075. HOME

It had been three long, agonizing months that Sokka had spent in the Earth Kingdom. Oh how he hated all of the meetings that he was required to attend as the leader of the Southern Water Tribe. Normally, they didn't bother him so much, but this time around Azula didn't come along to keep him company. When he left, she had been about six months pregnant with their second child. Sokka didn't want to risk anything having her come along. Azula had protested his wishes, of course, making him feel guilty for even having to leave in the first place. He smiled and shook his head, remembering the many arguments he had fought with his wife. Eventually, she did give in and let him leave without her, but not until after she had received one more of his world-class foot massages.

Sokka could feel the air getting colder against his face, a clear sign that they were getting close. A small smile appeared on his lips as he leaned against the boat, staring out at the frigid, ice-berg filled water. He couldn't wait to get home, really. He missed Azula so much. The way her hair would blow in the wind, her gorgeous smile and the way her eyes stood out against her blue surroundings. Her slightly smoky scent, the way she moved and her voice. He missed everything about his wife. This had been the longest length of time they had spent apart since their wedding. Sokka missed his daughter too. He couldn't wait for her to inevitably tackle him and smother him with her undying love.

Idly, Sokka wondered if there would be a new addition to their family by the time he got home. He really would have liked to have been there to see his second child born, but what could he have done? Being a world leader required him to make sacrifices from time to time. Sacrifices sometimes he really didn't want to make, but was forced to anyway. He wondered if it was a boy or a girl. Sokka didn't really care either way, though it would be nice to have another man in their family.

"It'll be really nice to come home again," Katara said suddenly from behind him. She had not visited in a little over a year and was also eager to see the familiar icy plains.

"Mhmm," Sokka responded. Katara smiled and put a hand on his shoulder.

"It must have been hard leaving Azula behind," She said, he nodded.

"You have no idea. We argued for days. She's so stubborn, that woman," Sokka grinned.

"I know you two have been together for a long time, but it still surprises me that you're with her," Katara sighed, shaking her head.

"Twelve years," Sokka said, "'Zula and I have been together for twelve years. Married for nine of them. Been the happiest years of my life, "Sokka explained, getting a laugh out of his younger sister.

"Still seems like you were just telling us all you two were together yesterday," She chuckled, pulling her parka tighter over her body. Sokka shrugged.

"Linkka will be so happy to see you," He said, referring to his daughter.

"She remembers who I am?" Katara questioned, "She's seen me what, three times her whole life?"

"Linkka's like her mother. She remembers just about everything," Sokka said, Katara laughed, giving her brother a quick hug from behind.

"I'm going to go get something to eat, you want anything?" She asked.

"No, I'm good," Sokka smiled. Katara looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Even now, it was rare for Sokka to turn down food.

"You sure?"

Sokka nodded and Katara turned to leave. Sokka pulled the hood of his dark blue parka over his head and slipped on his gloves. He could easily go below the deck to warm up, but he chose not to. Everyone else was down there at the moment and Sokka wanted to be left alone.

Somewhere along the way, he must have drifted off into a light sleep, for the sudden stop of the boat startled him. Sokka rubbed his eyes as people started to trickle up from beneath the deck. Sokka turned his head and saw their village. He always felt a sense of pride when he came home, seeing as how many times the Southern Water Tribe had multiplied in size under his guidance as the chief. People started coming out of their tents and igloos, smiling. Children were laughing and running as fast as their stubby legs could carry them through the snow. Sokka scanned them all, but neither Azula or Linkka were in sight, at least not yet anyway.

Soon, people were piling off the boat, carrying their own belongings. Sokka slung a few bags over his shoulders and gathered the rest in his arms. He was the last to come off the boat, slowly treading through the snow. He looked around the village and took a big whiff of the air. Ah, the smell of arctic hens and sea prunes simmering away. He most definitely missed that smell.

"Daddy!?" A small voice questioned. Sokka whipped his head around, recognizing the voice as his daughter's. A big smile grew on his face as Linkka came into view. The little girl was running full speed towards him, giving him little time to drop his things to return her unavoidable embrace.

"I missed you so much daddy, I thought you were never coming home and that I'd never ever see you again, daddy!" She exclaimed as she launched herself at Sokka. He laughed, picking her up and holding her tight. Her small arms were wrapped around his neck in a heartbeat, holding onto her father so hard that she was nearly strangling him.

"Now, does that sound like something I'd do? I'd never leave you or mommy," Sokka assured her.

"No...but still! You better not ever, ever, ever leave us! We love you too much, daddy!" Linkka cried, burrying her head in her father's shoulder, tears nearly streaming down her face. Sokka rubbed her back comfortingly and kissed the top of her head.

