Author's note: Aaaaaaand it's over.

I'd like to thank everyone who came and read this fic, believed in it from the start, and even those who came along the way and enjoyed it. I'm sorry if I disappointed any of you with your ship, I tried to be faithful to the character's personalities and to the little we know about Sokka after the show ended. I wrote from heart, and even though I started thinking I'd make a happy rendition of what might have happened, it was a little hard not to run from the fact that Sokka wasn't alive when we met with the Avatar universe again in LoK.

Well. Here it is, last chapter. I had fun, did you? I hope so. The song that inspired this chapter is Alabama Shakes' This feeling. Please, listen to it while reading, specially more towards the end of the chapter, when Katara shows up.

For the chronological order of the chapters, check the note at the end of the chapter.

Thanks Jen for beta reading this thing, you rule! And thank you to everyone who's been with me through those chapters. Y'all are the MVPs.

See you around!

25: This feeling

Sokka

The first thing Sokka did after the council meeting was hurry to catch up with the Chief of Police before she slipped away from him. He had been a guest there, no longer a councilman for many years already, and he'd only be there for a few hours more before moving on to the next city.

"Snowflake," he called, catching Lin's wrist lightly. She turned to him frowning. "Are you running away from an old man?"

She raised an eyebrow at him and crossed her arms.

"That depends, what do you have to say?"

He rolled his eyes. Those stubborn Beifongs. Lin's posture softened.

"You're going on the mission, aren't you?" she asked. Sokka nodded. "Why? There are already a lot of younger people going."

"Harsh much?" he scolded. "I'm in perfect shape, kiddo, how dare you."

"I don't know, Uncle, we've been investigating the Red Lotus and they give me the heebie-jeebies."

Sokka smiled at her and rubbed her arm tenderly.

"The South Pole is not that big, Snowflake, and I know it from heart, we'll be fine. Everything is already set up."

Lin pouted, reminding him of when she was little.

"What's the schedule?" she asked. "I know you leave today, but Tenzin told me you're only getting the girl in a week, so I figured you'd go places."

"Well, I am going places," he admitted. "Kya is in Yu Dao, so I'm going there on the way to Ba Sing Se. I have to gather some things at the White Lotus base and set some things for when I'm gone. And then I'm meeting your mom. Hey, you could take some days off and come with us."

The Chief smiled.

"Nice try."

"Seriously, Linny, it's been seventeen years and you're still holding a grudge?" Sokka said frowning. "If you just take some time to relax and talk to your mother…"

"And sister?" she added sarcastically. "Not gonna happen."

Sokka sighed.

"You know, I think you'd like the twins. They remind me of you and Ten, just a little louder."

Lin humph-ed annoyed, so Sokka decided to change the subject. He didn't know when he'd see her again and he never liked to leave with loose ends. He reached out and pulled her into a hug. Hesitantly, she hugged him back.

"Think about it, okay? We'll stay in Gaoling until Friday, and then we're going to Zaofu. You don't have to go all the way to Su's town, but it won't hurt to go see your grandparents."

"Fine," Lin said half-heartedly. He knew for a fact that she wasn't going, that she'd find a perfectly reasonable excuse not to show up as she always did, but it was okay. "Be careful on your mission, old man."

Sokka smiled, finally letting go of the hug.

"Always am," he said, kissing her forehead in a goodbye.

Kya had gone to Yu Dao on a special mission at the police academy, after an earthquake hurt half of the city's population. Normally, she'd stay at the South Pole with Katara, it had been like that since Aang passed away, but it was an emergency, that earthquake.

"Mom stayed to prepare everything for Korra's arrival, she's excited to have a new pupil," Kya told him over dinner.

She looked exhausted, her hair displayed more grey than either of her brothers. Sokka wondered if whatever it was that rushed Aang's aging process had been passed down to her.

"Gives her something to do," she said poking at her food with her chopsticks.

"A distraction, I know," Sokka agreed smiling a little. He had been vehement at the White Lotus about his sister being the best person to train the new Avatar, with a long ass list of reasons backed up by Zuko.

It hadn't been that hard, actually. Katara was skilled in both combat and healing, unlike any northern bender, and she could understand the Avatar like no one else.

Kya looked up at him and smiled.

"Thanks, Uncle."

Sokka dismissed it with a hand gesture. Anything for his sister.

"At least there's something good coming from moving to the South Pole," she said with a shudder and Sokka chuckled.

"Hey, City Girl, it's not that bad!"

"It's cold, Uncle," she stated, as if he didn't know that already.

"So is Republic City in the winter."

Kya narrowed her eyes at him, making him laugh more. The Earth Kingdom had the warmest and sunniest lands of the world, and his niece had spent half of her life on a journey through those places. Despite coming and going to the north and south tribes, Sokka didn't expect her to be acclimated.

"You think you'll be done in time to be there when we get Korra?" he asked and Kya shrugged.

