Hi everyone! I hope you enjoy this new oneshot! I really enjoyed writing this and exploring how the war impacted our favorite characters.

Disclaimer (As Usual) I do not own any of these characters or the world of Avatar the Last Airbender.

~ HiddenTreasure

No no no, not again! My eyes opened and I started staring at the corner of the room where our bags lay and clothes thrown onto the chair from earlier. A hand draped over me which would normally bring me comfort but now it just felt suffocating.

I'm safe. Everything is okay. I could feel my heart quickening as I looked around the room. The panic had already begun to set in. I tried to focus on my breathing, bringing myself back to the present. We were on Ember Island. Zuko asked us to attend the grand opening of the new Fire Festival which was being held in the Fire Lord's honor. We were staying in Zuko's summer home where we stayed years ago. Over 2 Years ago... I felt antsy. My muscles hummed with adrenaline. I needed to move. I sat up slowly, trying not to disturb Aang besides me. As I moved his arm his eyes fluttered open.

"Katara? What's wrong?" He mumbled.

"Go back to sleep, I'm just going to the bathroom" I lied, trying to hide the panic in my shaky voice.

He mumbled something in agreement and before I knew it I heard the soft rhythmic breathing of him sleeping again.

I grabbed the robe that lay draped over the chair and slipped it on over my sarashi. Being very mindful of my steps, I snuck out of the room, leaving the door cracked behind me. Each step felt as though it echoed throughout the hallway. Passing each bedroom I found myself holding my breath. I just needed some air. The hallway felt longer than usual. I felt my hand graze the railing as I finally made it down the creaky stairs to the kitchen and out through the front door. The front door closed with a soft click as I stood on the porch. The cool air hit my lungs but I still felt an ache in my chest and a buzzing in my head. I tried to focus on the soft breeze blowing through my hair which tumbled over my shoulders. Focus on your breathing. He's safe. Everyone is okay.

2 years ago we sat right on this porch as Aang told us he wouldn't kill Ozai. That was the last time I saw him before he went to battle. We had an argument. I was scared he ran away...or was killed.

I wrapped the robe tighter against my chest, hugging myself. My mind had begun racing and the memories began flooding my brain. I couldn't bottle them up. We went into battle without knowing where he was. We trusted that he would be okay... that he would defeat Ozai...that he would live. My feet took me down the stairs to the shore. The sand was coarse and cool. As I walked closer to the water I felt the dampness of the sand packed beneath my feet.

I fell to my knees, placing a hand on my heart. Breathe. Everyone is safe. Everything is okay. Those moments are over. The war was over. You survived.

The push and pull from the ocean brought me back and I readjusted myself, turning to sit looking out at the water. The waves crept to my bare feet, the coolness of the water was sobering. Oh how I hated this feeling that bubbled over me, making me feel that I wasn't safe. It made me feel that something was wrong. There were times I could feel it coming and then there were times when it crashed over me like a wave. I continued to breathe and listened to the waves crashing.

I didn't know how long I sat there until I heard a voice behind me.

"Late night bending practice?"

I felt a jolt run through me and jumped to my feet. "Sokka? What-?" I let out a shaky breath and dropped the water that I must have picked up.

"I couldn't sleep either and the floors creak."

He sat besides me facing the ocean. There was a soft breeze and I wrapped the robe tighter against myself. The sound of the water crashing into the shore muffled the thoughts in my head.

"Does this happen a lot?" He asked looking out at the horizon.

I sighed, there was no use hiding it. Taking a breath of courage I picked up the pieces of myself that lay in front of him. "It happened a lot in beginning...right after the War was over." I paused remembering those sleepless nights. "Especially when we visited Ba Sing Se. I thought, in time, it would stop completely...but it hasn't"

He was quiet and just nodded. "It happens to me sometimes too." He paused for a moment before continuing. "When Suki fell off that air balloon I felt a piece of me fall with her. I still think of that. I wake up thinking of what could have happened to her" He turned to look at me, his face solemn. "It's something that will be with me forever." He placed a hand on my shoulder.

I wasn't sure what to say. What happened to us? How much did this war take?

"We haven't been here since the War ended" I filled in the silence with what was on the forefront of my mind.

"Last time we were here we held that beach party. That was a lot of fun." He said, his lips forming a smile. He continued to look out at the horizon, he was miles away.

"And we lost Aang. Right before he fought Ozai. Spirits, I was so scared" I said, running my fingers through the damp sand, pulling the water from it. "I know everyone is safe and that it is over. Its just- I get so scared it will happen again...that I will lose him again." Tears pricked the corner of my eyes. "These places sometimes bring the memories and fears back so strong"

He took a breath before turning to face me again. "Dad used to talk about Warriors coming home from the battles waking up in fear, thinking that they were still fighting. It would scare their families" Sokka explained.

"I guess we are warriors." I said, hugging my knees to my chest.

We sat out there for some time, enjoying the silence and the respite that the ocean provided. I felt my nerves settle to a low murmur in the background. My heart rate slowed and I felt the stress I was holding in my shoulders lessen. As we sat there the one thing I couldn't get out of my mind was why he mentioned that stupid beach party. It wasn't important.

