Aang and the gang had just left the palace returning to the city. Toph and Sokka were conversing. Each interested in what the other had done in the past four years. Toph, not being able to see on ice, had not been able to visit Sokka in the Southern Water Tribe. And Sokka, having no mode of transportation other than a boat which would have taken months, had not been able to visit Toph in Gaoling. So each separated, by invisible boundaries, felt guilty for not visiting each other.

If they felt guilty for not visiting when they couldn't; think about how Aang felt when didn't visit when he could.

Speaking of our last Airbender, he was not fairing well with Katara. No speaking, no writing, no visiting, and no final goodbye when Katara left had not left them on good terms. Aang every few seconds would glance over at Katara nervously. While Katara kept her sight straight forward focusing everywhere, but on Aang.

Aang was uneasily playing with his hands. Every time he opened his mouth to apologize for leaving her nothing came out.

Sokka's voice rang from behind catching the group's attention, "Just like old times huh? The whole Gaang back together again!"

Aang frowned and thought, 'Yep just like old times, like when I was a shy 12-year-old struggling to tell Katara that I liked her. Wait it has gotten worse! At least back then I could say something to her. Now I'm a bumbling oaf who can't say anything!' Aang smacked himself in the head.

Katara, a little worried about her friend smacking himself in the head, laid her hand on his shoulder, "Aang are you okay?"

Aang immediately was shaken from his thoughts and looked down at her. Now he was a couple inches taller than her and actually wasn't smaller than her…in figure. She must have stayed in shape while up in the Southern Water Tribe for she was slender and walked with much grace. He stared at her eyes for a long time. They were still their bright blue, yet now they held so much more to them. Like they had experienced nearly everything, now waiting for what they wanted to happen to happen. It's weird to be able to tell everything about someone through their eyes. Stories unfold when looking into someone's eyes, for they are the windows to the soul.

Aang spoke up, "Yeah I'm fine…what about you?"

Katara gave him a confused look, "What about me?"

Aang shook his head snapping out of his trance, "I mean…how have you been up at the Water Tribe? How is the village getting along?"

Katara finally smiled at him, "It has been great! The village now resembles more of the metropolis of the Northern Water Tribe, than the once broken village of the Southern Water Tribe."

Aang raised his eyebrows in interested, "Really what all has changed?"

That's when the two finally hit it off. Katara beamed with pride and happiness when she spoke of the now flourishing tribe. She told Aang about how when she returned Master Pakku and the others were finishing up the town. How finally Pakku and Gran Gran, Kanna, were reunited and this time Kanna gave him a chance. From how all the waterbenders worked together to sink the Fire Navy ship that scarred their land for decades. To how her dad, Chief Hakoda, was training Sokka to become chief one day. Seeing Sokka is now about to turn twenty he needs to know everything about leading the tribe before gaining leadership. And lastly to her students which some had come down from the Northern Water Tribe; while others, surprisingly, had the ability to waterbend, yet never even knew about it.

Aang was listening intently on every word. He watched her facial features change as she spoke. Angry when talking about the ship to satisfied when she told him that the waterbenders sunk it. Somewhat dreamy when she talked about Gran Gran and Pakku, but wistful at the same time. And finally ecstatic and proud when she spoke of the children she was teaching.

Katara had always been good with kids and had shown her maternal instinct many times while on their adventures. Aang knew she would be happy teaching children, which is why he told her to do so when she would return.

When Katara asked Aang about his life he tripped up a little. Did he want to tell Katara that his life was miserable with his friends gone, with her gone? He spent many of his days lonely roaming about the palace and just traveling back and forth through the Kingdoms.

Not wanting to be rude, he told her about his life. About how after the first year he and Zuko had become close friends and fought against a rebel attack on the palace. That he visited all the Air Temples to rebuild and form as meeting places for separated families. The process was long and boring, but it was effective. He spoke about his constant travels and learning about new cultures while rebuilding them at the same time. Helping in peace agreements between warring tribes and villages to liberating villages from rebels. He went everywhere and did everything.

However, he did leave out all the life threatening details. The ones including almost being assassinated twice and almost dieing in a huge battle against the rebels. Aang didn't want to worry Katara. Every time he was look at her she was smiling. Katara was lingering on his every word. She was intrigued by his stories. This made Aang happy; no one was ever interested in his stories just him. But Katara could always make him happy even when she was just listening to him.

When they finally arrived at Aang's house everyone found their rooms. Because of the long trips and the long day everyone was bushed. As soon as they laid down, each in their separate room, they were out. Even Aang who was use to long travels was tuckered out.

