How are you feeling?" Sokka asked pushing my damp bangs from my forehead.

"I'm tired," I answered quietly. Little Lin gurgled and squirmed. I ran my fingers over her cheeks and tapped her nose gently. I rocked a little side to side, I was too exhausted to do much else. She nuzzled into my breast and made a small noise that melted my heart. I loved her so much. Sokka leaned over and inspected her. I felt him stroke her outside cheek with the back of his finger. I worried for a second that his rough skin might scratch her, but I knew he was being extra careful.

He breathed a sigh of contentment and I let my eyelids drop shut. I couldn't fight sleep anymore. I curled my arms tighter around the little bundle of blankets that cacooned the most precious thing in my world. I felt myself drift off within seconds.

Later, Katara rocked my shoulder, waking me. "Hey," she said happily. I just knew she was smiling.

"Hi," I croaked, my voice hoarse from screaming. I felt... clean. Katara must have taken the liberty to change the sheets and clean me up. I blushed, embarrassed.

"I think Lin's hungry," she offered.

"Oh." I moved my leg to put my toes on the floor and groaned. I was so sore. But, I managed to check the room for Sokka or Aang and found it empty save for us three girls. Katara rest Lin in my arms and I cradled her close to my chest. Katara helped Lin get started and my, was she her mother's daughter; a greedy eater. The closeness of feeding Lin her first meal was something I couldn't describe. I felt those metal cables tug tighter in my heart, and it only made me love her all the more... if that's even possible.

Within a few minutes we had both dozed off and before I completely fell into sleep I felt Katara take Lin from my arms and tug my shirt back up. I was so glad she was here to look out for me and Lin. When I awoke the next time I heard Katara humming prettily and pacing the floor with my baby in her arms. I smiled and rustled around to let her know I was awake. She turned and came back to my bedside. "Feeling better?" She asked.

"Yeah, but I'm sore, that's normal right?"

"Yeah," she smiled. Placing Lin against my chest she said "She'll probably need fed every few hours. It's important for her to get colostrum."

"Huh?" I asked as Lin began to suckle.

"Colostrum, it's this special form of milk mothers have for the first bit after their baby is born. It's full of antibodies and all that good stuff to get Lin off to a good start," she explained cheerily. I blushed out of pure embarrassment at my lack of knowledge. I wished my mother had explained all this stuff to me when I was younger. At least then I wouldn't have felt completely lost.

Lin stopped suckling soon after that and I felt my heart sink a little. "Isn't she supposed to drink more than that?" I asked worriedly.

"Don't fret, Toph," Katara chuckled. "That's normal for babies sometimes. I promise she's as healthy as an ostrich-horse."

It was quiet for a moment as I tried to coax Lin back into drinking. "Thanks, Katara... for everything. I really don't know what would have happened if you hadn't been here."

"Yeah... Listen, Toph, there's something I need to tell you," she said glumly. It scared me a little. She just got through saying Lin was healthy so what could be wrong. Oh, spirits. Is she blind? Blind like me? Tears sprung to my eyes at the very thought. Have I cursed her already? It was my fault. I couldn't do anything right. A fat tear rolled down my cheek. "I don't really know how to say this..." she began.

"Is she blind?" I blurted.

"What? No, oh no, Toph! I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you. She can see, she can see, I promise."

"Then whats wrong?" I asked a little harsher than I meant.

"You can't have anymore children."

Everything crashed, the blood in my veins froze, I felt numb.

"W-what?" I choked out.

"I'm so sorry, Toph. I- I tried everything." Her voice shook and her head fell in her hands. "I did everything I could. But when those men attacked you in the alley it, did something. I don't understand wat happened but it's- it's for your own safety that you never have another child. I'm sorry, Toph," She cried.

I could only hear my own breathing. Everything was unsteady, I felt like I was floating outside of my body. I didn't know if I wanted more children but I loved little Lin so much that I didn't want to rule out more children so soon, but now...

"You bled a lot while you were labor. I got it stopped before it did any real harm, but you just bled so much and- and after whatever damage that near-miscarry caused, whatever that was caused you to bleed more than you should have," she sobbed. "And now your uterus is damaged and it's just not safe for you to even be pregnant, let alone carry to full term. You could bleed out next time, or actually miscarry, and there may not be anything I can do about it."

My mouth opened and closed like a fish. I couldn't say anything. It wasn't her fault, and I wanted to tell her that but I felt like I couldn't even breath. I blinked and realized I was crying. I swiped my tears away with the hand that wasn't cradling Lin's head. "It's not your fault, Katara," I said unsteadily. "A-and I have Lin, she- she's all I need. We'll be ok. We'll be ok." And then I couldn't hold myself together any longer and broke out in sobs. I felt arms wrap around me and heard Katara's sniffles as she comforted me.

