And now we have come to the end of our Taang Week (sorry that it’s late). It was a good run and I have seen, and still seeing, some Awesome Taang work. I hope you all like this one

Balance

This fic is an alternate ending to “Sozin’s comet” so expect some Zutara to be in here too.

Our story begins in Ba Sing Se. Inside the Jasmine Dragon, the teashop Iroh owns, we see him playing a Sungi horn while is nephew, the new Fire Lord Zuko, was passing out tea to everyone there, all of their friends and the heroes who ended the Great war. As he was doing this, we see Sokka with a brush and some paper.

Sokka: Zuko, stop moving will you? I’m trying to capture the moment! I’m almost done with this paining.

Suki: A painting?

Sokka: Yeah, I wanted to do something so we’d always remember the good times.

Sokka continues with the painting, Katara and the others walk over to see it themselves.

Katara: Wow, that’s very thoughtful of you Sokka.

As Katara looks over, she gets a grim look as she sees the painting… which unfortunately, looks very crude, like a 5 year old painted it.

Katara: Wait a minute. Why did you give me Momo’s ears?

Sokka: No, those are your hair loopies.

Katara: They are not that long, Sokka.

Zuko: (looks over) well, at lease you don’t look like a boarcupine, my hair isn’t spiky like that.

Mai: I look like man in this.

Suki: and why did you make me Firebend?

Sokka: Uh… that’s actually coming from Iroh.

Iroh: (looks over) Hey, my belly’s not that big anymore. I really slimed down.

Toph: Well, I think it looks ok to me.

Sokka: Why thank you Toph I- (realizes)… I really hate it when you do that.

Momo climbs up and looks over it, chirping a bit.

Sokka: You have something to say too, Momo?

Aang: (looks over) Well, it’s not THAT bad. I mean for a first try.

Iroh: You know I have a friend in the Order that can help you get better. I’ll contact him and see if he’ll give you a few lessons.

Sokka groans at his failed attempt at drawing everyone.

Katara: Hey, come on. Cheer up, Sokka. We don’t need a painting to remember the good times.

Sokka: But I worked so hard on this.

Zuko: Your sister’s right Sokka. I doubt that any of us will forget our times together, whether they be good or bad. No matter what happens to us, we’ll always have eachother.

As he was talking, he moved closer to Katara and takes a hold of her hand.

Zuko: I’ll always treasure the times I shared with everyone here. I probably wouldn’t be the man I am today if I hadn’t met you all.

Sokka: Yeah, you’d probably be dead without us.

Katara: (hits him) Sokka!

Zuko: No, he’s right. Without you guys…(blushes a bit) especially you Katara, I wouldn’t be standing here. I thank you all for that, and I personally thank you again, Katara.

With that, he leans in close for a kiss, Katara was surprised at his boldness but it faded when she started to kiss back.

Mai: (sighs) Zuko, I know we’re not together anymore, but could you NOT do that in front of me? I’m still a bit uncomfortable about it.

Zuko stopped the kiss for a moment when he heard Mai. Katara’s eyes only opened a little, showing that she had a dazed look on her face.

Zuko: Uh… Sorry Mai.

Sokka: You know, it still surprises me, out of all the guys she’s met in the world, my sister falls for the Fire Prince.

At that, Katara snaps out of her daze and shot a dirty look at her brother.

Sokka: Oh you’re one to talk, I saw you flirt with Ty-Lee once.

Suki: You did what?!

Sokka: (stutters) I can explain! She was in her Kyoshi Disguise, I thought she was you.

Katara: (sarcastically) Yeah, because Suki always seems to wear her hair in braids.

Soon, everyone started to laugh at this turn of events. We focus on Toph, who is laughing the hardest, but she suddenly stops. She turns around and we see Aang leave the building, no one else saw it, but Toph felt his vibrations. As the others began talking and laughing some more, she sneaks away to follow him.

--

We now focus on Aang, who managed to make his way to the rooftop of the building. He stares out into the distance and watches the sun set, his face looks neutral, not sad, yet not happy either.

Voice: (Toph) Wha’cha doing on the roof Twinkle toes?

Aang turns and sees Toph standing behind him.

Aang: Oh, hi Toph. Just looking out into the Sunset.

Toph: Is it nice?

Aang: Yeah. It’s quite beautiful.

Toph: I wish I could see it. So what’s wrong?

Aang: What? Nothings wrong. I mean why would there be: The war is over, Ozai and Azula are in prison, practically too broken in pride to ever escape, and the world is staring to heal itself. Balance is restored.

Toph: Aang… Don’t try to lie to me.

Aang: (sighs) Ok, ok. Maybe all isn’t right with the world… specifically me.

Toph: Its Katara isn’t it?

Aang: Am I that obvious?

Toph: Well, I had my hunches.

Aang: Yeah, I loved her. And I always figured that she loved me too…

Toph: But she didn’t.

Aang: Well, not the way that I did for her.

Toph: Oh so what Twinkle toes.

Aang: Huh?

Toph: So what that Katara Love Zuko and not you. Does that mean that she’ll stop being your friend?

Aang pause for a moment, contemplating on her question.

Aang: … no… No, I know Katara; she wouldn’t stop being my friend. She’s not like that at all. Katara’s very caring and loving, she won’t stop seeing me or you or any of us just because of Zuko. She loves all of us.

