Toph sat on the stone bench sipping warm tea. She took deep breath and let the steam worm her nose. She stood up with her empty cup and headed towards the door to her house. She opened the wooden door. She stepped in shimmied out of her coat and hung it on the door handle. She walked to the kitchen and shivered when her bare feet touched the cool stone. She set her mug down on the counter and walked back to the living area. She was about to put a log into the fire when a knock came from the door. She set the log down and headed towards the door. She ran her fingers along the wood until her hands came into contact with the handle. Darn Aang for putting a WOOD door in my house. She turned the handle. The familiar heartbeat greeted her warmly, and she smiled.

"Katara!" Toph said loudly with a sweet smile on her face, "Come in." The water bender smiled and entered the house. She slipped out of her usual blue parka.

"Why is it so cold in here?!" Katara giggled and rubbed her hands on her tan arms.

"I like it cold." Toph said shrugging. She sat down on the black couch. "Sit down, don't just stand there." Toph patted the empty cushion next to her. Katara gladly sat down.

"How's it been?" Katara said looking at the young earth bender, "In the new house."

"Umm," Toph sighed and fiddled with a loose strand of hair, "It's different." She shrugged.

"I tried to tell you, you should just come live with all of us in Zuko's Palace."

"I don't know Sparky like you all do."

"You're only sixteen, you're a little young to be living on your own, maybe you should come with us."

"Nothings gone wrong," Toph lowered her head.

"Something happened, huh?" Katara looked at Toph sympathetically.

"I said no."

"You're lying."

"No, I'm not. Everything has been fine. Just perfectly fine, and dandy." Toph crossed her arms. Katara figured it was best not to argue with the stubborn bender.

"We all miss you anyways."

"Then why don't any of you come and visit?" Toph looked up at Katara, her unseeing eyes focused on Katara's chin. Katara rubbed her neck as a wave of guilt washed over her; I'm the only one who's visited her since she moved, 5 months ago.

"I guess we've just been busy, still trying to restore everything."

"I haven't even seen Sokka since the war, did him and Suki elope?" Toph rolled her eyes.

"They broke up." Katara said simply.

"What?" Toph widened her silver eyes, "Why?"

Katara shrugged. Toph sat quietly, and blew her bangs out of her eyes.

"Can I do your hair?" Katara asked randomly. She smiled excitedly.

"What, um, no." Toph tucked the loose hair behind her ear, "Why?"

"Your bangs are in your face."

"And?"

"Doesn't it get annoying, it's in your eyes, probably gets in the way of see-" She stopped herself and blushed, "Sorry."

Toph sighed, her bangs do get annoying but she gets over it. Doesn't affect anything.

"I guess." Toph shrugged and stood up. She ushered Katara through the hallways and into a small bathroom, "Comb and ties are in one of the drawers. She reached out and slid her hand over the drawers, the cool wood on the tips of her fingers. "I always forget which drawer I put them in." Toph opened a drawer and pulled out a metal comb and a small black tie.

"You'll look good." Katara smiled, "I promise."

Katara took Toph's hair out of the messy pony tail. She brushed through her thick hair; Toph cringed when Katara came to the knots that were unavoidable. She did a small side braid with her bangs and pinned them back with some clips she had taken out of her own hair. Katara busied herself with a braid on the other side when Toph suddenly spoke up.

"Can I come live with you guys." Toph looked down at her lap, embarrassed.

"I thought you liked it here." Katara laid her hand on Toph's frail shoulder.

"I do, honestly," Toph twiddled her thumbs, "But I hate being alone." She let a tear slip down her porcelain cheek. "I was alone for 12 years of my life, I don't want to continue being alone." She wiped the stray tears.

"Of course you can Toph, we all knew you didn't want to live alone. But, we weren't going to stop you. You're old enough to make decisions for yourself."

"Sparky wouldn't mind?" The blind bender asked lifting her head.

"Not at all, he misses you just as much as Sokka does."

"Sokka misses me?"

"Yah." Katara giggled and continued fixing her hair.

Toph blushed. She tried to imagine life at the palace. With all of her friends that she dearly missed. They were the family she never had.

"You can come back with me today, we can talk to everyone about it. If you decide you truly want to live there, we can fly back and get your stuff."

"Uhh," Toph moaned, "Flying." Toph covered her face with her hands. Katara giggled.

"Done." Katara said standing up and observing her, "You're so beautiful Toph."

Toph blushed and raised her hands to feel along her hair. Her fingertips touched the small, tight braids.

"What are these?" She said running her fingers along them.

