The harsh days sun shone down on the grounds of the earth kings palace, as a small figure, in a mainly dark orange dress ran towards the open gate leading out of the palace and out of the city. Toph was so intent on getting as far away as she could, as fast as she could, she wasn't paying any attention to the vibrations coming from inside the palace. If she did, she didn't know what she would do. All of those people where here for her wedding. A wedding that was no longer going to happen. She didn't know most of the people that where there, but the ones that she did she couldn't face now. I told you so, was the last thing she needed to hear now.

They were just back to were they started, Zuko was no closer to getting the trust of the fire nation court, or the earth kingdom. All of this had been for nothing, because of her. Tears threatened to fall from her clouded eyes, but she fought them back.

Toph was running so fast, focusing solely on that, that she didn't notice him. He was sitting on the top of the wall bordering the grounds of the palace. He had been watching her running towards him, he expected her to notice him, but she didn't. Once she was out the gate, and directly under were he sat, did she finally notice him. It wasn't his vibrations that gave him away. Momo jumped from Aang's shoulder onto Toph's, giving them both away.

A faint smile crossed the avatars face, as to old friends were reunited. He hoped his reunion with Toph would be as pleasant, but doubted it. Toph had been in her own world, when Momo landed on her shoulder. It felt like she was hit with a fire ball, causing her to come crashing back to reality. Her heart was racing so fast already, but now it felt like it was going to burst out of her chest. Aang picked up on that, as he landed lightly on the ground behind her. "Toph."

"Aang"he voice cam out as a whisper. very slowly Toph turned to face the voice. His voice was so different to the way she remembered it. If it wasn't for his unique set of vibrations she wouldn't have believed it was him at all. "What...how...I don't understand." Momo's tail seemed to be patting Toph on the back, as if he was trying to comfort her. Not wanting his friends to fight. Aang wanted to say something, anything at all, but no words came out. Her chest was heaving under her elaborate dress, as she tried to get enough air to fill her lungs. The silence that filled the air around them seemed to go on for ever. Till Toph seemed to have gained enough air, and control to string a sentence together. "Say something! You owe me that much at least." he owed her so much more than that, and she knew it too.

"I'm sorry." it was stupid, but it was all he could think to say. The only words that would leave his mouth right now.

When it was clear that, that was all he was going to say, Toph bit back. "Your sorry, that it all you have to say. Is that meant to make it all ok, I'm sorry." Momo dug his little claws into Toph's dress, to keep himself secure on her shoulder as her body shock from the yelling.

"I had to leave, I needed to be by myself to focus. I explained it all in the letter I left you and the others" Aang now dared to take a step towards her, but regretted it. Toph shout the heal of her right hand up in the air, casing a small earth pillar to emerge under the foot Aang had just moved forward. Forcing him back.

"What the hell are you talking about. What letter." he noticed that her checks were starting to turn a little red. He didn't know if she was going red from anger or if the heat was getting to her. It made her look pretty, he couldn't believe he hadn't noticed that before. This was still Toph he was thinking about thou.

He took a deep breath, knowing he had to be very careful what he said now. "I left a letter for you, to read with everyone. I left it here in your room, telling you all about what I was planing to do. I left it in you room as, Ba sing Sa was the closet place I knew any of you would be, to where I was at the time."

"Why didn't you just talk to me...I know case you were scared to face me..."

"It was about two years ago. I was told you would be here, but when I got here, you had gone." her checks now seemed to drain of all colour. She had a fairly good idea where she must have been when Aang came to see her, an didn't want to let her mind dwell on that. Her hand reached up to hold her mothers necklace. Aang noticed this, he also noticed the bracelet he gave her three years ago, making her a grand master. This gave him a little bit of hope.

That hope soon washed away when she opened her mouth again. "That's it. You left a letter, you didn't think to speak to any of us, face to face. Your big idea was to leave a letter, for a blind girl." Momo now wrapped his tail gently around Toph's neck. Feeling that she needed a little more comforting.

"You can read."

"How do you know that, have you been spying on me, on all of us."

NO!. I...spoke to Bumi, he said it in passing." Aang knew this was just going to make Toph madder, but he couldn't lie to her.

"So you can speak to him...but you can't speak to any of us. not even Katara" that was a low blow. Aang was sure he saw Momo shaking his head at the avatars stupidity. It seemed he couldn't even count on the support of the friend that had been with him for the past three years. He must really be in the wrong.

Copying the flying lemurs moment, Aang lowered his head. "it was easer. He understood." his eyes now clenched shout, waiting for the hit he was sure was going to come.

"We...I wouldn't understand." her words, with all the pain that she spoke them with, hurt more than any hit she could throw at him.

"No, I needed to be by myself, with no distractions. I needed to work on..."

"you needed to work on the realisations between the nations, that was what, IS most important. That is what we fought for. What people, people we carried about died for. What stupid selfish thing could be more important than that."

"I am the avatar..."

"that's not an excuse you can use when you feel like it. It means your job..."

