A Kiss in Ba Sing Se

[Author's Notes: The ravages of war reached even into peaceful Gaoling forcing a withdrawn couple into the real world.

Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Avatar: The Last Airbender.]

Chapter 6

Confrontation

The elation that filled her heart, made it as though she was flying as she sprinted towards the most exclusive Inn in Ba Sing Se.

She was a true celebrity now, and mobbed along with the others anywhere they went in the world.

She did love the admiration, but tonight she had a different type of love on her mind. She had finally told him what she felt and found out he felt the same for her, if not more!

Her first kiss... well real kiss... was totally awesome. Better than any dream she could conjure, and for the first time, she was the student, as she surrendered herself to him... heart, mind and... body!

She smiled, laughed and giggled like a young girl in love, because she truly was. She ran using the earth to launch herself into the air, reflecting the overpowering joy that she felt, coming to the edge of the park.

"Hello tree... you sweet tree!" she spoke as she walked up on the pavement, "tell your brother, thank you... it was a wonderful night!"

Yes, Toph Bei Fong was definitely under the influence, but it wasn't any drug or alcohol. It was much more powerful than that.

Her face was still rosy red as she spun and skipped along in her glee.

His smell, touch and taste filled her mind once more and she released a huge shout!

"Lady Bei Fong, are you okay?" a husky voice asked from just beyond her.

She stopped in her tracks, aware that she had been totally caught up in her euphoria.

She put her senses on alert, "Yeah... but who are you and how do you know me?" she asked cautiously.

Now she sensed the an extremely tall muscular man with the official sounding voice. He was with twenty more mounted on ostrich horses, surrounding a very large drawn carriage, just parked in front of the Inn, "Was I disturbing your people or something buddy?"

He bowed deeply, "Not at all my lady. In fact, you looked rather joyous. Not at all like you used to back in Gaoling, " he stated in a kinder, softer voice.

Her face gathered in thought as the voice struck a familiar cord, "Hito? Is that you Hito?"

"Aye, indeed it is little Mistress, and it warms my heart to see you are doing well, and have grown so beautiful!"

She scolded herself for having not recognized him immediately, as she ran into his arms. "Hito, I've really missed you!"

The family's trusted captain of the house guard always was considerate and watched over her as if she were his own daughter

She noticed something different about him, "Hito... your leg..."

"Don't fret yourself none young miss," he said patting her head, "that firebender got the worst of it. He's in Spirit World, and I have this shiny wooden leg to show I'm a war hero."

Her eyes started to glisten, "I-I heard the fighting around Gaoling got pretty intense... but..."

He saw her concern, "It did, we lost a lot of good people, I won't lie milady, but your family is safe. I'm sure you heard."

"Y-yes," she wiped a tear, "thank you... I hope to go see them soon, you know since I'm so close, here in Ba Sing Se now."

Hito smiled, "No need milady," he said, placing a handkerchief in her hand, "they have come here for you."

He big eyes widened as she focused on the extravagant carriage.

"That's right my little Songbird... they are waiting for you... in there. Your poppa and momma."

Toph straightened, "I'm not going back to Gaoling. I'm not gonna live as I did before! Hito, you didn't bring enough men to make me if you think..."

The tall man started to laugh, "Songbird... when did I force you to do anything? Who was it that covered up for you on those Earth Night Rumbles... Blind Bandit?"

She blinked, "You knew?"

"You made me a lot of money milady. I would be a fool to bring so few. I heard what you did to the Dai Li and the Palace Guard... good show. Made us all proud!"

"Uh, thanks," was all she could muster.

"You're welcome milady."

"So if it's not to drag me back... what is it?" she asked.

"Why don't you go and let them just explain the situation to you. Just as you have grown... I think you'll find they have changed as well," he said as he placed a kind hand on her back, "let me escort you like I use to in the garden."

The two walked towards the carriage and the earthbender felt her knees shaking, She tried to straighten out her very wrinkled gown, but to no avail. She nervously patted at her thick matted hair, feeling all the foreign material lodged in it.

"I-I really can't do this I look a mess..." she muttered

"You look absolutely beautiful!" Hito assured her.

"Yes, yes she does," a voice on the verge of tears confirmed.

Toph stopped, she immediately recognized the voice, "Mom?"

"Yes Pumpkin... it me... and you look more beautiful than I've ever seen you," Poppy cried.

The petite earthbender felt conflicted as her jaw trembled. Poppy leaped from the carriage and hugged her long gone daughter tightly. The two sank to their knees weeping, as Toph felt kisses pepper her face for the second time in a night.

"Oh, hey, Sokka," Aang said sheepishly, his gray eyes darting beck and forth. He wasn't quite sure he had heard what he thought he had.

The young Water Tribesman was leaning back in his chair with his feet propped on the table, "So Aang... had a little stroll did ya?"

"Uh... yah, I walked Toph..."

"Yea, yea, heard it," Sokka interrupted,"had a little cherry... tart, did ya?"

The airbender lifted an eyebrow, "Soooo?"