Toph: Exactly. Just because she’s not IN love with you, doesn’t mean she’ll stop loving you.

Aang: Yeah.

Toph: And hey, trust me when I say that your first love isn’t always what you expected. I should know.

Aang: Yeah? Well who was it?

Toph: Promise you won’t tell anyone? Or laugh for that matter?

Aang: Airbender’s Honor.

Toph: I… (Blushes) I kinda had a crush on Sokka.

Aang was silent for a moment, then he tried to keep his mouth from opening, he covered it, but his shoulders started to move.

Toph: (annoyed) you’re laughing aren’t you!

Aang: (struggles to talk) N-no… I’m not…(stifles a giggles) I’m trying not to.

Toph: (sighs) Alright, fine, go ahead and laugh.

Aang suddenly burst in laughter and Toph just stood there blushing in embarrassment.

Aang: (trying to talk) Sorry… I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

Toph: Yeah, yeah, whatever.

Aang finally calmed down and saw that she looked hurt by what he did.

Aang: Please Toph, don’t get mad at me. I’m really sorry. If you want, you can laugh at me for liking Katara or something. That way we’re even.

Toph: Nah, not today.

With that, she walks over to him, standing next to him as he returns to seeing the sunset. They stood quietly on the roof for awhile, enjoying eachother’s company. Aang looks over and takes a look at his Earthbending teacher, he couldn’t help by notice how pretty Toph looked today, the green and white dress she was wearing really brought out her eyes… her eyes… he took a better look and realized something: hey eyes, despite them being blind, had their own beauty in them, he actually blushed at this thought, and of course, she felt his reaction and turned to him.

Toph: What’s the matter? Your heart is beating very fast.

Aang: Oh… is it? I didn’t notice.

That’s when Aang got a better look at her face: Her eyes… those raven black bangs, her smooth porcelain skin… she was beautiful, and something stirred inside him that made him want to tell her that.

Aang: You’re beautiful.

Toph: (surprised) Wh-what?

Aang: You’re beautiful. I never really noticed before but… you are.

Toph: (blushes) I am? Really?

Aang: Yeah… really… you are.

Soon, he began moving closer to her, his hand going up to take a hold of her cheek. Toph was frozen in shock, what is Aang doing? Is this really happening? Her blush intensified as Aang’s lips gently brushed against hers for a soft kiss. Her eyes instantly closed as she moved into him to increase the feeling from the kiss. It only lasted a few seconds before Aang pulled back, Toph’s eyes opened again, she looked conflicted.

Toph: Aang…? Did you just…?

Aang only nodded, Toph sensed his nod and just stayed quiet. That kiss felt so… surreal and… it also felt nice, maybe it was the rush of having her first kiss, or maybe it was because… she liked him… like more then friends. She had to make sure that it wasn’t just the heat of the moment; she had to know if it was a kiss of love. In a flash, she grabbed his shirt and drew his lips into her own in a very passionate kiss.

Aang’s mind went numb for a moment, shocked that Toph pulled him into such a kiss, but he regained control and began to kiss her back. Soon, they needed air and both reluctantly pulled away, catching their breath. Toph still had a blush to her face, she smiled as she now knows what the kiss meant, and she wasn’t afraid to show it.

Toph: Aang… there’s something I want to tell you.

Aang: What’s what?

Toph: I… I… I love you.

Aang’s eyes widened in surprise at what she said, he had to make sure he wasn’t just hearing things.

Aang: Wh-what?

Toph: I love you.

Aang: Wow…

Toph: Now I need to know. Do you love me?

He looked at the pleading look in her eyes, trying to wonder whether or not he did. Seeing that look in her eyes made him smile, she looked so cute when she made that look. He smiled as he pulled her close and dipped her back.

Aang: Does this answer your question?

Aang bent over and placed a deep kiss on her lips, her eyes widened at the sudden move, but she smiled and kissed back. As they kissed, Toph placed her arms around his neck and his head while Aang held her close around her waist, one hand reached up to her head, loosening the headband that held her bun, he began playing with her hair, running his fingers through it. Aang's Emotion was affecting his bending as the two were now surrounded in an air bubble, lifting them both into the air a bit. The passion of the kiss had Toph to actually lift one of her legs into the air. When they stopped, Aang brought them back down and brought Toph back on her feet both were blushing from the intense heat of the moment.

Toph: Wow…

Aang: Yeah…

Toph: That felt so… right.

Aang: Yeah.

The two looked at eachother, both smiling.

Aang: Looks like the world is in complete balance.

Toph: What do you mean?

Aang: Earth and Air are opposite, like Fire and Water. There must be a balance between opposites, like Yin and Yang.

Toph: Heh, I guess that applies to Sparky and Sweetness as well as us.

Aang: I guess so too. So what do you say? Will you be the Yang to my Yin?

Toph: I think you know the answer to that.

They came in close again, this time, their foreheads just touch.

Aang: I love you Toph.

Toph: I know.

They moved in close again for another passionate kiss, with no sighs of stopping, as the sun sets, bringing the night sky.

And that’s the last entry for Taang Week. I might continue writing more Taang fics for here, but until then, read and review.