Wonderful news, everybody! Sandy is bearing down on us with ferocious intensity, but even though some of my neighbors and friends are sadly without power, our electricity remains. That means I can post this tonight! Huzzah! Enjoy, my friends! Enjoy!

The war was over. Iroh was to be declared Regent until Zuko was of age in two years. The official announcement would be made the next day. Tonight was for celebration. The Gaang was gathered in Zuko's sitting room, chatting too loudly and laughing too hard. Sokka lamented the loss of his sword. Suki reminded him of how many people that sacrificed saved. Toph bragged about how many Fire Nation soldiers she had taken out. Everyone congratulated Aang on defeating the Fire Lord. Ozai was being held in solitary in the jail beneath the palace.

"I can't believe it's finally over," Katara said during a lull. A silence fell over the room. It was finally over.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

Zuko looked around the throne room in a daze. The floor to ceiling windows were hung with heavy drapes, casting deep shadows around the room. The fires blazed on either side of throne, and on the throne was Ozai, his face hard and disapproving.

Zuko shut his eyes tightly and breathed in sharply. When he opened his eyes again, he was still in the throne room. It was as his uncle had ordered. The drapes were drawn back and the room was flooded with light from the setting sun. The fires hadn't been lit. It was a silent as a tomb.

"It's weird without your father." Zuko spun around, startled, at the sound of Mai's voice. She was leaning against the door frame, her arms folded, looking bored.

"Hey," she said.

"Mai." Zuko wasn't sure what to say. It was the first time he had seen her since she had helped him and Sokka escape from the prison. Mai stood up straight and tugged at her sleeves. It was a rare show of uncertainty for her.

"I've thought a lot about what I would say to you when I saw you again," she said. "I had a whole speech prepared, but I honestly can't remember any of it right now."

"I'm sorry," Zuko said. Mai's eyes went wide for a moment, but she schooled herself almost immediately.

"Please, let's not," Mai pleaded. "I don't want to have a huge break up scene right now." Zuko blinked in surprise.

"I…you want to break up?" he asked.

"You don't want to break up?" Mai asked. She was stunned. "I- I thought…I mean I saw…" Zuko stared at her in confusion. Mai blushed deeply and smiled sheepishly.

"Why don't we start again," she said. "Dinner?" Zuko hesitated and glanced towards the windows. In the garden below, he could see his friends by the turtle-duck pond.

"I'm supposed to be meeting with Uncle," he told her.

"Oh." Mai cleared her throat.

"Is a late dinner good for you?" Zuko asked. Mai froze.

"Sounds good," she said. Breathe, she reminded herself. "I'll see you later."

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

Aang took a deep breath before he stepped out onto the terrace. Katara was leaning over the balcony, staring up at the stars. He stepped up behind her and cleared his throat. Katara stiffened.

"Katara?" Aang's voice cracked nervously. She turned around slowly. She knew this was coming, but she had hoped it wouldn't be so soon.

"Aang." The young Avatar rubbed the back of his neck and shifted his feet. He didn't say anything for a long time. Katara avoided his eyes. It took everything in her not to turn away from him. He didn't deserve that.

"The stars are bright tonight," she said after a long time. Aang looked up at the sky, thankful for the distraction.

"Yeah. They are." Aang hesitated again, and then leaned against the railing next to Katara.

The silence was becoming almost tangible. Unbidden, the blood rushed into Katara's cheeks. Aang's question hung around her like a heavy coat. From the corner of her eye, Katara could see his hopeful glances. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore.

"Aang…" she started to say. Her voice cracked with emotion.

"I've never gave much thought about the future," Aang said. "I know it's weird, but I didn't think we'd get to this point. The war is over." Katara stared at Aang.

"Yeah."

"There's a lot of work to do," Aang continued. He avoided meeting Katara's eye; she turned her gaze to the garden below. "And I'm nervous. A lot of people are depending on me, and I'm afraid of letting them down."

"You'll do fine, Aang," Katara assured him. She reached over and put her hands over his. Aang's face brightened and he beamed at her. Katara immediately withdrew her hand and looked away from him.

"I'm glad I have you on my side." Katara's spine stiffened.

"We'll always be on your side, you know that." Aang laughed a bit and shook his head.

"Yeah, I know. But I was talking about you." Katara took a sharp breath in.

"Aang, I really…"

"Wait," Aang cut in. "I really want to say this first." Katara looked at Aang pleadingly.

"Please, Aang…"

"I love you, Katara," he blurted. Katara closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Aang kept talking. "I mean, I- I love you like Sokka loves Suki and Zuko loves Mai."

"Aang…"

"I know we're really young- well, I mean sort of- I'm 112- but I want you to be my future…"

"Aang, listen…"

"I want you to be my forever girl…"

"Aang!" Katara's voice reverberated in the night. The young boy stopped talking. He looked at Katara sheepishly.

