A/N: Fluff! (I know TTAvatarfan, I can almost hear you groaning xD. I'll make next chapter angsty for you though, I promise ;)) So...I really don't have much to say about this one, except for I think I made Aang a little too indulgent. But hey, it's Aang. At least I'm not making him like...cruel and powerhungry or something, because that would be a lot worse ;). Anyways!

I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Aang sighed miserably and put his head in his hands.

She was gone. Again. Without even saying goodbye. Aang knew she'd come back, she always did, late at night when everyone else was already asleep. But he'd stay awake for her, awaiting her return.

He sorely missed those hours they would sit together in the sunshine, how it would make her so happy to just be with him and speak with him. But not anymore.

No, those wonderful times had stopped happening approximately two months ago, when Katara had started – Aang shuddered at the thought – dating. That's what she called it anyways. No longer was he her favorite person to spend time with, instead, Katara was out trying to find other boys to hang around with, to laugh with and talk with, to share kisses with, something Aang had yearned to do again ever since he'd had that taste on the day of black sun.

Even though those days nearly two years ago had been incredibly stressful for Aang, he couldn't help but want them back, for then, Katara had still spent time with him, helping him and talking with him and laughing with him. It had remained that way for the next two years, until now.

Aang sighed again.

Every now and then, Katara would bring one of her 'dates' to eat dinner with them, and tonight would be one of those nights. Aang hated them. Katara had brought home nearly five boys already over the past two months, and Aang liked none of them. He felt like he barely existed during those dinners, Katara didn't once look at him, and if her date did, it would be a glare. He would glare right back, but look away as soon as Katara noticed something was up. He'd feel so lonely, he almost always did now, and he feared Katara was forgetting all about him. He didn't understand it. He wanted Katara to be happy, he really did, but he just didn't understand how she could be looking for happiness in all of these different people. She barely knew them for one, the monks had always told Aang that strong relationships took time to build, and could not happen overnight. And she used to seem so happy with him…He'd thought they'd shared such a strong bond, Katara used to care for him when he was sick, she used to comfort him when his nightmares left him in frenzied screaming and sobbing, she used to hold him and kiss his cheek when he was upset, and he would more than willingly do the same for her when the opportunity presented itself. But no more.

"Thinking about Katara?" Sokka's familiar voice startled Aang out of his thoughts and the warrior placed a hand on Aang's shoulder. He untensed and looked at the ground.

"Yeah." He muttered.

"I understand buddy, I don't really get this whole dating thing either, none of those guys she brings seem right." Aang looked up.

"I know, and I think she's forgetting about us Sokka, she's never there anymore, what if…what if we loose her? What if she finds what she thinks is the right guy and never comes back?" Unbeknownst to him, his voice had taken on a rather urgent tone, which Sokka picked up on. He hastened to reassure his troubled friend.

"She's only sixteen Aang, and even though that's marrying age in our tribe, I don't think she'd be that quick to make such a big decision. She may be acting this way now, constantly trying to find guys and all, but it won't last long, and she'd wait for someone she knows really well before she accepts any proposals. I think she'll be perfectly safe, don't worry." He smiled at Aang, who couldn't find it in him to return it.

"But…I-I love her Sokka." He croaked.

"I need her. I want her to be happy but…this just doesn't make sense to me. How could she just throw away everything we've been through? How could she just forget me? I understand if she doesn't love me back, but I'd still want to be her friend, she doesn't even seem interested in that anymore." Aang shook his head and blinked back the hot liquid that pricked his eyes. Sokka frowned, remembering how he'd felt when Yue had told him that she was engaged. It had been one of the most painful moments of his life, and even though Katara wasn't engaged, he guessed Aang must be feeling similar.

"Love hurts sometimes buddy, and honestly, there's not much you can do to help that. But you still have a chance with Katara, she's only just started looking for guys, and you know her better than any of them. You're closer to her than any other guy on the planet, except maybe me, but I'm her brother. You know what she's been through, what she likes, what she doesn't like…I'd say you still have a pretty good shot, you just need to give her time." Aang's eyes shone briefly, unable to help the feeling of hopefulness that was beginning to swell inside of him.

"Really?" he asked.

"You think so?" Sokka laughed at that familiar look of youthful enthusiasm that Aang had always been able to produce better than anyone else he'd ever known.

"Yeah, you go for her Aang, plus…I think she has a thing for those tattoos." He gave the younger teen a friendly punch in the shoulder before standing up. Aang blushed but smiled, and stood up as well.

"Come on, she'll probably be here any minute for that dinner."

