I can't believe it—a fast update! You guys got lucky!

Disclaimer: You know the drill. ATLA is not mine…yet.

"Sokka, are you…crying?"

Aang was third to wake up one fateful morning, and the first thing he saw was Sokka engulfed in Suki's arms on the sofa, small sobs escaping the warrior's lips.

Sokka looked up and glared at Aang. "Leave me alone, Airhead! This is none of your business!"

Suki sighed. "Sokka, it's not his fault. Don't yell at him."

After a few more seconds of crying, the warrior responded, "You're right…" Looking back up at a shocked Aang, he said, "I'm sorry, buddy. I…I just…my—" And then he lost all control, shaking with sobs.

Suki rubbed his back supportively. She then addressed Aang. "There's been a…loss."

Aang's eyes widened in realization. "No…it—it can't be…is it…their grandmother—"

Sokka let out a loud, inhuman sob, burrowing deeper into Suki's arms.

Aang gasped. "Oh, my gosh, Sokka, I didn't mean—"

Suki sighed. "It isn't your fault, Aang. Their grandmother was—"

"What about our grandmother?"

The trio gasped and saw Katara standing behind Aang with a worried expression on her face.

"Why is Sokka crying? Suki? What's wrong with Gran-Gran?!" the Waterbender demanded, her tone growing urgent.

Sokka just continued to weep into Suki's shoulder. All Suki could utter was, "I—uh…"

"Katara…" Aang started cautiously.

Katara cut him off in anger. "TELL ME!" she erupted. When no reply was given, tears began to well up in her widened eyes. "Oh…oh, no. Is she…? She—she can't be…n-no…"

Aang tried to comfort her. "Katara, I'm so—"

"Save it, Aang…" she said chokedly, before she let out an animalistic cry and ran to her bedroom in tears.

The Avatar stood frozen, mouth agape and unsure of what to do. "I…I guess I should—"

Sokka looked up again. "C-can you go to K-Katara for me? Sh-she needs you."

Aang nodded. "You're right." He walked after Katara and came to her bedroom door. It was open a crack, allowing Aang to see the girl sitting on her bed crying. The sight made him want to cry as well, his heart swelling with sympathy.

"Katara?" he called, announcing his presence. He opened the door a little more. "Is it okay if I…can I come in?"

"Aang…" Katara sobbed. "Aang…"

He took that as a yes, entering her bedroom and sitting next to her as she cried softly. He was completely confused. What could he say to her? 'I'm sorry' didn't seem quite right; it wasn't his fault. And yet…he couldn't help but feel it was.

Katara buried her head in Aang's shoulder, wrapping her arms tightly around him and holding on for dear life. "A-Aang…"

He rubbed the small ofher back. "It's okay, Katara. It's—"
"No, Aang, it's not okay!" she yelled. "Everyone I've ever cared about leaves me! Why does everybody have to die? I-it all happens so fast, like…like lightning!"

Aang tensed. "Y-you're talking about me, aren't you?"

Katara sighed shakily, sniffling. "I'm sorry…I just can't believe it. I-I've lost everyone."

"That's not true. You have your dad, and Sokka," Aang pointed out.

"Dad's never around, and…" Katara paused to take a deep, shaky breath. "I-I love Sokka, but…he's not the same."

"What about all of us?" Aang asked. "We love you, we're always around."

"But…Gran-Gran was more than just around," Katara explained. "I love you guys, but she…she helped to fill some of the void left by…by my mother."

"Oh." Now Aang felt like an idiot. It's hard to replace a mother's love. Katara's grandmother was the closest to it that she'd ever had, and now…

"I'm…sorry, Katara. I had no idea." Aang tightened his grip on her.

She made a noncommittal sound to acknowledge him as her crying gradually subsided to occasional sniffling.

"I…I feel like it's my fault," Aang said guiltily, pulling away from her. "I mean…I only ever took you back home once, right after the war ended…and she was fine then. I'm really sorry."

"Oh, Aang, it's not your fault…" Katara said with a sniffle. "You had no idea this would happen, the same as all of us."

"Still…I shouldn't have let this happen. You could have healed her, I know you could." He looked away in shame.

"Aang…" She brought a hand to his cheek and turned his head to face her. "You're really sweet, but I don't think there was anything I could have done."

He sighed, holding her close once again. A somewhat comfortable silence settled between the two.

After a while, Katara spoke. "Thanks, Aang…for being here for me." She pecked Aang on the lips appreciatively.

"You don't have to thank me," he replied, briefly kissing her back. "That's what I'm here for."

It wasn't easy for Katara to handle losing her mother at age eight and her grandmother at fifteen. It wasn't easy for her to suffer so much so young. But, she decided, as long as she had Aang, she'd be able to get through anything.