Cause only one man can save this relationship!

Iroh Returns

Instead of taking the bus, Toph walked home. It was a good two miles away, but she didn't think about that. Her priority was to avoid Aang at all costs.

He had broken her heart, even though he didn't know it. Katara stole him from her, even though she didn't know it.

Toph had gotten past blaming Aang and Katara, and now she was busy blaming herself. After all, it was a Sadie Hawkins dance and she, the tomboy who was supposed to be braver than most boys, didn't have the nerve to ask Aang out or tell him how she felt when she had the chance.

She kept kicking a small rock as she walked home, not paying attention to where she was going.

"This sucks!" She said, forcing herself not to break down in public. "Lucky rock. You don't feel anything." She envied the lifeless stone for a moment. Then she got angry at it (not having anyone else to get angry at). "Dammit Aang!" She kicked the rock hard and it flew over a bush, into someone's backyard.

"OW!" Someone shouted from the other side of the bushes.

"Oh no. Now what?" Toph asked herself. She ran over to the bush. "I'm sorry!" She shouted.

"That hurt." A familiar old voice said to her. Toph hesitated, but looked over the bushes.

There, sitting crossed legged and rubbing the small mark on the top of his head, was the fat old man who had given her such wonderful advice before. He was resting next to a small coy pond and here were some incense burning in a pot near the rippling water.

"Iroh?" Toph said, surprised.

"Ms. Bei Fong." Forgetting of the bump on the top of his head, Iroh smiled at her, as warmly as he did the day they met. "It is good to see you again." He pushed himself onto his feet, struggling, and then bowed to her. "Oh, I'm sorry." He said, remembering westerners did not bow.

"What are you doing here?"

"I live here." Iroh waved his hand over the backyard he had cultivated himself. There was a small garden in one corner, half flowers, half vegetables. The koi pond next to him had a pair of fish swimming in the waves, one black and the other white. Toph swore she heard birds tweeting somewhere. There was a sense of peace in the garden, like it was a makeshift Eden.

"Here?" Toph asked. "You live here?" She looked back at the school, which was only a few blocks away and still in plain view.

"Yes. I used to be a teacher at that very school, you see. I retired a few years ago. I think that you are a bit young to have been my student." He kept smiling while Toph kept frowning. "You seem troubled." Iroh knew.

"What makes you say that?"

"The last time I saw you, you were mad and upset. After we talked, you had this glow in your eyes and your smile was so beautiful that I swore that the sun was shining brighter." Toph felt warm inside. She would have given anything for Aang to say something like that to her. "But now, I do not see that magical glow. You must be troubled again."

Toph sighed and looked down at the ground.

TING! A timer went off.

"OH! My tea is done!" Iroh rubbed his hands together. "Would you like some, Ms. Bei Fong?"

"You…can call me Toph." She tried to grin.

The tea poured out of the pot gracefully. The way Iroh brewed it, mixed it, the way he poured it was like an art all itself. Toph failed to fully understand it, being a third generation and all, but she still knew that there was something special there.

Iroh poured four cups of tea while Toph told him her story. One cup for Toph (which she never finished), and three cups for Iroh, who listened diligently as the young girl explained her difficult problem.

She, of course, used different names, except her own. Iroh smiled very casually, as graceful as the tea he poured. His smirk widened ever so slightly whenever Toph got mad or when she described a problem like there was no solution to it. The whole time, he sipped from his cup, savoring the flavor slowly.

"So that's it." Toph exhaled when she had finished. The sun was already setting by the time she was done. "Now I don't have any friends and A-…uh, Jake is probably asking…Brittany out right now."

"I see." Thirsty still, Iroh poured himself a fourth cup.

Toph watched him and waited for him to say something, but he did not. She waited more, but he remained silent.

"Well?" Toph blurted out as he took another sip of tea.

"Yes?"

"What do you think I should do?"

"Oh. You want advice." Iroh put his cup down and chuckled. "I am sorry. Sometimes hearing someone's problems is all anyone really wants."

"Yeah, well I don't want a therapist. I want Mr. Fix-it. Sir." Toph tried not to be rude.

"When I was a boy, me and my brother would fight all the time. Our father never settled things between us, so we usually had to fight each other. One day, we had an argument and I went to my master for advice on what to do. I told him my problem and he listened carefully. Now, he was a very wise man. When I was done speaking, he said 'My student, do not come to me with problems. Come to me with solutions, and I will help you in any way I can'. Young lady…Toph…if you have a problem, you must have a solution in mind. Otherwise, we can't go any further."

Toph suppressed her awe and continued.

"I want…!" She blurted out loudly. "…I don't know what I want." She covered her forehead with her palm. Her bangs fell over he knuckles.

Iroh leaned forward and whispered to her, "Yes you do."

Eyes full of stress, Toph looked at Iroh.

"I…" She couldn't say it.

"Come now. I am not going to judge you, or make jokes."

"…I…I want him to like me. More than just a friend would. I want him to treat me like…" Toph sighed. She was red and looked angry, like she hated admitting such personal things.

But Iroh only smiled at her.

"Young lady, you would be amazed if you knew how many people went through what you are going through right now."

"I don't care about other people! I need help."

"I know. But there is really nothing I can do. This is something that you must solve. Tell me, after feeling all of these emotions, after realizing what you wanted, did you ever tell this boy how you felt?"

Toph rubbed her elbow. "…no." She whispered.

"And why not?"

"Because…because I was afraid." Toph blushed again and felt angry. "I didn't think he'd like me back."

"The only poison deadlier than doubt is regret." Iroh boldly stated. "I understand that you are afraid. Fear is a very common emotion. But you cannot let fear stop you. If you do nothing, you will see someone else walking away with the happiness you wanted."

Toph inhaled and exhaled deeply. Then nodded quickly, not looking at the old man.

"I think you need to tell him how you feel…before it is too late." Iroh smiled again.

Toph kept nodding. "Thanks Iroh." She stood up. "You're…a very special man."

"No. I'm just a man." Iroh lifted his cup and tilted it towards Toph.

"I have to leave. But thank you so much."

"My pleasure." Iroh finished his tea, not seeing Toph jumped over his bushes. "Kids these days." He said, thinking of how lost his nephew was as well.

Toph felt renewed from Iroh's words. Even though she was still very scared, she swore to herself "I'm going to tell Aang…

…tomorrow." She sighed, nervous again.