This is my first Avatar The Last Airbender fanfiction this chapter was not Beta read and if any are interested in beta reading my work before it's post PM

I would like to thank all my patient reads and hope you enjoy this next chapter and for all those reading please stay safe out there especially with the virus going around because if you don't stay safe how will you be able to read what comes next

Disclaimer I don't own anything related to ATLA

When Zuko had returned to Suki. She was ecstatic, she could barely contain herself. But now, as she walked down the street with her sisters in tow, heading towards the tea shop. All she felt was dread. Her heart sinking into her chest as she saw the shop coming into view. "What am I gonna do? What am I gonna say?" she thought to herself as the previous day's events flooded her mind.

Four days earlier.

Suki had returned to her post after waving bye to Zuko and Iroh. Even though she didn't think they could see her. She waved to them as she saw them by the railings. Though as they departed she ended up bumping into another set of old friends. She was genuinely and happily surprised when she bumped into Sokka, Aang, Katara and their new friend Toph. It had been so long since they last saw each other, she was eager to catch up.

"You look so different without your makeup! And the new outfit," Katara commented as she leaned back on the stone bench.

"That crabby lady makes all the security guards wear them," Suki shrugged nonchalantly. "And look at you, sleeveless guy. Been working out?" she asked sarcastically, poking fun at his rather thin arms.

Sokka smirked in response, stretching and flexing his arms. "Ahhh, I'll grab a tree branch and do a few chin touches every now and then. Nothing major," he said feeling his bicep. Suki simply rolled her eyes and smiled seeing his ego hadn't changed.

"Are the other Kyoshi Warriors around?" Aang asked as he leaned against a pillar far off from the rest of the group.

Suki raised her brow noticing the distance he was putting from the others, it was a bit off-putting, to say the least. "Yeah. After you left Kyoshi, we wanted to find a way to help people. We ended up escorting some refugees and we've been here ever since," she said but paused unsure whether or not to bring up Zuko. It's true he had changed and she believed a different person now, but now was probably not the best time to bring it up.

Soon she was pulled from her thoughts as Momo came flying over to her side. "Hi, Momo! Good to see you too!" she smiled scratching his ear as he softly purred at her touch. "So why are you guys getting tickets for the ferry? Wouldn't you just fly across on Appa?" she asked and suddenly felt a change in mood among the group.

"Appa is missing. We hope to find him in Ba Sing Se," Katara answered softly as her eyes turned to Aang who had his back to them.

Suki was surprised and saddened at the news. "I'm so sorry to hear that. Are you doing okay?" she asked turning to the bald monk.

"I'm doing fine. Would everybody stop worrying about me!?" Aang snapped at her. Suki was shocked by his tone never expecting the happy boy she met so long ago to sound so cold. Though she couldn't blame him and understood his pain to a degree.

"Avatar Aang, you have to help us!" a woman's voice cried out. They all immediately peered over the railing to see who it was. They were then met with the sight of a pregnant woman and her family in distress. "Someone took all of our belongings, our passports, our tickets, everything's gone!" she cried out.

Suki remembered the pregnant woman, Ying. She was the woman Zuko saved from the burning building. She and her family like many of the refugees from Chong Sheng. Had no papers when they arrived at the refugee camp. Many were held back till their forms were completed and now, to hear that everything they had was once again taken from them, broke Suki's heart.

When she heard Aang agreeing to help them cross the serpents pass, she knew she too had to help them. It was the least she could do. Although she was confused by Sokka's reluctance, she indeed joined them on their journey up the narrow mountain pass.

As they walked along the pass, carefully treading through the weaving terrain. They soon spotted a few Fire Nation ships sailing across the water. "The Fire Nation controls the western lake. Rumour has it they're working on something big on the other side of it and don't want anyone to find out what it is," Suki explained as they try to walk along without being spotted.

Than, Ying's husband did his best to keep his wife steady as they walked along the edge. But suddenly the rocks beneath him gave way, crumbling beneath his feet. Toph quickly bent the rock face catching him before he could fall to the jagged rocks below. Before earth bending him up and back to his feet. "I'm okay!" Than declared as the crumbled rocks crashed to the water below.

Just then the Fire Nation ship began to launch fireballs towards them. "They've spotted us! Let's go, let's go!" Sokka ordered hurriedly as Aang flew off to distract and protect them from the Fire Nation's attack.

One of the fireballs did manage to make it passed Aang. Hitting the mountain, causing several pieces of rock above Suki to fall. Sokka shoved her out of the way, inadvertently putting himself now in danger. Toph then simply bent out a part of the mountain, shielding Sokka from the rocks that were crashing upon him.

"Suki, are you okay?" Sokka asked as he rushed to her side. Before Suki could even respond she felt him yanking her to her feet. "You have to be more careful! Come on!" Sokka said rushing to pull Suki to safety. To Toph's annoyance at being ignored and left behind making her run to catch up.

Aang shortly rejoined them as they hid and settled on the east side of the mountain. They decided to rest for the night. Suki was glad to relax for a bit as she began to set up her sleeping bag, but once again Sokka rushed to her side. "Suki, you shouldn't sleep there. Who knows how stable this ledge is, it could give away at any moment!" he announced as he grabbed up her sleeping bag. This annoyed Suki to no end. Ever since they started travelling together he continued to baby her, like she couldn't handle herself.

