So... I did have a Zutara story, but... I kinda... deleted it (ehehe, sorry?)

To be honest, I do support Zutara, but I have found a new love: TAANG!

So I got this idea from looking at fanart and lots of daydreaming, haha (the best way to think up fanfiction ideas!)

(And as for my Flinx readers, I do assure you, I am not abandoning Flinx, I will continue to write about KF and Jinx as well... I just happen to love Avatar right now. Okay!)

Enjoy!

It was fairly obvious to say that Aang was madly in love with Katara.

After all, who wouldn't be? And (although he never mentioned it that often), being the Avatar, he did have quite a handful of girls to choose from. So it was natural he would fall in love with the beautiful, powerful waterbender.

It was painfully obvious to practically everybody, after the fall of Ozai, that he was going to propose to her, with all the festivities nearing an end. Soon, daily life began to resume for most people, except now, they did every chore and worked hard and toiled for their own purpose, not for some selfish Fire Lord.

Aang circled the world, and helped people and did his usual Avatar duty, repairing what he should have been nearly one hundred years ago. He did, however, stop into the Fire Nation every year for the usual Gaang gathering. And this year… he was prepared.

He was planning on proposing to Katara this time. He had finally settled disputes between Omashu and the Fire Nation, and hopefully, after this year's Gaang meeting, which was conveniently tomorrow, he would be able to do it with Katara by his side for the Water Tribes.

Sokka and Suki had wed, and through many arguments, tears, and whines, they lived the autumns and the winters in the South Pole, and the springs and the summers in Kyoshi Island. Suki was still the captain of the Kyoshi Warriors (leaving everything to the second-in-command when she had to go back to the South Pole), and Sokka was the city architect for both Kyoshi and the Southern Water Tribe. Last anyone heard, Suki was pregnant with... ("It's a BOY!") ("I'm telling you, lumpy-ears, it's a girl!")("Excuse me? Lumpy ears?") ("You heard me, square-head!")... uh... the two hadn't quite decided yet.

Katara had become the new ambassador for the Water Tribes to the Fire Nation, and it was rare to see her without Fire Lord Zuko lately. The two of them squabbled, fought, and argued over everything, from worldwide affairs to what should be on the menu that night. The two of them were doing… er… well, if you don't notice the scorch marks and stained tapestries throughout the palace.

Let's check in with a certain Master Earthbender, shall we?

Lao Bei Fong swept through the halls, running into his daughter's room, barking out orders. His wife ran past him, and immediately ran to her screaming daughter's bedside.

"I went the best and quickest doctor here immediately!" he roared. "Something is ailing my daughter!"

"Toph" her mother cried. "Toph, wake up!"

The 16-year-old let out several more sobs until she finally collapsed into her mother's arms, eyes slowly opening.

"Wh- Mom?" she rubbed her eyes. "What's going on?"

"Toph," her mother said softly, exchanging worried looks with Lao. "You were having the nightmare again."

"I…" Toph turned away. "Don't worry about it. Sorry I woke everyone up."

"Young lady, this has something to do with the Avatar, doesn't it?" Lao Bei Fong said sternly. "Toph, don't try to keep this a secret from us."

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," she muttered. Lady Bei Fong gave her a shocked look.

"How could you say that?" she exclaimed. "We're worried about you, Toph. Maybe it's best you don't go to the Fire Nation gathering tomorrow."

"No!" Toph yelled then sighed in aggravation. "Look, I'm fine, I really am. They're just a bunch of stupid nightmares."

"But honey," Lady Bei Fong shook her head. "It's been happening too often lately."

"Is the Avatar torturing you in those dreams?" Lord Bei Fong asked sharply. "Could they possibly be memories?"

"For the last time, Dad," Toph said wearily. "Aang did not torture me and then have me brainwashed so that I wouldn't remember it."

"But-!"

"Toph is tired," his wife interrupted him. "Perhaps it is best to let her rest."

"Yeah, I'm real tired," she yawned, stretching exaggeratedly. "It'd be nice to get in some sleep."

Lord Bei Fong took a deep breath. He would still have some getting used to with this new Toph. When she had come home after the fall of Ozai, the Bei Fongs were just so happy to see her, that they had vowed to let her have more freedom, as long as they could have their daughter. They finally managed to reach an agreement that her friends were always welcome here, and she could practice Earthbending whenever she wish, so long as in public, she gave off the impression of a true lady of noble birth, who quietly sat, and acted like the dutiful little blind girl she looked like.

