Hi reader s2

I would like to thanks thesocketpuppetone more time for being the best Beta reader ever! And I would like to give a special thanks to Free-Spirited Dreamer, too! She has being a great follower, very patient and giviming me reviews and all s2! Make sure to check her stories: Nabbing The Bride and Just Play Along. They are great.

Hope you enjoy this new chapter! I would love to get your reviews! Thay make me really happy!

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She insisted that Sokka come back to his duties as Councilman, and he insisted on taking part in this process. The master of earth bending couldn't tell if she was annoyed he was interfering with her life, or glad that he was.

The school was just some blocks away from the Bei Fong's residence. Two blocks before the school it was possible to see kids everywhere and teens wearing uniforms, always giggling and running, some in a hurry, some just with a youthful spirit.

The Lion-Turtle Elementary School and Duckly-Turtle Kindergarten were part of a school system certificated by the White Lotus for being a secure all-nations environment for the new generation of kids that no longer lived in the shadow of war. They were all together in one big block at downtown Republic City. The building was large and with big windows, the outside was a big playground and garden area where kids would play and chat before the bells ring.

Lin thanked the spirits that her mother would not be able to see the big sign full of rules, because one of them was "no bending during classes". Just like Katara used to say it. The eight year old could not understand why such a rule existed. It just looked senseless. If you have an ability, why not use it for your education? However, she was so happy to be there that she did not mind those kind of nonsense rules, as long as she could go to school. She was walking, holding hands with her mother, and as soon as she saw the gates, she rushed in front of her mother.

"The elementary building is right here" she said pulling up her backpack and fixing her belt "I will be fine from here, you can go find the kindergarten building."

"Ok," Toph said with no sign of worry. "See you after school, badgermole."

"Wait, Toph," interrupted Sokka, who was holding the youngest on his arms "Shouldn't we go with her? At least to check that everything is all right and help her find her classroom?"

"You don't need to, uncle Sokka. I can take care of myself," said the girl.

"Sometime I wish you didn't look so much like your mother," he nodded his head as he said it. Before he could go any further with his speech, a strange voice interrupted them.

"You are Toph Bei Fong, chief of police, right?" it was a school official; he was wearing the white, gray and golden uniform, but an adult version with it, that included a longer tunic and a hat. "That meaning this little girl must me Lin Bei Fong, our newest student. I am Pong; I'm responsible for the kids' arrival at school and safety on the outside area. Welcome to the Lion Turtle School."

They all bowed as he presented himself and Lin could not contain a big smile at her face. She was just so excited about everything.

"I didn't know Councilman Sokka would be here too." The man seemed to pay attention to the newspaper, having no problem identifying the figures.

"Well…. I'm here just for moral support," and as he said that Toph punched his arms. Just like old times. Pong laughed.

"And who is this little girl here?" He said approaching the girl on Sokka's arms. However, he did not get any answer from the girl, who just hid her face in her uncle's chest.

"This is Suyin, my youngest." added Toph as she knew Su would play shy for someone she just met.

"Well, the director told me you would be coming and asked me to bring you to her office. Would you mind?" he said showing them the way.

They got through the corridors together. As the ring bell, the few kids who were still in the outside area rushed to their classes. The director's office was on the first floor. They all got inside, even though Pong was a little confused if he should allow the Councilman to go in too, but he didn't think he had the authority to send him away.

"The Bei Fongs are here, Mrs. Mishin" Pong announced "And Councilman Sokka is with them."

"Oh, please come in." the woman stood up and give a big bow in respect. She was wearing a dark red dress with the ensign of the school on her obi. The yellow eyes could be seen behind her old fashioned glasses and there were wrinkles all over her face. Her hair, tied on a bun, was a dark brown, but there was a large white stripe on it. "We have some very important students here, but I think there is no parent meeting compared to this one. It is such an honor to meet you Chief Bei Fong. And… Councilman Sokka, right? I am Director Mishin. Please, take a seat."

Toph tried not to laugh about the fact that she seemed to be more famous than Sokka. Nevertheless, the director rushed into a lot of information before one joke could be done. She talked about the school schedule, when the classes started, when it was lunchtime and when the kids were supposed to be picked up. She also went through a whole speech about the curriculum of the school, even with bending classes, modern history and other subjects. The truth was that Toph stopped paying attention a long time ago, but she was trying to pretend to listen. Lin, on the other hand, listened to everything carefully, taking mental notes to herself. She did not want to be in trouble there, not now that she finally managed to go to regular school. Suyin started to swing her legs and pull her uncle's goatee, impatiently. The mother could not help to yam at some point of the director's monologue, what made her rush through the final information that she needed to add.

"I know is a lot of information to deal with but because of your… hm… condition… Miss Bei Fong, I thought it was best to talk about it instead of just handle you the school organization chart and contract."

"Lin can read it for me if we need to." She twisted her mouth at the director's sensitivity to talk about her blindness "Are we about done here? I need to take Suyin to the Kindergarten building."

"Oh, of course. Pong will escort Lin to her class, she needs to go too since the classes already started. But…" Pong bowed and called for Lin while Mrs. Mishin reached for something on her desk "I do need you to fill some forms and give me signatures."

