Disclaimer: Nope. Nada.
Author's Note/Warnings: OOCness for Toph especially; infidelity again, drama, angst, and a wee bit of cursing...if you count hell and damn cursing (I don't). This was very hard for me to write because I didn't like how I wrote Toph but I couldn't find a solution I liked. I hate OOC and I can't believe I'm doing it! Ugh...so yeah..if you have a complaint about that, I already know.
Heaven, Earth, and Hell
"The only thing worse than not being able to have love from the one you love, is to watch your friend get the love you want from the one you want." -Unknown
"The hardest thing to do is watch the one you love, love somebody else" -Unknown
A little over a year later, everyone gathered for Katara and Zuko's fifth anniversary.
"It's so good to be back here," Sokka sighed, stretching his arms as he got off of Appa. Momo hopped on his shoulders as Aang settled the bison down. The bald monk looked at the warrior curiously.
"Really?"
"Yeah," Sokka rubbed his neck. "But then again, I was tired of flying. We've been flying for quite awhile now."
"True. And it's been awhile since we've last seen Katara and Toph--it'd be nice to see them again after so long." Aang handed Sokka his bag and got off Appa, petting him. "We're here Appa so now you can rest for a while."
The men left the bison where it was apparent servants prepared a place for him to stay while his master remained here. The gigantic doors to the palace opened and they were immediately greeted by Her Highness, Katara. The Princess Consort beamed with joy as she tossed away proper society's etiquette and embraced her brother and friend. "I'm glad you two are early! I've missed you!" she hit Sokka and glared, "How dare you not visit your sister often!"
Sokka rubbed the back of his head, "Sorry. We were busy---hey! What do you mean not often?! I was just here a month and a half ago!"
"More like two!"
"Nah uh!"
"Close enough!" she growled, knowing she won when Sokka dropped his head to look at the floor in defeat. Katara then turned to Aang, her personality changing. "Oh Aang how is everything?"
Aang smiled sheepishly, "It's okay. At least some problems have settled a bit."
"That's good to here," she pulled them. "I'll show you to your quarters."
"So where's Grumpy?" Sokka asked looking around the red walls of the palace.
"Now that's not nice. Sokka, be nice. Azula's my sister-in-law now. I know you two have your differences, heck she and I aren't great friends but I am at least civil to her. I know she's not easy to get along--she's difficult and she does have a temper, but she's all right...I think."
"You hope," Aang smiled, causing Katara to simper at being caught.
"That's nice Katara, but I wasn't talking about her. I was talking about Zuko," Sokka corrected.
"Hey!" Katara chided. "He's your brother-in-law, and my husband! You should be nice. I mean I can understand if you can't get along with his sister, but be nice to Zuko!"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever," Sokka rolled his eyes becoming tired of his sister's rants.
"He's busy preparing. Uncle Iroh's getting a bit old to handle things like these," she giggled playfully. "But not too old to flirt with some of the pretty guests and servants."
"Welcome Lady Toph," a servant bowed as the Earth noblewoman got off the dock, carrying a bundle.
"Hi," she said impassively as she caressed the blanket in her arms.
"I hope your journey was well."
"It was okay."
"No one accompanied you?" he asked, wondering why the woman had no servants--or even a nurse maid for the baby---were with her.
"Nope. Thank goodness. That's the last thing I need," she remarked as she got in the carriage prepared to take her to palace.
The ride to the palace was uneventful, but when Toph entered the Fire Nation's royal family's estate, someone happily greeted her. "Hey Toph! It's been so long! How are you?"
"Hey Katara, I see you're very energetic today," Toph smiled at her friend, "I'm okay. You?"
"Great!" she smiled. "Aww! You brought her!"
"Wanna hold her?" Toph asked, hoping to be relieved of her motherly duties for a short while. It had been a long journey and the sea wasn't a place you wanted to be with a baby.
"Of course!" Katara took the child, "You've grown Little One!" The woman turned her attention at the girl's mother, "What's with all the heavy clothing Toph?"