"Sokka, I'm fine, stop worrying!" Suki argued. She honestly didn't know which is worse, sexist Sokka, or overprotective Sokka.

"You're right, you're right, you're perfectly capable of taking care of yourself," he said as he set her sleeping bag next to his. She rolled her eyes at the gesture, but once she went over to the sleeping bag he stepped in her way protectively once more. "Wait! Oh, never mind, I thought I saw a spider, but, you're fine," he waved it off as he walked away.

Suki huffed, grabbing up her sleeping bag and moving it once Sokka turned away. She really didn't like this new side of him. Though it made her appreciate Zuko that much more. When she was with him she never felt he looked down at her. Although he saved her a few times. It was never because she wasn't capable like Sokka was making her feel now. He did it only because she really needed his help. She then started to wonder why Sokka was acting like this. And she knew she had to talk to him about it. She needed to clear the air.

Later that night as everyone was heading to bed. Suki noticed Sokka staring at the moon, sitting alone away from everyone else. She knew this was the best time to talk to him. Suki slowly approached as he sat there quietly. "It's a beautiful moon," she said trying to get his attention.

"Yeah, it really is," Sokka said solemnly.

Suki then slowly took a seat next to him. "Look... I know you're just trying to help, but I can take care of myself," she said as she looked to him.

"I know you can," he replied now turning to meet her gaze his voice hollow, almost broken.

Hearing him Suki's face softened concerned for her friend. "Then why are you acting so overprotective?" she asked confused.

"It's so hard to lose someone you care about. Something happened at the North Pole and I couldn't protect someone. I don't want anything like that to ever happen again," he said disheartened.

Suki now began to understand why he was acting the way he was. "I lost someone I cared about. He didn't die, he just went away," she tried to empathize with him, remembering how she felt when Zuko left her. "When he left, I thought... maybe I should have left with him or convinced him to stay," she admitted. "I was afraid that I would lose him forever," she answered with a heavy sigh, her eyes fluttering closed.

"Did he come back?"

"Yeah he did," Suki said a small smile tugging at her lips. She remembered holding Zuko in her arms, as she stared up at the moon. "I just hope, that I don't lose him again," Suki said as her mind was reliving the past few months.

Sokka looked to Suki curiously, but soon a small blush rose to his cheeks. Though Suki didn't notice as he looked to her. "So this guy that went away... what is he like?" he asked wanting to confirm his suspicions.

"Well, he's smart and funny and the bravest man I've ever known," Suki answered honestly glancing over to him.

Sokka blinked for a moment before blushing even more. Before Suki could notice the redness in his cheeks he turned away. "It's getting late... we should head to bed. Big morning tomorrow," he said as he hurriedly got to his feet.

"Ummm yeah... we should," Suki arched her brow in confusion as she saw him turn away from her. "Ummm goodnight Sokka," she said as she watched him turn to walk off.

"Yeah, goodnight Suki," he replied but didn't turn to face her as he headed off.

Suki sat there for a moment bewildered before she too rose to her feet to head to bed. Once she returned to her sleeping bag she headed straight to sleep. She couldn't wait till she could return to the port and rejoin her sisters. But more importantly, she couldn't wait to return to Zuko. Though their brief moment together was sweet, it didn't make up for their weeks apart.

The next morning was still rather tense as they headed down the path. Aang remained distant and detached which made everyone uncomfortable. And then there was Sokka, he went from overprotective to not even noticing her. He avoided looking to her and he too kept his distance which confused her. "Boys... why are they so difficult?" Suki mumbled to herself as she followed along.

"You could say that again," Katara noted as she walked by Suki's side. "Don't worry my brother and Aang can be knuckleheads but they usually come around, they just need time," she tries to reassure.

"Yeah, I know," Suki answers as she glanced at the two boys. "Hey, Katara can I ask you something that's been on my mind lately?"

"Sure you can ask me anything. What is it?"

"Well... while we were travelling to Ba Sing Se. I and my sisters had a... had a run-in with Zuko that Fire Prince," Suki said causing Katara to arch her brow curiously as she looks to the painted warrior. "He wasn't what I expected. And recently I've been hearing stories to make me think, he wasn't the horrible guy I thought he was," she said as she tried her best to gauge Katara's reaction. "So my question is... you guys must have had your fair share of... interactions. So what is he really like?"

Katara was taken back by the question as she tried to think of a response. "Well, I don't know what you've heard, but he isn't a good guy," she said plainly. "Since the day we found Aang he's hunted us down all over the world, he even stole my mother's necklace to track us down," Katara answered her blood boiling at the memory. She then looked to Suki a thought coming to mind. "You said you bumped into him, and he wasn't what you expected. What did you mean? What happened?"

Suki bit her lip at Katara's question, trying to think of what to say. "Well we were in trouble... these Fire Nation soldiers were attacking this village and he helped us... he even ran into a burning building to save some people," she answered honestly. "After that, and somethings I heard. It... it made me look at him... differently," she said trying her best to paint Zuko in a better light to the water bender.

