Ring! Ring! Ring! The phone started trilling, waking Tenzin from a sound sleep. He looked to the window and saw the first morning rays starting to peak in through the curtain. He saw his beautiful wife starting to stir in the bed next to him.
"I'll get it, stay resting," he whispered to her as he slid out of bed and crept to the kitchenette area of their apartment. He grabbed the phone and without thinking whispered, "I'm sorry, but it is too early in the morning to be speaking on the phone. I'm still trying to sleep. Try calling back later today." And he hung the phone up without waiting for a reply.
"Who was that?" Lin mumbled sleepily.
"No clue," he replied while sliding back into bed, "I told them it was too early for phone calls and that they were very rude for calling so early and interrupting my amazing wife's beauty rest."
Lin laughed and snuggled close to the now prone Tenzin, "I'm sure you did, tough guy."
Tenzin pulled Lin close to him and kissed her forehead, "Well I'm not wrong. Now let's stay in bed a while longer. I can't leave you two yet."
Lin nuzzled closer, "I hope you never leave." They both smiled and continued to rest until the sun was fully up.
…
"Well I'm off to visit Mom for lunch!" Lin called to Tenzin as he was in the bathroom finishing getting ready.
"Enjoy, love!" he replied.
Lin headed the few blocks to the RCPD headquarters where she agreed to meet her mother so they could get a bite to eat and catch up. The apartment wasn't far from the police headquarters, but the cold breeze wafting through the city air made Lin regret the outdoor exercise. Winter may just be starting, but it was not shy at making its presence known. She tugged her coat tighter around her and dipped her mouth lower in her jacket to help cover more of her face from the cold sting.
As Lin rounded the final corner that would bring her to RCPD HQ, a newspaper stall caught her eye. She spotted a photo from her and Tenzin's wedding on the front page of one of the papers sitting in a pile on the cart. Lin stepped closer and focused on that paper. Bold letters on the latest copy of The United Republic read: NEW AIRBENDER ON THE WAY with a subheading that said: Newlyweds Tenzin, Master Airbender, and Lin Beifong, RCPD detective are expecting their first born, the next member of the extinct Air Nomad race.
Lin snatched a copy of the paper and growled. The young man working the booth chided her and said she needed to pay for that now it was ruined. She tossed some Yuan on the counter and stomped away, seething. She couldn't believe what she was reading. As far as she knew, only her closest friends and family members knew about the pregnancy, after all she was barely showing yet, despite the end of the first trimester approaching. Lin also could not believe the journalist's choice of headline.
"New Airbender on the Way…" she murmured to herself, "I can't believe they would be so bold to put that. I don't even know if the baby is a boy or girl yet, and they're already pegging the future of Aang's race on him or her." Tears started forming in her eyes again as all the pressure she's felt on and off throughout the pregnancy started to resurface in her mind.
Lost in her thoughts, Lin didn't realize that someone had approached her until she heard, "Now, now, little badgermole, I know you've been away on your honeymoon for some time now, but there's no need for tears to show how much you've missed me."
Lin turned to see her mother had left the building and found her standing dumbstruck on the sidewalk. "Mom," she managed while gesturing to the newspaper in her hands, "Have you seen this?"
Toph took a step closer to her daughter and said, "Jeez, have you been hanging around Sokka more? You know I have no clue what you're talking about."
Lin sniffled, a small smile playing on her lips, "I know, I was just trying to joke to make myself feel a little better. It's a newspaper and its headline is just, absolutely ridiculous!"
"They usually are, that's why I never bother to peruse the periodicals," Toph stated dryly.
Lin rolled her eyes, "Very funny, Mother. This one is about me, or rather my baby." She absentmindedly brought one of her hands to rest on her slightly protruding abdomen. She continued, "They're already claiming the baby will be an air bender and that Aang's legacy and by extension the legacy of the Air Nomads rests entirely on me producing an airbender." The tears started to reach her cheeks again.
Toph reached out and squeezed her daughter's shoulder and tried to comfort her, "Well now that is completely unfair. The only one who should be planning this baby's future is her award-winning, master bender of a grandmother, Toph Beifong."
Lin chuckled a bit and said, "Mom, please. This is a really sore subject for me."
"Okay, okay," Toph conceded, "Let's go get some meat and noodles and talk about this."
