A/N: Thanks for waiting and again a huge thank you to DeepAzulaEyes and AStormIsBrewing

A/N: Thanks for waiting and again a huge thank you to DeepAzulaEyes and AStormIsBrewing. Thank you everyone who read and reviewed, and I'm hoping to update this story once a week. I'll alternate between my two stories, but I'll keep it going, don't worry. Thank you again and don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: I obviously don't own Avatar or anything else I might reference.

Chapter 2

After a minute, Zuko got up and started pulling his homework out. This new school was going to be brutal, but he knew he had to do it. It was his first day and already he was looking at one test that week and two the following. Sighing, he pulled out the packet of biology and started going through it. He quickly became lost in the taxonomy and glanced at his alarm clock. It was 3:50, and Toph had mentioned she and Aang would be studying at four. Iroh came into Zuko's room at that moment, carrying two cups of tea. The wizened man set one cup onto Zuko's desk and studied the scarred teen.

"That young lady from across the street called," Iroh said as he sat in the chair at the desk. "She was offering her study group again."

Zuko just sighed and flipped another page, trying to find a way to remember the taxonomy.

"I believe Toph would be a good influence on you Nephew," Iroh stated.

Zuko turned to frown at his uncle, and saw the older man smiling at the reaction he had gotten.

"And how do you know her?" Zuko asked.

"She came over Sunday to give her greetings. You were unpacking your room still," Iroh said between sips of tea. "Such a sweet girl, but those large bangs hide her beautiful face. I wonder how she sees."

"She's blind," Zuko said quietly and Iroh was immediately silent. Zuko looked at the packet of biology and with a low growl, stuffed them into his backpack and got up off the bed.

"I'm going over to her house," Zuko said as Iroh looked up at him, questioning the youth with his expression. "I don't know when I'll be back."

"Very good," Iroh said with a smile. "Just call if you're staying there for dinner."

The older man rose and took both teacups out of the room as Zuko grabbed his cell phone and backpack. He stopped in front of the small mirror on the wall and glanced at his features. His scraggly black hair went almost to his shoulders and fell in front of his face, shielding his scar. The scar was still an ugly red, even darker around his left, half closed eye and extended from his eye back to his ear. His golden eyes quickly moved away from his scar to his rumpled jeans and red t-shirt, but he didn't care about the state of his clothes. Shrugging his backpack higher onto his shoulder, he moved away from the mirror and headed out of the house and across the street.

Only when he was halfway across the street did he notice that he had never asked which of the three houses he was looking at was Toph's. Thankfully, he saw Aang coming from down the street and making his way over the lawns to the largest, most center house.

"Great!" Aang said when he spotted Zuko. "I didn't think you would come, but Toph said you would. C'mon, I bet Fong made cookies."

Zuko rolled his eyes at the cheerful kid, but followed the sophomore in silence to two massive oak doors. Each one had a flying boar insignia carved into the wood above the knockers. Aang lifted one knocker and rapped it twice and almost immediately Toph was there, opening the door.

"Hey Twinkles, Sunshine. This way," Toph said, turning and leading the way. "Oh and Fong made oatmeal cookies."

Zuko sighed as Aang became more cheerful, something the scarred teen didn't think possible, and followed the blind girl into the house. As the last to enter, Zuko closed the door behind him before following Aang and Toph through what seemed to be a huge mansion on the inside to a large, comfortable looking living room. Glancing around, Zuko saw several Chinese paintings and hangings placed perfectly around the room as well as antique vases, but Toph led them to a low oak table surrounded by comfortable looking suede couches from which she had obviously taken many of the cushions to surround the table. Several models were on the table and when Zuko dropped his backpack onto the floor and sat on one of the cushions, he found they were accurate, anatomically correct models of a frog, fish and shark with removable parts.

"She has great models," Aang whispered to Zuko as the younger boy sat down. "Her dad buys her all these to make sure she gets good grades."

"And because I asked for them," Toph said, sitting across the table from both boys.

"Here are the cookies and drinks, Miss Toph," a brown haired man said as he came into the room. "Would there be anything else?"

Zuko studied the man as he placed the drinks on the table. The man was probably in his mid forties, tall and slim with brown hair bound in a braid that fell to his mid back. He had brown eyes that showed kindness and some wisdom, but something about the man told Zuko he wasn't the brightest. It was probably the thin, long mustache hanging from the man's lip.

"No thanks Fong," Toph said before grabbing a cookie. The man inclined his head and left through the door he had come through.

