Kahlee grinned as she pushed the covers away from her body, revealing she was still wearing her day clothes. Quietly, she placed her feet onto the wooden floor and began to tiptoe over to the front door. She was just reaching for the doorknob when a familiar voice spoke from behind her.
"Sneaking out, huh?" Toph questioned, as Kahlee turned around.
"Maybe…what are you still doing up?" Kahlee inquired, noticing the drink in Toph's hand, who was sitting at the dinner table.
"Couldn't sleep" Toph shrugged, as she took a sip of the drink, which Kahlee was sure wasn't water.
"How're you holding up?" Kahlee whispered as she walked over to the younger girl.
"I'm fine, hotstuff. Don't keep your boyfriend waiting" Toph insisted.
"You're drinking at midnight, Toph. You're definitely not fine" Kahlee retorted, crossing her arms.
"I'm just celebrating. That's what friends are supposed to do at weddings, right?" Toph scoffed.
"Not friends who have secretly been in love with the groom for years" Kahlee stated, as Toph's eyes widened.
"Agni, not so loud!" Toph hissed, her eyes looking over to Suki, who was sleeping soundly only a few metres away.
"You can't control your feelings. I mean look at me and Zuko. We've both done some almost unforgivable things and we still love each other" Kahlee pointed out.
"That's because you and Zuko were practically destined to be together" Toph stated, as Kahlee smiled.
"You're going to find someone who'll love you as you deserve, Toph. You've got your whole life to find them" Kahlee explained.
"I just feel…alone" Toph mumbled, looking down at her drink.
"Hey, you're never alone, you hear me? You have the biggest family on the planet. Team Avatar" Kahlee insisted, nudging her shoulder.
"Thanks, Kahlee" Toph smiled, sadly.
"You want to tag along?" Kahlee suggested, holding out her hand.
"Considering what I expect you and Zuko are planning to do tonight…I don't think so" Toph grimaced.
"Don't worry, we'll keep it very family-friendly" Kahlee grinned.
"Are you sure?" Toph frowned.
"Of course. I'm not going to leave my best friend drinking herself to sleep, am I?" Kahlee exclaimed as Toph's eyes widened.
"I thought Katara was your best friend…or Azula…" Toph murmured.
"Ever since the bloodbending nightmare, there's a barrier between me and Katara now. And as for Azula? We're in a good place now, better than we have been for a long time, but I don't know if we'll ever be able to go back to where we used to be. But you know what?" Kahlee questioned, as Toph shook her head.
"What?" Toph asked.
"You're the one who's had my back from day one, Toph. I trust you completely. I think that qualifies you for being my best friend, don't you?" Kahlee told her, as Toph beamed.
Kahlee quietly snuck up behind Zuko, jumping on him, and placing her hands over his eyes. He relaxed when she pressed a kiss to his cheek, as he realised who it was.
"Your late" Zuko stated, turning around and pulling her into a passionate kiss.
"I'll make it up to you" Kahlee grinned, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
"Hey, what happened to keeping it family-friendly?" Toph exclaimed as she walked up to the pair.
"Oh…Toph. Uh, what are you doing here?" Zuko inquired.
"She couldn't sleep so I said she could hang out with us. That's fine with you, right?" Kahlee queried, noticing Zuko's shoulders had slumped.
"The more the merrier…I guess" Zuko pouted.
"So, is it weird being in a place you both once attacked and now your guests at?" Toph questioned, as the pair rubbed their necks.
"Definitely. But I'm getting more used to it. I feel like the Fire Nation has made enemies of everyone at some point" Zuko explained.
"We're a little hot-headed, right hothead?" Kahlee teased, as she sat down on the docks.
"Speaking of heat, any chance of some fire action?" Toph asked, shivering lightly.
The younger girl sat in between the pair, who created matching flames that they let rest on top of their palms. They fell into a comfortable silence, the only sound around them, the flickering of the flames.
"I missed you guys" Toph admitted, as Zuko smiled.
