"No, no, no! The ice garlands go over there! This is where the water lights are going to be hung! Are you completely incompetent?" Sokka winced when Suki's enraged voice carried to his ears, and he ran a hand over his face wearily. Several of the men behind him snickered when the waterbender Suki had been reprimanding flushed and stuttered, but Sokka merely sighed and strode over to his betrothed.

"Suki, honey, leave that poor man alone," he said when he had reached her side, and he winced when he saw her brows furrow together and her lips turn down at the corners.

"But he's ruining everything!" She exclaimed, and Sokka resisted the urge to groan. Suki had decided to take the burden of planning the newly rebuilt Southern Water Tribe's celebration upon her very pregnant self, and he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was exhausted.

Sokka glanced towards the waterbender who was now staring at the pair unabashedly, and Sokka jerked his chin slightly to let the man know that he was dismissed. The water bender bent into a quick bow before hurrying away, no doubt terrified of his Chieftain's future bride.

"You need to rest for a little while," Sokka said, wrapping his arm around Suki's shoulders and leading her towards their home, the ostentatious palace that it was.

"No I don't," Suki exclaimed stubbornly, but she didn't attempt to shake Sokka's arm off of her shoulders. Sokka felt her lean against him in spite of her protests, and his lips quirked upwards slightly in response.

"Think of the baby, Suki," he said, pressing a light kiss to her temple as he led her through overly large, too intricately carved doors, and to the miracle of bending that Pakku had named an elevator. He nodded once to the waterbender who lifted the block of ice off of the first floor and up to their private wing, and Suki sighed deeply.

"The baby, the baby…" she grumbled under her breath, but Sokka could hear the defeat in her tone. "Fine," she finally muttered, screwing her face into a frown in an attempt to demonstrate her displeasure at the necessity of rest. "Of all times to be pregnant…" she then mumbled, and Sokka squeezed her arm in sympathy.

They walked in silence for a time, and Sokka's mind started whirring at a million miles a minute. Everything was set- the women had completed Suki's new parka, and several of Pakku's water benders were busy erecting a marriage pavilion at that very moment. And most importantly, her finished necklace rested heavily in his pocket.

For the past several weeks, Sokka had slipped out of bed once Suki had fallen asleep, and had painstakingly etched lines into shell by the light of a candle. He had broken several shells at first, in his clumsy attempts, before he had finally learned exactly how much pressure to exert. The necklace wasn't quite as beautiful as he wished that it could be, but he had honestly put his heart into the effort. Somehow, he knew that Suki would recognize this, and that the sentiment behind the simple piece of jewelry would mean more to her than anything else would.

"You should probably take the rest of the day off," Sokka observed once they had reached his room and the waterbender who stood guard outside opened the ice seal. Suki threw him a withering glare as she entered, and then made a motion to the guard to close the door again. The ice quickly re-knit itself into a thick wall before Sokka's watching eyes.

"Absolutely not," Suki replied with a light toss of her head before she tossed back the furs on their bed, and then buried herself in their warmth.

"Gran-Gran can handle it," Sokka added, coming to sit beside where his intended laid. "Besides, there's going to be a huge party tonight. You're going to want to look your best, won't you? You should probably sleep those circles away," he added, gently touching the purplish bruises beneath the woman's eyes.

"But…" Suki began, her brow furrowing, and Sokka lightly kissed her forehead.

"You need the rest," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. Suki heaved out a resigned sigh, and Sokka smiled. "I'll send someone up to get you ready when it's time."

"I can get myself ready," Suki grumbled, and Sokka chuckled.

"I have no doubt." He then tucked the furs snugly around the woman's body, and she spared him an amused, indulgent smile. "Sleep well," he added before bending to press his lips to her cheek.

"Mm," she said in response, her eyes already beginning to slide closed.

