just being sillier still, huh?"

"I feel so giddy I'm going to burst" he laughed, walking towards the bed and setting Azula down on it. With one more kiss, one that lingered as his tongue brushed against hers sensually, enough that she moaned in response, he pulled away "I'm going to make love to you until we pass out, Princess. That's a promise"

"Heh, I can live with that. Unless you kill me out of excessive pleasure, in which case… that sounds like the right way to die" Azula laughed. He shook his head but smiled, making haste to the door and closing it promptly, ready to shed his clothes in a whirlwind before returning to his waiting Princess.

Had he glanced outside, he might have noticed a shadow near the staircase. Had he been as cautious as he usually was, rather than anxious to return to Azula's side, he might have sensed someone had been following him quietly when he had made his way to the Princess's room.

But as Sokka had paid little attention to anything, overjoyed by his feelings, he had merely rushed upstairs and remained oblivious to being tailed by a man in a crimson uniform.

Said man had headed downstairs again, though, and now he strode towards the ship's prow. Another guard was there just then, arms folded over his chest as he kept an eye out for possible threats in the horizon, unaware of the one standing behind him until his voice reached him:

"She's sleeping with him"

There was no hesitation in Renkai's voice. Rui Shi froze, eyes widening before turning to glare through his helmet's mask at his silent, stealthy comrade. It wasn't Renkai's shift… but the bastard had been spying on Azula again. Of course he had been.

Rui Shi frowned, hands balled into fists. His cold eyes met Renkai's, even across their helmets, but he didn't make another move, and neither did Renkai.

Finally, Renkai spoke anew.

And instead of lashing out instinctively, doing everything in his power to protect his Princess and her secret, Rui Shi only listened.


"How many trips is it going to take…?" Kino groaned, dragging a large pack with him as he hiked through the snow.

"Not that many, if the others help us" Zuko said, reassuringly, two bags slung on each of his shoulders "Come on. We're not far now"

Kino groaned but continued onwards, without as many complaints. Aang and Katara trailed behind them, walking side by side but silently: ever since Sokka had taken off on Azula's Barge again, Katara had grown introspective, and she was hardly responsive or involved in their conversations or decisions. She worked steadily to guide their ship to the South Pole again, and this time they had been much faster, for the currents were working in their favor. The smoother journey made little to no impression on the thoughtful waterbender, though.

Her silence was nearly scarier than her angry outbursts, but the three men decided to give her as much space as she might have need for. The whole group carried on walking across the plains of ice, hiking the trails that would lead them back to their waiting village, determined to reach their homes as soon as possible.

The village came into view around an hour after their journey started. As well-fed as they were now, they were far from rested, especially the benders. The four of them panted heavily as they gazed at their humble Tribe, familiarity and comfort sweeping over their hearts even before entering the safety of those ice walls.

"I think they saw us" Aang smiled, pointing at a pair of warriors by the wall. One of them had raced back into the village, while the other took off in their direction.

Zuko smiled as well, feeling far more enthusiastic than he thought he would be. Truthfully, he had dreaded they'd return with too little to show for their efforts, that Hakoda might be disappointed by a trip that might amount to a waste of resources, in his eyes… it had only sank in now that, once again, he hadn't failed. Perhaps he hadn't succeeded in the way he had originally intended to, and he hadn't gotten a job as he had hoped to… but it seemed they had been far more successful this way, anyhow.

"Let's go" Zuko said, urging the others to continue onwards, as what appeared to be an onslaught of warriors came rushing in their direction.

"You guys! You're back! And you're…! Woah, you're loaded!" Haka exclaimed, eyes wide as he caught sight of the large bags "What the hell?! D-did you guys rob someone, or…?!"

"N-not exactly. It's not robbing if they give you all their money willingly, is it?" Kino smiled innocently. Zuko and Aang glared at him judgmentally.

"Way to clear things up, Kino. That sure helps our case" Zuko snapped. Kino giggled, though Haka seemed too impressed by the large bags they'd brought with them to care about the moral repercussions of whatever they'd done to obtain them.

