Chapter Thirty-Four

Katara had spent weeks and weeks on the ship traveling South. She had received 3 more messenger hawks with scrolls bearing her name and the Fire Nation Royal Seal. They all joined the first in her trunk, unopened and trying to be forgotten. Zuko was anything if not persistent, but Katara had a stubborn streak almost as wide as Sokka's.

The weather was getting cold, cold enough for her to dawn the parka that hadn't been worn in ages. The fit was a little snugger than it had been, proof she had grown during her travels. She smiled as the snow fell softly and stuck to the fur trim of her hood and her eyelashes before melting away. They were so close, Katara had begun to ache with home sickness; choosing to spend most of her time on the deck, watching for a familiar sight which was silly really because the landscape was always changing.

Then, in the distance, something seemed to be taking shape. It was big and uniform and appeared to be a... wall? As they approached, it was indeed a wall, one hauntingly familiar to the one in the North with the Water Tribe symbol stylized in the ice. Katara stood in awe as parka clad benders adorned the top of the wall and lowered a section large enough to accommodate the cargo ship.

Katara's jaw dropped and her eyes bulged at the changes to their modest little village that had had only a dozen or so igloo's. Now, there was a sprawling city in its place with actual buildings and shops. Katara's luggage had been unloaded for her and she continued to look around, trying to take it all in. Sokka had told her about the rebuilding of the village with the help of the many northerners and people from the other nations that had come to the south to help and start a new life. But what they had done in the short time since the war had ended was stunning. Suddenly a young water tribe girl around her own age flounced up to her.

"Hi! I'm Kima! You must be new here." She peered at Katara with unabashed curiosity.

Katara blinked at her, gathering her wits. "Uh... sort of. I was looking for Chief Hakoda?" She told the girl, hoping she could help without too much of an explanation.

"Oh sure! You can leave your stuff here, Panzu can watch it for you until you get situated." She said, nodding her head to an older man that waved jovially back at Kima. "Follow me! He's usually near the meeting hall so I'm sure we can find him." Kima smiled at her and Katara smiled back but didn't offer a response. Kima seemed more than happy to carry the conversation for the both of them. She told Katara about the village, the people and the shops. She talked about herself and her family and how they had immigrated from the North Pole to the South and preferred the leniency of the South Pole. Katara enjoyed the mindless prattle as she eagerly peered at her new surroundings.

Her attention was grabbed at the next thing that came out of the perky girl's mouth.

"Oh! Hi Sokka!"

Katara jerked her head around to see her brother loitering in front of the meeting hall. She lowered her head, so the hood would conceal her face as she watched her brother, waiting to surprise him.

"Kima!" He startled, trying to look busy and authoritative after being caught slacking off. "What are you doing here?" He asked in a deeper voice, trying to sound mature.

"We have a newcomer and she was looking for the Chief." Kima explained, gesturing at the demure woman standing behind her.

"What business does a stranger have with the Chief?" He asked curiously, peering around Kima trying to catch a look at the newcomer.

Katara pulled her hood off and snarked at her brother. "I wanted to see dad and figure out where I'm supposed to put my stuff."

"Katara!" Sokka cried, overjoyed to see his little sister and he scooped her up in an exaggerated hug.

"Katara?!" Kima cried in surprise, instantly making the connection.

Sokka threw an arm around his sister and started leading her to the meeting hall while calling over his shoulder. "Thanks, Kima! I got it from here!" They quick stepped into the hall to stop Kima from following them further.

"I've missed you Sokka." Katara said, bumping her older brother with her shoulder as they walked along together.

"I've missed you too. Well, we've all missed you." He said, gesturing wildly in the air. He stopped in the hall, bringing her to a halt. "What are you doing back here?" He asked with nothing but curiosity.

Katara took a deep breath, steeling herself. "The people at the clinic are in good hands, Zuko is doing well and he has his girlfriend to support him and I missed home." She said simply, surprising herself with how calm she was.

"Well!" He said, pulling himself up straight and slapping her playfully on the shoulder. "Ready to go surprise dad?"

Katara grinned. "Absolutely."

Sokka winked and then dramatically burst into the door at the end of the hall panting and shouting. "Dad! Dad! Come quick!"

Hakoda stood so abruptly his chair topple over backwards. Several other water tribe men stood in alarm, reaching for a weapon. "What is it Sokka?" His father asked harshly, preparing himself for anything. Well... almost anything...

Sokka flailed his arms, pointing behind him and make odd sputtering sounds. Katara took this as her cue to make her entrance. She lurked in the shadows, setting the men even further on edge before quickly stepping into the light, cheerfully smiling and waving at the familiar faces.

"Hi dad!" She called playfully.

The men visibly sagged in relief, then straightened in surprise and delight and they recognized the young woman before them.

"Katara?" Hakoda hurried around the table and enfolded Katara into a long, warm hug. "I'm so glad you're here. Why didn't you tell us you were coming?"

