Note: I own nothing Avatar related.

This is the first chapter to my post sozin's comet avatar world. It takes place mere seconds after the finale ends. It instantly puts a spin on relationship of Katara and Aang.

The Unrequited feeling

Just relax. Everything will be just fine. Katara thought to herself as she stood embracing Aang. Their lips had not yet parted and she did not know how to release Aang or what she would say when they finally broke apart.

"Hey you guys, we're about to…" Suki had just turned the corner and had spotted the two of them. Katara and Aang jumped apart and looked off into opposite directions.

"Oh! I'm sorry. Carry on." Suki said and she ran back in the other direction obviously embarrassed by what she had just witnessed.

When Suki was completely gone Aang turned to face Katara again. Katara however continued to look at the ground.

"So…" Aang began.

"We should go back inside. It seems as if the others are waiting for us." Katara interrupted as she began to walk in the direction that Suki had just appeared from. Aang just stared at her for a few seconds before following her lead.

I can't believe this. Katara thought as she walked. Why do I feel so…

As Katara turned into the sitting area she looked up to see everyone there staring at her. Her face was beginning to turn red but she decided not to let anyone else know what had happened.

"Um…Suki was there something you wanted."

Suki, who had jumped violently when Katara called her name knocked over a cup of tea onto Sokka's painting.

"No!" Sokka screamed as he snatched the canvas off the table and began to shake it violently in an attempt to remove the tea. "Katara help! Please, bend out the tea or my beautiful masterpiece will be ruined forever!"

"Actually," Katara started with a slight smile, thankful for such a welcomed distraction.

"I think it looks a lot better now."

"AANG!" Sokka screamed as he saw Aang come up behind Katara.

"Aang, you have to help me. My future career as a world renowned painter is in your hands. Please save my painting."

As Katara moved out the way, Aang looked ahead of him to see Mai, Suki and Iroh making signs for him not to do it.

"Sorry Sokka, I think it might be beyond repair."

"But Aang you must! You saved the world; you must be able to save my painting!"

As Sokka continued to plead with Aang, Katara made her way to the other side of the room. As she listened to what Sokka said her smile faded and turn into a slight grimace. When she stopped walking she looked up and saw that she was standing next to Zuko and that he was staring at her.

"What?" she said more harshly than she intended.

"Nothing." Zuko said as he redirected his stare.

As the day wore on everyone started to return to their usual selves. Everyone, that was, except Katara. She kept looking off into the distance. Her actions went unnoticed by almost everyone as they all participated and games and eating tons of food. When the end of the night came everyone was tired and had started to drift off to sleep.

"Okay, who want to volunteer for the dishes?" Iroh said to those who had managed to stay awake.

Suki and Mai whom had been challenging each other to a staring contest both dropped their heads to the table and Aang who had been playing with Momo floated outside and landed on Appa.

"I'll wash them." Katara volunteered as she got up from the corner of the door. She headed towards the back where the washing bin was located.

"I'll help." Zuko said getting up to follow her. "I can dry them or something like that."

By the time Zuko walked through the door Katara had already bended the water into the basin. She then started putting the dishes in and washing them one by one. When she finished with one she absentmindedly handed the wet dish off to Zuko.

"Katara, what's the matter?" Zuko asked as he stared at the dish in his hand.

"What do you mean, I'm fine." Katara said as she preceded to hand another plate back to Zuko.

"No, you're not."

"What makes you think that?" Katara said raising her voice.

"Well for one, you're washing dishes with your hands and handing them to me soaking wet. Secondly, you haven't been fully there since you came back off the balcony with Aang."

Katara looked off into the sky.

"You wouldn't understand." she said after several moments.

"Actually, I think I do." Zuko stated as he sat down on the corner of the basin. Katara turned her head to look at him.

"You feel like your suppose to be doing something but you really don't want to do it at all."

Katara looked down into the murky dish water.

"Aang saved the world." She said finally in a melancholy voice.

Zuko looked at her and then turned and look through the door they had just exited.

"Yeah, I know," He started. "Mai saved my life too."

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