"Well I don't want her to be exposed to people all that much," Toph explained. It was her only way of protecting the child from prying eyes without earthbending the spectators. Besides, they were in a ship and it was cold out at sea, a contrast to the Fire Nation's weather.
"It's so sweet that you're overprotective of her. Just don't--"
"Become like my parents. I know. I won't. And of course I'm over protective of her. She's my one and only daughter and child." Toph smiled sadly at the last comment.
"You're the Bei Fong heiress," Katara smiled and made funny faces at the child. "One day you're going to inherit Mama's business, oh yes you are. Along with fighting off your suitors."
"Don't even remind me," Toph mumbled.
"Oh right," Katara continued speaking to the child, "you're mama and papa will do most of the fighting." Katara turned her attention back to Toph, "I hope you won't scare them off Toph," she told her friend, knowing the woman would not hesitate to do so. "So how's business?"
"It's all right," Toph replied. "Renshu stayed behind to tie up some loose ends. He says he'll be here shortly though."
"I'd think that you'd settle the loose ends." Katara looked at her friend for an explanation since she was once told by her that she would be the dominate one in handling business affairs.
"I caused the loose ends," Toph smirked. "I wanted to get away from all of that for awhile. He insisted that the baby stay with him, but no way was I going to leave her."
"I can understand wanting some away time. But is there another reason?" Katara queried. Toph had an arranged marriage, unlike herself, and true it was willingly (and yet unwillingly) that Toph married Renshu, Katara knew that Toph had not loved the man when she entered the marriage. She did it for the sake of her family and her family's name, reputation, and other protocols. Of course, there was that issue with her love for the Avatar that could never be. The water mistress wondered if Renshu treated Toph well or did he treat her like a mindless china doll? Did he treat her like a whore or servant, or something so abhorrent that it was below garbage itself?
Katara shook the thoughts away, knowing Toph would never allow anyone--whether they were rich or poor, or king or queen, or even if she loved them or they loved her, treat her in a manner she did not like. However when Katara saw Toph that day, she was so broken, Katara could not help but wonder if Toph had become the obedient and fragile little lady her parents saw her--and wanted her to be.
"What do you mean?" Toph asked as they turned a corner.
"How does Renshu treat you?" she asked, changing the subject. What if she had been wrong? Toph certainly didn't liked being accused.
"You've asked me this before and my answer has not changed," Toph said assuring her friend, "that's not why I left Renshu behind." Katara could only say, okay. She couldn't very well explain that that wasn't the reason she was thinking of. The earth mistress faced her friend and listened to the sounds of the baby and Katara. "Hey do you want to spend some time with her?"
"You don't mind?"
"No. I didn't bring her nanny anyway, so you can help me out!" Toph patted Katara's back and pushed her forward. "I need a break!"
Katara smiled and with Toph's persistence, she left with the baby. Katara was always great with children and Toph wondered what the hell was wrong with her moody husband. Why hadn't they had a baby yet? When were they going to? I mean get it going already Sparky.
Without warning, someone pulled her into the shadows and kissed her urgently. Toph knew who it was right away and kissed him back before pushing him off of her. "We shouldn't...not here...we can't..." She wanted to hit herself for her inability to form the words. He pulled away and quietly apologized, explaining that he had forgotten himself. Toph soon embraced him, "Twinkle Toes...I'm sorry." Unexpectedly she pulled away and punched him on the shoulder and walked off.
"Hey!" Aang called after her, it's not like this is the first time he did that. Besides, she returned his kiss!
"That's for not visiting me!" she yelled, explaining her action.
The party was nothing that they haven't seen before. When you've attended Katara--let alone a Fire Nation's royal wedding; along with one of the richest people--maybe the richest--nobles in the Earth Kingdom and their wedding, scarcely anything is a surprise to you. Unless of course you're like Aang...and Sokka. All right then, scratch that. The party was anything but dull, despite the little attendees.
