Alrighty, here is chapter eight. I updated a lot sooner than I usually do...hmm...anyway... This chapter is not very well written, so I'm sorry. I promise the next one will be better and include AangxOnJi fluff. This one primarily focuses on Aang and Katara's relationship -not necessarily kataang, for any of you who do not like the shipping. Well, that's about it. Hope you enjoy!

One quick note, though: Thanks to everyone that has reviewed so far. I greatly appreaciate your comments :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender


Flashback

Aang turned to Sokka, a sober smile on his face. The two looked at each other for a moment, trying to hold back tears and any sign of weakness. However, weak or not, they were hugging in a flash, mumbling their goodbyes.

"Hey, no matter what…you're my brother, Aang," Sokka said as he and the young Avatar pulled apart.

"Thanks Sokka. You too," Aang replied, then paused, "…and even though I never said it, you're one of my si fu's too. You've taught me a lot."

The young man smiled at the Avatar and wrapped an arm around his girlfriend's waist. Suki had already exchanged goodbyes with Aang. In fact, the whole group minus Katara had all said their goodbyes to the Avatar.

"Aang," even when she was despondent her voice was beautiful music to Aang's ears.

He turned to her, knowing what was coming next. She threw her arms around him, mumbling into the crook of his neck. His arms encircled her waist, pulling her closer.

"I'm going to miss you, Katara," he whispered into her hair.

"Why don't you come with me to the Southern Water Tribe? Please…," she pleaded into his ear.

A shiver ran through him, but he shook his head sadly, feeling her tears seep through the new tunic she had sewn for him. After a moment she pulled away just enough to look him in the eyes. I'm going to miss those eyes…There was a vast ocean of emotion in each of their eyes, but neither was willing to voice them. Katara leaned in and placed a sweet kiss on the corner of Aang's lips.

"Thank you for this adventure, Aang," she chuckled ruefully, "I'm sorry for not…I- I owe you for it, for everything…"

"No," he said, "I owe you everything, Katara. You don't owe me any thanks or apologies. You don't owe me anything…."

The young woman wrinkled her brow in disagreement, but sensing that Aang had more to say, stayed silent.

"Just promise me one thing. Please?"

"Of course, Aang. What is it?"

"Promise me that we'll always be as close as we are now, that nothing can change what we are…," his steel colored orbs gazed into her ocean colored ones, searching for the one answer he was hoping for.

A thoughtful smile came to her lips and she nodded.

"I promise," she said firmly, her eyes boring into his own eyes and into his soul.

"I love you…," she whispered, a soft blush grazing her cheeks.

"I love you, too, Katara. Always."

Katara cupped his cheek with her hand, smiling at him before dropping her arm. Aang gazed around at his friends, his family. They had been watching his exchange with Katara and now looked more despondent than they had before. Even Toph and Sokka kept their sarcasm at bay with sedate silence.

"This isn't goodbye, guys. You'll always be my family… We'll write, visit," he held back the tears that fought their way to his eyes, "Good luck. Thank you."

They all nodded in silent affirmation that they agreed with his statement. Quickly, they enveloped the Avatar in a group hug before letting him climb onto Appa.

"Take care, Twinkle Toes. Don't forget what I taught ya," Toph shouted as Momo leapt from her shoulder to the ascending bison.

A few of her tears moistened the soil on which she had planted her feet, but she did not try to hide them in shame. With everyone else in tears, there was no use in pretending she didn't care.

"Bye Aang," Suki and Sokka both chorused.

Zuko bowed respectfully, unsure of what to say apart from the words he had spoken earlier.

And as they all grew farther from sight, Aang could see Katara begin to cry and then throw her arms around Zuko's shoulders, not wanting to watch the boy she loved disappear. Though he was sad, Aang smiled a bit to himself. I'm glad she's found a friend in him…

End Flashback

"Whatcha mopin' about Twinkle Toes?"

