A/N: Well, as the saying goes: All good things must come to an end and so it is with this story line. This will be the last chapter in this story; but I may return to this Avatar timeline at some point in the future if enough people wish it. Anyway on with the story!
And as always please review!
Chapter 7: The Proposal
Zhao was locked in a cell right next to the still imprisoned ex-Fire Lord Ozai; so the group took a well needed rest. They had managed to escape the battle with relatively few injuries; Toph however had to spend a week recovering in the hospital. The water infused with spirit energy, courtesy of Katara, had healed most of the wound but not all of it. Aang stayed by Toph's side almost the entire time she was there. Almost as soon as she was released Zuko, for the second time in five years, was to be crowned Fire Lord. This time the occasion was unmarked by tragedy and was a joyous occasion for all. Zuko and Mai decided to throw a huge ball for the event. The members of Team Avatar were the guests of honor; and when it came time to dance, Aang would dance with no one but Toph; who, surprisingly, was a very good dancer. There were many mutterings of "About time…" and "I thought I'd never happen," but the couple didn't care, they just danced and enjoyed each other's company. Everyone was surprised when Toph's parents showed up; they were a little stunned when they found out that their daughter was with the Avatar now, but in time they accepted it. After the ball, the gang went back to their hotel and slept late into the next day.
A few days later the group went their separate ways; Sokka went to Kyoshi to be with Suki when their child was born, Zuko and Mai remained in the Fire Nation, Aang caught a ride to the South Pole with Hakoda, who was at the ball, so he could pick up Appa. Toph really had nothing better to do so she tagged along. After they picked up Appa they headed to Toph's home in the Earth Kingdom; Aang really had nowhere to stay so Toph let him move in with her. He helped her rebuild her school and when he wasn't busy he helped teach. About a month after he arrived, a letter arrived from Kyoshi Island announcing the birth of Sokka's daughter; they had named her Tarra, partially after her late aunt. Over the next few months his relationship with Toph deepened; so on the way back from one of the many times he was called away to help solve the world's various problems, he stopped by Omashu to see King Bumi.
"Hey Bumi, you Mad Genius! How's it going?" said Aang
"Aang! It's good to see you!" cackled Bumi. "But wait!" he exclaimed, "Where's Momo?"
"Oh, I left him at the South Pole, he really like it there surprisingly enough." replied Aang.
"Oh well," said Bumi, "I'll have to visit him some time, but what brings you to Omashu? What's on your mind?"
"Well," Aang said, "I would like to ask a favor"
"Oh?" said Bumi, "What do you need?"
"Well, I've been dating Toph for the past few months and it's been the best time of my life; I want to take the next step: I want to ask her to marry me, and I need a gem for a betrothal necklace."
"That's wonderful Aang! But you can buy one anywhere, why come to me?" Bumi asked.
"Because next to Toph, you're the foremost authority on rocks and I want to get a really special one for her. Could you come with me to find one?"
"I can do better that, I'll be right back." said Bumi. He left the throne room and came back a few minutes later. "Here," he said, handing something to Aang, "This is an Emerald from my own collection; I found it many years ago."
Aang started to argue,
"I won't take no for an answer." said Bumi, "I don't have a use for it and you do so it's yours."
"I don't know how to thank you…" said Aang.
"Don't; just make it special for her."
Aang left and flew towards home; he spent the ride contemplating what he would carve into the gem. He settled on the Earth Kingdom square with the Air Nomad symbol inside it. He could have carved it into the gem instantly with earth bending; but he carved it into the gem using tools once he got home.
The next day, he made sure the day would be special. He started by brining Toph breakfast in bed; then they flew out into the country and walked for a while, hand in hand; then they had a picnic. To round out the day they flew to the fanciest restaurant in Ba Sing Se and had a romantic dinner. As they climbed back on Appa to start heading back, Toph asked "I had a lot of fun today Twinkle Toes, what's the occasion?"
"Do I need an occasion to have an awesome day with my Girlfriend?" countered Aang.
She laughed, "I suppose not, but I think you earned yourself this," she leaned in and kissed him. A few minutes later Aang brought Appa to the ground.
"We're here!" he said
As soon as Toph's feet hit the ground she knew something was up. "Ok Aang, why are we in a large clearing in the middle of the woods? This is nowhere near my house."
"Don't you remember this place?" Aang asked, "This is where we slept the night after I rescued you guys."
"Oh yeah," said Toph, "but why are we here?"
"Because over the past few months I've fallen more and more in love with you and recently I realized that I want to spend the rest of my life with you," he said getting down on one knee, "I wanted to make this special so I brought you to the place where I first fell in love with you; Toph Bei Fong, will you marry me?" he asked holding out the beautifully crafted necklace out in front of him.
Toph was stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered, "Oh, Twinkl-, Aang of course I will! But…"
"But what?" Aang asked.
"Do you think Katara would mind? I mean you two obviously had something special…"
"I thought about that too," said Aang "But Sokka helped me out on this one; he said that she would want me to be happy, and being with you makes me happy," said Aang, "Besides, she can still voice her concerns,"
At that moment a warm smattering of water from the sky hit the couple.
