“Cheer up, Katara, it’s Christmas and all you’ve done is sit there and stare at snow!”

Katara sighed heavily and turned to look at her brother. She couldn’t really see what was bothering him about her just sitting there – it wasn’t dangerous or anything, she was just… sitting there.

“It’s only Christmas Eve, Sokka,” she murmured wearily, “Christmas isn’t until tomorrow. And what’s wrong with staring at the snow?”

Sokka raised an eyebrow at her. “You’ve been staring at it all day.”

“So?”

Sokka shook his head at his sister. “Forget it,” he said. “Just cheer up, okay? The Christmas Party’s going to start soon, and we can’t have you like this when that starts.”

Katara shrugged. “Whatever,” she mumbled. She sighed again and pressed her forehead to the glass.

Yes, the annual Christmas Party at the Hakodas’ was going to start soon, and when it did, the house would be full of people again, like it was every year on Christmas Eve.

But Zuko had left already, and this would be the first time he wouldn’t be there; the first time he missed out… the first time she wouldn’t have anyone to share a Twinkie with…

Katara never actually realised how lonely Christmas could be until now…