DISCLAIMER: I do not own Avatar.

(A/N): Finally writing after days of merciless writer's block. At long last, Steampunk writer [Me] has finally written something that was not a one-shot inspired by a song… HOWEVER, later chapters might be inspired by songs. But for now it's a story (FINALLY!) Be proud, haha. R&R if you wish to. On with the story!

In Honor of Lyralocke

Trying and Failing

Aang was walking away briskly. Well, he was hiding, actually. He wasn't just hiding from everyone. He was hiding something from everyone. He had a little secret. No, it wasn't about saving the world, or a matter of life and death, or anything "avatar-ish". It was much, much littler and less important. However, whatever that secret was, had to remain a secret, no matter how irrational the reason was. So, he kept walking away from the freezing tundra of the South Pole, away from civilization, attempting to keep the little secret to himself just until the day ends. But what was the secret that Aang wanted to keep to himself so badly? It was an event. It was Aang's birthday. The reasons for why he wanted to keep his 113th birthday to himself were endless, but the ones that made sense were very few. He wanted to keep it a secret because he didn't want the world to know that it was the Avatar's birthday; he wanted the world to know it was Aang's birthday, but the world only recognized the Avatar, not Aang. He wanted to keep it a secret because he didn't want people to make a big deal out of it. If the world knew, they would throw a huge birthday party, with generals, government officials, and flirtatious princesses and daughters of nobleman. No, he didn't need that. He wanted to begin a new chapter in his life as Aang, not the Avatar. He wanted to settle down for once, and be with the certain people he loved the most. Of course, keeping the secret and hiding away was going great, and was going unnoticed as he planned, until he realized he wasn't alone. He saw a blue, beautiful figure approaching him surreptitiously.

"Happy Birthday, Aang! You're finally thirteen!" Katara exclaimed as she tackled Aang in a loving, romantic, but rough hug that even the Avatar could not break away from. Aang was both pleasantly surprised and greatly disappointed, for the secret he longed to keep was no longer a secret. All the stress and hard work to keep it a secret… For nothing. He let out an exasperated sigh.

"W-what? B-but… you? How? How'd you?" Aang stammered. He completely lost for words. He even failed to complete his sentence. He was deeply and utterly confused in a myriad of ways. How did she find him? He left hours before sunrise, before anyone was even awake. She couldn't have followed him all this way. He was gone for hours, unnoticed. No one saw him, did they? He even left Appa behind to tell them he wasn't going far, so they wouldn't look for him. And how in the four nations did she know that today was his birthday? He told absolutely nobody, even when they were still traveling. He. Told. No. One.

"Well, for the 'how did you find me?' question, I followed your foot prints in the ice. It wasn't hard." Katara smiled smugly as her finger pointed to the trail that Aang had unknowingly left. Aang slapped his palm on his forehead out of that realization. That caused Katara's smile to grow even wider.

"As for the 'how did you know?' question, I asked Gran-gran when Avatar Roku's passing was, since you were born at the same time. She said it was on the Autumn Equinox, which is today. You didn't think I would let you get away with this, did you, Aang?" Katara asked. Her smug smile was still clearly visible on her lips. Aang slapped his palm on his head the second time, this time hitting it hard enough to create red mark on his arrow. Katara came closer to Aang, giving him a second hug that was much gentler than the first one.

"Why would you hide something like that from me, Aang?" Katara asked. Her curiosity was clearly audible in her voice.

"I don't know. I just didn't want the world to know that it was the Avatar's birthday. I wanted them to know that it was my birthday. And besides, you wouldn't want me at a huge party full of attractive, ever-so-flirtatious, princesses and daughters of chiefs and nobleman, would you?" Aang teased. Katara nudged his shoulder in a playful manner.

"My heart only has eyes for you, Katara. Believe me when I say this, they've got nothing on you." Aang smiled charmingly. Aang, feeling audacious, then hugged Katara from behind her waist and rested his head on her shoulders. He placed a kiss on her cheek. Katara blushed as she held his arms. This was amazing. Almost perfect actually, but Aang still had to grow a few more inches.

