For anyone who already read this (was called 'Surprise Birthday'), it was originally meant to be a one-shot but I had some more ideas and added two more chapters. This one remains unchanged, aside from a few minor edits.
Toph took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying not to be too obvious. She knew the three underlings sitting around the table in the conference room at Headquarters were paying close attention to her.
"You still not feeling well?" Li-Cho asked.
She just shook her head, tired and a little worried. Over the course of the last three hours, the intermittent cramps hadn't really gotten worse, but they hadn't gone away either. She had thought maybe it was 'that time of the month', but there was no blood. She had tried using the bathroom, but it hadn't helped. After about a minute, the pain faded - as it had before - and she tried to refocus. Half an hour later, it returned with a vengeance. "Son of a bitch!" she growled, bending forward in her chair.
"What?" Penga asked.
"Fuck…" Toph muttered, trying to breathe through the pain.
"Maybe you should go to the hospital," Chang said, concern in his voice. Toph's initial reaction was to shake the suggestion off; she was tough, and she'd endured worse. But whatever was going on apparently wasn't going away. Maybe getting checked out wasn't such a bad idea.
"I guess I could swing by the clinic," she grumbled. "Not like I can get any work done like this."
"We'll keep at it," Penga assured her.
"Alright. Hopefully I'll be back soon. Unless I'm dying," she added fatalistically, mostly joking. Mostly.
Halfway there, without any more cramps, she began to feel a little silly. And anyway, she wasn't really comfortable with anyone but Katara knowing her private medical business unless it was an emergency (too many off-hand comments ended up in the paper, which Sokka would gleefully read aloud to her). Then the pain came back and she made the decision to go to Air Temple Island, hoping her friend would be home.
"Oh, hey," Katara said when she let herself in. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm...not feeling well."
"You're very pale. Come sit down in the kitchen and I'll make you a cup of tea." She busied herself while Toph took her armor off and fell heavily into one of the chairs. "So what's wrong, exactly?"
"My stomach hurts. Been hurting most of the day, like cramps, but it's not constant. It comes in waves, and it's getting worse."
"Have you thrown up or had diarrhea?"
"No. I'm a little queasy, but I think it's mostly from the ferry. Was really choppy today."
"Hm." Katara put the kettle on and paused, drumming her fingers on the counter. "Have you been constipated at all?"
"I dunno... I guess, a little."
"When was the last time you went?"
"Today."
"Oh, ok. Not that then." She came over and sat in the next chair over. "Hm. I don't know. You said it feels like cramps?"
"Kinda. But like I said, it comes and goes."
"Hm." Katara was quiet for a few seconds. "This might seem like an odd question, but...when was the last time you were...intimate with someone?"
"What the fuck does that have to do with anything?"
"Humor me."
Toph had to think about it. It had been - what, four months? - since Kanto decided he'd had enough of Republic City? And a few weeks before that since they'd spent any time together. "I guess...four and half, five months?"
"And your cycle hasn't changed at all since then?"
"What are you getting at?" Toph asked suspiciously. "Surely you're not suggesting that I'm...pregnant... I mean, I think I'd know after that long."
"Just answer the question."
"It's been...a little unpredictable." The words had barely left her lips when another wave of pain hit. "Ughhh," she groaned through clenched teeth, clutching her stomach with one hand. "Fuck. I've never felt anything like this."
"I know you don't want to hear this, but that seems an awful lot like a contraction."
Toph waited until it faded before speaking again. "Isn't there some way to use waterbending to figure out what's wrong?"
Katara got up and knelt down next to her. "Lean back and lift your shirt up." Toph obeyed, stretching out, and Katara's cool hand pressed against her lower abdomen. There was a very strange and not especially pleasant sensation in her gut, like water swirling around, then Katara drew in a sharp breath. "Spirits..."
"What?" Toph asked, alarmed.
"Well. I was right."
"...What?" The air seemed to get suddenly thinner. "No..."
"I'm afraid so."
"I don't-" She swallowed thickly. "How- How do you know?"
"Babies are held inside a sac full of fluid. I can sense and bend that fluid. There is most certainly a baby in there. And I'm pretty sure you're in labor."