Toph turned her head in Aang's general direction, curious as to why he had been so silent since his date with OnJi the other day, even when the whole gang was together. Aang simply mumbled something distractedly and continued to sulk on the floor of the apartment he, Toph, Sokka, and Suki shared while in Ba Sing Se. Katara and Zuko stayed in the Fire Lord's Ba Sing Se manor, but came around the apartment regularly during their stay in the city. Suki and Sokka had gone out to visit with the Earth King, and apparently Zuko and Katara had other things to do besides visit with the two youngest members of their group.

Toph shrugged and focused on picking her toes. Aang simply heaved a sigh.

"Hey you two," Katara's voice rang hesitantly through the living room.

"Heya Sugar Queen! Here to update us on when the wedding bells will be ringing," Toph said with fake enthusiasm.

Sensing her insincerity, Katara only grinned cheekily at the earth bender and turned her attention to Aang, who was scrutinizing her with a severe expression.

"Actually, I came here to talk to Aang…," she said quietly, less than sure of herself once she saw the expression on his face.

"Oh, coming here to finish the job on his heart?"

"Toph, leave her alone," Aang said half-heartedly, then stood from his position on the floor to greet Katara.

"Hey."

"Hi Aang…," she said quietly, "Do you think we can go for a walk?"

He nodded and began heading for the door, Katara close at his heels. As they left, Toph scoffed, knowing full well that Aang would return with more to sulk about than before.

…………………………………………………………………………

"What did you want to talk about, Katara," the Avatar eyed her guardedly as the two walked the same streets he had walked with OnJi a week earlier.

…Only this time Aang noticed hushed voices starting up the minute he and Katara walked into sight. The people of Ba Sing Se seemed to find the sight of Avatar Aang and future Fire Lady Katara walking alone together something worth discussing immediately. For reasons he could not come up with he found himself growing tense and irritated. Ugh… I don't want to be here…Things just can't be the way they were before.

Katara sighed after a few minutes of silence.

"I really am sorry, Aang."

He did not need to question what she was sorry about. He knew and he refused to discuss it.

"Katara, I told you two years ago that you owe me no apologies, nothing," the Avatar let out a tense breath of frustration, "And unlike you, I meant what I said."

The two stopped at a bench in a park, but neither sat. Katara tried to place a hand on Aang's shoulder, but he shrugged her off and looked away. She heaved a sigh and having expected him to be a stubborn, she took a moment to consider her next words; she was prepared to plead for his friendship again.

"Aang. Aang, please just look at me," she hoped he would listen to her as he used to.

He did.

"I did mean it, Aang. I just…What happened was unexpected. I thought you understood that…," she furrowed her brow at the young man, "I mean, at the ball you were fine and I know you're hurt, but…Why can't we still be friends –like we used to be? I've been trying... but you've been ignori—"

Her voice came out more pleading than she intended, but if she intended to win his friendship again, she did not care. However, only another frustrated sigh escaped Aang and he stalked off quickly before Katara could finish, leaving her somewhat stunned and confused. Nonetheless, she darted after him, taking hold of his arm in much the same manner OnJi had that night a week prior… OnJi… He stopped and allowed himself to look at the young woman before him, his first love.

"Aang, why didn't you wait for me to finish?"

"I did wait, Katara! I waited for a year! I waited and waited for you! And when you finally got to where I was, you decided to go back! You gave me excuses that made me wish I hadn't wasted my time waiting…that I hadn't bothered to trust you with something that you didn't want in the first place…So, no things can't be the same anymore...This friendship is ruined all because I was blinded by –by you!"

When Aang was done he was breathing heavily, quite surprised at himself for two reasons. For one, he had raised his voice at her –that was certainly a first. The second... –well, he hadn't realized he felt so hurt and resentful until the words had come flying out of his mouth.

"I'm… –I –I'm sorry…," she stuttered her apology, feeling ashamed.

In that moment Katara wanted nothing more than to take him into her arms the way she used to, to make everything all better again. But she couldn't. He was too angry and she was no longer a source of comfort for him. She was his becoming quite the opposite, it seemed.

"You should be! I gave too much of my heart away to you. I'm trying to get it back, but it's no easy task, Katara. Now, because of you I can't love OnJi!"


Well, I tried... Hopefully, this chap didn't bore you to death. It was so difficult for me to write... Thanks for reading! Review if you'd like...