Chapter 2

"So... how does this work?"

Katara tried to hide her laugh as she helped her friend up from the bed. Baby Lin had started fussing and she could see that it wouldn't be long until she would begin crying.

"Alright, where's the little bugger?" Toph said as she held out her arms. "Gimme, gimme!"

Katara slowly placed the baby in her arms. "Okay, Toph. This might be awkward at first, but trust me, do not make her stop or all hell will break loose."

Toph carefully balanced her daughter in her arms and did what Katara told her to do. It was so embarrassing that she almost earthbended Suki out of the room (Aang and Sokka had yet to return from wherever they had landed). She wouldn't mind it at all, being a female herself, but Toph was self-conscious about her body and she didn't want too many people staring at her as she tried to breastfeed her child. She didn't know how Katara managed to do it.

"Alright, alright, geez. So... how does this work?" she said pressingly after Lin had been positioned.

"Oh, come on Toph. You were there for all three of my children. You should know this by now. This should come naturally." Katara said, coaxing her to open up her shirt so Lin could feed.

"Yeah, well... I've never actually seen you do it so..." Toph told her as she swatted her away with her free hand. "I can do it myself. You don't need to undress me like some pervert."

Katara flared up and exclaimed hotly, "At least I'm helping you!"

"Whatever..." Toph said and unbuttoned her shirt, taking care not to lose her grip on her daughter. By this point, Lin had started whimpering and Toph quickly looked up to address the waterbender smirking at her.

"Well? Aren't you gonna tell me what to do?!" Toph said, getting impatient as her daughter, who had begun to flail her tiny arms.

"I thought you didn't need help?" Katara raised her eyebrows at her, doing her best to suppress her laughter at the face her friend was making. She was panicking and she knew it.

"I ain't kidding, Sugar Queen! What do I do?!" Toph yelled, getting desperate. Her outburst caused Lin to finally cry out and the two women grimaced at the sound.

Katara sighed and placed her hands on Toph's arms, guiding her. "You just need to get her to latch properly. She's just really hungry. Just guide her to your breast. Yeah. That's i - No! Not there! Wait! Stop! No, don't put that in her mouth - No! Wai- no, gently... okay. Okay. That's it. A bit higher. Okay..."

Toph stiffened as Lin finally found her breast and started sucking eagerly. "Oh... This... this feels really weird. Whoa. I mean, it hurts... Yeah... oohhh boyyy, Lin's really hungry. Oww..."

Katara rolled her eyes. "Stop it. You've gotta get used to this, you know. I can't always be around when you feed her."

"...Spirits... this is REALLY weird!"

"I know. But you gotta remember that she needs this. Don't just stop it because you feel weird."

"It really does... Just... Just look at her go!"

"Toph..."

"Hahaha. She really is hungry! Look! I feel like a Hippocow. Hahaha. Mooo!"

"TOPH!"

"Sorry..."

The next few minutes went by peacefully, much to Katara's delight. She nodded approvingly as she watched her friend and her daughter. She was healthy, as far as she could tell. She had a strong suck, if the rapid movement visible on her cheeks were an indication. All things considered, Lin was born healthy. There weren't any problems with Toph, too... if you didn't count her occasional snickers and whispers of 'mooooo...'.

Toph wasn't aware that she had fallen asleep after feeding Lin. She must've nodded off right after Katara placed her daughter in her crib. Well, actually, Tenzin's crib. The one year-old was going to sleep with his parents for as long as she was here on the island. The thought almost made the blind earthbender feel sorry for the kid.

She was about to doze off back to sleep when a small whimper made its way to her ears. Her head shot up and she listened again for another whimper. Maybe it was just her imagination. Unfortunately, Lin started increasing her volume as if she was telling her mother that yes, she was indeed, on the verge of crying. Fearing that her newborn daughter would wake up everyone, Toph immediately got up, despite her body's protests, and went over to the crib.

Lin, as if sensing her mother's presence, gradually grew silent. Toph sighed and held out her hand inside the crib. She was careful not to extend her arm too far in, for fear that she would hit her daughter. She couldn't curse Aang or Katara since they had helped her so much... for pretty much since she was twelve. That didn't stop her from grumbling in annoyance at the wooden crib the couple had lent her though. The moment she was strong enough (she bet Katara that she would be out and about tomorrow), she was going to build a crib for her daughter herself.

Lin let out a small gurgle which Toph took as approval. She smiled at the little baby. "That's right, kiddo. You'll have a custom crib made by yours truly."

She felt Lin's small hands colliding against her fingers and she guided one as best as she could so that her daughter's hands could hold it. Lin ceased making noises and looked upwards, as if looking at her mother. Toph almost thought she had gone back to sleep were it not for the continuous movement of her daughter's tiny legs. Still, it wouldn't matter. She didn't feel like going back to sleep. Now that she was here, alone with the newest Beifong, the thought of sleep wasn't so attractive anymore.

Her thoughts went to the tight hold her daughter had on her finger. This would be her new role. To be the guide her daughter needed throughout her life, to hold her hand through the years to come. Her heart clenched at the difficulties that that might produce in the future. For once, in her entire life, Toph despised being blind. Her daughter's upbringing would be difficult, despite the fact that she had her friends who were ready to help her any time.

Even though she bragged and boasted to her friends that she'd be fine raising Lin on her own, she really wasn't ready. She had been terrified when she found out she was pregnant, heartbroken when the man who she had given herself to, left her and didn't take responsibility. He had a very pissed off Avatar and Southern Water Tribe Warrior to answer to after she told her friends what happened so she supposed it took the pain away a bit.

Still... her child was very unlucky to be born to a blind mother and fatherless to boot.

"Hey Lin..."

Her voice echoed throughout the room. She never realized nighttime could make the air temple so silent.

"I'm really sorry for bringing you into this mess kiddo. You deserve better than this. Heck, you deserve a better mother." Toph could feel her heartbreak creeping up again. Endless disappointments piled up on her heart. She shed her tough armor-like exterior and her walls had crumbled but she felt heavier than she had ever been.

Lin continued to move around, making small babbles. She was completely ignorant of her own mother pouring her heart out to her.

Toph breathed deeply to calm herself. She could not cry. She wouldn't cry. Now that Lin was here she had to be strong. For both of their sakes.

With her other hand, she grasped the railing of the wooden crib and attempted a smile at her daughter. Her heart swelled with pride and love at the words. She had a daughter. Lin was her daughter. And though she had been surprised initially, she loved her with all of her being.

It scared her to thing that there was actually someone who had to rely on her for everything. She was now responsible for this tiny person, her tiny person. Her tiny daughter. Her pride and joy.

"Don't worry, Lin. Your momma will always be right here. I'll always be here for you. I'll always protect you. Because... because it's just you and me against the world, kiddo. And we Beifongs have to stick together."

A/N: There... short and sweet. (Just wrapping this scene up so we can move on to some baby stages in which momma Toph will discover just how much Lin had taken after her wonderful personality). Also, don't say it like that's final, Toph. You and Lin won't be alone. You never will be. Suyin will be in this story as well, a bit later on though, in case you're wondering.

Hello, wonderful Avatar fans! No, I'm not dead and YES, I've decided to rewrite it. But don't worry. The contents of the old chapters will still be included, just written a bit better now. I think I've improved over the last few... what...? years? Uh oh...