It wasn't even half the size of a normal dwelling, but it still seemed big to Aang as Katara led him inside. What had originally been a Waterbending practice session had turned into an afteroon-long project, and the result was an igloo roomy enough for two.

"I still can't believe we made a whole igloo by ourselves! Wait till we tell Sokka, his jaw'll hit the floor!" he laughed.

"Actually..." Katara sat back against the wall, pulling her knees up to her chest. "If you don't mind, I'd like this to stay our little secret," she said, taking out a packet of dried seaweed and offering it to him.

"Why?" He popped a few pieces into his mouth; it tasted weird and squishy and he wasn't sure he liked it, but he chewed anyway.

"Because I've been with Sokka my whole life," Katara said around a mouthful of seaweed, "and as much as I love him, I also want a part of my life separate from him." Aang swallowed.

"Like his warrior training's separate from you," he said, sitting beside her.

"Yeah." She smiled. "Also, you're the first best friend I've had outside my tribe, and...well, I like the idea of us having something all our own, something no one else knows about."

"R-really?" Aang blushed. "I...I'm very happy you think of me that way, Katara, I feel the same about you!" He wrapped an arm around her and she leaned against him; she felt so warm he almost forgot he was sitting in a house made of ice and snow. "All right. I won't tell Sokka."

"Trust me, I would've liked to see his reaction too," Katara said. They both laughed, and she offered him the seaweed again. This time, Aang didn't hesistate before taking some.