A/N: I finalised how I was going to end this story, but don't worry the end isn't going to come too soon.

Chapter 8 There are Some Things You Don't Tell

Mai wasn't in a good mood. Well Aang had convinced her to go to the coldest place on Earth for a month and they now had to travel for a week and a half to get there, on a flying bison which she still wasn't used to... oh- and with his ex-girlfriend.

Well she had totally forgotten about Miss FloozyPants and Aang just happened not to remember to tell her about her coming.

She sat at the back of the saddle frowning and occasionally glaring at Aang when he gave a concerned look back at her which ended with his face going extremely pale and turning back to flying Appa.

The water bender girl was calmly patching up a shirt sitting on one of the sides and ignoring her existence. Mai didn't know if that or her actually talking to her would annoy her more.

"So guys, we'll be setting up camp at a place not so far from here" Aang said, Mai gave no response but Katara did.

"Well that gives me time to make dinner then" said Katara, she then turned to Mai, "What would you like to eat Mai?". Her smile was so sweet it was sickening.

"I don't really care" Mai bluntly replied and didn't speak until they finally landed on ground.

She did her part as she did every night helping to set up camp but it seemed since Aang had pretty much mastered all the elements he did most of the work.

After that she needed time to cool of and decided to visit the shores that were close by.

"Don't stray to far though" Aang told her and she nodded in response.

She walked through the foilage thinking of all the other things she could be doing right now. At home reading a book, throwing darts at anything really or just plain out relaxing.

She could hear the lapping of the ocean now and the air smelt of salt. She took a deep breath in and took of her shoes to walk on the wet sand and looked at the sunset that was still a bright orange.

She felt the hand slip around her own and she closed her eyes leaning her head on the shoulder she knew was there.

"I didn't mean to forget to tell you Katara was coming" Aang whispered to her.

"I know" she said as they walked hand in hand. Aang sighed a sigh of relief.

"I don't mean to be that cold but every time I'm around her I can't help being like I was before" she confessed.

"Like you were before?"

"Before, I started dating you" she answered pleased by the blush that appeared on Aang's face.

"It's not just you though" Aang told her, "Katara isn't being that great as well"

Mai snorted and then wished she hadn't done such an unlady like thing.

"I don't know what's wrong with her but I was thinking that maybe you can find out" he said. Mai blinked and looked at him stopping in her tracks.

"Uh- what?"

"You know... girl-talk"

"Think about what you are saying Aang"

"It's possible"

"But very unlikely"

"Please for me?" Aang pleaded, "You guys aren't the only ones suffering, sometimes everything is just so awkward"

Mai started to think it through, it was true Aang was much as a victim as she was.

"Okay" she told him. Aang smiled and squeezed her hand. They walked for a few more moments on the beach talking about the colour orange till they returned to camp where Katara had finished cooking dinner. Mai saw the frown that quickly appeared when she saw that they were holding hands.

They had dinner in semi-silence as Aang was the only one talking trying to get them to talk to each other but Mai instead studied Katara, trying to figure what she could about the girl. She noticed each time Aang held her hand or put his arm on her back that she would blink a bit.

She ate away at the question as she ate away her food. After they had finished eating Aang decided to get up.

"I'm going to walk around the area and see what's around here" he told them and gave a look to Mai. He left whistling a tune.

Katara started to take the dirty bowls but Mai just sat there. Katara looked at her nervously, Mai realised that she must have been staring at Katara all through out dinner and almost laughed as she knew that would've disturbed Aang just as much.

"You believe that I don't like Aang" she stated. Katara looked at her surprised.

"You think I'm just using him to get back at you and Zuko. You think I don't actually like him" she continued. Katara regained herself and started walk to the pot of the hot water.

"Well you guess aren't exactly who people would think would become a couple" Katara said laughing awkwardly. Mai took the pan and followed her to the pot of water.

"Neither did I" she admitted. She started helping with the washing.

"I do like him Katara" she said when she caught her eye. Katara stopped for a moment and breathed deep.

"I know you do" she said.

Mai was surprised.

"You do?"

Katara looked up at her again.

"I can see it. You've changed so much you know? Aang too. You're both- how do I put this- well you compliment each other. You take turns in being mature so neither of you get tired of always being responsible, you give one another company and have this sort of bond which Aang and I never had, almost as if you can tell what the other is thinking" Katara continued, "And it's obvious, you always soften up when Aang is with you, you almost seem like a normal girl in love- no offense"

Mai was a bit confused now.

"Then what is you're problem with me?"

Katara laughed a bit.

"Well... I guess... I didn't think Aang would end up with you, I thought Toph maybe or maybe a really nice fan girl that would be great to him. But you- it never crossed my mind. And a guess for a while I-"

"You thought I didn't deserve him" Mai finished but she was laughing. Katara ducked her head in embarrassment and continued to wash the dishes.

"And jealous" she admitted, "Aang and I have known each other for a lot longer and have gone through more things but you too seem so close. Closer then we were"

Mai couldn't help but laugh and Katara joined in.

"So how is it with you and Zuko?" she asked. Katara was stunned that she would ask about them.

"We're good, we've been trying to track down his mother" she told her. Mai nodded, this wasn't anything new, ever since the war ending Zuko had proportioned a part of his time to find his mother.

"I think that was how we ended up together" Katara told Mai, "We spent quite a bit of time with each other and we both understood what it was like to lose something important to us"

Mai nodded, she knew she had a pretty pampered life compared to Katara and Aang.

"I hope you know we never meant to hurt you guys by going out" Katara said. Mai looked at her seriously but her face softened to a smile.

"It's alright, I prefer Aang anyway" she said half jokingly, she gave the dishes for Katara to dry.

"We don't have to be great friends right away Mai" Katara said, "But maybe someday, you might want to..."

Mai smiled at her genuinely.

"I think I would like that"

When Aang came back to the camp after thirty minutes on a mountain begging the Gods to make Katara and Mai the best of friends forever and five minutes of trying to make himself look like he wasn't crying and pleading he noticed something was different in the atmosphere. Like something heavy had just been taken off and removed.

He sat next to Mai who was at the campfire, Katara must've gone to sleep already.

"What happened?" he asked after letting some silence past. Mai smiled at him with fake pleasantness.

"Nothing" she said.

A/N: Well I couldn't have Katara and Mai hate each other, it would ruin Katara's character. Though sometimes I get annoyed at Katara for being so boy hungry.

Katara's mind: Deep emotional conversation. Tell over used story of mother's death. Plus 20 chances of a relationship.

They're not going to be besties or BFFLs or anything but they can be on each other's good side.

Please review!