I'll Be Seeing You

by CloverCreative

In which the timing is never quite right, until it is? Exploring a series of moments throughout the years as Toph and Sokka help each other navigate their complicated lives in Republic City, and perhaps figure out their feelings for each other along the way. Canon Universe. Other pairings included. Mature Themes.

15. In an Instant

Chapter 15: In an Instant

It's strange, Toph thinks, how suddenly life can change. How such big, monumental life changes can be planted from the tiniest of seeds. How just an instant can change everything about you, shape who you are and carve the path for the rest of your life. An instant is all it takes.

Take, for example, when she was six, her life changed in a cave, the instant she encountered her first badgermole. The masters helped her not only become one of the greatest earthbenders of all time, but also taught her how to see unlike anyone else.

When she was twelve, her life changed in an arena, the instant she met the Avatar. Meeting Twinkletoes changed everything - it gave her friends, family, and finally, freedom.

Then again at twelve, her life changed inside a tiny metal cell, the instant she was challenged to do the impossible, and she did. That moment changed not just her life, but the world. And it defined her. Metalbender.

When she was twenty-nine, her life changed in an empty airship hangar, the instant her metal cable shot through the heart of her first kill. That moment caused her to lose a part of herself, yet it made her gain something else. Something dark, but meaningful. A greater understanding for the world and its pain. Compassion.

And then, at thirty-one, her life changed again, the instant her feet touched the floor.

Looking back, she shouldn't have been surprised. The missed period and bouts of morning sickness probably should have clued her in to what was going on. But that did nothing to stop the pure shock she experienced waking up one morning.

It was just like any other morning, really. Toph woke up slowly, her blind eyes meeting familiar darkness like an old friend. But she didn't need eyesight to know that it was going to be a beautiful day outside. The warmth of the sun basking in through the window, and the sounds of city folk, cheerful on the streets below, let her know that the weather must have been perfect.

Yet, she had felt no desire to enjoy it. In fact, all she had wanted to do was stay in bed. It had been a rare morning as of late that she didn't wake up feeling nauseous, and she'd been feeling so tired lately – she felt like she could just sleep all day.

But alas, work had been waiting for her, so begrudgingly, she tossed her sheets to the side and swung her legs over the edge of the mattress.

Then, her bare feet met the cool, stone tile of the ground.

The late period and the morning sickness. The fatigue, the headaches, the tender breasts. Her sudden aversion to meat. Those were all things she could ignore. Just a fluke.

However, the faint, rapid heartbeat coming from somewhere in her belly. Yeah…that, she couldn't ignore. It was so faint that she was surprised she could pick up on it – she doubts other earthbenders, even trained to use seismic sense, would be able to sense it. But it was definitely there, and there was no mistaking it.

The realization that she was pregnant hit her like a bolt of lightning, shock and adrenaline pulsing their way through her veins in one quick instant. If she was being really honest, the first thought that flew through her head was no more than a panicked string of expletives. Fuck, Fuck, Fuck, Fuck. Shitbag. Motherfucker. No. No. No. Shit. Fucking Hell No! Fuck!

After that, there wasn't much thought at all. It was just numbness…pure astonishment at the fact that it was even conceivable that she could, well, conceive. Of course, she knew the science of it all, and she understood the chance of it and the risks of having unprotected sex, yada yada yada, spare her the lecture…. But the idea that she, Toph Beifong, could create a human, had always seemed like a vague concept of science-fiction. A possibility in theory, but never in reality.

So, when she woke up that morning, feeling her baby's heartbeat for the first time, she couldn't deny that it felt akin to waking up in an alternate universe. Some weird, strange, alternative dimension in which the universe believed that she was capable of being a mother. She had pinched herself, just to make sure she wasn't dreaming…but deep down, she had already known. There was no denying what she was. Pregnant.

She got up that morning and paced around her apartment, each step accompanied by the tiny, fluttering second heartbeat. It was just too much to process, and in all honesty, she knew if she thought too much about what being pregnant would actually mean, then she would only be about one step away from an emotional breakdown, and nobody had time for that shit.

So, rather than focus on the feelings of it all, she decided to be like the earthbender and police chief she was, and focus on cold, hard, and solid facts.

Fact number one… Who is the father?

Thankfully, that hadn't been much of a question. Sure, she had had multiple partners at one time in her life, but for a while now she had only been seeing Kanto. For a stupid, split second, she had wondered if Sokka could possibly be the father, and she felt a flare (just a brief, hot second) of excitement. But, she quickly realized that that was impossible. If Sokka was the father, then she'd probably have given birth already, considering she hadn't even spoken to him in about ten months.

That brief flicker of hope had quickly turned into dread.

No…the only possible option was Kanto.

It wasn't that she disliked Kanto. She wouldn't have slept with him if that were the case. Kanto was….nice. A bit boring, if she was being honest, but nice. He had a deep voice, and firm muscles that made her feel soft – feminine – in comparison. She was a tomboy at heart, of course, but admittedly, she had liked feeling like a woman.

Sure, she knew how to act feminine – Beifong women learned from a very young age how to be a 'lady' and how to play up their womanly charm (usually for the benefit of a man, ugh). But that was nothing more than an act, an obligation. One that Toph had actively rejected, then eventually learned to use to her own advantage, like a weapon.

But with Kanto, her femininity wasn't a requirement or expectation, it was a choice.

Kanto made her feel special in a way that a lot of men have never been able to. Sure, other flings have told her that she's beautiful and had tried their damndest to make her swoon, usually just annoying her in the process, but Kanto did it with such bluntness that Toph found herself believing him. He didn't cake his words in sugar or drown them in butter. He was upfront and direct - a quality she respected. And it didn't hurt that, usually, he told her less with words, and more with action.

And with his actions, he made her feel (and she'd never admit this aloud, but) sexy. Not that she's ever really had problems with body confidence to begin with. She's had her moments of insecurity of course, but for the most part, she's never been one to concern herself with outer appearance. Plus, from what people have told her in the past (and not just flings), she's not bad looking. It's never really made a difference to her either way. Regardless, Kanto made a point to let her know how much he desired her, and it was nice to feel wanted…to feel like the first choice.

It wasn't the same emotional intimacy she had experienced with Sokka, or even Satoru for that matter. Like Kanto, both men had made her feel special – beautiful even. But with Satoru, it was pure limerence. And with Sokka, he was such an old friend, she knew a part of him would always see a hint of that little girl she used to be. And with both men, it came with expectations.

But Kanto had no expectations. At least, none that she knew of. He didn't see her as 'one of the boys', but he didn't see her as a 'lady' either. He just saw her as Toph. Blind, badass, and beautiful Toph. And that was that. No need for all that emotional wishy-washy garbage.

And at the time, she hadn't wanted emotional.

Admittedly, she had made a mistake by sleeping with Kanto in the first place, back when she was also sleeping with Sokka. But she hadn't just fallen into bed with Sokka…she had fallen in love with him...and it was a lot. Especially considering, at the time, she hadn't understood that Sokka could possibly feel the same way about her. So, when she met Kanto – a nice, neutral, uncomplicated man – it seemed perfectly reasonable that he could help her get over her feelings for her friend before things got messy.

Of course, ironically, that had only made things messier. And then Sokka left.

And she was heartbroken (again, not that she'd ever tell anyone that), but she also knew that Sokka was right in saying that she had pushed him away. And she could have tried to stop him, but he was off to do something he loved – something that would make him happy - so what kind of person would she be if she had tried to pull him back in?

So, she let him go. And to get over her heartbreak, she moved on with Kanto. Why? Because he was there, and it was easy, and it felt good to feel wanted.

Plus, the sex felt pretty good too. Kanto was very - how should she put this - well-travelled. They never really talked much, at least not about anything very deep, but boy, he knew his way around a woman's body like he knew a map. A little too well, apparently…

It had been hot and steamy and torrid and nothing but physical - everything she needed at the time. It was what her friend-with-benefits arrangement with Sokka tried to be. Of course, looking back, she can acknowledge what an idiot she was for thinking she could just have sex with Sokka without it meaning something…not when he already meant everything to her. Subconsciously, she's sure some part of her always knew how it would end with him…but ever the masochist, she went there anyway.

But with Kanto - no - it was most definitely and safely no strings attached.

Well…until now. Now, not only were there strings – there was this tight, tangled and forever binding knot. And she'd have to tell him. Great.

Or…would she?

Fact number two – Was she going to keep the baby?

Surprisingly, at least to her, she didn't have to think too long and hard about this one either. The dark, frightened part of herself had already formulated the plan in the back of her mind. It would be easy to go down to the healer clinic, have her little problem 'taken care of', and move on like it never happened. No one would ever have to know.

But no, she realized, it's not a problem. It's a baby.

She would never judge other women who took that route – she could understand it, and the temptation was there. Could she even handle a baby? There was a lot at play, and having a baby would be a challenge in many ways. But she's Toph Beifong, and she never backs down from a challenge, no matter how terrifying.

