Hello thank you for reading, I hope that you enjoy this new chapter.

It had now been two months since Katara had been to see her father in law in the cells of the fire nation palace. She had still not spoken a word of this to anyone. It was now Iroh, Katara and Zuko's sons first birthday. They still couldn't believe he was already a year old, and Kya was almost three. Zuko had wanted the occasion to be a family event, so instead of a huge celebration, they were just going to have a picnic in the forest next to the palace with their family.

Oazi had been moved to a different location, under constant guard just move a month ago. This helped Katara to push her secret from her mind. There seemed little point in telling anyone about it now. What could he do to them from miles away. She and Zuko would do whatever it took to stop him if he ever tried to come after them and their children. Aang and Toph lived hundreds of miles away. They were also more than capable of taking take of themselves. He couldn't hurt them. She had worried when she heard Zuko's plans for their son's birthday. Again what could he do, with no bending and with the six of them together. He didn't stand a chance.

Sokka and Suki had arrived the day before the picnic, as they had to travel the longest way to get there. Their two sons Suten was almost five, and Huyu was a month away from turning four. They were not looking forward to the picnic. They found their aunt and uncle very boring, they found all adults boring. With the occasional exception of Aang and Toph. Their younger cousins were also no fun, being a girl and a baby respectively.

No one really expected Aang and Toph to come. After everything they had been through over the last year. No one would blame them for not coming. So it was a big surprise when they turned up on Appa, at mid-day. The second Appa landed, and Toph and Aang touched down on solid ground they were surrounded by two very energetic nephews. Suten jumped up at Toph, she took hold of him by his waist and balanced on him on her hip. He was getting bigger, making this harder for her to keep up for long.

"Aunt Toph, we didn't think you were coming." As he spoke the fire year old was playing with her hair.

"I wouldn't miss this for all the..."

"Earth in the earth kingdom." Suten finished for her.

Toph held the boy tighter with her right hand, as she lifted her left hand up to shoulder level, with her hand clenched. Suten hit her hand with his. Both of the brothers looked up to Toph. As they lived in the earth kingdom they wanted to be earthbenders just like her. Neither had shown any early signs of being able to bend ether earth or water. Toph knew that Huyu had no real connection to earth, so there was like chance he would be an earthbender, but Suten had a chance. She didn't tell anyone this. She felt bending was something that was meant to happen naturally. Not something to be forced.

"What about me." Huyu was now standing in front of Toph, forcing a clenched fist at her. To which she hit. This was what the boys had found out was used as a greeting in the earth kingdom military, and as Toph was a general they felt they should greet her like this.

"Come on you two, give Toph some room." Suki now made her way towards the newcomers. The others hadn't moved. They were shocked to see Toph, she didn't look as weak as they thought she would, but they didn't know how she was going to act.

Toph lowered Suten to the ground. "I may not be able to see your faces, but I know you are all giving me a poor sick girl look. Don't, I'm fine."

Aang, who had remained silent, had to stop himself from laughing. Moving next to her he placed her arm around her shoulder. Showing how proud he was of how strong she was being. After Toph had spoken everyone seemed to let out a sigh of relief at the same moment.

"We are so go glad you came." Katara made her way to Toph, once she reached her she pulled her into a tight hug "Thank you." She whispered into the younger women's ear. It meant so much to her to have everyone here with her for her son's birthday. Suki didn't like feeling left out, so she joined the hug too.

While the three girls hugged Aang made his way over to Zuko who was holding baby Honro in his arms. "He has Katara's eyes."

"Yeah he does." He couldn't help how proud and happy he sounded. "How is she." Zuko turned to look from his baby son to Toph. Who was now bending the earth to create an area for the children to play in.

Aang caught a glimpse of her, as she smiled a faint smile. "You know Toph." That was enough of an answer for people who knew Toph well enough.

"Sokka, you are too big to fit..."

"Get me out of here!"

All eyes where know on Sokka, who had tried to crawl through a tunnel Toph had bent, and got stuck. It took Toph a good ten minutes to get him out, due to her inability to stop laughing long enough to concentrate. Once he was freed the adults sat around the blanket, and had lunch. At first they did so in silence, occasional laughing under their breath at Sokka's latest mishap. Toph wasn't too hungry, so she found herself holding baby Iroh, who kept pulling her hair.

Katara was watching her out of the corner of her eye, so was Aang. It wasn't that Katara didn't trust Toph. She was just worried about her friend. She seemed to be dealing with everything, better than Katara had expected any one could. Better she would in her situation. Aang noticed her face change; she was focusing on something that she could feel through the earth. A look of disappointment now crossed her face before she spoke.

"We are about to be attacked. They are coming east and will be hear in the next few minutes six of them."

Ever one got to their feet in as quickly as they could. Knocking over most of the food and drink in the process. No one said anything else. They didn't want to scare the children. Toph handed Iroh back to his mother. Suki gathered the rest of the children back to the blanket. Doing her best not show how worried she was. Her first instinct like Katara's had been to pick up her children and run. Get them out of danger. It was best to keep calm, not worry them. So she fought back her fear

Zuko was the first to speak. "Aang and I will deal with them. You all take the kids back to the palace." Sokka and Suki didn't have to be told twice.

Katara kissed Zuko on the left check. "Be careful" then she left.

She hated leaving him. But with her baby son in her arms, and her daughters hand being tightly held in hers. All she wanted to do was run. Run and keep them safe. Protect them. That was what was motivating Zuko too she knew. He was just showing it in a different way.

Toph hadn't moved since she handed Katara the baby, she was now turning to face the direction the attackers were coming from, taking a fighting stanch.

"Toph, I told you to go with them."

"You wouldn't know they were coming if it wasn't for me. I am staying."

It was too late to argue any more, they could now see the men approaching. All three bender took up their stanchs. Two thought they saw someone they recognised in the group approaching, but didn't believe it could be who they thought it was, the third new exactly who it was.

Thank you for reading. If you have any comments I would love to hear what you have to say. Thank you.