Standing at the edge of the Fire Nation garden, Toph felt for the first time in a very long time, like she was blind. It had been years since she had done any kind of Bending but she had memorized Bei Fong Estate a very long time ago. Long before the Avatar, before Badgermoles, before she even knew what Bending was. Her toes dangled over the edge of the low porch that would lead her to the gardens. Even without the Earth Bendign she still felt a connection with the earth. She still felt a bit antsy having been either on Appa or the hardwood floors of the Fire Nation palace for the past two days. The slippers on her feet weren't helping either.

She felt footsteps approach. She didn't even have to try to know it was Zuko coming towards her. All of them had a distinct stepping pattern that had not changed much from their days traveling together. Even being the self-assured Avatar Aang's feet still lingered for a moment in the air, as though he was afraid to take a step forward to the ground. Katara's feet barely raised all by contrast, she was pretty sure the girl would shuffle if she could. Sokka on the other hand walked with hard, clunking steps as if he felt the need to show that he was there surrounded by all the Benders. Strangely in her brief interactions Toph realized Azula walked the same way. Suki was light on her feet, even with her armor. She could barely hear Ty Lee's steps and half the time she as pretty sure that it was her hands not her feet that touched the ground. On the other hand Mai's steps were strong and firm, a launching pad for the weapons she threw.

Zuko, Zuko walked like a King, he walked like a Fire Lord. He walked like her father did. Strong, assured, firm--she could read steps like fortunetellers read palms. Zuko was a brilliant leader. Any other time in history and he would be considered one of if not the greatest leader of a nation. But she knew the rest of the nations looked on the Fire Nation with a mixture of disgust and pity. Despite Ozai not being there, despite Zuko being someone who fought for the rest of the world, despite everything the Fire Nation was viewed with mistrust.

"You okay?" Zuko asked looking at her.

"I'm fine," she said, wincing at the harsh earnestness of her voice.

"You're not a good liar Toph," he told her.

"I used to be," she muttered, thinking of the years she had kept the charade of a novice up with her parents, "used to be a lot of things," she felt the arm being offered to her, "what?" she asked looking at him.

"We may be different now but I still owe you that life-changing field trip," he said.

In spite of herself Toph smiled and reached out, taking his silk covered arm.

"So how's being the Fire Lord?" she asked as they stepped onto the garden path.

"Its different than what I thought it would be," he said. She looked over at him, "there was a lot I didn't know, not just about how to run a country but how to be a Noble at all. My father groomed Azula to be the heir practically from the moment she created her first spark."

"How did you do it then?" she asked, intrigued.

"Mai and Uncle," he replied instantly, "and a good deal of frustration on all our parts."

"You're very good at it," she said, "the Nobility thing."

"Coming from you that means something," he said, "you're more Noble than anyone I know," for a moment they lapsed into silence, "so how do you like the Fire Nation so far?"

"Its different," she said, struggling to describe the land without her vision, "I mean--" she turned her head, "are those Turtle Ducks?"

"Yes, come on," he led her over to the pond that housed them. The Turtle Ducks were asleep except for a few babies quaking. Zuko didn't know what it was about the Turtle Ducks but everyone seemed to love them. Everyone except Azula, "they're usually much louder," he offered.

"We had these back at the Bei Fong estate," she said, her voice first excited and then turning somber, "my mother used to love them."

"My mother loved them as well," he said, "we used to come here and toss bread at them," he smiled fondly, "one of them bit me once," Toph thrust out her hand and he saw a half-moon scar on her finger that he knew he bore on one of his own, "you too huh?"

"What happened to your mom?" she asked after a moment, a very odd note of hesitation in her voice. Odd because Toph was not one for hesitation.

"I don't know," Zuko said, "I tried to find her. I interrogated my father for months. But every time he gave something up, every time I got close to finding her, something would get in the way. Something back here, something out there--something always happened and by the time I was able to seek her out the trail had gone cold. My father knew someone like June because every trace of her is gone. I didn't realize it when I went to Ember Island but everything, her cloths, her things, its all gone."

"What about heirlooms?" she asked.