Plus…even in that first instant, with her feet touching the floor and the baby's heartbeat frantically reminding her of all the ways her life was about to change… she knew, deep down, she wanted it.

So, fact number three…What now?

Now, after calling in sick to work and making a trip to a healer to confirm what she already knew, she paces outside Kanto's door, trying to muster up the courage to share this life-changing news. Why she's so afraid, she's not sure. She has no trouble picking fights or going into battle, but this…telling a man that she only kind of sort of knows but has been sleeping with for the better part of eleven months that he's going to be a father. Yeah, strangely terrifying.

Part of it is that she doesn't know what he's going to say. If Kanto somehow has some strong, hidden desire to be a dad, he's never expressed it to her. Though, even not knowing him all that well, Toph highly doubts it. The fact that he's a nomadic merchant who's into casual sex? Yeah, something tells her he's not exactly keen on settling down anytime soon.

Another part of why she's so nervous though, is that she doesn't know what she wants him to say. She doesn't love the guy, and she certainly doesn't want him to freak out and start proposing marriage or any of that crap. But that doesn't mean she wants him to flee either. And it's terrifying. Because, whatever way he reacts, Toph knows it will be an instant that won't just change her life, but her baby's life as well.

Summing up her courage, Toph sounds two hard knocks on Kanto's front door. His apartment is even more dingy than hers, not that it bothers her…though in the back of her head it reminds her that she'll probably have to move to a bigger space, now that she's expecting. Ugh, another thing that's changing.

She senses Kanto on the other side of the door, glancing through the peephole (a concept she'll never understand).

"Oh hey, babe," he greets, opening the door, "Didn't expect to see you here today. Don't you have work?"

Toph rolls her eyes, pushing past him (and her nerves) and into his apartment, "Didn't I tell you never to call me that."

Suddenly, she feels his arms wrap around her waist from behind, his chin resting on the top of her head. She'd be lying if she said she isn't going to miss this (if his reaction to the baby bomb is going to be what she thinks it will be). He's so much taller than her, his voice so deep and his arms strong around her slender frame. They may not be couple of the year, but he is nice, and he's warm, and it's moments like this that make her feel like a woman. Maybe, in another life, had they met under different pretenses, this could have gone somewhere. But now, Toph knows, it never will. A baby changes everything.

"Come on, baby," he cranes his head down to meet his lips to her ear. His breath is warm, and his smooth voice sends a pleasant chill down her spine, "Don't pretend you don't love it when I call you that."

Before she can respond, she feels Kanto's hand slip slyly down her torso, past the waistband of her pants. The movement is accompanied by his lips hot on her neck, sending tingles down her spine as they ghost over her pulse point. The calluses on his hands are like fire, scorching her skin with every lingering touch. His fingers on one hand start circling her clit, while the other sneaks under her shirt to cup her breast. Toph's breath hitches as a jolt of pleasure shoots down to her core, and she nearly forgets why she came here in the first place. Yup, I'm going to miss this.

She feels Kanto tug her shirt upwards, but before he can move it further, she pushes herself out of his grasp. She hates how cold she suddenly feels.

"Wait," she turns to face him, "I actually came here to talk."

"Really?" Kanto asks, sounding equal parts surprised and strangely…excited? Huh. "Well, let me go fix us some tea, then. What do you want? Jasmine? Ginseng?"

He's already walking towards his kitchen when Toph stops him with her hand on his shoulder, "Wait. I think it would be better if we just talked here."

He turns to face her, suddenly less excited, "Really? Here in my foyer?" Then, realization dawns on him, his mood dropping, "Wait. You're here to break up with me, aren't you?"

"Uh…" Toph swallows the sudden tightness in her throat, surprised by the pang of regret Kanto's words elicit from her, "No. I just have something to tell you."

"Oh." Kanto sounds hopeful again, but more hesitant, "Well, you can tell me anything, Toph. What is it?"

Toph's mouth hangs open, both surprised by this man's sincerity and nervous to tell the truth. But she's an earthbender, the best there is, and dammit she's not about to wimp out. No. She's going to face this head on.

"Kanto, I'm pregnant," she states, her tone carefully neutral, "And it's yours."

There is a pregnant pause (pun intended) as she waits for the news to settle in, which she half expected. However, she definitely did not expect the sudden eruption of laughter that escapes her baby daddy.

"Bwahaha!" Kanto bends over, his hands on his knees, as if the joke is too funny for him to physically support himself, "Wow, Toph. You're funny! Pregnant – yeah right!"

Toph stands there, arms crossed over her chest and hip cocked impatiently to the side as Kanto rides his fit of laughter. She rolls her eyes, giving him a minute before demanding, "Are you done yet?"

Kanto lets out a few more deep roars of laughter before he eventually notices her pissed off expression, and his humor dies off quite suddenly. "Wait, Toph, you're not serious, are you?"

"Of course, I'm fucking serious!" she bursts, her patience already wearing thin. "Why would I joke about something like that!?"

She's hardly surprised when his heart rate skyrockets in response. "But, we used protection."

A blush fights its way onto her face, against her will, but she keeps her composure. "As I recall, there may have been one or two times that we…um…got caught up in the moment."

"But, I thought you were on that moon tea stuff everyone's been raving about?"

Toph sighs, impatiently, "Look, I don't know what to tell you. That shit is only like, 99% effective. I guess we're that pesky little 1%."

"Shit, I don't believe this." Kanto shakes his head in disbelief, his chest starting to heave as his breaths grow shallow.

Toph does her best to reel in her own discomfort, taking the few steps towards Kanto to place a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Hey. I understand it's a lot to take in. I only found out this morning, and I'm still a bit in shock," she admits.

"It is a lot." Kanto frowns, clearly just as stunned.

She's never been the most comfortable with forced affection, but Toph gives him a few minutes to digest the information as she awkwardly pats his back in an effort to provide some semblance of consolation.

"So, um, what do you want me to do?" Kanto eventually asks, not unkindly. "Do you want me to go with you to the healer clinic? I know, um…abortion can be difficult. I'd be happy to be there to support you."

Of course, she had had the thought herself, so she can't exactly blame him for going there. Still, that does nothing to quell the burning, hot rage she suddenly feels. "Excuse me? What makes you think I'm getting an abortion?"

She senses Kanto scratching his head, clearly uncomfortable. "Oh, um. I just thought you didn't want children. I mean, we never really discussed it. I don't know what you want, Toph."

Toph nods her head as she backs up a few steps, suddenly needing distance. He has a point, but she didn't come here to rehash her own thought process. She wants to know his take.

"Well," Toph bites her lips, hesitantly, "What do you want?"

She waits patiently (nervously) for Kanto to answer, and she braces herself for the rejection that she's sure to come. And it does come. Just… not in the way she expected.

"Pfft." Kanto sounds a deep, sardonic laugh, and Toph senses him shake his head, incredulously. "You know, Toph, in all of the months we've been together, that's the first time you've asked me that."

Toph crosses her arms over her chest in defense, confused by the change in subject. "So? What's that got to do with anything?"

"Everything, Toph," he insists, taking a few steps closer to her. "I mean, when you met me, you knew that I travelled for a living, right? So, did you ever stop to think about why I've spent so long in Republic City?"

A pause, then tentatively, "Why?"

She resists the urge to flinch when she suddenly feels Kanto's large hands gripping her shoulders, his voice showing more emotion than she knew he was capable of. "You, Toph. I stayed because of you. Because I was falling in love with you."

Oh. Another beat passes, and Toph feels an involuntary blush creep up to her cheeks. Well, this certainly comes as a shock. She doesn't really know what to say, so she just says, "Oh."

Kanto releases another short, cynical laugh before taking his hands off her shoulders, as if giving up. "Yeah, that's what I thought. 'Oh'."

"I'm sorry, Kanto," she says, cringing, "I don't know what to say. I had no idea you felt that way. I mean, you never told me."

"I've tried, Toph! And I thought that maybe, just maybe we were headed somewhere. But you never talk to me. You're like a damn closed book!" Kanto bursts, clearly fed up, "I mean, I heard of you before we met – I knew you had a reputation for being a hardass, and I never expected nor wanted you to be some damsel in distress, crybaby or whatever. But, it's almost like you have no emotions at all. Whenever I wanted us to go further than just sex, you pushed me away."

This does make Toph flinch, and she feels the sudden, unwelcome sensation of emotion cresting at her eyes. Fucking hormones. She bites back the quivering of her lips, Kanto's words shooting venom down her spine. You pushed me away. Is that all she's good at? Pushing people away?

She huffs her bangs away from her face, turning her head to the side so he won't see her eyes. She keeps her tone defensive, "Well since you apparently think I'm so heartless, I highly doubt you fell in love with me."

"Toph," softening his voice, "I never said you were heartless. In fact, from the bits that I have seen, I think you have a huge heart. I just wish you were a bit more open with it. I don't know who hurt you in the past, but you can't let that stop you from opening yourself up to others."

