[a/n Yay, my second Toka Fic. Time period wise this is around the third season after the failed invasion,

Please leave a review or comment 3]

I guess you could say I got my fieldtrip with zuko after all..

The night was bright and the palace grounds were still except for the patrol of guards. Resting my hand against my cheek I let out a sigh. I was home. My hair up...Wearing that same old dress with a lotus on the front. It fit better now, tighter across my bust or well lack of one. My parents said I looked like a young lady..or at least my mother did. My dad...Father hasn't spoken a word to me. After all the trouble of capturing me. There was unbelievable frustration across my face i frowned and flopped down on my bed.

My mom..well the reunion with her was okay.. It was actually kind if nice to see her again. I cried.. It wasn't her fault.. I'm not saying she's about to let me go but she didn't have a part of the whole kidnapping thing.. The letter katara wrote for me.. Well my dad had a hawk follow behind Sokka's and just like that I was plucked when no one was around. Instead of metal It was wood this time and unlike Katara I couldn't water bend my sweat and get out. So just like that. I was defeated.

"Toph come down for dinner" I roll my eyes and continue to peer out my window, a cool breeze hitting my face. If there was one thing i really wish i could see it would probably be the sky.. There is now a rap at my door. I open it to a guard an aggravated look upon my face " Mr. Fong requests your presence at dinner" with a sort of growl upon her face Toph closes the door the guard catching it with his foot. "ughh.. Young lady Bei Fong.." I frown pushing harder onto his foot causing him to let out a sort of grunt. "Well you can tell Mister Bei Fong his daughter shall Not be joining them!" she sneered finally moving his foot from the doorway, slamming it in his face. There was no longer a knock at my door.

"Okay maybe that was a little harsh..but just randomly kidnapping someone isn't that great either" great now you're talking to yourself. Leaning back against the door and sinking to the ground Toph sat drawing swirls upon the floor when something sparked her attention. Practically running over to the window she was met with nothing. In disappointment she leaned over arms crossed hanging on the ledge chin resting among them. She sighed; if I really wanted to I could just jump out the window. But for all I know they could have scouts in balloons or some other trick up there sleeve. The whole blindness deal was actually a petty big disadvantage in retrospect. Of course I wouldn't trade away what I've learned to merely see but.. You know. Suddenly Zuko appeared perching himself on the window ceil causing me to hop back startled. But Toph's surprise quickly turned to confusion. "Zuko what are you doing..H..How did you get in here?" she whispered, pulling him inside by the collar however doing so only caused him to lose balance the two stumbling backwards. Zuko catching Toph before she hit the floor, It only made Toph realize how small she was in his arms. "Careful, I'm here to rescue you" he said in a quickened breath. I could feel my cheeks heat up. I can't believe they sent Zuko after me. Why didn't Aang come..or simply why didn't they all come? If at least Aang came then maybe we could truly explain to my parents what we we are doing and how important it is, show them how much we've learned... Turning my head away I realized i was still being held tightly against Zukos chest. "..You can let go now.." You suddenly wish you could tell whether he was blushing or not. "Oh uh..ugh right..soo.. Come on let's get out of here" He whispered letting go of me. He headed back towards the window. Toph remained in place and shook her head slowly eye's closed. "That won't work, my guards will be here to check on me. We need to wait until the last round..then we'll have till morning to be gone. " Zuko slouched slightly a bit eager to get in and out. Toph began pulling off her dress over her head. A bewildered zuko protesting. She pulled it off to revel a light green beige pair of flowy pants loose blouse and long sleeve undershirt. "What! I have clothes on!" she frowned Zuko simply blushed in the darkness. "I'm going to go tell my parents I'm retiring for the night and bring back food,that should keep them from bothering us for the rest of the night.." She simply closed the door before Zuko had a chance to reply.

