Toph sat on a large rock, at the top of a hill overlooking the fire nation capital. She just couldn't stay there any longer. There was just to many people all around, she felt she couldn't breath. when she was sure she could sneak out, with no one seeing her, she did. It felt like ever since the war had ended she had never had the chance to just sit and think. There was always a meeting to go to, or a village to rebuild or any other number of tasks that took up her time. It seemed like a luxury to be able to just sit still for a second and think. Out of a habit she never understood, she closed her eyes, and felt a cool breeze was over her.

The breeze seemed to pick up a little. She let out a sigh, knowing what was happening. "I was wondering when someone would come and look for me." she knew it was him before he even touched the ground. He had a sent that was unique to him, it was the smell of dried leafs and bark, like autumn "If you ask me if I'm ok then I will be forced to hurt you, understood."

"Duly noted." he pulled his glider back in as he moved to stand next to the rock she sat on. She know moved to pull her legs into her chest, making her look like a child.

"Hows Zuko." her voice was directed to her knees, but he heard her. If he knew better he would have guesses she was trying to muffle her voice.

A small smile crossed his face. "So it's ok for you to ask how someone is, but I can't ask how you are." his eyes were burning onto the top of her head. Toph could feel this and buried her head further into her crossed arms.

"Yes." feeling brave, Aang bent down to set on the rock next to Toph. She moved her legs back onto the ground. The whole of her left side was pushed right against Aang's right side. He could almost feel her heart beat, he was now a little worried about being so close to her. Luckily he had a ice barker.

Reaching into a the pocket in his robe, Aang pulled out a flask of tea. Toph seemed to be back in her own world, he had to wave the poured cup in front of her face to get her to react. He saw her head shout back a little as she became aware of the tea in front of her. "Here, drink this."

reluctantly Toph reached out to take the cup. "Did Ursa make this." she moved the cup to her nose. The look on her face was so intense Aang thought she was not just trying to smell what kind of tea it was, but also who made it. The look on her face made him almost believe she could really tell it she tried.

"Yeah, she did. Why."

"Because she makes horrible tea." as she spoke, she reached out her arm, pouring the warm tea onto the ground. Aang slowly brought the flask with the reaming tea to his lips. "I warned you." Aang was able to drink the sip of tea in his mouth, but once he got it down he too poured the tea on the ground. He turned to the earthbender next to him with a smirk on her face. "You should have listened to me."

"I'll know better next time."

"You should have known better this time." the smirk now left her face as she let out a deep breath. "So how is he."

Aang didn't know how to answer that question. The truth was he hadn't spoken to Zuko since that morning, when Toph had forced him to. Katara had never left his side since the funeral. That was enough of a sign to Aang that he was ok, Katara was good at a lot of things, but the thing she was best at was taking care of people. He spoke to Katara after dinner the other night. She had asked him How Toph was, he could tell that she was asking so she knew if she would have to take care of Toph to. He told her she was ok, that he would keep an eye on her. Like Zuko and Toph who had a understood deal that they wouldn't try and take care of each other, Aang and Katara had one that they would take care of them.

"Katara hasn't left his side." like with Aang Toph knew what that meant, that Zuko should be ok, and if he wasn't then there really wasn't much else they could do, he really would be in a bad way.

"So are you coming back to the palace soon." he knew the answer before he asked. It was clear in the look in her eye. Her pack left behind the rock was also a major clue.

"I am not going back, I have business i have to dea l with in the earth kingdom." she felt guilty, just leaving like this, but she needed time to think. Zuko was the only person she would have stayed behind to support, but he didn't need her, and he wouldn't let her even if she did stay.

Aang found himself getting to his feet, for some reason he was a little annoyed that she was just going. She was the one that thought he was a coward for leaving, she was the one that still seemed to hold a grudge against him for that, anddnow she was going the same thing. "What business can you possibly have that is more important that belong there for your friend. The per..."

"There is a shipment that is being delivered to the port at Omasha. It's plant extracts from the water tribe, it's really rare. The plant is needed to make medicine for a very strong strain of flu. Every year there are people in the earth kingdom that die from this strain of flu, because we cant treat it with strong enough medicine. i have to be there to help make the medicine, and make sure it's delivered to all the villages it's needed at. then i have to get back to my acedemy, were i have fifthy-three students to take care of. Is that important enough for you. "

the whole time she had been speaking she had kept her head turned towards the ground. There was a force in her voice, but she didn't seem to be putting as much force into it as she could have. "Let me take you." apologizing for snapping at her wasn't going to do any good. He knew that she already knew he regretted doing that, without him having to say a word. With Toph actions spoke louder then words. This was his chance, to really make it up to her. He asked her to travel with him before, and when she said no he just left. Not this time.

Toph in one quick movement got onto her feet, took one step towards Aang and kissed him on the check "No." A look of shock washed over his face. Toph had just kissed him, and said no. there was a look of conviction on her face that he hadn't seen before, so he didn't argue with her. "I used to know who I was. I had to hide it, but at lest I knew it, because I was forced to hide it. My earthbending, sneaking out all the time. That's all changed, I don't know who I am any more. I've never had time to..…"

"I know what you mean." he really did understand, and she knew it.

"i knew you would."

Toph turned back to the capital. Taking in as much detail as she could. It was then she noticed the unusual movement in the square. There was still a number of people in the square, but it was the movement of a few of them and a inanimate object that shouted out at her. In the centre of the square there was a statue of the fire lord. It should have been a statue of Zuko, but he had insisted that the statue of Iroh remain there. A new fire lord normally was appointed when the previous one had died. As Iroh was still alive when Zuko too the throne, he couldn't bring himself to have it moved. It was now finally being taking down. It was going to be taken like all the others to the grand hall of the palace, where all the other statues of the former fire lords resided. Even though she couldn't see it, Toph still turned away. Aang was right behind her, Her head hid on his right shoulder and her right hand moved up to shoulder level and took hold of of his robe

Aang was about to lift his arms up to hold her back, when she pulled away. It seemed she had a moment of weakness, where she needed to hold onto something. The look on her face when she pulled back was one of slight embarrassment. "later." once she picked up her pack she was gone. He didn't know how long it would be before he saw her again. He didn't what it to be almost another year. He wasn't going to let it be.

He had wanted to give her back her grand master bracelet since she through it at him. He noticed her bear wrist when she was holding onto his robe. He had it all planed out, every word he was going to say, but this wasn't the right time. He knew how much sometime out had helped him, He hoped it would help Toph as well. A sudden fear that she could take three years like he did came overcame him. No he was sure that wasn't going to happen, she was a faster learner than him.

Aang sat on the rock now watching the statue being taken away. It suddenly dawned on him how much he, all of them had grown up since they all first met. They had had to, they didn't really have a chose. This though,this felt like the end of childhood for good. They where adults now, They weren't the ones that had to really take the lead now. Hiding behind the older generations wasn't an option any more, they had to step up. He believed that his friends could do it, he just wasn't sure he could.

"Goodbye, we'll miss you." with that he pulled out his guilder again and took to the sky's. He was heading back to the palace. Where he was needed.

This is the last chapter, in this part of the story. I hope you liked it. I just wanted to make sure it was clear Aang was speaking to Iroh at the end not Toph.

The next part of the story is going to be the first new part that I am going to be adding in. It is going to be about Katara and Toph babysitting for Sokka and Suki's son. I have an idea of how it will go, but if anyone has any ideas for it that would be great.