Crossroads
AN: Here's another chapter. I like it very much. I appreciate the response to this story. Have a blessed day and enjoy the winter weather we are having!
Confusion and Love Confessions
Toph held on to the wall. She needed to hold on to something or else, she would loose her footing. Her life was happening too fast. Everything was happening too damn fast. She couldn't stop to catch her breath, Zuko wouldn't let her; the world wouldn't let her. She shuffled her feet across the room, still holding on to the wall, pacing from one corner to the other. She tried to get a hold of her life, but how could she? Everywhere she went, someone had pieces of the puzzle that had become her life!
"You gotta think," she whispered to herself. "You are the master of your own life. You've been the master of your life for many years now… Just breathe and think and come up with a proper solution. You can do this, Toph. You are the owner of your own destiny!"
Yes, she definitely was the owner of her destiny; she needed to grasp tightly to her sanity or she was gonna go bunkers. She tried earthbending in the gardens, big mistake! It so didn't work. Rae kept tagging along and whined that it was too cold. Watching his mother earthbending triggered his inner firebender. He clenched his tiny fists and large blue flames accidentally shot towards the bushes and plants around the garden.
"Oops," Rae whispered, catching his mother's attention.
"What did you do?" Toph asked.
"Uh, I was trying to firebend," he said solemnly, his lips pouting. "I didn't mean to burn the garden, Momma."
"Rae, son, are you hur-" Toph breathed, closing her eyes and inhaled.
"Oh, no, what's going on here?" Katara interjected in an alarmed tone when she walked in to the garden. "Oh, Tui and La! Is everyone all right?" She asked, her blue eyes focused on Rae. He nodded and then ran to hide behind his mother.
"Yes, do something about it, please," Toph said, shaking her head.
Thankfully, Katara was able to use her waterbending to stop the fire from spreading. After the fire was extinguished, Katara walked over to the frightened little guy. She tried to grab his hand, but Rae wouldn't let her. He clung to his mother's leg and cried.
"Rae, everyone's all right. There's no need to be crying. See," Katara said sweetly, smiling warmly at him.
Rae shook his head vigorously and tugged at Toph's robes. "Is Momma mad at me?" Rae asked, his little eyes welling with tears.
"No, son," Toph breathed. "Just be more careful next time with your firebending." She said, keeping her tone monotonous. "Firebending is a dangerous form of bending... and it can easily hurt others... Katara and I both have been burned by friends of ours... You'll be an amazing firebender, you just need guidance and instruction from someone that has good control over their firebending."
"Like Zuko or Aang?" he asked innocently.
Toph nodded and smiled at her son. "Yes, just wait until we move to the Fire Nation with your father... He'll be glad to teach you the proper techniques for firebending."
"Okay," he said, wiping his bright amber eyes with the back of his hand. "I'll wait until Zuko teaches me to firebend… prerperly."
"Properly," Katara corrected him and took his little hand in hers. "Come with me, Rae," Katara said, offering him her hand.
"Why? I want to stay with Ma-"
"No, your mother needs time on her own... She needs to be alone for a few minutes." Katara said, as she regarded Toph. The young earthbender looked tense, something was definitely bothering her. Unquestioningly, Toph needed to be left alone to find a way to channel her bad energy and find inner peace. "Later, Toph."
"Thank you, Katara, for taking Rae with you." Toph said gratefully.
"You are welcome," Katara said gladly. "We'll be around."
"I love you, Rae." Toph said, her voice softening.
"I love you, Momma," Rae waved back, tightening his hold on Katara's delicate hand. "I'll see you later. Can we have dinner together? Zuko, you and me?"
"Sure, I'll see you later." Toph smiled.
After Katara and Rae left, Toph was left to wander around. She walked aimlessly around town, hoping to find something to distract her, when she sensed Aang's presence. He was deep in the woods, away from the distractions of the city. She smiled and remembered how Aang would distance himself to meditate and find peace within him. He became one with the world, whenever he was in his Avatar state. Maybe that's was she needed. Yes, she found the perfect place to distance herself and find solace.
Meditating will definitely help me cleanse my chakras, Toph thought.
"Hello, Toph," Aang said, not shifting, his eyes remained closed, legs curled beneath him when he sensed her.
"Aang," Toph said, sitting beside the Avatar. "I need your help."
"How can I help you?" Aang said surprised, opening one eye and scrutinized the young bender. Toph never asked for help… ocassionally, from Katara... but never from him! Never!
