AN: Things are going to start picking up now, folks.

Blind Are Our Children

THEY WALKED BACK to Aunt Wu's home is comfortable silence. The sun had begun its descent in the sky, much to Aang and Meng's surprise. Had they really enjoyed one another's company for several hours? Sheng's soft snore confirmed the fact.

Aang couldn't help but smile at the young toddler who snuggled deeper into his mother's arms. "He's cute." Aang commented.

Meng smiled, and Aang couldn't help but notice how serene she appeared when holding her sleeping son. "He's a handful." She retorted.

"You're strong." He noted.

Meng blinked, pausing in her steps. "Oh?"

Aang nodded in affirmation. "To continue to be Aunt Wu's assistant, and cope with…" he trailed off, finding the courage to gaze into her warm brown eyes. "And to raise your son, and raise him well."

Meng blushed and opened her mouth to protest, but Aang cut her off. "You're a good mother, don't tell me otherwise."

She continued walking once more, not knowing what to say in response to such a strong statement.

They reached the entrance to Aunt Wu's home, and Meng faced Aang once more. "It was nice to see you again, Aang." She finally managed to say.

Aang grinned. "Same here." He scratched the back of his head sheepishly, finding it strange to be looking down at this girl whom he had ignored a decade ago. He'd forgotten how tall he'd become in the past few years.

Meng smiled gently, and looked up into the Avatar's handsome face. "Well…I guess I'll see you again in ten years." She joked feebly. The last time she had seen Aang had been brief, as he had a mission to accomplish. And she was surprised to see him now, after ten long years. So, she concluded that he wouldn't stay long, nor would he come back again.

"Naw, it won't be that long." Aang assured her.

Meng hid her surprise rather well. "Really?"

Aang nodded. "I'll have more questions for Aunt Wu, I'm sure." He laughed.

Meng didn't want to get her hopes up. But in the back of her mind, her imagination began churning. This long evening spent with Aang had been so nice. She had forgotten everything unpleasant and instead had laughed, joked, and enjoyed the Avatar's company. And it was nice to see her son Sheng interact with an adult male figure. He'd never truly had a father…

"What was your fortune, anyway?" Meng suddenly found herself blurting.

Aang blushed, kicking at the ground with the toe of his shoe. "Well…"

Meng smirked slightly. "Oooh…" she teased.

Aang coughed. "She said that a child, a marriage, and a pregnancy were in my near future."

Meng blinked as her heart skipped a beat. "In that order?" she inquired, her voice nearly croaking.

"That's what I asked her! And she said yes." He replied, taking her croak as one of astonishment.

"You know…sometimes Aunt Wu's fortunes are vague as to how the outcome will come about, but outcome itself is clear." Meng said softly. She hugged her son's sleeping form closer to herself. The sun's setting light had cast her in a gold hue, highlighting her lovely features.

Aang noticed this, and took a step closer. It was as if he were drawn to her magnetically. "I know." His voice, too, was soft. He drank up her loveliness, and rested his hands on her shoulders. "I really enjoyed your company today, Meng. Sheng too, he's real cute." He informed her.

Meng looked up into his deep gray eyes. She saw in them something she hadn't seen before. He was looking at her in a way she'd never dreamed he would. With awe, appreciation, and caring. "I did too." She breathed.

"I'm sorry it took me ten years to realize how…" he searched for the right word to say, something to show her how much he thought of her. Gone was the awkward pre teen girl, replaced by a lovely young woman.

"It's okay." She answered, understanding that he was struggling. He hadn't had one romantic encounter in these past ten years. She had a feeling she'd have to teach him quite a lot. At least, if this was going to progress how she'd like it to.

"Meng, you're really special." He finally found something not half-stupid to say to her.

She blushed, and he found it endearing. He leaned down, and automatically her face tilted towards his, her eyes closing. His lips brushed hers, sending a thrill through him. It wasn't too awkward for a first kiss.

She stood on her tip toes, kissing him back gently.

He took Sheng from her, hoisting him on his hip, and he pulled her against him. Meng buried her face into his now broad chest, inhaling his scent. It was strange, he smelled so good. Like fresh air, clean earth, cool water, and sweet smoke, all in one. And there was a hint of pure, strong male mixed in with it.

Aang hugged her tightly, enjoying the embrace. She was so short, almost Toph's height, and she was almost as petite as Toph as well. He liked it, knowing that he was larger than her and could protect her from anything.

Meng sighed contently. "That was nice."

Aang pulled away slightly, gazing down into Meng's very cute face. "Oh, just nice?" he questioned.

Meng couldn't help but grin. "Okay, it was great." She replied.

Aang laughed. "Okay, good, because that was my first kiss, ever."

"No, your first two kisses." Meng corrected him.

"So, how about three?" he slyly inquired.

Meng smiled, such a beautiful smile, and obliged. He forgot everything else when her soft lips brushed against his.

ZUKO GASPED SOFTLY as he felt his lover's body tighten around him as she crested. The sensation was overwhelming, and he found himself crying out in pleasure as his own orgasm shot through his body. His petite wife collapsed on top of him, her breath hot on his neck.

His hands, which had been squeezing her hips, rose and stroked her back soothingly. Toph was trembling from the aftermath of their intense lovemaking and he wondered vaguely if she was alright.

"I'm fine." She whispered suddenly, surprising him. Sometimes it seemed like Toph could read his mind. But he liked it.

He rolled them over, having caught his breath, and reveled in the feeling of being nestled between her creamy thighs. He rocked his hips slowly, drawing a soft noise from his wife.

