Okay, my few readers, I'm sorry for taking so long to update, I've been super busy and had a bit of trouble writing this chapter, I finally figured out how I want this fic to go, but you must be warned that this chapter sucks. A lot. Sorry about that, too.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. If I did...well, you know the deal...

And now, let the chapter commence!

Aang brushed past people thanking and congratulating him as he rushed to the opposite end of the ballroom in an attempt to escape Katara's remorseful gaze. To his dismay, his vision was becoming rapidly blurred by the tears in his eyes. No! No! I can't start crying. Not here, not now… He quickly found himself a small table in one of the less crowded areas of the room and sat, letting his forehead fall against the cold stone top of the table. The tears in his eyes trickled slowly down his face as he closed his eyes, trying to escape his emotions.

His head was pounding, racing with not thoughts, but emotions. He wanted to be happy for Katara and Zuko, he really did. Life would have been so much easier for him if he could let go and... Oh, I don't know... It was easier said than done, though. He was quickly beginning to realize a heart that had been so focused on one person for so long had trouble letting go of that one person when the time came. "I wasn't prepared to lose her. There was nothing that could have told me I would lose her," he mumbled to himself as his emotions raced. Oh Spirits! The guests are watching their Avatar fall apart. What am I doing…Those around Aang gave each other looks, whispering "Should we be helping the Avatar, or will he be fine?" Haru and Teo, who had been mingling in that side of the ballroom anyway, made their way over to his table when they noticed a small crowd had begun to watch him intently, critically.

They sat at his table, patting his back awkwardly and politely refusing any offers of assistance from onlookers in consoling the Avatar. "Aang, don't…" Teo looked to Haru to continue, but Haru found himself at a loss for words of consolation. The young men stayed quiet instead, and sat there in thought, guarding their heartbroken friend from inquiring and intrusive guests. Why am I doing this? She can't still do this to me…She can't.

Flashback

45 minutes later

They had been waiting anxiously behind the palace walls for Aang to come out and declare his victory. Haru, Teo and The Duke had gone to release the Water Tribe and Earth Kingdom prisoners while Zuko, Sokka, Katara, and Toph waited. And waited. Katara was growing impatient. "Something is wrong. I'm going after him." She began to run in the direction Aang had entered the palace through. Zuko, who had been holding his muscles tense knowing that Katara would run to find Aang at one point or another, sprang after her, Sokka and Toph following at his heels.

Suddenly, the group stopped, their ears catching some sounds coming from within the palace. A few small explosions seemed to be going off in the palace. One…Two…Three…..They went off in small intervals and stopped abruptly. Everything had gone silent then, and had the group not known that Aang was in the palace engaging in battle with the fire lord, they might have believed all was well.

But then it happened.

The terrible ear splitting sound of a blast came crashing down on them. "Aang!" Katara's eyes went wide, and a terrified look came over her face. She broke into a run heading to the entrance of the palace, her heart pounding heavily in her chest. But there was nothing she could have done. A powerful wave radiated across the entire Palace City, sending her flying back along with her friends. A few muffled screams reverberated through the destruction., and as Katara crashed into a crumbling watch tower at the front of the palace walls, a single sentence escaped her lips. "Please don't die."

End Flashback

Zuko gazed across the room at the young Avatar being consoled by Haru and Teo. Had he known the reason for Aang's display of pitiful defeat, he might have felt remorse or guilt, instead he was filled with disappointment in his old pupil. He had not seen Aang look so down in all the time he had known him. Not even when their lessons had gone badly or when hope seemed lost, did the young Avatar ever look so…heartbroken?

The two years following Ozai's defeat had been difficult, he knew. Aang had spent almost three months recuperating from his wounds and injuries, then, in a tearful farewell, declared that it was time they all help rebuild their separate nations. Zuko had gone to help his uncle take back control of the Fire Nation. Toph had gone to the Earth Kingdom to visit her family and help the peace forces free captured cities. Katara and Sokka had gone to rebuild the Southern Watertribe. And Aang, of course had gone to restore balance all over the world. They had all kept in contact and visited when possible, but it was inevitable that they would grow apart.

And so, it had been strange when he and Katara had started getting closer as everyone else seemed to be getting farther. He had not expected it at all, but somehow, by some strange miracle, they found a love for the other in their hearts. Not many had taken it too well. Even his Uncle Iroh, who had supported him through everything, was a bit weary about it. The rest of their group was stunned. Aang had taken it silently and maturely, never once showing a sign of hurt or confusion at this odd match. The young Avatar had not made it apparent that he disapproved or that he felt a riff between himself and either of his 'si fu's. Not to Zuko himself, at least.

Sokka, who was sitting at a table with Suki, Toph, Katara and Zuko, found himself feeling especially empathetic towards Aang. He found himself understanding Aang's pain and partly baffled by his maturity. Of all the people in the world that he had met, of all that anyone had ever deserved, he knew that Aang did not deserve to be left so heartbroken. But was there really anything that could be done to heal his heart now?

His eyes trailed across the ballroom, as he thought about the past and came to the realization that this was the first time their group had been together in the same room in almost two years…

Well, there it is. I know it's worse than the first one and it didn't really progress the storyline at all, but I tried. I'll do better with the next one, that is, if anyone wants me to continue it. Thanks for reading. If you have any suggestions, feel free to express them. Review if you want to, just don't flame me, please.

To my only two reviewers, AtomicZombie and sol113, I really appreciated your feedback. It made my day to read your reviews. Thanks.