"There's still more in the ship, though" Aang said, smiling weakly "We brought as much as we could carry with us…"

"What? All the stuff you're carrying isn't everything?!" Kattan asked, having reached them by now too "Hell, you guys…! How did you pull off something like this?!"

"It's… a long story" Zuko admitted "But if you guys don't mind, I… I really want to see my wife and daughter now"

"O-oh. Sure! Go right ahead!" Kattan said, grinning too "They'll be thrilled you're back"

Zuko breathed deeply and glanced at the other three with uncertainty. Aang smiled encouragingly while Kino handed his large bag to Haka, who seemed surprised by how heavy it was. Katara didn't seem to have much to say, at least for now.

"Go, Zuko" Aang told him "Katara and I will talk to Hakoda about everything. They'll be waiting for you"

Zuko smiled and nodded, hurrying towards the village. Even before he entered the icy enclosure, he could feel all eyes on him, as the tribespeople watched him in amazement. Even one bag of goods would have been surprising, but he was carrying two… and they would be in for a bigger surprise once they saw everything else they'd brought on the small ship, too.

But Zuko wasn't eager to play the triumphant hero right now. All he wanted was to run as fast as possible, even if the bags weighed him down, for nothing mattered more than reaching his igloo right away.

Suki hadn't felt too well today. Mari had been a handful, asking about Zuko's impending return countless times, and, as ever, asking for better food than anything they had in store. The cute gesture of sending her doll with Zuko now was a source of torment, for she had very little to distract herself with, seeing as Gruff was far from a playful dog and offered scarce entertainment for the child.

"Oh, please don't pull his ears, Mari" Suki sighed, crawling towards her daughter. Gruff had been lying flat on the bamboo flooring, but suddenly he had jerked his head up after Mari had begun playing with his ears.

"I don't pull" Mari mumbled, though Suki picked up her daughter and held her close just in case the dog reacted aggressively against her.

"If you didn't pull them, why would Gruff get up and leave like…?" Suki asked, but she frowned upon noticing the wolf-dog's tail was wagging powerfully "Oh. Oh, Mari…!"

The happy barking was unmistakable. Every time Zuko returned from hunting trips it would be near impossible to stop Gruff from clawing at the closed front door, eager to reunite with his master… there was no doubt he was only acting that way again now for the same reason he ever did.

"Daddy?" Mari mused, understanding Gruff's behavior as well. Suki laughed and set her daughter down before pushing herself to her feet.

Zuko had been about to open the door when Suki pulled it inwards first. He was left with his hand hovering over the wooden frame, face frozen in an eager grin that only grew more earnest when he recognized Suki's features.

"Zuko!" she cried out, and he laughed as he hugged her tightly, dropping his bags carelessly. Gruff barked happily as well, wagging his tail but keeping his distance rather than intruding between them.

"Daddy! Daddy, Daddy, Daddy is back!" Mari exclaimed, waddling towards them and jumping up and down while her mother covered her father's face with kisses.

"You made it! You did, and you…!" Suki said, gazing at him in amazement before letting her eyes travel to the bags on the ground "Oh, you actually brought…!"

"Daddy!" Mari exclaimed again, prompting Zuko to let go of Suki only to lean down and sweep his daughter into his arms.

"I missed you so much, Fire Flake" he said, beaming as he held her close, standing upright anew "It's so good to be home"

"It felt like it's been ages since you left, even if it wasn't that long" Suki laughed, as Zuko pulled her into a one-armed embrace, still holding his daughter with the other "You really brought a lot of stuff! You must have found an amazing job…!"

"Oh, no. I failed at that, entirely" Zuko laughed "You're never going to believe who we ran into, Suki. I… I can barely believe it myself, even now… but hell, we got so lucky. We really did"

"What are you talking about?" Suki smiled, as Zuko set down Mari and smiled warmly at his wife.

"Turns out family really is the answer to a lot of predicaments" he said, proudly "Even when it doesn't look like it would be"

"Family?" Suki repeated, frowning before her eyes widened "Wait. You ran into family? You mean, Iroh?"

