Today is the day.

Sokka laid in his bed with a flood of thoughts rushing into his mind. This afternoon, he'll be meeting his long lost son. It was hard falling asleep last night with all the excitement, yet also paranoia, mixed in his brain.

What am I going to say? What if I screw up? What if he doesn't like me? Shit, he probably doesn't think so fondly of me. I've been absent from his life.

The Water tribe warrior's whole morning consisted of him practicing what to say and fearing what will happen. He can tell his son is already strong-headed and probably ready to have this meeting. After all, he's been told that he should have the balls to meet him. What is he going to say?

Oh hello! I'm your father! I'm sorry I've been absent from your life ever since you were born, but it's not your fault. It was mine, or your mother's, or one of us... but I'm glad to finally get to meet you. I heard so much great things about you, and I'm sorry I didn't get to witness your growth... but glad to see you were able to become a great young man without a father...

Realizing that practicing his dialogues didn't go so well, Sokka massaged his head. Too much thinking actually hurts his brain. As if his heart hadn't hurt enough the past days. Aside from that, there are plans he has to think of.

Just my son and I today. What is there to do? Maybe eat somewhere, take him places he wants to go, then think of more stuff to do?

The Water tribe warrior doesn't know so much about his son's interests (aside from sword fighting), so it was hard to make plans. The only thing he knows is his personality, and that's because his ex-wife described it yesterday. He can only hope Suki's description is a hundred percent accurate. If that's the case, this meeting between a father and a son would be bittersweet.

Seeing the sun shine on his face, the councilman of the city decided to stop wasting time being distracted by thoughts and prepare for the day.

The ferry waited at the dock of Air Temple Island, ready to depart towards the city. Lei and Suki walked down the stairs. Suki wanted to wish her son good luck, for this was going to be a very serious day.

Lei was kind of nervous himself. He never really wanted to meet this man in the first place, but his loved ones kept convincing him that he should. Of course, he knows they're right, and yet for some reason he still has his doubts.

"Ready sweetheart?"

"Ehhhhhh, I guess."

Suki encased her son in a soft hug, to which Lei responded to. Throughout his life, a mention of a father has been controversial to Lei. He grew to accept the fact that he didn't have a father. Then, he felt that he doesn't need a father. Now, it's the time when he actually needs to meet his father. His biological father. The man who shares his blood, and apparently his looks.

"My honest opinion mom," he spoke to her, "I'm not really looking forward to this. You probably expected that."

"I know Lei," Suki responded solemnly, "But I'm glad you're doing this."

"Yeah, I decided to give it a shot. People deserve a chance I guess."

"That makes me so proud Lei. I'm glad you're thinking that way." It makes Suki glad that her son always know how to handle things maturely. He is the type that picks the appropriate path, no matter how problematic situations may get. "You're father is truly a great man, Lei. I really want you to meet him."

"I take it that you're meeting with him went well?" He asked his mother curiously.

Suki blushed. She remembered the night before vividly. The emotions, the kisses, and seeing that the man she loved eighteen years ago is still that man. "Yes Lei, it did."

"Ugh mom," Lei groaned, "You're blushing."

Suki giggled. "What? You're mom can't be happy about being with an old love right now?"

Lei stuck his tongue out. "None of my business anyway."

Suki smiled and began ruffling her son's hair, allowing him to groan ever more. "Oh, by the way, I meant to tell you this before you leave. You know what happened when I told your father about you?"

Suddenly, Lei was intrigued. "You told him about me?" Lei asked with eyes wide opened, "What did he say?"

The Kyoshi warrior laughed at her son's sudden interest and told him, "You should've seen the look on his face. When I told him about you, he was speechless and all he said was 'wow...'," she said as she mimicked Sokka's facial expression, "Now he's really anxious to meet you. He's nervous that you won't like him, especially given the fact that you're the amazing young man you are, but trust me when I say he really wants to meet you."

Lei smiled. He felt complimented. Not only did his mother described him positively, but the fact that this man actually seemed to like him did warm his heart. "It must have been hard to find out about me."

Suki's face briefly saddened, "Yes, it was. Lots of tears, not only from me but from him too, but we managed to get through the night as you can tell."

He cried? For the first time, Lei thought that there is actually a heart in this man, Sokka. Weirdly, this made him feel somewhat excited about this meeting, yet his nervousness also increased substantially as well. Is this meeting going to be emotional too? Looks like Lei will have to find out.

"Well mom, I think it's time I head. It's about to be noon now."

"Okay son," she replied as she fixed his collar, "You have the address and everything?"

"Yep."

"Good," she answered as she gave her son a quick kiss on the forehead, "Please make this meeting one that you'll never forget. Okay Lei?"

