A/N: Thanks to superdoglac, the-evil-girl, PurpleDaisiesXoXo, and .ice for your great feedback. =)

The List, Part II

His moves were swift as he took in and exhaled controlled breaths. However, one sidestep to the left almost caused him to collapse, so he crouched low to catch a breath. He was tired and it was hard to see in the dim lighting, but he did not want to stop. He steadied his hand and took in another breath, remembering that Suki would freak if she would see his stance and the loose grip on the fan. His head felt like it was spinning, so he lay Suki's weapons as well as him self down on the floor. Suki, even a fabricated one in his head, had a way of taking over current scheduled events. He looked over at her peaceful sleeping form in bed and sighed. It was easy to get lost in a memory of her at the moment, no distractions or someone to talk to, but especially when it would soon be the only thing he would have left of her back home. He closed his eyes and let the reverie play in his mind.

-

"We could get caught, Sokka." Suki hissed through her teeth.

"No one is going to interrupt this." Sokka replied, his voice deep and serious.

"We're supposed to be helping everyone clean up the house." Suki persisted.

Suki warily looked over her shoulder as if someone were peeking through the nearby short trees and bushes. She felt a bit fidgety under the brush of leaves that found their way on to the mat they sat on. This wasn't first time they had escaped to find solitude together, but it was a bit different being here—open fields and lots of…nature. Suki swatted a fly on her arm.

"Sokka, was it necessary to be this…remote from everything and everyone?" She asked.

"It was," He said, "Plus, when was the last time we got to do this?"

She nodded readily and gave into giggling at the thought.

"Come here," He ordered, gesturing with a curling finger. "Oh, and open wide." He added.

Suki raised an eyebrow, saying, "This better be good."

Sokka reached behind him and quickly pulled out a large bread bun. He inhaled some of the steam vaporizing above the bun before nudging her to take a bite of it. Suki hesitated, but indulged in a small piece. He seemed to be bouncing in his seat, waiting for her approval.

"It's hot." She said after she swallowed. "I mean, temperature wise, but so good!"

"Success!" He exclaimed, smiling from ear to ear.

"What is it?" She wondered, licking her lips.

"Sweet Moosebear and Porkchicken bun." He proudly told her, crossing his arms.

"I didn't know you could bake let alone cook." She said surprised.

"I'm a Jack of All Trades, Suki." He said coolly, shrugging his shoulders.

"I wouldn't mind having you as my personal sweet bun baker back home." She said, attempting to reach behind him for more buns.

Sokka stopped her, holding her hand. "Are you serious? I mean, would you want me to come with you because I—"

"Well, I didn't mean it that way." She clarified, guiltily.

Sokka chose to look some place else instead of Suki to answer her, saying, "Sorry. I know."

"We just…" She started to explain.

"We have a lot to go back home to. I have my family and my village. You have the Warriors and your village." He offered, nodding.

Sokka finally looked her in the eye, attempting to hold a smirk.

"I just wish, one day, I could feel like my home could be yours too." She told him sincerely.

-

He awoke, not realizing he had fallen asleep but knowing that he had only gathered a few moments of rest from last night. He hoped he could join his sister into town to purchase supplies and food rations for the trip home. This, he thought hopefully, would clear his mind and distract him until he'd see Suki again. At least, he could build up some strength and practice a stoic face when it came time to let her go. Another sob fest like last night might be off-putting to her, he told himself. So, he made for the door and headed towards Katara's room.

"You seem to be taking everything well today." Katara noted, staring at her brother as he inspected a melon in his hand.

"Yeah," He replied simply, weighing different melons and fruit. "Do you want this funky-looking purple one are this pinkish-green one?"

Katara gave him a face and put both the melons down for him. She raised her index finger in the air as if she were about to say something. But, Sokka's eyes grew large and his mouth was agape at something he saw behind her.

"We need these on our trip!" He said excitedly with a mouth slowly brimming with saliva, pointing at the pastries at one of the food stands nearby.

Katara shook her head as her brother pulled her closer and nudged her several times to hand him the money. Katara reluctantly paid for the sweets and scolded Sokka for finishing nearly half of box before they even started walking away from the merchant.

"Sokka, I wanted to tell you that it's okay to feel—" She started before Sokka ran to another stand.

"Look, they have drinks at this one!" He exclaimed and gestured Katara to come over. "I want one with a pretty little umbrella."

"We're not here to eat treats all day. We need to stock up on necessary things." She told him, frowning with her hands at her hips.

Sokka's eager smile disappeared. "I'm thirsty. I can't work if I'm not quenched!" He retorted.

"Let's go." She said through her teeth and pulled him by the ear.

"I'll be back." He whispered to the merchant before her sister gave another painful jerk to his ear.

"We can't waste anymore time, they'll be waiting for us back at the house. We still have tons of packing to do and—" Katara stopped as she noticed her brother lurking away again.

She jumped to his side and was about to slap the back of his head when he turned to ask her a question. He looked a bit pink in the face as he brandished a blue tunic in front of her.

"Sokka, you have about a dozen of those." She said, confused. "Also, that's a girl's tunic."

"Well, aren't you a clever girl. It's for Suki." He said wryly, rolling his eyes.

Katara abruptly took her hand away from his face, looking caught off guard.

"Well," He said expectantly, staring at her. "What do you think?"

"Listen, I know this is your way of trying to talk to me about Suk—" She started before Sokka loudly sighed.

"Katara…" He pleaded. "Your opinion?"

Katara felt the fabric, inspecting the weave and quality of it. All the while, she stole a couple glances of her brother waiting for a response. He looked anxious, his face turning red and his eyes shifting away from hers. She almost chided herself for scolding him for the entire trip into the city. Almost.

"It's great. She'll love it." She told him and smiled brightly.

Sokka smirked at her, "Thanks."

The pair continued to gather food and other things, returning home just before noon. Thereafter, Katara only made warning comments on the gluttonous look of his eyes since he decided to handle the food parcels.

To be continued...