Seeing Straight

"Do you ever wonder which is worse; saying something and wishing you hadn't or saying nothing and wishing you had?"

The jasmine dragon was virtually empty save the two benders. Many times during his travels with the avatar, Zuko found himself alone with the fascinating albeit rude earth-bender. She was great company, especially when he was unsure of himself, because she seemed to have this inexhaustible source of otherworldly wisdom that got him through everything.

Now, even as fire lord he still found himself needed her company, which she gave freely and so far, she had been able to help him through everything… but this new issue was something that had been building up for years – since she first lent him her company after the ember island play. All this while he had managed to push it aside, bury it… but enough was enough. He figured he had to speak to someone and she was the only one who truly understood him.

"Toph, do you ever wonder which is worse; saying something and wishing you hadn't or saying nothing and wishing you had?"

"That's easy sparky; it's worse to not say anything – haven't you heard that saying; 'have no regrets except in not trying'?"

"But what if you're absolutely set and you have a good thing going for you but saying what you want to might destroy it."

"Or better it." She took a sip of her tea and smiled. She knew.

Zuko's lips turned down in a slight frown, "how long have you known?"

"For quite sometime – you guys forget that sometimes I can read people better than they can themselves."

"I feel like such an idiot." Zuko sulked.

"For what? For not saying anything or for feeling how you feel." Zuko frowned; how could she be so blunt and straight forwards about this?

"Are you mocking me?"

"No, it's an honest question – why do you feel like an idiot; for not saying anything or for feeling how you feel?"

"Both… I guess…. I don't know."

"Then maybe I should clarify things for you, seeing as after all these years you still can't see straight." She placed her cup on the table, leaned forward and kissed him sweetly, slowly she pulled away but she remained close enough for their foreheads to touch. "You'll never know how absolutely perfect something could turn out if you never try." She breathed.

Zuko smiled, "So how about we try that again?"

A/N: writing 'happy ending' fics is generally difficult for me – I think I tried.