DISCLAIMER: AGAIN AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER DOES NOT BELONG TO ME

Chapter Two: Nighttime Chats

LATER THAT NIGHT

A young blind earth bender was relaxing on her bed in one of the spare palace rooms. It had been a long day. And it was about to get longer.

"Toph?"

Toph jumped as she heard Katara call through the door.

"What?"

"I…I need to talk to you, please!"

Toph opened the door using earth bending, "What's up?"

She was surprised to find that Katara, the usually calm and quiet water bender was anxious and uncertain.

"I need to talk to you about Aang."

On the other side of the palace a fifteen year old grinned to himself as he came out of one of the royal palace bathrooms. It sure beat going in an igloo, like in the South Pole, or on a tree when they were traveling with Aang.

"Sokka!"

Someone turned around the corner.

Sokka screamed and jumped back.

He relaxed, realizing that it was just Aang.

"Yes?"

"You…well…you know…and…yeah…" Aang stammered.

Sokka stared at him. "Uh…what?"

"You'resuki'sboyfriendright?"

"Huh?"

Aang took a deep breath and said, "You're Suki's boyfriend right?"

Sokka raised his eyebrows, "Yes…why?"

"And you and Yue used to like each other right?"

Sokka felt a lump in his throat at Yue's name, but it passed.

"Where are you going with this?"

Aang sighed, "I need to talk to you about your sister."

Toph sat on her bed, impatient and bored. Katara had been babbling on for the last hour.

"KATARA!" Toph finally screamed, enraged, "Okay first, I've stopped listening about fifty minutes ago! Secondly, I already know that you like Aang!"

Katara blinked, surprised, "You do?"

"Duh, you guys are always all mushy and junk whenever you're near each other! And all you two ever do is talk about each other. Seriously, it's kind of obvious that you like him."

Katara bit her lip, "Toph, I…I think I love him."

Sokka stared at Aang. Neither one of them talked. About an hour earlier, they had gone back to Sokka's room where Aang basically told Sokka that he loved Katara.

"Wait a minute," Sokka said slowly, "You mean all of this time? Ever since we found you in the iceberg?"

Aang nodded. "But she's my best friend too!" he whined, "And there have been times when me loving her is dangerous! I mean, I couldn't go into the Avatar State for a while, because of her and…"

"Wait a minute!" Sokka cried, "When was this?"

"Right before Azula zapped me," Aang said softly, "I went to the Guru and unlocked six of my chakras. But in the last one, I had to let go of Katara. And I couldn't."

He looked up at Sokka, "I hope you're not mad. I know she's your sister and you want to protect her and everything…"

Sokka put a hand on Aang's shoulder, "I'm not mad Aang. So what if she's my sister? I can't tell you who you can and can't like. You're my best friend, I'd never say that."

"Really?" Aang asked grateful.

"Well that plus you can control all four elements and the Avatar State," Sokka said sheepishly, "Besides, I kind of knew all along that you liked her." Sokka shook his head, chuckling "I don't think this is the little child crush that I thought it was though!"

Aang chuckled, "It's more than a crush," he agreed, "I love her Sokka."

"Okay, so let's go!" Toph said, standing up.

Katara backed up, "What?"

"The war is over, Ozai's beaten, there's no better time than time to tell Aang how you feel than now!"

"Wha-no! Toph, I can't tell him!"

"Why not?"

"It's not that simple!"

Toph sighed, "Whatever. I'm going to bed."

"Thanks for you're help!" Katara said sarcastically.

"I gave you advice, you said no, I'm going to bed," Toph replied, "From what you've told me, you've got a pretty good shot. But if you don't want to tell him, don't. I'm certainly not being matchmaker."

And with that she rolled over and fell asleep.

"So are you goanna tell her?" Sokka yawned.

"Why would I tell her?" Aang cried.

"Uh…so that she would know."

"NO! I haven't been able to tell her for a year! I can't tell her now!"

"Come on Aang. What have you got to lose?"

"KATARA!" Aang yelled back.

Sokka thought about this, sleepily.

Aang grabbed Sokka's shoulders, "Sokka, you've got to promise me that you won't tell."

Sokka shrugged, "Yeah, sure, okay. Can I go to bed now?"

Aang sighed, relieved, "Thanks Sokka."

"Mmhmm…" Sokka fell asleep.

THE NEXT MORNING

"Morning Snoozles," Toph greeted sleepily as she felt Sokka come down the hallway. He too was dozy.

"Oh, hey Toph. Are you tired too?"

"Yeah. Long night."

"Me too."

"What'd you do?" Toph asked.

"Listened to Aang tell me that he loves Katara. You?"

"Listened to Katara tell me that she loves Aang."

Sokka chuckled, "You think they're ever goanna tell each other?"

"Of course," Toph replied.

"Really. When?"

"WHEN I DEVELOP SIGHT AND YOU START WATERBENDING!" Toph yelled, laughing. Sokka stared at her and then realized what she was saying. The two laughed and went down to breakfast. It looked like the Kataang love was on hold for now.