"You're right, Toph. You will be ok. And Lin is perfect and beautiful."

"Thankyou," I sniffed.

After I had calmed and Katara softly explained to Sokka and Aang I that I was to be barren, she allowed her brother to come in. I could feel Aang trying as hard as he could to get a peek through the door. I smiled and shook my head. "Hey," he said softly, sitting down next to me.

"Hi," I said back.

"I'm sorr-"

"Don't pity me, Sokka." I warned sternly. I heard the door click as Katara left to distract Aang. I heard Sokka huff... he sounded... angry?

"What about me, Toph?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked, baffled.

"What if, what if- we get married or something and I want more kids?"

"What?" I breathed. My heart beat painfully against my ribcage. Adrenaline flooded my system. Was he-? "Are you proposing to me?" I managed in a whisper.

"I- you-" he sighed. "No." He mumbled something I couldn't decipher.

"Oh. Um..." I blinked awkwardly. And in that moment I was glad I was blind so I wouldn't have to look at him. "Do you want to hold her?" I offered, holding Lin out towards him. I heard him gulp.

"Yeah," he breathed. He took her from me hesitantly. I was glad one of his feet was touching the ground because with my toes brushing the floor, I got to see him interact with my baby. "She's perfect," he said quietly. Lin made one of those heart-melting little noises. He loves her. And, despite everything, I couldn't have been happier.

After Sokka and I spent some time with eachother and Lin, Katara and Aang joined us. "Hey, Twinkletoes," I greeted.

"Are you ok? Are you hurt? Everything went ok right, cause, golly, it sounded awful. You were screaming, and then crying and-"

"I was there, Aang," I deadpanned. "But yes, I'm fine." I felt him creep closer and peer into my arms at Lin. Gosh, he reminded me of a curious child, which, in a sense, he was. "Would you like to hold her?"

"Yeah!" He grinned. He sat down at my hip and took Lin from me very slowly and carefully. He seemed like a total natural. Lin burrowed her nose into his chest, looking for food but she wouldn't find any there. It made me and Katara giggle like school girls. The boys didn't know any better. "She's really cute."

"And squishy," Sokka chimed in. I reached over and punched him in the arm.

"My child is not squishy."

"But-"

I hit him again. "She's gelatinous." That got a rise out of all of us. I was so, so thankful all my closest friends were here with me. After Katara broke out from her stitches of laughter she said "Toph, you must be hungry, let's get you some food."

"Sounds good to me," Sokka piped in. I punched him in the arm. "Ow!" he whined. "You know, I'm going to have a big bruise after all this."

"I'm making up for lost time. And when I get fully healed, I'm going to kick your butt. Remind you who's really in charge around here."

"In your dreams girly!" He fired back. And then at that moment, Lin chose to let out an ear-piercing cry. Aang handed her back to me and I rocked her gently, shhing her.

"Maybe I should try feeding her again," I mentioned. The boys took that as their cue to leave and bolted from the room. Katara laughed and shouted after them to heat up some bread before she shut the door gently.

As it turned out, Lin was hungry and needed a diaper change. Katara guided me through that. I got the hang of it pretty quickly. Later, I ate and then evening fell and both Lin and I slept peacefully, well, except for the three times she woke and demanded food. Other than that, she was the perfect angel.

We spent the next morning cuddling, getting to know one another, her little hand fisted around my index finger the whole time. I knew her features like I knew the back of my hand by the time Katara came in with my breakfast. She told me she wanted me on bed rest for a while until I healed. I acquiesced, grumbling. I knew she was right. This time.

Sokka was sitting or laying next to me almost all the time. He read to me and napped with me, holding onto the baby's hand or settling his hand on her blanketed foot. Everything was perfect. A week passed and I quietly celebrated with my baby for her one week birthday. Katara allowed me to start walking around some.

Then two weeks went by and Katara encouraged me to let Lin sleep in the crib. I blatantly refused at first but then I gave in and grudgingly laid her in her crib once Lin had fallen asleep.

Another week passed and Lin was growing like a weed. I was so pleased at her progress I was smiling all the time. Sokka said he'd never seen me so happy. And I told him I'd never been so happy.

Then, one day, as I was sitting in the living room, a knock came at the door. Even before Aang opened the door I knew it was my old tea-making friend.

AN: Hoped you liked it. And as I feel this was an inadequate amount for an update, I posted a Korra one shot for you guys to read too :) It's called "Monster" Oh and fanart? I got my first (yay!) and I would LOVE more.