Day Two: Jubilant

This one is AU, after ATLA concludes. Enjoy!

She knows he is nervous. He is practicing his speech for the hundredth time that week. He's speaking in front of a council of people from every nation, compelling them to listen to his reason of establishing the old Earth Kingdom land into an independent state. He has a lot at risk, something that he is not willing to let others know, but she knows him too well.

He itches his scar when he's stressed. He doesn't know she sees him constantly. She watches him pace in his study long after his advisors are gone. He is determined to not have people remember him like they remembered his father.

You are nothing like your father, are her unspoken words of encouragement every time she smiles at him. He nods in return and begins his ritual again with less stress than before. She smiles at him.

He steps into the room, making his way to his wardrobe. He wears his formal Fire Nation attire, but adorns a traditional Water Tribe necklace. She smiles at him. Her heart feels ecstatic whenever he makes an attempt to unite their cultures.

She adorns her traditional Water Tribe robes and adds Fire Nation colors to her traditional braid. He smiles at her and takes her hand in his.

"Where would we be…?" He asks and his voice drifts off. She smiles at him and she squeezes his hand. His gaze returns to her. She breathes in his essence and they stand together for a long moment.

"Whatever happens, we're in this together. Nothing will separate us," she whispers to him. He nods and puts his forehead on hers. She smiles at him and kisses his cheek. "We're a team, remember that."

He withdraws his head and nods down at her. they walk hand in hand out to their distinguished guests. She smiles at her father and brother, and Toph smirks at both of them with her arms crossed. She knows that there will be a private celebration, but she wants her surprise to wait. She needs him to win this small victory.

Then she'll shatter his world.

.

The speeches are exchanged and he rises from his chair. "The Avatar and I have been in discussion about a compromise between every nation. The repairs to the Water Tribe are being undertaken… but we need to deal with the lands the Earth Kingdom lost during the war."

The king of the Earth Kingdom rose. "We have reached a decision, Fire Lord."

He tenses and she reaches her hand out to him. His breath is light, barely audible for people to hear. "Which is?"

"We have decided, with the Avatar's consultations… to donate the land to an independent state," the king concludes. She sees him sigh in happiness and knows he could collapse with relief. She squeezes his hand briefly and he claps.

"That was the suggestion I was going to make, your majesty. Thank you for such a wise choice," he breathes out his sigh. She fights back a giggle as he sits down. He whispers in her ear. "Thank Agni."

She nods and the feast proceeds. She smiles at her friends and family, knowing that only one other person knows her secret. Toph grins jubilantly at her and rubs her hands together. She sighs.

.

They relocate after the feast to a smaller room, one where it is decorated for intimate friends and family members. Everyone is dressed down and she is sitting next to her husband of three years. Toph clears her throat. "I think Katara has something to tell us."

Everyone gazes at her and Katara nods to her friends and family. she gazes at her father and brother for a brief moment before turning her gaze to her husband. She smiles at him tenderly. "We finally did it."

"Yeah, we did," he acknowledges. Her brother starts to snort and her father nudges him. both men are wearing grins as big as the oceans. She nods at them. Aang snaps his attention to them, but Toph puts a hand on his mouth before he blurts out anything.

"Zuko," she says in a warning tone. Zuko gazes at her and his eyes flash down to her stomach. They meet hers and she nods. He jumps up, takes her in his arms, and spins her around the room.

Toph smiles triumphantly. "That kid is gonna be a hellion."

And she was. So were her three brothers and two sisters following her.

Light and fluffy. A definite difference from yesterday's theme.