Time: 6:16 PM

Oh sweeeeeet Avatar! I'm back! I wanted to get this submitted yesterday or the day before, being the anniversary of the Titanic and all...but there was a speech I had to write and I put all my time into that. Meep. Sorry.

So yeah, anniversary of the Titanic sinking was yesterday. :( All those people. And this month, I just realized, has been a year since I joined F.F. Net! -cue party noises- Thank you to all who have supported me over the past year! Some of you are still here from when I first joined, and some of them I still wonder where they went. Haha. And it's been a year since I started my very first fanfic "Love Throughout Eternity". *sigh* I miss that story. I went back and started reading it, and I thought to myself. Goodness gracious, did I write this!

Anyways, thanks for all the support people! XD Every single one of your reviews has put a smile on my face. I still get random reviews, months after I update and I wonder how people had found my story. :) It makes me smile with glee. SO...keep on reviewing people! And maybe I'll be inspired to write another chapter sooner than I have been. Lol.

Disclaimer: Nope, for the thousandth time, I do NOT own Avatar. Thanks so much Bryke. You're hogging it all to yourself! -mutters to self-

I hadn't ventured outside Toph's cabin room since that morning. Ever since Aang had brought back my trunks of clothes, and I had dressed I hadn't worked up the nerve to go back outside my cabin. Yeah, it's apparently my cabin now. Toph had told me that she would move in with her husband, which when you think about it, is probably smart thing to do. Even though in this society, married couples sleep in separate rooms, it didn't make sense to her. I argued with her for a good couple of hours about how I could never take her room. When Aang and Sokka came bursting in wondering why there was screaming coming from the room, we finally calmed down. Toph threatened me that if I didn't take her room, she would personally have Aang carry my back to Zuko, wrapped up all pretty-like.

At this comment, Aang held up his hands, stammering that he would never on earth do something like that. His eyes pleaded with me to stop arguing and just accept the room. I couldn't tell if he was begging me because he was afraid of Toph's anger issues or something else. In the end, I finally gave in and told Toph I would stay here. She gave me a smug look, but I could tell she was relieved that I would be close by. And secretly, deep down, I was ecstatic at the idea of having a room so close to Aang's.

But that was hours ago. Now, it was dinnertime, and I finally had to admit that I was afraid of going back out and running into Zuko. Sokka and Toph came through the door that connected their room with mine and tried to push me out the door.

I shook my head stubbornly and tried to pull away from Toph's arm looped in mine. For fear that she would blow up again, Sokka reassured her that it was okay- something he tended to do extremely well and only showed how much they were made for each other. He told her that they would just bring me back some dinner and they finally left out the door, but not before Toph sent me a death glare.

Sitting down in the chair in front of the mirror, I stared at my reflection. When had I become such a pathetic girl? Sighing, my eyes drifted down towards the hollow part of my neck, where I was so used to seeing my mother's necklace sitting.

"I want to get away from the madness," I whispered to my reflection.

No sooner had I said this, did I hear a small knock on the wooden door to my cabin. My eyes shifting up and looking in the mirror just in time to see a figure enter my room without consent. But upon seeing Aang's tall form quietly closing the door behind him, I could only guess at who had sent him.

Staring at the mirror from across the room, our eyes met through the reflection. He smiled softly and shoved his hands in his evening jacket.

"Come on Katara," he said softly, tilting his head a bit to the right. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of him standing there in front of my door. I suddenly realized just how scandalous it was that he was here in my room, with me un-chaperoned. My eyes travelled away from his reflection and down towards my hands, which I had wound together nervously. He hadn't even bothered to add on the "Miss" to my name. It was just Katara. Katara.

There was silence as he waited for me to get up and follow him. Instead, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"I'm afraid of him you know," I offered meekly.

There was silence.

"I know," he finally said, his rich voice breaking the barriers of silence, "It would explain why you don't want to leave."

I felt the small knot in my stomach start to unwind. It felt good to talk about all the feelings I had kept inside for so long finally break free. It felt good to tell someone of how abused I was.

