Hello!

I've never written fiction before (or fanfiction).

In my attempt to satiate my desire for more A:TLA content, I stumbled across a link to RainAndRoses's fantastic story, The Avatar's Love. If you are here, you have probably already read it. If you haven't, well…what are you waiting for? It's fantastic!

However, the story was not completed. I liked it far too much to let that stand, so…I'm going to try to finish it. Like I said earlier, this is my first crack at something like this so PLEASE leave some reviews. I'll hold off on the next chapter until some feedback comes in.

And just to repeat what everyone always says: I don't own Avatar (wish I did though), and I didn't write The Avatar's Love. All credit to their respective creators and author(s).


Aang's eyes shot open.

Dark.

Blood pounded immediately to his extremities as he came back to life –

Dark. Nighttime.

Alone.

I must have fallen asleep.

I need to find Katara.

Thoughts twisted his head with pain –

I need to find Katara.

His eyes flitted across the ceiling and down the jagged walls, almost defensively, assessing the situation and searching for any immediate danger.

Jagged walls…

His thoughts tumbled to a stop. Something wasn't right.

Wasn't…wasn't I in an alley?

He paused, drawing in a deep breath and returning to his feet, trying to establish something of an inner peace.

He let his eyes scan his surroundings more thoroughly this time. The jagged walls arched down on both sides before reaching a relatively smooth rock floor. The walls continued to his left, the light growing brighter the farther down he looked.

Drawing in another breath, the weight of the air hit him deep in his chest, snapping his mind into focus.

I'm underground. In a cave –

"Love is brightest in the dark"

Katara's voice echoed from his right, interrupting his thoughts and sending a pang of longing through his heart before he turned to face her.

There, standing some distance away from him, was Katara. She was facing the wall in front of her, her right arm extended, gripping a torch that illuminated the drawings carved into the stone long ago.

The gentle fire etched around Katara's figure, giving her a radiance that made his heart skip a beat.

The Cave of Two Lovers.

His mind stumbled to the conclusion, still trying to put the pieces together. Why was he here? Why was Katara here? How did he get here? Aang, reflexively, brought his hand up and drew his fingers across his brow and eyes, trying to coax his mind to form some semblance of a reason for his presence in...this place. This…memory –

I must be dreaming.

His fingers froze. The realization was sudden, triggering a torrent of thoughts and emotions which screamed in his head, demanding to be addressed immediately –

Guilt. Longing. Pain. Cold. Confusion.

Katara.

He could feel his fingers digging deeper into his brow.

I need to find Katara.

The thought reverberated through his mind again. A surge of anger boiled up from his gut – his face scrunched up at the power of the emotion, before shaping into a face of…confusion?

He racked his brain, bringing his second hand up to meet the other, to cover his face and focus. He was angry at himself, that much he knew, but why?

Then he remembered.

He was in an alley.

Sleeping, he thought to himself.

He had ran away from Azula.

He had ran away from his duty as the Avatar.

He had ran away from Katara and Tenzin and Zuko and Sokka and Toph an…

He had run away. Again.

The guilt was overwhelming. Katara and Tenzin were out looking for him –

She must be losing it.

Another wave of guilt crashed over him at the realization that Katara, who had become so anxious at his mere trip to the Chief's Palace, was out searching for him. And he was missing. Again.

I need to find Katara.

The sickening anguish surged up through him, gripping him tightly and mixing with the guilt –

It wasn't right.

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

I was hurting.

All his thoughts – everything that had convinced him he needed to get up and be found and talk to Katara before he dozed off – came back him. It was too much.

He collapsed to his knees, falling forward, removing his hands from his face to support himself, if only to prevent his head from impacting the cold rock floor. Still facing the dream Katara, trying frantically to just breathe.

5 years. I lost 5 years.

The cave was near silent, disturbed only by the sounds of the flames slowly consuming the torch and Aang, breathing heavily, wrapped in the chaos of his emotions.

