I just couldn't resist the urge to write some (slightly spicy!) Tokka, then another follow-up chapter that takes place many years down the road. Hope you enjoy!

"I don't know what you want, kid," Toph complained, frustrated tears in her voice. Out in the hall, Sokka could barely hear her over Lin's crying. "C'mon, just work with me. I don't know how to do this."

For just a moment, he was tempted to knock on the door and ask if she needed any help. She'd already snapped at him once for doing that, though. Miss Independent didn't want anyone to think she couldn't do it, despite the fact that she still hadn't left Air Temple Island. So instead he just stood there and listened, letting his thoughts wander, asking himself - again - why he spent so much time there if she didn't even want his help, anyway.

The fact he couldn't ignore was that something peculiar had happened in the couple of weeks since Lin's very sudden and shocking birth. His perception of Toph had...shifted. While she wasn't exactly a 'natural mother', watching her go from a loud, crude, and often immature friend to a mother who was struggling but genuinely trying was forcing him to reassess how he saw her.

"I know you're standing out there, Meathead. What do you want?"

He winced; how could he have forgotten? "Just wanted to make you don't need anything."

"I'm fine."

"Ok." With no other option, he went back to the living room and sat down to continue his rumination. It had become a compulsion. His carefully constructed perception of Toph as a 'little sister' was crumbling. It was clear that he didn't see her as a sister in the same sense as his actual sister. With Katara, there were no crude jokes or comments, and not just because her sense of humor didn't align with them. He actually refrained from making them at all in her presence.

With Toph, it was different. He had to think of her in a platonic way. It was a non-negotiable hard rule he'd made subconsciously long ago, and he was very slowly beginning to understand why. A hidden, deep part of his mind was schooling him on that.

She's like a sister to me, he would insist.

-Is she, though?-

Of course. I've known her since she was twelve. I'll never get that image out of my head.

-She's all grown up, moron. Has been for a long time. Now she has a baby, which means some dude left his seed in her.-

Ugh. Shut up. I don't want to think about that.

-Obviously, you do.-

No, I don't! Just stop!

-What, are you jealous it wasn't you?-

What? Why in the world would I feel that way?

-Because she's unattainable. She goes after what she wants. She obviously doesn't want you.-

So? I don't have any interest in her, either.

-Only because you know you'd catch feelings, you sentimental fool. You care about her too much not to, if she let you into that part of her life. And she'd never be ok with you falling for her.-

That's ridiculous. I'm not about to 'fall for' anyone.

With a shake, Sokka got to his feet and went outside to practice throwing his boomerang. Soul searching wasn't doing him a bit of good. But that little voice was right about one thing: Toph was not the type to settle down with a permanent partner. But neither was he, so it was a moot point. Suki breaking his heart had destroyed that side of him; now, women were just passing distractions.

His current problem certainly stemmed from that carnal part of his mind. A few days after Lin was born, Toph's normally very unassuming breasts had started becoming much more difficult to ignore. And she wasn't exactly shy about exposing herself for the admittedly very practical reason of feeding her child. Several times, he had been forced to make a quick exit, sure that she would be able to detect certain physiological responses. With any luck, she had been too tired to notice.

He just kept telling himself it was purely involuntary. Chemicals in his body that he couldn't control. Totally natural. Didn't mean anything, or have anything to do with her, specifically. But...

Then he'd pass by her room and see her in the rocking chair with Lin, a look on her face that made his heart ache. He didn't know that woman. Where had she come from? She couldn't see the little girl in her arms, and didn't gaze down at the small face as most mothers would. Instead, her sightless eyes stared blankly ahead, but with a desperate uncertainty that couldn't be further from the Toph he knew.

When she finally moved back to her own home in the city, things went more or less back to normal. He made a point to visit often, wanting to be an involved uncle. Toph did eventually relax a little and ask him to babysit on occasion, and he showered them both with gifts both necessary and very unnecessary. As for his identity crisis - not his own, but her identity in his mind - he'd settled into a careful compromise with the voice in his head. Toph wasn't like a sister anymore, but neither was she an object of desire. She couldn't be; it would ruin everything.

"Toph? That you?" Sokka called.

"Who else would it be?" she asked, finding him sitting on the couch.

"I dunno. A burglar?"

"The door was locked."

"Pretty sure that doesn't stop most burglars, Chief. Seems like you should know that."