"I see that you are meditating," she began.
"You can see?" Aang's eyes opened wide, but caught the mischievous smirk on the bender's eyes and noticed that she was just messing with him.
"Calm down, Twinkle Toes. I can't see. I'm blind, remember? Have been blind for some time now."
"Eh, yeah," he mumbled embarrassed.
"Anyways, I was thinking that maybe I could… can I join you? In meditating. I need to meditate," Toph sighed. "I need to relax and just calm down. The move to the Fire Nation… the decision was too sudden." She blurted.
"Um, sure. I understand," he said contently, scooting over so she could sit on the mat beside him. "Zuko told us about it over lunch."
"Do you have another mat?" she asked ignoring the Avatar's words and placed her open palms on the firm fabric of the mat. "I don't think that this mat is big enough for us. I might kick and scream... you don't want to be this close to me when I do that."
"Yeah, I know. I have an extra mat. I brought it for Katara," he said. "I'll go get it."
He walked over to the large tree that was near them and reached for the backpack that was at the base of the tree. He looked back at Toph and shook his head. He knew that she was upset with the sudden decision to leave to the Fire Nation. Zuko's abrupt choice to leave left the airbender questioning the reasons behind the decision. He inhaled and pulled out a soft blue mat out of the backpack. He looked around and noticed that Katara had been gone for some time now. Where could she be? he wondered. She was probably not coming to join him... Maybe she was with Haru or the others. The thought of Katara and Haru irritated him, but he just shrugged it off and sauntered back, placing the mat in front of where Toph was sitting.
"Ready?" he asked, sitting on the mat and watched the earthbender.
"Yes," she nodded. "Let's begin."
They were meditating for an hour. He could sense that the bender was finally reaching her goal of relaxing; of calming down. Her heartbeats were regulated, her breathing became normal, and the aura around her was comfortable. He was proud of her. Toph, in all the years he'd known her, she's never been this calmed. Aang found himself relaxing too; somehow, together, they'd reached spiritual nirvana.
"How are you feeling?" He asked her.
"Great," she confessed with a smile and continued meditating, when she caught Katara's seismic vibrations. She frowned, but kept her eyes closed and ignored her friend. She noticed that Rae wasn't with her. She began to worry about her son, forgetting the inner calmness she'd reached over the last hour.
"Oh, how nice!" Katara shrieked. "I knew that I find you here! Toph you looked so relaxed! I'm glad that you found Aang." She grinned, observing her friends sitting across from one another. She continued watching them for several minutes, until Toph spoke.
"Where's Rae?" Toph asked, her eyes closed, legs curled.
"He's with Sokka and Suki," Katara responded. "They are in the restaurant near the inn that Zuko is staying at. The kid was hungry."
"Okay, thank you for helping out earlier. I don't know what I would've done without you." Toph said. She continued concentrating in her meditation. It was working until Katara finally opened her mouth again.
"Toph," she paused and cleared her throat. "I've noticed that you've been acting weird," she began. "Is it due to Zuko's decision to move to the Fire Nation?" She interrogated.
"Ugh," Toph harrumphed and didn't answer.
"Toph, I'm asking you a question," Katara said haughtily.
"Katara," Aang said curtly, his eyes closed, legs crossed as he inhaled slowly. "We are meditating. We need silence, peace, and solitude. You can ask her all the questions that you want after we are done."
"Aang," Katara huffed. "I just need to know what's going on. Zuko suddenly told us that we are going back to the Fire Nation. I thought that he was interested in finding his mother. He's also been acting strange all afternoon. He has Haru running on pins and needles, trying to tighten loose ends before we leave to the Fire Nation."
"It's his decision. We agreed that we would support his decisions. If he wants to go back to the Fire Nation, then that's what we do." Aang said. "Let him deal with it. All we can do is support his decision. And you know that the leads that he received about his mother being in this town were all lies. Ursa has never been here."
"I know, you are right, Aang. It's just that – well, I kinda like this town. I don't want to leave so soon. We've been here a day or two. People are kind and nice and there are a few waterbenders around here from the Southern Water Tribe." Katara said, shrugging. "I feel welcome, sort of feel like I'm actually home."
"Katara," Toph began and exhaled a long breath. "I'm so glad that you feel at home." She said, rolling her eyes. "I really am. I just think that you should wait until we are done meditating and then we can talk. I need to unwind. Zuko's sudden decision to leave for the Fire Nation took me by surprise."
