Steph holds up one ankle to show off the charred hem of her jeans. "They're in perfect shape," she says, wriggling over to lean against him, glad for that tiny smile. Sokka should always have babies to play with and to make him smile.

-- Steph's thoughts have a worrying tendency to go in this direction lately; it's enough to make her wonder ...

She squeezes his hand and smiles at the girls, too.

"Hana's getting really good at controlling it."