Their was a huge feast which made Sokka happy. Azula and her friends, Ty Lee and Mai stayed fairly close to one another since most of the visitors who cared to come were supporters of Fire Lord Iroh, Prince Zuko, and of course Katara. Indeed, it came in handy that Katara traveled with the Avatar in her youth and made a lot of friends, or there might not have been any guests at all. Among the guests (aside from family) was King Bumi, Suki and her warriors along with the other Kyoshins (to Azula's dismay), few members of the Northern and Southern Water Tribe, Haru and his family, and the Earth King with Basco. Oh and the Fire Lord insisted on inviting Song and her mother (something that made Katara uneasy, at first until she found herself liking the girl). The remaining Freedom Fighters made a quick appearance, however it would seem it was still painful for them to be there. Especially since Jet was longer with them. True, it was Long Feng who was responsible--therefore they also avoided Ba Sing Se--but the Fire Nation was the start of it all.
At the table, everyone was pressuring Sokka to tell them if he had a girlfriend. He said, of course. Afterward everyone laughed and claimed that he must've been joking. After all, he had two failed relationships. Suki and him were simply young and when they grew up--they grew apart. Fortunately, they still got along well and were great friends.
"Ugh. I don't know what Katara saw in him," Sokka groaned, seeing his sister dance with Zuko. "I mean he's not that good looking."
"Are you jealous?" Suki smirked as she suggested that Zuko was indeed, better looking than Sokka.
"Come on Sokka when was the last time someone kissed you?" Toph commented. "Because you look like you need one."
"What?" Sokka looked up, giving Toph a confused look until he remembered she was blind. "I've too been kissed lately!"
"By who? Gran Gran?" Katara said behind her brother, causing him to jerk up from his seat from being surprised that someone was suddenly behind.
"No!" Sokka yelled.
"What about me?" Kana asked as she joined them with a plate of her own.
Everyone at the table, except Kana and Sokka, busted out laughing.
Later during dust and the party has settled down a bit, out in the gardens...
The Avatar and Lady Bei Fong walked to a specific place in the garden, where they would not be seen so easily.
"It's been a long time," Toph remarked quietly as Aang sat down on a stone bench near a tree.
"Yeah. How's it been?" the man replied as he looked at a leaf that fell on his shoulder. With the things going on within himself, anything so trivial looked beautiful to him. He learned to appreciate even the tiniest things. Momo was running around on the grass chasing anything he saw, a few feet away from the two conversing friends.
"If you'd come and visit me sometime, then you'd know," she said irritated.
"Sorry. I've been busy," he looked down at the grass, feeling guilt run through his veins.
"You should be."
"Hey come on," he said lightly. "It's only been three months."
"So?"
"Yeah. I guess you're right. I should visit you more often."
She wanted to joke around and ask him if he's found anyone else, but it hurt too much. Instead she walked closer to him and kissed him.
"Toph..." after they pulled away. "Stop it's not right."
Why did they keep doing this to each other? It was so painful. He would kiss her or she would kiss him; then they would pull away and know it was wrong--feeling guilty. They tell themselves they won't repeat it, but they always do. Wasn't he the one who pushed the woman he loved to another man's arms? Wasn't it she who said she would marry the man, even though she had the power not to? It wouldn't have been the first time she disobeyed her parents. Sure they forced Renshu on her, but she had the power to run away from that. They made the decisions and yet they could not live with the consequences. Yes, the Avatar could not be with someone so intimately, but he didn't need to tell Toph to marry, and Toph didn't have to marry the man.
"Hey you started it. You're the one who kissed me in the hallway," she replied, biting her lip--feeling rejected.
He embraced her and inhaled the scent of her hair in content. He really did miss her--everything about her. "I know," he sighed. "I'm sorry. I hadn't meant to--my emotions got the better of me."
"You should've let your emotions get the better of you when I got married to him," she said sadly, restraining herself from crying. Somewhere deep down, she believed--she hoped that Aang wouldn't allow the wedding to happen. Imagine her disappointment when she found herself wrong. But that was the way it was supposed to be, right? "I couldn't believe you let me..."
"We can never be...and to keep you for myself for the rest of our lives would've been wrong."
"And this isn't?" she retaliated.
"That's why it's got to stop."
