Author Note: I've been having a lot of time to write…so here's another chapter so soon Don't get too used to it, because I have some things coming up that may take my time away. But for now…enjoy!

This is a looonnnnggg chapter, but there's a purpose as to why it's so long. As you'll see as you start and continue to read Thanks for all the reviews, I know I don't respond to them all, but I truly love reading each and every review!

Oh…and this is a MATURE AUDIENCE chapter….very umm…intimate content involved. "hint hint…wink wink" . If you want to skip that part, it comes towards the end so feel free to skip But read up until that part or you may miss something important….*evil laugh*

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any rights to Avatar the Last Air Bender. I did not create it and I will not profit from it in any way, shape or form.

Chapter 14: Freedom Blossoming

Sokka wasn't happy that they were taking another night before getting on the ship. While he enjoyed his alone time with Azula, he would have preferred to have that time alone without being involved in a deadly situation.

He knew he shouldn't worry about Azula and what was a head for them, but he couldn't help it. She had started to become more than just a traveling companion, more than a person who he wanted to give a second chance to. She was beginning to sneak into his heart, a situation he knew could end badly…for both of them.

"We're about a mile from the port. If we set up camp here, we can get on the earliest ship tomorrow and possibly make up the time we've lost," Sokka stated, looking towards Azula. He caught her rolling her eyes.

"Toph warned me about you and your schedules. I didn't take her seriously, apparently I should have. How long are you thinking this whole journey will take?"

Sokka shrugged and jumped off his ostrich horse. Azula did the same thing next to him. The stood facing each other. "I don't really know. It'll depend on how long it takes us to find Ursa. If we find Ursa quickly, then you can take her back to the fire nation and be back at the palace within a few weeks. I know my mission will take longer."

He wasn't going to ask her to stay longer, she deserved to finish her journey and get back to the palace. She didn't need, or deserve, to be in danger any longer. Even if that meant he was left behind.

"And if you find your killer before I find my mother, does that mean you're going to high tail it back to the palace and leave me alone?" Azula said sweetly…too sweetly to Sokka's ears.

"Well no, I'm here to finish both missions. I'm just saying that if we find your mother first, you can take her back to the fire nation. I'll be there as soon as I finish my mission. You shouldn't stick around and keep yourself in danger for a mission you didn't even know about," Sokka stated. He noticed Azula take a threatening step closer, there was glint in her eyes that he wasn't quite sure he liked.

"Are you saying that because you're worried of what could happen to me?" Her voice was still too sweet to Sokka's ears.

Why do I feel like I've said something I shouldn't have? Warning Sokka… speak veerrrryyyy carefully.

"Nooo… I'm just thinking that if we find your mother, you should take her back and gain your freedom. You know, that thing that you really really want." He watched Azula closely, the glint turned into a spark.

"Really? That's very…considerate of you, Peasant." She practically spat the word. "I mean, I highly doubt it has anything to with what you told me yesterday. You know, that need to protect the women in your life. You remember that part?"

Of course he remembered it. He was the one that had been suffering from it for years. And maybe it did have something to do with it, so what. She wasn't going to have a say in it. He wasn't going to risk her life for him to avenge his old love.

"I do like to protect the women in my life. But you're not…" he stopped. She was a part of his life. It may not be a permanent part, yet, but she had become a part of it. He couldn't let her believe that she was nothing to him. As horrible as it was, he would rather risk her life before having her think she was nothing to him.

"I'm not what?" Azula said quietly, the spark had dimmed dramatically.

"You're not like the women in my life. You're stronger, smarter and have a determination that the others couldn't possibly understand. And if you repeat any of that to either one of them, I'll deny it until the day I die." Sokka added, giving Azula a cautious look. The glint had returned.

"Good, then it's settled. If we find my mother before you find your killer, then I'll stick around with you to help find the one who killed Suki. You said it yourself. I'm stronger and smarter than the others. I'm sure we'll get through this just fine." Azula smirked.

That's not what I meant….no this isn't settled. Think Sokka think….

"Yeah but…what will your mother do if you stay with me? You wouldn't want her to be in danger would you?" Sokka asked.

That'll get her back to the palace. She won't risk her mother's life, even if she's determined to risk her own.

"I'll simply send a message to Zu-Zu and have him come get her. I'm sure the Avatar won't have a problem flying over here to give the banished Lady of the fire nation a ride back to the palace. That way I get my freedom and I can assist you in taking down your killer."

Damn…why does she have to be so smart? It's a shame that's why I find her so attractive.

"But…but it'll be dangerous and I don't…" she stopped him with a finger on his lips.

"There are no buts with this, Sokka. If you will stay until I gained my freedom. Then I will stay until you gain your answers. You can't talk me out of this. We're in this together, remember?"