At long last, he made out the sound of Katara making her way over to him. Approaching with a certain softness in her step, she knelt down on one knee and offered her free hand out in front of him.

He slowly raised his head, first seeing her hand, then her face, before finally resting his gaze on her familiar blue eyes.

"Let me help you" she said softly, her face forming a gentle, genuine smile.

He, for a moment, could only stare. She was her real age –

23?

The number bounced in his head for a moment before settling in as the reality. The flickering torchlight cast her shadow – her features defined and glowing.

He felt his skin turn a deep shade of red as he began reaching his hand up, reaching for her, to have Katara back in his life again, to be whole again. The thought was beautiful and real and she wanted to help and she was right in front of hi-

His hand froze in mid-air.

It wasn't real. This is a dream. You NEED to figure this out on your own. You can't let her back in again.

It will only hurt more.

Before he could retract his hand, Katara reached hers out, bringing it into her grasp.

He felt the warmth of her hand pulse down the length of his arm, reaching his heart and causing him to shudder mildly with…with relief.

It's only temporary.

The pain, the longing came back, twisting at his heart. Her warmth was too real, but maybe –

Maybe…Maybe it is temporary.

But I think I need this.

Katara, without breaking her soft gaze, set the torch down and began to slowly raise him off the ground. Part of his heart felt as though it were being separated further, screaming at him to not relinquish control, to become dependent again. He trembled – both mentally and physically – at the thought. But, he held her gaze as another emotion surfaced in his head –

Gratitude.

As they both straightened out, Katara's hand holding his, a faint, but sincere smile broke out across his face.

"Thank you." Aang whispered, the words forcing themselves out past the ever-growing lump in his throat. Katara reached down with her other hand, clasping his and bringing them both together at chest level. Aang felt his tormenting emotions – anguish, confusion, love – all boiling over, manifesting themselves as streams of tears down his cheeks. Katara, letting go of his hands, gathered him into her embrace, letting him lean his head into her shoulder.

"I'm – I'm so lost." Aang choked out, the words echoing down the expanse of the cave and within his own mind.

"I know." Katara stated.

For a long while, Aang and Katara just stood there: Aang weeping into Katara's shoulder, Katara holding Aang in her embrace. All the while, the torch at their feet cast their large, flickering shadows across the ceiling and wall of the cave behind them.


Aang was slow to remove himself from Katara, his emotions still weighing heavily on his stature. As he peeled himself off, he wiped away the remains of water from his eyes, regaining his composure. He noticed now, taking in the setting with the context of the memory, the telltale glow from the ceiling that illuminated this familiar cave.

"This is where…we first kissed."

"Yes"

Right here.

Aang let out a slow sigh, training his eyes on the wall that Katara had been facing when he arrived. He could just make out the words Oma and Shu engraved in the stone, dimly outlined by the light from the torch. Aang turned back to Katara –

"So…I'm dreaming."

"Yes."

"When I fell asleep, I…I needed to find Katara. I need to go back."

"Aang – a lot happened. You need time to rest, to think–"

"But, she is out looking for me, and…and I need to tell her…"

Katara completed his thought –

"That you can't be what she wants you to be."

They both stood there in silence. Aang, grappling with the words to say, the words he would say, let his eyes drift to the floor, aimlessly shifting his focus among the pebbles and rocks strewn about.

"Aang, you can't do this to yourself."

Aang looked up, dragging his depression with him as he met Katara's gaze: "Do what?"

Katara sighed.

"Keep beating yourself up. Keep guessing how she feels."

"Yes, but after everything that had happened and everything that just happened, its…I just don't know if I can be who she wants me to be. Be normal again."

"Aang, all Katara ever wanted from you was to just be you. You're still in there. I know it." Katara reached out, wrapping her hand around Aang's in an attempt to comfort him. "Just talk to her. So much has happened while you were gone, so much when you came back…You just can't believe you know how she feels now. It's too much Aang, and you'll just end up tearing yourself apart."

