Disclaimer: I don't own atla or look

They had been sitting at the bison stables for over five hours now. Katara had left when Toph finally arrived when she got the call. The waterbender had been comforting her husband through the night in the caves and was wearing thin. Sokka had decided to watch over her and the kids while Toph stayed with Aang. Since then, the chief and the avatar had been in the same position, one that tore down the strong walls of Republic City's leaders. Toph and Aang were twelve again.

The airbender's body racked with sobs. Toph just continued to hold him tightly.

"Come on, Twinkle Toes. Don't get yourself riled up again." She said it in the nicest way possible. Her voice was calm and quiet for once.

Her shirt was getting damp once again. Toph had removed her armor a long time ago, leaving her in the long sleeve she wore under it. "Why did he have to go..."

"You told me yourself. Everyone has their time."

He squeezed her body tighter. "He wasn't supposed to go yet. I was supposed to go with him."

"I don't think we would be able to handle that much grief." She rubbed his back unconsciously. Her actions reminded her of caring for Lin or Su when they were upset as little kids. "Appa lived a good life. He helped win a war, repopulize his falsely extinct species, and raise the kids with us. That's one exceptional fluff ball."

Toph was surprised to hear his response to be so negative. "I don't care! He left without saying goodbye. I wasn't here!"

"Hey now that wasn't your fault. You were escorting the earth queen back to Ba Sing Se. Its her loss that she didn't like air travel."

"You don't like air travel."

"Well I'm not a bratty sissy." Toph smiled when she felt Aang chuckle. Her hand patted his back. "Alright then, let me get a look of your face, see how puffy your eyes are."

Slowly, the avatar lifted himself from his hunched position. After several sniffles and coughs, he looked straight into Toph's blank eyes which were squinting in observation.

"You got a little snot right there." She pointed to her right cheek.

"Really?"

"How the hell should I know?" Toph laughed. Her hand waved back and forth in front of her face.

She didn't need to see to know that the avatar was scowling at her. "That's not funny."

The chief of police refused to welcome him back to an embrace when Aang pushed himself against her. "No, no, no. No more crying. I'm surprised you still have enough fluid in your body to produce tears."

"I should have been here, Toph. I should have said goodbye."

He was surprised by the gesture she performed which was very out of character. Toph grabbed his hand. Aang appreciated it and rubbed the top part of her pale hand with his own fingers. The chief of police spoke out into the air. "None of us could predict this was ever going to happen. I can only imagine how you reacted."

"I went into the avatar state."

"Katara mentioned something like that. I figured as much."

She noticed him grab her hand tighter. "How else was I suppose to react? My sky bison died."

"He wasn't just your sky bison, Twinkle Toes." Toph kept her face neutral.

"No he wasn't." As Aang continued speaking, his hand clenched harder and harder. "He was my buddy. He was with me when I was frozen for a hundred years. He was with me while we were traveling the world. He was there when all the kids were born, and not just mine. He was there when your kids were born, Sokka and Suki's, and Zuko's. Appa saved us more than enough times. He had our backs. So why wasn't any of us there when he needed us? Why did he have no one to send him off? He deserved a goodbye."

Toph bit her tongue at the strength imprisoning her hand. She vowed to never use this technique when comforting someone again. "I'm going to have to say goodbye to my hand soon if you keep holding it like that."

And just like that, the airbender released his grasp. Toph cradled her hand but showed no facial expression of discomfort. Aang lowered his head. "Sorry."

"Damn, I keep forgetting how strong you actually are."

He didn't answer immediately. When Aang did, Toph could have sworn he was twelve again. His voice even cracked. "Can I keep holding your hand?"

"You gonna try breaking it again?"

He shook his head. The chief of police only assumed he did.

Toph thrusted her hand out and the avatar grabbed it at once. She couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Twinkle Toes, what would Appa do if he saw you being all mopey? Although I don't understand your airbender ways, you and that bison knew when something was up. He knew when you were sad, angry, happy, and every other emotion in the rainbow. And what did he do each time? He nuzzled his big old head right into you."

Her ears twitched at the sound of Aang whimpering again.

"I can't believe I'm doing this...He chief of police took a deep breath before nudging her head into the avatar's front. She was surprised when he grabbed her tightly and cried once more. " You were supposed to laugh! Not cry again."

The master of all four elements spoke in a way just enough for Toph to comprehend. "You really did like him after all. You loved him just like all of us and he loved you right back."

"Of course I loved him. Who wouldn't?" She put her hand back upon his back and comforted him.

"I'm sure he misses you too, Toph."

Aang was confused when he felt her body suddenly become uncomfortable. "Oh, well, I don't know about that."

"Toph, Appa loved you and I know you didn't like air travel, but he really appreciated you toughing it out till you eventually got used to it." He pulled away and wiped his face. "Why would you think he didn't miss you?"

The chief of police pursed her lips together. "You know, out of everyone, I doubt Appa would want to see me in his last few moments."

He frowned. "But-"

"It's alright, Aang. I know how he felt."

The sound of his real name coming from his friend's mouth for some reason finally snapped the avatar back into reality. He had been under his cloud of sorrow for so long that he hasn't realized the toll of Appa's death that had taken place on his loved ones. Katara informed him that he didn't need to worry about anyone else, just for his own grief for his beloved companion. This blast back into the real world, however, made him aware of his insensitivity. Aang's eyes remained rimmed with red, but this time, he took Toph's hand sensing her discomfort. "What are you talking about?"

