Chapter 2 Goodbye

Aang sighed as he watched the sun set over the frozen landscape, projecting a rosy pink hue onto the ice. It had been two weeks since the trio had arrived at the South Pole and Aang knew that the time was nearing for him to leave, with or without his companions. There was still much work that lay ahead of him. As he sat lost in his thoughts a hand gently touched him on the shoulder. He looked up to see Katara standing over him. She gracefully sat down beside him and slipped her hand in his.

"How is he," Aang asked her, referring to her father.

"He's…better," she replied softly, "I think it helps that Sokka and I are here." Aang looked away from her for a moment; he knew what she had come here to say.

"Aang, this isn't very easy," she paused looking away from him and down at the ground, "but I think that we should stay here until father is well again." Aang could feel his heart drop to his stomach as she spoke.

"I know," she paused, "that you have to leave to complete your mission, and I don't want you to put anything on hold because of me and Sokka; we will be fine here, it's the rest of the world that needs you." She paused again, "you can't let them down Aang." Aang sighed and put his arm around her, drawing her closer to him. He wanted so badly to kiss her and tell her that he loved her and needed her, but he restrained himself, it wouldn't be fair to her to unload all his feelings when she already had so much to deal with.

The next day, as Aang loaded supplies onto Appa, he couldn't help but feel a little empty inside. This would be the first time in six years that he and Appa would be taking off alone. Aang floated down from Appa's saddle and affectionately patted the old beast on the chin, "It's going to be a long journey boy."

"Aang", a familiar voice came from behind him. He turned to see Katara. His heart fluttered for a moment, as it always did when he saw her, but this time it was followed by an unavoidable ache in his chest. He couldn't imagine not being able to see her everyday.

"Aang, I wanted to say goodbye to you before you left, and I also wanted to give you this," Katara pressed a fur blanket to Aang's chest. He reached up for the blanket but caught hold of Katara's hand before she had time to pull it away. Her face flushed slightly, "The blanket is to keep you warm when you are flying on Appa at night or when it's cold." Aang smiled sadly at her. She always thought of him, his safety, his needs, how could he possibly be without her.

"This doesn't feel right Katara," Aang said turning quickly away to conceal the pain it was causing him to leave her, "maybe I should stay here with you and Sokka until your father recovers, and then we can leave together………you and I and Sokka."

"You can't Aang, you have a duty to fulfill, the world needs you now, Sokka and I won't stand in the way of your mission."

"Then come with me Katara," Aang implored taking her by the hand once more, but even as he said it he felt the selfishness of his own words. Of course she couldn't leave her father in his time of need. Their parting was inevitable and Aang's heart broke with the realization.

"I can't Aang, you know I can't, my father needs me," tears began to well up in Katara's eyes as she spoke, "I just….,"

"I know," Aang said softly, "I'm sorry I'm only thinking of myself when I should be thinking about the people that need you and the rest of the world for that matter."

"You don't have to apologize Aang, I know how you feel," she paused, "Listen I would give anything to just hop on Appa right now and just fly away with you, but my obligation right now is to my father, and yours is to bring hope to the world." Aang turned away from her and gazed out at the frozen landscape before him. He knew everything she was saying was true. Katara slowly slipped her arm around him, as she did so many times before to comfort him.

"You know," she said, "this isn't really goodbye Aang, we will be together again. My father is getting better, and should be back to himself within a year, and once the nations have reached a peace agreement you will be free to come back and see us." Aang turned to her and smiled weakly; she was always filled with such unwavering hope.

"I know, you're right", he said "It's just that we have been traveling together for so long...I–I just can't imagine it all without you there with me."

"Me either Aang," she said sadly.

"Hey you weren't thinking of leaving without saying goodbye to me were ya Aang," Sokka said as he walked towards the two of them.

"Of course not", Aang replied giving Sokka a smile, and reaching his hand out to him.

"Good luck Aang," Sokka said as the two shook hands. "It certainly won't be the same around here without you."

"And it won't be the same without you two either," Aang replied, glancing at Katara.

"Well I guess this is it," Aang sighed, looking at both of them now, "Good luck with your father, I hope he gets well soon and I guess I'll see you guys later." With that Aang jumped up on Appa, "Yip, Yip," he yelled then turned to wave to his friends as Appa took off.

To be continued