"I know what my job is, and I have been doing that job for the past three years."

"NO! We, have been doing your job for that past three years." Momo had now lowered his head, covering his ears with his arms, that clung to Toph's dress. Despite the volume of her voice, Toph remained calm. Her breathing and heart rate were perfectly steady and controlled. "I'm tired. Katara, Zuko and the others, we are all so tired." Toph straightened out her right arm. Letting Momo know that it was time he went back to Aang. "Do you know why I hugged you, when you gave me this." her hand was now raised to better show the bracelet he had given her. In response. He shock his head. He was little shocked by the sudden change in subject. "I thought it meant that you trusted me. You Katara and Sokka were a family when I joined. I didn't think I would ever fit in. when you gave me this, I felt like I was part of a family. A family that excepted me for who I was. That you trusted me. I guess I was wrong." she ripped the bracelet from her wrist, and threw it at him. It landed just in front off him. Toph turned to walk away. Aang was after her in a shout. Reaching out to grab hold of her now bear wrist.

Before he could really reach her, Toph spun round again. Her right arm was stretched out in front of her, finger spread out. There was a look on her face Aang hadn't seen before. It was fierce yet saddened. He wanted to comfort her, to get that look off her face thou when he tried to move he found he couldn't.

Aang didn't take long to figure out why he was unable to move. He like many people had heard about the witches of the east, and their bonebending. He was impressed, but not surprised. If any one was ever going to be able to use bonebending again, it would be Toph. "Stay away from me." her voice came out trough gritted teeth. Her hand feel to her side, as she turned and ran.

Aang stood still, in the same place for what felt like a eternity as all that had just been said washed over him. He was finally able to take it all in, and it hurt. Momo had now taken his place on Aang's shoulder, his tail wrapped around the airbenders neck in an attempt at comforting him. Aang finally moved, he turned to walk towards the palace. He stopped and bent down to pick up Toph's bracelet. He looked at it, remembering how long it had taken to find the right stone. He chose this jade one, as the colour matched Toph's eyes and it also form a certain angle looked like the yin yang symbol. He would give it back to her one day, till then he would keep it safe. He tied it to the belt he now wore and continued to walk towards the palace.

Katara had said it would be best if he stayed away a little longer till all of the wedding stuff was over. There was no wedding now, therefore no reason to stay away any longer. He couldn't wait to see what everyone looked like now. Toph and Katara had both grown so much while he had been gone. He knew he had grown too, he just knew thou that both Zuko and Sokka would still be taller than him. What was really making him walk the long path to the palace was a obligation he felt he owed to Toph and the others. They had kept everything go while he was gone, they had needed him and he wasn't there. He was here now thou, and he would take the anger, disappointment and frustration that was building up now in the palace onto himself. Taking the attention away from Zuko and Toph, it was the least he could do.

In a guest room on the ground floor of the palace, behind the bedside table was the letter Aang had left for Toph and the others. She always kept the window in her room open, even in winter. she hated the feeling of behind trapped by four walls. a strong wind had blown through the room a few days after Aang left the letter carrying it to were it now rested. Toph had only stayed in that room once, just after the war, the next time she came to the stay in Ba Sing Sa she was give the room she know used, on the first floor. No one had been in that room since Aang left the letter.

Dear everyone

I'm sorry to do this, this way, but I'm not strong enough to say goodbye to all of you all over again. I really hope that you will be able to understand why I have to do this. I maybe able to bend all four element thanks to you all, but there is so much more I need to learn if I'am going to be the avatar you believe that I can be. Please also understand that I don't want to do this, but I have to do it. I have to do it for you all, to keep you safe, and to keep what we fought for safe. I will be back, I don't know when, but I will be back I promise. So till then, Katara, your belief in me makes me know I can do all that you think I can. Sokka, you have the kind of strength from your heart that I want to have to protect you all. Toph you make me strong enough to do this, and to keep going further than I ever thought I could go. Zuko, you make be sure that I can make up for all the mistakes I have made, and Suki I hope that you may one day think as highly of me as you do avatar Keoshi. I will miss you all, thank you.

Goodbye, for now Aang (Twinkle toes to Toph)

that it is, part five is done. I would just like to thank you all for reading, I hope you have enjoyed it, and thank you very much to the two people that have reviewed the story while I have been rewriting it. I will be moving onto part six in the next week or so, that part will contain the fiftieth chapter of the whole story, this being the 45th so that is quit cool.

I should also say that while it is great when you sign up for story alerts (It lets me know that eve thou not many people review that people do enjoy the story) the way this story works with twenty parts to it in the end, it would be easer if you wish to read the next part to sign up for author alerts rather than story alerts.

This fifth part marks the end of the first section of the story, the part that focuses on Toph and Zuko. The next part will deal more with Aang's return. It will also start to set up the pairing that will continue though the out story.

I hope you will keep ready the story and again peace let me know what you think of this part, or the story as a whole so far. Bye.