As Toph sneaked into the Beifong house avoiding all the guards that her parents pay to keep her in and 'safe', as quickly as she could she made her way to her room. She opened the door carefully to make sure no creaks informed anyone that she was out, but the small tap of her foot before entering reminded her of the man, that was now her husband, sitting at the foot of her bed with his legs crossed his heart beat slow yet strong. They were married now so she shouldn't be shocked that he was in her room. Listening to the beat through the floors Toph wondered about Katara's words again. Was she free with him?
Toph walked past Aang leaving him to meditate as she changed from her dirty fighting clothes, she was sure he hadn't noticed her past him as there was no peak in his heart beat. However, as she entered the room again this time in an elegant night dress he spoke, still not moving and heart beat the same.
"You suit the shorts better" Aang grinned, his eyes still closed. Shock drowned Toph when she realised that he was the one at the fight, opening her mouth in attempt to defend herself Toph heard Aang continue. "Your father visited the room not to long ago", once again Toph was drowned in emotion but this time with fear. Her father couldn't know about the fights, he wouldn't approve it. He might even get the underground fights shut down. Aang gracefully jumped up and closed the space between them trying to decide if touching her arm would be appropriate at the time. "I distracted him before he entered or knocked" Aang reassured her "he then started telling me about the importance of consummating a marriage when he realised I was staying in the spare room".
Toph immediately took a step back from Aang, slowly backing into a corner like a scared animal which was very unlike her normal boisterous, dominating personality. She knew of the importance, she was taught during one of her many 'lady lessons'. Reciting the exact words of her teacher Toph spoke, "An unconsummated marriage is a void marriage, the consummation allows for the reproduction of a Beifong heir". Her face was stone and her voice was monotone. Aang's heart broke as he saw a trapped, lonely girl believe she wasn't allowed a choice, he thought about what she would look like happy and smiling what her laugh would sound like. He wondered if he would be able to see that and if he would be able to cause her to feel safe enough to be like that.
"I can't allow this alliance not to work so I'll stay here tonight. I won't touch you, but the world must believe we are a couple". Now Toph was concerned at what the Monk was planning, "How do you plan to convince my father we have spent the night together? He is no fool who will believe we have just because you stayed the night in here" Toph questioned trying to understand Aang's plan. Smiling awkwardly Aang remembered his own teachings on Relationships, love making and child rearing. "Once hitting puberty, a Monk is taken aside by their mentor to be taught about these things. We might not marry but we're taught how to treat our chosen partner respectively especially for something as pure as the loss of virginity" Aang explained nervously as he paced round the bed in a bad attempt to hide his embarrassment.
After some explanation of what he was going to do Aang went to work as Toph sat silently while she thought about how her mother would feel in the morning about this lie that she'll surely believe is true. Her mother understood the role of a lady but at the same feared for the day Toph would have to fulfil it, Toph felt Poppy's heart race whenever the idea of Toph's womanhood became conversation.
Aang had done a good job of making the bed seem used even using his blood to give to the illusion that the act had taken place, he then left Toph to rub the blood on her thighs so the handmaids that wash her in the morning can report the blood to her father which will likely convince him that the marriage is sealed. Aang then made himself comfy on the floor to sleep until he must wake early in the morning to feed Appa and Momo before breakfast.