"Firebug, I'm not going to. Next time daddy has a big meeting, you and mommy can come along, alright? And that's a promise, " Sokka told her, she lifted her head and looked at him, her gold eyes glowing.

"Really, daddy!? Really?" She asked with excitement.

"Really, really. I promised, didn't I?" Sokka rubbed his nose against her's affectionately before she pushed herself out of his arms and jumped down to the snow.

"Okay, now daddy, we have to hurry up. Mommy's waiting for us!" Linkka grabbed Sokka's hand and started trying to drag him into the village.

"Hold on, firebug, I need carry my things home," Sokka said, slinging his bags back over his shoulders and holding the rest in his arms. Linkka grabbed on to the fabric of Sokka's parka and started tugging at him. He followed her back to their home, and as they entered, Sokka furrowed his brows, looking around. Things just didn't seem...right. He tossed his bags off to the side and went further inside, heading straight towards the small bedroom he shared with Azula.

Sokka's jaw practically dropped to the floor as he saw Azula laying in bed, her legs spread far apart, her breathing somewhat heavy. There was a midwife there, and Sokka's father was at Azula's side, holding her hand. The baby was coming!

"Impeccable timing, dear," Azula rasped, forcing a smile as she saw Sokka enter the room.

"No kidding," Sokka managed to say, somewhat in a state of shock.

"Glad you could make it, son," Hakoda said with a smile, letting go of Azula's hand and standing up, "I think you can handle it from here, can't you?"

"I...think I can," Sokka said, scratching the back of his head.

"Come on, Linkka, " Hakoda said, picking up the young girl, "Your parents need some time to themselves."

As soon as Hakoda and Linkka were gone, Sokka sat down beside his wife. He wiped the sweat from her forehead and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"How...was the meeting?" Azula asked, leaning into him as much as she could. He took her hand and held it tightly.

"It...was fine...Can't we talk about this later?" Sokka kissed her temple.

"No, its distracting me. I need a distraction since you know, I'm in labor and it doesn't hurt one bit," Azula said with a bit of sarcasm, her grip on Sokka's hand tightning. He smiled, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing each of her knuckles.

"Not too much longer," The midwife smiled up at the couple.

"You said that...an hour ago," Azula complained, Sokka smiled, stroking her hair.

"Azula...Just relax," Sokka tried to hush her, but of course, it didn't work. She grunted from the pain, her hand holding Sokka's in a death grip.

"After this one...we're done. Two is more than enough," Azula mumbled her eyes slipping closed. Sokka chuckled, reaching over and tilting her head to the side.

"I love you, just thought I should let you know that," Sokka whispered, caressing her cheek and placing a soft kiss on her lips.

"...How could I...ever forget?" She managed to say, smiling, "I love you too."

After a great deal of pushing , quite a few pained yelps and a column of blue flames coming from Azula's mouth, the room errupted with the cries of a newborn baby.

"Its a boy!" The midwife announced, cutting the cord and picking up the baby, carrying him off to clean him off and bundle him up.

Throughly exhausted, Azula rested her head against her husband's shoulder, her grip on his hand almost loosening completely. Sokka rested his head against hers, watching the midwife carefully. She turned around with a big smile, adjusting the blanket a little bit before kneeling down and handing the baby off to his mother. Azula held the baby protectively against her chest, pulling the blanket back a little to see his face better.

"He's beautiful," Azula said, looking down at her son.

"You're beautiful," Sokka replied, earning him a soft elbow jab from his wife, "Okay, he's beautiful too."

"He has your eyes," Azula commented. Sokka reached into her arms, gently taking the baby from her.

"Yeah, I suppose he kinda does," Sokka agreed.

Not even a minute after the midwife left the family, Linkka came bolting in the room.

"Mommy, daddy!" She exclaimed, going straight for her father who was holding the baby.

"Linkka, that's your new baby brother," Azula said, "I expect you'll be a good big sister to him."

"Good? I'll be the best big sister ever! I'm gonna teach him how to have snowball fights, and how to go penguin sledding, and how to throw a boomerang and how to firebend too!" Linkka said happily, settling herself down beside her mother, latching on to Azula's arm and snuggling up to her.

"We have to see if he even is a firebender first, firebug," Azula chuckled.

"He better be! I want someone to fight with who isn't as good as me, someone I can beat!" Linkka said. Azula looked back at Sokka, who seemed almost in a trance sitting there holding his son.

"Sokka, are you alright?" Azula asked, breaking him from it. He looked down at his newborn son, then at Azula and over to Linkka. The three most important people in his life, right here, right now, in this little room. He kissed Azula's cheek, grinning.

"I'm fine, I'm just really happy to be home."