Now it's Toph's turn to release a sardonic laugh. "What are you, my therapist?"

Again, Kanto shakes his head, admonishingly. "See, this is exactly what I mean. Every time I open up to you, you do this. You push me away with meaningless, witty one-liners. Grow up, Toph."

Toph shrugs, suddenly feeling very tired with this whole ordeal. "What can I tell ya? Sarcastic one-liners are kinda my thing. If you don't like it then don't pretend like you've 'fallen in love' with me. You don't even know me."

"Ugh, you're so frustrating! Don't you get it?" Kanto grasps at his hair, dramatically. "That's what I'm telling you! I've done nothing but try to get to know you, but you've made it impossible!"

Taking a deep breath, Toph tries to control her own frustration. She didn't come here looking for a fight, and this is getting them nowhere. "Listen, I came here to tell you about the baby, because I figured you have a right to know."

There's a pause, and Toph can feel the frustration burning off him like radiation as Kanto grits, "Is that all?"

She frowns at the detachment in his voice, before more timidly, she admits, "Well, I don't know. If you like, want to be a part of the baby's life or whatever, that would be cool too."

Kanto is silent for a long time, but Toph doesn't interrupt his thought process. She understands it's a lot to take in, plus, she's too busy stewing in her own thoughts to notice the time go by.

Finally, Kanto asks, "If I say yes…would you consider taking our relationship to the next level?"

"Next level?" she forces herself not to outwardly cringe. "Look, I'm not interested in marriage or anything like that."

At this, Kanto laughs again, and it's not as bitter. "Good, then I guess we're on the same page about one thing. I'm not asking you to marry me, Toph. I'm just saying, can you at least try to open up to me? Can you try to let this turn into something more – into a real relationship?"

On the surface, he's not asking anything that outrageous of her. Others might even see his sentiment as romantic…Begging her to open up, explore their potential. But, Toph has always had a good bullshit detector, and in reality…

"Are you really giving me an ultimatum?" Toph glares, "You want this baby, but only if you can have me too, is that it?"

The bitterness in his tone returns. "Just answer the question, Toph."

Toph pauses, quickly thinking it through. In another lifetime…yes, maybe she could have loved Kanto. Maybe she could have given in. But, a baby changes everything - especially her ability to give a shit about flaky men giving her ultimatums.

Toph shakes her head, her tone quiet, but firm, "You're asking me to do something I'm not ready for."

Kanto nods, like he expected her to say just that, but argues, "And you're doing the same to me. I'm not ready to be a father, Toph. I don't want to be."

Theeere it is. That instant that changes all outcomes.

If there is one quality that Toph admires above all else, it's honesty. She values authenticity, even if she doesn't necessarily jive with that person's beliefs. And up till now, she's valued that quality in Kanto. But if there were ever a time that she wished someone would have lied to her (and she could have believed it) … this would be it.

"Really?" she sneers, sending an unimpressed look where she thinks his face is. "And you're telling me to grow up?"

He doesn't respond, and the minute ticks by in silence. They've clearly reached an impasse, and surprisingly, it's Toph who concedes first.

"Well," she swallows a lump in her throat, her tone hardened, "I guess this conversation is over then."

"I guess it is," Kanto agrees, dully. "I'm sorry, Toph."

"Pfft." Toph shakes her head, disappointed, "Don't start lying now."

She turns and makes her way to the doorway, anxious to leave before her hormones get the better of her. But, her hand stills on the doorknob, as if it has a mind of its own. She waits – wondering if he'll make a move to stop her. Wondering if, somehow, he'll change his mind and fight for their child. His child. But deep down, she knows he won't, and her heart breaks at that cruel realization.

Yes, her heart breaks – shattering like Earth at the will of her hands. But it doesn't break for herself.

No. Her heart breaks for her baby. For her child, who will grow up without a father. For her child, whose father didn't want them. How could he not want them? Toph could have dealt with it if he rejected her, but how could he reject their baby?

That grief, along with the strangest, yet fiercest urge she has to protect the little bean living inside her uterus, prompts her fist to meet Kanto's face in a violent flash. Funnily enough, she's never been one for hand-to-hand fighting before (she's never needed it, what with her earthbending), but when her knuckles kiss his nose with a satisfying crunch, she can't deny the sick, primal pleasure she feels.

"Ow!" Kanto stumbles back, and from the sound of his muffled voice, he's holding his, surely, bloody nose. "What the fuck, Toph!?"

"That one's for your kid, asshole!" Toph declares, standing tall and proud, as if daring to be hit in return.

He doesn't hit her. She almost wishes he would, if only to further prove what an asshole he is. But the heartbreaking thing is that, deep down, he's not an asshole. He's selfish, clearly, but he's also not a bad guy at heart. He could have been a great father, if he wanted to be. If she hadn't pushed him away. Hell, maybe she's the selfish one.

He doesn't say anything else, so neither does she before leaving his apartment. And, she knows that it will be the last time her feet will ever see him.

A week later, a tiny fraction of hope prompts her to check up on him. Just in case. But, she's hardly surprised when she finds his apartment empty, him and all his belongings long gone. And that's that.

---

It's only a day after Sokka comes back to Republic City that Katara has her third child, a healthy baby boy named Tenzin. Sokka urges Toph to come see the baby with him (and to share the news of her own upcoming bundle of joy), but she declines. She tells Sokka she'd better wait a few weeks. After all, she'd hate to be the one to steal Katara's thunder. You know how prissy she gets, Sokka. It's a weak excuse, but Sokka doesn't argue, and he promises not to disclose her secret to anyone in the meantime.

That seems to buy her a few weeks, but eventually Katara and Aang start to ask why Toph hasn't come around to see the new addition to their family yet, clearly taking it personally. And honestly, she can't really blame them.

It's over lunch in her office one day that Sokka finally brings it up. "You know," he starts, tentatively, "Katara and Aang think you're angry with them or something. I don't know what to tell them."

Toph shrugs, putting all her effort into remaining indifferent. But, of course, she does care (contrary to what that jackass Kanto thinks) and she feels a pang of regret in her chest as she says, "Let them think what they want to think."

Even after a year apart, Sokka knows her well enough to say, "You don't mean that."

Toph simply sighs in response, clearly not in the mood to talk about it.

Up until now, Sokka has been pretty good about not pushing the baby stuff. Well, at least not pushing her to share the news. But otherwise, he has most definitely embraced the whole baby thing.

Toph would probably find it annoying (had she not secretly found it so sweet) the way Sokka suddenly bought loads of baby books, and how he talked about the baby every five minutes. Have you thought of any names yet? Do you think it will be an earthbender? Boy or Girl? Can I teach it how to use a boomerang? Will you let me decorate the nursery? Blah blah baby blah blah.

He even bought the baby its first outfit already. Of course, Toph hadn't known what it was when he gave it to her, and she had the sarcastic quip of her blindness ready to go on the tip of her tongue. But, before she could make the snide comment, Sokka had explained what the outfit was… It was a baby badgermole outfit, complete with a little tail and hood with ears. The more Toph focused on it, she could feel the little felt claws where the hand and feet go, and the little snout at the top of the hood. And gosh darn it, it was so perfect, it made her cry. Damn pregnancy hormones. Of course, Sokka had been there to welcomingly receive the affectionate arm punch as a thank you, and he was smart enough not to comment on the tears.

It's funny, how quickly they've fallen into a new routine – one in which she and Sokka spend most of their free time together. It's not the same routine they had before he left… for one, sex is no longer involved – the two sharing an unspoken agreement that now is not the time to reopen that can of worms. But, it's different from their old routine before that one too. They're no longer twenty-somethings, and they both have different needs. Ones that require a different type of support.

It's strange, Toph thinks… she's always thought of Sokka (and the rest of the gaang) as family. But what she's felt with Sokka these past few weeks since his return - it feels like family in a whole new way that she can't quite put her finger on.

It's friendship. And it's familial. But it's something else. Sure, she can't deny the attraction is still there. She doubts that will ever go away, at least from her end. But…it feels deeper than that.

"Toph," Sokka starts after a while, pulling her out of her reverie, "Don't you think it's time to start telling people? At the very least, tell Aang and Katara," cautiously, he adds, "I mean, uh, I don't think you'll be able to hide it for much longer."

Toph puts down the wrap she was eating, and can't help the sly, teasing smile that finds her. "You trying to call me fat, Snoozles?"

Sokka quickly backpedals, his voice jumping to the familiar high pitch he has reserved for awkward moments. "What, no of course not! No, no, no…I mean, your body is…beautiful as ever. Toned as fuck. Radiant! Pfft, fat? Nah, you're not fat."

Toph senses his nervous energy, and she bites back a laugh at his typical rambling. She's missed his childlike air, and their playful banter. "Relax. Look, you have a point. I think I'm ready to start telling people, but…" she bites her lips, nervously, "I know I said before that I was just embarrassed, but there's a bit more to it than that. For one, I just don't want all that attention, you know? I mean, the press is going to have a field day, I'm sure. And I don't really give a fuck what they think, but I'm not necessarily thrilled about the possibility of Yakone finding out."

