The chapter we have all waited for.
Lin reunites with her mother and sister for the first time in almost 11 years.
A/N: Yay, we've finally made it to the scene. Make sure you have some tissues, cause it is emotional!
There is a piece of fanart that goes with this chapter, you can find it on Instagram or Deviantart under Emeraldroses394
***Please note, that I will be taking a week off from posting.
1) Because I need to catch up on writing. This was the last one in my cache (whoops lol)
2) My mother has just gone through major surgery and its been a crazy few weeks, and I am sure will still be crazy for a little while longer at the least.
3) My best friend is getting married next Friday, and I am doing her hair and makeup, so it will be a loooong (but happy) day.
I am definitely hoping to be back on September 9th. But I will update on here on Instagram, if I am expecting any further delays. I look forward to seeing you all in 2 weeks, but feel free to find my on Instagram where I will still be active over the next couple weeks
Same day; Winter 147 AG
Lin had become more fidgety the closer they got to Air Temple Island. It had been a long week at sea, and it just added to her anxiety.
The previous night, the family had relaxed in the sitting room the ship had for its upper officers who had kindly let them make use of the room.
Lin watched her children across the room being entertained by Aang and Bumi. Her thoughts were rolling around in her head, and she was unable to escape the anxious feelings that ebbed in. She hadn't realized she had closed her eyes until she felt someone sit beside her, and looked up to find Kya seated beside her.
Just seeing the waterbender beside her caused her inner turmoil to flow past her lips. "What if they don't like what they see? I-I'm not the strong girl I used to be…"
Kya placed her hand over Lin's, which was fiddling with Tayen's doll that the girl had handed to her mother before running off to see what Commander Bumi was doing next.
"Hey, I promise you that your mother will just be relieved to see you again. And so will everyone else. Dad, Bumi, and I will be right there with you."
Lin had nodded shakily, a faint attempt at a smile on her face. When Kya lifted her arm, Lin hesitated only a moment, before leaning into the older woman's side. Allowing the waterbender to hug her close.
Lin was startled from her reverie as the boat came to a jarring stop. Looking out the window, she noticed that they were now docked, and she felt her body shaking. The view of Air Temple Island filled her with relief, but also caused her anxiety to spike.
Amaruq came over, as if sensing his mother's distress, and grabbed her hand. "It's okay, Mama." He said quietly. She offered him a weak smile, trying to be strong for him but feeling like she was failing.
Bumi had told them to stay inside until one of his officers told them to come out. They wanted to do the handoff of the prisoners first, without the children seeing.
When they were given the all clear, Kya gave her a reassuring smile before she picked up Tarlo, and grabbed Tayen's hand. Nuna took Tayen's other hand and then they descended the ramp together.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and saw Istas. They didn't say anything, but their eyes shared an understanding between them. She offered Istas and Tarrlok another weak smile, and watched as they approached the ramp as well.
"Shall we Lin?" Aang said as he came to her side.
Lin looked up, meeting his warm eyes with her own scared ones. She nodded shakily. He placed his one arm around her back and let her grab his other hand to help support her as they walked. She was grateful for this as once they started descending the ramp behind Istas and Tarrlok, she felt like her legs had a mind of their own. A cool winter breeze ruffled their hair, as they descended. She drew strength from Amaruq and her uncle, keeping her eyes focused on the ramp below her, instead of the people on the dock.
She startled slightly when Aang spoke, asking everyone to move off the dock as it was crowded. She gripped his hand tightly as she finally stepped onto stone for the first time in 10 years.
That's when Lin heard her mother for the first time in a decade as well.
"Please tell me this isn't some sick joke."
She froze at hearing that voice; this was the voice she had lost hope in ever hearing again. But there it was. There it was.
"It's okay, Lin. You can go to her." Aang whispered into her ear.
Lin took courage in his words and finally looked up. Her eyes quickly narrowed in on her mother and tears instantly sprung to her eyes. As they started falling down her cheeks, she took a hesitant step forward. "Mama?" She called out softly in an almost childlike voice, suddenly feeling like her 6 year old self when she had gotten hurt and her mother would be there to comfort her.
Her mother let out a partial sob and soon Lin was in her arms. "Lin!" At hearing her mother say her name, Lin broke into full blown sobs, similar to how she had broken down in Kya's arms a few months ago.
The two sank to the cold ground, Lin losing her grip on Amaruq's hand in order to wrap her arms around her mother.
"Lin, oh my little badgermole, it's you… it's really you." Lin felt her mother tighten her grip on her. They sat there for a little while, both crying and holding each other tightly. Lin put her face in her mothers neck, taking in the scent of earth, metal, and strong tea that her mother always smelt like. Lin had thought for so long that she would never see her family, her mother, again. Yet being held in the strong arms of her mother, was the first time she had felt truly protected and safe in almost 11 years.
Eventually, she felt her mother's hand move and rest on her distended belly. "A baby…" Toph said, in quiet amazement.
Lin swallowed, and pulled back enough to see her mother's face. "Yes." She said softly. She glanced up about to call for her children when she saw a young woman with a slightly darker complexion to her, but eyes just as green. Her breath caught in her throat. "Su?" She gasped out.
