Disclaimer: I own nothing, not even this laptop on which I write this fanfic. Sadly, it belongs to my parents.

Chapter One

Well, here I am, trying to predict everyone's reactions when they find out that I, Toph Bei Fong, am, in fact, not dead.

Twinkle-Toes will just be confused and probably just then realize that I haven't been there for five years.

Sugar Queen will yell at me and probably splash me – in general, she'll freak.

Snoozles will say something sarcastic.

Suki will welcome me back and go wash dishes or something.

Sparky—what can I say? We haven't spoken since that night all those years ago; it's because of him that I left. He won't say anything because HE HASN'T MISSED ME. Get that through your earthbending head, Toph—he doesn't love you. He never did. He hasn't missed you.

I found out from Iroh (incidentally the only one who knew where I was these years) that the gAang was living at the Fire Palace where (gulp) Sparky reigns as Fire Lord.

I took a deep breath and pushed open the huge doors that led to the meeting room. Iroh had gathered them there for "an urgent emergency." When I walked into the room, I heard a unanimous gasp.

"Toph?" God, was that really Katara? Her voice had changed so much.

"Um…hi, Katara."

"Toph…is it really you?" Sokka—how I missed my partner in crime.

"No, it's Azula. Of course it's me, idiot!"

"Toph, you're here. You're not dead." Aang, oblivious as always.

"Looks like it."

"Toph."

That voice—that perfect voice—rang out from behind me. I whirled around, surprised, though I already knew who it was. Zuko.

My voice repeated my thoughts: "Zuko." My voice broke as I said his name, and I almost shuddered. The feeling of having him so near was overwhelming.

"You came back." There was something unrecognizable in his voice—something that Zuko's Toph wanted so desperately to be joy. I mentally slapped her. Bad Toph.

"Yes." How's that for searing Toph-y wit? I see the man I love so completely for the first time in five years, and I'm reduced to one-word sentences.

I heard his weight shift and, before I knew what was happening, I felt his muscular arms encircle me and pull me close to him. My breath caught as his hand stroked my hair and my arms automatically went up around him, settling into the familiar contours of his body.

"Never leave again. Never leave me again," he whispered into my hair as I buried my face in his neck, inhaling his scent.

"Never," I promised, gasping for air in his vise-like embrace. "Never."

"Ohmigod," I heard Sokka whisper to Katara. I remembered where we were and who I was and pulled away from him, in spite of the dissent from my hormones. Down, girl.

"Well, yes," I said, trying to do a little damage control. "I am alive and well. And still very blind. So, can we celebrate this with a group, 'Hurrah!'?"

"Toph Bei Fong!" Katara flew at me. "You cannot just disappear for five years, then mysteriously return and expect to be welcomed back with only a, 'Hurrah!'"

"Yeah!" Aang was quick to agree, "I want to hear the adventure!"

Katara shot him a look. "No, I want to know why you left."

It was all I could do to not glance at Zuko (not that it would do much good). "Um…can I tell you later? After I rest up?"

"Of course," Iroh chimed in smoothly. "You must be tired."

I nodded.

"Okay," Katara reluctantly gave in, "but tomorrow, the real questioning begins."

I rolled my eyes at how cheesily ominous that sounded, but didn't protest. In the morning, though, there would be some real good protesting among other things.

"Zuko," Iroh said, "escort Toph to her old room."

I gulped. Oh, crap.