Toph's eyes widened, she tried to open her mouth but nothing came out. Did he say what I think he- No. I must have heard wrong. "What did you say?" She asked finally.

Sokka leaned in a little closer to her. "I love you," he repeated.

Hearing him say those words again convinced Toph she wasn't dreaming, she was shocked, speechless, she suddenly felt like everything around her was spinning out of control. "I think I need to sit down," she said, taking a step back from Sokka. However, still in shock, Toph lost her footing and tripped, but Sokka caught her before she could fall. Immediately the Bride froze, and Sokka couldn't bring himself to let her go, and without thinking he pulled her closer to him.

At this point Toph had no idea what to do. She wasn't aware of the time but she knew it wouldn't be long before her wedding started, yet here she is; miles away from her parent's estate, in the arms of her best friend. You need to put a stop to this now! With that thought she shoved herself free.

"Okay, is this some kind of joke?" She asked, ignoring the heat rushing to her cheeks. "Because if it is, it's not funny."

"I'm not joking Toph," Sokka replied, "I love you, and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to tell you, but don't you see? I couldn't let you marry someone else without you knowing how I feel about you." Letting the weight of his words, as well as his emotions take control, Sokka grabbed Toph's shoulders.

Once again Toph opened her mouth but she couldn't get any words to come out. This was just too much for her right now, as if her cold feet wasn't enough...

"Sokka," she said finally, "I don't know what to say."

"Just tell me you still love me," he replied, "tell me I'm not too late."

"I...- Look, it doesn't matter how I feel, this is my wedding day Sokka, you can't just whisk me away and-"

He silenced her with his lips while using the force of his kiss to pin her against the tree. Toph was furious, and out of instinct she quickly placed her hands at Sokka's sides. She wanted to push him away, to scream how angry she was, but... she couldn't bring herself to fight him off. Her heart ruled out everything her head was telling her, and by the time Sokka brushed his tongue against her bottom lip, Toph closed her eyes and finally gave in to the kiss.

(***)

After spending a few minutes just hanging around Toph's bedroom door, convinced that noone would show up, Aang made his way to the bathroom. As soon as he was done with his business the Best Man looked around the estate, thankfully Ty Lee was keeping everyone distracted by performing a few of her circus tricks. Maybe we can pull this off, he thought, however, not even a second later panic struck the young man as he saw Toph's father making his way to Toph's bedroom. Aang quickly ran past the father of the bride and stood in front of Toph's door, blocking him.

"Hey, Mr. Bei Fong," he greeted, trying to sound cheerful, "how are you this fine morning?"

Lao raised an eyebrow. "I'm fine, you?"

"Oh, never better," he replied quickly.

Lao stared at the Best Man for a minute, confused by his unusual behavior. "Well,... if you excuse me, I need to speak to Toph-"

"But you can't," Aang cut off.

"Why not?"

Aang's eyes shifted, desperately trying to come up with an answer. "Because...because Toph's sick."

"Toph's sick?" Lao's face quickly softened. "Is she okay?- Does she need a doctor?"

"Oh no, no, it's nothing like that, she just...- she uh- she had too much to drink, yeah. She partyed a little too hard at her bacherlorette party last night, Katara's in there with her." He gestured his head to Toph's door. "Trust me it's ugly on the other side of that door, I mean even Toph said herself; 'I got it coming out of both ends."

Lao made a disgusted face. "I see, well I'll just come back when she's feeling better, be sure to tell her for me."

"Of course, no problem sir," Aang smiled as he, without thinking, saluted him.

Confusion struck Lao's face, but he nodded none the less as he turned around and left the Best Man alone in the hallway. As soon as he was gone Aang opened the door and entered Toph's room to find Hakoda sitting down with his cellphone nearby.

"Is Katara still in the bathroom?" He asked.

Hakoda nodded, and Aang sighed to himself as he went to Toph's bathroom and knocked on the door. "Katara? It's me, look I know you're stressed but I need you to come out here."

Katara obeyed her boyfriend and finally walked out of the bathroom.

"Are you feeling better?" Aang asked.

"A little," she replied, "so what is it? Did Sokka bring Toph back?"

Aang's lips fell into a thin line. "No, but that's the least of our problems right now. Mr. Bei Fong was just here, he needed to speak to Toph about something."

Katara shot him a look, but before she could say anything Aang spoke. "Don't worry I got rid of him, but he is going to come back soon, and I don't know if I can come up with anymore lies."

Katara sighed. "So unless Sokka brings Toph back soon we're screwed."

Aang nodded.

"Great. How much time do we have until the ceremony?" She asked.

Aang looked at his watch. "Twenty five minutes."

The Maid of Honor buried her face in her palm for brief minute. "Okay," she sighed, "Dad, call Sokka, tell him to bring Toph back right now. Aang, find Ty Lee and do whatever it takes to keep Toph's parents away until Sokka brings Toph back."

Aang nodded and left Katara and her Father alone in Toph's bedroom.

"Um, Katara," Hakoda said, the worry clear in his voice, "Sokka's not answering."

"What?" Immediately Katara snacthed her father's cellphone out his hand and dialed Sokka's number. When her brother didn't answer the first time she tried not to panic, however, when she called again and got his voice box she hung up and pinched the bridge between her eyebrows. "Where the hell is Sokka?"

