literature

Chapter 6: Tradition

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Tradition

Two years later, Aang's and Katara's relationship remained strong. Katara was eighteen now, a beautiful young woman that could compete against Aphrodite herself and win hands down. Her chocolate curls went beyond the small of her back, her body has filled out nicley, and her blue ocean eyes seem to glow. Aang, sixteen years old, has grown taller and stronger. He now towered over Katara easily. The silver and gray in his eyes had a serious look to them, but he was still that same fun loving goof that everyone has come to love. His muscles are firmer; not a lot, but enough for people to notice. He's not the same scrawny kid they had thought of him at the beginning. Aang was now a young man. And today was very special: it was his and Katara's anniversary. Every year, it was tradition for them to go to Iroh's tea shop: The Jasmine Dragon. They would leave a few days early in order to get there. By the time they would arrive, it would be their anniversary day. Iroh would have the shop closed on this particular day so they wouldn't be mobbed by their fans and admirers. They were sitting at their table right now, drinking Jasmine tea and talking about their time in the Fire Nation.

"When I found out you were the Painted Lady," Aang was saying, " I thought I had finally lost my mind. I thought I was dreaming when you told me you were doing it to help those people in the villiage."

Katara snorted. "Yeah, well, no one else was doing anything. All you and Sokka did was make spirit noises."

Aang shook his head. "Come on," he said. "You have to admit it was funny; at least a little." Then he did the exact same thing with his arms like he did in the polluted villiage, wiggling his arms and making ghost and exploding sounds.

Katara snorted, trying to hold back her laughter; but it ended up coming out in bursts. Aang laughed along with her. Iroh smiled from the back. He knew those two would be perfect for each other. It was their destiny; and destiny is a funny thing. And it was fate that brought them together; nothing is ever going to change that.

After the laughing stopped, Katara said, "Okay, you have a point. It is funny now that I think about it. It was still annoying back then though."

Aang grabbed her hand from across the table. "But that's in the past now," he said gently, smiling at her. "All we have to do now is look to the future." Katara smiled her beautiful smile and nodded as Iroh came to them.

"From the laughter I hear," he said, "you two must be having a good time." His old wise eyes sparkled with knowing. "Are you hungry?" They nodded. "The usual?" Iroh asked; they nodded again. The 'usual' is vegetable noodle soup. They would always have that when they're here. The old man left them, but not before winking at Aang, which went unknowing to Katara. She was placing a napkin on her lap. Aang had come here earlier to ask for advice while Katara was getting ready. The sun was starting to set, casting warm colors over Ba Sing Se. Aang was starting to get fidgety. It was almost time…

Iroh came back with the food a few minutes later and walked away, and the couple ate in silence. Aang observed his girlfriend, who was wearing blue and white kimono. 'She really has become more beautiful' he thought dreamily. He thought this every day, but he couldn't help it. To him, Katara was the most gorgeous creature to ever walk the planet.

Katara looked up and caught Aang watching her with a silly, love struck smile on his face. They blushed, but didn't lose eye contact. "Why are you smiling at me like that?" she asked.

Aang held in his laughter, remembering how she had said that same sentence when they met. "Oh, I was smiling?" he asked back, repeating the old lines.

They laughed again; when they calmed down enough Katara said, "So you remember that day?"

"How could I forget?" Aang replied, chuckling. "That was the day our lives really began. I was such a goof back then. Everything is so different from the world I used to know. But I wouldn't change anything even if I was given the chance."

Katara nodded in agreement. "We've been through a lot. But I'm happy with how things turned out."  

"Me too." They ate the rest of the meal in comfortable silence. They didn't need to fill the pauses and silences anymore because they had gotten used to them. At first they had been awkward in the early stages of the relationship; but now the silences have become their friends.

Once they were done, the sun had reached the horizon, the sky growing darker. Iroh took the bowls away and the couple stood up. Then Aang grabbed Katara's hand and said, "You ready to go?" She nodded and they said goodbye to the old man. He watched as the young people left, mentally wishing Aang good luck.

*****

Aang and Katara, hands clasped perfectly together, were walking around the lower ring of Ba Sing Se. The city has become more friendly since Kuei had returned. The walls were still up, but everyone was being treated as equals rather than different classes. Normally, Aang and Katara would go up on the wall to watch the sun finish its decent; but Aang was leading them somewhere else.

Katara looked around, confused. "Aang?" she asked and he looked at her, watching as a breeze played with her hair. She tucked a few strands behind her ear. "Where are we going? I thought we were going to the wall."

Aang smiled and squeezed her hand. "Don't worry," he replied. "I know of a different place that you'll love even more." He turned away and Katara shrugged, following him. Just before they reached their destination, Aang turned to his girlfriend and gently ordered, "Close your eyes." She rolled her eyes, remembering how she had told him the same thing for his 14th birthday, before doing what she was told, putting one hand over her eyelids as her boyfriend led her by the hand.

