A/N: This chapter is pretty short so was able to get this out to you, plus I don't have to wake up 7:20am tomorrow which is always a great thing! So some of you have asked for a confrontation between Aang and Zuko which I originally hadn't intended since what Aang said before was meant to be just on the spur of his anger, but you guys have convinced me that it's important and so I've added it in and I've realised that through the conversation that they have I could tell a bit more background info on the beginning of the story which may explain some things. Hope you enjoy!

Two Days Later...

Aang POV:

I saddle Appa up with a sigh. 'Katara won't even look at me, let alone speak to me, but I can't really blame her.' I eye the rest of the gang afar off dragging their luggage with them. 'It looks like we're all parting ways a lot sooner than I thought. But I shouldn't have expected any different. Toph and Sokka needs to be go back to Republic City and Zuko to the Fire Nation. Not sure about where Katara is going though, probably back to the South Pole, where I'll probably never see her again.' I think grimly as everyone nears Appa and I.

"I can't believe we're splitting up again. We've barely got back together. It stinks." Sokka complains as he heaves his bag onto my bison's back.

"Well it's not like we won't see each other again. There's another meeting in a couple of weeks and another next month. We'll see each other again. And anyway, at least we're parting on goods terms this time." Zuko responds reasonably, Katara and I make eye contact before she quickly breaks it. I sigh again.

"Yeah." I mumble and we all get on Appa and take to the sky. First stop: Republic City. When we arrive Sokka pulls me to one side as Katara and Toph unload.

"What's going on with you and Katara?" Sokka asks in a hushed whisper whilst sparing a glance at his sister. I drop my eyes down briefly.

"Nothing." I mutter, but Sokka takes hold of my forearm.

"A blind person can see it's not nothing. Did you guys have an argument?" The warrior states bluntly.

"We had a disagreement, but it's ok." I say with a shrug and Sokka peers at me closely.

"I don't want to hear you saying it's ok and then you disappearing out of our lives the next day." I shake my head at the fear in Sokka's words.

"No I won't. I'm not doing that again. She'll get over it...hopefully." I say between pursed lips.

"What was your disagreement about? She's been acting really distant." I blush slightly at Sokka's question when I remember what Katara's request was. I don't reply but the Water Tribe man quickly gets the idea as his eyes widen.

"Wait...she didn't!" My blush deepens at the implication. "...and you...you refused?!" I bow my head down in shame. "But why? Not that I agree with it, but you two are as close as I've ever seen anyone." I choose to dodge his question with one of my own.

"How did you know about it?" I ask in slight confusion - I assumed Katara had asked in the flare of the moment.

"She wrote it in her diary." My eyes bulge at Sokka's confession.

"You read her diary?!" I ask both appalled and curious.

"I'm her big brother, she doesn't tell me much these days. This is how I find out about stuff...errr don't tell her though otherwise she'll kill me." I chuckle at his panicked face and give a nod in agreement. But then his words hit me hard.

"Wait, she wrote it down? How long ago was she planning this?!" I ask astonished.

"A couple of weeks or something." The warrior says with a shrug. "Now tell me, what did you tell her?" Sokka asks seriously and just as my thoughts race to come up with a vague but plausible answer I'm saved by Toph's shout.

"Hey Air Head and Snoozles we don't have all day to chit chat! Help us get this stuff up to the council apartment because Sparky keeps moaning at us for needing to be back at the Fire Nation!" The blind Earthbender yells as she mimics the Firelord. Sokka sends me a glance that says our conversation is far from over but I heave out a relieved sigh, knowing I won't be seeing him for at least a week, 'and hopefully by then he'll have forgotten all about it.' I think optimistically.

After unloading everything, I'm surprised to learn that Katara has decided to stay with her brother to see more of the city to my dismay. 'Well that means I'm going to see a lot more of her then...great, more awkwardness.' I think grimly. I turn to say goodbye to each one individually. When I lean in to hug Sokka, he moves his mouth to near my ear.

"We'll talk later." I nod numbly. The Toph is next as she punches my bicep.

