The light from the torches seemed to dance around the walls of the Fire Lord's great hall. The scene inside was in great contrast to the cold winter's night outside. Lords and ladies of every nation danced merrily to the music of the Fire Nation's best musicians, reveling in the splendor of everything around them. The Fire Nation's winter festival was an ancient tradition, established to help fire benders through their period of vulnerability with the shortened days. In the years since the war had ended it had taken on a merrier theme, inviting all of the nations to celebrate in peace with the trust that they would do no harm to its vulnerable host.

At the front of the room sat Lord Iroh, the Fire Lord's most trusted advisor. He watched the dancing couples as he sipped his tea. He frowned when his eyes fell upon his nephew. Fire Lord Zuko was dressed in more common clothes than those of his guests. Instead of a festive suit like those of the other lords he wore his usual maroon tunic and scarlet breeches. His hair was not worn up in the formal bun but instead hung slack in a horse tail down his neck. It was obvious from the twenty-four year-old's expression that he was dancing with his partner, the daughter of a powerful fire merchant, more out of necessity than personal taste.

Iroh sighed. He knew Zuko was only dancing because he had asked him too in the first place. It had been four years since he and Mai had broken up and if you asked his uncle it was high time that Zuko took more interest in girls. He had lost all interest in balls or social events of any kind and had grown more stiff and serious. The only times he was truly himself when they were alone or with the Avatar and his friends. Iroh sighed again. If only their house guest would come back.

Zuko bowed to his partner when the music stopped. Before the girl had a chance to say a word he departed, making his way over to the side of the room. He leaned against the wall, grinning a little at the frustrated stare of his uncle. He knew his uncle wanted him to start thinking about marriage, but how could he when the right girl was not even around to propose to?

"Nice party, Sparky." The Fire Lord looked beside him, startled by the girl's familiar voice. "Hope you don't mind me stopping in uninvited."

"No…of course I don't, Toph." He had not seen the girl in the last four years and the changes in her were startling. She had finally gotten her growth spurt and was almost as tall as he was. Her bangs had been pulled away from her face in a way that was elegant, but not fancy and her long hair hung in a loose ponytail down her back. Her body had developed into a shape that many of the noble girls would kill for. She had been sixteen the last time the two of them had seen each other, but she really had not looked much different than she had at twelve. Now it hit Zuko for the first time she had really become a woman.

For a minute he had no idea what to say. Seeing the earth-bender again after such a long time was awkward, especially considering the suddenness of her departure. Zuko frowned, remembering the bitterness he had felt after she left. Toph, though she could not see it, felt his anger and shifted uncomfortably.

"Toph, what are you doing here?" She let out a sigh. He seemed more curious than angry with her, although there was a sense of hurt in his voice that she could not ignore.

"I wanted to see you, Sparky. I thought by now the fumes between you and Sunshine might have cooled down, so I figured it was safe for me to stop by for awhile."

Zuko stared at her in disbelief. "You mean you left because of my trouble with Mai?!"

"I figured I was just getting in the way of your relationship."

"Toph, you were gone for FOUR YEARS! You leave without so much as a goodbye and just go wandering off to who knows where, and you expected my crumbling relationship to serve as an excuse?!" Toph stared at him, and he realized how angry he must have sounded. He blushed and looked at the ground.

"Wait, so you and Sunshine never got married?" The confused stare on Toph's face was enough to make Zuko smile. He had not seen that look for a long time, not since she was still a child. He shook his head. "Oh. Well I'm sorry."

"Don't worry, things probably wouldn't have worked very well between us anyway." He frowned again. "That still doesn't explain why you were gone for so long."

"Oh," Toph blushed, starting to stammer, "I just figured I should leave. After all I had already been imposing on you for so long…and I wanted some time to help Aang with his search." After things had quieted down for awhile rumors had begun to emerge of nomads belonging to no nation. They had sounded a lot like reemerging airbenders and Aang had set out to follow them.

"Any luck?"

"I'm not sure, I left them about a year ago." Toph was still blushing and Zuko knew right away that she had been lying, at least partially. She may well have been with Aang and the others but it was clear that had not been why she left. Still, he was happy to see her and figured he should avoid pressing the matter.

Despite her unexpected appearance he was happy just to look at his old friend again. She had become very beautiful during her absence, not that she had not been before, but now it was more refined. She was wearing a soft green skirt, similar to the ones Katara would wear with breeches under it, but she still had that sense of tom boyishness that had grown on him over the years.

"Hey Sparky, dance with me." Her green-grey eyes were fixed on him in a look of indifference, and her tone was blunt implying it was an order not a request. Zuko reddened as his heart started to speed up. He looked away with an uncomfortable expression. Toph shifted awkwardly at his silent response. What was she thinking? Why would he dance with her when he could have any of the young ladies in the room? "Sorry I…"

"No," he said, his hand grabbing hers gently. "I'd love to." Toph smiled, recognizing that he was not lying.

