A/N: Hey everyone, thank you for the sweet reviews and asking for update alerts! I hope you all enjoy this chapter; I was originally thinking of inserting flashbacks, but I really want to cover as much of Toph's life post-war as possible. So here's the next chapter- sorry for the angst, please R&R! Ideas, critiques, likes/dislikes are all welcome.

Summer had never seemed so far away.

It was cold in the South Pole, the temperature dropping to alarming numbers even though it was spring (in the Earth kingdom, anyway). She had had to slip her feet into snug penguinsealskin boots to prevent frostbite infecting her most important appendage. She vaguely recalled the heat of Ba Sing Se, and the thought seemed to distract her from the weather till she remembered the day he proposed to Suki. Suddenly, winter in the Southen Water Tribe was a warm bath in Gaoling compared to the ice shards that seemed to envelope her chest.

She was facing the sea, Gran Gran's old coat drawn tight against her bridesmaid dress, the wind biting at her face. Snowflakes, delicate and untainted by ash, caressed her cheeks, settling into her eyelashes with a sigh. Her milky eyes wide open, she focused on the endless black void stretching across her, tuning out the murmuring of voices and faint strains of music behind her. She hadn't, understandably, had much to eat; she had politely excused herself before Katara had noticed her untouched plate of sea prunes.

The ceremony had been wonderful. Everything was just... beautiful, judging from everyone's reaction. Conducted outdoors, the guests sat on chairs courtesy of Katara and Aang, the tents that served as homes dotting around them, capped with freshly fallen snow. Suki chose to take her virgin walk down the aisle alone; her betrothal necklace was then exchanged for a more elaborate Water Tribe marriage choker, culminating in a kiss between the happy couple. The bride's mother had cried so much Toph had offered her sleeve, which was gladly taken and used to mop up some very viscous mucus.

Throughout the whole shindig, Toph had focused solely on his heartbeat, noticing how it had sped up once Suki had appeared, not quite returning to a normal pace till much later. She had tried not to feel disgruntled; it had been 8 months in the making, with everyone pitching in to create the perfect winter wonderland wedding. Even she had helped; she had busied herself with bringing everyone to their designated seats and ensuring the little kids were in check. Though the boots and snow disrupted her sight, and her heart ached with bitterness, she had truly tried to make that day his happiest.

How long she stood there was unclear, even to her, before he approached, radiating warmth and happiness and a good dose of wine (she suspected cactus juice). She appreciated how he stood by her side quietly, letting her adjust to his presence and general mood, allowing her to gather her thoughts before he spoke.

'You didn't eat much.'

He was gazing out towards the sea, too; she doubted he would be able to see much more than her in the black of the night.

'Yeah.'

She felt his expectant gaze, so she supplied, 'Snow ruins my appetite.'

He shifted. She knew he was looking at her incredulously; she couldn't help coloring and bit her lip. After nearly eight years of friendship, she was still unable to control her emotions around him.

'That has got to be the biggest lie you've ever told me. Come on, Toph; how many times in your life have you turned down food? And Katara's specialty, at that?' He paused, weighing the situation. 'Something's wrong. What is it? Don't turn away from me- I don't see you for eight months and suddenly things are different between us? Toph, I'm still your best friend.'

For someone who had more than his fair share to drink, he was still uncannily sharp- still perfectly clueless.

She was silent, struggling to choose her words carefully before answering. 'Look, Snoozles, it's nothing… Not really. It's just,' she took a breath, then gestured towards him. 'You're married- married!- and I'm-'

Alone. The word died at the tip of her tongue; she was too ashamed to voice what had been haunting her for the last eight months. She couldn't bring herself to say it, couldn't tell Sokka how isolation, the feeling of never being wanted, never being needed frightened her so badly she wanted to retreat from the darkness she usually walked so boldly into. The concept seemed difficult to grasp here and now; they were surrounded by light and music and friends. The family she gained (and kept) during the greatest adventure of her life, had, for the past seven years, swept her up in the love they gave so willingly. But now they were all pairing up, chancing upon their mates and making them partners, and she couldn't help feeling as if she was fading into the background, the walls swallowing her up into a claustrophobic shadow. The fact that she was so proud of her independence and stubborn streak made her succumb all the more to her fear, in the deepest of midnights with the stained sheets pulled over her head, her eyes throbbing, chest heaving. Outside, she was undefeatable as the Blind Bandit, but Toph Bei Fong clutched desperately at the nothingness within.

'Dance with me.'

His whisper floated to her alongside the first strains of a new song through the flurried snowfall. She felt him take her hand; shocked, she turned to face him, to confront him, maybe even to land a punch somewhere, and he immediately slid a hand around her waist, pulling her in with such force that they bumped into each other.

She knew she was flushing as he guided her other hand towards his shoulder; he was grinning down at her, pleased at her sudden lack of speech. She tensed in his arms, hoping the snow didn't melt as she felt her body heat spike. They tentatively moved their feet in time to the music, Sokka leading, she following.

'Sokka, what are you doing? I don't dance,' she mumbled. A little belatedly, she realised with some embarrassment.

He didn't respond, just hugged her closer, till his cheek was at her ear, his breath coming out in puffs that dissipated into her ear, swirled around her hair, making her shudder. His arm was strong around her narrow figure, his callused yet soft fingers intertwining with her own. Not for the first time, she wished she could see him as she tilted her head up, lips parted. Their feet moved automatically, their bodies rotating in tighter and tighter circles till the music ceased, the silence broken by the appreciative applause of wedding guests.

She made to pull away, maybe add a derisive snort and a friendly, platonic punch, but Sokka held fast. She tried to get her muscles to relax, silence the thudding of her heart; she listened to his steady breathing, letting Sokka hold her, calming her frenzied heart rate. Closing her eyes, she moved the tiniest bit closer to his torso; she wanted to save this moment for future reference, when he wouldn't be by her side, but with Suki.

And maybe he was doing the same, because, his voice thick with emotion, murmured, 'Toph, I'm your best friend. With me, you'll never be alone. I promise.'

Touched, she buried her face into his shoulder, hiding her smile. 'Thanks,' she said softly, drawing back to give his arm a punch. He squirmed away, and she let a giggle escape her as he hopped around in mock pain.

'Sokka!'

They spun around as Katara stumbled towards them, the drifts catching her mid-calf. Her hair danced in the wind, peppered with caught snowflakes. 'It's time to go!' she called again. She gestured towards Appa, baggage strapped securely to his back, and Suki, who sat in the saddle expectantly, the epitome of the glowing, beautiful bride.

She thought she felt him hesitate, turning towards her, searching for some final words to say to her that could not come. Taking a deep breath, she hitched a smile not quite reaching those expressionless eyes, placing a hand comfortingly on his shoulder.

She squeezed. 'Go knock her dead, Snoozles.'

Toph felt his smile, the brief heat of his hug to both her and Katara, and then his heavy footfalls as he broke into a run, clambering up onto Appa with Suki's help. She heard the cheers and laughter from the wedding crowd, the shouts of goodbyes growing in number as he flicked the reins, guiding Appa into the air and towards Kyoshi Island. Katara placed an arm around the younger girl's shoulders, their faces turned to Yue as they watched Appa disappear into the moon's glow.

Katara eventually left to tend to the dispersing guests, leaving Toph to stare after Appa's trail. Even though she knew he was long gone, her face continued to turn up, eyes reflecting the milky orb. Her hand was still raised in a gesture of farewell, and only did she lower it to gather the shattered remains of what was possibly her heart, buried in the drifts below her feet. Her head down, she headed back to the village, whose lights had long been extinguished, the snow a blanket of her tears.

Once again, she was alone.