"I don't know, Uncle, there's a lot of damage control to be done here," she said sadly. "I'll try, though. It's been a while since I've seen Tenzin too."

Sokka smiled and held her hand from across the table.

"Tell you what, kiddo," he said softly. "You do what you have to do at the best of your ability here. Make sure that these people are taken care of. And then, when you know you're not needed anymore, you come meet us at the White Lotus headquarters at home. We'll be waiting for you."

Kya smiled and nodded. Sokka admired her passion very much, always did. She had the personality of a storm, and yet she bared the kindest heart. He was so proud of her, same way he was proud of his girls.

"You better be there, old man," Kya joked, making him laugh.

His next stop was Ba Sing Se. The White Lotus had established a compound on the outskirts of the city and Sokka still had a few of his weapons there – like his space sword, that Toph had tracked down with Zuko's help so many decades ago. He was meaning to give it to Su's eldest, Junior, even though it didn't seem that he was very interested in fighting.

"You know that thing belongs to a museum, right?" Suki said when Sokka was taking the sword from its display. He turned around to face her.

"It's a family heirloom and the perfect gift to a ten year old non bender!" he argued. Suki chuckled.

"You really think Suyin will let you give a sword to her son?" she argued. "And if you use the heirloom argument, Bumi will hunt you down, you know that."

Sighing, he slid the sword in its scabbard and admired once again the details of it. It had been the last thing Iroh had given to him.

"Well, I have to give him something that matters," he said putting the sword in his bag. Suki came closer and took Boomerang from the same shelf the sword had been in. "His birthday is after the full moon, and he'll be expecting me to come back."

"You could just set the trip to Zaofu for before the mission," she pondered passing Boomerang to him. "Isn't it closer to RC?"

"I could, it's true," he agreed. "But I just like-"

"The journey, I know," Suki said softly, reaching out and fixing his shirt collar. "Always the adventure man."

"Well," Sokka shrugged and smirked. "I trust you'll be the best leader ever while I'm gone," he said pushing her fringe back. Like his and Katara's, Suki's hair was totally white now, but she still was beautiful.

"It won't even be hard," she joked and he leaned in to give her a quick peck.

"I know," he said proudly.

He borrowed one of the White Lotus cars to travel to Gaoling, where he'd meet with Toph, Su and the kids. Then on Friday, he'd take the first ship to the South Pole to get this mission started.

"Uncle Sokka! Uncle Sokka!" a little girl greeted as soon as he hopped out of the car at the Beifong estate. Sokka kneeled down to talk to her. "Look!" she opened a wide smile, showing him the gap in the front.

"Opal! Where did your tooth go?" he asked shocked and she giggled.

"It fell, Uncle," she said and he ruffled her hair.

"But you're only… four?" Sokka commented. Little Opal nodded excitedly. "Prodigy."

"Let him breathe, sweetheart," Suyin said as she approached, each twin by her sides struggling to be set free. So much energy in those kids, like Sokka's nephews and niece. "Uncle."

"Hi, baby girl," Sokka said getting up. Suyin let the boys go to hug him and over her head he saw Toph turned in his direction with a smirk. It was so good to see her with her family again, after all the things they'd been through.

The kids ran back to the house, leaving the adults to it. He greeted Baatar with a firm handshake, just to make sure that the man remembered who was boss, and then he lost his balance because Toph shook the earth at his feet, making him fall and remember who actually was boss there.

"Meathead," Toph greeted.

Sokka looked up at her from the ground. It was the first time he noticed that her hair was completely white too. She had it in a braid now, which was something she'd hardly ever done and he suspected it was Suyin's doing.

"Little help?" he asked and Toph stomped her foot once, building him a little earth chair that lifted him up. Sokka reached out for her hand and pulled her closer in an embrace. "Hello, love."

It was hard for Toph to let him go the next day, and Sokka couldn't understand why.

"Why can't you just stay back and let the kids do the work?" she insisted sounding awfully worried.

"It's a simple mission, Toph, we'd been organizing it for weeks," Sokka argued and she scoffed.

"Exactly. The chances of it going off the rails-"

"Why do you think it would, though?" he asked frowning. Toph crossed her arms. "We have the best warriors of the world."

"I don't know, Sokka, that Red Lotus gives me the heebie-jeebies."

Sokka couldn't help but laugh and hug her.

"You know, your daughter said the exact same thing. There's no need to worry, we'll be all at the compound in no time."

"I hope you're right, Meathead," Toph said with a sigh.

"Do you know anything I don't?" Sokka asked. Maybe her concern had some merit after all. He watched as Toph opened her mouth to answer, but then she closed it again, frowning. She blushed a little too, and just shook her head.

"It's just a feeling, I guess," she said dismissing whatever it was she was about to say to him. "Promise me you'll be careful."

"I promise," Sokka said leaning in to seal it with a kiss. Toph smirked.

"I've always hated it when you left."

Sokka gasped.