"So, Avatar Aang, you never told me what you wanted for your special day." Katara said with a hint of playfulness audible in her voice. She was still in Aang's arms.

"You, Katara. Just you. No one and nothing else." Aang said. That was no lie at all. Aang loved Katara with his heart and soul and everything else he had. Despite being only 13, Aang already knew what love was. This was definitely it. He was slightly shocked at the fact that he had turned his charm level up really, really high since the kiss at the invasion.

"I'm serious, Aang. What do want for your birthday?" Katara asked sternly, but Aang still caught a little playfulness in her tone.

"I gave you a serious answer, Katara. I met you, I needed you, you brought me back, the war ended, and you kissed me, now I'm all yours. It's not that hard, once you think about it." Aang smirked. That was no lie. Katara broke away from Aang's hug and kissed Aang. Her arms snaked around his neck and a few moments later Aang's arms were around her waist, just like in Ba Sing Se. The kiss didn't last very long, but it was intoxicating, just like all the other kisses.

"We should head back; it's getting really dark and cold." Aang suggested.

"It's gonna be a long walk back home, thanks to you. We should stay here for the night, it's not that cold anyway." Katara replied. She was right. It was too dark to get anywhere. The best option was to stay here and wait until the next day. Who knows? They could get lost, or worse. Besides, the stars were almost as beautiful as the girl standing next to him. Aang sat down on the ice and Katara sat next to him closely soon after

"So um, Katara..."Aang began shyly. Where was his audacity now? He only hoped that his was gonna end well.

"Yeah, Aang?" She answered.

"Would you... umm... stargaze with me? Monk Gyatso and I used to stargaze at the top of the Air Temples all the time when I was younger, and well, I sort of miss the feeling... And since the sky is, well, almost as beautiful as... umm... you. I was wondering if you.. would...?" Aang said timidly.

"I'd love to Aang,"Katara said sincerely. Katara tried to get closer to Aang for both warmth, and romance. Aang's hand searched for hers in the darkness. When he found it, they didn't need the light to tell each other that they were both blushing. They also didn't need the light to tell them that this was a memory yet to be forgotten.

Aang pointed to a certain constellation in the sky. Katara looked in that direction.

"Look at that constellation, Katara! I haven't seen that one in a long time," Aang whispered. The constellation looked like points of what looked like a bear. Katara smiled.

"There's a story behind that constellation, Monk Gyatso used to tell me all the time. That one's called the Greater Bear. Gyatso said that before the Four Nations were formed and before benders existed, gods and goddesses walked the Earth. A god named Zeus fell in love with Callisto, and they had a son, even if Zeus was already married. To save Callisto from Zeus's wife, Hera, he turned her into a bear to disguise her identity and sent her to the stars..." Aang explained. Katara was awed at the story, she just couldn't figure out just how much knowledgeable Aang really was.

After a few more constellation stories, Katara and Aang's eyelids grew heavier and heavier. The stories were great, but they were getting sleepy. However Katara had something to ask Aang before they went to sleep.

"So, um, Aang. Why were all the stories you told about love?"Katara yawned to mask her actual curiosity and desperation. She loved Aang, she was only 14 at the moment, but she knew that she loved him. The airbender laying down next to her... She needed to know if he loved her.

"I don't know, Katara. I guess it depends on who I'm with..."Aang replied. Katara silently gasped at reply. Could it be? she thought. Maybe Aang felt the same way...

Later, when Katara fell asleep beside him, he thought. I love her. I love her so much... Could she love me back? Someday, I swear I'm gonna be her husband. Aang thought. He put his arm around Katara gently, to keep her warm, and just for the sake of it. They fell asleep in each other's arms. This was the best 13th birthday ever.

Wow, this chapter sucks really badly. But wait! Don't leave me yet! Trust me, it gets better! R&R? No? Okay... :(