"We missed you too" Zuko replied, as Toph punched them both in the shoulder, as they all erupted into laughter.
"You can hang out with us tomorrow if you want, Toph. A lot of the tribesmen and women still avoid us, it might make things…easier" Zuko suggested as Toph frowned.
"Make what easier?" She inquired.
"I just meant…well, tomorrow might be difficult for you. Seeing Sokka getting married to someone else" Zuko explained, as Toph's mouth hung open.
"You told him?!" Toph accused, turning to Kahlee.
"No! I swear, I didn't!" Kahlee shook her head, furiously.
"I only realised it recently. No one had to tell me" Zuko informed her.
"Is it that obvious?" Toph sighed.
"Only to someone who knows what it's like to pine after someone" Zuko stated, his gaze resting on Kahlee.
"So, what should I do?" Toph frowned.
"Be kind to yourself tomorrow. If you need to leave, just let us know" Kahlee suggested.
"And you won't tell Sokka? Or Suki?" Toph questioned, a pleading look in her eyes.
"Never" They both replied at the same time.
"It's officially my wedding day…and I'm on my hands and knees puking into the toilet" Suki grumbled, as she began retching yet again.
"Isn't it a bit late in the pregnancy to still be having morning sickness?" Azula exclaimed, from the other room.
"Are you saying I'm making this up?" Suki growled as Katara rubbed her back.
"People do anything for attention these days" Azula mumbled.
"What's that Kahlee? You want some help in preparing the feast for tonight? Of course, we'll help. Come on, Az" Ty Lee announced, as she dragged Azula to her feet, towards a confused Kahlee who clearly hadn't been speaking.
"Oh, yes. We'll need all the help we can get" Kahlee nodded when Ty Lee gave her a look.
"I'll come with you guys" Toph added, wanting to get away from the smell of sick.
"You two look exhausted" Ty Lee pointed out, noticing that Kahlee and Toph looked like they had barely slept a wink.
"Too excited to sleep" Kahlee shrugged.
"Hmm, I'm sure it had nothing to do with running off to see my brother in the night" Azula stated, as Kahlee looked away, biting her lip awkwardly.
"You can talk about him, you know. I'm not some jealous crazy ex" Azula rolled her eyes.
"Not anymore" Toph mumbled, as Azula glared at the teenager.
"It's just a bit…weird, isn't it?" Kahlee suggested.
"Don't worry, Kahlee. Ty Lee has helped me move on. She's been very…satisfying" Azula grinned, enjoying how Ty Lee blushed.
"Okay, I'm going to stop you right there!" Toph grimaced, as she barged past the girls and into the large dining hall in front of them.
Kahlee's eyes widened as she looked around the impressive looking room, the dozens of tables scattered around, not to mention the water tribes symbol that was plastered over the entire room. She beamed when she spotted a familiar face in the crowd.
"Zuko!" She called out, as his head shot up.
"Kahlee!" He exclaimed, waving over to her excitedly.
"What are you doing here?" Kahlee asked, noticing the chef's gown he was wearing.
"Hakoda has been teaching me how to cook traditional water tribe food, how could I miss the opportunity? And I knew you'd be involved with the preparation for the feast" He smirked, pressing a quick kiss to her lips.
"It stinks of fish…and wet dog" Azula announced, glaring at a tribesman standing near her.
The tribesman huffed and stormed away, as the others flushed, embarrassed by Azula's behaviour, who seemed rather proud of herself.
"Az, come on. Play nice" Ty Lee insisted, linking her arm around her girlfriend's.
"It's a larger turnout than I was expecting…I suppose there are more peasants in this tribe than I thought" Azula replied, as Ty Lee facepalmed.
Toph burst into a fit of giggles, finding that Azula's harsh comments were taking her mind off the painful day. She frowned when she felt someone tap on her shoulder and turned into their direction.
"Are you the Toph Beifong?" An excited voice questioned.