"You better not do a runner after this...I'll see you around ok?" Toph mumbles softly as I draw her into a hug.

"You'll see me for sure. I'm building an Air Temple around here remember?" I reassure as I give her a final squeeze. Then my eyes fall on Katara who for a few moments doesn't look me in the eye. With a quiet sigh she gives into my beating gaze and gives me a half smile.

"Be safe, ok?" She says tentatively and I'm unsure whether to go in for a hug or not, but Katara makes the decision for me as she takes a few steps back. The action causes my heart to crumble in pain. 'I didn't realise how much I would miss her hugs.' I swallow thickly and with Zuko trailing behind me we get on Appa and make our way to the Fire Nation. The flight is mainly spent in silence, but the strangest thing kept happening to me. Every little while I would get a piercing headache and see a hazy figure, but when I blinked it disappeared. Finally I decide to settle on talking to focus my mind on something other than my pounding head.

"Soooo you and Katara were never a thing?" I ask nonchalantly without turning round. I hear some movement behind me until Zuko appears by my side, a guilty expression on his face.

"No, we weren't. It was a ridiculous idea and I should've never agreed to it." I click my tongue at Zuko's heartfelt response, but I'm not letting him off the hook that easily.

"So why did you?" I say, voice scratchy from pained emotion, hurt that he did this behind my back, knowing how much it would devastate me.

"Aang, you didn't see her. She was an absolute mess. I don't know how she managed to hold herself around you for..." But I interrupt him before he could continue.

"Because she wasn't around me. She was either was you or giving me the silent treatment and if it wasn't the silent treatment then it was a bunch of arguments." I say bitterly, but take a deep breath when I realise how harsh I'm being. I sigh heavily. "I know she was under a lot of stress but..." I break off my sentence when Zuko bellows a harsh laugh.

"Stress?! That wasn't the half of it Aang! She fell apart. Came to me with a complete breakdown..." But I stop him yet again from finishing.

"But why couldn't she come to me?! We were meant to be close." I argue irrationally.

"The same could be said of you!" The Firelord hollers loudly which renders me silent. Then he shakes his head and clutches the bridge of his nose. "Look, I don't want us to fight over this." At this comment I look down and sigh.

"Yeah neither do I." I mumble out.

"Just...just let me finish ok?" I nod my head at Zuko's request.

"She was a mess. One day, she came to me with her eyes red, shoulders hunched and avoiding my eye. When we managed to get a moment alone without all the guards and officials at the Fire Nation Palace she literally broke down. She couldn't handle the pressure, it was too much and too soon for her. She wanted a choice with you. She didn't want to be bound forever and from so early on." I deflate at this, and try to ignore the ball of hurt moving up and down my throat. "She knew you were hiding something. She was just that in tune with you. The rest of us, Sokka, Toph and I, had no clue. Maybe you were a bit more distant? But we didn't notice any real red flags. Katara did. And it was hurting her that you wouldn't tell her. She tried following you, but each time you caught on and pushed her away...sometimes physically. That cut her really deep." I swallow harshly when I recall that moment. 'It was about a month before I decided to finally spill. I had just come back from a nasty ambush when Katara found me a little way off from the fight I barely won. I had hurt my foot really badly, managed to get a cut from a knife end. She started asking me why I had scorch marks on my clothes, why I looked so exhausted. I was so tired, in pain and angry and I just lashed out at her. Told her to mind her own business and when she kept pushing...I Airbent her away. The action caught her off guard and she ended up tumbling to the ground. The look she gave me afterwards hurt...' I close my eyes tightly to push the memory away. 'I had forgotten about that. It's been so long since I've been with her that everything I did to her slipped my mind.' I bite my cheek hard. 'Spirits, I was blaming her for abandoning me, but really I gave her no choice. I pushed her away. This is my fault. It's always been my fault.' I'm pulled out of my thoughts when a hand rests on my shoulder.

