Toph woke up to complete silence. Not the kind where you can tell something bad is about to happen, but the content and peaceful kind. She didn't mind the quiet. It was fulfilling. She was warm and happy. The sunrise shone through her closed eye lids. She smiled and rolled over, intending to sleep more. But her intentions shattered when she bumped into something strangely alive.

Toph screamed, and the lump screamed back. If only she could see... That was when she realized that the lump was actually Sokka. She closed her mouth mid-scream.

"Toph! Are you alright?" Sokka asked worried.

"Just fine," she breathed," I forgot where I was for a second."

"Oh, well your here. On Appa. We're going to the South Pole," Sokka told her.

"Yes, I remember now. That's why I'm so cold," Toph smiled, referring to the chilly air.

Aang popped up from Appa' s head where he and Katara had slept that night.

"Wazzupp?" He asked, groggy.

"Every one alright?" Katara asked.

"I'm fine. Just-" Toph stopped what she had been saying. Sokka had put his arm around her shoulders. She blushed scarlet. Her cheeks were burning and her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest.

"Um....."  her brain had gone all fuzzy. She suddenly couldn't remember what she was talking about.

"She was just a little bit scared. That's all," Sokka saved her. She could tell that he was smiling at her.

"Well, I'm gonna go...." Aang yawned and started to turn around.

"No! Look!" Katara was clearly pointing at something in the distance. Toph( for the billionth time in her life) wished she wasn't blind.

"What?! What is it? I can't see," she waved a hand in front of her unblinking eyes for emphasis.

"It's the Southern Water Tribe. They're waiting for us."

"Wait, what? They're waiting for us? As in... big crowd? Lots of people?" Toph asked nervously.

"That'd be correct!" Aang answered happily.

"Ugh.." Toph slumped in the fur trodden saddle.

She hated big crowds. They were always asking for her autographs because she'd helped save the world. The Blind Bandit they called her; An old nickname that she didn't use anymore. But worst of all, cold they see? She couldn't sign autographs. She was blind, for Pete's sake!

"Hey, it'll be okay. I'm sure no one will ask you for an autograph. The tribe probably doesn't even know what those are" Sokka tried to reassure her. Toph wasn't convinced.

"What if they don't like me? They'll kick me out and I then I won't be able to visit anymore. I'm not even sure if-"

"Toph," he brought her attention back to him," The tribe is going to love you. Especially my dad. I know he's met you before, in the Invasion, but you've changed a lot. Personally, I think you've grown soft."

The sarcasm was thick in his smooth voice. Sokka had always been the funny one out of Katara, Aang, and Toph. Ever since the first time she'd met Sokka, he'd made her laugh. She could remember lots of fun times with the gAang, especially with Sokka. She was sad when their adventures ended, but she liked the visits she got from Sokka, Katara, and Aang. That was why she was excited to go to the South Pole: she hoped that it was like her time running with the gAang. Aang landed Appa on the snow covered ice. The cold wind ruffled her long black hair, and she shivered. The cold was going to take some getting used to. That was, if the tribe allowed her to be there.

She took a deep breath of the cool arctic air and thought, here goes nothing...

Sokka nudged her. She smiled in his direction and crawled over to the edge as Sokka jumped off of Appa.

"Do you want me to help you Toph? I don't want you to fall," Sokka asked from below her.

"No Sokka. I want to do this," she placed her feet on the edge of the saddle. Teetering on the edge, she realized it was the same as getting off in the Earth Kingdom.

  "I'm capable of getting down by myself. Its really not that diff-" her feet slipped and she fell with a scream.

Instinctively, her eyes were squeezed shut as she braced for impact, although it never came. She felt strong arms around her, and those arms felt just like Sokka's. All she could think abpit were his strong arms holding her. Holding HER. She probably could've broken a bone if he hadn't caught her.

   " Toph. It's okay I've got you. You can open your eyes."

   When she didn't oblige he asked," Do  I really look that bad?"

    She let out a breath that she hadn't realized she was holding. Sokka had a way of making her feel better. He was the best person she had ever met. She opened her eyes to the usual darkness.

    "No Sokka, you don't look bad. Not at all," She told him.

    He smirked at her response. She registered her accelerated heart rate. She felt good. She might actually have a chance with him. He might know now how she acted when he was around. He set her on the ground and turned in the direction that the tribe must have been in. He pulled her with him. She sighed. She was still a little nervous that she wouldn't be accepted. Aang and Katara joined them.

    " Did you mean to do that Toph?" Aang asked her.

    "Shut up Twinkle Toes," she swung a light punch in the direction of his voice. She hit him just above the belly button. He barely flinched. Aang used to cringe when she would punched him, but he had practiced more than she had over the years. Sokka was right. She had grown soft. But that was okay because she could still earthbend. Couldn't she? That was all she needed.