His footsteps were light, and I vaguely wondered why before I remembered that he was an airbender. It still blew me away that he was the Avatar.

I turned around to find him no more than a few feet away, his soft eyes staring down at me with tenderness. He then squatted down next to me, so that our eyes were level from where I was sitting. My breath caught a hitch and I forced myself not to get too caught up in his warm grey eyes.

"It's okay to be afraid," he said, his voice gentle and welcoming.

My face scrunched up in pain, as if I wanted to cry, "No. No it's not."

I turned my head away, but I instantly felt his warm hand touch my face, ever so shyly making me turn back to him.

"Yes it is." He said, his eyes intent of getting the message across to me. "It just shows that you have a weakness. And that shows that you are human." His hand left my cheek, the place where he had touched me, suddenly becoming cold.

"It also gives someone a reason to protect you."

My eyes widened as I looked at him again, my bottom lip quivering slightly. I knew he was telling me something important. He had just said he would protect me. My head bowed at the sudden realization that I wanted him to do just that.

"But why?" I whispered quietly, afraid to ask. He barely knew me more than a day, and here he was, saying that he would never let anything bad happen to me. The way he talked seemed as if he were ready to throw his life on the line for mine if given the chance. "Why would you want to do that?"

I heard him stand up straight, his coat and pants rustling. I looked up at him carefully, to find him gazing down at me, a gentle look spread across his face.

He held out his hand, waiting for me to take it.

"I didn't have a choice, once I met you."

I finally got out of the room, knowing that I wouldn't be afraid if Aang was with me. Which he was by the way. He was plastered at my side the entire night. As we walked to the dinning area, my arm was wound through his and as I carefully glanced around, nervously looking for sight of Zuko or my father, he noticed my tension and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.

Taking in a deep breath, I smiled at him as he guided us to our table where Sokka and Toph were sitting with a few other couples and an older man in a stiff navy blue suit. He looked official, but when we approached, he looked up from his food and smiled, the warmth from his smile making me give him one back. The chair next to him was open and Aang held it out for me as I sat down next to the older gentleman.

When I had situated myself, I stole a glance in Sokka and Toph's direction. Toph had her eyes closed and nose in the air, as if she was ignoring me. Sokka was grinning at me wickedly, which found strange. He nudged his wife and said louder than necessary, "I told you that Aang could get her to come." There was teasing in his voice and I looked down at my napkin, trying to push the blush off my face.

At this, Toph opened her eyes and turned her head in my direction. Even though she couldn't see me, she still sighed heavily and smiled in my direction. I knew she had a good heart. She only wanted what was best for me.

The waiter took my order as well as Aang's, and Sokka drew my attention towards the older man sitting next to me.

"Katara, I would like to introduce you to Captain Iroh."

My eyes bugged out of my head. "A-as in the captain of this vessel?"

The old man took my hand and kissed it, "The very one my dear." There was a twinkle in his eye as he lowered my hand back down to the table. "And I would never had had the opportunity if it weren't for Sokka over there. Without him as co-founder of the White Star Line, there would never have been ship to sail, and I would still be sailing Navy vessels for good ol' Jolly England."

Sokka waved his hand in the air. "Oh now, there's no need to that sir. You were the most qualified of all our nominees, and there really was no need to even have other people apply for the job. We practically built this ship with you in mind."

At this, Captain Iroh smiled to himself and too the compliment. Grinning, I looked over at Sokka, who was beaming at the fact that the captain was receiving the compliment. I felt a sudden shimmer of happiness melt into my heart, for the first time since before the passing of my mother. I smiled and put a hand to my chest, savoring the feel of this warmth in my chest.

After dinner, most people went to the upper deck to take a late night stroll around under the stars. Up ahead of us, Toph and Sokka were walking arm in arm, Toph's small body leaning into Sokka's. The sight of it was enough to make me smile at the happiness the two shared.

I was more than aware of Aang's body being so close to mine as well. My hand looped through this arm, and his hand on mine radiated warmth that was keeping a constant blush on my face and neck.

