I'm sorry, Mother.
Fingers, firm on her forehead.
She exhales.
I'm so, so sorry.
There is no pain, but there is a feeling of exhaustion—every muscle, every vein, every pore feels weak, abused. And then there is a great emptiness. Her eyes wrench open yet she does not see; there is a burst of pain that ricochets through her, and she falls, more tired than she's ever been, on her side.
There is the feeling of being lifted, of being placed in a truck, and then—nothing.
She closes her eyes.
And there she is.
Toph—looking young and lovely in jade green and tan, her hair loose and wild. This is the mother of her childhood. Toph's eyes are brimming with tears and she holds her arms wide open. There is no need for words—Lin goes to her, falls into her arms.
"Mother, I'm so sorry!" Lin is crying—she can't remember the last time she cried like this. "You must be so—disappointed—I couldn't stop them!"
Toph is so warm and smells like lilacs; Lin keeps her face hidden in the long black tresses. Toph holds her daughter tightly, so tightly.
"How could I ever be disappointed in you?" The words are instantly reassuring, and for a moment Lin is ashamed for even thinking such things. "You should have seen yourself—so powerful, so fierce. I'm so proud. In my wildest dreams I never imagined that any child of mine could have done what you did today." Her hands gently release her daughter, only to take Lin's face as she pulls away. Worn, soft fingers deftly brush the tears from her face. "My beautiful, brave daughter." She presses her lips against Lin's forehead. "You've done so much. You've been so strong. I love you."
Lin leans into her mother's hands, cool and comfortable on her flushed cheeks.
From the corner of her eye she sees a movement, and she gently removes herself from her mother's hold, taking those cool hands and kissing each palm before letting go.
And next to Toph stands Aang, the young grown man of her childhood—tall and strong, his beard full beneath a kind smile.
She bows before him. "Avatar Aang, I'm sorry, I tried to keep them safe—"
He interrupts her by taking her into his arms—she wraps herself around him eagerly, as she would when she was a child, her head buried in his robes, soaking up his smell of sun and summer air.
"Thank you, Lin, for everything you've done for my family. I appreciate it more than I can say. And thank you for looking after the new Avatar."
"Did I—are they?" Her only thoughts in that moment are for Meelo and Jinora, Ikki and Pema and Tenzin and that new baby.
Aang's strong hand on her scalp silences her. "They're safe—you distracted the Equalists. They continue unthreatened." Lin peaks through her bangs to see his wide smile, full of relief and gratitude and love.
"That's my daughter for you, Twinkletoes."
And Lin closes her eyes, encased in the arms of those who love her. She goes to sleep with the memory of her mother's kiss on her forehead, Aang's scent lingering in her hair.