So here's a couple of flashbacks through Sokka's eyes sprinkled in thorough a shopping trip.

Flashbacks are italicized.

Shopping and Sokka's Memories part 1

They'd been in the South Pole for three days. Toph had finally had all the arrangements made for their trip and they decided to go to the Wal-Co and get some shopping done before their journey. Azula had never been in that store before, but when Katara told her they sold "some of everything" she got right to making a list. Fist and foremost on that list was a laptop and tablet. After she'd written her page long list she told everyone that the entire shopping trip would go on the shiny new card her uncle had given to Kuzon for her expenses. When Kuzon objected Zuko told him that Iroh was probably wondering if something was wrong because the card hadn't been used yet.

As they started putting on their boots the doorbell rang. Katara ran to the door knowing that it was their ride. "Hi Yue. Come on it." she said as she ushered the northern princess into the house "I see you were able to get the big van." Katara said looking out at the white 15 passenger vehicle in her grandmother's drive way. "I still may have to drive GranGran's truck the way Azula's talking about shopping."

Yue laughed "Yeah, I heard she can put a hurting on a credit limit." Katara started to close the door "Wait. The driver's coming."

"Driver?" Katara asked looking back outside and noticing the back of the van was open." I thought we said you were coning alone."

"I know," she said with a slick smile, "don't worry, you'll like him."

The sound of the back door of the van closing was followed by Lu Ten walking up with a box in one hand and a huge smile on his face. "Hi Katara."

"LuTen?" she said, a smile spreading across her lips "What are you doing here."

"Dad needed a delivery boy." he answered coming up the steps and into the house "I couldn't pass up a chance to see my baby." he settled by Yue and kissed her on the cheek.

Aang poked his head into the living room where everyone was standing "LuTen. I knew I heard your voice " He looked back to where he'd come from "I told you I heard him." he came into the room "What are you doing here?"

LuTen looked up at his cousin who walked out into the room rubbing at his eye "Well, somebody left without taking their spare drops and they needed a trustworthy delivery guy, so tu-duh."

Zuko walked up to LuTen and took the box before he clamped his hand on his cousin's shoulder "Thanks. I ran out last night." he shook the box "This is kinda heavy."

"You know Auntie," LuTen shrugged "The woman believes in over-kill. She had two years worth of prescriptions filled before she headed out."

"How is she?" Zuko asked, seconds before Azula walked into the room and made a bee line for LuTen.

"She's fine, but worried. She feels bad about not coming with you two." he hugged Azula "You know, Dad's a bit worried that you haven't used the card yet."

"I would have, but this is the first time the warden is letting me out."

He laughed "Leave Kuzon alone. The man's just doing his job. Hey, let's go put a dent in this card Dad gave you."

Azula smiled and patted LuTen on the chest, "See this is why I like you." she turned and yelled "Let's goooo!"

Sokka sat in the back seat of the van as they made their way to store. He looked at Yue's hand on the back of LuTen's seat, playing with his hair. He smiled thinking about how happy they are together. That's all his mother every wanted for anyone.

"I don't like this idea." Sokka heard his mother said from where he sat outside his parent's room door at the guest house they were staying in.

"I know Kya," his father answered "but I think it's for the best. Think of all the good that would be done by uniting the Water Tribes."

"But it's at Sokka's expense. I came here for treatment, not to marry off my son. He's so young and he has such a bright future a head of him."

"They wouldn't have to get married now. They can wait until after they graduate high school, even college."

"What about love, Hakoda. Why would you want to relegate your only son to marrying someone he doesn't even know. What if they don't like each other, but they're stuck together to rule an newly joined nation? Why would you want your son to have less than you do?"

Sokka eased into the room and his parents' heads turned to him. His mother sat propped in the bed, her hand placed gently on his father's cheek. She looked so thin "It's okay Mom." he said, a bit of a smile on his face "I don't mind marrying Yue."

Kya dropped her hand into her lap "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. She's nice, and pretty. I like her." he said with a blush and a smile spreading on his face "We talked about it and we agreed that it'll be alright."

Kya reached her hand out for her son and he came and sat beside her. She put her arm around him "If you're sure this is what you want to do then I'll go along with it. Sokka, you're still young, only fifteen. You don't understand the impact of love yet. But as long as you and Yue are happy, then I'll go along with it peacefully."

But Sokka, I want you to always remember, there's nothing in this world as wonderful as finding true love, and if you find it, you have to hold on with it with both hands. Will you remember that for me?"

"I will mom." the boy said as she smiled at his mother before she kissed him on the cheek.

