AN: The aftermath of the Day of Darkness! Characters will finally have the resolutions they need! This is the final chapter of Encounter with Embers. I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. Will there be a sequel? I don't know. But, if there is, I'll probably name it Exchange for Embers. And it'll involve the struggles of rebuilding a world that's in shambles after a war. And also probably dealing with unruly children. So, everyone, let me know yay or nay for a sequel. Your input is valuable to me!

Encounter with Embers

AFTER THE FUNERALS and the Crowning, Karida went to her newly assigned room to finish packing her things. She decided that she'd leave in the morning after she gave her last good byes to everyone.

She'd been away from Kyoshi Island for so long, and found herself to home sick. She closed her traveling trunk with a sigh and found that she had some unfinished business to deal with: Sokka.

She sat before her vanity, quickly brushing her hair and checking her face to make sure she was presentable. Good enough, she thought, as she left her room to search for the young warrior.

Karida found him in his quest chamber, preoccupied with sharpening his boomerang. His bedroom door was wide open, as if he were expecting a guest at any moment. She took a deep breath and knocked gently on his door.

He turned his head, smiling when he saw that it was her. "Karida! Come in." he beckoned to her as he cast his boomerang aside.

She entered hesitantly, wondering what exactly it was that she had planned on doing or saying. Karida closed the door behind her, leaning against it for support. "Hey, Sokka." She murmured in reply.

He took note of her nerves. "What's wrong?" he inquired because he cared, she knew this.

"I'm leaving for Kyoshi Island tomorrow morning." Karida announced.

Sokka paused, carefully hiding his emotions from her. "Oh." He responded softly. He turned away, bending to pick up his boomerang. He toyed with it, suddenly upset. He'd hoped she'd stay longer, maybe come with him and his friends, wherever they all decided to go…

She watched his face go from smiling to carefully controlled and she inwardly cursed herself. "I just wanted to tell you…it's been an honor fighting beside you. You are truly a skilled warrior. I admire you for that, and also for making Suki so happy." She said mildly.

Sokka looked up, and his ocean blue eyes melded with her deep brown ones. "That…it means a lot to hear that from you, Karida." He took a tentative step towards her and granted her with a genuine smile.

Karida's heart leapt in her throat. "I just wanted to let you know." she mumbled, embarrassed. She fidgeted, and looked up to see he had taken another small step forward.

"Thank you. It was an honor to fight beside you. To get to know you…" he brushed a strand of auburn hair that had fallen into her eyes aside. "Your loyalty and perseverance are admirable."

She swallowed nervously and looked into his eyes, searching for something, anything there that could let her know what he was truly thinking. "Sokka…" she breathed his name.

And it made him shiver. He leaned in closer, his lips ghosting over hers. She tilted her mouth into his, and their lips melded together in a satiny dance. Sokka lost all sense of himself, and only noticed Karida's sweet scent. He felt her warm body pressed against his, realizing belatedly that it was he who pressed her against his bedroom door.

A soft moan, whether it was his or hers, he didn't know. But he was drowning in his physical need. And Karida was here, now, and so soft…

She threw her arms around him, and he whisked her off of her feet, carrying her to his plush bed. There was no time for words, no time for thoughts. Only time to lose himself in her curves and those arousing noises she made when he caressed her. When he pressed himself into her warmth, he thought he was in heaven. When she crested, and he joined her, he knew he was going to be in hell.

JET PACED BACK and forth in front of Ty Lee's bedroom door. He'd had a full day now to think and do nothing but think. The war was over now, and he didn't know what to do with himself. His young life had consisted of nothing but Freedom Fighting and being a part of the Omashu Army.

What now? Where could he go? Where did he belong? He needed someone, anyone, to help him answer these burning questions. And he knew Ty Lee, in all of her craziness, would know. Or at least understand.

Still caught up in all of his thoughts, he barely heard her door opening. She peeked her head out, watching him for a few moments, then giggled.

The giggle, spirits it was cute, took him from his thoughts. He looked up, and when his eyes fell upon her, it took his breath away. His hair was unbound from its braid, and she was dressed in a pink nightdress. She looked…

"So beautiful…" he mumbled.

