Chapter 32
A/N: Wow! Last Chapter! Thank you everyone for following and reading through this crazy ride. I had hoped to make the last battle more epic, but with everything going on and how the story evolved, I think it ended well. Thank you everyone and R&R.
Toph had been waiting impatiently in her family room all morning. She knew that Zuko had left early with Tenzin to wait to meet Azula and face Ozai. It was now almost lunchtime and still nothing had been received from Zuko or Jun. Toph had almost called her boyfriend and cousin multiple times, but had refrained with great restraint. She knew she shouldn't bother them, as it could come at a critical moment when they shouldn't be distracted. Ursa had come over around 10 to bring some tea and visit Toph's mother. Toph had sat with them for a while as they chatted about inconsequential things, but she could feel the tension in the room and had quickly left. Using the wheelchair was difficult, but she was getting better at it and refused to let anyone help her unless it was a difficult corner.
She heard her father come out to look at her again from the hallway. She was still holding her mother's phone in her lap, the TV was off and she was facing the front door.
"Toph, are you all right?" Lao asked. It was the first time he had asked that, though she knew he had seen her holding the phone and staring towards the door all morning.
"I'm just waiting to hear something," she replied. She felt tears try to make themselves known, but she took a deep breath to control herself. She refused to be weak. She would be strong. Zuko would be ok. He had to be.
Her father came up to her and gently laid a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure it will be alright. You picked a brave young man."
Toph felt the tears come stronger. She wasn't sure what she would do if anything happened to Zuko. She cared about him so much. But he had been strong for her. She must be strong for him.
"Toph, it's ok to worry," Lao said gently. "I know you're trying to be strong, but you've been through a lot. I'm sure Zuko will be fine." Lao actually chuckled as Toph tightened her grip on her phone slightly to try and stop the tears that were not starting to leak out of the corners of her eyes. "You should have seen him in the hospital. He jumped at any word about you. When we got the photos of you...I thought I took it hard. I think we both felt the same. I may not like what has happened, but...I approve of your choice."
Toph could only nod, the tears flowing freely, She was sure her father was aware, but he only squeezed her shoulder and left for a moment. A small box was laid gently in her lap before he left to check on her mother again. Toph felt a wry smile come to her face as she felt a box of tissues once she was sure her father was gone and quickly wiped her face. She was glad her father had finally accepted Zuko, but this waiting was hard. Even harder than trying to catch Ozai had been.
Once she had finally regained control again, the phone in her lap started ringing. She didn't know the ringtone as it was her mother's cell phone, but she answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hey Squirt," Jun's voice came on. It didn't sound sad or happy and Toph held her breath. "Just wanted to let you know it's over. We caught Ozai."
"And Zuko?" Toph breathed out.
"Safe and sound, except for a few new bruises. We're heading back to you now."
Toph let out the breath she was holding and breathed a sigh of relief. "Ok," was all she could manage.
"There's still court hearings and such, but the worst is over. We'll see you soon."
"Ok," Toph replied again and hung up on Jun. She couldn't hold it in anymore. She started crying. It wasn't tears of sorrow or pain, but tears of joy. Ozai was caught and Zuko was safe. Her father must have heard her, because he and Ursa came out quickly to her.
Seeing her bent over crying, they must have suspected the worse, for they tried to console her as they started asking questions. Finally, Toph was able to take a breath and talk.
"No, they're ok," Toph choked out. "I don't know why…" She was suddenly cut off as Ursa hugged her and she felt wetness on her shoulder as the woman was crying as well.
"Ozai's caught," Toph stated once she could talk again after taking another breath. "Zuko's on his way."
"Thank God," Ursa sighed, sounding just like Toph; out of breath and gasping between tears and sobs, but she sounded happy. "The nightmare is over."
Toph heard her father's phone beep as a text came in. He straightened and patted her shoulder. "I'll let your mother know the good news. It seems Jun has already alerted Iroh. They should be here within half an hour. Toph, there will still be many court dates and legal hearings we'll need to be part of. But I think you should spend the rest of the day with Zuko."
With that, he left Ursa and Toph in the front room. Toph laughed as she used tissues to wipe her face and offered them to Zuko's mother. They waited as patiently as they could. Toph heard the tires pull onto the driveway and recognized Jun's car. Ursa must have noticed her changing position and stood next to her. Toph heard the door open and then Ursa was hugged by Zuko before he turned to her and grabbed her hand as he bent low.