An ember from the torch flared up, spilling small, orange-hot remnants in a circle around itself. Neither Aang nor Katara broke eye contact as the crackling sparks of the event permeated the silence between them.

Aang considered the possibilities –

Why don't I believe…?

Aang didn't even finish thinking of the question before the answer barreled in. Just thinking of her sent cracks through what remained of his composure –

Her mangled hair…her damaged figure…

I couldn't do it.

Katara's expression deepened, reading Aang's thoughts.

"Because you shouldn't do it."

Aang tilted his head in confusion.

"I…shouldn't? She endangers everyone I care about, hurt so many…"

"Aang, you think your inability to take away Azula's bending was proof that you aren't the same anymore…Aang, if anything, that was proof that you are still the same. You knew you couldn't. You knew you shouldn't."

Aang opened his mouth, his self-depreciating reply about to leave his lips when he stopped himself.

She would have consumed me.

It was the first statement he had conjured up here, in this dream, that he just knew was true. There was no doubt – if he had attempted to take away her bending, he would have been destroyed, his own life energy bent out of him to disappear forever.

"Then…how do I deal with her?"

"You'll find a way, Aang. But you need to figure yourself out first."

She's right. I can't deal with Azula until I have regathered myself.

And to do that, I need to talk to Katara.

Aang repeated the line in his head a few times, forcing it passed the haunting feelings of inadequacy. As he looked back up, refocusing on Katara, he noticed she was looking towards the inexplicably bright light illuminating the end of the tunnel.

"What's down there?"

Katara looked back at Aang, a small smile on her face, "There's someone that wants to talk to you. An old friend."

Aang stared at her quizzically, curious as to whom she was referring. Katara motioned for Aang to go ahead, but he didn't let go of her hand –

"Aang, this place – this dream – is for you. You'll know when it's time to return."

Aang let go, taking a few steps before turning to catch one last look at Katara.

To his surprise, she was gone.

Aang sighed, still weighing the conversation in his mind. Alone, and realizing there was nothing else to do, he turned back toward the light and began walking.

Aang continued, the light growing brighter and brighter until he had to close his eyes. He stumbled now, trying to place his footsteps more carefully. Suppressing his anxiousness, he assumed a slower pace –

He reached his arm out, feeling for the cave wall, still aware of the bright light that glowed through his eyelids. He found it, letting his fingers trace out the long, straight line etched in the –

Brick.

Aang stopped moving, allowing his fingers to continue tracing the side until, not totally surprisingly, they hit a straight vertical etch.

The bright light was still there, he knew that, but it seemed to have gained a different quality – heat.

Raising his other hand to shield his eyes, he slowly opened his eyelids, giving them time to adjust.

Sunlight.

Aang moved forward, his steps more confident, past the edge of the tall brick wall beside him and out into the open.

The outlines of his surroundings emerged from the glare. Lowering his hand, he gazed out-Long streaks of white clouds rolled over the mountains – at eye level – he thought, sheltering the green forests nestled in the valleys below. A few feet away from him, a stone railing, worn with time from the elements, curved back towards the walls on either side forming a balcony. The air was light, far less oppressing that than of cave he had come from.

The scenery was all too familiar. Aang had seen this view many, many times before.

The Southern Air Temple.

"Why am I…here?" Aang wondered aloud –

"Because this is who you are."

"Roku!"

The words were out of his mouth before he even finished turning to face him. Roku looked as he always had – draped in his red robes, his long white hair blown to the side by the breeze that flowed across the balcony. He was standing behind Aang, back towards the cave entrance, which seemed to have been replaced by a long, brick corridor.

Aang, still shocked and a little unsure what to do, composed himself and settled on a bow towards his mentor.

Roku gave a small nod, acknowledging the gesture before he continued, smiling –

"There is no need to bow Aang. If anything, it is I who should be bowing to you."

As Aang straightened out, a small, sheepish smile broke out across his face over the compliment. He reached up, scratching the back of his head, which now leaned slightly to the side –

"I…oh, umm, thanks. Thank you." Aang finally got out.