Before I could further think on that he stood up. "Come on, lets head inside before they notice we've gone. Can't have Aang noticed you left the bed." He said, shuddering.

I felt a smile tug at my lips as he brought me out of my own head. His comment would have normally irritated me but now felt like it made the heaviness in my chest lighten significantly. I nodded and followed him.

I rolled over, placing a hand where the warmth of Katara should be. It was cold. My mind snapped into focus and I quickly sat up. She hadn't come back from the bathroom. How long ago was that? I jumped out of bed and quickly threw on a pair of pants that lay in the corner of the room. Was she okay?

I quickly, and as silently as I could, made my way down the hallway peering into each open room as I headed towards the stairs. Most of the bedrooms were shut and the bathroom closest to our room was empty. Where did she go? My plan was to head towards the porch, maybe I could use my earthbending to 'see' if she was nearby. Worst case I wake Toph up, get told how much better of an earthbender she is, and we find Katara. But that would mean Katara is missing... My heart pounded in my chest as my mind made up scenarios.

It was then small whispers took my attention and I froze. I slowly crept downstairs, using airbending to hover over the creaky stairs. I could see, through the window, the silhouette of two people sitting on the porch outside.

"Do you think it will ever get easier?" It sounded like Katara. I let out a sigh. Thank the Spirits.

"Yeah, in time, but I don't think it will ever go away. That's why I try to think of the good things. Have you talked to Aang about it?" Sokka's voice came from behind the front door.

It was silent for a moment before Sokka's voice continued. "Well, maybe you should."

I felt as though I was intruding on a private conversation but I couldn't move. What didn't she talk with me about? Insecurities began flooding my thoughts before the rattle of the doorknob brought me back. I sped back up the stairs and down the hallway, hovering over the creaky floor boards. As I jumped back under the covers in our room, I tried to slow down my heartbeat. She'll talk with you when she's ready. Who knows what that was about.

I calmed my breath and closed my eyes, pretending to continue sleeping. I didn't want her to think I was eavesdropping...I didn't mean to. I heard the soft footsteps across our room and a warm body slide next to mine. I opened one eye to see her just sitting up in bed, her arms crossed.

"Katara?" I asked, now sitting up besides her. Her eyes were focused on the end of the bed, she looked tired. She was quiet for a moment before taking a breath.

"Last time we were here you disappeared before facing Ozai I guess it just brought back some bad memories" She shrugged. "It's nothing."

It clearly wasn't nothing. I placed an arm around her shoulder which she leaned into placing her warmth against my chest.

I racked my brain with how to help her. She was so fiercely independent that I know she would soon solider on and tell me she was going to sleep...then I thought of Gyatso. I could remember him standing next to me talking about strength and how difficult times can change you. That was the day we lost one of the younger monks to an illness, we were all devastated... I brought my mind back to the beautiful waterbender in my arms.

"The monks used to say difficult times change us. Sometimes it can take pieces of us away...and other times it can add new pieces to who we are. It is up to us to decide how to use these pieces and how to move forward."

She was quiet for a few moments before sitting up again. The moonlight shone through the window, reflecting a soft glow across her face. Her brow was furrowed in the way it often was when she was deep in thought.

I placed a soft hand on her head and smoothed her hair. "Does it happen to you?" She finally spoke, turning to look at me. He blue eyes piercing through me.

I had often times meditated on the war, the choices I had to make and the difficulty I've faced. Most of the time I was able to manage the fears but then I remembered a few moments ago when she wasn't in bed and my mind worried something happened to her. "It happens to me sometimes too. How could it not with what we went through." I admitted.

She took my hand in hers, tracing my arrow with her thumb.

"Sokka said he tries to think of the good times. At first I thought that was so stupid. Who thinks about a beach party when there were more important things that happened. But, now, I am thinking that it may help when I get like this."

I tucked her hair behind her ear and brought her chin up so her eyes met mine. "We went through a war, as kids. How could it not change us? But, it also gave us many beautiful things." I paused for a moment, briefly distracted by the beautiful woman who looked at me with such love and trusted me with her heart. "We will make new memories at these places. Better memories. Time will help to heal us. It is still so new." I took her hands in mine, intertwining our fingers together.

She nodded. "Be Sing Se has left a mark on us in more ways than one." She paused for a moment. "But...I got you. I will never forget that evening at Iroh's Teashop." She said, a small smile appearing on her lips.

I couldn't hold back the grin that flashed across my face. "You've always had me." I let out a chuckle before continuing "This war took a lot, but it gave us this makeshift family. It gave me you."

She leaned in and her lips met mine. I pulled her close, placing my hand on the back of her head. Her soft lips pressed against mine, kissing me softly until she pulled away, breathless. "I love you" She whispered.

"I love you too. Everything is good." I whispered back.

She leaned back, placing her head on the pillow. Before pulling the blankets up around us I placed a soft kiss on her exposed shoulder. I heard her content sigh before the soft rhythmic breathing told me she was asleep.

I laid there for a few moments letting this whole evening begin to sink in. This war took so much but it also made me who I am today. It gave me love. It brought me to her...and I wouldn't trade that for anything.