"Ready Lin?" Toph called out while walking towards the girl's room.
Lin jumped out if her doorway with a large smile "Ready!"
Toph smiled and scooped her daughter up, into her arms "Good, let's go find Daddy now."
"In the kitchen!" Sokka called.
Toph walked into the kitchen, enjoying the smell and crackling of a meal from the stove "Whatcha making, Meathead?" she asked as she placed Lin down in her kiddy chair.
"Just some meat with onions" he said while taking the pan and emptying it onto three plates "figured we needed just a little something before we head to the rabbits' house" he chuckled.
"Good idea!" Toph chuckled as she sat down next to Lin and began cutting the meat further more for Lin to chew "I still can't believe its been fifteen years..."
"I know" Sokka sighed while cutting a piece of meat and putting it in his mouth and chewing. "Fifteen years..." Sokka pondered "Can you believe we even survived that day?"
Toph began feeding Lin while shaking her head "We have Suki to thank for that."
Sokka looked down and mumbled "Suki..."
Toph put an arm around Sokka and then kissed his head "I'm sure she's up there with Yue watching over you."
"I'm in for trouble when I die" he chuckled and continued eating.
"What time is it?" Toph asked while eating "We don't want to be too late like last year," she laughed "I don't want me ear to be chewed off by Katara again."
Sokka checked the time before groaning "We only have about ten minutes before we go."
"Well, we better finish up then" Toph stated.
With that, they quickly finished their meal and headed out to Air Temple Island. When they arrived, they found their family and friends already enjoying the night and excited to see them.
"Toph! Sokka! Glad you could join!" Aang happily greeted "And not too late this year!" he laughed.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world" Sokka smiled before hugging his brother-in-law. "We know how important this tradition is to, not only us, but the world."
"Fifteen years, huh?" Zuko walked over "the war has been over for FIFTEEN years now. Feels like it was just yesterday."
"Yeah" Toph agreed while putting Lin down to go play with the other children. "Can we get the drinks going?" Toph asked.
"Of course, I'll be back with two" Aang chippered before walking off.
"I'm gonna go check on Mai, she's inside. She's not feeling well." Zuko said before walking towards the Temple.
"Toph? Are you alright?" Sokka asked while wrapping an arm around Toph.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine" Toph sighed "I just don't understand why we have this tradition, celebrating the day we almost died! I mean, I understand why everyone else does but I don't understand why I do... It doesn't bring any positive things to mind for me."
Sokka nodded "I understand" Sokka paused "but you know, you shouldn't think of it as an almost death but a saved life. Celebrate the life you still have!"
Toph sighed "I guess you're right but its just hard because even after the war ended, everyone went their separate ways and I was alone, so alone. This just all reminds me of so much..."
"Than how about we get your mind off of things" Sokka smirked while taking Toph's hand and pulling her in his direction.
"Where are you taking me?"
"You'll see, its somewhere we can be alone and just relax" Sokka said as Aang passed by and handed them their drinks.
They walked into the temple, through the halls, all the way to the back until they reached a "closet" door. When Sokka opened the door, a staircase appeared before them. Sokka smiled before going up the stairs with Toph.
When they got to the top, Sokka opened another door and led them onto the temple roof "Ta-dah! Here we are!"
"The roof?" Toph questioned.
"Yeah," Sokka smiled and kissed Toph's temple "we are alone and there's a nice breeze!"
"Ok" Toph agreed.
"Come here" Sokka said while sitting down.
Toph smiled and sat down in his lap, resting her head against his shoulder.
Sokka wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close while stroking her hair.
"Thanks Sokka, you always know what I need" Toph said while cuddling up with Sokka.
"If you want, we can make this our little tradition?" Sokka suggested.
"I think I like that idea" Toph smiled.