**Disclaimer- I do NOT own ATLA or the characters, but this FF is mine!**
"Do you think Toph is going to be happy to see me?" Sokka asked as he neared a small village.
"Of course." Katara replied leading Sokka through the busy streets.
"I should have went and seen her sooner." Sokka said rubbing the sweet off the back of his neck.
"She's been busy, and so have you." Katara shrugged and stopped to look at a vendor's selection of fruit.
"It's been 6 years since the war, Katara." Sokka said lowering his head.
"I know. Aang and I have seen her.
"Why didn't you guys bring me along?"
"We could never get ahold of you!" Katara said glaring at her brother.
"I was busy. With Suki and I's separation. It was hard." He said covering his face with his hands.
"I know Sokka. I'm sorry."
"Does Toph look, you know… different?" Sokka asked blushing slightly.
"She's grown up." Katara said giggling.
"So she's not the little girl we used to know." Sokka said sighing. He regretted never seeing her, but he could never bring himself to drag his butt up to Ba Sing Sei.
"Not at all." Katara said loading her basket with her final selection of mangos, oranges, and peaches. "I wonder if Toph has any milk." Katara said stopping.
"If not, we can come back out." Sokka said grabbing Katara's arm and attempting to lure his sister past stalls. He was shocked when she stood her ground. It upset him to see how grown up his own little sister was. She was now in early twenties and was definitely not the little girl he traveled the world with years prior.
"I guess." Katara said reluctantly walking away. "Come on, her house is down this road."
"Wow." Sokka said laughing, "She actually lives civilly in a neighborhood."
"No." Katara said turning back towards Sokka, "She built herself a house out past the town."
"Oh."
"She's still Toph." Katara said jokingly as they continued past the large houses with children running through the streets. Sokka smiled at the kids kicking rocks back and forth.
"Is Toph, seeing anyone?"
"That's not funny Sokka." Katara hissed at her brother.
"Uh!" Sokka said slapping his forehead, "Not like that! I mean is she dating anyone?"
"Oh," Katara said chuckling, "Not that I know of." Katara said as she led the two off the streets and down a dirt path.
"It's pretty out here." Sokka said smiling as he looked at the scenery.
"Isn't it." Katara said taking in the aroma of the many flowers that lingered off the path.
"So quiet." Sokka said watching ahead as they neared a small, cozy looking stone house.
"Mhm." Katara nodded as she readjusted the basket of fruit in her tan arms. The brother and sister climbed the stairs onto the porch. Katara gratefully handed the basket to Sokka and turned back to the door. She reached out and knocked.
"Just a minute!" Said a voice from inside.
"She sounds older." Sokka said widening his blue eyes.
"Because she is older Sokka." Katara said quietly. From behind the door they could hear the rustling of dishes.
"Let us in." Katara said jokingly as she playfully banged on the door.
"Us?" The voice from inside called.
"I brought a guest." Katara replied happily.
"She doesn't know I'm coming?" Sokka said smacking Katara on the arm. Katara shushed him. Before Sokka had time to continue ranting, the thick stone door slowly opened.
"SOKKA!" Toph said flinging herself out of the door frame.
"Hi Toph!" Sokka said grinning ear to ear. Sokka's heart began racing as he inspected the earth bender head to toe. She had filled in very nicely. She was taller, and thinner so it seemed. She now wore her hair down and it reached to her lower back. She was wearing a well-fitting green and white dress. She was most certainly not the young girl he had meant back in Ba Sing Sei so many years previous. Her beautiful, unseeing eyes glowed with happiness.
"You seem bigger! Stronger!" Toph asked giggling.
"I'm 22 now." Sokka asked smiling.
"I know. Didn't you get my card?"
"You sent me cards? On my birthday?" Sokka asked shocked as he had never received anything from Toph.
"Every year." Toph said softly. Sokka blushed and shifted the basket.
"OH!" Toph said suddenly realizing Sokka was holding something, "Come in. Please." Toph said motioning to the door.
"Thanks." Sokka and Katara said as they entered the cold house.
"Nice place." Sokka said setting the basket down on the kitchen counter.
