The song in this chapter is part of "I had a dream that I could fly" by Kanzuki Karin.

Also tell me how this chapter is. These kind of chapters are one of my stumbling blocks in my writting.

Chapter 16: One Night

"How the faces of love have changed,

turning the pages.

And I have changed oh but you,

you remain ageless.

I turned around

And the water was closing all around

Like a glove

Like the love that had finally,

finally found me.

Then I knew,

in the crystalline knowledge of you.

Drove me through the mountains.

Through the crystal-like clear water fountain.

Drove me like a magnet,

To the sea."

From the song "Crystal" by Stevie Nicks

The party was in full sing by the time the girls reached it. Each one looked distinctly different then normal and some of the men had to look twice to realize who they were.

Sokka and Aang certainly did. Thought both were easy to pick out in the crowd even with their change of clothes. Simple black jackets and pants made them seem to blend in while the ponytail and blue arrow tattoos made them stick out.

"I'm shocked." Toph stated. "We've been here for a full minute and Sokka hasn't said a word."

"That's cause his jaw's on the ground." Mari stated. She kept the fact that Sokka was staring at Toph to herself.

The blind earthbender wasn't in a skirt. Her outfit was definitely a girl's though. The long 'dress' part was actually a gauzy mint green vest over a sleeveless silk blouse that continued down to Toph's ankles. It was slit in several places from the waist down along the 'skirt' to move as freely as the poofy black pants she had on. Her feet were as usual, bare. Ursa had however managed to find some folks to hold Toph down while they were cleaned. Toph's hair was left hanging straight down her back. The long bangs brushed to one side and held in place out of her face by a simple green jeweled barrette.

The look made Toph look older in Mari's opinion. It was also impossible not to notice her as a pretty girl in the outfit.

Katara giggled a bit at her brother, who seemed to be having problems with Toph's appearance as he started demanding to know who had replaced her. This earned him a jab to his arm from the now annoyed earthbender.

While she grinned as Aang started paying Sokka back in spades for the teasing him over the months as she looked about for Zuko. She'd been rather eager to know what he'd think of her but she was sad to see him no where in sight.

While everyone else was busy Mari noticed Katara's preoccupation. "Go find him." She mouthed as she quickly jumped into the fray of merciless teasing of Sokka. Her remarks made sure he'd rant and rave at her for a good hour before noticing his sister missing.

Katara didn't need to be told twice and escaped.

Zuko hated running late. It seemed as if every man, woman, and child in the village needed to talk to him. A good amount of that included teenage girls trying to flirt. Zuko didn't have any interest in them though. They seemed, young to him. Like children playing at being adults.

That wasn't even the oddest stop. Hakoda had taken that prize. While the boys had been helping Iroh set things up earlier Zuko had constantly felt someone staring at him. Every time he turned to see who it was though he would spot Hakoda talking with someone or doing something. Zuko knew the chief had to be watching him thought.

He'd actually asked Sokka about it. Wondering if perhaps he'd don't something wrong. Sokka had replied that Zuko was losing it which had resulted in another of their bickering matches.

When Hakoda had stopped Zuko he'd only asked him to deliver Katara's necklace. It had made the prince ponder that the chief hadn't given it to her already but Hakoda had replied that he'd just been to busy and had forgotten.

There was something else with this whole necklace deal, Zuko would bet his life on it.

He didn't bother stopping to ponder it when he spotted Sokka's pony tailed head in the crowd.

Aang had just left a few moments before to speak with Bumi and Kuzon. Sokka was ranting at Mari who was looking smug at that moment.

"What did she do now?" Zuko asked as he finally manage to break free of the mob.

Mari turned and smiled at Zuko who had to blink a minute. Her hair was braided and wrapped into a bun at the nap of her neck. A pair of armband added the glitter she liked so much while the simple high neck pale gray dress clung to curves. It was distinctly a more adult outfit then others but then Mari was much older.

Zuko then looked at Toph and took in her appearance. "You two look very nice." He said carefully. He had never been very sure how Toph took compliments but he knew Mari well enough that if he said she was pretty she'd tease him for hours.

Toph grinned. "Why thank you Princey. Nice to know some guys have manners."

"I have manners!" Sokka shouted.

"Such good ones to Big Ears." Mari replied sarcastically.

Zuko tried to resist but when it came to making fun of Sokka, it was like offering a child sweets for dinner. "You know those are pretty big."

Sokka pulled on his ears and glared.

"I think they look just fine." Toph stated.

"Thank you To..." Sokka stopped realizing what Toph had said. "Why must you always do that?"

Zuko grinned when Toph replied about it being her place in life to annoy Sokka. He looked about as the two argued but couldn't see Katara anywhere.

"She went to find you actually." Mari told him guessing who he was looking for.

"In this crush Katara probably wanted to find a place she could sit without tons of people everywhere." Sokka stated. "Suppose I better go find her."

Toph snorted. "I thought you were gonna be dancing with me so no other guys got ideas?" She'd been thrilled when Sokka had made the comment due to her appearance.

