The warrior finally found the type of bar he was looking for. It was a rundown, junky, dirty bar, where anyone could get completely wasted for ten copper pieces. "Hope's End. Wow it really looks like this bar was made for me." Sokka slammed the door open, almost no one paid attention to him, or even looked in his direction. He walked over to the bar, where an elderly looking bartender was wiping a glass clean.
"What can I get for you son?" asked the barkeep.
"I'll take the strongest stuff you've got." replied the warrior.
The old man turned and pulled a golden glass bottle from the top shelf.
"I'm gonna warn you right now, you can only have one glass of this stuff. Anymore and you could end up killing yourself."
Sokka chuckled "Why, what's in it that's so strong."
"Well its sake with the perfect amount of cactus extract in it. With one glass you get wrecked, but anymore and you'd start to hallucinate."
The warrior let a small smile cross his lips "Yeah that stuff can really mess with your head. I had a run in with the cactus years back, but I got a straight shot of the pure stuff."
The barkeeps mouth almost hit the floor "Wait you drank pure cactus juice?"
"Yup, it was a very… interesting experience." answered the warrior.
"I can only imagine. Here you go. That will be five coppers please."
Sokka handed the old man a silver piece "Keep the change."
He took the strange concoction in one gulp, let out a relived sigh and waited for it to take effect. All Sokka could do was think about Toph, and how amazing she was. She had become so powerful that he began to wonder if she could beat Aang now. At least while he was in his normal state, Sokka doubted that anyone could stand a chance against Aang in the Avatar State.
Finally the drink started to take effect and all his problems started to melt away. That is until a very familiar cloaked figure sat at the stool next to him. Sokka was too wasted and didn't seem to notice at first, but soon he realized that the same girl he had been looking for and hour before had come to him.
"Toph is that you?" slurred Sokka
"Who's there, how do you know who I am?" asked the startled earthbender.
Sokka wondered why she hadn't noticed him before. He looked at the floor and noticed it was made of wood, she couldn't see him.
"It's me Sokka. I know it's you Toph, or should I call you Lily?
Toph pulled the hood of the clock down; there was no point for it now. "Sokka I'm sorry but it was the only way."
"Only way for what Toph? The only way to completely break my heart? The only way to get back at me for what I did?" asked the warrior.
"No Sokka this was never about you! Not everything has to be about you! This was about me and what I needed." spat Toph.
"What did you need Toph?"
"I needed to get away from you. I needed to move on. I needed someone to love me." whispered the metalbender.
"Did you find what you were looking for?"
Toph's eyes turn red; she obviously was trying her best to hold back the tears "No Sokka, I didn't. Sometimes I wonder why I even saved myself before I hit the ground the day I left. I guess I just let hope cloud my judgment."
"Toph you don't know how incredibly horrible these past years were with me thinking you were dead. Every night I would have the same nightmare. Me holding on to you, then watching you slip from my grasp only to see you fall and die because I was too weak. I thought I was the reason you had done it, and I paid the price every night."
Toph could not hold back the tears from falling any longer. "I'm so sorry Sokka; I never meant to hurt you. I thought it was all I could do to get away from you, to finally be able to forget you. I was wrong, after your wedding I left the city for awhile. I thought I would never return to Ba Sing Se, that is, until I heard of Aang's wedding. I couldn't miss that, after all we are family. When I returned to Gaoling I stayed for awhile, I tried dating, but unfortunately they never were able to match you. Then I heard that Suki was pregnant, I was so excited that I took the first airship back. If I hadnt I might of missed it. Anyways since the night you saw me at the hospital, I hadnt returned until Earth Rumble moved here. I knew that the chances were high that you would be there, but I couldn't just turn my back on the one thing I had left. So I went for it."
The bar fell silent, neither of the two seemed to want to continue, but Sokka needed answers.
"How did you do it? How did you fake your own death? The guard I talked to said he couldn't move the body."
The earthbending prodigy smirked "Well it wasn't that hard, I couldn't believe you fell for it oh so smart plan guy."
Sokka smiled, that was the Toph he remembered. Sarcasm, jokes, tough as nails, and beautiful, what more could a guy ask for?
"Well before I hit the ground I cushioned the blow with my earthbending by absorbing the fall like a big spring. When the guard came around I bribed him to tell you that I was too messed up to move and I had him make a fake grave. Before I left I gave him the space bracelet so you could see my message."
Sokka almost fell out of his seat. "It was that simple. How could I not have seen that?"
"You were probably to depressed thinking that I was dead and all." Toph replied with a hint of sarcasm.
"That's not funny Toph, I can't just forget all of the pain that you put me through. I can't just laugh it off."
Toph started to chuckle which slowly progressed to laughter. Sokka thought she had lost it. How could she be laughing at his pain?
