My first ATLA story! Let me know what you think!

"Uncle, I don't know what the hell I'm thinking!" Zuko moaned placing his head in his hands.

"You are doing what you have been destined to do. You are the new Fire Lord," Iroh said placing a tea cup in front of him.

"I don't know how to lead people! I wasn't even leader of the Avatar's group. Katara was always the one who kept everything on point." Zuko took a swig of his tea and then coughed. He put his head back down on the table but felt a hand rest softly on his back.

"Exactly why you'll have me to help you not screw this very fragile nation up." Katara said smirking. Iroh smiled brightly at the young woman. She was a vision in her light colored robes her hair loose around her shoulders. Zuko's head shot up.

"What?" He asked incredulously.

"Katara has decided to remain in the Fire Nation with you. As an ambassador for the Southern Water Tribe," Sokka said joining the table.

"That's my 'official' title. My real title is 'brains behind the Fire Lord's new strategies on keeping peace'" Katara laughed and even Zuko chuckled. His thoughts moved for a moment and then he lowered his voice.

"What are Aang's plans?" He queried quietly. Katara's brow furrowed momentarily and then her face became passive again.

"Aang is personally escorting Toph back to the Earth Kingdom and then he has some personal things he wants to take care of." Her voice was even but there was a tone to it that told Zuko quite clearly, butt out.

"So you're coming with me?" Zuko asked. Katara pursed her lips.

"I'm going to the fire nation." she corrected. He nodded and looked at his uncle quietly.

"I'm sure you'll make a lovely addition to the palace family Katara, it might be nice to have a women's touch around such a cold place." Katara barked out a laugh at Iroh's words.

"Azula didn't bring any feminine level headedness to the place?" Everyone laughed at the joke. Katara's smile didn't reach her eyes and died altogether when Aang entered the room.

"Toph you ready to go?" Toph rolled her misty eyes.

"Yes twinkle toes just let me say goodbye to everyone before I leave." She stood next to the powerful young boy. Her elbow flew into Aang's ribs and she coughed, "and you do too!" It was Aang's turn to roll his eyes.

"Yeah goodbye guys." And then he stormed out. Katara sighed watching his retreating figure.

"Sparky, try not to set anything on fire while I'm gone." Toph said quickly. Zuko smiled and hugged the young girl.

"Snoozles, you treat Suki over there good or you'll have me earthbending your ass to the next planet." Sokka laughed ruffled her hair. Suki kissed the top of her head.

Toph hugged the waterbender tightly in her arms. "Listen sugar queen, there's a reason you got that name. You can do this. You're capable of being a queen. I'll have one of my stupid servants send a messenger hawk and I'll be back with you as soon as I can." Toph said gruffly. Katara's eyes welled up. "Now don't start tearbending on me!" Katara let out a choked giggle. She turned away from the scene and walked out the bay doors away from everyone else. Toph still had one more person she needed to talk to.

"Keep 'em in line gramps?" Toph asked the older man. He smiled down at the young girl.

"I will try my best Miss Bei Fong, but you know the two. Water is as uncontrollable as fire." He said cryptically. "It is the earth that is stable, dependable. Air that is easily swayed." Iroh raised an eyebrow at the powerful bender. Toph sighed and blew her bangs out of her face habitually. She hugged him too and then fled all the intense emotions that were trapped back in that room. She punched Aang hard when she caught up to him.

"You ass."

"What, I said good bye. We have a lot of ground to cover, there was no need for individual goodbyes." Aang said although he didn't look at her.

"You're leaving them for the first time in almost a year. You're leaving your family for the first time in a year. You can't just tell me that you're not going to miss them all, even sparky."

"I'll see them again soon. There is to be a ball this December in honor of the winter solstice and to bring joy around the world. Six months will fly by." Aang argued but Toph could feel the lie in his body.

"Yeah sure. Whatever you say." Toph conceded and climbed on top of the sky bison.

XXXXX

"I can't believe I'm going to miss Toph!" Zuko said jokingly. The room however was solemn. Suki was wrapped in Sokka's arms whispering to him quietly but his face looked grim. His eyes were trained on his sister's back.

"What happened?" Zuko asked quietly. Sokka's blue eyes darted to him. He noted that the color was not the same as Katara's. It was darker, not as clear.

"It's Katara's story. Not mine." Sokka said lowly. His voice displayed an anger that Zuko recognized as protective.

"Let's just say no one is perfect, not even the all mighty Avatar." Suki's voice dripped with contempt and she shook her head. Zuko's head raced with all possibilities that could cause this but none that came to mind made any sense whatsoever.

"When do you guys leave for Kyoshi?" Zuko asked changing the subject. Suki's face lit up at the mention of her home.

"Soon, we just wanted to wait until…" Suki's voice trailed off and she shifted. Her eyes turned uncertainly to Sokka.

"Suki and I aren't leaving until you and my sister are on your way." Sokka said. His voice was harsh.

"My airship will be departing tomorrow at sunrise." Zuko answered.

"Then our boat will set sail tomorrow at sunset." Sokka nodded. Something passed between the two young men. Suki noted it but the conversation was dropped as the pretty waterbender reentered the room.