Sokka knocked at his door, and slipped through the exit when the water bender opened the wall of ice. The door reformed almost instantaneously, and Sokka resisted the urge to whistle as he made his way down the hall and back towards the elevator. So far, everything was going according to plan.

------------------------

Suki was shaken roughly awake, and she groaned as she was pulled from her sleep. "Go away," she mumbled softly, rolling over and curling herself around her protruding belly. There was a harsh sigh, and then the warmth of her furs were gone, leaving her to the cold polar air. She cried out indignantly, and forced herself in an upright position.

"Now don't you be complaining, Missy," Gran-Gran said, and Suki sighed before rubbing her eyes. "You've slept the day away! Now come on, get that big, pregnant belly of yours off of that bed. You don't want to miss the festivities."

Suki blinked, and then remembered. "The celebration!" she exclaimed, scrambling to her feet so quickly she nearly lost her balance. "How long do I have?" she demanded, and Gran-Gran laughed gruffly.

"Look at you, getting yourself all worked up. I've left you plenty of time to get ready for tonight, don't you worry," she said with a twinkle in her eye and a mischievous wink. Suki stared at the old woman for a long second before her eyes narrowed.

'What don't I know?" she demanded, and Gran-Gran chuckled.

"Now that would spoil the fun," she said, and when Suki's glare darkened, the old woman tsked. "Now, now, you know that you can't intimidate me, so don't even try. These old lips are sealed." Gran-Gran paused, and then turned to the suddenly open door. "Ah! Kippu is here!" she exclaimed, and Suki frowned for a moment before she finally placed the name. Beno's mother.

"Her hair!" Kippu exclaimed in horror when she walked in, and Suki frowned before touching her auburn locks. Her hair had grown quite a bit since she had moved to the South Pole, from her chin down to slightly past her shoulders. It was such a fuss to deal with, but after seeing how the more traditional women of the tribe had reacted to her cropped hair, she had decided that the length was worth the trouble.

"What's wrong with it?" Suki asked, fingering a strand of hair, and Kippu groaned.

"Gran-Gran! You haven't fixed it yet?" she demanded, and the old woman planted her hands on her hips as she stared the younger woman down.

"My hands are arthritic. You do it!" She snapped. "Now give me the parka."

Suki watched mutely as a large basket was passed from Kippu to Gran-Gran, and her breath caught when the old woman opened it, and pulled out what could have possibly been the most beautiful piece of clothing in the Southern Water Tribe. "Is that for me?" she whispered, and Gran-Gran grinned.

"Strip quick so we can get it on you," she said in her usual blunt way, and Suki couldn't help the smile that bloomed on her face at the order. For a moment, she froze as her bare skin came into contact with the frigid air. But then the warmth fur of her new parka chased away the discomfort, and her smile widened.

"It fits like a glove!" she exclaimed, surprised. Her old parka had been a castoff of someone else's, and had been quite baggy so that she could grow with it. She ran her hands over the smooth, soft, fur, and relished in the feel of it. "But…why do I get a new parka?" she asked after several heartbeats, and she frowned when Gran-Gran and Kippu exchanged a sly glance.

"Let us do your hair, dear," Kippu merely said, not quite able to hide the smile that spread across her features. Suki's frown deepened, but she allowed her scalp to be poked and prodded, her hair yanked, curled, and twisted.

Although she must have asked hundreds of questions over the next hour, Gran-Gran and Kippu kept their silence and merely continued to exchange amused, knowing glances. When she finally descended from her room, the guard gave her a cheeky grin, and the serving girls giggled and sighed in her direction. She was instructed to meet Sokka at the newly constructed pavilion by Pakku, who tossed a wink her way before chuckling towards Gran-Gran.

By the time she met Sokka in the arranged place, she was fuming.

"What the hell is going on?" she demanded angrily before he could say a word in greeting, and he merely smiled before reaching into his pocket. "What? You're not going to say anything either?" Suki demanded, and she could feel herself flush with her anger. "Well, let me tell you something, Chief Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe! If you think you can…" she ranted, but then stopped speaking abruptly when she saw what exactly he had pulled out of his parka.