After hesitating about how he can't promise that, Lei replied, "I'll try mom."

The Kyoshi warrior gave her son another hug. "Good luck sweetheart."

"Thanks. I'll be back tonight."

The Firelord awoken to the sound of loud knocks banging on the door. He was disappointed with the fact that he didn't get the long sleep he yearned for. Who could that be? Why didn't the royal guards take care of this impatient visitor?

"ZUKO!"

Shit. That's Toph.

And she did not sound happy. Getting out of bed and putting on a shirt, Zuko hurried to the door. Once he opened it, the blind earthbender marched right in, almost knocking over the Firelord in the process.

"Oh hello there Toph, nice to see you again too," he addressed sarcastically.

"Don't play funny with me Sparky. I'm quite upset with you."

"Me? What did I do?"

"I'm upset with all of you, actually."

Zuko was confused to what the distressed earthbender was hinting at. "Okay... what is it Toph?"

"Let's just say Sokka came to visit me," Toph answered clearly, "And I've learned some pretty shocking news. Something tells me I'm going to see more of Sokka from now on if his emotional turmoil keeps up."

The Firelord gasped. Sokka came to her and most likely told her all the events that went on. "Toph, I'm so sorry that Sokka got you caught up in this mess."

"That's not what I'm angry about dumb ass."

"No?" Zuko questioned confusedly, "Then what?"

"You guys planned all this. No one told me anything!" The earthbender shouted. She was actually close to breaking the floor with just the swift movement of her hand.

Zuko realized the problem. Him, Aang, Katara, and even Mai all helped with setting up Suki and Sokka back together. Yet for some reason, they left Toph out of this. She was a close friend too, and Zuko wondered why they never even bothered mentioning any of this to her.

"Toph I am so sorry. I don't even know why we didn't even mention anything to you."

"I don't know why either Sparky," she responded with much attitude.

Zuko flinched. No one wanted to get on her bad side, or even her sassy side. "We all wanted Sokka to get better and we wanted to see Suki again. Suki and Mai still talk now and then, and Mai was able to give Suki Katara and Aang's number, and I was aware of it all cause I was right there when Mai called Suki. I guess since me and the rest of gang were so busy stressing over this situation, and you were busy running the police station, we never got the chance to actually sit down with you and discuss this."

"But don't you think this is really important for me to know Zuko?" Toph questioned strongly, "Cause I know it is important to me. Sokka is a great friend of mine, and I've also missed Suki so much. The fact that my close friends never included me in this plan that I would so love to participate in, and the fact that they never even visit me that much anymore, kinda hurts me y'know. Only Sokka has been visiting me. Where are you, twinkletoes and sugarqueen?"

Zuko took a seat down on the couch and took a silent breath. This situation was important to Toph. She cared just as much for her friends. "Toph, I really am extremely sorry. We should've been thoughtful of you. We should've even visited you more just to say hi. I'm really sorry, and I've missed you."

Seeing that Toph still had her arms folded and a scowl on her face, Zuko had one more thing to say, "We're all motherfuckers who deserve to be beaten senseless by you. We suck."

"There we go. Apology forgivin Sparky."

"Thank goodness," Zuko chuckled.

"Yeah now I need apologies from the others," she stated firmly yet still jokingly.

"Well glad to know mine is done."

Toph began to take a seat herself on the couch, right next to Zuko. After the small laughter died down, it was time to get serious. "So, Lei is his name?"

"Yep, the son. You know about him?"

"Yeah, Sokka told me. That's crazy! You should've seen how Sokka took it."

"How was he when he visited you?"

"Sad, angry, eyes stained with tears and the obvious feeling of betrayal."

No one got to know whether or not Suki told Sokka about Lei. Looks like she did, and Toph was the closest to being able to witness his reaction. "That bad huh? Then again, I'm not surprised."

"Sokka's gonna meet this boy soon," the earthbender stated, " I wonder how that'll be like."

"I have a feeling that they're going to meet sooner than we expect," replied the Firelord, "It should end up well. It's Sokka, so it should end up well."

This is it.

Lei stood in front of the door of his father's residence. Here he is, on the top floor of a high-rise apartment building. His heart was beating fast, and his legs felt like they couldn't move forward at all. This is an event he never knew would happen. All his life without a father, and never caring about having one, seems pointless now. This is a time that will change everything.

As the seconds go by, Lei finally gets the strength to lift his arm and knock on the door.

Knock knock.

No reply.

Knock knock.

"Coming!"

He heard to voice of an adult man on the other side of that door. That was him. That was the voice of his father. Finally, after seventeen years of his life, he is going to meet the man that created him.

He heard footsteps getting closer to the door, and the sound of the doorknob getting unlocked.

Here we go.

Lei takes a deep breath as the door opens.