With Love, Snoozles

Hop, Skip and A Jump

"So, what's the deal with your sister?" Toph said, marching with Sokka, Katara and Zuko into the palace. Zuko sighed before speaking. "The problem is I have to figure out what to do with Azula, since she is almost out of the asylum, and she's still my sister."

Sokka scoffed. "Please, that doesn't seem so bad!" Katara elbowed him. "It's not that easy, idiot! Don't you remember Azula trying to kill us a bunch of times?"

Sokka deadpanned. "Oh yeah."

Aang, behind them, spoke. "Let's just try talking to her, we gave Zuko the benefit of the doubt, didn't we?" Everyone nodded. Opening the door to her cell, Zuko signaled everyone in. Toph sighed. "We're not detectives, just walk in."

Sokka burst through the entrance with a loud yell. "SNEAK ATTACK!!!"

Azula, sitting on the ground behind bars with a straight jacket on, raised an eyebrow. "Good to see you, too. But you know it's not a sneak attack if-"

"If I yell it out loud, I know..." Sokka said. Toph shrugged and walked past him to greet the girl. "Hey. I see you ended up right where I thought you would." Azula smirked. "Right. You know, I was going to make a joke, but then I realized you probably wouldn't see the point of it."

Toph narrowed her eyes and smirked. "I'm gonna kill someone today-"

Katara held her back. "Don't! She wants a reaction out of you, calm down!" Zuko sighed and stepped forward. "Hello, Azula. We're here to give you a choice."

"A choice you say? And what choice would that be?" She replied. Toph huffed and snatched her arm away from Katara. "You can either stay here until your slow and agonizing death from a torturing old age or you can go with us and be a better person-" Aang put a hand over her mouth. "What she means to say is...Uhhh..." Sokka chuckled. "Yeah, what she said." Katara face palmed. "Nice going, Toph."

Azula cackled, making everyone in the room jump. "At least she's speaking the truth! You all try to speak to me as if I were a child. It's patronizing, really."

The door creaked open and someone poked their head through the crack. "Zuko?" Toph rolled her eyes when she heard the persons voice, and immediately knew who it was. "Well, here comes trouble."

Suki took a deep breath and placed her hand on the cool door knob. 'If you do this, you can't back out.'

She didn't know why Zuko had insisted on her being there, but it did make sense, on account of her being one of his guards. After everything that had happened these last few months, she thought she was incapable of restoring her friendship with the others. Or, at least the majority of them. Abort mission! They'll never forgive you!

Shaking the thought out of her head, she opened the door and peeked her head around the corner. "Zuko? Everything good in here?" She noticed Toph rolling her eyes and Katara went silent. Zuko waved her in. "All good, but we need your opinion."

Sokka raised an eyebrow. "We do?" Katara elbowed him once more, shushing him. "If Zuko says we do, then we do." Zuko gave her a small smile, making Sokka suspicious. What in the world...?

Suki walked past everyone and eyed Azula suspiciously. "Honestly, I want you to leave her in here for as long as possible, at least until she gets her act together."

"Glad someone's got brains around here." Toph added. Suki smiled softly before turning back the Azula. "In order to ensure that she's legally bound to stay out of trouble, there's only one thing that we can do."

Everyone shared the same look of confusion and shrugged. "And what's that?" Katara asked. Suki smirked. "A public oath."

LATER-

A large crowd was gathered around the ceremonial stage, murming about what was to come. With the curtains closed, the Gaang discussed what would go down during the oath. Sokka pointed his boomerang at Azula. "You better behave yourself today, or else!"

Azula narrowed her eyes. "Or else what?" Toph pushed Sokka out of the way and got in Azula's face. "Or else the other time you'll end up on a stage is when they present your body at your funeral, got that?" Sokka snickered and put the pinkie finger up at Azula. "Yeah, what she said."

Zuko, Aang, Katara and Suki watched from afar, chuckling to themselves. "I guess they've got it covered." Katara said. Suki nodded. "They really do make a good couple, yeah?"

Aang and Katara gasped silently before smiling at her. "Yeah, they do."
Suki turned to the Water Tribe girl and sighed. "I'm really sorry for everything. You're such a strong, brave young woman, and none of us would've gotten this far without you. Without any of you guys, really."

Katara silently cheered and clapped her hands. "Apology accepted, girl!" Zuko gave her a thumbs up and smiled. Aang hugged her, lifting her off the ground. "We've missed you, Suki."

"I pledge, to the Royal and law abiding citizens of the Fire Nation, that I have renewed my heart to be a better person. I ask that by the authority of Fire Lord Zuko and Avatar Aang, I will be given a second chance to live my life outside of imprisonment..." Azula stood up straight, saying her words clearly as they rang through thought the crowd. Aang tip-toed near her and elbowed her. "Hey, don't forget the last part."

Azula grumbled and face towards the mic once more. "I also pledge that I, former Princess Azula, will be good buddies with Avatar Aang, who will train me in the importance of patience, humility, and...a proper diet."

Aang clapped excitedly as Zuko walked up next to his sister. "Azula."
She kept a straight face while keeping her gaze towards the crowd. "Zuzu."

They glanced at each other before laughing, putting the crowd at ease. Seeing the two siblings together again brought back memories from the two's early childhood, both equals at this moment compared to how they had been before. Zuko gently led her closer to the edge of the stage, snapping his fingers to signal for Suki. She walked over and handed him the keys to her restraints. Azula smiled softly and kept her eyes on the ground. Things were going to be different now.

Toph sighed and leaned up against Sokka, who wrapped his arm around her small frame. "Can we go home now?" She asked. Sokka chuckled. "You read my mind, sweetie."

Toph rolled her eyes. "Gross." Sokka kissed her cheek, causing her to blush furiously. "I don't know, I kinda like it, dont you?" He asked. She looked away and punched him in the arm. "Maybe I hate it a little less..."

Sokka pulled her closer and smiled warmly, looking her in the eyes. She felt her face heat up more, feeling his stare. "W-what now?" The crowd erupted into applause, telling them that the ceremony was now over. Sokka turned back to her to answer her question.

"Duh, marry me."