Of course, it was still a shock to them when she came to dinner covered with dirt. Still, she had been happy, and they merely wanted the best for her.

It would take some getting used to, but every year, they allowed her to travel with the Avatar to the Fire Nation (on the secretly sworn affidavit by Aang that they were going to pick up Sokka and Suki on the way so that they would have some "adult supervision").

"Well… good night, Toph."

"Night!" she shouted loudly, grinning at them both, as they closed the door. As soon as she made sure the light was gone, she sighed and restlessly turned over.

"The Avatar's here!"

Lao Bei Fong looked out the window, then walked outside. The Avatar was putting his sky bison into the stables, the lemur chirruping as it flew onto the Avatar's shoulder.

"Good job, Appa," Aang smiled.

"Avatar."

Aang immediately whirled around, and bowed respectfully. "Lord Bei Fong."

"A word," he said shortly, and began to walk to his office. After much scrabbling, Aang followed suit.

"Dreams, sir?" Aang frowned. "I don't know, the spirits don't really tell me much through dreams, mainly through visions. Why?"

Lord and Lady Bei Fong looked at each other, and confirming he was being honest, Lord Bei Fong sighed.

"For the past few weeks, the Lady and I have been at our wits ends," he said in a low voice, lest Toph finish packing early and come to hear. "Our daughter has been having… strange dreams."

"We thought maybe you would know something about it," Lady Bei Fong said softly. "Do you have any knowledge of this, Avatar Aang?"

"Er, no… milady," he thought to add at the end. "I don't know how to send visions, much less through dreams."

The parents gave disappointed sighs. "Very well… enjoy your trip to the Fire Nation."

"If you would pardon me for asking," Aang said quickly, lowering his head. "Why are you telling me this?"

He was more curious than offended; he felt there was more to the story than they were telling him. The couple exchanged a glance, then the man turned to him.

"Dear!" Lady Bei Fong warningly touched his arm. "I don't think Toph would want…"

"He needs to know," Lord Bei Fong said shortly, then turned back to Aang. "We are telling you this because…"

Aang lifted his head. "Because?"

"Because every night," Lady Bei Fong said softly. "We can hear my daughter begging and screaming your name in her sleep."

"Let's hurry it up, Twinkle Toes!" Toph yelled excitedly as she tossed her luggage at him.

"Oof!" he mock-yelled as it hit him in the gut. "Good to see you haven't ch-!"

He lowered the luggage as he stared at her in shock. "Toph!"

"…yes, that's my name, last I checked," she said sarcastically, punching him in the arm. "Now stop staring, you'll become as blind as me."

He swallowed. "Wh- Have you been missing sleep?" he demanded. "You have dark circles! And you're skinny! So… So skinny…"

He blinked as he stared at her. It had only been a year… a very kind year, he decided. Apparently, Toph's body had been going through a few… changes.

Last year, she was still short, stocky, and built of pure muscle. Now she was… softer was the only way he could put it, although that hardly seemed to describe Toph.

Her hips, which had been square and flat last year were suddenly curvy and accenting her blooming body already, and…

Oh, boy, had it bloomed. It really blossomed.

As Aang mused to himself about how Air Nomad poetry had too much to do with flowers, Toph shook her head.

"You try waiting on end for the Fire Nation meeting," she threw at him. "I can't wait to make fun of everyone again. Just like old times!"

He had to admire her; she was good. If it wasn't for the Bei Fongs warning and the small glimmer in her eyes, he never would have guessed she was lying. Still, he played along.

"Yeah," he rolled his eyes. "We all look forward to a good old Toph Bei Fong bashing."

She grinned smugly. "Ha! Of course you do!"

"Let's go your royal Basherness," Aang shook his head. "We have to go pick up Sokka and Suki."

"How are Snoozles and Fan Girl doing by the way?" Toph wondered as she climbed aboard Appa.

"Last I heard, they're still arguing about what to name the baby," Aang shook his head. "Sokka keeps insisting it's a boy, Suki keeps insisting it's a girl… eh, you know, the usual."

"Goodbye, Toph!" her mother called. "Be safe!"

"Bye, Mom!" Toph waved as she leaned over the edge. "Bye, Dad!"

"Young lady!" her father called back. "Get back into that thing! And put on the seatbelt, who knows how high it could fly!"

