Disclaimer: I don't know ATLA, except for characters I made up (Captain Yuan, etc.) So, as for the competition earlier, no one has so far been able to guess where I was over the summer. I will give you a hint, it's home to the biggest freestanding mountain in the world! Please enjoy the tenth chapter!
Toph lay in the healing room, listening to her own slightly quickened breath and Katara's frantic breathing. She moved around the room quickly, occasionally placing a cool hand on Toph's midriff, constantly making the earthbender jump. Katara finally sighed and seated herself next to Toph. She sat up, staring down boldly at the waterbender.
"Well?"
"There's no denying it. You are carrying twins," she announced even though there was no one else there. Katara had shut down the healing rooms for the last hour, running every imaginable pregnancy test her grandmother had taught her back in the Southern Water Tribe and they all revealed Toph carried two children.
"So, Yuan basically claimed you as his bride," Katara said sadly. Toph blushed faintly, pushing her hair into her face and shrugged. The older young woman automatically noted her friend's awkward discomfort and pounced.
"Toph!"
"Yeah?" Toph asks sheepishly.
"These are Captain Yuan's babies, right?"
"Yes?"
"Toph!" Katara gasped, hands flying to her mouth. Toph's blush grew even more violent until her face felt like it was on fire. Katara groaned, pushing Toph back down on the examiner's table.
"Wait, don't," Toph said, grabbing Katara's wrist before her bent water over Toph's stomach.
"What?"
"I don't want to know."
"Why not?" Katara whispered.
"I just want to pretend these miracles inside me belong to me and no one else, okay?" she murmured. Katara smiled faintly and nodded. After destroying all the evidence of Katara's test, they left the healer's chambers, talking softly as they returned to Katara's chambers. They talked softly for almost an hour before Aang knocked softly on the door, ducking his baldhead into the room quietly.
"What do you want, Twinkles?" Toph asked. He rolled his eyes and stepped in fully, dressed in ceremonial garb.
"Zuko called a meeting," he explained. Katara nodded and went to change, leaving Toph and Aang alone.
"How are you Toph?" he asked softly. She shrugged and stood, brushing past him before heading towards her rooms.
"Wait! Zuko wants you to be there too!"
"Will Yuan be there?" she called over her shoulder.
"No. He returned to the Earth Kingdom yesterday," he replied. Toph feels a quick smile dart across her lips and she sighed.
"Okay, I'll be there." She strode down the hallways quickly, reaching her room within seconds and changed into more formal clothes for the meeting. Zuko probably wanted to further discuss what to do with his father and sister now that they were recaptured. Iroh had suggested that they be permanently "put away" but Aang fought with the old general for hours the last time Zuko had brought it. Toph and Katara had not been there but they could hear shouting from across the Fire Palace. Toph pulled her hair back into her old bun and headed out to the war room where Zuko held all his meetings.
"Lady Bei Fong," the steward bowed to her and pulled open the metal doors. She nodded quickly in his direction and stepped in, noting someone new in the room, vibrations she had not felt in a long time. She grinned.
"Snoozles, didn't think I would be seeing you so soon," she chuckled. Sokka grinned over his shoulder, spotting the small earthbender leaning against a thin, metal pole.
"Nice to see you too, Toph," he replied and enveloped her in a hug. Toph pretended to fight against him, but secretly, she melted into his muscular arms for a couple seconds and then pushed him away roughly.
"Do I look like a fluffy platypus-bear to you?" she joked with mock anger. He laughed, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"You never change. Katara!" He leapt away from the earthbender to hug his younger sister. They talked softly for a few moments and Zuko approached Toph from behind, putting an arm around her waist.
"What are you doing?' she said through gritted teeth. He chuckled, blowing on her neck and slowly peeled away as the other approached. Toph shrugged off the shivers quickly and followed the others towards the table.
