A/N: Thank you everyone for reading and don't forget to review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar
Chapter 11
As they walked, Toph concentrated on Zuko. He was hesitant to do this, but a determination was in his steps, forcing him to keep walking to the master bedroom. They stopped outside of the doors and Toph felt the damaged wall where he had destroyed the chair the night Mai died as he took a deep breath.
"You don't have to do this if you don't want to," Toph told him as she turned her face to him.
Zuko took another deep breath and he seemed to get stronger as he stood there. "Yes, I do. I'll have to do it eventually and it will just get harder, especially with our friends arriving soon."
Toph nodded and waited for Zuko to open the door. She felt him reach towards it, but he seemed to be trembling, unable to touch the handle.
"Let me," Toph said gently and reached forward as she felt him nod, opening the door as she sent out her senses.
Zuko stood there in the doorway as she felt around. The chairs the healers had brought for her and Zuko that night were moved next to a large price of furniture, probably an armoire, and the bed was neat. Things were neater and felt clean and, though Toph could still smell the slight remnant of blood and pain, a light breeze told her the servants had opened a window and had done everything they could to air the room out. Zuko started moving hesitantly to the bed and she let him go alone as his arm went limp. Toph made sure to stay close to him as he reached down to touch the blanket gently before he moved to where the chairs were. He sat on one of them and it sounded like he opened a box before he turned to her.
"Here," Zuko said in a sad tone, though a smile made its way into his tone as well. He stood and went to her, placing something in her hand. "Mai wanted to give this to you, for your birthday, but we didn't get to see you. She had just found out she was pregnant. She…we decided to give it to you if you took the role of guardian."
Toph nodded and smiled at him as she felt the piece in her hand and Zuko returned to sit in the chair. She held a necklace and an emerald droplet as big as her thumbnail fell from the center of the silver chain. Toph felt tears welling up in her own eyes at how Mai had remembered that emeralds were her favorite. They just emitted a feeling of purity, strength, and were surprisingly bendable. And that Mai had thought about her when the Fire Lady had seen it early in the spring, when Toph's birthday was. Toph quickly wiped the tears away and placed the silver chain around her neck, closing the clasp easily and smiled as she felt the emerald fall onto the top of her sternum. She was brought back to her surroundings as she heard a sniff come out of Zuko and went to him, laying a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm ok," Zuko said as she felt him move a hand to his face, probably to wipe a tear away as she done. "I just found the diamond earrings I gave to her when she told me she was pregnant."
Toph nodded when she felt him turn towards her and smiled down at Zuko.
"It looks good on you," Zuko said when he saw the emerald pendant on her neck.
"Yeah, thank you," Toph replied as she touched the emerald.
Zuko nodded and turned back to the box of jewelry and Toph stepped back to give him space as he went through Mai's things. But as she felt him separate things into piles, taking one piece out at a time, Toph grew bored. As Zuko became surer in his movements, Toph started walking around the room and found another room connected to the bedroom. She wandered over to it and found several chairs, and one was a rocking chair. Toph stepped up to it and found it was wood, and the grain and texture, as well as the wonderful craftsmanship, told her that Sokka had made it. She smiled as she ran her hand over the top and tears came to her eyes again as she thought about all the times Mai would have loved to sit there and hold her son, happy and alive with a loving husband and wonderful baby boy.
"I know, I miss her too," Zuko said from behind her and Toph heard the tears in his voice as he stepped towards her and the rocking chair. Toph felt his steps falter and she turned to hug him as she felt him start to choke up and heard him start to sob. Toph held onto her friend as he hugged her back and cried into her shoulder. She knew she was crying too, and though her tears fell onto his robe, it was no where near the soaking she was getting, but she didn't care. Zuko needed to let it out. All the stress he had been going through with his advisors, the talks, and his mother in law had built up within him and with Mai gone, it had become so much harder. Toph understood and just held her friend until he straightened and stepped away, wiping his face quickly before he let out a hoarse laugh.
"I'm sorry," he said and Toph was sure he had noticed the huge wet spot on her shoulder.
Toph moved her head to 'look' at her wet shoulder and shrugged. "No problem, Ming seems to be amazing at getting things out. And I got you wet as well." She smirked and pointed to his chest where she knew her face had been and felt Zuko move to look at his robe. He laughed again and Toph was glad as she heard less sadness in that laugh.
"Anything else you need in here?" Toph asked after a minute of silence from Zuko.