How long has it been since I've talked to Roku? The question surfaced above the many others in his mind, and he gave it some thought –

6? 7 years?

Aang couldn't quite remember –

Well, it's been at least 5. That much I know.

Nevertheless, Aang returned his attention from its momentary respite back to Roku, who was making his way past him towards the balcony. Roku rested his hands on the railing, gazing out over the mountains Aang had learned to fly around during glider practice all those years ago. Aang moved up next to him, also assuming a relaxed position at the balcony's edge.

Aang, once again, wasn't really sure how to proceed. Roku appeared to be in no hurry, waiting for Aang to drive the discussion. Aang vacillated –

Do I wait for him to talk or just pick a question and ask?

After a moment's hesitation, he decided on the latter –

"So…what did you mean about the whole, 'this is who I am' thing…" He trailed off, gesturing with his arm at the surroundings.

"Aang, you have been through a lot -" Roku paused to let out a sigh, "- More so than most Avatars, especially given your age." He inflected the last word, indicating to Aang that his assessment didn't include Aang's century-long stint in the iceberg.

Aang's mind latched on to age. Without thinking, he brought one of his hands up to his cheeks, feeling at the pricks of hair that were developing on his face.

Beard.

I'm older now. 21.

The thought still didn't sit right with him, but he was surprised that it hadn't occurred to him earlier to check.

Perhaps it's becoming more comfortable, more natural…

Roku carried on, bringing Aang back out of his thoughts.

"You succeeded where I failed. You saved the world when I lacked the strength and courage to stop Ozai, to end it all before it even started –"

"Roku," Aang interjected, "Don't be so hard on yourself –"

But Roku glanced at Aang, his solemn eyes and the motion of his right hand indicating that he had more to say.

"You and your friends worked to fix this world, Aang. Millions live in peace now…because of you."

Roku paused, giving time to let the words sink in –

"But then you were stolen away, taken from this world. You did nothing wrong, nothing to deserve it. Yet it happened anyway. You were gone."

Aang was fully aware of the futility of his misfortune, the anger surging back from his gut at the thought of it all –

Why did it have to be me! Why didn't I just go around that stupid storm!

Aang took in a breath of the light air and exhaled, calmly –

There's no use in getting angry. What's done is done.

The thought didn't make him feel any better or give him any new insight, but it did wash the anger back down.

Roku had stopped, sensing Aang's discomfort. Seeing him settle again, he went on –

"And during your absence, Aang, life continued. Old enemies returned, new enemies arose, some were defeated, and some have yet to make their presence known. Power changed hands, or it stayed with whom it was left. People struggled – sometimes against each other, sometimes against themselves – to get what they thought was fair, was right, or just because that was what they were told to do. Old life died, and new life, bursting with the happiness and warmth like the sun we all share, has taken its place."

Roku turned to face Aang now, putting his hand on Aang's shoulder –

"Aang, I brought you here because this is where you learned the importance of balance. This is where you learned to enjoy life, to respect life, to embrace the company of others and to take the time to reflect on your own. The monks understood this, the value of life, and did their best to instill all its virtues in you. And as such, this place has come to represent that, to define that – life and balance and love – to make you who you are."

Aang's eyes had made their way down to the ground while Roku talked, staring at the bricks below his feet. The feeling of his own brokenness, his being out of place and out of himself came back with every line Roku spoke. At the mention of those last 3 words, he raised his head to let his eyes meet Roku, who had assumed a look of soft determination –

Of understanding.

But how could he know?

Aang let out a dismal sigh, a signal of his own defeat –

He's only trying to help. Maybe he does know. Maybe he does understand.

Roku saw – felt - the distress in Aang and pressed on –

"Aang, life continued on when you disappeared into the ice that first time. However, it was a life consumed by fear, by anger and oppression. You saw this, the potential that was being wasted on hate for no good reason. You brought life back on balance, defeated hate, gave people hope and inspiration for the future, for a better life."

