Summary: I am so sorry for the delay. I have been busy lately and I was working on Chapter 5 of my other story, ATLA Book 2: Earthly Barriers. I promise it will be up soon; it has been the hardest chapter to write so far, so I decided to write this chapter for inspiration and to give you guys something. Anyways please read and review. I really enjoy your advice and it helps my writing so much.

Chapter 3: Confrontations

It has been five days, five long and agonizing days, since Aang had found out Katara was, in his mind, cheating. He has only seen her in passing lately, but each time she looks as though she has continued her relationship with Zuko. He also noted that she was avoiding eye contact with him once again. It hurt, it truly and deeply hurt, knowing what she was doing, even after Toph and Suki had talked to her. Aang has been spending the majority of his time meditating, and to his chagrin, sleeping lot more. Sokka told him that Katara thought he was sick, which was partially correct. He was sick to his stomach with the feeling of utter betrayal. He was torn from his thoughts from a light knock on the door. He had hopes of who it could be, but he knew better.

"Come in Sokka." Aang sighed.

The warrior stepped inside and closed the door behind him and leaned against the door behind him. "How are you doing buddy?" He asked softly.

"How do you think?" Aang asked slightly irritably.

"Not good."

"I just don't understand." Aang sat up. "I thought we would be together." Now tears began to run down his face. "And now it just seems like I don't exist. She won't even look at me."

"I think it's time you confront her yourself." Aang looked at Sokka in panic. Sokka sighed, "She isn't listening to us. She is hurting herself more than she realizes, Aang. It's time you talk to her."

"But what will I say, 'Oh by the way, I know you're cheating on me.' That won't work."

"I never said you had to be direct. I know her well, and she knows you well. She might figure out what you're asking before you say a word."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I already talked to Suki and Toph about it and they agree. It's time." Sokka replied, putting a hand on Aang's shoulder."

"Ok." Aang stood up and made his way towards the door, looking up at Sokka with a desperate look in his eyes. He continued out the door and down the hall, looking down at his feet. Once he reached the living room, he noticed Suki and Toph sitting on the couches across from each other. Suki stood up and walked over to him and gave him a big hug.

When she pulled back, she looked him directly in the eyes while wearing a comforting smile, "It will be ok, Aang. She is down on the beach alone. We made sure of that."

Aang took a deep, shaky breath and nodded. He made his way outside into the villa and quickly turned left towards the stairs to the beach. Too many thoughts ravage his mind: What will I say? How will I say it? Before he knew it, he was standing on the beach, peering at Katara's graceful form looking out over the ocean. Spirits, she's beautiful. But now is not the time to relish in her beauty, he needs to talk to her. He took one last deep breath before he spoke. "Katara?"

Katara noticeably flinched, not expecting a visitor, especially Aang. Oh no. She thought. She didn't want to meet his gaze. Too nervous. Too scared. Too Ashamed. "Yes, Aang."

"Can we talk?"

Katara paused, she knew he wanted to talk but was hoping he actually wouldn't, "Of course." She tried to sound calm and confident, as if nothing has happened between them.

Aang came and sat down in the sand to her right. His gaze fixed on her eyes. She did her best to avoid and ignore it. He finally sighed and did what he hoped he never would have to do. He knew that she had no idea of his knowledge of what happened. Finally he spoke, "Katara, can I ask you something?" She nodded. "You know how you always tell me that we can tell each other everything?"

This came as a complete shock to Katara, she could no longer avoid his gaze. She looked him in the eye for the first time in five days. What she saw, broke her heart. The look of sadness and desperation filled his eyes. She dreaded what was coming, "Yes."

"I have always loved that between us. It has helped me so much to know that someone cares." Aang looked out to the water and a tear began to run down Katara's cheek. "But I want to know, do you tell me everything?" He looks her back in the eyes, scared and desperate. He can't believe what he heard next.

