No time to Die

20

Days turn into weeks
Weeks turn into months
And months turn into years.

And every time Aang finds his family he never can bring himself to face them, he lets his hair grow longer, he found himself growing facial hair and shaved it off every so often. Remembering what Zuko and Sokka taught him long ago.

He stayed in the trees so Toph didn't notice him when he accidentally crossed paths with them. He sees how Zuko stared at Katara longingly when they were with the group and how Katara snuck glances and smiles. He saw his friends every couple months and saw the love between his two best friends grow over the months.

The sadness and jealousy faded every time he saw their hidden relationship, his heart missed them as family more than missing any kind of romance he felt for Katara. He would watch them far away, unable to hear a conversation but enough to hear their laughter around the fire. He only wanted them to be safe but he knew how dangerous it could become again if he joined them.

It didn't mean he didn't follow avatar duties, he lived as if he was only a monk though, traveling around the world, he created his own glider again after a year of being on his feet, hiding it as a walking staff otherwise.

But he found Suki and Sokka parting ways when Sokka was at the shore with the southern water tribe, with no Toph, no zuko and no Katara. He couldn't understand why they split.

But months went by again and Aang happened to hear familiar voices once again.

Seeing Katara and Zuko openly be together in a village in the earth kingdom. Hiding in plain sight.

While Katara had a betrothal necklace where her mother's necklace once was.

Aang followed the two to see they rebuilt a small house that must've been abandoned at a time with how hidden it was from the village. It had a young garden that looked fresh but nothing was growing yet, a few sprouts so it wasn't to long ago they started to make it feel like a home.

He watched Zuko open the door for his betrothed as they went into their new home they made. Aang realized they didn't fight in the war now, they made their peace to live their own lives. He never would've guessed they both would agree to such thing as their future. Aang smiled wishing them peace in this nightmare.

He truly hoped Zuko could live under a roof with someone he loves and loves him knowing his childhood wasn't full of such things. And Katara can feel safe and free to rely on her fiance for anything she needed.

Aang bowed to them to say goodbye without them knowing and left the home.

More months went by, Aang didn't really know how much time had passed when he went to go check on Zuko and Katara when he was in the area. Each time the house looked more lived in on the outside and the garden grew more. Zukos hair touched his shoulders and he started to pull it in a half top knot to get it out of his face.

Aang jumped to the top branch of his usual tree when he came back to check on his friends as he saw Zuko gardening with his hair back, putting their fresh vegetables in a basket.

"Honey have you seen my brush?" Katara called from inside their home.

"It's on the nightstand love," zuko called back as he sat on his knees.

"Ugh yea I just found it but it fell behind the nightstand, can you get it please?" Katara walked out to the garden. With a pregnant belly.

"Why don't you sit?" Zuko offered as he went inside to get her stuff.