"No," he said sadly as he moved to look around the room. "I know what I'll give Jasmine, but…I don't know what to do with the rest, or with her clothes."
Toph nodded as she heard his tone lower and knew he was fighting to keep from crying again.
"Well, what would Mai want you to do with them?"
Zuko stopped moving and turned back to Toph.
"I'm not sure, but I think she would want the less fortunate to have some of her clothes. She gave a lot away when she started showing her pregnancy. It's funny; she became really pro-active in returning the Fire Nation to its former glory right after we married. I think it had a lot to do with you, Katara and Ty Lee going out with her around the city. She once told me she saw a young mother in rags and felt sad that she could have so many nice things while our people scraped by."
Toph nodded and remembered that outing. She had personally given that same young mother a gold piece and Katara had healed the sick beggars they had come across. Mai had been quiet as they helped the less fortunate and seemed to be thinking on the walk back to the palace. Toph was glad it had affected her friend and caused the outwardly dull Fire Lady to do something for the good of her people.
"Ok, but what about the rest of her things?" Toph asked.
Zuko retreated into silence and turned back to head back into the bedroom. The Fire Lord stopped once he was back in the bedroom and Toph followed him and stood next to his side as they faced the table where the jewelry was.
"I don't know," Zuko sighed. "I think she would want to give some of her things to Ty Lee, and maybe Katara and Suki and you. But some of the other, more significant things…I don't know."
Toph smiled and placed a hand on his arm. "Then why don't we wait until the gang gets here, and us ladies can help. And whatever was really important to Mai and you, why don't you hold on to those and decide later. I think Kuzon might want to know more about his mother when he's older and it might be a great gift to give to his intended when he's much older."
She felt Zuko turn to her in shock before she felt his stance get looser as if he was getting happy.
"That's a great idea, thank you Toph," he said evenly, though she could hear the smile enter his tone again. "And I won't give her wedding dress away or her knives. She'd want all her friends to have some shuriken, but the others I'll give to Kuzon when he's older. And her dress…it's just important to me."
Toph nodded and continued to smile as Zuko started walking out of the room. She stayed at his side and felt him stop and turn back when they got to the doorway.
"Maybe someday, I'll be able to come back here," he sighed as he looked back towards the bed.
"Yeah, and it'll have to be within a couple of years, because soon Kuzon will be too big for that crib," Toph said with a smirk.
Zuko let out a light chuckle and exited, closing the doors behind him. He held out his arm after he had closed the doors and Toph took it, smiling up at him.
"Thank you," he said quietly as they started walking back to their rooms.
"No problem Sparky," Toph said with a smile. "That's what I'm here for. Ambassador, guardian, counselor and all around bad ass girl who will kick your but if you get depressed again."
Zuko chuckled again and his other hand came to grab hers and squeeze her hand affectionately.
"And who better to do that than you," he teased her before he turned serious. "I forgot to tell you earlier, the boss in the city was found dead when my people arrived."
Toph tensed as she thought about the assassin's boss. "How? The poison?"
"No," Zuko said in a low tone. "A dagger, in the back."
Toph nodded and processed the information. Apparently someone had known that the attempt had failed or was going to fail and had killed the boss to make sure they didn't get any information out of him. She waited until they entered Kuzon's room before she decided to question Zuko further.
"Has anyone checked on our prisoners lately?"
"Yes," Zuko answered as he sat in one of the chairs near Kuzon. Kalaya rose and bowed to them both before retreating along with her crying son to her own room. Zuko apparently was waiting until Kalaya left before he spoke more on the subject.
"They're all ok," Zuko told Toph as she stopped next to the crib and tucked a blanket more closely around the sleeping prince. "Marja doesn't trust Cherise, but is starting to warm up to the idea of using her. And the assassin appears…insane."
"I told you she had been broken before. I got all the information there was out of her last night," Toph sighed as she sank into the other chair. "She's about as bad as Azula in the crazy department."
Zuko nodded. "I'll have her transferred to the psych ward under heavy guard next to my sister then."
Toph nodded as she felt Iroh and Aang approach and smiled as she kicked the floor, opening the door for them with earthbending.
"Thank you Toph," Iroh said with a smile as Aang shut the door behind the two men. Iroh turned to Zuko and sat next to the young Fire Lord. "Did everything work out as you had hoped with your room?"
Toph concentrated on Zuko and felt his foot twitch as he seemed to get sad again, but his tone was calm and even when he answered his uncle.
"Yes, better, thanks to Toph," Zuko said and Toph smiled at him. Iroh turned to her after nodding at Zuko's answer.
"And what of Lady Jasmine? Tom-Tom told me of your meeting with her this afternoon."
"She's much too stubborn, so I'll wait her out," Toph sighed as she felt Zuko and Aang become interested. "Sweetness and Happy may be able to help me out with the monster-in-law, but I'll let her stew in her shoes for a day or so until then."
She felt Iroh nod as she suddenly got tired and was aware that she hadn't slept much the night before and had woken early.
"I'm going to rest before my date. Have fun guys," Toph told the men as she rose with a smile before she turned to Zuko. "And no pacing."
She felt Zuko nod and made her way to her room to rest before she needed to get ready for her date with Wan Lo.
XXXXX
Toph sighed as the old folks from all three nations argued over a simple nuance. It was only mid morning, and she, Zuko, and Aang had been stuck in the meeting for only two hours, but already the disagreements had started. Toph tapped her foot onto the marble floor and felt Kalaya with both baby boys and three guards in the side room. The boys were sleeping and Kalaya seemed to be doing something with her hands. Sure they were secure and safe, Toph concentrated on the men in the room with her as she blew a couple of bangs out of her face.
Zuko was on his throne, the heat from the fires emitting a slow, steady warmth, telling everyone he was calm, even if his foot tapping told Toph he was getting agitated as the dunderheads argued in circles. Aang was doing some air bending trick while trying to look concerned. The younger men were just as bored as she was. Wan Lo and Bato, along with another two men closer to Bato's age were trying to get the older men to stop arguing. Shin Fu was remarkably silent and seemed to enjoy the banter going back and forth between Chang and several of the Fire Nation dignitaries as well as two of the Water Tribe men.
As the men continued to argue, Toph's thoughts drifted to her date the previous night. Wan Lo had seemed a little distant, but was still a good companion and they had talked over dinner and then tea, but then their talk had turned to the talks and they had started disagreeing. Wan Lo had let it slip that he had some new hybrids being tried out on some of the smaller islands still receiving rain, but they wouldn't produce any rice for a few months yet and everyone would be feeling the pinch. Wan Lo had suggested having the areas not affected by the drought contributing more foods to the drought-ridden areas, but Toph had pointed out that those areas weren't very good at producing rice and were already selling whatever excess they had to the affected areas. Her date had then suggested the Water Tribes contributing more, but again Toph stated that they already were, giving facts to support her claims. She came back to herself as Chang started to get angry and sat up before her dignitary could cause too much trouble.
"I believe everyone makes a good point, but we need to compromise," Toph stated in a stern voice. "We are all affected by this, and squabbling over what isn't there won't help. Now, Admiral Chen, you made some good points, but the extra food has already been sold from those areas. We need to feed our people, all of our people. Is there anything that hasn't been thought of?"
"What if the Avatar changed the weather?" one of the Fire Nation men asked.
"You can not change the weather without drastic consequences," Aang answered.
"But we're already facing drastic measures," an older Earth Kingdom dignitary argued. "What could be worse?"
"Typhoons, hurricanes, floods where there was drought and drought where there was rain," Aang answered simply. "The loss of life would be greater than that caused by the war."
That made the older men shut up and Toph wanted to smirk, but kept her face emotionless.
"Let's recess for now," Zuko said as he rose. "And try to think of more options. We'll meet again tomorrow"
The older men rose and bowed to Zuko and left, each side exiting their own way. Toph rose and stretched, smiling to Zuko, Aang and Bato who had remained.
"You sure know how to end an argument," Bato said with pride as he turned to Toph.
"Yes, but can she end it once and for all?" Zuko asked with a wry tone.
"Hey, I'm trying," Toph stated as she pouted out her lower lip, causing all three men to laugh, Aang's being the most carefree laugh. She smiled as Zuko sighed.
"Thank you Bato," Zuko said to the Water Tribe dignitary. "Every cool head helps."
"I understand, but getting the older ones who lost sons and daughters in the war is going to be hard. They have a hard time of letting their old hatred go," Bato sighed.
"Yeah," Aang replied. "And you would think they'd have better ideas than changing the weather."
"It was a thought that came to everyone's mind," Zuko stated sadly.
Toph nodded and felt Aang and Bato do the same. "Well, enough depressing talk, let's get out and do something."
"You know you should probably be talking with your own people," Aang said with a smirk in his tone.
"And I will, but now, I just need to get out of this room. Sparky, I don't know how you can stand to be in this depressing room for hours on end with the old dunderheads," Toph said as she started to walk to where Kalaya was getting up, picking up the babies as both boys started to wake up.
"I know it helps my people," Zuko stated calmly. "And I think of better things to do once I'm out of here."
"Fine, then let's get outside," Toph sighed. "But first, I want to hold Kuzon since he's awake."
She heard Aang chuckle behind her, and Bato excused himself as Zuko and Aang followed her to Kalaya's side room. Toph opened the door and smiled at the guards as she walked up to Kalaya. The healer handed the earthbender the little prince.
"Are talks over already?" Kalaya asked in astonishment.
"Just for today," Toph said as she smiled down at Kuzon. "I just wanted to say hi to Kuzon since he's awake, but I still have to talk to my own people."
She felt the healer nod and knew that Zuko and Aang were watching her. As Kuzon yawned, Toph handed the prince back to the healer, smiling before she left the room.
"Better deal with the old folks now," Toph sighed before she smirked at Aang. "And then I want to see you for a spar. You're earthbending has gotten shoddy."
"Yes, Sifu Toph," Aang replied with a smirk in his tone. Toph smirked back and headed out to the embassy.
There, she found Chang and his supporters arguing with Shin Fu and the elder's supporters. Everyone quieted down when Toph entered.
"Good," Toph said as she smiled at Shin Fu as the elder held out a chair for her and then she frowned at Chang as she felt him tense up. "We need to be together on this issue," she told the men surrounding the table. "And that means no more arguing unless it's over a major point."
"But…" Chang started, but Toph cut him off with a glare and retort.
"Important, major point," Toph stated. "A nuance over wording is not going to get us anywhere and our people back home are counting on us. Especially at this early stage. Now, Chin, you told me of other crops and foods that weren't being harvested to their potential. Do you have any more information on those?"
The younger scribe brightened and started talking about several other crops and fishing techniques and Toph and her group talked about bringing those options to the talks. It was late afternoon when they finally finished, but Toph felt better about their options for the next day. She walked sedately back to the palace and felt Aang with Iroh and Tom-Tom in the garden while Zuko spoke with several advisors and Kalaya was with both babies in Kuzon's room. She made her way out to Aang and saw him showing Tom-Tom some of the moves she had taught the Avatar.
"Not bad, Twinkle Toes," Toph called out when Aang finished and felt his pulse speed up as he blushed. "But you're still thinking too much like an airbender."
"Very well, Sifu Toph," Aang said with a smile as he turned to her. "Teach me your ways."
Toph smirked and stepped up to him, waiting until her former student bowed to her before she attacked. Aang dodged and attacked with all elements, but Toph was relentless. She felt Zuko come out to the gardens along with Thom as she batted Aang away like a fly as he tried an airbending move on her. Aang attacked again, using a combination of air and firebending, but Toph merely held her ground, waiting until he stepped again before sending several pylons of solid rock at him.
"Wait, there's something on the horizon," Aang said as he jumped into the air, out of the way of her earth.
"Hah! Don't try and trick me Twinkles. Just fight."
"He's right," Zuko said as he turned to look behind Toph.
Toph frowned and waited for Aang to land before she imprisoned him in the earth.
"Fine, match is over," she sighed. "Now, what's there?"
"Appa!" Aang cried as he twisted out of the earth.
Thom took his son inside to their dinner as Toph, Zuko, Aang and Iroh waited for the flying bison and his riders to land. Appa landed heavily and felt weary to Toph and she was glad Zuko had thought ahead as several servants approached with hay, fruit and a large container of water for the bison. Katara was the first to jump down, hugging Aang before she hugged Zuko. Ty Lee was the next down and was instantly hugging Zuko as well and Toph heard both women crying and sharing their grief as Zuko let them hug him, though he refused to give into tears. Toph created a stairway for the others and felt Haru, Sokka and Suki walk off with the kids, Sokka and Suki's twins running ahead of their parents to Aang and Toph.
"Hi Koda, hi Shyanna," Toph said as she smiled down at the twins hugging her legs.
"Did you forget someone?" Sokka asked as the twins left to hug Aang and Sokka stopped in front of her, holding Aang's daughter.
"Never, Snoozles," Toph replied as she hugged Sokka gently without disturbing the sleeping baby in his arms before she smiled at Haru. "And nice to feel you too, Pansy."
"Would you please stop calling me that?" Haru sighed.
"You know she has to tease us all," Suki said with a smile before she stepped forward and hugged Toph.
Toph returned the hug to her friend, but when she let go, Suki held onto her arms and seemed to be studying her.
"Your letter was a bit odd," Suki said as she studied Toph. "What's really going on?"
"I think we should get inside first," Zuko stated as he walked up to shake Sokka's hand. "Mai's…one of the parlors should be big enough and secure enough."
Toph knew everyone was either giving sad or questioning looks in Zuko's and her direction, but both of them ignored them and Zuko turned to lead the way to the parlor. Katara took her daughter from Sokka and the parents of the twins picked their kids up before either could wander off as they walked through the palace. Toph let Zuko lead the way and felt Kalaya still in Kuzon's room, though Iroh stopped a servant as they walked and Toph felt the servant hurrying towards the healer and babies. Zuko opened the door to the parlor and waited for everyone to go in, but stopped Toph before she followed the rest of their friends.
"What do I tell them?" he whispered to her, and Toph heard a slight panic in his voice.
She turned to smile at him and laid a reassuring hand on his arm. "Whatever you need to," Toph said. Zuko was silent for a moment and kept a hold on her arm before he sighed.
"All right, I'll tell them," he said.
She felt him nodding to himself as he straightened up. Toph smiled again at him and was about to walk into the parlor when she felt Kalaya bringing Kuzon surrounded by guards with her son and husband in her own room.
"Go on, Kuzon's almost here," Toph said to Zuko and he nodded again before he walked into the parlor and Toph smiled at Kalaya as the healer approached.
"Is everything all right?" Kalaya asked when she spotted Toph.
"Fine, our friends arrived and I'm sure they'd like to meet Kuzon," Toph said as she smiled at the healer. "Come on in and meet them."
Kalaya nodded and Toph gestured for Kalaya to go in first and the healer did, followed by the guards who took up positions near the door and in the corners. Several people, most notably Haru and Sokka, noticed the guards and turned to Zuko.
"Zuko, what's going on?" Sokka asked.
Toph took the chair nearest Zuko and gestured for Kalaya to sit near her when she felt the healer hesitate.
"This is Kuzon," Zuko said gently and gestured to Kalaya and his son. Katara and Ty Lee were up and instantly oohing over how cute Kuzon was and Toph could feel that Suki wanted to get up, but was holding her squirming daughter.
Zuko waited until the women were done before continuing. "Mai…," he started, but Toph heard him choke up and turn to her. She smiled and nodded, feeling everyone turn to her.
"Mai went into labor early," Toph told their friends. "And it didn't go well. She died and Kuzon almost did as well. Before Mai died, she asked me to watch over him and Zuko. Zuko told me the next day that renegades had attacked him and Mai before and threatened his family. I agreed to protect Kuzon and a few nights ago, stopped an attack on both of them. Also, Mai's family is here, and though Tom-Tom is fun and wants to be helpful, his mother is anything but."
"Tom-Tom?" Katara asked. "He's here? I haven't seen him since Mai's wedding!"
Toph smiled and remembered Sokka and Aang telling her how much Katara had loved taking care of Tom-Tom when the boy had followed them out of Omashu.
"Yes, he's here, but Jasmine is the real concern. She wants to take control of Kuzon's life and we've had…disagreements on the subject," Toph continued.
She heard Aang snickering and several people turned to the Avatar.
"She gave Jasmine new shoes," Aang said to the confused looks he was getting.
"Toph!" Katara gasped. "You wouldn't…"
"Yes she would," Ty Lee said with a grin. "Our Tophy is known for her temper. But what did Jasmine do?"
Toph sighed, but continued to smile at Ty Lee. "She insulted everyone in the room, Aang, myself, my date, and Mai's wishes. I lost my temper before anyone else could and told her what I thought of her."
"Sounds like Jasmine," Ty Lee sighed before the gymnast brightened. "Wait, date?"
Toph felt the other women and Sokka turn to her in surprise and joy and speculation came out of their vibrations to her.
"Yes," Zuko said. "I introduced her to one of my advisors, the son of a colonist, and they've been on several dates so far."
Toph sent a frown in the Fire Lords' direction as she heard a smirk in his tone, but she turned to their friends again.
"But I didn't expect this response from the letters I sent. All I wanted was some advice, but now that you're all here, you can help me get rid of the monster in law," she told them.
Toph waited and felt Katara and Suki get apprehensive while Ty Lee and Sokka basically brimmed with excitement at helping and Haru was being skeptical as he held his daughter. The twins forced their way down and ran over to Iroh who had remarkably been silent the entire time and he got up to watch over them as they made their way to the back of the room.
