Disclaimer: I do not now nor will I ever own any rights to Avatar: the Last Airbender. I do however own all the made up places, characters, items and events that I come up with while writing this story. Deal with it.

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Rated M: Mature Content. Blood. Guts. Sex. Drugs. All the good stuff.

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Toph: Okay, seriously… what's the big idea making me look like such a softy?!

Author: Well, your story wasn't really hit on as much as people may have liked, and seemed like a good place to start.

Toph: It's not like I am crying over it or anything. I can handle it myself.

Author: I'm sure, but then, what fun would it be for the readers?

Toph: I wouldn't know. I can't read, remember?

Author: You like a good story though, don't you?

Toph: I guess so. Alright fine, deal with my problem. Just don't make it a big deal.

Author: Yes oh strong willed one. (Ducks an incoming boulder)…

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Chapter 2: Suki's Dilemma

Suki walked back into the palace and started looking around for her other friends. She was so glad the war was over and things could return back to normal. She hadn't been lying when she told Toph she was worried. She honestly couldn't foresee what was to become of her.

"Hey Suki!" Ty-Lee exclaimed. "I have been looking EVERYWHERE for you! I wanted to talk to you about going through my initiation into the Kyoshi warriors!" she said, excited.

It was a bit disconcerting when she said all this, since she was walking on her hands and moving her feet like they were a mouth. She wasn't currently in the Kyoshi uniform. Suki still wasn't sure about Ty-Lee. She was holding a bit of a grudge against her given that it was Ty-Lee that got her thrown in prison at the boiling rock a few months ago. Still, she had proven herself good in the end.

"I know your impatient Ty-Lee, but it's going to have to wait until we can get back to Kyoshi Island. All the people will want to meet you and celebrate you're joining. It's a big event; lots of food and dancing." Suki replied calmly. "Don't worry. You're going to be a Kyoshi warrior soon enough. What's the big rush?" she added.

"It's… complicated. Don't worry about it. Thanks!" Ty-Lee said quickly. And with a "See you!" she was off, down the hall back to the banquet.

Suki could only smile and wonder at what Ty-Lee was hiding. Maybe one day she would find out. For now, she would take things as they came. Ty-Lee would make a good Kyoshi warrior. She already had the fighting skills; Suki could attest to that first hand. She continued to walk the halls looking for her friends. There was one in particular she was really hoping to find...

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Katara had just finished her lunch and was about to go for a walk in the garden to get some fresh air when hands from behind her covered her eyes.

"Guess who?" the voice came. A smile crept to her lips as she replied, "Wow Prince Zuko, how forward of you."

"What!?" Aang said as he quickly released his grip on her eyes and started to sputter.

Katara turned around and put her arms around his neck. "Oh Aang it's you. How EVER could I not have known?" Katara said mockingly. Aang just stood there dumbfounded while Katara planted a gentle kiss on his mouth, gently sucking his lower lip for just a second. Aang stood there in shock. Katara knew that this was new for both of them, but she had just felt the urge to be spontaneous. Maybe she had overdone it a bit.

"Katara, there you are." Suki said, coming up from behind Aang. She noticed the grin on his face and the eyes staring at nothing and asked "Aang, are you okay?"

"Hmm? What? Oh yeah, I'm fine. Just great." He said quickly, giving Katara a smile.

"Did you need something, Suki?" Katara asked, blushing slightly.

Suki noticed all this, and had seen the kiss as she approached. She decided to pretend to ignore it though. "Yes, I was looking for Sokka. Do you know where he is?"

"I think I saw him heading back to the throne room. He mentioned wanting to talk to dad about something." Katara answered.

"Thanks. I will leave you two to your, um, conversation." Suki said and gracefully bowed out.

Suki walked away from them with a knowing smile. It was really rather cute how those two were so shy. Not that she was any better, of course. Whenever she thought of Sokka… and that led to why she was looking for him. Suki was completely at a loss about Sokka. She knew he liked her and she knew she liked him, but did it go any deeper? What if he wanted to go live at the South Pole? Would she be willing to go there? What about the Kyoshi warriors? She was their leader after all. Would Sokka want to live in the earth kingdom? Did his father even approve of her? She had so many doubts.

Suki found herself walking up to the throne room. The giant doors were slightly ajar, and she decided to poke her head in just enough to see who was there. The room was empty save for Sokka and Hakoda. Sokka as usual was being his loud self, and so she was able to hear the conversation clearly.

"So tell me, Sokka; what's the deal with that girl. Suki, was it? She seems very nice. And if it's any indication from her performance on the boiling rock, she'd make a fine catch." Hakoda said.

Suki's breath caught. They were talking about her! She slipped through the door and behind a pillar, so no one would see her backside sticking out of the door.

"Yeah, Suki is quite a lady" Sokka replied, a catch in his voice. "I just don't know what to do about her though." He added.

Suki had to stifle herself. What did he mean "do about her?"

"What do you mean, son?" Hakoda asked him.

"Well, I don't know. I mean, I have been thinking about it, and there's so much I just can't figure out. She's earth kingdom and I'm water tribe. If we got together, what would we be? Where would we live?" Sokka asked.

Hakoda's face mirrored his son's concern. "I wouldn't worry about that so much. The different nations have had crossings before, and it's always worked out. I do believe the avatar will be facing the same dilemma, being the last of the Air Nomads. It may be tough, being from different cultures, but if you care about each other than it's an obstacle you can surpass." He said gently, grabbing his son's shoulder in a comforting embrace.

"It's not just that, dad." Sokka continued. "It isn't just about Suki. It's about me. I just can't stop feeling guilty."

