AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story began with Chapter 2. Chapter 1 was written much later, to add some context. The two chapters are not directly sequential/connected, although they do occur over the course of the same day. Feedback is welcome and appreciated :)

**Beifong Residence, Early Morning**

"But mom, why? I don't want to wait in Sokka's office, I want to come to the station! You used to let me help out all the time, and now you won't even let me in the building. I'm not a baby, I can—"

"Lin, that's ENOUGH." Toph's ruling was punctuated by the sound of stone striking wood. Her hand had come down firmly on the nightstand, making the fist-sized rock that rested there jump. The rock had one smooth face, and on it were grooves that spelled out a name: Lin Bei Fong. The drawer of the nightstand was mostly empty, amplifying the sound and startling the younger earthbender into silence. "If you're not a baby, then quit acting like one. You should be old enough to understand why I can't let you run around a building full of dangerous criminals, and you're definitely old enough to know how to mind your mother and obey without arguing! You will go to school, you will be escorted to City Hall by Officer Meiling, and you WILL wait with Sokka until I come to take you home. End of discussion." The words stung, and Lin held back angry tears. It wasn't fair, how her mother's blind eyes could bore into her so deeply.

"But mom, I just—"

"I'm not talking about petty crooks and gamblers, Lin! There is something serious going on in Republic City right now, and I cannot – will not – allow you to become involved even by accident. People are getting seriously hurt. Lin, three people have died. We're getting close to bringing down the ring leader, and every day we bring in more of his lackeys, but they're getting messages back to him somehow and I can't risk giving them the opportunity to use you as leverage to get to me. I know you're a smart and capable girl, Lin, but this is bigger than you and I need you to let me keep. You. SAFE." The chief took a deep breath, rooting her toes into the cool stone floor. Her daughter's breathing was shaky, and her heart was pounding. Toph drew her feet up onto the bed and opened her arms. "Come here, badgermole."

Lin barely fit in her mother's lap anymore. She made herself as small as she could, tucking her head under Toph's chin and taking comfort in the familiar heartbeat that echoed in the hollow of her collarbone. When her mother spoke, the words buzzed warmly in her ear.

"What's my job, Lin?"

"Republic City Chief of Police," Lin answered dully.

"That's my title," Toph corrected, flopping over onto the pillows and pulling Lin awkwardly with her. "What's my job?"

"To keep the city safe."

"That's right. And to do that, I have to remain strong. Sometimes that means you can't have all the freedom you want, and I'm sorry about that. It's probably no consolation, but I can tell you that it's not a very fun job. In fact, it's exhausting, stressful… there are days that I struggle to get up and put on that uniform."

"Then why do it?" Lin tested, her voice slightly bitter with residual anger.

"Because I love you, Lin, and I want you to grow up in a world you know you can shape. The United Republic is young, it's still finding its stride, but I believe in it. I believe in your future." Toph reached behind Lin and picked up the stone from her bedside table. The grooves carved into had been worn smooth from eight years' worth of tracing the characters with her fingers. "I was so selfish before you came along, Lin. Loving you has given me the strength to face my own faults, make myself better person, and hopefully help build a world you can be proud to call your inheritance. A world that your generation will want to keep making better and better after we're gone."

For a moment, there was silence. The city was still just beginning to wake up. Then Lin heard a cart go by. She heard a door open and shut across the street. She heard Mr. Li curse as he tripped over the cat yet again. In a few hours, even the relatively quiet neighborhood where they lived would be bustling with activity. Lin loved this city. She silently vowed to never let a selfish act undo all the hard work that Aang, Katara, Sokka, Zuko, and countless others had done. And when it was her turn, she would protect the city just like her mother risked her life to do every day.

"Well, enough of all this serious stuff," Toph said with a wave of hand. She seemed to brush away Lin's bad mood as easily as a cobweb. "Sounds like Mr. Li is up – I bet we can snag a couple sweet buns for the road before the morning bakery rush hits. What do you say?"

Lin was already up and dragging her mother's duffel towards the door. "Okay, let's go already!" she called over her shoulder. Mr. Li's sweet buns were not a matter to be taken lightly.