The Way Things Are. Chapter 4

"Wow!" Naoko said wide eyes, all signs of earlier tiredness now having disappeared. "I've seen people move the ground before but never the water. It was really pretty. Can you do it again?" she said, her growing excitement causing her parents and Katara to smile.


"Sure, what would you like me to..."


"Wait!" Naoko said "I have to get my sister; she'll want to see this too. KYLAAAAA!"  she wailed while running back into the bedroom.


"That brings back memories. I use to call you like that." Katara said giggling.


"I remember." Sokka said grinning slightly.


"Look Kyla," Naoko said while holding her sister's arm. "This is Aunt Katara and she can move water. She did it at the festival remember." Kyla shock her head and began to cling onto Naoko. Even though she wasn't a shy child, it took her a while to warm up to people.


"So girls what shapes would you like me to make?" Katara said drawing the water from her glass.


"Fishes!"Shouted Naoko.


"A Boomerang!" said Kyla which then caused Sokka to pat her on the head proudly. Katara then made the desired shapes and took simple joy in the fact that she was waterbending purely for the  innocent enjoyment of another. With the girls focussed on Katara moving water shapes and Sokka silently thanking her for the distraction, Katara thought to herself that even though she had only been here for a few hours, somehow, a huge weight had been lifted and in some weird way, it was as if she was at the beginning of something she could just not explain.


"Girls." Suki said drawing Naoko's and Kyla's attention away for the moving water shapes. "Your Aunt Katara is going to be staying with us for a while."


"You can sleep with me in my bed." Naoko suggested.


"I think your bed might be a bit too small Naoko." Sokka added causing Naoko to frown.


"But thanks for offering Naoko." Katara said gaining a smile from Naoko.


"Come on Katara, I'll show you to your room, I'm sure you want to freshen up because, if I'm honest, you do look kinda terrible. No offence." Sokka grinned.


"None taken. The boat ride here, though quick, wasn't too comfortable, and I didn't exactly plan this whole thing through." Katara said picking up her travel bag following Sokka upstairs leaving Naoko and Kyla to play together.


"Well here we are." Sokka said opening the door to Katara's new room. It too was a pale green colour like the living room and consisted of a bed, and extremely large wardrobe and an old fashioned dressing table. "Suki's mom sometimes stays here when she comes over to help with the kids so it might smell of old lady a bit."


"I heard that!"  Suki yelled.


"How does she do that?" Sokka said scratching his head. "I mean, sometimes I'm just whispering and she hears me."


"It's a mother's thing. Didn't you know that all mothers have super hearing" Katara said grinning, Sokka simply rolled his eyes. "And besides, don't worry about the smell, there was this one time where Aang and I stayed at Lady Tai Feng's house and not only was she 78, but she also had 15 cats."


"15!?"


"Yep. 15" Katara said plopping on the bed and patting the space beside her for Sokka to sit. "She said that they helped keep her sane during the war." Katara joked, Sokka on the other hand raised an eyebrow to say that it probably did the opposite. "That's what Aang did when she told him. It's odd really, for such an animal person, he was never too fond of cats. I remember this one time..." Katara suddenly caught herself, and sadness once again began to grow inside of her, consuming her, and causing her to hold her head in her hands and slowly begin to cry.


"Shhh Katara. It will be alright, you'll see." Sokka said whilst hugging and rocking his baby sister. It had been a long time since he had seen her seem so small and frail.


"Thanks Sokka." Katara sniffed. ""It's just, I feel so empty. I've always had a purpose, whether it was surviving the war, or spreading peace with Aang and now, there is just...nothing. I know it sounds silly and I hate it more than you know, but Aang, over time and through no fault of his own, became my purpose, became my meaning. I don't know when, perhaps it was when the war ended and we started to travel together or perhaps it began when we found him in the iceberg but whenever it was, he was always my main focus. Even when we were together, I was always The Avatar's Waterbender or The Avatar's Woman, and I used to be happy with that because I was someone, I had a purpose, through him. But, I also hated it, I didn't want him to give me purpose, I wanted to find my own and now that I've left him, I realise I have...nothing, that I am...Alone. I wanted this freedom, but it scares me Sokka, so very much.  I haven't even got a home to call my own. I'm 22 this year and I have not one thing to call my own, not even a purpose. I'm....I'm....So confused." It was after this that Katara couldn't take anymore and began to cry hysterically. Sokka at this point could only hold his sister tighter. She needed this; she needed to let out all these built up unspoken emotions in order to truly move on. When she seemed to be feeling a bit better, Sokka turned her to face him and sternly said,