"Of course I do, Aang. You are my best friend and you're always understanding." She couldn't stand to lie to Aang, but she didn't want to break his heart. Little did she know, she already had.

Aang stood up and turned to walk away. He paused and looked down at Katara, who was now looking back at the ocean. "Thank you for talking with me." And he walked away. Katara began to sob into her hands. What have I done?

Sokka, Suki and Toph sat in the living room when Aang came back. They immediately stood up in panic when a massive gust of wind launched the small table in front of the couches into the ceiling, smashing it to bits. It fell down in front of his three friends. They have never seen him this angry before. He thrust his fist down in anger, and screamed in frustration, blasting fire from his fist and scorching the ground.

Sokka immediately went to his friend to calm him down, "Aang, calm down. What happened?"

"She happened." Aang obviously referring to Katara.

"Did she admit it?" Sokka asked.

"NO! She did the opposite." Aang yelled in response. He no longer felt sad about what happened, he was angry. He loved Katara, but it's hard when the one you love, and had a relationship with, continually lies to you.

"She denied it?"

"In an indirect way, but yes, SHE DENIED IT!" Aang yelled.

"Ok, Aang, calm down. We will talk later. I'm sorry, I don't understand why she would continue to do this."

Aang ignored everything Sokka had just said, "I'm going into town." He said sternly and he left, leaving his three friends saddened by what they had heard. They waited in awkward anticipation for Katara to arrive. Sokka was sickened by his sister's acts. She wasn't acting like the kind, caring, loving and logical sister he once knew. Toph was just angry, but she didn't show it. Suki just felt sorry for Aang and wanted nothing but to see the once cute and loving couple together again. After about fifteen minutes a dejected Katara walked into a room of glaring eyes, noticing that and the destroyed table. She looked as though she had been crying, although, neither her brother nor her friends cared at the moment when she spoke.

"What happened?"

Toph finally snapped, "You know damn well what happened!"

"This is about Aang, isn't it?"

"Katara, you can't keep lying to him." Sokka said rather quietly.

"I'm not lying to him. I'm protecting him from his emotions." She spat back.

Suki sighed and stood up, "Katara, we haven't told you this yet because we were hoping you would tell him sooner." Katara gave Suki a quizzical look. Suki took a deep breath, "Aang knows, he's known this whole time; He didn't want to be intrusive and confront you directly about it." Tears began to run down Katara's face. She had no idea Aang has been dealing with this for almost a week.

"Katara, he cares about you; as long as you're happy so is he, but he feels betrayed and he just wants an explanation." Sokka said while getting up to embrace his sister.

"I had no idea I was doing this to him." Katara replied through a couple of sniffles.

"You just need to talk to him."

"I want to talk to Zuko first. I am supposed to meet him for dinner tonight then I'll talk to Aang as soon as possible."

"Ok. I support whatever decision you decide to make, but please just talk to Aang and apologize. You know him, he just needs the truth."

"I'm going to go to my room now." Katara walked down the hall and into her room. Once she entered here room, the others looked at each other in relief.

Sokka sighed, "I hope this goes well."

Toph replied dryly, "It won't. It never does for us."

Two hours later Aang was storming through the small town near the center of Ember Island. He decided after his talk with Katara that he needed to take a walk. Walking had always calmed him, either alone or by himself, he could take in the sights and sounds, and be lost in thought. This walk, however, did not turn out as expected. While he was walking through the market, Aang overheard a couple of merchants conversing about how the new fire lord was in town at a local restaurant having dinner with a beautiful water tribe girl. He couldn't believe that after all that has gone on, all the hints, Katara was still dating Zuko behind his back. Thus, he was storming across town towards that very restaraunt.

Meanwhile,

Zuko had pulled a chair out for Katara to sit in. She thanked him with a smile. She noted that he was wearing the same robes he wore when he first joined the group, while she was wearing her green earth kingdom-style dress. The restaurant was completely empty, for Zuko had made it so. The front door was shut so they could have a peaceful dinner together. Katara, however, didn't feel like eating. She took a long shaky sigh and looked down at the plate in front of her, "Zuko, we need to talk."