"He's a servant," Toph stated as Zuko continued to watch the man until he disappeared. "My dad hired him so he could be here whenever I was home and my parents weren't."

"And he makes great cookies!" Aang said as he grabbed his third cookie.

"Slow down Twinkles," Toph said with a smile, "and let's start. Ok, shark first."

Zuko pulled out a notebook and took some notes as they went over the anatomy of the shark. An hour passed easily as Toph told and showed Aang and Zuko the different organs and what they did before quizzing the two on organs she randomly picked out. Aang's cell phone started ringing right before they moved onto the fish and Aang bounded out of the room. Zuko watched Toph as she stopped and listened to Aang in the other room.

"Yeah, I'll be right there. I'm sorry Gyatso," Aang said before he came back into the living room. "I gotta go," Aang said, looking embarrassed. "I forgot about the museum with Gyatso. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

"See ya Twinkles," Toph said as Aang grabbed his backpack and rushed out of the room and house.

Zuko glanced at Toph as she moved onto the fish and started pulling the skin piece off to show the organ models.

"Gyatso's his adopted dad," Toph said. "He's an archeologist, I think. Ok, onto the fish, the organs are the same, just a little different looking."

Zuko nodded and started paying attention as Toph went over the organs. The fish went faster and the frog even faster than that since the organs were the same for the most part. They were just shaped and placed slightly differently.

"I think you're getting the hang of this Sunshine," Toph said, smiling as Zuko easily named off the organs Toph pointed too.

"It's not as hard when I'm being pushed by you," Zuko replied with a small smirk.

Toph looked startled before smiling. She was about to comment when they heard a feminine voice coming from deeper in the house. A beautiful woman with pale skin, black hair done up beautifully, and green eyes came into the room. She was wearing a stylish cream dress and smiled at Zuko before turning a radiant smile onto Toph.

"Hello dear, how was your day?" she asked the blind girl.

"Good Mom," Toph said as she rose to hug her mother in greeting. "This is Zuko. He just moved in across the street and started school today."

"And you're helping him with biology," Toph's mom said with a knowing smile before turning to Zuko. "I'm Jasmine, but you can call me Mrs. Bei Fong. All Toph's friends call me that. I'm sorry I haven't been over to give my greetings to your family, but Toph's father and I are very busy."

"It's ok," Zuko said. "My uncle stays busy and understands. It's nice to meet you."

"Thank you," Jasmine said. "I have some work to do, but if you kids need anything, just call Fong. Toph, remember your lesson with Master Fu at six. Zuko, if you would like, you can join us for dinner."

"I don't think so, but thank you," Zuko replied, seeing Toph rolling her eyes.

Jasmine nodded before heading out of the room.

"You actually have manners. That's good to know," Toph said as she sat again.

"Apparently, you do too," Zuko replied, frowning. "You ever see your parents?"

Toph looked surprised that he had actually asked her a question before she started frowning. "Barely," she said. "My mom's a fashion designer, so she's gone a lot, and my dad runs her business and a lot of others. So I see him even less."

Zuko nodded as Toph turned silent. "Sometimes I'd rather not see the old man," Toph muttered.

"That I can understand," Zuko replied. He glanced at his phone and saw it was almost six. "Maybe I should go…"

He grabbed his backpack and started gathering his notes and papers to push into it.

"I have my training now anyways. You want to watch? Or join?" Toph asked, going back to her normal, almost sarcastic expression.

"What?" Zuko asked.

"I study Hung Gar. You study martial arts too, right?" Toph asked as she got up and stared heading into a side hallway. She glanced back at him before disappearing.

"How…?" Zuko started before sighing and frowning at the blind girl. "Shaolin."

"Really? Come on, I want to at least show this to you," she said, starting to grin before she disappeared into the hallway. She peaked her head back out into the hallway and frowned at Zuko. "Coming Sunshine?"

With a sigh, Zuko got up and followed her. Toph led him down the hallway to the room at the end which turned out to be a beautiful dojo. Wood panels lined two walls while mirrors lined the other two. Several punching bags, mats and wooden staves lined the wooden walls. One large punching bag hung from the roof near the far corner.

"Another student Toph?" a man asked, coming into the room from a sliding wood panel.

"Nah, he studies Shaolin," Toph said. "I just wanted to show him the dojo. I'll be right back."

Toph disappeared back into the hallway behind Zuko as Zuko and the man studied each other. This man was tall and broad shouldered. He was very muscular with a simple vest showing his tan chest. He had dark green eyes and dark brown hair that fell to his shoulders neatly.