Sokka teared up a bit at the thought of his mother. No matter how sick she was her main concern was always him and Katara. He looked up to where Toph was sitting and smiled.

The group walked in through the store's sliding doors and the shopping carts immediately started clanking together. Katara stopped and looked at her smallest friend "Toph, could you please not break the people's buggies. Practice metal bending some other time."

The noise stopped and Toph pouted "Yes Mom."

Azula looked on puzzled as Katara, Aang, Kuzon and Sokka each grabbed a cart "I don't understand, I thought these were for grocery shopping. They sell food here too?"

"Yep." Aang answered "Like Katara said, some of everything."

"Interesting." she said. "Katara, can you show me around?"

Katara was amused at the fact that Azula had never been in a Wal-Co before "Sure. Come on."

"Come along Kuzon." Azula said as she walked beside Katara.

He answered in his usual way "Yes Princess."

Aang passed his buggy to Zuko "I'm going with Katara."

"Of course you are." LuTen laughed.

"So Snoozles, I guess you're stuck with me." Toph wrapped her arms around Sokka's.

"Not such a bad place to be stuck."

"Dad, I don't see why we couldn't just stay at the hotel while you have this meeting." Sokka asked as they walked up the path to the opulent home.

Hakoda sighed deeply "Lao Beifong has a young daughter who, from what I understand, is very sheltered. It would be nice if you met the young lady."

Sokka rolled his eyes "How old is she?"

"I believe Mr. Beifong said she was 14."

Katara and Sokka both stopped in their tracks "What?" Hakoda asked.

"We are not baby sitting." Katara said with a scowl.

"She's only two years younger than you."

"In dog years." the girl mumbled.

"Just give the girl a chance." Hakoda said and he stepped up to the door and rang the bell.

.~.

"Toph has been home schooled so she doesn't have any friends her age." Lao explained as he lead the family from the south down the hall "Admittedly that could be her mother and my fault. We've been quite a bit over protective over her because of her blindness. I'm sure you know for yourself, Chief Hakoda, we must make sure our children make the right kind of friends."

"Honestly, Mr. Beifong, my wife and I thought it was important that our children grew up as a part of the tribe."

"Interesting." Lao said, stopping at one of the room doors "But then again you children were born normal." he turned the knob and opened the door "Well, this is Toph's room."

Their jaws nearly dropped, this 'room' was more like an apartment. They scanned the room, stopping when they saw a tiny girl stand up.

"Hello Father." she said lightly standing strait and folded her hand in front of her resting on the skirt of her poofed dress.

"Hello Darling" Lao said walking over and placing his hands on his daughter's shoulders "Toph, the people I told you about are here to meet you."

The little girl smiled and extended her hand stiffly as she held her head strait forward "It is a pleasure to meet you Chief Hakoda."

Hakoda stepped up and placed his large hand gently around her tiny one "It's my pleasure young lady." he said shaking lightly. He released her hand and motioned for Katara to step forward "This is my daughter, Katara."

"Delighted to meet you Princess Katara." she said pleasantly and shaking the other girl's hand.

"And this is my son, Sokka."

"Lovely to meet you Prince Sokka." she said just as sweetly.

"Well," Lao said "We old folks will go about our boring grown-up business. We'll leave you children to get to know one another." he kissed his daughter on the side of the head and he and Hakoda left.

The second the door closed the Toph's posture changed. She slouched a bit and popped her hip to the side, her hand landing there "Look, I don't give a flying fuck who you are or what ice cube you crawled out of. I've got tons of crap in this room, help yourself. Do whatever the hell you want to, just don't bother me, I'm working on something." she turned and sat back at her computer, picking up the headphones "Oh, and mum's the word when my old man gets back in here."

Katara and Sokka blinked at each other. Then he asked "You got food."

"I'll have some sent up."

"You got video games?"

Toph turned her chair and turned in the direction the voice was coming from "Hey genius," she slouched over and waved a hand in front of her face "In case you haven't heard, I. Am. Blind."

Sokka's lids lowered a bit "You're using a computer."

"Have you ever heard of reader tech and Braille keyboards?."

He rolled his eyes "Damn, well excuse me. I'll just leave you alone."

"Greatly appreciated."

Sokka laughed as he handed Toph a hoodie "Hey, you remember the first time we came to your house?"

She laughed as she stuck her hand on the inside of the sweater and felt the material "Yeah, and I basically told you two losers to leave me the hell alone and Katara kept talking to me, then you joined in." she handed the shirt back to him "Not soft enough."

He put the hoodie back onto the hanger and placed it back on the rack "Yep, and the rest is history."