PinkYellowRoses2: This was the way my brother proposed to my sister in law. I was so proud. Ursa approved of Mai and she would have told Iroh not to give it to Zuko if it was anybody else. I can almost imagine Katara's face if it had been her opening it. AWKWARD!!!

coolmac1718: Burn in hell? Such violence (I love it) Karma will bite Katara in the butt for the way she broke the bonds of sisterhood. I am kinda teering between Maang and Kataang. Dang It.

Shinobi Bender: I had to show the Maiko love. At its purest and fluffiest.

MikeJCaboose: This one doesn't have much either. I won't have any Kataang fluff until the chapter after this one and the next. Essentially part of twelve and thirteen.

my trancey inspiration: I don't normally condone hate but really betrayal is never romantic and usually the victims don't get a thought for their pain. So I'm glad, glad I tell you. Zuko is a very complicated stupid boy. He basically got comfortable and took Mai for granted. She was always by his side, same happened to Katara and Aang.

doctor anthony: I appreciate your patience. This fic is totally taken over my life.

youn2731: Yes, a flashback. I was such a bonehead. I'm glad you guys catch my goofs otherwise I'd be writting a sub par story.

HeyItsMJ: I know I'm hard on Zuko but he totally gets off scot free in almost all stories. Beg he will. Oh yes!

Magnumus: See bottom of notes. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I was so excited to post I spaced out big time.

arizony: almost epic is an awesome coment. I'm taking it and running with it. I am humbled by your praise and will strive to be worthy of it. May I call you Sifu?

I realized I forgot a sentence that would have kept everybody from being confused in the last chap. Oops!

Enjoy...

Mai uncurled her hair from its usual position. "You know if you want to talk, I'm a pretty good listener. At least that's what I've been told." Toph said casually.

The girl remained silent, her hand holding and tracing the intricate symbols of her head piece compulsively. "Reminiscing, I bet. Aang used to do it a lot after it happened." Toph mentioned.

"Toph, I don't mean to be rude…well I do sometimes." she smirked. "I don't really feel like a heart to heart."

Unpertubed Toph didn't budge from the door and Mai understood what Aang had meant when he told her that his earthbending teacher was as stubborn as her element. Seeing no way out of it, she talked. "These last few days, I've had nothing else to think about but the letter Aang sent. I wrote him but he hasn't replied. I guess I'm a bit worried."

Toph sensed that telling her even that much had been a lot for the poor girl. "He won't marry her."

Mai swallowed painfully. It sounded only a little better coming from someone else. "He won't." Mai paused not sure if she wanted to divulge her secret. "He gave me this." she beckoned Toph over but realizing her mistake quickly placed the symbol in the earthbender's hands.

Toph took her time examining it. Her fingers played over the sharp spikes and the molded crest of the royal house of the Firelord. Her snails scratched at the indentations and a new sense of respect for the older girl was evident in her tone. "He inscribed it for you. I can't tell what it says but whatever it is must mean a lot. Is that what you were dwelling on. When he gave you this?"

Mai sighed and took back the item, her own thumb rubbing over the inscription wishing to erode it and all the feelings attached to it. "All important events in my life seem to tied to parchment. Writing to Aang released a rush of memories that I've been trying to bury."

"How does he do it?" she asked quietly. "How does he stay so sweet and so caring. How when he sees them all the time." Mai cried annoyed.

"He didn't. Not at first. When he visited Sokka and I, he leveled several icebergs. He sunk the Fire Nation ship that had haunted the shores of the Water Tribe. He then bended a whole new wall to protect the city. He bended until he collapsed and he fought me until I beat him to a pulp. Sokka and I struggled to bring him here."

Toph was a bit unsure of telling her the rest but maybe it would ease Mai's pain. "When he left the last time I was to go with him but I was needed in Ba Sing Se. After he brought you here he changed...for the better."

Mai scooted back on her pallet giving the other girl some room. Once comfortable Mai picked up the story.

"Did he? I remember he told me about his plans for the temple. He would spend hours with Sokka doing detailed drawings of the lower chambers and asking my opinions about how to fix and strengthen them. We got into a fight because I thought he was using me as a substitute."

Toph squeezed her hand before replying. "He once told me that bringing you here was the best thing he could ever have done."

"We kissed. It was strange because we both had so much baggage." Mai looked away from Toph. She knew the girl would never judge her, she'd been witness to Aang's collapse. "It felt different but so warm like being at the core of a volcano but without the danger. Just the heat and steam." Mai colored at her admission.

Toph hopped onto the pallet hollering before she sat back down punching Mai hard on the shoulder, "Way to go Twinkletoes. I knew if he got out from under Sugar Queen's influence he could come into his own. I'm proud of you too. You need a little steam in your life." Toph leered wiggling her eyebrows suggestively at Mai who promptly shoved her. Toph fell off the bed laughing.

"Seriously. Zuko's not a bad guy." Mai snorted but Toph ignored her. "He's just been raised in a family of jerks. It was bound to come out at some point. It might be genetic." Toph blew her bangs out of her face and sorta grinned at her. "I just thought of something. You're the rainy cloud and Aang is the silver lining of it. That's what I'll call you, Miss Sunshine."

Toph stood very proudly at hearing Mai's snicker. "Wow. In no time you might even laugh at Sokka's jokes."

"Let's not go that far, Aang is not that good. Avatar or not there are limits to his power." Mai replied. She grew serious at the look of horror on Toph's face. "What's the matter?"

Slight vibrations shook the wall she was leaning on. Toph snapped to attention and she wheeled around running towards the fountain at the edge of their cliff home. "Stay here, I'll be right back." Toph commanded. Mai was so shocked by the sudden turn of events that she did as she was told.

"What happened is he ok? What do mean you don't know. What the heck happened." Mai could barely make out the words but she stiffened. The angry undercurrents where very evident in Toph's voice. She would have cringed if she had been the one being questioned out there.

Her ears perked up at the distinctive growl, 'That's sounds like Appa.' She inched closer to the doorway. Nearly scarring her half to death, Sokka emerged in her doorway and grabbed her arm.

"Leave your knives." he ground out. Ignoring her appalled look he quickly ran back the way he came.

Toph reappeared and for the first time, Mai felt as if Toph's eyes were really seeing her. "Miss Sunshine, prepare yourself. Aang is back but he's really sick." Mai grabbed the herbs from her bag ready to take care off her airbender. "He's not alone." Toph said.

Mai didn't care who was with him. He was sick and she had to make sure he was ok. "Sugar Queen is with him." Mai stopped so suddenly Toph smacked right into her. She clenched her fists and held back the urge to return for her weapons. She debated whether to ignore Sokka's terse instructions and getting revenge on the water witch that had hurt her.

Looking down Mai grumbled at Toph, "Release my legs, Toph. I'm heading straight to Aang. He is more important than any revenge."

Toph sighed in relief and crumbled the earth shackles she'd wrapped around Mai's ankles. With dignity that showcased their upbringing Mai lifted the hem of her robes and ran to her sick companion. "I don't need any weapons to hurt her," she muttered.

Toph heard her comment but didn't say anything, this confrontation was long overdue.