I wrote this for both beifong week, and round 7 of the probending tournament.

Word count: 1,161

prompts:

(word) accomplishment (character) Sokka (quote) "In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." - Abraham Lincoln, Earthbender: Celebrate the end of school/lessons (graduation), earthbending used.

Read review and enjoy.

Toph Beifong stood outside her daughter's kindergarten, under the shade of a tree, a relaxed smile on her face as she felt her unborn child kick her. "I know baby. She should be out by now. Hold on, I can 'see' her."

"Mum!"

Toph knelt down and opened her arms, allowing Lin to run into them and hug her. "Mm, I missed you today badgermole. It's so boring at home without you and Sokka." When they separated, a rustle of paper could be heard. "What have you got there?"

"It's a certificate!"

"Oh? What did my amazing kid do to earn herself a certificate?"

"I graduated from kinder today, remember? And in a few months I get to start big kid school."

The metalbender couldn't stop grinning at her child's excitement. "What does it say?"

Lin held the paper out in front of her and began to read it animatedly. "This certificate is awa- awa-"

"Sound it out."

"Awarded! To Lin Beifong, for finishing kinder. "Congratulations, on your acco- accomplishment!"

"Good job. Do you want me to put it in your backpack?" Lin handed her the piece of paper and turned so her mother could put it away for her. Once she had finished, Lin took hold of her mother's hand and they began walking towards their home.

"Hey mum?"

"Yeah badgermole?"

"Can we have ice cream when we get home?"

It was a beautiful summer's day and both mother and daughter were in a good mood, so Toph didn't see a problem with the cool treat. "Sure. But after we practice your earthbending forms."

"Yes!"

The two Beifongs crossed the threshold of their home. The younger of the two ran out to the backyard and began going through her earthbending forms, knowing that her mother could see her from anywhere in their house.

Toph walked outside and laid down on the ground, hands clasp behind her head as she 'watched' Lin get into a horse stance and launch a boulder into a tree. "Feet further apart badgermole. There you go." Toph closed her eyes, allowing herself to drift off into sleep.

Lin finished her bending forms in record time, which meant ice cream and free time. If there was one perk to living with Toph Beifong, it was the large expanse of land that surrounded them. Lin wondered around, trying to think of something to do, when a pink flower caught her eye. Walking over to it, Lin knelt down and touched one of the petals, before giving it a sniff. "Eww! Smells like Sokka's socks."

The four year old continued to walk around, sniffing different flowers, when she came up with an idea. Lin went to each flower she had smelt and used her earthbending to remove them from the ground, including their roots. Once she collected all the flowers she deemed worthy of her mother's nose, she ran back to her mother, who was still asleep on the ground, and poked her lightly on the arm.

"Badgermole, do you have a death wish?"

"No but I think this is worth it." Lin thrust the flowers into her mother's face, startling her slightly. "Sniff!"

Toph, took a big whiff of whatever was placed in front of her. "They smell great. What are they?"

"Flowers. I don't know the type though."

Toph let out a sigh. "Badgermole, I thought I told you not to remove flowers from their roots. You've killed them now."

"But I didn't! I earthbended them out, they still have their roots. I thought we could have one of those windowsill gardens."

"Alright. Go get a few metal sheets from the hallway closet and we'll make them."

Lin put the flowers down and took off running into the family home to retrieve the metal sheets her mother required, when she ran headfirst into Sokka's legs. "You alright Lin?"

"Yeah I'm fine. Is that ice cream?"

"It is. Would you like one?"

Lin reached out a bit then retreated. "I can't I have to get mum some metal sheets."

Sokka knelt down and gave her a smile. "How about you hold these, and I grab the metal?" Lin nodded and took the three ice cream cones from him. "How many sheets does she want?"

"Three."

"Alright, you go take those outside, and I'll be there in a second."

Lin hurried outside, desperate to taste the treat Sokka had bought for her. "Mum, Sokka bought home ice cream, so we don't need to go out!"

Lin handed Toph the strawberry treat, keeping the vanilla for herself and chocolate for Sokka. "Did someone order metal?"

"Right over here Snoozles."

Sokka plopped down between Toph and Lin and began to eat his ice cream. "So why do you need metal?"

"Lin wants to make windowsill gardens. I thought it was a good idea." Toph flexed a wrist at the metal, causing it to form trapezoid shaped pots. "Alright, everyone makes their own."

Toph and Lin both had no problems making their little gardens, Sokka on the other hand was a mess. He had chocolate ice cream dripping down one hand, while he desperately tried to get his flowers to remain upright. "Lin, why don't you set your garden on your sill."

"Okay!"

Waiting until her daughter was out of earshot, Toph took the ice cream away from Sokka and began to eat it. "Need any help?"

"No. But I do want my ice cream back."

"Not gonna happen. I am craving chocolate and this is the best I can do."

Sokka placed a hand on her stomach, enjoying the little kick her received. "He is going to be amazing."

"She."

"We're not fighting about this. Let's talk about you." Toph cocked an eyebrow in his general direction, silently questioning what he meant. "Lin is no longer in kinder. She's growing up. You can't tell me you aren't upset."

"Not upset. It's just that kids make you realise your own mortality. But it's made me understand what Aang told me when I was freaking out about becoming a mother. He told me, 'in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.' I'm determined to live the rest of my years, making my kids happy."

Sokka stood up and held out his hand to Toph. Helping her to her feet, Sokka pulled her in as close as her baby bump would allow, and kissed her. "I love you Toph. I'm determined to spend the rest of my life making you happy."

"You are such a dork. Shut up and kiss me."

The two adults shared a slow kiss, pulling away when Toph felt something tug her pant leg. "Mum, I'm tired."

"I've got her." Sokka bent down and picked her up. "She's still taking naps, so we have plenty of years left."

He left his girlfriend standing there with a smirk on her face. "And I'm going to make every single one count."