"It's over," he sighed before he kissed her soundly. Toph just sighed and grabbed onto him, kissing him back. She didn't care how much Jun and Bato were trying to hold in their laughs. She was just glad to have her boyfriend back in one piece. Even if he did flinch occasionally as she touched a new bruise.
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1 month later
Zuko sighed as he pulled on the coat of his suit, again. He hated sitting through court all day, but it had to be done. And he was going to be present for every court hearing he could to make sure Ozai was put away for the rest of his life. His father had tried the insanity plea first, but multiple testimonies by Ursa, Iroh, Zuko, and even Toph and the FBI had shown that though Ozai was slipping more recently, he was still sane enough to know what he was doing in all his misdeeds.
Ozai had then taken to try to glare and frighten the witnesses at the pre trial hearings, but Zuko and Ursa had stood firm and ignored him as they were flanked by FBI agents and US Marshals whenever they were at court. Now that they weren't being actively guarded, Bato had asked Ursa out and the two adults were dating.
But now court was over for the day, and Zuko actually had something to look forward to. Winter Formal was that night, and Toph had called him earlier to make sure he was going to be on time and remind him that that night was for fun.
Zuko looked at his mirror and smiled. It was a small smile, but enough to change his face from deep and brooding to show a more light hearted side of him. He had a black shirt under his coat with a dark green tie on. He quickly pulled his hair back into a small top knot, leaving a few stray strands to help mask his scar and picked up the corsage for Toph.
"You look handsome, Nephew," he heard Iroh say from his doorway. Zuko turned and smiled at his uncle who was holding a cup of tea. "Try not to steal a kiss in the greenhouse this time."
Zuko's smile fell and he almost grabbed a pillow to throw at his uncle, but heard his mother laughing from further down the hall. "Well, this time you'll be there as chaperone so no crazy people try to break in," he retorted and was pleased as it was his uncle's turn to frown.
"He's got you there, Iroh," Ursa said as she continued to laugh. "You were the one who volunteered for that.'
Zuko started to smirk as his uncle turned his frown towards the front room and Ursa.
"Only so poor Jeong and the lovely Dr. Yugoda wouldn't be bored all night."
Zuko followed his uncle out and to the front room to where his mother was waiting. She looked tired, as she did after every court day, but she was smiling and looked to be in much better health than when she had first arrived at their house in Gaoling. She turned her eyes to her son and her smile widened.
"Iroh was right, you do look handsome. Have fun tonight. Though I will agree with Iroh; no sneaking off for a kiss."
Zuko strode to his mom and bent down to kiss her cheek lightly. "I won't, Mom. You have fun with Bato tonight."
He smirked more as he saw his mother blush. They heard a knock and Iroh went to open it, seemingly more to get away from their remarks than anything else.
"Ah, what a lovely sight," Zuko heard his uncle say from the door. "Come in, ladies, come in."
Zuko turned to see Toph and her mother walking in. His breath caught at how beautiful his girlfriend was. She had a dark green dress on, twenties style, very similar to the dress she had worn to homecoming. She had grown an inch since Ozai had been captured. Toph had joked that she had grown because she was forced to not stand or fight while her feet healed from the burns Ozai inflicted. Some small heels added another inch and a half to her height, making it much easier for Zuko to kiss his girlfriend.
Jasmine still used a cane, but she was lovely in a navy blue pants suit and heels. She smiled slyly as she watched Zuko staring at Toph. Zuko became aware of it as both mothers started to giggle and he walked up to Toph and kissed her lightly, not wanting to mess up any makeup she had on...yet.
"Hi, Sunshine, ready to go?" Toph asked as he placed the corsage on her wrist.
"I think so. Tonight is for having fun."
"You got that right," Toph replied with a grin. "I even made sure the band they have playing tonight knows swing music."
Ursa laughed lightly behind Zuko. He just shrugged and let his uncle and Jasmine lead the way to the car. Jasmine was going as a chaperone as well, and just to get out of the house. Her doctors and physical therapists said she was healing remarkably well, but she was getting tired of working from home. Zuko heard her promise his mother that she would take lots of photos of the pair and their friends.
He held the door open for Toph before going around to sit with her in the back seat. Once they were driving, Toph scooted closer to him, as much as the seatbelts would allow. "I'm sure you're quite handsome," she whispered to him and he just responded with a smirk and a quick kiss.
"And you're gorgeous," he said after pulling away from her as Jasmine cleared her throat from the front seat. He was happy at how she blushed in such a cute way from his remark. They avoided talking about pre-trial they had attended that morning. Though Toph hadn't attended every court date as Zuko had, she attended most with at least one of her parents.
