Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Avatar: The Last Airbender." Nothing here, mate!

Author's notes: Thanks for sticking with me and this story. As promised, stuff happens! At least along the lines of what you'd be expecting and hoping, I hope :P On with the drama!

"Tumbling Boulder: the Toph files"

Chapter thirteen "Confrontations"

Toph was so tired, she felt like clawing her face off sometimes. Blasted Changying and her bloodbender friends occupied her apartment. Half the times she tried to sneak Lin out to spend the night at Air Temple Island, or a hotel. But Changying's friends would find her. Toph was tired of being followed, and more than once she got into scrapes with these bloodbenders. Then they'd laugh and lock her muscles, forcing her to her knees, panting with rage.

Each time, Lin would cry and crawl toward her, trying to help her stand and Toph had to acquiesce to them. Just so they'd let her go and she could pick her child up again and calm her hiccupping sobs.

Whenever she ventured back to her apartment, Changying would try to corner her. Repeatedly, Toph would shove her away, force her hands away from her. As the months passed, Changying would try to force her to touch her belly. It was growing larger and the terror grew and grew within her. This girl would give birth soon and then Toph would know whether it was hers or not. Her alpha instincts to protect the child growing in this traitorous girl were confusing with the betrayal that swirled through her every time she heard Changying laugh or speak or joke with her friends in her home.

This night was grating her nerves to shreds already. Toph rocked a wailing Lin against one shoulder, patting the toddler's back as she squirmed and tugged at her uniform collar with one strong fist. Changying's bloodbenders were loitering around her kitchen, taking up space and offering belligerent words whenever she paced past, rocking her child. They passed a flask between themselves, laughing.

There was a knock at the door and Toph dodged one of the dratted men, hoisting Lin to her left shoulder. Lin wailed and punched her ear and Toph winced. She pulled the door open, not clearly reading the chi signature waiting.

"What?!" she demanded. Then there was a hitch of breath from the person standing there and the familiar scent of her ex washed over Toph, sending tingles up and down her spine. "Suki?"

"Toph." Then Suki was pushing in with her, laughing and crying, hand on her arm, and trying to take the crying confused child from her. Toph let her, slinging an arm around Suki's waist to keep her close. Because this might be the last time she'd get to touch her once the scene behind her caught wind of Suki's arrival.

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For her part, Suki had had a hell of a time of it coming back to Republic City. The cab driver had been annoying, loudly talking her ear off as he eased his vehicle in and out of traffic. Fire Lord Zuko had given her funds enough to travel in style, but she'd found herself taking cheaper, and hopefully faster, routes to get back to Toph. Her chi swirled horribly as anxiety welled within the Kyoshi Warrior. She had removed her make-up and warrior's robe, traveling in peasant trousers and tunic.

She'd finally gotten to the city that morning. But the days of traveling were taking their toll and Suki was weary and agitated. Her personal life collapsed on her mentally and she hoped Toph would at least let her see her child. Over a year of nothing but a few letters would have sent anyone packing and she knew she was in the polar bear-dog house, for sure. Suki was sure she could make it up to Toph. She didn't intend to leave, in fact… she wanted to stay and raise her child with her. Suki had tried to brighten. She was almost there.

Then it had started to rain. Pour, more like. In seconds, Suki was soaked. Her short hair clung to her scalp and neck and she had started to sneeze. The rain was unnaturally cold in the spring weather. But Suki had trudged on. She made it straight to Toph's. She would take the time after apologizing and hopefully seeing her daughter before seeing Aang, Katara and the others. The thought that Sokka might be around filled her with irrational guilt.

But she was here; she'd made it. When Suki knocked hard on the door, she heard Toph arguing with someone. Who else was there? Toph never had anyone over and she didn't recognize the deep male laughter. But when her frazzled erstwhile lover opened the door, her eyes filled with tears. Toph was well, Toph. She looked harried, but Lin WAS crying. Spirits, she'd gotten bigger! Was she walking already? Suki hitched a sob and threw herself into Toph's free arm, tugging toward the baby all at once.