This makes Sokka pause, his demeanor quickly turning serious. "Yakone? Why does that matter? He hasn't threatened you, has he?"

"No, not exactly," Toph assures, though her expression worries. "It's just, I know what he's capable of. And after we raided his compound a few months ago, I just can't shake the feeling that he has some personal vendetta against me."

"Why do you say that?"

Toph stiffens, immediately regretting mentioning anything.

"Toph," he pushes, firmly.

She lets out a withered sigh, relenting, "Look, I didn't tell Aang this because I didn't want anyone to overreact or worry, okay? But a few months ago, right after we raided Yakone's compound, we got an anonymous tip that his boys were carrying out a deal down at the airship hangar by the docks.

"I thought it was fishy, since they must have known that the hangar has been on our radar ever since what happened…you know, with that pregnant lady?" Toph swallows down the painful memory, "Anyway, we decided to check out the scene, but when we got there, there was no activity."

"Okay, so?" Sokka asks, clearly confused.

"So, there was no activity," she pauses, with a bracing sigh, "But there was a shit ton of glass shards and debris on the ground."

She hears Sokka intake a sharp breath, clearly putting the pieces together, "Shit, Toph. Are you okay?"

You see, Toph has quite the reputation, and while she often welcomes the glory that it brings, she can't deny that it has put her in a vulnerable position at times. One of her several identifiers is as that 'barefoot blind girl', and those who want to harm her usually go straight to her feet. Not very creative, in her opinion, but definitely effective.

"Yeah, yeah," Toph throws a nonchalant gesture his way, "Relax. My officers stopped me from going in before it could cause any damage to my feet. Nothing happened."

Sokka releases a breath of relief, relaxing a little. Still, he sounds like he knows it's a dumb question when he asks, "Well, are you sure it wasn't just a coincidence?"

Dryly, "Yup, pretty sure."

"How come?"

With another sigh, "Because the glass and nails were arranged in a pattern. Now, I'm not much of a reader, so my officers spelled it out for me."

She feels Sokka stiffening in his seat again, as if he already knows what's coming. He gulps, his breath angry, "What did it say?"

Toph cracks her knuckles, trying to act casual, though the words taste bitter on her tongue. "Chief Bitch."

Sokka inhales another sharp breath, and Toph feels his heart rate skyrocket, "Fuck, Toph. That sounds like a threat to me. Why didn't you tell anyone?"

Once again, Toph tells him, "Relax, Worry Wort. Look, we have the incident on record, and my officers are all on high alert. Shit, when are they not?" She sounds out a humorless laugh, "But we're keeping it on the down low. Causing a public panic won't do any good. I mean, I already have angry citizens complaining in my ear every chance they get - the last thing I need is them having a reason to think that I can't even take care of myself."

"But, Toph-"

"Don't worry. Yakone is just trying to get under my skin. He knows it's too risky to actually try and hurt me, and I'm not afraid of that sorry excuse for a man," she insists, though she can't deny the sudden increase in her own heart rate, "But that doesn't mean I want to give him any more leverage to use for threats. I'm not afraid for my own safety, but now that I'm pregnant, I can't exactly go looking for fights at the moment."

Sokka nods his acceptance, though clearly, he's still concerned, "You know, maybe you should keep it a secret for a little while longer."

"No," Toph says, adamantly, "I'm not going to let that asshole win. It's time to start telling people."

Sokka, still hesitant, "Are you sure?"

"I am. I'm sick of hiding it." That, and you make me feel safe. Cutting through her sudden emotion, she jokes, "Besides, you're right. I am getting fat, and to hell if I'm going to let my officers start thinking it's okay to make donut jokes about the head cop."

That earns a laugh. "Well, do you want me to go with you? To tell Aang and Katara?"

Toph releases a breath of relief, glad she didn't have to ask him herself. With a somewhat sheepish smile, "Yes, please."

She hears Sokka smile in return before he asks, "What about your parents? Going to tell them soon?"

Her smile drops an inch. "Ha. Don't push it."

Later that day (no longer wanting to postpone the inevitable), Toph and Sokka find themselves on Air Temple Island, and once again, Toph curses whatever fertility spirits thought it was a good idea to make pregnant women want to cry all the time, as she nearly loses her shit the instant Katara hands her a three-week old Tenzin.

She chokes down a sob, her blind eyes facing towards the cooing boy in her arms. It's the same feeling she had when she held Bumi, then Kya, and now Tenzin. "He's perfect, you guys." Spirits, if this is how she gets holding her friends' kid, how the fuck is going to handle the birth of her own little badgermole? Huh… 'Little Badgermole'… I like it.

Aang and Katara, seated at the other end of the patio table, share a surprised, yet amused look at Toph clearly trying to hold in her emotions.

"Thank you, Toph." Katara nods her thanks, though there's a slight edge to it that goes over Toph's head.

Aang leans in his seat towards his brother-in-law, whispering at him, "I got to hand it to you, Sokka. You must have really gotten through to her. I knew you would."

"Huh?" Sokka, previously mesmerized by Toph and the baby, takes a second to catch up. It takes another second to figure out what Aang is referring to. Then he remembers Aang's letter. "Oh, right."

Toph certainly doesn't seem all that distant now, does she?

Toph, too wrapped up with the baby in her arms, misses out on the conspiracy. Instead, her hands gently feather over the baby's face, mapping his tiny button nose, his soft skin, and the little spit bubble at his mouth. A giggle escapes her when the bubble pops, and she marvels when the baby's tiny little fingers wrap around one of her own. Of course, Tenzin is still too young to actually be doing it on purpose, but that does nothing to dampen the flood of affection that warms Toph's chest. Shit, when did I become such a girl? She silently curses herself for being such a wuss, but she more so curses herself for not coming here sooner, and for missing out on precious baby time with her new 'nephew'.

She's unaware of the others' gaze on her as she fusses over the newborn. Distantly, she can make out the sounds of her friends' other kids playing with Appa in the distance. A sadistic laugh sounds somewhere in the back of her mind, as she makes out a couple of disgruntled Air Acolytes trying to reign the kids in, clearly fed up with babysitting. She hears Momo, flying over to land on what she guesses is Aang's shoulder. The lemur's chirps sound somewhat strained with age, but still energetic.

Toph's hands float to Tenzin's head, her fingers gently ghosting over the crown. She's amused to find his head virtually hairless, only a small patch of fuzz at the very top.

Somewhat reluctantly, she passes the baby to Sokka seated next to her. "So, Katara," she teases, "We know he gets his hair from you. What else do we know?"

That gets a laugh from Sokka and Aang anyway, and in that instant, Toph feels the happiest she's felt in months. Heck, it's the happiest she's felt in over a year, since before Sokka left. She's missed this…having everyone together. Of course, she wishes Zuko and Mai were here with Izumi and Iroh, and Suki too! She hasn't felt this sense of inner peace in a long time, and she has this sudden, somewhat foreign urge to share it with those she loves. Ugh, seriously, when did I become such a girl? After another smiling moment, Eh…she shrugs, inwardly, You know what? Maybe being a girl is not so bad.

She wishes the others could be here, but a part of her is glad that it's just their original motley crew. She's not sure she could handle all that attention all at once, once she spills the beans.

She's not quite sure how to bring it up, but Katara (ever the grudge-holder) provides the perfect segue when she not so subtly sneers, "So, Toph. Not that we're not happy that you're here, but what gives, huh? I feel like I haven't seen you here in months, and not only do you miss the birth of Tenzin, but you hide yourself away for another three weeks, sending Sokka here to cover your ass?"

"Katara," both Aang and Sokka warn (Aang trying to keep the peace and Sokka in clear defense of Toph)

"No!" Katara demands, her voice getting weepy, "Toph all but ignores us for the past three months, then randomly shows up one day without any explanation and expects it to just be okay? Well it's not! And I want to know what the deal is."

The waterbender's outburst causes an otherwise tranquil Tenzin to burst into tears - a sentiment Toph fights not to mimic – and she senses Sokka handing the baby over to its father. Clearly the baby has already formed a strong attachment to the airbender, as Aang bounces the baby back to sleep fairly quickly. Toph decides to seize the moment.

"You're right, Katara," Toph sighs, her sudden streak of affection humbling her down a notch.

"I am?" Katara says, confused, then more decisively, "I mean, that's right, I am."

"I know I've been a shitty friend these past few months, and there really is no excuse. I've been going through some shit, but that doesn't give me the right to bail on my friends. I don't roll that way," Toph says, genuinely, "I love you guys, and I'm sorry I've been such a dunderhead lately. I hope you can forgive me."

Katara and Aang share another staggered, telepathic look, and even Sokka looks surprised by Toph's sincere apology. She doesn't exactly hand those out very often.

