Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender, it's characters, or anything affiliated with it.

Full Summary: AU. Three years after the fall of Firelord Zuko, and the death of his fiance, Sokka lost his heart as well as his will to fight. However, all that changes when he meets Toph Beifong, an earthbender who's family is being held against their will by the new Firelord Azula. As the two join forces, their feelings for each other blossoms into something neither one of them expected. But when it's revealed that Sokka's fiance is in fact alive, Sokka finds himself torn between his love for her, and his growing feelings for Toph.

A/N: Just so you know, this story is loosely inspired by Macbeth, because I love, love, love Macbeth, but that's only the Zuko and Azula part of the story. As for the Sokka, Toph, and eventual Suki part of the story, this is my idea of what would have happened had the creators of Avatar the Last Airbender made Toph Sokka's love interest, you know, if Toph was old enough.

By the way, in this story Toph is 16, and Sokka is 19

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1. Nightmares and Family Visits

It was autumn, the trees decorated the Island with their colorful leaves almost as if they were preparing for the night's festivites. It was a celebration, not only was it Zuko's one year anniversary of being Firelord, but tonight two of his closest friends were having an engagment party. All of Sokka's family and friends were present and gazed from the sidelines as he and Suki walked hand in hand to the dance floor.

"Sokka, everyone is staring," Suki said softly.

A warm smile spread across his face as the two began to sway to the soft music in the background. "It's only because you look so beautiful," he assured.

Suki's face colored as they continued to dance in silence. Sokka's heart swelled as he and his fiance locked eyes, yes, this was his heaven on earth, whenever Suki looked into his eyes he felt like he could do anything.

"I love you Suki," he confessed, "I love you so much."

She smiled back, however, when she opened her mouth no words came out, she had no voice.

"Suki?"

Suddenly everyone and everything disappeared, and Suki vanished into thin air right before his eyes.

"Suki? Suki!" He reached out his hand but it was too late, she was gone. That's when he heard them, screams from all over, women and children, he turned around and realized he was back on Kyoshi Island, but it was engulfed in flames.

"Sokka! Sokka help me!"

He tried to follow Suki's voice but he couldn't find her, he was surrounded by fire, and her voice was getting further away.

"No," he repeated over and over aloud. With tears building up in his eyes he fell to his knees, ponding his fist into the dirt til his knuckles bled. He looked up in the direction of where he heard her voice before he screamed at the top of his lungs; "Suki!"

Sokka jolted from his cot in a cold sweat, it took several minutes for him to realize it had all been a horrible nightmare. When he had finally gathered himself he rose from his cot and made his way to his fireplace. It had been three years now since that day, and even now he still has nightmares of when it happened. Not only was his fiance killed, but the Fire Nation also lost it's leader, Firelord Zuko as well.

"Damnit," Sokka groaned, as he rubbed his sore neck. He wanted to splash some cold water on his face but he was out, and it would be hours before the sun would rise. In the end he just lit up his fireplace and sat there staring at the flames. After Suki died Sokka couldn't bring himself to go back home to the South Pole with his family, nor be around the surviving citizens of Kyoshi Island. He had spent a year traveling around the Earth Kingdom when he settled himself in a cabin in the woods not far from the town of Chin. Sure the place needed fixing and had no plumbing, but he repaired the damage in no time, and even built an out house.

Though he's been living on his own all this time he and his family exchange letters, however, whenever one of them ask if he is coming back home he can never bring himself to respond. How could he make them understand? Being around them would only remind him, how he couldn't help, how he couldn't save Suki in time, and that hurt too much. Sokka lied on his back, staring at the ceiling of his home when he heard knocking at his door. Immediately he was worried, he hardly ever get's a visitor, especially one so early in the morning. Out of instinct he grabbed his machete and slowly made his way to his front door.

"Who is it?" He said in his threatening voice.

"Sokka? It's me."

Recognizing the voice instantly, Sokka opened the door. "Dad? I... What are you doing out here? And why are you here so early?"

A sad smile appeared on Hakoda's face. "I wanted to see you, and how you were holding up."

"I'm fine," he answered quickly while closing the door.

"I see you have a fire going," Hakoda pointed out.

Sokka nodded. "Yeah, I couldn't sleep, and I got a little cold."

The two sat down on the floor and were silent for a moment. When the silence became too much, Hakoda figured he better get to the point.

"So how are you doing, son?"

Sokka sighed. "I said I'm fine, Dad."

"Yeah I hear you, I just don't know if I believe it. You look exhausted."