"They're called braids. You know what rope feels like, they're kind of like that." Katara said, puzzled on how to explain how a braid looks. "I have them in my hair too."

"Do they look cool?"

"Yup."

"Sweetness." Toph stood up and fiddled with her bunched up dress.

Katara looked at Toph. She was secretly jealous of Toph. Her figure was flawless; she had a small waist, flat stomach, and large chest. She was surprised Toph wasn't in a relationship. Toph couldn't see the stares of boys she must get when she goes into town. Toph was still very short. No taller than 5'2. Toph groaned when she couldn't fix the bunched up elastic in the waist of the dress.

"Can you help me." Toph said angrily dropping her hands to her side. Katara walked over and managed to fix the waist line.

"There." Katara said putting her hands on her hips.

"Thanks sugar queen." Toph exited the bathroom and headed towards her bedroom.

Katara followed down the dark hallway. Toph had no lights in her house, there was no need. Katara had to slide her hand along the stone wall so she didn't bump into any rouge object. Toph entered her bedroom and headed towards a dresser that Toph must have bended for herself. She rummaged around in the drawer looking for a silk material. She smiled when she found it and pulled it out of the drawer. Wrinkles littered the piece of blue material.

"That's nice." Katara said looking at what Toph was holding.

"Thanks." Toph said holding it to herself and swaying to show it off.

The blue piece of material was a dress. It had a deep V-neck and long sleeves. It was covered with a pattern of roses and swirls. It looked like something Katara, herself would wear.

"I liked how it felt." Toph said rubbing her thumb in a circle on the collar.

"It's really pretty" Katara said stepping closer and holding the dress to look at it.

"What's on it?"

"Roses, and it's surrounded with these swirl things. It's blue."

Toph stiffened her look. Blue. Such an exotic word.

"Blue." Toph whispered to herself. She tried to imagine color, wasn't a very easy thing to do. Katara looked sympathetically at her. She decided not to say anything so not to confuse her further.

"So do you want to go to the palace? A mini-vacation." Katara asked taking a seat on Toph's bed.

"Sure." Toph smiled, "How did you even get here?"

"What?" Katara giggled from confusion.

"I didn't feel Appa."

"Oh!" She laughed loudly, "I traveled by boat."

"A boat?" She groaned, "Even better." She said her voice full of sarcasm.

"I could always get Aang to fly Appa out her and pick us up, it would be faster anyways."

"By the time we get a response from him, we would already be to the fire nation."

"Not necessarily."

"How so?" Toph asked folding up the dress and putting it away.

"We could rent a hawk, it's a lot quicker."

"I guess, if it's that or a boat ride, I'll choose the second option." She said holding up two fingers.

-Time pass—

"Guys, a note from Katara." Sokka said walking through the large iron doors of the palace. Zuko and Aang looked up from their table full of scrolls.

"Read it out loud." Zuko said picking up his small cup and sipping the warm tea.

"Okay." Sokka cleared his throat, "Dear Prince Zuko, Avatar Aang, and handsome Sokka," The warrior imitated his sister's voice by talking with a high pitched, obnoxious tone. Aang slapped his forehead.

"Read it normal."

"Idiot." Zuko spat under his breath. Sokka rolled his eyes.

"Dear guys, I arrived at Toph's house. She wants to come back with me and see everyone. She also wants to talk to all of us about something. We wanted to know if Aang could fly out here with Appa and get us. Toph doesn't want to ride the boat; she's not too excited about riding Appa either. Anyways, write back as soon as possible, so we can come home. See you all soon! Love Katara." Sokka looked up from the scroll.

"We haven't seen Toph in forever." Zuko said not even looking up from his scroll.

"I haven't seen her since the war." Sokka said with guilt.

"Then I'll go get them!" Aang said standing up from his pillow

"Whoah woah woah." Zuko shook his head, "What if she gets here, and she's all pissy."

"Toph?" Aang asked looking down at Zuko.

"Yah, she's what? Sixteen now? She's all moody and what not."

"I'm sixteen, I'm not moody." Aang said throwing his hands forward in denial.

"Whatever." Zuko said rolling his eyes. "Go pick them up."

"You're so mean Zuko." Aang said sticking his tongue out playfully.

"I know." Zuko chuckled and smirked.

"Can I come?" Sokka asked still holding the scroll.

"If you want." Aang said shrugging his broad shoulders. The airbender had grown up a lot in the past 3 years. He was almost six feet tall. He had grown his brown hair out, and was growing a small stubble on his chin.

"Let me just fix my hair." Sokka said running to a large mirror on the wall.

