Disclaimer: I do not own A:TLA nor any of the characters and/or settings. I merely borrow them for my own amusement. ;)

PLEA OF THE ONE WHO LOVES

Chapter 1

Five years.

Five long years.

It has been that long since she last saw her bestfriend.

Aang.

She wished that last time could have been under happy circumstances but it wasn't.

Far from it, if she remembered clearly…

It was the night before her wedding. Supposedly the happiest day of a woman's life… But not for Katara…not completely anyway. Her best man and bestfriend wouldn't be by her side...

She had gone to bid him goodnight and found him in his room furiously packing up his scant belongings. She remembered her confusion over his actions and mounting panic at the implications.

"Aang, what are you doing? Are you …leaving?"

"I thought I can do it but I can't, Katara! Not even for you! " he answered her without looking up. Katara rushed to his side, pulling out the clothes that he had shoved into his bag.

"Aang, please-"

He held her wrist to stop her from taking more things out of his cloth sack. "I told you…" he whispered, tears forming in his eyes. The helplessness and sorrow in his voice brought tears in the girl's eyes as well. She never wanted to hurt him. "I'll do almost anything and everything for you…But I can never just sit down and watch you marry another man."

He moved away again to get a handful of scrolls from the desk and began stuffing them into a smaller satchel. Katara watched helplessly as the airbender continued packing. She needed to make him stay. She wanted him to be there on the most important day of her life. She needed to think of a way to make him change his mind-

"I'm scared, you know," she blurted out in a panic while wringing her hands. "I don't know if I'm ready for this. I'm not so sure about Zuko. Spirits, I-I'm not even sure if I'm doing the right thing!"

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" he bit out, still refusing to look at her. "If you're so confused, why don't you step back a minute and examine your decisions before you dive headfirst into a lifelong commitment!"

"That's why you're here! You're supposed to reassure me about those decisions!" she burst out. "You're my bestfriend, Aang. I can't do this without you."

"If you're depending on me for reassurance, you won't find it," he said softly, his shoulders slumped, looking rather defeated. "You know how I feel about you… Don't do this, Katara…"

"No! YOU don't do this! I need you Aang!" she begged.

For the first time since she entered his bedroom, he lifted his head and looked her in the eyes. Katara's heart broke at the overflowing hurt she saw in their depths. The Avatar had never really been able to hide anything from his bestfriend. She hated herself for causing this much agony to the younger boy.

Being Aang though, he still managed a watery smile. He walked towards her to place his palm gently against her cheek. "Trust me, Katara. It will be better for everyone if I wasn't around…."

Seeing the resolve in his stormy eyes, Katara can do nothing but let the tears fall. "So…is this goodbye?"

"It'll have to be…." he said softly, moving closer to her. "Zuko is a good man, Katara. I wish I could tell you otherwise and convince you to choose me instead, but I've come to know him. If he makes you happy, I'm not gonna stand in the way." He leaned down to kiss her cheek lightly and whispered, "I'll always love you."

"I-I do love you too, Aang," she whispered. "You know that."

"I wish it was enough, Katara…"

Then he picked up his bags and turned away from her for the last time.

Looking back now, she wished she should have listened to that tiny voice at the back of her head, screaming for her to call off the wedding. There were several things that seemed wrong about the whole situation.

But she couldn't do that to Zuko.

He loved her. That much she's sure of. She couldn't afford to break more hearts than she already have.

Only now did she realize she was doing more damage to everyone involved by staying in a marriage that has long since run its course.

If only she listened to that voice.

If only she accepted sooner that what she felt for her bestfriend was real.

If only she realized that the passion she shared with Zuko was short-lived and fickle.

If only she understood that desire does not always translate to love.

If only there was anything to be done to reverse this mistake.

If only she never made it at all.

If only…

As she stared out to the sea onboard the royal ship headed for Ba Sing Se, she contemplates on everything that had happened since then. How things have changed since the last time she found herself in the Earth Kingdom stronghold. Back then, they were just children, drinking in the newfound peace they had helped restore…high on the hope clinging in the air around them. With so many possibilities in store… She smiled softly while remembering their many adventures…

She now returns to Ba Sing Se as the Firelady. Katara makes a face at the title. She had never aspired for such a lofty position. She only wanted love. And a family. She thought she found it in Zuko…but now-but now, she wasn't so sure anymore…

They had been in love, she was sure of it. Being with the firebender was…exciting. Like venturing for something forbidden and yet somehow managing to get away with it. Despite her nagging guilt for breaking a certain airbender's heart in the process, the first few months of their union had been blissful. Zuko was an attentive, kind and caring husband. More than she could ask for, really.

Then, work started to pour in. Just because they ended a devastating war doesn't mean all the work was done.

Zuko was as passionate a leader as he is as a lover. That had been one of his most admirable traits. She stood by him, of course, she had not been too naïve to think she will have her husband's sole attention at all times.

But she didn't count on being pushed into a corner.

Looking back, this had been one of the reasons she refused Aang's suit in the first place. She didn't want to live in the shadow of her husband. She knew the Avatar's duties will push her to the sidelines…

A second priority to the tasks of saving the world and maintaining balance.

….And yet she finds herself in the very same position she had tried so hard to avoid. The universe must have a sick sense of humor. She laughed bitterly to herself, finally understanding her brother's complaint about the universe proving him wrong.

No matter, she said to herself. She knows a lot better now. Nothing worth keeping is ever all that easy to acquire. It may have taken her years to realize it, but she was ready to fight for her love for Aang. And more importantly, she was ready to face the consequences.