Sokka couldn't deny her, not when she was so close to him. Not when she was looking so determined to face whatever came their way. He just prayed to the spirits that this didn't turn into another regrettable decision.

He wrapped his arms around his waist and pulled her even closer, loving when she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"And my sister thinks I'm the lord of stubbornness. Obviously she should get to know you more," he quipped.

Azula rolled her eyes once more.

"It's not stubbornness, Peasant. It's determination. I'm determined to succeed in my quest and I'm determined to help you succeed in yours." She reached up and kissed him. Sokka plunged himself into the kiss.

This was going to work. They were going to get through this and they were going to succeed. He wouldn't allow it any other way, and from the looks of it neither would she.

He broke the kiss, and took a deep breath. His groin pulsed with need. A simple deep kiss was all it took for him to react this way with her. She was killing him.

Virgin Sokka, virgin. Take it slow…just take it slow.

"We should make camp. The sun will be setting soon. Why don't you set up the tent and I'll get some dinner started." Azula smiled up at him, making his heart and groin pulse harder.

"Yeah…yeah I'll uh…set up the tent." Killing him, she was killing him.

He let her go and started setting up the tent while Azula move around setting up dinner.

"You know, I have to admit, for a Princess you sure know how to cook," Sokka said a while later, taking another bite of the stew Azula had made.

She gave him a long suffering look. "I told you, even princesses have to be able to take care of themselves. Servants aren't always around to help."

Sokka looked closely at Azula. He noticed her moving her food around in her bowl, no longer eating it.

"That may be true. But there's something else. Why don't you tell me about it?"

Azula shifted her eyes back and forth, looking guilty.

"You'll hate me for it if I tell you. And then you'll think it's stupid…," she replied quietly.

"No I won't. And I could never think you stupid. I promise not to hate you. I don't think I could hate you," Sokka replied just as quietly.

What could she possibly tell him that would make him want to hate her?

Please do not let this be about her killing someone….please dear universe.

"Years ago, when I was little and uninterested in proving myself to my fa…to Ozai, I used to cook with my mother. Much like my uncle enjoys making tea, she enjoyed cooking. It was something we like…bonded over." She sighed and looked down at her bowl.

"But as I grew older, I believed that following in Ozai's footsteps and proving myself loyal to him, was going to lead to better things than following my mother. That's when I started hating her idea of humility and found her cooking to be…sub servant to my class."

Sokka kept quiet, fearful that she would stop talking. He watched her take a deep breath and continue.

"I started to hate her for it, and she…she started to hate me in return. I used to accuse her of not being a true royal; I told her that a true royal understood that people were beneath us. And that cooking and cleaning was for those beneath us. I used to tell her such horrible things. " She looked up at Sokka; her eyes were filled with sadness and regret.

"When she disappeared, I was pleased that she was gone. I didn't care if she had died, been banished or just left under her free will. I just was happy she was gone. No more discussions on being humble and that all people needed to be respected. No more having to look at the hatred in her eyes and pretend it didn't affect me."

Sokka watched her play with her dish once more. He moved closer, hoping his closeness gave her the strength to continue.

"After being in that cell a few years, I started to remember the times we had cooked together. Just little images here and there of what she had taught me, and I wanted to…to try to prove that I could be that humble. That I could make up for my mistakes. So I asked the guards for a book on cooking. At first they thought I had lost my mind…again, but then one guard, Ming, she brought me a big book full of recipes. I read that book every day and memorized every recipe." Sokka watched her set the bowl to the side and clasp her hands together.

"And I'm hoping…I'm hoping that when we find my mother, I can show her that…that I'm not who I used to be. That I can be humble, and I had learned from her teachings as much as from Ozai's. And she doesn't have to hate me anymore. I just don't want her to hate me anymore."

Sokka slid over and put his arms around Azula pulling her close. She buried her face in his neck. He could feel tears soaking his collar.

How can I make this right?

"Azula, you don't know that your mother hates you. Maybe she's disappointed in you, but I doubt she hates you. Look at Zuko, Iroh was like a father figure to him and Zuko betrayed him. When we found Iroh again, he took Zuko back like it had never happened. He told Zuko he was never angry with him and that he was just disappointed. " He looked down at Azula as she raised her face to meet him. Her beautiful face still had marks from her tears, her eyes held a faint glitter of hope.

"Do you think so? My mother and I never were very close…I don't think she's just going to openly accept me once more." Her voice held a tone of self-hatred to Sokka's ears.

He wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs, cupping her face in his palms.

"No mother could hate their child Azula. We all make mistakes and its part of a mother's job to forgive those mistakes. Trust me; she will open her arms to you. Once she's heard of all the good you've done and will do, she'll have no choice but to forgive the past." He watched as her eyes cleared and she gave him a small smile.

"Plus, you make some really good food. I don't know about you, but I can never stay angry at a person who cooks me a good meal." Sokka was relieved when Azula let out a small laugh.

