A/N. So, I feel much better! This chapter has its weak points, but I finished strong I think, and next chapter is already half written, and I am very pleased with it!

Last story was 40 chapters long, but this one will be a bit slower, probably 50-60, so that I can include much of what happens before The Awakening.

I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender.

"Please… tell me more. What are his interests? His fears? I want to be able to know him…"

Katara bit her lower lip. Knowing Aang… The real one that is, was a privilege that only she had got. Sure, Sokka and Toph knew the airbender like no other. But his beliefs, fears and hopes for the future? Those… Those had only been for her.

And now, her father was asking these questions. What was she supposed to answer? Give away all of Aang's secret hopes, because he wanted to be able to know him? Her father would have to ask the airbender himself.

"I… I'll do that another time. When he is awake… Alright?"

It was nothing against him… If Sokka had asked, Katara's answer would have been the same… Her father, sitting on the stool, sighed. He didn't insist or reject her refusal. At least, that she could respect.

"Alright. At least, do one thing for me in that case." Her father looked at her, and Katara didn't look back. It was… weird. On the one hand, she was so very happy to see him again, in good health and trying to be a kind person. But that was just it. He was trying so hard because of what happened. Because he left. It was not only for them… But also because he was trying to forgive himself.

"What?" She sighed, turning around to look at the still form of the airbender on the furs…

"Leave this tent. Just for an hour… You have been hauled up in here for three days… The Avatar isn't going to suffer. I'll stay with him if you want. If there is a change, I'll immediately call for you. I promise."

Leave Aang? No. No. No, she couldn't do that… Grasping the airbender's hand firmer, she tried to stay calm. How could she leave his side?

"I need to stay." She whispered.

"Katara, you look like you haven't slept since landing here… And the people outside of this tent also need you. Sokka and Toph need you. Your brother and I made sure the Avatar will be looked after, the whole tribe will." Her father put a hand on her shoulder, and the weight of it nearly made her faint.

When was the last time she had eaten? The waterbender didn't know… She had eaten a peach… This morning? No, it had been earlier.

She had slept that night… Just for an hour, but she had!

"I… I…" She tried, but Katara felt her resistance crumble.

"And if you don't get any rest, you won't be able to help anyone… Least of all yourself." Her father whispered gently.

She nodded, and stood up, slowly.

"You will call me if something happens?"

"I promise."

Without taking her eyes off Aang, Katara slowly walked to the entrance of the tent, and stood there for just a moment. A minute? An hour? She didn't know. But at long last, she turned her back to the interior of the tent and walked out.

The waterbender had been out of the tent these last few days… But that was only when Sokka entered to wash Aang. To her shame, she had not been able to do that. Katara didn't want to. Yeah, the airbender and she had slept together, but it had been in a dark barn, only lit by that little candle Aang had been burning. And she didn't want to see him fully, for the first time, like that. It was selfish, but she couldn't help it. So, the first morning, she had asked Sokka to clean the airbender.

And without having to ask for it, her brother had come back each evening and morning, in a silent agreement, and she would leave the tent. While her brother was occupied with Aang, she would sit with Appa.

And now, she saw how the bison was looking at her, with those big, expecting eyes…

"Sorry boy… No change…" She whispered quietly, and Appa's whole body shagged a little, and the waterbender heard the small groan coming from deep within the bison. Katara caressed the bison's fur just underneath his eye, because she knew it calmed him to be touched there.

Then, she turned, and for the first time, took the time to look at the camp.

When they had arrived, Katara had seen all the familiar faces. But she hadn't cared. There had only been one thing that she had wanted. Heal Aang, hear his voice again… But that wasn't going to happen for some time… the waterbender hated it, but she had done everything she could… Now, it was just his body that had to do the healing…

Now, the camp was bustling with activity. At least half of the men were making their way to the boats on the beach, with wood, ropes and tools in their hands. Several other were sharpening their weapons, and putting on their battle gear. They didn't seem in a hurry, so Katara supposed that there wasn't any danger. From a distance, she saw, in the sea of blue tunics, the distinctive green of Earth Kingdom people. Toph…

Making her way, slowly, for she felt the world spin around her, Katara saw how several men of the tribe stopped to look at her.