"Aang?" I gulp at Zuko's prod and open my eyes again. I jut my head out for him to continue. He looks hesitant at first but I clench my jaws and he must have got the message. "Ok. Listen, Katara didn't blame you, not really. She blamed the council. In the end the worst thing for her was losing you. She didn't want to leave you, but she couldn't take the treatment from the council or from you any longer. She knew that to get a breather she'd have to leave you, but she couldn't tell you that outright - despite it all she still loved you and was terrified of hurting you. That's the real reason for her breakdown." At this I bite the inside of my cheek hard. So hard I draw blood. 'Spirits Katara, I'm so sorry.'

"In the end she started thinking that your behaviour was chalked up to the pressure of the council. She thought the best thing to do was for you guys to separate. So that you both could get a breather." Zuko's explanation makes me widen my eyes in shock. 'That never occurred to me. Spirits I'm such a terrible person. I hurt Katara so badly and she was still looking out for me. I don't deserve her, I'm not good enough. I'll never be good enough.'

"We decided to pretend to be together. She knew you'd be hurt, but hoped you'd come around eventually and then tell you the truth when you've had some to think and reflect on things. But...that never happened. You disappeared, she had to move back to the South Pole when she heard her Gran was ill and she never saw you again until recently. It was never meant to go like this. I'm so sorry. I should've told her to confront you, but she was just so broken, I just couldn't turn her away." I grimace when I realise I was the reason Katara fell that low. Katara, the strongest person I know. 'I'm such a despicable person.' I clutch my head when I feel a strong headache coming on. When it passes I look Zuko in the eye.

"I don't blame you. Who knows, maybe if our roles were reversed I would've done the same thing. You were trying to protect her and well, me to an extent. I appreciate that at least you did a better job of looking after her than I have ever done." I say in a self-loathing time, but Zuko grabs my arm quickly.

"No. Don't say that. You were going through a touch patch. Yes, you should've told us, but you made a mistake, like we all do. Like I've done my whole life. Don't beat yourself up over it." I shake my head at the Firelord's words of advice as tears start to gather in my eyes.

"Spirits Zuko I was horrible to her! I focused on how much she hurt me, and I forgot all the times I hurt her!"

"Aang, she forgives you." I shake my head at this.

"I don't know and even if that's so, how can I forgive myself?" I ask quietly and this time Zuko is at a loss on what to say.

"You have to try. Not only for yourself but for Katara as well." He pauses when I don't answer and shoots me a sheepish look. "So, you're really not mad at me?" I sigh at his question and send him a small smile.

"I was at first, but knowing the full story? Not anymore. I'm glad she had someone to turn to." I say but Zuko seems alarmed at what I said, but before he could probe me further, another round of headaches hit me and Appa dips slightly.

"Are you alright?" The Firebender asks as he peers at me with concern. I nod my head.

"Fine, just lost my focus there for a bit. Why don't you go back in the saddle and I'll focus on getting us to the Fire Nation as soon as we can." I suggest at which Zuko purses his lips, a confliction on his face. "Really." I insist and he nods his head and sets himself back onto the saddle.

"Thanks Aang." I smile at the gratitude in Zuko's voice and turn round to beam at him.

"We're friends and that will never change." I say and then the rest of the journey is continued in silence. Eventually, as we near the Fire Nation the quiet is suddenly broken by Zuko.

"Aang I think we should stop for a break." I blink at Zuko's sudden request and turn to face him.

"Why's that? We're nearly there." I state puzzled.

"Have you not noticed how you've been flying for the past several hours?" Zuko sighs when he still sees my puzzled face. "Appa has been dipping down all of a sudden now and again and I doubt he's doing it for the fun of it."

"Oh. I'm just a bit tired. We're nearly there and then I can rest for the night." I say casually, hoping Zuko won't make a big fuss of it.

