Authors note: I AM BACK! After so long! I haven't update for what? 9-10 months? I am so so so sorry! Life had been so crazy you wouldn't believe. The delay was due to bunch of reasons. Laziness, losing focus, having real life problems and the worst of all, having my computer crashed on me. Remember when I told you that I have till chapter five ready? Now I had to redone all of that and it wasn't appealing at all. In the middle of everything I lost my focus and had to rethink what I was going to write. So yeah, inspiration was hard to find.

But now I am typing like mad and already working on the sixth chapter. Pray for me!

Thanks to everyone who favored, followed and reviewed this awfully written fanfiction. Never forget that YOU are one who brought me back into this. Enjoy!

P.S. I have updated chapter 1 and 2. There were so many errors! How did you guys manage to read that!? I have fixed some spelling and formatting issues. Now we have italics and much better page breaks! Yay!

Words count: 1789 (without the authors note)

Chapter 3: The Aftermath

"So you live in the 5th floor, three doors from the south staircases. It's a suite, with a large bedroom, well-furnished kitchen and bathroom. Windows are faced south with a balcony, so it's well ventilated too. We have an indoor pool just across the reception, a hot sauna alongside with it. And if you want to keep your body in shape like it is right now, there's a gym in the second floor with all the tools you will ever need." Katara stopped her ranting. Was the last sentence strictly necessary? It sounded like a not-that-heavy flirt. But it wasn't! She just supplied all the information the guest would've needed while staying here. Since it wasn't a bad thing, she might as well as continue providing all the helpful information.

"The stuff quarters are in 3rd floor, only two floor below yours." She glanced back at Aang who was obediently following her. "The first room is mine." Okay, now that was flattery. But it was unintentional. It's not that she wanted to give him access to her room, as she just wanted him to know her whereabouts, that's it.

Then why her cheeks felt warmer?

Their previous awkward meeting had come to an end, courtesy of The Manager. Despite having curiosity about what had transpired between the trio, he only gave them a raising eyebrow. Toph had already left to get new towels. So it was Katara who led the confused guest to his room, occasionally glancing back to make sure that he was in fact real and not some half remembered dream.

Aang was walking behind her as she led on. It surprised him to find Katara here. He was happy and maybe… frightened a little bit. Their last meeting wasn't something he would like to recall as a happy, teary goodbye. There was tears, but not happiness. It was sad and not the way you are thinking.

When Katara glanced back from time to time he watched her thoroughly, making sure that she was indeed Katara. But by God, had she grown! She was certainly a beautiful girl before but without him around she had become a dazzling woman. Her nose, eyes and lips didn't change, but her body sure did. She had definitely put on some weights, but all went to the right places, giving her body a definitive curve like an hourglass. And the blue white staff dress made her skin popped out more than it should've. Any boy would leer behind her. Hell if he was a teenager he would've been gawking at her like a puberty endearing brat. But he wasn't, and so he didn't. It was sad though, it would've made everything so easy to handle.

But he had to acknowledge her beauty.

A lot of things Aang missed when Katara was talking. But he did get her room number, which was neither good nor bad. It surprised him that Katara was talking with him, so casually. How? Given that their last encounter was not something he would like to recall as a happy memory. They didn't even have any kind of farewells, or something like that. How could they? When she just ran off right after she -

"So, that's how I got here. So far, it's been nice experience but sometimes it gets so overwhelming that I just want to quit." Aang groaned inwardly, knowing that he had completely missed her talk which might've contained valuable information for him.

Katara stopped, motioning the door to their left, "This is your room, It's one of the best in this floor, You'll have a direct view to the ocean without any trees or buildings blocking it. And the sunrises and sunsets are nothing but a magnificent scenery to watch." She smiled despite herself, "You'll love it here, I promise."

Aang's eyes widened at her sincerity. She was so sure, but… how?

He was confused but smiled nonetheless, "Thank you Katara."

Katara colored a bit. How long it had been since she saw his smile? If a fast beating heart counted anything, it had been too long. She flung herself to his arms, gripping him as tightly as she dared. Though she might regret it later, but the urges were too painful to hold off. Her smile widened when she felt his arms found their ways to her lower back. Tentatively of course, but she was too happy to mind.

"It's been long Aang, too long." She whispered almost longingly.

Aang wanted to say the same thing too, that he was happy and frightened to see her again. That he was worried and he didn't know what was going on. That he was in a long journey and needed a shower before she should touch him again. He wanted to say all those thing and more, but couldn't.

Not when Toph was staring at them from the staircase, with a pile of towel in her hand. Correction, she was staring at him, eye to eye. Katara's back was facing her so she wasn't as fortunate(?) as him.

Aang stiffened reasonably, but Toph's expression remained flat. He was frozen there, not knowing what to do or say. Having Toph here was double pressure to his poor mind. His already jumbled thoughts were running wild. A simple coherent line that would explain this situation was getting hard to form. Wait, why would he need to explain this to Toph?