Toph was shocked into silence, and well, it was her own fault for not telephoning ahead. But she was holding her. She even shifted Lin over to her arms, leaning against her. And then Suki noticed the pregnant woman behind Toph. She was dressed in a fancy dress fitted for her belly, and she did not look happy. Flanked on either side of her were three men dressed in fancy suits.

"Who is this!" She screamed shrilly. Toph winced and let her arm sag from her waist. Suki shifted the confused toddler to her shoulder, patting her back. Lin was quieting, which was good, but an oppressive silence had settled among the adults in the apartment. Toph shut the front door and leaned against it. She ran a hand through her loose bangs, wincing openly.

"Mother of my baby," Toph growled. She darted her head, flashing an uncertain look in her direction. Suki was stunned to silence.

"I, uh…..Toph, what's going on?" She pleaded. The unhappy look Toph made in her direction twisted her stomach into knots.

"Suki….I'm so sorry."

Suki was alarmed; everything was wrong. Toph's low words of warning, the defeat in her slumped shoulders, and the furtive looks on her face, like she expected her to hand her back Lin and walk the heck out. Also, Toph had called her Sukes in the past. No playful nickname now. Lin tugged at her collar, staring up in wonder at her, and Suki latched onto that. The child wasn't scared of her, maybe she recalled her scent….and she'd get to the bottom of this.

"What for? Toph, what's going on?" she whispered, trying to sound calm. But her heart would not slow down. Lin patted the side of her jaw and leaned against her, babbling. Suki soothed a hand along her back, trying to keep her calm.

Toph straightened, grimacing. "It, well, ah…. I didn't think you'd come back."

It was a lame start, but Suki felt irrationally guilty. She winced. "Toph, I said I would. I'm sorry we were out so long, but I told Zuko I need to be here. I told him…"

Toph's lower lip sank further into a sad frown and Suki felt irrational pain drifting from her chi. Spirits above, what had she done to her alpha?

Before she could go on further, the pregnant woman encroached on their personal space, her flunkies nudging them non too gently. Suki smacked one of them, wishing she could tug her fan free from her pack. "Hey…."

Toph growled and stepped in front of her. Suki held Lin against her shoulder, holding the back of the baby's head protectively. Lin clutched her collar, sniffling.

"I don't care who you are, girl, but you better go. Chief's with me and there's no place for you….."

"Shut up, Changying!" Toph snapped. She shoved one of the men back then she winced as she was locked to her knees. Suki winced and knelt beside her once lover.

"What's happening to you, Toph?" she pleaded. Toph grimaced up toward her and Suki was shocked to see a line of sweat dripping from her brow to her chin. She couldn't move, that much was evident. Katara's old warnings drifted back to memory and Suki went cold. She stared at the leering well-dressed men. Bloodbenders?

"Can't move….sorry," Toph winced. Suki soothed her bangs out of her face and cradled the side of her jaw soothingly. Toph ducked her face into her touch. That soothed Suki's heart more than anything. She glared up at the smirking girl and the men. The girl was very pretty, she realized suddenly. Very vivacious and her chi roiled against hers startingly. She may not have been a bender, but her friends certainly were.

"It's okay….. please. Let her up. Why are you doing this?" Suki demanded. The men shrugged and Toph climbed back to her feet.

One of the men stared at her and crossed his arms.

"Why not?" he offered, and Suki wanted to smack him. The girl cackled a laugh as well and Suki really felt her hand long to strike her. She rubbed Lin's back instead.

"Oh, I heard all about you," she laughed. Her hand settled on her round belly and Suki felt the bad feelings make her stomach feel like it was dropping yet again. Toph seemed to realize when she noticed the girl's belly, for her chi roiled crazily. Suk winced feeling it. "The mother who ran away. Well, Toph had a real good time with me, as you can see…."

Suki swallowed. Her belly rioted and she felt like she was going to be sick. No, she was holding the baby….Lin…she had to be strong. "Toph?" she asked. Her voice came out far too light for her own liking.