She tilted her head to him. "Thank you. Any reason you're prowling in front of my bedroom door?" she sing-songed to him.

He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Do you have a minute?"

She leaned against the door frame. "To talk?" she queried in her high pitched, girlish voice.

He nodded.

She beckoned. "Come inside."

He wasn't sure if he could control himself. He noticed how ripe her curves were beneath that sheath that was an excuse for a night gown. "Uh…"

She wrinkled her nose, grabbing his wrist and dragging him inside. She closed the door behind them and pulled him into a hug. "Jet." She sighed his name, and it sounded heavenly.

He brought his arms up to wrap around her hourglass figure and inhaled her scent. Flowers and sunshine, so sweet…

"Ty Lee…" he murmured her name, rubbing his cheek over her silky hair.

"Jet." She giggled, pulling away to look into his eyes.

How was it possible for this girl's eyes to even smile all by themselves? He wondered belatedly. He leaned down and kissed her. She might be crazy, but he liked it. And her.

"What are your plans?" he suddenly blurted.

"Plans? For…?" she looked into his eyes questioningly.

"Yeah, what are you going to do now?" he inquired. He found himself burying his fingers into her hair. He felt so soothed, and found himself becoming drowsy almost.

"I don't know…maybe rejoin the circus?" she suggested with a shrug.

He grinned. "Okay. Sounds good." He accepted the answer without argument.

She gave him an incredulous look. "Really?"

He kissed her nose. "We'll leave for the circus after Mai and Zuko's wedding."

She beamed, hugging him tightly. "Oh Jet!"

He pet her hair and kissed her goodnight. "See you tomorrow, lovely."

She tried her best to keep her goofy smile hidden, but failed. The prospect of travel and adventure was too great for her to contain.

SUNLIGHT STREAMED INTO Sokka's chambers, and he cursed himself for not checking to see that they were closed the night before. Why had he been so careless that he'd ruin a good morning's sleep?

He felt a soft, smooth body shift next to his, and in his half asleep state, he nuzzled it. Oh, Suki… he pulled the girl close, and furrowed his brow as he noticed that it didn't quite feel like Suki.

And it hit him like an arrow to his heart. Suki was dead. She had been dead for quite a while. And he'd actually, in a fit of passion, taken Karida to bed. Karida, Suki's loyal and trusted Kyoshi Warrior. Karida, who was pretty, smart, wonderful…and didn't deserve to be treated as a one night stand.

Because that was essentially what he'd done. She was leaving today, and he knew he wasn't ready to involve himself in another relationship. He knew he wasn't man enough to ask her to stay with him. And she couldn't, for she was the last fully trained Kyoshi Warrior of her village. She couldn't shirk responsibility for her passions. They needed her more than he did.

She shifted, sighing contently, and guilt strove through him like a wildfire. Guilt for betraying Suki by not only sleeping with another woman, but a woman who had been a comrade and friend of hers. And the guilt for sleeping with Karida like she was a cheap plaything, when he knew full well she was anything but.

"Karida…" he whispered her name softly, running his fingers through her auburn hair. She looked so pretty, and so content…

"Mmm…Sokka." She responded, burrowing deeper into his arms. She felt so soft, so nice there beside him and lust burned through him, and fueled even more guilt.

"Karida, its morning." He gently informed her.

She sleepily opened her eyes, gave him a lazy smile, and sat up. She was nude, of course, and he bit back his desire to pin her back down and…

Don't think about it Sokka, he warned himself. He bit his tongue, hard, and was satisfied to taste blood. "So…ah, I guess you're leaving now…" he began awkwardly. He rubbed his arm, shifted uncomfortably, and looked anywhere but her.

"Yeah." Her voice reflected a slight disappointment. "I guess so."

He said nothing and only got up to dress for the day. A shower could wait for now. She watched him, unmoving, then finally: "So that's it?" she asked expectantly.

"What's 'it'?" he replied quickly, tonelessly. He avoided her eyes, and the guilt burned brightly. Oh, Karida, I'm so sorry.

