The morning was filled with tension and silence

The morning was filled with tension and silence. No one spoke. The quarreling duo did not speak; each had a different emotion on their face. Katara's was full of anger and pain that she had left bottled up for the last four years. Aang on the other hand was absolutely miserable, now his face reflected what his heart had been for years. His happy and carefree mask disappeared. Now is face modeled what his heart was, sad, miserable, and heartbroken.

Of course, neither of the two's faces showed what they felt for long. Aang reverted back to his carefree mask; he had to be strong for the group. He was still the Avatar and his job was to be a leader. Katara's face wasn't as happy, it was more like emotionless. In fact it wasn't like emotionless, it was emotionless. It was like she didn't care about anything. People could probably tell by her look she was angry and not to mess with her, without anger contorting her face. Just like a poisonous frog, it isn't telling you it is poisonous by it acting vicious, it gave you the subtle sign with its bright skin…which isn't that subtle. Make sense?

Sokka and Toph were stuck in the middle of the mess. Sokka being Katara's brother, but being Aang's only guy friend in the group. Toph was Katara's only girl friend in the group, but she was also Aang's friend.

They walked quickly through the mountainous area. Everyone was tired. The altitude had impacted the group's stamina. However, no one had the courage to break the silence so they all trudged on tiredly.

Sokka no longer being able to take the silence walked up to Toph and began to whisper, "We have to do something. The silence is endless! I'll go insane if I have to take this any longer."

"What do you want me to do about it Snoozles?"

Sokka thought for a moment, "Go talk to Katara about what happened and I'll talk to Aang. We have to figure this out. I don't think I can take this silence the whole trip."

"Oh no Snoozles, I'm not talking to Sugar Queen about her romantic problems with Twinkle Toes."

Sokka started to beg, "Please Toph! I'll do anything!"

Toph started to think about the possibilities of Sokka's promise. She started to smirk, "Fine."

Sokka grinned widely, "Thanks Toph, I owe you big time!" He gave her a pat on the back before heading over to Aang who was on the far right.

"Oh yeah you do." Toph whispered as she rubbed her hands together.

Toph sighed and started over to Katara on the far left.

Toph and Katara walked in silence for a while. Toph hadn't heard Aang and Sokka start talking so why should she?

You'd think they would start talking on this long hike to the village. Yet, strangely they didn't. Katara was one who always voiced her problems to her best friend. Until now, now she couldn't talk to him because he was the problem. These mixed feelings and emotions messed with her mind.

The Waterbender might have been blinded by emotions, but she still saw logic. She had already admitted to herself that it was her fault. She shouldn't have been so quick to judge. In fact right now she wished she could go over to Aang and apologize; however, she couldn't.

It was who she was. She knew she was hot tempered, bossy, stubborn, and was full of pride. Those qualities are not all bad qualities. If it wasn't for her stubbornness and pride she wouldn't have become a Waterbending Master. Except, her stubbornness kept her from doing the right things too. If she wasn't stubborn Aang and she would have already made up by now.

Katara sighed, 'This is terrible. We were finally becoming good friends again. I just had to go and ruin it...I blame Master Pakku.' The Waterbender continued to think about Aang and her situation, 'Maybe because I don't want it to be just like old times. I don't want to not be there for him. I want to help him and be something more than just a friend he can go to…something more.'

Katara gave another sigh. She didn't even know what she wanted to be. Not a friend, not a sister, not a mother, not an associate, not an advisor, she wanted to be something else…she just didn't know what.

Aang wasn't fairing that well either. He hadn't even noticed that Sokka had come up beside him. He even let his mask slip. All he had was his miserable gaze looking forward at the up coming path.

He was still contemplating what I thought last night, 'Okay, I already established that I love Katara, that's a good start.' He rolled his eyes at his stupidity, 'Anyone could tell I love her! What I have to do is to know where I go from there.'

'I want to be her protector. I can't bare seeing harm come to her. I can't be with her, for what and who I am. That leaves me as a really good friend. A best friend.' He grunted in frustration and hit himself in the forehead, 'Well, the only problem now is that I don't want to be her best friend. I want to love her. I want to be with her. I want to be the guy she is happy with.'

He mentally kicked himself, 'Now I sound selfish. I have been thinking about me and not her. She might not even like me. This is stupid. Roku said this would get easier. All that has happened so far is that now it more complicated, Katara hates me, and I am now talking to myself!'

"Psst Aang," Sokka started to wave his hand in front of Aang's face, "Aang wake up."

The Avatar was surprised, but then gave Sokka his full attention, "What is it Sokka?"

"I don't know, I was just wondering if you wanted to talk." Sokka shrugged while he spoke.

"Why would you think that?" Aang questioned.

Sokka chuckled, "You have been staring off into space for a good ten minutes…also you have been muttering Katara's name while hitting yourself in the head."

Aang immediately blushed, "Oh…that's a good reason."

"So…what's going on between you two?"

Aang stuttered, "Oh…n-noting."

"Come on Aang you can tell me. I'm your friend," Sokka's voice and face darkened, "and if you did anything to my sister I'm going to have to hurt you."

Aang gulped, "Really?"

Sokka broke out into a wide grin, "Nah, I was just kidding you," Sokka became serious, "but seriously what happened?"

"Well you see-"

Toph shouted out, "I feel the village! It is right over this hill!" She broke into a run, "Come on guys let's get going!"

Aang sighed, "I'll tell you later." And with that Aang raced to the top of the hill followed by Katara and Sokka.