"That's why you haven't come to visit me," she accused him scornfully. He could never lie to her, even if he tried. It was.
Aang decided to change the subject, "How is she?"
When Aang heard what Toph told him, he suddenly lost the air in his lungs. It was like someone punched him in the stomach and an arrow was embedded in his heart, along with someone knocking him in the head. He had to hold on to the tree's bark to prevent from falling. His voice was hoarse when he asked, "What?"
Toph's face became somber, holding onto him and trying to support him. She cupped his face in her pale hands, "I'm sorry."
"How did this happen?!"
"What do you mean how did this happen?" Toph asked angrily. Had he forgotten?!
Aang shook his head, his hand on his forehead. "No, I'm sorry. I...when?"
"Two weeks ago," she explained, "that's why I couldn't leave her home. It's why none of the maids accompanied me."
Aang looked at her, feeling so many things. He hoped he wouldn't get sick because he felt like he could vomit. The gods must have really hated him.
"Would you like to see her?"
They entered the quarters Toph was given for the remainder of her stay at the palace. The nanny, assigned by Katara, was rocking the baby to calm her down when she saw Toph and Aang entered. She was at a lost for words, and stood up and endeavored to bow to the Avatar and Lady. "M'lord, m'lady I was assigned by Her Highness Katara to attend to the baby while you were gone."
"Thank you," Toph smiled. "You may leave now. I'm sorry for the trouble."
"No worries madam, she was no trouble at all," the servant bowed leaving, after setting the child down in her cradle. The doors closed and suddenly the atmosphere was quiet.
"Maybe this was a bad idea," Aang commented. How did this look to the staff? A man and a married woman alone in her chambers. He didn't want Toph to get in trouble. He couldn't bear it if she was labeled a harlot.
"Nonsense. There's a child present Twinkle Toes," she walked over to the cradle and picked up her daughter. "Were you good Little One?" she asked in a soft voice, little have heard or known about. It was only a tone she used with her daughter.
Aang looked at the child, she had grown since he last saw her three months ago. He'll admit the first time he saw her, he loved her immediately because she was Toph's daughter, and he would view her as his own believing back then that she was Renshu's. As he looked at her now though, he knew he loved her because she really was his own. His daughter--someone of his flesh and blood. Someone who he created with the woman he loved. He didn't love the baby more, but he didn't love her any less as he saw her.
"Twinkle Toes stop being rude and say hi," Toph chided, as she felt him just stand there like an idiot. Aang smiled and nodded as he walked toward his former earthbending master and her---their baby. The baby, which looked so much like Toph save for her gray eyes, smiled at him and held out her little chubby hands to him.
"She missed you," a small smile graced Toph's lips. A smile hardly seen by anyone. Love, marriage, motherhood changed people, Aang supposed. Tears started to form in his eyes as Aang took the baby girl in his arms. Strange, it wasn't the first time he saw her. However because he knew now--for certain--that she was his daughter he couldn't believe it. He was overwhelmed with joy.
His daughter.
His daughter!
His.
He held her in arms, feeling unbelievably happy and sad. It was like the day she was born except multiplied by ten. "Hey," he said shakily. "I missed you too."
Toph turned away, "You didn't believe it did you?" She walked up to him and faced him with a stern look. "When you found out I was pregnant, you thought it was his. When I told you on the day she was born, you didn't believe me did you?"
"I didn't understand how you could know..." Was he supposed to think it was mother's intuition?
"Or could you not stand it Twinkle Toes? Maybe you didn't want there to be a connection to us and denied it because it would be easier."
"Toph listen--"
"Tch. Forget it," Toph walked toward the window. Aang sighed and kissed his daughter on the forehead before setting her down in her cradle.
He walked over to where Toph was and brought his hands to her arms, holding her--to her reluctance. She tried to push him away but to no avail. "Toph...it wasn't that at all. None. I just couldn't believe something so blessed would happen to me. At that time, nothing good happened. It just seemed too good to be true. And so no, I didn't believe you."
Toph still had a frown on her face. "And Renshu?"