Sokka looked at Toph who even he had to admit looked really pretty. He mentally slapped the thought away reminding himself that Toph was practically like a sister to him. He just needed to defend her from the jerks out there. Like he did for Katara.

"I'm sure Katara will come back eventually." Sokka told Zuko.

The prince sighed. "Fine. Would you mind giving this to her when she gets back? I'm sure I'll be needed somewhere soon."

When Zuko held out Katara's necklace Sokka's eyes almost bugged out of his head. "What are you doing with that?" The warrior asked suspiciously.

Zuko blinked in confusion. "Hakoda asked me to give it back to her. What's wrong?"

Sokka stared for a moment before realizing that Zuko couldn't know what doing that meant. Hakoda had unofficially stated by giving Zuko the necklace that he approved of the firebender. Even more, that he approved of letting Zuko and Katara be a couple.

As much as Sokka hated it. His father's approval won out over his disapproval.

"You know that necklace is really important to her. I'm sure Katara would want it back as soon as possible." Sokka stated in a flat tone.

The fire prince blinked at him like he'd grown two heads. "Excuse me?"

Rolling his eyes Sokka sighed. "Go find my sister and give her the necklace back."

Zuko still thought he had to be hearing Sokka wrong, surely he was joking. The warrior's face remained as open as ever though and there was a serious resolve in it.

"Just know though, if you hurt her, I will take you apart." Sokka stated with a glare.

"If I do that, I'll let you." Zuko replied.

It took about an hour but Zuko eventually found Katara. Sokka had been right in that she'd sought refuge away from the crowds. Not liking crowds so much himself it had been ease itself to figure out where she'd go. Simply harder getting through the mob to it.

There was a small hill on the outskirts of the village. It was far enough away from the square that one could be private but close enough to see people and even hear the music playing.

Katara was sitting on a flat rock when Zuko found her. He had to stop for a moment to remember how to breathe. The pale blue silk dress she wore was looser then Mari's and seemed to flow when she stood up. While Toph's outfit had ties in the front and Mari's small buttons in the back, Katara's had a simple pair of knots at the shoulders. Her hair was pulled up into a high bun that made Zuko think of a topknot and held in place by a pair of silver hair pins.

All she needed, to Zuko's mind. Was something around her neck.

He started to wonder if his mother and Hakoda had plotted this.

Katara did her best not to fidget when Zuko stopped and stared but after a couple minutes she could help it. "Well? What do you think?" She asked.

"You look..." Zuko had to fumble for a word for a moment. "Beautiful."

Katara blushed feeling a little thrill at having caused Zuko to be tongue tied from simply dressing up.

"Um...here. Your dad wanted me to get this back to you." Zuko said suddenly remember his main reason for finding her.

Katara blinked a bit at her necklace. She certainly knew what it meant and almost cheered. Instead she simply turned around so Zuko could tie it around her neck.

He did it very carefully. As if he was worried she'd break into a million pieces from him touching her. Zuko couldn't help but be reminded of the last time he'd stood with the same necklace to her neck though. "This is certainly a step up from having you tied to a tree isn't it?"

Katara had been thinking the same thing and laughed as he grinned. Dispelling an odd tension that kept snapping between them. Neither quite knew what it was and both tip toed around it cautiously.

A sudden cheer from the village made them look down to see The Earth King practically dragging Mari onto the stage. He made a gesture obviously presenting her for something but she was shaking her head and trying to get off the stage. The crowd cheered encouragement and a couple jeers of teasing.

Finally Mari relented and nodded. Everyone quieted as she breathed deep and started to sing, using her airbending slightly to make sure it carried.

Zuko recognized the song. It was an old Fire Nation song about waiting for a loved one.

"I'll be waiting for you

In my heart you are the one

If I cannot find you

I will look up to the sun

If from where your standing

You can see the sky above

I'll be waiting for you

If you still believe in love"

"She sings beautifully." Katara said. "The song is...heart breaking."

"Reminds me of the one you sang." Zuko replied. "Both about waiting for someone you love to come home."

Katara looked at him and smiled a bit as she took his hand. "I'd wait for you."

He looked down into those eyes wondering for a moment if such a thing was even possible. He could see it though, that truth that she would wait. Even if it was a hundred years. For him.

His hands came up and framed her face. It was all the warning she got before he kissed her.

Neither needed to say a word. It seemed as if they could read the other's mind making words useless. Maybe someday they would say them to each other but right now, neither felt the need to.

Eventually they would say it.

I love you.

Toph found them the next morning. Curled up with each other on the soft grass.

She felt a moment of jealousy. While she'd had Sokka to herself most of the night he'd held back. Like he was afraid of her for some reason.

There was however more pressing problems at that moment.

She woke them gently, or as gentle as Toph was. She simply shook the earth as opposed to launching them up.

Zuko came awake faster then Katara. Years of having to snap up and be ready for action serving him still. He blinked a bit at Toph in confusion.

Toph kept her face deathly serious. "Guys you need to come to the meeting tent. We have a major problem heading our direction."