A/N. I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender

Katara sat down, exhausted from their day. After Than had appealed for help when his belongings had been stolen, they had decided to help them get to Ba Sing Se by crossing the Serpent's Pass. Well… Aang had decided. The airbender was being… Well, not himself. The waterbender suspected he was trying to shield himself from feeling emotions.

When they had been readying to leave the refugee camp, Suki had joined them. Katara suspected it was not to help them if there was a fight, but rather to spend some time with Sokka. She had to sile at that. After all that her brother had gone through the last few months, he deserved the attention and distraction. And that Suki gave them blankets, a sleeping bag and a new tent were not unwelcome either.

They had gone around midday and had been attacked by the Fire Nation almost immediately. Apparently, the Western Lake was a contested zone, where the Fire Nation Navy tried to assert its dominance over the Earth Kingdom's ships.

Katara had been seen the fireball launch from the ship. And also, had seen Aang's face was the fireball was coming their way. No fear, no apprehension. Just a stone-cold face, with that smile again. The smile she had seen him make in the desert. The one she had hoped never to see again.

The airbender had just blown the fireball away. Katara had hoped he aimed for the water. But the fireball had ripped through the ship, straight through the chimney of the machines… Even from the distance, the waterbender had heard the screams.

Now, they were camping around halfway across the Pass, on a rocky out crop facing the Eastern Lake, which was in Earth Kingdom hands for the moment. While the others were setting up the camp, she sat down on a flat rock, overlooking the great expanse of water. In the distance, the waterbender saw several ferries make their way north, towards the great city.

"Miss?" Than came to stand next to her, "Your brother said you have helped with births in your village… And that you are a wonderful healer… Could take a look at my wife? I'm worried for her, all this straining…" He asked her.

Katara stood up, smiling tiredly, and walked over to where Ying was sitting, talking to Suki. The Kyoshi warrior was again wearing her uniform, with face paint and all. The waterbender put her own problems at the side for the moment, and sat down in front of the pregnant woman.

"How are you feeling?" She asked, in the calm voice she used when healing.

"Tired. And to be honest, I could be feeling better. But thanks, Ka-Tara," Ying spoke her name with that typical Earth Kingdom accent. The waterbender nodded, but still, was thinking that the woman was trying to be brave. So, taking water from her poach, she covered her hands with it and began examining the woman. Katara would have liked to know what she was looking for, because, when she had helped Gran Gran, it was she who did most of the examining. And also… Well, it had several years that no new children had been born. The last child that had been born was when the waterbender was just over thirteen. Two people had come from the interior to the village, knowing that Kanna was a good midwife. The man had later left to join her father's fleet, and the woman had stayed in the village for protection.

"So far as I can see, both you and the child are healthy. But please, take it easy tonight." She said to the pregnant woman, who nodded, and stood up, with great difficulty, to waddle towards her family.

Katara sighed, looking at the woman.

"A brave girl. I would not do all this in her condition. What do you think? The child can be born any day now, doesn't it?" Suki voice came from her left.

"Yeah… Maybe a week? But yeah, pregnant, and undertaking these kinds of risks? Never." The waterbender responded. Her respect for the woman, which had already been quite high, elevated even more, thinking of the hardships she had to endure to come her.

"So… How have you all been?" The Kyoshi warrior asked. Katara realized that with everything, they had only told her about Appa, but nothing more.

"Well, it was tough. We got to the North Pole and learned waterbending. Have you heard about the Siege of the North Pole?"

"We heard something about a Fire Nation fleet being wrecked up north, but nothing more… What happened?"

So, Katara told her. It felt so good to finally talk to someone who just listened… Aang did that, but he had not been there for her since the desert. So, talking to someone who didn't joke around was very uplifting. When she finished telling their whole tale, the waterbender felt so relieved. Not once had Suki cut her off, or gave her own opinion on a matter. She just listened.

"What happened to Aang?" Was the only question the Kyoshi Warrior asked.

"He has shut himself off. Aang… Well, I have seen him brooding before, but not like this. Now… His whole personality is gone. And we are left with this empty shell, refusing to feel anything. He is also ignoring me…" That hurt her the must. She understood the need to distance himself from anger and hurt after the incident in the desert with the sandbenders. But Katara had thought that their conversations about feelings and about… them… Had been enough to have him open up towards her.

"You love him, don't you?" Suki saw right through her. And even though Katara didn't want to think about that right now, it was actually the perfect moment. A kind person, who knew them both, and who wasn't travelling with them constantly. Someone who would be impartial.

"Well… I don't know… I think so. But there are things that complicate matters. Like him being the last airbender. Him being the Avatar. His state at this moment." She admitted. Those things had weighed heavily on her heart. And to open up to someone, it felt good.