"Guilty?" Hakoda asked.

"Yeah; you see, when we were first traveling north to get Aang a waterbending master, I met Suki. I sort of mistreated her and her friends, thinking that girls couldn't fight as well as boys. Needless to say she proved me wrong. So has Toph, and Katara, and…"

Hakoda laughed. "I see your point, but why do you feel guilty?"

"I'm getting to that." He said. "We didn't stay with Suki long before we were attacked, and had to leave. Eventually we made it to the north pole, where we were guests of Chief Arnook and found Aang and Katara a waterbending master, Pakku."

"Yes, I met Pakku a long time ago. Katara told me he visited home and married your Gran-Gran." Hakoda recalled, stroking his goatee.

"Right. Well, while we were there, I sort of met someone; Chief Arnook's daughter Yue. I had no idea she was already promised to someone else, and I had meant to do something about it. She didn't love him. She said it was an arranged marriage. I was going to speak to her father about it, especially after all the coarse things her betrothed said. Hahn thought a lot of himself and only wanted to marry Yue for her position. But, before I had a chance to say anything, the invasion at the North Pole happened. The moon spirit was slain, and Aang was kidnapped by Zuko." Sokka continued.

Suki just stood there, dumbfounded, listening to Sokka talk about this girl he'd met on his journey. He had never gone into any details about his travels. In fact, Suki had only heard about Yue on accident while watching that funny play before the end of the war.

"We managed to save Aang, but the moon spirit was gone. Yue had been very sick when she was born, and the moon spirit had saved her life. Yue gave her own life back to save the moon spirit and restore the moon. She sacrificed herself to save the world." Sokka continued, tears rolling down his cheeks and an obvious catch in his voice.

Suki was crying too. She had no idea what happened at the North Pole. She couldn't help but feel sorry for Yue.

"So, I don't know, I feel kind of guilty. I really, really like Suki a lot. But, I can't help but feel like I am betraying Yue's memory, you know?" Sokka finished, wiping his eyes.

Hakoda gave his son a rough hug. "I understand more than you know, son. I feel the same way when the men try and get me to find another woman. I can't get over your mother. She was the love of my life. But I don't think Yue wants you to be unhappy for the rest of your life." Hakoda said.

"I know dad. I just… I wish I had a way to talk to her; to find out if she's okay and make sure she'd be okay with it. I don't want to do anything to hurt Suki, but I need to be able to put this behind me." Sokka said.

"I understand son." Hakoda said with sympathy. "I wonder though… you say that Princess Yue became the moon spirit, correct?"

"Yeah." Sokka replied sadly. "She's lost to the world, forever hanging up in the sky at night."

"Well, why don't you just ask her and see what she thinks?" Hakoda asked his son matter-of-factly, a slight smile on his lips as he waited for what he said to sink in.

"She's a spirit now, dad. There no way to…" Sokka trailed off as his jaw dropped and his father's suggestion hit home. "That's brilliant! Why didn't I think of it before! You…are… the… BEST… FATHER…. EVER!" Sokka exclaimed doing a little dance and jumping around like a little boy.

"I thought you might like it. The avatar is your best friend and the medium to the spirit world. What could it hurt to ask him for his help?" Hakoda grinned. "You can find all your answers and still be home in time for supper, so to speak." He added.

"It's perfect! I can talk to Yue, make sure she's alright and okay with things, and Suki never has to know!"

About that point, Suki could barely see straight, what with the tears in her eyes. She wasn't one to be emotional, but the man she cared about was busy conspiring with his father to seek out his dead girlfriend behind her back. What was worse, they were doing it without even taking her into consideration. She stopped listening to the conversation and decided to get away from them.

Suki managed to sneak out while Sokka was doing his dance. Luckily, Hakoda was facing the opposite direction. Suki was afraid that Hakoda would notice her, but he didn't seem to pay any attention as she got out the overly large door. She couldn't believe what she had just overheard. Emotions as turbulent as can be imagined raged through her. Should she be happy Sokka would find his lost love again? Should she support him? All she really felt was betrayed, and the loss of the man she cared about. The man she…

Suki managed to find her way back into the garden and over to the pool where she had spoken to Toph shortly before. She collapsed at the edge of the water, her tears rippling the water. The ripples flowed out and broke on the turtle-ducks shells, creating turbulence in the calm water. The water mirrored her emotions. Suki stayed there even after the meeting was called back to order. She stayed there alone, and cried.

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Author: Another chapter down. Phew.

Aang: That's what, a whole two? Get back to work.

Author: Says the goofiest kid to ever live.

Katara: Just because Aang knows how to have fun doesn't mean he is goofy.

Author: No, Aang being goofy means that Aang is goofy.

Sokka: Still doesn't make him the goofiest kid to ever live.

Author: No, but being goofier than any other person to ever live does.

Sokka: Prove it.

Author: Prove what?

Sokka: Prove that he is the goofiest kid that ever lived.

Author: …

Toph: One point for Sokka.

Author: Hey!!!

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Author's Corner:

I know that my chapters so far aren't the longest in the world, but finding time to write has been a bit tough lately. I hope anyone reading this enjoys what I am writing. Like I said before, it's my goal to delve into all the things not shown in the series, with as much continuity as possible. I am sure many of you remember the pond on the palace grounds where Zuko was bitten by a turtle-duck, his mother at his side. Working in the landscape is just another challenge to be overcome, eh? Adds a bit of life to the story. Anyways, please review and let me know what you think. Any criticism is appreciated. If I miss something, mess up something, forget to add something etc... Let me know. Thanks! Oh, and editing now and then for grammar and spelling as well.