"Yeah, who wants to know?" Toph retorted as the girl in front of her began to squeal.
"Agni, I'm your biggest fan! You're a legend. Can I have your autograph?" The girl exclaimed.
"Sure…uh, where do you want me to sign?" Toph asked as the girl looked around her.
"Oh, how about my hand? My name's Feyi" The girl suggested, thrusting it in her face, a pen in her other hand.
Toph grasped the girl's hand and began to write a short message, beginning to feel smug about the attention. A crowd had started to form around the pair, as more people started to realise who Toph was.
"I'm never going to wash this hand" The girl cried, as Kahlee was pretty sure she saw tears welling in her eyes.
"Looks like Toph's found her fan club" Kahlee giggled to Zuko.
"Wow…just wow" Kahlee gaped, as she watched Suki walk into the room with her wedding dress on.
It was one of the most beautiful dresses she had ever seen. It was more like a winter coat then a dress really, with a fur lining the edges of the gown, which was a light blue colour, almost white. Her hair was up in plaits, thanks to Katara's handy work, and covered in dazzling beads. Her betrothal necklace was proudly on display, which seemed to bring tears to Katara's eyes.
"You look so beautiful" Ty Lee blubbered, as she too began crying.
"I think the water tribe peasant will be very happy to see you walking towards him" Azula offered, patting Ty Lee on the back.
"He's lucky to have you, Suki," Toph told her, a sad smile on her face.
"I'm the lucky one" Suki shook her head.
"Do you feel ready?" Katara inquired, as she helped Suki to place the fur hood over her head.
"Definitely not" Suki chuckled, nervously.
A moment later, she placed her hand on her large belly, a surprised look on her face.
"The baby just kicked" Suki beamed, in awe.
"I think someone's ready for their parents to get hitched" Kahlee grinned.
"I can't breathe. I think I'm dying!" Sokka hyperventilated, as he sat down on his bed, placing his head against his knees.
"Just breathe, Sokka. It'll be over soon" Zuko told him.
"And then it's only for the rest of your life!" Aang exclaimed as the pair looked up to glare at him.
"What if I trip up? What if I choke on my words? What if she doesn't turn up?!" Sokka panicked.
"Calm down, buddy. She'll be there. The girls will drag her there if they must. And we'll drag you there too" Zuko insisted, letting out a yawn.
"Why are you so tired? I thought it was the groom who was supposed to stay up the night before his wedding?" Aang stated as Zuko looked away, with a guilty expression.
"Uh…" He trailed off, not meeting Aang's eyes.
"Did you see Kahlee?" Sokka gasped.
"Only for a little while last night and…well, this morning I bumped into her-" Zuko started, but Sokka cut him off.
"That's it! The wedding's over. There's too much bad luck surrounding us" Sokka announced, standing up.
Rolling his eyes, Aang grabbed Sokka by the shoulders, who absentmindedly realised that Aang was now as tall as him.
"Do you love Suki?" Aang questioned, shaking Sokka roughly.
"What?" Sokka frowned.
"Do you love her?!" Aang yelled, shaking him harder.
"Yes! Yes, of course, I do" Sokka replied, as he brushed Aang off him.
"Then nothing else matters. You're going to marry the girl of your dreams today. So, suck it up" Aang told him.
"You heard the Avatar. Let's go" Zuko grinned, as the boys began to pull him out of the room.
Author's Notes: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! It's nice to actually write some fluffy chapters for this story for once, barely any angst in sight, haha. Please leave a review:)
Mogor: Thanks for the review:) Suki and Sokka have always had such a wholesome relationship, I really wanted them to have their happy ending. We'll have to wait and see who gets married first out of those couples. Azula will have some exciting things happening in her own life soon!
The not so silent protagonist: I think I explained in the first few chapters that Kahlee and Zuko were both in denial about Kahlee's waterbending for a long time.
Znkp: Aw, this made me laugh, haha. Glad you're loving it so much:)