He frowned slightly a bit uncomfortable in her room but once he began looking around It felt almost like an Inn or a guest room. How odd. He moved about the room his hand traveling on fine wooden frames. There was a slight sigh. The room was absolutely empty of anything personal. Now it's not exactly polite but he soon began going through her drawers finding fine cloth robes and dresses along with undergarments similar to what she had been wearing. He stopped when he found a drawer that was stuck. He frowned slightly raising a brow as he tried to find some wriggle room in the draw when finally it flew out into his lap he frowned as e found what seemed to be a bunch of rocks. "why in the world.." pausing in mid-sentence. It was a poorly shaped figure.. "..Thats right...I guess she had to earth bend in secret." eyebrows furrowing he put the rock down. It seems odd he'd tracked down the avatar and his friends for so long and even then he didn't know too much about. Well no actually he learned a bit about almost everyone personally..except for Toph. Ughh he shoved his palm into his face. No wonder she was so alarmed I was the one that came he thought silently. "How can you say that when you don't even know me! You've spent your whole life's raising someone who isn't real!" Tophs voice bellows from somewhere inside the house. You can't help but cringe slightly. shit she's coming back. Quickly slamming back the drawer Zuko shoved the current figure in his hand into his pocket.

"I'm back with food" Toph called as she opened the door a puzzled look on her face as she entered. "...why were you on my floor?" Zuko shrugged sitting back up rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "umm.." Toph frowned as she sat the food down next to him "Whatever..I don't want to know" she said, with a shrug picking up a ball of rice and plopping it in her mouth while Zuko gratefully took some food and ate in silence, Toph using her pinky as a tooth pick pausing once she noticed a now still Zuko. "Whaaattt" there was something in my teeth." Zuko paused before letting out a laugh that slowly melted into a frown. He looked at her tilted face blind pale eyes staring back..or well past him into somewhere else. " do you do that on purpose?" Toph frowned in response swallowing the food in her mouth. " Excuse me?" Zuko frowned running a hand through his hair in aggravation "Why do you always have to put up a wall? Or make a joke out of everything.." there was a silence in the air as Toph sat up straight her head tilting the other way. " Zuko what the heck are you talking about?" she said through narrowed eyes. Zuko exhaled in disbelief she was so stubborn. Ugh "you've been away from home for weeks, not to mention hiding who you are for our entire life until recently ..and you don't have anything to show for it" there was a twitch above her lip. "You know that's big talk for the banished prince." before either could truly react to what had been said Zuko pounced forward knocking over bowls of miso and rice. There was a slight moment when I thought Zuko was about to snap my neck but instead I found myself smothered in his arms. "..I know..,that's why I can't comprehend how you act" his voice was a whisper, breathe hot against my neck. I couldn't even see what he looked like and i could feel my face flushing. I turned away trying to break free from Zuko's arms but he just engulfed me tighter. "I don't want to talk about it.." the words were small and weak in my mouth. Finally Zuko loosened his grip to look toph face to face. Her pale eyes looked like glass amongst the darkness, like pale crystals. Tears springing from them. He frowned eyebrows lifted a look of sincerity spread across his face. "You don't have to always nwear a mask" .. The words hung in the air, Zuko could feel the flutter of Toph's heart in her chest like a bird in a cage. He sighed softly as Toph clung to his chest eyes closed her breathing shallow. It seems she was all tuckered out, sighing Zuko picked her up bridal style, her small body curled in towards his chest. He lay her down on the bed, it would be best she get some rest before the last round. As Zuko was about to walk away from the bed Tophs hand snaked out and gripped his tunic tightly head hidden in her pillow. " I'm tired of being alone.." there was a certain uncertainty in her voice that didn't belong. It didn't fit her voice. Zuko remained silent before climbing atop of the covers and taking Toph in his arms barring her face in his chest eyebrows furrowed as he held a hand on her head. He was about to press her on the subject but instead closed his eyes holding her close in his arms. The rest of the night would be a long one, and she..well. He put aside her emotions into the idea of stress. Petting her hair he pulled out the pin that held her black hair in a bun and closed his eyes letting his thoughts wander.

[ A/N okay so may or may not continue this, but feel free to tell me what you think]