Toph frowned sadly in her general direction. "….I made a mistake."

The girl snorted, skirting over any reaction from Suki. "Mistake or not, you know it's yours."

Toph flared a fierce smile in her direction. "We'll wait and see." And Suki got the idea the girl wasn't known to be a loyal partner of any kind. It was true an alpha could scent a baby at birth to see whether it was theirs or not, but this was still a bizarre nightmare she had come back to.

"Toph…I…"

Before she could go on, the girl, Changying, screeched a protest. "Don't tell me she's staying here!"

Toph swept past her, waving at Suki to wait. "We're staying at a hotel. You can do whatever you like!"

Changying began shrilly protesting as Toph disappeared and came back with an overnight bag for Lin and herself. She slung on her officer's coat over her uniform and strapped the bag across her chest. She paused at Suki's side. She held out a hand toward her, then lowered it. Suki knew Toph could read her confused emotions.

"Let's go. I can…I can explain."

"Let's get out of here," Suki urged. The bloodbenders made gestures, but one of them shook his head at the others.

"Aw, let 'em go. Changying isn't going anywhere."

Suki wondered in a sickening moment if that were true.

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"So…." Toph closed the door of the hotel room and clacked the lock into place. She turned her head to the two swirling chi signatures in the direction of the bed. Suki had been quiet the whole way here, only murmuring softly to the baby who was curiously babbling to her. Did Lin recognize her mother's scent? She could only be glad the baby seemed to like and recognize her. Suki was here. Suki…..But Toph's heart was pained, knowing she'd hurt her. She had to explain. "That girl…."

Suki gave a pained laugh. She bounced Lin against her shoulder, listening to her happy babbles. "I guess you have an explanation. As to how I left you."

"You did leave me." Hurt lined Toph's words. She sighed and unbuttoned her uniform coat, tossing it off. It hit the sofa and slid off.

Suki flashed pained eyes to her once lover. "Not forever! I said I was coming back!"

Toph crossed her arms, huffing. "So Zuko gets you at a moment's call, and we don't?!"

"No! Okay, maybe I messed up with his mission needing me so long…..but I told you I was coming back!"

"I didn't know if you were. You just flipping vanished with him!"

"I told you I loved you!" Suki spat. Toph hissed an intake of breath as her heart panged. "I did and I do, I…."

Toph felt irrational guilt slam into her. Her heart sagged in her breast, weighted with the bad decisions she had made while alone. She ran a hand through her bangs. "I'm so sorry….."

The weight of Changying hinged between them. Suki was hurt, her chi roiling in jagged peaks. Toph tried to brush against it with her alpha's strength, but Suki's chi shied away from her. She gulped.

"You didn't have to go to….someone else. Just so you know, I haven't been with anyone else. Not Zuko, not anyone!" Suki bit out. Lin gave a cry and Toph started toward the bed in panic, but Suki murmured softly to the baby, rocking her.

"She might be hungry…." Toph muttered, dropping to her knees to go through the overnight bag with fingers scrambling for a bottle. She'd only had time to grab two. She'd need to buy more formula tomorrow. But her heart was shredding with guilt. Suki hadn't been with anyone else. Boy, did she fuck things up.

"How'd you meet her?" Suki wanted to know. Her voice was hoarse as if she were holding back tears. Toph swallowed. She crawled forward on her knees and waited in front of Suki.

"She went after me," she tried to explain. Toph was beginning to be glad that was the truth, but Suki's next question gutted her.

"So you had to have her, anyone, because I was on a mission for Zuko?"

Toph's jaw clenched stubbornly. "You'd left. I thought it was forever."

"….I know." Suki's soft words shocked Toph. "I messed up too."

Toph waited on her knees. "I'm still sorry. We had to come all the way here…."

"I don't feel like intruding on Aang and Katara's household right now. It's just….too much," Suki admitted. Toph felt even more guilty. Suki would want to see her friends again. As soon as tomorrow, they would know. All of them would know who had mothered Lin at last. Toph knew she was in for some words, some harsh and some curious. It really was her fault right there.