A necklace dangled before her. The shell was blue-green in color, and dangled from a ribbon of green velvet, which she knew was nearly impossible to come by in the South Pole. Instantly, she knew what it was, knew exactly what everyone had been hiding from her. She felt her anger drain away, and she merely stared at the man in front of her, who was looking just a little too pleased with himself.

"Sokka," she whispered hoarsely, her eyes fixed on the way the light settled in the crevices of the shell's engraving- a fan crossed with a boomerang. "You…you actually…" she began, but her throat was choked and her eyes were blurry from unshed tears.

Sokka fastened the clasp of the necklace around her neck, and when he stepped back, the shell fell comfortably into the hollow at her throat. "It looks right," he said softly, and then lifted his gaze to her face. "Are you ready?" he asked, and Suki merely stared at him wide eyed, her brain feeling frozen.

Suddenly, the darkness was pierced by the glow of a thousand water lights, and Suki glanced around to find the entire tribe assembled in a circle around the pavilion. "Oh my," she breathed, unable to come up with anything more articulate.

Pakku emerged from the shadows, a pleased, smug grin resting on his lips. "Are we ready to begin?" he asked, and Sokka nodded once. Suki stared between the two, and then Sokka had taken her hands between his own, and she couldn't look away from the intense blue of his eyes.

"Say the vows after me, Sokka." Pakku instructed, and then Suki's eyes flew open wide. A wedding… her wedding… The tribe was celebrating their home's restoration with their Chieftain's marriage. Despite her resolve to stay stiff lipped, Suki felt her eyes water.

"You are my wife," Sokka was saying, and Suki sniffed, which prompted the man to squeeze her hands tightly, and his lips quirk upwards. "My feet shall run because of you. My feet dance because of you. My eyes see because of you. My mind thinks because of you. And I shall love because of you."

"Suki," Pakku prompted, and Suki sniffled hard and wiped away her tears before they froze to her cheeks. Somehow, she managed to keep her voice strong and steady as she repeated the traditional Water Tribe vows after Pakku, her gaze never straying from Sokka's.

"She is yours," Pakku finally said, and Sokka grinned before he leaned down and kissed her roughly, before the eyes of his people. Suki gasped, and then wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing herself as close to him as her pregnant belly would allow.

"I love you," She whispered when they had pulled apart, and Sokka grinned.

"I love you too," Sokka replied quietly, his voice so low and serious that her heart melted. She could hear his…their…tribe cheering around them, and she grinned wider than she had in ages; her heart felt lighter than it had since they had lost the war. Sokka was more animated than usual as well, she noted, more of a sparkle in his face than there had been in some time. And yet… there were shadows in his handsome face as well. There was a touch of sorrow there, of resignation, that Suki knew had everything to do with his sister. Thinking of Katara made Suki's happiness dim, and she recalled a different wedding, one whose vows were spoken in an ancient tongue, performed before a roaring fire. She remembered how bright Katara's eyes had been, how wide Zuko's smile, and her heart grieved.

Sokka looked down at her in that moment, and suddenly the smile was gone from his face, just as surely as it had fled from hers. "I know," he whispered softly, and Suki took in a shuddering breath before laying a hand on his arm.

"Let's not think about it. Not tonight," she breathed, and Sokka nodded once in response before leaning down to press a second, chaste kiss to her lips. And yet, the night suddenly seemed less bright, dimmer than it should have been.

Suki took a shuddering breath before she and Sokka threw themselves into the mass that was their people, and she soon lost herself in their smile, their laughter, and their warm, affectionate nature. After several hours of feasting and dancing, the Fire Nation seemed so far away- how could anything so horrible exist when there were such bright, caring people in the world?