"You don't understand," Katara continued petut. "You don't have a place that you actually call home. Don't misunderstand me,"
"Oh, no, how could I?" Toph said surly.
"I mean that… You adapt so easily to new places. You don't have a care about a thing, because you are- Well, you are you..."
"Katara," Aang cut in. "You don't know how Toph is feeling right now. Perhaps you should-"
"I do know how she feels!" She interjected. "I just meant to say that it's easy for her to uproot and start all over again. Because she's so used to it! But it's not easy for me… It's never been easy... ever since my mother died, it's been difficult."
"Katara, please, just let us meditate," Toph said aggravated, gesturing Katara to leave with her hand. "All you are doing is irritating me."
"Are you kicking me out?" Katara snarled, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm pouring out my heart to you and all you can do i-"
"Can't you see we are meditating?" Toph said a bit louder.
"Yes, Toph, I can see it very clearly. I'm not bl-" Katara shouted at her friend and then cleared her throat. "I can see that you and Aang are meditating." She said, keeping her voice clipped. "Why are you like this with me? You never listen to me!"
"Maybe I don't want to listen to anyone right now! I have enough problems as it is." Toph said, uncrossing her legs, pounding her fists on the ground, causing the earth to tremble. "Why don't you just ease off of me and give me some room to breath. Since you walked back in to my life all you've done is crowd me." Toph said, getting up and ambled over to where Katara stood.
"Girls," Aang's eyes opened wide. "Toph, Katara," Aang said, standing up, and getting between the girls. Toph towered over Katara by a few six inches, causing Katara to look up at her young friend. Aang sighed and scratched his bald head and inhaled a deep breath before he spoke. "Girls, anger only leads to a road of per-"
"Stay out of this, Aang! We don't need a mediator or your stupid metaphors about anger." Katara snapped, placing her hand on his face, shutting him. "This is between Toph and me."
"No, we don't need a mediator." Toph said, turning around. "Aang, thank you for your help, but I had enough with the meditation. Three's a crowed! I'm going to go get my son."
"Oh, okay," Aang said confused. "I'm sorry that I couldn't help you more."
"Oh, you did. You helped me a lot, Aang," she said haughtily and began to walk away. She hated arguing with Katara. It felt like she was twelve years old and had Katara mothering her. She took a few steps away from her friends and then returned, her index finger pointing at the waterbender. "If it wasn't for the Sugar Queen... I would've been happy. But she ruined it." she said in discord. "And for your information, Katara," Toph said, pulling up the hem of her green robe and stomped. "You don't know anything about me!"
"I would... if you hadn't left the Fire Nation without telling us - telling me!"
Toph scoffed. "If you are angry because I left without telling you where I was going four years ago, get over it! Life happens. I had a choice to make and I took it. I left and I don't regret it! And for you don't know me at all. So stop making assumptions about me. Yes, you and I were friends! It was a long time ago! We've grown and drifted apart! Maybe it is time that you stop smothering me - let me breath for once. Many things have happened in my life in the last four or five years. I had to grow up and become a mother. I couldn't think of myself. I couldn't be selfish. I have a son that needed and still needs me. I am never going to be the same person that you wanted to mother. Many things have happened since then. I am an adult now; a mother that has a child's happiness to consider before anything else in the world. You don't have the same responsibilities as I do. You only have to worry about yourself... I don't have that luxury. Unlike you, I have to leave behind the only stable life that Rae has ever known... that I've ever know! What if moving to the Fire Nation is actually a mistake? What if Rae isn't happy? What if Zuko decides that he doesn't want or need my son? Where do I go from there? If it doesn't work, I have to uproot and move my son to another village... another town... start all over again! There are so many things that I have to consider now that I have a son… things that you wouldn't understand. "
"I see," Katara said guiltily, as she inspected her nails. "I just don't understand why you don't tell someone about this things. Why carry the burden all by yourself? I wouldn't mind listening to you. I'll gladly help you out. Have you told Zuko that leaving so suddenly is a bad idea? What the hell happened between you and Zuko that he had to make such an abrupt decision to go back to the Fire Nation?"
"Katara," Aang inhaled irritated. "He's an adult and can change his mind," Aang said defensively. "Let him be."