Aang sighed, "Well why not? Why couldn't she be his?" He suddenly felt sick, because he believed Toph slept with Renshu. Why wouldn't she? They're husband and wife. Shouldn't they? Unless... "Toph have you not...?"
He didn't want the answer though because what if he was right and that she had slept with him? The thought of Toph being with someone else, other than him was unbearable. Instead he pulled her to him and kissed her. Toph embraced him and returned his passionate kiss, and they soon found themselves on the bed. They pulled away, frustrated and angry. They only had that one beautiful night and they wanted it back. More than anything they wanted to be together.
"We can't..."
"I'm married..." she breathed, agreeing.
"What of the baby?"
"What do you mean?"
"She is the only airbender except me Toph. I'll need to train her for my race to go on. Do you intend on denying her her roots?"
Toph thought about that before coming here to speak with him, and unfortunately she had not found a solution. Aang didn't know what to do either. Were they supposed to hide the training from the world? Were they supposed to keep this secret until Renshu died? What happened when their child got married and her child was an airbender? How would they explain that? So many questions and so little answers. He got an answer soon though.
"He wants another child, but it's failing..." Toph explained, stating that at first the problem might have lied with her. However how could that be when she was able to carry a child before and the doctors stated she was healthy and able to do so again? She smirked and laughed, telling Aang that her husband didn't realize that the problem was with himself. That made Aang become a bit quiet since he thought it odd, discussing Renshu's inability to create a child. Not to mention that it hurt like hell to find out for sure, that Toph had slept with another--though he had no right to judge³. It was another reason to strangle Renshu. The man had the love of life; his daughter; and the life he should have had with Toph.
"Do you love him?" Aang asked, like he always did since she married.
Silence.
"Well do you?" he demanded. "Does he make you happy? Does he treat you right? What of our child?"
"Aang..."
"Toph answer me," he edged on.
"He does. He treats me and the baby well," she answered truthfully.
"Do you think that if he found out, it would all change?"
"He loves our baby...I don't think he would treat her any less if he did find out."
"And what of you?"
"He lays a hand on me, and I'll kill him myself."
"Now," he breathed. "Answer my original question."
Silence...and even more silence, until finally, "...In a way...I do."
Stabbed in the heart, was what the Avatar felt like. Man today really wasn't his day, was it?
"However...I can never love him as much as I love you. I can never love him the way I love you." After all, she gave her heart away a long time ago and refused to take it back from him, because she had his heart too. The bald monk smiled and kissed her again, but shortly afterwards Toph pulled away. "Go now!" she hissed, getting off of the bed and pushing him out the window.
The door swung open, "Ah. My lovely wife, what are you doing?" Renshu smiled as he saw his wife near the window. He walked over to her and kissed her on the forehead.
"Hey you made it," Toph remarked.
"Yes. Fortunately I was able to fix things."
Toph mentally smirked, she received the time she needed to tell Aang the truth. "I'm glad," she lied. Outside Aang eavesdropped, frowning that someone else--he was with her, and his daughter. Despite that Renshu didn't really do anything to him (directly at least); he couldn't help but dislike the man. He sighed knowing his feelings were misplaced and unwarranted.
The airbender looked at the man in front of him, sitting on a chair. He wondered why he was asked to come here and talk to with him when there was nothing Aang could think of saying to this man. Except, maybe, keep his hands off of Toph and the baby, but he couldn't do that. Renshu finally looked up at him and smiled, "Avatar Aang, I'm glad you could make it." The nobleman rose and bowed to the Avatar, "It's an honor."
I wish I could say the same. Aang kept on a polite face, "What is it that you wanted from me?"
"I'm no fool," Renshu stated. "I really should have asked Toph if she was suffering from a broken heart before I married her. It's too late now though. We're married, and you need to stay away."
"Excuse me?" Aang glared.
Renshu laughed, "Oh Avatar..." his face then became serious, "tell me. Have you touched her since she's been married?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Aang fumed. "I haven't done anything to Toph."
"Since she's been married. But what about before?" Renshu demanded.
"What are you getting at?" he growled, gripping his staff tightly.
