Thank you for reading. I hope you like this chapter. The song is one of us by heather dale, if anyone is interested.

The dinning room was decorated in much the same was as the main hall had been. Aang found himself sitting on the left side of the table, diagonally across from Toph and Lord Toro. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but he could just make out the tone of her voice. It was light and airy. Like the tone she had when she was teasing him or someone else. Her face feel every now and again into a faint smile at something that Lord Toro had said. Once or twice out of the corner of his eye he saw Lord Toro lean in towards her to whisper in her ear.

When the first plate was placed in-front of him he noticed that he had been crunching the napkin in his hand. He was having a hard time believing what the women had just told him about Toph. Seeing the way she was acting was making it a little easier. It was like she wasn't the person he thought he knew. Could be really have been so wrong about her, had he completely misunderstood her character. Lord Toro was now offering her his napkin for her to place over her lap, to cover her dress. She seemed to look right at him, giving him a warm smile as she lightly toughed his arm longer than would be considered acceptable.

The first plates where quickly taken away and replaced with the second course, a meat dish that Aang played with while he waited for it to be taken away. He noticed Toph wasn't eating much of her food either. He noticed her tastes changing over the last year or so. Before she would have complained about having to eat a meal of only vegetables, but she had stopped complaining now. She was even choosing to eat meals like him when she had the choice. When meat was put in-front of her, like now she would only pick at it. He took a like pleasure at this, she was still maybe the same person under the make up and fancy dress.

Once the plates from the second course was taken away the earth king loudly knocked his spoon against his wine glass. All heads turned to face him, as he pulled himself up. "I would like to bring the reason for this banquet to everyone's attention." Aang glanced round the room. Looking to see if any one else looked as confused as he felt. "This banquet is to honour the birthday of someone of great standing." In the corner of his eye, he saw Toph hunch down in her seat, like she wanted the floor to eat her up. Because the floor was stone, she could actually do this, if she really wanted too. "Lady Toph." All eyes fell on Toph, as she did her best to smile. "She is more than a lady of noble birth, as we all know. She is also the ambassador of the earth kingdom, and the newest member of the council of five. Following the retirement of general Sung."

This was a new one. Aang didn't know she had been promoted. Something else he didn't know about her. The fact that it was her birthday was also news to him. He realised that he had never really known when her birthday was. He was now having a hard time combining the lady across from him and a member of the council of five as being one and the same.

"To honour her some of the newer recruits form the army, that she helped train would like pay tribute to her."

The earth king sat back in his seat at the head of the table, as the main doors to the dinning room opened. A group of about twenty soldiers dressed in uniform entered and arranged themselves in two lines of ten. The taller ones in the back. They looked to be a around the same age as Toph and Aang, in a few cases older.

A soft flute tone filled the room, as two of the soldiers began to play. While the rest began to sign.

Before I got to fighting,

or when fighting got to me, I

looked to find examples on the filed of chivalry

I saw might arms much stronger

than my arms would ever by ever by

and I thought perhaps the filed was not for me

The music gained seep and the voice louder. The large room was filled from the floor to the celling with the voices and music of this group of twenty.

but I stayed and watched the fighting,

till one figure stood apart

in armour nearly fashioned

and a helm more pot than art

but each blow was thrown with honour

and a lightness of the heart,

so I took that step that soon became a start.

Those that didn't have their eyes set of the soldiers signing, were watching Toph for her reaction. Aang was one of them. Since her name had been spoken by the earth king he hadn't taken his eyes off her, except when the soldiers had entered. She looked like she as holding back, fighting an emotion from crossing her face. He just didn't know what emotion it was she was fighting, happiness or sadness.

Cause she was not the biggest fighter,

nor one to raise a fuss

but I remember being proud that she was one of us

This brought a smile to his face. His most clear image of her fight on the day of black sun was of her bending with the hippo and the boulder and just how much smaller she was than them. the part about a fuss was also funny. She was the most destructive person he had ever known, if she was fighting you would know about it, Mainly because of the damage she caused.

and we might never stand together

in the shield-wall side by side

but because of her I lift my sward with pride

It was clear to see the real pride in the faces of the men signing. Aang could see it in Toph's face too. She was proud of them. Not for singing, but just for being themselves and surviving her training. A nagging thought came to his mind, as Toph gave a faint smile to the soldiers. Was she this proud, or even proud at all of him. Her first student.

she was ladylike and lively

not the type you would expect

with a braver heart then many

and a slot-shot to respect

This was the part about from being small in statute that fit the image of Toph the best. She was a lady, but as the king had said more. This lady was now once again trying to be eaten up by the floor made of her element. Most of the eyes in the room were now on her. She could feel then boring into her. Aang saw her squirming a little under their gaze. So did Lord Toro, who placed a hand on her bare shoulder, but only for a second.

I guess she'd once decided

this was where she'd like to be

and I thought if she could do it

why not me

Despite the feeling of sympathy for Toph, Aang couldn't help but smirk a little at this. Making up her mind and just going along with it was defiantly Toph.