"You saved the world, Aang, not because it was your responsibility as the Avatar. You saved it because you knew it was the right thing to do. You could not stand to see all the potential life had to offer – that you knew life had to offer – being wasted!"

Roku's resolve hit Aang again, forcing him to focus his gaze –

"I have no doubt that even if you weren't the avatar, if you were brought back just like you were after a century of departure, that you would still have found a way to right the world. Because, Aang, that is who you are… And you must never forget that."

Roku kept his eyes locked with Aang's, drawing up as much confidence for those last few words as he could muster. Yet, he elicited no immediate response – Aang merely stood there, frozen in contemplation. After their moment of weighted silence, Roku removed his hand from Aang's shoulder and returned to his position at the railing, letting out a long sigh.

"Roku, I…"

I what?

Aang trailed off, not sure what to say. Well, he knew what he should say –

Thank you.

But he just…couldn't.

Why not?

He felt the anger rising up again, against himself –

Because you can't be –

His hand shot into his pocket, reaching for the betrothal necklace.

Not after that.

Aang stopped himself before making contact, wincing as Roku's words cut through his mind –

Never forget who you are.

Aang steadily released the pent-up air in his chest, but he didn't remove his hand. Instead, he let it close slowly around the necklace, tracing the worn letters out with his fingers. He noticed the shame creeping into his thoughts – shame for having become angry again, shame for having still said nothing.

"Thank you, Roku." Aang finally stated – He knew there was no use lying to Roku, even if he thought Roku would be disappointed with the truth – "But…I don't know if I can be that person, that me again. I want to, it's just I feel like so many parts of me are missing, or changed, especially…" Aang trailed off, unable to formulate the words.

"I understand." Roku replied.

"No, Roku, I…I don't think you can." Aang stated sullenly, turning to face Roku again.

Roku also turned towards Aang – "Aang – your right, I'm sorry. I never endured any of the ordeals you went through. But…I have something else to tell you about being the Avatar. It's not a lesson every avatar explicitly needs to learn, but…I think it may help you, Aang."

A flare of intrigue showed on Aang's face, though not displacing the sadness – "Wait…what do you mean?"

"Come with me," Roku returned, turning away from the balcony and starting down the long tunnel. Aang willed his body to move, breaking away from the balcony and walking to catch up with Roku.

At the end of the hallway, growing larger with each stride, was a set of double doors with an elaborate fixture in the center. Aang identified it easily: an air bending lock, which led to –

The Sanctuary.

Aang hadn't been here since his return with Sokka and Katara after his thawing from the ice. He quickly gathered the memories: the immaculate Avatar statues, the endless ceiling, that feeling of serenity –

Roku stopped, outstretching his arms to direct two streams of air into the lock entrance. The sound of well-worn mechanical motion echoed down the hallway as the doors slowly granted Roku and Aang their access. A cool breeze emerged from the doorway, the hairs on the back of Aang's neck standing up in response as he caught his first glimpses back into the skylight-lit Sanctuary.

As they entered, those hairs stayed up as he was suddenly aware that the gaze of a great many people was focused on him. He had only made a few cautious steps through the doorway, which Roku had matched in distance, when he realized that the Avatar statues he expected to be in front of him were not in fact statues, but were very much so real.

Aang steeled himself for a moment, closing his eyes and focusing his breathing before meeting the unexpected stare of the surrounding Avatars –

He locked eyes with Kyoshi – or, more accurately, where he thought, he remembered Kyoshi would be – but found a tall, well-built man in her place. In fact, to Aang's surprise, he recognized none of the people standing in front of him. He looked around in bewilderment –

"Where…where are the past Avatars? Who are…these people? Who are you? Aang directed that last question at the woman standing in what he remembered was Roku's spot, the woman who was moving toward him, smiling –

"Hello, Aang. It's good to finally meet you."

Aang took an apprehensive step back, causing the woman approaching to pause – "Do I know you?" Aang admitted to himself that he had met a great many people traveling the world, many of whom he probably didn't remember, but these people? He didn't recognize any of them, despite their recollection of him, which only served to send a chill down his spine.