"See?" said Aang.
Toph smiled, "You're right Twinkle Toes; Thanks Katara!"
She bent her head and he placed the necklace around her neck. After that Aang shouted "Yes!" and proceeded to bounce around the clearing celebrating; Toph laughed at his giddy display, "Come on Twinkle Toes, we should be getting home."
"Why?" asked Aang landing directly in front of her, "Let's just stay here tonight; we can head back in the morning." She agreed and they snuggled close together on one of Appa's gigantic forearms and slept late into the next morning.
Over the next month the plans for the wedding were made. Aang wanted to have the wedding at the Southern Air Temple; Toph agreed that it was appropriate, since that had been Aang's home for the first twelve years of his life. They also agreed that it would be fitting for Zuko to marry them. Aang asked Sokka to be his best man; Sokka agreed instantly and made various comments about how it was about time.
"Everyone says that to me," said Aang "Was it that obvious?"
"Let's just say that subtly is not you strong suit," said Sokka.
Toph picked Mai, Suki and one of her students to be the bride's maids. On the big day everyone gathered at the Southern Air Temple; pretty much everyone who Aang had met on his travels was there. The couple walked up the isle hand in hand; Aang had on his best Air Nomad robe, and Toph was wearing a beautiful green kimono. They exchanged vows, and finally Zuko said "By the power vested in me as Fire Lord, I now pronounce you man and wife!" As the couple kissed, a small, warm rain shower decided to pass over head.
A year had passed and the Gaang had gathered for their monthly get-together. They were in one of the palaces gardens; Aang, Sokka and Zuko were leaning against the wall and talking as Suki, Toph, and Mai were playing with Sokka's daughter Tarra and Zuko's month old son Iroh, named for his late Great Uncle who had passed away a short time before his birth. "Well," Sokka said to the other guys, "The people from the Northern Tribe have been a great deal of help in the reconstruction of the Southern tribe! The village is twice the size it was when you first showed up Aang! Any interesting projects on your end Zuko?"
"Not really," said Zuko, "Workers have almost finished a cemetery dedicated to all who died in the hundred year war. But other than that not much is going on here."
"Sweet," said Sokka, "How 'bout you Aang?"
"The reconstruction of the Air temples is going great!" Aang said enthusiastically. "Those workers you sent over have been a life saver for me Zuko, thanks again!"
"Think nothing of it," said Zuko, "I'm just beginning to repay the debt that the Fire Nation owes the world for the last hundred years."
"Hey," Sokka said, "Did I here Toph telling Suki that she might be pregnant earlier?"
"Yep!" said Aang proudly, "We're not 100% sure yet but she was late this month; so I got my fingers crossed. I sure hope it's an air bender, otherwise there's not going to be anyone to live in the restored Air Temples!"
Mai called Zuko over to play with their son; just then a rain shower decided to hover over the courtyard gardens. "Looks like the gang's all here!" said Sokka. He looked over and saw Aang looking up with a huge smile on his face. "You still love her don't you?" Sokka asked.
"Yeah," Aang replied, "I think I always will,"
"Does Toph know about this?" Sokka asked half jokingly.
"Actually yeah, she does," said Aang, "And she's actually cool with it. Besides," he said a smile spreading across his face, "it's not like she has a choice; Katara did save her life when we fought Zhao,"
"Yeah," said Sokka, "Now we owe Katara our lives how many times now?"
"Don't ask me," Aang said shrugging, "I lost track a long time ago."
They started walking towards where the others were sitting. Sokka clapped Aang on the shoulder; "You know man," he said, "I'm really glad you finally got your happy ending,"
"No," replied Aang "This wasn't an ending for me; this past year has been a new beginning, for all of us I think."
"Yeah," said Sokka "I think you're right."
Epilogue
History writes that Aang went on to be the most celebrated Avatar in all of history. He got his wish: Toph's first child was an air bender; they had three more children, one more of them an air bender and the other two earth benders. Aang continued the restoration of the Air Temples; he was quoted in one text as saying "I know there won't be any significant numbers of Air Nomads in my life time; but when there are I want them to have a nice place to live." It is said that Sokka was credited with brining about the Southern Water Tribe's return to glory. His and Suki's children were brought up in both the Water tribe and Kyoshi Fighting disciplines; this combination made them some of the best warriors on the planet. Fire Nation lore says that Fire Lord Zuko did indeed keep his promise: he brought back the Fire Nation's honor after a hundred years of shame. As for the Water Spirit, or Katara, She never appeared to Aang ever again, but she kept watch over him until his dying day where he finally joined her in the spirit world.
And so ends the legend of The Last Air Bender.
Well, that's it! I would like to thank everyone who reviewed my first two stories; and I would like to give a special thank you to Arizony, Leiyn and AangKatara777 for their encouragement along the way. So thank you Rosalind du Coudray, WOLF BOY and Holly and all the rest of you who read my stories. And I would like to give a special hello to anyone from Germany or France who have read these.
The next story I am planning will partially retell the entire Avatar story and add a character of my own creation to the Gaang! That will be coming soon! Again thank you all!
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