Thank you for reading. I hope that you all had a lovely Christmas. Once again I am very sorry that I have taken so long to up-date. I just got caught up in all the festivities. I am still aiming to have the story finished by the end of January. So I will be up-dating more often.
HoneyC. Thank you, sorry for the wait. I can't quit believe I have almost finished it again either. I hope it will have a better ending this time.
Aang landed lightly on the ground after packing away almost the last of their stuff on Appa's saddle. Glancing up as he landed he saw Sokka walking towards him from the main door to the house. The older man offered a small smile as he approached his airbending friend. The smile Aang could tell was only a half-hearted one. He knew full well what was bothering his friend. He and Toph had briefly talked about whether or not they should have a talk with their concerned friend. They decided it was best to leave things as they were. Dragging it out further would do no good. In just over a month or say anyway this part of it would be over with. Only then would they know what would come next and be able to deal with and make planes for the future. Whatever that would be.
"You must be glad to be getting rid of us." He finished with a real smile.
"Yeah can't wait." Sokka replied. He too now smiled broadly. Though Aang knew that his words were not true, he knew his smile was.
He moved on to pass his friend to help Toph packing the very last of their things from the guest room. As he did Sokka placed a hand on his left shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. The edges of his lips curled up a little before he spoke. "Take care of each other." Once the words left his mouth, the hint of a smile resurfaced. Aang nodded in answer, while lifting his right hand to rest for a second on Sokka's shoulder.
The last of her things were quickly shoved into her pack. A wave of light-headedness washed over her at her sudden and violent action. Standing still for a few seconds her hand resting on the bed before her, holding her up. She waited for it to pass as it always did. This she was told was very normal, though she couldn't understand how. It felt so unnatural. She was a very rooted person, this was so against her nature. The faint pressure of a pair of hands placed on her shoulders pulled her from her thoughts.
"I know that look, and the feeling that goes with it." Suki gentle squeezed Toph's shoulders before letting them go. Stepping back she poured her pregnant friend a glass of water from the pitcher on the bedside table. The younger women reached out and gratefully took it with thanks.
"Don't give me that look."
There was really no point in asking how she could tell that she was giving her a look of concern, or any look for that matter. She always just seemed to know. She guessed that it wasn't to strange, most people herself included could tell when a pair of eyes were set on her without seeing the person as times. "It wasn't that look." While she wouldn't ask how she knew, she did resent that see was being accused of giving her that look. A mothering, fussing look.
"It was close though." She smirked.
Suki didn't deem that with an answer. She couldn't help herself from saying something back however. "It's just…I don't know I just, I can't quit believe your…your know."
"You and me both."
"I mean it. Katara was born to be a mother. That was clear. You and I, I honestly never thought. I am a warrior and you." She gestured towards her friends. "Your you." She scoffed under her breath.
"I'm still a little surprised by how things have turned out."
Again Suki laughed a little under her breath. "I know that Katara is my sister in law and I love her. I just always thought that we would be closer. Since we have more in common."
Toph now the light-headedness had left her, felt guilt welling up inside her. They could have been closer, better friends if she had made more of an effort. It was true they did have more in common with each other than either of them did with Katara. By all rights they should have gotten on better. A large part of that she knew was her doing. It had never been part of her nature to go out of her way to make an effort with other people. She tended to wait for them to come to her. She knew how luckily she was that that had worked out so well for her. When it so easily could have not worked out at all. Her ridicules crush on Sokka so long ago had also played a part as well. Stubbornness really was a problem for her. For her part Suki had made no great effort herself. Maybe that was the problem. They did have things in common like stubbornness. Whereas Katara was more accommodating. Made more of an effort.
"I…."
"It's as much my fault as it is yours." She reached out and took the now empty glass from Toph. "Like I said, we have things in common." She turned a little to lift the pitcher to pour another glass. Guessing the intent behind the warrior's movements Toph shock her head.
"That's reassuring." A faint laugh followed her words.
Suki saw her eyes widen a little as she realised that her words could have been taken in a negative way if the tone was not right. She had not taken it that way, so had to stop herself from laughing. "You'll be fine."
"I just meant….."
"I know. If Sokka and I can do it. You and Aang will be fine."
"Aang will be."
