Sokka stared in shock. Katara. It can't be...

But it was. It really was!

And then she was running, throwing herself into Dad's arms. And Dad passed her around, and they were all hugging and laughing and crying- I'm such a baby.

But my sister is alive!

It's okay to cry, right?

Sokka didn't know. Sokka didn't care.

She's alive! Katara's ALIVE!

Finally they calmed down, and Katara stood back. A little girl ran up to her and clutched her skirt.

"Mommy, who's this?"

Wait- MOMMY? Sokka stared in shock, and he knew he wasn't the only one.

"Did she say.. mommy?" Suki asked, and her hand found Sokka's, clenching it tightly. She knew what this was doing to his mind.

Katara brushed the girl's black hair back from her head. Her eyes reminded Sokka of Katara's own eyes. Of his eyes.

"Lia, why don't you run and make some tea, okay?"

"Okay." The little girl ran back behind the counter, and Sokka frowned, confused.

"She's just a kid. She shouldn't be messing with hot liquid, she could get hurt!"

Katara smiled. "Already the protective uncle, I see. Allia is a more powerful waterbender than even me. She'll be fine. Come, sit down. I guess I've got some explaining to do."

"Yeah. I guess so." This from Dad, as he watched Allia bend water into a ball and stare at it. Sokka gaped as it started to bubble, and the little girl grinned. She bent the boiling water into the pot with the tea bags and made circling motions, stirring it up. By the time Sokka, Suki, Dad, Aang, and Katara were seated at the table, little Allia was bringing over a pot of tea.

Amazing.

And Sokka realized that it was even more amazing than that, as Katara began her tale.

"I didn't die when I fell off the cliff. But I did lose my memory..."

**__**

"... and when I got sick, they brought me here, and I've been here ever since."

"But I don't understand, why didn't you come home once you got your memory back? Why- why did you let us think you were dead?"

"I have Lia to think about. And everyone already thought I was dead and gone- it just seemed easier this way."

"Well... Katara, where's Lia's father? What... there are so many holes in your story. Were you with the pirates ever since the north pole?"

"Look, I don't really want to talk about it, okay? It- it's not easy to remember."

"That's fine. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." But Dad's voice is worried, and all four of them are looking at me with wide eyes. I didn't tell them about Aki or Zuk- him. It's no wonder they're worried. But it's none of their business.

I yawn, and Sokka stands.

"It's late. We should all get some rest."

"Yeah. You guys can sleep here tonight- I'll bring down some blankets. We'll talk more tomorrow."

Dad pulls me into a hug, and I hug him back. I have missed him! But I don't know what I'll do now. They're never going to let me stay here, and I don't know if I can go back to the south pole, if I can survive in a world where the man I hate is revered and loved.

You don't really hate him.

SHUT UP! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING! I slam the door open, remembering too late that Lia's asleep. She sits up fast, and I rush to her side.

"Mommy?"

"It's okay, sweetheart. Go back to sleep now."

"Okay." She snuggles back into her blankets, and I stroke her hair back, watching as her breathing evens out. Once she's asleep again, I gather a few blankets to take to my family. My family.

I'd forgotten how good that sounds.

Maybe them knowing I'm alive won't be so bad, after all.

**__**

Sokka looks up at me and grins. He does that every time he sees me, but for some reason it's not annoying. It's... endearing. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed my brother.

"Heeeheeee hahahaha hee! Grandpa! Heahahahaha!"

I look across the table to see Dad holding Lia upside down and shaking her. "Dad!" He grins.

"She took my spoon!"

They're both grinning and I can't help but smile as I look around the table and see my friends and family surrounding me. Dad and Lia, Aang and Sokka and Suki. Hila and Tok are bustling around the tavern, getting things ready for the lunch rush. Hila looks over at me and smiles.

But the momment of mirth must end. There's something I've been wanting to ask ever since they came through the door, and now is the perfect opportunity.

"So what're you guys doing here, anyway? How did you find me?"

Aang sobers immediately, followed by Sokka and then Dad. Dad flips Lia over and settles her onto his lap, and she frowns slightly. The air is suddenly filled with tension and worry. I breathe deeply, evenly. And I prepare myself for the worst. Whatever that is.

"We didn't. Find you, that is." Aang meets my eyes, and there is darkness shot through his silver gaze.

"We were in the Southern Water Tribe for Sokka's wedding, and we got a message from the chief of the Northern Water Tribe. People have been disappearing from their city, and they can't figure out why. We're going to see if we can help."

Suki reaches over and takes Sokka's hand, and he smiles at her. I'm happy for them, but at the same time... it's hard to see them without remembering what that feels like. Without remembering him.

Dad, sensing my mood, grips my hand, and Lia climbs under the table and into my lap. I hug her close to me as Dad says,

"We should get going. We only ended up here because of the storm. We need to get to the North Pole as quickly as possible."

I nod. "Then go. You don't have to stay here on my account."

They look at each other, exchanging glances and thoughts in moments, or so it seems. Aang leans closer to me across the table.

"Come with us."

"Come with you? And what about Lia, I can't just leav-"

"Bring her. Come home, Katara."

"I- I don't know if I belong there anymore."

"Of course you belong! Why wouldn't you?" I shake my head. They don't understand- they don't...

"So I should just take Lia into a war zone? Into a place where people are disappearing and-"

"She'll have us. We'll keep her safe, Katara. Please, come with us." I look into my brother's eyes that are so like my own, and I can't... I just can't say no. I missed them all so much, and now they're leaving again and I can't...

I can't let them go without me. They're my family. They're Lia's family. I can't keep them from her, or from me. Not anymore.

So I sigh and nod, just once.

"All right. We'll go with you."

_____

Soooo.... What do you think will happen in the North Pole? And what will Zuko think when he finds them all NOT at the South Pole? lol even I must wait and see because at this point (when I'm drafting this on here, which is Nov. 25 2013) this is as far as I've written! (yeesh I need to write some more...) :)

COMMENT and vote!

-Tess