A/N Hi all! Hope you guys all enjoy this chapter. Wanted to take a quick moment to say thank you to those who reviewed, favorited, and followed my story this week. Really means a lot to me! Onto the next chapter!

The walk back to where the Southern Water Tribe was staying provided the opportunity for Aang to prepare himself for the conversation ahead. Hakoda had been gracious towards him but would Sokka and Katara react the same way? Aang no longer blamed himself for what happened, he had gotten to the point where he had forgiven himself for what had gone on all those months ago, but his first reaction to conflict was to shy away from it. Not this time though. Aang thought.

Wow I have grown. Not sure I would have been able to face them before now. Aang mused. It was true, he had such built up anxiety over potentially seeing them again that it had nearly crippled him. Would they judge him? Would they detest him for lying? Would they forgive him?

In the end, regardless of the outcome, he would be okay. He had gained his own closure and grew as a result. He wouldn't be where he was today without those struggles and without having to fight through the self-imposed turmoil.

Aang took a deep breath as he approached the build. Hakoda walked in first and jestured for Aang to follow him in. He pointed towards a private room off to the side. "My children are in there, go to them." Hakoda said.

At this Aang nodded silently and made his way to the door. He made a move to knock, hesitating for a moment. He turned back to Hakoda who smiled and nodded. Encouragement clear in his face. Aang smiled at this and knocked.

"Come in!" Aang heard from inside. It was Katara's voice. Aang pushed the door open to see Katara's back turned to him. Sokka was reclining on the couch. When Sokka's eyes registered who was at the door he shot up from his couch. "AANG!" he yelled.

"Hey Sokka!" Aang said was a small grin on his face, rubbing the back of his head with his hand awkwardly.

Hearing his voice, Katara shot around to face him shock clear on her face but only for a moment. "Aang!" She nearly cried out as she quickly closed the distance between them, crashing into Aang in the process.

Aang nearly fell over at this, half due to the shock of their reaction and half because she crashed into him with such force.

Arms wrapped around him he felt the front of his shirt becoming wet from her tears. "Aang its so good to see you. We missed you so much." Katara began.

Aang didn't know what to say, didn't know what to feel. All he could do is process what she was saying.

Sokka continued: "It's really good to see you again Aang." He said as he walked over to him and placed a hand on his forearm, squeezing slightly. "Geez have you been working out?" Sokka continued, testing his own muscles in comparison.

Aang laughed at this, giving Katara a small squeeze before releasing her from the hug. "My Earthbending teacher Toph might have had something to do with that." Aang said.

"You've picked up Earthbending to?!" Sokka started.

Aang rolled his eyes a little. "Don't worry I'm still a work in progress. Toph would probably argue that I'm still at the beginner level." Aang huffed.

We've missed so much. Katara mused, frowning at his response.

Picking up on the more somber vibe, Aang attempted to change the subject. "So enough about me, tell me about your journey here." Aang looked at them both, his eyes resting on Katara and then to her hands. "You're hurt!" Aang started in shock.

Katara flinched a little at this. "I'm recovering still."

Sokka interrupted "We were attacked, she was pretty badly burned in the process, we are hoping we can get her to see a healer tomorrow."

"Let me take a look." Aang started, reaching for her hands.

Katara was a bit taken back at this, recoiling a little bit.

"Don't worry Katara, let me help you." Aang softly began, taking her bandaged hands in his.

She nodded softly. They both took a seat on the coach, Sokka sitting opposite of them, watching in astonishment.

"How did you learn you were a healer?" Katara spoke.

As Aang began to gently unravel the bandages he quietly responded "A few months back, I ran into a Fire Bender named Jeong Jeong. He had rejected the principles of the Fire Nation. He disagreed with the war and felt a need to separate himself from it." Aang sighed: "I was desperate to learn Fire Bending. I didn't think I would have an opportunity to ever learn it again, so I begged him to teach me, despite his warnings."