The woman turned to Roku – "Honey, have you told him anything yet?"

Aang looked even more puzzled by the address, while Roku blushed slightly – "No, I…Nothing yet. Just that this might help."

"Well, that explains that" she said, turning back towards Aang and extending her hand in greeting.

"My name is Ta Min. I was Roku's wife, back when we were alive."

Aang returned the gesture, the handshake breaking down his apprehension, but not his confusion –

"So…uh…who are you all?" Aang asked, his eyes darting across the many unfamiliar faces surrounding him.

Ta Min motioned to respond, but the man who had been standing next to her in position spoke first –

"I am Jianyu. I was Avatar Kyoshi's husband. Together, we are the Avatar's loves. Those who loved the Avatar – their Avatar – and whom were loved by the Avatar back."

Aang, frowning and tilting his head slightly to the side in confusion, turned towards Roku – "Wait…how do they…know me? Have I met one before? Do they…does their spirit come back? Like the Avatar?"

Roku answered resolutely, "No. Reincarnation is unique to the Avatar Spirit, they don't come back."

Jianyu approached the group, finishing Roku's explanation – "We are" – he glanced at Ta Min – "kindred spirits. We share a link to one another because of our link to the Avatar. And since you are all connected, in a sense, so are we."

"Wait." Aang stated, holding up his hand. His mind was still trying to process –

Kindred Spirits?

So they're all connected…

But not?

Aang paused, inhaling and exhaling a breath to steady himself. He looked towards Jianyu, who was now standing next to Ta Min – "So, let me make sure I've got this right. Each one of you is a…was a regular person in the physical world, and when you lived, you married the Avatar…and because we are all spiritually connected, that sort of…connected you all, too?"

Jianyu opened his mouth to talk but hesitated, trying to plan his response for Aang's benefit. Ta Min, however, just let out a soft chuckle –

"Well this is a bit of déjà vu! Katara reacted just like you."

"You met Katara!?" Aang burst out. A part of his mind had already started putting the pieces together – this was going to be about Katara. What else could it be? Who else could it be? He had not anticipated that she had met them before.

"When!? How – did she contact you? Did you contact her? Is she…"

Aang stopped, feeling his stomach lurch as the last question formulated in his mind –

"…My Avatar's Love?"

What does that even mean?

The silence hung dead in the room as Roku, Ta Min, and Jianyu juggled the responsibility of answering Aang with their glances at each other. Aang just brought his hand up to his forehead, trying to massage the headache he just noticed he was developing.

Roku and Jianyu finally collectively set their gaze on Ta Min. She turned to the rest of the Loves, looking to see if any of the other members wanted to respond to Aang's barrage of questions. When no one voiced any interest, she just let out a sigh and started:

"Aang – my apologies. I should have taken things a little slower."

Aang looked up at her, "It's…It's fine."

A small smile returned to Ta Min's face as she began the explanations.

"Well, for one, it's nice to have this conversation with a little less pressure." A murmur rippled among the surrounding crowd, echoing her sentiment. "Yes, we talked with Katara earlier, when she made her journey to the spirit world to kill Koh, to save you. She took everything remarkably well, given what was at stake."

Aang was listening, but the shame had returned, gnawing at his mind –

You're so ungrateful. Look at what she did for you. And you ran away.

He knew he must have appeared ungrateful to Katara, and he hated himself for it. He did his best to smother the shame – he was going to apologize when he talked with Katara. He knew that wasn't enough, that it might not ever be enough, but it would be the right thing to do, which did make the smothering attempt a bit successful.

Aang forced a small smile, hoping that his own inability to actually be happy at this moment didn't detract from his words –

"Thank you, Ta Min," Aang looked up and around, addressing everyone, "…thank you all for helping Katara. I'm sure I would not be here now if it wasn't for your efforts."

Aang gave a quick nod to Ta Min, which she took as a motion to continue.