"Well, most likely those Fire Nation soldiers, that attacked that village were on his orders. It wouldn't surprise me if it was just some ploy to get Aang's attention," Katara said skeptically. "Besides didn't he burn down your village?"

"Yeah... he did," Suki said with a heavy sigh. "You are probably right," she wanted to argue, though she knew there was no point trying to convince her. It was obvious with the history they had, it was a long shot to convince them Zuko was a different person. Now she just wanted everything to go smoothly and get this journey over with. But the hulking serpent that called this lake home had something else in mind.

The massive snake leapt out of the water as they tried to make their way over the lake. Aang and Katara tried to drive the sea serpent off as the others tried to make their way across Katara's ice bridge.

As Katara and Aang fought the serpent it's tail thrashed around in the water before slamming down on the ice bridge. Almost everyone was able to make it across but Toph. The ice beneath her shattering as she fell straight into the water. Her limbs thrashing around as she tried to keep afloat. "Help! I can't swim!" Toph screamed as her head bobbed up and down in the water.

"I'm coming, Toph!" Sokka called out but it was Suki who dove in to rescue the young girl. She expertly diving in and pulling Toph up to the surface.

"Oh Sokka, you saved me!" Toph said as she was able to catch her breath, turning to kiss her rescuer's cheek.

Suki instantly blushed as she felt the young girl kissing her face. "Actually, it's me," she corrected Toph as she paddled her feet to keep them both above water.

"Oh... well...," Toph chuckled embarrassingly. "You can go ahead and let me drown now," she said as she let her body go limp in Suki's grasp.

Suki held back her chuckle as she paddled them both to safety and out of the water. Deciding against embarrassing the girl further with her mistake, brushing it off. Although she did find it cute that the tough, and brash earth bender was crushing on the water tribe boy. When Suki managed to swim them both to land Katara and Aang drove the serpent off, Aang having slammed it against the cliffside making the beast swim away.

Suki thought for sure when the serpent fled they would be in the clear. That their journey would be smooth the rest of the way up the path. She had not expected to hear Ying's cries in pain, and neither had she expected to be helping Katara to deliver her baby. But what she did expect was hearing Sokka pass out from merely seeing the birth. She had to hold herself back from rolling her eyes and focus on helping Katara.

"Now get ready to push. One... two... three, push!" Katara continued to instruct Ying as she cried out, groaning in pain. Luckily for them, the birth was smooth. Only taking a few hours before the baby finally came to be. The soft cries of the baby girl, echoing inside the earth tent Toph had built.

"She's beautiful," Katara smiled as she wrapped the child in a blanket, before handing her over to Ying. "I'll go get the others," she whispered to Suki as she left the tent leaving her with the family.

"I wish the Blue Spirit was here to see her... she wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him," she whispered as she looks up to Suki, giving her a soft smile.

"I know he'd want to be here too," Suki smiled as she looked down at the small baby. She reaching out to brush the few strands of hair from the child's face.

"So, you want to go see the baby, or are you going to faint like an old lady again?" Suki could hear Toph asking Sokka as they made their way into the tent.

"No, no, I'm good this time," Sokka answered as they grouped around the new parents gazing at the newborn child. Even Aang's hardened gaze softened as he looked at the baby. His bitter and hardened demeanour melting away.

Ying finally decided to name her child as Hope. For the hope, her child had renewed in the young avatar. Suki was happy to see her friend returning to his old self, even if it was just for this moment. Then after a while, when everyone was rested and able to move. They escorted the new family to the edge of the mountain pass and nearing the foot of the wall. Aang rushed ahead on his glider as everyone trailed behind.

"Hey Sokka, it's been really great to see you again," Suki said as she turned to the water tribe boy as everyone else rushed ahead.

"Whoa, hold on. Why does it sound like you're saying goodbye?" he asked confused.

"I came along because I wanted to make sure Than and Ying got through the Serpent's Pass safely. But now I need to get back to the other Kyoshi Warriors," she replied with a shrug.

"So you came along to protect them?" Sokka said disappointed.

Seeing his reaction Suki bit her lip as she looked to him apologetically. "Listen, I'm really sorry, but I really need to get going. See ya Sokka," she said as she turned to leave. But just as she started to walk away, she felt Sokka grabbing hold of her wrist. Stopping her in place.

"Wait before you go I... I have something for you, something I should have given you last night," he mutters a faint blush rushing to his cheeks.

"Sure Sokka what is it?" Suki sighed as she turned back to him. But just as their eyes met. His lips crashed against hers, his hand rising to cup her cheek. It took Suki a moment to realize what was happening. And even then she couldn't believe it.

Present day.

"He kissed me!" she screamed in her head. Everything after that kiss was a blur. She could barely remember her trek back to the refugee camp. All she remembered was the sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach, and her mind running wild as she tried to think of what to tell Zuko.

She wanted to tell him everything, but she feared what telling him would do. Zuko had come a long way since their first meeting. And him learning not only did someone kiss her, but that person was with the Avatar and they were in the city. It could very well destroy all the progress they had together. Suki didn't know what to do.

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