"That sounded better in my head." Katara felt like she was about to cry.

"Aang," she said, a bit more gently. "I'm flattered and I'm so proud that you think I'm worth your love…" Aang's face fell and he turned away from Katara.

"But you don't feel the same way," he concluded. Katara shook her head sadly. Aang didn't speak immediately. When he did his voice was thick with emotion. "Why?"

Katara wiped the tears from her eyes. Her heart was breaking for her friend, and she wished desperately that she could feel the same way he did. Suddenly all of her reasons for turning him down seemed small and petty. For a moment she thought about telling him yes.

Would we really be so bad together? she wondered. Aang was a sweet guy. He was a great friend and would make a good boyfriend. It would be so easy to tell him yes.

Katara glanced at Aang. He looked so young and fragile for someone so powerful. Katara shut her eyes. She couldn't lie to him. It wouldn't be fair to either of them.

"I wouldn't be any good for you," she told him.

"What do you mean?" Aang asked, confusedly. "You're already good for me! You're my friend. My teacher. You protect me. How can you say you're not good for me?" Katara turned and slid to the ground. She rested her head against the low wall of the balcony and motioned for Aang to sit down too.

"Aang, I love you so much," she said. "You are one of my closest friends. But that's all. I love you as a friend. I'm no good for you because I'm so protective of you. You don't need that. You need someone to push you."

"No, I don't!" Aang insisted. He was crying now, too. "You push me enough. I wouldn't have ever mastered water bending without you."

"There's a difference between me pushing you to be a better water bender, and me pushing you to stand on your own." Katara looked at Aang earnestly. "I can't protect you from life, Aang. That's what I've been doing. That's why you think you love me."

Aang went sullenly quiet. His hands fell limply to his sides. Katara tilted her head back to look at the stars.

"This isn't easy," she told him. "I know that you're probably really angry with me now, but I-I hope that someday you will understand. I love you too much to see you with the wrong woman. And I love you too much to be that wrong woman."

Aang looked at her sharply. Katara flinched under his gaze. She looked down at the ground between them, her heart sinking.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I should go." Katara stood up and started walking towards the palace.

"Wait!" Aang ran after her and grabbed her hand. Katara took a shuddering breath and looked at Aang. His eyes were always the most expressive part of his face. They were speaking volumes now.

"Yes?" Katara asked him.

"I don't understand this," he said. "I-I always thought when you loved someone, everything was supposed to work out-" Katara put her other hand over his.

"Aang, I'm sorry. I can't-" Aang shook his head.

"You don't love me like I love you. Does that mean…we can't be friends anymore?" Katara threw her arms around Aang and sobbed quietly on his shoulder.

"I will never stop being your friend," she promised. "Never." Aang breathed a sigh of relief and hugged Katara back. She could feel the dampness of his tears through her shirt.

"I love you," he told her. Katara kissed his cheek and hugged him tighter.

"I love you, too."

-:-:-:-:-:-:-

Katara stayed on the balcony a long time after Aang had gone to his own room. She had long since stopped crying, but she was too sad to be asleep and too anxious to be boxed up in her room, no matter how large it was.

"Do you ever sleep?"

"I rise with the moon, remember?" Katara smirked slightly, but she didn't turn to Zuko. "What are you still doing up?"

"I could ask you the same thing." Zuko stayed at the door. "I- had a late dinner with Mai." Katara nodded. Neither of them had brought up the kiss, and that was absolutely fine by Katara. She couldn't wait to leave the Fire Nation, and the palace especially. It was beginning to feel like a shrine to her awkwardness.

"I spoke to Aang," Katara told Zuko.

"How did it go?" Katara turned around to face Zuko.

"I think we'll live," she said with a small, sad smile.

"You want to talk about it?" Zuko asked her. He looked at her nervously.

Probably worried I'm going to maul him again, Katara thought sarcastically. She ducked her head so Zuko wouldn't see her blush.

"Not really."

"That usually means you should," Zuko said. Katara wasn't expecting that. She blinked at him in surprise.

"Hmm?" Zuko gave her a half smile.

"We can have some peace in the library," he offered. "It'll be like old times. We can even have tea." Katara thought for a moment.

"Fine," she said. She walked over to Zuko. "As long as you promise not to make the tea." Zuko laughed a bit at that, offering her his arm.

"I promise." Katara smiled and linked her arm through his, glad to be doing something comfortable and familiar again; going to have a cup of tea, and a talk with a good friend.

-The End-

So, that's it. My retcon of the finale. I hope you enjoyed it enough to stick around for my new story Avatar: The Final Conflict coming soon to a computer screen near you.