"Katara, so long as I am alive and kicking, you will never be alone so don't even think that you are for a second. You're stuck with me. Secondly," he said softly wiping her tears. "Don't cry, red eyes don't suit you."


"You're silly Sokka" Katara said cheering up a little.


"I know. Listen, Katara, I know things are going to be....difficult and I'm...We're all going to be here to help you as much as possible, even little Mika, she's a good listener. And as for this purpose thing, well, your new purpose can be to find your new purpose, one that is chosen to be yours a
nd yours alone. "

"That makes no sense Sokka." Katara said smiling. "I appreciate the thought but you're saying that my new purpose should be...finding my new purpose?"


"Exactly! And Toph said you were slow..."


"What?!"


"Nothing. Anyway, all I'm saying is spend as much time as you want, I dunno, finding yourself. I'm not good at this stuff Katara." Sokka mumbled while running his hands though his hair.

"You're doing pretty well if you ask me" Katara replied.


"Spend your time here determining what it is you want, and when you find out what it is, go and get it! Ok?"


"Ok Sokka, and...Thanks, for everything." Katara said hugging him tightly.


"No problem, that's what awesome big brothers do."


"And so modest too..."


"Well, I'll leave you too freshen up. The bathroom is two doors down to your left and there should some clothes your size in the wardrobe." Sokka said standing up to leave the room.


"Sokka wait!"


"What is it Katara?"


"This room does smell of old lady." Katara said grinning


And it was with that that Katara began her stay at Sokka and Suki's house. Within a week of arriving she took a job at the local clinic as a healer. As the days turned into weeks, Katara began to grow fond of her simple life in Kyoshi. It was all very new and exciting, doings things that many people would take for granted, like buying her own clothes and making new friends. Her time in Kyoshi was made even more pleasant by the increased amount of time she was able to spend with her nieces, much to their parent's relief. With Sokka working as an inventor whilst on Kyoshi and Suki the head of the Kyoshi warriors Katara was able to spend plenty of time with her nieces while calling it the "overdue babysitting time" she owed their parents.  It was odd, Katara noted to herself, how much she missed being around children especially those as happy and carefree as Sokka's and Suki's.


Around two months after she arrived at their home, a happier, more contented Katara had an idea.


"Camping?" Sokka said whilst sipping his morning tea, a habit he picked up from Zuko. "You want to take the girls camping?"


"Yeah Sokka, it will be great, and give you and Suki a much need rest." Katara said leaning against the kitchen counter.
"As much as I do agree with you about that rest, why camping?"


"Well, it's the weekend and the weather is great. Also, the flowers by the lake are in bloom so everything is really beautiful around there which I know Naoko will like, and there is load of open space which means Kyla can throw her boomerang all she likes without breaking anything and little Mika, well, she would probably just enjoy the sunshine. It will be great."


"Morning," Suki said holding Mika's hand walking towards the kitchen. "Are Naoko and Kyla up yet?"


"Morning Suki, morning Mika. Did you have a good sleep?" Sokka said picking the two year old up and kissing her on the forehead. Mika nodded in reply. "Naoko and Kyla are playing in the living room."


"Good. I thought it was a bit quiet when I walked past their room. So, what's this I hear about camping?" Suki said whilst pouring tea for herself.


"Well, I thought I would take the girls camping for the day by the lake. We would leave today and come back tomorrow afternoon. Give you guys a break." Katara said sipping her water.


"That sounds great." Suki said smiling.


"Yeah Katara that sounds...Wait what?"