"And what does he feel?" Suki asked. No judgement. Only kindness.

"I… we have talked about it. Not really acknowledging that we talked about each other. But the conversation was quite clear. He has feelings. I just don't know what those are." She didn't like it, but that was the truth. She didn't know.

"How is he normally, with you I mean?"

"Wonderful… He respects me. And that is not something normally taught to young men in the water tribes… I feel… valued. Not just some piece of meat. I feel respected for my capabilities first and foremost. He would never do anything I didn't want to." Katara explained. She missed that Aang. She wanted the kind, joyful and respectful airbender back. She didn't want to trade that Aang for the one she had now.

"It sounds to me like you know perfectly well what he is to you. I don't know what exactly is happening to him right now… But you may be the only one capable of getting him out of it. Haven't you seen it? How he acts, specifically towards you now? You say, he tries to shield himself from feeling emotions. Aang has talked to Sokka, to the earthbending girl, to everyone, but one person, he tries to avoid." Suki said, while looking intensely at the waterbender.

"Yeah…. Me. I've noticed…." Katara sighed. She had noted that. How the airbender had been trying his best not to look at her. How he had been avoiding speaking to her. That he had not uttered her name since the desert.

"In that case, go speak to him. In the meantime, … I'll try to speak with Sokka." Suki smiled, standing up and waving, while she walked off towards where her brother was sitting. Katara smiled, seeing the hopeful expression on Sokka's face when the girl stood next to him. It was good to see her brother smile. Then, returning to her own predicament, the waterbender looked at where Aang had gone. Sighing, she stood up, and walked past Toph, who was talking to Meihui, the sister of Than, who apparently had seen King Bumi earthbend once at some sort of competition in Omashu.

Katara walked towards the rocky ledge where Aang had retreated to as soon as camp was set up. As soon as she saw the young man outlined against the night sky, the waterbender realized something was wrong. Normally, the airbender stood loosely, putting some weight on one foot while the other just hung there. But now, both feet were firmly pressed against the ground, and he stood so rigidly as if made of stone. Katara felt her heart crack at the sight alone. That wasn't Aang. Aang was the young man who couldn't stay still, who was always doing one thing or the other. But there stood a statue.

"Hey…" She spoke softly, but in the still spring night, she was sure he had heard her perfectly well. But he didn't respond. Still looking over the lake, the airbender didn't give a sign.

"Aang. Look at me." The waterbender said, while gently putting a hand on his arm. The airbender immediately moved away, taking a step back, turning around. His eyes didn't meet hers, but rather, evaded her gaze.

"You know, it is okay to miss Appa…" Katara began, while looking at the airbender. He still stood straight, looking just over her shoulder, "What is going on with you?"

She knew perfectly well what was going on. He was shutting himself off, from everyone. And as Suki had said, especially from her.

"In the desert, all you cared for was finding Appa, and now, it's like you don't care for him. That you just want to speak with the Earth King," THe waterbender spoke. Indeed, Aang had, since they got out of the desert, only spoken about going to Ba Sing Se to meet the Earth King. Never, once, about his bison.

For the first time in two days, she saw the airbender's eye move towards her own face. Apparently, she had finally managed to get through. But as she looked in his eyes, she was only met with that brooding, dark look…

"You saw what I did out there." He hissed, stamping his staff on the ground, "I was so angry about losing Appa. I couldn't control myself. I hated feeling like that." The airbender whispered, trying to control the anger she heard in his voice.

As she listened, she realized that the last few days had been destructive on his morale. Not only had he lost Appa, but that spirit… Had also insulted him. Shamed him.

"But now, you're not letting yourself feel anything…." She protested. The waterbender could handle a sad Aang. She could live with an angry airbender. But she didn't want him to close off. Katara knew, from personal experience, that dulling your emotions is not a solution, but rather putting of the core problem.

"Aang… I know sometimes it hurts more to hope, and it hurt more to care. But you have to hope that Appa is alright. You have to care for more than just your duties. I know you said that helping this family is your duty, as Avatar. I know it isn't. You say that, but that is Aang speaking. Not the Avatar. Aang would help this family. Promise me that you won't stop caring." Katara spoke. She knew that he was trying to become emotionless, because it hurt less. She moved to envelop him in her arms, as she usually did when he was feeling sad or angry. But she knew this was something else entirely. And that a hug wouldn't be enough. Still, it hurt when he took a step backwards… again.

"Thank you for your concern." He bowed politely. No. She was staying. Aang was not going to get rid of her that easy.

"Aang. Look at me. Why won't you look at me?" She asked, feeling downcast. Never had he refused her affections.

The airbender looked away again. Staring over the water, to something that Katara couldn't see.

