Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar

I'M BACK! Sorry for the wait, life is even crazier now. My friend wrote the first part of the story, which is why the style of writing is different. He likes first person, but I bugged him enough to write it. Basketball is almost over (we're competing in the state playoffs!!!), so I'll be able to write more until tennis (yes, I love sports).

It had been four hard, tough years. Aiding the hurt and needing, helping the world recover from the war, preventing riots, and the stresses of international relations had kept the gaang in a constant state of work. When everyone was lucky enough to meet up in Ba Sing Se, there was no leisure time like they had in the old days. Sokka had become not only a grand warrior and strategist, but a diplomat as well. He constantly relayed messages back and forth between the rebuilt Southern Watertribe and the Earth Kingdom, rarely coming in contact with his friends. Suki had returned to her home before Sokka had left for the South Pole. Pressure from the Kyoshi Warriors made her cave into leaving the house in Ba Sing Se. However, two winters ago, Suki returned to the Earth Kingdom capital, along with the other warriors, in search of her friends. She had found Toph, who, unlike the others, had remained in the city until spring. Toph instructed Suki to wait. Sokka was due to visit the palace soon on issues of trade, while Aang and Katara's arrival time was unknown.

Of all the member of "Team Avatar," Aang and Katara were the only ones to stay together. When Aang left to aid towns across the continent, Katara made it clear that he would not leave without her. Toph joined them as they flew across the Earth Kingdom, distributing rations and helping refugees return to their homes. Katara was dedicated in helping the hungry, going so far as to sacrifice her own rations to starving children and parents. When they returned to Ba Sing Se (one year after they left), the Earth King appointed Toph as supervisor to the restoration of Lower Ba Sing Se. Traveling the globe had helped Kuei sympathize with the poor. The sympathy created a new drive within him, like a burning flame, to help the millions of hurting people in the Earth Kingdom. He started his efforts in Ba Sing Se, and imagined Toph to be the perfect spokesperson. She was strong, independent, and held a commanding presence. Surely she would be perfect for the job of whipping stingy nobles into donating their vast wealth to the cause (the Earth Kingdom had been bankrupted by the Hundred Year War). Toph reluctantly agreed, saddened to leave her friends. Aang promised that they would return soon, after helping the Fire Nation Colony refugees return home to their native lands. A year passed, and they did not return. Toph hadn't even received information on their whereabouts. She rarely saw Sokka, and spent much of her time alone. These changes were tough on the blind earthbending master, who withdrew in herself

Suki's return had lifted Toph out of her gloomy solitude. Finally, she was not alone! The Kyoshi Warriors were treated as guests of the court and given residence in the Upper Ring. Suki chose to stay with Toph, however trained with the warriors during the day. Suki had missed her friends (part of the reason that she convinced the warriors to follow her to Ba Sing Se), however the main reason she was eager to return was that she desperately missed seeing the center of her universe, Sokka. She had hated leaving him, even though she knew that her departure was temporary and that she would see him again. She had hoped that, upon her return, she would find Sokka waiting at the door of the house for her arrival. Unfortunately for her, she had come to find that he had left shortly after she did. The news that he had taken on the responsibility of the diplomat for the Southern Watertribe shocked her, but she concluded that he would eventually return. He did, nearly a week later. Their reunion was touching, to say the least. After spending a week in the Imperial Palace, Sokka left. Though this time, another person accompanied him to the South Pole.

Toph was alone again for another two years. She had declined the offer of traveling with Sokka and Suki to the South Pole, explaining that she would be unable to see anything. Although she was occasionally visited by the flouncy Ty Lee, Toph spent most of her time in solitude. The Earth King no longer required her services for accumulating revenue, leaving her bored and unoccupied. At first, she had strolled the streets of the city and watched the Kyoshi Warriors practice, however, over time she grew bored with the activities. Two more years passed before Suki and Sokka returned from their trip. This time though, it was permanent.

"How long are you here?" Toph had asked after embracing him in a hug.

"Permanently, I resigned as diplomat… from pressure by my dad. He said that I need to enjoy my youth, not act as a mail service between kingdoms." He had replied.

Part of the group had reunited, though no one had heard from Aang and Katara in three years. No word had come from them since Aang's farewell to Toph. That all was about to change.

Sokka yawned as he stretched in bed; the morning sunlight filling his room with yellow tint as the sun peaked over the Inner Wall. He looked over to the right side of his bed where the covers had been remade earlier that morning. Suki had woken at the crack of dawn to train with the Kyoshi Warriors at their studio in the Middle Ring. She was a morning person; as soon as she woke up, she probably flew out of bed and got ready for training. He, however, was certainly not a morning person. Rolling out of bed, Sokka eyed himself sleepily in the mirror. Brushing his long hair behind his ears with his fingers, he scratched his itching armpit and examined himself in the mirror.

"I don't feel like digging for my clothes," he mumbled to himself as he sauntered into the common room (in search of food). It was empty, as usual.

"Predictable," muttered Sokka, feeling somewhat relieved that he did not have to confront the resident blind earthbender. He knew she would have a go at his current appearance. Thank goodness Toph sleeps in!

He then noticed a note lying on the table to his right. He walked over and picked up the note, squinting his eyes to read to rapidly-drawn letters.

Sokka,

I've gone to train with the warriors this morning and I'm going shopping with Ty Lee around lunch. Don't worry, you're not missing anything (it is girl shopping). Just letting you know that you're going to be on your own for lunch. Love you!

Suki

Oh, and get the mail when it comes. YOU BETTER REMEMBER, OR ELSE! ;)

Sokka smiled at the foe-threat written on the paper and set it back down on the table. He walked to the front doors and slid them open to reveal the warm summer air from the street outside. He loved the feeling of the summer sun on his skin; it heated his body with its yellow rays. Stretching in relaxation, he turned to the mail box near the door and pulled out the papers. He scanned through them until his eyes landed on a letter sealed with the Fire Nation insignia branded on the front. Anticipation flooded Sokka as he tore open the seal and rolled the paper out, letting the others drop the porch. He scanned the letters content, his eyes finally coming to rest at the signatures at the bottom. Emotions flooded Sokka's mind, rooting him in place. He was unable to react. Out of the war of emotions inside his mind, a new feeling began to grow in dominance; the feeling of joy. Sokka hadn't ever felt as happy as he did at that moment. After four long years! He had to tell someone!

Sokka rushed back into the house, thundering through the hallway and barged into Toph's bedroom, all the while wearing a huge, silly grin. Toph lay sprawled across the floor, her head off the mat and her hair spread out like a mop. Startled by Sokka's sudden entrance, Toph leaped into the air, releasing a scream of surprise. She landed roughly on her back, dazed for second before she sat up. She had little more time to react, for Sokka was now grasping her shoulders and shaking her back and forth like a rag doll.

"They're coming home, they're coming home, they're coming home, they're coming home!" Sokka screeched as he embraced the bewildered Toph. She quickly regained her composure and shoved the young man off of her.

"What is going on?! Don't hug me while your nearly naked, you sick perv-!" she began, but Sokka cut her off with a cry of joy.

"Aang and Katara wrote, they're comin' home!"

Well... I shook it up a little bit. What did you think? What do you think will happen? Review (yes, that was a command).