Hakoda allowed his daughter to pull back, but he was reluctant to completely release her, so he held her at arm's length, heavy hands resting upon her shoulders and he looked her over.

Katara shrugged under the weight of her father's hand, guilt adding to their heft. "I wanted to surprise everyone."

"Well I'd say you accomplished that. You've grown even more since the last time I saw you. Are you alright?" He put meaning behind the word, letting her know that he was aware of what had happened, and he was eager to be assured that she was indeed well, but wanted to be discrete with the other people in the room.

Once again, Katara took a deep breath. "I'm better now." She said, giving him a solemn nod.

Her father understood the message and knew not to bring it up again unless she broached the subject first. She was grateful for such a wise and understanding father.

He released his daughter and looked around at his men. "Let me get out of here and show you to your new home. I just have to finish a few things..."

"I can show her dad." Sokka piped up.

"Yeah dad, you're still busy and we can visit more when you get home." Katara reassured him.

"If you're sure..." He trailed off, hugging her again.

"I just left my luggage with a guy named Panzu...?" Katara trailed off.

Hakoda turned to a younger man, closer to Sokka's age. "Kanu, will you see to it that Katara's things make it to the house?"

Kanu, the young man, bowed his head and left the room.

"Thanks!" Katara called after him before the door could close.

"Come on." Sokka waved her to follow him. They exited the meeting hall and were met with a lot more people milling about, clustered in little groups whispering and behind raised hands and the more uncouth even pointed at the siblings. "Kima..." Sokka said with a heavy sigh.

"Wow, I think word travels faster in this big city then it did in our tiny village." Katara said slyly to her brother.

"You have no idea." Her brother muttered as he clutched her sleeve and quickly dragged her through the streets until they came upon a fine house. Sokka didn't allow Katara any time to admire it as he dragged her inside and slammed the door in their gossiping faces. Sokka leaned against the door and sighed dramatically and wiped his brow before straightening as Katara looked around in wonder. There was a fire pit built into the floor and a separate space for cooking with sunken basins in the countertops to act as sinks and another cooking fire equipped to accommodate either a roasting spit or a large cooking pot. She didn't get much further before Sokka hollered loudly into the vast house as Katara was hanging up her parka, flinching at the noise.

"Gran-Gran!"

Their grandmother's stooped form slowly walked into the open living room, scolding Sokka lightly. "It isn't polite to shout."

Sokka dismissed it as he waved to his sister.

"Katara..." Her wrinkled face brightened with a large smile. "You're back."

"Hi Gran-Gran... I'm finally home." She hugged her grandmother closely. "I've really missed you." Her grandmother stroked her back and her hair so lovingly and so achingly familiar, she couldn't help but to begin to sob into her shoulder.

Sokka's eyes bugged and he looked panicked. Gran-Gran gave a sharp wave, interrupting briefly her soothing of Katara to tell Sokka to get lost. Sokka quickly escaped to his room and made enough noise sharpening his sword that he could not hear his sister's broken sobs through the hide curtain that served as his door. Katara began to slowly collect herself and Gran-Gran carefully led her down the hall of the lavish home and pulled aside a pelt, revealing her own room, filled with a comfortable bed covered in pelts, a modest bureau, her trunk of luggage and some familiar things that she had left behind when she began her long journey. Gran-Gran helped lower her granddaughter to the bed and urged her to lay down and rubbed Katara's back in slow circles, humming songs her people sung to young children as lullaby's. She stayed until Katara was deeply asleep before she removed Katara's boots. She stroked her granddaughter's cheek one last time before she clambered to her feet. She made a point to check on Sokka. He paused in his sharpening when he heard the knock and she popped her wrinkled face into his room.

"Is she okay?" Sokka asked, staring despondently at his sword.

Gran-Gran took a moment to choose her words. "For now. And she will be, with time."

Sokka's head bowed for a moment before he slowly nodded. With that, Gran-Gran left him with his thoughts and began planning a welcome home feast for the last member of her family that was finally home. Pakku approached his new wife, concern on his face.

"How is she?" He whispered softly near her ear and he embraced her.

Kanna sighed and she relaxed in his arms, relieved to be able to share the burden. "She's been through a lot. She's still healing, but she's home now. It's a long road, but her family will be there for her."

Pakku squeezed her tightly once more before releasing her. "I'm here in whatever capacity you need."

Kanna turned and placed a warm kiss on his lips in answer. The day was getting away from her and it was time to start preparing dinner for tonight, making the decision to let Katara sleep as long as she needed.

Sarahplainntall here! Thanks for sticking with me! I know I'm slow, but I'm having a hard time writing this slower section. I want to thank everyone who has favorited or followed me or any of my stories, I really appreciate it (especially the reviews!) and it makes my day. This story is mostly formed in my mind, but I am always open to suggestions and I promise if I use your idea, you WILL receive credit for it, because that's just how things are done. Anyways... thanks for sticking with me and I hope you enjoy the latest!