Aang had finished unwrapping her hands, the burns reminded him of what he had done to Toph. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he continued "He began to teach me the fundamentals of Fire Bending, that it came from the breath and that I needed to learn restraint and patience. Externally I continued to say I was ready, but inwardly I knew I wasn't."

Aang bended some water from a nearby pot onto his hands and allowed it to glow before touching Katara's burns. The soothing sensation almost overwhelmed her, but she forced herself to continue to listen to Aang's story.

"I pressed him for more. To learn how to shoot fire. He responded by giving me a leaf and telling me to prevent it from being consumed by the fire. I was demoralized and embarrassed. Toph had laughed at my impatience but I focused on the leaf and it exploded into a ball of flames. I was so excited, the power that was now under my control… Or so I thought. Toph had cautioned me to be careful."

I'll have to ask him who this Toph is. Katara thought as Sokka spoke.

"You lost control" Sokka said aloud. Aang frowned but nodded in agreement.

"I was so immature that I played with it. I tried to emulate a prior move I had seen a Firebender use but I lost control and I…. I burned Toph in the process."

Sokka on Katara gasped at this, seeing the emotion on his face they knew it tormented him "Aang…" Katara began but Aang cut her off.

"I wasn't ready for it, but as a result I found that I was blessed with the ability to heal. I was able to heal her from her burns and she thankfully forgave me for what I did but I promised I would never Firebend again." Aang concluded as he turned his attention back on healing Katara.

"But Aang, you have to learn all four elements before you can face your destiny." Katara softly replied.

Aang nodded at this. "I know, but it taught me a valuable lesson: there are no shortcuts to the four elements. It takes discipline and time to master each, respectively. I'm saving Firebending for last."

At this, his hands stopped glowing. Aang allowed the water to release from his hands, falling harmlessly to the ground. Looking at his work he frowned a little. "Your hands aren't one hundred percent yet, but they are mostly healed. I will have Yianna come by to finish my work." Aang concluded.

For the first time Katara looked down at her hands. Shocked at what she saw. Her pain had nearly subsided and the redness and burned skin had been reduced to splotches of light pink on her hands.

"Aang, you healed me!" Katara began and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close.

"Hey, hey, you aren't totally back to normal yet, but you should be able to use your hands fully again. I'll have Yianna come over in a little while to clear up any remaining tenderness." Aang finished.

At this they heard a knock at the door. Sokka walked over to answer. "Hi, I was told Aang might be here. I need to talk to him briefly." Sokka moved aside as Aang looked over his shoulder to see who it was. "Just the person I wanted to see!"

Aang said as he stood up to introduce her: "Guys this is Yianna, Yianna this is Katara and Sokka. Yianna is my closest friend up here and apart of the Water Tribe Warrior group I work with. Plus, she's been teaching me some Waterbending as well."

Yianna was happy to hear she had become his confidant but kept her reaction to herself. Yianna turned to them, a neutral expression on her face. "It's nice to meet you both, Aang has told me much about you." Sokka and Katara nodded at this.

Sokka spoke: "We are at a disadvantage then; we're going have to change that." Sokka smiled. "I bet you have some good stories to tell about Aang."

Yianna smiled slightly at this: "More then a few I must admit."

Aang rolled his eyes at this but decided to change the subject: "So Yianna you needed to see me?"

Yianna nodded and gestured for Aang to come over. She whispered something unreadable into Aang's ear. Aang turned to Katara and Sokka: "Sorry to cut things short, but I have to address somethings prior to dinner later on." At this Aang saw a flash a worry cross over Katara's face: "but I promise we will catch up more later." Aang continued. At this he nodded to both and turned to Yianna. "Would you mind looking at Katara's hands, she was burned. I healed most of it but the last of it was a bit tricky for me."

Yianna nodded at this "Still learning I see. Looks like we will need a few more healing lessons after all." Yianna said. As Aang began to leave she continued: "And let's meet up later to make sure we are schooled on the plan for tomorrow."

Aang called over his back as he exited the room and closed the door behind him: "Sounds good, see you at dinner!"

Yianna turned to face Katara who had a serious look on her face "So. Tell me about Aang."

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