"Oh, no. That would've been easier" Zuko laughed, smiling at her. Suki's eyes were wider yet.

"Azula?" she said. Zuko's nod brought her jaw to drop, much like Kino's had over Azula's confession at the pier.

"And, as you might imagine, Sokka was there, too" he said.

"Y-you… what?!" Suki exclaimed, her voice louder and shriller than Zuko had ever heard it before. He couldn't help but laugh at her reaction "Oh, hell… how?! Why?! Just what…?!"

"It's a really crazy story. I think you're going to enjoy it, though" Zuko chuckled, though he noticed off the corner of his eye that his daughter was poking at one of his bags "Oh, looking for Dolly?"

"She was with you" Mari said, biting her lip. Zuko smiled and leaned down, opening one of the pockets of the bag.

"That she was, and here she is…" he said, offering the old doll to his daughter. Mari's eyes gleamed joyfully already…

But they glistened all the more as soon as Zuko surprised her by showing her a new, perfectly stitched doll, with colorful clothes of the sort that Mari had never seen before. She gasped in surprise, as did Suki. Zuko only chuckled at her reaction.

"And what do you know? Dolly found you a new friend, too" he said. Mari's smile was so wide she could have lit up a dark period all on its own.

"Daddy! Daddy got a new dolly!" Mari exclaimed, reaching for the two dolls and hugging them tight against her chest "I love you, Daddy!"

"And that's not even everything…" Zuko smirked, reaching into the bag again to unleash a small package "Did a Fire Flake order some cookies?"

"Zuko!" Suki gasped, and Mari seemed to outright forget about the dolls now at the prospect of eating cookies "Oh, goodness, now she's going to gobble them all down and she won't want to eat her lunch…"

"Come on" Zuko laughed, standing up again and kissing the side of his wife's head "One cookie a day, that way the package will last longer, and she'll have plenty anyhow! There's… hell, there's so much food, Suki. These bags are literally just our share, there's so much more back in the ship and…"

"How?" Suki said, staring at Zuko in amazed disbelief "I'm so glad, and relieved, and grateful, Zuko, but… you have to start explaining things, love. I'm lost here"

"I know you are" Zuko chuckled, holding her close and kissing her lips softly "Don't worry, I'll explain everything now. I'm just… a bit too stoked about being with you two again"

"I understand, but… please" Suki said, gesturing at the inside of the igloo with an awkward smile. Zuko laughed and nodded.

"Alright, alright. On with it" he said, reaching down to pull the bags inside the igloo with his family, shutting the door behind him as he did.

Despite the general curiosity about Zuko's sudden appearance, the tribe didn't disturb his private time with his daughter and wife. Instead, they focused on welcoming Aang, Kino and Katara; upon hearing there was much more luggage to haul to the Tribe, the youngest warriors took off to retrieve the remaining bags at the ship. Distributing everything would likely take the rest of the day, but the tribespeople were used to sharing their goods evenly, and there was no doubt they'd do it successfully this time as well.

But while the rest of them took care of dividing the profits of the Whaletail Island venture, Katara and Aang had something to take care of immediately.

Hakoda had been delighted to welcome the benders into the village again, rushing to meet them at the entrance just when they were crossing its threshold. But he was quick to pick up that Katara was nowhere near as enthusiastic as expected, at least, not for the staggering triumph they seemed to have achieved.

Only a couple of hours later, as the bustling activity of the Tribe continued, with the warriors still hauling in new bags and the women handling the distribution of the goods, Hakoda sat inside his igloo's main room, a solemn frown on his face: Aang and Katara had just finished retelling what had transpired in Whaletail Island. The expression Hakoda showed seemed inscrutable, though it was clear enough that he wasn't brimming with delight upon hearing about his son's no-longer hypothetical relationship with the Princess of the Fire Nation.

"W-we don't know if… if something's going on between them for real" Katara whispered, gritting her teeth "Maybe they've held back, I don't know. Zuko did say, ages ago, that it wouldn't be convenient for his sister to act on any feelings she might have for Sokka, right?"