"Isn't that what being on a date is about."

She sighed again, "Zuko, I don't want to call this a date."

"Oh...well what do you want to talk about?"

"It's about Aang. He's known about this, about us, for a while now, and I need to talk to him but I just don't know how."

Zuko sighed, "Katara, I know you still love him. And to be honest with you, this thing we have isn't real."

Katara looked at him in shock, "What do you mean?"

"When Aang left I tried to comfort you, because I could tell you missed him, but as time grew on you got worse until about two weeks ago when you kissed me for the first time." He paused as he grabbed her hand in an effort to comfort her, "What I realized then, and now, was that you were replacing your love for him by misinterpreting my efforts to comfort you. I took advantage of that and I'm sorry. I don't want to get in between you and Aang. You two were together and are meant for each other."

Katara finally understood what that feeling was, she felt like their relationship wasn't real, but she now realized where her love truly lies. Shethrew her arms around Zuko in a bone crushing hug, "Thank you, Zuko. I didn't say anything because I didn't want to hurt you too. I was just so lost and you're right, I replaced my love of Aang with false feeling. I'm so sorry." Tears ran down her face as she continued the hug.

Suddenly a large sound of snapping wood filled the air, followed by a large gust of wind. Katara disengaged the hug and peered at the door across the room. She couldn't believe what she saw; a very, very angry Avatar.

"Sorry, was I interrupting something?" Came an irritated and mocking voice Katara had never heard come out of the boy's mouth before.

"Aang, this isn't what it looks like..." She was cut off.

"Then what does it look like?! If it isn't you lying to me and then going out on a date with him..." Aang pointed an accusing finger at Zuko, "...then by all means tell me!" He spat out at her.

Katara's temper was starting to get to her, "I lied to you in order to protect you!"

"Protect me from what exactly?!"

"From yourself!" Katara screamed.

Aang's clenched his fists and gave Katara the scariest glare she had ever seen. It was full of anger, yet, not emotion at all, "And why would I need that?!"

"Because you're sensitive!" Katara took a step forward.

At this point, Sokka, Toph and Suki had arrived and were completely shocked by the heated exchange in front of them.

"OH! I AM SENSITIVE NOW! I AM THIRTEEN. I DEFEATED THE FIRELORD. WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU NEED TO PROTECT ME?!" Aang screamed as his tattoos began to flicker blue.

Katara's temper was in complete control, "BECAUSE YOU'RE A SHORT, IMMATURE, ANNOYING, HELPLESS LITTLE BRAT!" Aang shut his eyes tightly. He couldn't believe she said that.

Aang's tattoos now glowed bright blue. He opened his eyes revealing the piercing and lifeless gaze to Katara, "Please, enlighten me more, Sugar Queen." He stated sarcastically with the combined voices of one thousand past lives. He began to slowly walk toward Katara, who was now in a panic for what she had done.

She pleaded, "Aang please, stop. I didn't mean it." She clasped her hands together, begging.

Aang continued to walk forward, "But you said it, you must mean it." He continued to walk forward until he felt a wet stinging sensation on his cheek. Aang came out of the Avatar state and touched his hand to his cheek. There was blood when who looked at his hand once again. He slowly returned his gaze to the one he loved. There, in front of him, was Katara, holding a water-whip in her hand, tears in her eyes. He turned around and started to walk dejectedly towards the door. "I wish you two the best." He murmured and as he walked outside, quickly pursued by Toph and Suki.

Katara turned her attention to her brother, who returned her gaze with one of sadness and disbelief. He shook his head and followed after Aang. Katara collapsed onto the floor and let a torrent of tears fall to the ground. Only one emotion ran through her head, regret. She has just lost her true love.

To be continued...

A/N: Thanks for reading please review. I promise chapter 5 of Earthly Barriers will be up soon.