Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender and am making no profit from this story.

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"Aang said something today when we were training."

"Oh?" Katara glanced back at him curiously while continuing to stir the stew over the fire.

"He said he was afraid of learning to firebend. He said it hurt people."

Katara's face lit up with surprise and knowledge before she carefully hid her reaction.

"He did?" she asked with false ignorance.

"You don't have to say it like that," Zuko replied defensively, turning away. "Just tell me you don't want me to know."

"Zuko, stop - I'm sorry," Katara called him back. "It happened before he learned earthbending We found Jeong Jeong, and Aang decided he wanted to fire right away instead of waiting . . . What's that face for?"

"You had The Deserter teach Aang?"

"Hey!" she protested. "He was alright - mostly. I didn't think it was a good idea, but, in the end, we weren't with Jeong Jeong all that long. Aang got carried away," she explained. "He couldn't control it . . . and he burned me."

Zuko shot a look at her, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"It took him months to forgive himself," she continued. "Thankfully, I healed it right away, but that incident, that one small thing . . . I guess he's afraid of something like that happening again."

Zuko held her gaze. "Thank you," he bowed his head briefly towards her. "Aang was so upset earlier that I didn't want to press the issue. I barely convinced him that firebending isn't evil. I'm hoping he doesn't change his mind again when we start practicing tomorrow."

"Me too," Katara chewed the inside of her cheek. "I'll talk to him a little today, see if I can help. I won't say you told me anything," she quickly added at his glance.

"Alright," he said. "Thanks."

xxxxxx

Aang and Katara pushed the ball of water back and forth. This mindless exercise was more to keep Aang in tune with water than anything else. They couldn't do too much with their small supply - it was their drinking water.

"Next time, we should really stay close to a lake," Katara said dryly.

Aang laughed, "You're right. We could actually practice then."

Katara smiled, "Well, at least you have extra time for the other elements now, right?"

"Right," he replied, his smile fading.

"What, is Toph being too tough on you?" Katara tried to tease, barely receiving a response.

The corner of his mouth twitched. "I don't know about fire . . ."

"What about fire?" Katara asked gently, pushing the water ball towards Aang again.

"Everything. It's so . . . destructive. It's hurt so many people. Why do I have to learn it?" his brows drew together and he looked at her like she could fix his every problem.

"Oh, Aang," she sighed. "Fire is important for you to learn. . . . Did you talk to Zuko about this?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes."

They continued moving the ball of water between them slowly as Aang recounted the story Zuko told him. He didn't tell me that. Katara reflected.

"Aang," she began when he was finished, her voice gentle. "I know you're afraid you'll hurt someone with fire. I know you don't want to learn it," she took a deep breath. "But you know you have to. It's your duty, your destiny to learn all four elements, not just the ones you like," she gently chastised.

Aang looked at her despairingly, and the water between them quivered. "I'm trying to do that, Katara. I'm really trying. But every time I create a flame, I think of burning your hands. . . . And then I don't think I can do it anymore."

Katara caught the water before it splashed onto the grass. She directed it back into the storage jars for later and walked over to Aang. She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I'm not going to lie to you, Aang. Fire can be destructive. You know that," she paused. Recalling Zuko's story, she continued, "So, maybe, you have to learn this last element because although it destroys, it also brings new life." Aang looked up at her. "And your duty as the Avatar is to help keep the peace between the kingdoms. To help keep the new life of peace after the war." She could see the wheels in his mind turning. "Think about that. I'm going to finish up dinner. See you in a bit, okay?"

Aang nodded mechanically as she walked away, smiling sadly.

xxxxxx

Katara gave Zuko a meaningful glance that night when he returned to their small camp. He nodded his thanks in return, and the next morning, Aang returned to firebending with a new vigor - one he had never shown before.

xxxxxx

"Thank you."

The two of them were the last ones awake, watching the stars as they tried to fall asleep. Katara rolled over on her makeshift bed and glanced at Zuko questioningly.

