1Disclaimer: I do not own avatar the last airbender

Ch.12: I'll miss you more pt.3

The large sky bison sailed through clear the blue skies, completely at home among the clouds. Toph sat with her arms crossed, wind whipping across her face as she smelt the familiar air of her home town.

From atop Appa's head, Katara spotted the large Bei Fong estate in the distance. "Hey, We're almost there!" she called over her shoulder. A moment later, Toph could feel the saddle lurch down, as Katara prepared to land.

Toph tensed when she felt Appa touch down on solid ground. Sighing, Toph gently lifted Momo off her lap and placed him over her shoulder. "Well Momo, at least you won't drive me insane." she said, scratching the lemur behind the ear. Sighing again, Toph grabbed her pack and tossed it over the side of the bison. She then stood up and hoped over herself, her sight finally returning to her.

And the first thing she "saw", was her mother running across the courtyard to meet her. The blind earthbender in a delicate hug. "Oh my little Toph, you came back!" Poppy cried, hugging her daughter tighter. "I missed you so much, let me get a good look at you." Mrs. Bei Fong then got on her knees so she could be eye level with her daughter. She brushed some of her dark bangs out of her face. Poppy withdrew a handkerchief from her robes, and licked it, before wiping her daughters dirt caked face.

Toph immediately began to struggle, yet despite her superior strength, Poppy managed to hold onto her daughter, while trying to wipe away the healthy coating of earth on her face. "Mom, stop!" Toph said, trying to turn her face away from the hanky.

"Just a second sweetie. You have a little dirt on your–

Toph could hear Katara and Suki giggle behind, her and finally got fed up. "Mom, stop!" she said with more force, finally breaking away from her mother's grasp. "I'm fine." she said, stamping her foot. She had here less than a minute, and her mom was already babying her, and embarrassing her in front of her friends.

Poppy dusted her dainty dusted herself off as she stood up. "Alright Toph, that should be fine until your next bath." Poppy then turned to face Katara and Suki. "Thank you for bringing my daughter back." she said, bowing deeply to the two girls.

"It was our pleasure," Suki replied, bowing back to the older woman.

"Well why don't we go inside, and get out of this heat." The guards bowed as Mrs. Bei Fong walked through the courtyard toward the main house, her daughter and the two other girls in tow. Toph dragged her feet the whole way, while both the waterbender and Kyoshi warrior were in awe of the beautiful gardens of the estate, even Katara who had been seen it once before.

Once inside the living room Toph's mother took a seat on the raised platform where she normally sat, and called the servants to bring chairs for her daughter and guests. Toph took hers and sat on it backwards, resting her arms and chin on the back.

With her feet planted firmly on the ground, Toph noticed that her father was not in the room with them, and she could not detect his vibrations anywhere in the house.

Toph's mother took a sip of jasmine tea, and beamed at her daughter."I was so glad when I heard you were coming back. So how long will you be staying So what is it you wanted to tell us, your letter made it sound important."

But it was Katara who spoke first, "Actually Mrs. Bei Fong, Toph has something she needs to–

"Where's dad?" Toph said suddenly.

"Your father had to go into town to meet with his associates, but he will be back this evening. He was so excited when he learned you were coming home."

Toph nodded. "I see...Mom can I go to my room. I'm a little tired." She then yawned and stretched to prove her point.

"Oh of course Toph, you must be so exhausted. Why don't you girls go freshen up. There's a hot bath waiting for you, and I'll have the servants bring up some snacks." Then much to her chagrin, Poppy took Toph's arm like a child and led her down the hall to her room.

"You don't have to walk me to my room mom, I know the way," she said, trying to bite back the irritation.

"It's no trouble at all, dear."

Poppy didn't let go of Toph's hand until they arrived at her room, when Toph all but yanked her hand away. Toph stomped inside with Katar and Suki following. "Shall I send some attendants to help you bath Toph," she said sweetly.

"No!" Toph half screamed.

"We can handle things," Suki provided, noticed Poppy's startled expression.

"Yeah, this is usually our girl time." Katara added.

Poppy nodded in understanding, "I see, well come down when you're done."

"We will," they said in unison, giving a small bow.

"Ahh," Toph sighed, sinking into the hot tub. 'This is the life,' she thought blissfully. Don't get her wrong, dirt and mud would always be number one with her, but a nice hot soak every now and then was heaven.

