And even though, there's no way in knowing where to go, promise I'm going because
I gotta get outta here
I'm stuck inside this rut that I fell into by mistake
I gotta get outta here
And I'm begging you, I'm begging you, I'm begging you to be my escape.

Chapter One

"You have to visit," Zuko said as Aang, Katara, and Sokka prepared to leave. "I won't take no for an answer."

"Whats wrong, afraid that if we don't come back you'll have to start chasing us again?" Aang laughed.

Zuko smiled at his former enemy, "Something like that."

"Where's Toph, anyway?" Katara asked. "We should be going soon."

Sokka and Aang looked at each other and shrugged. Zuko sighed. He didn't want to be the one to tell them, but he couldn't keep them waiting on someone who may never show up.

"Actually.." He started, but he was quickly interupted.

"Here!" Toph announced, coming out from behind one of the many pilars that held the roof of the walkway in place. She was dressed in red silk, courtesy of His Majesty the Fire Lord himself. Bleck. What a title.

"Finally," Sokka motioned for her to join him, now sitting ontop of Appa, even though he was the only one up there. He was growing impatient.

"Where's your bags?" Katara asked, noticing that Toph brought nothing but herself for their departure. Toph didn't have much, especially after the sandbenders had stolen Appa and sold all of their belongings, but they had been in the Fire Nation for a while, and Toph was greedy when it came to money and buying things.

"About that," Toph rubbed the back of her head and giggled nervously. "I'm not coming with you guys."

"What!?" They all yelled at once. Zuko backed up to stand next to his blind friend.

"What happened to going to see your parents?" Katara asked out of concern.

"I thought it over, and I don't really want to," she replied boredly.

"You were so excited to see your mother, though.." Katara continued. "What are you going to do? Stay here?" Katara was only joking with the last part, but Toph's silence was as much of an answer as they needed.

"I'm sure I'll see you guys soon," Toph said. "I'm just not sure what I want to do with my life yet. Seeing my parents would be great and all, but I don't want to see them hurt when I leave again." Zuko looked down at Toph. He hadn't said anything since she had showed up, too afraid to let her secret slip.

"Alright," Katara hugged her, and Sokka waved from ontop of Appa.

"Come on guys! Suki's waiting!" He called.

"Goodbye Zuko," Katara said, embracing the Fire Lord. "We'll see you soon." She then hugged Toph, who commented on how she shouldn't be so sentimental about things, and joined her brother ontop of the six-legged bison.

Aang took a minute before going up to Toph. "If you ever need anything, just send a messanger hawk. We can be back here within a day to get you," he said.

"Don't worry, Twinkle-toes, this little girl can take care of herself." She said smugly.

Once they had left, Toph turned and smiled widely at Zuko. "Looks like it's only me and you, Sparky."

"For now," Zuko said, shaking his head and walking off.

He went back to his room to clear his head. Seeing the Avatar and his friends off was the only thing he had planned for the day; he had cancelled everything else just to have some time to himself before it was time to pick the Nation up again. Before last night, he had never imagined having Toph staying at the palace, but when he had found the girl near the duck pond at almost midnight, he had gotten a little worried.

--

He had woken up a while ago, finally deciding to get out of bed and take a walk. Everything had been so stressful the last few weeks. He had never imagined the amount of responsibilty he would need to rule a Nation, not that he minded it. He felt that being Fire Lord had been his destiny all along, he just had to figure it out.

His favorite place to think was his Mother's garden. He used to go there all the time as a kid to think, or just sit and talk with Mai. Mai, who had been so wonderful to him lately.. Well, as wonderful as a person could be without showing any emotion whatsoever. He was contemplating on the idea of proposing to her, but had decided to hold off until he had the nation under control.

When he arrived, he noticed a small figure sitting at the tree next to the pond.

"What's up?" He asked, walking over to where she was sitting. Toph nodded at him for recognizition, and continued to stare out into space.

"I can't sleep," she said.

"Why's that?" He asked, sitting next to her.

"I don't know, Sparky, maybe I just slept too much and now my body's getting me back for it." She was trying to avoid the subject, but he kept pressing on.

"Somethings on your mind. That's what always happens to me, and when it does I usually come here too. You can't fool me in my own house."

Toph grunted. "I guess I am thinking of something… It's just, tomorrow I'm supposed to leave and go back home, you know?"

"You don't have to go back," Zuko said. "I know for a fact that Aang would be more than happy to have you tag along with him."

"I'm not a tag along," she snapped, getting frustrated. "I go where I please, and do what I want. Aang would practically beg me to stay with him." She was getting cocky, and she knew it, but she couldn't stand being called a tag along. She was nothing of the sort.

"I didn't mean it like that," Zuko replied, not wanting her to take anything else the wrong way. "I'm only trying to help."

"I know…" She said. "I guess I'm just nervous. I ran away with Aang because they seculded me in, I couldn't leave their sight – I wanted to see the word. Once I come home, I know they won't let me leave. I'm not a little girl anymore, and I know they're not going to understand that."

"You eventually have to see them," Zuko said. "They must be so worried about you." She moved to the side to block him out. She was Toph Bei Fong, she did as she pleased (as before stated), and if she didn't want to hear the truth, then she wouldn't hear the truth.

But Zuko wouldn't have it. He grabbed her by the wrist and turned her around, looking into her cloudy eyes. She looked so fragile; he could understand why a father wouldn't want to let her out of his sight, and he knew that once her father saw her, he never would again.

"I'm not taking it back," Zuko said. "You'll eventually have to see them. Whether it be now, or in ten years when they can't control you anymore, but until then, your welcome to stay here."

"Really?" Toph jumped up. "Seriously, Sparky? You'll let me stay?"

Zuko laughed, looking up at her, "Wouldn't have it any other way."