"No..." Toph groaned, running her hand over her stomach. It was true that she'd put on a little bit of weight- just some pudge on her stomach that she attributed to crossing the threshold into her thirties. A slowing of the metabolism. Perfectly rational. She just shook her head slowly. It didn't add up, and she certainly couldn't imagine herself with a kid. "No. This isn't happening. I can't- Fuck." Angry tears leaked from her eyes, the beginnings of acceptance. The true reality of it was starting to dawn on her. "It's- It's too soon...isn't it? If it comes out now, it'll die...won't it?"
"Not necessarily. It's actually bigger and more developed than I thought it would be. You're definitely more than five months along. Closer to seven or eight, I'd say."
"How is that possible? I mean- Look at me!"
"I know. It's definitely unusual. Looks like the placenta is in the front, which explains a lot. Keeps you from showing much or feeling any movement."
Toph had no words. None of this made any sense. She had accepted the talented healer's diagnosis, and the consequence of that was that it was quickly becoming very real. A sense of dread was settling on her shoulders like a sodden cloak. Either she would soon have a child that she was utterly unprepared for...or worse- she was about to go through a lot of pain and suffering for nothing. She pressed her palms against her eyes and violently suppressed the urge to cry. "I don't want it to die," she muttered through clenched teeth.
"Is there anything you can think of that might help narrow down how far along you are?" Katara asked, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly. "Any hints or symptoms you can think of?"
Toph tried hard to remember anything out of the ordinary happening. There were a few things, she realized. One day her secretary had started peeling an orange and it had instantly made her vomit into her trash can. After that, she couldn't stand the smell of them at all and had forbidden them in her office. How long ago had that been? Months, she was sure, but it was so hazy.
In the growing quiet and deep focus, she suddenly became aware of something she'd put from her mind around that time. A furtive and inexplicable pulsing that seemingly had no origin. After weeks of trying to identify it, she'd given up and eventually stopped noticing altogether. But it was still there, beating steadily inside her. And she knew exactly when she'd first felt it. "The Twentieth Anniversary celebration. I felt the heartbeat a few days before it, but I didn't know what it was."
"So...seven months ago. Ok. That's really good, actually. You wouldn't have felt it right away, so you had to have conceived at least a few weeks before that. Can you narrow it down any more than that?"
"No," Toph said wearily.
"Ok. Um... Were you doing anything strenuous when the contractions started?"
"No. I was sitting down."
"Ok...lemme just look at the calendar." She got up crossed the room. Toph could hear her counting quietly to herself. "It's gotta be at least thirty-three weeks, but it could easily be more. I'm leaning towards cautiously optimistic. It's entirely possible you went into labor simply because the baby is ready to come. And if it's a few weeks early, that's usually perfectly fine. Just...try not to worry, ok? Worrying won't help or change anything."
Toph was barely listening to her. She'd been struck by a sudden idea and was zeroed in on the tiny vibrations the heartbeat created. They were minuscule, but she could detect far fainter ones. It took all of her concentration, but slowly a picture began to manifest. A small form, scrunched into a ball, tucked away deep inside her. There weren't enough vibrations to see any details beyond that, but now she had undeniable proof. There was definitely a baby in there.
"Toph?"
"Hm?" she mused, her reverie broken.
"You ok?"
"Of course I'm not ok."
"Listen, I'm going to need to go get the kids from school soon. I'll leave an acolyte with you just in case, but I'm sure you're still hours away from anything exciting happening. Do you want me to send any kind of message to Headquarters?"
"Oh...yea. But, uh, just say I'm sick. I don't want anyone to know yet. Just in case things-" Her voice caught and she swallowed thickly, "-don't go well."
"Alright. Um...what about Sokka?"
"What about him?" Toph asked with a confused frown.
"I'll be busy delivering the baby. You might want someone you trust to sit with you and hold your hand."
Well...Toph had to admit she had a point. A little extra support would be nice. But she and Sokka hadn't spoken in days, not since getting into an argument about work. She sighed wearily. "I guess you can tell him, and he can come if he wants."
"Is everything alright between you two?"
Toph grimaced; she hated how well Katara could read her. "I...may have screamed at him a little the other day. Not without reason. He might not even want to come."
