It felt really good to be back here after all this time, with all the people that had made my life so memorable. I missed Toph's trademark nonchalance, Iroh's wisdom and tea, Zuko's ever-positive attitude and capacity for change, Suki's upbeat and cheerful manner. My brother was the same idiot he always had been, gorging himself with food when we sat down for dinner in Iroh's shop. And I wouldn't have had it any other way.

And of course, there was Aang, my light in the darkness, the rock that steadied my ever-turbulent thoughts, the calm reflection in a silent pond that overwhelms and relaxes you in the middle of a forest. I couldn't help but tear up at the thought of how much I loved him. Him sitting next to me, sharing his modest meal of Tofu and Vegetables, and smiling at me with those deep, dark and wise grey eyes, I knew that I finally had everything I wanted since I first saw him in that Iceberg those long years ago.

As I reminisced along with my friends about the tales of old, our shenanigans bringing tears of laughter to my eyes, it felt like I was a child again. Like I was just a 15 year old girl who had been tasked with helping the Avatar fulfill his destiny. Like I was a 16 year old girl, kissing the boy that I loved, who I was indescribably relieved that loved me back, right out there on the balcony overlooking the Sun setting on a liberated Ba Sing Se. My thoughts lingered to that time. I remembered how funny and amazing young love felt. And I was grateful that that had turned into a deeper understanding of each other's soul, a bond that could never be broken. It was almost hard to believe that it happened only 4 years ago.

After the dinner, we all sat in the newly constructed meeting room that Iroh had made for family occasions, sipping our hot cups of tea. Zuko sitting next to Toph, finally lending an honest ear to her on her parents, Suki and my brother goofing around happily, and Iroh chiming in every now and then when he was asked a question. I realised that Aang had gotten up to get some more tea a few minutes ago. Although Iroh insisted that he would bring Aang a fresh cup, Aang went himself anyway. The humility of this boy was what amazed me. An all powerful God who chose to be human. That is the biggest reason I was, and always would be, in love with him.

Despite all that, something just felt... off. I excused myself from the room to go look for him.

I ventured out into the main hall, and into the back room where Iroh kept all the tea leaves.

"Aang? Are you here?" No answer.

I then looked around in the upper rooms, hoping to see him just wandering about the halls. He liked to walk to clear his mind.

But no. I couldn't find him anywhere. As I descended the stairs to tell everyone that he was missing, I glanced out onto that beautiful balcony and saw him standing there, his elbows resting on the railing.

I smiled to myself, tapped myself on the head for being so silly, and walked up to him.

"Hey! I've been looking for you. You went to get tea and never came back."

As I reached him, I saw that he looked ... sad. Really sad.

"Oh. Hey! Sorry I just wanted some air"

He tried to quickly change his expression to keep me from worrying about him, but it was too late.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing. Really. Just felt like some fresh air. I AM an Airbender, y'know."

"After 4 years you really think I can't tell when you're lying?" I asked playfully, but concernedly.

He realised it was pointless. "I was - I was thinking. About old times."

"Wasn't that what all of us were doing?"

"No. Not those times. I was thinking of a time much more in the past ."

I realised that he was talking about his time as a real 12 year old boy among the Air Nomads. His first Family.

"Is that why you're feeling sad?"

"When I was sitting inside, chatting with all of our friends, I felt like a true family. That reminded me of my old life. I know that I decided that I would be happy for their sake. Keep their memories alive. But I just miss them so, so much."

His voice was beginning to croak and groan under the weight of his emotion. I felt my own chest sink into the pits of my stomach seeing him like this.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He'd mentioned the Air Nomads a lot in our time together, but they were happy memories. Like Monk Gyatso and his 'cakebending', him inventing the air scooter, and how he would sneak away every fortnight to soar above the clouds with the baby sky-bison, taking in the beauty of the Moon. But this was different. It's like all those memories were superficial ones keeping him from feeling the real sadness and loss that came with being separated from an entire people.

