A/N: Sorry this took so long to get out. I'm not quite as free as I thought I would be this summer, but updates should definitely be more frequent then during term time. This is a filler chapter, but hope you like it anyway. Thanks to everyone whose reading this!

Aang's POV:

I sigh inwardly as I continue bending the water in my hands in different forms. My eyes trail to Katara opposite me whose critical eyes watch my stance now and again before returning back to bending the water around her. As my eyes stare at the water I allow my thoughts to wonder to the previous day. When Toph arrived with the others they were relieved to see me awake and chatted my ear off, I felt that they wanted to rebuke me for my actions but decided to keep it to themselves. As Zuko and Sokka continued their conversation I locked my eyes on the two members of the group who stood at the outskirts, withdrawn. And honestly I could guess why Toph and Katara barely said two words to me.

'I wish Toph wouldn't be so stubborn and just tell me what she's feeling or at least which scar that she came in contact with. She's been avoiding me all day and from her reaction I could only guess which one it is. I grimace. Why is she being like this anyway? I'm the one with this deformity, why is she acting like it's my fault? It's not like I gave myself that scar.'

I flinch hard as the memory threatens to resurface and I stubbornly shake my head, pushing it to the deep recess of my mind. 'I mean it's bad enough that Katara is pretending our relationship is strictly healer and patient or mentor and student. But I guess I deserve that, I know how much I hurt her by not confiding to her, not to mention she feels guilty for pushing me into the lake. Fortunately I only had mild hypothermia otherwise I would be restricted to bed for another couple of days. And on top of all that? Sokka has been trying to force me to eat more! Why is everyone being so difficult with me?! And I can't even go to Zuko because he's holed himself up in his room with important 'Firelord duties'. I never needed anyone to talk to in the last few years or at least I managed to hold in the urge to, but now I just want to talk to someone, anyone, because being surrounded by all of them is making me feel agitated and...sad.'

"Penny for your thoughts?" I blink and look up to my Waterbending Sifu whose eyes appear thoughtful. I look down to my hands and realise that at some point during my thought process I crystallised the water into ice and dropped it to the ground.

"I er..." I rub my neck in embarrassment. "Erm how long have I zoned out?" I ask hesitantly.

"About 10 - 15 minutes." Katara replies steadily, her crystal eyes focusing on me. "You looked so deep in thought that I didn't want to distract you but..." She shrugs as she trails off. My shoulders slump and I sit down heavily on the ground on the bay of the lake but I regret it immediately as a dull pain courses through me, 'still not used to having no pain killers' I think dully.

"You know I really could use someone to talk to." I whisper. Katara seems to contemplate my words for a moment before she steps out of the water and kneels beside me.

"You want me to get Toph for you?" She asks softly and I groan at her question.

"No. Toph isn't really the gentle type when it comes to emotions. Besides I'm pretty sure she's mad at me."

"Yeah she's been really subdued recently. If you want I'm here to give an ear..." Again she trails off, as if unsure on whether she's crossing a boundary or not and I feel like hitting my head against the wall for how difficult I've made it for her to feel comfortable with me. I turn slightly to face my Sifu and find her looking at me patiently. And just like that a dam seems to break open in me.

"Everything has just been so hard. Everyone is pushing me in different ways and I feel like I'm pushing myself as hard because I want to please everyone but I can't and I just end up bottling up even more and that makes me feel worse because I know I'm failing all of you. Sokka keeps trying to force feed me, Toph is angry and I don't understand why and I'm treating you so unfairly. I just don't know where I stand with you guys anymore." I choke out in a sob, hating that I voiced the very thoughts that keep buzzing through my head since I've 'reunited' with them. I drop my head down into my hands, unwilling to face Katara anymore.

Katara's POV:

I watch as Aang buries his head in his hands and I can't help but feel my heart twist in pain for him. I sigh silently when I realise how much pressure we're putting on him, to the point he doesn't know how to behave around us anymore. That thought just makes me feel so ashamed. 'I need to do something to change our friendship dynamic so that it can return to what it was.' With that intent in mind I shift closer to the young Airbender in the hope that my presence will still soothe him as it used to.

"Aang." I utter quietly. It takes a few moment for Aang to respond but I wait patiently till he lifts up his head and look at me. His expression is faintly puzzled. I gulp slightly and push on with the question I have in mind. "Why are you upset with me?" I question softly. And just like that the young Airbender widens his eyes and begins shaking his head.

