Meet the Family

If Sokka had to pick one thing and one thing only that was better in this life than his last one, he'd have to say his family.

Not to say Jin Zixuan didn't love his previous family. If he didn't have some level of familial affection for them he would have strangled all of them in their sleep a thousand times over.

A power-hungry lecher of a father, a bitter and pushy mother (though unlike the others, she at least tried), a cruel loud-mouthed cousin, and a half-brother he thought he could count on, but had apparently instead set up his death. Truely, they were proof that love was blind, because if he hadn't been related to them and cared for them so, they were the types of people Jin Zixuan would have avoided at all costs.

Sokka had no such qualms. Sokka had a father who was blatant in his love and went to war to protect him, instead of a father that always made him earn his affection and cowered in his golden tower while better men died. Sokka had memories of a mother taken too soon but remembered as kind and giving, instead of a mother who planned his life for him and judged people based on their breeding. Sokka had a stern grandmother who loved and made sure he was cared for in a harsh winter environment, instead of a mouthy cousin who only seemed to exist to cause problems. And most importantly, Sokka had an amazing, badass sister (not that he'd ever say that to her face) who always had his back, instead of a half-brother who hadn't hesitated to stab him there.

In other words, Sokka had it great. Sure, he wasn't rich and the world was at the tail-end of a hundred-year war, but he wouldn't trade his igloo in the South Pole for all the gold in Koi Tower.

However, because Hakoda was so, so much better than Jin Guangshan, Sokka was that much more desperate for his approval. And if, for some unfathomable reason he didn't like the love of his life (Which shouldn't be possible, how could anyone not like Yue?), then it would probably break him.

Yue, of course, thought he was being silly.

"It's sweet that you're so nervous about this," she said as she and Sokka approached the Water Tribe camp. Finding out from the Dai Li's records that they were so close had left them miffed but grateful. Getting another world leader to sign the agreement with Zuko put them all the closer to beating the Fire Lord.

Is it weird that Sokka was less nervous about talking his dad into making a deal with the prince of their enemy nation than he was about introducing him to his fiance?

He didn't have much time to ponder that question as the camp came into sight.

The men working around the camp all froze as the two of them came into sight, surprised to see people wearing their colors approaching, and then even more so to recognize one of their faces.

Then, one man reached out a hand, and Sokka grasped it back in a Water Tribe greeting.

It felt like coming home.

All the gold of Koi Tower could suck it.

They were then led to a tent, and Yue hung back, allowing him to do the next part alone.

Sokka took a deep breath to steady himself, took one last look at Yue, before stepping into the tent.

Sitting at the head of a meeting, with Bato at his side, Sokka's father looked up and his eyes widened before immediately becoming warm. "Sokka," he said, recognizing his son immediately.

Instantly, a lot of the anxiety Sokka had been feeling melted away, and was replaced with an incessant need to hug his dad.

He hugged his dad.

His dad hugged him back, and everyone pretended not to notice how both of their eyes were moist.

After a brief chat about how Sokka found them, he pulled his father out of the tent and presented him to Yue.

"Dad, I'd like you to meet Yue. She's my fiance," Sokka said, gesturing wildly at Yue to indicate he was showing off something grand.

Yue blushed and giggled, before holding her hand out in greeting. "It is nice to meet you, Chief Hakoda. I've heard such wonderful things."

Hakoda stared at Yue with a gobsmacked expression, and took her hand and greeted her in a manner that more indicated instinctive practice than a conscious choice.

Then he leaned back into the tent and called out, "Bato! How long have we been out here again?"

"A few years, three maybe, why?" Bato called back.

Hakoda looked at Sokka and Yue again, and said, "My son is fixing to get married. Are you sure it wasn't longer? How much have I missed?"

There was a beat of silence, before Bato rushed out of the tent with an expression like he was wondering if he was forgetting years too.

Upon hearing that, the rest of the camp came rushing around callamoring to greet Yue and ask how their Little Sokka had managed to get engaged when the last time they saw him he was a kid whose voice still hadn't broken.

Needless to say, everyone came to adore Yue very quickly. Hakoda included.

The alliance with the Fire Princes was not as welcomed, but Hakoda trusted Sokka's judgment and would sign the agreement.

Now they just needed to tell him about the whole past lives thing…


When Ty Lee saw the poster for her old circus with her face inked onto it (man, was it creepy that the Dai Li had been investigating them without their knowledge), she first wondered if there was a mistake.

She'd seen such a poster several times. Her circus would send some acts ahead to place them around the nearby towns they were next going to, and perform on the streets to drum up attendance. They had several printed with a blank spot at the bottom to fill in the location and dates they would be there.