"We've slept together and now it's all, 'Okay, bye-bye, have a nice life!'?" she questioned.

He winced, gazing over to her. She looked so small, so frail on that bed. "Karida, I never made you any promises." He began carefully.

He could he'd hurt her anyway. "I know, but you're an honest, good man. I didn't think you'd-"

"What? You didn't think I'd what?" he snapped, feeling incredibly defensive. If she wanted to take a pot shot at his honor, she'd have another thing coming to her.

She hugged herself, looking aside. "I didn't think you'd dismiss this as a casual one night fling." She answered honestly.

"Karida, Spirits, that's not what this is!" he protested angrily. He fought the urge to growl.

"Then what is it? Because it looks like you're about to let me go back to Kyoshi Island and out of your life." She said pointedly.

He winced again. She'd hit the nail on the head. "Karida, I like you. I do. Really. But, Suki's only just died." It still hurt, so bad… he rubbed the heel of his hand into his heart. "I can't give you any promises right now. I can't be a boyfriend, husband, or anything to you right now. It wouldn't be fair to you, to me, or to Suki."

She went onto the defensive. "I never asked you to be my husband." She jumped out of bed, and began throwing her clothes on hurriedly. "I only wanted you to give me the decency that I deserve."

He closed his eyes. "You deserve a husband who's going to love you with his whole heart, and not pine for a woman who's no longer here." He whispered it.

"I know you love Suki. I know-" she began, fighting the tears of pain for herself and for Suki.

"I do. And I've done wrong by her to sleep with you. Her comrade." He explained gently, interrupting her.

She felt the guilt, ripe in her breast. "I…" her breath hitched, and the tears came.

Tears from a woman always managed to scare him more than her anger. He was by her side instantly, his hands stroking her hair, her back, her face. "Please don't cry. I didn't mean to hurt you, Karida. I like you, and admire you, and I want you to be happy. Oh, please stop crying." He pleaded softly, drawing her into his arms.

She sobbed into his chest, and finally gathered herself, giving him a watery smile. "Sokka, thank you." She managed to say.

Now he was confused. "What?" Perplexed, even.

"You fought alongside me, and you were a true friend. And you made love to me so tenderly." She reiterated.

He blushed suddenly and wasn't quite sure to stay.

She pressed her fingers to his mouth before he could open it and say something stupid. "Thank you. I'm going back to Kyoshi Island. Nothing's changed. Have a happy life, okay?"

"But aren't we ever going to see-" he began, not wanting this to be the last he'd ever see of her.

"No, it's better this way. I already like you too much." She protested. She gave him a swift kiss and left his room. And left his life.

He tried to convince himself that it was better this way. He really did try.

MAI AND URSA planned out all of the wedding details between themselves, including Katara and Ty Lee in the planning as well. Zuko allowed them to do so, because quite frankly he didn't want to be bothered with such silly details. All he cared about was finally marrying the woman of his dreams. The rest could go to the Spirit World.

He gaped when they began decorating and arraigning the banquet hall. Apparently it was going to be a lavish event. He sighed inwardly, because he knew it meant he'd have to wear a stuffy ornate robe that probably itched.

Well, if it made Mai happy, that was all that mattered, he told himself.

"Women are crazy, aren't they?" someone commented.

Zuko turned abruptly to see Haru standing beside him. "Oh, yeah, well…" he shrugged, watching the servants continue decorating the banquet hall.

"Katara's decided she wants to have two ceremonies." Haru said, rolling his eyes.

Zuko looked at Haru incredulously. "Two?"

Haru nodded with a sigh. "A simple one here with everyone to attend, and then one at the Southern Water Tribe with her people's customs." He explained.

Zuko scoffed. "I don't know what's worse: two simple weddings or one ornate one."

Haru sat beside him. "Tell me about it."

Zuko smirked. "Well, as long as the little ladies are happy, right?"

Haru groaned. "Katara's anything but happy right now."

Zuko arched a brow. "Why? I mean, the wars over, you're getting married…"

Haru made a dismayed face. "She's pregnant."

Zuko instantly understood. "I'm so sorry." He patted Haru on the shoulder comfortingly.