"None," he replied, "my mother was just my father's wife, she was never the Fire Lady."

"And your father?"

"My father's sanity is gone," he said, "that man inside the cell is not Ozai. Not anymore."

Toph said nothing. The two lingered in the building silence until Zuko, ever the diplomat spoke once more.

"How long has it been?"

"Don't."

"Toph--"

"Stop it!" Toph turned to look at him, "I'm not going to so if you just called me here for that then you should just send me home!"

"You know I wouldn't have just called you for your Bending," he said.

"Then why are you asking about it?" she demanded, her voice making it sound like Earthbending was some enemy who she could fight.

"Because I know you loved to Bend. It was a part of you."

"Yeah, well," she crossed her arms, "that part's over," she turned her face to the pond once more, "it ended a long time ago," he said nothing, " I don't know what you want from me," she looked at him, "your mother's still out there somewhere, she's still alive. She didn't die because you were out trying to save the world with your Bending!"

"Your mother didn't die because of your Bending Toph," Zuko said.

"Yes she did," Toph said, "she was so Noble and frail, she got sick a lot, especially when she was worried. When she had me she almost died. While I was running around she was back home worrying about me. She got sick because she was worried about me. She's dead because I was off playing hero with all of you!"

The weight on Toph's chest seemed to lessen as she shouted the thing that haunted her since her mother took her last breaths. She swore off Earthbending after that. Even if she was glad she helped to save the world her Bending had killed her mother. They may have acted like adults but they weren't, not then at least. Her mother had died and all Toph could do was blame herself. When she need them the most her friends hadn't been there. They had tried, tried harder than she imaged she was worth but it hadn't been enough. It wasn't just about them anymore. It was them and the world now and the world needed them too.

"You're right," Zuko said, "my mother isn't gone because of what I could do, she's gone because of what I couldn't do. And now, every time I get close to finding her--" he sighed, "every time I get close I always wonder what she would think of what I've become."

"But you--" Toph began, "you're--"

"I'm a Fire Lord who can't redeem his Nation. My great grandfather conquered the World and I can't even convince it to give us a second chance. I'm a brother who couldn't save his sister, first from her demons and then from the people who were supposed to be taking care of her," he crossed his arms, "I don't know. Part of me wonders if I knew they were drugging her and I just, I just wanted her like that."

"Zuko," Toph felt her heart ache.

"But that's not the point," he looked at her, "the point is that we can't just keep hiding because of the people we lost. We have a responsibility to the world we saved."

"I wish the world would just save itself for once," she muttered crossing her arms.

"That'd be nice," he agreed, "but I don't think it'll happen."

Toph let out a dramatic sigh and walked over to Zuko, placing a hand on his shoulder. When he opened his mouth to ask what the hell she was doing she bent her foot upwards and tugged off her slipper. Quickly turning around she did the same with her other foot.

"I'm not making any promises," she said holding her slippers in her hand.

"I'm the last person to lecture anyone on that," he said holding out his hand, "whose do you know whose changed their minds more times than me?"

"You always were rather confused," she said placing the slippers in his hand, "anywhere particular you want me to practice?"

"Yeah, sure," he said, "come on, I'll take you to a training ground. You can tear it up as much as you want," It was nearby and they got there very quickly. Toph went so fast she didn't have time to see with her feet until they hit the packed dirt of the training ground. Fire Benders had turned the surface pretty much into clay, "here you go--" her hand streaked out as she turned her eyes to him. He saw a measure of fear in them, "Toph?"

"What if--" she licked her dry lips, "what if I can't--I mean its been so long--" she looked ahead, "what if I can't do it?"

"Then you have my word, as Fire Lord, that you and June can go and find Badger Moles to re teach you," he said, his voice dramatic. Toph laughed at that, "just try it."

"Okay," she stepped onto the clay of the earth, willingly her toes experimentally, "attack me."

"Huh?"

"Just attack me," she said, "I won't be able too unless I have to," she looked at him, "attack me."

