Chapter 1 - Stay

A/N: To add on to it not following the events that followed in The Promise, Zuko's coronation hasn't happened yet. And it will not happen a day after Ozai's defeat. The story is narrated through the third-person perspectives of Toph and Zuko. Italics in the story imply thoughts and is thus in first-person. A straight solid line indicates a change in perspective, or sometimes a timeskip.
Pairings: Kataang, Sukka, initial Maiko, eventual Toko
Disclaimer: I do not own A:TLA, although I wish I did.

"Alright! All of us good to go?" Aang asked.

"Not quite," Katara answered, tossing one last baggage onto Appa. "Toph still isn't ready."

Zuko frowned. What exactly was taking her so long? Everyone was getting ready to go home and she just had put their plans on delay.

"Well, I'm sorry this headband doesn't look good on me!" Toph shouted from her room.

A silence ensued, broken only by a grunt from Appa.

Sokka scratched his chin. "Since when was she so concerned about her looks?"

"Since the mention of 'home', I would think," Katara replied, quickening her pace as she left the yard.

Zuko looked towards Aang, asking for an explanation.

"Long story," Aang smiled sheepishly. "To cut it short, she just doesn't want to go home."

Zuko fell silent, scratching his head in confusion.

"Come on, Toph. I'm sure you would want to see your parents again."

"Oh yes. I'm sure looking forward to being imprisoned again!" She said coldly, refusing to face Katara.

She felt Katara motion to gently place her hands on her shoulders. She was in half a mind to move away, but finally decided against it.

"I know you miss them, Toph. Come on," Katara soothed. "You even wrote a letter to them."

"They never replied! Hawky didn't come back after that! They didn't forgive me, they don't understand!"

"Maybe they didn't reply you cause they knew you were constantly on the move? Maybe Azula was watching them or something," Katara suggested.

"Don't make excuses for them, Sugar Queen," Toph snapped.

The hands on her shoulders tensed immediately.

"I… I'm not making excuses for them! I'm just trying to see things from their point-of-view!"

"You don't know how they're like! How could you think you could understand them?" Toph shot back.

She felt Katara's pulse quicken.

"... Maybe... Would you want to come stay with Sokka and me? At the Water tribe?" Katara suggested, her voice tight.

"You know I can't find my way on ice and water..." Toph sighed defeatedly, losing her previous burst of energy. "Sorry, Katara, just... Just give me some time."

Katara squeezed her shoulders lightly before letting go. "Don't take too long, alright?

Actually, not quite alone.

"What do you want?" Toph asked the person hiding behind the walls coldly.

"Er… Hi! … Is this a bad time?" Zuko questioned.

"No, you have completely perfect timing," Toph's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"… Oh," He scratched his head awkwardly. "I don't know your reasons, but if you don't want to return home that badly, would you care to stay over at the palace for the time-being?"

As much as Zuko knew Toph was blind, her pale green eyes were just as expressive as any normal human's. Upon hearing his generous suggestion, they brightened immediately. Zuko had found the sudden change amusing, but he held back a chuckle.

"Really?" She grinned. "I can?"

"Yeah, sure you can. Although, I'm not sure about you staying at the palace long-ter-"

"Okay! Let's go then!" Toph interrupted him, grabbing her limited baggage and dragging Zuko out of the room by the collar.

How exactly am I going to explain to Mai? … Nah, I'm sure she would be fine…

"Oh fine… As long as she doesn't interfere with the arrangements for your coronation," Mai said with a sigh.

"Don't worry, I won't!" Toph called over from the other end of the yard.

Mai shot Zuko a look before dropping the piece of bread she was holding on the ground and heading back to her room. He gave a small grumble before feeding the turtle ducks a portion of the bread slice.

"Guess it's just you and me now, huh?" He muttered to the turtle ducks.

Toph dumped herself onto the silk sheets and tested the mattress out by jumping on it continuously, much to the disdain of the chambermaid.

"M-Miss Toph! You are soiling the bed sheets!" She cried out in horror.

"Oh. I'm fine sleeping with them dirty. I'm used to it," Toph grinned, giving the mattress one last stomp before sprawling over the length of the bed. "You may leave now. Don't worry."

The chambermaid nodded uneasily before hurrying off, leaving Toph alone in her new room. She smelled the sheets. They smell so… Clean. Just like those at her home… Nevertheless, they lacked the familiar scent of her mother's prized soap.

Toph hated to admit it, but Katara was right. She did miss her parents, as much as they were so… Controlling. However, she just wasn't ready to meet them yet.

They're probably disappointed with me anyway. Toph thought bitterly, tossing a small rock towards the wall she was facing. I may have to get used to life around here, huh?

Hm… I hope they have fighting tournaments.

A/N: I'm not done watching A:TLA so some things may be incorrect or characters may be OOC. If so, please do point it out and I'll edit ASAP. This is my first fanfic so I would be really pleased if you could R&R!

Thanks! :D