Toph sat alone in her personal chambers.
She was banned from her husband's bed, and his room so long as he was with Mai. She still hadn't gotten use to the distance. And even more so, she still wanted to tear that woman apart. Wanted to destroy this place.
But... Being pregnant was difficult as it altered her bending.
With hormones spiraling out of control and her mood reaching both high and low—bending was almost life threatening. With all the stress, and the baby growing within her, any sort of Earth bending drained all the energy and strength she possessed.
The last time Toph had bended she fell unconscious. For two days.
Her daughter, Xiaolian, stayed by Toph's side. Unmoving. Loyal. Observant.
The maids had told her that Xiaolian had not once left her mother's side.
Whatever she did was always in the same room. She never went out in the gardens to play like usual. Never ate with her father or his concubine. She just stayed in the room, watching her mother, and calling for her mother's maids when needed.
Toph... couldn't go on like this or the baby would die. She would die.
And then—who would take care of Xiaolian? Who would take care of her little compassionate one? What kind of mother would she be to leave her daughter to fend off the filth of the Fire Nation? No, she wouldn't leave! Not without a fight! Not until she regained her husband! Not until she got rid of that Mai woman!
Toph was strong. Toph was stubborn. Toph was the greatest Earth bender the world had ever seen! Toph was not going to lose!
"Mommy's here now." Toph whispered gently to her daughter. The child had cried brokenly over her mother's lap. "Mommy! Mommy!" The child feared for her, and so did the one inside Toph's belly.
And in that bittersweet moment... Toph realized what she was to do. And that this situation wasn't her fault in the least. In this situation... She was either to make it or break it. And Toph Bei Fong would not break so easily!
With the strength of her children she would conquer this hardship.
Xiaolian (Chinese) - little compassionate one