Well, final chapter! I'm glad all you reviewers liked the story; I do too! This chapter isn't the best, sorry. A little short, but I think it's a nice wrap-up. Plus, more Tokka! Haha, that was kind of unintentional in the beginning, but then it took on a life of its own. It fits, at least.
Well I'm glad you all enjoyed it!
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar
CHAPTER 6
"So you finally decided to get out of... OH NOT AGAIN."
Aang and Katara jerked apart, both blushing furiously. Katara hastily wiped her lips on the back of her hand and Aang cleared his throat loudly.
Sokka groaned, pressing the heels of his hands to his eyes as though they had been burned. And it was possible they had, after walking into the kitchen to find Aang and Katara making out at the table. They were finally having breakfast, though it was already an hour to noon. They hadn't actually gotten around to eating anything yet. They kept getting distracted.
Toph appeared at the doorway beside Sokka, who was still grumbling and rubbing his eyes. She grinned and crossed her arms over her chest.
"So it finally happened, hm?" she asked smugly. She elbowed Sokka. "You owe me fifty gold pieces, Snoozles."
"Beg pardon?" Katara asked coolly.
Toph grinned. "Sokka and I had a bet going," she said simply. Sokka grumbled again. "I bet fifty gold pieces you two would consummate it within twenty-four hours of Aang coming back."
"What?!" Katara blurted out, blushing furiously. Aang choked on the water he was drinking and coughed for several seconds. "There was no con…" She stopped, her face growing hotter with embarrassment. "There was no… consummating going on last night."
"Cool off, guys," Toph laughed. Sokka was no longer grumbling, just glaring. "The bet had nothing to do with you two going at it, I was kidding. I just bet that you'd both confess your undying love to each other within the first day. And ta-da! Judging by the fact that you two have been eating face all day, I can only assume I won."
Aang and Katara glanced at each other. He smiled, and she blushed a little. Sokka sighed heavily.
"Yes!" Toph blurted in triumph, turning on Sokka. "Pay up!"
An idea occurred to Sokka at that point. He moved calmly behind Toph and fastened his hands on her hips, tugging her out of the doorway. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Hey, what are you…" she began, sounding rather more shaken than was usual for her.
"Let's go discuss your payment," Sokka said quietly, smirking and pulling her down the hallway. Aang and Katara exchanged a glance. Toph's delighted laughter rang down the hallway for a moment, then everything was silent.
After several moments, Aang and Katara burst out laughing. When their hysterics quieted, Katara smirked. "So… where were we?" she asked quietly, laying a hand on his shoulder and pulling him closer.
Aang grinned. "I think we were right… here," he replied smoothly, closing the distance between them. When Katara pulled away some time later, smiling contentedly, she tilted her head a little and looked thoughtfully at Aang. He was looking at her in a strange way. A look she had never seen from him before.
Aang was experiencing something new. He was feeling a sense of possession. He was a monk, unattached to material things. Not only that, but he was the Avatar, not allowed to become attached to anything worldly at all.
But Katara… she was different. She was his. For once in his life, he could be selfish. The thought made him smile, and she raised an eyebrow curiously. He just moved forward and kissed her again. She smiled against his lips. In a few moments, she pulled back, looking at him thoughtfully again.
"So… what happens now?" she asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Well… are we… what are we?" she continued thoughtfully. "I mean… calling you my boyfriend seems kind of… not enough, you know?"
"Yeah, I know what you mean…" Aang nodded. He looked at her calmly. "Maybe we should get married."
Katara's eyes went wide and she froze. "…Aang?"
"I mean, not right now," he continued, talking as though it was just another topic of conversation. "But we can get engaged or something."
"…Aang…"
"Oh, but I suppose I'll need your father's permission, right? So we'll have to court for a while…"
"Aang."
"So I'm not technically your boyfriend, I'm your suitor."
"Aang!"
He smiled at her. "Yes?"
She laughed a little, bewildered. "You… I mean we… but… uh…" she stammered. She stopped for a moment, not sure what to say. "You want to marry me?"
"Yes."
Katara stared at him. "Just… yes? That's it?"
"Yes," Aang said simply, grinning at her. "Is there anything else I need to say? I love you. I want to marry you."
"But… you just got back," Katara stammered. She was still blushing, and she couldn't ignore the feeling that a balloon was inflating in her chest.
"You don't want to get married?" Aang asked, raising an eyebrow.
"What? No, I do! It's just…"
"Good, then it's settled. I'll ask your dad for permission to marry you, and then I'll give you a necklace, and then we'll get married."
Katara opened her mouth to respond, but found she had no comeback. He kept smiling at her.
"Well?" he asked expectantly.
Katara laughed. "Well… okay," she replied, still a little thrown. "I guess we're getting married."
"Really?"
She laughed again. "Yes, really!" He grinned and opened his arms expectantly. She jumped into them with a shout of delighted laughter, throwing her arms around his neck.
"This is going to be one interesting summer," Katara sighed. Aang smiled.
"Or, you know, one interesting life," he said quietly. Katara smiled.