"Yet you said Sokka didn't seem as surprised as he should have been, had it been the first time she said she loved him" Hakoda mused "A man who just discovered his feelings for the woman he loves are reciprocal… he doesn't just stand still and smile. At least, not a man like Sokka. Going by how you described him, he doesn't seem to have changed beyond recognition, so…"

"Yeah, I know" Katara said, sighing "I guess it's stupid of me to think they're not… well, they're not really together, in whatever way they might be. But… I still can't wrap my head around it all. It's too much"

"It certainly is" said Hakoda, but to her surprise, he smiled now "But you found him again, Katara. Just like you always hoped you would"

"It didn't turn out the way I'd hoped, though" Katara admitted "I wanted to bring him home. But he chose… he chose her"

"A man in love can be very unreasonable, I suppose" Hakoda laughed softly "I won't lie, there are more than enough reasons to have reservations about his Princess. And yet… it's hardly the worst-case scenario, is it?"

"Isn't it?" Katara asked "I feel like… like he's never going to come home, Dad. Like he'll spend his entire life with her if he can, and… well, if she wasn't lying about all she said to me, it means she'll want to be with him too. And… what about us? Are we just… a backdrop to his life now?"

"Katara…" Hakoda said, breathing deeply and reaching to take her hand into his own "Ours is a very tight community, it always has been. Even when a young man or woman leaves their family home, it's merely to live in an igloo nearby, or a hut, and it's hardly that big a difference, right? But… it is different, to some extent. Every time a son or daughter leaves the igloo to build or live in their own, it's a sign of growth. It's a sign of change. People generally don't stay in their childhood home forever"

"I know that, but… this isn't just about moving out of your childhood home" Katara whispered "This is about him choosing to live amongst firebenders, to spend his life with someone who wronged him so much that she even admits she's no good for him…"

"Indeed, this is about choices, Katara" Hakoda said, stroking the back of her hand gently with his thumb "And we all make those. Choices that others don't agree with sometimes. Choices that others can be affected by, even if we're unaware of it. Choices that can break families apart… or even bring them closer together. But growing up, Katara… it means you begin to make those choices on your own. You're free to choose your purpose, your goals, your destiny… and even if I didn't like those choices, I would have to respect them. I may be your father, but there comes a time when I can no longer do anything but watch from afar as you become the person you wish to be. As you find happiness, in whatever way you may seek it.

"That time came for my parents, when I was younger. Just so… it came for me, when Sokka ignored my advice and rushed that settlement. The cost for his mistake was dire, no doubt… but he has lived with those consequences, to the point where he seems to have turned around his circumstances entirely, and now he's happy where he is. He has carved a place for himself in the world. I do wish he could have carved it closer to home… but it's no longer my place to decide for him. He is a man… just as you are a woman. And just like Sokka, Katara… you can make your own choices. Our family matters so much, of course it does, and I'm sure he thinks so too, but we can't get in the way of his decisions"

"Looks like we can't, yeah" Katara acknowledged, still unwilling to meet her father's eyes with her own. Hakoda sighed.

"I suppose that, now that you know for sure that Sokka has carried on with his life, that he has made the most of his situation, you're probably feeling, well… uneasy?"

"I guess, yeah" Katara admitted, closing her eyes "I've wanted to bring him home for so long and I… and I never really had a bigger goal in mind than that. So now that I know he's, well, mostly okay… I just don't know what to do. I don't know what to think anymore… I'm lost"

"Then that means you're ready to look for a new path" Hakoda said, with an encouraging smile "And wherever that path may take you, Katara… I will support you through it. Just as I would support your brother, had I a chance to. I suppose my best wishes will have to suffice for him, at least for now"

"Well, for a year" Aang chimed in, smiling weakly. Hakoda nodded promptly.

"For a year. Heh. One year, and I'll get to see my son again" he smiled "That's quite something to wrap my head around, I will say…"

Aang's grin gained strength as Hakoda marveled at the thought of meeting Sokka once more. He had been astonished upon hearing they had found his son, but now that the initial shock seemed to be wearing off, he was utterly ecstatic. Aang could have sworn he had never seen him smile so brightly before.