"Primping. Not fixing your hair, you're primping." Aang teased.

Sokka looked in the mirror. The eighteen year old had not grown as much as his younger friends. His hair had grown, and he began more muscular, but other than that, not much. Zuko the same.

"Oooh, shush up." Sokka said walking towards the door after his primping session.

"We'll be back." Aang called out before closing the door.

"Great." Zuko said to himself.

-Time pass—

Toph and Katara sat at the small stone table in Toph's dining area. Katara had insisted on making them breakfast, after a half hour of begging, Toph gave in. Katara had made them eggs, cherry pastries, and a heaping of berries. Toph had brewed a pot of chai tea, and the two girls sat and ate many helpings of the breakfast. Katara was chewing a pastry when they were interrupted from a loud knock on the door.

"I'll get it." Katara said jumping up before Toph had a chance.

Toph rolled her eyes and continued to eat. Katara jogged to the door and opened it. There stood Aang and Sokka, smiles and all. Katara threw herself into Aang's arms and they exchanged a quick kiss. Toph turned the corner and stopped in her tracks.

"I know that heartbeat from anywhere." Toph said excitedly. She walked quickly to the door and gave Sokka a hug. In the midst of the hug, Toph ran her fingers along his arms. "Buffed up, have you Snoozles?" She stood back and smiled. Sokka choked on his own words when he saw the beauty before him. She had defiantly grown into a beautiful young woman.

"Uhh, yah." Sokka blushed. Katara eyed her brother and tried to muffle her giggle.

"Twinkletoes," Toph smiled. Katara stepped back and let the two teenagers exchange a hug.

"You've grown up." Aang said grinning. Katara rolled her eyes.

"You too." She crossed her arms across her chests, "Come in."

"I've almost got Toph's stuff packed up."

"I could have done it." Toph said sternly.

"You were folding your clothes inside out."

"And?" Toph said poking Katara. Katara ignored her and continued speeking.

"We'll be ready in like ten minutes." Katara turned around and walked back to Toph's room to resume packing.

"So," Aang said trying to make conversation, "Nice house."

"Thanks," Toph laughed loudly, "I would hope so, you helped me build it."

"You look really pretty." Sokka said awkwardly. Toph blushed.

"Thanks Snoozles."

Aang looked at Sokka who did nothing but return and awkward smile. Aang reached over and repeatedly poked his arm. Sokka smacked his hand away and scowled at Aang. Toph stood there silently with her arms wrapped around herself.

"You've gotten taller." Sokka said after losing the hot blush in his cheeks.

"What's with you Snoozles?" Toph asked chuckling.

"I don't know, just trying to make conversation."

"Calm yourself, just talk."

Aang almost burst out laughing. Sokka was so bad at flirting. He was so awkward when it came to compliments.

"Can I…" Toph started to say but then stopped, "Never mind." She shook her head.

"What?" Aang asked.

"Nothing, just, never mind."

"What were you going to ask?"

"It's stupid."

"I doubt it." Aang said looking over at Sokka to see if he knew any more than what was going on, than he did.

"I just," She hesitated, "I wanted to know if I could see what you guys look like. It was stupid though."

"How would you…" Sokka asked curiously, "You know, see what we look like?"

"By feeling your facial features. Painting a picture in my head." She said embarrassed, "I told you it was stupid."

"Go ahead." Aang said taking a step closer towards the small earth bender, "We look a lot different."

She hesitated slightly before reaching her hand out and running it along the outsides of his face. She started from his ear and worked her way towards his nose. She laughed when she ran her fingers along his chin and was pricked by his dark stubble.

"Shave your beard Twinkletoes." Toph smiled stepping away from Aang.

"No way!" Aang shook his head.

"Come here Toph." Sokka said grabbing her wrist. He pulled her towards him. She blushed when she felt his warm breath on her. She lifted her hand and ran her fingers along his face. Aang watched the two and smiled when he notice both of them blushing. Toph ended at his lips and pulled her hand away.

"Thanks." She said smiling slightly.

"No problem." Sokka looked at Aang to see him smiling. He mouthed 'shut up'. Aang put his hands up in a jokingly denial. Katara turned the corner with a large bag.

"Sorry it took so long." She said trudging along with the heavy baggage.

"Why so much clothes?" Aang asked.

"Just in case."

"In case what?" Aang laughed, "She moves in?" Toph lowered her head.

"You never know." Katara said shrugging.

"C'mon," Sokka said motioning towards the door, "Let's get going."

"Ready Toph?" Aang said opening the door.

"Ready as I'll ever be." She replied quietly.