Sokka couldn't believe that Toph thought he had used her. He loved her! Of course, he hadn't admitted that yet, but it was completely true. He lay in his bed, trying to fall asleep, but failing. His mind was too busy.

Tomorrow, the gAang was leaving for the Firenation to meet up with Zuko, and, hopefully, bring Ozai back to his rightful place in prison. The evil ex-Firelord had miraculously escaped. Everyone agreed that Ozai had help in his escape, so the first step was finding him and squashing his allies. Their bags were all packed and provisions for the five hour flight were already in Appa's saddle. All that was left for Sokka to do was to fall asleep.

::::::::

Early morning light peeked over the horizon when Aang, Sokka, Toph, and Katara took off for the Firenation. Sokka hadn't been able to sleep at all, and of course, Toph was the first to notice.

"Why are you so grumpy this morning," she asked, grasping his arm in a death grip st Appa flew over the green hills of the Earth Kingdom.

"I'm not grumpy," he defended himself.

"Yes you are, meathead. Now, tell me why."

That was the Toph he knew: strong willed, ambitious, stubborn, and absolutely beautiful. He rubbed his thumb over the soft skin on her tense hand, trying to calm her down.

"I just didn't sleep well," he mumbled. She furrowed her eyebrows in concern.

"You could sleep now. We have about four hours and fifty minutes until we get there."

He smirked at her," I was thinking about it, but you should sleep with me."

"Wh...what?" The shock was plastered on her face. Her unseeing eyes stayed trained somewhere behind them.

"Come over here and sleep with me, just like last time," he looked over to see his sister staring approvingly at the pair. He nodded in her direction.

"I don't know-"

He cut her off by pulling her into his chest. They fell backwards into the soft fur of the saddle, Toph laying on top of him. She snuggled into him a little, making the butterflies in his stomach act up. Running with them, he wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes.

The next time he woke up, the sun was high in the sky, signifying the return of midday. Sokka attempted to sit up, but he remembered that Toph was asleep on his chest. Her head lolled on his shoulder and she had his parka in her delicate fists. He tightened his hold on her, hoping to catch a few more winks of sleep, but Katara called him from the front.

"Wake up guys! We're almost there!"

Sokka shook Toph awake and she crawled off his lap, careful to avoid the edge. He held her hand tightly as the Firenation came into view. It was located in an extinct dome volcano with the palace in the center of the town. Seeing it again brought back memories of the Hundred Year War. The underground bunker with Azula, losing his space sword, breaking his leg, and barely saving Toph's life on top of the war balloon. That day still haunted him, but it was a victory for the world. Now Ozai was a threat again, and they were going to stop him.

In their decent, Appa managed to scare two palace guards, four garden keepers, and Zuko, who was kissing Mai on the grass by the turtle-duck pond. He jumped up, surprised to see them early, and Mai smiled, happier then her usual self.

"Aang! You told me to expect you later in the letter you sent," the young Firelord greeted the Avatar as he airbended off of the flying bison.

"There wasn't any traffic," Aang joked.

Katara was next, helped down by Aang, and then Sokka, who gently picked Toph up bridal style. She sighed in relief when the dirt hit her feet. Mai hugged each of them, seeming to have grown out of her depression, thankfully. She was always more agreeable with Zuko, her husband.

The Firelord turned to Sokka, pointing to his blind girlfriend," I hear you two are together. Is it true? Did you finally man up?"

Sokka smirked," To answer your question, yes. I did."

Without hesitation, he kissed her, full on the lips, in front of everyone. He could tell that she'd seen it coming this time because she immediately reacted, kissing him back. A series of cat calls followed their show. Smiling, on her lips, he continued to kiss her, knowing that a battle was looming on the horizon, and he would have to be along with his friends, fighting for the world.