"I guess there is no problem if I do it for her," Sokka made himself available. The director watched the girl leave the room and had a confused face.

"Well…" she did not know if it was fine for someone who was not even related to the student to fill those forms, but she did not seem to have a choice. "I guess there is no problem. You are not going to bring us to court or anything because of this breach of protocol, will you?"

Sokka laughed as he got the paper work "Can I bring this tomorrow? I am afraid this little girl will not be able to stand still one more minute." He added as Suyin pulled his goatee one more time.

"Sure, no problem," Mrs. Mishin tried to smile, already counting how many rules this family had broken before even being part of the school.

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"I have no idea why Lin is so excited about going to a place like this," said Toph as she got Suyin into her arms, making sure the councilman's goatee would not be pulled out of his face for once.

"She just want to act as a normal kid." Sokka giggled "Remember Aang when we got to the fire nation? That school, and secret party dance and stuff?"

"Yeah, I guess so…." She had a half smile as they walked to the Kindergarten building. This one was smaller, and the walls were painted in all kinds of colors. The toys in front of the building were smaller, and Suyin, who up until now did not show any interest on the school, decided to jump of her mother's lap and try the toys.

"I'm glad to finally meet you, Mrs. Bei Fong." In no time a young lady showed up by the door. She had light brown hair, green eyes and a big smile on her face. She was dressed in white comfortable clothes and had a light blue and golden apron. She bowed in respect to the chief of police and then rose up again, with a curious look to Sokka "And you are Mr. Bei Fong I suppose."

"Hr—no! I'm Sokka. I am just a friend of the family" Sokka gawkily smiled.

"Oh, I am sorry. I just assumed-" the girl smiled as awkwardly as Sokka did, and turned to Toph again "Anyway. I am Hui Fang. I will be your daughter's teacher."

"Su, come over here." Toph shouted still facing the teacher waiting for the girl to come over "This is Miss Hui, she will be your teacher here"

Suyin just hid herself behind her mother's legs. She was curious but also scared. She actually has met just a few people outside of the "Avatar family". As she did not dare to say hello or bow to the teacher. The young professional knelt next to her while smiling.

"Hello Su, nice to meet you."

Suyin still did not look to her new teacher, just hiding herself behind Toph. This was really out of her character, as she was usually curious and independent.

"You know, I bet Miss Hui has all kinds of toys in her classroom." Sokka tried to ease the situation. "Do you have any badgermole plushes? Suyin has two at her house, she takes them everywhere!"

"Hm…. I don't think we have a badgermole. But we have a Shirshu plush! And Rabaroos, cat-owls…" then she made an expression as if she had the best idea ever "Oh! And we even have a meadow vole, but this one is not a toy. It's a real one! Would you like to see it, Suyin?"

The teacher indeed was good with kids. She offered her hand to the young girl, who reached for it, but stopped herself for a moment, looking to her mother, as if she was waiting for approval.

"You can go, baby girl. Miss Hui is going to show you the school." Toph showed confidence and trust on her words, this was enough to make the girl finally go with Miss Hui.

"I will ask you to stay around for an hour or so, just to work with the adaptation process. If Suyin is alright you can go home and come back at the end of the class." Miss Hui added before going in the building and Toph answered with a positive nod.

Both Toph and Sokka sat down on the outside garden. Toph fell into a deep silence for a few minutes. Sokka started to think about leaving, since he needed to go back to the City Hall, but he stopped due to Toph next words.

"Oh shit…" she muttered. "the floor is covered in foam. I can't sense her anymore."

"It makes sense. Kids at her age fall a lot, it must be some sort of protection." Sokka pointed out without a concern. However, when he looked back at the girls' mother, she seemed tense. "Well…well… well… is this really Chief Bei Fong?! Are you worried about the girls?"

"No way! They are my kids! They know how to take care of themselves!" She sounded offended.

"Just saying… just saying… Poppy Bei Fong."

Toph frowned and somehow managed to give a mad look at Sokka, who laughed at the earth bender's reaction. He knew how she hated being called her mother's name. They stayed sitting a few more minutes.

"You should get going now, Councilman Meathead, or the City Hall will be in chaos when you get there."

"Yeah, I guess you are right," he said standing up and stretching his arms. "Those guys are hopeless without me. And since the police station must be a mess today, I better get going."

"Hey…" Toph interrupted before he could actually leave, "thanks for dropping by."

Sokka did not answer. Somehow, Toph managed to figure out he was smiling.

Toph stayed at school for one hour and a half before the teacher said it was ok for her to go home. She was rather reluctant about going back, she attested that she had got her day of, and there was no problem about staying there. But, the teacher insisted. Therefore, the chief of police gave up and went home.

She could not remember when was the last time the house was this quiet. Lin and Suyin had gotten her spirit for adventure and thus was often very loud. Every day she would leave the Police Station, go to the Air Temple Island, get the kids and go home. She could not remember when was the last time things were so… still. Even on the days she would wake up before the girls she could hear their bodies on their beds.

The blind earth bender had never stopped to think about it, but she found the house too big for herself. The place was a vast emptiness. Most people would argue that Toph should have missed it. Being alone. No responsibilities. And she did try to enjoy her time alone there. However, she could not. She could not stop thinking about Lin and Su.