It was my birthday yesterday. I got SO f***ing drunk. :P

Anyway, big chapter! Air and Stone, revised.

Coming Home

"All set?" Gyatso asked.

"Yep. I'm pretty sure I've got everything." Aang zipped up his bag.

"I hope so. Because it's too late to turn back now." Gyatso drove out of the driveway. Aang looked back at the boring summer home they rented and was happy he was going home. He pulled out a thick book and began reading; he wishing the car ride was over.

Toph tried to play her XBOX, but she couldn't get into the mood. She knew Aang was coming home today, but she felt like she had been waiting forever.

Her iPod was set on shuffle, and switched to the song "Every time We Touch"…the slow version.

"Why did I download that damn song." Toph huffed, turning it machine off.

She reached into her pocket and pull out the letter he had sent her. It hadn't left her pocket since the day she got it, guarded like a golden egg. Her thumb kept running over the last to words…

…Love Aang…

…Love…

Toph felt torn. One half of her knew what she wanted, but the other half didn't want to let herself be open to those mushy feelings that she was so used to repressing.

She waited another few minutes before putting the letter back in her pocket. Then she picked up her phone and dialed Aang's house number…for the tenth time.

Ring…ring…ring…ring…CLICK. Toph gasped. 'Hi, we can't get to the phone right now…'

"Dammit!" She slammed it back down on the phone stand. "Just…calm down." She told herself, stopping her hand as it tried to grab the letter again. She sat with her arms crossed and tried to force some patience.

The clock in her room ticked…and ticked…and ticked, pushing her closer to the brink of insanity as each second passed.

Toph's knee started bouncing, she bit her nails, and, in the deepest part of her heart, she admitted…she wished Aang was there.

"Screw this! I'm going for a walk!" She said to herself, leaving her room and walking out her door without saying a word to her parents.

"Are we there yet?" Aang said, finishing the thick book in his lap.

"Another ten minutes and we'll be home."

"Great." Aang smiled.

"Is there anything you're looking forward to?" Gyatso asked.

"Um…there is one thing I'm think of doing." Aang whittled his fingers. "But…ah forget it."

"Like what?"

"It's…private. Sorry…I don't feel like talking about it." He said, thinking "I barely had the guts to tell HER, let alone Gyatso."

Trespassing, Toph jumped Aang's fence and landed in his backyard.

"BARK, BARK!"

"Jesus!" Toph's heart jumped out of her chest. "Appa! Down boy! It's me." Appa ran over to Toph and licked her hand. "Good boy, good boy. Katara drop you off already?"

Appa grunted, saying he was fed up with Katara's endless pampering and Sokka's stupid jokes.

"Where's the airhead?" Toph looked through the living room window. She didn't see anyone inside. "TWINKLE TOES!" No answer. "Great." Toph sighed and rubbed her elbows as a cool gust blew over her. Fall was on its way.

She looked down at the big white dog, who was blankly staring back at her, and patted him on his head.

"Well…see ya Appa." She didn't have any reason to stay. She re-jumped the fence and heard Appa whimper.

"I just wasted time walking." Toph complained in her head. She walked down the block, not heading anywhere…she was just trying to think. "God…why is so hard to tell someone something…so…simple!" She sighed and kept on walking. "And I call him the chicken."

Aang stared at a cloud in the sky as Gyatso drove down their block, finally home.

HONK-HONK! Gyatso beeped the car horn when he saw Toph walking away from their home. Aang looked to see what Gyatso was honking at, then sat up, excited.

"That was Toph!" He shouted.

"Yes Aang. I remember who she is. I'm not that old." Gyatso replied. "Oh good. She's coming back to out house." Aang looked back and saw Toph running after the car.

"Uh-oh." He felt it. It was a horrible feeling. His heart started beating faster and his palms got wet.

Gyatso pulled into their driveway and unlocked the car door. "Go say hi to your friend. We'll unpack later." He winked at his foster-son.

Aang gulped and nodded, nervously shaking his head.

"Alright, be cool Aang. Stay calm. Just…roll with it." He inhaled deeply and stepped out of the car.

Toph was feet away from him.

"Hey Toph. Did you miss…" Before he could finish, Toph jumped on the skinny boy.

Her arms clutched around his neck, her chin over his shoulder. Aang's mouth was nearly buried in her hair, still tied in a bun. Her feet were not touching the ground. Aang grabbed her, able to pick her up.

"Dammit, I missed you so much." She held onto him like she would die if she let go.

"I…I…" Aang felt hot with embarrassment. He started to calm down, but then Toph…

She fell back to her feet, grabbed his jacket and pulled him down towards her. She didn't look at him or even think about what she was doing.

She forced him to kiss her.

Aang's heart raced a mile a minute as Toph's gentle lips pressed against his.

He was at first scared, terrified, then he felt a surge of warmth and happiness. Taking a change, he grabbed her around her waist and kissed her back. He felt her smile. Aang's heart felt like it was going to explode, but he swore he could feel Toph's heart beating faster.

They felt the world spinning and, for once, there was no tension or confusion. There was just the two them…and that was all they wanted.

Slowly, they stopped kissing. Toph stayed in Aang's grip, but the boy didn't know what to say. Thankfully Toph said it for him.

"Well…come on." She said, still pulling his shirt. "You promised you'd hang out with me when you got home." And she tugged him down the block.

Gyatso shook his head, pretending that he didn't see them leave.

Toph grabbed Aang's thin wrist till she was sure Gyatso couldn't see them, then, swallowing her nervousness, held Aang's hand. Aang blushed, but he held her hand back.

"Wow." Aang said when he felt his heart flutter.

"Oh, don't oversell it twinkle toes." Toph said, being herself. Aang almost lost the mood, but then Toph put her head on his shoulder. Aang's heart jumped again.

"Um…where are we going?" He asked.

"Does it matter?" She asked.

"…no." Aang smiled.