DISCLAIMER: I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender. The work is purely fictional.

She leapt out and landed roughly on the soft snow outside. Without caring she began to run, once again leaving behind the man she loved.

"Toph!" Sokka ran to the opening yelling her name, the buzzed haze still clouding his mind. Suki was close behind, looking worried. The explosion had obviously made quick work of the alcohol in her body. Toph hadn't run far, but the thick snow drifting down made it hard to spot her.

"Sokka, we have to go after her! She could freeze!" She looked close to tears.

"No, Suki you stay here. I'll get her. I know the terrain better than you." Sokka was about to jump out, but Suki stopped him. They looked at each other and a connection was made. His eyes searched hers desperately. Sokka closed his slowly, it wasn't there. His home wasn't with Suki. Toph was where he belonged. It took tears, anger, sadness, a few kisses, an angry outburst, and five years of missing her for Sokka to truly understand what exactly it meant to be home. "I'm sorry Suki…" He said slowly. "But Toph is my home." Suki shook her head uncomprehending what it was he was saying. "I need her. So go back to Haru, please." Tears gathered in her eyes, but she understood. He loved her, but was in love with Toph. That fact didn't matter to her. As Sokka moved to leave she intervened again.

"No, Sokka. It was always you and me! What you have with her isn't real. I'm real, I'm here. She ran from you! Can't you see that? Or are you the blind one?" Suki felt guilty with the last statement, but she felt so selfish all of a sudden. She really wanted to make out with him again. Sokka shook her off.

"She ran from me because I broke her heart… again." Sokka felt disgusted with himself. He had ruined something pure and beautiful. He jumped out of the gaping hole and into the white darkness that swirled outside.

Toph couldn't stop the tears pouring from her blind eyes. She had never felt so alone, even when she was back at home before she met Sokka. This intense loneliness vibrated through her chest with raged sobs. She kept moving her legs forward, though she didn't know how she was doing. She couldn't feel her feet anymore. The ground was so cold. The wind bit her cheeks painfully. Out here on this ice she was truly blind. It didn't matter anymore. She didn't want to see anymore, didn't want to feel. Finally Toph tripped and fell into the soft cotton below. Her sobs grew louder and more heart wrenching. How could he do that to her? Because you don't mean anything to him,she answered painfully.

She was so cold. She almost wanted to try to get back but then she would have to face him. She couldn't do that. So instead she curled into a ball, hugging her knees. The snow's rough assault began to lessen, the storm was blowing over. Spirits help me. I don't' want to do this anymore… Toph cried slowly. The snow had stopped, but she was nearly covered. She didn't have the strength to move. Above her the sky was clear and the moon full.

"Please do not cry…" A female voice whispered softly. And for the first time in Toph's life she saw light. Coming from it was a woman with the palest hair. It was long and flowed around her in wavy strands. Her dress was very similar to her hair, long, white and flowy. Her skin was tan and her eyes were a pristine blue. Somehow Toph knew all of this. She knew what was blue and what was white. Her lips formed the question, but she had no voice left to speak. How…?

"I am the moon spirit, Yue. I have watched you for sometime now. Years I believe, but time moves so fast when one is a spirit." Her smile was motherly and kind. "Please come with me Toph, I wish to show you someone." The spirit extended her hand. Hesitantly Toph reached up and took it. Then it happened, she saw everything. The snow, the sky, the moon, all of it. She also saw her small body covered in snow.

"Is that me?" Her voice was strangely hollow.

"Yes, do not be afraid." Yue commented, smiling. Toph's hand still in hers she began to lead them, floating, away from Toph's body.

"Am I dead?" Toph felt so detached from everything. However, her eyes kept gazing around, drinking in the beauty of the world.

"No… not yet, but you are so close. That is why I am able to bring you to my world. Once upon a time Toph, my home lie within the heart of a boy. Soon after, he was in danger and I had to protect him. I had to protect everyone. So I gave my life to save my home. I became the moon and he's never been the same since. He feels as though he didn't protect me, but that is not true. It is not home if you are not willing to sacrifice everything to save it. At the time he didn't understand." She paused. "Do you understand?"

