Hey Everybody!
I'm sorry this took a while. I had a touch of writer's block when I didn't know where the story was going next. As a present, this chapter is pretty long :)
Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed. I wish I could give you a hug! *Virtual hug*
Enjoy!
Inkwarrior

Toph took a deep breath before entering the Fancy Lady Day Spa behind Mai, Suki and Katara. She had actually hadn't minded her last trip here with Katara much, with the exception of the pedicure. She had told them not to touch her feet! How would they like it if she poked and prodded at their eyes? Actually, she thought with an amused grimace, they probably would endure anything in the name of beauty.

Almost immediately after the girls entered they were led to a small room where they disrobed and wrapped towels around themselves. An attendant brought them to a room filled with mud bath tubs that Toph remembered from her last visit. Toph stepped in. The mud was warm and inviting. She could feel the movements of the mud around her body and immediately began bending it into different shapes.

"Hey Katara?"

"Mmmm?"

"Is this how you feel when you take a bath, or go swimming? I mean, like you're literally up to your neck in your element?"

"Yeah, something like that." Toph sighed contentedly and settled back into her mud. Maybe this day wasn't going to be so bad after all.

After soaking in the mud baths the girls wrapped themselves in their towels and left to rinse the mud from their bodies in a nearby pool. Leaving the room with the mud baths, Toph sensed the vibrations of two middle-aged women coming in. They were gossiping about politics and marriages and other such things. Toph stopped dead in her tracks. The vibrations, the voice…the second woman was unmistakably her mother. She hurried to catch up with the other three.

Katara curled a tendril of water up her arm and let it fall. "And you're sure it was your mom?"

"Yes, positive. I lived with the woman for twelve years!" said Toph. She gave a frustrated sigh. "I know I was going to have to face my parents eventually, but I had no idea I'd run into one of them so soon!" She sighed again and put her face in the water, blowing bubbles. The last traces of smeared mud were washed from her face.

"What do you think she's doing in Ba Sing Se?" asked Suki.

"I have no idea. Probably trying to increase her social standing." Said Toph somewhat unkindly. "You know what? Let's just not worry about this today. Let's avoid her if at all possible and just enjoy our girl's day."

No one mentioned her mother again after that, Mai understood Toph's mother issues, having had many of her own, and Suki and Katara were sensitive enough to realize she didn't want to talk about it.

After they had rinsed the mud from their bodies they wrapped clean towels around themselves and went to relax in a sauna.

"So, Toph," started Katara sneakily, "what's all this about the Duke?"

"The Duke? You mean that cute kid with the helmet? Is something going on with Toph and him?" asked Suki excitedly.

"It's really no big deal. I spilled my tea on him and he asked if I was going to be at the Earth King's Ball."

"After you spilled your tea on him?" asked Mai, bemused

"Yeah." Said Toph "He didn't seem to mind too much about the tea part."

"Then he must be in love!" squealed Katara "This is so exciting! I'm so happy for you Toph!"

"Wait, wait! Nothing's happened yet!" protested Toph. "We're just friends. I really don't know him all that well and…"

"Well, he seems interested enough in you." Mused Suki. Toph decided to keep quiet. She knew better than to argue with her friends about boys.

After they were suitably beautified they set out for the nearby market. Katara and Suki were excited about the prospect of buying new dresses, Mai was interested in acquiring some new throwing knives, and Toph was putting up with the excursion.

"Why don't you two just wear your Earth Kingdom dresses?" asked Toph "Just think, then we could be spared the pain of this shopping trip."

"I think it's kind of fun." Said Katara "And anyway, as the daughter of the chief of the South Pole, I ought to be attired in the colours of my nation, don't you think? My regular blue dress isn't nearly formal enough."

Suki shrugged. "I would wear my uniform, but I'm not sure it's appropriate for such a formal party. I was going to see if I could find an indigo one, like the ones they have on Kyoshi."

After what felt like forever, Katara and Suki found dresses that suited their fancies. Toph felt both of them; Katara's was so silky it was almost like water. Suki's was different, soft, but not silky, and of a somewhat thicker, more sensible material.

"Are you going to get a dress, Mai?" asked Katara.

"Nah…I've already got a bunch of fire nation ones, and I'd be hard pressed to find a dealer in Fire Nation clothing here. Trade between the two nations has only just begun." She said.

Toph could feel Katara's pulse speed up as she got excited, and imagined the grin that was spreading across her face. "I think you should get a dress, Toph." She said, mischievously.

"No way. I already have a nice Earth Kingdom dress that you talked me into buying when we came back here. It's nice, it's formal enough and it's my style." She pleaded her case, knowing her efforts were unlikely to stifle Katara's enthusiasm.

"Please Toph? Just try on one dress?"

Toph sighed. She didn't want to provoke an argument with Katara. Not when they were getting closer than they had been in weeks. "Fine." She said, resigned. "But only if Suki helps to pick it out."

Katara wove through the market, her mission on her mind, the other three followed behind her. Every once in a while Katara would drag Suki to go examine one dress or another. None seemed to be right. That is until…"Oh. My. Goodness." Said Katara slowly, "this is it. It's perfect."

Suki agreed. "It would look really great on you Toph."

"What's it like?" asked Toph, curious despite her general dislike of the dress- shopping excursion.

"It's green, like Kyoshi warrior dress green. Oh sorry, you wouldn't know that. It has long sleeves and flowers embroidered on it in gold thread. It's beautiful. Will you try it on?"

"I suppose so." Toph agreed.

Behind the trader's stall was a curtain set up so that customers could try on clothing before purchasing it. Katara helped Toph into the dress, fastening the closures at the back. Toph turned around. "So," she said shyly, "how do I look?"

Katara clapped her hands and bounced on the balls of her feet. "You look incredible! Like Toph, only more fearsome and beautiful! We have to show Mai and Suki!"

Katara led Toph out to display Toph's appearance to the other girls. "Wow Toph." Suki said. "I mean, you were lovely before, but now…you're drop dead gorgeous."

"You look really good," approved Mai.

"I guess this means I have to buy the dress then?" asked Toph

"Most definitely." Said Katara, with an all-too-pleased-with-herself grin. Toph smiled. For a moment, she could forget that she had her mother to worry about. For a moment, she could just enjoy being with her friends.