Well, the first chapter was never intended to develop into a multi-chapter story, but the ideas were giving me a headache, begging to come out and create another chapter. Also, I decided to tell the story in a different way. Here's now it'll happen: the first chapter is the introduction, told in 3rd person. The other chapters will be in 1st person, taking turns between the perspectives of Zuko, Toph, and possibly other characters. Oh yeah, and I forgot to say, this story takes place a couple years after the war, so Toph is abou 15 or 16 and Zuko is about 20. The Gaang is still together, though, just not with each other as much. Well, enjoy!

Zuko

I wake up in my own bed, groggy from sleep. Immediately, the memory of last night comes to mind. How I ended up in my bed, I don't know. Maybe Toph woke up before me and used earthbending to get me there.

Or maybe it was just a dream. I hope not.

I manage to drag myself out of bed and open the door. When I do, the smell of my favorite tea meets my nose, and the sound of soft humming greets my ears. I follow the source and end up in the kitchen. Toph is in there preparing tea while humming my uncle's song. She's dressed in a simple robe, her hair still somewhat in a mess, her feet bare as usual. Suddenly, I realize that a blind girl making tea isn't the best idea. I think this means that it wasn't a dream. Toph seems to feel me coming up behind her and she turns around and smiles at me. "Morning, sparky," she says, playfully.

"Hey, Toph. You're making…tea?"

"Yeah, your uncle taught me how once. It's not too hard once you get the feel for it. He also told me that it's your favorite." She poured a cup and handed it to me. I grab the cup and take a sip. Jasmine. I took a seat at the closest table. Toph took a seat next to me and leaned back, a cup of tea in hand and her feet up on the table. She was drinking tea with one hand and picking her toes with the other.

"So…did you…like the kiss?" Damn it, I made it awkward already. I could feel myself starting to blush.

"Uhhhh…yeah…" She was blushing a little too. "It was…nice. It was…"

"Yeah?" I prodded.

"It was…my first." She was blushing intensely, looking away. It seems that she kind of forgot about her tea, as she wasn't drinking it. I looked down at my tea, watching the steam rise from it, trying to come up with something to fill up the silence.

"So, what's going on with the others?" I ask.

She took a sip of her tea. "They're all planning a reunion at Ba Sing Se. Aang is gonna take Appa around the world to get all of us. They'll be here tomorrow." She finishes picking her toes and scratches her head, then lets it fall limp to her side.

I respond with a simple "Hm". I haven't seen the Gaang together for a year and a half. It'll be great to see them all again. I lean back and finish the tea in my cup, placing it on the table in front of me. After another couple minutes of waiting in silence, I ask "Would you like to go for a walk?" I get up and offer my hand to Toph.

Even though we're both still dressed like we just woke up, which we actually did, she grabs my hand and I pull her up. "All right, princess," she says.

We walk, side by side, out the back door, immediately greeted by the sight of the beach. We walk along the shore, the water lapping at our bare feet. We walk, simply enjoying each other's company, when I feel a warm, soft hand grab mine. I look down and Toph, and I see her keep her face forward, squeezing my hand. I squeeze it back reassuringly and we continue forward.

Eventually, she lets go of my hand and holds her arm out in front of me. I stop walking while she takes a few steps forward and stops in an earthbending position. She raises her arms and a bench made of stone rises up from the sand, probably just compressed sand. Toph sits on the bench and pats the empty spot next to her. I sit down, wondering what she has planned. She grabs my hand again and leans against me. Now, I can feel myself starting to sweat a bit. I hope she doesn't notice.

She does. She smiles and says, "Don't be so nervous. I won't bite, sparky." I put my arm around her, as it seems like I should. She looks up at me with that beautiful face I love and whispers, "I really like you. A lot." She puts her hand on my cheek this time.

I lean in, reading her actions. "I really like you too." Our lips are about to meet when we hear a loud roar in the distance. We both look towards the sound and see Appa, flying in towards us. We both run at full speed to our rooms in the palace. Before going into her room, she stops me, turns me around, and kisses me on the lips. Then she turns around and runs into her room. I linger there for a moment, then remember the situation and run to my room. I change into a simple robe and exit my room, seeing that Toph has done the same. We walk out side-by-side and see that Appa has already landed, with Aang steering and nobody in the saddle. Toph is the first one to say anything.

"You're early, twinkletoes."

And that concludes the second chapter. I wanted to try for a cliffhanger ending, but chapter endings are my Achilles' heel when it comes to writing. Sorry! If I didn't end the chapter here, it would get way too long.

YAY, more than 1,000 words! I think I'm getting better :O

Well, the best thing you can do for me is write a review, and I'll be seeing you with another fanfic or chapter soon!