"You and your need for food," she laughed, shaking her head back and forth.

"What can I say," he said jokingly, glad that the serious moment had past, needing Azula to keep that smile on her face. "I need to eat. And I'd rather eat good tasting food than bad food."

Nothing pleased him more than to see her roll her eyes.

Please universe; don't let her mother hate her. She has good in her; she just was raised by the wrong parent to show that good to the world.

"Well I'm glad I can please you in a way that pleases me as well. I never thought I'd enjoy cooking, but I really do. It's relaxing," she responded cheekily, getting up and starting to clean up the dishes. The sun was starting to set; the light would be gone soon.

"I'm glad you get pleasure out of pleasing me," Sokka tossed back. "That'll make this journey go so much better if we're both open to pleasing each other."

Although he would prefer they were doing more than cooking and eating for that pleasure.

He got up to check on the ostrich horses. Once he was sure they were settled for the night, he went back to the tent.

He entered then firmly shut the flaps behind him. He turned and found Azula, inches away from him. Before he could react, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer, her lips pressing hard against his.

"Do you want to know what would really please me?" Her seductive voice was like fire in his blood.

He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat.

"What…what would that be?" He asked hesitantly, his brain was fried. Thinking was beyond the question.

"Make love to me Sokka. Show me what I've been missing out on. Can you do that?"

If this is a dream, please do not wake me up.

"Are you sure?" He didn't want to push her, yet, prayed she didn't say no.

"I'm sure Sokka. I trust you to show me things I've never been shown. I trust that you'll treat me right" She paused looking down. Sokka followed her gaze. She was nervously playing with the button on his shirt. "I just have one favor to ask of you."

"Anything...ask me anything," he responded breathlessly. Her words of trust had struck him hard. He knew the people of the fire nation were not ones to trust in others, and Azula trusting anyone was even less likely.

She looked directly in his eyes, amber meeting blue.

"Tell me what to do. Make sure that this is just as pleasurable for you as I know you'll make it for me."

Yeah like that was going to be a problem…..

"Don't worry about that. Everything I do to bring you pleasure is going to bring me pleasure as well. Trust me."

With that he picked her up, loving it when she wrapped her legs around him, and walked towards the sleeping bag. He sat upon it with Azula straddling his hips, still kissing her soundly.

Slowly…just go slowly.

He ran his hands up and down her sides, feeling her shiver with the contact. He moved to untie her shirt, pulling it open and revealing her covered breast underneath.

"Beautiful, absolutely beautiful." As he had done days before, he leaned down and took one of the hard peaks in his mouth, suckling lightly through the cloth.

He was rewarded with a moan from Azula, her hands digging into his hair and pressing against his scalp. He moved to the other peak and gave it the same attention.

"Sokka…when you do that…I can't…I can't tell you how good it feels," she gasped out. It made Sokka harder; something he didn't think was possible.

"You haven't felt anything yet," he said quietly. Sokka slid his hands up her back until he reached the knot of her undergarments. Slowly he untied it and unraveled the cloth, carefully, as though he was unwrapping the greatest gift.

And it's all mine.

Azula's eyes never left his; he could hear her breath increasing as each layer of cloth was unwound. Until finally, she was bare to his gaze.

He looked down, and nearly came then and there. Spirits they were perfect, beautifully curved, pleasantly plump, the peaks hard and pink just begging his mouth.

Never one to deny his needs, Sokka bent down and suckled the bare peak, loving it when Azula arched her back, pushing her breast further into his mouth. He heard her moan and switched to the other peak, giving it the same attention as he had the first.

"Sokka…what are you…it's…it's too much," her voice was broken up with gasps and moans. Never breaking contact with her breast, Sokka slowly lowered Azula onto the sleeping bag.

"Let me…let me touch you. I want to feel your bare skin," she said quietly. Sokka could feel her hands pulling at his shirt.

He sat up and pulled it off, pleased to hear the gasp that left her lips.

"You like?" Azula's response was to nod her head and reach out towards him. He lay down next to her, touching her breasts with his hands, thumbing those beautiful hardened peaks.

He let her to touch and explore his upper body while he continued playing with hers. She was wreaking havoc upon him, running her hand up and down his chest and abs.

She started moving them lower getting closer and closer to his hardened shaft. Before he could react, she grasped his shaft through his pants. Sokka shouted out and moved his hips away.

"I'm sorry…did I hurt you? I'm sorry," Azula's voice was worried and shy. Sokka took a few deep breaths; he had been way too close to coming.

Killing me…she's killing me.´

"Let me just do the touching okay? I'm liable to explode if you do that again," he said as normally as he could. Struggling to catch his breath and get himself under control.

"I just…I want this to be good for you."

Sokka bent down and kissed her, covering her body at the same time, the hard peaks of her chest rubbing against the bareness of his own.