A moment passes, and Toph barely has time to sense it before Katara is out of her chair, around the table and crouching down to wrap Toph in awkwardly-tight side hug, her cheek pressing into Toph's. "Oh, Toph, of course we forgive you! I was just so worried about you! All I wanted to know is that you're okay, but I'm so happy that you're here with us now."

"Easy there, Sweetness," Toph says, gently pushing herself out of the smothering embrace. Sheesh, I'm not that much of a girl. "I said I love you guys - I didn't say let's have some freaky-deaky, incestuous orgy shit. Get off."

Thankfully, that earns a laugh from everyone, including Katara, as she heads back to her seat, all forgiven.

But she still has news to share, and it's Aang who provides the sequitur. With his trademark gentleness, "You know, Toph, I'm happy that you're feeling better, but we would have been here to support you with whatever you were going through. You know you can tell us anything, right?"

"I know, Twinkletoes. Thanks." Toph smiles gratefully at her friend, though a sudden rush of nerves to her stomach betrays her confidence, and her voice comes out shaky, "Uh, that's actually one of the reasons I wanted to come here today. I have something to tell you guys."

"What is it, Toph?" Katara prompts, more at ease that before.

Sokka, who has been strangely quiet - as if he's just as nervous - finds her hand under the table. He gives it a reassuring squeeze, transferring her some courage, and she uses it to finally tell them, "I'm pregnant."

She waits for the reaction, and it seems to take a minute to arrive, but once it does, she's not disappointed.

"Ahhh!" Katara lets out a long, girlish shriek (one that miraculously doesn't wake up Tenzin again) and Toph can practically hear the size of Aang's grin. The kids and acolytes nearby turn briefly at the sound, and she thinks she hears Appa giving a congratulatory grunt in the background.

"Wow, Toph! Flameo!" Aang says, sending her a thumbs up that she will never see, too busy holding his own baby to do much of anything else. Sokka spares him an amused glance, but before Toph can respond, Katara is filling the space.

"Oh my goodness!" Katara claps her hands, a few tears in her voice, "This is so great, Toph! Ah, I can't believe you're going to have a baby! Congratulations, I'm so happy for you!"

Sokka leans over to whisper at Toph, with a cheeky smile, "See, I told you they'd be thrilled." She nudges him playfully with her elbow in response, but her own expression is one of relief.

Katara gets up again, forgetting Toph's aversion to touch as she once again moves around the table to encase her in a suffocating hug. She feels her cheeks pudge out as Katara squeezes her a little too hard, and she hears both Aang and Sokka snicker at the scene. The hug is definitely a bit tight for her liking, but she indulges her friend anyway, returning the embrace. In all honestly – this was the reaction she needed, and she's grateful for the love.

Katara eventually pulls away, and instead places a hand on Toph's belly, over her clothes.

Aaaaand Toph just as quickly smacks the hand away. "Hey!" she barks, "You don't go around touching the bellies of non-pregnant people without asking, do you?"

"Right." Katara says, pointedly, "Just like you go around asking permission before you punch people, huh?" She laughs at Toph's disgruntled expression, not really offended by her mood swing, "But, you have a point. I promise, next time I'll ask."

Katara takes her seat again, and Toph waits for the influx of questions that are sure to come, but Katara still seems too busy riding her high, "Oh, this is so exciting! I can't believe it - I'm going to be an aunt!"

Toph sounds a short, amused laugh, "Ha, well not technically an aunt, but yeah. You'll all be aunts and uncles, of course."

"What do you mean not technically an aunt?" Katara says, sure of herself, "Sokka is the father, isn't he?"

.

.

.

Okay, so perhaps the most awkward silence Toph has ever experienced passes over the four of them, as Katara's question hangs in the air. She feels Sokka stiffen in his seat next to her, and she feels her own flood of embarrassment rush to her cheeks. Sure, she and Sokka hadn't exactly been the most discreet about hooking up, but it was never outwardly spoken about or acknowledged, at least not in front of her.

Toph waits for Sokka to correct his sister, but she can read that he's apparently just as uncomfortable as she is (if not more so), so she takes the reigns, "Uh, no."

"What?" she hears Katara's expression fall, "But I thought…I mean, are you sure?"

"Katara, I'm like, four months along," Toph sounds an awkward laugh, trying to ease the tension, "Sokka just got back to the city a few weeks ago, so unless I forgot how the birds and the armadillo-bees work, then yah, I'm sure."

"Plus, we're not…" Sokka adds, clearing his throat, "Um…you know, dating."

Not anymore, anyway.

"Oh." Katara says – equal parts confused and dejected.

Another silence washes over them. Aang whistles a hollow tune, lucky enough to have Tenzin in his arms to distract him from the residual awkwardness. Momo has flown off somewhere, more interested in catching flies than baby gossip. Toph kicks at a pebble on the ground, her legs swinging back and forth under the chair, scuffling the patio. Sokka slumps in his seat, seemingly lost in his own thoughts as he gnaws on a fingernail.

Katara seems to be the only active participant remaining in the conversation. "So," she starts, after a minute, "You're already four months along?"

Toph shrugs, "You couldn't tell?" she places her hands on her belly. It's still small, but out of her uniform, she knows it has to be noticeable. She leans over to Sokka, with a playful expression, "Guess I'm not as fat as I thought, huh?"

He meets her joke with a half laugh, but Toph notes the lack of sincerity to it – like he's still a little lost in his thoughts.

"And you've seen a healer, I assume?" Katara can't help but ask.

"Yeah, yeah," she assures. "The doc said everything's as it should be. But don't worry," Toph teases, knowing her friend, "Since you're dying to get your hands on my belly, I'll let you do your water inspection thingy later."

Katara doesn't respond, but Toph swears she hears her smirk with satisfaction – Toph knew going in that Katara would probably want to take over her prenatal care, and in all honesty, she would probably be a little happier having her close friend do it as opposed to the random healers down at the clinic.

"So, who is the father?" Aang finally braves, "Is it that guy you were seeing?"

"Yeah," Toph crosses her arms over her chest, puffing out a stray hair in annoyance. She spits out the name, "Kanto."

Katara, confused, "Kanto? But I thought he-"

"Left?" Toph drawls, her previous sentimentality overshadowed by a sudden defensiveness, "Yeah, he did. And I already know what you're going to say. How can he leave you? How are you going to be a single mom? What are you going to do? Well thanks for the concern, but save it. I've already freaked out enough about it myself, I don't need it from you guys too."

After her outburst, remembering something, she uncrosses her arms and discreetly looks for Sokka's hand under the table. She finds it resting on his thigh, and she gives it a squeeze, just as he did for her. It's her way of acknowledging the conversation they had when she first told him the news, and reminding him how much it helped her. He squeezes it back, letting their fingers mingle together for another moment, before both pulling away.

"Toph," Aang holds back a smile, more than used to seeing Toph get snippy, "That's not what we were going to say."

"It's not?" she asks, a bit more subdued.

"No," both Aang and Katara say.

"We were just going to say, well, for one, we're sorry," Aang says, carefully, but genuinely, "But if anyone's got this handled, it's you. And you know we'll be here to support you. Isn't that right, Katara?"

Katara takes over, with a joking tone, "Actually, I was just going to say: 'Kanto', more like 'Cunto', am I right?"

The rest of the adults at the table feel their jaws drop, automatically. Toph had expected some cheesy outpouring of gushy support, but to hear such an obscene joke coming from the most historically uptight member of their group – well, that's the last thing she would have expected. And, as she finds, it's also exactly what she needs.

So finally, instead of bursting into a fruitless stream of pregnancy-induced tears, she finds herself bursting into laughter. She laughs harder than she has in a long time, clutching at her baby bump, and soon the others join in, sharing humor in the absurdity of it all.

And in that instant, she knows her baby will always have a family, with or without a father.

---

Fuck, it's hot.

Toph fans herself with her hand, trying but failing to get the sweat to dry from… well, from everywhere. She rests her other hand on the swell of her protruding belly as she stretches out on the sofa. She does her best to shimmy in her lounging position, desperately searching for a way to get comfortable, but even the slightest movement puts an unwelcome pressure on her bladder.

"Ugh, fuck." Toph says aloud – it's been her favorite word lately, along with a train of many other colorful expletives.

Sokka, sitting on the other end of the couch and reading a newspaper, doesn't bother to look up, "Have to pee again?"

"You guessed it," Toph sighs as she swings her swollen feet off Sokka's lap and onto the mercifully cool, stone tile of her apartment. It's a new apartment – only a few blocks away from her old one, but much nicer and more spacious. It doesn't really make a difference to her, but Sokka says it's a lot more 'airy', whatever that means.

Toph makes her routine trip to relieve her baby bladder, then returns to her couch. She plops down unceremoniously, hating how much she feels like a beached whale-rhino. If she felt fat at four months, she feels gigantic now, and she hates it. In fact, she hates everything. She hates the heartburn, she hates how she gets winded every time she's forced to so much as waddle to the bathroom, she hates feeling the little veins of scar tissue that stretch up her massive belly and breasts, she hates like she feels on the verge of tears pretty much all the time, and she hates that it's usually Sokka who gets those tears to finally pour out. All he has to do is something as little as ask what type of tea she wants, and suddenly Toph is a mess of snot and tears.

