This is multi-chaptered fan fiction, it's an AU if Katara and Aang didn't settle their differences after play. What if, Aang closed up and avoided Katara on a romantic level while going in a different path following Katara's rejection? Can Katara and Aang forgive each other or will Aang move on?

Please review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. It is owned by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.

Team Avatar are seen walking out of the theatre as they go back to the Summer home, all of them have depressed and unhappy looks on their face, especially Aang and Katara.

"That… wasn't a good play." Zuko said as team Avatar walk together in a single file back to the royal summer home.

"I'll say."

"No kidding."

"Horrible."

"You said it."

Sokka had his arm around his girlfriend, Suki "But the effects were decent."

A few moments passed of silence between the group, Aang groaned at himself "Ugh, after I get back to the place I am so going to sleep!" Toph said, and Aang nodded "I can agree with that, this depressing play has knocked the energy to stay awake right out of me." Aang said.

Halfway through the walk, Sokka had other plans than rejoining the rest back to the summer home "Hey, guys… Suki and I are going to stroll along the beach in the night, for a whole. We'll see you guys later." Sokka said.

Zuko shrugged his shoulders but Toph couldn't help but give a snide comment "Heh, just do your thing Snoozles. Time for me to call it day!" Sokka blushed.

"What is that supposed to mean, Toph?"

Toph rubbed her nose "Nothing, just have a nice romantic stroll with fan girl on the beach. I'm going to bed." Toph said, and Sokka shrugged his shoulders and left with Suki.

They arrived at the summer home; Katara went in the back to practice Waterbending. While Aang, Zuko and Toph went inside. Toph like she said ,went to bed. "Aang, I'm going to make some tea… would care to join me? You seem to have some stuff on your mind?" Aang nodded.

Zuko and Aang went to the kitchen – Aang sat down on the table, Zuko prepared the tea. "You've been off since we got back from the play, what's bothering you?" Zuko said, glancing at Aang while Firebending the stove to boil the tea.

Zuko could see that the lively gray colors was dim and instead was replaced with a tinge of emotionless steel gray. Aang's eye brows stood in a straight line, and he turned his head slightly away "I'm tired I guess, it's been a long day." Aang said in a very monotone voice that was just not like Aang.

Zuko brushed some of his hair that was covering his face "I may not be Toph, but I can tell that you're lying to me. I'll ask you again... what has been bothering you, Aang?"

Aang tapped his finger on the table and sighed "Something happened between Katara and me during the intermission of the play." Just the mere mention of Katara and the thought of the memory… made Aang feel that his own heart would beat out his chest. "And?" Zuko said as he listened intently.

Zuko could see that Aang began to get much paler and began to sweat. The young Airbender clenched his bottom lip with his teeth as beads of sweat trickled down his face "Well, we kind of talked about our… feelings for each other. Katara told me she didn't know and that she was confused about us. I didn't know what she meant by that, so I kissed her. And then… she ran away from me… " Zuko could tell that Aang looked like he was about to cry.

"How? But Why? I always thought you two were really close on a romantic level or something?" Zuko said, he couldn't believe what he was hearing… especially after Katara threatened Zuko if she got one inclination that Zuko himself were to hurt Aang – just when Zuko just joined the group.

Aang sighed "When Katara and I kissed during the invasion, I thought so too. I just… don't know what's real anymore."

"What do mean by real?" Zuko said.

"Avatar Roku once told me – 'If love is real… it finds a way.' I could die in a few days and it still hasn't changed since the beginning. A cursed cave, me dying in the Catacombs of Ba Sing Se and spending almost a year traveling together… it's all been an illusion to me and I've been trying to believe what I just wanted to all along. But I guess, it doesn't matter anymore. All it proves is that I've overestimated our relationship and more importantly… myself. It's that clear to me now." Aang said.

"Hey, wait! You're the Avatar! I'm certain Katara will come around, she just dealing with a lot… deep down you've got to hold some place in her heart." Zuko said.

"No, I don't. I mean, why would a pretty girl like Katara want to be with a goofy kid like me? Spirits, I don't think it matters that much anymore… especially with Sozin's Comet coming." Aang said.

Sokka came back from his beach stroll with Suki – Sokka noticed that Katara was sitting by the front of the summer home. Sokka could see Katara's tear stained cheeks.

"Suki, I need to talk to my sister." Sokka said, and then walked up to her. "What's the matter, sis?"

"N-nothing, just that the play was a little upsetting." Katara said "I broke my best friend's heart, I'm a horrible person." Katara thought to herself. Sokka went to hug his broken sister, which she gladly accepted. Katara has always been open to hugs.

Katara wiped away her tears "Thanks Sokka, I needed that." Sokka put his hand on Katara's shoulder "Anytime little sister. Now let's all go inside."

