(A/N: Sorry it's taken a few days to post this one up, i was on vacation and unable to access a computer. But anyways, thanks to everyone who left reviews!

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Reunion

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Three months passed since Sokka left his group. The months passed since he'd abandoned his Warriors. Three months and he was finally home. He was finally at the South Pole.

Katara was the first one he saw. She came dashing through the snow, tears streaming down her face. For the first time in months he smiled. The puzzled look that filled her face was truly humorous for him.

"Sokka!" she nearly screeched, throwing her arms around him. "What are…? Why are you…?"

"Hey Katara," he pressed his cheek against her soft hair. He'd barely recognized her at first, but beneath the womanly look she now had, she still was his same little sister. When she didn't pull away, he squeezed her tighter. "I missed you so much." He whispered.

"I missed you too."

---

"So… where's Aang?" Sokka questioned, looking about the small hut Katara now called home.

She was pouring him a steaming boil of soup. "Oh, he…" she hesitated. "Left not soon after we got here." She handed him the bowl.

"What happened?"

"We're argued." She shrugged, as if it meant nothing to her. "He occasionally writes. Last I heard he was at the Western Air Temple, researching the remaining artifacts of the nomads.

"Oh… I'm sorry," he began, but she cut him off.

"No need to apologize." She smiled, "It didn't matter anyway. We're older now, and Aang is still my best friend. That's it."

He didn't push it any further.

"But what about you?" she asked. "Suki wrote to me saying you'd left… but she never said why."

"I…" he stared at his dinner. "Just needed some time alone I suppose."

She watched him with understanding. "And where did you go?"

He set the soup down. "I created a group of Warriors who fought the rebellions in the Earth Kingdom."

"That's great," she smiled.

"No, not really." He pushed the soup back toward her. "I'm not really hungry Katara."

"What?!" she asked, unbelieving. "Sokka are you feeling well?" she laughed, lifting a hand to feel his forehead.

He pulled back. "Katara,"

By the tone of his voice, she drew back, becoming serious all of a sudden. "…yes?"

"I…" he bit his lower lip. "I did bad things… very bad things. I changed and now…"

She said nothing, but waited for him to speak again.

"I can't go back to the old Sokka. I can't even think without being reminded of my mistakes…" he trailed off, a horrible stinging sensation filling his eyes.

"What happened Sokka?" she scooted toward him, speaking softly.

"I killed people Katara," he looked up at her with tear-filled eyes. "I killed and slaughtered men without thinking twice. I snuck up on them from behind and just… I didn't even give them a chance. I didn't give them the choice to change."

"What are you talking about?" she didn't sound angry, but confused.

"I killed hundreds of men Katara!" tears were flowing freely down his tanned cheeks now. "I killed them. All of them."

He felt her arms wrap around him protectively, letting his head fall into her lap. "Spirits what have I done?!" he sobbed, clutching at her skirt.

"You were protecting the innocent."

"I was fighting for blood." He shook his head, refusing to believe her. "That's all I was doing; nothing more."

She remained silent, letting him sob away the feelings that had been staying inside him for so long. Ones he hadn't been able to let out till now. Ones he hoped he never had to feel again.

---

Sokka awoke to Katara peeking into his hut, smiling softly in the morning light. "Come on lazy head, get up."

"Its too early Katara," he muttered, slipping back under his blanket.

"But you're in the South Pole again Sokka, there's work to be tended to." She scolded playfully. "There's a cargo ship coming in and we have to help unload it."

He sighed, slipping out of his bed and pulling his sweat on. After slipping into his boots, he fallowed her out.

"So have you heard from Zuko lately?" he questioned, finally breaking into the pattern of crunching snow beneath them. He glanced at her cautiously, swearing he saw her blush.

"Uh… yeah, actually. He was just here a few weeks ago. Came in on a cargo ship, all dressed up in his fancy clothes."

"What happened to having to stay in the Fire Nation?" he demanded, though not in a harsh way.

"Oh well… he was just visiting for a short time and…"

He smirked and she swipe at him playfully. "Just be quiet."

"Okay, okay," he raised his hands in defense. She looked satisfied, even though the blush still showed on her cheeks.

---

Days drew on and Sokka slowly was growing used to his old life again. His father was still the leader of their tribe. Sadly, he'd learned of the passing of their Gran Gran, whom was at least able to see Katara again.

He felt guilty about not visiting, he should have at least suspected her time was coming, but he never thought to...

Katara didn't question him any further on what they'd spoken of. She merely smiled at him sympathetically every time he caught her eye.

In fact, he was doing perfectly fine. That was, of course, until he made the mistake of bringing up the question he'd had upon his tongue since he arrived.

It was one evening as Katara did her needle work on his pants, which he'd managed to tear the first day.

"When was the last time you… heard from Toph." He spoke without looking at her. But when she stopped her work and glanced his way, he became uneasy and regretted having brought it up.

"It was just before… well… you know."

"What did she say?"

Katara hesitated. "She was just telling me she was doing fine and…" her lips were pressed tightly together as she thought back. "You know that was a lie."

He sighed, taking a bight of the stale bread leftover from dinner. "Yeah." he turned away from her, stretching out over the floor. "Wake me up in a few minutes okay?"

"Okay." She softly replied.

That few minutes passed quicker then he'd hoped. She awoke him with a whisper of goodnight, then left.

He sat up, pressing his face into his hands. Why hadn't he gone to visit Toph? Why hadn't he sent her a letter or… something. Why?