"You know that I love you right? And everyone else in there. So much."

I smiled sympathetically, and moved closer to him to rest my hand on his. He turned to face me and smiled, before looking back at the night sky.

"I would be nothing if not for you, Avatar or not. All of you, and you especially, are more than friends to me. You're what I call Home."

I was happy that he felt this way, but confused and nervous of the direction his words were taking. Tears had started to slowly creep their way down his cheek.

"But before all this. Before the war and the iceberg, I was with the Air Nomads. My own kind of people. Airbenders. Monks. People who were so peaceful and wise." He paused for a breath.

"I remember the love I felt from Monk Gyatso. He was like a father to me. Even after we learnt that I was the Avatar, he treated me like a simple 12 year old boy. I never got to thank him for that. I never got to thank him for being the father he was. I never got to tell him how much I loved him and how sorry I was for running away."

Now he was sobbing. Softly at first. Which then turned into a wave of powerful tears. I couldn't bear looking at him like this. I moved closer, and let his head rest on my shoulder as he relieved himself of that sadness. He regained his composure for a brief moment.

"I never told you what happened with Guru Pathik at the Eastern Air Temple right after we told the Earth King about the Eclipse."

I let his head rise so he could look at me through teary eyes.

"In the process of unlocking my Chakras, he helped me see that even though I felt extreme sadness and loss over losing the Air Nomads to that pointless war, their love for me hadn't left this world. He told me that it took a new form and presented itself before me. As you."

I smiled at this.

"But even after realising that, why do I miss them so much Katara? I miss them so much that it hurts. I feel completely surrounded, yet alone. I relish the idea of their love living on in you. To the point that it gave me hope to complete our mission of ending the war. But ever since it's ended, I'm starting to remember all that sadness again." His voice was trembling again. He looked away as if that was going to stop the onslaught of tears.

In that moment, I realised that I would have to be what he has been for me all this time. His rock. His pond in the middle of the forest. And in that moment, there was nothing else I wanted to be.

"My love," I tilted his head gently by the chin so that we would see eye to eye again, "it's okay to feel sad. It's okay to feel pain. I can't even imagine what it feels like to be the lone survivor of a whole nation. I know the grief and loss must be unbearable. But know this. You're most definitely not alone. You have Zuko, Toph, Sokka, Suki, Iroh, even Appa and Momo. And most of all, you have me."

He seemed to feel a bit better after hearing this. I hugged him so that his head would rest against my neck, and felt relieved when I felt his hands cupping my waist in an embrace.

"I know I'm not an Airbender or a Monk, but with me you never have to worry about being alone ever again. Nothing can keep me from you. Do you know why?" I asked as I lifted his head to bring his face in front of my eyes, gently cupping his cheeks.

"Why?"

"Because you're the love of my life. I will always be with you."

He smiled gently, the life and joyfulness and innocence slowly returning to his face, the sadness and gloom slowly melting away. I brought my lips to his, and planted a soft, passionate kiss.

"I know. And I'm sorry I feel this way." he said, peeling away. "I want to stop feeling so broken. I want to heal this wound so that I can remember them without hurting."

"You might never be able to do that. I know because I feel the same about my mother. But you know what? Love will heal your wounds. It healed mine. Sokka's love, the love of my Father and Gran-Gran." I looked into his eyes and smiled. "Your love. They all healed me. I still feel sad about losing her. But now I remember all the happy moments I had with her. And that comforts me greatly." This seemed to relieve his stress. It made me appreciate what he did for me all this time. It made me love him that much deeper.

Aang was finally returning to his usual self. Smiling. That gleam had returned to his eyes. We shared one final kiss, and headed inside.

"Thanks for that. I had those feelings bottled up for so long. You really helped me."

I weaved my arm through his, resting my head on his shoulder as we walked.

"I love you beyond measure."

"I know. And love will heal your wounds Aang. My love will. I'm a healer in more ways than one."