A/N: Hey guys, I am really sorry it took me so long to get this out :( I had a lot going on between work and my personal life lol. Thanks for being patient :)

"They were the diversion!" Suki said. She whipped around to see that another group, people who had been dining among them, had thrown whatever object had knocked the avatar out.

Katara was trying to heal the gash on Aang's head but was interrupted by another fireball coming directly towards them. Katara quickly bent the water she used toward the fireball and diffused it.

Suki flipped over the table, and Chi blocked the man who was throwing the fireballs. Sokka had managed to apprehend the man who'd knocked out Aang. Just then, Zuko and the rest of the Kyoshi warriors came bursting in, "What is going on?" Zuko demanded.

Aang woke with a start at Zuko's yelling, causing him to wince in pain as he sat up too quickly. "Careful!" Katara said, gently cradling his head.

"What's going on?" Aang asked, still dazed and confused from being knocked out.

The situation had been diffused quickly once Zuko had shown up, and all the perpetrators were in custody.

Katara stood outside on a balcony, watching the stars. Aang was asleep now, and Katara's thoughts were racing as she recalled the night.

He could have died. He could have died right in front of me.

Katara recalled how helpless she felt when Aang was struck by lightning and the relief she felt when he finally woke up. The pain of potentially losing him had absolutely crushed her. She'd almost given up during that time.

She thought about their kiss before the invasion, then the one on Ember Island. How Aang had said he thought they'd be together after the kiss at the invasion. If Katara was honest, she thought so too; well, she thought so until they lost. The loss meant that there was still the possibility that she could lose Aang. She had tried and somewhat failed to distance herself after that. After the war she figured the possibility of losing Aang had lessened. She could finally let herself feel those feelings for him she had been suppressing. However, now she realized that a threat to Aang's life would always be looming. It would never go away.

Can I live like that? Knowing he could be attacked just when he goes to work or they go on a date.

Katara never thought her life would look like this. She never in a million years thought she'd even leave the South Pole, much less help the Avatar save the world and end the war. She took a deep breath, and her stomach was tying itself in knots. Despite not having many options back home, she had always assumed that she would get married in the tribe and live a small, quiet life. She wasn't sure if that was what she wanted, but at least that was safe.

Tears began to stream down her face; she had made a decision. It wasn't a decision she wanted, but she couldn't handle always feeling this way.

Katara paced outside of Aang's room, almost being hit by the door when he came out.

"Whoa! Hi sweetie, didn't see you there," Aang said, his face falling as he noticed the grim look on hers.

"What's wrong?" He asked her as a follow-up before she could even speak.

"Can we talk?" Katara asked.

Aang nodded, and they went out to the balcony Katara had been on the previous night.

Aang's cut was healing nicely, and Katara ignored the urge to touch him to heal it more. He'd be okay; if she touched him, she knew she'd break.

"Aang, I just don't know if I can do this anymore," Katara said quietly.

"Do what?" Aang asked.

"This," Katara said, gesturing between them.

"I don't- wait...are you breaking up with me?" Aang said, getting a hurt look on his face.

"I just don't know if I can be with someone constantly being hunted down. I never asked for my life to look like this; I-"

Aang cut her off, "Katara, I-"

"I love you, Aang, but I think this is for the best. I'm gonna return home with Sokka in a couple of days." Katara kissed Aang's cheek and walked away before he could see her begin to cry. He was the only one she wanted to comfort her when she cried, but he couldn't, not for this.

Katara blew past Sokka when she returned inside, running directly for her room. "What's-" Sokka didn't get a chance to finish asking her what was wrong.

Aang came in from outside, looking stunned and hurt.

"Is everything okay, Aang?" Sokka asked.

"Katara just broke up with me."

"What?!"

Aang shrugged, "she said she didn't think she could be with someone constantly being hunted down. I guess what happened at the restaurant really spooked her." Aang shrugged, "I understand; whenever I see Katara get hurt, I freak out, too."

"This doesn't make any sense! Do you want me to talk to her?" Sokka asked.

"No, it's okay Sokka."

Sokka nodded but was already making plans. What Aang said hadn't really mattered; Sokka felt he needed to make this right.

"...So that is why she broke up with him," Sokka finished recalling the story to Suki. The two of them were sitting on the bed in Suki's room. The light from the sun was filtering through the windows, the curtains casting the room in red.