Katara, though, had fallen silent, and she had seldom smiled through the rest of their conversation. Even when they left the igloo, only a few moments later, and returned to the busy tribe, her eyes were clouded by countless thoughts and unsettling confusion.

"So… that didn't go so badly, huh?" Aang asked softly, pulling her out of her inner musings briefly.

"Yeah. If anything, he… he took it better than I did" Katara sighed. Aang bit his lip.

"Don't beat yourself up for it. Truthfully, their story was amazing but… it's also hard to believe sometimes, isn't it?"

"Only sometimes?" Katara asked, raising her eyebrows and shaking her head "Oh, I need to… to clear my head. I think I'm going to lose my mind at this rate"

"Uh, well, do you want to come with me to check on Appa?" Aang asked, smiling gently "He's probably missed us quite a bit, we were gone so long…"

"Right" said Katara, swallowing hard and nodding.

Appa had taken refuge in the largest building of the Tribe: Aang and Katara had built it with the sturdiest ice they could bend together, in hopes the large bison would be protected from the ruthless blizzards. They hadn't been able to fly with him recently, but if the weather had indeed calmed down at last, perhaps that would change soon.

"Buddy! Oh, I missed you!" Aang exclaimed, jumping to hug the bison, who groaned affectionately at the Avatar "Did Hakoda treat you well? He said he'd watch over you…"

Appa responded through groans, and Aang chuckled as he listened to what his animal companion seemed to have to say. Katara smiled slightly as well, approaching and placing a hand on Appa's flank.

"It's good to see you, Appa" she said, stroking his fur.

Appa answered her with one of his typical massive licks. Katara gritted her teeth as she bent the animal's saliva off her parka, and Aang chuckled at the sight of her. She scowled just before tossing the ball of bison drool at Aang. He gasped as it hit him on the shoulder.

"Serves you right for laughing" Katara smirked. Aang huffed, though only playfully.

"Well, you should appreciate Appa's kisses some more! He likes you!" Aang declared. Katara laughed.

"I like him too, but I don't like being coated in bison drool, mind you"

"You're no fun" Aang said, teasingly as he turned to Appa again "Guess you'll have to give me all your bison kisses, then, as Katara doesn't appreciate them enough!"

On cue, Appa pounced on Aang and licked him from hair to toe, prompting Aang to laugh as Katara smiled fondly at him. In many ways Aang was wise… in many others he was still a goof. Even goofier than Sokka was, and that was saying something…

She frowned, realizing she hadn't thought about her brother for the brief time they'd spent inside Appa's hut. Even more than that… she had smiled for the first time since Whaletail Island, just by watching the Avatar indulging his sillier antics. Her father's words came back to her, words she had been mulling over ever since they left the igloo: she had to make her own choices. If Sokka had moved on in life, found a new path for himself, then she ought to do the same. A path that, according to her father, would to lead her to become the person she wanted to be. A path that might just provide her with the happiness that had eluded her for most her life.

"We got a lot more food than usual, buddy" Aang said reassuringly to Appa now, stroking his fur after standing up again "So you'll have a feast soon, and for once it won't be on seaweed! It's good to have a varied diet, right?"

"Right" Katara said, surprising Aang. He smiled at her over his shoulder.

"Do you want to take him for a flight?" he asked "I miss being airborne, heh…"

"You always do, looks like" Katara smiled "But, uh… can we take a walk instead, for now? Just for a bit?"

"A walk?" Aang said, blinking as though the concept of walking was outlandish, at least when there was an available bison that could carry them anywhere.

"Y-yeah, just for a little while" Katara said, with a shy smile. Aang blinked blankly but shrugged before long.

"We'll come back for you later then, Appa" he said, grinning at his companion "Maybe we'll get you your food by then, eh?"

Appa groaned in agreement, and Aang smiled happily before hugging his bison once more. His grin didn't dwindle as they left the building, though it weakened when he noticed Katara had led him out of the Tribe's enclosure, through one of the least used entrances on the wall.

"Where are we going?" he asked, curious. Katara swallowed hard.