"I think I would like a cherry... tart as well Aang. Where did you say you got that?"

"Well, uh... well, it was as shop... a bakery... I think..."

Sokka nodded, "That makes sense, a bakery, right Suki? So which bakery Aang?" he asked, his voice carrying a somewhat threatening undertone.

The young Avatar's face became sullen, "Sorry to tell you Sokka, but they were closing when we got there. Next time I'll buy you one too."

A moment of tense silence hung in the air.

"I can't believe this, it's only a pastry for Agni's sake Sokka," Zuko remarked loudly. "If you want something sweet, we have a peach pie in the back."

"No thanks... that cherry... tart, just sounded so good!" Sokka declared sitting up. "I'm sure Aang thoroughly enjoyed it... didn't you Aang?"

Aang lowered his eyes, convinced now he had heard correctly the first time, "I did Sokka. I really did. It was absolutely... 'the best'."

The blue eyed warrior jumped up, slamming his fist on the table. He glared menacingly at the younger man.

Suki came over and took hold of his sleeve, "Please, Sokka, everyone is looking at you. They don't know what is going on," she whispered into his ear.

Sokka took in a deep breath, "You know I don't like to be teased over my favorite food Aang."

"I thought your favorite were sea prunes," Katara interjected, "And Aang, don't you prefer egg tarts? In fact, the only person who's crazy about cherry is Toph!"

Aang gulped hard, "Uh, ah... I was trying hers... and it was a big tart!"

"Don't correct me woman!" Sokka shouted, pointing at his sister. "Tonight the mighty cherry is king!"

Mai shook her head at the idiot, "Zuko, give me whatever he's been drinking!"

Toph found herself in the fancy carriage, heading towards the Palace Compound as her mother sat next to her. Her father sat across from them. Though she was happy to be with them, she was still a bit bewildered.

She was glad that Aang had not finished walking her back to the Inn. How would that have looked to her parents.

"The Avatar and their daughter, holding hands and playing kissy face. Yea, if the war didn't kill them, that would've, " she thought with a shudder.

"Are you okay Pumpkin... I saw you shiver?" Poppy said with motherly concern.

"Just ah... ah little cold mom. This dress isn't that heavy."

"And I bet you don't even own on a proper set of slips... living out here with the disadvantaged. Toph Bei Fong, what if someone looked through your skirt, or the wind blew it up?"

"If you only knew mom!" she thought as a devilish grin crossed her face that she couldn't hide from her scolding mother.

"What are you smiling about Toph... you look like the cat-owl that ate the sparrowkeet," her father commented catching the look.

"Oh... I've just had a wonderful evening, ya know, with a close friend, and now mother is scolding me again over fashion. You never know what you miss until its gone."

Poppy blushed, "I don't mean to make such a fuss my dear," her mother apologized replacing a loose strand of hair.

The earthbender had pinch herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. In all her previous 13 years of life, she could not ever recall a single moment that her mother had ever apologized to her about anything. She was truly speechless.

Poppy sighed happily, "It's just so wonderful to have my baby back with me now... and I... I just got carried away."

Her father sighed, "Now Poppy, you promised you wouldn't start primping on her right away. Let her talk so that we can get to know each other again. It's been awhile... hasn't Pumpkin. Do you mind if I still call you that?"

She nodded her head softly, "Of course daddy... that is one of the things I've missed. You and mom... only called me that when I was younger. It's nice to hear it now."

Poppy took hold of her hand. Toph was always amazed at how incredible strong her mother was. Her father used to joke about her mother carried him over the threshold. She figured maybe that's where she got her strength from as well.

"So Pumpkin," Lao started, "what were you so wondrously smiling about before?"

"Well the fact that I am talking with my mother and father... isn't that wonderful enough?"

"Well, Toph that's what your mother and I want to talk to you about my dear. Moments... very special moments... our moment... concerning our family."

"Our family," the words touched her and she had to hold back the tears.

She hadn't stopped being a Bei Fong, but she didn't know if they thought of her as their daughter any longer up until now.

Toph knew her father's serious voice and she turned her ear to pay close attention. She wondered what he meant by 'our moment'. She felt as though she was part of them instead of just an attachment.

He father took in a deep breath, "You know after you left with the Avatar on your great crusade, your mother and I set a ransom out to bring you back home, and before you say anything else... we know that was a big mistake. Those fools couldn't catch a cold, let alone my daughter... the world's greatest Earthbender!"

Toph's heart jumped "Wha-what did you just say dad?"

"What he really meant to say was our daughter... the world's greatest Earthbender!" her mother corrected him proudly.

"B-but, y-you you've never, said anything about me that way before?"

"Well, it's about time we start my dear, because that is who you are." Lao proclaimed boldly.

Toph was now really in shock, as her tears flowed unrestrained, "Okay... okay if this isn't a dream, and I'm not in the Spirit World... who are you people and what have you done with my real parents?"

Lao and Poppy started laughing as her mother hugged and kissed the top of her head.