Renshu got up from his seat and walked over to his wife's love. "Like I said, I am no fool. I found it odd that Toph befell ill sometime after we got married. She showed symptoms my mother had when she was pregnant with my younger siblings. I was stupid to believe that it couldn't be..."
"Is our daughter well?"
-
"You didn't believe it did you? When you found out I was pregnant, you thought it was his. When I told you on the day she was born, you didn't believe me did you?"
"I didn't understand how you could know..."
Is that how Toph knew I was the father of her child before the baby's powers arose? Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Did you not trust her?
No! That's not it! I trust Toph with my life!
And yet you doubted the word of your love. Tsk tsk. Not a smart thing to do. And you kept your mouth shut because you knew that; but look...she still knew you doubted her word.
SHUT UP!!!!!
"Anyway my concern is my daughter," Renshu explained, "she's an airbender after all."
"...What?" How could he possibly have known?
"She sneezed once, the cute thing, and sent her bowl flying across the room." Renshu told the Avatar, "Now for your race to continue, you need an airbender and yet you only have one heir. My daughter. Now what shall we do about that?"
Aang wanted to do so many things, he wanted to say so many things. However all he could do was be polite and apologize, "I hadn't meant for this to happen. I didn't think..." He never thought of the possibility of Toph getting pregnant because of their one night.
Renshu couldn't accept his apology. He was in love with Toph and yet she gave her heart to him and didn't care to have it back. The Avatar was the father of his daughter and the love of his wife's life. How could he? Had he not been kind to Toph and their daughter? Did he not give her everything and anything she needed and could ever need? Did he not respect Toph and her decisions, as well as thoughts? Renshu had been very kind and civil to the Avatar and treated Toph as if she were the Earth Queen, and yet he was cursed with this. "You'll have to train her don't you? But how would you do that without the maids knowing and gossiping?" he ignored the monk's apology. "We'd have to send her to you...and when she does learn of her bending abilities what would happen if she were to pass it on to her children? What would people think?"
Toph's name was on the line. So was Renshu's. People would laugh at him and it was worst since Toph had not given him a child of his own.
Renshu wanted more than anything to beat the man into a pulp but that wouldn't help. Aang was the most powerful man on the planet. Also, Toph would have his head if she found out Renshu threatened Aang. She would also kill him for trying to keep one of her dearest friends--one of the people whom she loved, away from her.
"You're awfully calm about this," Aang commented. What kind of husband does this? He was being too nice. Aang mentally sighed, thinking that Renshu probably was a nice man who was caught in their chaos. After all, weren't there men who'd give up anything and everything--do anything and everything for their family's happiness and well being? However... "You didn't have to do this. You could've continued to keep the child in the dark."
"Yes. Until one day she comes to me airbending. Children don't always stay as children; and they are not stupid."
Who the hell did this man think he was? Deciding things for his daughter when Toph or himself have yet to have a say. Aang knew Renshu probably wanted to kill him, but the feeling was mutual because Renshu was able to be with Toph and their daughter--in a way he couldn't.
"Renshu I didn't mean for you to---" she couldn't apologize, because that would mean she regretted it. She didn't regret anything. She was glad that she gave herself to Aang that night; she was elated to find out that she was giving birth to his child; and she loved her daughter and Aang with all her heart. She would not apologize because she did not regret.
"Yes," Renshu cut her off. "A lot of people hadn't meant this and that. I know. But right now, I want to know what our daughter's future going to be like. Because her future will affect us."
Toph hated the world and she hated the gods even more. Why couldn't Renshu have found someone else to marry that would make him happier than she could? Why did she have to fall in love with the Avatar? She wanted to wring the gods' necks for creating this situation, but she hated herself even more. It took two to tango, didn't it? Was all of this meant to happen? Did fate have a horrible sense of humor and decided to give them this obstacle that seemed too much even for her? "We should call Aang in here. He deserves to hear this out."
Renshu's jaw tightened and nodded. He was a fool. After all, since when did noble women control their husbands?
