Wow all I can say is wow. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS CHAPTER! And I'm sure all of you Taangs will too. *wink wink*
Ok so I have no excuse for being this lazy about posting so I hope what's in this chapter makes up for it... It probably doesn't though but uh.... IT'S AND INCREDIBLE CHAPTER!!!!!
GAH! *dies* sometimes my own story frustrates me you know? Like when two characters are so meant for each other and you just want to wring the writer's neck because they aren't together? Would it be weird if I said I wanted to strangle myself?
I'm such a tease!!! *giggles* I gotta say though, with all of the requests I got to "LIKE TELL ME WHAT HAPPENS ALREADY!!!!!!!!!" I had a lotta fun keeping you guys on edge. Anyway, Enjoy!! (I know I did! It's like candy you can read!!)
Toph was at a turning point. She'd never imagined that she would be able to see again. So this news left her shocked until they reached the Fire Nation.
Katara's offer was tempting. Zuko said that she should go for it if was what was going to make her happy. Although he did admit that he liked the fact that Toph was blind. Zuko had laid off while they were going to the Fire Nation. This gave Toph such relief.
She spent most of her time on Appa with Katara. They didn't talk about Katara's offer. Katara had made it clear she was waiting for Toph to come to her. They talked about Katara's time in the Northern Water Tribe. She told Toph about teaching young water benders the Southern Style and how happy it made her that the art form would live on. When Toph asked about blood bending Katara let the mood fall to awkward.
"I can't." Katara mumbled.
"I can understand." Toph put a hand on Katara's. She had gotten better at socializing.
"It's a curse. I don't want anyone to have that power ever again. It's not right."
"Like I said; I get it."
Aang and Zuko didn't talk. Not even about how to get to the Fire Nation. The set tension had eased for some reason. But there was a new one set between Aang and Katara. They had barely talked after they left the Southern Tribe. Aang could see by the way Katara looked at Zuko she liked him. But she knew that Toph and Zuko were together so she was in the same position as Aang. So shouldn't they try to be working together to try to break them up?
Aang knew they both didn't have the hearts to do that to their friends.
Zuko should be excited to be back in the Fire Nation.
They had Katara, they knew where Sokka was, and tonight he was proposing to Toph.
But here's the thing: He wasn't.
There was a tight knot in his stomach. He figured it was from nerves, but he was lying to himself. He knew the real reason. But he didn't dare think about it.
He was in love with Toph. That was that. No "ifs" "ands" or "buts" about it.
When they reached the palace they were greeted by a messenger waving a note in the air. Zuko hopped off before Appa had touched down.
"What is it?" Zuko said striding toward the messenger.
"This came for you yesterday." The man handed Zuko a note.
Zuko tucked the note under his shirt and went back to help his friends unload. Starting with Toph.
As soon as she hit the ground she fell onto the rock on the courtyard and rolled around. "Sweet earth!" she chanted. The group started laughing.
Just like old times, though Zuko. He moved his hand to the paper under his shirt. This was one letter he was not looking forward to opening.
"Can I come in Toph?"
"Sure twinkletoes, I'm decent." Toph stroked a silver comb through her long black hair. She refused to cut it. Most people liked how long it was. She was in a silk robe that Zuko had given her, not doubt it was red because that was all there was in the Fire Nation according to Katara.
Aang curled around the door. He'd snuck passed Zuko's room as quietly as possible. After this evening, Aang had thought they would share a room. But Zuko had insisted that Toph get her own suite right next to his. It was just a grand as the Fire Lord's with a tall ceiling and a bed almost six feet across.
He looked at Toph as she brushed her hair. She was engaged to Zuko. He could never look at her the same way. A silent fire burned in his chest. He wasn't sure if it was anger or jealousy because he kept it so well contained. But it was a fire that made him ach to replace the brush that went through her hair with his fingers and do anything he could to convince her to choose him. But he restrained himself. Self control had always been one of his strong points.
Toph finished brushing her hair and put the comb on the table. "What do you want?"
That was a good question. What did he want? In fact what was Aang doing here at all? Any chance he had with Toph was over.
Or was it?
He walked over and sat on the bench in front of the vanity with her. Their knees touched and he swallowed hard, loosing his self control.
"Can you feel how nervous I am?" he asked placing his hand on her's. Surprisingly she didn't pull it away.
"Yea. And no offence it's kinda making me uncomfortable." she drew her hand away and looked away. Yea, his chances were over.
"Listen," she turned her self to face him. Her pale eyes didn't give away anything. But the way she picked up his hand did. She placed it on her chest. "I don't know what to do." Aang felt her heart beat and understood. Her heart was racing fast than his.
Aang put his free hand on her upper arm. "I just want you to be happy."
"Right now, I'm too nervous to even think about being happy." She put her hand over the hand that was on her chest.
She leaned in closer. "I can't do this to him. He's my friend." Aang turned his head away.
Toph backed away. She hesitated, what could she say? "Don't think about him. He wants me to be happy too. What ever makes me happy."
It was now or never. Aang didn't know why he'd come tonight. But he was here, she was here and he was so close to getting what he wanted. But what if Zuko found out? What if Katara found out? What if this went too far?
What if he fell in love with her?
His gaze met her's and he leaned forward.
And he realized he already did.
EH GAD! END COMMENTS ON TWO CHAPTERS IN A ROW???
Yea ok so now you guess get why this chapter excited me soooooooo much!! I loved writing it so much I'm giving it end comments..... and yea....
Don't worry all Zutarians I didn't forget about you.... next chapter i'll continue Aang and Toph story and add in Zuko and Katara's.......
This story belongs to me, Lileeh, so no copying, I don't claim to own Avatar the Last Airbender that belongs to Nickelodeon.