Cause she was not the biggest fighter,

nor one to raise a fuss

but I remember being proud that she was one of us

and we might never stand together

in the shield-wall side by side

but because of her I lift my sward with pride

so now as I gather armour

bits and pieces here and there

i think about examples:

how you act, and what you dare

cause never know whos watching,

or how far the story goes

and where err that lady is

I hope she knows

The music and words of the song seemed to Aang to sound older than they should. It was like this song had been around for hundreds of years, as long as the avatar its self. His mind wondered to thought of the future. What would the stories, legends of the war say about them all. He know with some guilt what they would say about himself. What they would say about his friends, he wished he would be able to know. He knew they would be of the highest praise.

Cause she was not the biggest fighter,

nor one to raise a fuss

but I remember being proud that she was one of us

and we might never stand together

in the shield-wall side by side

but because of her I lift my sward with pride

and we might never stand together

in the shield-wall side by side

but because of her I lift my sward with pride

The music went on for a few seconds after the singing ended. All eyes where still on Toph, waiting for her to say or do something. She didn't keep then waiting long or disappoint. Using the table to help pull her up, she got to her feet. "Thank you." She was looking right at the soldiers. If anyone looked close enough at her they would see a faint tear build up in her right eye. "That is the best birthday present I have ever had. And its not really my birthday. It was my birthday a few days ago." Her eyes darting around. Aang noticed this as a sign of her discomfort. "I am proud to be one of you. One of a group of people, a nation that fights for what is right, no matter the cast or who its against." He couldn't help but feel that last part was meant for him, but he didn't know why. "I'm proud of you all." This was directed right to the soldiers, with an added genuine smile. The smile shone throw the slight pain in her eyes.

She sat back down, her hands resting on the table. As the eyes of the room fell from her and the soldiers left, Lord Toro took her hand in his, gave it a soft squeeze before quickly letting it go. The last course, desert was brought out soon after and quickly taken away. The guests then made their way back into the main hall, where the table of wine had be replenished. Aang made for the table picking up a glass he drank in one quick gulp. Things had never made much sense to him since he got here, but they where even less clear now. He felt like he was in a different world. Where everything was the opposite.

"Aren't you going to wish me a late happy birthday." Aang had moved to hide behind the column like he had done earlier. Like before he was interrupted by a female voice. This time though he knew who's voice it was. "If your waiting for the polite time to slip away, I think your fine." She was talking about the gathering after the banquet, but he hoped she was talking about slipping away from this conversation.

"Happy birthday." He spoke in a low voice, gave her a nod of the head before walking away. He was out of the main hall and about to start walking up the stares to the upped floor when he heard her calling his name in a low voice. He knew if there weren't about fifty people close by she would be yelling his name angrily. With a loud sigh he turned to face her.

"What is your problem. Is this because I didn't speak to you before, because I walked past you." As the spoke she concentrated on Aang. On any changes to his heart rate any sign of what was going on. "Are you jealous."

"NO." He quickly lowered his head as a few guest close to the door heard him yelling. With a slightly red face he turned and walked up the stares. Toph was not one to be got rid of that essay and she followed him.

"You are, aren't you."

He was now at the top of the stares she was a few steps behind. He quickly turned round with such speed Toph took a step back in case he lashed out at her. "I'm not jealous. I just thought you were dif..." he gave up and kept walking away. He turned onto the corridor that would lead him to his room. He heard her footsteps coming behind him, he also could hear one of the maids shoes clanking on the stone floor as she walked in their direction. When he turned into the last corner he would see her. Before he was able to turn the corridor, he felt Toph speed up behind him, she reached him took hold of his wrist and pulled him into an alcove in the wall. The maid walked past a few seconds later and didn't see them.

"Finish what you were saying." Her voice wasn't raise but is was filled with an natural authority. His eyes raise from the floor was he fully turned to face her meting hers.

"Did you hear the song they sang."

"Yes of course. I'm blind not deaf." She hadn't meant to snap at him, it just came out. She was getting very close to losing her temper.

Aang made himself look her in the eyes while he spoke. Though didn't see how it mattered. "The lady in the song, was meant to be like you, but...the lady I see in-front of me is nothing like the one in the song."

Her face kept changing. She went from anger to sadness in the space of a split second. Her face finally rested on one reaction. It was the one he had never wanted to see on her or anyone else again, hurt. "what are you talk..."

"The man you were talking to...he likes you Toph. He broke of his engagement for you. You don't like him, I know that. You were just using him. You were just like all the stuck up spoilt lady's you hate and said you would never be like, except you are worse. You know better."

He moved to walk away. He regraded saying so much, but maybe she need to here it. He was stopped from leaving by a hand wrapped around his wrist. "That man was lord Toro. If you had paid any attention to what you were meant to be reading today, then you would know he is the lord that took over from Lord Hong. Who's emerald we are looking form. I was trying to get information from him." the whole time she had been talking her grip on Aang's wrist was gettimg tighter. "How he feels about me is nothing to do with me, that is his business. Do you think Katara is as bad as those lady's you talked about, that just use you...case she knew you liked her and..."

