Four year old Lin Beifong awoke next to her mother, father, and twin little brother and sister. The family had spent the previous week in Galloing with her mother's parents. Now, the family was in the Southern Water Tribe visiting her grandfather.
The next one up was her little brother, whom was no older than 6 months, Matthew. A calm and quite child, even when awaking early in the morning. Lin smiled a bright smile at her little brother for which he returned, only instead of half a head of pearl white teeth, a head full of light pink gums with which the whiteness of his first tooth began to slowly reveal itself.
Lin lifter her brother and set him on the mat in the floor meant for playing on. She sat in front of him and began what the two of them secretly did every morning while everyone else was asleep.
And just what was it that they were secretly did every morning?
Why, teaching her baby brother how to speak of course!
She started by asking to say, "Mommy." He repeated with a huge grin. Her smile widened to the point her face nearly split. "Now, one more word then we'll show mom and dad what you've learned." Lin explained to Matthew.
Lin broke the word, "dada," into pieces and watched and listened as her little brother struggled at first, but quickly got the word down.
Lin smiled brightly and her little brother held up a hand, expecting a high five. But, instead, he was pulled into a hug by his older sister. Lin and Vanessa, Matthew's twin sister, had finished learning " mommy" and "dada" just yesterday morning. So, now, Lin awoke her baby sister carefully and showed both Matthew and Vanessa which one of their parents was mom and which one was dad.
half an hour later..
Toph and Sokka both awoke at the same time, both sitting up in the large cot the family had been sleeping in.
As the two parents rubbed sleep from their eyes, Lin whispered to the twins to show them what they learned the past two mornings.
"MOMMY" "DADA" the twins roared at the same time.
Toph and Sokka froze. "Did they just.." Sokka started. "Scream 'mommy' and 'dada'? Y-yeah.. they did."
Both parents smiled brightly, but their smiles were no match for their four year old daughter whom smiled a smile bigger than her own face, bigger than her parents smile mixed with own usual smile when her parents or siblings made her laugh and smile.
Lin was proud. Not of herself, but of her incredible baby brother and sister.
It was then that Lin decided she would do whatever it took to help, protect, and care for her baby brother and sister that mean the entire world to her..
A/N: This one shot is dedicated to my brother and sister. And even though I don't act or say it all the time, just know I'll always be here, through and through, good times and hard times, smiling and tears, healing and bruising, love and heart break, I'll be here for it all. I'll always do what I can to protect you, while still giving you your space and letting you fight your own battles, but when you can't, I'm here. I'll do all I can to care for you, while still giving you your space. and when life, school, or family issues gets you down, just give me a call, or come to me and I'll be there for you. I may have a funny way of showing it, I may not say it enough, just know I do and when I say this, I mean it. Not just everything in the dedication, but these three simple words…
"I love you." – Big sis, Julia.