Katara wanted her father out, but he stayed, no matter what she said. She tried to heal the unconscious woman before her the best she could, at the end she passed out from total exhaustion.

When she awoke again her father stood above her looking worried, just a little glance of light returned to his eyes when he noticed that she was awake.

"Dad, … I tried to… I really tried to...", she was cut off by her own tears. Her father laid a comforting hand on her shoulder, "I know you did Katara, and Toreth knows as well."

"Really? Is she awake?", she asked but her father's expression darkened again.

"She is not dead, is she? Please say she is not!",

"No, I think she lives, but…", he trailed off.

"You don't say there's something with the babies, do you?"

"No, Katara. It is just, Toreth did not give any sign of living aside from breathing, I don't know if that's such a good sign and personally I don't think so.",

"Oh...", she said, "I'm sorry.", her father hugged her tightly, "Shh, every one knows you did the best you could, no matter what happens.". They sat for a while in comfortable silence, one holding each other.

Then suddenly an idea struck Katara's mind. "Maybe it will help her if we get her on some earth, you know get plants around her." , her voice faded when she realized what she just said and how childish it must have sounded.

Hakoda looked at his daughter, how she lost all hope she had in a minute. He grabbed her shoulders and looked her in the eyes, "Katara, no matter what happens, if she's better or not, we cannot take her with us."

"What why? Do you just want to leave her alone? She's not in such a good condition."

"No, of course I don't want to leave her, but she's pregnant and we are going to war. Most probably she will die or have a miscarriage if she travels with us. So we need a safe place for her to heal."

"Do you think of somewhere?"

"Actually there are these nuns where we left Bato when he was wounded, I think we can be there in two days or so. They will help her, I'm sure."

And indeed two days they needed until they reached their destination. Toreth did not wake up during the time on the ship, but as they laid her down in one of the Sister's room she opened her eyes. She saw Hakoda and both of his children standing above her and smiled at their worried faces. As they noticed her being awake they sat on her bedside in an instant. "Hello", Toreth greeted them. Relieved that she was conscious again they smiled at each other. Then Bato's head appeared in the doorway, "Chief, we gotta go or we gonna be late.".

Toreth looked at Hakoda questioningly, "W-Why do you have to go? Where do you go? Why are you leaving me behind?", she started to cry what nearly threw his heart apart.

"Toreth,", he said in the calmest tone he managed, "We are going to attack the Fire Nation in a few weeks. We figured it would be too dangerous for you and the children, so we thought of this place. You will stay here and the sisters will take a good care of you. No matter how it all will end, you and the children will be fine."

"I want to come with you.", she whispered, "I want to stay by your side.".

"I know,", he had now to be careful not to cry too, "I want to stay with you as well, but I can't, you need to stay here, you need to be safe.", he kissed her head.

"So this is Goodbye?", she asked while tears streamed down her face. "Yes, I guess so.", he looked to his children and they immediately understood.

"Goodbye Toreth, I really hope we meet again.", Katara managed, nearly crying herself. Sokka took her hand in his, "Goodbye Toreth, I think you will be a great mother."

"Thanks Sokka," , Toreth smiled threw her tears, "I can't wait to see you two again.".

Then the siblings left the room so the adults got a little privacy. For moments both were silent, then Hakoda started, "I love you, you know? I really wish I could stay."

"I know. I love you too, Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe."

"Back on the ship it looked like you would die. You can't imagine how afraid I was to loose you."

"I'm sorry. I don't know what happened, I just felt so dizzy somehow."

Then after a long break she added, "Hakoda, you have to promise me something. Promise me that you will be back. Promise me that you will watch over them as well as over yourself. I know you want to look after them and make sure they are safe, but don't forget your own health, I know you would do so, but they are brave, and if something happens to you they will be far more hurt than any weapon could manage. And now go, you're gonna be late.".

They smiled sadly at each other then he bent down and kissed her for a long moment and afterward left the room.