Chapter 6

Katara stared at Toph.

"Why don't you know?" asked a deep but tender voice. Both the girls jumped.

"Iroh!" Toph exclaimed blushing a little. How could she not know he was eavesdropping?

"You are the strongest girl I know Toph." Iroh said sitting down. "Why would you runaway from your emotions instead of facing them and making them clear?"

"Because that's what Toph does." Katara said ignoring Toph's glare. "When ever she does not want to deal with her own feelings, she ignores them. After all 'The Runaway' is the best nickname for you."

"I'm leaving." Toph said trying to getting up. But Iroh placed a firm hand on her shoulder making her sit down. "Listen Toph," He began. "It's not like you have to play alone with Aang's attraction. Just give yourself a little space and calmly perceive everything. Think about it slowly and understand what you really want."

Toph blew few hair bangs from her face at this.

"If you don't feel the same way, tell him so. I'm sure he'll understand."

"But Iroh, something tells me otherwise." Katara said with a little giggle.

"Are you two done with your little preaching?" Toph asked hotly.

"You both are growing up Toph." Iroh said as he never heard her. "Aang has grown in to a fine young man. You have grown in to a beautiful young lady. I'm sure you two will make the perfect couple ever." He said dramatically at which both him and Katara crossed their fingers and looked up with anticipation, their eyes closed, sheepish smiles plastered to their faces.

Toph snorted loudly. "Such preachy fans of hope! You know I think you two should get married and I'm sure you two will make the finest couple ever!"

At this Iroh started chuckling and Katara exclaimed, "Toph!"

When they finally left the Jasmine Dragon, Toph's grumpy mood had been vanished. Iroh's words somehow got in to Toph but she wasn't exactly sure about anything yet. After all it's her way to wait and listen. So she was going to practice it as usual.

Few days passed without any notable incident. Aang had his suspicions that Toph is avoiding him somehow. Some times he wished he could switch places with Momo, who would always snuggle her and would always receive a warm and welcoming smile from her.

As they train Toph instructed him to get blindfolded to which he obeyed willingly. Other than in training they did not interact much. Toph was her usual blunt and sarcastic self and was careful not to give Aang any reason to get smitten. And he was thankful because Aang did not want his love to be a simple attraction. If it was love that he feels for Toph, he needed to understand it perfectly. He needed to understand '"Why?" But he had started to miss the fun filled adventures they had together.

Things were getting dully formal between the entire gang. A frustrated Katara suggested a tip to Liam Valley. Sokka practically jumped up in excitement. He was getting bored over developing plans for former fire nation colonies which were slowly been turned in to towns as a collective effort of the four nations. No one seemed to dislike the idea. So they were camping in the Liam Valley after a week. The Valley was welcoming and relaxing. They were enjoying their stay as in the good old days.

One evening Sokka and Suki went to buy some supplies to the near by village. Katara took Haru's hand and they went to see the riverside. Toph and Momo had not been seen all afternoon by anyone. Toph had gone for a lone walk and Momo obviously had followed her. Aang was left alone. He wandered the valley hoping to find a good spot to watch the sun set. Setting sun was a magnificent sight from Liam Valley. Aang slowly approached the cliff side of the valley. He abruptly stopped.

Toph sat on the edge of the cliff by the valley in half-lotus position. She was meditating. One of the few things Aang had taught her in their journeys together. Her eyes were closed and she was facing the setting sun. Momo was laying on his belly right next to her. Her ebony hair gently waved in the evening breeze. Her face was so peaceful. The sight was extremely relaxing and calming. Aang stared as the realization drawn to him.

He was not just attracted to Toph. He was fascinated to her calm and steady self, her entrusted nature, her superb concentration and her peaceful mind hidden beneath the rough, tough and arrogant exterior of her. He loved her. He did not blush as he realized it. Instead he felt peaceful and happy. The peace that he seeked was within Toph.

Aang slowly walked to the edge of the cliff and sat down beside her. Toph who was focusing of the heat of the setting sun did not notice the light footsteps that approached her. But as he sat down she opened her eyes slowly. Aang's heart was not racing. No heat was emitting from him. The Aura about him was so peaceful and calm. Not even hyper as usual.

"It must be a nice sight" Toph said 'looking' at the setting sun.

"Yes. It really is." Aang said.

They sat there for a while. A comfortable silent fell between them. Toph was not going to break it. She had her eyes closed again.

