After her death, Hakoda and Sokka never talked about Suki. It was the good kind of not-talking. Hakoda did not need to acknowledge the things he and his son had in common; they both knew just by looking at each other. When they sat in silence, side by side, Sokka knew what Hakoda was thinking about; that Hakoda, at one point, had been just where Sokka was, and he had turned into one of the most amazing people Sokka knew. Sokka would be all right, just the way Hakoda was. It would take time, but both of them knew it was true, and they didn't need to tell each other what they already knew.

Sometimes Sokka did wish he could ask if it ever stopped hurting, if Hakoda ever stopped looking for Kaya's face in Katara's and clinging to any resemblance he saw. But Sokka couldn't, and it was all right, because he couldn't talk about Suki with anyone else, either.

Returning to the Jasmine Dragon without Suki was a strange and horrible experience. It was strange enough being out of the Southern Water Tribe for the first time in almost three years. Walking through cities made of stone and brick again was almost surreal; he kept waiting to wake up back in his own bed, one arm curled around Kuei

But he was here, and he needed to focus on the good in life.

Like Toph, who was waiting for him, Aang, and Katara when they arrived. She had been in her hometown for her parents' birthday; they had a truce these days, but Sokka didn't think they would ever love each other the way parents and children were supposed to.

She stayed sat when they walked in, her fingers curled around a cup of jasmine tea, but she couldn't keep a grin off her face. "Finally," she said, putting her arms behind her head. "I thought you guys were never gonna show. I thought it was just gonna be me and Angry Jerk all this time—do you know how boring that would be?"

"One of these days, Toph, you're going to call me by name," said Zuko, who was lounging on a pile of cushions in the corner, his back against Mai's.

"Pfft," said Toph, sticking out her tongue in his general direction.

Aang exchanged a glance with Sokka and Katara, the kind of look that only meant one thing. Sokka set Kuei, two and a half now, on the floor and pushed him in Zuko and Mai's general direction. Toph cocked her head, but before she could say anything, the three of them rushed across the room and tackled her out of her chair, landing on a large pillow with a loud thump. Toph yelped, her feet straight up in the air, and slugged whoever was closest—Sokka, in this case. Good thing he was used to it. She tried to struggle away, but the others held her fast until she submitted, only because she was laughing too hard to speak.

Aang set his head on her shoulder. He had one arm around Toph's waist; the other held Katara against him as she leaned an elbow on Toph's stomach. "Group hug," he announced, grinning.

"This was your idea, Twinkletoes, wasn't it?" said Toph. She couldn't growl properly because she was grinning too much, but she did manage a very good nasty look. Sokka was impressed. Aang made a pleased noise and snuggled closer. "I'll get you for this."

"You guys," said Mai, with that exqusite distaste in her voice only she could truly muster, "are disgusting."

"Grr," said Toph, but she didn't try to get up again.

The next few hours were blissful, like the first time they had come here after the end of the war. Back when they really thought everything was over because Ozai was in a cell and the Earth King was on his way home. Sokka didn't like to remember how naïve those thoughts were. The fifth anniversary of Ozai's defeat had come and gone, and they were still fighting.

And Suki was cold in the ground.

The thought made him shudder, and he had to excuse himself and go out to the balcony.

Nobody noticed that Sokka left because Mai, in her usual fashion, had managed to turn everything on its head a few minutes before. She was accepted by everyone now. Once you got past the boredom and sarcasm—well, there was something else there, and though nobody could quite name it, they appreciated it. Also, Mai had this wonderful habit of completely disconcerting Zuko, which Toph thought was amazing.

"Jeeze," said Mai, after Katara hugged Toph for probably the third time that night (not counting the tackle). "You guys'd think you weren't going to see each other again soon."

The rest of the group exchanged glances. Mai knew their schedule as well as everyone else. "Well, we're not," said Katara, her arms still around Toph's neck. "Aang and I have to go back to Omashu, and Sokka's got to go back home, and Toph—"

Before she could say where Toph had to go—west, back to the colonies—Mai let out one of her signature sighs. "I know all of that." Her voice held the patience of someone constantly surrounded by less intelligent people—another thing Toph liked about her. "But you'll have an excuse to get together again, won't you?"

Even Zuko looked confused; they all stopped and looked at her, and Mai let out another disgusted sigh. "Isn't it obvious? I'm having a baby, and you're all coming to the naming ceremony."

Zuko made a noise that could only be described as a "squeaky scream," which told everyone present Mai had forgotten to mention this detail to him ahead of time. Toph wanted to ask someone what his face looked like, but everyone was too busy talking. Aang was congratulating them, and Katara was squealing, even louder than she had when Suki got pregnant. Iroh was laughing so hard it came out only as gasps. And Kuei, who never liked being left out, was shouting his latest word, penguin, at the top of his lungs.

And Sokka slipped out in all the confusion, and Toph didn't care about anything else. She found Mai's hand and squeezed it, which was the only sort of congratulations Mai would appreciate anyway, and then she followed him.

Sokka heard her coming , but he didn't turn around; he thought maybe if he stood very still, she would go back to the others. If she did, he knew she wouldn't bring it up, and she wouldn't fuss about it like the others would. But he knew she wasn't going to go back. He wiped an arm across his eyes in the ridiculous hope she wouldn't hear his sadness in his voice.

Toph walked up to the balcony and leaned her elbows on it, her face turned toward the setting sun. "You know, it's nice to actually see you for once." Her voice was no different than it had been inside, and he was glad of that. She let out an overacted sigh. "Too bad you're so damn ugly, or I might actually be happy about it."

Sokka burst out laughing. Toph set her head on her arms, and he wiped his eyes again and put his arm around her thin shoulders and hugged her close. "Spirits, I missed you," he whispered, rubbing her arm.

"Of course you did, Snoozles," said Toph, with a surprisingly fond expression. She pressed her cheek against his chest, and then she nudged him with his elbow. "Come on. Let's go back inside before Sugar Queen notices and gets all weepy on us."

They turned as one, his arm still around her; they had plenty of practice with that. He shook his head. "Eh, she'll already be crying. Did you see the look on Zuko's face?" Toph slugged him. "Oh. Sorry."