A/N: Hm. Yeah. Chapter three. I found this mostly depressing, but then again, a whole bunch of things are explained. The first two just kinda set up the with the other two chapters, there was some lovely sarcasm. Now it's just.....sad. Chapter 4 will be happier. I swear? :) Reviews would be awesome!

Song- Wait It Out- Imogen Heap

Disclaimer- I don't own Avatar. If I did, I would have: A. - Added myself into the show somehow. B.- Added thirty thousand times more Kataang. C.- Somehow manage to make Suki and Sokka end well so Sokka and Toph could get together. D.- Made Ozai obsessed with his massive pecs (that guy needed to be obsessed with something ridiculous, admit it). E.- Made more episodes based on improbable fanfiction (like the Ember Island Players! WOO!!) F.- Made Ozai die. ( Okay, I love how awesome Aang was in the end, but I really wanted Ozai dead. Am I that bad of a person?) G.- Made a Book 4...because the world could only benefit from more Avatar. That's all....for now.

Chapter 3- Remembering

The cold wind whipped my newly acquired shoulder length hair around my face. I shoved my brown locks into my hood and trudged into the distance, a destination already set. At the shoreline, I hopped on one the many chunks of frozen ice and waterbended my way out into the ocean. After a half hour, I arrived at the spot; Sokka and I had awoken Aang here. There was still a visible crater in the iceberg from where he broke free.

I put my backpack down with a huff and sat on the icy snow. This would have to do, I thought. There was no way I could go back to the house. I would've just been bothered and lectured more about my conduct.

I rose and unrolled my sleeping bag. The sky was darkening already and I could feel fatigue settling in.

"Oh, South Pole, you just don't enjoy staying light, do you?" I asked rhetorically.

The wind answered me anyway, and an empty, morose feeling shot through me. In a frantic attempt to escape the pain, I crawled in the sleeping bag. Once warm and safe from the whipping air currents above, my mind tried to find a safe place to stay. The past seemed okay at the moment.

I thought of times when I wanted to scream and Sokka or Toph. And that time we had a dance party in a cave. And when pirates attacked us. And walking through the desert with Sokka drunk on cactus juice. And Aang earth bending. And Sokka's open relationship with meat. And Toph's endearing slobbery.

I missed those times so much it made my heart ache. They say living in the past is unhealthy, but the past is where all my good memories are.

But my mind knew better. Unpleasant memories were just as present, and I was soon entering a place I couldn't escape no matter how hard I tried.

It was just after the war. The nobles of the world decided we should have council to wrap up all loose ends before they unraveled again. Pretty soon, the Peace Conference was established. We, being the saviors of the world and all, were required to be there. It was held in the Fire Lord's palace over the course of four months. As much as I pined for snow and my home, I couldn't bear the thought of leaving my friends behind, Aang especially.

But, something was terribly wrong. He was blank, lifeless. Whenever questioned about his demeanor, he explained that the meetings were stressing him out. I knew better. Something deeper was driving him to act like this. I poked. I prodded. I flirted, a lot.

As much as I tried, I came back empty handed. I was finally ready to tell him how I felt, how much I truly loved him, and he pushed me away. I was hurt and confused, but his leadership skills soared. His speeches were so convincing, he sent chills down my spine.

All the energy he had in his life was put into work. The second a meeting was adjourned, he would collapse; looking the closest to his former self I had seen in a long time. The first few meetings, I put my arms around him, trying my best to take some of the burden. I could clearly remember that first time. I snuck up behind his chair, and threw my arms around his neck, resting my head on his shoulder. I felt his body recoil as if I was Azula, attempting to shoot him with lightning. I tried not to be offended, covering it up with a few encouraging words.

"You did great," I whispered in his ear. "I could have sworn I saw General Fong wiping tears from his eyes."

He untangled himself from my grip. "Well, that's reassuring. Thanks. I'm going to get lunch…or something. 'Bye."

I should've taken it as a sign, but I stuck around hoping it was just post-war syndrome.

