Sokka Of The Fire Nation

Goodbyes And New Beginnings

Sokka had made up his mind a long time ago that when the war was over he was going to be staying with Zuko. It wasn't really a hard choice. Sure he was going to miss Katara and his home, but Katara was building a life with Aang and his tribe would be fine without him.

There was only one little problem...he hadn't told anyone yet.

From behind him a pair of arms wrapped around his waist "Something wrong, love?" Zuko asked. He loved moments like this just him and Zuko, nothing else mattered except there love.

"Just thinking about how I'm going to tell everyone that I'm staying." He was so comfortable with sharing his feelings with Zuko which was crazy considering they had started off as enemies.

"You don't have to stay," Zuko kissed him right below the ear. "We can make this work long distance, the fire nation has some of the fastest ships. We can send letters back and forth and find time to meet when our schedules allow it."

He turned himself around without breaking Zuko's hold on him so he could look the prince...no...the Fire Lord in the eyes. "We both know that wouldn't work," he pressed a finger against Zuko's lips so he couldn't interrupt him "And I want this Zu. I want to be with you."

"I know I just hate the idea of taking you from your family." Zuko admitted

"They'll understand." he said confidently.

Or at least he hoped they would understand.

-

It was the morning when everyone would be leaving and Zuko had invited them all to the palace for breakfast.

Sokka looked himself in the mirror as he got ready to go downstairs and make the announcement.

I can do this, I can do this

He nearly had a heart attack when someone started banging on the door. He didn't immediately go to get it because he had spent the night in Zuko's room. But the banging was insistent.

He got up from his chair to open the door and a familiar face greeted him, Katara.

They hugged but it felt different than any other time they had done so in the past. It felt like it meant so much more.

"You can relax, we all know your staying."

And there was that typical Katara bluntness. He tried not to cry, he really did. All the memories came to him at once and realizing the fact that this person who had been an integral part of his life since forever was going to be leaving in a few hours and he had no idea when he would see her again.

So he cried. And then she cried. And then they fell to the ground on their knees embracing each other and cried some more.

"I promise I'll visit, when whenever I can." Katara assured him

"And I'll visit you to as soon as we get the Fire Nation back on it's feet."

-

Delicious fresh meat, one of the perks of living in the palace was definitely going to be the 20 people kitchen staff tasked with feeding him whatever he wanted. He happily ate the bowl of food in front of him and watched his friends.

Everyone was engaged in small talk, telling the tales of their adventures and close call during the war.

He felt weird, but he didn't want to ruin the mood since everyone seemed so happy.

"Something wrong Sokka?" Hakoda asked from across the table.

I guess nows as good a time as any

"Dad, I have something to tell you." Zuko took his hand giving him support. "I'm not going back. I'm staying here with Zuko and...he asked me to marry him and I said yes."

The entire room was filled with applause.

"Sokka! You didn't tell me you guys were getting married." Katara beamed. It felt nice that she was being so supportive

"Sorry, he asked a few weeks after boiling rock, and then we were all so busy that it slipped my mind to tell you." He explained

"I'm happy for you son, both of you," his father said and to his surprise, he was misty eyed. "When is the wedding?"

"Were hoping to get married sometime in the summer, but you'll have to ask Sokka about any details he's not letting me plan." Zuko teased.

He punched the firebender playfully "Do say it like that your not going to have the time to plan the wedding, we still have to plan your coronation."

"Hope you have the treasury staked Zuko, you know this wedding is going to be expensive." Toph joked

"Hey! You know you can be uninvited," he whined to a very non threatened Toph