The young woman looked at her in shock. Lin couldn't believe that the young woman right there was her sister. The image she kept in her mind was of a 10 year old with a toothy grin having just lost a couple baby teeth as her adult ones came in. Lin held her hand out, hoping Su would take it.
After a moment of staring between her and the hand, Suyin stepped forward and took Lin's hand, before kneeling and wrapping her arms around her sister and mother.
"Look at you. So grown up now." Lin said softly, cupping her little sister's cheek with one hand.
Suyin sniffled, but gave her a happy smile which Lin returned. "I can't believe it's really you!" Su said, before copying what Lin had done just moments before, by burrowing into her sister's neck. Lin held her sister closer, crying into the shorter black hair, as their mother held them both to her chest; tears running down her own face unchecked.
Eventually, Su pulled back, wiping her face, and then stood up. She held a hand out to both her mother and sister. Toph stood first, then Lin grabbed both of their offered hands and huffed as she stood. Her back protesting from sitting on the cold, hard ground for so long. She quickly placed a hand on her bump when the baby kicked her, upset at the movement, rubbing the spot in soothing motions.
"Kids, come here please." Lin beckoned gently, as she caught Nuna's wide eyes. Kya set Tarlo down so he and the girls could run over to their mother. Amaruq was still close to her from where she had let go of his hand. As soon as they gathered around her, she placed a hand on top of her two boys' heads. "Mom, Su, these are my children. Nuna is 9, Amaruq is 7, Tayen is 5, and Tarlo is 4. Kiddo's this is your Grandma Toph and Aunt Suyin." She said softly.
The two Beifong women stood there in shock. Sure, they realized Lin was pregnant now, but they hadn't fully realized that the other four children belonged to her. But now that Su did a double look at the kids, especially Nuna, she could see pieces of her sister and the Beifong genes in them all.
Clearing her throat, Suyin smiled at them. "Hello, little darlings. It is so nice to meet you."
"You look like Mama and Nuna." Tayen said, approaching Toph. "Amaruq says you are the bestest earthbender in the world, is that true? Do you really see with your feet? Do-"
"Tayen, maybe let her answer the other questions first." Lin interrupted her inquisitive child gently, resting a hand on her head.
Toph visibly swallowed, before giving Tayen a bright smile. "Of course I'm the greatest earthbender in the world." Lin watched her mother chuck her young daughter's chin. "I can tell where everyone is on the stone here. Including the winged lemurs on the rock over there."
"Woah!" Tayen exclaimed with wide eyes as she looked over and saw three lemurs watching the group curiously. "Mama, there's winged lemurs! They're so cute." She said in awe, she had never seen them outside of books before.
"Grandma?" Tarlo asked quietly, suddenly a little shy, but still tentatively approaching Toph.
Toph smiled a watery smile, not bothering to hide the couple tears that fell from her eyes. "Yeah, I'm your Grandma. You're Tarlo right?"
"That's me!" He surged forward and hugged his grandmother's legs. "Hi!"
"Hi, little badgermole." Toph said quietly, moving to kneel in front of the boy and pulling him properly into her arms. She couldn't believe she was hugging her grandson - her second grandson at that.
Lin looked away from the sight of her youngest and her mother when she felt a hand on her elbow. She noticed Suyin giving her a gentle smile. "Speaking of Grandmother's…" Su motioned to a woman standing nearby.
Lin let out a gasp, not expecting to see her own grandmother standing there. She hadn't even thought on the way from the Northern Water Tribe that there was a possibility that either of her grandparents could still be alive.
Poppy stepped over to her eldest granddaughter and gave her a warm smile. "Hello Lin. It-" Her voice broke a little. "It's so good to see you." She lifted a shaking hand and cupped Lin's cheek, careful of the bruising on her face and neck. "You are a sight for sore eyes."
Lin leant her head into the warm hand on her cheek. "Gr-Grandmother…" She said softly, a few tears slipping down her face.
The elder wiped the tears from her face, before pulling her granddaughter into a warm and gentle, but firm hug. After a few minutes, they pulled back, Poppy wiping more tears from Lin's cheeks. "Everyone is so happy to see you are alive and finally home."
"Everyone?" Lin asked softly, before her eyes focused over her grandmother's shoulder. There she saw the whole extended family, each with tears in their own eyes. A warmth filled her chest at seeing everyone, at the same time a ball of anxiety grew in her. She hadn't been around this many people at once in such a long time. Sure she had been to the clinic during her pregnancies, the market, and taking the kids to their bending lessons, but no one ever focused on her like they were doing today.
She could feel her breathing pick up speed and her ears filled with a rushing sound.
Suddenly a different set of hands were turning Lin around, and cupping her cheeks. "Lin? Hey, look at me. Focus on my voice and look at me. That's it. Just focus on me." Lin's gaze finally focused and realized it was Kya who was holding her face. "Breath with me, okay? In - one, two, three, four. Hold - one, two, three, four. Out - one, two, three, four." Lin followed her, noticing that her breathing was returning to normal, and the rushing in her ears faded. The ball of anxiety lessened, not fading completely, but becoming a little more manageable the more they repeated the breathing exercise.