And then, just as a feeling of warmth and safety, and contentment came over them, terror struck. The drums posted on each watchtower of the wall began to pound frantically, each clash bringing more fear than the first. The drums were only to be used on one occasion…to warn them of the Fire Nation Navy. Suddenly, there was panic. Children were running frantically towards their mothers, women were running towards the heart of the palace, the meeting room, and the most well protected area of their tribe. Men were withdrawing weapons that had been concealed all night, the edges glittering dangerously in the fire's glow.

Suki leapt to suddenly strong legs, her heart pounding, her hands clenching at her sides. She pulled a dagger out of her boot, and her breath came in quick gasps as adrenaline coursed through her veins. It had been so long since she had seen battle, even though the fight had been her life for as long as she could remember. She had never thought she would miss this feeling, this sudden surge of feeling that left all of her other faculties numb. And yet, she was finding that she relished in it.

"Suki," She was hyper alert to Sokka's low voice, and she turned quickly to meet his gaze. His eyes were blue steel, and she knew what he was going to say even before he opened his mouth. "Go with the women, now."

Suki took in a deep breath, set her jaw, and glared at her husband. "No," she replied forcefully. For months now, she had simply acted the part of a woman, ignoring the warrior that she had been all her life. But now, now her home, her husband, and her child needed her protection. It was time to be a warrior once more.

"Suki," Sokka muttered, a hard edge to his voice as he grabbed her shoulders. "You're vulnerable right now," he said, his gaze flicking downwards. "Think of the baby."

Suki lifted her chin, and squared her shoulders. "I am," she returned, her voice sharp and determined.

Sokka merely stared at her for a long moment before he lightly brushed his knuckles across her jaw. "Please, Suki?" he whispered, his voice breaking as he pled. Suki felt her heart lurch at the pain in his face, but her resolve never faltered.

"My place is here, with my husband," she replied, her voice softer than it had been before as she lightly covered his hand with her own. She watched as his shoulders slumped in defeat before he sighed and straightened his spine.

"Stay safe," he murmured finally and Suki smiled.

"You'll have my back. I don't need to worry," she replied, and a sudden, weary smile touched her husband's face at the faith she displayed in his abilities. He leaned down and kissed her in one quick, rough gesture. And then he was striding over to Pakku, Suki hot on his heels.

"A small fleet," Pakku explained, and Sokka nodded brusquely.

"Have they pulled out the cannons yet?" he demanded, and Pakku shook his head. He looked over to where Suki stood beside her husband, his eyes narrowing in speculation. Suki glared at him fiercely, and he turned his attention back towards Sokka.

Just then, the sound of the drums changed. There was a slower pace to then now, not quite so panicked as before. Pakku's eyes widened, and his mouth fell open in a rare display of true emotion. "A white flag," he murmured. "They come in peace."

Sokka was shaking his head even as the words were coming from Pakku's mouth. "Impossible," he muttered, stalking towards the watchtowers. Pakku and Suki quickly followed in his wake, and somewhere down the line, Beno materialized beside them.

A waterbender quickly bent them up the ice elevator to the top of the wall, where Sokka hurried towards the watch tower to peer through the looking glass. "A white flag," he repeated softly when he pulled his face away from the lens, his expression troubled. "It must be a trick. That bastard Zuko must…"

"Zuko wouldn't do that," Suki said quickly, and she felt Sokka's incredulous gaze turn on her. "He knows how much this place means to Katara. He wouldn't destroy it."

"He destroyed Aang! He destroyed Toph!" Sokka was suddenly shouting. Suki didn't flinch.

"But he saved Katara. He will make sure to save her and everything that belongs to her. He would never attack this place," she said fiercely, and then looked towards the boats again. "Besides, hanging a white flag before attacking a small tribe sounds more like Azula."

Suki watched as Sokka bent down towards the lens again, worrying at her bottom lip. Suppose the ships were here on Azula's orders. Suppose...suppose the Fire Nation had found out about the treaties! Suki's stomach did an odd little flip at that thought, and she swallowed bile. If that were the case, no one, no man, woman, or child, would escape Azula's wrath.