The stroll was a quiet one, because neither one of us could come up with anything to say. He kept slowing down his pace a little more and more, until Sokka and Toph were so far away I had to squint my eyes to even see their outlines in the dark. It was obvious by the way Aang kept slowing down that he wanted to talk to me. Which I really didn't mind at all. I really didn't mind spending time with him, despite the way he made my heart race just by smiling that boyish smile.

Tonight really had been a wonderful night. I hadn't had such a good time in so long, it was hard to remember that I didn't have to put on a fake smile or laugh. But one look in his direction, and I could feel my heart melt. These people actually cared about me.

I looked up at Aang's gentle face as we finally stopped alongside the railing. The moon was bright tonight and its light bounced off his full, black hair, that silvery glow taking my breath away. A few other people still mingled along the deck, most probably heading back to their rooms to retire for the night. It was getting late, and I was sure Aang would soon be making me head that direction as well. He seemed to be a mother hen about those sort of things.

He leaned his arms against the railing, looking out across the ocean. A small smile graced his lips and upon realizing that I was staring at him, he turned his head, his soft smile turning into a smirk.

Flustered, I turned away and stared out at the ocean as well. The waves lapped against each other, the sound of them beating against the ship. But things were moving at a speed that was unnatural for these waters. This large ship was breaking the motion of the waves, just so that we could move from one continent to another. It was kind of sad in a way.

"What's it like?" I asked suddenly, feeling as if I should know. He knew almost everything about my past now, but I barely knew anything about his.

He was silent for a few seconds. "What do you mean?" But I could tell he already knew what I was talking about.

"You being the last one," I said, my voice lowering a bit, afraid that he wouldn't want to talk about it.

He shifted his stance and sighed heavily, and I ultimately knew it was a touchy subject for him.

"It's lonely sometimes. I know I shouldn't be. Even though both my parents were killed, and I obviously inherited my abilities from them, and I've had Sokka and Toph recently, ….it's still… lonely."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. His voice was low and hurt, it was the type of sound that makes you want to hug it until it turns happy again.

"And don't get me started on how I'm wanted by the military and navy and every other armed force in Europe and Asia." He started to chuckle here, and I calmed down a bit, knowing he was trying to get me to cheer up. But what I wasn't sure of was whether he was trying to reassure me or himself.

He paused for a second, becoming serious again. "But…it's something I've got to live with. I was called to a destiny, and for a good chunk of my life, that was taken away from me." He turned his head and his stormy grey eyes danced in the moon's reflection. "But lately I've been feeling that destiny calling to me more that it has been in the last few years." My mind went back to last night when he had told me that a fortune teller had told him he was destined to be on this boat. I wasn't sure what he was implying, or whether that thing had already happened or was gong to, but my face flared up with embarrassment anyways.

Pulling himself from the railing, he stood up and looked both ways down the boat deck. There was no one in sight. Well, didn't blame them. When we came out here, it was roughly eleven thirty at night. It had to be well past midnight now.

I looked up at him to see smile dangerously and then look back down at me.

"I need to get off this ship for a while; too many stuffy people here. Care to join me?"

I looked at him with utter disbelief.

"What in the world are you talking about? We can't leave this ship? It would be murder!"

He looked down the deck once more and then walked across to a bench that had been built against the wall, leading to some hallway. He reached under the bench and broke loose a long staff looking thing.

He walked back up to me. "That's too bad, I was going to take you flying with me. But I guess you are too worried about getting caught than experiencing something new."

My eyes widened and my heart stopped. "F-Fly? How in the world can you fly with a staff?"

He opened it up. There, before my eyes was a glider.

"How can you fly with two people?"

He shrugged, "I've taken Sokka before, off the edge of a cliff. Sure scared the living daylights out of him. But he is always asking if I would take him flying again. I would also take Toph but she's too afraid to leave the ground."

I looked down the deck, no guards or other passengers in sight. "A-are you sure it's okay?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"I'm an airbender," he said simply, as if that explained everything.

Biting my lower lip and mulling this over, I nodded to him suddenly. "Let's do this."

He smiled at me warmly, the edges of his eyes wrinkling slightly in endearment.