"I know. I'm not complaining. It's just that," she stopped and played with her hair and watched the two benders. Aang wore his traditional yellow robes, his staff lying next to his feet. Toph's green robes were spilled around her, her long midnight black hair fell over her shoulders and the sun's ray made her green eyes twinkle. She looked beautiful and a bit troubled. Maybe she had been a bit too harsh on the earthbender. She only wanted Toph to know that she'd missed her terribly over the last four years. "He changed his mind so suddenly… it happened after I left your room, Toph. What happened between you two?"
"I'm trying to –ugh, forget it!" Toph snapped. "I'll see you guys around." She said, storming out of her friends' presence. She had it up to here with Katara's constant nagging.
Toph walked away, until she found herself alone in a clearing. She plopped on the soft grass and closed her eyes and inhaled slowly, just like Aang taught her – she did everything in her power to calm herself down.
Twelve or more hours until we leave to the Fire Nation, Toph thought.
She continued meditating, but nothing was helping. Her mind took her back to earlier in the morning. Toph and Zuko in a room, alone, sharing kisses and touches. She gulped hard and shook her head. She was losing it. Yes, that had to be it. The strongest, most masterful and skillful metalbender and earthbender in the Earth Kingdom had found her greatest weakness – Zuko's touch and kisses.
Things had gotten a bit out of hand and a little heated earlier in the morning and to be honest; Toph felt a bit disappointed. She'd wanted to know what it would feel like to be intimately touched by the Fire Lord once again, but her curiosity was short lived. She had so much going on that her mind was in overdrive.
"Toph?" A muffled, familiar voice called.
"Zuko?" She whispered quizzically, lifting an eyebrow. "Zuko?" She said loudly, waiting for a response. She opened her eyes and placed her hands on the cool grass. She could sense him, he was a few meters away from her. His heartbeats were steadied; calmed. He continued trudging, head on to where she was. She felt jolts of happiness course through her body.
"Toph?" Zuko called again, this time a bit louder. "Where are you?"
"I'm here," she said, excitement tangled in her voice. "Follow my voice!"
"Toph, keep on talking so I can follow the sound of your voice," he said and she continued talking. She felt the Fire Lord move faster towards her. Joy surged through her entire body, making her smile.
"Wow," he said, when he saw her in the distance. "I've been looking for you." He was looking for her! He'd been looking for her. "Toph, I'm glad that you are safe. Rae was worried about you," he said in relief. "I must've searched the entire town for you. Rae told me what happened in the gardens." He said, as he got closer to where she sat. "Can I sit next to you?"
"Um, sure, yeah," she said, gnawing her bottom lip and nodded. "How is he? How is Rae? I- Katara took him after she extinguished the fire in the garden."
"Yes, I know. She also told me what happened. Um, Rae is doing well. He's fine," he chuckled. "He's a little sad that he almost burned the entire garden. He told me that he doesn't want to firebend again." Zuko said melancholically. "He's so innocent."
"I know," Toph said, looking at his surrounding. "He's just got a little scared after what happened..."
"I offered to teach him firebending," Zuko mumbled, tucking a few strands of hair away from her face. "He shook his head and cried on my shoulders."
"He'll be fine," Toph said, holding her breath at the feel of his touch. "Just give it a few days... Um, Zuko, why are you here?"
"I can't look for you? You don't want me to be here?" he asked puzzled.
"No, I mean," Toph shook her head and opened her mouth to speak but closed it again.
"What? You don't want me here? I'll leave if you want me to. I was worried about yo-"
"No, silly," she said quickly. "I'm just curious. You are Mr. Every-detail-has-to-be-perfect and… shouldn't you be preparing for tomorrow's trip?"
"Um, yes, I was. I'm finished. Haru helped me get everything together. He helped me tighten lose ends. We are ready to go... We can leave early tomorrow to the Fire Nation... We are making a quick stop in a small town close to here."
"Where?"
"Um, a small town... you know... load up on a few things that we are gonna need along the way."
"Oh, that's good," she lied and cleared her throat. "I can't wait to leave this place behind."
"Toph," he whispered, cupping her chin. "You are lying to me. What's bothering you?" he asked, his husky voice reverberating in her head. "You don't want to move to the Fire Nation with me?"
"Eh, it's nothing," she said, moving her head to avoid his stare. "I'm just… I'm… I am enjoying the town. So you're saying that we are leaving tomorrow, right?" She said, changing the subject.
"Yes," he nodded. "Aren't you glad?"
"Well, Zuko," she said curtly, moving away from him, but Zuko was faster than her. He held her by the shoulders. "Let me go… I… Stop worrying about me. There's nothing wrong with me."
