It had been one year, one year exactly since the death of Toph's husband. Four months since the birth of her daughter, Lin, who she couldn't even bare to 'see' because it reminded her too much of Lin's father.
Toph was sitting alone in her bedroom, eyes red, cheeks stained with tears, and alcohol on her breath. This wasn't an unusual sight but this night was worse than the others, mostly because it was the anniversary of becoming a widow.
Toph stood up, stumbling and almost falling over before walking to the front door and opening it, to continue her drinking by buying more liquor and cactus juice, but was stopped when she realized someone was standing in front of her.
"Toph…" his voice said in a gentle tone.
She didn't respond, there was no need to, so she just turned around and sat down on the couch, pulling her knees to her chest.
Sokka sighed before coming inside and shutting the door behind him and then sitting down next to the, now crying again, Toph.
"Please go" she whispered in between sobs.
"Afraid I can't do that, I promised Aang and Katara to check up on you and make sure you were ok and it looks as if you are in need of help."
Toph turned her face away "I want to be alone."
Sokka took that moment to wrap his arms around the woman and pull her onto his lap "You want to be alone, but you need company."
She tried to squirm her way out of his arms but he held tight. "Sokka, please…" she cried.
"Toph, I'm not going."
And with that, she slumped in his arms, too upset to argue with him further as Sokka began to stroke her hair and rub her back.
"Why did he have to go?" She cried out "He left me here alone! With a goddamn kid, HIS kid. I can't even fucking look at my own daughter without breaking down! I love her, I want to be in her life, I just can't! I know it was selfish leaving her with you but I can't do it! Even if I could get over seeing her, I can't be a single mother! I'm blind! I'd end up dressing her in something ridiculous and she'd get picked on and hate me forever! I can't do a thing since he's left… I can't even stay sober."
Sokka held Toph against his chest while she cried more "You don't have to do it alone Toph. You have your family, Aang, Katara, and me, let us HELP you. We love you Toph, that's something that will never change. Please Toph. I can't watch you drink yourself to death either."
"But I want to…" she whispered.
"Toph…" Sokka held her tighter while he began tearing up "What about Lin?"
"Lin would be fine…" She whispered "Like you said, she's family too, you guys all love her and would take care of her better than I ever could."
Tears started falling faster "What about us?"
"What ABOUT us?" she asked confused.
"Please Toph, you can't do that to me!" He stuttered out "I love you, Toph!"
Toph's eyes widened "What?" she breathed out.
"Toph, I love you, I have for a while now. I broke up with Suki because I realized how in love with I really was. Please stay, just for a little while longer. Give me the chance to show you life is still worth living." Sokka paused "And if I can't convince you, I'll hand you the rope."
"Sokka…"
"Please Toph." Sokka begged.
Toph sat up in his lap and turned to face him before embracing him "I will" she whispered.
Sokka tucked his head into the locks of her hair and stopped crying while breathing the heavy smell of earth "thank you." He shifted slightly before standing up and carrying Toph in his arms "come on, let's get you to bed."
Sokka walked into Toph's bedroom and gently placed Toph on her bed before covering her in a blanket and tucking her in. He placed a soft kiss on her temple and began to walk out the door.
"Sokka?" Toph said quietly.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
Sokka simply smiled and continued his exit.
"Wait!" Toph said sitting back up.
"Yeah?" He asked turning around, confused.
"Can you, um" she stuttered "stay, maybe?"
"Of course" He smiled before making his way next to Toph and laying down. He wrapped an arm around her body and pulled her close. "Sleep, you need it" he said as she already fell asleep with a slight smile on her face.