"Thank you Aang. Regarding your previous assumption…well, not everyone here actually married the Avatar. You see…life, love, can be…complicated. While many of us did marry, we all shared a deep connection with our Avatar. One that lives on, even after death. It's this depth of love with the Avatar that gives us our…connection, makes us kindred spirits."

Jianyu piped in, "Aang, while our spirit doesn't reincarnate like that of the Avatar's, there is something special about us. The Avatars are drawn to us, and when they find us, the connection is instant."

Ta Min grinned at Roku, "It just…happens."

Roku, looking a little flushed, responded, "Yes…it just…happens. Not always for the Avatar's partner, but definitely for the Avatar."

Sparing Roku any more embarrassment, Jianyu remarked, "Aang – I imagine you had a similar experience with Katara?"

Aang was slow to respond, breaking himself away from the trance of a very vivid memory –

Will you go penguin sledding with me?

"Yeah, I did. When I first awoke from the iceberg…when I first saw Katara." Aang let out a heavy sigh as the realization truly set in.

Ta Min thought to tell Aang – to answer that last question he asked, but taking a good look at him revealed that there was no need. Aang was deep in thought, eyes fixed to the cold stone at his feet, trying to process everything – he knew. She gave a quick glance to Roku and Jianyu – he needed some time.

Katara…she's my great love. My Avatar's love.

An image of how she looked an eternity ago, back in the cave, flashed to the forefront of his mind. His heart accelerated, the heat returning to his face in response.

So, is this…destiny?

Yes…we were supposed to be together.

So why did she say no?

Aang thought about how Katara had acted today – she wanted him. Loved him like before…all this had happened.

Like the first time hadn't happened.

Like it didn't matter –

The anger was coming back up from the pit of his stomach. Aang had to fight to keep it contained –

This isn't you. This never was you, nor will it ever be you.

He shoved that raw emotion down, and in the act was a little disappointed at himself for how often, how strong, the feeling had become as of late.

I guess it can't be helped, given the circumstances.

Aang thoroughly disliked that excuse. However, his brooding was quickly disrupted as a new thought, one he hadn't considered earlier – couldn't have considered earlier – sprung into his mind.

Maybe she is infatuated because…she knows how much I love…how I feel…about her?

Aang scrunched his face a little at the oddity of it – her knowing exactly how he feels. But it, in a way, made sense. She had, after all, learned about the Avatar's Loves. Aang's mind, already moving fast, kicked into overdrive, supplying new reasoning for her actions, her expressions, her everything during the day –

She must have jumped to destiny too. We were meant to be together – the proposal was just…a fluke.

Aang threw that one out quickly. He knew Katara better than that. There was a reason.

She must be infatuated by the power of our love.

Aang felt silly thinking of that last one, and he was pretty sure that wasn't how it worked. But, he couldn't deny –

You ARE madly in love with her.

Maybe she just wanted to talk about it, but hadn't had the time, the opportunity –

Aang was grasping for that next thought, that possible key that would make sense of it all, of them, but stopped himself, Katara's words slicing through his mind –

Stop. You're guessing again.

You need to find Katara.

Aang let out a slow breath, the echo of the muted action quickly reminding him that he was surrounded by people awaiting something from him.

And in that moment, that quiet realization, his thoughts just…clicked.

He needed to leave. To return back to the physical world. He'd been here too long as it is – all his friends, all those he cares for, Tenzin and Katara – they need him back. And Aang felt –

Ready.

Aang looked up towards the group, a glint of determination in his silver-grey eyes –

"I think…I think it is time for me to return."

None of them were at all surprised by Aang's statement.

Ta Min had assumed the same soft expression she had greeted Aang with –

"I understand –"

She paused, looking reassuringly at Roku and Jianyu –

"We understand."

"Thank you…thank you all," Aang responded as he turned to face towards Roku.

Roku gestured back towards the still-open entrance to the sanctuary behind them.

"Aang – take care of yourself. And…try to not go so long between visits."

