Before I begin I would like to say that I don't own ATLA or any of these characters. This story is an au of Katara getting shot by Azula instead of Aang.

"What! Why would I let go of Katara?" the question seemed so ridiculous in the little airbender's mind. Katara meant everything to him, she was everything.

Without thinking it twice he finally admitted his true feelings for her out loud, "I, I love her!" Tears almost came to his eyes when just thinking of having to let go of the most important thing in his life.

"You must let her go" the Guru said. But did he truly know how stupid that sounded. And how almost impossible it would be.

He didn't know what they had both been through together. He didn't see the way they looked at each other, with so much trust, with to much love and appreciation. He didn't know that she was what he taught about every night before he went to bed. That picturing her smile allowed him to sleep peacefully even with everything wrong that was going on in the world. As the avatar, his duty was to the world. But, Katara is and always would be his world.

...

There was too many of them. Aang looked over to see Katara surrounded by Dai Li agent, barely holding herself up. At this moment he knew, that in order to save her, he must let go of her. "I'm sorry, Katara." He then used his earth bending to create a small fort out of crystals. He began to unlock his last chakra and enter the avatar state.

Letting go of his earthly attachments allowed him to be introduced to the true power that was the avatar state. Everyone stopped the fight and watched, as the avatar began to float in the air with his eyes and tattoos glowing immensely. Katara watched as the little boy she had released from that icy prison was now finally becoming who she always knew he could be. She couldn't help but feel so proud of him.

At this moment, Azula saw the perfect opportunity to attack. She pointed towards the airbender but something caught her eye. She saw the water bender peasant looking at the avatar with eyes filled with love. And as she always said, love is weakness. She then accumulated lighting and stroke Katara.

Aang saw as the girl he loved fall to the ground and before he knew it he was out of the avatar state again. He wasn't able to find his breathe and without realizing it he created a tidal wave that nearly drowned the Dai Li agents, but he didn't care about them, or anyone. He only cared about her.

Uncle Iroh then got infront of the avatar and began to attack the Dai Li agents. "Get her out of here, I'll distract them for as long as I can."

Aang was holding on tight to Katara while tears streamed down his eyes. He then used water bending to get out of the caves and back to the others.

The next few moments were just a blur to him. He wasn't focused on anything but Katara.

...

He placed Katara on Appa's head and looked at her beautiful face and wanted more than anything for her to open her eyes.

He then caught a glimpse of the necklace that contained water from the spirit oasis. He had never attempted to find out if he had healing abilities. They had Katara so there wasn't much use for him to be a healer too. But now, it was their only hope on saving her.

Sokka and Toph where on Appa's saddle looking down on them. Sokka couldn't believe what he was seeing, his little sister unconscious, at the trial between life and death.

As tears streamed down his face he couldn't begin to think where he went wrong. Was it not believing in Aang when he said she was in trouble?Was it letting her stay in Ba Sing Se while he went to visit his dad? Was it staying in Ba Sing Se while she and Toph voted not to? Was is it agreeing to come on this journey with Aang in the first place?

He was always so protective of her, making sure no harm ever came her way. But this time, he failed her. He had failed every girl in life, his mom, Yue, Suki, and now Katara.

...

Aang took the water from the spirit oasis and began to imitate Katara when she would heal. After much focusing, the water began to glow. He then proceeded to touching the scar in her back and letting the water do it's thing. When he didn't see any changes he felt his heart drop.

He couldn't loose her, he just couldn't. He had already lost so much, all of his people and his friends, this fight against Azula, locking the avatar state. But all of those losses where crap compared to her. She was the reason why he fought. She was his reason for everything. And he hadn't even gotten a chance to tell her that.

He did, but he was always too much of a coward to actually let the words come out. Every time he tried something always got in the way, a lot of the time that something was Sokka.

If she died, he would never forgive himself for letting this happen. For failing her, when she never did. "I'm sorry, Katara." He then began to hug her while the waterworks flew down his face. Then, he felt a something push him forward to her. She hugged him back. He turned to look at her and she partially opened her eyes and smiled at him. With tears in his eyes, he smiled back and for the first time in the last hour, could finally breathe again.