Lin could feel her body grow exhausted now that the panic was over.
"Come on, let's get you settled to have some rest." Kya said softly.
Lin offered a weak, timid nod, eyes cast downwards to avoid the eyes of everyone else.
"Aunt Toph, would you earthbend us up? I don't think it is wise to use the stairs right now." Kya asked, voice still gentle as she wrapped a hand around Lin's waist to support her.
"Of course." Toph nodded, before picking Tarlo up and walking to the edge of the cliff. Su and Poppy followed with the rest of the children. Tayen was glued to Suyin's side, with round, scared eyes after seeing her mother's panic.
As soon as the earth below them started to lift them up though, all four children were quickly enraptured. Especially Nuna, who was staring in awe at her grandmother who barely moved, only a twitch of her wrist, a clench of her hand into a fist, and then pulling that hand up a bit. Nuna had never experienced earthbending like this, her teacher had only come every few weeks for a week, and they never really went past the basics. She also had only ever practiced with some hand-sized rocks her teacher brought with him.
Once arriving at the top, Poppy ushered the children off the platform of earth. Kya helped Lin, and Toph brung up the rear with Tarlo still in her arms. Once off, she sent the piece of earth back down to where it came from.
"That was cool, Grandma!" Tarlo exclaimed, eyes wide and a grin on his face.
Lin, now out of view of all the eyes that had been on her down below, finally caught her breath. With it came the nostalgic smells of home. Despite the crisp air of winter, she could still smell the incense from the temple, and the scent of food wafting from the kitchen.
She allowed Kya to lead her into Katara and Aang's private residence, which was secluded from the acolyte dormitories on the other side of the Island. Kya helped Lin with her coat and boots, while Su and Toph helped Tayen and Tarlo respectively, and Poppy took the coats to hang up.
The family then led them into the living room. Lin was quickly seated on one of the couches and Amaruq promptly sat beside her, cuddling close. Lin wrapped her arm around him and brushed her fingers against his cheek, causing him to smile up at her.
Toph sat beside Lin, needing to be close to her as now that they were inside, she couldn't feel her heartbeat due to the wooden floor.
Lin watched her youngest two climb up beside Suyin on the couch across, asking her many questions. Nuna was speaking with Poppy off to the side. Kya was setting up a fire in the hearth, as the house had a slight chill.
A small movement brought her gaze back to her mother beside her. She could tell her mother looked hesitant, and it sent a pang of anxiety to her heart. But before she could do anything about it, Toph spoke.
"Lin, I am so happy you are home now." The older earthbender said, voice thick with emotion. "I- may I touch you?"
Lin was surprised that her mother was asking, but she let out a soft yes. Her mother's hand found her arm before she started moving it up until she was cupping Lin's cheek. "I love you so much, badgermole." A few tears slipped from Lin's eyes, and Toph wiped them as soon as she felt them on her hand. Her other hand came up, slowly to give Lin warning, before cupping her other cheek to wipe the tears from that one too. "I love you, and I am sorry I was awful at saying that when you were younger. That will change. I promise you will always know my love."
The younger earthbender sniffed. "I know. I've always known, even when you didn't say it out loud. I love you too." Lin smiled lightly, and upon feeling the change, Toph had a small smile grace her face. It didn't take away the concerned look, but at that moment she was just happy to have her baby back. Toph moved her hands, so that she was holding Lin's free hand in hers.
Lin let out a small yawn shortly after.
"Mama, do you want to lay down?" Amaruq asked softly.
"Maybe right here, little wolf. I want to be with everyone still." She responded.
Amaruq slipped off the couch, and Lin ended up laying with her head on her mother's lap, just as she used to when a child. Kya came over and helped the younger waterbender with placing a blanket over his mama.
"Thank you, my sweet wolf. I love you." Lin said, before another yawn broke across her face.
Amaruq bent down and placed a kiss on his mama's forehead, just as she would for each of her children. "Love you too, Mama." He then went over to sit beside Nuna, who let him up onto the armchair she sat in.
Lin felt her mother's hands on her. One rubbing her arm like she used to when Lin was small, and one on her hair. "Hair loopies?" She asked as she found the small braids coming from the top of Lin's head.
"It was one of the only things I could do that reminded me of home."
"Your Aunt will be happy, I'm sure." Toph said with a small smile on her face. She kept up the movement of her one hand tracing gently over Lin's features, memorizing them once more.
The soothing motion of both hands, along with the rushed feelings of past familiarity with the actions and being surrounded by her family, had Lin drifting off into a deep sleep. Today had been exhausting and was only early afternoon.
Toph sat there, still repeating the gentle, soothing movements long after Lin's breaths evened out. She couldn't believe her baby was back in her arms, with babies of her own. She swallowed the heaviness of the implications behind that, as she would deal with that later. For now, she focused on Lin's sleeping breaths, and the chatter of her grandchildren with the other 3 women in the room.
Her baby badgermole was home.
A/N: I am hoping that next chapter will be the reunion between Lin and the rest of the family. Maybe even tackle the whole Katara now realizes it was Lin she had seen all those years ago.