They had walked all of a hundred metres from the theatre where they just watched the Ember Island Players, when Katara decided they all needed cheering up. The performance was terrible, diminishing the confidence of all. It finished earlier than expected, though it felt like it had dragged on and on. Everyone was reluctant to do anything other than go home, but it was not worth the pout or the speech that was sure to ensue from Katara if they refused. "What are we going to do at this time of night?" Zuko only wanted to forget about his demise portrayed in the play, any distraction was welcome. Though his mind had changed as soon as he spoke out.

"I do not know yet, but something will come up!" She tried to be cheery.

Suddenly Sokka's face lit up, smiling hugely and tugging on Suki's shirt, muttering inaudibly from excitement, his finger jabbed in the direct of a faint light located over a hill. When he finally got his words out, all he repeated, while jumping up and down was, "The festival! The festival! Festival, festival! Come, come!"

"A Fire Nation festival? I think I have had enough of these people for one day." Toph grumbled. "No offence." She directed at Zuko, standing alongside her. He just smiled half-heartedly, not taking offence.

"Sokka only wants to go see the festival because they have food and some moon thing," She grumbled, but Sokka was gone chatting excitedly with Aang as they almost skipped towards the village centre. "We saw people setting it up when we found the poster for the play. He was saying that we wanted to go, I suppose we don't have a choice now."

"It is hard for him, he feels it is his fault." Referring to Yue, "Come on, you shouldn't let it bother you. Wait up!" Katara shouted, her and Suki chasing after Sokka and Aang. Toph moved quickly after them, only pausing when she noted Zuko had not pursued, she turned back and called, "Well, are you coming?" nothing, he hadn't moved, she could tell that much. "Don't tell me you are sulking about the play, it is not real." She smirked, trying to make him feel better about it.

"You run along with the others, I need a moment." Zuko called, intending to head home and sulk. Toph rolled her pale eyes and trotted back to him, she was not one to let people have their own way. "I just told you to go, why-"

"Because, you cannot just boss me around! Who do you think I am? Sokka? Ha!" She laughed, it only took a few sharp words from Toph, and Sokka would do anything from cleaning her feet or recooking her a fresh meal.

Zuko sighed, he appreciated that she stayed, but also wished she hadn't. "Sometimes, I forget you are blind," he mumbled, suddenly noting how she came from approximately fifty metres away from him and was within a metre of him now, without tripping on the slightly uneven ground, " it is pretty remarkable."

"Yeah well, it gives me an advantage when it comes to earth bending. Not so much with attacks from the air." She looked up, seeing nothing. "Ah well, no one is perfect. Well, I am damn close, but whatever." She beamed at him, waiting for a laugh or groan or anything.

Silence.

Zuko looked at her, grinning weirdly at him. She was cute, and knowingly persuasive, he sighed, there was no way he was getting alone time. "Come on, we might as well go to the festival." he said to her, subconsciously taking her hand in his.

Toph's eyes widen at the unexpected touch, but did not pull her hand from his. Zuko had also come to realise that they were holding hands, he couldn't even remember how it had happened. He convinced himself it was not romantic, friendly, comforting maybe.

They walked for a while, towards the village, joyful screams, cheering, laughter and music could be heard from where they were. Their senses were indulged as they walked into the centre of the village: music, bells and flapping of flags, the smell of spicy foods and exotic teas, they could taste the spicy fragrances. Zuko's sight was treated to hundreds upon thousands on candles and lights, illuminating the entire village square. The vibrations caused by so many people allowed Toph to understand what was around her, it would have even wonderful to see.

It was then Zuko decided, maybe he should drop her hand, people might look down on them, she is so young. "No, don't." she said to him, grabbing his hand, crowded places were tricky, so many people, so much to see. Toph could have found her way with concentration, but following only one person's vibrations in an area filled to the brim was inconvenient. Zuko misunderstood her for a second and smiled down at her. Toph had only meant him as a guide, but after a while, it was nice having his large hand wrapped around hers. Besides her cheeks, it was the warmest part of her body.