Toph heard Katara's voice somewhere to her left. "Toph, why didn't you tell your mom about Aang, and why we came."

The blind girl shrugged, "You heard her sugar queen, my dad's not her now. And I don't like explaining things twice."

Katara and Suki exchanged skeptical glances.

"Are you sure?" Katara asked.

"Trust me, things are gonna–

Toph paused, and tilted her head to the side, obviously hearing something the other two couldn't. Suddenly her eye's brightened, and she jumped up. "Snacks!" she cried, and ran out of the tub and threw on a robe, before bolting out of the bathroom.

Katara was drying her hair with a green towel, when she finally emerged from the bathroom. The first thing she saw, was Toph and Momo pigging out of fancy fruit tarts, and servants carrying in their bags. Three she recognized as their own, and about ten she did not, yet she had remembered seeing them on Appa's saddle. Suki appeared next to her, and looked curiously at the many sacks.

"Say Toph?" Katara asked tentatively, "What are in all those bags?"

Toph swallowed, "Just some letters from Twinkle-toes."

The other two girls eyebrows shot up simultaneously, as they looked at Toph, then back to all the bags of what were apparently letters.

"Letters?" Katara asked.

"From Aang?" Suki added.

Toph snorted, "They're just some sissy love letters and poems."

Katara frowned, Zuko had never sent her any love poems, and from the sour look on Suki's face Sokka hadn't either.

"So Aang wrote all these?" Katara had to ask.

Toph nodded.

"So these are all the love letter's he's ever sent?" Suki queried

"No, these are just from this month," she answered, before popping another fruit tart in her mouth.

Katara and Suki exchanged looks again.

"So...can we see some?" Katara asked hopefully.

Toph grabbed a bag from the pile and pushed it behind her head for a pillow. She shrugged. "Knock yourselves out."

Both girls chose bags from the pile, and began digging inside through it's contents. Katara's hand found a neatly folded piece of paper deep with the bag, and snatched it up. Suki soon found one as well.

Katara gently unfolded the sheet, and read the first few lines. "I got a poem!" Katara announced. "...The Blind Temptress," Katara read aloud, covering her mouth with her hand, trying to hold back her giggles. "Is that supposed to be you?!" Toph scowled, and harshly stuffed another tart in her mouth.

Katara read the rest of the poem silently, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of red at every line. Katara wiped heavy tears from her eyes as she finished. "That was beautiful," she sniffed. The waterbender turned to Suki, "Let's hear yours, Suki."

The Kyoshi warrior nodded, and opened her letter. "This ones a–" Suki's eyes popped, and her eyebrows rose to her hairline. "This one a– a marriage proposal!"

Katara spat out of her tea, "What!" she exclaimed, crawling over to a stunned Suki, and the letter she held. Both girls read, their eyes wide, cheeks blushing, and mouths hanging open.

Finally, Katara managed to tear her eyes away, and rounded on the oddly calm earthbender. "Toph!" she shouted, half hysterical. "Aang asked you to marry him?"

Toph nodded. "Yup."

"But you're only twelve!"

Toph sat up, tired of all the screaming. "Don't worry Sugar Queen, that there is the only one. I beat those out of him a long time ago," she punched her palm for emphasis.

Katara turned her attention back to the letter, then back to Toph. "I'm just...surprised is all."

"What? You mean how could a straight guy write that much poetry?"

"No. I'm surprised you didn't say yes."

"What do you mean? You said it yourself, I'm only twelve."

"Yeah but," Katara blushed as she cast another glance at the letter. "It was just so...Suki, what's the word I'm looking for?"

Katara turned her attention back, and froze. Suki was clutching the letter to her chest, eyes closed, with a deep blush coloring her cheeks. "I do...I do...I do.." she murmured.

"Exactly," Katara said.

"Is it really that good?" Toph asked, raising an eyebrow.

Katara smirked, "I'll show you." She then got up and walked to the door.

"Excuse me," she called to one of the servants.

The servant girl bowed as she approached. "Yes, miss?"

"Could you gather all the female guards and servants. Toph has requested that they all come to her room. She has some poetry she wants to share."

finished at 9:51 A.M.

Hey all. Sorry it's ben six months since my last update. But with all the episodes and finale and SDCC, plus my other fic I just couldn't find time. Next chapter we'll see where Sokka is taking the guys . I promise it will be up soon.