Chapter 9: The Aftermath-

Needless to say no one slept well that night. The next morning it was decided that the Northern Water Tribe was no longer safe. If Takeo had survived after his escape then he would most likely return when he was healthy again. But both Katara and Toph were getting into their third trimesters and the healers warned that leaving where a team of healers could help deliver may result in unnecessary complications. After this point was made everyone agreed that it was in their children's best interests to stay until both Toph and Katara had delivered.

A month passed and during the full moon Katara gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Aang was given a vision that the boy possessed the power to waterbend, and the girl the gift of airbending. He was no longer the last airbender. The girl was given the name Gyatza, and the boy Yuen, after Aang's guardian Gyatzo and the princess of the Northern Water Tribe.

Two months later Toph went into labor during the afternoon. Almost a day later two babies were born and the third was on its way. After the third was born, a few of the healers were working to keep him alive. Unlike the first two, he was much smaller and did not start to cry after he was born. Katara put a hand on Toph shoulder trying to keep her mind off of her son fighting for his life and onto her two newborn daughters.

"The healers will help him Toph, he will be okay." Katara assured her holding out the older of the two girls. "For now, lets give these two names." Toph took a few deep breaths and nodded tilting her head down at the two.

"I've thought of some. But I know what I want to name them now that they are in my arms." She explained then nodded at the child buried in blankets supported by Toph's right arm. "Miki," she said then paused and nodded at the baby in her left arm. "And Shochi." She said then smiled faintly relaxing against the pile of furs propping her upright.

Almost an hour passed before the cries of the baby boy filled the air, waking Toph from her doze and the two other newborns. Shay wrapped the boy in a thick blanket and smiled as she knelt down beside his mother and held him out. Katara quickly took one of the girls from Toph's arms as Shay placed the crying child in her arms.

"He's very small, but now that he's awake and crying we think he will be okay. He's quite a fighter." Shay explained in little detail what had happened over the past hour.

"Yes, he is a little fighter..." Toph mumbled holding the boy closely, smiling as he buried his face in her shirt calming down. "Glad you made it Zhuizo"

Katara smiled as she recognized the meaning of the name Toph had given him in what was one of the few words she knew in ancient earth kingdom. Zhuizo meant 'warrior' or 'brave warrior'. A fitting name for the boy, who had fought since conception to live amongst his two sisters in such a tiny space.

After all of the newborns were fed and asleep, Rien resting against his mothers side happy that she was alright after listening to almost twenty hours of Toph in labor but not being allowed to see why she was in pain. He too now lay asleep as Toph closed her eyes.

"Katara, we should leave for the Fire Nation tomorrow. Now that my children are born there is nothing holding us here, where we could be attacked at any time. Just because Takeo hasn't come in the past few months doesn't mean he won't come tomorrow." She huffed. Katara nodded slightly rocking Gyatza back to sleep.

"We'll leave early tomorrow Toph, Shay and I want to make sure Zhuizo's ready to travel before we take him anywhere. He just barely made it today, they had to use spirit water before he started to cry. We don't want to tax his system too much, or it could be bad." Katara explained gravely. Toph only nodded.

"We understand that you don't want to stay here, and we will leave as soon as we can. But we need to take our childrens' health into account before we do anything too rash. You should know that better than any of us." Katara snapped. Toph tilted her head towards her, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. Only then did Katara realize what she had said and took a small breath.

"I'm sorry Toph... I didn't..."

"Don't apologize Katara. I know what you meant, and I do care about them, more than I care about myself. And that's why I want to leave this place before anything can happen to them." Toph interrupted then leaned back closing her eyes. Before Katara could say anything in return Toph fell asleep.