Zuko lost track of how many times they had brought one another to their limits. Their sweat had mingled and dampened their sheets. And the walls had absorbed all of the cries, moans, and sighs of bliss.

He kissed her deeply, resting his elbows on either side of her head, continuing to thrust gently. He wasn't sure if he could go another round with her, but he was willing to try.

Her hands came to rest on his hips, stopping his motions. "Zuko…"

His name on her lips was such gratification. "Toph." He kissed her once more, bringing his head to rest on her breast. She sighed contently, combing her fingers through his hair. Her heart beat slowed, but remained strong.

"Love you…" she murmured, becoming drowsy.

He ran his fingers over her sides. Her skin was so smooth beneath his fingers, and she was still so trim, even after she had borne Zara. Perhaps because she was still very much a warrior and very much devoted to her Earthbending?

He rolled to the side slightly, pulling her body against his so she could spoon with him. His hands rested on her stomach, so flat and soft. But how he longed for her stomach to be round; ripe with their next child.

Zuko found himself sighing, frustrated with the fact that they had been trying for three fruitless months to conceive their second child. Yes, it was wonderful to spend so many hours every night in one another's arms, but he longed to have another baby in their arms, too.

He knew that it probably seemed very sudden of him to want a second child, but in all honesty, the thoughts had been brewing since Zara had been born. Hell, even before that. Probably since he had made his vows to honor, love, and cherish Toph for the rest of his life!

He knew that he wanted a large family. He wanted many children to run and play in their courtyard; he wanted to hear them laugh. He wanted to hold them close, smell their sweet scent of guileless innocence. He wanted to rock them to sleep, hear their soft breaths, feel their heart beat against his own. He wanted for his children to grow and find happiness, fall in love, and make many children of their own. And their children could have children, and so on and so forth.

When he and Toph drew their last breath, they would not truly be dead. For their blood would live on, grow, and thrive. The Bei Fong estate and the Darjeeling Dragon would always prosper.

Sensing that Toph had fallen asleep, he kissed her brow and rose from bed. He lazily tied a robe about his muscular frame, and quietly left his bedchambers. The moonlight spilled into the corridors, lighting a clear path for him to walk. But he didn't need the moonlight to guide him; he had come to know every nook and cranny of the Bei Fong estate by heart.

This was his home. This was where he belonged. It held a safe haven for his Uncle, his wife, his daughter. Somewhere that love could flourish, life could be simple, and no one would dare mar another for the sake of pride.

His fingers rested on his scar. Sometimes he forgot he had it. With this new peaceful life, the ghosts of his past had been laid to rest, for the most part. His father died, and with it, his burning desire to regain his honor.

Feh, there was no honor within the royal family of the Fire Nation. And they were all dead, with the exception of himself and his own daughter.

Over the ten past years, he had come to understand many things. The sacrifices his mother made, the mistakes made of greed by his father, and his sister's burning desire to be the best, to be father's pride and joy. But they were all dead now. Gone forever, survived only by him.

Zara would never know of any of that. At least, not until she was older. And she would live the peaceful, happy life that he never had.

He found himself standing in the courtyard, under the bright moon. The night was calm and still. As it should be. All was well, and his daughter and wife slept peacefully. And here he was, hoping and praying fervently for another child.

He looked up at the moon, feeling calm in its shower of silver light. Please, he mentally whispered to it, please…help me. Give me what I so desire. Daughter or son, I don't care. Just give me the gift of another precious life. Please.

The moon remained stoic, steady, true. And…Somehow, he wasn't sure how he knew, but somehow…

Everything's going to be alright. He just knew.

He thanked the goddess who hung low and ripe in the sky, and he retreated inside, to go to bed, to sleep beside his wife. And his unborn child that grew in her womb.

ZARA WATCHED HER father walk outside, and saw him looking up at the moon. She observed as he seemed to speak with it, and came upon a conclusion. She hid as he walked briskly back inside, back to his bedchambers, to share with her mother.

She sighed softly as her parents' bedroom door closed with a soft thud. And drew her knees to her chest, hugging them.

She knew very well that her parents were attempting to have another child. They would speak about it to one another when they thought she couldn't hear, or that she wasn't paying attention. Zara saw how they retired to bed early nearly every night, and that both her parents would be upset when her mother's monthly flow came. She saw how they both stressed and had anxiety over the entire matter. She saw how distant her father's eyes were…

Why now? Why, over seven years after her own birth, were they trying for another child? She had turned that question over and over again in her mind, finding no positive solution. Something had prompted this driving madness to reproduce once more…

Was it her fault? She wondered sadly. Was it because she wasn't good enough? She knew her mother did not feel close to her because she was not an Earthbender and because she was not a tomboy. But didn't her mother at least love her, regardless of Bending abilities and a certain sort of femininity?

She'd be damned if she gave up her Firebending. She loved it, reveled in contorting the flames to suit her needs. Flames made her blood burn with passion and excitement. She'd never abandon it.

And her femininity…she loved dresses, loved makeup, loved girlish toys. She didn't want to walk around barefoot, bind her hair into a conservative bun, and not care about her looks. Zara was pretty, she knew this. Daddy had told her so, had told her she was pretty like her grandmother Ursa she resembled so much.

Maybe that's why mother would want another child…a boy…or an Earthbender…or both. But why would Daddy want another child? Wasn't she enough?

Maybe he wanted a boy too…

The idea was too horrifying, to think that she was unwanted. She hugged her knees even tighter, and began to weep. No, please don't let it be true. Love me, let me be good enough…please…