Place: Takes place after The Southern Raiders.

PAINFUL MEMORIES

Team Avatar was on their way to Ember Island, which Zuko'd said would be a safe haven for them. It was night, a warm summer night.

Toph clung to Zuko the same way she used to cling to Sokka. Sokka had noticed this, but didn't care to much. Now Suki was on his arm. Toph was amazed at how it felt. Just like what she'd guessed; strong and muscular.

Zuko was hardly phased. He knew Toph could only see with earthbending, so naturally, when flying on Appa she was rendered truly blind. Maybe she just needed someone to keep close to, a job that Zuko didn't mind at all; he was more then happy to offer his services to her.

Toph really loved being with Zuko. She could just hear it now, the rest of the world telling her that eventually, she'd have to let him go. No. Toph couldn't stand the thought. She loved Zuko to much to let him go. All thought stopped at this revolution. It was very true. She loved him. She loved him so much and she never wanted to lose him. She could almost hear everyone saying that she's to young to be in love with anyone. So? Aang was so obviously in love with Katara, and he wasn't much older then here at all! No, never. No matter what, she'd never let Zuko -The man she loved with all her heart- go. She'd been wondering about Zuko's past, they all have, and now was a fine time to ask.

"Why were you banished, Zuko?" Toph muttered. The others all looked back at them. None of them really knew why he was even banished or how he got his scar. In Ba Sing Se, he'd come close to telling Katara, but couldn't.

"For speaking my mind." Zuko said solemnly, finding it surprisingly easy to open up to them. Maybe it was because they were his friends now, something Zuko had never had before. "I was in at a war meeting. My uncle made my promise to keep quite, but I didn't. An old general proposed a plan to send new recruits into an earth kingdom city as decoys. While the enemy was fighting them, a more experienced army would over power them and take to city. He cared nothing about what happened to them."

"That's terrible." Aang yelped. "How could he just sacrifice them like that?"

"That's what I said." Zuko said.

"How'd he take that?" Katara asked, already knowing the answer.

"My father announced an Agni Kai. I accepted, thinking I'd fight the old general. When the time came, I found it was my father I had to face. I knew I couldn't take him and begged forgiveness, but he claimed I needed to learn respect by suffering." Zuko then paused, looking at five shocked faces. He touched his scar lightly. "That's when he gave me this."

"So, that's where the scar came from." Katara looked down sadly. Now she really wanted to heal his scar.

"He said that by refusing to fight, I'd shamed myself and was weak. As a result, he banished me, claiming the only thing that would restore my honor and allow me to return home was to succeed at what he, his father, and even Sozin failed at; capturing the Avatar."

"How old where you?" Katara asked.

"Only thirteen."

The others all had mixed looks on their faced. Looks of fear, guilt, anger, sympathy and pain. Aang gulped in fear. That wasn't to much older then him. There was a long silence until Sokka spoke up.

"So, you were a jerk to us because you had a good heart?" He asked.

"Basically."

"How could anyone treat their own son like that?" Katara asked, more to herself then to anyone els.

"He's heartless, that's how." Zuko half growled. He refused to fight back then, and he refused to kill his father before, but now he just wanted him dead. Ozai didn't deserve to live.

"I think we're here." Aang said, he's attention back on the sea. A luxurious island was just ahead.

"Yeah, that's it." Zuko said.

Soon, they were at Zuko's old Vacation Home. The others were all eager to get off, but Toph had fallen sleep on the way, maybe during Zuko's story.

"Hey, we're here." Zuko shook Toph lightly.

Toph opened her eyes drowsily. "Carry me?" She asked quietly, extending an arm out to Zuko. Toph was way to tired to walk to a bed. Besides, she loved being close to Zuko. Being carried by him had to be a dream come true.

Zuko smiled and picked her up bridal style. Toph turned in his direction, seeking additional warmth seeing as it was starting to get a little chilly. He walked silently into the house, and into the closest bedroom. He gently placed Toph in the large bed, lightly tucking her in. The price remembered his mother. When he and Azula were small children, Ursa would always do this for them when one of them fell asleep early, which was often.

Zuko lightly stroked Toph's bangs. He had to admit, she was adorable when she slept. It was a shame she wasn't just a couple years older. Caught up in the moment, Zuko landed a small kiss on her cheek before he left to join the others outside. He never regretted it.

Toph had been awake for that. She couldn't believe it. Zuko had kissed her. Even if it was purely in friendship, Toph's heart raced and she felt the most intense blush she'd ever felt. Maybe now that she knew she loved him, it meant more then before. As far as she was concerned, that was her first kiss. She then somehow manged to get to sleep, and dreamed of Zuko.

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Aw! She's in love! Review.