Sokka finally caught up with Toph. He straightened and walked next to her. "What's this all about?" he asked. Toph looked at her friend. "Why were you uncertain when you were talking back there, Sokka? I felt like you couldn't say the truth. What is the truth?"
Sokka was quiet for a moment. He looked back at her and saw the sadness in her eyes. "Well, I'm happy for you that you can see, Toph, I really am," he started, "but now that you can see yourself, I'm worried. I'm worried that you'll become like most all of the other girls I've ever met. You'll worry about looks and appearances. You'll worry about what you look like to everyone else, wondering on how they'll judge you. But I'm thinking that you'll change, and you won't be the girl…" he stopped.
I fell in love with.
Toph knew, from the bottom of her heart, that that's what he meant to say.
"Sokka," she answered. "I might change like that, but it's only because I care about what you think of me. I won't let this go to my head, because I know that all of us, as the gang, have to look after each other. And I want you to know, I will always care for you as I always have; the same with Aang and Katara. But you, a little more."
She looked deeply into his eyes.
"I love you, Sokka," she whispered.
He took her hand in his. "I love you, too Toph," he smiled. "I guess I always have."
He stopped and she stepped into his arms. He hugged her tightly, and she never wanted to let him go. Toph looked at him, Sokka looked at her, and they slowly came together, and their lips touched. They both stepped back for a second, like it shocked them, but it didn't matter. They just leaned deeply into one another's kiss again, knowing that this is where they belonged; to each other's hearts.
Toph parted them. "Sorry, but there's something I want to see. I think Katara and Aang are talking together. I want to make sure everything is alright between them." "What do you mean?" Sokka replied. "Just follow me. You'll find out."
The other pair just walked for a while in silence. Aang didn't know what to say, and Katara didn't either. She just felt like she needed to walk alone with her friend. And strangely, it felt like the war was far away when they were both together. "Aang," Katara finally started, "truthfully, what do you feel inside when we're both together?" Aang widened his eyes. So this was the idea Katara was going to talk about. "Um, are you going to share, too?" he asked her. She nodded. "Well," he started, "I think you're…"
Then it hit him: Katara wanted the real truth. She was his best friend, and he knew, in his heart, whatever he said about his feelings for her was the truth, and that he didn't have to be nervous about it. He loved her. She ought to know, and he wanted to know if she felt the same.
"I'm going to come out and say it. I think you are the most wonderful, beautiful amazing person in the world. You are smart and funny, and always protected me, and I have loved you ever since that day when I stared at you when you held me in your arms when I fell out of the iceberg. You are the best friend I could ever ask for, because you are always there for me, and always will be. I know you would give your life for me, and I would do the same. You just always inspire me and keep me going on. I feel I can share anything, and you won't laugh. Every time I've kissed you, or looked at you, I can feel that we were meant to be.
Katara, I love you."
He breathed deeply in and out. He had turned away from her while saying that, and he didn't know what to expect when he turned around. But he did, and saw Katara, with tears of happiness in her eyes, looking at him with love and care, and blush in her cheeks. She smiled at her friend. "Wow," she whispered, and that was all she could say. How could she top that, when she was feeling the same?
"Aang, I feel exactly the same way. I thought of you as only a friend when I met you, but now I feel our friendship is more than that. Over time, I feel like I've fallen for you, and towards you, for support, and I saw how we just seem to 'fit.' The truth is, Aang, I can't say it all in one breath, maybe not even an hour. The things I need to say to you are here;
I love you too, Aang."
She breathed a sigh of relief, and then looked at the young Avatar. He was so handsome, and grown-up, and caring, and full of love, she thought. She was so beautiful, and wonderful, and caring, and full of love, he thought. They took each others' hands, and they stared into each others' eyes. Their lips came together, and for the first time since Aang's daydream before the Invasion, and before he left her on the submarine, they kissed and their love revealed itself to the other, each never wanting to part.