Everyone went to bed, Aang tried to scoot his way to bed upon hearing that Katara was inside and unfortunately fate had it that he bumped into Katara in the corner of a hallway. Aang and Katara were both were presented with an awkward silence. They could feel the nervousness from each other, especially of what happened at the balcony that very night in the theatre. Katara eventually broke the silence "So… um." Was all Katara could muster and she began playing with her hair and began staring at the ceiling. The young girl saw that Aang still said nothing and merely rubbed his shaven head. Katara felt as if her heart was about to explode inside her body, the nerve racking silence didn't exactly help. Katara tried several times speaking, but no words came out of her mouth as her own voice betrayed her, Katara waved her hands awkwardly. Aang saw how odd Katara was behaving and he blinked slowly through his tired and heavy eyes.

Aang could feel what was coming; it was as if someone had the writing on the walls – like it was from the spirits themselves. Aang knew that only one course of action could be used at this very moment. Aang being the Airbender he was, decided that it was best to avoid let alone the awkwardness of the current moment "I'm kind of tired, I should go to bed." Aang said, and Katara had a sad and surprised look on her face, but knew it was to be expected… this is how Aang usually is when he is unhappy, he closed up and avoids confrontations.

"Um…" was all Katara could say to him, as she tried anything to bring him back to her – she saw it was not working this time. Aang made his decision and it was final. "Okay." Katara softly said, she merely slumped her shoulders in defeat and look at her feet in sadness. Aang eventually went into his room and slowly closed the door.

Aang walked into his room, and tossed his hat that he wore during the play on a circular table. Aang kicked off his shoes and rolled onto the bed faced towards the wall and tapped his finger on the bed post as he attempted to go to sleep. Meanwhile - Katara walked into her room, kicked off her sandals to the side, undid her Fire Nation hair style while looking into the mirror. She put her finger on her lips that still burned from the kiss of that very night. It didn't burn for how she reacted to Aang, it burned for betrayal. Betrayal not because Aang stole a kiss when Katara herself clearly said she was confused and she had her eyes closed… betrayal because she toyed with Aang's feelings since the invasion and she rejected him. Katara walked towards her bed and laid down on the bed, attempting to sleep. Katara tossed and turned, still imagining Aang's face of horror that night when she rejected him on that very balcony. The very imagine made Katara cringe and brought hot tears to her eyes, it made her feel like a monster.

After 40 straight minutes of attempting to sleep with tear stained cheeks, Katara thought only one course of action could make things right… she had to find a way to reach a middle ground in their relationship between Aang and herself. The last thing the group needed was a depressed Avatar before going into battle with the Firelord, Katara and the rest needed him to have high morale before facing the mighty Firelord Ozai.

Aang tapped his finger on his bed sheets in restlessness, and then he heard a knock on the door. Aang could feel it was Katara , but didn't bother to answer on the door "Come in!" Aang exclaimed.

The door opened slowly and he heard footsteps come into the room "Aang?" Katara said, he could see the tear stains on her cheeks and the redness of her eyes.

"I-I want to talk to you, Aang. Please." Katara said. Aang gestured in an emotionlessly and carelessly way to come by him so he could hear of what she had to say. Katara quickly jettisoned at Aang's bed and sat next to where his feet were.

"I just want to say, what happened between us at the intermission…" Katara said, but she was cut off by Aang.

"I shouldn't have kissed you, tonight. It's my fault." Aang said, the words shook her to the core.

"N-No! I'm just as much as fault as you are, I should have said something to you. I understand the stress you're going through Aang, so you're going to be more forward about things you usually aren't. I know tonight wasn't who are really are… you always said Airbenders avoid conflict – so that's who you really are. The stress of Sozin's Comet is making us things we really aren't, your understandably tense. But I didn't make it easy; I was being very ambiguous with our conversation tonight."

"Katara, you don't have to tell me a second time. You told me you didn't know about 'us' and that's all I really need to know. You don't really like me the same way I do for you, guys like Jet and Haru are guys you have eyes for. I know I'm not those types of guys, but we can work things out as friends. I know this because I'm the Avatar and Aang the last Airbender." Aang said, almost in a way that seemed to show he had a chip on his shoulder, slightly.

Katara had the saddest expression on her face Aang's declaration, she was completely tongue tied "Aang… that's n-not t-true! I do care about you; it's just right now... I'm confused! I mean…. let me start over! I'm, uh…" Aang was not prepared to let her speak, it was just excuses.

"Katara, please… leave. This isn't easy, but I want to salvage what we have of our friendship. We can still save it; you and I both really want that. I don't want to pressure you into something you do not want, but I need time alone right now for myself. Please, Katara. Leave." Aang said.

Katara couldn't believe what she was hearing; it was like when Aang came back from being on unconscious… the same broken honor and pushing her away. Katara tried to make him understand what she was really feeling deep down, the conflict of her confusion… not of her feelings, but the state of the war and his own fate. Katara tried to make him understand, but words could not be formed to express her own self. What hurt the most, Aang seemed to doubt their own friendship and it crippled her emotionally.

Katara ran out of his room crying hysterically.

To be continued...