With a sigh Suki stepped forward, closing the distance between them. Now fully giving her friend the concerned mothering look. Which as she stood in-front of her feel away and was replaced by a comforting look, as she lifted her arms and wrapped them around her friend. Her right hand lifted a little so it was resting on the back of her head. This was who Toph's stepmother had hugged her when was young enough to let her. Knowing that Suki had and maybe still did struggle with the loving mothering thing did make the earthbender feel a little better. Letting out a deep breath she returned the hug.
"You will be a great mum."
The older mother felt the almost new mother scoff a little at this. "I doubt that."
Suki pulled Toph closer as much as she could. There was nothing she could say. Toph knew that she was being overly hard on herself. It was just the way she was. Nothing anyone would say would make her feel any better, except maybe Aang, till she had the baby and could know for herself that she could do this. With the comforting, concerned look on her face Suki pulled back a little. Her hands remained on Toph's shoulders as she gave her a quick kiss on her forehead.
As she finally stepped back from her pregnant friends they heard someone walking down the hallway and stopping at the open door. "Ready to go."
"Yeah." Toph smiled and nodded at her husband before she turned round to pick up her pack.
The three of them left the house, greeted by the sight of Sokka patting Appa by his ear, while he hugged Momo a little with his other arm. The sight brought a smile to each everyone's face. It also made Aang feel a little sad. Sokka was acting a little like he was never going to see either of the two team mascots and therefore by extension himself and Toph ever again. The two boys had also come out to say goodbye. They must have already hugged Momo as they were currently hugging Appa's front leg.
"Do we get a hug too." Aang teased.
Sokka almost jumped out of his skin as he spun round to face the three faces looking at him. Momo slid from Sokka's now lessened hold and run towards the others. He seemed to be heading towards Toph so she leaned forward as much as she could holding her right arm out for the lemur to climb up. Once on her shoulder he curled up, wrapping his tail lightly around his neck. Sokka soon followed the lemur and hugged her. Following their fathers lead the boys each hugged Toph from each side. They them moved to their right to hug Aang. As they had already hugged. Suki patted Toph on her back as she moved towards Appa. The warrior then quickly turned to the avatar and pulled him into a hug.
Toph had very good hearing. As compensation for not being able to see she believed, but even she could not make up what Suki said to Aang as she hugged him. The faint muttering was clear enough, but the specific words were lost in the space between them. It wasn't very hard to guess what she was most likely saying. The idea of simply asking him once they were up in the air, flying away crossed her mind as she bent herself and Momo up into the saddle. She quickly pushed the idea away. It didn't matter. If it was important, if she needed to know he would tell her. If not it was between them and should be left that way
She had only sat down in the corner of the saddle for a second she the all too familiar feeling of slight weightlessness came over her as Appa took to the sky. Once at a steady pace and height Aang turned round to ask Toph from some food from the pack. Tossing him an apple they feel into a conversation about the conversion Aang wanted to do to what would become the baby's room. He was not used to using earthbending to build things that were meant to last. So well he would do the work Toph be directing him. A roll he knew that was very familiar for them from when they first met and she was trying to teach him to earthbend.
It was not a long journey from Kyoshi Island to the southern air temple, but Toph feel asleep about half was through it. Momo now curled up on her rounded stomaching taking nap too. With a soft smile he turn round to face ahead and guild Appa to speed up a little. It would be much more comfortable to sleep in her own bed that in the saddle.
After an hour or so he say the air temple ahead of them. Its high towers coming through the clouds. He always felt a feeling of calm when he say this sight in-front of him getting closer. It always felt like coming home. Which it now truly was again.
Gently Appa landed in the large area of the temple grounds that he called his home. Sitting up Aang airbent himself onto the saddle. He quickly glanced at the three packs that lay at the far end of the saddle. Not wanting to waste time putting it all away right now he bent a strong air current that picked them up and landed on the ground safely.
Bending down he stroked Momo under his ear. Hoping to gently wake him up. The furry lemur woke up stretched and jumped onto the ground and became looking from food from the fruit trees in the garden. He didn't want to wake her open, but it would be easier to get her down and to bed if she was even slight awake.
Reaching out he stroked her check with this slight closed hand. Feeling her light breath on his hand. She didn't make any movement. So eh softy called her name. Still she did not respond. Panic started to well up in his stomach as he called her name louder now. Finally he took hold of her shoulders and gave her a shack. Still she did not respond.
Again thank you for reading. I hope that you have liked it. I plan to have the next chapter up by the middle of the week. This time I promise I won't take up to a week to up-date. As always I would love to hear any comments that you have.