"Please. You two fight all the time. You're like an old married couple. It's almost enough to make me wonder if…"
She trailed off, leaving Toph bewildered. "Wonder what?"
"I know you used to have kind of a crush on him, and I know how he is. You two have never had any kind of...fling? Say, about eight months ago?"
Toph let out a brash laugh. "You're out of your mind. I'm a grown woman, Sugar Queen. I don't get 'crushes'. That was twenty fucking years ago. Trust me, I'm over it. If I want someone, I pursue them. And besides, your idiot brother has never shown even the slightest interest in me. I can always tell. Men can't hide their attraction from me."
"Alright, fine. I was just curious."
"And even if there was mutual interest," Toph continued, "The last thing I want is to be one woman in his endless string of playthings, and make things weird between us."
"I mean...you're not exactly the serious relationship type. You two are kinda perfect for each other," Katara said dryly.
"Sokka is a family man, deep down. He's just a little lost, looking for something. Me? I know what I want, and what I don't want. Don't try to play matchmaker."
"I'm not. And don't worry about whatever spat you two got in. I know he'd drop everything to be here for you if you asked."
Sokka saw Katara boarding the ferry with the kids - Tenzin strapped to her chest and Bumi and Kya a few steps ahead - and ran to make it in time. "Hey. I got your extremely vague and cryptic message. What's the emergency?"
"Uncle Sokka!" Kya cried, running over to hug him.
"Hey, kiddo," he said, picking her up. "How was school?" While she launched into a verbose story of her day, he kept shooting furtive glances at Katara, hoping for hints. When his young niece finally ran out of words, he put her down and playfully mussed Bumi's hair. "Kids, can you let me and your mom talk alone for a minute?"
"Why'd you say there's an emergency?" Bumi asked before turning to his mother, a concerned frown on his face. "Did something happen?"
"Aunt Toph's just in a bit of a pickle right now. Nothing you need to be worried about." She chivvied them off and pulled Sokka aside.
"What's wrong with Toph?" he asked, getting worried despite his sister's assurances.
"She's, uh… She's in labor."
"...Huh?"
"She's pregnant. She didn't know."
"Wh- Seriously? You're not just screwing with me?"
"I'm serious. Why would I joke about that?"
Sokka's heart sank. He didn't know a whole lot about pregnancy and childbirth, but he knew the basics. "It's gotta be too soon..." he muttered. "I mean, she's not showing at all. Her stomach is flat."
"It's not totally flat."
"Still. There's not a lot of hope, is there?" he said sadly.
"It's actually not as bad as it seems. This is kind of a rare, freak thing, for her to still be so small. She's pretty far along. I'm going to hope for the best, and you should, too. She's scared and could really use some encouragement."
"So...it might end up alright?"
"I hope so. Honestly, there's a good chance."
"I'll take your word for it." He rubbed the back of his neck and let out a long breath. "Man. Toph having a baby… That's just wild. I never would have expected it."
"Do you have any idea who the father is?" Katara asked.
"No. Not a clue."
"I'd think you two would talk about anything and everything. I know how crude you both can be."
"There's a big difference between making crude jokes and discussing our sex lives. She's a pretty private person."
"She admitted you two had a little fight recently."
He smirked and shook his head. "Does she know you asked me to come? I'm not sure she wants me around right now."
"She knows. And I think she does want you there but she's too proud to actually say it."
"Hey, as long as she doesn't yell at me again..."
"I expect she will," Katara chuckled. "But it'll be pain-induced. Don't let her chase you away. I know you're tougher than that, and she needs someone to hold her hand no matter what."
"I'm not going anywhere," he sighed. This whole situation was difficult to swallow, and not just because of the worry that it would go badly. Toph was like a little sister; it was sometimes hard to think of her as a 'woman', despite the fact that he knew - in an oblique sort of way - that she enjoyed the pleasures of adulthood, same as he did.