"Shaolin is a dangerous art," the man said as he studied Zuko.

"I know," Zuko replied, narrowing his eyes at the man.

XXXXX

Toph quickly changed into her training clothes. Just some comfortable shorts and another t-shirt, but she liked training in them. Hurrying back to the dojo, she found Zuko and Xin Fu looking at each other, tense and waiting for anything. She smirked as she thought about how Zuko sure knew how to rub the wrong way on a lot of people.

"Ok Xin Fu, I'm ready," Toph said as she moved around Zuko who was still partially in the doorway.

"Maybe I should go," Zuko said again starting to turn to leave.

"You can stay," Toph said as she moved into her position to start warming up.

"Yes, stay," Xin Fu stated. "I'm sure you've never witnessed Hung Guar and might find it appealing. And Toph, you are to address me as Master Fu. How many times must I say it?"

Toph smiled as she thought about the last time she had called him 'master' the year before. That was the first day she had been able to pin her teacher. "I told you, when you beat me again," Toph replied.

She started the warm up exercises and noticed that Zuko had remained and was even relaxing a little. Xin Fu watched her, occasionally fidgeting as if he were glancing at Zuko. Toph wondered what scheme her teacher had in mind, but instead focused on the exercises. When she finished, she waited for Xin Fu to come and spar with her, but he stood back.

"Zuko, perhaps you could show me a demonstration of Shaolin," Xin Fu said smugly. "I'm sure Toph wouldn't mind sparring against someone else."

"No," Zuko said simply, a hard edge to his tone. "It's too dangerous."

"But surely you have control," Xin Fu said, starting to needle his way in.

Toph knew from only one day of knowing Zuko that this approach would just cause the new guy to retreat. So she had another idea.

"No, he doesn't have to," Toph said, smiling at Zuko. "C'mon Xin Fu, let's see if you have any tricks up your sleeves today."

She heard Zuko's breathing even out as he stood at the doorway and Xin Fu gave an exasperated grunt before approaching Toph. She stood ready and soon Xin Fu attacked. Toph parried easily, using her teachers' strength and size against him as she practically stayed in one spot. After the fifth time she had flipped Xin Fu onto his back and pinned the teacher, Xin Fu called it a night.

"You're pretty good," Zuko said after Xin Fu had left and she grabbed a towel.

"I'd like to see you in action," Toph said with a smirk and she felt him stiffen, "Someday."

She felt and heard him relax before he tensed up again, but not as bad, as he moved to look at something.

"It's late, I'm gonna go."

"K, I'll see you tomorrow," Toph said as she followed him back to the living room. "You walk to school?"

"Yeah," Zuko muttered as he stuffed his papers into his backpack. "Why?"

"Then I'll meet you at 8 to walk to school," Toph said with a smirk. Her smirk widened as she heard Zuko sigh, almost in frustration.

"Fine," he said. "Night."

"Goodnight," Toph said as Fong came to show Zuko out. Once she was sure he had left, she went to her room with a smile on her face. Zuko was coming out slowly, she just had to give him more time. After all, it had been only one day.

XXXXX

Zuko woke to the dawn light coming in through a slit in his curtains. He glanced at the alarm clock and saw it was 6 am. Sighing, he rolled over, but knew it would be pointless. He had always been an early riser, and without anything better to do, he got up and headed into the garage where his uncle had set up a punching bag. There he practiced for over an hour until he heard Iroh in the kitchen. After a quick shower, Zuko stopped in the kitchen for a bowl of cereal and found his uncle brewing a pot of tea.

"Another beautiful morning," Iroh said as he poured himself a cup of tea.

Zuko just glanced at his portly uncle and frowned before going back to his cereal. Iroh was dressed simply in slacks and a golf shirt and gazing out the kitchen window while he sipped his tea.

"How about some tea, Nephew?" Iroh asked, turning to Zuko.

"No," Zuko said simply, grabbing his backpack and heading towards the door.

"Have a good day at school," Iroh called before Zuko shut the door behind him.

Zuko took a deep breath once he was outside and saw Toph coming towards him. She smiled at him before falling in alongside of him.

"Why don't you drive?" Toph asked suddenly.

"Don't have a license," Zuko replied, hoping he wasn't in for a long interrogation by the blind girl. He decided to take the advantage. "You always walk to school?"

"Nope," Toph said. "Fong drives me. But since you're walking, I talked Mom and Fong into it. They don't like me walking unless I'm with a group of people."

"It's just us though."

"And that's enough for Fong," Toph said with a smile.