"That sucks," said Suki.

"I know! And I know Katara still has feelings for him."

"She's probably scared."

"Maybe...I'm gonna go talk to her."

"Honey, you can't. Aang asked you not to..."

"So, we're just gonna let them break up?!"

"No. Aang asked you not to. He never said anything about me."

Sokka's lips curled into a mischievous smile, "have I told you lately that I am so in love with you!"

"Just did!" Suki said, standing up to go. Sokka watched with admiration as she stood and went to the door. She turned around when she reached it and said, "I love you too," before walking out. Sokka sat there smiling about his girlfriend, who he thought was way too cool for him.

Suki knocked on Katara's door. She could hear Katara's stifled sobs outside. "Katara?" Suki asked gently.

"Um, hold on a sec!" Katara's voice came from the other side of the door. There was shuffling and moving around before Suki heard the lock click, and Katara opened the door.

Katara's eyes, though now dry, were still red and puffy. It was obvious she had been crying, but Suki knew better than to say anything.

"I, uh, I assume you heard what happened. What I did," Katara said quietly. Suki nodded, "do you wanna talk?"

Katara shrugged, "Sure." She gestured to let Suki into the room and then closed the door behind her when she came in.

The two of them sat silently before Katara burst out, "I didn't want to break up with him! I love him, but this isn't how I pictured my life, and I don't know if I can do it!"

Suki nodded, unable to get a word in before Katara continued, "I always thought I'd stay in the Southern Water Tribe. Of course, I dreamt of leaving, traveling the world, learning how to water bend, and the Avatar returning. But I never thought it would be me traveling with him. Even though I hoped strongly, a part of me always thought I would end up with one of the warriors, and we'd have a small, quiet life. A part of me even wondered if I'd get that chance because there didn't seem to be an end to the war. Since my mom died, it's always been about getting through one day at a time and surviving. Even traveling with Aang, it was always about ending the war and defeating the Fire Nation. That's why I never let myself even begin to think something might happen between Aang and me, but then it did. Still, I can't help thinking that I'm just a distraction and don't benefit him. I don't know if I can live in a state of constantly not knowing."

Suki nodded, trying to take in Katara's word vomit. "When you guys left Kyoshi Island, I didn't know if I'd ever see Sokka again. Then I did, but I had to leave again. I was in prison, and I wasn't sure if I'd ever get out, but then Sokka showed up. I think love is hard, but it finds a way if you're willing."

Katara nodded, "do you think he'd take me back?"

"I'm sure he will."

Katara hugged Suki before rushing out the door.

Katara began to rush down the hall but stopped as she approached Aang's room. What if he wouldn't take her back? Had she really been that stupid? However, she heard a familiar voice call her name before she could finish her thoughts.

"Katara!" Aang exclaimed as he came in from the balcony. Katara hadn't noticed it, but he had been standing on the same balcony she had broken up with him on only yesterday.

"Hi, Aang," Katara said sheepishly, having difficulty meeting his eyes.

"Hi"

The two stood silently for a moment before simultaneously saying, "I'm sorry!"

"Why are you sorry?" Katara asked, genuinely confused. He hadn't done anything wrong.

"I am sorry for whatever I did to hurt you. That was never my intention. I also wanted to tell you that I understand how dating the Avatar could be very painful, and I never want to hurt you. But I can't imagine my life without you in it. I was hoping we could still be friends. I won't try to make any moves or flirt with you; I just want you in my life."

"That's the thing, Aang, I don't want to be friends with you." Aang's face was disappointed before Katara continued, "I don't want to be just friends with you." Aang's face lifted slightly, though he was still confused. That is until Katara cradled his face and planted a kiss on his lips.

When they pulled apart, they both smiled, "So does this mean..?" Aang asked. "I would like it if we were back together," Katara said.

Aang pulled Katara into a surprisingly strong hug, considering his height compared to hers, though something told him that would change.

Suki ducked around the corner, staying low until she was obviously out of sight. Sokka stood at the other end of the hall, "well..?" Suki smiled, "we are very good at this, Sokka!"

The couple laughed softly. This time, they didn't want Aang and Katara to know what they witnessed.

"Maybe no more double dates, though," Suki said as she and Sokka walked hand in hand back down the hall.

The End

Once again, thank you so much for reading, and I am so sorry for how long this took to get out. I hope you have a great day!