"They're sending out a messenger. Beno, we're going out to meet them," Sokka said, drawing away. Suki's breath caught in her throat, and she went to move towards her husband, but he held up his hand. "That is the next chieftain that you're carrying," he said, pointing towards her distended stomach, visible even through her parka. "You're staying here."

He then turned towards Pakku and set his features into a hard line. "If anything happens to me, keep the men in line until my child is old enough to take my position. I want you to rule while he is too young, and to assist him when he gets old enough to accept the title."

Pakku nodded, and Suki let out a harsh breath. "You listen to me, mister," she said, grabbing his parka and pulling him towards her. "You are coming back to me. Do you understand?" she demanded, her face inches away from his. Sokka pulled her against him and kissed her roughly, thoroughly, heedless of whoever was watching. Suki closed her eyes and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, even as he squeezed his arms in a vice around her middle.

When he finally released her, he hovered close, his hot breath wafting over her face. "Yes ma'am," he replied with a slight, small grin before giving her a quick peck on the lips, turning on his heel, and stalking away. Suki stared after him, feeling heartsick and afraid. The warrior had fled, and she was fully woman once more.

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Chief Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe,

You are no doubt curious as to why you are on a Fire Nation ship and headed towards our country without a word of explanation. No doubt, you are also planning on sending messages to the Chief Arnook of the Water Tribe, as well as Kings Kuie and Bumi of the Earth Kingdom. I would strictly advise you from doing so.

We have been informed of you alliances with the Northern Water Tribe, and the Earth Kingdom. This is an open declaration of war upon our country, and it is within our right to send our navy to destroy your village and take your people captive. However, we are willing to extend some measure of mercy to you.

We will not attack your people; however, we fear we must bring to your attention that we have your sister in our custody. So long as you cooperate with us, both your tribe and your sister will remain safe. However, should you not break your alliances and dismantle whatever army you have been amassing, Katara's blood will be on your hands. Should even the death of your sister not be enough to curb your ambition, we will send the largest, and most powerful fleet our navy possesses to destroy the remnants of your tribe.

You are on your way to the Fire Nation so that you may ascertain that your sister is, in fact, alive and well. Also, while here, you are to sign several documents that will break any and all alliances you have made thus far… should you decide that your sister's life is more important than your tribe's freedom.

Her life is in your hands.

Fire Lord Zuko

----------------------------

"You bastard!" Sokka shouted, launching himself forwards so suddenly and violently that he managed to break out of the guards' hold. Before they had a chance to restrain him, he swung his arm and punched Zuko solidly in the jaw, smirking in triumph when he heard something crack. But then the guards grabbed him again, and forced him down to his knees.

He had traveled for weeks on a spirits forsaken Fire Nation ship, driven mad with worry over his sister, his wife, his unborn child, and his tribe. And this man, this horrible, despicable, useless waste of a life was to blame.

Sokka stared up at Zuko through angry, hate filled blue eyes as the young Fire Lord gingerly rubbed his jaw with a long, pale hand. "I deserved that," he said softly, his voice not nearly as arrogant or self righteous as Sokka had thought it would be. Rather it was quiet and hoarse, sadder, more laden with guilt than he had ever remembered it being.

"Damn right," Sokka snapped, his eyes blazing as he struggled against the arms of two older and much stronger men. He refused to imagine that the poor excuse for a man before him had endured pain of any sort. This was a cruel, sadistic monster, and nothing more.

Zuko's eyes suddenly turned to steel, and his purpling jaw squared. "You will never do that again," he ordered, and Sokka laughed darkly.

"Want to bet?" he demanded, and he simmered with anger when he watched the Fire Lord shake his head slowly.

"I'm not a betting man," Zuko replied, and Sokka's eyes narrowed.