Zuko let out a small sigh as he raked a hand through his hair. Thankfully Toph was silent for most of the short walk. The high school was only a half mile from his house and Toph departed once they were inside to head to her own English class. Zuko found Toph waiting outside his English class afterwards to head to Biology.

"You know you don't have to pick me up," Zuko said, scowling at the blind girl.

"It's on the way," she said as they walked to biology. "And cool the tough guy attitude. I mastered it, so it doesn't work on me."

"Yeah, right," Zuko replied.

Toph just smiled as they reached biology. The class was a lecture and the rest of the day actually went smoothly. Jet didn't bother their table at lunch and Katara was actually moderately nice to Zuko. After school, Toph seemed almost happy as she walked home with Zuko.

"So, you coming over?" she asked him as they turned into their neighborhood. "Taxonomy tonight."

"Aang going to be there?" Zuko asked as he glanced around. He saw one of the neighbors glance his way and smile at him before taking a trash bin to the backyard.

"Nope, he's studying with Sweetness tonight. It's just us," Toph said as she smiled up at Zuko sweetly. Zuko just frowned at Toph and she took the silence in good nature before dropping her head to hide her face with her bangs.

"Is it just me, or are there people watching us," Toph whispered as they walked on.

"They're watching me," Zuko muttered back darkly. "It's the only way I can walk to school."

"Really?" Toph asked, intrigued. "Why?"

Zuko glared at her, but she only kept a small smile on her face as they continued to walk on.

"It's all right," she said with a smile as they turned onto their street. "You don't have to tell me. C'mon, taxonomy tonight!"

Zuko raked a hand through his hair, almost face palming himself at Toph's sudden cheerfulness, but he sighed and followed her to her house after texting his uncle to tell him where he would be. Fong greeted them and soon Toph was teaching him how to memorize the taxonomy.

"What, no 'lesson' tonight?" Zuko asked as they moved onto the animals. He had looked at his cell phone to see when he should head home and saw that it was already past 6.

"No," Toph smirked. "That's only Monday and Friday. You seem surprised I still take them."

"I wonder who's teaching who," Zuko muttered under his breath.

He knew Toph had heard when she smiled broadly. That smile instantly changed to a frown as Zuko heard a door in the back open up. Confident footsteps sounded followed by an older male voice.

"Good evening Fong," the man said. "Where is my daughter?"

"The living room sir," Fong replied. "Along with a class mate."

"Oh, it will be good to see Aang ag…" the man said as he walked into the room and Zuko met the man's green eyes. Zuko studied the man. He seemed confident, in his mid forties, successful and displeased to find Zuko there.

"And you are…?" the man asked, appraising Zuko and looking down his nose at the scarred teen.

"Dad," Toph said in an even tone as she rose. "This is Zuko. He moved in across the street and I'm helping him with biology. Zuko, this is my dad…

"Lao Bei Fong," Toph's father interrupted, continuing to frown down at Zuko as the teen frowned up at Lao. "Where did you move from?"

"Far away," Zuko replied, trying not to growl or glare at the man.

Lao's eyes moved and Zuko was sure he was looking at his scar. Zuko narrowed his eyes at Lao as a spark of recognition came into the man's eyes.

"I believe I've heard of you. Make sure to keep your troubles away from my daughter. Understood?"

"Yeah," Zuko said and watched the man as Lao turned and headed further into the house. Once the man was gone, Zuko started stuffing his backpack with his notes.

Toph sighed and sat again. "Sorry about the old man, he's a bit rough. Hey, you ok?"

"No," Zuko replied shortly. He looked up and saw concern on the blind girl's face. "Don't worry about it. We covered a lot. Maybe start again tomorrow?"

Toph looked hurt for a fraction of a second before she smiled. "Yeah, it's a lot of stuff to digest."

She waited until Zuko had closed his backpack and got up before she led the way to the front door. Opening the door, Toph held it just closed enough so Zuko couldn't get through.

"Look," she said as she ducked her head so that her bangs hid her face. "I don't know what your troubles are, but if you need to talk, just give me a call. And ignore my father. He's overprotective and sometimes I'd wager he could go for worst father of the year."

Zuko almost smiled along with her for a second as she brought her face up at the end. "It's ok, I'm used to it," Zuko replied. "And your father wouldn't win that. Mine would. Night Toph."

Toph gave him a questioning gaze, but opened the door and let him pass. He turned to look back at her and saw her waving to him. He let a smile tug at the corner of his mouth and headed home to his uncle, dinner and tea.