"Toph, what's wrong? Talk to me, please. I need to know how you are feeling, so I can understand you."
"I'm fine," she said, trying to jerk away from his hold. "I'm just tired. It's been two days that I haven't gotten any sleep. Katara has been pestering me! You are all over me! Rae is sad and probably thinks that I'm mad at him... I need to see him."
"Liar," he chuckled softly, resting his lips next to her ear. His low chuckles boomed through her, sending shivers down her body. "You used to be good at lying, earthbender."
"I'm still good," she said, closing her eyes, inhaling his masculine scent. "It's just that you can tell when I'm lying."
"I can tell a lot of things about you," he said seriously, his warm breath tickling her skin. "What is wrong, Toph? You don't want to leave to the Fire Nation with me? Is it me? You don't want to be with me?" he purred next to her ear.
"No, it's not that," she shivered, caressing Zuko's scarred side of his face with her cheek. "I want to be with you… badly."
"You do?" he asked surprised, moving away from her to look down in to her face. She nodded, blushing. "Then what is it? Are you scared?"
"I, uh," she paused. "I don't know. I'm not scared. I'm confused,"
"What has you confused?" he said soothingly, running his fingers through her long tresses. "I'm here… for you… talk to me. Tell me how I can make you feel better." He said, kissing her cheek softly. "If we are going to make this work, we need to learn to communicate."
"I understand," she said, clasping his face in her hands. She wished she had the space rock that she'd given to Rae. If only she had it with her, she would be able to see Zuko's face – the seismic vibrations would be enhanced, producing better details of his face. "I don't want to talk about it. Talking won't solve anything."
"Then, what do you want to do?" he paused, running his index over her eyebrow.
"Nothing,"
"Come here," he said, pulling her to him and embraced her tightly. "What is it that you want? We can sit like this, holding each other. I can comfort you... Does that sound good to you? You can lean on me... I'll be here for you." He said, his tone conveyed honesty and trust. She leaned closer and gently kissed his cheek, but he turned his head and kissed her full on the lips.
"Zuko," Toph mumbled, nipping the corners of his lips with her teeth. She took his bottom lip between hers and kissed him. It was a soft, tender kiss. Her hands remained fixed on each side of his face. He returned the kiss, as softly and as tenderly as her. His tongue grazed the inside of her mouth and a moan escaped her lips. "Will you kiss me like that when we move to the Fire Nation? Every morning, every night and whenever I need this?" She asked, resting her forehead against his.
"Why do you ask that?" he asked curiously.
"Just answer my question, please," she begged. "Please,"
"Do you want me to kiss you like that everyday after we moved to the Fire Nation, Toph?" he asked, running a finger down her neck. "Is that what's been bothering you?" He asked impishly. "You think that I won't feel this way when we are in the Fire Nation?"
"No, I don't know!" she said rudely, pushing at his chest. "Don't be so full of yourself, Zuko." She said, shaking her head. "You are so arrogant." She whispered, putting both of her hands on her lap and sighed. "I'm not worried about kisses, touches, or you… Well, maybe a little… I'm confused. This is so sudden. One minute, we are talking about Rae and the next you are telling me that you want me… that you want more children with me. I'm so perplexed. I never thought of you and me... together and in a relationship. It'd always been Rae and now it's not... there's also you." she whispered the last word, and moved a few inches away from him and sighed deeply.
"I understand," he said, watching her place her head on his lap. He smiled lovingly at her and gently caressed her messy hair. "I'm scared too. I'm scared about not making Rae happy. I'm afraid of hurting you. Maybe I shouldn't have forced all those words on you. I apologize, Toph. If you want, we don't have to go to the Fire Nation together. You can stay in Song village. I'll come and visit Rae… and you… as often as I can."
"That… That's not what I wanted to hear," she said, looking up at him.
"Toph," If only those eyes could see his painful expression. If Toph could only see the hurt behind his eyes as he spoke those words.
"Is that what you want?" she asked honestly. He shook his head and took her delicate hand.
"No, Toph, I don't want that," he confessed. "I want to be near you. I need to have you and Rae next to me. I want us all together. I would lie if I told you the opposite. I don't want to loose you again."
"You never had me," she said nonchalantly, reaching to touch his face. She caressed the scarred skin and he flinched. He feared that she would find him repulsive, but Toph has never found him repulsive. She'd always enjoyed his company. He brought her hand to his lips and softly kissed each knuckle.
