AN: You guys are seriously the best! Your reviews are so nice and sweet! Gah I love it! I would have never thought I would 30 reviews let alone over 100! Seriously, you guys are the shining little light in my life! I love it! Fanart? would love some :) Story is not over, still more left to write. Enjoy!

"Iroh," I smiled, standing to greet him.

"Hello, Toph!" He smiled happily. "Avatar, Master Sokka, Lady Katara," he greeted the others. "Where is my precious gem?" I grinned and pulled the blanket farther under Lin's chin and presented her to General Iroh. "She is beautiful, just like her mother," he said softly resting a palm on my cheek. I blushed and smiled.

"Would you like to hold her?" I asked.

"Of course! Just let me take my shoes and coat off," he said. I went to sit on the couch, Iroh following closely behind. I passed Lin to him and he cradled her against his chest. "Oh, and I brought a few things," he said innocently.

"We'll get it," Aang and Sokka gulped before heading outside. Apparently Iroh had hired a small carriage. I could feel the ostrich horses shuffling out in the snow.

Lin cooed and opened her eyes from her nap. She stared (well at least pointed her head in his direction) at Iroh. I was afraid she might cry but them her hand shot out and grabbed his beard. The ferocious Dragon of the West burst out laughing and removed her chubby hand from the wiry hair. "I need those, little one," he chuckled "It's cold outside." I smiled and tucked one chilly foot under my leg, the other resting on the floor.

Sokka and Aang came back in the house, arms full of various things. "Ah, good!" Iroh grinned, getting up and swishing his fingers on my arm, motioning me to follow. "I brought you more 'mommy gifts', soaps, sweets and other such things. Oh and tea! Lots of tea!" He grinned.

"Thankyou, you really didn't have to do all this you know?" I smiled giving him a one-armed hug.

"And for the little tea leaf I brought this," he said shoving something huge and soft into my arms.

"What is it?" I asked, but after getting a good look at it I knew what it was. "Oh! A stuffed badger-mole! Iroh that's so sweet!" I cooed.

"Only the best for some of my favorite girls."

I blushed and we went back to sit on the couch while we caught up. Letters could only tell so much afterall. Sokka soon shanghaied Lin into his arms which freed Iroh up to make us all tea. We crammed around my table and chatted as Iroh told us how Mai was getting along, how flustered Zuko was and all things of the like. Sokka tapped Lin's nose playfully and rubbed her belly, eliciting smiles from her. She hadn't quite learned how to laugh yet.

I zoned out after a moment, distracted by Sokka and my child. He hardly let anyone hold her, save me of course. Snoozles always made sure she was in his arms or at least within a five foot radius. I couldn't held the warm smile that touched my lips. He was absolutely smitten with her. A kind, fuzzy feeling roiled and floated in my chest thinking about them. I loved them. Them!? I loved Lin for sure but- I could feel the same coziness in my chest when I looked at Sokka as when I looked with Lin, it was different but... also the same.

I almost sent myself into a panic attack but luckily Iroh set down a cup of tea in front of me, a glorious distraction from my thoughts. I took a large gulp and hoped no one noticed me guzzling it. I crammed a lemon cookie in my mouth and tried to act natural. Did I love Sokka? Of course I did, rather, the question was; am I in love with him?

I didn't want to answer that question right now.

We spent the rest of the day visiting with Iroh, who held Lin for a long time, on and off, simply gushing over her. When it was time to settle down for the evening I cradled Lin and leaned into Sokka's chest as he read. Iroh sipped on tea and Katara and Aang sat together contentedly. Everything was wonderful.

Iroh left a week later. It seemed empty without him. I then began to wonder when Aang, Katara and Sokka would leave. Afterall, they had lives to get back to. It hurt when I thought of Sokka leaving, I couldn't even begin to imagine life without him again. Looking back before I was pregnant, life seemed unbearably dull compared to how things were now.

I noticed Sokka creeping off during the day and spending hours outside, in town or who knows where else. He also started to cling to Aang like a gopher-tick. It was all rather peculiar.