Toph rolled her eyes and plopped down next to him. "Most burglars don't use the front door and casually stroll in." He was sitting with both arms stretched out across the back of the couch, and when she leaned back, her head lay against his forearm. He reached up and playfully tugged on her bun. "Hey. You're messing it up," she complained.

"So what? Day's over, Chief. Live a little."

With a sigh, she sat up and released it from its trappings, the thick mess falling across her shoulders and down her back. "Did Lin go to sleep ok?"

"Yep. She was worn out from her busy day."

"Please tell me she had something at least resembling dinner. Because if you just loaded her up with snacks, she's going to have a stomachache tomorrow and I'm the one that's going to have to deal with it."

"Yes, Mom. She had dinner. We got takeout from Chang's."

"Alright. Thanks for taking her today. I owe you one."

"You don't owe me anything. I enjoy spending time with her, just the two of us."

"It's just an expression," Toph countered wearily. "I wasn't suggesting I should pay you actual money. I mean, she is your niece, after all." With a slight groan - seriously, mid-thirties were no joke - she pushed herself off the couch to take off her armor. "Fuck, how is it still so hot this late?" The sweaty shirt that served as padding against the metal came off, too, leaving only a thin undershirt.

She almost didn't notice the spike in Sokka's pulse. It was something that had happened occasionally over the years since Lin was born, and it had taken her a while to register a connection. For some reason she couldn't fathom, her transition into motherhood had brought about a change in him; he noticed her now, in the same way that most men did when she was out of uniform (and sometimes in it!). There was something satisfying and even comforting about the new attention, but it was frustrating, too, because he never gave any outward hint of what was happening. Did he realize she could tell?

A few times - usually the result of alcohol - she had given in to the temptation to test the waters with some subtle flirting. But he always brushed it off, either oblivious to her intentions or pretending to be. While she was sober this evening, fatigue had created something dangerously similar to tipsiness. Hiding a smirk in the curtain of her hair, she reached under her shirt and began loosening the wrappings that kept her breasts from being an annoying problem during her long workdays. And boy, did it create the response in him that she was expecting.

"No, don't mind me," he said dryly. "By all means, make yourself comfortable."

"I will, thanks. After all, I do live here. You don't."

"Is that your way of telling me to leave?"

"If I wanted you to leave, I would say so. I don't care what you do." She started heading toward the kitchen. "You want a drink?"

"Ah...sure. Why not? What have you got? Not green tea," he called after her, "or I'll be up all night."

"You're such an old man," she retorted.

"Oh..." he said when she returned to the living room and sat back down with a bottle of whiskey.

"What?" She took a small sip and offered it to him. There were a few seconds where she wasn't sure if he'd take it but instead make some excuse to leave. Then his fingers brushed against hers and he took the bottle.

"This is a bad idea," he muttered. "I've got to be up early tomorrow."

"Then I suggest you moderate yourself. Not like I'm pouring it down your throat with a funnel. Anyway, I've got work tomorrow, too. I just want to relax a little."

After a few passes, he set the bottle on the tea table. "I think that's enough," he said, leaning back and stretching out. "For both of us."

"Don't tell me what to do," Toph protested, though she didn't make a move to get more. Instead, she twisted to lie back against the arm of the couch, her legs straightening to lay across his thighs. "Mm. Fuck, I'm tired."

"You look like you're ready to go to bed."

"I'm tired, not sleepy." In her buzzed state, she really didn't want him to go.

"You know, I've always wondered," he said suddenly, a finger lightly tracing across the bottom of her bare foot. "Are your feet ticklish? I mean, they're obviously really sensitive, since you see with them."

"Different kind of sensitive," she replied, honestly a little shocked but making a huge effort to hide it. "The skin is so thick and calloused, I can barely feel that."

"Actually, I'm kinda surprised you're not weird about people touching your feet."

"I can't say anyone's ever been brave enough to try. So congrats on that."

"Really? You've never had anyone try to give you a foot rub?"

"I'm more of a 'straight to business' kinda woman." His pulse picked up again, making her grin unabashedly. "But you're welcome to give it a go, if you really want to."

There was a brief pause, then Sokka cleared his throat. "It's getting late. I guess I should probably head home."

With a regretful sigh, Toph pulled her knees up so he could stand. What had she really been expecting? "Ok." She followed him to the front door to lock it behind him, but he just stood there for a second instead of opening it. "What?" she asked. "Did you forget something?" His heart was actually thudding now, and there was...another physical state she could sense, as well. She had really gotten him riled up, hadn't she? It was almost enough to make her feel guilty. Almost.

