A/N: Here is the next chapter of 'I have always loved you'. There are only a few chapter left until our ending. I hope you all enjoy and the next chapter will be out soon. Don't forget to review it helps a lot thank you.
Katara awoke with a jumpstart and sweat dripping down her face. She looked around seeing that she yet again fell asleep in the infirmary while taking care of both her brother and Aang. It's been a week since the crash and neither of them have woken up.
Katara had done the best she could on Sokka being able to fix his broken leg, the wound on his stomach from the glass, but the fire wound on his chest was definitely going to scar up. Aang on the other hand Katara couldn't figure out for the life of her what was wrong with Aang.
But he wouldn't wake up so Katara knew there had to be something wrong and she would find it.
Katara looked at her brother's bed and saw Suki had done the same thing as her. She fell asleep next to her boyfriend's bed in a chair. Katara stood up and walked over to Suki. She knelt down next to the sleeping body of her friend and was able to see her face seeing the tear stained cheeks.
'She's been crying all night…' Katara thought to herself
Katara thought for a moment and decided it would be better if she woke Suki up. She placed her hands on the slumped shoulders of her friend and started to shake softly not wanting to scare the crap out of her.
Soon enough it worked and Suki's head shot up allowing Katara to see her beautiful Amber like eyes ruined by a reddish tint from crying herself to sleep the night before. "It's alright Suki it's just me Katara". Suki looked over her friend and calmed down when she confirmed that it was her waterbending friend. "I'm sorry Katara it's just-"
Suki was cut off when Katara placed a finger on her mouth. "I know what you mean Suki I know how you feel" Katara said with tears welling in her eyes. Suki saw this and her eyes started to fill with tears again and before either of them knew it they wrapped their arms around each other in a tight embrace. Suki found herself crying on the chest of Katara and Katara found herself crying on the shoulder of Suki. They stayed like this for a few minutes before they found themselves out of tears to cry and decided to separate their embrace.
"I'll check on Sokka now if that's alright with you" Katara said grabbing an empty bucket on the floor next to Aang's bed.
Suki nodded and said "Yes please. Thank you"
Katara then water bent some water out of the air and after a few minutes the bucket was full of water. She walked back to the side of her brother and placed the bucket on the floor. Katara quickly bent the water out of the bucket and covered both of her hands in the liquid. The water quickly shined blue and Katara placed it over Sokka's chest seeing as though it was the most serious injury he had.
The two girls just sat there in silence waiting and watching to see if anything major was going to happen. Deciding to break the silence between them Katara said "You know how Aang's glider was found and sent here two days ago?" Suki looked up from the floor and at her friend saying "Yea I did why?"
Katara felt her body tense and quickly said "Aang left us a note to read. He hid it in his glider". Suki couldn't believe what she just said and quickly jumped out of her seat saying "Really what did it say?" Katara bent the water back into the bucket and placed her hand in her pocket quickly withdrawing the notes. "I didn't read it yet." Katara looked at it and continued "It is addressed to me, you, Sokka, Zuko and Toph. I wanted to get the right moment for all of us to hear it".
Suki walked towards Katara and embraced her in a hug which Katara gratefully return. "You know Katara I think we should read it first so we know what to expect when we tell the others". Katara thought for a second and decided it would be the best, maybe it was something good to say.
"Alright why not" Katara said opening the envelope and taking out the letter. She looked back up at Suki nervous about reading the letter. Suki gave a warming smile to her and motioned for her to read it. A smile came to Katara's face and she looked down and read out loud.
Dear Friends,
If you are reading this I guess that means I wasn't able to defeat the Fire Lord and I am probably dead. I'm so sorry that I failed all of you and I hope that you will live a long life without me. But before you finish reading this I want to address everyone that was nearest and dear to me.
First I would like to address Zuko. Man Zuko it is crazy what we have been through the past couple of months. It's amazing how we went from being mortal enemies to the best of friends. Zuko if you are reading this I want to thank you for teaching me fire bending and helping me to become a better Avatar. But I guess it doesn't matter now because I won't be able to come back. Zuko I hope you have a good life and settle down with and get married you definitely deserve it. Goodbye.
Secondly I would like to address Toph Beifong. Hey Toph I know that you aren't able to read this so I hope somebody is reading it to you. I just wanted to say thank you for everything have done for me. Just like Zuko you sacrificed your way of living to come out and train me in the way of Earthbending. It kills me to know that I won't be able to hear my nickname anymore even though I can't stand it. Toph I know that you will become the best Earthbender in the world. Goodbye.