"Great. The lake is about 15mins walk from here and I doubt that anyone would be stupid enough to attack a waterbender near that much water, let alone our children Sokka, and a break does sound...nice."


"But..."


"Don't worry Sokka, it will be fun." Katara said smiling at Mika who obviously knew that something good was about happen.


"Fine. Well, come on Mika, we better tell your sisters the good news." As Sokka began to walk towards the living room, he could hear Katara and Suki following behind whilst giggling about something. "Women." He mumbled to himself.


As he entered the pale green living room, he placed Mika near her two sister amidst all of the toys and stood in front of the three girls whilst striking his most commanding pose. Naoko and Kyla, now very used to their fathers antics stopped what they were doing and faced him, wide eyed, Mika, copying her sisters did the same.


"Alright Team Sokka..." Sokka said to his daughters.


"You'd think I had nothing to do with making them" Suki whispered to Katara causing her to chuckle lightly.


"Your Aunt Katara is going to take you all camping for the day so we better get you all ready."


"Really camping? I've never been before!" Naoko said excitedly.


"What's camping Naoko?" Kyla asked


"It's when you get to sleep outside!" replied Naoko


"Ok, Naoko you go and find clothes and pj's your day, Kyla, you go with your sister and find clothes and pj's for your day and Mika..." Sokka said causing Mika to perk up when she heard her name. "It's time for your bath."


"I better go and help Naoko and Kyla get their stuff ready." Suki said shaking her head at her husband. He really was unlike anyone else she had ever met.


"I'll go and pack my stuff too. See you in a few minutes."


20 minutes later, due to a dispute over how much food they were going to bring on the trip, Sokka wanting to take enough to feed an army and not surprisingly Kyla agreeing with him, Katara Naoko, Kyla and Mika were ready to start their trip.


"Take care!" Suki said waving goodbye.


"We will." Katara said holding Mika and walking with and also waving Kyla and Naoko towards the lake.


When Sokka and Suki's house could no longer be seen and the two girls where happily skipping along the path Katara asked,


"Are you girls excited?"


"Yeah!" replied Kyla.


"We've never been camping before." Added Naoko.


"Well you're going to love it. You can play out in the flowers and swim in the lake; it's going to be fun." Katara said smiling at Mika who seemed to be growing more and more excited by the minute.


"Urrm Aunt Katara, we can't swim." Kyla mumbled


"Well, we'll have to change that won't we."Katara grinned.


And so their little adventure began and as with most adventures involving small children, it left Katara thoroughly bushed at the end. As the sun began to set and the sky turned form an orange to a more purple colour, Katara and three little tired girls sat down to have their evening meal before going off to sleep.

                                                          ***


"So did you girls enjoy your day?"


"Yeah" They both chimed together.


"Great, I had a good time too." Katara replied. After a moments silence Naoko began to look at the few stars that were beginning to emerge and smiled causing Katara to grin also. It was odd how Sokka children had turned out, sje thought to herself. Naoko, who looking like the female version of Sokka had inherited Suki's personality, whereas Kyla, who had features similar to Suki was boisterous and mischievous like Sokka and Mika, who at this moment was simply enjoying being fed was neither unlike or very similar to her parents.


"Daddy use to say that the stars tell us stories." Naoko said, breaking Katara's train of thought.


"Aunt Katara, do you tell your children stories about the stars?" Kyla asked. Katara laughed at the direct innocence that only a child could have.


"No Kyla, I don't have any children." Replied Katara whilst finishing off feeding Mika.


"Why?" Asked Naoko.


"Errmm, because I haven't found someone special to have them with."


"Why?" Asked Kyla


"Ermmm because I use to travel a lot. I could tell you about my travels if you like. There was this one time when..."


"When are you going to meet this special person?" Noako asked. Katara sighed in defeat, there was no way she'd be able to change the subject now.


"I don't know Naoko." Replied Katara.


"I know!" Kyla yelled causing both Katara and Naoko to look at her with confused expressions on their faces. Mika on the other hand had already fallen asleep in Katara's arms.


"When?" said Noako getting excited.


"Yes, when Kyla, and how do you know?" Katara asked suspiciously.


