A/N: Hey all, this chapter is a little shorter this week, A. because I was really busy and B. because I felt this conversation deserved a chapter of its own. I'll post the whole dinner chapter next week! Thanks for all your continued support as always!

Aang was nervously fidgeting with his collar by the mirror in his room. He had gotten changed out of his armor and into his more comfortable formal clothing for dinner and he was anything but comfortable now. Even though he had reunited with Katara and Sokka after he had thought he would never see them again, even though he should be happy, he was unsettled. What's wrong with me. Aang asked himself as he fell back onto his bed in frustration.

"Well we can start with the fact that your taste in formal wear borders on casual wear." A voice snickered from the doorway.

Aang shot up but relaxed when he realized it was Yianna. "Don't barge in like that!" Aang said, but he couldn't hide the small smile forming on his face.

Yianna rolled her eyes as she started to walk into the room towards where Aang was now seated: "Well maybe you shouldn't leave your room door open next time."

He sighed: "Yeah yeah you're right." Rubbing the back of his head a little.

"So, what's bothering you?" Yianna started.

"Nothing's wrong, what makes you think something is wrong?" Aang said, berating himself internally for how quickly he responded, almost solidifying that he was a terrible liar to her.

She laughed a bit at this, seeing right through him in that moment: "No need to hide behind a façade Avatar."

Yianna only very rarely called Aang the Avatar. Even though it was viewed as informal to be on a first name basis, Aang had long ago shrugged off that formality with her which she appreciated. Now she only used it when she was teasing him, hoping to take the edge off the title and normalize it a bit for Aang.

Aang sighed: "Nothing gets past you does it?"

She sat next to him and responded: "When it comes to you no, you're pretty much the most obvious person I know."

Aang looked back at her in mock annoyance: "Hey! I'm not that bad!"

Yianna put her hands up in surrender: "I'm kidding relax! You're only somewhat obvious… Happy?"

He rolled his eyes at this and laid back on the bed. "Why do I feel so off balance today?"

Yianna laid back next to him: "Oh I don't know, maybe because the Fire Nation began to invade our tribe? Or maybe because you saw Katara and Sokka again? Or maybe the fact that we are going on a dangerous mission tomorrow? Or…"

Aang stopped her: "I get the gist, a LOT has happened today, but still it all just seems to be too much at once. I don't know how to handle it all."

Yianna sat back up: "Maybe start by not blaming yourself for everything or feeling like you need to take everything on by yourself."

"Yianna, but I'm the Avatar… People are expecting me to…"

She cut him off: "Let me take some of the load for you. We are family now and that's what family does…"

He sat up at this: "Yianna… I…"

Yianna gestured for him to be quiet as she continued: "I know people calling you family in the past ended in your being hurt badly. You're my family. What you say won't change that."

Aang knew Yianna was stubborn and genuinely meant what she had said. He began to tear up a little. What have I done to deserve her in my life? It was then that he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Don't need to say anything. I've got your back." She paused for a moment before continuing: "To be honest, before you came up her I didn't have really anyone to call my family. My parents passed at a young age. I was taken in by the healers which I am forever greatful to them for but still... It never replaced the feeling of a real family but when you came into my life I... Everything just changed... You didn't judge me or think less of me for my lack of family or for any of my flaws. You just accepted me for who I was. You're my safe place Aang, someone I know I can count on no matter what."

He was stunned by her admission. He did not know much revolving around her family or what had happened to them. She did not like to talk about it often, but he had always been there to just listen. In the time he had been there, they had grown very close but to hear her voice this filled him with something... He wasn't quite sure what but his eyes began to water.

Yianna brought him back from his thoughts: "Now don't we have a dinner to attend?" Yianna started to say as she got up. "Finish getting ready, I'll be waiting outside for you."

Aang wiped the tears away, turning towards her. She smiled at him as she began to walk towards the door. Aang quietly spoke: "You're my family, my safe place to."

Yianna stopped at this at the entrance to his room. Turning back around, seeing Aang now standing looking straight at her, she closed the distance between the two of them and engulfed him in a tight hug.

"I know" she said hugging him tightly.

The physical touch was the first he had in a long time now, a wave of comfort crashed over Aang in that moment. Realizing that for the first time all day he felt at peace.

The hug only lasted for a few moments, but it was the comfort both of them needed in that moment. A comfort from what was to come tonight and for the dangers that were to come tomorrow.

When they broke apart Aang looked at Yianna for a long moment, averting his eyes before he spoke: "I really needed that. So, thank you. It's been so long since someone cared enough to do that. Don't get me wrong, Toph cares but she's not really the "hugger not a fighter type"" Aang finished in air quotes.

She laughed at this: "Yeah she's definitely more of a fighter for sure."

They both shared a good laughed at this together. When they finally calmed down again Yianna finished her train of thought: "Well, anytime you need one you know where to come for it." Yianna said as she began to fix his collar for him, running her hands down his shoulders to smooth out any wrinkles that had developed.

Once she was happy with his appearance, she began to walk towards the door. "Now finish getting ready, we don't want to be late for dinner."

He grinned and made his way back over to the mirror to finish getting ready.

Until next time!