When the conference came to a close, we were each given a small necklace with a symbol for peace on it. One of the generals' wives had a serious case of cabin fever, so she spent her time designing jewelry and such for those involved in the meetings. Aang flew us all home on Appa, taking our time sight seeing or in Toph's case "basking in the hero worship." After dropping Suki and Toph, it was just the three of us again like old times. When we finally got home, I expected him to stay with us. Instead, he stayed put on Appa, checking his bag for provisions. I spun around and gawked at him incredulously.

"You're not coming?"

"No," he replied.

I climbed my way back onto the bison and sat right next to him. He readjusted, leaving a foot and a half of space. I had had enough of that; I pulled him by the arms directly in front of me. I put my face about two inches from his.

"What's wrong? Seriously, you've been so…blank since the war ended. Especially towards me. Did I do something wrong?"

"I don't get a break do I? I save the world for everybody and you don't that I'm maybe a bit overwhelmed? I lost so much…" He trailed off, wiping the only bit of emotion from his face quickly.

I put my arm around his shoulders. "I just want to help. You don't have to go through anything alone, ever. I'll stay here forever if that's what it will take."

He stood up, leaving my arm to drop back to my side. "No. I'm fine. Nothing is wrong. I'm just over-reacting. I just have to go."

Just when I thought I had cracked the code, the vault was bolted shut.

"No! You're not! It's as if you don't care anymore. And you just can't care. You need to! People need you to. You are the only way the peace stays. If you aren't concerned with it, everything will fall about at the seams!"

"…I feel as if you're talking about something more than just my 'indifference'."

Well, no duh.

"What did I do? You kissed me that night at the play, and I thought we would be together after this war ended. And we're not." It was almost exactly like what he said to me that night of the play. Oh, how the tables had turned

He put his hand on my shoulder. "I had to go through a lot to master the Avatar state, Katara."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Apparently, that had everything to do with it. He told me in an emotionless voice how I attached him to this world. How much he had loved me. I was the only thing preventing him mastering the Avatar state.

On the day of Sozin's comet, he only planned on putting his feelings on the back burner for a few minutes. He only needed minutes to defeat the Fire lord and save the world.

But something went terribly wrong.

The feelings never came back. When he saw me again, no feelings other than relief that I was safe were felt.

I listened to this, feeling the world slowly crash around me. Like glass, my could-have-been life fell apart in shatters. It all suddenly clicked. The way he looked at me- so empty and unresponsive now- meant nothing.

I pushed myself off the bison and retreated to my house. I kept myself composed as I gathered Aang some supplies for the trip. I avoided my family members as much as possible.

Sokka noticed immediately. "You 'kay?"

It was the hardest thing to do; as fake as it was, smile.

'Of course. It's great to be home. Um. I'll just give these to Aang. He's leaving."

Sokka's eyes widened. "No." He came in closer as if to comfort me. I stepped backward, repeating the gesture that had just been done to me.

I nodded. "I was the one who suggested it. He needs time to get himself in the right mind set to start living a normal lifestyle again."

"That's very…mature."

I shrugged. "We acclimate as we need to," I replied shakily as I slipped back out the door.

When I reached the place Appa was resting, I held out the bag of equipment. "Here, for the journey," I said in a tight voice. I tried my hardest to swallow the lump in my throat.

He floated down towards me, took the bag and catapulted it onto the saddle. He put his hand back on my shoulder. It was more of a patronizing action then anything else.

"Thank you for everything, Katara. You put up with my childish feelings and took care of me better than anyone could have. But it's time for you to find someone you love, and cares for you more than that. I can never give you that. I can't say I'm regretful; broken hearts mend eventually, right? Someone is out there for you. I can feel it."

He leveled a look at me. He seemed so old. Every ounce of his youth was gone. Even his features were older- he'd recently gained a few inches on me.

"I think it's best if I leave now. Goodbye."

"…Bye," I whispered.

I looked up to see him smile his new vacant grin, and I immediately repented my actions. Seeing the smile was just too much to bear. With that, he sat on the bison for the last time.

"Yip-yip," he stated, and off they went.

I touched the peace necklace around my. After everything, the only thing I was left was this stupid pendant.

"Too bad the man who could care for me the most just left," I whispered to myself as Appa's figure disappeared out into the horizon.