"Shut up." Even after all this time Katara was still a sore subject for him. She knew this and hated that she had used such a low blow. "That was a low blow, Toph. Really low."

She let his arm go, throwing it away like it was rubbish. "So was what you said."

"I know. I..."

"I can't believe you thought that that was what I was doing. Using him because he liked me, so I would have someone...to what flirt with." Shaking her head in disbelief she stepped out of the alcove and started to walk away.

Aang spun round after her. "Toph, I'm sor..."

"Just leave me along. From tomorrow I guess we will have to spend the foreseeable future chained together. Let's just enjoy this last night of peace." She was turning round the corridor to her room as she spoke, she didn't even turn to face him. Aang turned and fell back against the wall of the alcove. He remained there in silence for few minutes. Toph's room was at the end of the corridor and his a few doors before that. He wanted to give her time to get to her room first before he turned onto the corridor to get to his.

A few hours later after the guest had gone and the moon was in the sky. Toph lay restlessly sleeping in her bed. She was lying on her back, her right hand was resting by her head. Her finger twitched as did her head. Her dream was in darkness like her waking life, but she like in life could feel a presence around her. It wasn't evil, it seemed dangerous because it was unpredictable. There was no telling what it was going to do.

All of a sudden she felt a sharp burning pain in her stomach. It was so painful she screamed at the top of her lungs and shot up in her bed. Her right hand was now placed tightly over her stomach were she felt the pain. Her berthing was laboured as she tried to control it again. She was finally getting it under-control and adjusting back into the waking world, when her door burst open.

"Toph, are you ok."

Aang moved quickly to the bed, sitting on the side and placing his hands on her shoulders. He noticed her hand over her stomach and started to worry a little more. "Are you hurt." She moved her hand from her stomach and shock her head. Her face looked whiter than normal. He didn't know if that was the faint moon light or fear. "What happened."

Toph slowly began to take in what was happening. She was now wake, not hurt and Aang was in her room hands on her shoulders, worrying about her. "I had a dream...I felt this sharp, hot pain in my stomach...like a fire dagger or...and it was so painful..."

"Its ok."

Not caring that the she may still be mad at him, or that they had just had a bad fight the last time they spoke, Aang pulled her toward him, then slipped his hands from her shoulders to met behind her back. Toph slowly lifted her arms to wrap around Aang. The feeling of another person next to her was comforting, no matter who they were. After a minute or so, Aang became aware that Toph was only wearing the slip from under her dress, her shoulder and arms were bear. As was his upper body. Toph too became aware that her hands and head were resting on Aang's bear chest. A little slower than they would have expected after such a realising, they pulled apart. Aang however retained a hold on her elbow as his hand slipped along her arm as they pulled away.

"I can sleep on the chair, if you..."

"No I'm fine." He could tell she was forcing her voice to come out as strong as it was. "like I said. This maybe the last chance we have for a good nights sleep for a while, we should make the most of it." She slipped her arms from his lose hold. Aang gave her a nod and got up to leave.

All of the anger and disappointment he had felt for her earlier had gone away the second her heard her scream. He had never really heard her scream, it scared him more than anything else had in along time. Toph too lost all of her anger with Aang. She had been more relived than she had ever expected when he burst through her door. He was a good friend. She could always count on him when she really needed him, he would come when ever she called. That was a very comforting thought.

Aang was at the door when he stopped and turned back to her. It just didn't seem right to leave her alone now. "Do you remember when we were all staying at the western air temple, and there was a rain storm that night. You couldn't sleep." Toph gave a half hearted nod. "Your tossing and turning woke me up too, so we went and sat at the edge of the temple. The rain poured down in-front of us like a waterfall." Even in the dark and after what had just happened, he could see a small frown on her face. Why did she need to know what something looked like. " You asked if as avatar there was anything I could do to stop the storm, thunder."

"You said, you could stay with me." Toph knew perfectly well what he was getting at when he brought up this story. She was grateful for this carrying, but it didn't seem right. "Its really ok. Thank you."her voice was sounder more normal, he believed her. He gave her a nod and a warm smile, that was lost on her as he left.

Toph lay back down on her bed, pulled the covers up close and clenched her eye shut. She willed herself to fall back to a dreamless sleep as soon as possible. She had never felt so scarred of sleeping since she was a child and there was a thunder storm. She cursed herself for being this childish.

I'm sorry if the song idea doesn't work. I fairness though I did ask for you view on that, and not one person reviewed or anything to say what they think. So I went ahead with it. How long it would have been before I updated if I waited for someone to review.

I know I have Toph and Aang fighting a lot. I never really mean to, it just kind of worked out like that. They are very different characters. So to right them in character they will argue a little. Don't worry though after Toph's nightmare they are friends again after the fight.

For those of you that have read the story before, then you will understand Toph's dream a little better. A little foreshadowing of the next part.

The bit about the western air temple at the end. That scene had been shown from Kataras POV in part 7, and Zuko's in part I think it was part 2 or 4.

I don't know why I bother at times, but if you could review that would be great. It really dose make a difference. It helps me keep the story on track and make sure that you the readers are enjoying it.