He shook his head, dispelling those thoughts. His best friend was about to become a mother - to a child that might not survive more than a few minutes - and she was definitely not mentally or emotionally ready for it. She needed him now more than she'd ever needed him, even if she refused to admit it. The only good news was that she clearly had bigger things to worry about than their disagreement. Boy, she sure could be a pain sometimes, and often made his job harder. But the bottom line was that he'd do just about anything for her. And if she needed to squeeze his hand and scream obscenities at him in order to survive this ordeal, he could handle that.
Toph was pacing across the living room when Katara returned with the kids and Sokka in tow.
"Aunt Toph!" Kya screeched running over to hang off her shirt.
Ugh. Is this what I have to look forward to? Toph grumbled silently, despite the fact that she generally enjoyed spending time with her niece and nephews. But she was in no mood for it now.
"Are you staying for dinner?"
"Aunt Toph is going to be staying with us for a little while," Katara said, intercepting her. "But she's not feeling well, so don't bother her."
"Are you sick?" Kya asked. "Mom said you ate a pickle. Did that make you sick?"
Toph blinked in confusion while everyone else laughed.
"She didn't say that, dum dum," Bumi snorted. "She said-"
"Alright," Katara interrupted. "You two go start your homework. Go on." Once they were gone, she came over to Toph. "How many contractions did you have?"
"Six. About every fifteen minutes."
"Let me know when they're five minutes apart." Toph just nodded wearily and Katara left her alone with Sokka.
"So…" he said awkwardly.
"I guess she told you?"
"Yea. Uh...how are you doing?"
"How am I doing? Fuck. I'm about three seconds away from an emotional breakdown. So don't you get all sentimental on me because I'm not about to lose it in front of you."
"Wouldn't be the first time," he mumbled with a half-smile, earning an annoyed scowl.
"I told you to never bring that up."
"You brought it up."
She clenched her jaw, feeling the anger rise again. He was so bloody insufferable sometimes. Did she really want him here? "Listen, if you're just going to- Aghhh!" She cut off and staggered, doubled-over. Sokka's strong hands gripped her upper arms, but that was the only thing she was aware of besides the pain. When it was over, she realized she'd sunk down to her knees. Tears streaks ran from her eyes down under her chin. "Fuck this shit," she muttered, brusquely wiping her face.
"Maybe you should lie down."
"Tried that. Got too restless." She let him help her to her feet. "And my back is killing me."
"At least pace next to the bed so you can sit down when you need to."
"Fine," she sighed, heading to the guest room she used when spending the night. But when she got there, she found she was so exhausted that she fell heavily onto the bed anyway. "Maybe just a quick rest," she muttered, lying down.
Sokka's weight appeared next to her, though he was quiet. Then suddenly a tentative hand touched her stomach. She flinched in shock, but there was also a ripple of pleasure that annoyed her more than she would have thought possible.
"Sorry," he said sheepishly, pulling his hand away. "I don't know why I did that. I'm still having a little trouble wrapping my brain around this."
"You and me both," she grumbled.
"Can't believe there's really a whole baby in there. Doesn't seem possible."
She put her palm flat against the small bump. "It's all curled up in a ball."
"You can, uh, 'see' it?"
"A little, but only if I really concentrate. It's pretty low down. Almost feels like if someone looked up there they could probably see it."
"Heh. Gross."
"What are you, ten years old?" Toph scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Don't pretend like you haven't indulged in plenty of...'fine dining'.
"That's totally different. Ugh. Can we talk about something else?"
She couldn't help but be amused by his discomfort. At the same time, it annoyed her a little that he couldn't see her as the attractive, desirable woman she knew she was. It was almost insulting. Not even a hint of rapid pulse or stiffness in her presence, ever, in twenty years. She'd been lying to Katara; if he'd shown any interest in her over the years, she wouldn't have hesitated to have a nice romp with him. He was experienced and passionate- two things that made for a good time in the sack. It didn't have to mean anything.
Then again, if he'd been the one to knock her up, that would have been a disaster. At least this way, she could do things her own way without another parent interfering. Sokka was the kind of guy who'd want to be involved in his kid's life. He would probably pressure her to get married, despite the fact that they would never work as an actual couple. They were far too much alike. Too stubborn. Note to self: Don't sleep with Sokka. "Remember that time you fainted like an old lady?" she asked aloud.
