Toph's Snow Chap 10

Chapter 10: Amazing Isn't It?

Disclaimer: If you think I own Avatar: Last Airbender, you are highly mistaken.

AN: Happy Holidays and Happy New Year (Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu, if you speak japanese.) Sorry I skipped last week, but it was Christmas so I decided to give myself a break. Anyway, here is the new chapter! It's a big jump in time, bigger than you were expecting, but I want to get to the main point of the story; Toph's baby!

Week 20 (September 22-28, month 5)

Third Person

Toph was finally feeling completely herself again; although she did have back and stomach pains. Katara said that it was normal and just Toph's body adjusting to make room for the baby. Toph had gained more weight and now had a pronounced baby bump. Her bellybutton had also made an appearance, becoming an outie. Katara finished Toph's new clothes so now Toph didn't have to deal with tight clothes anymore. They made two sets of the same outfit, which looked a lot like the outfit Toph had worn during their adventures, so that Toph would always have a clean one to wear while the other was being washed. Toph had also started to feel the baby move.

Flashback

Week 18

Third Person Toph

Toph was walking to Katara's house when she felt a kind of fluttering in her stomach. She paused and touched her stomach. She felt it again. Toph began walking again, more quickly now to get to Katara's house.

"Katara!"

"I'm in here." Toph walked into the kitchen and over to Katara.

"Yes?"

"I think the baby just moved."

"Really?"

"Yeah. On the way here, it felt like there were butterflies moving around in my stomach."

"Yep, that's the baby alright."

Toph sat down in a chair, her eyes tearing.

"Are you okay Toph?" Toph wiped her face.

"Yeah. I'm fine." She smiled in Katara's direction. "It just really hit me that there really is a baby growing in there, you know."

"Yeah. It's kind of amazing isn't it."

"Yeah."

End Flashback

Third Person Sokka

Sokka's classes had been going well. Most of his beginners had adapted to the foils and were almost ready to start the advanced course. His advanced students were preparing to take the trip to the Fire Nation to have their swords made. They would set out by ship, to the Fire Nation the next day. The entire trip would take about two months. Toph was not particularly happy that Sokka would be gone that long, especially since he just got back from a short trip.

Sokka walked up to Katara and Aang's house after class on Friday. He lifted his hand to knock on the door, but it swung open before he could. Toph lunched herself out of the door and into Sokka's arms, kissing his all over.

"I missed you so much!"

"Toph, I was only gone for a week." Sokka had left a week earlier on a trip. He had refused to tell anyone where he was going, or why.

If she missed me this much, I wonder how she'll react when I get back from the Fire Nation?

"I know, but it felt like forever! I don't know how I'll survive two months without you."

"You'll have the baby's room to keep you busy."

"I guess." She looked down.

"Hey," Sokka lifted her chin. "I'll be back before you know it." She just nodded and let go of Sokka so they could enter the house.

Katara came around the corner, Satomi in tow.

"Hey Sokka. I thought I heard your voice."

"Yeah. I was being attacked by this ball of hotness right here." Toph blushed and punched Sokka in the arm.

"Shut up Snoozels."

"That's my girl" Sokka leant down and kissed Toph, wrapping his arms around her. Katara cleared her throat as if to say 'I'm still here'. Toph blushed, but Sokka didn't look ashamed at all.

"So, Sokka, are you packed and ready to go?" asked Katara. Satomi walked over to Toph and put her hand on Toph's stomach.

"Yep, just a few more-"

"Mommy? Why does Auntie Toph's tummy poke out?" Katara picked Satomi up.

"That's because there is a baby growing in there. Soon, you'll have a new cousin."

"Is it a girl?"

"We don't know yet."

"When will we find out?"

"When Auntie Toph has her baby."

"When is that?"

"It'll be a while. Probably not until the snow starts to turn into ice."

"Oh." Satomi looked disappointed for a second, but then her face lit up again.

"Mommy, where do babies come from?" Sokka started to laugh as Katara made an 'oh dear' face.

"Umm, well…" Katara gave Sokka a 'help me' look, but Sokka just shook his head.

"Well, when two people love each other, they-"

"I'll leave you to this. Come on Toph, let's go for a walk." Sokka and Toph left, to Katara trying to find a way to explain where babies come from to a four year-old. She glared at the back of Sokka's head as he left.