"One minute she's all happy with me, then the next she wants to kill me." Haru lamented.

Zuko patted his shoulder once more. "It'll be okay, hang in there."

Haru couldn't help but grin at his good fortune.

DESPITE THE ORNATE nature of their wedding, the ceremony itself wasn't too long. And for that Zuko was grateful. But Mai was the loveliest thing he'd ever seen. Her porcelain face was aglow with happiness, and her lovely kimono revealed the tiny bump that was their unborn son or daughter. But, in his heart, he knew it'd be a boy. Their Suoh.

This was one of the happiest days of his life, ranking next to the night he'd first made love with Mai and the day he'd found out that she was pregnant. Even though Zuko knew there would be hard times ahead of him because of this newly ended war, it didn't bother him. As long as he had his wife and son by his side, everything would be alright. And somehow, he felt Iroh smiling down on him, watching him.

TIME PASSED QUICKLY, much to everyone's surprise. It seemed that only yesterday they were in the battle for their lives, and now all that was left in the wake of it was the chance to pursue their own happiness.

The Waterbenders from the Northern Water Tribe returned home, as did the warriors for the Southern Water Tribe. All of the various Earthbenders from the Omashu and Ba Sing Se armies all returned to their respective homes. Jeong Jeong's squad of men all were welcomed back home with honors.

Katara and Haru married in a simple ceremony in the Fire Nation palace, then left for the Southern Water Tribe to have another ceremony. They claimed that they'd settle in the Southern Water Tribe for the time being to help with the restorations, but everyone seemed to know that Haru would end up missing Earthbending too much.

Sokka journeyed with Katara and Haru to the Southern Water Tribe to help for a while. He found himself missing the Northern Water Tribe, and made the voyage across the globe to go pay his respects to Chief Arnook and Yue. He was offered the position to be the next chief, but he politely turned it down. It just didn't feel right to him.

Aang, being the Avatar, proceeded to travel around the world, doing his duties as Avatar. Stories and myths were created wherever he went, tales telling of the feats he accomplished and the people he'd helped. But he still loved Katara, and that was the main reason he traveled: to forget her.

Toph returned to Gaoling, to her family. After nearly a year's absence, she had become a woman, and was determined to prove it to them. It took them a bit of getting used to, but they finally did, and Toph chose to remain in Gaoling. At least for a while.

Ty Lee decided to join the circus once more, and Jet willingly went with her. Everyone smiled knowingly at them, and knew it was only a matter of time before there'd be another wedding ceremony. This circus traveled around the entire world, performing for people of every nation, so everyone knew it'd only be a matter of time before they saw the two devilish teens again.

ZUKO NEVER TOOK any of it for granted. He knew that any day this delirious happiness could be taken from him. He leaned against the doorframe of the nursery that had once been his, watching his wife Mai rocking their son, Suoh, in the cradle that his own mother had once rocked him in.

He entered, and observant as always, Mai turned her head to him. "Shh, he's finally asleep." She whispered.

He joined her side, gazing down at the small infant who already was coming to resemble himself. Zuko lifted a paper in his hand, presenting it to her. "A letter from Katara and Haru. They've had a son and have named him Hakan." He murmured with a smile.

Mai blinked in surprise, taking the letter and reading it. She broke out in a smile. "They'll have to come visit once the babies are old enough to play." She informed him.

"Yes, of course." He bent down to kiss his young wife. Her beauty continuously astounded him.

"Oh, Zuko?" she interrupted, her voice tinged with mirth.

"Mmm?" he pulled Mai into his arms, embracing her, the love for her swelling in his breast.

"Suoh's going to have a little brother or sister soon." She gleefully told her husband.

Zuko's eyes widened in surprise, then stung with tears of happiness. "Oh, really?"

She nodded, smothering a giggle as he swept her off of her feet, showering her with kisses.

"I love you, Zuko." She whispered in his ear.

"Mai, I love you too." He replied as he carried his wife off to bed, sparing one last glance at his peacefully sleeping son. Tomorrow was another day, and one he eagerly awaited.