A/N: Thank-you to those of you who commented and those of you who have read. I know this has been kind of a side project that I pick up and put down a lot over the years. Since there are requests for more, I wanted to get the next update in more quickly. I can't promise I'll keep updating quickly, but at the very least please enjoy this chapter. Also, I tried to maintain continuity but I wrote chapter 1 about 9 years ago so I have had to re-read my own work to remember parts of the story.

Line breaks indicate changes in scenes. This chapter includes more flashbacks. I prefer to write plot before a relationship is established and this was originally intended as a one shot, hence the heavy use of flashback.

When Aang dropped Toph off at her parent's house, he was his usual polite self and the couple was none the wiser. Toph and Aang had decided, mutually, though with some reluctance on both ends to keep their newfound relationship a secret for now. For Toph's part, she wanted to piss off her dad by dropping the news on him at the worst time, which could be achieved by waiting until they'd been together for a while. For Aang's part, he did not want to piss of Toph's dad by dropping the news on him at the worst time, which entailed not saying anything until he had a careful angle to attack the problem from.

Aang immediately felt a little empty leaving her behind, but was looking forward to reuniting with Appa. Sokka and Katara would be there as well and he had missed them too. Even though it had been quite some time since he'd reconciled with Katara, it felt like he was still making up for over a year of friendship he'd lost by avoiding her.

It was Iroh who had convinced Aang that he needed to be the one to fix things with Katara. Until that conversation, the awkwardness between them rested solely on Katara's shoulders for not giving him the chance he had very much deserved. From Aang's point of view, anyway.

It was late in the morning and many of the wedding guests had already vacated the brunch that was had been catered for the day after Sokka's wedding, the happy couple already on their way to their honeymoon. This was more than fine with Aang, who was feeling rather embarrassed by his actions from the night before and even finer with Aang's head, which was pounding from the liquor that was now betraying him.

Iroh was one of the few guests that had remained. He had also been one of the first to arrive but that was neither here nor there. He sat, content with his fourth cup of tea. Good tea was not something to take for granted and he was going to get his fill.

It did not take him long to spot the mopey airbender sitting alone. And as much as Iroh like to see himself as very much not a meddler (perhaps an inaccurate self assessment) he could not ignore a young mind needing guidance.

"Aang," he said, taking a seat beside him, "it is good to see you."

Aang bowed his head to Iroh, "You as well."

"How are you feeling?"

"Honestly? Not great.."

"What seems to be troubling you?"

"My head," Aang said to which Iroh chuckled softly.

"I see. For that, may I recommend some soothing tea?"

Aang nodded before adding, "And also my heart,"

"Ah. For that may I recommend tea and a bit of advice?"

It was still several weeks later until Aang came to the realization he'd been holding on to hurt feelings for the sake of hurt feelings. He stood across his earth bending teacher, the two of them both out of breath from sparring.

"That's all for today, Twinkle Toes," she said, "Good work out there."

"That you, Sifu," he said, bowing.

Toph laughed at his formality but very much enough appreciated getting the respect she deserved. Formalities were commonplace to her but actual respect was not.

"Well, I'm starving," Toph concluded, turning to grab her bag. She let out a gasp as she found herself stopped by Aang's embrace from behind, squeezing her tightly. She felt her heart rate increase and her cheeks warm, par for the course around him now, much to her chagrin. She was just beginning to think that today would be a completely meeting with Aang, something that had both disappointed and relieved her. And everything that had transpired so far, including the impromptu hug, had been. Normal for a day with Aang anyway.

That was until she heard him inhale sharply before saying, without an ounce of shame or embarrassment, this time completely stone cold sober, "You smell nice."

"What?!" She said, pushing him off her so hard he fell to the ground. Aang immediately sat up, rubbing the spot on his back that had hit the ground the hardest.

"You smell nice? It's not an insult."

"You are weird, Twinkle Toes."

"What? I … wait… is it the perfume you wore to Sokka's wedding?"

He remembered that?

"I… okay you caught me. I've been using it delay showering." A complete but necessary lie. She was not about to explain that she had started maintaining basic hygiene around him, even going as far as to ask the aids hired by her parents to help her with her hair and dress before seeing him, something that had pleased her folks to no end. Of course that's because they didn't know about her crush. But a lie to Aang was necessary because the truth would beg the question why she'd suddenly started caring and she was not about to give him a straight answer. Well, so much for not making herself sound gross. She gritted her teeth.

But this did not hinder Aang. Within seconds, he was back on his feet, uncomfortably in her space again, inhaling sharply again before decidedly declaring, with an air of surprise "well, it's working as intended. You smell great."

"Extremely weird," she said, pushing him back once more, but this time with less force.

It was later that evening, when Aang was retiring for the night that it clicked that when he now imagined his happily ever after, the role that had for so long been exclusively Katara's had slowly begun to be replaced by a girl with no face. It was no longer required that the role be filled by his water-bending sweetheart. And Iroh's words that he was capable of finding happiness with someone, not necessarily Katara became more and more believable.

In fact, as of late, in an inconspicuous way that had snuck up on him, his frequent day dreams about the future now occasionally but increasingly more frequently were now casting Toph in the role of his leading lady, instead of no-face lady. And this was not simply a replacement of one woman for another. The details too, such as locations and activities were morphing to suit what he'd imagined Toph would like, if she were to become the kind of person willing to be someone's girlfriend. They were doing things she'd like to do, going places she'd like to go and having the type of banter they were already having.

