This is the final chapter before the test begins. Updates should come fairly quickly. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Chapter 3: Support

"GAH! What's going on here?" Aang and Katara were awakened quite suddenly by a yelling Sokka who had come inside without knocking. Aang looked frightened when he saw big brother, but Katara was more irritated than anything.

"Aang, you are a dead man!" Sokka started walking towards the bed.

Katara quickly bended the water out of her healing bowls and formed an ice sword, pointing it straight at her over-protective brother, stopping him on the spot.

"Take one more step. I dare you," Katara challenged with the same look she gave Zuko that one time.

"ARGH!" Sokka turned and stormed out. He wasn't going to call Katara's bluff, because he'd rather live. He was still none too happy seeing his sister in bed with the Avatar, though.

Aang still looked like doom awaited him, so Katara cupped his hands and gave him a strong, passionate kiss. Almost instantly Aang's anxiety melted away as he returned the kiss, which led to a morning make out session. The two constantly flipped each other over, trying to dominate. After about 5 minutes they were completely entangled in a mess of sheets, but they couldn't care less. After another 10 minutes they finally separated.

"I could wake up like this everyday," Katara grinned. "Except for the whole intrusion part."

Aang chuckled. "I'm glad you enjoy waking up beside me. We should do this more often."

"You're not worried about Sokka anymore?" Katara inquired.

"A little. But you'll keep me safe, right?" They both laughed

After that they got dressed and headed down for breakfast. They must've slept in a little, because Sokka acted like he was withering away, and even Suki and Toph looked hungry. Zuko was in a meeting with some coucilmen from the Fire Nation that morning. Sokka probably went into Katara's room to wake her up so she'd make breakfast. Sokka didn't make any moves, but he glared at the young couple as they came down the stairs. As Katara went into the kitchen and Aang sat on the couch, the water tibe warrior turned his focus to the young Avatar.

"You and I are going to have a talk about all this, buddy. I told you're too young for this, and you do it anyway." The protective brother growled before his Kyoshi girlfriend elboewd him in the stomach.

"Sokka!" Katara immediately defended her boyfriend "We didn't do that! We don't plan on going there for a while. We just slept in the same bed, that's all. Now please stop trying to scare Aang, okay? He's got enough to worry about as it is right now."

Sokka suddenly became curious. Aang started telling Sokka and Suki about the final challenge against the White Lotus that he had to partake in. He told him who he had to face, when he faced them, and where he would face them. Talking about it made some of Aang's insecurities from yesterday creep up again. Katara's faith in him largely shattered his fears, but talking openly about it brought the fear back. At this point Katara finished breakfast and they all gathered around the table to eat.

"This has to totally suck for you, Aang." Sokka barely got his sentence out in between bites.

"I won't lie, I am pretty nervous." Aang confessed.

"Yeah, I can see why. Beating Ozai and almost dying wasn't enough. Now you're facing the best in the world right now."

Sokka, you're not helping the situation!" Katara scolded her brother when she saw Aang's face droop.

"What? I'm just stating the truth. He knows all of this." Sokka's continued rant earned him an elbow from his girlfriend.

"Come on guys! I'm just saying it has to suck that Aang has to do this, and that if he fails he might stop being the Avatar. I mean, then all those months of hard work and sacrificing your childhood would be for nothing then."

Aang finally snapped. "I've lost my appetite," he said coldly as he shoved the food away and walked away into the courtyard of The Jasmine Dragon. In the meantime everyone else was glaring at Sokka.

"What? Did I say something wrong?" Sokka asked before being slapped upside the head by Suki.

"Snoozles, don't ever become a therapist or a motivational speaker." Toph said.

"Sokka, you're my brother and I love you, but you need to stop putting your foot in your mouth all the time!" With that Katara stood up and went to go look for Aang. In the meantime, Suki and Toph continued to lecture Sokka.

Katara stopped and watched Aang for a second. He was summoning rocks from the ground only to shatter them with his hands, feet, and even his head. She couldn't tell if he was training or just letting out his anger on Mother Earth. Probably both, she thought. After several rock smashes Aang walked over to the pond of the courtyard and tried basic water streaming. He kept losing control of the water and getting frustrated. The water kept falling back into the pond, earning agitated groans from Aang. It reminded Katara of that time when she stole that one waterbending scroll, and got frustrated. After the fourth failed attempt Aang raised his arms in frustration, accidentally causing a geyser to erupt.

"Calm down, Aang!" Katara shouted so he could hear her over the raging water he had set off. She walked up to him and spoke softly. "Remember, anger makes you lose control of waterbending."

Aang looked at her, tears suddenly flowing from his eyes. "I can't do this, Katara. I don't want to, and I can't. I'm too weak."

"You are not weak, Aang," She replied firmly. "You are very, very strong. You've mastered the elements in record time, and stopped Ozai without killing him."

"What if I fail, Katara? I've failed before. What if I stop being the Avatar?"

"Aang, they never said that failing could result in you no longer being the Avatar." Katara reminded him. It was true. That was never stated.