Since the wife was Toph Bei Fong¹
Aang quietly entered and sat down by the couch. Toph began without further ado, "I don't care about my name. I really don't. I do care about my daughter and she deserves to learn how to bend since she was given this gift. Also, she will help restore the lost airbenders. Twinkle Toes I want you to train her."
"Toph do you even know what you're asking? Have you even thought about this?"
There were several scenarios that could do.
One: state that the Bei Fong heiress went missing/was kidnapped while in reality she was with Aang being trained. But it would seem kind of odd that the day the daughter of Toph and Renshu Bei Fong² went missing--her friend the Avatar, had adopted a child.
Second: tell the world the truth and everything goes to hell. Toph's name and her family; Renshu; the child's--despite being innocent and not at fault for the choices made by her mother and biological father.
Third: keep it hidden and pretend nothing happened at all. The girl is not the Avatar's child and she's not an airbender--she'll never know of her heritage and so on. However that was quite impossible because her powers have risen and they needed to be harnessed or something bad might happen. Also it would be strange that if her child could airbend, but she supposedly was not of Air Nomad descent. In addition, if the baby were to air bend in public? What then? This was an absolute, no.
Fourth: travel back in time and change it. An absolute, no can do.
Fifth: fake the death of the child and give her to Aang to be raised. Similar to plan one, but no questions would really be asked.
Sixth: fake the deaths of Lady Bei Fong and her daughter, and they live their lives out with the Avatar (and in hiding) in secret. Toph Bei Fong and her heiress would be dead to the world; while they resumed new lives under new names. They could even fake Renshu's. However what of the Bei Fong fortune and money? What of the Jiang family? Not to mention, Poppy and Lao. Toph may not get along with her mother and father, but she didn't want to deceive them into thinking she was dead. Telling them the truth, could not be an option either.
There were other inane options too, but they needed a break.
"It must have been uncomfortable. I'm sorry. I hadn't known he had already knew. I should have known though..." Toph told Aang as she fed the turtle ducks.
"What do you mean?" Aang asked.
"On the night I married Renshu," Toph began, "I couldn't do it. I felt so sick--and not because I was pregnant. I was sick with shame. It felt wrong when my heart wasn't in it. I didn't love him--I wanted him to be you but he wasn't--isn't. I mean you didn't think that I jumped into bed with him so soon did you?" she asked, her voice sounded a bit angry.
"I--I..I didn't know what to think Toph!" he replied.
Toph sighed irritatedly, rolling her eyes. "Idiot. After all these years Twinkle Toes you're still a fool."
Aang wouldn't disagree. He was.
"We didn't consummate the marriage until several weeks later," Toph explained bluntly to Aang. "I had to be sure I was pregnant before doing anything rash. I knew then, that since I was pregnant with your child I had to do something...I didn't know Renshu well enough. I was afraid how he would react if he knew I was with child by another man. I was afraid that something bad would happen to the baby so I forced myself to give myself to him--after all it was just sex. It wasn't necessarily meaningful unless I wanted it to be...Yeah sex should be for those who only love each other but life's not fair right? I mean if it was: you and I wouldn't be going through hell; if life was kind then we wouldn't have to make decisions about our daughter with another man--my husband, someone I would give anything to not be married to."
"Toph..."
"I couldn't do it though..." she recalled crying alone in the gardens. "I decided, heck let him find out! I don't give a damn. I really was going to do that. But then one day, he comforted when I was crying...I can't remember why I was crying...he just comforted me...and it just happened. It meant nothing. It wasn't special. I didn't feel passionate about it. I allowed him to believe that what happened that night...was really when we conceived a child. Anyways, I hate myself now...even more."
All because you got involved with me, Aang blamed himself.
"I feel...I feel like I'm this worthless thing. I'm no better than a harlot--"
"DON'T YOU DARE SAY THAT!!!" Aang grabbed her and forced her to face him, he pulled her close to him--embracing her strongly so she wouldn't be able run. "Listen this isn't your fault. This is mine. I'm the Avatar--I should have never led you on."
"You didn't lead me on Twinkle Toes."