"I'm still sorry."

"I know…" Suki shifted Lin, settling her on the bed. "You can sleep in the bed."

"I'll take the floor. I've done enough," Toph mumbled. Her heart lightened at the invitation, but that was just Suki's way. She always thought of everyone. Including her. Her heart thudded unhappily.

"Okay, Toph….. Uhm, do you have that bottle?"

Toph knelt up and handed the bottle to her ex-partner. Their fingers touched.

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Suki was glad to see her friends the next day, but even as Aang and Katara exclaimed over her, getting from her hold on Lin finally the baby's link to her, she was loathing the rest of the reaction.

"We're so glad you're back, Suki. I hope Zuko is doing well," Katara said. Suki gave her a wry smile, and Toph hovered nearby, baby bag slung over her chest. She crossed her arms, waiting. Katara met her eyes and Suki gave a tentative smile. Aang just smiled at her and patted her back.

"We should have known. We're so happy for you two," Aang whispered. Suki sighed.

"Don't say that once Sokka comes over."

"He doesn't know, does he," Katara winced. Suki nodded. Toph sighed raggedly.

"Sorry, Katara," Toph said and Katara got the hint that Toph had been apologizing to a lot of people lately. Seeing the hurt on Suki's face was plain as day.

"Well…. Lin seems happy," Aang said carefully. The baby flashed a grin at him. She was holding onto Suki's shoulder with one arm, curled up close in her baby sling. Suki's free arm patted her back.

Toph gave a soft smile to no one. "Yeah…. She knows her."

Katara and Aang both caught the wistful look Suki gave Toph.

"Toph…."

"Hey, how come no one told me you're here?" Sokka's voice crowed loudly from the main hall of the Air Temple Island house. Toph cringed, bare toes curling against the hardwood floor. Then Sokka came around the corner and his words died in his throat. "Suki!..."

"Hi, Sokka," Suki said gently. Toph felt her baby's chi signature being transferred to Sokka's arms. Good. Maybe since he had the baby he would hold his temper.

"Whu….what are you doing here?" Sokka asked, patting Lin's back. The baby smiled up into his face happily.

"I promised to come back and see…..Lin. And Toph," Suki stammered. Sokka nodded, patting Lin's back and bouncing her. She giggled against his shoulder.

"Well that's good. How come?" he asked and Toph winced openly. Seeing the look on her face and the apologetic look on Suki's suddenly cleared the answer to sometimes intelligent Water Tribe man. His face contorted through a series of emotions and he settled on unease. Did he have the right to berate Suki's choice in alphas after she'd broken up with him?

"I…I didn't know…. I didn't know who Lin's mother was," he stammered. He swallowed visibly and gave a weak smile to the fidgeting woman. "C-congratulations….Lin's a good baby."

"She is," Toph said smoothly. She came forward and collected her child. Lin settled into her familiar scent and warmth happily and her ire smoothed. "I'm sorry I didn't mention…."

"But Suki was gone…." Sokka winced as he noted the hurt radiating between his two friends. "But that's for you to sort out! I just… well, you had a baby. That's good!"

"Sokka," Suki said plaintively. Sokka patted her arm awkwardly.

"Its okay. You needn't worry about me. I'll be okay!" he insisted.

"You're making it awkward already," Katara complained. Sokka winced.

"Sorry. Where are YOUR kids?"

"With the acolytes," Aang explained. Toph handed Lin to Suki. She felt the flash of interest from her chi and Toph angled her head toward her.

Sokka gave a groan, clapping a hand to his forehead. "Oh man, and Changying…"

"SOKKA." Toph flared her chi and Suki shifted uncomfortably."

"Okay, okay. Again, your area."

"Don't remind me," Toph grumbled. Suki looked away from her.

End for now

End notes: Aaaand stuff happened. Like it, drop a review. Even if you don't like it, let me know why.

Pen 1/18/2021