Author's Note: Hello, much appreciated reader! This is my first fanfiction, and I'm a little nervous, so please go easy on me. I still want constructive criticism, just be nice and civil. Don't just say, " THIS IS THE WORST STORY I'VE EVER READ IN MY LIFE!" Just tell me what's wrong and how I can fix it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender

Alright, on with the story!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Katara sighed as she watched the waves crash against the shore. Had she really just driven her precious Aang away? He was the one who lifted her out of sadness every time she was overwhelmed by the war. He kept tears from coming to her eyes so many times. He was her best friend. Maybe even more than a friend, Katara tried to push the thought away, but she just couldn't. She couldn't deny that she sometimes thought of Aang as more than a friend.

Aang had been avoiding Katara ever since they saw that stupid play put out by the Ember Island Players. Every time she approached him, he would just glare at her and leave. She tried to talk to him when they were practicing waterbending, but he would just come, practice, learn, and leave. He never said anything.

"Really, Katara, you were confused? No, you weren't! Why did you have to go and ruin your relationship all because-"

"Because what?"

Katara jumped at the sound of the stern voice that had cut her off. Turning around, she saw Aang giving her a very hurt and angry look.

"Where did you come from? You scared me, Aang!" The waterbender gasped.

"I've been coming for out nighttime walks a lot lately. Now answer my question. Why did you tell me you were confused?"

"I, um, well I..."

"Katara?"

Katara sighed. She really didn't want to admit her true feelings to Aang.

"Katara, please tell me. Tell me!"

" I WAS SCARED, AND I STILL AM!" Katara finally burst. Sighing, she continued, "I'm scared that one of us might not make it in the end. I don't want either one of us to have to go through the pain of losing someone we love, so I pushed you away that night I told you I was confused. I am scared."

"Katara, why didn't you tell me?" Aang choked out. He wasn't quite sure how to handle this new information. One moment he was mad at Katara for being confused, the next, he's the confused one.

"I was afraid telling you might make you think I didn't believe in you. I was afraid I might scare you. I do believe in you, I'm just-"

"Scared?" Aang finished for her.

Katara laughed lightly. "That would be right."

Aang took a breath and looked Katara straight in the eye. Carefully choosing his words, he said, "Katara, I know things are scary right now, and I know you're afraid of losing those close to you. I am too, but here's the thing. Don't you think that after all our strife, after all our hardships, need a little happiness? We need someone to love us, and we need someone to love. Mainly, we need a reminder of what we're fighting for."

Katara smiled. Aang always did know what to say. Had he really just relieved her of the stress that had welled up inside her ever since she started to fall for him?

"Okay, I see your point, and you're right. We do need a reminder of what we're fighting for. I just have one condition."

"And what would that be?"

"We wait to tell Sokka. He might not make it through the war if we told him now."

Laughing, the two walked hand and hand back to where they were staying.