"Um, excuse me. I was sixteen. No sixteen-year-old guy should ever have to see something like that. And don't act all high and mighty. You didn't have to see it at all."
"When are you going to get it through your thick skull that I can see everything? It doesn't matter if people are wearing clothes or hidden behind walls. I see it all, whether I want to or not."
"It's not the same. You're just seeing shapes."
She sighed in annoyance. He knew better than to point out the things she missed out on by being blind. The vivid detail that she'd never be able to experience. "Whatever."
"Hey, Toph?" he said softly.
"What?"
"Can I be Uncle Sokka to this kid?"
"What else would you be? Uncle Meathead?"
"Heh. Something tells me it'll end up that way, regardless."
"Oh, look at that, maybe your head's not just full of meat, after all."
"Hey, if mocking me is what you gotta do to get through this, go for it. Just remember, what goes around, comes around. I foresee many poopy diapers and sleepless nights in your future."
She knew he was just razzing her to keep the mood light, but his words struck a nerve and an inexplicable wave of emotion assaulted her. Much to her great annoyance, her eyes filled up with angry, scared tears and overflowed. His dire 'prediction' literally represented the best-case scenario.
"I- I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"
"Fuck," she grumbled, wiping her face quickly, though her eyes still burned. "I thought you came to help, not make it worse?"
"Sorry. I'm not used to you being so...sensitive."
Toph put on her best attempt at a glare. "Try again, asshole."
"Hey, it's not a criticism, and it's not your fault, either. I don't pretend to be an expert, but I remember how Katara was during her pregnancies. Actually...this kind of explains why you've been a little more temperamental than usual lately. At least now I know there's a good reason. But I can't just immediately change the way I normally talk to you, so I guess you're probably going to get mad at me a lot until your moods go back to normal."
Toph just rolled her eyes, not having a response. He was right, of course, which made him all the more obnoxious. And yet, she was still glad he was here. There was no one else she trusted more, and she was about to be in a more vulnerable state than she'd ever been.
The contractions went on long into the night. Hours and hours of pain that got steadily worse until Toph thought, surely, she wouldn't be able to bear it again. "I hate him!" she shrieked. "That goddamn motherfucking asshole! I have never hated anyone in my life more than I hate him! Ugghhhh! Fuck!" She squeezed Sokka's hand as hard as she could, which was saying a lot. To his credit, he didn't complain.
Around three in the morning, Katara said she was ready to push - finally - and less than five minutes later a screaming baby entered the world.
"It's a girl," Katara announced. "Honestly bigger than I was expecting. I'm surprised she came out so easy."
"Easy?!"
"Relatively speaking."
"Is she...ok?"
"I think so. I'll just have a quick look at her. Lungs are working well, clearly. That's a good sign."
Toph broke down sobbing when her child - who was deemed perfectly healthy - was placed in her arms, unable to separate the feelings of relief, despair, and unadulterated fear. But there was something else there too, clawing its way to the surface. Something she didn't have a word for. It was...kinda nice. For just a moment, the other stuff melted away, leaving behind a strange sort of calm. Her fingers brushed across the small face, feeling delicate features and impossibly soft skin, then up to a surprisingly thick head of hair.
"She looks like you," Sokka remarked.
The calm evaporated and a sudden fear bloomed in Toph's chest. She couldn't believe that she hadn't thought of it earlier. "Can she- Can she see?"
"I can't tell. She's got her eyes closed."
"Least she stopped screaming."
"Now that she's settled down, I'd like to see if she'll nurse," Katara said.
"Guess I'll give you some privacy," Sokka said, getting up.
"Don't you fucking quit on me now," Toph protested.
"You want me to stay?"
"Yea. Look away, if it upsets your delicate sensibilities."
He just sighed and sat back down while Katara came over to help. "It might take her a few days to get the hang of it," she said after a brief struggle.
"Hey, she's looking at you now!" Sokka exclaimed.
"Really? You're sure?" Toph asked.
"Yea."
She let out a slow breath, struggling not to cry again. She'd done enough of that to last a lifetime. "Thought you weren't gonna look," she joked.
"I'm looking at her. Anyway, it's not like I haven't been around Katara breastfeeding plenty of times. I'm used to it."
