Disclaimer: MY LORDY! It has been a mighty long time since I last updated. Well, college is very time consuming but I have not forgotten about my loyal readers (if you guys are still out there, *sniff sniff*). So, as a Christmas present, I will be updating all my stories before I return to school! Huzzah, so enjoy the holidays and a happy new year too all!
Toph sat wordlessly in front of Katara.
"Zuko? Are you sure?" Katara nodded firmly, grabbing Toph's hands.
"Toph, you have to tell him. He deserves to know," she insisted. The blind earthbender nodded feebly and rose to her feet. "Where are you going?"
"For a walk. I need to think," replied Toph. She hurried through the tent and into the hard polar summer sun. Inside her womb, Toph could feel her children kicking and turning, eager to be born. Katara assured her that they would arrive soon, possibly before the end of the summer, which was only three short months away. Toph needed to decide what to do with them before their birth. She stopped just short of a cliff face and sat down, swinging her feet over the edge.
If she told Yuan that the children were not his, he would immediately break their marriage alliance and Toph would most likely never find another husband. However, if she lied and said they were his, Yuan would take her as his wife proudly and never doubt their parentage, even if one ended up being a firebender. Weirder things had happened. Toph sighed, dropping her face into her hands.
If she told Zuko that the babies were his, he would marry her on the spot and make sure her children wanted for nothing. He would make a great father and love the babies endlessly. But if she lied—Toph shuddered at the idea of lying to him. He might still marry her to prevent her from becoming a single mother but she knew he would foster resentment for her. It would burn deep inside him until one day it burst forth and destroyed their relationship altogether.
"Toph?" Aang's voice startled her and Toph's head whipped around, trying to find where the Avatar's voice was coming from. Second later, he say next to her, resting his wooden staff between them. "What are you doing out here all by yourself?"
"Thinking. Bumi and Kya make it difficult to find somewhere peaceful to sit," she joked. He chuckled, leaning back on his hands.
"Aang?"
"Yes, Sifu Toph?" he replied. Toph laughed at the nickname.
"Do you really believe that Republic City is going to be a place of peace and unity amongst the four nations?"
"Yes. I believe in Republic City more than I've believe in anything my entire life. I feel as though it is my destiny to create a place where members of all the nations can come together to live in harmony without cultural and physical boundaries separating them. While I know many will still hold on to their cultures, I hope they won't let their difference come between the inception of the new society."
"And where are we all fitting in? Where do you see Team Avatar in your Republic City?" she asked curiously, laying flat on her back and closing her eyes. Aang frowned for a moment, thinking.
"Well, Zuko I know will remain in the Fire Nation as the Fire Lord. I will continue acting as the Avatar when necessary. Sokka, I hope, will join the council."
"Council?"
"Yes. Monarchies have caused such strife within the Earth Kingdom, Water Tribes and Fire Nation that I've decided to create a council much like the Air Nomads had. One member from each nation will sit on the council and determine matters of state, hold trials when justice is passed and oversee the everyday matters of the city. I was hoping Sokka would be the Water Tribe representative. For the Southern Water Tribe, of course," Aang explained.
"What about a blind earthbender? What do you see in her future?"
"Toph, you're the best earthbender I know and one of the best fighters. I have no other place for you than as the Chief of Police. I picture a huge service of metalbenders keeping the peace on the streets, with you as their leader." Aang brandished his arms proudly across the horizon.
"Sounds good to me, Twinkle Toes," she told him honestly. Toph sat up and punched his shoulder. "But I better have a huge office and a statue."
"Okay, I'll see what I can do," laughed Aang. Rising to his feet, Aang helped Toph stand and they walked back to Aang and Katara's home together. Katara was laying out lunch with Kya's help as Bumi sprinted erratic circles around the house, screaming at the top of his lungs. Zuko stood awkwardly in the corner, unsure how to help Katara or deal with the screaming toddler. Aang wrestled his son into silence and sat him down at the dining table and gestured for his guests to take their own seats. Toph and Zuko ended up sitting next to one another. Toph kept her eyes pointed straight ahead and obligingly took the food dishes as they were passed to her and handed them off to Zuko, careful to keep their hands from touching.
