Another Kataang story. This actually started out a LOT different, but my finishing product isn't always the same as how it was when I started it. Enjoy.

One more month until the finale!!


I watched her. Her gaze at the stars never left. She just stared. I smiled as I thought about all of the times our little group would sit and watch the night sky. I found myself walking towards her and lying next to her.

"Stars are interesting things. What do you think they are?" I didn't even think she knew I was there with her gaze staying in the same place and all.

I thought about Katara's question. What were stars? I remember asking Gyatso the same question when I was little. He told me not to worry about such things but if I ever did think about it, to make them be whatever I wanted. I thought about telling this to Katara but I wanted to give her a true answer. So I gave her the answer that I always thought about the stars.

"They're dreams. Dreams of ordinary people. Dreams of love, hope, peace; enchanted dreams."

I was satisfied with my answer. I guess she was also because she smiled and sighed.

"I wonder if any of my dreams are up there. I dream a lot…about the things you said."

"So do I."

And boy did I ever. I don't think there was ever a dream, not nightmare but dream, that I've ever had that wasn't about those things. I had always wanted hope in the world and peace. I had always wanted love. I had always wanted her love. Her amazing, beautiful love.

"When I was little, I had love and hope. I dreamed of peace. I had hope that peace would come. I'd hear stories about times before the war from Gran-Gran and everything just sounded so perfect. Then she spoke about a person who used to bring peace and others would cut into her stories and bash him. They said that he left to save himself and that he didn't care about anyone else. He wanted out."

As I listened to her words, my heart sank a little. She was talking about me. I had let so many people down that night…

"But I didn't understand why the peacekeeper of the World would abandon us because he wanted to save himself. I knew that he would come back. I didn't know when, but I knew that he would. I had dreams that this great man would come and end the war. And even though he never came, I still had hope that he was somewhere out there and he'd appear at any moment. I felt like I had this strange attachment to him and I was determined that he would come back. Then I found him. And even though he was small I had faith in him. Every dream I had of him came true. I didn't care that he wasn't this big strong man, I didn't care that he was only a little kid, I knew he could do this ever since he said that he was the Avatar. And then the dream became so much more real."

She paused.

"How did it become more real?"

"He's strong, brave, and…"

Katara's voice faded out and she kind of choked on the last word. What was wrong? Had I done something? What else did she dream about when she was younger?

"I'm still not sure if the last part of my dreams came true. Maybe I haven't had them enough."

"What do you mean?"

"After I met him, the dreams were the same only the changed a little. I dreamt of him saving the world, bringing peace, and I-."

"You what?"

Why couldn't she finish her sentence? What happened?

"Never mind. That's not important anymore."

I rolled over on my side and looked at Katara. Her eyes were squinted but she never took her eyes off of the stars. I nudged her a little with my hand and she turned on her side and looked me in the eyes. I felt like I was staring into a neverending dream. What was it that she couldn't tell me?

"I never left you."

"And you haven't."

"No. That's not how I meant it. I never left you."

I was confused. She was right, though. She had never left me. She's always been there for me. So what was the point that she was getting at?

"Do you understand?" I shook my head a little. I think I was starting to make her angry that I didn't get what she was saying. "What do you dream about?"

She couldn't just change the subject! Well, it was the same subject but she never told me what she was getting at. Then I realized what she had asked. What did I dream about? I dreamt about her- all the time. I couldn't say that. She did dream about me and she did admit to that but it was for hope for the world not romantic pleasure. I couldn't tell her that I dreamt about pulling her in closely to me and kissing her and her kissing back. I couldn't tell her that I dreamt about being with her for the rest of my life. I just couldn't. It was too personal. But I had to answer.

"I dream about…things."

"But what about?"

I just had to tell her that the stars were dreams. I wasn't even sure! So I whispered my answer just barely hoping that she wouldn't hear me.

"You."

I felt my face heat up and I was positive it was red.

"How so?"

I wished she would stop asking me these questions.

"You know…just well…I just dream of you kind of. Like you teaching me how to Waterbend."

How she touched me when she taught me.

"How you comfort me…"

How she held me.

"And stuff like that."

Yeah. And stuff like that.

"Is that all?"

I felt my heart speed up. I hadn't exactly told her that I loved her, but that's as close as it could get without saying 'I love you'.

"What?"

She looked confused. Did I just say that last sentence out loud? I didn't think I did. But then again I thought I had felt my lips move a little.

"I uh…I was thinking about a dream I once had and I didn't mean it in that way I was just saying things to take up time. I didn't even know who I was saying it to and I-."

"What are you talking about?" she kind of laughed. If I hadn't embarrassed myself before, I certainly had now. "What did you say earlier?"

So she didn't hear it. Crap.

"I don't remember," I lied.

"I dream about you in more ways than just the Avatar. I-."

"Love. Earlier I said love."

Don't do it, Aang.

"In my dreams I love you." What was I saying?! "But those are dreams." Great. Now I sounded like a jerk.

"In my dreams I love you, too. Weird how we can have the same dreams. And it's weird how they can sometimes come true."

Wait…did she just say-

"I love you."

I stared at her and blinked a few times before she turned onto her back and stared back up at the stars again.

"I don't know how many stars there are up there that say 'I love Aang'. I guess it's just star-crossed love."

Star-crossed? I sat up and looked down at her. Her gaze never turned away.

"Your love isn't doomed."

I felt like a complete idiot. Why had I told her that I only dreamt loving her? I did love her and I always wished and dreamed that she loved me back. And now she does, but she thinks that I don't. She probably feels awkward and embarrassed and- what was I thinking?

"It's not doomed, Katara. But those are dreams. Big dreams, real dreams. But they're more than just dreams."

Katara closed her eyes. I scooted over right next to her and looked down. She just lied there with her hands behind her head, eyes closed, breathing nervously, dreaming only awake. I supported my weight on my right hand as I took the other one and put it on the other side of Katara so the top half of my body was sideways over hers. I went down fast. She opened her eyes for a moment and opened her mouth ready to say something but never got the chance. My eyes shut tight and my mouth was pressed against hers with much force. She grunted when our lips collided but then she sighed and relaxed a little.

I positioned the rest of my body over hers and I felt her hands slide onto my arms and around my neck. I felt her breathe into me and her lips move with mine. She pulled my head down, deepening the kiss. I felt my legs weaken so I straightened one out, lowering myself to rest some of my weight onto her. As her hands moved down to my chest I leaned in more. And there we were, sharing dreams, sharing hope…sharing stars.