(***)

Sokka moved his left hand to the back of Toph's head to deepen their kiss while Toph held onto his shoulders to keep herself from collapsing. Sokka felt dizzy, for the past year and a half he always imagined what kissing Toph would be like, and luckily, it was even better than he imagined. Toph's lips were so soft, so warm, and the taste of her mouth...

When the two parted for air, Sokka turned his attention from Toph's earlobe down to the hollow of her throat, kissing and nibbling where ever he could. He smiled, he couldn't help it, the breathless sighs Toph made was way too adorable for him to ignore. By this point Toph's head was spinning, but in a good way, she didn't even protest when Sokka grabbed her thighs and wrapped them around his waist, in truth she was grateful, if he hadn't of done that her legs would probably have given out on her.

Not able to stand it anymore Sokka captured Toph's lips with his again, their tongues dancing in perfect sync. He moaned into her mouth, her sweet, sweet mouth, if he were to die right now he'd die happy. As for Toph, she was waiting for someone to wake her out of this dream, the same dream she's had many times before, however, when Sokka ran his hands down her waist she knew it was reality. Toph smiled against Sokka's lips, unfortunately, as soon as the thought of The Duke entered her mind her eyes flew open.

What am I doing? She thought, How can I do this to The Duke? It didn't take long for Toph to be consumed with guilt, guilt for what she's doing to the man she's supposed to be getting married to. He's probably already waiting for her at the alter, and look where she is; kissing a man who waited until her wedding day to tell her what he thinks he feels. Toph berated herself for allowing her feelings to get the better of her and completely taking over her common sense. How could she be so stupid? You'd think at twenty one she'd learn by now.

"Stop," she said breathlessly.

She was surprised, but appreciated that Sokka actually did stop. Though he was still holding onto her shoulders, he did take a step back.

"What's wrong?" He asked, panting a little.

"I...I can't... we can't do this, Sokka."

A perplexed look fell upon his face. "Why not?"

"Why? I'm getting married to someone else that's why."

"But you're not in love with him,"

"Even if that were true Sokka, what makes you such an expert on the subject."

In response to her, Sokka lifted her chin up to face her, despite her blindness. "Toph, I love you-"

"Stop," she cut off, while pushing him away, "stop saying things you don't mean."

"What are you talking about? I am in love with you, Toph."

"Yeah, I know you think you are, but I know the truth, Sokka," she replied, "you're just lonely. Suki broke up with you and you're afraid if I get married to someone else then you'll lose my friendship."

Sokka sighed. "Toph, Suki broke up with me because she figured it out, she knew I was falling for you so she broke it off. I admit though at the time I was still confused by my feelings, but now I've realized that I love you and I want to be with you."

"Why are you doing this to me?" Toph tried to fight back her tears, but with her stress from earlier that morning, along with every emotion she ever felt for Sokka bubbling to the surface, she couldn't hide her feelings anymore, and she hated it. "Sokka, do you have any idea what it's been like for me? For years I was in love with you, but I knew you didn't feel the same way, you never did. Sure enough there was always someone else, whether it was Yue, or Suki, but you know what? I was fine with that, because I knew you were happy, that's all that ever mattered to me,... so why won't you do the same thing for me?"

Sokka's face softened. Until now he never realized what his obliviousness had done to the woman he called his best friend. He was astonished to learn that Toph loved him so much that she was willing to put him before herself. He remembered his relationship with Yue and when she died, Toph was right there for him, and whenever he was having problems with Suki, Toph was always there giving him advice. Never in all that time did Toph act out in jealousy, she was just being who she was, his best friend. It never truly dawned on Sokka how much his past relationships affected Toph, not until now, when he's on the other end of the stick.

A moment of silence stretched between them until Sokka finally opened his mouth. "Toph, I never realized how much...- Toph, you know I would never- I never meant to hurt you."

She sighed. "Of course you didn't Sokka, just like now."

"Toph, I just- I needed you to know how I feel, I want you to be happy."

"Then take me back," she replied, "take me home so I can make it in time for my wedding."

Sokka's eyes widened. "But... you don't love him."

"I may not love him as much as he loves me, but he's a good man, and I made a promise to him, a promise I intend to keep." Toph stiffened when she felt Sokka grasp her shoulders.

"You don't have to do this Toph, you call the wedding off, you can be with me." He leaned in a little closer. "I love you-"

"Well I don't love you." Toph's couldn't believe what she blurted out, and she instantly regretted how harsh it came out, but it was too late for her to take it back now.

Sokka's mouth hung open for a moment. He didn't expect that reaction from Toph, and he certainly didn't expect the sudden pain that struck right through his heart, as well as his soul. When Sokka decided to confess his feelings to Toph he knew there was a chance she would reject him, however, he never thought it would hurt this much.

"Okay Toph," he said finally, "I'll take you back,... and I promise I'll never bother you like this again."

Toph said nothing, and neither did he as they both headed for Sokka's car. Once Sokka helped Toph in the passenger seat he made his way to the driver's seat, and as soon as he buckled himself in, he turned his key in the ignition, then drove in the direction of the Bei Fong in silence.

A/N: Sorry this took so long :( For some reason it was hard for me to write this chapter. But anyway, this is going to be a pretty short story, after this chapter I don't expect any more than two more chapters, so I'll try to get those out as soon as I can. Anyways, to all the reviewers, as well as the followers, and those who favorited this story, thank you. Until next time... :)

Free-Spirited Dreamer