"I'm not! What makes you say that?!" He denies diligently which causes me to sigh outwardly.

"I want to help you, but I can't do that till you tell me why you are upset with me and don't deny it." My imploring tone causes him to snap his jaws shut when he realises he was about to refute my words again. He runs a tired hand over his scalp and I can't help but notice the bags underneath his eyes, 'Aang why do you continue to torture yourself so much?' I think sadly.

"I'm not upset with you. I just...have really conflicted feelings..."

"About?" I prompt as he trails off. I watch as he averts his eyes away from me.

"...I want to restore the friendship we had. I really do, but you often behave so much like a mentor and treat me like I'm this student you need to work with. You're so detached from me and the worst thing is that I understand why. Why should you wear your heart on your sleeve when I refuse to? I can't reciprocate. I don't think you guys realise how painful this is for me. As soon as I just think about what happened I...I it's like I'm back to that moment and I don't want to relive it, I just can't. And if you're waiting till I can come back and talk to you about it then...then maybe we won't be able to rekindle our friendship." Shock overcomes me as I hear his last whispered statement and I finally notice how unfair I've been on him. Yet I can't help but feel a bit relived that he understands our viewpoint. I swallow thickly, overwhelmed with emotion. I reach out and cup Aang's cheek, gently coaxing him to look back at me.

"I haven't been fair on you..." The young Avatar jerks his face away from me interrupting my sentence.

"No! That's not it..." I grab Aang's hands cutting him off.

"Just listen to me." I watch for a moment as Aang struggles to follow through with my wish before a defeated sigh escapes from his lips and he nods. "I should've realised that the most important thing I can do for you isn't trying to investigate the past but to be here for you in the present and if you want me to, the future. I let my pushiness get in the way of restoring our friendship. I won't lie and say that I no longer want to know what happened, because I do and in detail, but I finally realise that's not going to benefit you. You need someone to listen and someone you can vent to, someone who you once felt comfortable with and could call a friend." The word catches in my throat, but I somehow manage to keep a straight face and when I gaze into Aang's eyes I see unshed tears building up in them.

"Katara I...thank you." I smile at the sincerity in his voice and I open my arms, a moment of hesitation later he falls into them, embracing me and I close my arms around him protectively.

"I'm sorry for not being there when you needed me." I say, swallowing thickly. I feel as he shakes his head that's nestled underneath my chin.

"Don't apologise. I brought it all on myself. I hope you can forgive me." I blink away the gathering tears at his whispered statement.

"What about this? I forgive you as long as you forgive me." I propose and in response the young Avatar chuckles.

"Deal. I forgive you for your pushiness." I roll my eyes at his teasing.

"And I forgive you for trying to take on the world on your own and for ditching us." I feel him smile and I hug him closer.

"Sounds fair." And we remain in this warm embrace until Zuko stumbles in on us. He looks between Aang and I, a slight blush makes its way up to his cheeks.

"I didn't interrupt something did I?" I roll my eyes and regretfully let go of my hold on the young Avatar.

"No all you interrupted was our hug." I tease. Beside me Aang coughs, his face completely flushing red. Soon he stands up and I follow.

"What's up?" Aang asks, taking note of the tense expression on the Firelord.

"I've got bad news and good news." I purse my lips at Zuko's serious tone.

"What's the good news?" I question, hoping to relieve the tense air that has suddenly settled.

"I've heard back from the Earth King, he has finally agreed to send troops. They will rendezvous with us here and we'll make our way to the Fire Nation." I nod my head.

"That is good news." I comment, but taking notice of the grim expression in Zuko's face, I can tell the bad news far outweighs the good news.

"And what's the bad news?" Aang asks hesitantly. The Firelord's shoulders slump.

"The bad news is that the army has fallen and has been scattered. Azula and the rebels have taken charge of the Nation. She's enslaving everyone who opposes her and worst of all...she's planning an attack on Omashu." I gasp in shock and Aang pales before shaking his head and adopting a serious expression.

"Have you told the others?" The young Avatar asks as we start making our way to the house, with Zuko a step ahead of us.

"I have. They're waiting for us back at the house. We need to plan a course of action on how we're going to tackle my sister and the rebels."

"Have you found out how many we're dealing with?" I wonder aloud in worry.

"That's the other bad news. From my intel, my general says there's so many, perhaps thousands. It's like we're at war again." I watch in concern as Zuko clutches the bridge of his nose in stress. Aang and I share a grave look before the young Avatar speeds up his pace slightly till he falls in line with the Firelord.