They soon arrived at their school and saw their friends had just arrived. Zuko got out and helped Jasmine out of the front seat as Iroh helped Toph out.
"Ok, picture time!" Jasmine called happily as Katara and Suki spotted them.
The couples got together and posed for pictures for Jasmine, as she was handed Katara and Suki's phones to take pictures as well. Once the pictures were taken, Zuko scanned the crowd out of habit and paused in shock.
"What is it?" Toph asked, feeling him tense next to her.
"Mai is here," he stated.
"Your ex-girlfriend? Where?"
"Oh, you know Jet's new girlfriend?" Katara asked. She was smiling slyly and her eyes were twinkling. "You would have heard about her if you had been here the last 2 days."
Zuko just sent the sophomore a quick glare. "You know I've been...busy."
Before Katara could respond, a high pitch squeal pierced the air and Toph was engulfed in a hug by a girl covered in pink.
"Hi Ty Lee," Toph said while laughing as she hugged the girl back. Zuko took a moment before he recognized the girl from their mountain trip and the halloween store.
"It's nice to see you, Ty Lee," Zuko stated as Ty Lee turned and hugged him."I thought you were homeschooled."
"I am!" the girl in pink squealed. "But my program works with the high school district. And so I was able to come to a dance at a local high school. I never wanted to as I didn't know anyone, but since i know you guys…"
Zuko actually chuckled. "I get it. Welcome to Gaoling High."
Ty Lee drew back and smiled sweetly at him. "Oh! You have to meet my new friend. She and I have been chatting online as she's been homeschooled for the past couple years too."
Zuko could only look on shocked as she dashed away to grab Mai and start pulling her towards Zuko and Toph. Zuko met Mai's eyes and saw her looking as shocked as him. He tried to smile softly, or at least not look mad as Toph slid her hand into his.
"Mai, meet…"
"Hi Zuko," Mai said to Ty Lee's obvious shock.
"Hi, Mai. Are you doing ok?"
"Yeah, I am," she replied and Zuko was pleased to see her smile softly as Ty Lee hugged the dark girl.
"Oh, this is Toph, my girlfriend," Zuko said, gesturing to Toph.
"Charmed," Toph replied with a grin. "We'll need to talk later. You study any martial arts?"
"Yeeees," Mai drawled out, giving Zuko an odd look. He could only shrug as Toph's grin got bigger.
"Great! Your tiger needs a tamer. Right Tony?"
"Absolutely," Jet said as he came up to them from Toph's other side. Zuko was glad to see both Jet and Mai looking at each other as Sokka and Suki did, or Aang and Katara; happy with silly smiles on their faces. He was sure he and Toph were that way with each other, though he tried to be more discreet.
"Mom, one more picture!" Toph called, pulling Ty Lee next to her who pulled Mai. Zuko smiled for the photo and the others started making their way in. He pulled gently on Toph's hand when she went to follow their friends.
"You ok?" she asked when she turned back towards him.
Zuko looked at her, how beautiful she was, how strong she was, and he knew. He knew he loved her. They still had a ways to go, but he knew she would stick by him and push him when he needed it. He pulled her into a simple turn that ended with her next to him and he kissed her.
"Yes, just glad you're in my life. Thank you...for making me not want to run, to fight,"
Toph just grinned up at him before she reached behind his neck and pulled him down for another kiss.
"I know, and ditto. Now, come on! I want to dance tonight!"
She twirled away easily and laughed as she pulled him up the steps to the dance. Zuko could only laugh as he let her pull him to their friends and the freedom they now had. He didn't have to run from his father anymore. From his fear. He had stood up for what was right and fought to protect those he loved. And now he had the best girl in the world loving him as much as he loved her.
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She looked at the phone in her hand as it beeped with a new message. She was finally relaxing, on a warm beach down in South America. She brought the phone up and opened the message from Mai.
"Ran into an old friend," it read and Azula saw a picture of Mai with a large group of people, obviously all dressed up for a high school dance. She saw her brother next to the short girl, Toph, and that he actually looked happy. Azula smiled softly. She was free now.
"Good luck with that one, Zuzu," she whispered before setting her phone down to smile at a handsome local teen who walked up to her with a pair of drinks. She was finally free to live her own life and she was going to enjoy it.
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A/N: Thank you to everyone who read this and supported me through all these years. I hope to continue writing Toko and have a couple ideas. I wanted to give Azula a happy ending, away from madness. Please leave a comment if you enjoyed the fic at any point. Thank you again.