When they got there, Aang released her hand but told her to keep her eyes closed. She giggled, but stayed as she was. Aang looked around. There was just enough light to make out the lanterns and posts. They were unlit. Good; he didn't want to give away where they were yet. Taking a Firebending position, Aang took a breath and shot tiny specks fire into the lanterns. When he was done, everything was aglow. He then turned to Katara, who was oblivious, and said quietly, "You can open them now." She did, and gasped lightly as her eyes grew huge. They were at the Firelight Fountain, the flames reflecting in the pool.

Not taking her eyes away from the beauty of the fountain, she said, "This is beautiful, Aang."

The Avatar chuckled as he grabbed her hand again. "I thought you would like it."

She turned to him with happy eyes. "I love it; very much." Then she frowned thoughtfully before asking,"But why haven't you brought me here before for our other anniversaries?"

Aang scratched the back of his head, suddenly nervous about what he was about to do that would change them forever. "Well, I wanted to save this for something special." She looked at him curiously and he took a deep breath before pulling her over to the water. He grabbed both of her hands and looked into her eyes as he said, "I saved this place for so long because I wanted to ask you something." He brought her closer, their bodies pressing together. His heart was thundering in his chest. He began. "Katara, we've been through a lot; we both lost people who were dear to us. We fought in a war that was never meant to happen. I ran away from home and froze myself and Appa in an iceberg for a century. Then I remember waking up with you watching some strange little kid that you were willing to travel with even though you barely knew him. Despite all the bad things that have happened, I wouldn't change any of it because I was led to you." Katara was crying, but her eyes never wavered for a second. He never broke eye contact either. "You've been my best friend for a long time; we've been together for years now. I can't live without you, and I would die if I even tried. What I'm trying to say is…" He went on one knee and dug something out of his robes. It was a necklace, the neck strip blue with orange swirls decorating the top and bottom. The amulet itself was crystal with Air and Water mixing together in an intricate pattern. He looked up at her to see she had her hand over her mouth. "Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, will you make me the happiest man alive by marrying me?"

Katara was stunned. They had talked about getting married, but she didn't think it would be so soon. Nevertheless, she removed her hand from her mouth, smiled, and said, "Yes, Aang of the Air Nomads. Of course I'll marry you." Aang beamed and stood up. Katara took off her mother's necklace, thought for a moment, then wrapped it around her wrist before turning around and lifting her hair. Aang reached around her and placed the piece of jewelery around her slender throat. It fit perfectly. The crystal caught the firelight, making colors dance. She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck as he did the same with her waist. They were glowing with happiness and love.

"Is this really happening?" she asked jokingly. "Am I really engaged to the Avatar?"

Aang smiled and shrugged. "Only if you want to be," he replied.

Katara grinned and touched her new necklace. "I wouldn't be wearing this if I didn't want to be." She brought her face closer to his and whispered, "Can we make this our new anniversary spot?"

Aang sighed and closed his eyes. "For as long as you want it to be. It could be a new tradition for us. I love you, Katara."

"I love you too, Aang. My future husband."

Aang grinned, liking the sound of that. "My future wife," he murmured before kissing her to seal the deal.

*****

Six months later, the wedding took place in the Eastern Temple courtyard. The ceremony wasn't very big, but that was what the couple wanted. Family and friends surrounded them as they took their vows. Aang was wearing a tunic that went with cuffs he got for his 14th birthday. The tunic's sleeves went to the crease of his elbows, with tan pants and brown boots and orange trimmings at the end of the sleeves and bottom of the shirt. Katara was wearing a traditional Water Tribe dress that her mother had worn for her wedding. It fit like a glove. It had fur trimmings on the neckline that dipped slightly and on the sleeves. Her hair was done with her curls pinned in place at the top of her head, pearls glinting in the firelight at every movement.

Hakoda was standing on the makeshift alter, waiting as the couple gave their vows. It was only when they were done did he say, "By the power invested in me, and by the Spirits, I now pronounce husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." Aang cupped her face in his hands, feeling the skins warmth, and sealed their vows with the most breathtaking kiss as the audiance clapped and cheered. After the reception, they said goodbye to their family and took off on Appa, stopping in Ba Sing Se to go to the Firelight Fountain, where their new tradition took place, before going to their home for their honeymoon, and starting their new life together.

Six down, one to go! I hope you guys like this story. For those of you are following High School Sweethearts, just know that I have not stopeed writing it. I wanted to get this done first. That is all.

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avataradam's avatar
I have read so many stories that included these two getting married and out of all of them, this one is the shortest yet the best. When that happened I swear I was jumping:happybounce: . I am also just experimenting with all of these different Emoticons. Oh, and as known, these two live happily ever after.