While still holding hands, Zuko lead her to a booth that had hundreds of trinkets, browsing, he talked softly to Toph about various things, she was high born like him, so he tried to find things they had in common or just more information on the secretive earth bender: "Favourite play?", "Favourite food?", "Most prized memory?", "First crush?", "Any pets?". Making her laugh and punch him, she blushed at the mention of romantance. Zuko assumed Sokka, but she spoke out saying there was currently no one. Perhaps because Suki is here, she may not like him anymore.

They were enjoying each other's company as they moved from store to store. It took a good hour, but they finally found Sokka, Toph heard him as Zuko spotted him. He was yelling at the store owner while the rest were trying to hide their laughter. They saw Zuko hand-in-hand with Toph, he trod quickly in front of her to make it appear he was leading her. What and how they felt was private, and neither wanted anyone to unintentionally stir anything up.

Apparently Sokka had lost a game, again. And was trying to convince the store owner that buy two, get one free should be his policy. Eventually, Sokka was dragged away by Suki and Katara towards a meat stand. Toph had released Zuko's hand and was chatting happily to Aang, he was standing and listening to their banter, when a large store with "Antiques" grabbed his attention, well not so much the large sign, but a small double edged sword displayed out the front. "Do you guys want to go and look in that shop?" he didn't give them a chance to answer before he walked over to it, Aang shouted to Katara and gestured where they were heading before joining Toph and following suite.

Zuko browsed the weapons, nothing more interested him other than the sword, but it was too small for him and had quite significant damage done to it. Not worth the price. He was about to walk back out the front when something caught his eye, a symbol he would know from anywhere, a white lotus. The tiny tile was not made of stone or wood like the usual Pai Sho tiles, but glass, and much small, he was shocked he had noticed it. The tiny glass pendant was attached to a long brown piece of leather. He lifted it to his face and examined it, it was beautiful; the pendant was no bigger than his fingernail. He glanced to where Toph and Aang stood laughing at a picture Aang was describing.

"Ah, you like?" the merchant asked.

"It is lovely, such fine craftma-"

"Not the necklace, the lady!" the merchant huffed.

"Oh, umm. I-" Zuko started, but was again interrupted.

"She likes you too. I can see, turns her head with every shift of your weight." He smiled. Zuko handed the merchant the necklace, he had no intention of buying it, he didn't have money. The old man grabbed his wrist and held his hand out, laying the necklace inside. "Give to someone who will appreciate it. And will appreciate you."

…

Back at the house everyone was settling down in the living room, wanting to be together for a while longer. The play was all but forgotten as the traded stories of what they saw and liked most from the festival. The stories evolved into other discussions, than into divided conversations. Zuko sat with Toph by the fire place, the necklace was around his neck, he could feel it bumping against his chest when he moved. He stood and excused himself, needing a moment for privacy and a bathroom break.

On his approach back, he heard the others asking Toph questions. "Why were you holding hands, Toph?" Suki asked quietly with a smile.

"I don't know what you mean." She smirked.

"Aw come on! Is there something going on?" Sokka pressed, arm around Suki, "Something romantic?" Sokka made soft kissing noises.

Aang smiled said, "Who cares?! They would be a force to be reckoned with!"

Zuko smiled at that thought.

"Hate to break it to you guys… But…" Toph started. Zuko prepared himself for dismissal or rejection. "It is none of your business." She chuckled.

Aang smiled and Katara looked slightly disappointed.

…

It was later when all had settled down for the night, Zuko looked next to him at Toph. He felt the necklace against his chest. Now isn't the time for promises of love, you need to wait. Guilt engulfed him, he was considering this with Toph, while not far of thirteen, still too young. He should be thinking about Mai, he should, but he couldn't. Laying back on the floor he stretched out his arms, the night was warm and it was time to rest, he would think about this another day.

Just as he was about to slip away into sleep, he felt a small, warm hand in his, he wrapped his hand around hers, letting himself fall into the welcomed darkness of sleep.