A/N: So yeah, a new update after... a few weeks... yeah... my Muse has gone on vacation so writing is a bit difficult. Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Avatar: the last Air-bender.

--xXx--

031. Mother (Set in the Desert AU, after Courage)

Sokka and Azula were walking backstage of the Earth Rumble Wrestling League in Gaoling. They had just spent the better part of two hours watching grown men, and some women, bend rocks at each other. Azula felt that it made for some decent entertainment.

When the two reached Toph's room, they were immediately called in. "Hey Toph, how's everything going," Sokka asked cheerfully.

Toph smiled as she massaged her sore shoulder. "I lost a match, but I'll live" she replied as everyone heard an audible popping sound coming from her joints. "How's everything going with you?"

"Same old, same old," Sokka replied. "I'm still traveling around the world, learning new things, meeting new people."

As Sokka explained what his life has been like, Toph took a moment to get a feel for the third person in the room. Toph could make out a female form, she was shorter than Sokka but taller than herself. For some reason, she couldn't shake the feeling that she knew her from somewhere, plus there was that other vibration coming from her.

"And that's when I ran into Azula, here," he finished. Toph's eyes went wide. "So wait, the woman standing next to you is Azula? Psycho princess Azula?" Toph questioned hysterically.

Said former psycho was starting to feel a bit awkward. "Maybe I should leave," she offered quietly. Her suggestion was met with a stern look from Sokka. "No, you're fine here," he said. The wandering water-tribesman then turned his attention back to the younger woman.

"Why do you have to be that way?" Sokka asked. "Is it so hard to believe that a person can change after almost nine years?"

"When it's someone who use to shoot lightning at us when we were kids... yeah," was Toph's stark reply. "Besides, how would you know she changed?"

"Because I just spent the past year and a half helping her!" Sokka explained. The water-tribesman's answer caused Toph to frown. Before she could get another question in, the group was interrupted by a messenger at the door.

"Sorry to bother you," he said quickly. "We just received an urgent letter for a 'Sokka of the Water Tribe' I was told I could find him here..." Sokka huffed in annoyance. "I'll be right back," the tribesman stated. "While I'm gone, I want you two to bury the hatchet."

When Sokka left, the two remaining occupants in the room felt immensely awkward. There was nothing but silence in the room for what felt like hours. Azula let out a huff of annoyance at the uncomfortable silence.

"Look, I'm sorry about trying to kill you when we were kids," she stated flatly. "My life was filled with nothing but one problem after another, and Sokka fixed that. He's done a lot for me, and whether or not you believe it, but I've changed and I really do apologize for everything."

Toph took a moment to let everything sink in. She couldn't tell if she was lying, that was proven years ago, so she just had to take her at face value.

The room was silent for another long moment. It was Toph, however, who broke the awkward tranquility. "So," she started. "You and Sokka, huh..."

Azula chuckled at the notion. "If you were to tell me, eight years ago, that I'd end up dating one of my former enemies," she started. "I'd probably burn whoever said it to a crisp."

"So, you two have been going steady for how long?" Toph questioned. Azula took a moment to mull over the inquiry. "A little over a year now," she answered.

"Wow," Toph replied. "Only a year and you guys are already expecting. Congratulations, I guess."

Azula raised a delicate eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, I'm sure Sokka's told you that I see by sensing the vibrations in the ground," Toph began. "By doing so, I can sense a person's heart beat, so long as they're not suspended in the air. In your case, there's two."

"What do you mean by that," the former fire-bender asked in a panic.

"What I mean is," Toph started, one hand pointing to Azula's belly. "You're going to be a mother, in say... seven... eight months."

In that instant, time froze for Azula. Toph continued to talk, but her words went unheard by the former fire-bender. She was in complete shock. What was she going to do? She wasn't ready to be a mother.

Being a mother required her to give her child love and attention, to dedicate her life to the betterment of her offspring, to raise it how she should have been. To make sure it didn't make the mistakes she did. Azula's face became suddenly sullen. "What will Sokka think," she asked no one in particular.

"I'm sure old snoozles will be ecstatic to hear the news," Toph replied. "He'll probably pass out at first, but he'll be happy."

Azula was panicking badly, and the blind earth-bender's assurance wasn't helping. "I'm not ready... I'm not ready for this... to be a mother..."

"Who's going to be a mother now," Sokka asked when he re-entered the room. He saw Azula look at him terrified, her eyes were red with unshed tears. "Hey what happened with you two?" he asked.

"Azula's just freaking out because she's preg-" Toph attempted to explain, only to have a hand pressed firmly against her mouth. Azula attempted to derail the current discussion, but to no avail.

"Is it true," Sokka asked. Although Toph didn't get to finish her statement, he got enough out of it to reach the desired conclusion.

The amber eyed woman seemed to shrink into herself. She was more afraid now than any other moment in her life. "Yes," she replied quietly.

She was caught off guard when Sokka enveloped her in a gentle hug. "Don't worry," he whispered. "You won't have to do this alone, I'll be with you every step of the way."

Toph let out a cough to remind the two of her presence before they decided to get more intimate. "Yeah, yeah," she said. "That's all well and good now, but get your own room before you decide to tongue wrestle."

The three shared a quick laugh. It helped dilute the tension, as well as lessen Azula's trepidation. She still didn't think she was ready to become a mother... but as long as Sokka was with her, she would give it her best.

--xXx--

032. Steel (Set in the Russet AU)(Note: If you're confused by the ending to this one, it'll be explained in another prompt)

Sokka stood before the Fire Lord, the blue flames dancing a scintillating flit of pride and glory. "Should I call you Fire Lord or may I refer to you by name?" the middle-aged former tribesman asked.