Zuko was expecting Toph's dancing to be clumsy on account of her blindness, but instead she danced with grace. "How did you learn to do that?" Toph made a face.

"Come on Sparky, you know how uptight nobles are about dancing. My parents even made me take lessons earlier than most girls because they were worried I would take longer to teach. But you know, it's just like bending in its own way."

"I would think you would dislike such a tedious thing as dancing," the Fire Lord responded jokingly.

"Not at all, I actually find it rather enjoyable," Toph smiled a little embarrassedly "Especially when I have a good partner." Zuko grinned. The two danced effortlessly to the rhythm, reveling in the music. A few times Zuko caught the approving smile of his uncle. He had to wonder if Iroh was the reason Toph had made it so discreetly past the palace guards and somewhat resented him for not telling him she was even here. Still, for the first time in years Zuko felt truly happy, so he would not begrudge his uncle too much.

The music stopped as did their dance. A new, slower one was beginning and reluctantly he went to return to their place at the wall. As if sensing his reluctance Toph grabbed his hand. "Come one Sparky," she said smiling, "I haven't danced in years, and you're probably the only partner I'd be able to get."

Zuko smiled, taking her other hand. "I doubt that," he whispered under his breath. The two danced in silence for awhile, and eventually Zuko noticed his partner seemed lost in thought. He wanted to talk to her, but worried that any conversation might reawaken some of the bitterness their first conversation had provoked.

"I left because of Mai," she finally said quietly. He stopped, gaping at her.

"What?!" Toph shrugged.

"She thought I was spending too much time with you. I heard her say to you once that either I left or she did, so I left to not get in your way. Looks like I was a little late. Sorry." Zuko grinned, remembering the conversation.

"I should be apologizing. That just showed me what a bad relationship I was in. Still, why did you finally come back?" Oh he could remember that conversation. It was also when he realized who he should have been with.

Now Toph was smiling, a little weaker that Zuko's however. "What can I say? You were the only one to get even close to beating me and I was getting bored. Plus it is impossible to find a decent cup of tea anywhere these days." They started dancing again, but Zuko could tell Toph was still leaving something out.

Eventually the music stopped and the day's festivities concluded. Toph looked so happy and it pained Zuko to have to ask her the question that had been haunting him since he first saw her that night. The many guests made their way out of the great hall, dispersing about the city to their respective lodgings. Toph turned to follow them. "Where can I stay Sparky? If you don't have any room for me I'd be more than happy to sleep in the…"

"Toph," said Zuko grimly cutting her off. Toph stopped, feeling the pain his body was emitting into the ground. He turned her to face him, gripping both of her shoulders gently but firmly. "Have you…have you seen your parents yet?"

Toph furrowed her eyebrows in suspicion and irritation. "No," she said, raising her voice slightly, "and I hope you don't think you're…"

"Toph, more nobles from the Earth Kingdom are arriving tomorrow." He was still gripping her shoulders, but his hands had softened. "I did not expect you to be here. I'm sorry I couldn't warn you sooner." Toph's eyes widened in realization. Zuko looked away, taking his hands from her shoulders. "If you want I can make arrangements for you to…"

"No." Toph's face was bent to the ground and for the first time in knowing her she seemed…fragile to Zuko. Then he saw the look of determination on her face, and he remembered why he respected the twenty year-old so much. "It's high time I face them. I've grown now. I should take responsibility for my actions." She started to leave, before she turned to Zuko again. Without warning she stepped up to him and hugged him.

"Thanks. I missed you…Zuko." He wondered if she could feel how loudly his heart was beating. He put a hand on her brown hair. It was surprisingly soft completely unlike the cold gloss of Mai's hair. She had called him Zuko. It sounded a little odd, but he had to admit he liked hearing her say his proper name.

"I missed you too, Toph."

A/N: Hello all! Due to the fact that this is not a Jane Austen fic, many of you are probably new readers. I should warn you now that most of my author's notes tend to be just me apologizing for my poor writing style. Yeah, I'm trying to work on that, both my notes and style. Anyway, now for a few notes about the story. Toko is one of those pairings that I absolutely love, has some encouragement for a while in the story…and then is shot down. Still I think that as the two reach a more mature age their relationship has possibility. I don't write a lot of fanfiction based on TV (obviously, as this is the first attempt I'm bothering to post) and the writing of this is rather choppy. Please bear with me. Well please review, and may the hearts of all Toko fans be satisfied! Oh and the next chapter will feature a confrontation with Toph's parents. Be prepared.

-Astrum