"That's the most emotional thing you've ever said to me!" he joked and she punched his arm.

"Shut up," she said. "And be back for Junior's birthday next week."

"Save me a seat at the family table," he said and Toph rolled her eyes.

He hated to leave her too, but she knew that. Sokka arrived at the White Lotus compound barely half an hour before Tenzin and found his sister putting together the last touches at the waterbending training center she had organized for Korra.

"You realize that the kid is only five, right?" he said. Katara turned around so fast it was amazing that she didn't get dizzy.

"Sokka!" she exclaimed. "I thought you'd be going straight to the tribe!"

He shook his head.

"I'm meeting Tenzin first, and he wanted to leave Oogie somewhere safe."

Sokka went over the whole schedule of the day very quickly, assuring his sister that everything was under control and that everyone would be settled by the beginning of the evening. Katara told him all about how she wanted to train the new Avatar and how she'd have the chance to develop the girl's potential through the years, since she was so young and full of raw energy, and it was such a relief for him to see his sister all shiny and happy again after Aang passed away.

That was the Katara he was used to. Without even realizing it, Sokka felt it coming, this happiness as if he had accomplished something. The people he loved were taken care of, and it brought him a sense of security that he didn't think he was capable of feeling.

After Tenzin arrived, they followed for the tribe where the new Avatar had been born. A mix of north and south like himself, Sokka was excited to meet the little girl. He met with Senna and Tonraq before being introduced to the fierce Korra.

"Hello, sir," she greeted with a little pout and her back straight. Sokka kneeled down to be on her eye level. She was just a little taller than Opal; the girls were almost the same age.

"There's no need for such formalities, Korra girl," he said and she raised an eyebrow. "I've been friends with the Avatar for a very long time."

"Well, I'm the new Avatar and I just met you."

Sokka nodded seriously.

"That's true. Fair. But look, I bet we'll be good friends too. As a matter of fact, you remind me of my daughter a bit. She's a badass just like you."

"You have a daughter who's a badass?" Korra asked interested.

"Yes."

"You don't have any daughters, Uncle," Tenzin commented and Sokka narrowed his eyes at him.

"Boy, be quiet," he complained and Korra giggled. He turned to her and whispered as if it was a secret. "I actually have two daughters, and they are the bravest women you'll ever meet."

"I'm going to meet them?" she asked with her eyes shining.

"Probably. They're adults and busy, but I'd love to introduce them to you eventually. You will meet my sister, though. She's the best waterbender there is."

Korra looked past Sokka to her parents with a big smile.

"I will?" she wondered.

"You will, love," Tonraq said. "That's why we have to go."

"Oh," Korra said pouting again. Sokka put a hand on her small shoulder tenderly. "Do I really have to leave my home?"

"Tell me something, Korra girl," he said. "What do you want to be more than anything?"

The girl frowned.

"The Avatar," she answered, as if it was obvious. Sokka nodded.

"And to be the Avatar, you'll have to move from your home and be trained by the most incredible benders there are. We'll take you there safely. It's not far, your mommy and daddy will always be able to see you. And you're going to be so strong! Stronger than you could ever imagine."

Korra listened to his words with such concentration that it was inspiring.

"Starting now, okay?"

She didn't say anything, but looked up at her parents again before she nodded.

"Okay."

Sokka smiled.

"Well, Avatar Korra," he said. "Nice to meet you. I'm Sokka, this is my nephew Tenzin. We'll go with you and your dad to your new home. That okay?"

"Yes," she answered more firmly this time. Sokka nodded and got up, but before he could get going, she held his hand. "I think we'll be good friends Sokka sir."

"I think so too, kiddo. Now, are you ready to go?"

Korra ran to another room and they all assembled to get started. There were White Lotus guards all over the way they'd take to the headquarters, making sure that their little two hour trip with the ferry would go as smoothly as it could be. She came back rolled in warm clothes and with a small backpack on her back ready to go.

And off they went to another adventure. All of them.

a/n: Chronological order, more or less, considering that some chapters cover a longer time frame:

- You don't know my name (Yue)
- Do you... (Suki)
- Candyman (Kaya)
- Calculation theme (Toph)
- Just can't get enough (Toph)
- Resentment (Suki)
- Yeah, I said it (Ty Lee)
- Beautiful sinner (Ty Lee)
- Make U wanna stay (Suki)
- Cold case love (Suki)
- Crystal ball (Yue)
- Alone with you (Toph)
- Sighted (Lin)
- That's what I like (Suki)
- Best I ever had (Suki)
- Love song (Toph)
- Rock me now (Toph)
- What is love (Katara)
- Black wave and bad vibrations (Kya)
- Ice cream colors (Katara)
- Hold on to what you believe (Katara)
- Feeling good (Kanna)
- Yellow light (Lin)
- Artificial nocturne (Suyin)
- This feeling (Sokka)
- Ditty to farewell (Lin)