Aang, unlike the others, wasn't graced with a calm sleep. The Avatar was overwhelmed with a restless sleep. Aang hasn't had a good night's sleep in four years, but he has never really had a bad one either. Nightmares filled the Avatar's mind.

The Gaang had just stormed into the rebels' strong hold. Rebels were everywhere, with every weapon, the Gaang was surrounded. The leader shaded in the shadow yelled out to his soldiers to attack.

Every single one of them jumped from their position charging at the Avatar and his friends.

Most were firebenders, others were just normal former Fire Nation soldiers, but surprisingly there were earthbenders, too.

The fight was hard. At least 150 or more people were there. About 1 to 37 ratio. Even though each one of the warriors, Aang, Katara, Toph, and Sokka, had faced greater challenges, against greater odds, against great numbers, the battle was still difficult.

Aang was fairing as he always did. Defeating each of his foes with ease and dodging each of the blows aimed his way. He was not the Avatar for nothing, he had great skills.

But suddenly it grew black. Aang blinded from the darkness turned in a clockwise rotation trying to protect all of his sides while in a fighting stance. An attack hit him in the side knocking the air out of him and also knocking him off his feet.

He glanced up when he finally saw light. The spotlight was on six figures. Three rebels and with them Katara, Toph, and Sokka. All of his allies were tied at the wrists and gagged. Each of Aang's friends was struggling to break free, but their struggles were fruitless.

The leader, still cloaked in darkness, stepped right in front of Aang. He looked down at him with a crooked smile that gleamed in the darkness.

"Well, well, well, it seems the Avatar has failed and the cost is his friends' lives." Aang could see the man's blood red eyes glowing as he spoke.

Aang glanced up at his friends' panicked faces. The leader saw this and cackled, "Look everyone the Avatar is worried, for his friends. Oh don't worry we'll make their deaths painless." The man signaled for his men to kill them.

Aang's eyes were wide with terror. He reached for the edge of the leader's cloak. The man surprised looked down at Aang. Aang looked up with pleading eyes and begged, "Please don't kill them."

The man's laugh grew louder and wilder, "You here that! He doesn't want us not to kill them." Everyone laughed some even jeered and cheered for the deaths to come sooner. Their leader silenced them with a wave of his hand, "I'm sorry Avatar we don't play that way."

Two of the captures sliced Toph and Sokka's throats then let them drop to the ground dead.

"NO!" Aang shouted which only started more laughing.

Aang peeked around the room at all the soldiers' faces. Each evil and devilish looking.

Aang turned his attention back towards Katara, that was now in the leader's hold. Again the leader motion for the crowd to stop.

"Well what is this beauty's name, hm?" He stoked her hair as he held her close. "My, my Avatar you have good taste, pretty," Katara went and tried to head butt him, "and feisty."

Aang boiled over with anger as the man put his face into her hair taking in her scent. Then he placed his head next to hers on her shoulder.

"I have to say, I will feel bad for killing this one. Any last words?" He ripped off her gag.

"Aang! Help!" Katara tried to break free of the man's grip.

Aang struggled to get up, but realized he couldn't. Katara was now crying. Aang reached out, "Katara!"

The leader cocked his head to the side, "Katara, hm? Very pretty name. Well goodbye Katara." The man took his sword out and lit it aflame. Then he plunged it right through her stomach. Katara started to cough up blood. He twisted it and once he saw the satisfying look of pain on her face pulled it out.

Aang, now able to move, dashed over to Katara sliding down on his knees once he reached her. Katara's eyes were losing their light, "Aang why did you let this happen?"

Aang was on the verge of tears, "Katara I'm sorry I didn't mean to."

"Aang…why…did…" Katara's eyes rolled back and the hand Aang was holding went limp.

"Katara I'm sorry." He scooped her up in his arms, "I'm sorry…I'm sorry." His tears dripped down onto her face mingling with her blood.

He was greeted with silence. No one to say it was okay, or that he was forgiven. No one was there. Aang gave a loud scream of pain.

He turned around to see the leader had stabbed him in the back, "This is your fault Avatar. It is your fault they are dead."

"NOOOO!"

"NOOOO!" Aang jolted up. He now was back in his room. He was awake. He touched his back. The only wound there was his scar from four years ago. He breathed a sigh of relief. It was all a dream. But still a little unsure he tugged his sheets off him. He got up and walked out the door. Now out to make sure that none that really happened, just in case.