She has to wonder if there is something wrong with her. Even Katara hadn't been this much of a cry baby throughout her pregnancies. Toph had asked her about it once – it can't be normal to be this hormonal, can it? Katara had seemed way too amused with it all, and was only half joking when she had said, "It's probably just all those years of repressed emotions catching up to you. The longer feelings are kept bottled inside, the stronger they are once they're released."

Katara probably had a point. The waterbender was used to being hormonal, so pregnancy probably hadn't been that much of a change for her. But for Toph, it's changed everything, most especially the control she had over her emotions.

And most especially - the control she had over her emotions around Sokka…which is a challenge, since Sokka's around pretty much all the time.

In all honesty, Toph doesn't know how she could have done this without him. He's helped with all the practical stuff that she wouldn't be much good at – picking out baby supplies, putting together the baby's room – heck, he even helped her pick out this apartment (she suspects it's not an accident that this new one is only a few blocks away from his).

She loves it… and hates it. She loves it, of course, because she's gotten to spend so much time with him again, and he seems just as happy to spend the time with her. She loves how at ease she feels around him, how their friendship has deepened throughout her pregnancy.

But she hates it, because along with all this good, comes guilt. Not just because he's doing so much for her, without her even asking (though, that's part of it), but because she senses that he's perhaps ready for something that she is not.

When he left the city, they had left things so messy and confusing, and Toph was glad that when he returned, they seemed to have put that all behind them. But the problem with spending all this time together - it makes Toph realize that those feelings she had buried so far underground have not gone away. In fact, not only have those feelings resurfaced, but they've sprouted wings and launched themselves off the earth, beyond her reach.

And the feelings she has, they go beyond that weird mix of friendship and sexual desire they had before (though, if she was being honest – horniness was another challenge of this whole pregnancy thing – especially around Sokka - but that's a topic for another time). She wants him – she wants to fix the mistakes they had made before. She wants to fix the hurt she knows she caused, and she wants to do what they should have just done to begin with – just be together, exclusively.

It's a terrifying, yet exhilarating idea, and one she's not quite ready for. Not when she's on the cusp of this major life change. That's the thing about motherhood – you put your baby first. And right now, she needs to make sure she can handle parenthood before she's ready to handle what a real, true and proper relationship with Sokka would mean. And selfishly, she's still afraid to risk losing him, in case they couldn't handle a relationship. So – she hopes – Sokka can be patient and wait for her to be ready.

"Hey, Toph," Sokka nudges the bottom of her foot with his elbow, his attention still on the paper. "Did you know your parents are going to be in town this weekend?"

Toph continues to fan herself, finding no comfort. "Yeah, what about it?"

"This article says they're going to be making an appearance at some fancy dignitary event at city hall," he explains. Then with a prodding tone, "You should be there, don't you think?"

"Why should I be?" she responds, flippantly. "I'm on maternity leave, let my officers handle guard detail."

"Toph, you know what I meant," he says, putting the paper down.

She blows a raspberry at him in response, kinder than a middle finger.

Sokka continues, his tone kind, but unyielding, "Toph, everyone else knows. Aang, Katara, Zuko – your officers. Heck, all of Republic City knows! Don't you think your parents have a right to know?"

"I'll tell them eventually, Sokka."

"Okay, when?" he retorts. "Baby Beifong is due in what - five weeks. You're not giving it much wiggle room, you know."

"So?" she argues, though it…. well, doesn't hold much argument.

"So, I know you're nervous about telling them, but don't you think it would be better to tell them before the baby is born? They might be a little angry, but they're going to be a lot angrier – and hurt – if they find out after the baby is born, don't you think?"

Toph lets out a long sigh, relenting, "I hate it when you're right."

This earns a cheeky smile from her friend. He gives her foot an affectionate squeeze. "Well, considering I'm always right, that's a lot of hate."

"Pfft." She nudges his thigh with her foot, but can't deny the fond smile that creeps onto her face.

That weekend, Toph does something she hasn't done since she was twelve – she puts on a dress solely for the purpose of pleasing her parents. Of course, it has the added benefit of actually being pretty comfortable, as the fabric flows loosely over her large belly. She even pins her bangs back, showing her face, but that's more to keep the sweat off her forehead. Of course, it had to be this summer that Republic City saw record-breaking temperatures. As if pregnancy wasn't uncomfortable enough.

She decides the best way to break the news to her parents is just by going directly to their apartment here in the city. She doesn't exactly love going there – the ridiculous luxury of it reminds her a bit too much of her childhood – but she figures it would be better to tell them in privacy. Though, she won't have to actually tell them anything, she's sure. With how big her belly is, they'll know the second the see her.

So, Toph makes her way through the city in the sweltering heat, happy that modern fashion has at least translated into lighter fabrics and less sleeves. But the sun beats down on her nonetheless, and by the time she makes it to the more fashionable district of the city and to the entrance of her parents' outrageously expensive apartment building, she can't tell if the sweat is from the heat outside or from her racing nerves.

She takes a deep breath, mentally preparing herself. The doorman (because of course there's a doorman) recognizes her, and he lets her into the building with a friendly greeting that Toph is too hot and irritated to return at the moment. Her parents own an entire floor in the apartment complex, and of course it's the penthouse suite. With another irritated sigh, Toph begins her assent up the stairs, cursing each individual one as she quickly loses her breath. By far, this is the worst part of pregnancy – feeling so out of shape. In her normal state, she could probably run ten miles without stopping, climb a mountain as easy as she could lift a leaf…But now, on top of the disgusting heat, her pregnancy makes her winded after climbing only a single flight of stairs – and now there's ten of them.

Eventually, she does make it to the penthouse floor, and she's greeted by two of her parents' guards.

"Miss. Beifong?" one of the guards says, surprised (by her being there or by her general sweaty, pregnant appearance, Toph's not sure)

Still quite winded from climbing the stairs, Toph tries to collect herself from further embarrassment, cutting to the chase, "Are my parents here?"

She usually hates being fussed over, especially by her parents' guards, but all of a sudden one of them is handing her what appears to be a cool glass of water, and for once, she gladly accepts it. She gulps the glass down in one go, not caring how undignified she must look, and she hands the empty glass back to the guard, "Thanks."

"Of course, miss," says the guard, "And yes, your parents are here. We shall escort you to them."

"No need," Toph says, declining their offer. She walks past the guards and towards the entry of the penthouse. "I can find my own way around."

The other guard stops her, politely, "Oh, Miss. Beifong?"

She turns towards the voice, somewhat annoyed, "Yes?"

"When you return, we can show you how to use the elevator, if you'd like?" the guard offers, kindly.

Toph feels her face heat up hotter than it already was, and she resists the urge to smack her forehead. There's a fucking elevator in this building and I just climbed all those fucking stairs?

As if reading her fury, the other guard points out, "Your parents just had it installed. They funded it for the rest of the building."

Of course they did.

"Great," she drawls, unenthused. "Thanks."

Elevators are a new invention – one that came right after Sokka and crew helped spread the use of electricity. Toph had only ridden on one once before, and she did not like it. It was right up there with submarines – the strange motion and lack of something to ground her made her stomach queasy – but anything would have been better than feeling like a fat, sweaty, pregnant lady right now.

And now she's a fat, sweaty, pregnant lady with hair sticking gracelessly to her face and surely looking all kinds of disheveled, and she's about to tell her upscale, dignified, never-a-hair-out-of-place parents the biggest news they'll ever hear from their daughter.

Thankfully, her relationship with her parents has improved greatly over the years. Even her parents – who had separated briefly after she ran away – have seemed happier the past few times that Toph has visited. And they've let Toph live her life without much input or protest, even though she knows they surely cringed when they found out she'd been titled Chief of Police. She's certainly not the little housewife they probably hoped she'd be.

But now, not only is she pregnant out of wedlock, but she was abandoned by the baby's father… two clear marks of shame in high society. Her parents have been good up till now, but they're going to have something to say about that, she just knows it.

Toph makes her way through the penthouse and senses both her parents at the end of the hallway, behind the doors leading to the formal sitting room. She counts her blessings, realizing that at least they're alone, and she won't have to deal with any awkward third parties. It's embarrassing enough getting chewed out by your parents as a thirty-two-year-old woman, the last thing she needs is an audience for it.

She passes by a couple of servants, but they're all smart enough to ignore her as she waddles down the hallway, stopping when she reaches the door. She takes another deep breath, knocking lightly on the door. Then, before she can chicken out, she opens it and steps though.

"Toph?" her mother says, clearly surprised to see her. Toph hears the clang of a porcelain teacup and dish being set on the table, and then she senses both her parents stand up, take a few steps, and suddenly throw themselves around her in a bone-crushing hug.

She's still hot and sweaty, but she's too surprised by her parent's affection right now to be bothered. Her voice as tight as the hug, "Uh, hi, mom. Hi, dad."