Yeah… Maybe she was a mess. She had not cared about her appearance since… Since that night. Katara had removed the hair loopie beads from her hair, and it flowed down her back, but she had not bathed since coming here, so it was a bit greasy…

Otherwise, the waterbender had remarked that her dressed was tattered and burned. And the sleepless nights and worry were probably visible on her face. In other words, she looked horrible.

But when she looked up, gazing at the faces that turned towards her, she didn't see apprehension or fear… She saw… admiration. Kindness. And most of all… respect…

Walking through the rows of men, she heard the murmurs.

A real waterbender…

Teacher to the Avatar...

Discovered the boy in an iceberg at home…

It was… nice. It felt good to hear the kind words. And for the first time since coming here, Katara felt a little better. Aang was stable, and not in any mortal danger at this moment. Her father was trying to help. And now, there was respect and admiration… It was… good?

"Sugar Queen! Or should I say Walking Corpse? Spirits you must look terrible!" Toph shouted, and turned around in her direction. Behind the blind girl, Katara saw the Earth King, looking completely lost in this environment.

"Hey Toph, how are you doing?" She didn't have the strength to try and explain to the earthbender why she looked like this.

"Fine. How is he?"

"Well, he isn't dead… So that is something."

"Good. And you?" Toph took a step forward, and not for the first time since Katara knew her, she saw the earthbenders face expressing concern. And her voice sounded gentle and caring. Not teasing or joking at all.

"I… I've felt better." The waterbender admitted. Why lie to the blind girl? She could feel it if she did.

"I guessed. Twinkles in a coma, family problems and a shitty situation with the whole Earth Kingdom under Fire Nation control thing. Yeah, your life is kind a messed up at the moment." Toph sighed, sitting down on a log, and patting the place next to her. Katara groaned, sitting down. The world stopped spinning around when she sat down.

"Thanks Toph, I needed to have all my problems listed like that…"

"Hey, is that sarcasm I detect? You are Sokka's sister!" the blind girl smiled softly.

"It is all I can muster at the moment. Where is the big idiot actually?" Katara looked around, not seeing her brother anywhere around.

"He has gone to help that Bato guy with the boats. He seems to be happy about it, judging by his heartbeat. But these boats are of no use against the Fire Nation ships I suspect. Of the five on the beach, I can feel at least three are no longer seaworthy." Toph explained, while gesturing for the king to also sit down.

"Alright, I'll go and see him then. Thanks Toph," Katara tried to smile, but even she felt that the movement of her lips didn't reach her eyes, and abandoned the effort. Standing up, the waterbender felt the spinning coming back in force

"Before you go, here. Eat something." The blind girl handed her a small bag with some fruit.

"I'm alright, don't worry."

"Yes, and I am a Sky Bison. You are not alright, and if you go on like this, you will collapse. So shut up and eat."

Without answering, Katara took the fruit, and walked towards the boats. While making her way there, she tore into the fruit. After the first bite, her stomach protested so hard that she immediately ate two moon peaches and an apple.

It was good to eat something, without having to look at Aang… The guilt of that feeling nearly overwhelmed her. Here she was, eating and beginning to feel a bit better… While the airbender lay still in the tent, with small, ragged breaths keeping him alive.

She had fed him, given him water to drink. But nothing helped. He didn't seem stronger… And here she was, feeling strength return to her exhausted body…

"Sis?" A surprised voice called out, and Katara looked up. There was Sokka, without his shirt, working on the first boat of the row.

"Hey Sokka." She tried to smile, and sat down on the beach, with her ace turned to the ocean. The sight made her feel calmer than she had felt in several days…

"What are you doing here? I… I thought you would have stayed in the tent." Her brother jumped down from the deck, and walked towards her, sitting down next to her in the sand.

"Dad is watching over him." She explained, offering him an apple.

"Really? That is… good." The waterbender heard the hesitation in her brother's voice.