"Then why were you going to leave?"
"Was just trying to be considerate."
"You think I care?" she scoffed. "Pfft. You know me better than that."
"Hey, this is all new territory for me. Yesterday I didn't think I'd be staying up half the night letting you break my hand, but here we are."
"Oh, don't be such a baby. I didn't break it."
"You tried to."
"I didn't put that much thought into it. I was a little preoccupied."
When the question was put to her, she decided to name her daughter Lin, after a long-dead great aunt that she'd never met. A true rebel that woman had been - in her time - staunchly refusing to marry and instead living a long life embroidering fantastical creature from her imagination on every piece of fabric she could get her hands on. She had been a cautionary tale in Toph's education, and though her rebellion may have been tame, she had been Toph's primary role model once she got old enough to realize she hated her life. It seemed fitting.
"Lin Beifong," Katara said. "Has a nice ring to it."
"I just realized- Aang's gonna be so surprised when he gets back," Toph laughed.
"I bet the whole city'll be surprised," Sokka said.
"And what about...her father?" Katara asked hesitantly. Honestly, Toph couldn't believe it had taken her this long.
"Meh. He's long gone. I'm not concerned. Better off on my own."
"You're not on your own," Sokka said.
"You know what I meant. I'm not interested in settling down with a husband, or trying to organize who has her and when. It's better this way."
"You don't think he'll come back?" Katara asked.
"Doubt it."
"I don't suppose you're going to tell us who he is?"
"What's to tell? Just some guy. Means nothing to me." It wasn't entirely true. Kanto had been a semi-permanent - if inconsistent - fixture in her life for close to a year before he'd left. He wasn't her 'boyfriend' or anything, but they'd gotten along well and had fun together...for a time. While she was sufficiently over it, his leaving had hurt more than she thought it would.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Kya shrieked, waking Toph from her nap. Lin, too, unfortunately. She instantly started screaming.
Course you gotta be an even lighter sleeper than me, Toph grumbled as she staggered out of bed. A second later, Kya's gleeful shouts registered. I guess Aang's back. This should be fun. While she changed Lin's diaper, she overheard their conversation.
"Everything go alright while I was gone?"
"Yea, but something exciting happened."
"I know what it is!" Kya laughed. "But Mommy said I get a special treat if I don't tell!"
"Bribery, huh?" Aang said. "Hm. This have something to do with a crying baby that's obviously not Tenzin?"
"Yea!" Kya cried, giggling.
"Why don't you go have a look?" Katara said, her voice thick with restrained amusement.
"Oook…" His footsteps approached, then there was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
"Toph? What are you-?" He came closer and was quiet for a second. "I'm...confused." Behind him, Katara leaned against the doorframe, most likely enjoying the show, with Kya still giggling behind her.
"Her name is Lin," Toph said simply. "Congrats, you're an uncle."
"I was only gone for two weeks…" He sounded lost. "I don't understand."
"Join the club."
"But you weren't...you know…"
"Fat?" It was a conversation she'd had many times in the last few days.
"Well...yea."
"I dunno," she shrugged. "Ask your wife. She knows more about this stuff than I do." She finished up and lifted Lin to her shoulder in an attempt to calm her down. "All I know is that suddenly I was in a lot of pain and then this kid came out of me. Now I gotta restructure my whole goddamn life to make some room for her."
"This is so bizarre. Who's the dad? It's not Sokka, is it?"
"Oh, for fuck's sake. Why does everyone jump to that conclusion?"
"Well, you two are really close."
"Not like that! Spirits. It's not Sokka, ok? It's no one important. Now, if you don't mind, I need to feed her. Stay or go, I don't care, but just a fair warning- there's about to be some exposed breast in here."
"Er, right. I'll leave to you it. Uh, congrats, I guess."
I know, it's a little rambling. Wasn't meant to be a cohesive story, just a fun headcanon. And for anyone who thinks this situation is unrealistic, look up cryptic pregnancies! They are uncommon but they do happen. And I was just so enthralled by the idea and thought it would be fitting for Toph to be totally oblivious and taken by surprise.
Please leave me a review, I'd love to know your thoughts! And enjoy the extra chapters I added!