"Excuse me Toph, but what is so funny?" anger clinging to his words
When the metalbender could start breathing again she answered "Im sorry, it's just that this is almost the exact opposite of how it was all those years ago when you were the cause of my pain. Now you know what I felt like."
Sokka realized the irony and laughed along with his companion. After all of these years, through all of the pain that they caused each other, they were still best friends. Maybe they would be even more.
Sokka didn't return home the next night. He was far too busy catching up with Toph. They talked all through the night, even after the bar had closed. They just walked around the city chatting about anything. Now it was starting to become light out, and Sokka knew he had to get back home.
"Toph I want you to come back home with me. I know that you don't like Suki but everyone misses you."
"I don't know Sokka. After all that's happened why would they even care about me anymore?"
"Trust me they forgive you. Do it for Bato, after all you haven't seen him in a year."
Toph smirked "I did miss that little guy. Fine I'll do it, but you have to promise that you're going to hangout with me more. There really wouldn't be a point returning if all you did was smooch with Suki."
Sokka released a relieved sigh "Deal, I would love to hangout with you more."
They started towards Sokka's home in the upper ring. When they arrived Suki was waiting for him.
"Oh thank the spirits your ok, where were you all night?" cried Sokka's wife
"I was at a bar, and you'll never guess who I found." replied the warrior.
Just then Toph walked in the room to join them. She no longer wore her cloak. Instead she changed into a green and yellow kimono dress, which was a tight fit, almost to tight a fit for her perfectly curved frame. Needless to say Suki was speechless.
Her face became a vivid red "You said you were going to find Toph not some hot new girlfriend!"
For a moment Sokka didn't know what she was talking about. Eventually he noticed Toph standing in the doorway with that amazing dress he picked out for her on the way home. He just couldn't resist getting it a size or two smaller than normal. "Oh Suki that isnt my new girlfriend, that's Toph."
Suki gasped, she walked over to the beautiful girl. "Toph that's you? I can't believe how pretty you've gotten."
"Hot you mean. You can't believe how hot I've gotten." corrected Toph.
Sokka's wife blushed furiously. "Where have you been Toph? I can't believe he found you."
"I've been around. How have you been Suki?" asked the blind women.
The older woman was just about to answer, but Bato began to cry. "Uh oh, I'll be right back."
A minute later she walked out with little Bato in her arms. He was still crying.
"Hey Suki can I speak with you privately for a moment?" asked her husband.
"Sure, here Toph would you hold this little guy for me." The Kyoshi warrior handed Bato to the blind girl.
Toph held the crying baby in her arms, and 'watched' his parents walk out of the room.
The greatest earthbender in the world didn't know what to do to stop his crying. So she began to sing a lullaby that one of her nanny's would sing to her every night when she was a child.
After ten seconds of Toph's smooth lullaby Bato stopped crying. A minute later he was sleeping again. The metalbender smiled when she felt him drift off. She never remembered using the word 'cute', but right now that was the only word she could think of to describe the sleeping child in her arms.
Sokka and Suki watched from the kitchen. Toph could not 'see' them because it was the only room in the house made with a wooden floor.
Suki smiled "Wow it seems like Bato really likes her."
"Yeah it does, but I need to ask you something. Do you think it would be alright if she stayed with us for a little while? She has no where else to go." asked the warrior.
"Of course Toph can stay with us until she finds her own place." replied Suki.
Sokka chuckled "You have got to be the best wife ever."
"And don't you ever forget it."
After they delivered the news to Toph she went to see Iroh at the Jasmine Dragon. He was overjoyed to say the least. She spent a long with him, retelling the stories and adventure's she'd collected over the years she was 'dead'.
Toph was truly happy for the first time in years. Maybe it was even the first time in her life. She could never remember feeling so good. Even the day they defeated Ozai didn't compare.
-One Week Later
The following week was the best week of Sokka's life. He had a beautiful wife, an amazing baby boy, and his best friend back. There was only one problem he hadnt mentioned to Toph. Sokka still didn't feel complete. Ever since that encounter with 'Lily' at the hospital he couldn't stop thinking about Toph as more than a friend. He knew it was wrong, but what if he had chosen the wrong women. What if him and Toph were meant to be? The more time they spent together the more the feelings grew. Finally he decided to talk with Iroh.
"I'm not sure what to do. I love Suki, but I keep having these feelings, even some regrets about Toph. What if I was wrong Iroh? What if I really do love her?"
The old man stroked his grey beard. "Well I cannot tell you who you love Sokka. I can only give you advice on how to figure out who you love."
"You can? That's perfect! How do I figure this out?" asked the eager water tribe warrior.
"Hmm, well first off who are you most comfortable around?"
"Well, with Suki I try to act like the man she wants, but with Toph I can be myself. So I guess it would be Toph."