"He tries too hard." It was out of her mouth before she could stop herself, but now that she had said it… It felt good. To acknowledge that fact.

"He tries because he cares… But yeah, he tries too hard" Sokka admitted, to her surprise. Her brother nearly hero-worshipped their father, so to hear him agree with her…

"When… when we came here. After you left the tent, when I told you about Azula… He talked to me. Said some things that hurt."

Aang had become her confidant and friend during these last few months… But before that, at the South Pole, her brother had always listened to her problems. He had had a rough patch in that regard when he was around fifteen or sixteen, but after that, Sokka had always cared for her problems. Even if he had been a little sexist sometimes.

"What about?" He asked her.

Could she tell him? Could Katara tell Sokka about her feeling for the airbender? Would he laugh? Would he tell her it was stupid? Would he talk about how it disgusted him?

"Dad said that Aang… Aang had come here." That was a safe thing to say. Sokka had been here when Aang met their dad. And she didn't betray the subject of Aang's visit.

"Ah… you know about that?" Her brother spoke softly.

"Wait… You know about that?" Katara didn't hide her shock. He knew about the visit?

"Yeah… Aang didn't tell me why he came here, or what happened in the tent. I guessed it was something important to him, because he seemed distraught. It was only when he returned from the Air Temple that I learned what he asked Dad." Sokka admitted.

Wait… She had been so preoccupied with healing Aang… That she didn't how what happened.

"Sokka… would you tell me what happened after you two left Ba Sing Se?" She asked, quietly, still looking at the horizon.

"Are you sure?"

Was it so terrible?

"Yes."

"Alright. Before coming here, Aang asked me if it would be alright if he met Dad. He didn't say why, but I guessed it was for some Avatar business. He and Dad talked for like half an hour, and when he came out of the tent, Aang looked like shit. But when I asked him what it was, he refused to talk about." Sokka explained, and she heard how her brother was carefully avoiding certain ways of phrasing.

"And then?" She had already known this, thanks to her father. But what interested her was how they had known to come back earlier than planned.

"I stayed for a few days… And then, suddenly, when we were preparing to go fight a Fire Nation ship, Appa landed here on the beach. Aang just jumped down, shouting about how you were in danger… And there was no choice at that moment. Of course we would immediately go back to the city."

Aang had known… How? How had he known?

"Sis… How do you feel about him?" Sokka sounded hesitant, as if he wasn't sure how to approach this matter.

"I… I love him." There was no use lying about that. It was true. And if Sokka already knew about Aang's visit to their dad… And he had heard what the airbender had said to her, before falling in his coma… He had not understood the important part, but he surely had understood the last two words.

My Katara

"Do you know how he feels?" her brother insisted. Tears pricked in the corners of her eyes.

"Yes. Yes, I do know." That was the only thing she could say. Aang had already acknowledged his feelings by his words on Appa three nights ago… So why lie? But she wouldn't tell her brother about that night in the barn. No, that was something for her and Aang.

"Alright… I'll continue in that case. During our journey back, we picked up Toph, who had been kidnapped by some people on order of her father."

"Wait what?" How was it that she learned of this now?

"Yes, and she invented metalbending to escape her cage. She is a bit scary now…"

"Spirits… And then?" She admired the blind girl, and would congratulate her herself after. But now… Katara needed to know.

"I asked Aang how he knew… And… Well… oh shit. He told us that the guru had tried to make him abandon the thing that tethered him to the earthly world. And while trying, he saw a vision of you, in chains. So, he immediately left and came to get me. After that confession, I realized why he had come to talk to Dad, and Aang told us that he had been rejected."

Aang… Aang was… the thing that bound him to the world… It was… her?

The tears that had threatened to flow finally released, and the waterbender felt the tears on her cheeks.

"Do you want me to continue?" her brother asked softly. She could feel his eyes on her, but she didn't care. She wouldn't hide her tears, not in this case.

Spirits… There was more to this story… She nodded.

"Aang was beside himself. He searched for you, but it was only when Iroh found us that he calmed down. That prince had captured a Dai Li agent, and he told us that you were kept in the Catacombs, with Zuko. Knowing I wouldn't be much use against Azula and all those Dai Li benders, I asked Aang… I asked him to save you."