Azula smirked her patented leer. "You may refer to me by name dear husband," she replied. "But I must ask why you are here. You are usually on your annual base inspections during this time."

"I finished early, so that I may return as soon as possible," Sokka returned. "There were a few things I wanted to discuss with you."

Azula quirked an delicate eyebrow at the statement. She rose from her seat and approached her greatest general. As she studied his form for a moment, she noticed something different. She didn't know what, but something was off with her husband.

"If this is about Hazure's schooling then there's nothing to discuss," she stated. "It will be a cold day in the spirit world before I let a water-bender into the Royal Fire Academy, even if said bender is my own daughter."

Sokka frowned. That wasn't topic he wished to discuss, but it did hold some value in his plans. "That's not what I wanted to go into, but I digress. I wanted your opinion on the rumors about the reappearance of the Avatar."

Azula scoffed at the notion. "Even if the Avatar were still alive, I have nothing to fear," she declared. "I'm the most powerful fire-bender in all the nations, I have control over all civilization, I could have this so-called Avatar hunted and eliminated with but a request. I care nothing about some foolish tittle-tattle about some centuries-years-old bender."

Sokka made a sound of understanding. "And about you controlling everything," the former tribesman added. "Does that make you happy?"

The Fire Lord looked at the man standing in front of her critically. What was he getting at? What benefit was there to asking these questions? "Of course that makes me happy," she finally answered. "I have dominion over all people, all races. I am the Supreme Fire Lord of all the nations, how could one not be happy."

The general simply nodded in understanding. "I see," he stated. Sokka wasn't entirely convinced. Sure she was happy, but was it true happiness. "And what of your family, does that bring you any form of happiness."

"With the exception of the fact that my oldest child is a water-bender, yes, my family makes me happy," she retorted. Sokka was beginning to irritate her with these arbitrary questions. "And what about you," the dark-haired woman countered.

"Do any of those make you happy, do I make you happy?" Azula had wrapped her arms around Sokka's neck. Usually, whenever he got into his brooding moods, all she had to do was satisfy his carnal desires and he'd be back to being her perfect general. She planted a fierce kiss on his lips, her tongue immediately seeking out his own.

They continued the heated kiss for several moments before breaking away. When Azula saw that he still had the same expression on his face, she became confused. Something was completely wrong.

"No," Sokka finally answered, causing Azula's amber eyes to fly wide open. The feeling of cold steel piercing her back racking her body.

"I'm not happy," he added hoarsely. Azula looked over her husband's shoulder to see the tip of his Jian protruding from his back. "Maybe, in another time I could have been... we could have been happy." Images of their family living happily in the Southern Water Tribe flashed through his head. Azula's warm smile as she watched her children play.

A single tear rolled down his cheek as he pulled the steel sword from the two of them. Azula stumbled back a few steps, one hand clutching the wound on her chest. The look of hurt, of utter betrayal flashed through the young woman's face. It reminded him of his mother the day he betrayed his village.

Azula finally fell to her knees, her breathing strained from the pierced lung. "Why," she managed to ask. Sokka leaned forward and placed a hand on her cheek, and gently kissed her forehead.

"I'll always love you," he said, completely ignoring her question, as he turned to leave. Tears began to stream down the Fire Lords face as she realized that she was going to die completely alone.

She slumped to the ground as the last of her strength began leaving her. "Don't... leave me... So-...kka..." She pleaded with her last dying breath.

When Sokka left the Throne Room, he was greeted with the sight of General Iroh standing with a small group. Among the people present were his mother and sister, each holding his children, the former prince, Zuko, and a bald twelve year old boy with arrow markings on his body.

"Everything is done," Sokka informed them. They each took varying expressions. Most were relieved, others were neutral, but the young boy seemed sad.

"Good," Katara said. "Now we can go home and fix everything and finally bring some balance back to the world."

The group began to clamor about how much brighter the future was going to be, and how wonderful it was that things were going to be well, yet it all was muted to Sokka as blood-loss started to set in.

He abruptly collapsed to his knees and Kya and Katara immediately went to his side to help. "Mother," he whispered weakly. "Please... watch after Hazure and... Sozin."

"Hang on son," Kya pleaded. "We'll get you some medical attention and everything will be okay."

Sokka shook his head. "I... deserve this..." he replied. "I've done... so many terrible things... I can't... I can never forgive myself... please... raise my children... to be like... what father would... have wanted me to be..."

"I promise," Kya said reassuringly. Sokka gave a weak smile as the color slowly faded from his eyes. His breathing grew fainter and fainter until finally his body went completely limp, the remnants of a genuine smile set permanently on his face.

--xXx--

033. Lost (Epilogue to the Russet AU.)

With Azula and her most trusted general dead, the role of the Fire Lord was given to Iroh, who would later pass it down to Zuko. Immediately after being crowned, Iroh sought to repair the damages the Fire Nation had inflicted throughout the century of war and destruction.

Once the boundaries were marked and the Fire Nation troops removed, peace began to take root. After everything was over, people began to mourn the loss of the former royal family. Azula and Sokka were both cremated together, as requested by Sokka previously, and their children were taken to be raised in the re-established Southern Water Tribe.

Although Sokka committed many deeds he was not proud of, he would be forever remembered as a brilliant and traitorous general, an illustrious scholar who revolutionized technology, and a master swordsman. But to those close to him, he would be remembered as a boy who had lost his way, who desperately tried to honor the memory of his deceased father misguidedly.

He was the boy who lived his life in constant turmoil.