"Listen Toph please. You're not to blame; and you're definitely a respectable woman. Don't you dare even think that you're someone less than that. You're not a street walker---you're not a harlot. You didn't do anything wrong okay? He's your husband, it's only natural to give yourself to him. There are a lot of arrange marriages out there and they do what's expected of them even if they don't care for each other. That's natural. That's human Toph. I know you're strong but you forget you're human just like the rest of us and don't forget that. We have faults--we are flawed--no one's perfect--not even Princess Azula. Listen to me Toph. We fell in love, that was natural. We couldn't help that. We can't control our hearts--and when people can't control their hearts, they can't control how they react or how they feel; that night...It's only natural to want to be with the one you love most in the most intimate way right? I mean there is no rule or law that forbids the Avatar or a woman to copulate. None whatsoever. I don't regret that night. But tell me, do you?"
"NO! Never!"
"All right then. You got pregnant because of that, and still that's not you're fault. None of this is. I love you and you love me. We were just unfortunate to have found each other while being at odd circumstances. Mostly my fault because I'm the one who couldn't--can't marry you."
"Aang I know that giving myself my to him doesn't make me harlot. I know sex can be just sex--" (Toph then imagined Koko and Aang together. Ever since the young girl became of age, she'd been trying to get her hands on him. She shook the thought away because it hurt to think of Aang with another.) "The naïve and foolish ones may not agree, but that's life. I feel lowly about myself because I lied to him."
"He lied to you about knowing the truth. Besides, you didn't really lie to him. You just didn't say anything. Omission and lying are two very different things. So don't feel bad please Toph."
"I won't promise anything."
"Fine but at least work on it."
"Okay. So what now?" Toph asked as she finally returned his embrace. To hell with Renshu and their poor excuse of a marriage.
"I don't know...we wait I guess."
"And our daughter?"
"I love her. I love her more than I thought possible. But that's up to you and him..."
"Aang I..." What happened to saying "I love you" in full? They were very cautious about saying it now, but then again, what if someone heard them? Everything would come crashing down on them. Their "I love yous" were never completed but they still held the same intense meaning and feelings they felt for one another.
"I know. Me too."
Hue had been right, and Aang now regretted seeing Toph in the swamp. Why did it have to be her of all people?
"In the swamp, we see visions of people we've lost, people we've loved."
For him, the only difference was, that he saw the girl who he'd come to love and lose. He always thought that it might be death that took her, but it wasn't. That something he was grateful for, because he'd rather have her alive and with another, than dead.
AN:
1) Toph Bei Fong is still known as Toph Bei Fong after marriage because since Avatar is heavily based on China and its customs (most of it) I've read traditional Chinese women do not change their surname after marriage; therefore I chose to put that in here. (I got this information from a Gundam Wing website explaining about Wufei's name and his wife Meiran's surname changing.)
2) As we know, Avatar may have a lot of Chinese based things, but it also includes the rest of Asia. I had read that: although it is customary for the wife to take her husband's surname [in Japan, the husband may also take his wife's surname, especially if her family has no son. This way, the family name is carried on in that household. Most eldest sons keep their family name; however, sons born after the eldest sometimes marry into families who have no son, and take that family's surname instead. In the case where a son born after the eldest son marries into a family that also has sons, he may keep his original surname, and his wife will take that name as well. I thought this information very befitting and useful--not to mention cool--and so I also used it. After all Toph is the only child of a wealthy and well known family, so its name should be carried on. (Thanks to wikipedia for the information.)
3) To make it even, since it was unfair of me to that to Toph--Aang had slept with other women. XD Oh and Koko...well in my opinion Meng was too nice--sweet. While Koko was a brat--granted she's a little girl, but still. So I've growned accustomed to using her in that kind of role. Hope none of you mind or are offended. I have nothing against Koko.
OOCness? I know. Ugh I hate it too. Now please review because I need to know how I did on this. Also, the next chapter (if I do post anymore) might not be Taang—though is linked to this story. There also may be an epilogue. Oh and by the way, this will probably be the last chapter that's heavily/strictly Taang. The epilogue tells what happens to everyone.