Aang's fear kept him stubborn. "But it's a possibility, Katara. They never said it wouldn't, either. I'm scared of losing my powers. To go through all this just to lose my powers... i can't stand the thought. And you know what's worse? I'm scared that if I fail… that I could lose you."

Katara crossed her arms. "Are you implying that if you were no longer the Avatar, I'd stop loving you? That assumption actually hurts me, Aang." Her voice was rather stern.

Her last statement made Aang turn away and shame and start sobbing louder, which made Katara feel bad. She quickly hugged him from behind and tried a different approach.

"Listen to me, Aang. I'm not in love with the Avater. I'm in love with Aang. I'm love with you. It's not the millenniums worth of power that I love. It's my sweet, goofy little airbender that I love. I'd never stop loving you, even if you weren't the Avatar."

Aang stopped sobbing for a bit, turned around and returned her hug. "The Avatar is part of who I am. I was afraid that if I lost that part of me, that you'd never be able to look at me the same way ever again. I was afraid you would miss the part of me that was missing."

"I was drawn to you before I knew you were the Avatar, Aang. I'll always love you, no matter what." Katara assured him as they finally separated. "You can do this, Aang. You're strong."

"She's right, Aang. You can do this. You're strong enough." Aang and Katara were caught off guard as they looked around to see Sokka approaching them.

"Aang, I'm sorry for my statements earlier. I was stupid. I never wanted to scare you."

"That's okay, Sokka." Aang forgave him.

"Ahem!" Suki cleared her throat from behind Sokka, who yelped.

"And I-I'm s-sorry for not giving you the benefit of the doubt with my sister. I forget that you were raised by monks, so you would naturally take things slowly.

Unfortunately, Katara thought to herself.

"But like I said, Aang, You're ready for this. You can do it." Sokka assured him.

"Do you guys really believe in me?" Aang asked with a small grin.

"Of course we do, Aang. You've got this in the bag," Suki joined the motivational moment.

"Like I said before, Twinkletoes, you're the man!" Aang just now realized Toph was there as well.

Katara put her hand on Aang's shoulder. "So do you feel better now?"

"Much better. Thanks guys!" Aang said, back to his chipper old self.

"You can thank me after I kick your butt in training, Twinkletoes!" Toph laughed.

"You've still got to train, so let's get to it. Zuko should back from his meeting soon to keep up your firebending. In the meantime, prepare to fight!" Katara readied herself.

Aang grinned as he raised the ground below him a few feet, and then drew a dense stream of water from the pond, circling it around his waist.

For the next 2 days it was train, train, train. Aang would eat breakfast, train, eat lunch, train, eat dinner, and train. The day before the first duel, Toph and Zuko were tired of training Aang, but Katara stuck by his side, not leaving him alone. Aang eventually told her to go enjoy herself for the day, but she firmly refused, and stayed with him. Both nights ended the same way the first one had; Katara gave Aang a healing session, followed by a make out session, and they both fell asleep in her bed.

The night before the first duel, their making out lasted longer than usual; about 25 minutes or so. Katara reluctantly broke the kiss, for she knew Aang needed his rest.

"We need to stop. You need to be well rested for tomorrow."

Aang whined but nodded his head. Katara laughed.

"So are you ready?" Katara asked him.

"I'm as ready as I've ever been. And I'll get plenty of rest. I slept better than ever these past 3 days." Aang smiled when he saw Katara blush. They kissed goodnight, and had to will themselves to not start making out again. Even so, the kiss lasted a few seconds. With that they fell asleep in each other's arms, ready for the next day.

Knock Knock!

Aang and Katara woke up grumpily to the sound of someone banging on Katara's door. Katara already had a feeling of who it was, and she did not feel like putting up with his crap this morning.

"Go way, Sokka! Give us some privacy." Katara growled as she rubbed the sleepiness from her eyes.

"But I'm starving to death here."

"You can go 20 minutes without eating. You're a big boy," Katara teased her brother.

"Fine. But don't too long. I must keep my buff, manly frame you know!" Sokka went back downstairs.

After the typical, romantic Kataang wake up tradition, Aang and Katara went to downstairs to start the day. Katara urged Aang not to train today, as he needed to save his energy for the battle. Thus, Aang spent the day meditating in the courtyard, preparing himself mentally for the events to come. He would only stop to stretch out for a minute, and to go eat lunch. Katara went shopping with Suki that morning, but after lunch stayed to keep an eye on Aang, making sure he didn't start training and wear himself out. The sun was beginning to set when Iroh stepped into the courtyard to confront the meditating Avatar.

"Avatar Aang, it is time for the first duel."

Aang slowy opened his eyes and got to his feet to face the grandmaster. He noticed that Pakku, Bumi, and Piandao were there as well. The time flies by when you're meditating.

"We must leave on Appa now to reach the battlefield outside of Ba Sing Se by the time the sun has gone down. I hope you are prepared." With that, the order disappeared back into the shop. Katara walked up to her boyfriend and put her hand on his shoulder.

"Are you ready, Aang?"

"Yeah. Let's do this."


The next chapter will feature the first fight. RnR, please. Thanks for reading!