Epilogue:
Sokka smiled at the young children sitting in front of him in a tight cluster.
"So," he concluded. "What is one of the key points to remember during battle?" he asked, pointing a finger at a young girl with a lopsided ponytail.
"Never let your guard down or get distracted." She recited, smiling toothily at her male classmates. Sokka nodded.
"And why not?" he asked. As Mian opened her mouth to answer, the ground beneath the muscular warrior shot up, propelling him backwards. The children laughed as Sokka landed on his backside.
"Because your wife will get you!" she laughed, pointing a finger towards the blind Earthbender smirking in the corner. Sokka stood, waving a hand to dismiss his class, and rushed over to Toph.
Sokka rubbed his hands over her swollen abdomen, his face stricken.
"Toph!" he cried. "How many times do I have to tell you not to strain yourself?" he demanded. Toph rolled her eyes and swatted at his hands.
"I'm not straining." She replied flatly. For the past four months, since she had begun to show, Sokka had been pestering her continually to stop Earthbending. Toph, of course, ignored him.
Sokka knelt to where his mouth was level with her stomach and cooed.
"It's okay Rock, daddy won't let mommy squish you." he promised. Toph blew her bangs out of her eyes.
"Sokka, we aren't naming our daughter Rock." She stated firmly. Sokka rolled his eyes and straightened, pulling her into his arms.
"I know. We're naming our son Rock. You of all people should be happy with that name. Besides, it's manly." He countered. Toph rolled her eyes.
"Shut up Snoozles." She commanded, capturing his lips in her own.
Katara and Aang sipped their tea, talking softly about a subject that they dared not speak of around her newlywed brother.
"I guess Toph was right." Aang said with a sigh. Katara stared at Aang with a sad look gracing her eyes.
"About Suki, right?" she asked. Katara knew about the conversation Toph and Aang had that nearly ended the relationship between Sokka and Toph. And now, they were happily married and expecting. Who could have imagined when the young Earthbender joined them that someday this would be their fate?
"Yeah, everyone calls her a hero. But…she was sick in the end. If she hadn't been killed, she might have ended up in an asylum. Maybe death was a better option." Aang mused, swirling his tea around. Katara shrugged.
"I don't know. Do you think that's why she protected Toph?" Katara asked. Aang looked up at the woman he loved and sighed.
"I think that in the end, she was able to remember who she was. Maybe death was her only option, because she felt she had lost everything…Sokka, us. She probably realized that she couldn't atone for what she had done, and that we would never fully trust her again." He said, his eyes shutting with the painful thoughts. Katara reached over and took his hand.
"Do you forgive her?" she questioned. Aang slowly shook his head.
"No. It's been three years, and Toph still has nightmares. It's like part of her spirit was broken." Aang said, his eyes filling with tears.
"Aang," Katara's voice was quiet, but commanding. Aang looked up. "If I can forgive her, then there is no reason for you not to be able to. Spirits," she said, a sad smile forming again. "Sokka was able to forgive her. In the end, Suki died instead of Toph, and now, Sokka is happy. Toph is happy. They have a life and a family because of her sacrifice. Do I honestly believe that it evens out what she's done? No, I don't. But I do think that it leaves grounds for new beginnings." Katara said, her tone serious. Aang stared at Katara and slowly nodded.
"I guess you're right. But, I still don't like that Toph still has nightmares." He said stubbornly.
"Aang," Katara laughed. "I think they'll stop once the baby comes." Katara said confidently.
"Yeah," Aang said, finally smiling again. "I guess you're probably right."
A/N: