Hi, I just wanted to say thankyou for all of the views and likes. I would just like to explain: this episode is definitely not the end of the story (there clearly is not much Taang going on so far) I won't be updating for about 2 months as I have GCSE's around the corner, so I kind of wanted to conclude before I went away instead of leaving a cliff-changer. As I said any questions you can ask on my twitter, and feel free to give advice.

She bit into a cherry-plumb of almost the same shade as her lips; I watched her rip the fruit from her mouth leisurely and look at it in dissatisfaction – like she did with everything. She twisted her head like a cobra into my direction, her bangs almost slapping her eye lids as she looked right through me. I didn't think she'd see me leaning in the dim archway, nobody ever did. "You asked to see me." Her voice as bland as white chalk on a black board.
"And you came."
"Fire Lord Zuko, I'm sure you have more important people to be enquiring after."
"I miss you Mai."
"I wish you wouldn't do that."
"Do what?" I strolled over to the casual lounger that she sat so upright on, sliding myself to her side I relaxed into the seat which was set in the centre of the gallery overlooking the rose gardens through the wall fitted window.
"Pretend you don't have a kingdom, or peace to maintain." She looked dimly into her lap, unimpressed in whatever I had to offer. Sometimes, when she walked through the palace she looked straight ahead whilst walking the halls, not even looking at the golden etched walls or the crests or even the glamorous statues that anyone else would stop at for a few minutes of a look. It was like everything was just too mundane for her.
"I don't know how to make you happy."
"Do your job, Zuko. Impress me and show me that you are a man, that isn't just struck down by his impulses and constantly begging to be loved." Her voice stayed monotone as she cut deep with the blow and Zoku etched his posture up a bit in confusion.
"Any other girl would feel it a pleasure to be in my presence, let alone my palace."
"You didn't choose any other girl though." With that she stood up and looked down at the cherry-plumb in her hand. "I think it's time I excuse myself." Without a mention of my title, a bow, or eye contact she turned and slowly walked to the open double doors, just before she stopped in her stride and looked to her left saying: "And, I am sorry about Toph. But you did the right thing." She looked over to me, her obscure eyes pouring into my soul and silently saying: "I knew you would." Before turning around and glancing at the fruit in her hand, then walking out. Like she always did.

X.X.X

I looked down into the rubicund bedding, like I did every single day. I couldn't read anymore, it was killing me. And it didn't help that I couldn't move; my leg had been killing me too, and Katara secretly told me that she could have heeled my leg in one go, however we had gotten to the Fire Nation and I was passed out, but Katara couldn't wait for me to wake up any longer before she eventually was in dire need of sleep, so the Fire Nation doctors took over – and don't get me wrong, they've been good healers and all – but much more humanely slow about it.
Aang hadn't come to see me all day, which felt like days and I saw Katara in the morning, but she went to give Toph a letter and never came back. The doctors were boring, the room was boring, and as no wars were happening I was the only one in the damn ward. "Please can anyone, someone, anyone come through those doors." I mumbled under my breath as I stared into the openly inviting entrance. And someone actually came. But it was the wolf-tailed, blue eyed comedian from the South-Pole. Not Aang.
He walked right over, at a brisk pace with no emotion. I looked down in uncertainty but at the same time new I would have to face my one social aspect of the day. "Hey, have you seen Aang." He stopped right at the side of the bed and I looked up, wondering where I had heard that question before.
"No, sorry, not all day."
"Oh, that's odd?"
"Have you asked anyone else?"
"Nope, everyone I've asked doesn't know either."
"Well, sorry. But I'm not his keeper, have you tried Katara?" He went a bit silent on that note, but answered the question anyway:
"No, but I haven't seen her either."
"She's with Toph."
"Ah, I'll just wait for him to pop up then." He turned on his heels to exit the room, when the words came out of my mouth before I thought them: "Wait!"
It wasn't a shout, but it was kind of aggressive and monotone. He seemed to notice; I could tell by the instant crease in his neck made by his spine - like his shoulders were tensing - he turned back and I gave a smile which had no teeth but mostly cheeks. "Are you busy at the moment?"
"Not really." He looked at the sealing as if it knew the answer, "No." I wouldn't mind spending time with Sokka, perhaps not as much as he would mind spending time with me… But I was so bored.
"Would you mind sitting with me for a bit?" my voice trailed off a bit, but I think he still heard me.
"Why not?" He grabbed the chair on the side of the bed and sat to my left, as he sat down he raised his eye brows and I smiled. It was almost like old times; Sokka didn't always give me that giddy jump that other girls got from just looking at him. But he made me feel calm and relaxed. "How are you?"
"I think it's healing." I look at the covers in an un-decided way and give out an exasperated breath, "oh well."
"But apart from your leg, how are you?" I twist my head in his direction and look past my hair right into his deep sapphire eyes; he seems closer to me somehow. I could close the space. But I won't. I open my mouth to say something even though I don't know what, but it doesn't matter because in that moment Ty lee enters the room with a swing of the hips. She is out of Kyoshi uniform, and her hair is in the usual plate which swings in a radius around her torso. "Suki! I came to check on you, how-" she stops in the middle of the bed rows and a shocked expression overshadows her face, sometimes Ty lee's expressions remind me of a little child's. "Sokka!" she runs over and grabs him into a hug, while he's still in the process of getting off the chair. "Ty lee! It's been a while, where have you been?"
"Well, I decided to visit my sisters back home when we first got here, and- Oh, Sokka, it's just so good to see you!" I smile up at the two, I don't feel jealous even though I think I should, but I won't dare let myself think that way about Ty lee, she is too much of a dear innocent friend.
Ty lee eventually begins to beckon for Sokka to take a walk with her to the turtle-duck pond, and even though Sokka makes every wary excuse and tries to pull his wrists out of her small hands she keeps on jumping and expressing her excitement to go. Eventually Sokka remembers that I am behind him and he turns to me with his cobalt eyes and asks: "Do you mind if I leave?" his eyebrows rise slightly in a cautious manor and I nod,
"Yeah, I'll be fine."
"You sure?" and Ty lee looks around him, her hands still gripping him with a smile, and I don't know why but I have to say it, something burns inside me forcing me to go:
"It's fine, Aang should be here any minute." And he nods with no expression, before walking out with Ty lee on his arm. What have I done?

X.X.X

"'In conclusion, Toph my sweet please come home; your father and I have news which we do not wish to bring upon you by pen and paper, but face to face. Your father and I send our regards, and hope you can get back to us. He is proud of what you are doing for the Fire Nation, and I promise you that we are not trying to make you come back and stay through this letter.
Lots of Love, Poppy.'" I lean forward to slide the letter onto Toph's coffee table and lean back on the pillows to face the back of her head. "What are you thinking Toph?" She doesn't move, she just exhales and I see the edge of her black eyelashes dust her cheeks.
"I don't know. I think I just need a day or so to think about it. Thankyou for reading for me though."
"No problem." I smile down at her, and she can probably tell. I stand up and dust off my tunic, even though there is no mess there. Toph and I don't have to say any relented goodbye, or small see you later, because it just works that way, and I wave to Rin and out the door I go.

As I walked down the red dressed hallway I think about the send-off of the letter, 'Lots of love, Poppy' Not 'mum' but 'Poppy'. I guess Toph would want it that way, and I guess in that way Toph took after her mum, and then I hear voices and slow my pace, I hear Sokka. "All I'm saying is she was asking for you." And then Aang:
"Yeah, and all I'm saying is that doesn't necessarily mean anything Sokka."
"I wasn't saying that." They turn a corner and I stop in my tracks as the boys march my way.
"You were thinking it." Aang says that almost terse and he looks up from the floor at me.
"Hi Katara."
"Hi, Sokka. Hi Aang."
"Hey." Aang stops in front of me almost as if he expects something, and Sokka just looks bored.
"Were you just with Toph?" Aang just cuts to the chase, unlike usual.
"Umm, yeah… how did you know?" He looks at Sokka and then me:
"Suki mentioned it to Sokka. She ok?"
"Yeah." I say unconvincingly, Sokka looks from me to Aang and back again.
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
"Ok." With that he walks right past me and Sokka and makes his way down the hall. Not to Toph's room, so probably towards the gardens. Sokka and I just stand there for a minutes and then he nods and makes his way to Aang.

X.X.X

I can't wait any longer, and I must do this now. I think to myself what has become of me in the eyes of others; I must seem so strong, and brave, and free. But that's a shield I have simply built up over time. Sometimes they see through me, though. They forget out of mercy and think I have picked myself up and dusted off the pain. I am still a little girl though, I may not be innocent. But I know what I did is wrong. I cannot take back what I've said, and done. I have no regrets. I will never regret The Blind Bandit. I will never regret The Mettle Bender. I will never regret Miss Bei Fong. But I will regret forgetting two of those people, to be a different one.
The gargantuan steel doors stare back at me, as I glue my eyes to the floor in an effort to scan with my feet. And he is in there, alone. I step forward, past the guards and they push open the doors for me. He is at the desk, I have never been in his privet office but it feels warm. A small fire brews to my life, a form of the Fire Nation rather than necessity considering the weather is blistering hot. He looks up over the pile of sheets he has standing in his hands and places them onto the smooth wood. "What brings you here, Toph?"
"I, came to apologies. Zuko." My voice doesn't reflect off every wall like his does, it rather stays simple and small. Zuko comes off his chair and makes his way to a less grand cushioned one by the book case where he places out a palm to invite me into the seat across from him. I walk over with timid light feet and shuffle the sides of my dress to seat myself comfortably. I feel my entire body tense as his eyes relax on me, and I pull free pieces of hair from my face behind my ears, before relaxing my hands together on my lap. "I came to apologies. I don't know what came over me, and I should not have and never speak to you in that manner. I am a guest in your home and you have done so much for me, I am so sorry." My voice doesn't shake anymore, but it still doesn't carry across the room. I try not to think of Manami, to prevent the fires behind my eyes from spilling.
"It's understandable Toph, I realise that I may have been too hard on you."
"I'm not used to seeing you, like this… as the Fire Lord." I look up on those words, and although I can't see him I find it relaxes people when I look towards them in conversation. I give a small smile.
"You and I both." I let out a humorous breath that doesn't quite become a laugh. "Toph, I need you to be honest with me, and I mean completely. I want to take care of you, and I want a permanent place here for you as much as you do; but I need to know: what do you want, right now?" My head bows as my eyelashes dull over my eyes. I know what I want at this present moment. But I don't want to hurt him or anyone else. "If you need time to think about it, that's fine."
"I know what I want." My voice is a trembling whisper but he leans forward telling me that he heard. "I think it's time that I went home."
"Is that what you want?" I bite my lip, and feel the urge to shake my head. But it is in fact what I want. I nod and keep my head down.
"It is what I want."

X.X.X

After dinner - which wasn't graced by Zuko and Toph's presence for some reason - I decide to take a walk through the gardens, in the darkness the torches shine into the maze of flora making the garden seem alive. I never thought I would ever think of fire as such a blessing. And then I see Aang, he makes his way slowly towards me, and as we come to a standstill in front of one another I realise he is now just taller than me. "Hi, Aang."
"Hey Katara, can I ask you something?"
"Sure." I say with a smile.
"Listen, I know Toph isn't fine." His face has no emotion, it reminds me of when he almost lost Momo to the buzzard wasp.
"What do you mean?"
"Please just tell me what's going on with her, I know you know something, you're just not saying it." This angers me and I don't know why, why should he need know…
"Why do you need to know?" The words almost come out as a snarl which really annoys me. I shouldn't get mad at Aang. But then I wish I didn't ask that; because I realise that I don't want to hear his reply:
"Because I deserve to know."

X.X.X

"So, do you want to leave permanently?"
"No, definitely not. I simply need a break, that's all." I smile at him and try my hardest to soften my blank stare. I can tell that my reply lifts pressure off his heart. "Also, my mother sent me a letter, she needs to speak to me face to face about, something."
"I think that would be best. But Toph"
"Yeah?"
"If you ever have a problem here, or you feel uncomfortable or need a break, just tell me. Ok?"
"Of course. Thankyou Zuko." We don't move though, because we don't need to. That's what I like about Zuko: he doesn't force himself onto people.
"I want you to read the letter."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." I pull the letter from my right sleeve and hand it over to him. This is why I love huge sleeves, but only sometimes. I hear the unfolding of paper, as he glances over the page.
"I will help you leave as soon as you wish."
"I want to leave tonight." He nods and hands the parchment back to me.

X.X.X

I toss and turn within the fog of slumber. I hear her laugh and see her smile and her frosted green eyes. As if by a pull of reality or a supernatural presence I lurch forwards in my bed. Awake. And she is gone. Her presence gone from the palace. Why would Toph leave?
I look down in the darkness at my tattooed hands and wonder if she will come back this time, because now I think it'll hurt more. Missing her.

X.X.X

The water crashes onto the iron poles of the docks, as men twice my size ready the boat. "Stay safe, ok?" I smile down onto the gravel paving. And I look up at him with a smile without teeth.
"Always." He pulls a piece of loose hair behind my ear and I crunch my nose in spite. Rin did my hair well enough, but not as good as Katara. I wasn't going to wake her up. "Tell the others that I'll see you all in Ba Sing Se for the meeting."
"I will." His voice is full of warmth.
"And, tell Aang, I said thankyou."
"For what?"
"Everything." I smile down and feel full of warmth as I think of him. "I should get going." I glance towards the boat. "I will miss you." I jump up to hug him and the Fire Lord garment is probably the most uncomfortable thing to hug, so I adjust my arms to hook them around his arms instead of neck.
"I'll miss you too." He almost whispers it, as if he'd rather not say it but the emotion is still there. I let go slowly, and pull out of the hug as he puts his hands on my shoulders and kisses the centre of my head. I will miss my brother.