"I'm probably going to regret this, but..." His hand snaked through her hair to cup the back of her neck. The unexpected touch made her go rigid but she didn't pull away, intoxicated by his scent surrounding her. Soft lips pressed against hers and her mind just went haywire. Everything stopped. Thought, movement, even time. She was frozen, unable to reciprocate. There was a not-so-small part of her that didn't want to do anything that would reveal the effect he was having on her. She had to be in control.

Then it was over, the contact broken. "Really?" he asked. "Nothing? I was sure you were flirting with me. My mistake..." He sounded genuinely offended, and more than a little embarrassed.

She couldn't let it end this way. Impulsively, she reached out to grab handfuls of his shirt and pulled him in for a proper kiss. It was much more than a kiss, really; it was her standard prelude. She pushed him up against the door almost roughly and threw her arms around his neck. Their mouths opened and closed, tongues dancing across teeth, snaking in out and brushing against each other.

Busy hands ripped at clothes, but then he grabbed her wrists and held them still. "Toph..."

"What? You started it."

"I just- I don't want things to be weird between us."

"Why would they be? We're both adults. It's just biology. Doesn't need to be anything deeper than that."

A/N- Ooook, so I was just going to leave the rest to your imagination, but if you really want the spicy-spicy, here it is (tastefully R-rated, not XXX). Otherwise, just scroll down to the next line break.

It was apparently enough reassurance for him because his hands slid under her shirt and lifted it over her head. She shivered with anticipation as his thumbs stroked the outer edges of her breasts. Suddenly, he pivoted and she was the one up against the door, her wrists crossed and pinned above her head. All the while his lips worked in sync with hers, his hips pressing against her stomach. It was clear how much he wanted her.

Normally, Toph preferred to take charge during these sorts of encounters, but right now she was putty in his capable hands. One of which was slowly trailing down her body, under the hem of her pants, down between her legs. Her whole body shuddered, knees trembling. Staying upright was becoming a real challenge. She had to bring her arms down and hang onto his neck, a soft moan escaping.

"Lin's in your bed," he whispered in her ear.

"Guest room," she murmured, panting a little. "Heh. Or we could just get it on right here."

He let out a throaty chuckle. "Maybe if I was ten years younger."

"You're such an old man."

"Didn't realize that was your 'thing'."

"C'mon," Toph said, rolling her eyes and grabbing his wrist. She led him to the guest room and quietly shut the door. A second later it was all hands and lips and bare skin, breath coming in short gasps and sweat mixing and soaking into the sheets. He was the by far most attentive lover she'd ever had, and that was saying something. The pleasure rose, crested, and rose again. He was tireless, despite complaints of his age.

The sound of the doorknob turning suddenly jolted her from a state of almost unbearable ecstasy. "Fuck," she whispered, gripping Sokka's arms in warning. He froze beneath her and was silent.

"Mommy?" Lin's sleepy voice asked.

In one swift motion, Toph leapt away and snatched the blanket up to cover herself, then ushered Lin back out into the hall and shut the door behind them. "What are you doing up?"

"I heared some noises. Why were you in there? Is Uncle Sokka sleeping over?"

"No," Toph said with a wince, leading her back to her bedroom. "We were just talking. He was telling me all about what you two did today."

"But why were you in there?"

"It, uh, it was more comfortable than the couch."

"If you were in bed, why aren't you wearing jammies?"

"Well, I got really hot." Understatement of the century. "C'mon, back to bed."

Lin crawled under the covers and yawned. With any luck, she'd pass out quickly and forget all about anything she might have seen. "It's ok if Uncle Sokka sleeps over," she murmured. "Maybe he can make us eggs tomorrow."

"Go to sleep."

"Don't leave." Lin grabbed her wrist and she didn't have much of a choice but to stay until her clingy child drifted off. Fortunately, it only took a few minutes, then Toph slipped out and returned to Sokka.

"Where were we?" she asked, sliding her leg over to sit on him. "Or did she kill the mood?" She wiggled around a little. "You seem alright."

He chuckled, wrapping his hands around her hips. "Aren't you worried she'll wake up again?"

"Guess we'll just have to be extra quiet."