"Just… walking. Nowhere, really. We shouldn't be long" she said, breathing deeply "I just, well… wanted to talk with you"

"Oh? Alright then" said Aang, smiling with uncertainty "U-uh, if this is about what happened in Whaletail Island, I seriously wanted to tell you Sokka was there right away. I know it sounds like a cheap excuse, and saying they outnumbered me won't help, but…"

"No. That's… that's not it" Katara said. Aang blinked blankly, watching as Katara hiked her way to a nearby mound of snow.

"Well… alright then" Aang said, following her there and stopping next to her "What is it?"

"Just…" Katara said, biting her lip as she turned away from the Tribe, her eyes drifting towards the horizon "Well, like I said earlier, I'm not really sure what to do with my life anymore, I guess. I'm… kind of floating aimlessly now. If I don't have to pester you guys to save Sokka anymore, then… what am I supposed to be doing? What's my purpose now?"

"Purpose?" Aang repeated, blinking a few times "Huh. I don't know, but… couldn't it be anything you want it to be?"

"I… guess?" Katara acknowledged "But I don't know what I want. I'd always thought I had to do everything I could for the Tribe, but now Dad says I should make my own choices, and live life the way I want to, and… and find my own happiness"

"And you're not sure how to do any of those things?" Aang asked. Katara shook her head.

"I mean, I've made choices before. But… this feels different" Katara whispered "I don't know, I guess I feel really stupid. Did I honestly wait twenty-four years to realize I have a life worth living, and that I get to decide how I'll do that?"

"Heh. Well, I'm much worse. I'm over a hundred, aren't I?" Aang smiled "And I'm nowhere near figuring out what I'd do with my life if… if I were truly free to choose"

"Aren't you?" Katara asked, raising her eyebrows "I mean… I know you have a duty to the world, but no one's going to force you to uphold it over living your life. At least, no one in the Tribe would. I kind of tried once, huh? But…"

"Don't beat yourself up over that" Aang smiled "But yeah, truthfully, that duty hangs over me most days, and I keep thinking… I keep thinking I should be doing more. So much is expected of me, and I should deliver, right? But… but even if I'm supposed to be the most powerful man alive, sometimes I feel so powerless instead. Like I'm just one guy… and the world is too wide and foreign to me now, so I can't say I have the slightest clue of where to start with my Avatar duties"

"I wouldn't either, if I were in your shoes" Katara admitted "It's a lot of pressure to place on one man"

"And yet, strangely… I couldn't help but feel that it's not something only I can do anymore" Aang smiled "After everything Sokka told us… I guess you probably wouldn't feel the same way, but I felt like those two… they're working towards balancing the world again, in their own way. Maybe they're not aware of it… but that's what it felt like to me"

"Heh. So Sokka doesn't need saving, and on top of that, he and his Princess stole your job. Those jerks stole both our purposes, didn't they?" Katara joked, and Aang laughed softly "If that's how it is, though… if they were to become the ones to bring back balance, what would you do?"

"Uh… let them?" Aang said, shrugging. Katara snorted.

"I mean, what would you choose to do with your life, if you were truly, entirely free to do as you please?" she asked "Is there… anything you have in mind? Anything that could make you, well… happy?"

Aang blinked a few times as he tried to figure out how to answer her question. He found it difficult to focus, though: her large blue eyes seemed to be easier for Aang to lose himself in than the ocean they'd traversed earlier today…

"W-well, huh. I guess… there are a few things" he said, swallowing hard "S-such as, uh… huh! I'd like to take you on a really long and fun trip to the best locations with animals we can ride! Like the penguin-sledding, see? That'd be fun, wouldn't it?"

"Oh, well… maybe. As long as they're not too dangerous" Katara said, grinning weakly. Aang chuckled.

"I guess I'd also like to see the other Air Temples. Hopefully… hopefully there's signs of other survivors somewhere, right?" he said, his eyes sadder now "Though what Sokka said about the Northern Air Temple didn't sound promising at all. I just hope the others haven't been disrespected the same way…"

"Yeah, hopefully not" Katara said, biting her lip. Aang breathed deeply and looked at her intently.

