Hi, everyone. I'm so sorry for being...well...not here for two and a half months. FanFiction hasn't really been on my mind that much lately. But I just logged on and saw that I hadn't updated since Christmas, and I decided to write some more. I'm not sure how many people will see this, but I hope that you enjoy! This one takes place sometime during the events of The Promise. As you have probably figured out by now, I keep everything canon! (I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, either. Sorry to disappoint whoever decides to read this.)


Honestly, Aang never asked for any of this.

He never wanted to be the Avatar, never asked to be thrust into a war at the ripe old age of twelve. (Well, technically a hundred and twelve, but he never asked to be frozen in an iceberg either.) He never asked to be forced to master three elements over a period of nine months, never asked to overthrow the world's most dangerous tyrant.

He never asked to endure countless hours of stressful negotiations, never asked to kill Zuko. Well, he hadn't killed Zuko yet, and he hoped that he wouldn't have to. He hoped that he would be able to remove his colony from the Earth Kingdom without having to use...forceful methods.

This issue was driving the now thirteen-year-old Avatar to the brink of paranoia. He couldn't possibly kill one of his best friends! But what would the entire world think of him if his indecisiveness allowed for another war, just weeks after the end of the last one!

Currently, Aang was sitting on Appa's head, trying to sort this issue out. He had to have been there for at least two hours, speaking softly to himself about how he was planning to resolve this mammoth issue.

"Aang?"

He looked down from Appa and noticed Katara looking up at him with a small smile.

"Are you okay? You've been pretty quiet lately." She looked at him with a concerned expression.

Aang sighed. "I'm trying to figure out how to get the Fire Nation colony out of here. The Earth King is threatening war, and I can't allow that to happen. It's driving me insane, so I came out here to think in peace."

Katara climbed up onto Appa. "I'm sorry it's stressing you out so much. I wish I could help," she said sympathetically.

"You don't need to worry about it," he told her.

"You shouldn't, either," she replied. "You should be able to enjoy being a kid; you shouldn't be forced to grow up when you're only thirteen years old. You shouldn't have to handle these peace treaties and diplomatic stuff yet."

"I know," he said. "I hate every minute of it. I didn't ask to be put in the middle of all this chaos." He paused for a moment. "I would love to act like a normal kid our age."

"Normal boys our age like to be around girls all the time," she laughed. "That's all they ever think about!"

"Am I any different?" he asked playfully, looping an arm around her. "Maybe you're all I think about."

"Aww, aren't you sweet," she said, giggling. She kissed his cheek.

He sighed. "You know, I haven't been spending as much time with you lately as I would have liked." He paused. "I've missed you."

She smiled. "Aang, you see me every day."

"Yeah, but...I like cuddling with you." He shifted his weight to make them more comfortable.

They were silent for a while, watching the white cumulus clouds roll by and enjoying the comfort of their embrace.

It must have been twenty minutes before it was broken by Katara. "Hey, Aang?"

"Hmm?" he hummed, looking down at her smiling face.

"What do you really think about...when you're not busy and you're all alone?" Katara asked curiously.

"You mean, besides you?" he replied, laughing lightly. "I'm sorry, that was cheesy. But...when I'm not thinking about you, or the Air Nomads, I think about how lucky I am to be here right now. Sometimes, I can't help but marvel atthe the fact that I'm even alive right now. The Fire Nation should have captured me years ago."

"You sound so wise," she remarked, "...for a kid."

Aang laughed. "You're not saying I'm a complete goof, are you?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying," Katara replied, laughing with him. "It's okay, though. I love you anyway."

"I know." He smiled brightly at her. "And I love you, too." He kissed her softly on the lips.

After around eight seconds or so, they parted, never daring to let go of their embrace.

"You know, Katara," Aang said, a smirk on his face, "I came out here to think."

"Oh, then I guess I'll just leave, then!" Katara said playfully, faking outrage.

"No, you know that isn't what I meant," he replied, gently shoving her. "You make a good distraction."

"So that's what you think of me?" she asked teasingly, feigning a hurt expression.

Aang's smirk grew. "Not completely. But that's not such a bad thing. Sometimes it's good to have a distraction."

"Mm, you're right," Katara replied. She then placed her head in the crook of his neck. "Love you..." she murmured, barely audibly enough for Aang to hear. She placed several kisses on the side of his neck.

"I love you, too," Aang replied earnestly, eyes shining with adoration for the girl in his arms. He kissed her cheek affectionately before looking out at the setting sun.

"Katara...do you want to sleep out here...with me?" he asked, suddenly feeling a little shy. "I-I don't mean like...well, like that, but-"

She smiled up at him. "I would like that. I think I will." She kissed his chin.

So they stayed on Appa's head all night, locked in each other's arms. As the last light of the sun faded to black, Aang and Katara fell peacefully asleep together.

And to think...all of that started with Katara simply giving Aang a little distraction.