"I thought… I thought we were being honest with each other! And you're not! I understand the incredible pain you are feeling! But we can't help you if you shut m… us out!" Katara whispered, still standing behind him. When she was only met with silence, she could feel her own irritation bubble to the surface.

"Listen to me! I understand you are hurt by Appa's disappearance. I can see that Wan-Chi Tong's remarks hurt you! But you seem to forget one thing! You are not alone! We all miss him! And about being the last airbender, a poor representative of you people? Most people seem to think you will be the last. I know you are the only airbender at this moment! But not the last! So, we will find Appa! And we will prove that stupid spirit wrong. This is a terrible moment, I won't deny it. But there is always light at the end of the tunnel Aang. You know that."

She watched his back, still standing straight. As she finished what she had to say, the waterbender saw him move slightly. Ah, there was the chink in the armour. She moved towards him, but stopped when she his fist, clenched around the staff. It was steaming…

"Don't you think I know that? Don't you think I want to feel things?" Katara heard the airbender speak, in that low voice that she had heard in the desert…

"Then why don't you?" She understood that he wanted to protect himself.

"Because everything I care for is dead or lost to me. I don't want to let that happen again." The airbender spoke, still not looking at her.

"People do care, even if you don't want them to. Sokka asked me on the sandglider if there was something he could do to lift your spirits. Toph is eating herself up about the fact that you could be angry with her for what happened. She is afraid to lose the first friend she has ever had. Even Suki asked about you. People do care about you Aang. By closing yourself off, you are only hurting those who love you." She extended her arm, but the airbender seemed to feel her approach, because he stepped away. Again.

"You know this. People love you. And I… I miss you Aang. I miss our discussions while travelling. I miss you goofing around just to make me laugh. I want to hear your voice again, talking about things you care about. I want us to be back to normal…" She was pouring her heart out. The waterbender loved her friends, but Aang was always the person she had needed on their travels. And without him, it was just not the same.

As she looked at him, she saw him beginning to turn around. But he halted.

"It is better to miss me than to live with me." Was his only reaction. The airbender began to walk away. But Katara, with tears in her eyes, had one more thing to say.

"I don't think so! I want you back! You know why!" She grimaced at that. She had not wanted to talk about her feelings…

Aang turned around, and for the first time in days, finally looked her in the eyes. Relieved, Katara saw that the dark look was gone, and that the features of the airbender were back at semi normal. He was still looking calm and collected, trying to avoid any emotion. But she saw his eyes. His grey eyes shone, and there was a little bit of hope inside them. But as soon as her eyes met his, the look disappeared.

"I know… That's why it is better…" With that, he walked away, leaving her on the rocky ledge. The waterbender sighed, knowing it was no use when he was thinking like this. Returning to the campfire, she saw that the refugees were huddled together, sleeping or pretending to sleep. Toph had disappeared inside her tent, and her brother was nowhere to be seen. Only Suki was sitting at the fire.

"Was your talk as… enlightening as mine with your brother?" The Kyoshi Warrior asked through gritted teeth, while poking the fire.

"I think I managed to get through… At least, for a moment. What about you?" Katara sighed, sitting down next to the other girl.

"Well, I don't know. But Sokka seems to have his emotion all over the place." Suki groaned, beginning to wipe the face paint from her face.

"Yeah…"

They sat in silence for a moment, before being joined by Toph, who had apparently tried to sleep, but was still awake. The earthbender sat in front of them, saying nothing, joining them in their silence.

After at least half an hour, Suki went to get some sleep.

"So. I felt you and Aang talk. Want to talk about it?" Toph asked suddenly, when the Kyoshi Warrior was out of earshot.

"Not really Toph. But thanks," Katara smiled, knowing the blind girl meant well.

"Well, I will say just one thing. I don't know what you talked about, but his heart rate picked up like crazy at the end. In a good way. And that is the first time I felt his heart change its beating since we got out of the desert. So, whatever you said, it made an impression." Toph stated, smiling towards the fire.

The end of their talk… The moment she had said she wanted him back and that she missed him. Maybe… Just maybe, she had indeed made an impression with that.

Answers :

TheQuietReader23 : Yeah, I really wanted to show how Aang was hating himself. That is not something that will go away immediately! And while writing this chapter, I was bit tired, so I hope it is to your liking!

Gabriela N. Gonzalez : I wanted to show the more mature sides of the Gaang! When they are in Ba Sing Se, that will became important!

CoyoteLemon : Oh, older Toph is a hell! I've written half a chapter just her teasing Aang and Katara sometime in the future. It was fun lol!

Ashley Barbosa : Yay! You're up to date! Thanks for the reviews! And yeah, Toph being the emotion support was something a wanted to add! Thanks again!