"If you're sure." The Firelord says as he casts me a dubious look. I nod and turn to face ahead. I will Appa to fly faster to avoid another conversation with Zuko about my flying abilities, knowing the next time it happens he will insist that we stop for a bit. Just as we reach the Fire Nation capital another bout of headaches arise, stronger than the previous. I nearly steer Appa straight into the ground, but fortunately he must have sensed there was something off with me as he makes a narrow save and lands us in the Palace court yard. Zuko jumps off and drags me down into the ground with him. "What on earth Aang?!" He shouts, though I see it's more out of worry rather than anger.

"I don't know what happened! I just had a sudden headache. It's weird I've been having it since we set off." I say as I rub my bald scalp, trying to ease the lingering pain.

"You should've told me, we could've stayed in Republic City for a little longer." Zuko says with a frown, but I shake my head in refusal.

"You've been away from your people for long enough. Plus it's alright, we got here safe and sound, so no harm d...ah!" I break off as another headache tears through my skull which causes me to drop to one knee. Zuko drops down beside me with a concerned expression.

"I'm getting you a doctor." The Firelord states seriously as he eyes a nearby guard. "Guard! Go and fetch the Palace doctor, quickly!" At Zuko's urgency the guard dashes inside and brings an elderly doctor out a few moments later. I shakily get to my feet and look at Zuko.

"I'm fine. I don't need a doctor." But my Sifu isn't having any of it as he pushes me towards the hurrying doctor who examines me right then and there. After 15 minutes of poking and probing he gives me a stern stare.

"This isn't a normal ailment of the body. Tell me young Avatar, how has your spiritual connection been lately?" I look at the doctor with wide eyes, shocked at the query. I spare a glance at Zuko who looks just as shocked as I am.

"I haven't needed to go into the Spirit World in a long while. But what does that have to do with anything?"

"Your spiritual connection is weakening because of your absence in spiritual matters. I sense there's something blocking it, though what I am not sure. You probably know more than me." The doctor states matter-of-factly which causes me to look at the doctor strangely.

"You aren't a normal doctor are you?" I ask wearily and scoot away from him.

"I am a doctor of both the physical body and the spiritual essence. My great grandfather used to aid Avatar Roku and treat him in spiritual matters."

"Treat him?" I splutter in utter confusion.

"Yes, just as the body gets ill as does the spirit. However for normal people spiritual ailments are so rare due to the generally weak bond with the spirits. However, since the Avatar is part spirit, it's more common to see illnesses in them." My jaw drops at this revelation and then I shake my head in amazement.

"Well, then what's wrong?"

"I can't answer that, but if you don't find out your headaches will worsen until it renders you unconscious and you won't get out of it until you solve the issue." I frown at this and turn to face Zuko as the doctor leaves.

"What do you think is blocking your connection?" The Firelord asks and I shrug.

"Not a clue. I haven't had trouble in entering the spirit world several months ago." I reply which causes Zuko to give a long exaggerated sigh as he casts a longing glance to his palace. Then he turns back to Appa and hops on. I blink at him in puzzlement.

"Erm Zuko? Your palace is that way." I point out, turning briefly behind me to show him.

"I know that. But you need to go back to Republic City and I'm not going to have you black out before you get there." Zuko answer stiffly and I roll my eyes at him.

"I'll be fine. You've been away from your nation long enough." I insist but Zuko isn't having any of it and remains stubbornly where he is.

"And I can always take a ship back." At Zuko's final probe, I sigh and Airbend myself onto Appa's head and take the reins begrudgingly. 'I actually wanted a bit of alone time before going back, so much for that.' We're back in the skies in moments and I lean back. 'I'm sure I just need some rest that's all.' But as soon as I close my eyes I feel another surge of pain attacking my skull and seconds later I feel myself drift off into the realm of unconsciousness entirely. When I next open my eyes I find myself in the Spirit World, face to face with a serious Roku.

A/N: So not so much of a confrontation but more of a conversation to understand because Katara aint the best person at explaining herself at the best of times. Hopefully this chapter shows a bit more of her side of the story about things that weren't revealed before, considering I mainly write in Aang's POV. Anyway let me know your thoughts! And again, thank you for the support. I feel like a million thank you's won't be enough but right now that's all I have.

3/10/19