"Of course we'll help," Ty Lee said enthusiastically. "And I know Jasmine from when I was a kid. Oh Tophy, this trip is going to be so much fun!"
Toph smiled at Ty Lee and gestured to Kalaya. "First, this is Kalaya. She's a healer and is now Kuzon's nursemaid."
The earthbender felt Kalaya blush and nod her head to the women and the women rose, Ty Lee taking her daughter from Haru and bringing her to Kalaya and Kuzon as the women congregated around the little prince, talking with each other and Kalaya. Ty Lee introduced her own daughter, Titania, and Toph wanted to hold Kuzon again, but Katara dragged her away as she felt the men gather together, trying to give comfort to Zuko.
"What's really going on?" Katara asked Toph once they were alone. "What happened?"
"Mai died," Toph said sadly. "A few days after I arrived. Zuko's going through a lot of stress, and having renegades targeting his only connection to his wife doesn't help. An assassin made her way into Kuzon's room a few nights ago, but I stopped her."
"Ok," Katara said, her tone lightening as she heard the distress in Toph's voice. "But what about Mai's mother? What's really going on there?"
"Katara, she is the most ignorant, prejudice, arrogant lady I know. And she's as stubborn as me. I'm waiting for her to apologize, but more importantly, we need to show her Kuzon is well cared for and safe. Then she'll leave."
"What's your plan?" Katara asked with a hint of mischief in her tone.
Toph smiled as she heard the tone Katara always used whenever the two would pull a prank on Sokka and, later, Zuko.
"Let her stew a bit, but I'm trying to be diplomatic. I lost my temper once, and I won't let it happen again. But neither will I let her walk over those I care about, and that includes Mai and Zuko. If she blows up again or tries to order me around, I'll start adding weight to her shoes, but she's avoided me today. We need to get her to leave, and I'd like to have it done by the war's end festival in over a week. Bumi and Chief Arnook will be there. Because it will be so public, and the city will be filled with people, I'm expecting another attempt on Zuko and Kuzon."
"Ok," Katara sighed before a smile entered her tone again. "Let's talk about it more tomorrow. We're all tired from the trip and Ty Lee, Suki and I will help watch over Kuzon a bit."
"Thanks Sweetness. Also Kalaya can help watch your kids if you need to get away while Zuko and I are in talks."
"Well, she'll need some help with the twins," Katara said with a laugh as Toph felt Sokka running after his kids.
Toph laughed and nodded before picking Shyanna up when the little girl ran by her. The earthbender tickled the little girl in her arms as Zuko grabbed Koda and handed the boy to Sokka as Iroh spoke up.
"We all need some rest and it grows late. My friends, there are rooms ready. Please, this way," the old general said as he opened the doors and signaled a few servants to come up and show the families to their rooms.
The families left, saying goodbye to Zuko and Toph as they left and Toph went to Kalaya as she heard the healer yawn.
"I can take him. Go to your own family," Toph told Kalaya with a smile.
Kalaya nodded and bowed to Toph and Zuko before heading out and hurrying to her husband and son.
"Thank you," Zuko said as he walked up to Toph and looked down at his son in her arms.
"Anytime," Toph said before she tried to stifle her own yawn.
"You're tired too, and tomorrow will probably be longer," Zuko said with a smile and nodded to the guards.
Two of the four guards left the room first and the other two fell in behind Toph and Zuko as they started walking to their own rooms.
"Will they help?" Zuko asked as they walked.
"Yep," Toph said, smiling up at Zuko. "Katara just wanted to know the details, but Ty Lee and Sokka are happy about helping, and Sweetness is too. We'll send the monster in law packing soon."
She felt Zuko nod and they reached Kuzon's room in silence. Toph laid the little prince in his crib and smiled as she tucked his blanket around him. She turned to her own door and Zuko moved as if he wanted to reach out to her.
"Yes?" Toph asked as she turned to face him.
The Fire Lord seemed unsure, but he suddenly sagged as if the weight of the world was on him. "Nothing. Good night Toph," Zuko said before he turned to his own bed.
Toph frowned and when he turned his back to her, she tackled him, hugging his back to her.
"Night Sunshine," Toph smirked. "And relax, I said I would handle the monster in law, and I will. Everything will be ok."
She let him go and headed to her own room again and felt Zuko turn back to her. She was sure he was feeling better as she closed the door behind her and changed quickly before falling onto her bed for a good night's rest.