Lunch continued in silence, with the adults eating quietly and the children flinging food across at one another. Toph had not noticed the flying food until a spoonful of seaweed hit her square in the forehead.
"Bumi!" Katara scolded. She scowled and took away her son's spoon. Toph slowly rose to her feet, wiping off the cold slippery substance as she went.
"I'm gonna go clean myself up a little," she announced and left. Toph heard Katara and Aang reprimanding their children as she left, heading to one of the farther back rooms of the hutch. She somehow managed to stumble into her room, being unable to see anything through the snow beneath her. Toph felt her way around the room until she found the basin of water sitting on a short table against the wall and splashed the cold liquid on her face, removing what food she could still feel tangled into her bangs. Her fingers deftly cleaned out the seaweed.
"Need some help?" Zuko asked softly, entering through the animal hide flap. Toph stiffened slightly but nodded. He sidled up next to her, picked up a soft towel and started wiping the rest of her face.
"I saw surprised when you didn't flip over the entire dining table," he chuckled softly.
"Not much for me to bend," replied Toph, smirking to herself. "Besides, the kid didn't mean any harm. Seaweed never hurt anyone, unless one tries to eat it." Zuko laughed, his thumb caressing her face over her cheekbone.
"Zuko, I'm getting married," she whispered. He raised an eyebrow, smiling to himself.
"What do you mean?" he asked, leaning closer. Toph knew he was about to kiss her and hesitantly, she leaned forward until Zuko's lips met hers. A flash of heat filled her body, making her feel warm, comfortable and safe. Toph pulled away and carefully wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Don't marry him," Zuko mumbled into her hair. Toph's eyes shot open.
"What?"
Zuko rested his hands over her shoulder, looking down boldly into her foggy green eyes. "Don't marry Yuan. Marry me. Please, Toph, I love you, I can't live without you. Come live with me in the Fire Nation. We'll be happy together, I promise you," he insisted, dropping to one knee. He gripped her small hands in his and smiled. Toph felt a single tear trickle down her cheek, trying to keep the smile off her lips. Internally, she screamed at herself to say yes and to tell him the truth about everything but another voice sternly reminded her of her job to her family and to the Earth Kingdom.
"Zuko, I'm—"
"Guys, come quick!" Aang shouted. He burst into the room, his face hard. "Katara's having her baby!" Zuko grabbed Toph's hand as they charged back into the dining room together. Kya sat by her mother, holding her hand obediently as any three year old could. Bumi stood awkwardly in the corner, eyes darting nervously between his mother and sister. Aang returned to his wife's side, her face covered in sweat and helped her to her feet.
"I need to get to Hisa. Now," grunted Katara, slowly getting to her feet. Aang wrapped his arm around her waist and helped her out from the hutch. Moments later, he rushed back in.
"Katara's asking for you Toph," he said. Toph's eyes widened with surprise and hurried after the frantic Avatar. Katara waited atop Appa, breathing deeply and rhythmically.
"Good, you're here," she sighed with relief, taking Toph's hand as the earthbender climbed on to the flying bison.
"How are you feeling?" asked Toph awkwardly. She'd never seen anyone give birth.
"Fine. Not much different from the other two," commented Katara. She held her breath for a moment, gritting her teeth together.
"What's happening?" Toph asked, alarmed by Katara's sudden increasing heart rate.
"Nothing, just a contraction. Perfectly normal. Where's Aang?"
"Coming!" he shouted from below. Airbending, he leapt on to Appa's head and snapped the reins. With a roar, Appa jumped into the air and flew to the otherside of the village. A crowd of children shrieked in alarm at the sudden appearance of the large flying beast and scattered, watching suspiciously from behind mounds of snow. Aang hopped on to the snow and charged into the healer's hut to retrieve Hisa.
