Chapter 11: Death-
If Zuko thought the twins were fussy before last night, now he would have to say that they were in a day long temper-tantrum. With Miki's broken arm and Rien's broken collar bone, there was always something to cry about. Zuko sat in the nursery holding one in each arm, rocking them slowly as they cried. He was humming a song that his mother used to sing to him that his mother had once sang to him as a child. The twins were just starting to calm down just as the door to the nursery opened, and to his surprise there stood Toph, with Katara at her side. "Toph? Is that really you?" He asked. Toph looked so different with her hair down and in Fire Nation garments. Around her right eye and neck there were still scraps of metal stuck to her skin, where it was permanent. The right side of her face was terribly scarred, where the scarring would be permanent. There would always be two sides of her face, a reminder of what Azula had made her. But she smiled and nodded.
"Who else would it be Zuko?" Toph asked then laughed some and walked over hugging him. "It's nice to see you Sparky." Zuko smiled and hugged her back. "It's good to see you too Toph." He said and held her close. Toph was happy to see her old friend, the man who saved her life. Then she looked at the twins Zuko had lain in their cribs. "There you are my babies." She said and picked the two up. Immediately the two stopped crying and looked up at her. She smiled at them and to Katara's surprise they smiled back and started cooing happily.
"I thought they'd be afraid of her. I guess not." Katara said and watched as Toph sat down in the rocking chair. "I guess they just know their mother." Zuko said smiling. Toph was happy, and back to herself again. She began to rock the chair back and forth, holding her children close. Both of them used their working arm to play with her shirt. Katara stood there watching Toph and the twins, an answer burning on her tongue to be answered.
"Toph, whose the father?" She asked and Zuko looked at her a little surprised at the sudden question, then realized Katara wanted Toph to say it was him. Toph looked down but shook her head. She could never tell them. Never tell anyone. "I can't tell you." Zuko looked at her. "Why not? Tell us so we can punish him for what he did!" Toph backed the chair up against the wall shaking her head vigorously. "No! I can't tell you! I can't tell you! He will kill me and then the twins!" She said. Katara pushed Zuko back then went over to Toph. She leaned into Toph's face holding herself up with her arms bracing her against the rocking chair's arms.
"Answer me this. Was it Zuko?" Toph looked at her and shook her head."Zuko? Zuko would never! Zuko never hurt me!" Katara looked at Zuko who glared at her. "I told you it wasn't me." He said then looked at Toph. "Can't you just tell us who the father is? We'll keep you safe." Toph shook her head, she couldn't tell him. Couldn't tell anyone. Aang would kill her if she did, and she just got back to herself. She looked down and a single tear ran down her scarred cheek. "No... I can't. I'm sorry..." Zuko knelt down and wiped the tear lightly from her cheek. "Hey, don't worry... You're safe. The five of us won't let Azula or the man who hurt you touch you again Toph. It will be fine, your strong." Five? Who were the five? Toph couldn't remember who else there was here beside Zuko and Katara. "Five? Five who?" Zuko stroked her cheek lightly. "Remember? Katara told you. It's me, her, Sokka, Suki and Aang." Toph's eyes widened hearing Aang's name. Aang was here, in the palace? Where she was supposed to be safe from him?
Zuko saw Toph's reaction to what he had said and glanced at Katara before looking back at the scarred girl. "Is there something wrong? Did Aang hurt you." Toph frantically shook her head, her voice squeaking as she answered hastily. "No... He never hurt me..." Katara raised her eyebrow, glancing at Zuko, and Zuko knew that she noticed the same thing that he had. What Toph said was a lie. Just then one of the Fire Sages walked in and looked at Zuko. "Firelord Zuko, there is a matter we need to consult you about." Zuko sighed and stood up looking at the sage. "Okay." He said then looked at Toph. "Just ask Katara if you need anything Toph." Toph nodded and stayed quiet. She didn't say a word the rest of the day.
~o.O.o~
That evening Aang was once again pacing the dark room he had been staying in. His attempt the previous night had gone wrong. But he wasn't ready to give up. He couldn't risk going after the airbender girl again. No, Zuko would have more guards posted near them to prevent him from doing just that. His only option now was to kill Toph, she wouldn't be guarded. Maybe the night before when she was sleeping in the infirmary, but now that Zuko gave her her own room she would be vulnerable. Aang stopped pacing and smirked. He would do it tonight, then no one would find her until morning. His plan was perfect. He went over to the window and looked out. The sun was just a sliver resting on the horizon. Now it's time to put him plan to action. He went over to the dresser and dug under his clothes. It took only a minute to find what he was looking for, a second knife like the one he had lost the night before. This one he had always planned to use on Toph since he had raped her if she ever told. He chuckled to himself as he ran his hand over the side of the blade, she had done so well until now. But now that she was back to her normal self, after all the torture. There was no telling what would slip from her scarred mouth. But he was going to make sure they never find out. "When the moon rises... Toph Bei Fong will leave this world forever." He muttered darkly to himself and chuckled.
Once everyone had gone to bed and the guards had made their finally rounds for the night, Aang slipped out of his room, walking on thin air. Not even a mouse-rat would hear him creep through the palace to his prey. He moved quickly and in no time he was outside Toph's door. His feet touched down lightly as he pressed his ear to the thin door. The sound of light snoring seeped through it. He smirked, she was still asleep. Quietly he opened the door and squeezed through it silently. On the bed was the blind earthbender, in thin Fire Nation clothes. Obviously the hear was still a problem with her. Not that it would matter anymore. Aang removed the knife from his sleeve and approached the bed slowly, repeating his speech in the ancient language just below a whisper. She would never hear a word he said. Once he was hovering right over her he raised the knife aiming it for her heart. His voice raised just as he went to strike, bringing his arm down.
Toph's ears perked up as she heard a small whisper, but she dismissed it as a dream. But as the voice raised she knew it couldn't be. There was someone in her room. She rolled over then screamed as a knife pierced her side. Aang quickly looked around then covered her mouth and nose. Either she would suffocate or she would bleed to death. Toph reached for her side, easing her hand around the handle of the knife that was embedded between her ribs. Each breath was becoming harder to gather with the hand covering her mouth. She cried out as she removed the knife from her own side and quickly shoved it in the chest of the creature who was grabbing her. At once the hand's grip loosened as Aang gasped in pain. His knife was now protruding right above his heart, puncturing his left lung. Blood quickly filled through the hole in his lung and he fell to his knees before falling flat to the ground. Both of them lay there, bleeding from their wounds, their blood mixing together. Both paralyzed by pain. Would someone come in time to save them?