Prompt: It’s Aang’s seventy second birthday and Katara wanted to celebrate.Â
“–Really, you don’t have to do this.” Aang insisted nervously as she tugged on his hand. She huffed with a slight scowl on her brow, “Aang it’s your birthday, you don't honestly think I would act like it’s not!” One of Katara’s favorite days of the year was Aang’s birthday. Though it took her awhile to get the date out of him, she always went out of her way to plan a special day for him. All of their friends and family would be there, smiling and happy to be with the Avatar on his special day. He never wanted to celebrate but the waterbender would hear nothing of it. This was an important day for everyone and Aang needed to be appreciated for his hard work, even if he didn’t want to be. “It’s nothing too big I swear.” she promised with a sly grin Aang chuckled and shook his head, “Somehow I found that really hard to believe Katara.”
Today was Aang’s birthday. He would have been seventy two. There wouldn’t be any celebrations, no laughter from close family and friends. Katara sat at their dinning room table alone with her thoughts and memories. There was a time in her life when she couldn’t fathom the thought of her husband not being by her side. It was too painful to iamgine. She’d experience once while they were still so young and never wanted to again. Though she knew this desire was beyond her control of things. Especially given the fact Aang was the Avatar. When he was making the preparations for the Avatar that would follow him, she was still in the denial that there would be a day when she wouldn’t wake up to those soft gray eyes and wide smile. Her aging fingers rested on the  necklace he made. So many years had past and it felt as if she just found him in the iceberg the previous day. The passage of time didn’t make the pain go away, it was a constant reminder that he would never walk through their front door anymore.Â
“You never wanted to make a big deal out of your birthday. I suppose that was the simple monk within you.” she laughed to herself as she looked out the window of the home the couple previously shared, “But today I wanted to do something special, so try not to be too upset with me. Nothing too big as usual.” Her cerulean eyes returned to the cake that was placed at the center of the table. It was simple, just cream frosting with Aang’s favorite custard filling. “I wish the kids were here, but Kya is busy working in the Northern Tribe, Bumi is off in the Fire Nation with Zuko. And Tenzin.” A wide smile came to her lips, “Is handling Korra the best way he can. From what I’ve been told she’s quite the hand full.” She managed to place seventy two candles on the small cake which came as a surprised. Katara slightly stood from the table and with matches in her hand began to slowly light each candle. She wasn’t as young as she used to be, so the task too her longer than what she would have liked. But for Aang it was a labor of love that she didn’t mind. Just as when he was alive and even after his death she would do anything for him.Â
Finally completing her task she pulled the desert closer to herself as she sat down. “I know Sokka is a much better singer than I am, but just bare with me.” The waterbender inhaled slowly as her lips parted, “Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday Aang, Happy Birthday to you–” How she could have wished for him to see this day. But fate was never fair and the Avatar was no exception to that rule. She blew out each of his seventy two candles out slowly before the room was once again engulfed in darkness. Katara carefully cut away a piece of cake for herself. She wasn’t really a fan of the sweet custard Aang seemed to enjoy so much, but she would always make an exception for this occasion Though she knew he was no longer alive, some how on this day she could feel his presence. Even if it was faint. All the laughter, smiles the tears and frustrations of their lives seemed to come back to her all at once. Finding Aang in the iceberg, her bring him back from Azula’s attack, their first kiss, Zuko's coronation their wedding, the struggle of trying to have children, even giving up on that dream, Kya’s birth, the many adventures with their children and his illness. So many situations and scenarios that transcended one life time and yet, she spent it all with the man she loved.Â
She didn’t like to cry, but some how it help relieve the sadness that from time to time seemed to engulf her being. “I know, I know, you don’t like to see me cry, but Aang it’s so hard.” she managed to wipe her tears away with her sleeve, “But I love you more each and everyday.” She sighed softly pushing her plate away, “And I know I’ll see you again.” Just knowing that much helped ease the pain that Katara felt. Their separation would only be temporary and she knew that Aang would be waiting for her on the other side. A small smile graced her aged features knowing that fact. She loved him most of her life and that love would help her get through the last of her own days. The thought of dying didn’t cause Katara to be wary like most people. She knew their was an spiritual life after the physical one and Aang would be there. She imagine his gray eyes still shining with excitement and his mischievous grin. Finally finishing her piece of cake, she sat her fork down as her focus returned to the sun disappearing into the night time sky, “Happy Birthday Aang. I love you.”
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