…
"So, what does Tenzin have to say about all this?" Toph asked her daughter. They were now seated in one of their favorite restaurants, enjoying a delicious lunch of grilled meat and spicy noodles, their two favorite foods.
"I don't know if he's seen the headlines at all yet…" Lin began.
"Not about the newspaper, I mean about the baby. Has he said anything to make you think he would resent you or even the baby if she isn't an airbender? Because if he has you know I'll come over and-"
"Mother, please," Lin interrupted, "No, on the contrary, Tenzin has shown that he will do nothing but love and cherish both me and the baby no matter what."
"Bleck," Toph stuck her tongue out, "Hearing about my daughter and her supportive husband is giving me the oogies."
"Very funny, Mom. But I'm being serious here. Tenzin and I have already talked about this. We both just want a healthy baby. It's gender nor it's bending abilities will affect how much love we will show this baby," Lin assured her mom, and herself with these words.
"Well then, you know how I feel about other people's opinions. They can shove it up their-" Toph started to say, but was interrupted by the presence she now felt at the table. She turned her face to the newcomer and said, "Perfect timing, waiter. We would like the check, please."
"I'm s-sorry, b-but I'm not your w-waiter," a young man who looked visibly nervous replied to Toph. Lin's eyes narrowed and stared at him. She couldn't quite place the face, but she was almost positive she's seen him somewhere before.
"Unless you're here to report a crime or ask for an autograph, then I think you best be moving on, kid," Toph told the young man firmly.
He took a deep breath before he began, "My n-name is Jeong and I'm a reporter for-"
"That's enough. Like I said before, unless you want to report a crime, you need to leave my daughter and me alone while we're trying to eat lunch," Toph interrupted him.
"I'm so sorry," Jeong cried out while bowing to the women, "It's just, I'm trying to become a more well known reporter and getting the inside scoop on Ms. Beifong's pregnancy would really help me."
Lin stood up, "Sorry, Jeong, but if there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I don't want my life broadcast to anybody and everybody. My pregnancy is my business and no one else's."
Jeong persisted, "Yes, but you're carrying the next Airbending Master! This is huge news and the public would be so pleased."
Toph slammed Yuans on the table to pay for their lunch and said, "I've heard enough. Let's go Lin!"
Lin stared daggers into Jeong and left him with one final statement, "Why don't you take this story back to wherever it is you work: My child is going to be whoever he or she wants to be. Only the spirits know what gifts the baby will bring to this world and all you cheap gossips need to stop trying to label him or her too early." She stalked after her mother and joined her in the car they drove to the restaurant.
"I can't believe that vile weasel-snake!" Lin exclaimed and punctuated it with slamming the car door.
"Easy on the car door, badgermole. This is technically city property," Toph chided.
Lin rolled her eyes and continued her lamentation, "He must have some really confident guardian spirit to approach us like that while we're trying to enjoy a nice lunch."
"I'm sorry, Lin." Toph apologized.
"Oh, please, it's not your fault he sauntered up to us and felt the need to try to pry into my personal business," Lin replied.
"Well, isn't it?" Toph probed, "I mean, you are the daughter of one of the greatest living Earthbenders, who helped save the world when she was just a kid."
"Mother, please. This isn't time for your ego to join the conversation."
"I'm not trying to be my confident self, I'm being serious. If you had any other mother on the planet, then things would be so different for you-"
Lin glanced over at her mom. She noticed her head was drooped more than normal. Lin reached over and grabbed her mother's hand to give it a gentle squeeze.
"Mom, even if you weren't famous, I'd still be married to one of only two living Airbenders. I'd be all over the media, regardless," Lin said in comfort.
Toph turned her head slightly towards Lin, "You think even if I weren't friends with the Avatar you and Tenzin would still be married?"
Lin took a deep breath as she blinked back tears not of stress and worry, but of a deeper, stronger emotion she felt. She replied, "I'm positive that no matter what lifetime we shared or what planet we lived on, his soul and mine would always find each other and never let the other go."
…
"And now, here's Zahra with the latest news from the lives of the socialites of Republic City," the voice on the radio crackled. Lin was lying on the sofa half reading a book while Tenzin stood at the kitchenette in their tiny apartment, making them a delicious dinner.
"Want me to turn it off?" Tenzin inquired.
