A/N: Avatar the Last Airbender is wholly owned by Nick.

The title says it all.

(This was meant to be a one shot but it's evolved

The In-Laws

"Twinkle Toes, if one more fool tells me to smile, I'm going to throw them through that wall," Toph growled as she forced another fake grin.

Aang held her close. "You promised your parents you would control your temper, dear," he reminded her. "And you know once this is over, we're alone for two weeks, compliments of Kuei and Zuko.

"That's the one saving grace," she seethed after another request was thrust upon them. Toph felt she had had enough for the moment. "I got to go pee," she informed her husband. "I think you can handle it from here, Twinkle Toes."

"Sure," he replied, enjoying watching her swaying hips in the form-fitting dress while she walked away. Toph made sure to add more zing in her motion with each step as she felt his attention on her. Toph through her earth sight became aware of a few other activities. Sokka and Mai, Longshot and Smellerbee, Zuko and Suki, and a few other couples she couldn't identify getting busy in various ways. "Everyone is getting some action but me," she groaned as her temper began to rise. "Stupid Twinkle Toes! Doesn't he want to be with me?"

"Oh, there you are, Avatar, or is that Avatar-in-law," Lao jested as he slapped his new son-in-law on the back, rather too hard. "Are you enjoying the Gala, son?"

The Aang looked about the room and over at the tables of different types of foods and drinks. "It's more than I ever thought, and Toph seems to be happy," he replied with a sincere smile. "This must have cost you a lot of money. Are you sure we can't help you pay for some of this," he inquired once more.

Lao shook his head. "Nonsense my boy. I've been saving up for this day since she was born. Having it here in Republic City has saved me a ton already. I told them this was for Chief Beifong and Avatar Aang, and they all lined up to offer their services. The hotel and all the catering was gratis, as long as their names were mentioned on the invitations and the press release," the shrewd businessman informed him. "With the Fire Lord and the Earth King covering your honeymoon, I've almost recovered my losses from the time you stole her away," Lao said with an underlying bitter tone. "But let bygones be bygones, son, right?" he concluded forcing an abnormal smile. "Do you plan to have children right away? Get more airbenders into the world? Toph has great baby bearing hips."

The question/statement caught Aang off guard. "We're discussing the right time now," the Avatar replied, not certain how he felt about sharing issue with his father-in-law. "As you know, Toph is working on building up the police force, and I still have many duties across the nations. I don't want to be an absentee dad. She's going to need my help raising our children."

Lao nodded understandingly. "I appreciate that Aang, I really do," he responded, patting the new husband hard on the back once again. "I hope no one comes and sweet talks your daughter away on some fool's errand."

Aang could feel the tension in his jaw as he clenched his teeth. He had promised Toph he would not argue with her father, for any reason. "Yes, let's pray that never occurs," Aang responded, looking for someone to come rescue him.

Lao nodded in agreement. "Yes, children can be difficult, but speaking of family responsibilities, I just invested a considerable sum in Cabbage Corp. They make these new mechanical, motor driven carts. It'll be all the rage soon. Have you seen them?" he asked rubbing his chin.

"I've heard of them from Sokka, but I haven't personally seen one," Aang replied, happy to discuss anything else.

"Good, well it would go a long way to securing this particular investment if we could get a picture of you and Toph sitting in one. You wouldn't have to say a word about whether you like them or not," his father-in-law added. "I think people trust you and respect your opinion. And I hope you trust me as well, son," Lao threw in for good measure.

Aang took in a deep breath. "Sure, Lao, we would be happy..."

Toph's father was hugging him now. "None of this Lao stuff. We're family now. Call me dad, son. I've arranged for of one of them to pick you and Toph up from here as you start your honeymoon. Don't worry now; it's our top of the line model! We are thinking about calling it, the Avatar," Lao said with a flare. "It won't delay you two turtle love birds more than an hour or so," he added. "Poppy and I rode in one from the airfield. It was like riding on a cloud, but of course you would know all about that," he laughed, shaking the Air Nomad in the process.

A familiar face was looking at them. Aang recognized him from all the times he inadvertently destroyed the man's cabbage carts over the years. Lao gave the man a thumbs up, and Aang somehow felt better about the whole affair. "I do owe you this," he thought apologetically.

"Lao, have you seen Toph," Poppy asked as she tried to look around the room for her daughter. "The mayor of Gaoling just wanted to express his well-wishes to you and her, Avatar."

Aang took that moment to make his escape, "I'll go find her. She's probably just resting in her room. She seemed pretty tired," he said in rapid-fire succession as he ran from the hall.

"Did you ask him?" Poppy asked hopefully, as she watched the retreating Avatar.

"Indeed I did," Lao replied proudly. "He said they would do it.

The regal woman made a double fist pump. "Cha-ching!" Poppy exclaimed forgetting herself for a moment.