Knowing she was right but not wanting to hurt her all the same, Zuko forced himself to nod. He laid her shoes down and shifted into a Fire Bending stance. Toph remained stationary. Before he could talk himself out of it he threw out a hand, flames streaking towards the Earth Bender. As soon as she felt warmth in the air Toph's body went on automatic. Her feet shifted across the ground as her hands shot up. The Earth roared to her command, flying high up to shield her before she made a sharp motion and it streaked towards the Fire Lord. Zuko's eyes widened as he destroyed the clay that would have made a wonderful addition to his already scarred face.

Toph's eyes widened as adrenaline pounded through her. It was just as wonderful as she remembered. The hard earth under her feet, the strength of her movements, the power that she felt knowing that as long as she stood there she could stop anyone who tried to take her down. Now it was a bit stiff, like when she had to learn to walk after Katara healed her feet. But it was still there, like an old friend waiting for her to come home. She almost saw the smile on Zuko's face.

"Is that all you got?" she challenged putting her hands on her hips.

"I'm sorry," he said as she felt his weight shift, "I was distracted by the fact you're wearing a dress."

"Its okay," she said with a laugh, "i was confused for a minuet to as to whether I was fighting the Fire Lord or the Fire Lady."

Zuko's eyes widened before he grinned.

"You're going to regret that, Lady Bei Fong."

"Bring it on Sparky."

High above them Aang watched the two of them fight with a mixture of happiness and something he did not want to acknowledge. He was happy that Zuko had reached Toph, he was happy that she was once again Bending. He knew that she blamed herself for worrying her mother, for her mother's illness and eventual death. But a small, traitorous part of him wondered if she didn't blame him as well. After all, he was the reason she had gone off to save the world. The thought of Toph blaming him for something so horrible made his stomach turn over. Truthfully he wondered if he wasn't partially to blame for all that had happened. It was his responsibility to save the world, the rest of them had all been dragged into a life they never asked for.

"Hey, couldn't sleep?"

Unwillingly Aang felt his fists clench. The last thing he needed at the moment was Katara to come up to him and act all motherly. But there she was, in the corner of his eye, a whisper of blue silk and soothing words.

"Aang--"

"You don't have to do that," he cut in. He saw confusion in her face, "act all motherly," he elaborated. He saw her features fall slightly but couldn't bring himself to be concerned for her feelings, "we're not kids anymore."

"I know," she said looking down, "its an old habit," she looked up at him, "but I'm still allowed to be worried about you."

"Why?" he demanded looking over at her.

"Why?" she repeated, her voice soft and incredulous, "Aang--"

"No, seriously," he looked at her, "why should you be worried about me? I dragged you all into something you didn't have to be a part of and sure, it was great when we were out saving the world, but when it came down to it we couldn't help each other," he heard Toph laugh, "I couldn't help you all."

"Aang we know you have responsibilities--" Katara began, hating the self loathing swimming in his eyes.

"Yes, I have responsibilities. I'm the last Air Bender, the Avatar--" he glared, "and I take care of my duties but I don't want too. Every meeting, every new face--it all blends together. The world's so huge and they all expect me to have the answers and all I want to do is go back to when it was the four of us against the world--" he stopped, "sometimes it was six too. But that's not the point."

"Its okay to be frustrated," Katara said, "there were times when I hated the Southern Water Tribe for depending on me."

"Stop being so nice," Aang snapped. Katara's eyes widened, "we don't have to always understand each other now, we're different people Katara," he glared, "the sooner we stop pretending that everything is the same, the sooner we can move on with our lives."

"I'm not pretending," she said turning her gaze downwards.

"Not pretending?" he repeated with a laugh, "you just came to find me because I wasn't asleep."

"I'm allowed to still care about you!" Katara snapped, her voice loosing its nice edge. Aang opened his mouth, "just because our relationship didn't work out doesn't mean I'm not allowed to care about you. I know we have responsibilities and I know that we all put the world before each other. You're not the only one who feels like a failure because we all went our separate directions Aang!"

They continued to glare at each other as far below them Zuko and Toph continued to do their own duel. Despite sparring using Bending, Zuko and Toph's was far more good natured than the two who verbally sparred above them.