"Zuko, it will be alright. We've dealt with worse." But the Firelord just shakes his head.

"Last time you and I faced Ozai and Azula in a duel by ourselves. This time it's an all-out army. How are we going to compete against that?! You're not even 100% better yet. It's not going to be easy to win with minimal bloodshed." I bite my cheek hard at this worrying turn of events and Aang seems as speechless as I am in response to Zuko's negative perspective. Finally we reach the house and upon entering we find Toph and my brother at the table with grim faces. Sokka turns in his seat upon hearing our arrival, he scans our faces and sighs.

"From the look on your faces I'm guessing Zuko must have already told you the news." Aang and I nod in unison and we take our seats with Zuko standing at the foot of the table. "We need to talk battle strategies." We nod, but the Firelord just crosses his arms in response.

"That won't do us much good. Azula knows all the weak points in the Fire Nation's defences. She knows as much as I do, perhaps more."

"We could do what we did before in the invasion?" I suggest but Toph snorts at the idea.

"Not wanting to burst your bubble Sugarqueen, but that didn't work out so well for us last time, why would this time be any different?"

"Because this time we have larger numbers." I state somewhat confidently, but Toph just shrugs in response.

"I get the feeling numbers won't be enough this time. You forget, they've been fighting Aang for 3 and a half years, that means they aren't your average soldiers; they're skilled. So I feel their skill will overcome our numbers. We need strategy." At this we all turn to Aang, who suddenly looks nervous.

"Why are you guys looking at me like that?" I glance at Sokka who sighs and I turn back to Aang.

"Can't you just go in the Avatar State? You've stopped a whole fleet of ships at the North Pole without breaking a sweat before." Sokka questions curiously and I watch as Aang closes his eyes briefly before opening them up and shaking his head.

"It's not as easy as that. I was only able to do that with the help of the ocean spirit. Not to mention I haven't actually fought in the Avatar State for over 3 years..." Aang trails off as he watches our shocked gazes. "Why are you still looking at me like that?!" He groans aloud, suddenly looking self-conscious.

"You're saying that you never went into the Avatar state to fight those assassins?!" Zuko voices our befuddlement.

"No. Their aim was to end me, I couldn't risk the Avatar cycle if I made a wrong move. To be honest, when you guys trapped me that was the first time I used the Avatar State since Ozai." This time I can't help but drop my mouth open at Aang's confession. "So please don't rely on that, it's just a last resort." Silence pierces through the air until Sokka clears his throat.

"Ok. Thanks for the heads up. I think our best bet is to wait for reinforcements and strategize with them. Zuko, do you know when they're meant to arrive?" The Firelord sighs heavily in dismay at Sokka's query.

"In 3-5 days. Aang have you started revising the other elements?" The young Avatar shakes his head and then directs his gaze at me.

"I was hoping to get your approval on my Waterbending?" I blink at Aang's meek question and I smile in appreciation.

"You're Waterbending is pretty much back to what it was, so I think you're ready for Earthbending and Firebending." I say with a smile which he returns and turns to the blind Earthbender.

"Toph would you mind practising with me tomorrow?" Aang questions nervously to which Toph tenses up and clenches her fists slightly. After several moments she relaxes them and nods stiffly.

"Fine." Toph replies tightly. Both Sokka and Zuko sends me puzzled looks at Toph's strange behaviour and I just shrug, being equally as confused as them. In response Sokka claps his hands together, interrupting the silent exchange that's going on between Aang and Toph.

"So that's settled. Now why don't we get some shut eye?" We all murmur our agreement and I sigh internally, relieved that a confrontation has been averted. We all start to leave the living room but I realise that Toph remains seated and Sokka walks over to her, curious I decide to hang back unseen behind a wall.

"Toph what's your deal with Aang?! You're acting so brash...well more than usual." Sokka hisses and I jump when I hear a bang.

"It's none of your business!" Toph snaps back. A moment later I hear a door slam and my brother's sigh. Shaking my head I decide to retreat to my room with one thought in mind, ' it's clear that Toph knows something pretty big to do with Aang...and it's really bothering her.' And in that moment I really want to help her. 'Both her and Aang... and I will, somehow.'

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this. Please review, as always I look forward to hear your thoughts. Thank you to everyone who is sticking to this story, I really appreciate it.

3/7/19