AN: So before I do anything I apologize for the terrible typos and what not in the last chapter I literally had 9 seconds left in my library session before it kicked me off and I wanted to make sure I got a chapter to you. Anyways! Enjoy!

I ran my fingers over and over that scar on his knuckles. It was my favorite, as odd as that sounds. I felt him shift his thumbs over my hand and rub small circles on the back of my hand, the rough pads of his thumb tugging over my skin. I let out a long silent breath. The wolfbats were still beating around in my stomach, but it was so pleasant, this high. I could feel the blood running through my veins and filling my ears. I reveled in how peaceful it was and how… void of awkwardness. It was amazing really.

Was this something more than just friends? Well, it seems like it is. But no, why would he want me? Me of all people? When he could have any girl in the world, why would he want me? Well…there was that thing with him rubbing my legs…that meant something didn't it? Would he be there after the baby was born? I can't imagine him running off, he's been there for so far. But being pregnant and actually having a squishy little human thing was different entirely.

My entire body froze when I felt his lips brush the back of my hand. They were soft, gentle and chaste. And just like that, they were gone. I felt a blush flood my cheeks. Surely that meant something right!?

A little nudge.

Hmm what was that? What did this mean? Did he want to kiss more of me?

A bump.

That is so irritating what is it? I can't believe he just did that. Just- just wow.

A kick.

I inhaled sharply and yanked his hands over my belly. I waited, my heart thumping in my ears. My baby- my baby kicked! "Sokka!" I yelped. He felt it too. "W-what do I do!?"

"I don't know!" He gasped his hands still splayed over my stomach. A little nudge. "Wow…" he breathed. I couldn't believe what I was feeling. It just felt like a little flutter on the outside but on the inside…it was like a heard of moose lions. The tops of my feet could feel my baby's movements so clearly it took my breath right out of my lungs. I felt a little dizzy to be honest. There was something alive, really alive inside of me. I shifted to my butt and Sokka withdrew his hands.

How could I have ever thought of giving this baby away? I rest my palms on my stomach and tried to steady my heartbeat. There was something like an iron cable that suddenly hooked itself in my hard. I could feel it in my gut, my hands, my feet, my heart, my head. It was everywhere. I can't give you away. I felt so guilty and then tears were tumbling down my cheeks. How could I? How dare I!? How could I get rid of something so precious? What was this? What was wrong with me? It was love. I loved this small life more than I loved myself. I knew right then that I would do anything to keep my child safe, even my life. I'd hand it over on a silver platter if it meant my baby's safety.

I tilted my head up towards Sokka. "I can't give it away." He folded me into his lap and hugged me.

"I know." I rubbed circles across my swollen belly and we sat there for ages. I wiped my cheeks and climbed out of his lap. He stood and offered his hand to me. I took it and he helped me to my feet. But he didn't let go once I was steady. He interlaced out fingers and tugged me along back to the house.

"You're a really great friend, you know that Sokka?" I said softly leaning my temple against his shoulder, tentatively.

"My pleasure," he chuckled, his cheek resting on the top of my head. I was still reeling from probably the most tender moment we had ever shared together and I didn't notice his heart speed up.

Two weeks went by without much happening. We had made two trips into town and shopped. We ate to our hearts content, goofed around and things of the like. It wasn't uncommon now for Sokka to take my hands in his anymore. He even sometimes held my hand around Aang and Katara, but never let his fingers collapse through mine unless we were alone.

However, on the first morning of the third week of Aang and Katara being here, a scream pierced the crisp dawn air. I shot out of bed and stumbled towards the door, hoping something wasn't wrong. I bumped into the door frame, my feet not quite yet awake. And then I slammed into another mass of flesh and almost fell on my rear but Sokka grabbed my elbows and held me upright. We both hurried into the living room and just as were about to tumbled out the door, Aang burst in, his heart hammering.

"She said yes!" He half squeaked half yelled. I rubbed my eyes and groaned.

"What are you talking about Twinkletoes?" I mumbled. If I hadn't been so sleepy I might have earthbent him across the yard for waking me up.

"She said yes!"

"I'm aware of that," I deadpanned still not understanding. And then the fog of sleep seemed to clear suddenly. It hit me than. "She- you? Congratulations!" I yelped throwing my arms around him. Sokka gave him a brotherly hug and clapped him on the back. I felt Katara appear at Aang's side and take his hand. I gave her the hardest hug I could manage with my belly. "So when's the wedding?" I chirped.

Katara laughed. "We've only been engaged for like two minutes."

"Oh," I peeped innocently. We all came inside and sat around the living room, Sokka insisting I at least sit on a pillow if I was determined to sit on the floor. I huffed and let him put a pillow under me. He sat right next to me, his thigh flush with mine and his hand found my knee. I felt like all the air had been choked out of my lungs. goosebumps and shivers raged over my skin. I forced myself to breathe only to have the air choked back out when he squeezed his fingers around my kneecap. I could hear him smile and knew he was doing it just to spite me... or maybe not? I rest my hand over his and indeed felt his heart pumping. And I knew he wasnt doing it only to spite me.