"What about you, though?" he asked "It doesn't have to be something big, you know? You don't have to figure out your whole life right away. Maybe something that makes you happy now won't make you as happy in a couple of years, so, you know, no pressure! But surely… surely there's something you want in life, right?"

"I'm not sure, really" Katara admitted, biting her lip. Aang grinned.

"Well, just let yourself be free to want things" he said "Listen to your heart, to your instincts… and soon enough you'll figure something out. You deserve to be happy, you know?"

Katara raised her eyes again, finding his gentle smile as heart-warming as it ever was. She deserved her happiness, then. She wasn't sure whether she agreed with him or not just yet… but somehow, the only source of happiness in her life over the past years was standing right across her: it was the sweet-mannered man that had won her over so easily ever since their friendship had begun…

"If you really think so…" she said, wistfully "Then, uh… do you mind if I try something?"

"Oh?" Aang said, surprised by her sudden question.

"I-it's nothing bad, I… it's just an experiment, I guess" she said, lowering her gaze. Aang smiled again, shrugging.

"I wasn't worried, just a little surprised" he said "What do you want to try?"

"Well… it's not about riding any animals" she said, with a shy smile. Aang chuckled.

"Yeah, there's none around anyhow" he said, glancing about himself with a weak grin "But I can't say I'm too creative so if that's not it…"

She stepped forward in the snow, hands finding his quickly. Aang glanced down at the meeting of their gloved hands, only for Katara to continue forward until her body was barely an inch away from his.

Her lips brushed his, lightly.

She didn't quite know how to do this, with her heart racing, her palms sweating within her gloves despite it was a really cold day. She hadn't thought it through, merely acting on instinct and impulse. Just so, her rational mind kicked in within instants: she pulled away nervously, affording Aang very little chance to make sense of what she'd done.

She released his hands, her heart in her throat now. His eyes had widened, lips slightly parted: it wasn't unexpected that he'd be surprised, of course he would be, but she had hoped he'd react sooner than later… even if said reaction was that of disgust and horror. Maybe she'd done it wrong. Was there a wrong way to kiss someone? His lack of response might imply that she really had messed up somehow…

And then he stumbled back, the widest smile she had ever seen spreading over his face. For a moment she thought he'd lost his footing, and yet it was apparent he had done it on purpose when he suddenly airbent himself into the sky, nearly deafening Katara when he screamed:

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!"

She stared at him, both flustered and proud simultaneously, an embarrassed smile spreading over her lips. Perhaps she really hadn't done it right, however it was that kissing was done right… but he had taken it well anyhow. That had to count for something.

Gravity eventually reclaimed the wild airbender: as he fell again on the mound of snow, falling as gracefully on his feet as he ever did, he was still smiling broadly.

"Well, I guess the experiment wasn't so bad, huh?" Katara smiled too, and Aang laughed in amazement.

"I…! Oh, monkey feathers, you have no idea how long I've wanted to…! Oh. Oh, no, I… I didn't actually kiss you back! That's so wrong! Oh, Katara…!"

"Y-you don't have to make such a fuss…" Katara laughed as Aang looked at her in chagrin.

"I-I promise, I'll do better next time! T-that is, if there's going to be a next time. Oh, goodness, I'm a little… I'm just a little overwhelmed, and I'm embarrassing myself, aren't I? I'm sorry! I'll shut up now! Oh, I sound like Kino now, I'm such a mess…"

His rambling was only more endearing to the waterbender, who laughed as Aang hung his head in shame. He shook it before long though, smiling weakly at her.

"Really, though? Y-you… you wanted to kiss me?" he said, his cheeks flushed "I thought I was the only one who kept daydreaming about that…"

"Well… I'm sure you daydreamed about it more often than I did" Katara said, proudly. Aang laughed "T-though, well… I did think about it. About us, a lot. I like you, Aang. I do, but…"

"But?" Aang said, his blissful mood shifting slightly. Katara smiled and shook her head.

