Hey guys, I know I haven't updated this in a few days, I feel really really bad about it. I have been focusing so much on my other two stories: General Aang and Changing Waters, that I haven't really thought too much about this one, thus I have been in a little creative slump on what to do. So sorry about that. I am really excited about all the reviews I've gotten for this story. I honestly didn't think it was going to be taken well, but here you guys are, proving me wrong. I know this chapter really isn't long, but I'm really trying.

Wanted to give a shout out to:

70oda, CharlieFibrosis, Pie, and the two wonderful guests who have review this story so far, you guys have inspired me to crank out another chapter. So thanks for it and keep he reviews coming. I also wanted to say that, yes, by some miracle, I did actually outline and type up the 2500 word previous chapter in 30 minutes. I know, call me a liar, but hey its true!

Onto the Chapter!

Ch. 2

Katara and Sokka:

The miles seemed to blur as the trio walked along the straight path towards Ba Sing Se. Everyone was tired, but they knew that they had to continue, if not because the sheer desire to reach the Southern Water Tribe warriors, then the fierce determination that Katara displayed in her desire to reach Aang.

At this point, Sokka had observed that Katara's emotional state had been on a continuous downward spiral since their separation with Aang. He understood that Aang had become an integral part of their lives; he just couldn't grasp her attachment to the young Avatar.

At moments, she seemed extremely focused towards their destination, while at other times; she looked like she hated the world and everyone in it. It finally dawned on him that Katara might actually have grown attached to Aang throughout their little journey. But something confused Sokka and he continued to mull over it in his mind: When did this happen to Katara. I know that Aang was the first boy she met around her age.. But come on! He's just a goofy kid.

As the trio continued to walk along the path, he began to examine parts of their little adventure together. At the end of his little escapade, he realized a few things. Katara had watched over Aang and protected him so fiercely. She always enjoyed being around him and never left his side. She gave him hugs and small kisses, held his hand.. Oh God! Than Sokkablurted out something that he knew that he would regret: "Did you like Aang Katara?"

She immediately stopped walking and stiffened.

By this time, Sokka was beginning to immediately regret what he said to his sister.

"What did you say?" Katara asked while still not turning towards him.

Somehow, someway, Sokka had regained his courage and asked again: "I said did you like Aang?"

When he repeated the question, she began to shake ever so slightly, and then she turned to him. With tears streaming down her face, Sokka knew the answer to his question. Before he could say anything further, Katara took off running into the woods.

"Katara!" Sokka yelled as he began to follow her, but he was swiftly stopped by Bato.

"She needs this time alone Sokka" He said calmly but firmly.

Katara:

Katara ran through the woods, she could barely breathe, barely think. She did hear her brother calling for her at one point, but that faded into the night.

When she was too tired to run any further, she collapsed down onto the ground of a clearing and just cried.

"How could I leave him?" Katara almost screamed into the night.

She knew that she had been denying all day that she had been attached to Aang, more than just friends or family, but she could not understand the complex spread of emotions that she was feeling towards him. In these times, she wished she could talk to her mother. She missed her so much and needed her guidance, but life was cruel and took her away from Katara.

She knew that she had to face these feelings alone. But the acceptance didn't make it easy. She long ago realized that Aang had rejuvenated her life, changing her from a workaholic to a normal kid… Somewhat. But she didn't understand were her feelings changed for him, or at least where she thought they changed for him. It must have been once we left him, once I knew he would be absent from my life.

Love was a strong word to use to define her attachment to Aang, but she knew regardless that she had a strong bond with Aang, that she needed him and that was enough for now.

She once again, silently cursed herself for not staying with Aang: why didn't I stay?

The question was quickly answered though: "Because he lied to me" Katara said aloud.

Aang was the person that had always been honest with her but now he lied. Sure, his reasoning was in the right place but he should have known that we would have stayed together regardless.

Something dawned on Katara, something that she should have a long time ago: with her knew realization, she ran back to camp. She was guiltier than she had ever been.

Sokka:

Sokka gave into Bato and they began to set up camp for the night. When camp was finished, Bato started on dinner, suspecting that Katara might come back sometime soon. "I suspected that she had grown attached to the boy by her subconscious body language that she displayed towards him."

Sokka just looked confused, so Bato continued: "She was always close to him; he had a disarming effect on her. She even subconsciously snuggled against the young Avatar as he slept."

"Ah, mental pictures! Don't do that to me!" Sokka said while he rubbed his eyes in a vain effort to rid his mind of the pictures that were burned there.

"It was innocent in nature Sokka, you need not be worried. Besides, the young Avatar seemed like a nice boy. Your father would not object and neither will I."

Sokka looked down at his feet: "I know he's a good guy, he's like a brother to me. It's just I never imagined that they could have feelings for each other, maybe I've been just too blind to see it."

Bato gave a harty laugh: "Clueless would be a better word Sokka."

Sokka smirked at Bato's small poke at humer: "Not helping."

It was then, that Katara returned to camp, with tears still streaming down her face.

Sokka schooled his features: "This can't be good."

Aang:

He had flown most of the day, looking over his 100 year old map for any safe place he could possibly land. When he found no other options, he decided on a clearing with what appeared to be a small creak next to it. "I guess this'll be a pretty safe place to land buddy." Aang said to Appa.

Appa grumbled in a lower tone than usual, clearly still fatigued from the quick exit that they had to make back at the village, as well as the injury that he had sustained due to it. "Let me take a look at that" Aang said as he airbended the saddle off of Appa and began to examine the burn mark across his side. To Aang's relief, it looked like it was only a mild burn that would heal within a few days, as long as the rested enough. "Looks like we're staying around here for the next few days until you can heal up body."