Third Person

Sokka and Toph walked down the road, heading toward Toph's house, making small talk as they walked.

"How many kids are you taking to the Fire Nation?"

"Twelve. That's why it will take so long for swords to be forged. It will go much more quickly if they find swords that are already made."

"Well for my sake, I hope they all find swords that are already made." Sokka laughed.

They walked into Toph's house and went into the kitchen. The sun was going to set in an hour and they hadn't eaten yet. Toph took out wood and started the stove. Then she took a few carrots and pea pods and started cutting and shelling. When the stove was hot enough, Sokka put on two steaks. Toph dumped the carrots into the pan with the steaks and added seasoning. Then she put water in a pot and put a wire mesh over the top to steam the peas. She started to hum while she worked and suddenly, she felt a light kick in her lower stomach. She stopped humming and almost dropped a few peas on the floor in surprise.

"Sokka?"

"Yeah?" Sokka stopped cooking the steaks and looked over at Toph.

"Put your hand right here, hurry." Sokka stepped closer and put his hand on the spot indicated.

"I don't feel anything." Toph frowned.

"He stopped kicking."

"He?"

"I don't feel right calling him an it."

"Oh, well, what were you doing right before?"

"I was putting the peas in the steamer and humming."

"Hmm. Try humming again." Toph started to hum Leaves from the Vine. The baby kicked again, stonger this time.

"Cool." said Sokka. Toph continued to hum for a few minutes, the baby kicked a few more times.

"Well now we know how to get him to kick." said Sokka.

"Amazing, isn't it? Hey, do you smell something burning?" asked Toph. Sokka sniffed the air.

"The steaks!" they said in unison.

Sokka grabbed the pan and pulled it off the stove.

"Well, I think these are done." He commented, looking at the steaks.

"Are they okay?"

"Yeah. They're fine, just a few carrots started to burn."

"Oh, okay. I'll set the table." Toph put plates ans cups of water on the table. Sokka put a steak and unburnt carrots on each. Toph took the peas off the pot and split them between the two plates. Toph questioned Sokka about the finer details of his trip while they ate.

"I wish you weren't going."

"I know, but I have to go." They were quiet for a minute. Sokka was fiddling with something in his pocket.

"Hey, Toph? Can I ask you something?"

"Shoot." Sokka took a deep breath.

"Well, we've know each other for six years and we've been in and out of a relationship for four of those years and I-I think it's time to take the next step." Sokka got down on one knee on front of Toph and held her hand in both of his.

"So, Toph Bei Fong, will you-"

"Yes, Meathead! Of course I'll marry you!" Sokka pulled a ring out of his pocket and slipped it onto Toph's left ring finger. The band was a shiny black metal and there was a piece of green quartz set in it.

"I have two questions. Why now and what is this made out of?"

"I chose now because I wanted to show that I wasn't going to disappear on you. And your ring is made out of a meteor that fell to earth a couple miles from here and green quartz. I took a chunk of the meteor to a jeweler and had him make it into a ring. I picked the green quartz because it's the same color as your eyes. I wasn't sure if you could bend quartz, but I figured you could try."

"Thank you Sokka. This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me."

Sokka pulled Toph up out of her chair and hugged her. He lifted her chin and gently kissed her lips. Toph returned his gentle kiss. Their lips moved in unison with a gentle passion that related everything unsaid to each other. Eventually Toph pulled away, bending the platform of earth that had been boosting her up, back into the floor. She laid her head on Sokka's chest as he stroked her long hair.

"We should go to sleep. You have a long day tomorrow." Toph said quietly.

I like this chapter a lot, despite the mushyness. It might have to do with the fact that my sister left the handwritten version of this at school and I had to go back and get it before the custodian found it and threw it away. Next chapter will be a week after this one and split between Sokka and Katara's point of views. This arc may take a while to finish, I haven't decided yet. After this arc is done, I'll probably have Toph have the baby. This story will go until the baby is about three or four and then I will start the sequel at about age seven and decide what happens from there. Sorry for the epic authors note. Just trying to get you on the same page.

PS. I know most four year-olds probably aren't that smart, but Satomi is.

Jaa nee!