Disclaimer: I don't own ATLA... yada... yada...yada...

Chapter 15

After Kya went to sleep, Suki exited the bedroom and shut the door quietly behind her. Noticing Katara was sitting alone on the living room floor with her head in her hands. She walked over to her friend and sat on the floor next to her. " Katara? Are you okay?" She asked.

Katara slowly lifted her head and looked up at her friend. " Yeah... I just have a bit of a headache." She replied.

A few minutes of silence passed between them. Then Suki broke the silence. " What happend with Aang last night, Katara?" She asked quietly.

" Before, or after I fainted?" Katara asked, then laughed softly. Suki laughed with her.

" After." Suki said, smiling.

" Good, because nothing happend before I fainted." Katara replied, then laughed again.

Suki joined her, laughing at her reply.

" We talked a bit." Katara said, when they stopped laughing. " Then, I got the message that you guys sent me. And I knew something was up." She added. " And I basically accused Aang of being part of a conspiracy. Starting a huge argument." She finished, sighing.

" Oh. I'm sorry. We only wanted you to know that Tenzin was safe. Not start another Hundred Year War." Suki said sincerely.

Katara laughed at her comment. Then smiled at her friend. " I know. I started the war on my own." She told her. Then they sat there in silence for a few minutes. " He said that he went to Kyoshi looking for me." She said. " And that he loves me." She added softly, smiling.

" That's great!" Suki replied, grinning. " What made you think that it didn't go well?" She asked curiously.

" Because, I told him that things were complicated. Then, he asked me if there was someone else. And without thinking, I said 'Yes'." Katara told her. " Meaning Tenzin. But he thought I meant that I was in love with someone else." She added.

" Oh... I see." Suki replied. " So didn't you explain? And tell him about Tenzin?" She asked.

" No... I just... couldn't. I told him that I needed time to think, and asked him to understand." Katara said sadly. Looking down toward the floor. " Then he said okay... And left." She added softly.

" Oh, I'm sorry, Katara." Suki said to her. Not knowing what else to say.

" It gets worse." Katara said.

" How?" Suki asked curiously.

" Tenzin woke up before you guys this morning. And went downstairs to play with the building blocks in the dining room. While Iroh got ready to open the shop." Katara said. " And Aang stopped by the tea shop this morning, and met Tenzin." She added.

" Oh, No!" Suki exclaimed, putting her hand over her mouth. " Then, what happened? Did he figure out who Tenzin was?" She asked.

" No... he sat down and helped him build a castle with the building blocks." Katara replied, smiling.

" Really?" Suki said, smiling. " That's so adorable!" She added, giggling.

" I know. I wish I could have seen it." Katara replied.

" So that's what Iroh was telling you in the kitchen this morning." Suki said.

" Yes. He walked in and saw them playing." Katara told her.

" What are you going to do, Katara?" Suki asked. " You won't be able to keep it a secret from him much longer." She added. " He's going to figure it out sooner or later." She finished.

" I know." Katara replied. " I'm going to ask him to come over for dinner tomorrow night. And tell him. Tenzin will be here, too." She added.

" Okay. That sounds like a good idea to me." Suki said. " I'll make sure that everyone has something to do tomorrow night. So you guys can have the place to yourselves." She added, smiling.

" Thanks, Suki." Katara said. Then smiled at her friend warmly.

" Your welcome, Katara." Suki replied. Then leaned over and gave her friend a hug.

Aang watched Sokka and Tenzin disappear into the crowd, then snapped his glider open and took off. Landing on his balcony when he returned to the house. He sat down, laying his staff on the ground beside him. He felt so alone. More alone than he did over the fours years he spent away from his 'family'. Knowing they were so close, but feeling so far away. What did he expect just showing up after four years, all of the sudden. That they would just welcome him with open arms, as if nothing ever happened? He almost wished that he had a council meeting to go to, or that a rebel faction was causing trouble somewhere. At least he would have something to do. Instead of laying around the house feeling sorry for himself. He decided to meditate and assumed the lotus position. Hoping to find some peace for his troubled mind and aching heart.

Sokka and Tenzin went straight to the house after running in to Aang in the city. Finding Suki and Katara sitting on the living room floor when they entered.

" Katara, we need to talk." Sokka said, as soon as he saw his sister.

" Um... Okay, Sokka." Katara answered. Sokka locked eyes with his sister then tipped his head toward Tenzin. Silently telling his sister that he shouldn't be present for their talk. " Um... Tenzin, why don't you go to our room and play for a bit? While I talk to Uncle Sokka." She said to her son.

" Golly, you guys sure do have to talk alot lately." Tenzin said grumpily, as he went to their room.

" What's the matter, Sokka?" Katara asked her brother, when Tenzin was out of earshot.

" We ran in to Aang in the city." Sokka explained.

" What happened?" Katara asked. Afraid to hear the answer.

" Luckily, nothing. But I wouldn't let Tenzin say anything. I thought he might give his identity away. Call me Uncle Sokka or something." Sokka told her, agitated. " I had to squeeze his hand really hard once, to keep his mouth shut." He added. " I'm afraid I might have hurt him." He finished, exasperated.

" I'm sure Tenzin's okay, Sokka. He looked fine when you got home." Katara told him, trying to ease his mind.

" We can't go on like this, Katara. You have to tell Aang no matter what the consequences are." Sokka said. " Why didn't you tell me Aang met Tenzin this morning?" He asked, irritated.

" I didn't think about it earlier. I was too angry with you at the time." Katara answered.

" Well it would have been nice to know. It caught me off guard when Aang said 'Hi again' to Tenzin, and Tenzin said 'Hi Aang'." Sokka said, still flustered. " How was I supposed to know how much Aang or Tenzin knew about each other? Or when they met?" He added.

" I'm sorry, Sokka." Katara replied. " Don't worry. I plan on telling him tomorrow. I'm going to ask him over for dinner, with me and Tenzin." She explained.

" Good. Because I couldn't handle being put in another situation like our little encounter today." He told her, somewhat relieved. " It was way too much stress." He added.

" Well, I think you handled it wonderfully." Suki said to her husband, smiling.

" Thanks." Sokka replied, proudly.

" I agree, Sokka." Katara told him. Then got up, and kissed her brother on the cheek. " Thank you for letting me be the one to tell Aang." She added.

" No problem. You're gonna have your hands full with that one. He sure is gonna be pissed. Not to mention how upset Tenzin's gonna be." He answered. " I wouldn't want to be the one to do it. No matter how much you paid me." He added.

" Gee, thanks Sokka." Katara replied, rolling her eyes.

" You're welcome." Sokka said, smiling. " I'm hungry. Got anything to eat?" He added. Then headed toward the kitchen.

Katara and Suki just stared at him in disbelief.