We received a letter from Zuko a few weeks later. He told us Mai was doing well and that she and the unborn baby were perfect and healthy. Even though Zuko always wrote with an air of sheer dignity and pride, we could all tell he was bursting-at-the-seems-excited. He wished all well and sent a special kind of Fire Nation delicacy called a Lollipop for Lin to try when she got old enough. He said all babies in the Fire Nation started out with these strange little hard balls of sugar on a stick as their first hard candy. So when Lin began to nibble at solid foods I allowed her to lick the lollipop to death. It all turned into a sticky mess but she seemed to throughly enjoy it; smiling, giggling and reaching for it with chubby,greedy hands.

Sokka also received a private letter from Zuko, no one else noticed except for me, via earthbending and all. Of course I couldn't tell what it said but whatever it was it was probably none of my business anyways. A few days later and he seemed to go into town with a new attitude than before. The curiosity was killing me but I was too busy with Lin to investigate.

It came to a surprise to us all when Lin could push herself up on all fours. She rocked back and forth trying hard as she could to crawl. It was a humorous, delightful little achievement.

Katara was watching Lin for me so I could take a nap but upon walking to my room I heard Sokka mumbling from his room down the hall. I tiptoed down the hall and stood next to his closed door. It was only him, so he must have been talking to himself. It was so typical for him I couldn't help but smile. "Zuko said... last in Jung-Ling... probably headed for... only a days journey... didn't know...so close. Monster... no one messes with my best friend."

Everything clicked into place. Those secret meetings with Zuko at the palace, the letters... they were going after Jai Ling. My heart soared at the thought of my rapist being brought to justice but a lead ball dropped into my stomach at the same time. I was finally starting to become whole again and now, he was so close, so present in the forefront of Sokka's mind... in a sense, he was in my home. I shook my head and wrung my hands. I just wanted to get away from him. I was so thankful that Sokka cared about me so much but at the same time that gratitude was tinged with a little bit of bitterness.

I practically ran to my room and tried to figure out what I was going to do. He had been hiding this from me for- for months! I was angry at him for that, but I could hardly blame him. I knew he had kept it secret from me because he didn't want to drag me into it all. I was grateful for that. It was really considerate. But, did I want revenge? I didn't know. I buried my head in my pillow and forced myself not to cry. After debating this for a while I had come to at least the single conclusion that I couldn't let Sokka know I knew about his plan. I didn't know when he was leaving or where exactly he was going but I knew he was going to face Jai Ling... and what that meant exactly I didn't know. Upon further examination I came to the decision to leave Lin with Katara and Aang for a few days and follow Sokka. He wasn't going to be the only one allowed to get revenge.

I kept a close ear on him for nearly a week. I noticed he had started packing and spent more time in his room looking over maps and main highways. He also became more agitated and serious.

And then, I caught him sneaking out one night. It was time to move. I waited for and hour before I reached under my bed and snagged my little travel bag and slung it over my shoulders. Lin was fast asleep in her crib and didn't even stir when I kissed her goodbye. I felt like such a horrible mother for leaving her like this, but I had to do it.

I would have left a note had I known how to write but alas, I didn't, so that was not an option. I would get the third degree from Katara when we got back but I could deal with that when it came time. I assured myself Lin would be safe and well cared for with Katara and Aang while I was gone.

I had waited long enough to stay out of Sokka's sight. It was difficult to see him properly with all the snow on the ground, not to mention the thin animal hide shoes I had to wear to fend against frostbite. I walked all night, following at nearly two miles behind him. I could just make out his footsteps from so far away. I was cold and tired and grumpy when I finally felt the vibrations of a village a few miles ahead. I picked up my pace so I could be close to Sokka in case he found Jai Ling here. I could intervene quicker that way.