"Really? Thanks." Toph said shuffling her way across the floor. Her bare feet making a slight noise as she dragged her feet.
"Is this new?" Katara asked walking towards the fire place banister.
"Yah." Toph said smiling as she walked behind Katara "My friend made it." Sokka looked at what the young girls were talking about talking about. He found it was a large painting. It showed a field with a brightly glowing sun and a tree with two children running about.
"How do you…?" Sokka dragged his words out not quite sure how to ask such a question.
"It's raised." Toph said cutting off Sokka.
"What?"
"Come here." Toph said motioning with her head for the warrior to come to her. He walked over and looked closer at the picture. Toph grabbed his wrist and made him run his hand along the painting.
"I'm not too sure what it is." Toph said sighing as she ran her hand along the canvas.
"It's a field." Katara explained, "With a tree, and the sun, and two children."
"OH!" Toph chuckled, "I knew there was a tree, and two people." She said running her small fingers across the outline of the tree.
"What friend?" Sokka asked suddenly with a tone much harsher than he intended.
"Uhh…" Toph stuttered, surprised by Sokka's question "Someone I meant in town."
"Oh, cool." Sokka said lowering his tone and rubbing his arms.
"It's a guy." Toph said quietly understanding Sokka's question.
"Oh." Sokka said almost whispering.
"Do you have milk?" Katara asked desperately trying to change the subject.
"Actually, no." She said embarrassed, "I was going to run into town and get some, but I forgot."
"I'll go get some." Katara said rushing to the door. She was attempting to escape the tense house.
"Oh!" Toph said running after Katara, "Its fine, I'll go and get it."
"No, I can do it." Katara said slipping out of the door.
"Fine." Toph said closing the door behind Katara. She turned around towards the direction of a clearly embarrassed Sokka.
"Sorry." Sokka said sitting down on the sofa.
"For what?" Toph asked sitting on the empty cushion next to Sokka.
"For getting into your business." He said flustered at the fact Toph was sitting so close to him.
"Don't be." She said placing her hands neatly in her lap.
"You've grown up." Sokka said reaching for Toph's hand and wrapping his fingers around her small hand. Toph wiggled away from his touch. Sokka pulled back his hand, somewhat offended at her denial.
"Please don't." Toph said politely looking softly into Sokka's direction.
"Are you okay?" Sokka asked, concern growing in his eyes.
"Of course." She said giving him a reassuring smile.
"Then what was that about?"
"I don't know." Toph shrugged, her cheeks burned a bright red.
"Since when does Toph Bei Fong have boundaries?" Sokka shot back.
"Since Toph Bei Fong got engaged." Toph said shooting back with an even harsher tone.
"W-w-what?" Sokka stuttered.
"That friend was really a boyfriend. He proposed to me last week." Toph said standing up.
"Why didn't you tell any of us?"
"Why didn't you ever write to me?" Toph turned around quickly. Sokka saw tears stream down her porcelain skinned face.
"Toph," Sokka said softly "I-I-I don't know." He said looking down at his feet.
"Maybe if you would have bothered to keep in contact, maybe I would have bothered to tell you things like this. But you never did. Not once." The blind bender said sitting back down on the couch.
"What's his name?" Sokka said avoiding the question he had no answer to.
"Jai Ling" Toph said as a small smile spread across her face, "He's great, Sokka. He really is."
"I'm happy for you." Sokka said forcing a smile on his face.
"You're lying."
"What?"
"I can feel that you're lying, Sokka." Toph said sadly. Sokka stayed quiet for he couldn't deny it because she would know that was a lie to.
"I love him, Sokka. I really do. I know you may not be happy… But I am."
"I know." Sokka said flatly.
"I love you too Sokka." Toph said giving Sokka a one armed hug. He didn't want Toph to be whisked away by some other guy.
He wanted to be the guy to whisk her away.
I really hope you guys liked it- I don't know if I should make this into a story or not... With more chapters? (: Write a review and tell me. This was a quick little one shot I did. I'm bored- so... :P Favorite, review, follow me, ETC. :)