"No. You're just a lying one," the young Chieftain retorted, and satisfaction filled him when he saw the Fire Lord's eyes skitter away from his form.

"That is irrelevant," the man said after a long time of silence, and Sokka glowered.

"What my sister saw in you I will never know," he spat, and his glare darkened when Zuko replied with a dark chuckle.

"Neither will I," the Fire Lord replied, his eyes distant again, his voice pained. Sokka gritted his teeth and reminded himself that the man before him had both taken his baby sister's virtue and broken her heart. Zuko deserved his hatred, deserved all of the suffering that hell could bestow.

"I should kill you," Sokka ground out, his hands clenching into fists at his sides as he imagined the satisfaction he would gain by slicing the pompous Fire Lord's head clean off of his shoulders. He gritted his teeth and his eyes narrowed. "I will kill you."

"I have no doubt that you would if you could," the Fire Lord replied, staring down at where Sokka writhed in the heavily armored guards' grasp. "…but you will not. You forget that your sister is only alive because I wish for her to be. If I were not the Fire Lord, she would be dead already. So you see, Sokka, in killing me, you effectively kill your sister." The Fire Lord paused, and then a corner of his lips turned up slightly in a mockery of a smile. "We both know you would do anything to keep her alive."

"I hate you," Sokka seethed. "You're no better than Ozai!"

"Watch your tongue!" the Fire Lord finally snapped, his gold eyes suddenly blazing with anger. "I have only allowed you to speak to me thus far because what I did to you and your family was of the utmost dishonor. If you were anyone else, you would be dead by now. But even I have my limits, Chief Sokka. You will not speak to me in such a way ever again. And you will not disrespect the late Fire Lord while you are in this country. Do I make myself clear?"

Sokka glowered. "Perfectly," he muttered, his blue eyes gone deep with rage.

The Fire Lord stood before him for a full minute, silence falling over the cavernous throne room. Finally, the man sighed and turned away. "I trust that you will not attack the members of my court if your hands aren't chained together?"

"Of course not," Sokka replied darkly. "I don't kill innocent people."

The Fire Lord's lips tightened and Sokka relished in the guilt that washed over the man's features. Then, the Fire Lord composed himself and turned towards one of the guards that stood against the far wall. "Ryu will take you to your sister's rooms." He paused, and then his lips twisted into a slightly boyish, crooked smile that Sokka refused to remember. "Try to stay out of trouble," he said softly, and Sokka pinned a glare on the man, pushing away memories of a time when they had been friends. The Fire Lord made a dismissive gesture, and the guard that he had pointed to immediately came to Sokka's side and proceeded to pull him towards the door.

Sokka balked and went to pull his arm away, his eyes glittering with anger, his pride smarting. The soldier called Ryu clamped his hand down almost to the point of pain, and Sokka grit his teeth together. "Pull yourself together!" the man snapped in a harsh whisper from beneath his helmet, and Sokka glowered. "You'll only frighten Katara if she sees you like this. That poor girl has been through more than you know, and I will not allow you to upset her, do you understand me?"

Sokka stopped struggling abruptly, his throat closing. This man knew Katara… and quite well if he was attempting to protect her from her own brother. "That's better," Ryu grunted, and Sokka swallowed hard. They were winding their way up a staircase now, no doubt taking the servant's route so as not to disturb the members of the Fire Lord's court.

"You know Katara?" Sokka managed to push out of a suddenly dry throat, and the man beside him nodded once as they stepped off the stairs and onto the landing.

"I'm one of her personal guards. The Fire Lord entrusted her to Lieutenant Jee and I…"

"Jee!" Sokka exclaimed. "Jee's here?" he demanded, and Ryu nodded from behind his helmet. "We stayed with him just before the invasion! He's the one who arranged Zuko and Katara's marriage…" Sokka trailed off, and then glared at the wall. "I should hit him for that," he muttered.