"There aren't any excuses to exonerate me from what I did in the past. I was a blinded jerk. I should have known that you loved me. I should have known that you were in love with me… You often blushed whenever I walked in to a room. I hate myself for hurting you… for abandoning you when you needed me the most."
"You're too hard on yourself," she said, sitting up next to him. "You were in love with her,"
"I was infatuated with her," he said, looking away from her. He couldn't let those green eyes reel him in when he was confessing his feelings. "She was closer in age… you were just a child. I had to protect you… and I failed at that too. I couldn't protect you from a broken heart. I should have shelter you, Toph."
"Shut up, Zuko," she said irritated. "You aren't my father to protect me. It's not your job to protect my innocence. If you feel sorry for stealing my virginity, then screw you." She said and stood up, but he caught her by the hand and pulled her to him, until she was sitting on his lap. "Why don't you just let me go? If we end this stupid game, I won't get my heart broken again."
"What do you mean?" he asked puzzled.
"Damn, you are as dense as ever, Zuko!" she said aggravated. "Can't you see…"
"No, tell me!" he said, raising his voice a notch. She pushed herself from him and lay on the grass, letting herself relax a bit. Zuko lay beside her; he was on his side, looking down at her, taking advantage of their proximity. They remained quiet, surrounded by the blissful silence the world provided them.
"Toph," he said, clearing his throat, "tell me what's bothering you," he said in a low voice, lifting her head and placed his arm under her neck. She knew that she didn't have any right to be this closed to him. But she didn't care. She wanted to feel the warmth of his arms around her. Toph nestled her head on the crook of his neck and inhaled his scent. Somehow, she felt better. Blame it on the proximity or her feelings for Zuko. She felt so much better. She hated to admit that whenever he was close to her, she felt safe, protected, and happy.
"I'm scared," she said those simple words and suddenly, everything seemed easy. "I'm scared that Rae won't be happy. I'm scared that you and I will act this way and end up hating each other. This," she said, pointing at him and then her. "This scares me the most. It was easier when it was one sided, Sparky."
The corners of his lips lifted into a silent smile. She only called him Sparky when she was being honest. "I know that you are scared," he said, tangling his fingers in her rich, raven hair. "I'm scared too. I'm scared about what's been developing between you and me."
"You are?" she asked befuddled.
"Yes, this is unknown to me. At first, I considered it an opportunity to provide Rae a family… but, suddenly, all this unknown emotions have been rushing through me. I'm scared." He nodded and kissed her forehead. "I've never had a child's happiness to consider… I've never had your heart, your wellbeing, and happiness to consider too. I don't want to hurt you. What if I'm not good enough for you or Rae? I know that we spoke about this, Toph, but I'm scared to turn out like him." Zuko told her about his fear of turning out to be like his father. Toph shook her head and reassured him that he would be the best father in the world. He confessed to her and told her that they could make their relationship work. "I care for you," he said softly, his cheeks turning hot with embarrassment. "You have always cared for me, right? You might even still love me," he said, taking his chances.
Toph rolled her eyes at him. "I might like you a little, but don't push your luck."
"Okay, I'll take that as a yes," he chuckled, then turned serious. "What are your fears?" he asked her, kissing her forehead lovingly.
"My fears…" she began. She confessed to him her many fears: moving to the Fire Nation and not being accepted by his people, their child getting hurt, not accomplishing any of her goals and many other things. "But I'm really scared of falling in love with you… and getting hurt… again."
He nodded sadly. He knew that he was a lucking son-of-a-bitch, because she'd entrusted him with her heart and their son's life. "I'm sorry."
"You don't have to apologize," she said, moving away from him. "We should get going. Rae must be worried about us."
"Yeah," he said quietly, as he got up. He helped her to her feet and together, they trudged down the familiar path. "Toph," he began.
"Yes?"
"Do you still love me?" he asked boldly, his eyes focused on her.
She gulped, scratching her forehead nervously. "Why do you ask that?" she chuckled anxiously and began walking ahead of him. He followed her and placed his hand on her small waist, spinning her around. "Zuko," she said confused, when she felt his lips on hers. His body was pressed to hers. She couldn't fight it. Her body responded to his demands and she could just cave in.
"Yeah," he smiled, pulling away from her. He looked down at her flushed face, her parted lips and he knew the answer to his own question. "You are in love with me." he said smugly.
"Idiot!" she muttered, letting him take her hand and together they walked back to the village.