Her head had turned slightly towards their conjoined hands. She took several seconds of thought before answering. "Let's not make this about me. He was your bison after all."

"He was ours. All of ours."

Again, the chief of police had to think of something to say. "Yes. I guess he was."

"Do you think," He swallowed nervously. "Do you really think you weren't important to Appa?"

"I really don't want to get into this right now."

"Toph, please."

"I'd rather not upset you any further so if we can just get back to the crying that would be ideal.'"

"Do it for Appa."

If Toph didn't know any better, Aang was back to his normal avatar self. His response came out as a demand, such as when he is very serious during a situation. And for once in her life, the chief of police fell victim to his intimidation. She took a large exhale in and sighed loudly back out.

"I don't think Appa forgave me for letting him get captured in the desert."

He flinched backwards. "What? That was decades ago."

"This is exactly why I didn't want to talk about this." Toph let her head rest in her left hand.

Nonetheless, Aang continued talking. "Of course he forgave you, Toph. Everything was so chaotic at the time. He understood. If it weren't for you, Katara, Sokka, Momo, and I would still be stuck in that library. You were a hero that day."

"That's exactly why you came out of that library screaming at me."

Again, he was surprised. "What? No I didn't."

Toph tried to crawl back into her shell. "You know what, I shouldn't have said anything. Forget I brought it up."

"Toph, we are going to talk about this now whether you like it or not. Now what exactly are you talking about?"

"Alright then. Damn." She crossed her arms and scowled. Aang just waited for her response. A few grunts and sighs later, the chief of police answered the master airbender. "When you came out of the library, you started asking me where Appa was. I told you about the sandbenders and you started yelling at me. There."

He pondered on her words. "Not to be insensitive or anything, but you aren't the kind of person to get offended like that so easily."

"Let me remind you that I just joined you guys at the time. I didnt know you guys."

"And your point?" He didn't understand at all why she was so weary about telling him. Toph was never one to be careful about what she said to people. Even if she had just met them, the chief of police had no interest in making a good first impression. The airbender noticed her discomfort. "Were you...ashamed?"

"I am not a shameful person." She corrected him immediately. "But I mean of course I felt bad."

"About losing Appa?"

"Yes."

The avatar noted the lack of a sarcastic comment. "I don't blame you for it if that is what you are so weary about. Neither did Appa."

"Yes, because I speak sky bison." And just like that she was back to her normal self. He knew it was just a way for her to deal with the itching vulnerability. "Thanks I guess."

The air nomad turned towards her and spoke calmly. "Appa never blamed you for what happened. I admit, I may have blamed you at the time and I guess I never made it clear that I misjudged the situation. Point is, I'm sorry, Toph. You were under a lot of stress and it wasn't at all your fault."

It was like magic. Watching her shoulders relax and arms uncross. Aang could practically feel the weight coming off her shoulders. She turned her head to him. "Aang, I never intended to not save him. I would have if I could. I beat myself up for months."

"Seems like years." He nudged her.

The chief of police smirked. "I see you're okay enough to be joking now."

"Appa wouldn't want to see me sad."

Her scowl washed over her face in a flash. "I've been telling you that!"

The avatar chuckled. "I wasn't listening."

"Whatever."

"But really," His hand came to her shoulder. "Thanks for being there. When we were in the desert and right now."

The chief of police punched him hard in the arm. Aang couldn't help the yelp that escaped his throat. "No problem, Twinkle Toes. No problem. And thank you...Aang."

The two sat in silence for several minutes. Toph stayed still, feeling the low amount of activity going on around them. Aang stared up into the sky admiring his son's young bison fly peacefully above the island from the mouth of the cave. In that time, he finally realized that Appa lived his life to the fullest. He was part of the team and hopefully this wasn't a sign that it was time for Team Avatar to disperse. He prayed that the gaang still had a few more decades before that happened. Nonetheless, Appa was the oldest put of all of them. He had served his purpose in this world, bringing light and laughter to those that loved him. That's how he hoped to feel when his time comes, when any of his friends' times come.

Toph sensed him moving around. "What are you doing?"

The avatar dug through his pockets and when he found what he was looking for, he held it out to her, grabbed her hand, and made her touch the object. "You have never used this."

She felt the object thoroughly. "Appa's...whistle?"

"Give it a go."

Aang was surprised to see her shove it back into his chest. "Gross no. I don't know who has been using that. And I know a majority of it has been you. You kiss Sugar Queen. Thus, me putting my lips on that is me kissing Madame Fussy Britches. No. Thank. You."

"Sokka's used it."

"Do not play that card."

He shrunk slightly. "Come on do it for Appa."

"You can't keep using that excuse."

"Please?"

The fact that Aang sounded like he was about to cry again forced her to grab the whistle. Toph hesitated slightly and she could only assume her former student was watching with anticipation. With a sigh, the chief of police drew in a breath and blew into the whistle.

The sound was nostalgically beautiful.

Appa was the heart of Team Avatar. So what would happen if he passed away? Losing Appa is like losing a remaining link to Aang's culture and more importantly his best companion. I'm sure everybody was grieving, but Toph never forgave herself for losing Appa all those years ago. I thought she needed some closure. Anyways, there you go! Favorite, follow or review! Thanks for reading.