"Toph," her father sounds warm, despite the obvious belly his arm is wrapped around, "It's been too long. Please, come sit."

Her parents pull away, leading her to sit on a plush, velvet sofa across from them. Her mother rings a bell, and suddenly a servant is coming in with a fresh pot of jasmine tea and an extra cup for Toph. Her mother pours her the tea, and Toph accepts it, too confused by the lack of immediate anger from her parents to do anything else.

"So, my darling," her mother starts, "What brings you here today?"

"Uh…" Toph furrows her brows together, more than confused. Have her parents gone blind too? She gestures dramatically to her belly, unsure what else she can do, "Isn't it pretty obvious?"

"Why?" her father asks, suddenly sounding concerned, "Is there something wrong with the baby?"

Wait…what?

"Wait…what?" Toph's jaw unhinges, dropping open as she realizes, "You guys already knew?"

Her parents are silent for a moment, probably sharing some sort of look, before they both release a pleasant sounding, posh laugh – fit for their status.

"Honey," her mother sounds amused, "We have many friends here in the city, plus we have the news delivered to us even in Gaoling. We knew pretty much as soon as everyone else in this city did."

"I can't believe this," Toph shakes her head, a state of pure shock, "Why didn't you guys say anything?"

She hears the regretful smile in her father's voice – years of mistakes that he's trying to make up for, "We wanted to let you tell us when you were ready."

Toph nods, still a little stunned by how drastically different this seems to be going from her imagination. Timidly, almost like a child, she asks, "So…you're not mad?"

Another silence passes, and when her father speaks again, it's so beautiful it nearly breaks her heart, "Toph, you're about to give me the gift of a grandchild. Frankly, my dear, we never thought you would make that choice," he pauses, choked with emotion. "I have never been happier."

Gosh darnit, there's those pregnancy hormones again. Toph chokes back her own sob, but it's been a long, hot, and stressful day, and her father just said that he's not only okay with one of her choices, but happy with it, and dammit those pregnancy hormones are a bitch. She laughs through the tears, sniffing in a very unladylike snot bubble, "All this time, I was so afraid to tell you guys. I thought you would be furious."

"Then we have failed you again," her mother says, through her own stream of emotion. "Children are always a blessing, Toph."

Feeling more than grateful, Toph gets up from the sofa and waddles over to her parents, giving each of them a long, tearful hug. "You haven't failed me. I should have told you sooner," she tells them. Both her parents seem surprised by the display of affection from their daughter, but both welcome the exchange.

Toph plops herself between them, gracelessly. "So," she starts again, once she's controlled her emotions, "You guys receive the news in Gaoling?" she bites her lips, nervous again, "I assume this means you get the gossip column as well. And I should tell you - the rumors are true – the baby's father, he's…uh…he's long gone."

She feels her father stiffen in the seat next to her, and her mother places a comforting hand on her back, "I'm sorry, dear."

Toph directs her next question at her father, "Do you want to know who he is?"

He seems to consider this for a moment before asking, "He abandoned you and the child? Willingly?"

"Yes – well, he wanted me. He just didn't want our baby," she clarifies, frowning at the memory.

He nods, slowly and decisively, "Then that's all I need to know. No man like that is worth a mention, and he's certainly not good enough for my daughter and grandchild."

Honestly, it was the perfect thing for him to say. And in that instant, Toph had never been more grateful for her parents, and she knew their relationship would forever be changed.

---

Yes, it's funny, Toph thinks, how an instant can change everything.

One moment, she's Toph Beifong - greatest earthbender of all time, Chief of Police, Inventor of Metalbending, Earth Rumble champion, war hero and (in her humble opinion) all around badass.

The next, she's still all those things….

But she's also a mother.

Of course, the birth had been painful as fuck. Toph insisted on only having Katara and the other healers in the room. She debated asking Sokka or maybe even her mom to be in the room with her – sure, it would be 'sweet' or whatever to have them there for moral support. But fuck that sentimental shit – as far as she was concerned, they could support her just fine on the other side of the door along with the rest of her friends (if she can't even see her vagina on a normal day, to hell if she was going to let them see it as it was pushing out a baby. Even blind, she can imagine that's not a pretty sight.)

It sure as hell didn't feel pretty. The muscles in her back seized up, and her nether bits felt like they were literally on fire, like they would rip at any moment – but Katara kept telling her to PUSH! Even after the waterbender had explained the process to her dozens of times before, Toph still wasn't sure what that meant. For all the fears she had going into motherhood, somehow the idea of birth itself never really scared her. Heck, she's the greatest earthbender of all time, and she's lived through a war. She was no stranger to pain - how bad can childbirth actually be?

Bad. The answer was bad.

She hadn't been prepared for just how painful it would be. But she kept pushing anyway - instinct taking over and telling her what to do. She had insisted on giving birth on the ground instead of a bed (whether it was an earthbender thing or just a Toph thing, no one questioned it) and she gripped the floors so hard that she bent the stone, turning it to dust in her grasp. The sounds coming from her mouth sounded foreign even to her ears, and she was sure that Aang was off somewhere trying to keep his kids from being traumatized by the shrill, animalist groans coming from their Auntie Toph. She wondered how her teeth didn't shatter from how hard she was grinding them together, gritting them as she fought through each excruciating contraction.

It sucked…a lot.

But then, after a shit ton of pressure and one final push, it didn't. In fact, all that pain just went away – not even existing as a memory – the instant she heard her baby's cry for the first time.

"You did it, Toph!" Katara had said, over the beautiful sounds of her baby's wails. "Congratulations, it's a girl!"

Toph was surprised at just how weepy her own voice came out, "A girl? Well, let me hold her!"

Toph extended her arms towards where she sensed Katara was standing (though her senses where a bit overwhelmed in that moment) and Katara gently handed the newborn to Toph. It was gooey and gross and absolutely perfect.

It was that instant, that Toph knew her life had just changed forever…not just her life, but her whole foundation. She as a person had fundamentally changed, and she would never quite be the same. She had always rolled her eyes when she'd heard stories of how motherhood changed you and all that crap, and she had had a taste of it when she pregnant, but nothing had prepared her for this.

Distantly, she had been aware of Katara and the other healers cleaning her up and delivering the afterbirth, but she couldn't seem to pay attention. All she knew was the breathing and beautiful bundle of warmth in her arms, and she wondered how she went a full thirty-two years without knowing this kind of love.

The baby felt like a gemstone in her arms – so fragile, so precious – and Toph felt like she knew her just as she knew the rock beneath her feet.

"Welcome to the world, my little gem," Toph had said, kissing her baby's forehead. "I love you."

---

Sokka feels like he's waiting outside the birthing room for ages before he finally gets the okay to see Toph and the baby. Her parents had gotten to go in first – which was fair – though Sokka still felt a little annoyed, if only because he was dying to see Toph's daughter as soon as possible.

Frankly, it had been hard to restrain himself from going in the room during the birth itself. Toph hadn't wanted anyone in the room with her, but her cries of pain tugged on Sokka's heart, and he had longed to go in and provide her some comfort. In fact, throughout her whole pregnancy, Sokka found himself drawn to her – attached to her hip. He felt this deep need to make sure she and the baby had everything they need, and he was determined to fulfil his promise. He would not let Toph do this alone.

Which is why, he's more than relieved when Toph's parents come out of the room and it's finally his turn to meet Baby Beifong.

He wastes no time, but he's hardly prepared for just how quick his world changes, the instant he enters the room. His eyes land on Toph, as they usually do, but they almost immediately shift down to the perfect little baby she's holding. Yes, his world changes for that pink, squirmy and squishy bundle in her arms, and he knows in that instant that he would do anything for it.

"Well," Toph breaks him out of his stunned silence, her voice sly, "You just going to stand there all day, or are you going to come meet your new niece?"

Sokka shakes away the daze before walking the few yards towards Toph. She had eventually moved from the floor onto a bed and her and the baby got cleaned up, and she looked tired, but happy. Sokka stands at the head of the bed, and without thinking, he sweeps a sweaty strand of hair away from Toph's forehead, and he kisses her there.

Strangely enough, she doesn't seem too surprised by the gesture, and her smile only widens as she carefully extends the baby out towards where she knows Sokka is. Sokka is just as careful as he takes the newborn, cradling it to his chest.

He spends a long while rocking back and forth, just staring at the baby, before finally asking, "What's her name?"

"Lin," Toph says, with a quiet smile. "It means 'gemstone'. Unfortunately, there's not really an appropriate name that translates into 'badgermole', so I went the whole rock route instead."

She finishes with a laugh, sounding happier than Sokka ever recalls her sounding before. His thumb grazes over the baby's cheek, feeling how soft it is. "Lin Beifong. How perfect."

"She is perfect, isn't she?" Toph agrees, her voice laced with pride.

"She is," Sokka beams, softly.