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As usual, Aang had to force himself to stay at the table for the entire meal. The boy Katara had brought today bothered him even more than the others usually did. He'd constantly touched Katara during dinner, and looked like he was almost straining to prevent himself from taking it too far. Luckily, Katara seemed to notice this, and did not go out after him when dinner ended. However, she did follow Aang as he left through the back door. He knelt down by the small turtleduck pond, laughing lightly when its occupants swam up to him. He guessed they'd gotten used to him bringing them crumbs, for they would always come to him when he approached. Fortunately, he had brought some for them today, and held out his hand for them to eat from. A smile crept over his features as they did, and for a moment he forgot about Katara. That was, until he felt the unmistakable feeling of her hand on his shoulder and heard the sound of her voice.

"You're really good with animals." She complimented, smiling at him. He shrugged.

"Thanks." His heart rate had begin to speed up, and he was glad it was dark so Katara couldn't see his blush. Oh why did he always get this way around her? It wasn't fair, she was going out with other guys, and she still managed to do this to him every time she got near him. He felt so…powerless. It was as though he was her puppet, she could do whatever she wanted to him, and he really wished she'd choose to be near him so he wouldn't feel so empty like he always did these days. Abruptly, he found himself questioning the reasons for this.

"Katara…why are you doing this?" He asked, cursing himself for the slight hint of pleading in his voice.

"Doing what?" She replied simply, effectively hiding the fact that she knew exactly what Aang was talking about.

"Dating. Always going out with these random guys you find." Why are you leaving me?

Katara bended a stream of water from the pond, feeling her cheeks go red.

"I guess…I want to find the right guy. Everyone else in my tribe find husbands at this age, and I just don't want to end up with the wrong one, I think that's why I'm trying so many people…" Her expression changed suddenly from calm, to rather desperate.

"I just don't want to be left behind you know? Everyone's coupling up, and the ones who don't always get looked down upon. People make fun of them, and everyone thinks they're ugly or stupid or something because they don't have husbands, and I'm afraid if I don't find someone by the time I'm twenty then…" she broke off and Aang finished for her.

"That'll be you?" he asked. Katara nodded, moving her head away from his gaze. He put a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry, it won't be. You'll find someone, so just be patient. You're only sixteen you have plenty of time to get married and all of that. Besides, there's probably millions of guys out there that would love to be with you, I mean you're pretty and smart and you're always really, really nice!" Katara blushed again, if there was anyone who wouldn't have trouble finding someone, it was him.

"Thanks." She said quietly.

"You're really nice too, and I've always thought you were kinda cute." Aang's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. Had Katara actually just called him cute?! Oh wow…Katara giggled at her friend's expression.

"I missed you." She sighed.

"I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have abandoned you all these weeks to spend time with people I barely know, you deserve better than that, I should've been a better friend to you. And I wouldn't blame you if you were mad at me for that."

"It's alright, I understand, now that you told me why." Suddenly, the talk Aang had had with Sokka earlier flew into his mind. You go for her Aang.

"Hey Katara, can I ask you something?" Rather than answering his question, Katara took his hand.

"Actually, I wanted to ask you something." Aang lifted his eyes cautiously to hers.

"Sure." He said softly. Katara took a deep breath before speaking.

"Would you…would you like to be my boyfriend?" What?! Aang couldn't believe his ears, but yet Katara was sitting there, looking at him with a combination of embarrassment and expectancy, obviously waiting for an answer.

"I'd understand if you don't...I don't want to pressure you into anything, and you totally deserve better after the way I've been treating you these past few weeks but…" Aang cut her off.

"I'd love to." He said sincerely, grinning at her. She grinned right back, then after a moment that seemed to last forever, pulled him into a soft, slow kiss. His eyes widened again before they fluttered shut and he allowed himself to fall prey to Katara's actions. After a moment, she pushed him onto his back, placing herself above him. He simply lay there and kissed back, comfortable for once in this vulnerable position. Even when Katara finally detached her lips from his, his eyes remained closed and his lips stayed slightly puckered. It took him a few seconds to process that the kiss had ended, and when he did, he sat up, rubbing his neck embarrassedly and blushing, but smiling all the same. Kissing Katara was one thing, he decided, but actually being kissed by her was completely different…and so much more wonderful. Never before had he felt so loved or appreciated…perhaps he truly was meant to live now, one hundred and fourteen years after his birth. Suddenly feeling lightheaded (in a good way) he lay down again, and this time Katara joined him, reaching an arm over and laying it across his chest, grasping his hand, then placing a kiss on his cheek.

"I love you Aang." She sighed.

"I think I really do." He grinned.

"So, this means you won't be bringing new guys home for dinner every two weeks anymore?" he asked playfully. Katara rolled her eyes but was unable to help the giggle that escaped her.

"Of course not." Aang felt her squeeze his hand.

"I'm glad."