"So...What's the plan….exactly"

Suki was the first to speak. The gang had all assembled on the small veranda that joined Zuko's study to the garden. They had been going around in circles for what felt like hours, and seemed to be getting no were. It was time to get back on track. Suki was sitting next To Sokka at the small table. She had missed out on the talk yesterday, and wanted to find out what was really going on. She was sure Sokka hadn't told her everything. He had the same look in his eyes he had when he broke something and wanted to hide it from her.

Toph was sitting on the small wall that boarded the veranda, with her back to the garden. She kept her sightless gaze on the ground below her as she spoke. "Zoku. Who would you father want by his side, as he regained his power."

It was a rhetorical question, they all knew the answer, but no one said anything. Zuko who was leaning against the door in front of Toph, looked up into the sky as he said what they all knew "Azula."

"So we have to go and stop him from..."

"No!"

Katara pushed herself of the wall she was leaning on, as she interrupted her brother. "None of us are going anywhere near her." She was now standing in the centre of the veranda. All four sets of working eyes were now on her.

Lifting her head Toph was now trying to look Katara in the face. "We don't really have a choice. We have to get to her before he does."

"Who's to say he isn't with her right now. That we aren't already to late." Katara wasn't stupid, she knew what Toph was saying was true. She just didn't like the idea of anyone that she cared about being anywhere near her sister in law "You remember what happened to you the last time, don't you." She was now standing in front of Toph.

That was cheap shout, Toph remembered perfectly well what had happened the last time Azula had come into their lives. Her ribs, on the right side still hurt, when she pushed herself to hard.

"Of course I do."

Zuko stepped forward placing his hands on his wives shoulder, and pulled her back from Toph "We don't all have to go; I'm the only one that knows where she is being held. I'll go." Katara pulled away from him. She made her way to stand next to Suki, who placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Aang had been sitting on the step that lead onto the grass, his back was to everyone else. He heard all they had said, but didn't know what to say himself. Till now. "I'm going with you." He still had his back to them all as he spoke.

Toph jumped down from her set on the fence, and stood beside Aang now. "You have to go to the spirit world. Find out how to put a stop to this….. I'll go with Zuko."

At this Aang got to his feet, and spun round to face his wife. "It's to dangerous, for you to ..."

"Talking to Azula isn't going to stop any of this, it's just stopping it from getting any worse. I'll be fine. This is something I have to do." She now turned to face Zuko "It's my fault that she is the way she is now. I pushed her over the edge."

Zuko didn't like the idea of Toph being in the same room as Azula, any more than Aang did, but he understood why she had to do it. He blamed himself for what had happened to his sister. If he had been a better big brother, then he would have looked out for her. He would have seen how she was being twisted by their fathers influence. He could have helped her, at least tried to. He was to caught up in protecting himself. Thinking like this was going to do no good. She was responsible for her own actions, just like everyone else.

"What are you going to do. That is going to make risking your life worth it." Sokka now stood up to his full height. His outburst would have been freighting, it he wasn't blocked in behind the table.

"It's my fault! I just have to do this ok." Toph's head turned to face him now.

Suki took her husband's hand in her's as she got to her feet. "So. Zuko and Toph are taking Appa to see Azula. Aang is going to go to the spirit world to find out what he can. Then what are we meant to do. We're not going to stand back and do nothing." Suki had become a master at conflict resolution that is what happens when you have two sons with just over a year in age difference.

"Someone has to watch Aang when he's in the spirit world and the kids." Toph was also very good at conflict resolution that came from having to keep order amongst a bunch of earth kingdom nobles. Who could not even agree on the colour of the water on an over cast day. What did it matter grey or blue. It was all water after all.

Zuko knew Katara wasn't going to be appeased by this. Carefully he took a step towards her. "You know this is what we have to do." His hands took hers in his.

"Then I am going with you. They can watch Aang and the..."

"No! You aren't coming. I can't risk anything happening to you… not after last time." His hold on her hands now tightened.

"So it's ok for Toph to..."

"Toph is my best friend, but she's not my wife, the mother of my children...she's not you." All of her anger left her, as she kissed her husband.

Her worry of course remained. "Be careful"

They pulled apart and Zuko left the saddle Appa for the trip. Suki walked over to Katara and gently placed her arm around her should then pulled her back into the palace to check on the kids. Sokka walked on the opposite side of his sister. Placing a hand on her arm for a second. None dared to look back at the couple that still remained on the veranda.

Toph and Aang were now on their own. Toph could tell Aang wasn't happy about the plan, but also that he wouldn't do anything to try and stop her from going. He always let her do what she felt was right, even if he didn't agree with what she was doing. This caused a feeling of guilt to well up inside her. It would be easier, at least make her feel a little better if he would just yell at her.

As she walked past him, to fallow Zuko he took hold of her right hand. She had wanted to just leave without any goodbyes, but she couldn't just leave it this way. In a second she turned to face Aang, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Aang held her back, just as tightly. They pulled part, Toph's hands slid down from Aang's neck to his elbows. He moved his head closer to rest on hers. A small smile appeared on her face, for a split second, before they kissed. After they reluctantly broke the kiss, they returned to their previous position, Foreheads touching. Nether wanted to let go of the other.

"I love you." Her voice was so low, no one else could have heard it.

"Don't say it, not like that." Aang moved his head back so he could look her in the eyes. He was sure they seemed to be greener than they normally were.

"Like what." She tried to smile, but she couldn't.

"Like, it is the last time you are going to say it."

Toph took one large step backwards, pulling his hands off her waist as she did. "Zuko is waiting." She walked away. Aang could stand to watch her walk away; he turned to enter the palace.

"Be careful, twinkle toes." When he turned to look at her, she was out of sight.

Sorry it was such a short chapter. I hope that you liked it.