But this poster was advertising the next show was at a port town across the gulf from Chameleon Bay, and the circus was supposed to be there right now.

But she'd never been in a show anywhere near Chameleon Bay. And her Ringmaster had been far too professional to give out posters for an act that wasn't there. Ty Lee was fully aware of how her pretty face could draw a crowd, and how disappointed people would be if she never showed.

The only explanation for this she could think of was that Ty Lin had never left the circus.

But why?

She said she didn't want any drama. She wanted to enjoy this new life in ways she couldn't as Mo Xuanyu. To just go home and find a nice boy to date. Why would she stay at the circus and apparently assume Ty Lee's name if the poster was anything to go by.

Either things were worse at home than Ty Lin had told her, or Ty Lee was missing something, and there was only one way to find out what.

She and Mai were going on a date to the circus.

Thankfully, it was on the way to the Eastern Air Temple, where Aang was set to meet up with a Guru for training, so he was able to drop them off on Appa outside of town to go check it out. Reluctantly, they left TomTom behind with Katara for his own safety.

Mai looked around the circus as they walked through the tents. "I can see why you liked it here," she said.

"You can?" asked Ty Lee curiously.

Mai nodded, taking in the organized chaos of everyone preparing for the night's show, all of whom did a double-take at the sight of them, no doubt thinking Ty Lee was one of her sisters, but sparing them a friendly wave regardless. "Plenty to keep you busy, and the people seem kind, it's a good place for you."

Ty Lee sighed and smiled at happy memories. "Yeah, I really loved it. Everyone here was so nice, and we were always moving, always seeing new places. And of course, there were the shows. You know how much I like to show off. It was great to hear people cheering for me when I did it."

Mai gave her an unreadable look. "You didn't have to leave if you didn't want to. If you were happy, you could have stayed. I would have come to find you."

Ty Lee gave her love a fond smile, and pecked her love on the cheek. "I could have, but as much as I liked it here, there are some things that I love more."

Mai gave a rare smile back, and pulled Ty Lee in for a less chaste kiss, but they were interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat.

They both looked up to see the Ringmaster approaching them, looking like he knew fully well what he'd just interrupted, and wanted to get this over with quickly. "Pardon me, young ladies, but are you perhaps Ty Lin, our Ty Lee's sister? She said you'd come by and left a message for you."

Considering that she was not Ty Lin and she had certainly not left any messages when she left, Ty Lee immediately said, "Yes, that's right. Where is Lee? Is she hiding again?"

The Ringmaster laughed, knowing full well the entire circus would be willing to hide Ty Lee from her family if she wanted to avoid them. "No, not this time. Our revered princess requested her assistance with something, and she returned to the Fire Nation just a few days ago. With a full escort too, so I assure you she is perfectly safe."

Ty Lee forced herself not to share a worried look with Mai. That did not sound good. But why was Ty Lin pretending to be Ty Lee?

"I see," Ty Lee said, pretending to be relieved. "May I see the message?"

The Ringmaster handed her a note. "I can't make heads or tails of it, but she said your sisters had your own secret twin language" he said jovially.

"Well, there are some advantages to being septuplets," Ty Lee agreed brightly, despite the fact her sisters had never made such a thing. But a quick peek at the paper had her recognizing an excellent copy of her own terrible hand-writing and preferred shorthand.

She and Mai gave the Ringmaster a bow in thanks, and made their way out of the circus tents.

If Ty Lin had done this much to ensure secrecy, then it would likely be best for Ty Lee not to read this note where there was an audience.

She and Mai made their way to the beach, and out of sight of anyone before Ty Lee opened the note and read it.

Her face instantly went pale, and the paper started to crinkle with the force she was using to hold it.

Immediately concerned, Mai placed a hand on her shoulder, and asked, "What? What's wrong? Is she in danger?"

Ty Lee gave a choked and mirthless laugh at the question. "We all are," she said, handing the note to Mai.

Mai, who had long learned how to decipher Wei Wuxian's chicken-scratch, could read the message clearly and her eyes hardened.

'Azula is Jin Guangyao. She thinks I'm you. Be careful.'

Mai shredded the note and threw it into the sea. Ty Lin's life was in danger enough without there being evidence of her warning them.

"We have to tell the others. Now," she said firmly.

Ty Lee nodded, and they both took off back towards Ba Sing Se.

Fortunately, by the time night fell, Aang was swooping down on Appa to give them a lift.

But from the grim look on his face, the couple worried they may already be too late.


A/N One family reunion successful, the other not so much.