They continued flying through the night, having rested Appa the entire day on Kyoshi Island. The Gaang took this opportunity to spend some much needed time together before their big goodbye. Sitting around the saddle, Aang was animatedly describing some of the things the kids at the Air Temples used to do when he was young.

"...And I give you my Avatar's Honor, it took a week to clean out all of the water" he said, putting a hand over his heart to pledge it to them. Katara and Toph began laughing loudly at the story.

"Wait a minute, if the Air Nomads just lived and went wherever they want, and technically don't own any lamd besides the temples, does that mean you're all just vagabonds, squatters, and hoboes?" Toph asked. Aang let out a laugh.

"Well, when you put it that way, I guess you could say that we are. But being a nomad, life doesn't really revolve around possession. It's about freedom and not having a set life" he said, voice filled with emotion.

"Yeah, that's something I've wanted to ask" Katara spoke up. "If nomads aren't supposed to be connected to anything, why do you have your glider? And a sky bison?"

"Well, you see, the glider..." he said, picking it up"...it a tool we use to fly, allowing us the most freedom we can achieve. As for the bison, it's more of a companionship. I don't see Appa as a possession. I see him just as I see you guys. He's my best friend" Aang said with a smile. "Monk Gyasto told me a sky bison is meant to be a friend even if nobody else will." A moment of comfortable silence passed as everyone took in the information.

"Did they marry?" Toph asked.

"'Scuse me?" Aang asked, surprised Toph'd ask.

"The Nomads. When they found love, did they marry?"

"Well, normally, the boys are separated from the girls...so I'm not entirely sure. The only time I remember seeing any girls was the day we were to chose our bison..." he answered. "I don't remember seeing any couples either..."

"Must have been boring. No flirting, no romance, nothing" Toph answered. Both Aang and Katara looked at her with shocked expressions. "What? Despite my rough n' tough attitude, I'm a romantic at heart" she said. The other two just broke out into laughter. She mearly shrugged and crossed her arms.

"So Toph, how do you think your parents will react when you return?" Katara asked. "If it's anything like last time, I doubt we're in for a very pleasant visit."

"Well, I'm a war hero now, and the world's greatest earthbender. They pretty much have no choice but to accept it" she said with a smile. "And even if they don't, it's not like I can't escape" she said, a mischievous smirk coming to her mouth. Aang and Katara chuckled. Katara let out a loud yawn.

"Man, I'm tired. I'm going to sleep. Wake me in the morning." She crawled over to Aang, giving him a kiss on the cheek before making her way to the back of Appa's saddle. Aang just sat there with a blush on his face. The two sat in silence until a light snoring was heard coming from Katara.

"How are you holding up?" Aang asked in a whisper.

"Wide awake. Just taking in the sights" she said, looking around the ocean. Aang let out a light laugh.

"You know, Toph, that's something I really admire about you. You're blind, but not only did you overcome it and accept it, but you joke about it" he said with in a whisper.

"Really?" Toph asked with a blush. She remembered what Suki'd said about this. She blessed the spirits that it was night and he couldn't see.

"Oh yeah" he smiled. "You are very strong about yourself and know who you are. It's very admirable." Her cheeks just got redder.

"Thanks Aang. You know, you were my very first friend. Sure, I had maids and butlers who'd talk to me and keep me company, but nobody would really...connect with me. But you...no matter how much I pushed you away at first, you came through for me. Sure, it was as a teacher, but you stuck around even after we were done. You're the first person to see me for who I am, not what you see. " She wiped a tear from her eye. "Thank you." She suddenly felt two long arms wrapped around her once again. She gasped, feeling his warmth around her.

"You don't have to thank me, Toph. I only did what was right. The monks always told us to get to know someone before fully judging them." He smiled to her, even though she couldn't see it. Toph reached her arms around him and pulled him in close.

"Aang, you're my best friend, and I hope nothing comes between that" she said honestly. She pulled away reluctantly. A moment of comfortable silence came over them. Suddenly, Top reached out and punched Aangs arm. "Tell anyone I got soft on you, and you'll be-"

"Buried faster than I can blink... I know" he said with a chuckle, rubbing his arm. Another moment of silence. "Toph?"

"Hmm?"

"Well, I-uh, I never really apologized for...you know...the desert." He saw her flinch slightly. "I shouldn't have yelled at you like that... It's just...well, Appa's all I have from the Air Nomads. If I lost Appa...I don't know what I'd do..." he trailed off.

"Aang. It's OK. I know what it's like to lose someone close to you...I'm just glad we found him" she added with a smile. "Hey, Aang?"

"Yeah?"

"What do stars look like?" she asked reluctantly.

"Hmm..." he thought for a moment, tapping his chin with a finger. "Well, I don't know how to describe it. I mean, they're just millions of dots of light floating around in the darkness..."