Next I would like to address Suki of Kyoshi Island. Hey there Suki man I know that we really didn't talk a lot around each other, but from what I keep picking up from Sokka's constant tangents about you, you are very brave and nice girl. I wish you all the luck in the world and I hope that you and Sokka settle down soon and get married because you two were made for each other. Goodbye
Katara quickly looked up to see Suki crying uncontrollably into her hands after hearing what her airbender friend had said. Katara looked back up at the scroll and continued.
Next I would like to address Sokka of the water tribe. Dude Sokka it's going to be tough going without your witty remarks every couple of minutes. I would also like to say if it weren't for your immaturity you or Katara would never have found me. Even though it sounds like I am making fun of you I am not. I have come to love you like a brother and just as I said in Suki's address I hope you calm down from your manliness and settle down with her. Goodbye.
Finally I would like to address Katara of the water tribe. Wow this is probably one of the hardest thing I have ever done yet. Katara words cannot say how sorry I am to you. I failed you and let the Fire Lord win. I know you saw me as a little brother but I wanted to write down my final feelings in this address and I hope you respect my feelings. Katara ever since I saw you when you thawed me out of the iceberg I felt different about you. I felt like you were kind of like an older sister to me that I could always rely on. But as the days and months went on I found that I had more feelings for you. I love you Katara of the water tribe. But since you are reading this that means I won't be able to tell you in person or you too me if you felt the same. Finally Katara as my final wish, I wish for you to move on and find a man perfect for you that can protect you. Do not mourn on me I wish you all the luck in the world. Goodbye Katara I love you…
Avatar Aang.
Katara's grip on the piece of parchment loosened allowing the yellow piece of paper to fall and hit the ground. There was no expression on Katara's face as she stared at the ground of the infirmary. Suki looked up at her waterbending friend and knew she wasn't going to be able to keep it together for long.
Almost on cue Katara jumped to the side of Aang's bed and cupped his face with her hands. Tears were yet again falling down the face of the waterbender. The next thing she knew Katara placed her lips onto Aang's feeling the warmth of his lips. Katara wished on the inside that he would wake up from that and he would start to return the kiss.
But that didn't happen…
Katara pulled away from Aang and said "Aang I am not going to give up on you. I am going to find out what's wrong and fix you so I can tell you my feelings and we can finally be together." Katara turned around to see Suki standing right next to her with a smile on his face. "Don't worry I will help you find out what is wrong with him" Suki said placing a comforting shoulder on Katara.
A smile came from Katara when all of a sudden a knock came from the door of the infirmary. Katara got off of Aang's bed after placing a kiss on his forehead and walked towards the door. She opened it to find Zuko standing there with a nervous look on his face. Katara quickly asked "What's wrong Zuko?"
Zuko shuffled in his feet and stepped out of the way of the door saying "I need to talk to you in private". Katara nodded and walked out into the hallway closing the door to the infirmary behind her.
They walked down the hallway for a little while until Zuko stopped in his tracks and looked around for anybody. Eventually he looked back at the waterbender and said "While you were asleep last night I sent some of my personal physicians in to check on him. The good news is we know what is wrong with him."
Katara quickly asked "What's wrong with him?"
"Well during the fight with my father he injected Aang with a special kind of poison into his arm."
"How did that happen how did Aang not see the serum get injected into his body?"
Zuko replied "Yeah that is what I thought to but the needle is very tiny and almost naked to the common eye."
Katara couldn't believe it. This bastard even without his powers is still trying to run her life. 'No this isn't going to happen. He took my mother away but he is not going to take away the love of my life from me' Katara thought to herself. Another serious question filled into Katara's mind and she asked "Is he going to live?"
"Well the serum that my father was carrying is a different type of poison. It goes into your bloodstream and stays there for 2 weeks killing you little by little every day."
"Is there a cure to get the poison out of his body?"
Zuko's frown turned into a slight smile forcing one from Katara as well. Zuko then said "Well that is where the fun part comes in for you. The only person that knows the cure for the poison is the person that carry's it. Because each major general gets their own kind of poison with different affects and cure's. That means we have to find out the answer from my father. But I don't think we will be able to get the answer out of him"
A smile came to Katara's face as she thrusted her right fist into her left palm and said "I think I can get him to squeal". A smile came to Zuko's face as he followed Katara towards the jail the ex-Fire Lord was being held in.