Tears

Katara was crying. Not just one glistening tear down her cheek. No she was absolutely sobbing. The sobs racking her body and making her shake. She had wandered a bit away from the group so they wouldn't see her tears. She had done what Aang would have done really. She [With much difficulty] climbed a tree until she was surrounded by the pine branches. Where no one would find her unless she made to much noise in her tears.

Katara sniffled and tried to dry her tears but they just wouldn't stop coming. So she let them fall just as she did every year on this date. The anniversary of her mother's death- on this day all those years ago her mother had sacrificed herself to save Katara's own life.

'She didn't have to do that.' Katara sobbed. 'She didn't deserve to die.'

Then she heard a rustling of the branches below her and after a few seconds later Aang air bended himself up onto her branch. She turned away from him.

'What's wrong Katara? We're all worried.'

'Nothing's wrong.' She wiped her tears. 'I just wanted to see the view from up here.'

Aang looked behind him and only saw the pine branches. He raised an eyebrow.

'Alright…I'm upset.'

'Do you want to talk about it?'

She shook her head.

'Then don't just let me comfort you.' He held his arms open for her. She climbed easily into them and let Aang wrap his arms around her. She continued to sob wetting Aang's monk robes. He patted her back and ran his fingers through her hair not saying a word. It was a while before either of them moved. Besides Katara's continuous sobs was the only sounds. She looked up at Aang and whispered.

'Thanks.'

'No problem. Sometimes it's better not to speak. '

'How are you so wise?' She said in a teasing tone smiling up at him through her tears. Her eyes were red from her tears but Aang still thought she was beautiful.

'I think it's an Avatar thing.' He said.

'Must be.' She shook her head. 'How can I be joking on today of all days?' He looked down at her a curious expression on his face. 'Today was the day that my mom died.' She whispered into his robes.

'Oh Katara I'm so sorry.'

'It's alright Aang I just can't believe I still remember the day it is.'

'It's just not something you forget.' He replied. 'Some things you just can't forget.'

She nodded. 'Thank you again Aang. You're always there you know. '

'Your welcome my arms are always open you know.' She giggled for reasons she was yet to discover. She blushed. She was just so happy that she had met Aang. If she hadn't she'd be in the south pole right now crying the same way she was now. Except with no warm arms to hold her at this vulnerable moment. She didn't know what she would do without Aang.

She blushed for the first time feeling kind of nervous in this position with Aang. Suddenly having impulses that she never would have dreamed to have. She blurted out. 'We should get back. You know the others-'

'Will be worried.' He finished for her.

She nodded. 'You're right we should get back before…you know they worry.' She saw Aang blush in the dark and realized he was nervous to. She felt almost happy about the idea of him feeling that way around her.

She blushed again as Aang wrapped his arms around her legs so that he could help her out of the tree. They slowly floated down to the ground. Katara's face was just inches from his. They both flushed bright red. Aang set Katara down. 'Thanks.' She mumbled trying to hide the blush that just wouldn't go away.

'Your welcome. '

They walked back to the camp without a word between the two of them. Walking quite close their shoulders occasionally brushing each others. At this time each of them would blush and mumble an apology. They reached the camp ignoring the stares from Sokka and Toph as they walked in.

They sat down next to each other around the fire. Sokka raised an eyebrow. Toph couldn't help but smirk. Their heartbeats were both sped up to the speed up an overactive gerbil. She of course wouldn't say this out loud though. She would get it out of Aang at earth bending class the next day. It wasn't that hard to get information out of him expectably when it included Katara- his favorite subject.

Later that night Katara glanced over at Aang's sleeping form. His chest raised with each breath. She smiled at his innocence while he slept. A thought came to her mind. What would she do without Aang? He was her best friend and maybe something more…

No. She mentally slapped herself. He's your best friend. How are you think of him in that way?

But she couldn't help herself. She just couldn't.