"That's so sad. But you don't sound sad. You say it like it was unavoidable."

"We all have our places in this world. You never truly realize it until you're where you're supposed to be. Being this spirit is my place Toph. It was always meant to be." Yue stopped moving and looked down. Beneath her a man was struggling to run through the knee high snow. Toph looked at him intently. His brown hair was tied back, but messy. Just like Yue, he was tan and his eyes were blue. However, they were darker, dare she say more beautiful. "Watch this man closely Toph."

"Why?" She didn't see the point. "He looks… sad." She said staring curiously.

"Do you see how he struggles through the snow?" It was true, his expression although sad was one of great strain. "Do you see how he fights?" She paused a moment. "Do you understand why he fights?" Toph shook her head. The man made her sad, but she didn't know why. He seemed to be screaming something. Was it important? Toph floated down to him. The man was looking frantically around him as he moved. Tears danced down his cheeks and past his smooth jaw line. Toph touched her own cheek to find tears there as well. He makes my heart hurt… she thought miserably. "He fights to save his home." Yue said taking her hand once again, leading her away from the man.

"Wait!" She protested. "I'm not ready! Who is he? Please tell me." Her now seeing eyes searched the man's. For a split second their eyes met and he stopped moving, stopped screaming. In that instant he could sense her.

"Toph!" The man screamed, reaching out only to find empty air. Yue kept pulling Toph even though she struggled against the unbreakable hold. Then her world began to grow dim and cold. Darkness filled her vision once again. She was again back in her body, unable to move. Tears managed to flood out of her closed eyes, the warmth a welcome comfort.

Sokka had been searching for hours without success. He couldn't stop the salty tears from coming. He had felt her. Physically felt her presence, though only for an second. He kept yelled her name, until finally he dropped to his knees.

You are so close, do not give up yet, Yue's voice filled his mind. She needs you Sokka. Do not let her down.

With a gasp he forced his body to get up and move forward. Moments later, he saw the lump in the snow. She was completely covered. With a cry he ran to her the best he could. She was only thirty minutes from a small abandoned one roomed hut on the outskirts of the village. With the last of his strength he picked her up in his arms and carried her to it.

Once inside, Sokka laid her down on a bundle of old skins and set to work on making a fire. He hadn't checked her for a heartbeat or a breath. He didn't know what he would do if he couldn't find one. I didn't even want to imagine. He sat there staring at her closed eyes. She was so pale, her lips blue. Despite everything she was beautiful. Her dark hair framed her face perfectly. Sokka got up and walked over to Toph. Please be breathing… he thought desperately. He slowly pulled off his glove and pressed his fingers to her icy neck. A slow steady beat throbbed against his finger. With a surge of energy he pulled off her shirt and pants, leaving the undergarments in place. He quickly unzipped his jacket and hugged her, willing his body heat to seep into her.

"Please Toph." He whispered. "Don't leave me again…" Sokka sat there with Toph shivering violently in his jacket. With a grunt he moved Toph again and took off his shirt. Bare-chested he brought her to his heated flesh. The contact made his hair stand on end. Ever so slowly her shivering stopped as she began to warm up. Smiling sleepily he let himself drift into a pleasant sleep, holding her to him.

Sokka woke the next morning before Toph. He kissed her forehead. The fire he had made was only embers. He sat there waiting for her to finally wake. His back had a nasty kink in it but it didn't matter anymore. Toph was okay. It made him smile. After a few minutes of relishing the feeling of her against his bare chest she made a small movement.

With a tired groan, Toph wiggled in Sokka's arms trying to get more comfortable. "Stupid bed…" She mumbled, irritated. With a gasp she sat up with wide eyes. "Yue!" Sokka stared at her in shock. How did she know about Yue?

"Toph?" His voice made her freeze. Her heart pounded in her chest. This… is Sokka's naked chest… and… she felt her body for her clothes, and I have nothing but my underwear on! With a tiny strangled sound, Toph tried to scrambled out of his arms. Sokka wasn't having any of that. "No stop. You will quit moving right now!" Toph froze at the anger in his voice.