After a moment. "I'm scared, Sokka." Toph admits, though she does it with a smile, like she's gladly accepted her fate. "I thought I knew before what it's like to have something to lose, but now I know I do. I just want to keep her safe."

"You will, Toph," Sokka assures, having no doubts.

"But," she continues, "I also want her to be happy, you know? I love my parents, I do. But, I want her to have more freedom than my parents gave me growing up. I want her to feel safe enough to be herself."

"Well, if she's anything like you," Sokka wages, "She'll find her own freedom, whether you give it to her or not."

Toph sounds an appreciative laugh, but then the room falls into a comfortable quiet. Toph sits still on the bed, undoubtedly listening as Sokka coos over her daughter. With a false whisper, he says to the baby, "Hey, Lin, I'm your uncle Sokka. Don't tell Aang and Katara's kids this, but you are without a doubt the prettiest baby I've ever seen." His eyes shift from the baby to Toph, and with pride, he notes her pleased expression.

He continues his mock-whisper to the baby, "Now, just some things you should know about me: I'm from the Southern Water Tribe – that's the better of the two tribes, in case anyone asks. What else? Oh, I used to be a councilman, but right now I'm an engineer – I think your mother thinks both gigs are kind of nerdy, but they're not, I swear. Also, you should know, I make a lot of jokes. And I love meat. And someday, I'm going to take you to the best meat restaurant in all of Republic City! Just wait until your teeth grow in."

Toph sounds a laugh from the bed, "Ha! Glad you got to her before Aang vows to make her a vegetarian."

With a smirk, "Please, Toph Beifong's daughter? Nah. Not a chance."

He turns his attention back to the baby. "Hmm, let's see…what else should you know?" he thinks for another moment, before his expression morphs into a thoughtful one. "You should know that I'm not a bender, but I'm pretty good with a sword and a master with a boomerang. And you should know that I care about you and your mother very much, and I promise that I'll do everything in my power to protect you both for as long as I live."

He stares at the baby for another long moment before chancing another look at Toph, only to find her crying.

"Sorry," she says, wiping at her face. "Apparently the hormones don't just disappear as soon as the baby is born. Whatever," she grumbles, clearly sick of not having control over her emotions.

"That's okay," he says, with a mischievous smile. "I was kinda hoping to make you cry – don't know how long it will be before I see that again."

"Pfft," she shakes her head, her voice still wet. "Jerk. Just you wait - sooner or later I'll be back in my prime, and I'm going to have fun beating you into the dirt."

"Thank goodness," Sokka jokes, a voice of mock worry. "If you keep waddling around for much longer, I'm worried that one of these days someone will mistake you for a penguin and try to take you sledding. That would be a sight to see."

That earns a rolling of the eyes, but the smirk on her face is assuring. "Shut up. At least I was pregnant. What's your excuse? Do you know how sloppy your steps are? Or should I say, your stomps – you walk like a bloody Elephant Rhino."

Sokka smiles at her jest, not taking offense. It's just what they do – tease each other. Once again, he turns his attention back to Lin, and the room falls into a comfortable silence once more as he sways the baby back and forth. He's not sure how long they stay in that silence - he's too absorbed to notice - but eventually, it's Toph who breaks it.

"Hey, Sokka?" she says, her tone going from teasing to tentative.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

He looks up at her again, amused. "For what?"

She takes a deep breath, gesturing for him to hand her baby back to her. He does, reluctantly, and Toph explains, "For being such a good friend to me. You always have been – and I know things got a little fuzzy between us for a while," she pauses to blush, and Sokka swallows his own flush, "But you're my best friend, and I don't know where'd I'd be right now without you. You've always been nothing but supportive and kind, especially during everything with my pregnancy, so thank you.

"And," she adds, more carefully, "I want you to know that I'll always be there for you too."

Now it's Sokka's turn to hold back a few tears, shocked by the rare and eloquent display of vulnerability and openness from her.

Before he can respond, someone pokes their head in the room. "Hey, uh…" it's Zuko, "Is it our turn to see the baby yet, or…?"

Sokka takes that as his cue to leave, though he does so reluctantly, and he doesn't go very far, opting to stay overnight in Katara and Aang's house. He goes to their kitchen, deciding to be bold and pour himself some fire whiskey before sitting at the counter.

It's strange how much his world has changed in a single day, a single moment even, and he couldn't be happier to have met this new, precious gemstone that's been brought into the world. Happy. That's what he feels. Yeah.

Except… he can't help but feel something else. He tries to smile through it, but the more he tries to make it go away, the more the feeling festers before eventually settling somewhere deep in his gut, like a nasty parasite.

The house is buzzing with friends and family. His friends' children run around and play, and the island is filled with love and joy and laughter. His best friend just had a baby – a beautiful, bright and healthy baby that he already knows he would do anything for. He should be feeling nothing but happy.

So why does he feel like something is missing?

It's then that he realizes – I'm the last one left. Aang and Katara, Zuko and Mai, and now Toph, all have children. They all have families. Heck - last he talked to Suki, even she had just gotten engaged. All his friends have moved on and embraced adulthood, and here he is, sitting at a counter drinking – alone. He knows he has everything, yet in that moment, he feels like he has nothing. Like he's falling behind.

"Oh!" a voice sounds in the doorway of the kitchen. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt."

Sokka looks up at the sound and is surprised to see a face he doesn't recognize. A woman stands there, and she's clearly from the Water Tribe. Her eyes are grey, but her skin and facial features are distinctly of his own culture, and her hair is fashioned in a humble, yet pretty half-up half-down style, with bits of blue beading woven in.

"Uh," Sokka's mouth hangs open, dumbly, "That's okay."

"I'll just get out of your way," the woman smiles warmly before turning to leave.

But Sokka finds himself stopping her, "Wait! What's your name?"

The woman turns back to face him, with the same warm smile, "I'm Kahlia."

"Kahlia," Sokka repeats the name, and it tastes like the fire whiskey on his tongue. "That's a beautiful name."

"You think? Thanks," Kahlia takes a few steps into the kitchen, leaning her elbows on the counter as she stands across from him. "I'm sure you're wondering what a strange woman is doing in your sister's house, huh?"

He had been wondering that, but he was more so thinking about how pretty she is. "Oh, not really. There's always people passing through."

She giggles, and it sounds just as light as he would have imagined. "Well, just in case you're wondering - I actually just moved here from the Southern Water Tribe."

"You're from The Tribe? I'm surprised we haven't met before."

"Well, I'm originally from up north, but we moved to the south right after the war, and I just recently moved here to study healing under Master Katara."

"You're a waterbender?" Sokka leans forward, swirling the whiskey around in his glass.

"Well, I'm trying to be," she bites her lips, and Sokka's eyes flick down at the gesture, "But I'm not really interested in fighting – I just want to help people feel better."

Without thinking, Sokka scoffs, "Pfft. Maybe you can start with me."

That earns him a confused, yet intrigued look. "Are you sick?"

But instead of answering her, still holding his drink, Sokka gets up from his chair to grab the bottle of fire whiskey, along with a second glass. He fills both glasses before turning back to the counter and setting them down on the hard surface, with a clang. He slides one of the glasses across the counter, then takes a sip from his own.

"Care to have a drink?" he asks, licking the whiskey from his lips and setting the woman with a suggestive gaze.

Kahlia's eyes flick from Sokka's to the glass in front of her, her expression equally as meaningful.

Sokka doesn't realize it yet, but the next instant is one that will change his life.

"Personally, I'm more of a gin gal myself," Kahlia picks up the glass, bringing it to her lips and taking an earnest sip of the whiskey, all the while holding Sokka's eyes with her own. She downs the drink in one go, then sets the empty glass down on the counter, with a hard smack. "But pour me another."

---

AN

Every time I sit down to write a short and sweet chapter, I end up writing a fricken novel (in fairness, I feel like Toph's pregnancies alone could be a novel). But wow, 15k! I had a lot of fun with this chapter, but I know it was a long one. Are you still with me?

And because it such a long chapter, I have lots of notes.

This chapter was obviously less about Sokka and more about Toph – a bit of a character study and love letter to her all in one. To me, this chapter was about Toph truly getting in touch with and embracing what makes her a woman. I know Toph's character is a bit of tomboy – but she is a girl, and I think it's important to recognize that her strength, humor and attitude aren't strengthened in spite of her status as a woman, but because of it.

I also wanted to show that there was a little bit more to the whole Kanto thing than we first thought. As we saw in LoK, Toph tends to downplay her stories, and I wanted to hint that perhaps she actually did have some feelings for him. But, after what happened with Sokka, perhaps she had subconsciously closed herself off to the possibility of getting hurt again, and that (along with a lack of communication) prohibited any chance of a successful relationship with him.

Finally, just wanted to say a huge thank you to those who have provided feedback and have supported this story! All the comments are very encouraging and help motivate me to keep chipping away at this story, so thank you!

Also – what does everyone think of that twist at the end? Do you hate me yet?

Ps. Someone please draw me baby Lin in a badgermole outfit. How cute would that be?