"Don't worry about me. This is all about you," he said quietly. He looked down at her shy face, not knowing if she was ready for the next stage or not.

"Azula…can I, can I remove the rest of your clothes?" Her eyes shifted downwards then back up, a glint of determination growing within them.

"Only if I could remove the rest of yours," she said challengingly.

Damn this woman…she was going to be the death of him.

"Deal," he pulled her to her feet and ran his hands up her arms to her shoulders. He pushed the shirt off her shoulders and watched it pool behind her on the floor. Her forearms held the harnesses for her hidden blades. With a small smile, he removed those as well, setting them carefully next to his sword on the floor besides them.

He placed his hands on the top of her pants, and slowly pulled them down and off her legs, finding no undergarments beneath. As he stood, he marveled at what was before him. She was stunning, long bare legs, a slim waist and a toned upper body with those two glorious mounds. He couldn't help but stare.

"My turn," her voice was like fire in his blood. Her hands worked at the ties of his pants, Sokka felt them fall and pool at his feet.

He heard Azula take a deep intake of breath, "Holy shit."

Sokka looked at her face and had to stop the need to chuckle. Her eyes were pinned to his shaft, wide with astonishment and a little hint of fear. It was the fear that put Sokka into motion.

"It'll be okay. I promise you Azula, I'll make it feel wonderful," he whispered pulling her closer to his body once more.

She looked up at him, "but it's so big…will it…will it fit?"

Sokka placed his head against hers, "You say…the nicest things. It'll fit, I promise." With that he kissed her once more and laid her back on the sleeping bag, moving on top of her. His shaft pressed against the opening of her thighs, he could feel Azula tense up from the contact.

"It's okay. I'll make sure you're ready," he said quietly. He trailed his hand down her chest, over her stomach and between her thighs. He found the little nub and started rubbing it back and forth with his finger. Azula arched against him and moan.

"There we go, just like that. Relax. Give yourself over to the pleasure Azula." He fingered her gently, pushing her further and further towards that peak. He could feel her wetness and he used it to ease two fingers into her sheath, stretching her, preparing her. Her nails dug into his shoulders and moaned, making him lose his mind.

Control yourself…control yourself.

"Sokka! Sokka…what…what's happening?"

"Let go Azula, just let go, I have you," he watched as she bit her lip, closed her eyes and arched further back. He bent his head to take a breast into his mouth. She screamed his name and came.

"Yes, you're ready for me now," he shifted and placed his shaft at her opening. Slowly he slid inside.

Tight…oh dear spirits she's tight.

He felt her body tightening up from his invasion.

"Don't tighten up on me, just stay relaxed, it'll be okay in a moment," he whispered breathlessly, pausing just barely pressed into her. He wasn't going to last long, he was too hard, too needy and she ws so damn tight.

Her cool hands cupped his face, focused his gaze on her.

"Make me yours Sokka. Do it now!" Unable to deny her, Sokka thrust himself into her, feeling himself tearing her virginity.

She let out a pained sound; it tore into his chest. Sokka didn't move, giving her time to get used to his size. He bent down, kissing the tears from her face.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. That's the worst of it, I promise. There'll be nothing but pleasure now. Just…just let me know when you're ready. I won't move until you're ready." He felt her shifting under him, adjusting herself to his invasion.

"Is that…is this it?" Azula said softly.

"No, no it's not it. I'm going to move, tell me…tell me if it hurts you, okay?" He started pulling out, watching her face for any sign of pain. Seeing none, he slowing pushed back in. She arched up to meet him.

"Do that…do that again…please." It was the greatest thing Sokka thought he'd ever hear. Slowly he pulled out and pushed back in, increasing his thrust a little bit each time. Soon he was pumping into her in a slow but steady rhythm.

"Azula…Azula have you…have you been taking those berries?" he asked harshly, knowing he would be coming soon.

"Yes, I have. Find your pleasure Sokka. Find it inside me."

That was all he needed, his thrust became harder and faster, he could feel her getting closer and closer to that peak, her inner muscles clamping against him.

"Let go Azula. I'm here, let go." It was like she had been waiting for him to say so. She closed her eyes and arched back, shouting his name as she came. With a few more thrusts, Sokka growled her name and followed suit.

He fell next to her on the sleeping bag, pulling her closer into his embrace, not even worrying about covering them with a blanket. Both of them were hot enough as it was. He closed his eyes, feeling Azula snuggle closer into his chest.

He decided then and there, no one and nothing would ever take Azula away from him. What they had just shared was different than anything he'd experienced in his life. He pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. She was his, and he was going to do everything in his power to protect her.

Ending Author Note: Now you know why this chapter was so long. I just couldn't find a good part to end it and switch perspective…and I didn't really want to change it anyway. Hopefully you enjoyed it. Please leave reviews and thank you all for reading Next chapter coming shortly