Chapter Nine

A/N: Ok gang, sorry for the delay. Real life happened for a few days. Big thanks to all of you for reading, commenting, favouriting, watching, etc. I love you all. ^^ As always I don't own ATLA, it is the property of Bryke and Nickelodeon.

Zuko paced restlessly in the courtyard, his breath coming in clouds of steam. Servants stood by with robes and hot drinks, but he was too distracted to mind the chill.

Any minute now, the love of his life was going to appear.

Her letter had been rather cryptic. She was coming home, that meant she said yes right? But she hadn't said yes, only that she was coming home. Uncle had tried to soothe his uncertainty, even promising to fly back with them to visit and provide moral support.

Aang had sent advance warning when they crossed into the Fire Nation, letting him know that they would arrive that afternoon. Zuko had been pacing in the courtyard for two hours, waiting.

There was a shout as someone caught sight of them and he whirled around. There they were! Still small but growing larger as they neared. It seemed like a hundred years before they landed and he rushed over towards Appa the minute the bison touched the ground.

"Hi!" Aang called out, but Zuko was already climbing Appa to help Toph disembark.

Spirits, she was even lovelier than before!

"Welcome back Melon." He said softly, taking her hand.

"I missed you Sparky." She answered just as quietly, before punching his arm.

He helped her carefully off of Appa's back and then hugged her tight. She returned the embrace, squeezing him so hard he thought she'd crack his spine, but he didn't mind. He stroked her hair and kissed her on the forehead over and over. He noticed that she had grown again, her head now reaching his shoulder.

Finally, they separated, but kept their arms around each other as they all walked in out of the cold, not willing to part again so soon. Leaving the servants to make sure Aang and Iroh were looked after, Zuko steered them towards his rooms. He had to know, he couldn't wait any longer.

They arrived and Zuko politely but firmly told his steward to go away. Then he turned to her and kissed her deeply, before placing his hands on her shoulders so he could look at her face.

"You didn't answer my question, Melon." He said seriously.

She punched him in the arm again, "You dummy, who proposes in a postscript?"

He panicked. "Does that mean you won't?"

"It means I want a proper proposal, silly."

"Oh." He relaxed a bit and then knelt before her, holding her hand. "Toph Bei Fong, I love you more than anything. I know that being Fire Lady may not be what you wanted, but I think you'd be wonderful at it, and more than that, you are the one I want to spend my life with. Together we are unstoppable, there isn't anything I can't do if you're with me… please marry me?"

She smiled, leaning forward to kiss him. "Ok Sparky."

His face lit up and with a whoop of joy, he picked her up and spun her around, both of them giggling like schoolchildren. Then his lips found hers again and for a moment there was only them. They pulled away after a few minutes and Zuko set her down, reaching over to ring for his steward. Shortly, the man arrived.

"Send for my uncle at once!" Ordered Zuko, unable to suppress his grin.

"Of course My Lord." The servant disappeared just as quickly as he had come.

Toph's hand slipped into his and he turned towards her again. "Thank you Toph. I can't say how happy you've made me."

She flushed with happiness but tried to brush it off. "Well, I figured that since I'm so awesome, you probably couldn't live without me. Somebody has to kick your butt."

He grinned at her. "That's right. And I look forward to every minute of it."

There was a knock and Iroh entered, Aang trailing along behind looking happy. "Where's the fire Nephew, if you'll pardon the pun."

Zuko grinned. "I don't know about fire Uncle, but there's about to be a lot of celebratory fireworks."

Epilogue

Toph and Zuko lay in bed, cuddling and catching their breath. The room was filled with the scents of burning pine and roasting meats that permeated the whole palace. This would be their fifth Midwinter's Day together and the gang would be arriving shortly to celebrate for a few days, a sort of family reunion.

A growing family at that. Besides their own two-year-old daughter, Aki, there would be Aang and Katara's eight-month-old son, Hyun, and Sokka and Suki's three-year-old twin boys Kesuk and Radna. It would be a busy time and Uncle had volunteered to babysit. Aki loved her "Gampy" as she called him, and he adored spoiling his little tomboy princess.

For now, though it was just the two of them, Toph curled with her head on Zuko's shoulder, or rather, the three of them. Zuko caressed his wife's belly where another baby bump was just beginning to show. Smiling lazily, Toph trailed her hands down his stomach, feeling his heartbeat speed up as always when she touched him. His fingers slid down her arms as she leaned in to kiss him deeply.

She let her hands slide even farther down and he shivered in pleasure.

"Again?" He asked, tone playful, kissing her on the nose.

Her smile widened into her trademark grin. "There's still time before the others get here."

"I didn't think you'd want to go another round." He said, echoing his words from years before.

She smirked. "You don't know me at all, do you Sparky?"

-End-

A/N: Well gang, this is the end for now, but don't worry! I have lots of drabbles and one-shots planned to slot into some of the time skips etc.

I've already started on a sort of three chapter add-on thinger but The Spirit of Writing has been forcing me to concentrate on a different story (non-fanfic) that I've had going for a little while. I'll try to update with both quality and quantity for you, my lovely and adored readers, but please bear with me if I can't deliver as often as you'd like.

I love you all, big thanks again and I'll see you soon! xoxo Kerriss