   "Toph," Sokka broke into her thoughts for the second time that day," meet the Southern Water Tribe!"

    She waved slightly and said," H-hi,"

   "Southern Water Tribe, meet the amazing Toph Bei Fong!"

   " Hello," the tribe answered her shy greeting.

   The Southern Water Tribe turned out to only be 30 men, women, and children. Toph didn't really have anything to worry about. The people were all very pleasant to be around. Sokka took her to meet everyone. She laughed and talked to them all.

    "See, you have nothing to fear," Sokka told her.

    "I..... I guess your right. It wasn't terrible. I enjoyed meeting those people," Toph agreed

     "Can I just say... told ya so!"

    Toph rolled her milky eyes," I thought there were going to be more people. Wasn't I going to see-"

    "Oh! My dad. Where is he?" Sokka grabbed her hand and started  trudging through the deep snow. She ignored her beating heart at the feeling of his warm hand in hers. Instead she focused on the pin pricks in her bare feet. The cold seeped into her bones. The fabric of her jade dress absorbed the wet crystals falling from the sky. She hadn't ever been this cold in her 17 years of living in the world. The Earth Kingdom was fairly warm. Not as hot as the Fire Nation. She wished she was there. With the gAang of course. It would be awkward to be there with Zuko and Mai. She suddenly remembered how cold she was.

   "Uhh, S-Sokka?" She asked, chattering.

   "I'm not going in the wrong direction. I live here," he said concentrating.

   "No, I-I  wasn't g-going to say that. I can't s-see remember? I'm c-cold," she shivered uncontrollably. He stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her.

   "Oh god! I forgot. You don't have shoes. Your dress. We should go get you some warmer clothes," he scooped Toph up in his arms. She blushed.

   "Um, w-wahat are you doing?" She asked embarrassed

   "Carrying you. Your not that heavy. Your lighter than my sister," he smiled.

   "Hey! Sokka, you are so mean. Why are carrying Toph any way?" Katara joined them with Aang at her side.

   "Her feet," he answered as if that explained everything.

   "I-I don't have a-any shoes," she told Katara throwing an apologetic tone in her voice. She stuck out her small ivory skin colored feet to prove her point. She shivered.

    "We're going to buy some boots and warmer clothes," Sokka told Katara as he turned left.

   "She felt him walk up some kind of stairs onto something that sounded hollow. She guessed it was wood. They had reached the shop where she would finally get some warmer clothes. She was a little apprehensive about wearing the boots, but if they kept her warm she didn't care. She heard door hinges squeak. Then footsteps. She could feel warmth all around her. The shop keeper must've made a fire, she thought.

   Sokka set her down and greeted the owner of the shop. She sounded about 50 years old," Hello Kana. Will you help us?"

   "Certainly! Katara...Aang, how are you?" Kana's eyes traveled over to Toph.

   "Who is this beautiful woman?" Kana asked Sokka. Toph blushed. She wasn't sure what she looked like, but you could hardly call her beautiful. She was blind. Nobody wanted that. She hung her head. Not even Sokka. Sure she could see on earth and metal, but who wanted to live in that? She would be completely helpless in a house. She was going to be alone forever.

    "This is Toph Bei Fong. She's visiting." Sokka answered

   Kana gasped," The Toph Bei Fong?"

   "That's me," she felt uncomfortable. She realized then that she was shy. She had never thought about, but now that she did she became aware that she was awkward around new people. It had always been a problem for her.

   "Wow, it's so nice to meet you. I've heard so many stories.....Oh! What was it you needed, sweetie? I got carried away," she smiled at Toph. Toph smiled back.

   "Yes. Let's see... we need a dress, parka, and some boots for Toph here," Sokka turned serious. He always turned that way when he shopped. Weird, wasn't it?

   "Come this way hun. We'll fix you right up," Kana lead her towards the back of the shop. (Or at least that's what she thought it was...)

   Kana let go of her wrist and sorted through the racks of clothing. She pulled things out and put them back. After a few minutes Toph had a dress and a parka thrown over her arm and boots in her hands. Kana pushed her into something fairly small. It had just enough room for her to stick out her arms. She guessed that it was a dressing room.

   She threw on the dress. It felt like it fit. She shrugged and sat on the floor to put on her boots. She tugged one on. Then the other. She gathered the parka in her arms. After she took a deep breath she opened the fabric separating her from the back room. Kana lead her back to the to the gAang.

    "So... Um... how do I look guys?" She asked them.

   She was surprised when Sokka answered first. All the sarcasm and seriousness had melted from his voice. He sounded stunned.

   "You look beautiful, Toph"