Appa was more than happy at his master's suggestion, happily turning and licking him, than flopping down to rest for the night.

Aang laughed at his bison's display and was happy that he had decided to let him rest. He knew that his bison had been working hard these past few months, and Aang was thankful for it.

As his bison rested, Aang decided to make up camp and get some dinner ready for himself and Appa. He knew how to cook, because he was taught at such a young age. He still enjoyed and missed Katara's cooking more though. She was always kind enough to make him a vegetarian dish, while also making Sokka something with meat. He noticed over time that Katara was growing fonder of his vegetarian diet though, over the past few weeks, he hadn't even seen her touch a piece of meat.

He was happy that he had that kind of effect on her, and that she actually embraced his culture as well. I really miss Katara. Aang thought, but he quickly shook his head to get the quickly descending sadness out of his thought process.

When he finished eating his dinner, he took out his map. He determined that there was a small village not too far from where he was camping. "I can get some supplies that I need there." Aang said aloud, knowing full well that he had given most of the money and supplies to Katara. He knew that she wouldn't take it from him willingly, so he hid it in the bottom of her bag with the note.

Aang's thoughts once again strayed towards a certain waterbender before he went to bed. He held her necklace up, wishing he could give it back to her. He was also guilty for being happy that he had something to remember her by, though he doubted he actually needed something to do so.

He reflected once again on his actions the previous days. He was sad and mad at himself for allowing himself to stoop so low to try and vainly keep someone with him. Why couldn't I just let them make the decision for themselves? Why did I have to seal my fate and take matters into my own hands? Aang angrily thought.

He knew he could not be mad at Katara and Sokka for their choice, because he knew it was the right one to make, he had been selfish and he had to pay for his actions. The monks where right, I shouldn't have strayed from their teachings. Love is just another earthly attachment.

Aang brooded over this as he fell into what he thought was going to be a horrible night of sleep, but oh was he wrong.

Sokka and Katara:

Katara looked a mess, and Sokka knew it. "Katara, what's wrong?"

Katara began to break down, a part of her cracking with every tear that fell down her face: "He left because of us Sokka, it's all our fault!"

Sokka just looked confused while a look of dawning formed on Bato's face: "What do you mean Katara? Aang left because he lied to us." Sokka began. But before he could continue, Katara frantically denied him.

"No, think about it Sokka, the night when we first found Bato, we made it sound like we were going to go with Bato to find dad." Katara said.

Sokka flat out denied it, but before he could say anything else, Bato spoke: "Sokka, I think Katara is right. When I offered to bring you to your father, both of you agreed with me almost immediately."

"Not to say that the boy was justified in what he did, I just think that you are both at fault for this, Aang was at fault for lying but you were at fault for not taking Aang into consideration before you blurted out that you were coming along."

"But I said that we needed to help Aang to the North Pole first!" Sokka added frantically.

"Sokka, Aang had already left by that time, he didn't hear that" Katara pointed out.

"I guess your right then." Sokka said, a little defeated.

"I think you needed this, both of you. You needed to understand both sides of the situation. You needed to let your anger and your sadness out before you moved on. Now you can focus on finding your father, and then on reuniting with Aang." Bato finished.

"I think we need him as much as he needs us." Katara said in a low voice.

Everyone around the fire agreed with her.

"Hey Sokka, could you help me unpack my things?" Katara asked because she was exhausted from all of the crying.

"Sure thing sis" Sokka said.

As they unpacked all of her supplies, they noticed another large bag dropping out of her bed roll. Curious to what it was, Katara untied the bag and almost gasped at what she saw. "It's all of our supplies… The maps, the food, the money…" Katara said.

"Aang must have hid it in your pack, thinking that you wouldn't double check it until he was long gone." Sokka added with a faint smile.

"Even when we left him, he still took care of us before he took care of himself." Katara said.

"This only makes me worry about him more now though." Sokka said while looking through the supplies.

Just when they had finished organizing everything, Sokka noticed a small note. "Hey, what's this?" Sokka asked as he looked at the folded up piece of paper, along the front said Katara.

"That's Aang's hand writing!" Katara said in excitement as you quickly grabbed the paper from Sokka and quickly unfolded it to read the contents.

She looked down and read aloud, for her brother's benefit:

I know you can use these supplies and money more than I could, I knew you wouldn't take it willingly, so I decided to hide it in your bag so you couldn't fight me on it. On a more serious note, I am sorry that I betrayed your trust by hiding the map to your father; I had no right to interfere with your lives like that. You hadn't seen your dad in years, and I was selfish into making myself believe that I was somehow more important. I wish you the best in finding your dad, you and Sokka were the closest thing to a family that I have had, you gave me hope, love, and support and I threw it back in your face with my lye. I know you might never forgive me, and that's ok. I want to say I'm sorry, I deserved to lose the right to be called your family. I will end this war for you and Sokka so that your real family might be able to live in a world that is free from war. I wish you luck for your future.

Sincerely,

Aang

When she finished the letter, Katara had already begun to cry again, sad that Aang would think he no longer deserved them, but also at the realization that his purpose for ending the war was only so that Katara and Sokka could be happy.

"Aang really is selfless" Sokka thought aloud.

"Yes. Yes he is."

Idk when the next chapter will be up for this, I should be able to crank one out over the weekend hopefully. But I will have chapters up for my other stories soon if you're interested. Thanks for all the support!