I felt the first rays of dawn on my face, I welcomed them gladly. My cheeks were numb from the cold. I was quickly distracted when I thought of Lin and how she was doing right now. I was so guilt-ridden with leaving her like that, that it felt as though I had boulders tied to my feet. However, I was snapped back to attention when I felt Sokka's calm stroll break into a sprint. He was just up ahead. I had surprised myself I had covered so much ground.

I ran through the early-morning shoppers in the streets, trying not to get too far behind Sokka. I was bumped and tossed between the villagers as I tried to push through them. Then, a familiar heart-beat reached my senses. I froze in my tracks, cold sweat broke out over me. It was him. Panic stirred in my belly and my heart started beating wildly. I was just meters from him. He was in a back alley building, Sokka at the door. Could I do it? Could I face the man that had destroyed me? I had to.

I pushed all my fear down and gathered the hardened, war-time temperament of my childhood at twelve.

Sokka entered the house. I could almost hear their voices from here. I felt Sokka reach for his war club and that was my signal to run. If Jai Ling was going to die, he would die at my hands. I pushed and shoved through the crowd. I felt the first blow fall on Jai Ling and I forced my way harder. Suddenly, the crowd broke and I stumbled into an alley, scraping my knees through my pants. I scrambled towards the building Sokka and Jai Ling were in. I could hear them shouting now.

I didn't bother with opening the door properly. I rammed my shoulder into it, breaking the rickety door off it's rusty hinges. Both men, sweaty, bruised and bloodied stopped fighting and turned to look at me. "Toph?" Sokka croaked.

"How's my girl?" His voice slithered. The statement snaked through the air and coiled around my body, slipping into my ears with a seductive caress. A chill flew down my spine as my memories came flooding back.

I was sitting against the tea shop wall with him. "Just for you," he said handing me the cup. My eyes were falling shut and the tea cup slipped from my fingers and tumbled to the ground. His lips were on mine, back pressed into the hard floor of a wagon. His mouth was on my neck, teeth nipping at my skin. I was pregnant. I was scrubbing my flesh raw. I was sick to my stomach. Sokka was there. I told him what happened. It wasn't my fault.

It wasn't my fault.

I slammed my heel into the ground, throwing Jai Ling into the far wall. I lifted fist-sized rocks and hurled them towards him. A rock pillar slammed into his ribcage, tossing him aside where another pillar threw him across the small room.

"You ruined my life!" I screamed hurling razor-sharp earth at him. "You took everything from me!" A flat of stone slammed him face first into the floor. I lunged for him. My fingers caught in his shirt and I jerked him upright, slamming him into the wall behind him. My hands latched around his throat and I squeezed. "You monster!" I slung him against the wall again and again. A hand uncurled from his throat and balled into a fist that collided with his mouth a split second later. I punched him, I kicked him. He had no time to guard against my blows except for feeble attempts at grabbing at my clothes or closing a hand over my arm. I swatted away his defenses easily.

"I hate you!" I screamed. It was then I noticed I was crying, knuckles covered in blood, fresh scratches and bruises from my unbridled earthbending. I had never felt so enraged or so desperate before. I stepped back and raised spikes and pillars of rock around him. "You sorry excuse for a man!" My arms were in the down-swing to kill him when someone wrapped their arms around me and pulled me backwards. I struggled and fought against them, trying desperately to salvage the crumbling stone... to kill him.

I was sobbing. Strangled cries ripped from my throat, mangled screams wrenching through me. "Toph, stop." Sokka's calm voice said into my ear. I clawed at his arms. "Stop," He said firmly. I was so tired. My crazed thrashing slowed into pitiful kicks and sobs. I slumped into his arms and cried. I shook from exertion. He held me against his chest, his hand cradling the back of my head, pressing my cheek to his chest. I fisted my hands in his tunic, burying my nose. I was so confused inside. I was sad. Terrified. So full of rage. I cried harder, my shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

"I'm here." His voice was like the very land he came from; Cool, calm, balanced. I pushed my body into his, seeking every bit warmth and comfort he could provide for me. His nose brushed the top of my ear. "I love you, Toph. I love you."