"Oh, OK. Um..."she began, fidgeting nervously with the hem of her shirt. "What do I look like?" she asked, blush coming to her face. At first, Aang was puzzled. How do you describe to someone what they look like, if they can't see what you're describing? He brought his finger to his chin, tapping it in thought.

What does she look like? The more he thought, the more confused he became. I don't think I've ever really seen Toph's face without her hair covering it...he thought to himself.

"Well...I'm not sure" he answered, rubbing his neck nervously. Toph cocked her head to the side in confusion.

"What do you mean? I'm like, always around you" she spoke.

"Well, you always have your face covered by your bangs so...I'm not entirely sure. Maybe if you moved them out of the way?" Toph reached up to pull them back but failed to grasp all of it, hair falling back over her face. After several attempts, she let out a growl of annoyance and tugged on the string of her headband. Her midnight dark hair flowed over her shoulders and face, almost reaching to her waist. "Wow, that's a lot of hair" Aang spoke in awe.

"Yeah, yeah" she said. She took her headband and brought it up around her head, pulling back the loose hair from her face. "How 'bout now?"

"Well, the hair problem's solved, but I can't really see you. You have the moon behind you, so you're kinda eclipsing yourself right now" he said with a quiet laugh.

"Oh, OK" she said, shuffling herself to face him in the light. Slowly, she lifted her face to meet his gaze. Aang's eyes widened as he took in the first real look at his best friend. The slight pout of her lips, the point of her nose, the almost unreal look of her eyes, and how her hair seemed to almost cascade down from her head like a black waterfall. He felt a blush come to his cheeks as he took it all in.

"Wow... Toph, you're beautiful" he said in a whisper. Her eyes widened slightyly and her mouth opened in surprise. She felt her cheeks heat up.

"R-really?" she asked nervously, almost like she was afraid it was some sort of joke.

"Yeah" he answered with a smile. "I don't know why you hide your face."

"What about me makes me beautiful?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"Well, you have a nice nose, round cheeks, umm...well, pink lips, and your eyes are...unique. I know it doesn't really make sense explained that way, but..."

"What about my eyes is unique?"

"Well, while most people have colors to their eyes, like mine are gray, Katara and Sokka's are blue, yours are like a white-green color. It's very nice" he said to her with a smile. With that, the blush only grew deeper.

"Thanks..." she said sheepishly. He just chuckled.

"No problem." Toph's heart was pounding in her chest. She was nervous at the intimacy of the moment. She had a question she wanted to ask, but she was too shy. After another moment of silence, she blurted out.

"Can I see you?" At first, Aang cocked his head to the side.

"Uh...how?" Nervously, she raised a hand and wiggled her fingers. A smile came to the airbender's face. "Sure, Toph." Cautiously, as if she thought he'd break, she brought her fingers towards his face, pausing just inches before making contact. She took in a sharp breath when he grabbed her wrist and guided it to his face. It's warmer than she'd thought it would be. Slowly, very slowly, taking in every feature, she slides her hand across his skin. She feels the curve of his cheek, mentally drawing a picture. Down to his chin, pulling it all into an image. Her thumb brushes his lips over a few times. What I'd give... she thought to herself. sliding up to his nose. It's smaller than I expected. Next. the eyes. She'd heard the color described as grey, though she wasn't exactly sure what it was, it was her new favorite color, behind green, of course. She moves across his forehead, a puzzled look coming to her face.

"Where's your arrow?" she asked. She's always heard everyone saying about his arrow, but now, as she moves her hands across his forehead, she is surprised to feel smooth skin. Aang just let out a light laugh.

"Well, Toph, a tattoo is just like a drawing on your skin. It's seen, but it's not feelable" he explained with a smile. Her mouth formed an 'o' shape of understanding.

"So...where is it?"

"Well, it comes up from the middle of my back, up over my head, and around like this" he said, bringing a finger to her forehead. She gasped at the contact, heat rising to her face. He traced the area where the arrow would be if she had one. As his finger came to the point between her eyebrows, a shiver ran down her spine. "And that's where it ends." She just sat still, in shock of the closeness they'd just shared. I have to tell him...she thought to herself. "Toph? You OK?" She looked up to him, swallowing the lump in her throat.

"Aang...I...look, I gotta..." I can't do it... "I gotta go to bed, I'm really tired."

"You sure?" he asked, slightly disappointed, still being wide awake.

"Yeah" she replied, adding a fake yawn. "G'night Twinkletoes" she said, lying down onto her side, back facing him.

"Night, Toph. Sweet dreams."

"Yeah...you too" she said, a tear sliding down her face.

Sorry for the wait. Life's been busy and I've also had a bit of writer's block. I threw in some Taang teasing. Hope you like it. Review please.