"Aang's progressing quickly. I know it has a lot to do with what you said to him, so, thank you."

She smiled. "No problem. I hadn't realized he was so afraid of trying to firebend again." She continued softly, "I would have said something earlier if I'd known."

"He's doing well," Zuko offered.

"Good," she replied absently. "It must be hard to learn all the elements . . . some of them are so opposite each other . . ." she trailed off, both of them thinking of their respective elements.

"They work well together too," he said.

She looked over at him in surprise.

"Uncle studied the other elements. He learned a lot from them, things he applied to firebending."

"Really?" she asked, intrigued.

"Yes. Especially waterbending."

"Well, it is the best element," Katara preened.

Zuko stifled a laugh.

She was quiet for a moment.

"Maybe you can teach me some firebending forms sometime? I'd like to see if it can work the other way around as well."

Zuko smiled in the darkness.

"Sure. You could come watch Aang and I practice if you want."

"That sounds nice," she replied.

They fell silent.

"Goodnight, Zuko," she mumbled before falling asleep.

xxxxxx

"Aang's having trouble with firebending," Katara commented as she and Sokka looked for firewood.

"I know," he replied.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Hey!" he protested. "I'm observant!"

"When you want to be."

"When it matters," he countered.

"Fine," she acknowledged. "But still - Aang's having trouble with firebending. I'm worried. He's never seemed like he wanted to give up before, but now . . ."

They both stopped trying to gather wood.

"Ya," Sokka agreed. "I've seen you and Zuko whispering about it when you think no one is watching."

Katara turned to him and frowned, "I thought we were being discreet."

"Discreetness is not one of your abilities, Katara," he jumped out of the way when she tried to punch his shoulder. "I think the only oblivious one at this point is Aang."

Katara sighed. At least she could always count on her brother to be truthful . . . even it the truth was painfully blunt.

"Well at least we're all on the same page," she mumbled.

"Seriously though," Sokka continued, his voice lowering. "The kid's under too much pressure, and - obviously, by the way things are going - he can't handle it. Something's gotta give."

"Sokka," Katara began, forming her words slowly. "What if Aang doesn't defeat Ozai?" she continued as his eyes narrowed, "What if he's not supposed to be the one to do it?"

"You mean, aside from the fact that it's his job-"

"No," she interrupted, thinking of her conversation with Zuko that night by the fire. "The Avatar's job is to bring peace, and maintain it."

He frowned. "But he has to make the world peaceful - he has to fight for it," Sokka argued.

"Only some Avatars have been warriors," Katara continued, "but all of them have been peacekeepers."

Sokka brought his hand up and rubbed his face. "I think Toph has been trying to tell me that," he moaned.

Katara raised a brow.

"I guess it takes a sister to know how to get the idea through your thick skull," she laughed, trying to diffuse the tense mood. "Although Toph isn't known for her subtlety; you must've been pretty dense."

She laughed again when he stuck his tongue out at her.

They turned back to gathering wood. A minute later, Katara spoke again.

"Seriously though, I've been thinking a lot . . . I think Aang is supposed to unite people against the Fire Nation in order to defeat it, but I don't think he's supposed to be the one to win the war."

Sokka nodded his assent.

"Based on all those whispered conversations, I'm assuming you've talked with Zuko about this?"

Katara smiled. "Yep. It was his idea, actually. We were talking one night and he mentioned it . . . and the more I think about it, the more sense it makes . . ."

"For Fire Nation, he's a smart one," Sokka remarked.

Katara snorted. "You're just lucky he's not here to hear you."

"That's why I say it here, and not back there," he jerked a thumb towards their campsite.

"Come on, you. Let's get back," she grabbed his sleeve with one hand and her small wood bundle with the other and marched them back to their temporary home.

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A/N: Hello there, my silent readers! Please drop me a review to let me know you were here!