A/N I have no excuse for waiting this long. All I can say is I'm Sorry.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own ATLA

Zuko had agreed that she only needed guards when she went outside of the palace. And then, only if she wasn't with him or Aang or Sokka.

"Daddy!" Katara grinned, hugging Hakoda tightly.

"It's good to see you again, Katara," Hakoda smiled to his daughter.

"Sorry I didn't come and see you last night. Too tired." Katara linked her arm through his and walked with him through the palace. "So, anything happen while we were away?"

"Toph went into false labour." Hakoda smiled as Katara's eyes widened. "I know, Azula managed really well. You would be very proud of her."

"I'm sure I would be. Is everyone OK?"

"Everyone is fine." Hakoda smiled as they made their way into the library. The one day that it was raining in the fire nation.

"Hey Katara," Sokka smiled, rubbing at Toph's feet.

"Hey. I heard bout the fake labour. Well done," She smiled to Azula, who shrugged and went back to her book.

Toph let out a sharp gasp and Sokka rolled his eyes.

"I didn't even touch your foot."

"Not that," Toph hissed, standing up. "I think my water just broke." her eyes were wide, wider than normal.

No one really said anything for a moment. This was a lot more real than before.

They all snapped out of it when Toph cried out in pain, clutching the arm of the chair she'd been sitting on.

"Do something!" She screamed at them and they all started moving.

"Azula?" they all turned to her. She started panicking, but pushed it down with a calming breath. She knew this was going to happen at somepoint, she had it all planned out.

"Sokka, Hakoda, you need to get her to the birthing rooms. Aang, Zuko, I want clean towels and hot water. YangChen, I need you to find my mother and Uncle Iroh, then come to the birthing rooms. Tell the midwife as well. Katara, you're staying with me. Let's go."

Azula led the way, glaring at anyone who got in their way.

Toph was clinging to Sokka, who was panicking, by the time they got to the rooms.

Azula went straight to her books, finding everything she needed and laying it out on the table.

Zuko and Aang came back with the water and towels she'd sent them for at the same time Iroh, Ursa and YangChen came back.
"The midwife can't come. She says she's too busy right now. She'll get here when she can." YangChen told her, biting her lip.

Azula let out a squeak before taking another deep breath, calming her self. Toph was fine for the next thirty seconds, what would make it worse is if Azula started panicking.

"Right, OK. That's fine. Katara's here and I have all the books telling me what to do." Azula told herself more than anyone. "Every male except Sokka, out."

"I'm not going to argue with her." Aang whispered to Zuko, who nodded and left the room with Hakoda and Iroh.

"If you want any of them back in, Toph, tell me. YangChen, go sit with her. Let her suck on ice chips." Azula said before going to the water and scrubbing her hands. It was going to be a long morning.

Aang wasn't sure how long they'd all been sitting in the corridor outside when Zuko stood up and frowned.

"What is she doing here?" Zuko frowned.

"Who?" Aang asked.

"Keriel." Zuko waited for Aang to stand and went to find the dragon.

She was in the front court yard, in human form, waiting for them.

"Prince Zuko, Avatar Aang." she bowed deeply. "I have a gift for Toph. For her baby too, really."

"They aren't born yet. I don't think so anyway." Aang said, but bowed. "You can wait with us, if you would like."

"I would be honoured." Keriel followed them back to the room, sitting between them and waiting. She was holding a small, green box safely in her hands.

Azula sighed as Toph whimpered again, clinging to Sokka.

"Is there anything you can do?" Sokka growled at her. She flinched and swallowed.

"No, Sokka. I can do nothing right now. She isn't ready. Almost, but not yet."
"Check again."

"I'd rather she didn't." Toph snapped at him. "Leave her to do her work, Sokka." she grunted the last part as another contraction swept over her. "This has to be punishment for something."

Katara pored more water into a bowl to turn into snow for Toph. It was only working a little bit, but she was getting tired. It had been almost five hours since this started. She wasn't going to complain though, Toph must have been exhausted.

Azula stood, pulled on a glove and went to check if Toph was ready.

"Finally," she said and looked to them all. "You're fully dilated, which means you can start pushing but only when I tell you to, OK?"

Toph nodded frantically, clinging to Sokka.

All they could hear now were low screams. Aang had started pacing. Hakoda had curled up on himself, something Katara had gotten off him. Iroh was meditating, and Zuko was just watching every one else.

"Why has it taken so long?" Aang asked, worried.

"It hasn't, Avatar." Keriel said gently. "This is actually quite quick."

"Quick? This is quick?"
"Yes. I was in labour with Rhyson for over thirty hours." Keriel watched the Avatar pale.

"I'm not putting YangChen through that." he mumbled and Zuko laughed with Keriel.
"It's worth it in the end." Iroh said quietly. Hakoda nodded.

"Kya was bad with both of them, and even though I hate to admit it, I'm glad she had to go through the pain to get them." Hakoda said.

Suddenly, everything went quiet.

They all held their breath, waiting to hear something.

The door opened and Sokka grinned.

"I have a daughter." he grinned and Aang let out a whoop. Sokka stood back from the door, letting them all in.

Toph was sitting on the bed, looking straight ahead, crying. The baby was crying in her arms, more loudly than her mother.

"Is she OK?"

"She's fine. Just being loud," Katara answered, going to stand next to Zuko. "What's she called?"
"Lin," Sokka told them, sitting next to Toph. "Lin Yue BeiFong of the Southern Water Tribe."

"A bit of a mouth full." Hakoda laughed. Keriel stepped forward.

"I think I can help with your tears, Toph."

"I doubt it." Toph sniffed.

Keriel opened the box and took out a crystal on a necklace.

"This is special. It is from all of us dragons. Violetta was able to contain some of the extra magic used last summer from Zuko's ceremony."

Toph looked up and frowned.

"It takes a year to recharge, and it will be only for a minute, but.." Keriel put the necklace over Toph's head.

Toph gasped as colour flooded her vision. She looked down and sobbed, hugging Lin closer. She pulled away to look at her baby's face. She didn't know who's eyes she had, so she looked up to Sokka, who was frowning. Sokka's. She had his eyes. And his nose. Maybe Katara's nose too…

she looked around the room, looking and seeing Katara and Zuko and Aang and YangChen. Azula standing in the corner, looking so tired, Hakoda standing behind his son, Iroh with Ursa. Keriel smiling at her. She looked back down to her baby, letting tears fall as her vision got darker once more, returning to black.

"Thank you!" Toph sobbed.

"Every year, on her birthday, you will get to look upon your daughter's face. I am sorry it is only for a moment, but you will get to watch your daughter grow. In a way." Keriel took her hand.

"It's more than I could have asked for," Toph told her, wiping her eyes. "It's the second greatest gift I've gotten today."