"It's nothing wrong, just… I think we should take it easy, if we really do go forward with this" she said "I don't want everyone making a fuss about it, it'd be… well, really embarrassing"

"Huh. W-well, yeah! No problem!" Aang said, grinning and nodding "I mean, I can't blame you. Kino alone would be rambling about it for days, surely…"

"Yeah, and… well, we'd have time to figure out how to be together if we keep it quiet, right?" Katara said, biting her lip "If that's… if that's what you want, of course"

"I do. I want it like nothing else" Aang said, grinning "I would've said something sooner, but I wasn't sure you felt the same way and…"

"Yeah, well… I think I wasn't letting myself feel it as much as I should have" Katara admitted "I was so hung up on saving Sokka that, well, any thoughts of romance between us were fleeting, I guess. It was something to entertain, not to take seriously. But now that I have to find a new path, I thought maybe… maybe it was worth a shot, right? Because, well… I honestly didn't think I could ever be happy again after Sokka was gone. My mom's death was bad enough, but then he was taken and… and then you came along. You gave me hope again, and you also gave me a reason to smile… or many reasons, really. S-so… why not? I mean, I know it's a little unsettling to think our friendship could suffer for it, if things don't go well between us, but…"

"I think we're both mature enough not to let that happen" Aang said, smiling and taking her hands in his "If it works… then we'll be happy together, as a couple. If not, then we can help each other find happiness, without being a couple. But, uh… the first option appeals more to me, really"

"I'm glad to hear it" Katara said, smiling warmly before taking a deep breath "I mean… if we're all supposed to move on with our lives eventually, and my brother's entangled with the Fire Lord's daughter… what's so wrong about me getting entangled with the Avatar?"

Aang chuckled, his laughter infectious as they gazed at each other, hands linked. Aang bit his lip eagerly when they stopped laughing, uncertainty and anticipation apparent in the glow of his eyes.

"S-say… you think we can try it again?" he asked "This time I'll be less of a statue, I promise!"

Katara laughed but nodded, and Aang grinned before leaning close, pressing his lips to hers gently. It was a longer kiss this time, and it was slightly awkward for it, but the two of them only laughed and gazed at each other warmly once it ended. It would take time adjusting to this new reality, but despite the initial embarrassment and awkwardness, every kiss they shared was smoother and more heartfelt than the previous ones.

Much had changed in the last weeks. Too much, perhaps, to the point where Katara felt her entire life had been turned around upside down at least thrice over such a short time span. And yet Aang had been right to say so, back in Whaletail Island: change didn't have to be a bad thing, and their budding relationship now convinced her that he had been right to claim as much.

She hoped no one noticed their furtive glances later, once they were readying themselves for the most welcome feast the Tribe had celebrated in quite a while. Fortunately, it seemed nearly everyone was far too busy gushing over their haul of food and goods to pay attention to the not-quite inconspicuous brush of their hands. Even those who weren't poring over the cooking meal, like Zuko and Hakoda, had been distracted by other matters: Hakoda was profoundly amused to find Kino was still prone to moments of freezing, mouth wide open upon remembering what he'd heard the Princess say about Sokka. Zuko, of course, had approached his wife and daughter near the fire, right after his many new admirers had thanked him for as good as saving the Tribe with his trip to Whaletail Island.

At first, Katara had been uneasy over her father's words. She hadn't quite understood them, she had been confused by their meaning, still too shaken up by everything Sokka and Azula had said to actually process what her father wanted her to understand. Sokka had indeed found a place in life, even if it was with someone Katara would most likely hold a grudge against for the rest of her life. But suddenly there was so much more to life than holding that grudge, more than just waiting for the right chance to strike back against the Fire Nation, to join the war and put an end to the hundred-year conflict.

She glanced at Aang, finding he was still beaming blissfully after having guided Appa out of his hut. He had returned to her side right afterwards, and even though they didn't speak words, they spoke enough through their shared glances. The sight of his blissful grin was enough to convince her that her brother and father had the right idea: freeing her heart, and allowing herself to chase her own happiness might just be the worthiest purpose she could have ever settled on.