I was too concerned with that burning spot on my leg to really pay much attention to the conversation, even though I found myself interjecting ideas for wedding decorations and food. And upon mentioning shoes, Katara insisted we went to town and started shopping. We left the house shortly after we changed and had a light breakfast.

And so we went shopping...or rather Aang Sokka and Katara did. I deliberately distanced myself from Katara and Sokka's squealing over shoes and other various items. I had been nursing a headache for the last two hours we had been in the dusty little city. I stopped beside a cart selling jewelry and tapped my toes. There were some interesting pieces. In all honesty I was trying to figure out a way to repay Sokka for being so kind. I moved on from that stall to another. And then another. I hadn't really found what I was looking for. Actually, I didn't even know what I was looking for.

I stopped dead in my tracks when I felt something very familiar. It was safely tucked away in a sheath, it was a different one, but it was just as I remembered it. I couldn't believe my luck! What were the chances really!? I practically ran to the cart and slammed my hands down on the wooden counter. "That's my sword, where did you find it?" I demanded.

"It was traded to me by a Fire nation merchant," the man said in a smooth, eloquent voice. "Are you interested?" He said leaning forward, so close I could feel his hot breath on my face. I almost swatted him away but decided against it.

"Yes, I am," I growled.

"For a lovely young woman like you I will sell it for just ten gold pieces."

"What!?" I shrieked, only sending a shooting pain through my head. "It's mine anyways, it was lost in the last battle of the great war!"

"But how does that earn me any money? Besides, you should consider yourself lucky. This sword is made from an unknown material and is worth much more than a mere ten gold pieces."

"Listen mister," I snarled trying to climb up onto the counter. "Give me that sword or I will personally launch you and this cart out of this town."

"I hardly answer to threats," he sneered.

"Do you know who I am?" I was really losing patience now. My head hurt, my ankles were swelling and quite frankly I was in no mood to deal with idiots.

"I'm afraid I don't." Somehow that seemed to be laced with a double meaning.

I kicked a flat of stone under my feet, pushing me to his height over the counter and grabbed his collar in my fist.. "I'm Toph Bei Fong, the world's greatest earthbender, daughter of Lao and Poppi Bei Fong, hero of the 100 year war, personal friend to the Fire Lord, Master Katara of the Southern Watertribe, the Avatar himself and I am a particularly good friend of Sokka the Watertribe warrior, to whom this sword belongs. Do I need to further convince you of who I am?" He shook his head side to side frantically. "I thought so," I hissed dropping him in a heap on the ground. I snatched up Sokka's space sword and stomped off into town, quite delighted to get in a hissy fit. I hadn't had one of those in a while.

I took a less crowded way back to the main market place. I really didn't want to be wandering in a sea of people getting all bumped around. And it didn't concern me when I felt two extra pairs of feet following me. I made a right and relaxed into a comfortable stroll. I rest a hand on my stomach and felt for a kick, but there was none. Obviously my child was snoozing. I chuckled and shook my head.

"Hey girly," a throaty voice called behind me. I ignored it and kept walking.

"Hey, we're talking to you doll face," said a second voice.

"That's a fine weapon you have there," the first voice said.

I felt them coming closer and right when I was about to sink them into the ground i felt a blade at my throat. I sucked in a gasp and started trembling. His hand roamed down my back and side and my knees almost gave out. Fear like I hadn't felt in weeks came over me and I felt utterly helpless, I forgot I was an earthbender, I forgot I was Toph and only knew the haze of fear. The blade grazed my skin again and I shivered. The seconds mans hands were on my shoulders, he was behind me. I was visibly shaking now. How could this be happening again? "Please, don't," I whimpered when I felt his fingers undo the clasp of my dress at the base of my neck. He ignored me and went down to the second clasp and that's when un-calculating instinct hit me. I shot a slab of rock against the back of his head and pushed the other man away.

Before I had time to spin to face the attacker at my back, his fist already collided against my cheekbone. I felt fuzzy in my head and stumbled into the other mans waiting arms. I jammed an elbow into his ribs and he repaid me with a fist in the side of my ribs. It was then I was so acutely aware of my stomach, swollen with child and I felt my heart stop. What if they hurt him? I pulled my hands up, trying to build a rock shelter around me, but it was quickly shoved back into the ground. They were earthbenders.