"I'll try," Aang chuckled, a genuine chuckle, which sort of took him by surprise – it was an unexpected spark of happiness that he just realized he very sorely needed. Aang gave the group a short nod before taking in one last view of the sanctuary –

"Aang –"

As he turned to leave, however, a voice broke out from the crowd. He locked eyes with the source of the remark, which snapped his recognition – she was a tall, older woman with a thin figure and brown hair. Aang knew he had met this woman before, but strangely…he couldn't remember her. Even more concerning was that she was so far back in the line of Loves, so many years before his time…

How could I have known this woman?

"Take care of yourself."

"I…I will. Thank you."

Aang briefly thought to ask more about this woman but stopped himself. He needed to get back, and judging by her expression, her composure, he understood that she wanted him to return just as badly. He choose a nod instead, letting his gaze break from her and sweep over the rest of those around him.

As he turned to exit, a thought crossed his mind –

The Avatar's Loves…Perhaps we should have a sanctuary for them, too. A real sanctuary.

Aang shelved that thought for later, making his way through and out the elaborate entryway, still outlined by the flooding brightness of the afternoon sun. He covered the distance of the hallway quickly and was soon crossing the threshold to the open air of the balcony. As he crossed, a strong breeze pushed against his light clothing, forcing it to ripple to one side.

Aang gazed out across the mountains one last time, a last glimpse before returning, when a memory – vivid as though it had just happened – shot to the front of his mind.

He was standing on a balcony-

This balcony.

Monk Gyatso was standing where Aang was standing now, his clothing also commanded by the flowing mountain air. Aang was by the railing, facing Gyatso - leaning on the railing, enjoying the heat from the sun. Gyatso had just told a joke and Aang was laughing his same, silly laugh –

Aang felt his lips pierce into a smile as he let out a chuckle. He didn't remember what the joke was, but it made him happy, and that…that was enough.

Letting out a deep breath, he sat down in the center of the balcony and assumed his meditation pose.

I'm going to find Katara.

He concentrated, just like he always had before, on switching back to his mortal self. Immediately and reassuringly, the tingling ebb and flow of spiritual energy pulsed down his extremities.

I'm going to make things whole again.

He closed his eyes –

I'm going to be…me.


Aang lurched up, gasping for air, his body soaked in sweat.

The moon was high in the sky, situated perfectly between the two walls of the alley. Its glow washed over the icy walls and ground, shimmering off the water in the canal. The soft sound of tranquil, flowing water filled the night air, now overruled by the sound of Aang's heavy breathing.

How long was I asleep?

Reaching back with his right arm and with a small flick of his wrist, he brought a small stream of water out of the canal and into his hand. He maneuvered the water over his head and let it run down his back and face, washing away the sweat and letting the cold clarity of it bring him back into reality.

I was gone for 5 years.

I had my face stolen.

Aang swung his hand back towards the canal, instinctively following the motion with another flick of the wrist. The water on his skin and clothes bent out, pulling away from him in a thousand rain drops, back into the canal.

But I'm back now.

I have a son –

Aang's return to reality was interrupted by the awareness that the necklace was still gripped firmly into the palm of his left hand. The mere recollection of its presence, the sight of it as he loosened his grip…

Why would it stick…why would it last the second time…

Aang put the necklace into his pocket as the most important recollection, most prominent detail from his dream rapped upon his conscience, driving the heavy emotions back –

I need to talk to Katara. To apologize for running away. To find out how she really feels.

A pang of guilt shot through him – of Katara still looking for him, terrified and anxious and desperate.

I need to leave this alley.

Suppressing any further thoughts of doubt, he took a deep breath and began to get u-

Wait –

What was that feeling?

Aang sat back down again, letting the air out of his chest before taking another great breath.

It was strange and familiar at the same time, and Aang was puzzled at first, before he felt it melt through his body. He took another breathe, concentrating on the feeling, on the flow of it…

Warmth.


…And there we go. First chapter (well, technically, chapter 49…). Liked it? leave a review. Didn't like it? Also leave a review!