"I already took care of that," Ryu muttered under his breath, and the combination of anger and amusement in his tone was enough to cause Sokka to turn and stare at the masked guard again. The man walked in silence, his faceplate preventing Sokka from reading the expression written on his features. Sokka said nothing.

"What's going on with the kid?" Sokka asked after a long period of silence, his mind flitting to the dark haired child that his sister and the bastard had so doted on.

"Princess Nozomi spends a great deal of time with both of her parents," Ryu replied, and Sokka's eyes widened.

"You mean Katara honestly lets that little girl around that murderer?" Sokka demanded, aghast. The Fire Lord obviously had no difficulty killing children… who could say whether or not he could be trusted with little Nimi's well being?

"Katara lets Nimi be with her father," Ryu replied, and Sokka's mouth dropped.

"Zuko's not…" he began, but stopped mid-sentence to let out a oomph of pain when Ryu stepped on his foot with a metal boot.

"The walls have ears. Don't say anything more about that," Ryu warned gruffly, so lowly that Sokka almost didn't hear him.

Sokka finally nodded, and the pair remained silent for the duration of their journey. After an interminable time, Ryu knocked on a large, elaborately carved door. A small, middle aged woman opened it, her gaze flicking over Sokka briefly before she stepped aside. Sokka took in her wary gaze, the way she wrung her hands together. She was worried about something obviously. Surely not about him?

"Katara," Ryu called out as he walked to the center of the elaborate bedchamber. For a moment, Sokka gaped in awe at the rich, violet silks, gold embroidery, and smatters of blue that adorned the vast room. And then his eyes fell upon a slight, small figure at the window, brown hair falling in a riotous, curly mass down a silk robed back. Ryu stopped at her side and touched her elbow lightly, and the girl turned just enough so that Sokka could catch a glimpse of her profile.

Katara.

Sokka's mouth went dry, and all he could do was to stare in a combination of relief and horror at the girl turned woman just across the room. She was thin, painfully so, her complexion lighter than it had ever been. Her small, slender wrists looked weighted down by the bangles that hung from them, and there was something about the way she held her shoulders, something about the way she had turned to face Ryu that was entirely wrong. A heartbeat later, she turned slightly and met his gaze.

Sokka watched as her entire body froze, her large eyes widening as she caught sight of him. He could see her taking him in, noting the new scars, reading the pain of failure and loss in his face and his stance. She didn't rush into his arms like she once would have, didn't break into a smile and a laugh, and tossed a dry remark his way. She merely stood, her lips parted, her too thin arms wrapped about her too thin frame.

This was not the Katara he had known and helped to raise, the willful girl who had stood up to one of the most powerful water benders in the world, the naïve child who had been able to comfort complete strangers with one soft smile and tender word. This was a different woman, one who had known too much pain, a jaded, sorrowful thing older than her years.

"Sokka?" the stranger with his sister's face whispered, sounding weak, and vulnerable, and yet the slightest bit of hope touched her voice as well.

Sokka walked towards her slowly, staring into blue eyes that were too sad, too dull, too weary to belong to his vibrant little sister. And yet, they did. This woman was a stranger to him now, but in another lifetime, he had known her better than he'd known himself, had loved her more than anyone else. "Katara," he breathed, the name tasting bittersweet on his tongue.

The woman's face suddenly crumpled, and blue eyes filled with tears. Moments later, the frail creature was in his arms, burying her face against his neck, clutching his shirt in fisted hands. She was silent as she cried, although her shoulders heaved and he could feel the wet of her tears seeping through his shirt. He swallowed hard and wrapped his arms around his sister turned stranger, closing his eyes and pretending that they were still children, that he could heal her pain with a kiss and a smile. And he cursed Zuko in his mind for ruining the bright eyed, laughing girl that he had loved so dearly. If for nothing else, the Fire Lord deserved death for the destruction of what had once been so beautiful.

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And once again, I apologize for the long wait. Please review!