"Friends, thank you for coming," Zuko said loudly, drawing the attention of the rest of the Gaang before directing them to sit around the table. Iroh already sat on Zuko's right and Aang rapidly took the spot to the left, forcing Toph to sit at the other end of the table. She sat quickly, feeling Sokka sit to her right and Katara to the left, reaching out to hold Aang's hand. Zuko smiled briefly and then began to speak.
"As you know, some things have happened over the last few weeks," he started.
"Yeah, thanks for sharing," Sokka mumbled angrily.
"I know, but we all thought it was better to not spread such information around and deal with the problem quietly. Thanks to Toph, it has been dealt with and we can now focus on something more important: the future. Aang?"
"Thank you. Friends, the four nations have been too long divided and it is time for us to become united in order to prevent something like the War from ever happening again. I suggest we bring together the four nations into one powerful people with a single capitol, where all live together in peace, ruled by a council of five people. One from the Fire Nation, an Air Nomad, one from the Earth Kingdom, and two from the different Water Tribes in order to cover all the spans of life," he said. Katara nodded from her seat and cast a quick searching glance over her friends. Sokka seemed happy with the suggestion but Zuko looked skeptical.
"Zuko, what's wrong?"
"I like the idea, Aang, don't get me wrong, but I seriously doubt that it could work," he replied. Aang frowned, sitting slowly, keeping his gray eye glued to the older firebender.
"Why do you think so?" Sokka asked.
"The people from all Four Nations are proud and strong. They cherish their heritage and everything that makes them unique, including the different nations that divide them. Bringing them all together will, I believe, cause chaos and unnecessary tension between all who still bear grudges against one because of the war." Iroh sighed deeply, rubbing his beard thoughtfully while his nephew spoke.
"General Iroh," Katara inquired. "What do you think?"
"I disagree with Firelord Zuko," he stated flatly. Zuko felt his eyebrows rise, staring at the man who'd always supported him. Sokka snickered behind his hand and Aang cast the wise general an appreciative look.
"Why, Uncle?"
"I have been around here a long time and the only time I have been the people happy are when they are united in something. Separation is what breeds anger and resentment for others. If they do not understand one another because they do not interact with one another, then things might go back to the way they were when my brother was in power. The people need to work together to heal from the wounds left behind by Ozai's nightmarish rule."
"I agree with Iroh," Toph said, speaking for the first time since they'd all sat down. Zuko blinked with surprise, intrigued as to why the tough earthbender was suddenly feeling more peace loving. He drummed his fingers thoughtfully on the table surface, sending ripples of amusement towards Toph. She shot him an irritated look before speaking.
"Something wrong, Sparky?" she snarled.
"No, not at all, I was just wondering when you went all Air Nomad, save the world on me," he muttered. Katara gasped softly, watching Toph force a smile on to her face and rise slowly, almost in a trance-like state. Zuko suddenly paled, instantly regretting his comment, watching the young woman carefully. Oddly enough, she looked beautiful and he was entranced by her intense gaze and smooth movements and didn't notice the huge chunk of metal flying at him until he barely had enough time to duck. When he stood again, a huge piece of the floor was missing and Toph was gone.
He found her standing on the balcony, rubbing her stomach as though she had eaten too much at a meal.
"Toph?" She jumped slightly at his voice, dropping her hand quickly to her side but remained facing the gardens.
"What do you want?" she growled.
"I'm sorry for what I said, I was just surprised," he said quickly. She sighed, grabbing the railing around the balcony tightly, casting her sightless eyes across the landscape.
"Why is it so strange I want a safe place for my children to live?" she muttered. Zuko's eyes widened.
"Are you—?"
"No, of course not. I'm thinking about the future," she explained quickly, feeling a slight bush rise into her teeth. He sighed with relief and leaned against the railing next to her.
"It's getting chilly," he commented lightly through the silence. She nodded and returned inside. He sighed and followed, feeling almost instantly stifled by being indoors. Zuko stood awkwardly in the middle of the room as Toph seated herself at the small desk near the open window and started fiddling with the writing utensils.
"Good night," he said and left quickly.
Note: I know it's not a very action packed chapter but I needed to do some scene setting! Chapter 11 will be up soon!