"Dad, it's nothing okay, I just haven't had much sleep lately."

Hakoda's face now turned serious. "I'm your father Sokka, I know when something's wrong."

Sokka's frown deepened. "Look Dad, I know what you're trying to do, but I don't want to come back home, I can't."

"Why? Because of what happened? Sokka, that was three years ago. Our tribe needs you, a lot's happened since the fall of Firelord Zuko."

"What difference does it make?" he scoffed, "I can't do anything to help, I can't do anything."

Hakoda's face fell. "Just how long are you going to punish yourself? After everything that's happened I thought I was doing the right thing by giving you the space I thought you needed, but all you're doing is cutting everyone who cares about you out of your life."

Sokka didn't deny it, but he didn't give a response either, and because of this Hakoda let out an exhausted sigh and placed a hand on his son's shoulder.

"Listen Sokka, I know you're having a hard time right now, but you're not alone in this. I lost someone close to my heart too, remember? But I had you, Katara, and your Grandmother to help me through it."

Sokka met his father's gaze. "Dad, I just need to be alone right now, to find my own way."

Hakoda nodded. "I understand, just don't forget we're here for you."

Sokka smiled in reassurance. "Thanks Dad, I won't." He looked at his father's bags. "So how long are you planning on staying?"

"A week maybe. I don't want to be away from the tribe too long."

He nodded in agreement. "Well in the mean time, do you want anything to drink?"

"Some water would be nice."

Sokka's smile faded. "Right, I have to go get some, I'm out." He opened his his cabinet and took out a canteen. "There's a river nearby with fresh water, I'll be right back."

"Alright, I'll wait here."

With that Sokka left his cabin for water, at first he wasn't sure what to make of this family visit, but now he remembered why he always enjoyed the company of his father so much. The river wasn't far from where he lived, so even though it was still pretty dark outside he didn't think he'd run into any problems. However, as soon as he reached the river he noticed something unusual. It was a girl lying on her stomach motionless, with her head on the grass and the rest of her body in the shallow part of the river.

Immediately Sokka rushed to the girl's side to get a closer look. He was relieved to see she was just sleeping, but he was confused. The girl looked like she was about sixteen, her long dark hair was coming out of the bun it was in, and she was wearing a fancy white dress. No way was she from around here, but where did she come from? Maybe she was kidnapped and got away, he thought, or maybe she's on the run. He pondered these scenarios while he quickly filled his canteen, once he was finished he picked the girl up and looked over his shoulder to make sure noone else was around as he went back to his cabin.

"Dad, open the door quick," He said, raising his voice loud enough for his father to hear.

As soon as the door opened, Hakoda's eyes widened at the sight before him. "What happened?"

"I found her in the river. She's alive but her clothes are soaked."

Hakoda gestured him to the bedroom. "Lie her down on your cot and be sure to take off those wet clothes, we don't want her to get sick. Do you have anything she could wear?"

"Sure, but their too big for her."

His father shrugged his shoulders. "The sun will be up soon, once the clothing stores open up around here we'll get some clothes that fit. I'll make something for us to eat in the mean time."

"Okay." As Hakoda left the room, Sokka studied the sleeping girl on his cot. She had smooth alabaster skin that seemed to light up his dim room. Her hair, now completely out of its bun was all over the place, and her dress, though soaked to the bone, had dirt and tears all in it. How nice the dress was he assumed she's some kind of noblewoman, but after seeing all the damage done to it, aside from the water, he could tell she was in some kind of trouble.

Seeing her up close, she looked so fragile, so... beautiful. Wait, beautiful? Heat rose to Sokka's face when he realized he had been staring at the girl for more than ten minutes. In an instant he pulled himself together and began taking off her dress. Though that didn't stop his brain from asking the question that plagued him since he found her.

Who is she?

A/N: Here's chapter one for this story, I hope you enjoy it. I'm telling you right now this story is going to be a long one. Of course I know how it's going to play in my head, but it will still be a pretty long story, and hopefully I'll be able to post chapters quickly. Because of my classes I've been unable to do anything else besides study, but hopefully I'll get some more free time to write. Next chapter Sokka and Toph meet for the first time, but sadly they won't get off to a good start. That's all I'm going to say, I don't want to give too much away. And for those who were wondering about my other fic Nabbing the Bride, I'm in the process of writing an epilogue, and I'll try to have that up soon. Thanks again everyone!

By the way, for those wondering, all the answers of what happened to Suki, Zuko, and what happened three years ago will soon be answered, so don't worry.

Free-Spirited Dreamer