Katara frowned a little when Aang pulled back, but didn't mind. It was a wistful thought that he would let this hug last for long. They stared at each other for a while when Aang shifted his eyes behind her. "Hey Toph."

"Hey Aang." Toph said nonchalantly and slid past them towards Aang's room. When she reappeared at the door the pile was gone. She placed a hand on the door knob, staring at them like nothing happened a while before.

Aang was searching for any kind of emotions that would indicate that she was feeling something. But there was nothing. It hurt him to know that she didn't care, or was it a mask? Where's the rage and anger he was hoping to see? Where's the tomboy who loved bossing around and beating people into a pulp when they said something she didn't like? Truthfully, Aang didn't mind the cold shoulder. But the fact that she was not acknowledging him even as an enemy, hurt like hell. He shouldn't complain though; it was exactly what he deserved… wasn't it?

Toph shut the door behind her as she stopped out of his room. "Your room is ready Aang." Her tone of voice didn't change. "Your lunch will be here soon, but don't eat food on the bed. If the sheets get stained, then I have to wash them. I suppose I don't have to remind you what will I do to you after that."

Aang could almost see her punching in her hand, cracking fingers. Thus he nodded quicker then he wanted. "Yes Toph I know. You don't have to worry about that."

Nobody noticed Katara's frown. What's going on?

Toph had the faintest smile, but Aang noticed it anyway. He started to smile in return but she turned around. "I'm going to my room; you're coming Katara?"

Why not? She did have a wool and an unfinished sock to wove.

"See you later Aang." She smiled and hurried after Toph.

"See you later." Aang responded. "Oh, and Toph?" The shorter girl turned to face him, eyes still vacant.

"Thank you." He said with all the sincerity he could muster.

Her eyes shook a little, Aang wouldn't probably notice it for the distance. She just nodded a little and turned around. There's plenty of time to think about the reason behind his gratitude.

"So you know him, huh?" Toph asked when they entered her room.

Katara sighed, "I guess my reaction at the lobby ratted me out."

Oh yeah, and your name. God, how didn't I notice it sooner!

"Yeah." Toph flopped on the bed. "Your face was priceless. Like you've seen a ghost in broad daylight." When Katara didn't respond, she smirked, "You two might have a history, considering your reunion scene."

The sticks clattered on Katara's hand, effectively ruining her work. She started untying last couple of loops, redoing them again properly. "It's not like yours have gone smoothly either. I recall your face, like somebody just murdered your cat. You should've greeted him with a welcoming smile, because you're getting paid to do exactly that and more. At least I said some words. How do you know his name anyway?" Katara stopped her knitting. She didn't want to sound harsh, but the last comment made her panic and thus the ramble.

Toph didn't mind any of that but the last line.

How do I know that? Well, why don't you ask HIM?

"I might saw his registration form." She waved a hand in front her.

Katara looked up from her work. There was no way Toph would've seen it. He had finished the form in front of her. And a while before Toph was talking with him like… like… not a friend but someone she had been acquainted with before. But why she would hide it from her? She was her almost best friend… right?

She narrowed her eyes at the shorter girl. Something was not right.

"I don't think you did. He finished the form right before me."

Toph sat up and went to her console, sighing. She was not ready to talk about him yet, and specially not with Katara. She felt like turning off her mind for about an hour or so, just so she didn't have to think about him.

"I bumped with the bell boy in the elevator." She wished this was enough information for Katara. But knowing her habit, it was a wistful thought.

"I don't think the bellboy knew his name, they didn't even talk." Katara shook her head, "What are you not telling me Toph?"

Katara was stepping on the last thread of her patients. "Why do you want to know anyway? I somehow got his name okay?" She said, exasperated.

Beep… beep… beep…

Toph opened her pager and visibly relaxed. The manager called, probably some new guest just showed up or something else. It didn't matter as she wanted to get out of here anyway. "I gotta go, Managers calling." She hurried towards the door.

Katara didn't say anything, just watched Toph's retreating form. A bitter sick feeling stirred in her lower stomach, climbing its way up to her throat. The scene was awfully familiar. Toph worked up over a simple question and dodged it completely.

Maybe you two have a history too.

The Aftermath

End note: Aaand it's done. Took me a long time to finish such a short chapter. Heh heh. I am once again apologizing for the hiatus. The original Chapter 3 was too long for my taste so I decided to split it. Next chapter should be up in a day or two right after I finish reviewing it.

I'll try to fall back into a regular update schedule. Maybe 1 or 2 chapters per week? How's that sound? Feel free to encourage me as much as you want. Who knows, it might make the chapters come faster. ;)

As I said before I am not abandoning this. Unlike some authors (The Avatars Love by Rainandrose. Where are you?)

Ciao!

Chapter 4: It's nice to meet you

Random Question: What's your most favorite Open World Adventure Game?

Mine's GTA 5.