"Ok. Who would you prefer to spend the day with?"
"Umm.. Suki always has stuff to do so we don't have much time to ourselves, but I guess the things she likes are kind of boring. I like hanging out with Toph because she likes all the things I like."
"Last question, are you so stupid that you can't tell who you really love by now?"
"I'm not sure I follow you there Iroh."
The wise man let you a long sigh. "Think about it Sokka. You obviously like being with Toph more than Suki. The only question you have to ask yourself now is, why do you like being with her more."
Sokka sat at that table for over an hour. Iroh was long gone, and finally he came to the only conclusion.
"I love Toph."
Sokka had to talk to Suki. He would take her out to dinner that night and discuss these new feelings with her. Sokka didn't want to hurt Suki, but he needed to do it.
-Later that night
"Ok Toph, we'll be back in two hours. Make sure that you take care of Bato."
"Don't worry Suki; I wouldn't let anything happen to my favorite nephew." replied he metalbender.
"Bato make sure your aunt doesn't get into any trouble." Joked Sokka as he kissed his sons forehead.
"Haha that's so funny snoozles. Just go and have fun on your date you crazy kids."
Sokka and Suki left, leaving Bato and Toph all alone.
"Well squirt what do you want to do?"
"Mmm…aa.. ma..ma. mama." stuttered Bato.
Toph's mouth fell open. Oh spirits please don't tell me those where his first words. If Suki found out that he called me mama before her what would she say?
"Um sorry Bato but im not your mama, Im your aunt."
"Mama." replied Sokka's son.
Great now he's going to keep calling me mama. I have to tell Suki or else she'll freak out.
"Fine you can call me mama, but only for tonight." countered Toph.
Bato started to clap and laugh, obviously happy with their compromise.
Toph felt strange vibrations emanate from Bato as he bounced up and down.
Hmm I wonder if he's a bender. I guess there's only one way to find out.
Toph stood up and a small rock from outside. She placed it in front of the baby and 'watched' to see what he would do. Bato just looked at the pebble for a minute. Then he grabbed the rock and played with it.
Well he likes rock's maybe he is an earthbender. Toph bended the rock out of Bato's grasp and levitated it in front of him. She shaped it into many different things before placing it back on the floor and pushed it back towards Bato with an over exaggerated hand motion so Bato could copy her. The rock was tiny and Toph knew even a child earthbender could move it. She waited to see what he would do. Finally Bato made a pushing motion towards Toph, mimicking her movements. The small pebble slightly shifted and Toph felt it. Oh thank the spirits he's an earthbender. I can teach him when he gets older.
"Suki we need to talk."
"Oh, and here I thought you were just taking me out on a romantic dinner."
"It's about Toph."
"I see." replied the Kyoshi warrior.
"Listen I love you so much, and I love Bato with all my heart. This past week has been the best days of my life. Don't get mad because it might be nothing, but for some reason I cant get my brain to stop thinking about Toph."
Suki raised an eyebrow "Well you thought she was dead for five years. Its understandable your thinking about her."
"I don't mean it like that. I mean I can't stop thinking about when Toph told me she loved me. Now I'm wondering if I might have the same feelings for her."
The Kyoshi warrior dropped her chop sticks in shock "What are you talking about Sokka?"
"I'm saying that I might have made a mistake. I'm wondering if I would have been happier with Toph."
Suki was speachless, and her mouth was suddenly dry.
Sokka continued "I'm not saying I don't love you, or that I'm leaving. I'm just confused and I don't know what to do. Everytime I see her my heart skips a beat, everytime I hear her laugh I have trouble breathing. I even dream about her Suki. I need your help; please I don't want to leave you. I love you."
Suki looked down at her food; she was no longer hungry. "Sokka only you can know who you truly love. Don't lie to yourself like you did all those years ago. Either you love me or you love her, and by the sounds of it, you love Toph far more than me."
Sokka felt the tears flowing down his cheeks. He knew the answer to his own question, but Sokka didn't want to admit it."
"I'm not leaving you and Bato. Me and Toph will be there for you, I promise."
Suki let a faint smile cross her lips. "Thank you Sokka. Now go find Toph, she's been waiting for you a very long time."
Sokka stood and left the table, determined to make things right.
Toph was playing in the sand with Bato behind Sokka's house. Toph had made the sandbox for him two days ago and he loved it. She knew it was getting dark out but didn't matter to her. Toph could tell if someone was coming from half a mile away.
I wonder how Sokka's date is going? He's been acting kind of weird all week, and when the hell am I going to get to 'see' Aang and Katara.
Toph was ripped away from her thoughts when she felt small vibrations in the earth. Then it slowly grew until it felt like fifty people were heading towards them in all directions. They were being surrounded.
-End Part 4