Chapter 1

It has been nearly two months after the defeat of fire lord Ozai. The gang was enjoying their time until Iroh suggested that everyone should think of their next moves. So there they sat at a round table in an elegant hall of the royal palace of the fire nation discussing. Everyone was so eager and excited on what they have decided for themselves but Toph. She did not know what she wanted to do next, may be to travel, but definitely not to stay in the city.

"I and Sokka are going to south pole for a while." Katara said. "We want to see the renovations going on and spirits, we haven't seen Gran Gran for almost two years."

"Keep in touch, OK!" Suki worded Aang's thoughts to which both Katara and Sokka nodded promptly. "Of course we will!"

"I'm going to Kyoshi Island and train the Kyoshi worriers as I used to." Suki said as a grin spread across her face. "Ty Lee will be going with me."

"I know this is obvious, but I and Mai will stay here." Zuko stated to which everyone laughed.

"That settles then, I'll be travelling to the four Air temples and try to restore their former glory and Toph can go home." Aang said; a tone of conclusion in his voice. Everyone beamed until Toph's extremely cold voice was heard.

"You may be the Avatar but you will not make decisions for me." She said. The relaxed smile on her face has vanished. Her lips were zipped and she was glaring at Aang. She did not expect everyone to be that ignorant towards her. It seemed that no one cared enough even to ask her about her plans. She was hoping that they'd help her figure out her destiny. But there they were chatting merrily about their decisions and ignoring her completely. How dare they think that they can send her home just because they don't need her anymore? She had made the decision to leave her home and she and only she will decide if she want to go back.

Everyone looked taken aback. Only then they realized how Toph must have had felt hearing Aang's words.

"Toph I… I-" Aang stammered but Katara came to his rescue. "Toph, you know Aang only meant well." She said trying to calm her down.

"I know what's best for me." Toph said in a dangerously calm tone, turning her blind glare towards Katara. "Thank you everyone for your concern." She stood up calmly pushing back her chair. "Excuse me!"

Sokka heard the very tone 'I'm out of here' at those words that he had heard when Toph left after Aang yelled at her back in the days of war. "Toph wait." He said trying to block her way but only found himself good seven feet away from her as she simply wagged her leg. Toph walked out of the room turning a blind ear to Katara's pleading, "Toph please!"

There was no way taking back the words that said. Everyone felt bad for ignoring Toph and hurting her feelings. Once Toph's trust is shattered, it's extremely hard to earn it back. That's what happened to her parents and seemingly they just lost her trust as well. Zuko rubbed his forehead narrowing his eyes. "You shouldn't have said that Aang." He said.

Aang was horror stuck. He had implied that he only needed Toph to teach him earth bending. He had implied that he used her. Such simple sentence had done irreversible damage just because he was insensitive towards her feelings, he of all people who had listened to her life story, he of all people who was her first ever friend.

Katara stood up. "We all were such jerks. How can we just ignore…" She broke off as she started walking out of the hall to find Toph. "I'll go talk to her."

Toph was in her room. Her expression was stoic. She was going to grin and bear it. There was nothing she could do to change the way others feel about her. She had learnt it the hard way, twice. No matter how much it hurt, she couldn't wimp around begging others to be part of her life. If they chose not to, she would deal with it. She was strong enough and she would find her own way. She was certainly not staying around being troublesome luggage.

knock! Knock! knock!

Toph sighed and lifted her head. "Yes?" She answered the door.

"Toph, it's me." Came Katara's voice. "May I come in?"

"Come in." She said simply. Katara hesitated. Toph's voice was not filled with anger, irritation or even hurt. It was plain and official. That worried her. She placed her hand on the door knob and swung it open. Toph was sitting on the bed and the anger they saw few minutes ago in her was gone. She looked… rock-like. She turned her head towards the general direction of Katara as she entered the room but said nothing.

"Toph Listen…" Katara said sitting down on the bed as well. "I know you must have felt-"

But Toph cut her short. "Katara you don't have to explain. It's OK." She said shrugging her shoulders. "Really." She added.

Katara bit her lip. "Please Toph, listen. Aang did not mean what he said back there in ill concern and you know that."

An impatient tut escaped Toph's lips. "I just told you. It's fine. And don't worry. I won't be extra luggage to any of you."

Katara stared. She understood how frustrated Toph felt. It was like been rejected by everyone she cared about. Like been used. How would they correct things, she did not know.

"You-are-not-extra-luggage." She gritted her teeth. "you-have-never-been"

"Whatever!" Toph said. She was never in to emotional pep talk. She believed in deeds. Not in words. And they've made it pretty clear that she is extra luggage. "Now, if you excuse me, I have some packing to do."

"What?" Katara asked taken aback. "Where are you going?"

"I don't know yet." Toph said truthfully. "May be I'll decide on the way."

"Please Toph! Don't be like this." Katara pleaded. "Let us explain."

"Katara I don't act. I react after waiting and listening." Toph said turning to face her friend. "So deal with it. Just like I do with the rest of you."

Katara walked to her and put both her hands on Toph's shoulders. "Look! I understand what you have gone through and how you must feel-" But Toph took both her hands in her own and 'looked' right in to Katara's eyes.

"You don't have to worry about me. I've trained the Avatar. I've fought in the war. I'm Toph Bei-Fong. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself and you know it." She said smiling while she gently leaded the water bender out of the room. "I'll be down in few hours. Now stop irritating me, will ya?" She closed the door as Katara opened her mouth.

Katara stared at the wooden surface of the great oak door as a look of sadness slowly rose to her eyes. It's not gonna be easy to correct the damage that had been done by the stupid suggestion of the Avatar and their thoughtlessness.