"Stop fighting!" One of them growled. I couldnt not stop, I had to protect my baby. I lashed out with my hands, hoping to scratch, rip or tear anything I could make contact with. I felt my nails sink into the flesh of one of their cheeks. He gave an animalistic cry of pain and fury and hit me on the underside of my stomach. Pain rushed through my pelvis and swam into my lungs. The other man pushed me, and my back slammed into a wall. The sudden shock sent a pain shooting through my body, resonating from my abdomen. A scream wrenched its way through my throat when the pain tangled its fingers in my ribs. I cried out again when I dragged in a breath. All the noise seemed to stall my attackers, but only for a moment before they were advancing on me again.

A sharp wind suddenly cut through the alley and the snap of a water whip came soon after. I had never felt so much relief when my friends showed up. Something warm and wet touched the skin of my inner thighs, but everything hurt too much to care. "Katara, help her!" Sokka yelled. Then I heard the telltale sound of a sword swishing through leather and I knew he had found his weapon. I curled in on myself as the pain intensified. I couldnt explain how horrible it was. I thought I might be sick but then Katara was at my side and I felt a little better. Cool water was on the flesh of my belly and I flinched. I heard her call something out frantically, but I could make no sense of it.

Sokka was suddenly behind me and lifting my shoulder into his lap, cradling my head in his arm. "She's hemorrhaging. Aang bend me a tent or something!" Katara demanded. I felt rock walls shoot up around us. Katara was silent as she pushed the hem of my dress up and over my stomach. I could feel myself blush at my undergarments being exposed with Sokka right there. I guess he had seen them before when we were travelling, but it just seemed more important now.

"Why is there so much blood?" He choked out.

"Miscarriage," Katara said urgently.

I knew what that word meant, it meant my baby was going to die. "No!" I cried. "Help me, Katara! Please!" I sobbed. The pain over took me at my pleas and Katara ripped my undergarments from my body leaving me stark naked. I felt Sokka's lips on my forehead and his eyelashes brushing against my hairline. His hot breath was the only thing that kept me conscious.

"It's ok, Toph. Just please, don't- please, it's ok," he murmured peppering kissed on my forehead. After that I don't really remember anything.

I faintly recall bobbing up and down in the arms of someone. "Is it gone?" I croaked.

"No, Toph, your baby is fine,"Sokka's voice comforted. I let my eyes fall shut and I drifted into sleep with the smell of woodsmoke and salt in my nose.

I woke up to total warmth and realized I was in water. I panicked for a split second but then Katara's voice reached my ears. "How do you feel, Toph?"

"Horrible," I muttered. I blinked and brought my hands from the water rubbing my eyes. "What happened?" I asked, the sleep still clearing from my head. I felt in a daze, really.

"You started to miscarry, but I was able to stop it in time. I don't know what the after effects are going to be... at least not yet."

"But the baby's ok right?"

"Yeah, perfectly healthy, amazingly." I let out a sigh of relief and let my head rest against the edge of the tub.

"How long was I out?"

"Only a day." It was silent as Katara started to wash my hair. "You know, Sokka didn't leave you the whole time?"

"He didn't?"

"No, he even slept right there next to you."

"Oh," I breathed. It was quiet again for a few minutes. "So why am I in here?" I questioned.

"We needed to get the blood washed off you. It just wasnt hygienic."

"Did um... did Sokka, you know- see anything?" I blushed. I felt incredibly stupid for being concerned about something so menial after I had almost lost my baby, but I couldn't help it.

"You'd have to ask him that, I was too busy. Aang stayed outside though... and I think he chased the men down that attacked you. But I'm sure Sokka didn't look."

I breathed out and let my fingers rest on my belly. A reassuring kick touched my palm and I smiled. "Thanks you know, for saving my kid. I'm really glad you were there," I mumbled.

"Don't worry about it," she chuckled from behind me. I finished bathing myself and fumbled with drying myself. I just hurt so much in my hips. It made it hard to stand. But luckily when I went limping back to my room, Sokka scooped me up and carried me the rest of the way.

"Thanks," I muttered after he laid me down and curled up behind me. His nose touched the back of my neck and I sighed.

"I'm glad you're ok," he said reaching over and putting a hand on my belly tenderly. "And I'm glad the kid's ok too," he almost whispered.

"Yeah," I said letting my eyelids fall shut. I couldn't really be happier. He snugged down closer to me and pressed a gentle kiss on my temple.

"Try to get some sleep ok?"

"But I've been asleep for a whole day," I protested.

"Don't argue," he chuckled. His hand found the small of my back and his finger pressed into my muscles. I hissed at first from the pain... and well the shock of his cold fingers against my flesh. But then I relaxed when he started to work out the soreness. "Hey," he said.

"What?"

"I'm really glad you're my best friend."

"Me too, Snoozles," I yawned happily. And I drifted into a dreamless, healing sleep.

AN: I'm not really happy with this chapter so sorry if it was boring... stupid or cliche. And ignore the spelling and grammar error if there are any have a nice day! :) lol