And it occurred to him somewhat abruptly that friends don't give each other long hugs because they can't get enough of how good it feels to hold the other. And they definitely don't smell each other and certainly do not comment on it. And it also occurred to him that while many girls would blush at such an advance out of embarrassment, that Toph was not one to do so. He'd only ever seen her blush when she was caught having feelings of any sort. And this was not the first time he'd made her blush recently.

He liked her. And he was pretty sure she liked him too. But this gave him pause. He had been so sure that was the situation with Katara and he was not ready to blow up another friendship. If confessing was the worst thing you could do, then quashing down your feelings was surely the best. That didn't seem quite right but it would have to do for now. Still, he was certain his ability to accurately asses other's feelings when it came to him had surely improved at least a little since the infamous balcony scene.

Which, of course, brought Aang back to the last piece of Iroh's advice, which was to try to see things from Katara's perspective. Only this time without the rose color glasses Aang's idea of his own happily ever after. And it was then that he decided that if he was to have any hope of getting his friend back, he'd need to act quickly, if it was not too late already.

However, it was several months later still that Aang finally found himself seated across the girl he had until now so carefully avoiding being alone with successfully. He had meant to speak to her several times but it always seemed too daunting, too uncomfortable. On the fated day though, what was supposed to be a group lunch had quickly dissolved into a quick meeting between the original 3 members of the Gaang and even quicker than that become a luncheon between Katara and Aang, with Sokka accompanying his wife to the doctor's.

"Hi Katara."

"Hi Aang." Awkward silence hung between the two as they avoided making eye contact.

"So… how have you been?"

"Good. Good. You?"

"Good."

"How's Appa?"

"Good. How's …. um Zuko?" Aang asked his question with a bit more venom than intended. Katara had been spending a bit of time at the Fire Lord's palace. A subject had been on her mind lately but not one she wished to discuss with Aang.

Katara dug her heel into the ground before letting out a heavy sigh. She was not going to be sucked into this. If he wanted to be rude, he could be rude to someone else.

"You know, maybe we should reschedule? Suki's not feeling well and I should probably prepare some dinner for them for when they return from the doctor's."

"W-wait," Aang said, snapping to meet her gaze. He took in her expression. It was one of annoyance but more than anything, she looked tired.

"What?"

"I actually have been meaning to talk to you. Alone. If that's okay,"

Against her better judgment, she found herself nodding. She could at least hear him out, she supposed.

"Go on, then."

"I don't love you."

Katara raised an eye brow and then opened her mouth to speak but Aang continued.

"Wait. That came out wrong. I do love you."

The sinking feeling in her stomach was growing. Once was too many times to have this conversation. Twice was absolutely uncalled for, but he pressed on nonetheless.

"Well, I mean. I don't love you. Well not love-love. I do love you. I did love-love you. But now I just love you, I-" Aang pressed his face into his hands letting out an aggravated groan, "what I'm trying to ask you is, do you want to be my friend?"

Katara stared back at him for a few moments but the silence felt much longer. Finally, when she was sure he was done speaking, she said, "Aang, I never stopped wanting to be your friend."

"Well, it sure felt like it."

"Aang, I"

"I know that it's my fault. And I'm sorry. I know it wasn't fun. But I was just so upset that I…. was a real jerk. And I made everything weird. And then I wanted to make it un-weird but it had been so long that I didn't know how. I've been trying to find the right time to ask. And the right way to ask but I've got nothing. Can we please be friends? Like we used to be?"

When Aang caught her gaze again, she still looked tired but not quite as much as before. Slowly but surely her previously expressionless face morphed into a familiar smile that he'd seen many times before. It was just one burden off her shoulders but one she'd really been tired of carrying.

"I'd like that very much," she said.

The weeks that followed between the two of them were not much less awkward than they'd been before. But it was a bit more comfortable each time they'd see each other. So much so that by the time Aang was meeting her in the present, the two greeted each other in enthusiastic hugs. Off Appa slid a small boy. The very same one that had turned what should have been group lunch into an uncomfortable but much needed heart-to-heart. And while Aang was sure that Suki was not appreciative of the morning sickness he'd given his mother, Aang certainly was. Because it had given him an opportunity to fix something he'd had no business breaking in the first place.

It took them a moment but as Katara released Aang from her grip, she let out an enthusiastic shriek, which caused Sokka to cover his ears. Sokka's son began toddling toward the bison behind Aang shouting, "Appa!"

Sokka promptly began to correct his son before it sunk in. And then, in true Sokka form, he pivoted between the bison behind him and the bison behind Aang before his eyes grew wide in understanding.

"Aang!" He yelled, giving his friend another hug. Something that would have been wholly out of character until fatherhood had softened him.

"Aang, I'm so happy for you," Katara said.

"How did you know?" Aang asked, a shy hand behind his head.

Katara had already moved past him to give her new bison friend a well deserved ear scratching. In response to Aang's question she merely laughed, "He's very cute but not exactly easy to miss Aang."

"What?"

"The sky bison?"

"Oh that. Yes! I have great news. I have discovered more flying bison."

"I can see that. Wait … what was the other thing?"

"What other thing?"

"You clearly thought I was asking about something else."

And this was how Aang found himself across from Katara in detective mode, eyebrows raised, and on hip, attention fully on him. Sokka, too had turned at least half his attention to what other news Aang could possibly have. The remaining half of Sokka's attention fixed solely on stopping his son from pulling on bison fur.

"Welllll, there's nothing else. Just the bison," he said.

"Really now?"

Aang sighed, before settling on, "I can't tell you… yet. Anybody hungry?"

This now pulled Sokka and his son's complete attention. Katara decided she would drop it. For now, anyhow.