"Will you help me get down? My husband seems a little preoccupied," laughed Katara breathlessly. Toph nodded and took Katara's hand. They carefully navigated down Appa's side, landing gently into the snow and waddled into the hutch together. A trio of waterbenders stood in the doorway waiting to receive them and ushered the two women inside. They seated Katara in a wheeled chair and carried her down the hall. As one of the few buildings made from stone in the Southern Water Tribe, Toph felt at ease finally being able to see again. She could feel Aang rushing to join his wife in the delivery room. She could hear the tiny heartbeat of Katara's unborn child beating strongly as it prepared to arrive. Toph walked to the small waiting area outside the delivery room and sat down, giving her feet some rest from rushing about.
"Toph?" She watched as Zuko hurried into the hospital, joined by Bumi and Kya holding his hands.
"I'm here," she called. He sighed with relief and deposited the children in the chairs beside him.
"Where's Katara?" he asked. Toph nodded to the door. The four of them sat in silence for a few moments. Toph felt the vibrations of the healers working and from Katara and Aang. Suddenly, a new vibration joined the room and Toph smiled.
"He's here."
Moments later, Aang emerged from the delivery room, holding a small bundle in his arms. Toph rose to her feet as Aang approached her, whispering to the baby in his arms.
"This is Tenzin," said Aang softly, gently putting the baby in Toph's awkward arms. She cradled his head in her hand carefully, holding his tiny body gently. He wiggled, his limbs flailing uncontrollably through the blanket.
"He feels strong and healthy," Toph commented. Aang beamed proudly and looked over at Zuko and his other children.
"Come meet your new baby brother," he called, beckoning. Bumi and Kya jumped up eagerly and stopped just short from colliding with Toph and tugged at her clothing. Toph knelt down slowly and allowed the children to look at their new sibling.
"He's ugly," Bumi said abruptly. Aang and Toph laughed while Zuko looked on uncomfortably.
"Alright, he needs to go back to Mama," Aang decided and took Tenzin back, much to the dismay of his older brother and sister. The Avatar, holding his new infant son, returned to the delivery room. Bumi and Kya settled down to wrestling with one another as Toph sat next to Zuko, letting him hold her hand and trace her knuckles.
Toph opened her eyes to find herself resting on Zuko's shoulder. She'd dozed off and the sun was beginning to set. She could feel the hot rays filtering in through the windows across her face.
"Hello," said Zuko as she lifted her head. Aang came out from the delivery room and smiled at the duo
"Why don't you guys take the kids home? I'll stay the night with Katara. We'll come home tomorrow," he told them. Toph nodded firmly and rose to her feet, calling for the children. Kya leapt off Bumi and sprinted out after Toph. Zuko waited for the nonbender child to rise to his feet before following the others out. They walked out to Appa. Toph and the children climbed into the saddle and Zuko took the reins to guide Appa back to the other end of the village. Both children jumped from Appa before he touched down and charged back into the hutch. Toph climbed down carefully. Zuko waited for her by Appa's paws and took her hands as she touched down on to the snow. Once again, her vision grew blurry and useless as the snow muffled the vibrations from the people around her.
"Can we talk?"
"I'm tired Zuko," she sighed, pushing past him. "Maybe later." Toph brushed past him and entered the hutch, heading straight for her room. She tied down the flap firmly to deter Zuko from following and lay down. Her swollen stomach started protruding noticeably through Water tribe clothing. It would be harder and harder to hide from now on. Already six months along, Toph knew moving and bending would get more difficult. She heard someone enter the house and without feeling the vibrations, Toph knew it was Zuko. She closed her eyes tightly and kicked off her boots to sleep. Maybe tomorrow she would be able to deal with Zuko and the rest of her problems but for now—she just wanted to rest.
Note: I know it doesn't totally go along with the Legend of Korra storyline, but this is fanfiction, so if you don't like it I am sorry you feel that way. I promise there are new chapters to come! ;D