"I was nearly there when we were so rudely interrupted. To be honest, I'm just about out of juice. I mean, metaphorically speaking. Not literally. Plenty of that left."

She laughed and scooted backward, down his legs. "Not a problem. You just...let me take care of you."

"For an old man, you've sure got stamina," Toph remarked, settling down next to him, utterly exhausted.

"Fuck's sake, I'm only forty," Sokka complained. "You'll be here soon enough."

"Mm, but right now I'm still a spry, young, thirty-something."

"I could feel your knees shaking when we were by the door."

"Pfft. That had nothing to do with age or even being tired," Toph retorted.

He chuckled. "Are you saying I was having an effect on you?"

"Um...I think we've long since established that."

"Congrats, by the way. For finally breaking my self-control. Was it everything you hoped and dreamed?"

"What do you mean?"

"Please. You've been coming onto me for years."

"I have not!" she protested, though of course, she had. But she wasn't about to let him know how eager she had been to experience his affections. He was far too likely to misinterpret it as her being in love with him or some nonsense.

"Almost every time you drink, you flirt with me."

"I only did that because you were obviously turned on and I thought it would be funny to mess with you. I mean, maybe I was a little curious, but honestly, I never thought you had any desire to actually go there."

"I admit, I've been curious, too."

"Oh, yea?" she chuckled. "And how do I measure up to your usual...liaisons."

"Oh, no. I'm not doing that."

"Hey, you asked me the same question."

"I didn't ask you to compare. I just wanted to know if I blew your mind with my epic skills."

"Consider me blown," she replied lewdly. "Guess that makes two of us."

"So...no regrets?"

"Of course not. What about you?"

"My only regret is that this is not my bed," he yawned.

"Well, no offense, but you can't sleep here. Lin was being extremely curious. Last thing I need is to have to explain to her why you stayed the night."

"Yea, I know."

They both fell quiet, Toph reflecting on how she wouldn't mind if he stayed if Lin wasn't a factor. But that was a dangerous road to go down. Spending the night led to feelings. It was a mistake she'd made with Kanto, and look where that had got her. Immediately, she winced at the thought. Lin wasn't a mistake. She was just a surprise. But there's nothing wrong with not wanting any more surprises.

Sokka lightly smacked his face. "Right. I better get up before I fall asleep. Because if that happens there's no getting rid of me."

For weeks he tried to tell himself it was just a one-time thing to satisfy his curiosity. So he was attracted to her- big deal. He was attracted to a lot of women, and had never been afraid to act on it and then move on. Like she said, they were both adults. Neither of them were interested in anything deeper than sex.

Then one night, they found themselves alone together at Headquarters after everyone else had left. It was late. They'd been in meetings all evening, collaborating on the Yakone case with court representatives. While it was easier to suppress his carnal desires when surrounded by others, the tension built and built once the room emptied and it was just the two of them going over a few details for the heck of it.

Of course, he had to ask himself- why had they both stayed behind? There was no real reason for it. Was she burning on the inside as much as he was? I just need a fix, that's all. I really should go out to a bar and find someone.

"Well," Toph said with a sigh. "I guess there's not much more we can do until morning."

"Yea," he agreed, getting up. Her arm brushed against his as she passed and he impulsively snagged her wrist. Immediately, he dropped it, feeling like an idiot. But a coy smile spread across her face.

"Did I not sufficiently satisfy you the first time, Snoozles?"

"I assure you, that's not the problem," he countered with a carefully dispassionate smirk.

"You're saying I was too good?"

"There's no need to mock me," he said mildly, leaning against the table with his arms crossed tightly over his chest, lest they try anything else without permission. "I'm a man. There are certain biological facts I have no control over."

In the next breath she was in his space, straddling his legs and jabbing her finger into his chest. "You say that like it only exists for men." There was an aggression on her face and in her voice that should have been disturbing, but only excited him more. Her ferocity was nothing but a bonus, as far as he was concerned.

"My mistake," he choked out hoarsely, deciding to surrender to this need. "Your place or mine?"

"Neither," she replied with a wicked grin.

The months slid by in a haze. Every time Sokka tried to find someone else to distract him, he left empty-handed and wound up on her doorstep. He couldn't even look at other women. Toph had ruined him. She was like a drug. She was living rent-free in his head, night and day. And he could never tell her. She would push him away if she knew, and then he'd lose the ability to get some relief. But how long could they keep this up? How long until she was bored with him and found someone else to satisfy her?