"No, you're busy. I can get up to change it," Lin replied as she started to make her way to the radio.
"Thanks, Li," the now feminine voice on the radio replied, "In today's news, we'd like to highlight Republic City's cutest and most romantic couple, Tenzin, Master Airbender, son of the Avatar and Lin Beifong, daughter of Police Chief and Master of Earthbending, Toph Beifong." Lin's hand hesitated as she reached for the dial to change the station. She hated being in the spotlight, but she had some morbid curiosity that made her wait to listen to what they had to report.
"As many of you may know by now, Ms. Beifong and Master Tenzin wasted no time while on their honeymoon and have already announced they're expecting their very first child after just two months of wedded bliss! One of our reporters, Jeong, was fortunate enough to run into Ms. Beifong and her mother while they were out to lunch, presumably after a lovely day out shopping, preparing for the new bundle of joy headed their way. Jeong was able to get a statement from Ms. Beifong and he's here now to share what she said. Over to you, Jeong!"
Tenzin had finished cooking and plating their food and now had his full attention on the radio as well. Lin hadn't mentioned running into any reporters today. His brows furrowed and he waited with baited breath to hear what this Jeong person had to say.
"Thanks, Zahra! That's right, I ran into two thirds of the Beifong family today. They were both enjoying a lunch of assorted meats and spicy noodles, which after speaking with an expert on rearing and raising healthy children, I now know is not the healthiest thing for a pregnant woman to feed her baby. The meat is rather fatty and greasy and the spiciness of the noodles could give her terrible heartburn. The expert recommended she eat more fruits and vegetables going forward to ensure the baby gets all the help he needs!"
Lin rolled her eyes, "Is that really all he has to say? He needs to give me so-called advice on what to eat?"
Tenzin shrugged, "Let's just ignore him for now. Change the channel and let's sit and eat."
Jeong continued on the radio, "I would also like to add that Ms. Beifong seemed to care little about the baby's Air Nomad heritage. She stated that she would not go out of her way to ensure the child is raised in the ways of the Air Nomads and instructed to become a Master Airbender like his father and grandfather."
"But that can't be!" Zahra interrupted.
"Afraid so," Jeong continued, "Now, I'm no expert on Air Nomad culture, but last time I checked, there were only two airbenders alive today and I think-" zzt. The radio went silent.
Lin spun to look at Tenzin who had silently crossed the room and ended the slander and lies being broadcasted to a couple thousand people in and around the city.
"What did you do that for!" Lin exclaimed.
"I don't believe what that man had to say was true. At least, I hope it's not," Tenzin said, staring at his wife's face, searching for any hint of how she was feeling.
"Of course it's not true! I didn't say anything about ignoring any part of the baby's heritage!" she countered.
"I figured as much," Tenzin said as he stepped closer to his wife, reaching out to give her a hug.
"I just told him to mind his P's & Q's and to stop making assumptions about our baby!" Lin shouted at him as she began trembling. Tenzin's arms enveloped Lin's frame. He held her close for a few moments as she let the anger and stress flow through her body, the tremors a reflection of the power the emotions had over her.
"I believe you, Lin," Tenzin said slightly pulling away from his wife so he could look down at her, "I love you and I know you love our baby. I'm sure that man is just trying to spice up his story to get more listeners."
Lin sniffled, "I just can't believe him! Him and all the other media eel-hounds. Making up all this information about our baby."
Tenzin started gently rubbing Lin's back as he continued to comfort her, "I'm not sorry that you're carrying my child, but I am sorry that this has placed you center stage for everyone to make comments about you and try to give you unwarranted advice."
Lin nodded, "I know. I'm not sorry we're bringing new life into this world either. I just wish circumstances were a bit different."
"Well, why don't we sit and eat dinner and then plan the next leg of our honeymoon world tour?" Tenzin offered, leading Lin towards the small table that had the food he prepared laid out.
"Let's get as far from Republic City's gossipers as possible. Why don't we go visit Kya at the South Pole?" Lin agreed.
"As you wish, my dear," Tenzin said before they tucked into their dinner.
A/N: Well here's another chapter. I'm pretty proud of myself for continuing this. If you have any questions or would like to encourage me to finish this bad boy, feel free to comment below or send me an ask on Tumblr! My username is the same: justcallmeheriome :)