That was why Aang had been with Iroh when he broke into the cave… Spirits… And… He had really come to help her. She had suspected it, but to hear it to be true… It hurt.

"He was quite clear. He told me that nothing would stop him. He loves you Katara. Aang said he didn't care about what it would cost him, but that he would get you back." Sokka's voice was so small at that last sentence that she could hear how he was trying not the be overwhelmed.

And she also felt it. Guilt.

Aang had given the ultimate thing to save her. He had died, and hearing this… She knew the airbender would have died voluntarily if it had meant saving her.

How could he have such little regard for his own life? If she had to choose between herself and Aang… Well, she would probably take the same decision as he had come to. Safe the other, so that he may live. Even at the cost of her own life.

"So… Are you going to tell me what has been happening between you two?"

"I… Since the North Pole… we have been kind of dancing around each other. Never really saying what we felt… But we understood each other. It didn't need to be said, we knew… When we arrived in the city, we wanted to talk about our feelings. But that night, we discovered a Dai Li agent listening… So, we decided to wait, for when we found Appa and left the city…" Katara explained.

It was bizarre to talk about this with Sokka… And certainly, while Sokka was being understanding, and wasn't teasing.

"Well, at least I get to have the big brother speech with the Air Head. That is going to be fun." Sokka gently nudged her side with his elbow, and Katara couldn't help but smile a bit.

"Thanks for being understanding. I didn't expect it from you actually…"

"Oh no, I'm going to be difficult about it, don't worry. I can't even imagine the oogies from this when he wakes up." Sokka made gagging noises.

Ah… Her brother was back.

"I'll freeze you to the wall and make you watch." She answered. It felt good to be kidding around, just a bit.

"Please don't, I don't want to look while you are eating his face!" Sokka stood up, still making gagging noises, running back to the ship he had been repairing before coming to sit with her.

Yeah… I didn't mean anything quite that innocent, dear brother…

But he raised a good point… What would it be like when Aang woke up? The last real talk, privately, they had… Well, it had resulted in that night… In the barn. Luckily for her, Katara had had her cycle in between, so at least, she wasn't faced with that kind of problem at the moment…

But what now? When he woke up, what would he want? Would the airbender remember the words he had spoken before falling into unconsciousness? And what would she say? Her father knew she loved Aang. Now Sokka knew. Toph had at least known of the attraction… So, there was no need to hide their feelings…

But what would she tell him?

The answer was clear. These last few days had made it crystal clear. She wouldn't be able to live without the airbender… at least, not fully. Her father had been right. If you love a person so much, and that person dies… Well, living was not the same.

Looking at the great expanse of water, Katara realized that her life was probably going to change drastically when Aang woke up. People knew about them now… And their secret will we won't we was at an end… And now, it would be different. If they wanted… They could get together, without having to sneak around. They were both of marrying age… So, if they wanted… Spirits, that was way too early. She couldn't imagine that situation.

"KATARA!"

The shout stopped her thoughts of rambling on, and her head snapped to the sound. It came from her right. From the camp.

From the tent.

Her father.

Her father, who had promised to call her if… if…

If something happened.

She was already running before she realized this. As if her body had known before her brain.

Aang. Something happened.

Answers :

Chinmay : Thanks! Yeah, I feel a lot better, but I had my wisdom teethe pulled, to that was not really nice!

Jjsmith103 : Thanks you! Yes, Toph really is the voice of reason at the moment lol : Hakoda, Katara and Sokka are just in this big family thing, while Aang lies around in a coma, and Toph is there, just chilling with the king lol. And the candle had to burn of course!

CoyoteLemon : Thank you!

Gabriela N. Gonzalez : Yeah, with a more mature Sokka, I guessed he could be like this! And of course, the talk of Katara and Hakoda was the important part!

Rak : Precisely! She makes clear that if Hakoda want to be a part of their life, he has to earn that right now, and it is not just something normal for him. But Hakoda is trying his best!