"I know Katara must have told you something about me. That's why you avoid me, isn't it?" Aang asked out of nowhere. His voice was calm and leveled. Toph blinked but did not answer.

"The first thing I noted about you back in earth rumble six Toph, was your concentration." Aang went on calmly. "I always loved that about you from the very day we met. Then eventually we became best of friends. I was totally smitten by the way you bend, the way you move. It was so graceful that I could not help staring at you. This developed in to a habit of mine over almost two years Toph. You perceived it as me loosing focus, but it was actually my focus shifting from earth to you."

At that point Toph tilted her head towards Aang. "That is not going to help you in battle." She snapped. "If I was your enemy you could have been dead by now."

Aang stroked Momo's back as he went on as if he did not hear her. "Then finally I paid the price. You broke my ri-" But Toph cut in before he could finish. "If I knew about any of this earlier I would have broken it sooner."

Aang chuckled. "I know you have. That's why I kept it from you." Then he looked at the reddish sky again and inhaled slowly. "When I finally woke, the first person I saw was you. It was the first time in four years I saw you in such close proximity." He closed his eyes reliving the moment. "When my heart skipped a beat, I freaked you out didn't I?"He asked.

Toph could not help but blush a little. She bent her head to hide it from him.

"Before that I thought I was fascinated by your skills. But then I realized it just wasn't your skills anymore. Every time I see you smile genuinely my heart races. I feel happy." He said smiling.

"Alright Twinkle Toes, that's enough!" Toph said trying to get up. But Aang held her arm. "Please, let me finish." He said pulling her down gently but firmly. For one second Toph seriously considered earth bending him off the cliff side but then she heard Katara's and Iroh's irritating voices in her head. "Don't run away Toph…!" So she huffed as she sat beside Aang.

"Before I was wandering to find a good spot to watch the sun set and I found it already taken by you. You were meditating, looking so peaceful and calm. I watched you Toph, I watched your peaceful form as I realized the peace I seek is in you."

Aang finished as he shifted his hand from her upper arm down to her hand and took it gently. Toph's hand quivered a little but she did not protest. Her head was bent and she kept quiet.

"I respect you as a person and as a bender most of all as my teacher, you make me happy with out even trying and you give me the peace I seek with out even trying." Aang said peeping to her face. "Isn't it 'love' Toph? Respect, happiness and peace?" He brushed the bangs out of her face. "Yes Toph, I have figured that I'm in love with you." Aang finished and lay on his back.

It did not seem like he was expecting an answer from Toph. A smile was plastered to his young face. He had confessed his heart to her and to himself as well. He felt extremely relaxed and peaceful. Toph's hand in Aang's grip trembled a little. Toph exhaled as she too lay on her back. The pink patches on her ivory face were fading.

"Katara told me little something about your problem. It was eerie at first." She said fixing her blind gaze upwards. "I was furious with myself when I started blushing at your compliment the other night. It totally freaked me out." Aang crossed his fingers with hers as his smile widened. Toph went on as if she did not feel it.

"That's why I kept avoiding you. Because that feeling was strange to me. It still is." She said in a small voice. "But you know when my dad said you three have to leave I thought I'd never see you again. A tear escaped my eyes. You took my hand back five years ago saying that friendships transcend lifetimes. For the first time in my life, I felt so secured. Even though I didn't need it, it felt nice."

Toph stayed silent for a while. Aang did not break it. "I don't know if its love or just friendship. But you were the first person on this earth to melt my heat and make me cry. You were the first person I cared about beside my parents. You are a inseparable part of my life. Help me understand if it's love or not" Toph felt a little hot in the face. For the first time of her life she was facing her feelings head on.

Aang stayed there for a while gently squeezing her small hand. Then he leaned on his elbows and peeped to her face. She was 'looking' up. The pink shades were clearly visible against her skin and she looked so cute. Aang slowly bent down and closed the space between them. He placed a gentle and soft kiss on Toph's lips. Her eyes widened in shock first. She almost snatched her head away but then something weird happened. It felt right to her. So gentle and tender and filled with happiness and admiration. She closed her eyes and melted in to the kiss.

Aang broke the kiss after few minutes. They both were smiling. "So how do you feel?" He asked her, trailing his index finger down her cheek.

Toph just grinned catching Aang's hand with her left hand. "So loved." She said punching him hard on the shoulder with her right.

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A/N : Sorry I took time to update this. I hope you enjoyed it. Please review.