"Hmmm." Kyla said looking at the stars. "Soon. See, look at the stars." Kyla said pointing to the sky which had now become an indigo colour. "That bunch of stars is you Aunt Katara..."


"Right..." Katara said squinting.


"And that bunch over there is your someone special. Can you see?"


"Kyla, when your dad said that the stars tell stories, I don't think he meant..."


"I can see it too Kyla!" Said Naoko pointing to the sky as well. "He is very handsome."  Katara just rolled her eyes and decided to play along with their little game.


"Really girls, well you'll have to tell me what else you can see."


"He's really tall." Said Kyla.


"And nice." Added Noako


"And he's got lots of pets."


"Really?" asked Katara.


"Yeah, and he's got a sword like the princes in Daddy's stories. No no he IS a prince!" giggled Kyla.


"Yeah, and he has a castle and everything."Naoko said before also starting to giggle.


"Oh thank you girls for telling me who my special someone will be. I would have never of known without your help." Katara said laughing. "Did the stars tell you what his name will be?"


"No." The both of them said together while shaking their head. "But when you meet him, then you can have children, and tell them stories just like Daddy." Naoko said grinning.


"I hope Aunt Katara has a boy!" Kyla said out of nowhere.


"What?" Katara said confused. This whole conversation was unlike any she had ever had before.


"I hope so too." Naoko said leaning on her sister and yawing. "I think you would make a good Mommy."


"Yeah. I think you would be the best mommy after our mommy." Kyla yawned. Katara on the other hand smiled lovingly at her two nieces.


"Ok girls I think it's time to sleep now. Into the tent..."Katara said while helping the sleepy girls up, which was a lot harder than planned due to her holding a two year old with one arm. When the four or them were comfortably in their sleeping bags (with the three girls snoring loudly, a trait that they all seemed to have inherited from Sokka) Katara's mind started to drift to this evening's topic of conversation. During her time here with Sokka she had never given thought to idea of starting  a new relationships and eventually having a family, it just seemed like something that would eventually happen. But now that she thought about it, that question of "when?" seemed to pester her. Now that she thought about it, she realised that most of her friends at the clinic were married, Sokka married at 18, heck, even Toph was engaged the last time she heard from her.


"It's too late for thoughts like this." She mumbled to herself letting herself slowly drift to sleep.


                                                             ***


"Hey Team Sokka!" Sokka said whilst giving his daughters a massive bear hug. "How was the lake?"


"Hi daddy! It was great!" Kyla said.


"Yeah, we saw loads of flowers and Aunt Katara taught us how to swim!" Naoko added.


"And I threw my boomerang really far, so far that I thought it wouldn't come back but it did come back daddy! And we saw Aunt Katara's Prince in the sky!" Kyla said pointing to her Aunt who simply smiled and shrugged at her brother.


"That sounds great you guys." Sokka said while shuffling Kyla's hair. "So how was it Katara?"


"Great. Tiring, but great." Katara said placing down the bags she was carrying. "Where's Suki?"


"Here I am." Suki said waving. "I was in the bathroom when you guys came in. So where are my babies then?"


"Mommy!" the three girls chorused before retelling their mother of their adventures. Katara on the other hand looked at Suki suspiciously. She had seen that look before, whether it was from a noblewoman who had become "too friendly" with her stable boy or simplly from a young new bride.


"Dammit Sokka!" shouted Katara while smiling. Nevertheless her sudden outburst caused Sokka, Suki and the girls to look at her with confused looks. "Ermm can I talk to you and Suki in private please."


"Ermm Ok Katara. Girls you play in here." Sokka said whilst he, Suki and Katara made their way to the kitchen to talk. When they both there, Katara looked at the pair and grinned.


"I go off with the kids for one day Sokka and you get Suki pregnant!"


"What?!" Sokka and Suki said surprised at Katara's claim.


"I'm not..."


"She's not pregnant Katara." Sokka said flabbergasted.


"Oh yes she is Sokka. From my years travelling and even my time here working at the clinic I've learned how to tell the difference between a pregnant woman and a non pregnant woman and you Suki, are pregnant. Congratulations." Katara said hugging Suki. "This is going to be great. I'm going to..."