"Over several hundred feet, Dad!" she said cheerfully. "And there are no seatbelts! Yip, yip!"

Her father's indignant yelp was drowned as Appa let out a low groan, and lifting his tail, slammed it down to begin his flight.

"Always wanted to do that," Toph said smugly to Aang's shocked but amused glance.

They had been flying for a good few hours now. Only a few more, and they could finally land on Kyoshi Island. As they flew, they talked. With Appa being familiar with the route to the large island, Aang could sit in the saddle and chat with the bored Bei Fong girl.

It was nonsensical things really, things that would have made a nobleman sniff at hearing a young Bei Fong lady laugh about with the Avatar.

But the two of them liked it that way; just laughing and goofing off about random things.

"…and before the mayor could squash it," Aang managed out through his roars of laughter. "Momo jumped in and ate it!"

"I knew you were good for something!" Toph chortled, grabbing the lemur in a friendly grasp. "C'mere, you!"

"Wow… there's been a lot of good memories," Aang finally quieted, absentmindedly stroking Momo's fur. Toph nodded in agreement.

"Yup… can't wait to relive them all with the whole group. Man, Sparky's going to go full out when he sees us coming off of Appa."

"Yeah…"

"And Sugar Queen… ha! She'll probably be bawling," Toph smirked. "Good old Sweetness for ya."

"…"

She didn't need to see or even sense to know that Aang was about to tell her something very important.

"Toph," he said hesitantly. "I…I'm planning on asking Katara to…to, you know…"

"…"

"…"

"…wash your dirty socks?"

"…marry me!" Aang said indignantly. Toph shrugged, ignoring the strange, lonely twinge deep within her stomach.

"Eh, same difference."

"Do you… Do you think she'll say yes?" he asked hesitantly. Toph shook her head.

"Why are you asking me?" she snorted. "Honestly, Twinkles, the point of proposing is to ask the girl, not…"

"The best friend?" he supplied.

Wow… that sounds…bittersweet…

"Exactly," she laid back, crossing her arms behind her head. "Besides, this is Sweetness we're talking about. She'll listen to you at least."

"That's true," Aang said quietly, and the two sat in the saddle in silence. Toph's mind however, was slightly more muddled than silent.

Sokka was with Suki… Aang was going to ask Katara to marry him… Zuko had that weird… something… with that gloomy Mai girl.

Although it was true that Toph didn't really care for relationships, if there was one thing she hated, it was being the third wheel, being…unwanted. Last thing she wanted was to be the seventh wheel.

Of course, many men had come to the Bei Fong estate to ask for her hand in marriage after the fall of Ozai, but they usually went back, limping and muttering something about the craziness of Bei Fong women.

Was this her destiny? Was she destined to be alone?

Her mind floated to Iroh's words.

Destiny can be a funny thing…

Not this time, Pops she thought sourly. Not this time.

"Uh… Toph?"

"Yeah?" she snapped her head up.

"I've been calling your name for the past minute, and you've been making weird faces," he coughed. "Uh… everything okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine," she said nonchalantly, waving a hand.

"Oh, yeah…? No tiredness? No drowsiness? No…dreams?" he asked challengingly. She glared at him.

"My father's been talking to you."

It wasn't a question. It was a statement.

"He's worried about you," he said firmly. "And so am I. What keeps happening in your dream, Toph?"

"Mind your own business, Baldy," she retorted. "My dreams stay in my head."

And as if to prove her point, she knocked her fist (her rather pale, small fist, Aang noticed for the first time) against her head.

"Come on, Toph," he wheedled. "I'm just asking as a friend. Your parents and I are worried about you."

"Just drop it, okay, Twinkle Toes?"

"Not until you tell me," Aang said swiftly. "If this is Avatar stuff, I have to know."

"Well… it's not!" she crossed her arms, but he shook his head.

"Don't lie, Toph," he said softly. "Come on… what do you keep dreaming about? Do I die or something?"

"No," she answered truthfully. "Y- You're not dead in my dreams."

"Do I…?" he swallowed. "Kill you in your dreams?"

She didn't answer.

"Toph."

She finally raised her head and asked him a question. The question chilled Aang to the very bone, as he gazed at her in horror.

"What do you know about a giant, slithering worm who has multiple faces?"

So... yeah. Um, what do you think? Should I...continue it...?