"Wait wait wait Katara, I mean sure Suki and I did the Mommy and Daddy dance a few times but that doesn't mean..."


"Errm. What Sokka is badly trying to say is that isn't it way too early for you to tell. I mean, it has only been a day, and I don't feel any different and I don't look any different." Suki said stretching out her arms.


"Yes you do, you have a sort of glow that you didn't have when we left."


"That's because she's beautiful" Sokka said trying to counteract Katara's madness.


"No it's because she's pregnant Sokka, and as for too early well, in about a week or so, I'll bring you some Pandera Plant flowers, when you place them in hot water and then pee in them if they stay the same colour then you're not pregnant but if the mixture turns a bluey colour, then you're pregnant."


"Wait. That's true?" Suki asked.


"What's true?"


"About the Pandera Plant. I always thought it was just an old wives tale. We even have a saying here on Kyoshi, 'Little girls should never pee near Pandera Plants' now I know why." Suki said pondering the thought.


A week later, Katara came home with Pandera Plant flowers for Suki only for them to tell her what she already knew. Suki was indeed pregnant. That evening, when the girls had gone to bed and Sokka, Suki and Katara sat in the living room thinking about the great new news. The lamps cast a warm glow on both the furniture and Sokka and Suki who were lounging on the sofa and once again, Katara could help but notice how homely Sokka house was.


"Are you going to tell the girls?" Katara asked.


"No, I'll wait till I'm showing a bit more."


"Well I'm always happy to welcome  a new member of Team Sokka to the group." Sokka said patting Suki's flat stomach. "I better write and tell Dad too, he'll be happy to hear about the new arrival."


"About Dad. I was thinking of going back home after the baby arrived. I think it's about the right time." Katara said.


"It's up to you Katara. As long as you feel comfortable I'll support any decision you make." Sokka said smiling at his sister.


"Besides, we were going to move to there permanently when Naoko became 6 and starts school and with Sokka being the chief's son, it seems like the right choice. But now with this new baby coming, we might put it off for a year. So you won't be free from us for long Katara." Suki joked.


"Oh don't worry, I'm going to miss you guys like crazy, especially the girls, but I just feel like something is drawing me home."

                                                                    ***


As the months passed and Katara, Sokka and the girls fussed and fussed over Suki and the upcoming new member of the family, the day eventually came when Suki went into labour and 9 hours later, Sokka welcomed two new additions into his family. Two beautiful baby girls named Fei and Kei.


Due to the surprise of having twins, Katara decided to stay an extra month helping Sokka and Suki with the newborns and the girls but eventually, once a routine had been established and things seemed to be becoming that bit easier, Katara decided that it was time to leave.


"I'll miss you guys." Katara said hugging her nieces. "Take care of your new baby sisters."


"We will." Naoko and Kyla said together. Even little Mika nodded. Then Katara turned to Suki who was holding Kei (or was it Fei, Katara always found it difficult to tell them apart) and hugged her, thanking her for being so nice to her during her stay.


"You take care Katara." Suki said patting Katara on the back. Finally, it was time to say goodbye to Sokka.


"Well Sokka, I guess it's time to go. I'm going to miss you."  Katara said, happy tears welling in her eyes.


"I'm going to miss you too." Replied Sokka who was gently rocking Fei in his arms.


"Come here!" Katara said hugging her brother but being careful not to squish Fei in the process. "Thanks for everything." she whispered in his ear.


"It's what awesome big brothers are for." Sokka whispered back. Katara simply rolled her eyes.


"Right." Katara said excited again. Although it was sad to leave Sokka, Suki and the girls, especially after spending almost a year with them, she was happy to be returning home. "I have five kisses I need to give before I go." Katara said looking to her nieces. She then kissed the twins lightly on their cheeks first followed by Mika, Kyla and Naoko. "Time to go I guess." Katara said heading out the door with her now larger travel bags.


As she looked backed at the waving family, Katara smiled happy that there were no boats to Southern Water Tribe that eventful day.